#the marines are dumb. oh a war is coming oh this will change the world. THEN DONT DO IT

[hauntingblue]

THEY TOOK ACE'S CUNTY BOOTS AND GAVE HIM SOME FUCKING LOAFERS!!!! THAT SHOULD GET !!!THEM!!! EXECUTED

[storiesofsvu]

The Marine’s Girl Ch 9

Warnings: language, brief angst/talks of war/trauma/injury

Seven.

Seven years was how long it took for Abigail Borin to finally get her life back to somewhat normalcy.

While she stuck it out in South Korea for as long as she could, things ended up going down there that she wasn’t sure she could come back from, not now. She relocated, spending some time back home, her parents very thankful to have her on American soil again, somewhere they deemed much safer than before. Though she knew she couldn’t stay there, getting bored after only a matter of weeks, she started going through the paperwork and pamphlets the Marine’s had given her when she’d handed in her resignation. She needed something that would drive her, feed her passion, make it feel like she was making a difference. Something that was somewhat related to the Marine’s without being so combative, something that her skill set would be related to, and something that definitely would not keep her trapped in an office all day.

Which was how she wound up in Washington working with CGIS. Her experience leading her own platoon in the past helped her rise through the ranks faster than normal, soon securing a few of her own team members to help run investigations. CGIS, as she soon found out, did a lot of work with other units, which she was fine with, it was a way for her to get to know some new people, create almost a new identity for herself in this new city. It was rare she talked about her time in the Marine’s, a lot of it too painful to even want to think about, it was a different world, it felt like it was ages ago, she was nearly a completely different person from the person she’d been in Iraq. And she liked that, she liked having a new persona to fill, she liked being in charge with only someone to report to rather than command her. Things were more relaxed most days, she was able to be more casual, more free and she absolutely loved it. It was the change that she had been searching for, and she was more than ready to welcome it into her life.

A few years into here stint at CGIS, she came across NCIS during an investigation, getting to know their team. It was a bit of a rough warm up, butting heads over jurisdiction, they ended up working together, and they were quick to call one another if a case needed the other’s expertise. Today, she was returning to their offices aside Gibbs, eager to get working on the details for this case, the rest of the team supposedly working the other angle and ready to present research. Gibbs looked around the rather empty office and turned to Ziva, the only agent he could see,

“Where the hell are McGee and DiNozzo?”

“Hospital.” She spun around in her chair, “Tony got bit by one of the guard dogs.” AbI bit back a laugh as Gibbs sighed heavily.

“He okay?”

“They’re in the E.R now, just waiting on a doctor so it can’t be that bad.”

“Call McGee, conference him in here so we can go over what we’re got.”

“On it boss.” She spun back to her desk, giving Abi a soft smile before she did so. Gibbs had given the redhead the promise of coffee, so he lead her off in that direction, knowing they had a small break before breaking down the case.

*

“Anthony DiNozzo you better have lost a damn limb.” You pulled back the curtain as you spoke, rolling your eyes in a huff at the sight of the smug grin on his face.

“Awe c’mon. I just wanted to see my favourite doctor.” He grinned.

“Yeah well your favourite doctor is a double board certified surgeon who has better things to do than give your dumb ass a row of stitches. A nurse should be doing this.”

“Your bedside manner’s gotten so much better Summers.” He teased and you huffed again, pulling on a pair of gloves, “if a nurse should be doing this why are you even here? Is it cause you can’t resist me?”

“Oh God Tony…” you pushed the anesthetic into his arm without warning him out of spite and he winced slightly, “when NCIS calls asking for a specific doctor, they get what they want. Chief would rather keep up relationships amongst departments, keep things smooth.”

“Yeah well, aside from waiting hours on end for a that plastics guy, you give the best stitches.” He watched as you easily sewed up his wound, your precision impeccable as always. “Besides, Gibbs likes working with you.”

“I’m not exactly working on a case with Gibbs if I’m stitching up one of his agents, am I?” You cocked a brow, a small smile on your face. As annoying as Tony was, the NCIS crew were ones you considered friends since moving to Washington. “You really let a dog get to you?”

“It was vicious!” He defended, “and I was paying attention to the perp anyways.”

“You guys get him?”

“McGee did.” He grumbled.

“He tag along today or do I have to suffer with just your presence?”

“No he’s here.” McGee cut in, pulling open the curtain, “just had to call back into the office, they’re waiting for us once you’re done.”

“Shouldn’t take much longer.” You gave him a warm smile, the more pleasant of the two to deal with. Not that you had an issue with DiNozzo, he was a pain to deal with when he wanted, but he seemed like a good guy otherwise, and honestly, it brought some entertainment to your day.

“You think this’ll scar?” Tony asked and you glanced up at him, pausing at your suturing.

“It shouldn’t…as long as you stop distracting me. Did you want it to?”

“You like men with scars Summers?” He smirked and you snorted.

“Jesus, you never stop do you?”

“He really doesn’t.” McGee cut in with a sigh.

“Can’t say scars are on my turn on or turn off lists DiNozzo, but I can say that my sutures have gotten good enough over the years, and this is superficial enough you won’t be left with one.”

“So that’s a no to drinks tonight then?”

“Tony!” You rolled your eyes, securing the last stitch as you tied it off, “you shouldn’t even be drinking on pain meds.”

“What if I say I won’t take the pain meds?”

“Then I’d say you’re being rather insubordinate. But a couple Tylenol won’t kick you on your ass if you only have two beers.”

“So? What’d’you say?” He smirked again and you turned back to McGee, hope in your eyes.

“He’s not gonna stop.”

“Fine.” You gritted, “Yardhouse, eight p.m. Bring this one and Ziva with you or I’m turning around once I’m in the door.”

“Yes!” He cheered, raising his un-injured had to high five McGee, “a date with Summers!”

“Not a date!” You pointed at him, a stern look on your face, “I’ll have a nurse come discharge you as soon as they can, they’re gonna have to give you a couple more shots too.”

Before he could protest to any of what you’d said, you were on the other side of the curtain and back to what you should’ve been doing. It wasn’t often you worked in the E.R anymore, usually picking up cases when they hit the trauma room, or specific patients who needed your specialty skills of surgery.

It was safe to say you’d made a name for yourself once you’d landed back in the US from Iraq, though, it took some time, it took more than enough time. The effects of everything nearly crushing you before you were actually brave enough to come back to work. Your first day back in a hospital had nearly broken you, despite being on US soil and far away from the war territory, the smells, the sounds, they were all so similar it felt like you were back there, like what happened could happen all over again. You worked hard to get through all of it, thankful for the support that you had, thankful that you were able to put it behind you and move on with your life. Once you’d been able to recommit to work, it became your only passion, focussing on surgery most of the time, but your experience overseas and with a very high level of trauma kept your superiors pulling you back to being a supervisor in the E.R or trauma wings, no matter what your boards said. That was why you’d gone back, doubly certifying yourself in orthopaedics on top of the trauma certification you already held. The injuries were similar enough it wasn’t too much of a struggle to study and learn. While it was definitely a change of pace, the hours were still intense, but your free time now was spent a little lonely, which, you guessed was why you finally said yes to meeting the NCIS team for drinks that night.

*

True to your word, you met DiNozzo at Yardhouse and eight, and true to his word, McGee and Ziva were both with him. You greeted them with a warm smile, sliding onto the stool as you rid yourself of your bag and coat, knowing that Tony’s eyes were on you, seeing you in your own clothes for once. If it was at the hospital, you were always in scrubs, if you were coming to the NCIS office, you were usually in business casual, though, that was usually more feminine than the scrubs.

As the evening progressed you relaxed, enjoying the time you had with the agents. It wasn’t something you were really used to, a lot of your past was still sealed off, you were still hurting from it and it wasn’t exactly easy to open up about during what was supposed to be a fun night out. None of them even knew you had been overseas, a few of your medical colleagues did, and they constantly pressed you for stories, which is why you hated going out with them. But these three? You were able to pretend you were the less cool one, that you only dealt with medicine while they solved and fought crime. While the occasional gruesome surgery story definitely came up, you weren’t the centre of attention and you loved it.

That night, DiNozzo set his eyes on a woman to take home and you teased him that she would never go for it. He teased you back that you were just jealous, that you just wanted him to fail with her so he’d settle for you. You scoffed, rolling your eyes to Ziva as he sauntered off. As expected, he returned without a phone number and you smirked, telling him to give you a minute. He half expected that you were wingman-ing for him, watching the way the two of you laughed together, throwing glances toward their table while you bought her a shot. It was only when she leaned in, kissing you gently that he realized he’d been bamboozled, you sauntering back to the table to make a quick goodbye and shooting him a wink. You very briefly and casually dated her before it ended with no issue a few weeks later, but it had been worth the fun.

What you hadn’t expected to come from it was an actual, genuine relationship with Tony. He became a tiny bit less of a flirty pretentious idiot and more of an actual friend. Your friendship was based on the two of you going out, mainly to bars while wingman-ing for each other. Not that you needed any help, he was quick to find. You had no issue there, and honestly you weren’t really looking for anything, but the company of having someone to spend time with outside of work helped you. Not to mention, you absolutely lived for the nights where the two of you got to compete for a girl, because ninety percent of the time, you won. And you certainly helped him, his game was much higher whenever the two of you went out. He complained at first that having you around was going to cramp his style, make it look like you were his girlfriend or something but you were very fast to prove him wrong the first couple of nights out. You were also very good at weeding out the ones you knew would be trouble later on, especially if he didn’t call them. It was a bit of a strange relationship, but it worked. It became a sort of a challenge, calling dibs on women as soon as you walked into an establishment so the other couldn’t even try, sometimes you laughed heartily, knowing the woman definitely wasn’t straight, and sometimes you shrugged, she wasn’t your type anyways, so why bother.

It didn’t take McGee long to join in on your fun, he was much more keen to actually listen to what you had to say, taking it all in before starting to even talk to women. As the weeks went on, it turned into you and Ziva sitting at a table watching the two men attempt the best game they could at bars throughout the city. Not that it was some kind of sex fuelled game, a lot of them were just casual dates, maybe ones that would turn into casual relationships, but it was something fun, something to get everyone’s minds off of work.

For the first time in seven years, you finally started to feel normal again.

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[arscriptura]

The Lotos-Eaters

There is sweet music here that softer falls Than petals from blown roses on the grass, Or night-dews on still waters between walls Of shadowy granite, in a gleaming pass; Music that gentlier on the spirit lies, Than tired eyelids upon tired eyes; Music that brings sweet sleep down from the blissful skies. Here are cool mosses deep, And through the moss the ivies creep, And in the stream the long-leaved flowers weep, And from the craggy ledge the poppy hangs in sleep.

Why are we weighed upon with heaviness, And utterly consumed with sharp distress, While all things else have rest from weariness? All things have rest: why should we toil alone, We only toil, who are the first of things, And make perpetual moan, Still from one sorrow to another thrown: Nor ever fold our wings, And cease from wanderings, Nor steep our brows in slumber’s holy balm; Nor harken what the inner spirit sings, ‘There is no joy but calm!’ Why should we only toil, the roof and crown of things?

Lo! in the middle of the wood, The folded leaf is wooed from out the bud With winds upon the branch, and there Grows green and broad, and takes no care, Sun-steeped at noon, and in the moon Nightly dew-fed; and turning yellow Falls, and floats adown the air. Lo! sweetened with the summer light, The full-juiced apple, waxing over-mellow, Drops in a silent autumn night. All its allotted length of days, The flower ripens in its place, Ripens and fades, and falls, and hath no toil, Fast-rooted in the fruitful soil.

Hateful is the dark-blue sky, Vaulted o’er the dark-blue sea. Death is the end of life; ah, why Should life all labour be? Let us alone. Time driveth onward fast, And in a little while our lips are dumb, Let us alone. What is it that will last? All things are taken from us, and become Portions and parcels of the dreadful Past. Let us alone. What pleasure can we have To war with evil? Is there any peace In ever climbing up the climbing wave? All things have rest, and ripen toward the grave In silence; ripen, fall and cease: Give us long rest or death, dark death, or dreamful ease.

How sweet it were, hearing the downward stream, With half-shut eyes ever to seem Falling asleep in a half-dream! To dream and dream, like yonder amber light, Which will not leave the myrrh-bush on the height; To hear each other’s whispered speech; Eating the Lotos day by day, To watch the crisping ripples on the beach, And tender curving lines of creamy spray; To lend our hearts and spirits wholly To the influence of mild-minded melancholy; To muse and brood and live again in memory, With those old faces of our infancy Heaped over with a mound of grass, Two handfuls of white dust, shut in an urn of brass!

Dear is the memory of our wedded lives, And dear the last embraces of our wives And their warm tears: but all hath suffered change: For surely now our household hearths are cold: Our sons inherit us: our looks are strange: And we should come like ghosts to trouble joy. Or else the island princes over-bold Have eat our substance, and the minstrel sings Before them of the ten years’ war in Troy, And our great deeds, as half-forgotten things. Is there confusion in the little isle? Let what is broken so remain. The Gods are hard to reconcile: ’Tis hard to settle order once again. There is confusion worse then death, Trouble on trouble, pain on pain, Long labour unto agèd breath, Sore task to hearts worn out by many wars And eyes grown dim with gazing on the pilot-stars.

But, propt on beds of amaranth and moly, How sweet (while warm airs lull us, blowing lowly) With half-dropt eyelid still, Beneath a heaven dark and holy, To watch the long bright river drawing slowly His waters from the purple hill— To hear the dewy echoes calling From cave to cave through the thick-twinèd vine— To watch the emerald-coloured water falling Through many a woven acanthus-wreath divine! Only to hear and see the far-off sparkling brine, Only to hear were sweet, stretched out beneath the pine.

The Lotos blooms below the barren peak: The Lotos blows by every winding creek: All day the wind breathes low with mellower tone: Through every hollow cave and alley lone Round and round the spicy downs the yellow Lotos-dust blown. We have had enough of action, and of motion we, Rolled to starboard, rolled to larboard, when the surge was seething free, Where the wallowing monster spouted his foam-fountains in the sea. Let us swear an oath, and keep it with an equal mind, In the hollow Lotos-land to live and lie reclined On the hills like Gods together, careless of mankind. For they lie beside their nectar, and the bolts are hurled Far below them in the valleys, and the clouds are lightly curled Round their golden houses, girdled with the gleaming world: Where they smile in secret, looking over wasted lands, Blight and famine, plague and earthquake, roaring deeps and fiery sands, Clanging fights, and flaming towns, and sinking ships, and praying hands. But they smile, they find a music centred in a doleful song Steaming up, a lamentation and an ancient tale of wrong, Like a tale of little meaning though the words are strong: Chanted from an ill-used race of men that cleave the soil, Sow the seed, and reap the harvest with enduring toil, Storing yearly little dues of wheat, and wine and oil; Till they perish and they suffer—some, ’tis whispered—down in hell Suffer endless anguish, others in Elysian valleys dwell, Resting weary limbs at last on beds of asphodel. Surely, surely, slumber is more sweet than toil, the shore Than labour in the deep mid-ocean, wind and wave and oar; Oh rest ye, brother mariners, we will not wander more.

Lord Alfred Tennyson

[doubleattitude]

24/7 Dance Convention, Seattle, WA: RESULTS

High Scores by Age:

Sidekick Solo

1st: Ruby Kramer-’Let’s Hear It For The Boy’

2nd: Maylin Munos-’A Million Dreams’

3rd: Mila Dixon-’Lose You’

4th: Ella Gordon-’Bigger Is Better’

5th: Kendall Rafish-’Bigger is Better’

6th: Bria Woodhouse-’Big Noise’

6th: Kaiden Koths-’You’ve Gotta Friend In Me’

7th: Livi Hindmarsh-’Rainbow’

Mini Solo

1st: Finley Ashfield-’My Girl’

2nd: Tiara Sherman-’Cielo’

3rd: Reegan Francis-’Just A Girl’

3rd: Elliana Anbardan-’Runway Walk’

3rd: Keelyn Jones-’Slowly Fading’

4th: Jayden Van-’Champion’

4th: Grace McShane-’Forgive Me’

4th: Peyton Szuberla-’Glacier’

5th: Zaylee Watson-’Primadonna’

6th: Sophia Kim-’Hidden Within’

6th: Daphne Braun-’Solace’

6th: Lucy Cowan-’Viva La Swing’

6th: Cora Woodhouse-’Pulling On a Thread’

7th: Kendall Pearson-’Groove Is In The Heart’

7th: Oliviana Mancini-’The Phoenix’

8th: Piper Perusse-’Shake It Out’

9th: Ava Otto-’Light Sorrounds Me’

10th: Mariel Napenias-’Basic Space’

10th: Eden Utley-’If I Could’

10th: Briella Kapp-’Upside’

Junior Solo

1st: Brynn Kostka-’Answer’

2nd: Lexi Godwin-’Wave’

3rd: Olivia Shelton-’Ahead’

3rd: Kendall Jundt-’Awakening’

3rd: Riley Zeitler-’Breathe’

3rd: Brooke Toro-’From Within’

3rd: Anabel Alexander-’Plans We Made’

4th: Abbi Francis-’Feel It Still’

4th: Maya Loureiro-’Rise’

4th: Ava Rothmund-’Solitude’

4th: Ava Munos-’Still’

4th: Leighton Werner-’The Rose’

5th: London Barron-’Bones’

5th: Aurora Matsudaira-’Brotsjur’

5th: Lucy Cavender-’Formed from Static’

5th: Dakota Frederick-’When You’re Good To Mama’

6th: Malia Williams-’Nature Boy’

6th: Issac Diaz-’This Is A War’

7th: Harlow Pike-’Locomotion’

7th: Tori Chun-’Until The Ice Cracks

8th: Arin Lee-’Amazing Mayzie’

8th: Sophia McKay-’Bang Bang’

9th: Kayla Diaz-’Carry You’

9th: Chloe Alejo-’My Coppelia’

9th: Brooklyn Campbell-’Safe and Sound’

9th: Emme O’Neill-’Through The Eyes of A Child’

10th: Griffin Abrahamse-’Come Around’

10th: Claire Scott-’Found’

10th: Isaac Hsu-Kwan-’Sideways’

10th: Camdon Partney-’Young’

Teen Solo

1st: Hailey Bills-’It’s New York’

2nd: Avery Hall-’If I Think’

2nd: Sami Sonder-’The Practice of Surrender’

3rd: AvaRose Campbell-’All of the Lights’

3rd: Kayla Harrison-’Crumbling’

3rd: Drew Rosen-’Deconstruct Composition’

3rd: Ava Lynn-’Heart Undone’

3rd: Dayanara Vega-’Shrine Tooth’

3rd: Riley Platenberg-’Talking Points’

3rd: Chloe Ohira-’The Rope’

4th: Francesca Ammari-’Escaping Into The Bliss’

4th: Ava Arnold-’Flying and Flocking’

4th: Felix Fulton-’Rome’

5th: Audrey Francis-’Sugar’

5th: Zuzu Duchon-’Twelfth of Never’

6th: Landon Spurbeck-’Enemy’

6th: CJ Hankins-’Save The Last Dance’

6th: Tessa Cosper-’Solo’

7th: Lily Godwin-’Ode to Divorce’

7th: Sydney Tam-’Touch’

7th: Ainsley Ercanbrack-’Unravel’

8th: Auden Gwilliam-’Unwinding’

9th: Tatiyana Cooper-’Beautiful’

9th: Cierra Zoller-’Memoria’

10th: Ava Thorp-’Blue Notebook’

10th: Clara Ricciardi-’Gladiatrix’

10th: Milana Zamora-’Hypnosis’

10th: Sebastian Hsu-Kwan-’My Identity’

Senior Solo

1st: Nathan Allen-’Gole Bi Goldoon’

2nd: Makaila Teagle-’He Needs Me’

3rd: Genevieve Antonetty-’Bird on a Wire’

3rd: Phoebe Campbell-’Me’

3rd: Charlotte Foldes-’You Forget Everything’

4th: Kaili Tam-’Me Museum’

4th: Sophia Sucevich-’Paint It Black’

4th: Brie Laia-’Savage’

4th: Avery Zerr-Them Changes’

4th: Maquinna Wahlberg-’Undan’

5th: Moriah Smith-’Dream’

5th: Abigail Osterink-’Mothership’

5th: Dahlie Levine-’Oh Dear’

6th: Yana Sologub-’A New Day’

6th: Abbie McDaniel-’No Ordinary’

7th: Taylor Lang-’Devastation’

7th: Nicole Lang-’Hypnotic’

7th: Jonah Ledvina-’Luving U’

8th: Margot Johnson-’Black Raven’

8th: Lily Lambert-’Funny’

8th: Amanda Ueltschi-’Il Finale’

8th: McKenna Tester-’I Remember’

9th: Maddie Fleener-’Angel’

9th: Hannah Averbuck-’Got2BReal’

9th: Ava Maciulewski-’More Than You’ll Ever Know’

9th: Raegan Stuller-’Pale Yellow’

9th: Naleah Peerson-’Rain’

9th: Nyah Garcia-’We’ll Be Fine’

10th: Abby Viola-’Cannonball’

10th: Shay Zimmerman-’Madness’

10th: Rennie Jane Dupar-’Medicine’

10th: Emerson Howard-’Ne Me Quitte Pas’

Sidekick Duo/Trio

1st: Freedom Dance Center-’By Night’

2nd: Academy of Dance-’Space Between’

3rd: Freedom Dance Center-’Supermodel’

Mini Duo/Trio

1st: Danceology-’Cars That Go Boom’

2nd: Premiere Dance Center-’Fabulous Swing Kids’

3rd: Premiere Dance Center-’Sign of The Times’

Junior Duo/Trio

1st: Bobbie’s School of Performing Arts-’This Is Me, Sincerely’

2nd: Accolades Movement Project-’Caught In A Bad Dream’

3rd: Elite Dance Studio-’New Dorp New York’

Teen Duo/Trio

1st: Accolades Movement Project-’I Remember Her’

2nd: Academy of Dance-’Before You Go’

3rd: Grand Finale Dance Studio-’Jailhouse Rock’

Senior Duo/Trio

1st: Bobbie’s School of Performing Arts-’Refuse’

2nd: Northwest Dance and Acro-’Dangerous’

3rd: Westlake Dance Center-’Cola’

Sidekick Group

1st: The Company Space-’Signed, Sealed, Delivered’

Mini Group

1st: The Company Space-’Dumb, Crazy, Stupid Love’

2nd: Premiere Dance Center-’Ballroom Blitz’

3rd: The Company Space-’Addicted’

Junior Group

1st: The Company Space-’Maneater’

2nd: The Company Space-’Cardigan’

3rd: Accolades Movement Project-’His Daughter’

Teen Group

1st: The Company Space-’Extraordinary Life’

2nd: The Company Space-’Hold On’

3rd: Premiere Dance Center-’Believer’

3rd: Accolades Movement Project-’Nothing’

Senior Group

1st: Westlake Dance Center-’Sad Day’

1st: Allegro Performing Arts Academy-’The Dance’

2nd: Westlake Dance Center-’Headspace’

3rd: Allegro Performing Arts Academy-’Unity’

Sidekick Line

1st: The Company Space-’Besties’

Mini Line

1st: The Company Space-’The Life of the Party’

2nd: The Company Space-’Objection’

Junior Line

1st: The Company Space-’Work Song’

2nd: Harbor Dance and Performance Center-’Almost’

Teen Line

1st: Performing Arts Academy of Marin-’Lifeboat’

2nd: Performing Arts Academy of Marin-’Hold On’

3rd: The Company Space-’Hey Big Spender’

Teen Extended Line

1st: The Company Space-’Gimme Some’

2nd: The Company Space-’Dog Days Are Over’

High Scores by Performance Division:

Sidekick Jazz

1st: The Company Space-’Signed, Sealed, Delivered’

Sidekick Hip-Hop

1st: The Company Space-’Besties’

Mini Jazz

1st: Premiere Dance Center-’Ballroom Blitz’ 2nd: The Company Space-’Hit The Road Jack’ 3rd: The Company Space-’Objection’

Mini Ballet

1st: Premiere Dance Center-’En Depit de Tout’ 2nd: Premiere Dance Center-’En Vue’

Mini Hip-Hop

1st: Westside Academy-’Pop Star’ 2nd: Harbor Dance and Performance Center-’Rich Girls’

Mini Tap

1st: The Company Space-’Dumb, Crazy, Stupid Love’ 2nd: The Company Space-’Swing Batta, Swing’

Mini Contemporary

1st: Premiere Dance Center-’On The Radio’

Mini Lyrical

1st: The Company Space-’Goodbye Yellow Brick Road’ 2nd: Performing Arts Academy of Marin-’Small World’

Mini Musical Theatre

1st: The Company Space-’The Life of the Party’

Mini Specialty

1st: The Company Space-’Addicted’

Junior Jazz

1st: The Company Space-’Maneater’ 2nd: Performing Arts Academy of Marin-’Hot Note’ 3rd: Accolades Movement Project-’Poor Unfortunate Soul’

Junior Hip-Hop

1st: Harbor Dance and Performance Center-’Get Like Me’

Junior Tap

1st: Harbor Dance and Performance Center-’Rock This Joint’ 2nd: Harbor Dance and Performance Center-’Karma Chameleon’

Junior Contemporary

1st: The Company Space-’Cardigan’ 2nd: Accolades Movement Project-’Dark Dreams’ 3rd: Performing Arts Academy of Marin-’Plans We Made’

Junior Lyrical

1st: The Company Space-’Work Song’ 2nd: Accolades Movement Project-’His Daughter’ 3rd: Performing Arts Academy of Marin-’Corals Under The Sun’

Junior Specialty

1st: Harbor Dance and Performance Center-’Starlit Afternoon’ 2nd: Harbor Dance and Performance Center-’Almost’

Teen Jazz

1st: The Company Space-’Gimme Some’ 2nd: ENCORE Performing Arts Center-’Feel Love’ 3rd: Accolades Movement Project-’Maybe We’ll See’

Teen Ballet

1st: Harbor Dance and Performance Center-’I Feel Pretty’ 2nd: Harbor Dance and Performance Center-’Tea Time’ 3rd: Harbor Dance and Performance Center-’Midnight Waltz’

Teen Hip-Hop

1st: Accolades Movement Project-’Gurlz’ 2nd: Grand Finale Dance Studio-’Cash Flow’ 3rd: Harbor Dance and Performance Center-’Girls Just Wanna Have Fun’

Teen Tap

1st: Premiere Dance Center-’Believer’ 2nd: The Company Space-’Electric’ 3rd: Harbor Dance and Performance Center-’Fever’ 3rd: Grand Finale Dance Studio-’Pirates’

Teen Contemporary

1st: The Company Space-’Extraordinary Life’ 2nd: The Company Space-’Hold On’ 3rd: Accolades Movement Project-’Nothing’

Teen Lyrical

1st: Performing Arts Academy of Marin-’Lifeboat’ 2nd: The Company Space-’1 + 1′ 3rd: Accolades Movement Project-’For Sally’

Teen Musical Theatre

1st: The Company Space-’Hey Big Spender’ 2nd: Allegro Performing Arts Academy-’Not At All In Love’ 3rd: Performing Arts Academy of Marin -’Juggernaut’

Teen Ballroom

1st: Accolades Movement Project-’Life Is A Dancefloor’

Teen Specialty

1st: The Company Space-’Like That’ 2nd: Harbor Dance and Performance Center-’Switch Out’

Senior Jazz

1st: Westlake Dance Center-’Love So Soft’ 2nd: Allegro Performing Arts Academy-’Indestructible’

Senior Ballet

1st: Allegro Performing Arts Academy-’Unity’

Senior Tap

1st: The Company Space-’Make Me’

Senior Contemporary

1st: Allegro Performing Arts Academy-’The Dance’ 2nd: Westlake Dance Center-’Headspace’ 3rd: Allegro Performing Arts Academy-’Don’t Speak’

Senior Lyrical

1st: Allegro Performing Arts Academy-’Chasing’ 2nd: Westlake Dance Center-’The Storm, It’s Coming’

Senior Musical Theatre

1st: Westlake Dance Center-’All That Jazz’ 2nd: The Company Space-’You’ll Be Back’

Senior Specialty

1st: Westlake Dance Center-’Sad Day’ 2nd: Allegro Performing Arts Academy-’New York New York’

11 O’Clock:

Sidekick

The Company Space-’Signed, Sealed, Delivered’

Mini

The Company Space-’The Life of the Party’

Premiere Dance Center-’Ballroom Blitz’

Junior

Harbor Dance and Performance Center-’Rock This Joint’

Accolades Movement Project-’His Daughter’

The Company Space-’Work Song’

Performing Arts Academy of Marin-’Hot Note’

Teen

The Company Space-’Gimme Some’

Premiere Dance Center-’Believer’

ENCORE Performing Arts Center-’Feel Love’

Performing Arts Academy of Marin-’Lifeboat’

Accolades Movement Project-’Nothing’

Senior

Allegro Performing Arts Academy-’The Dance’

Westlake Dance Center-’Sad Day’

The Company Space-’Make Me’

Studio Showcase:

The Company Space-’Gimme Some’

Premiere Dance Center-’Believer’

Performing Arts Academy of Marin-’Lifeboat’

Harbor Dance and Performance Center-’Fever’

Allegro Performing Arts Academy-’The Dance’

Accolades Movement Project-’Nothing’

[whirlybirdwhat]

AU where Morgan reign of terror traumatizes Coby and he leaves with Luffy and Zoro instead of becoming a marine.

ANON I LOVE YOU YOU HAVE INSPIRED ME!!!! I don’t know how to make this a comprehensive story yet so have some headcanons about 

~~REVOLUTIONARY COBY!!!~~~

Coby is disgusted by way marines are run

He has a “THIS ISNT JUSTICE” Revelation like in Marineford, but on a smaller scale. He sees how thin Zoro is, from being starved and crucified for saving a young, and how happy the people are now that Axe Hand is gone and is like - this isn’t the justice I wanted.

“I want to catch criminals, not harm innocent people.”

Coby starts thinking about his new companions and thinks Luffy’s rough and luffs feral, but he hasn’t hurt anyone. Axe Hand Morgan and his son have.

So Coby follows Luffy and Zoro into the great unknown.

He’s not entirely sure he wants to be a pirate however. Unlike everyone else he does have a moral compass.

“I don’t think I want to be a pirate.” He says after watching Zoro keep calling Luffy Captain.

 “Then be a bounty hunter? Go after whomever you want” – Zoro, who does not give a shit about Coby’s internal crisis, but wants to support him.

⁃Coby: “Huh. Okay”

⁃Cue nights where cobys just thinking about his future as he drifts in the waves with Zoro and Luffy being dumb idiots together and just heading for their dreams

HE doesn’t know if he wants to be a bounty hunter, because how can he tell which bounties are for genuine crimes and which are for people the government wants to kill?

Potential other au lmao coby becomes a bounty hunter

⁃At orange town, he panics at Buggy and hides - he doesn’t know how to fight, but he does get the key from chouchou the dog. He’s helping, in his own way.

⁃Zoro sees this and is like “NO. You need to learn how to fight cmon we’ll teach you.” Like Luffy, he has an aversion to people who cant stand up for themselves, but he likes Coby so he’s gonna help.

⁃So Zoro and Luffy tag team each other and teach coby how to fight. He learns a weird mix of swordsman ship and punching that really don’t go together, but its better than what he had.  

⁃In the meantime, Coby keeps on seeing all the places the marines dont reach and keeps losing his faith in the system. He starts wondering why the Marines are hailed as this awesome force when really a lot of the times they just abuse their power or do nothing to help people.

⁃At Syrup, he helps get Kaya to safety with Usopp, still unwilling to fight, but starting to regain his resolve to do something – to reclaim a dream thought lost.

⁃Coby’s disgusted at the Fullbuster guy on the Baratie and punches him. 

⁃“YOUR FIRST CRIME!” Luffy says, cheerfully. The chefs applaud. Go Coby.

⁃Now, Coby isn’t advancing as fast in training, because one, luffy and zoro (and Sanji, eventually) aren’t Garp, and two, he doesn’t have that drive anymore. Why does he want to be a Marine who punishes justice?

⁃But when Arlong shows up Coby figures out his new dream. He knows what he is going to do.

⁃“I’m gonna take down the Marines - they can’t be this corrupt forever, and how many people are just innocent people? I want to give the world justice again!”

Luffy doesn’t really care about anybody else, innocent or not, unless his crew cares, but Coby cares. He’s not a pirate, but maybe if the law isn’t right, being free to do as he wish shouldn’t incriminate him?

⁃THEN the Strawhats run into Vivi and Chopper and suddenly there are more caring people like him, and more evidence that the system is corrupt which he already knows but how can he change it. He’s able to fight off some men now, and helps fight off some of Wapols men and the Whiskey Peak people, but that isn’t enough.

⁃All his friends have goals that seem impossible but they are so sure they alone are going to reach it, even without the crew there. Coby doesn’t feel like he can do the same.

⁃But hen theres alabasta - He’s stronger now, can through a punch, hes more lean with more muscle. He helps fight, and maybe it doesn’t do much, maybe the man (Luffy) who opened his eyes to the world is still there bleeding out, but he did something.

⁃And Ace and Robin have a hint for him, for his dream.

⁃(Who is this, Ace asks, referring to Coby. He has no role on the ship, but Luffy is proud to call him my friend, and say he wants to change the world for the better. To bring back what Justice really is. Ace cringes at the thoughhht of Garp but hums, and says theres a group of people who will do that – The Revolutionaries. Look for them, Ace says, and leaves. They will help you)

⁃(Robin, who knows all, tells him about Dragon unknown in the East Blue, his home, buth the most wanted man elsewhere. He has a plan, to take down the World Government, and perhaps Coby can find equal footing.)

⁃The Revolutionaries -  Dragon, Luffy’s father.

⁃Coby has a goal now.

⁃He doesn’t want to say goodbye to the Strawhats, but he does, taking a boat lent to him by Vivi, and setting off to find the Revolutionaries. Pirates don’t care about fair fights and Justice, but Coby does, and the Revolutionaries do. His dream will grow there, but he will always be an honorary crew member of the Straw Hat Pirates (the first in some stories).

⁃At sea he runs into Helmeppo, whose drifting at sea stranded due to the marines, and helps him. They bond, and Helmeppo has done a little growth in character as well, and decides to follow Coby, much like Coby decided to follow Luffy.

⁃They run into Garp who is losing faith in the new generation and believes that maybe his son is right, gives them a few fists of training after asking about his grandson, and goes on his way.

⁃They save a town or two

⁃Coby punches several people in the face.

⁃Still no sign of the revolutionaries, but they have heard things from the grape vine that a pirate ship has fallen out of the sky into a navy base. Coby assumes at least Luffy is doing fine.

⁃Finally they run into - guess who – Sabo, on a information recovery mission, which Coby helps with. He questions them at first and learns their story.

⁃And knocks himself the fuck out when Coby says “Ace” “Luffy” and “Brothers”

⁃“OH SHIT THEY ARE GOING TO KILL ME” - sabo,after waking up, to a confused Coby and then profusely thanking him.

⁃Sabo agrees to let Coby and helmeppo into the Revolutionaries and trains them (wow Coby’s been trained by a lot of ppl at this point) if Coby helps him find Luffy and Ace.

⁃CUE WILD GOOSE CHASE WHICH ENTAILS COBY BECOMING THE HERO OF THE REVOLUTION just like Garp is the hero of the marines!! They just fight ppl but instead of in the name of becoming the pirate king, its for REVOLUTION and JUSTICE because Coby has a working moral compass.

⁃Coby develops new moves combining all that he’s been taught into a rather weird fighting style with a mix of weapons and martial arts. He gets a bounty, and it’s the worst day of his entire life and also the best. He can’t decide, Helmeppo Sabo and Koala (whom he met when Sabo had to explain why he wasn’t on his mission) laugh at him.

⁃Then Sabo runs into Ace, ands that reunion goes as well as you would expect, but that not the important thing, because its still not enough to not send Ace to Marineford. But they don’t know this. Yet.

⁃Sabo and Ace both get news about Ennies Lobby at the same time. Coby, when Luffy mentions knowing Coby to his visiting grandfather, receives a shudder down his spine as if he has narrowly avoided a horrible fate.

⁃But its whatever. Sabo contacts Dragon and plans to meet with him and Luffy at Sabaody, to keep an eye on the Supernovas and let Sabao and Coby see Luffy again.

⁃They never get a chance, as the Strawhat Pirates have disappeared by the time they arrive… and Ace is on the execution block.

⁃Sabo has to go save him and drags Coby along for the ride, who eagerly awaits the opportunity to THROW DOWN SOME MARINES

⁃Luffy still goes through Impel down and all that, but Sabo and Coby still arrive late to the battle.

⁃You know how Sabo saves Luffy and Ace in that one excerpt? Cue coby punching akainu in the face for trying to hurt his friends then dodging the hell outta there as sabo saves ace and luffy.

⁃He Learns his haki! Is like oh shit my crush is gonna die, better do some shit about that! The haki allows him to actually stop Akainu for a second, and stop the fighting, as he attempts to question the people – is this what justice is?

⁃Coby meets trafalagr law and also buggy again. He isn’t afraid anymore, and doesn’t hide. People are quietly proud.

⁃Luffy gets saved and ASL reunion happens.

⁃Luffy decides to train, and tries to get coby to come along with him.

⁃Coby Is just frustrated because he has a moral compass and Luffy is just here saying he’s now best friends with corrupt war lords and the pirate kings right hand man, who is a cool dude, but why luffy, coby is hurt, please stop punching people because you feel like it.

⁃(Coby’s just putting on appearances)

⁃HEs just a good boy who wants to tear down corrupt systems why do you make friends with criminals luffy why do you hurt coby like this

(Again, appearances, he’s not insane, thank you very much)

After leaving Luffy to train and after helping him due his oxbell thing, he leaves with sabo to FINALLY MEET DRAGON

He goes through his own two year training with helpmeppo who is along for the ride. Who Coby has now decided is stuck with him for life.

Training is hell, because Coby wants to find his own fighting style which means a lot of different stuff and seeing what works best and it HURTS

 “Just be grateful im not my father-“ – dragon

 Coby feels the shudder again

Yknow how The revs have that steam punk theme? Well

 STEAMPUNK COBY!!!!
 this is. so cool oh my gosh

 Coby goes around freeing people and when they asked what inspired you hes like “rubber bastard who doesn’t have a moral compass fkdjsha,dk”

Hes gay for luffy he cant deny it

Luffy fanclub #1

Anyway, Coby goes on to take down Akainu and corrupt governments across the world, and makes his dream of tearing down the marines a reality post Pirate King Luffy

[gothfoxx]

Miraculous Ladybug, Male! Marinette x Lila, They were partnered up with in a project but they hated each other. They have settled their differences or they would fail the project.

(I’m using @virgil-is-a-cutie ‘s male!Marinette name for this)

When Ms Bustier said they would do the project in pairs Marin could feel the eyes of everyone in class glance hungrily in his direction. There was sure to be a fight for an easy grade. “Partners will be assigned at the end of the lesson so please pay attention!” The teacher informed them. ‘Ha!’ Marin thought as all the greedy vultures groaned and moaned about their lost meal ticket.

“That leaves Alya and Juleka as the last girl team and Lila and Marin as our last co Ed team!” Ms Bustier said way too cheerfully for someone that just sent a guy down the river. “Remember I want to see effort from both of you in your project for this lesson, think of it as your idea child. Raise it together with love and care!” The woman added a happy little half clap to emphasize her giddiness at the prospect.

Marin held back an eye roll that he was sure several other students could share. At least it was a subject he liked so if he had to do all the work he wouldn’t be struggling. The plopping down of a bag jars the bluenett out of his musings huh Alya left already and when he looks up he sees his nightmare hasn’t ended yet, “Hey~ Marin. So I guess we’re working together huh?” Lila asks feigning innocence and dripping artificial sweetness. When he doesn’t address her right away she tilts her head and pouts, if he didn’t know it was all an act he might have been swayed into being sorry.

He heaved a sigh to rivial a tiny god’s and puts on his ‘customer service’ smile, “Guess so. So do you have an idea for what we should do? I’m all ears!” Might as well jump to it and prepare for the worst. She surprises him by pulling out a piece of paper with some sloppy writing on it. “I might have one idea.” She beams, ew she can fake that too is that healthy?. “Oh cool.” Came his less than enthusiastic reply as he tried to read the paper, “So what IS the idea?” He finally asks after getting nowhere trying to read from the paper. Lila grinned and this time if was the kind her was used to, the sly cruel smile of a Predator on the hunt.

“I’m glad you ask Marin! It just so happens that my grandpapa’s work involved research of this area. We have some of his old journals at home. We practically have this done!” She boasted, and for a lie this one seemed rather...dumb to say the least. How was she going to get out of something so plainly’put up or shut up’? “So I guess we’re doing it at your place?” He remarks as he looks back at his notes for the list of suggested topics. A sound like a strangled cat catches his attention back to the brunette, she was red in the face and sputtering, “excuse me? Come again?” She wheezes between two steadying breaths. He’s confused at to what set her off but he repeats himself, “Are we doing the project at your house? Where the journals are?” And by golly she goes from looking mad to being embarrassed. “Oh, sure” comes the oddly soft response.

After school Marin texted his parents that he’d be home for dinner and prayed that if this was some kind of murder plot that they would at least start the search for his body quickly. The awkward silence dragged on until it got to be too much for the boy so he asks, “So what did your grandpa do?” After a few steps Lila answers with a grand sweep of her hand towards a front door. “You’ll just have to see, welcome to the Castello Rossi!” For all the grand showmanship it’s a very plain looking house, well kept but plain. “How nice, I like your plants.” Marin comments trying to be civil since they still have work to do.

As Lila opens the door with another grand gesture Marin is shocked to see how empty and impersonal it feels. Most of the front room looks unlived in with just two picture frames sitting on the mantle. “Mama won’t be home till later so let’s go to the office and get as much done as we can.” She states, beckoning him to follow. The office is a stark contrast to the room earlier, stacks of important looking paper tower on the dark wooden desk, Knick-nacks and books fill the shelves, and family phones are scattered along the walls. While Marin is taking it all in Lila goes to a shelf in the corner and pulls out two worn out sketch books.

As it turns out Lila’s grandpa was part of a team of anthropologists that studied post World War I art and his books were a mix of notes on the how the war changed how the art had changed and sketches of people he had interviewed. It was all so fascinating and emotional. Marcelo Rossi had a way with words, Marin felt like he could hear the man’s voice narrate as he read entry after entry. They easily got most of their project done, the impact of WWI in everyday life, all they needed was a second source and they would be finished. All in all it was a not horrible experience, maybe if Lila could shape up they could really be friends like everyone wanted.

Ending 1: not so bad

Marin was surprised that in the week and a half that they had been working together to discover the Rossi family were well known in nitch circles of the anthropology and archaeological sciences. He had seen a picture of her great aunt recording the dying language of the Tihan people of Tiahana, gotten to read the musings of the eccentric late great-great-uncle Sal who studied prehistoric plants. They were amazing people who changed their fields, it was a wonder Lila depended on lies to get attention. When the day of the presentation came up Marin was excited to share what they had written, Lila even brought scans of the sketch books to pass around. Everyone else’s reports were pretty standard in comparison so when it was their turn they knocked it out of the park!

After class Marin walked out with Lila like he had done everyday for a week when to realized that he didn’t need to follow her anymore. It caught him off guard at how sad that made him, he liked seeing the real Lila under all the lies and faux confidence. Did they really have to pop their little bubble just because they didn’t share a goal anymore? “Aren’t you coming?” Lila asked tugging on Marin’s sleeve, “We need to celebrate, that report was definitely an A. We deserve a treat!” She declares, dragging the less than reluctant boy along with her. They announced their relationship a few days later to the cheers of the class.

Ending 2: how did it end up like this

Marin had gotten to know the real Lila over the week and a half they worked together. He had really gotten through to her as he assured her that what her family did was interesting and there was no need to hide behind her web of lie. She agreed to come clean to the class with Marin to vouch for her after the project. He was really proud of her and was planning on asking her to lunch together later that day.

Strangely when they walked in that morning in prep for the report Marin felt the burning feeling of eyes boring into the back of his head. Ms Bustier met them at the bottom of the steps, “Lila is it really a good idea for you to come in today with everything that you’ve done?” The teacher inquired with a grit of her teeth. A murmur rippled through the room as Marin realized the glares weren’t aimed at his mmm for a change. Lila paled and looked around the class before focusing back on Ms Bustier, “What’s going on? What do you mean by what ‘I’ve done’?” The brunette asks a bit nervously.

It was Alya that stood up and pointed an accusing finger at Lila. “You lied about everything, you made me think you were going to help me with my career! You just strung us along like puppets!” She roared, Juleka had to hold the journalist back from rush the Italian. “Alya sit down! I will handle this!” Barked Ms Bustier, looking very run down and already very tired for the time of day. If Marin though Lila was pale before then she looked ghostly now, her eyes looked huge on her face as she looked at the struggling Alya. “As you can see. It would be best if you spent the day with the principal. Your mother should be here soon” the teacher growled.

Just then Juleka lost her grip and Alya rushed forward making Lila bolt out the door. Marin braced his body, the same way he did when Manon tries to escape to cling to her mom, and grabbed Alya around the middle and kept her from chasing his friend. “Why are you stopping me! She lied, you know she lied!” Raved the girl trying to wrestle her way out of his grip. “She played us!” She snarled. “She played you like the cheap kazoo you are!” Marin responded in kind. “I told you before it was a problem that she was lying but none of you would hear me out, you asked for proof, you called me envious! But it���s now that I like her and she promised to come clean that you choose to see the truth!? Fuck you guys!” He yells, dropping Alya on her ass and running after Lila.

He finds her crying in the hall that leads to the principal’s office. Her eyes are red and puffy, it breaks his heart to see her scrubbing her face in an effort to make the tears stop. Kneeling down next to her Matin holds his arm out so she can curl up into his side. “Don’t worry about them. They never knew the real you. After all the talk they spout about friendship and loyalty and giving chances they never even tried to get to know who was under all the celebrity stories. They all dropped you without asking questions or giving you a chance. So don’t worry about them. You have me.” He promises, rubbing her back soothingly. They wait there a long time before Mrs Rossi arrives, Marin stays for the meeting holding Lila’s hand through the whole ordeal. With compromises on both sides Lila is allowed to stay in the school but she will be switching classes and seeing a councilor. After Marin walks Lila and her mom back to their car, it might not be the best time but he’s not sure when he’ll get the chance again, “Once you’re not grounded anymore will you go out for coffee with me? Or a movie, I don’t even know if you like coffee.” He rambles get stopped in their tracks when Lila leans over and places a peck on his cheek. “I’d love to” she smiles, eyes still a bit wet, before having to close the car door and drive away.

[one-piece-dumpster-fire]

The angst fairy hath arrived! I would like h/c of Cracker, Katakuri, Basil, Lucci, and Killer's respective s/o's being captured by the Marines under the accusation of a crime they couldn't have committed (World Gov doesn't care, they need a scape goat) and are subsequently executed. Bonus if the World Gov makes it look like the s/o betrayed their bae and bae only finds out after s/o is executed (apologies if this is confusing)

this was difficult to write formultiple reasons, but I hope you somewhat like what I came up with xd

And I don’t even know how to choose a title for this, sooo…

When the WG captures and executes you after spreading some nasty rumors headcanon

Cracker

to put it simple, the news of you beingcaptured devastate him. Why weren’t you back at home, waiting for himto return? How did the World Government even get their filthy handson you?! Oh they better not do anything to you or he’ll make themregret it!

of course Cracker will ready his ownship immediately to come to your rescue. He can’t employ a fleetthough because his mother can never know of his secret relationshipand feelings for you, otherwise she might just see to it that you’llget executed by her instead…

before he can make any rashdecisions and actually sail out though, his sister Galette, one of the fewpeople who knew about Cracker and your relationship, comes in with anewspaper in her hand. It is officially licensed and contains aninterview where you seemingly claim to be one of Blackbeard’s secretmistresses who infiltrated the Big Mom Pirates for information…

his whole world is just… cracking. You, the woman he thought he loved… Whom he almost planned a future with, wanted tohave an army of children with… used him this entire time?!

to think that he was ready to risk andpossibly throw away his life for a spy… Ha! okay then, (Y/N)! go on andperish, see if he cares! (he still does)

Cracker is not going to sit by andwatch your execution, instead he’ll go and do the only thing thatcould possibly make him feel better right now- get wasted in a strip club

and indeed, the pain in his heart isforgotten for the rest of the evening and night. Hell, he doesn’teven remember that you basically got killed a few hours ago!

but the next morning is simplyterrible. Cracker can’t get up (neither does he want to), his headhurts like shit and there is a picture of you right next to him inbed. Not only that, but his cheeks feel oddly wet… was hecrying…?

although he doesn’t remembereverything, Cracker does recall reading that you were cheating on himand executed by the WG. Well… you’re gone now, and even though hisfeelings for you didn’t disappear yet, the fact that you deceived himwill probably help make him forget about you. Yeah and then Galette comes backwith new, more accurate informations concerning your execution and ‘cheating’, which she received thanks to hermother’s huge network…

and Cracker never cried as much as hedid that day. What did he do, why did he believe a dumb newspaperinstead of you?! All the times you said you loved him, why did hejust discard that so quickly?! Now it’s over… you’re gone… and it’s all his fault…

Katakuri

it takes him a few moments to processthe news of you being not only captured but about to be executed thenext day. He just… took on ONE mission, how did you get yourself into such a mess during the short period that he was away?!

oh lord, this is breaking his heart, but…Katakuri can’t save you. He simply can’t sail out and start a war without hismother’s permission…

he is her strongest fighter. If he leftTottoland without telling her… not only would that count astreason, but something could happen to his family as well. Andunfortunately… you aren’t family, yet…

when he gets wind of you ‘cheating’ onhim though, it is actually somewhat of a relief to Katakuri. You see,he was on the fence on whether he should go and save his love or stayand hope that something or someone saves you after all… but nowthat decision was basically taken from him anyway.

and he’s not even that suprised. Afterall, who could ever truly love someone like him?

his mind grows extremely dark as hethinks about all the things that could have been. No, you weredistracting him from his duties, that wasn’t right… you gave himhope, but he just should have stayed pessimistic.

Katakuri, along with some of hisbrothers and sisters, watches your execution via their special videosnail. Seeing your body drop down on the floor, now completelylifeless, made him flinch for a second, but the moment was too quickfor anyone to notice

he hasn’t cried in ages. This day wasno exception. And even when the 'truth’ came out a couple days later,the tall man still did not shed a tear.

because he knew. God, of course he knewthat you didn’t cheat, but he still chose to believe those lies inorder to make himself feel better about his decision. Katakuri neededto force himself to believe the fake news since it was the only thingcapable of keeping him from sailing out to save you.

…it was a heartbreaking experience,but it did teach him one thing: his family and duties as Charlotteare the only things that matter. Everything else is just uselessdisctraction…

Hawkins

he was actually there and watched asyou were taken away

no, he did not try to help. One look at his cards and it was clear that he was hopelessly outmatched. Andeven though Hawkins cares for you, there would be no point in being brave ad possibly getting you both killed

but that doesn’t mean that he wouldjust idly sit by while you were suffering and terrified, oh no. Hestays up the entire night, works through any possible rescue optionthat runs through his mind, but the cards always say the same… 0chance of sucess…

he usually doesn’t reach for the bottle, but that night he almost single handedly downed the entire stash of his ship…

ultimately he has to accept that thisis the end. If he can’t save you, who else might? It’s a more thanbitter pill to swallow, but it’s obvious that no matter what, thisstory won’t have a happy ending…

the news about you cheating? Okay comeon, Hawkins isn’t dumb. He would have figured something like that out waaaaybefore some Government run newspaper, yet reading such ablatant lie does add salt to his wound

nonetheless, he does show up at yourexecution. It’s the least he can do, even if every second tormentshim on the inside

there are two main reasons as to whyHawkins is there: 1. he needs your body. He may not be able to saveyou from death, but the least he can do is give you a proper burialonce this is all over. 2….. these are your final moments. He needsto be there and see your beauty one more time before the life in youfades away

it was more than hard to watch, butHawkins knew that he would regret it if he didn’t stay for the whole ‘spectacle’ until the bitter end. At least you didn’t have to suffer for long….

you were unique in every way, and itwas an honor for Hawkins to know and love you. No one could ever takeyour place in his little, rotten voodoo-heart and until it is histurn to pass over, the memory of you will stay alive with him. he makes sure of that.

Lucci

as someone who is indirectly workingunder the WG, he of course knew of their plan. And approved.

it was supposed to be a simple thingand no, he would not allow you to be executed- they would capture youand keep you in prison for a few days, yes, but ultimately execute adifferent woman that simply looked similar to you…

but then the fake news of you cheatingon him came in and made Lucci go F E R A L

„no need to look for another woman.Take her. Kill her. Before I do it myself.“

he would never admit to himself thatthe feelings he harbored for you came close to love, but regardlessof that, you still… meant something to him. Something he couldn’tquite wrap his finger around. And that was your response? Cheating onhim? Betraying him, when feelings he never thought he couldexperience began to blossom in his chest?

Good. It’s good, there is no need forhim to get worked up, after all… those feelings would have justmade him weak… yes, that’s all… with you gone, he will be able toreturn to his glorious, calculated former self…

Lucci, along with some other members ofCP0, were there when you were executed. His eyes never left yourform, and the fear and hurt reflected in your eyes as you spotted himalmost caused something in him to stir, but 'luckily’ he managed toshake that off before he would have done something regretful… liketearing through your throat while the whole world watches

however, right after the wholeexecution is done, he gets the news that you cheating on him wasn’ttrue. And that causes his face to crack for a second

even though Lucci manages to supressthem, not even he could deny the swirl of emotions that suddenlyerupted in his chest. Emotions that were foreign to him until now-guilt… regret… hurt…?

with you, his greatest weakness died. Butso did the one chance for him to change.

Killer

first of all, capturing you is almostimpossible because Killer is one of the most protective boyfriends ever. And the WG knows that.

so what happened was that they managedto use the heat of a battle between the Kid Pirates and Marines tosnatch you away when a good opportunity presented itself

of course Killer- and some crewmates aswell- tried to hunt after them and get you back, but it was alreadytoo late, not to mention that a dozen marines were still blocking their path…

the news that you are set up to beexecuted suprises and shocks everyone. Heck, even Kid knows what a'useless woman’ you are, and the crime you’re being accused of issomething you could never pull off!

the Kid Pirates aren’t the smartestpeople around, but this article is clearly there to simply blame youfor something someone else has done, and it infuriates Killer thatthey attempt to taint your name like that

however, one thing they are known foris to do dumb shit. And Killer is usually the voice of reason, butthis time it’s actually him who calls the shots and prepares to sailoff to save you. Right into enemy territority.

unfortunately though… they didn’teven get close to the actual place of your execution. The marinesalready awaited them and a heated navy battle ensue, with bothsides (mainly Kid’s) taking some heavy damage

the Victoria Punk was close to sinkingwhen Kid finally gave the order to retreat, and even though it wasbreaking his heart, Killer had to admit that there was no point infighting a battle they had zero chance of winning

so they take off and travel to a nearbyisland where they would not only be able to make repairs but alsowatch your final moments via video livestream. With Killer being the onlyone refusing to watch.

and even though the rest of the crew (and especially Kid) attempted to distract him with booze and the promise of plunder, a part of Killer simply died that day.

[early20thcenturynerd]

“Margetta Hirsch Doyle ’45 was a regular student at William & Mary. Her friends called her 'Getta' and she was a Kappa Delta. Doyle kept a diary and wrote about her philosophy quizzes, described how much she enjoyed making Red Cross surgical wrappings and mentioned hours spent spotting airplanes from campus buildings. Doyle was a student during World War II. 

During the second World War, William & Mary became a predominantly female campus. While many college-age males fought abroad, women kept up the war effort from Williamsburg. In between their studies and social life, students volunteered with the Student War Council and the American Red Cross. Along with other service work, they, like Doyle, made surgical dressings and spotted airplanes, sometimes in groups and sometimes alone.”

Margetta Hirsch Doyle's Entries for May, 1943:

MAY 1 

Happy May Day! It was Saturday and so we didn’t do much. Cary, Beth, Mrs. Dalthud and I went marketing and made out pretty well. Cary and I made the first major mistake of our careers as housekeepers. We bought birdseye fish for dinner (no points) and naturally thought we should keep it frozen in the ice box. By the time Lizzie and Flora arrived there were just so many chunks of ice lieing there. We all howled hysterically over it and had a vegetable plate dinner (I hope the fish will thaw by Monday!) This afternoon Cary and I went down town and to the Wigwam. I wrote some letters, changed the bedding on my bed and generally wasted time - worked tonight. I received a card from Bill Brennan - his 29 day training is almost up.

MAY 2 

Such an unusual little day! We slept unusually late and then Beth, Punchy and I dressed to go to church. As we came out of Bruton, Joy Allen pounced upon Punchy and me saying Cary had walked by with two ensigns and a lieutenant j.g. and wanted us to walk up to the Lodge and meet them. Bewildered, we looked at each other with a what-the-heck attitude and walked on up. Sure enough, there was Cary with three naval officers! We soon became acquainted and had loads of fun drinking champagne cocktails and eating dinner. After awhile we came back to the house and played the vic. It was really a terrifically pleasant afternoon. Cary, Punchy and I pored through the want ads and I wrote six or seven letters of application to see how the land lies. I tried to phone Bill Brennan to wish him a happy birthday but couldn't get the call thru.

MAY 3 

Things may seem “awfully dismal” at times but I’m really so very lucky and the bright spots of life are so nice. Tonight - brazen hussy that I am! - while down at work I placed a call through to Bill Brennan again. It wouldn't come, but the little operator kept trying (pull!) and finally just after I got back to the house the phone rang and a voice said “Boy! This is wonderful!” Ya huh, ‘twas Willy and gosh it was super talking to him. It wasn't at all like a typical long distance conversation - we just said dumb old things and deep things and you’d have thought we were both in Hollis rather than in Billsburg and Atlantic City respectively. So nice! Oh I forgot to mention that I got a perky letter from him too. I’m beaming obnoxiously. I wish…….. My life has a mysterious element too. This evening while I was out two darling marines came to see me, one of who “was a very good friend of a girl from home.” Vague, but I hope they come back!

MAY 4 

I’ve still glowed all day from last night’s phone call, and even now nice things keep happening. At lunchtime the package man came bearing a gift for me: a lush "bon bon" spoon with an awfully sweet note from “Mom” Brennan -- I was so tickled with it, and love her good. We rushed today informally - Betty Marie Ellett for lunch and two other girls for dinner with the usual accompanying intra-sorority feeling. Initiation for Jinx Richardson, Ann Wilson and Eleanor Ramsdell was last night and so we had a cup service at seven o’clock this morning - then classes, marketing, fun and work. I received real nice letters from Mother and Daddy and a faintly perky one from Bill Boyd. He is trying to stall off his furlough until June when I’ll be home. Gosh, I hope it’ll work. I’m so lucky! Flat Hat mentioned Punchy’s & my badminton defeat.

MAY 5

This morning was the annual convocation for the tapping of the members of the junior class chosen to be Mortarboard and ODK. It was very impressive and full of suspense, since supposedly noone knew who was to be selected. Fran Pendleton was one of the five girls to get Mortarboard and we’re all very thrilled about the whole thing. The other girls were Margie Lentz, Katie Rutherford, Marion Ross, and [Lebe] Seay. Mary Wilson Carver is the new president. Punchy, Carolyn Harley and I went up on Barrett roof sunbathing and got faintly tanned. Then we went shopping for Mother’s Day gifts and had our pictures taken at the telephone office. Per usual when having our pictures taken, Punchy sneered and I had “my fixed look” sat on the camera, but we’re celebrities anyway. Beth & Marty won badminton matched over Gamma Phi.

MAY 6 

“Rabbit - rabbit” really worked this month cause things keep getting better ‘n’ better. Today was a usual Thursday: marketing classes (Econ outside in the Sunken Gardens), archery (I’m off the 30 yd line at last) and swimming. After that we went downtown to the official dedication of the U.S.O., with music and speeches, including one by John D. Rockefeller, ‘Jr. ‘Twas sort of impressive. Yearbooks came out today and it’s the best Colonial Echo in years. We spent considerable time in poring over it, laughing and "ohing" and "ahing". Remember the marines I wrote about Monday night? Well, Warren Ripley came back this evening and is awfully nice. He knows Mary Claire Willard from St. Mary’s and she gave him my name. -- small world. He, a goon, Mavis Bunch and I went to the movies (”Truck Busters” was horrible) and then to the Lodge coffee shoppe

MAY 7 

I’m awfully tired, and in a bad mood though still awfully happy about everything. Such a nice life? Nothing exciting happened today. I didn't go marketing, but instead went up in the Library tower for two hours - once with Cary and once with Midge - spotting airplanes. I managed to get a bit of studying done for my philosophy quiz which I sleepily took. (B- on last week’s) I went over to the office to get a social card for Warren and ended up talking in Louise’s room; then I wrote letters to both Bills and fooled around. Holly Rickis has come back for the weekend - it’s natural to have her here. Work was bitter - everything went wrong and the time dragged. A “nice voice” called me up and chatted and a sailor walked us home. Such a masculine life as I’ve been having glimpses into. I can’t get over it! Floyd wrote me from Hunter Field, Georgia

MAY 8 

The weekend has come and I’ve resolved to purely have fun - and how it has started! This afternoon Beth and I went downtown to do our weekly shopping for odds and ends and then she Punchy and I went sunbathing by the practice house with Danny and Eleanor Ramsdell, It’s really hot too! Warren came by with two other marines to tell me that they were going to Richmond and he mightn’t be back right on time for our date tomorrow night. Seeing the other two marines I promised Beth & Punchy dates tomorrow night - and I dood it. Every few minutes, after we were all together I would say “Do you really want to do to Richmond?” and finally we talked them into staying for a howl of an evening. We saw “Air Force” one of the best pictures I’ve ever seen, and went to the Lodge. Ray and Dick kept wanting to be in Richmond, and kept making all sorts of classic remarks! Such fun!

MAY 9 

Happy Mother’s Day -- and what a day! Being hot, we lazily relaxed around the house and didn't quite get to church. I wrote home and Bugsie, changed the bedding on my bed and dressed for dinner. In the middle of it Warren (who wasn't supposed to arrive until late this afternoon) came with Ray, and thus began the second day of my truly unusual experience. Since there isn’t much to do with a date here on Sunday afternoons we went for a walk through the woods and then sat and watched people playing tennis, after which we went to the movies and saw “Air Force” again. Then we went up to the Lodge for champagne cocktails and a howl of a dinner - amusing (!) episode about the time and the tip. What a boy! Mother phoned tonight - and then Harold from Camp Peary phoned me. He sounds nice but you can’t tell. He phoned the telephone co.

MAY 10 

Nothing at all new again. Classes, marketing and quite a lot of studying this afternoon! I actually did some English Lit and then typed away on an interview for Psychology, letting my imagination run rampant with information. I really did get from Warren on the subject “Alcohol and You”. This evening there was the last W.S.C.G.A. meeting of the year, and then we went to an Economics makeup, disturbed by retreat’s being blown from the naval chaplains in our right ears. After that, we had song practice and sorority meeting, made vivid by stirring remarks about the state of the treasury and the consequences of not paying fines and the like. We had a dreamy serenade by Eddie Anderson and two other boys complete with guitar and drooled out the window at its romanticism.

MAY 11 

I went to classes, and then as usual went downtown with Cary to do the marketing - was amazed that some boxes of puddings had arrived in town - it made our housekeeping have a bright spot for the day. Archery was nice in that I got off the 40 yd line in one try. I must have just been jinxed by the 30 yd line - I have a new lease on life now though. On the way back from archery, I stopped in to see Holly, Kay and Louise and talked to them for awhile before coming back to the house and getting ready to have my picture taken again for the Transmitter, the Telephone Co. periodical. Speaking of pictures, the Flat Hat came out today with our crummy picture and the writeup. Punchy and I are celebrities! Mother phoned about Daddy’s maybe coming down and to say she has the measles - imagine! Harold also phoned me!

MAY 12 

Another awfully nice day! After classes and marketing I did my philosophy and then Beth and I rolled bandages for the Red Cross with Mrs. Pomfret. Beth and Punchy played badminton intramurals with Theta and won - I silently stood by and cheered. Warren was here when we got back & stayed till I had to go to work. He wanted a date tonight and Friday night too but I work both nights and so I got out of it very easily. He’s a nice fellow but a little too eccentric to be very enjoyable. In the mail I got a “big” picture of Bill Brennan in uniform. He looks good and it’s interesting to compare it to the other big picture I have of him. He’s so neat and how I’d like to see him! He enclosed a note as did his mom.

MAY 13 

Gad! I’m weary! Today was another one of those days where nothing noteworthy happened but little thing after little thing kept piling up till I haven’t got much energy left. Why do I bother to mention classes, marketing and my athletic afternoon? I’m stuck on the 50 yd line in Archery and in swimming after I emerged from the pool, I slipped, leaped into the air and fell completely flat on my back -- I’m sore and my posterior hurts! At work everyone seemed irritable (probably just because I was) and things didn’t seem to get done right. It’s being paycheck night was the one bright spot -- by the way, with my remaining checks I’ve decided to pay for my $25 room reservation fee besides my ticket home. Then I’ll feel I’m doing something worth while and useful with my earnings.

MAY 14

Life keeps getting better ‘n’ better, excepting for some things of course, the chiefest among which being a meeting of two representatives from each sorority to which I went with Dr. Pomfret, Miss Wynne Roberts, Charlie Duke and Vernon Nunn all about eating in the dining hall next year and reductions (?) in rent, involving all sorts of amazing involvements. The fur was flying as we got in truly deep discussions. There’ll be another even hotter meeting next Monday evening. All the things that keep happening! Such a nice thing happened at work tonight! A Mr. Curyea, who has been calling New York to his wife quite frequently from Camp Peary asked me my number and when I came back from my relief a lush box of candy was waiting for me with a card which said “In appreciation of the service that I have received in my calls to New York City”. It was one of the sweetest things anyone’s ever done for me. Bugsie comes tomorrow! Life can’t get much nicer!

MAY 15 

Such a beautiful life. Bugsie was supposed to come this morning but got lost through connections and finally arrived at 3:00 P.M. on the bus; Gosh! It was super seeing her again! We came back to the house and then walked around campus -- had a screwy time at dinner and afterwards getting dressed for a mass blind date - eight couples. It was super with us walking to the Lodge, Chowning’s, Rexalls #2 and going to the dance in Blow Gym with eight army lieutenants. It was a crazy evening but loads of fun, and I hope Bugsie had a kick out of it. Other lovely events: a cute letter from Jimmy Mooney and a perky one from Bill Boyd signed “All my love”. (slurpy, huh -- I’m so glad!) News that Bill Brennan is stationed at Hamilton College, N.Y. Oh things can’t get better

MAY 16 

My poor feet! We crowded so much into this little day! First we went to Bruton for a service made completely memorable by the presence of British Admiral Pound, General Wavell & others. It seems that General Marshall and the other important allied military leaders have conferred in Williamsburg about future campaign tactics. As we prayed in church (all of us) it made me realize how insignificant I am in the powerful drama being enacted now. After church Bugsie and I went to the Lodge for dinner and then went sightseeing at the Capitol and Governor’s Palace, stopping at Lavery’s on the way. We went over to see Dossie and had supper with her in the dining hall. We had a typically crazy evening together in the house - Kay came over and we walked her home. Whee - so much done this weekend.

MAY 17 

Still everything keeps on happening! Bugsie and I went downtown and did some marketing before I saw her off on the morning train - it was so swell having her here! This afternoon I attempted to do some studying and ended up by writing letters and indulging in bull sessions - also became a bit dreamy over a card and six page letter from Bill Brennan from Hamilton College announcing that things look awfully good so far as our seeing each other once or twice this summer is concerned. (Lovely thought!) This evening Becky and I went to the sorority representatives meeting for setting the rent problem with the administration. They’ve made concessions but even with having 2 extra girls in the dining room our individual room & board will increase about $25 a semester. Oooh! Touching last sorority meeting of the year.

MAY 18 

Ooooh! I’m tired! Punchy and I slept through Philosophy, and I got up for the marketing sort of sleepily. In Economics I hesitantly began to read my report on Agriculture (1940-1942) and Doc Heidingsfield said it was one the best: therefore I love him good. This afternoon I graduated from the 50 yd line in archery and was happy to go in swimming on account of its being so very hot. At work tonight there were too many of us to record so I just sort of sat and was errand girl - terrifically boring - it’ll be sort of good not to work anymore. Mother called tonight to tell me that Daddy’s coming down this weekend - it’ll be swell and I’m awfully glad, but I can’t push off studying for exams much longer!

MAY 19

Today was the day when my conscience finally pushed me to the point of doing some studying - English Lit. - and I really got quite a bit of it accomplished, considering all that I have to do. So much work all at the end of the year (I know: it’s my own fault!) at 3:30 P.M. Beth, Punchy Carolyn and I took time out for trek towards the Wigwam for milkshakes and tin roofs to brighten our dreary outlooks on life. At work tonight I learned Rate and Route and that’s all the news there is about me. Mimi Jardine became engaged to MacGregor (a lieutenant in the navy who seems swell). Gollee - that’s the third in one little week for the KΔ house. Carolyn Harley agreed to take George’s miniature on her five hours off “campus” with him Saturday night, and Marty and Tommy are finally all set too. Such romance!!

MAY 20 

No more classes or anything, ceptin’ exams - I still can’t believe it -- Honest! ‘Tis all over but the shouting and I’ve even made up my double gym. Archery, with a tournament, was terrifically hot, and so it was super indeed to go swimming even though we didn't have a regular class. Now I can go on towards being a Junior (depending on my exams natchally!) I got a letter from the New York office of the American Tel and Til Co. telling me to come in, in June to see about a job. At least it’s something definite that I can look into to see what they have to offer instead of wandering around completely aimlessly. Mrs. Dalthud took over the marketing today; and we’re really elated about it. Three cheers! I washed my hair tonight and am comparatively smooth! So much studying to do and so little time to do it in.

MAY 21 

So many things have happened again today. I went downtown and then paid my $25 room reservation deposit out of my savings. At ten o’clock the train came in and Daddy got off after a hectic trip. He, Cary and I went to the Lodge and found he’s rooming with a Marine major who is quite a character and has wild parties each night. Poor dad - he came here for a rest too! We had lunch in the dining room and then I read over some philosophy notes, just for the heck of it. More relaxing and then Punchy and I went to work for the last time. I’m glad it's over in a way cause it’s getting sort of boring not to be doing anything new, but we’re going to miss the neat gang down there. A senior party back at the house with lush lovely reminiscences, singing, munching on candy bars, punch and lollypops. Such wonderful girls!!!

MAY 22 

Day after day, things pile up! I went up to the Lodge and met Daddy for lunch, then coming back to campus for an Economics Review class. Warren Ripley and his mother (down to see him) came over to the house and then they went to the movies with Daddy and me to see “American Empire” one of the corniest Westerns I’ve ever seen. - ‘twas horrible. Beth and Punchy went up to the Lodge to meet us and we had a hysterical evening, including a yummy STEAK dinner, a trek to the major’s room, (meeting him and some of his gang.) and chatting with Chuck Gondak and other interesting people. We laughed and laughed together and really enjoyed ourselves. Marty became officially engaged to Tommy with a lovely ring. Mmmm! Perky letter from Floyd.

MAY 23

Another day at the Lodge! Carolyn Harley and I walked up to Bruton to meet Daddy for church. Reverend Wood, from Toronto, Canada, preached the sermon which was one of  the best I’d ever heard (personification of the Cathedral in Coventry and St. Paul’s in London - most unusual but stirring!) Kay, Lou Holly and Danny came up to the Lodge for dinner and more idle chitchat. Kay, Lou and Holly left soon after dinner to do some studying. but Danny stayed and the three of us relaxed in the sun. We had a bite (a bite, I say?) to eat in the coffee shoppe and then I came back to the house and dove into my English Lit. - my mind’s bleary as it always becomes at this stage of the game (and I haven’t even started to study yet!) Harold called tonight!

MAY 24 

All morning I grinded over English Lit till I could scream - I’m so sick of the darned stuff! Daddy came up to the house to meet everyone and then we had a sandwich in the Greek’s. This afternoon we went back to the Lodge and sat around talking. Oh, and yes, I did some more English Lit. Dossie Hostetter came up for dinner and we reminisced some more. All the gals down here are so neat! I said Goodbye to Dad till a week from Thursday, and then came back to the house to cram some more. Such monotony! I received another cute letter from Bill Brennan and mail from mother.

MAY 25 

Dad left this morning on the morning train but along that time I was hibernating in Wren with my English Lit. exam. Twas really a corker - most of it was fair, but as always I met my Waterloo on the spot passages. At least the darned thing is over and I’ll never have to think about English Lit. again. (one exam down and four to go: Eureka!!) This afternoon I stopped at Barrett with a birthday present for Holly, went to the Wigwam and eventually settled down to studying Psychology of the interview, rather halfheartedly. My brain can’t stand too much concentrated studying all at once. Gee, I’m living and breathing for a week from now when it’ll be all over. Such fun as it’s been though. A postcard from Harold.

MAY 26 

Apologies, Diary, for the monotony of these entries but the fact remains that I’m a study bug and nothing else. My only communion with the outside world was a trek to Casey’s for shampoo with which to wash my hair; and after that I returned to Philosophy and Economics. Such a broadening intellectual viewpoint as I’m developing! Much excitement over Jinx Richardson! Supposedly she spent the night in town with Bill Lugar already married and is being shipped. Rumors are spreading fast and furiously. ‘Tis a shame cause she really is a neat girl inspite of all the confusion in which she’s been involved. Letters from Mother and Bugsie, saying she has to have her wisdom teeth dug out of her jaw. Poor gal! Also packages & empty cartons from Dad.

MAY 27 

Another day of pure studying! I’d much rather have exams day after day, than sit and cram Psych., Econ. and Philosophy into my head at the same time and then wait to find out how much I don’t remember. I can picture me writing Psychological answers on my Economics exam! All morning and part of this afternoon I spent over at the Practice House reviewing Econ. (see! I said I was in a rut!) with Danny. It helped to see the various emphasis placed on things. Then this evening inbetween perpetual feasts (from boxes à la Hollis) and a phone call from Mother, Beth, Punchy and I rambled over Psych. I got a card from Bill Boyd - he’s been on maneuvers and is going out again - doesn’t lead to a very satisfactory correspondence; but when the real time comes……

MAY 28 

My brain just keeps on getting wearier and wearier. This morning I had my Psych exams, and this afternoon Econ., both of which were entirely different from what I’d expected. Unless Doc Heidingsfield is terrifically lenient - there goes my A! Good and amazing news though: I got a B as my final grade in English Lit. Dr. Crane mustn’t have counted all my mistaken spot passages very much. I love him dearly for it. - for bringing my C up to a B when I hadn’t expected a C definitely. Then too, I learned I’d gotten B on my last Psych exam (taken weeks ago!) So, excepting for what I did on my exams today, scholastically life’s looking up. After supper, Beth, Punchy and I took a longish bike ride and it was such fun! Twas my first actual ride and rather long too. A letter from Colbie and cards from Dad.

MAY 29

All my stiff exams are now over. Three huzzahs! Philosophy this morning was completely fair and one of the nicest exams I’ve taken this period. Now there’s only Spanish left. This afternoon we were fed up with the utter filth of the room (I’m not kidding either.) and so again moved beds, dusted, vacuumed, and rolled the rug in moth balls. Then the trunks were moved in and the room looks like a confused mess of the nth degree. I thought I’d lost my keys of the trunk and called home; Mum is sending down the duplicated and “All’s Well that Ends Well” We packed, sold our books in the Wigwam (only collected $2.55 for three books though!) and revisited the telephone company.

MAY 30 

The last day of studying and working a la intellect until September - I can scarce believe it yet!! We didn’t go to church but personally improved ourselves, while I did Spanish and Beth and Punchy finished packing their trunks. Then Janie Beth Punchy and I ran a final hasty comb through our hair and went to the Lodge for claret and dinner. It was smooth and we had a lovely reminiscent time, catting and chatting about people. Gad, how I’m going to miss the super Seniors. I’m not at all anxious for the end of the year to come. It’s all been one continuously mellow feeling full of laughs and a few almost-tears which have made Kappa Delta and all the super gang in the house so near and dear to me!

MAY 31 

Such a snap of a Spanish final with translations of sentences like “How are you?” - would that they all had been like that! Anyhoo, it’s over and I’m beautifully and blissfully free. This afternoon I pulled open drawers; dumped things on my bed; and by a process of elimination, packed my trunk. I love to pack, and really enjoyed it. With frequent trips to town for returning extra board money and doing last minute shopping, the afternoon sped by till time for Cary, Janie, Mimi Boone and I to see “The More the Merrier,” a howl of a movie about the Washington housing problem, starring Charles Coburn, Jean Arthur and Joel McCray. Darling. Letters from Daddy, Audrey and Bill Brennan.

[huntertales]

Part Three: Only You Can Save Yourself. (Let it Bleed S06E21)

Episode Summary: Sam and Dean Winchester’s worst nightmares come true when the reader is taken hostage by Crowley after her demon side is freed. But things only grow worse when Lisa and Ben Braden are kidnapped as well, forcing the brothers to work with an unlikely alley to save the people they love. Pairing: Dean Winchester x Reader Warning: Demon!Reader, mentions of violence. Word Count: 8,354. (........So that happened.)

Previous Part | Supernatural Rewrite Masterlist

Darkness had fallen outside an hour ago and Sam still hadn't seen any signs of his brother after the demon vanished. He left the two of them alone for ten minutes to figure out what somebody was supposed to do with a finger. Sam shuddered each time he felt the outline of the limb in the silk fabric. It made his mind wonder what kind of excruciating pain you had to go through. What sort of other things that were happening as him and his brother scrambled to find a location from demons that didn’t know much of anything from the handful Dean tried to interrogate.

Sam tried his hardest to shake the different scenarios that kept playing out in his mind, but what really had been on his mind was how his brother got the disturbed look expression on his face when he stepped back in the garage. He had only gone away after storing the dismembered finger into the freezer for when you might need it. Sam suspected the demon had spent the time while he was gone saying all sorts of things to get under Dean's skin to make him fall into such a state. When Sam tried asking what she might have said to make Dean so worked up, his older brother responded with complete silence.

Sam wasn't the one to drink his problems away, but he wasn't a stranger to warming up to the bottle when the times called for it. He felt the mood was right to indulge in a bottle after learning his best friend was kidnapped by the same demon who had pulled you from hell all to put you under heinous torture for the fun of it. And there was matters about dealing with a demon—the one who had been attached you since God knows how long—was freed after all this time to raise a little hell. Along with all of that trouble, there was still a rogue angel, someone that he used to call his friend, on the loose who might have been part of all this entire mess. Not to mention, the poor Braden family, innocent casualties in all of this mess.

The younger Winchester abandoned his research he’d been conducting on his laptop while he sat at the desk in the library. He’d been learning what he could about the horror writer and why he would want to open up a door to purgatory. He skimmed through a few of his stories he found as he nursed a glass of whiskey. Sam finished the last of his drink and sent himself on the quest to refill his glass. He wandered into the kitchen and found the bottle exactly where he left it. He fetched the bottle off the counter and poured himself a hefty amount this time, not sure what else more he could do that would require him in a sober state. It was a pitiful thought to have, but Sam didn't have you here to snap him out like you always did when he started to lose hope.

Sam let out a faint sigh from the defeated thought and headed back to the library to finish the reading he started. However the young man could only take a few steps before he found himself not alone in the Singer household anymore. The hunter narrowed his eyes on a face he thought he wouldn’t see much of again. “Drinking your feelings, Sam?” It was the angel Balthazar that was standing in the doorway that lead to the library. “I thought that was your brother’s bag.”

Sam looked down at the glass he was holding and back to the angel. He shrugged his shoulders at the behavior that was out of character for him. “Stressful times.” He muttered as he took a sip of his drink like he intended to before being interrupted.

"Well, we need to talk." Balthazar said. The younger Winchester raised his brow slightly as he watched the angel walked forward into the room. It seemed an angel like Balthazar had a different side to show after parting ways with Sam and his brother last night after not discussing a word about how he felt about participating in this situation. Sam asked why the both of them needed to talk. “Because—I know I’m gonna live to regret this, but…I happen to like Y/N. More than you and your brother. She's not someone you meet everyday. It would be awfully tragic for something to happen to her under circumstances like these. I decided that I’m officially on your team. You bastards.”

It felt a little too good to be true when Balthazar showed up out of nowhere, claiming he wanted to be on the winning side of this fight and help the common folk. Sam remained friendly as he could with the angel as Dean put his distance with Balthazar, not wanting to deal with another dick with wings. Dean stood in the kitchen with his arms crossed over his chest as he suspicious eyed the angel, trying to figure out the real reason why he would risk his life to do them a favor. Sam sat on the edge of the desk just a feet away as Balthazar stood in the middle of the kitchen while he told the boys why they should let him on their team.

“And we should believe you why?” Dean questioned the angel in a blunt tone.

“Would you believe I had a shred of decency?” Balthazar answered the hunter’s question with another. Sam didn’t seem to think such highly of the angel when he responded with a no. The angel looked at the younger man with a slightly saddened expression, Sam man didn't change his opinion on the matter. “Oh, that hurts...But, okay. You’re right. It’s survival. You see, I asked Cas some questions and I disliked his answers. He seems sure of himself for a man who wants to swallow a million nuclear reactors. I mean, these things can get a bit Chernobyl, you know? So, volia. Consider me your double agent. Oh, and I took the liberty of searching for your friends. Uh, took a while. Crowley's a clever one."

Dean's expression dropped when he heard the news slip out from the angel's mouth that might have been possibly the best thing he heard since all of this mess started. "You found Y/N?" Dean asked, the first thing he could think about was you. However he tried his hardest not to get his hopes up as he swallowed. "Did you have any luck with Lisa and Ben, too?"

"The upside is, yes. The downside is no, I can't get them for you." Balthazar told the brothers the bittersweet news he gathered during his absence away. The younger Winchester asked why he couldn’t. "Because Crowley angel-proofed the whole bloody building. I guess he doesn't trust Cas. It seems that marriage is going swimmingly."

"Okay, well," Dean looked over at his brother. He shrugged his shoulders slightly, figuring if Crowley was dumb enough to keep the three of you in the same building, unlike what he was told from their phone conversation, this might be easier than they originally planned. "Get us close as you can."

"Sure." Balthazar agreed. "But then you're on your own."

The Winchesters weren't strangers to facing an amount of demons that left them at as the outnumbered party. They were prepared for whatever Crowley tried to throw their way in order to rescue you and the Braden family alive. However adding another member to the team would be helpful, as they were always used to working with a third member, but they would handle the situation with just the two of them. The boys thought it was just going to be them trying to solve this problem while Bobby was away chasing down another lead. They weren't expecting tonight was a knock on the front door, even right after the plan they were discussing.

Considering the circumstances over the past few days, it didn't come as such a shock when they saw Josh standing on the porch. Unlike last night, the man wasn't here to confess more about the mess he helped create. Instead he wanted to fix it before it could grow worse. Josh stood with his hands in his pockets and a guilty, but serious expression on his face when the brothers answered the door. He waited a moment if either one of them were going to slam the door or punch him in his face. The boys didn’t. They wondered what he could possibly want.

“Look, you have every right to be pissed off at me and slam the door in my face. But before you do, let me start off by apologizing.” Josh spoke up first. He took his hands out of his pockets and raised his arms to show the boys he came in peace. Neither one of them changed their blank expressions as they listened to what the man had to say. “I’ve been thinking about this situation again and again...And you’re right. I don’t know what’s good for Y/N. Hell, I don’t know anything about this crap. I just wanted to help her. I didn't mean to drag all of you into this mess."

Josh wasn’t sure what he should have expected when he tried to ask for forgiveness from the two men that were your best friends, too. They were the people who knew the real you. Much as he wanted to get to know the different side of you, there was still so much more to learn. The Winchesters didn’t say much of anything. He swallowed slightly as he continued on. “If there’s anything I can do to make this situation better, I’ll do it. I swear. Just let me help."

Dean considered the offer for a moment as he eyed the man for a moment. “Y/N mentioned that your dad was apart of the Marines, right?”

"Yeah. Half of my family's war veterans. My great grandfather fought in the first world war, grandfather in the second and my dad in the Vietnam war. I’m not a stranger to a gun, if that’s what you really want to know.” Josh said, having a slight hint to what the older Winchester might be asking. "My dad got me one when I was ten. Learned how to shoot in my backyard. Mom was pissed. And I also learned pretty quickly how to throw a punch. My dad's friends were all ex-Marines. They had a few sons that followed in their footsteps. A few of them liked to try and kick my ass. You learn how to defend yourself.”

Sam felt a little hesitant about all of this when he figured out what his brother was trying to do. He thought about the idea of having another pair of hands as backup with them. Josh might not have experience like they had, but he did come from a family with rich military background. But he wasn't convinced just yet. "You know how to conduct an exorcism?"

"Forwards and backwards. All fifty words are burned in the back of my brain. Thanks to Y/N. Along with how to properly draw a devil's trap and throw a gnarly right hook. Also," Josh pulled down the collar of his shirt he was wearing to reveal a familiar looking tattoo on his chest. It was the anti-possession symbol. "She convinced me to get one...after last time."

Dean let out a sigh as he took a step backwards and opened up the door wider for Josh. Before the man could take one step inside, he pointed his finger at the man. "I'm gonna warn you now, you screw this up—even the slightest—and I’ll kill you myself. Got it?” Dean warned the man. He stared at the older Winchester and nodded his head. Dean rolled his eyes. “All right. Get your ass in here. We still got a lot to cover.”

+ + +

The fight was always stacked against their favor but the Winchesters felt confident about this one with another player on their team. Josh had proven himself useful in more just his book intelligence when he properly loaded up a gun Dean handed him as his first test. He managed to load the chamber into the gun in record timing and took a few tries to get back into the routine of what it was like to shoot off a gun before taking down every target Dean set up for the man outside when he dedicated a few minutes to see what Josh was capable of. The man also recited the exorcism spell in perfect Latin as he shot off each round to prove himself.

It was still a risk bringing him along, but Josh promised that he would stay out of the way and keep a low profile. Whatever they needed him for, he would do it. If he learned anything from his father about the Marines, it was that you never leave a fellow brother behind. The boys packed up everything they would need and armed Josh with a flask, a shotgun full of rocksalt and a few other necessities one might need on this fight ahead. Balthazar kept his promise by helping the brothers and Josh into getting to the outskirts of the location, the rest would be up to them.

Josh was feeling nervous—the kind where he felt a little lightheaded, but yet, at the same time, he was thrilled at the chance of redeeming himself. He could finally undo all the things that he wrongfully did that landed all of you here. He settled with the idea that if he got you back alive then it meant his grandparents would be good as dead. Josh mentally prepared himself for that outcome if this were to backfire in his face. They were older and had experienced life. He knew once his grandmother passed away his grandfather would be next to go. Josh had a feeling they had settled with the idea that their time on earth was nearing an end. But you had so much more to offer to this world and the darkness that lurked in the shadows.

The three men weren't sure what to except from the hideout Crowley was using to stash away you and the Braden family. All they knew that every floor of this place was bound to be crawling with demons, Dean counted one in particular would be there as well. He was hoping she would be there. Balthazar managed to get the men from Bobby’s kitchen and to the alley behind the abandoned warehouse building in the matter of seconds. Josh tried his hardest to hide his sheer amazement at how everything changed around him. The feeling didn’t last very long when he spotted the eerie looking building just ahead. He swallowed slightly as fear crept up on him.  

“Alright, boys, this is where I get off.” Balthazar said. “God be with you and what have you.”

Balthazar parted ways with the Winchesters and their friend after giving them some encouraging words of advice for whatever that was waiting for them inside. Josh mentally prepared himself for the trouble that was about to unfold as he adjusted the shotgun he was instructed to carry and only shoot at the people who were charging after him with black eyes. The boys were ready for their first obstacle when they heard through the silence and quiet rain of a door opening not too far away from where they stood. Dean made sure to give Josh a warning to stay quiet and behind them, but also cautious for what he might need to do if duty calls.

The demon that made this mistake of stepping out from the building helped the Winchesters out in knowing there was a way of slipping into the building without much trouble. While they still had to figure out how many demons were still inside, they focused on taking the first one down and heading inside to see how bad it was. As the demon made his way down the ramp to inspect the alley outside, he didn't notice a stranger coming up from behind until it was too late. Dean took his opportunity when the son of a bitch faced him, and without hesitance, shoved the knife right into his stomach. Dean grabbed ahold of the dead body that started to slump forward and balanced him on the iron railing where, down below, Sam and Josh worked together in disposing the body onto the ground with a quiet thud.

Josh stepped back from the dead body he just witnessed get stabbed to death by a knife that he knew not only killed the demon, but the man he was possessing as well. Dean wiped the blade clean off on his jeans and was about to head inside. However he found himself looking down below at Josh to see how he was handling witnessing his first murder. The man stared at the body with almost a blank expression o n his face. “Look, we got a lot of ground to cover—”

"I'm not squeamish. I've been around dead bodies before. This is nothing compared to how my parents' bodies looked after the car accident. And my grandfather had his leg blown off in the second war. Told me all sorts of stories and showed me pictures—awful things that makes this look like a walk in the park. I'm not a coward." Josh defend himself with whatever sort of judgement the older Winchester was thinking. He looked up at the man and gave him a serious expression. "Like you said, there's a lot of ground to cover. Let's go."

Dean didn't miss a beat when he figured that Josh might have the stomach for this kind of stuff, after all. His brother and Josh followed behind when he made his way to the entrance. Sam opened the door the demon had came out from and took a quick sweep of the surroundings before slipping himself inside, Dean going in after as Josh followed behind, making sure to close the door quietly behind him to keep the element of surprise. The three men wandered inside to see they didn’t have many options of where to go next. Josh noticed there was a path leading forward and another that took someone down a right hall. The rest of the building was fenced in, leaving him trapped. But it wasn’t like he wanted to skip out. He was here because he wanted to make sure you were all right. No demon was going to stand in his way.

“All right,” Dean decided which way he was going as he took a step forward to the right. Before he departed ways, he looked at his brother and to Josh. He nodded his head at the other man for what he was about to embark on. “Be careful.”

Josh watched as the older Winchester began on his own journey down the hall. Before he could watch him disappear from his sight, he turned his attention over to Sam, who directed for him to follow behind as the both of them went down the hall that look like it had been abandoned for a decade. For a moment, as Josh wandered down the empty warehouse halls, he felt like he was in a horror movie. He looked over his shoulder each time he swore he heard something off. But he reminded himself that he needed to stay focused. This wasn’t the time to be afraid of every little noise that was probably just the wind. It was a stormy and rather cold night, a perfect setting for what he was witnessing unfold in front of his very eyes.

Josh continued walking through the building with Sam, feeling like the both of them worked quite well as a team from the way they maneuvered together cautiously down the empty halls. Both of them had each other’s backs if a demon tried to pull a stunt. Josh channeled all those war stories his father and grandfather used to tell him about combat. He pretended that he was one of them. He might not grown up like a soldier like the Winchesters, but he had it in his blood. He remembered the important rule his grandfather drilled in his head about relationships.

The bond you share with your brothers was stronger than an army full of soldiers coming after you. His grandfather proudly admitted to taking down ten Nazis with a buddy of his all on their own. He said it was all about strategy, patience and the element of surprise when you pull the trigger and land a bullet in Nazi scums’ brains. His army friend had time to develop a strategy with his grandfather, the both of them could communicate without even speaking a word. Josh and Sam didn’t have that bond quite yet. And while the both of them had remained cautious, even the best soldier can get jumped by the enemy.

Sam was the one who stopped dead in his tracks for a moment when he heard something like a metal pipe falling in the near distance. Both men pointed their guns in the direction of where the heard the noise come from. Neither one of them made a move as they scanned the area in the dim lighting of what they had, wondering if they could spot a stranger in the distance, guessing it might have been a demon who made that noise. Unless it was some kind of animal that might have accidentally knocked down a rusty pipe or something.

Josh slowly took a step forward to try and see if he could make out might have been the one. He looked best as he could for only a few seconds before letting out a faint sigh, presuming that it was just some sort of animal. Josh turned around to face the younger Winchester to shake his head. Only he noticed someone jumping down from the piping above, a perfect spot he would have never guessed to inspect for people to hide. Josh opened his mouth to warn Sam about the demon that was about to attack him. He quickly aimed his gun to shoot him, but it was too late for the both of them. Josh felt a sudden pain rush through his head, all before his sight turned into darkness.

+ + +

You didn't know how long you've been stuck in this chair, handcuffed with a throbbing hand from what she did to you. You couldn't describe what the feeling was like. It was like you were missing something every time you wiggled your fingers. You tried to examine the wound best as you could, but your right eye was nearly swollen shut from how hard one of those demons punched you to keep you quiet when you started asking too many question about where Lisa and Ben were. He told you to worry about yourself than that bitch and brat. Trouble was coming your way. And it came in the form of the black eyed bitch that cut off your damn finger.

Everyone always wondered what it would be like to see an exact carbon copy of themselves. You were one of the lucky ones that had friends who liked to make sure that every single detail was right. She might have looked like you, but you knew the soul in her body was the rotten side you had tried so hard to wash away. You did everything in your power to hold her down and keep her hidden from the light and put her back where she belonged. You wanted nothing more than to be human. And while it took a few trips to hell, selling your soul to a demon and losing a friendship with an angel to get you to this point. You suddenly regretted everything you wanted.

She was the reason why you were in this position, handcuffed to a metal chair with your ass feeling like it had fallen asleep and legs turned numb while every breath you tried to inhale felt like your lungs were being punctured. That might have been due to the fact that she made sure to crack a rib or two after brutally beaten you while she went on about the story of how she kidnapped Lisa and Ben. She reminisced about how she got under Dean’s skin when he grabbed your finger from her pocket. The smile of amusement that crossed her face when she told him about how you wanted to get married to him. And that little story she made up—something about you being pregnant. She laughed and said, “You had to be there. It was hilarious.”

It was your natural instinct to tell her to go screw herself where the sun didn’t shine and pretend that what she was doing to you didn’t hurt. But this was different from being tortured in hell. You couldn’t slip away from the pain. She made sure you felt every punch and kick whenever you tried to threaten her. You should have learned your lesson when you told her that you were going to kill her. She responded with a smile and a quiet chuckle at how hard you were trying to remain strong. Only she was the one who had the power here, and she made sure to show you how strong she really was.

While you recovered from a punch to the stomach that knocked out the wind from your lungs, she pulled out a set of keys from her pocket, freeing your left hand from the cuffs. You had little time to realize what she was doing to fight back. She grabbed your arm, and with both of her hands wrapped around the limb, she snapped it like a turkey bone, causing a nasty breaking sound to echo through the room and a pain you hadn’t felt in a long time. A scream of pain from the unexpected attack escaped your throat, giving her the reaction she wanted. She wanted nothing more than to see you in pain, for you to understand she was the one in charge here.

She watched as you attempted to brush off the pain like it was nothing, but she could see the tears forming in your eyes as you tried to inhale deep breaths, trying to ignore the broken ribs to care for your arm. She crouched down so she was at your level with her hands wrapped around the armrest of where your right arm remained. She bent over slightly to make sure you heard her. “Don’t make promises you can’t keep, Y/N. You don’t want me to break your other one, now do you? ‘Cause this party's just getting started.”

You winced in pain when you felt her lightly pat your bruised cheek as she chuckled to herself before pushing herself back up to her feet. You tried your hardest to ignore the different aches and pain rushing through your body as you shut your eyes for a moment as a pair of footsteps entered the room.  She left you alone to figure out why one of the demons that were supposed to be doing their job of keeping an eye out for unwanted trespassers. You could only hear the sound of hushed whispers among the two. And while he sounded slightly nervous, you could see the smile on her face when she let out a quiet chuckle.

“Let 'em have his little fun." She whispered to the other demon, making sure her voice was loud enough for you to overhear. “I already have a backup planned setup. Ain’t nobody making it out of here alive, that’s for damn sure.”

+ + +

Josh wouldn’t consider himself a very claustrophobic person. He handled tight spaces well like the rest of the human population. But he wasn’t sure how to handle the kind of circumstances he woke up to with a throbbing pain in the back of his head, reminding him quickly what had lead him to this. He woke up face down on the ground, the concrete underneath him cushioned by what felt to be wet leaves that started to soak through his clothes. Josh tried his hardest to sit up straight, but considering his height, he banged his head on top of the ceiling of his what felt to be confinements, making his headache grow even worse.

Josh couldn’t see much of anything except for a slit of light coming from a crack on the floor. He felt around at his surroundings to see he didn’t have much room, just a foot to move his feet and only a few inches above his head to lay. Josh managed to move himself slightly so he was now lying on his back. He tried to keep himself calm as he tried to feel around for something that felt like a door—something that those demons used to put him in here.

His first instinct was to feel around at where the light was coming from. He felt metal against his skin, but no sort of handle to show that it was a door. Josh swallowed as he lightly banged on the metal door, wondering how tough it was. Perhaps he could try and kick it down. Most of this place was rusty and falling apart. He gave the metal a good knock, admitting an echo through the air. Josh suddenly regretted his move when he suddenly heard the sounds of what might have been footsteps as the light began to shift, signaling there was someone outside. He quieted his breathing as he waited for his punishment to come…

“Josh?”

“Sam?” Josh expected a lot of things to happen tonight, but he found himself thrown through a loop when he heard the younger Winchester’s voice coming from just outside. He wondered for a moment if he had been captured, too. “Are you okay?”

Josh gotten his answer when he was told to back away best as he could for what was about to happen next. He wasn’t sure what it was, but the sound of a gun going off made him nearly jump right out of his skin. Josh heard the sounds of shuffling feet and a metal hitting the ground. A few seconds later he was blinded by the dull light that entered the small confinements that he had woken up in just a few minutes prior. Josh adjusted his eyes to see that it was Sam with an arm outstretched for him to take a gun in the other. He didn't question why as he got himself out of the coffin like space and back up to his feet.

The first thing Josh noticed was how his clothes stuck to his body from the wet grounds. But he felt the discomfort become overshadowed when he saw Dean with a woman he had never seen before and a kid that looked to be no older than twelve. This must have been Lisa and Ben he heard. He winched slightly when he saw Lisa lying in Dean’s arms, a blood stain in her stomach. He was afraid to ask what happened, so he focused on the task of trying to figure out where you were in the small crowd of people. Josh looked everywhere, but you were not to be seen.

“Where’s Y/N?” Josh asked, ignoring the fact there was an unconscious woman in Dean's arms that appeared like she needed medical attention. He didn’t think about that. All he could wonder was where the hell you were. He looked at the brothers and asked again, “Where the hell is she?”

"We don't know. She's still in here somewhere. But Lisa needs to get to a hospital. Sam, take her." Dean instructed for his brother to carry the woman as he handed her off gently as he could so he couldn’t cause her more pain than he already inflicted. "Josh, go with them. Find them a ride and get the hell out of here."

"No." Josh shot down the idea. Dean didn't hesitate to give him a threatening glare when he tried to change his plans. "I'm going with you."

Dean was too on edge to disagree with the plan. He rolled his eyes and grunted in agreement. There was still hope that all of this could be fixed if Sam bolted out of here with the Braden family. He looked down at Ben, who was still holding the shotgun, remaining brave, even after all the circumstances he had been through. Dean stepped forward and placed a hand on the young man’s shoulder and gave it a tight squeeze.

“Everything’s gonna be fine. I promise. Sam’s gonna make sure you and your mom get out of here.” Dean reassured Ben. He tried his hardest to put on a smile, even though in the back of his mind there was still someone that he cared about in here. “I’ll be back soon as I can.”

Ben was too young to understand what was going on and the circumstances that were happening. His expression was hurt when he realized that Dean wasn't coming with them, but he took a page of the Winchester book, he swallowed down his emotions and nodded his head. He knew that no matter what happened his mother would always be second best. Nobody would ever matter much as stupid Y/N did. Ben remembered what he said back when he tried to get him and his mom back in the same room again.

“Sometimes dead is better. And if Y/N was dead, maybe you could stay.” Ben still felt the same way about the situation. But he didn’t dare breathe a word about this. He followed behind Sam when the both of them started to make their journey out of the building and to the hospital after finding a car. What he was most worried about was making sure that his mom was all right.

Dean felt guilty for abandoning Ben and his brother at a time like this. But there was still another person he cared and loved deeply in this building. And there was nobody that was going to stand in his way, not even that bitch. Josh and Dean had never really seen eye to eye before on a lot of things. They fought on a few occasions and already claimed to do the right thing in your honor. This time, when it really mattered the most, the both of them pushed their personal differences aside for the common good of getting you out of here alive.

Oddly enough, the two men worked quite well together as a team as they both took down the remaining amount of demons that were still crawling around here while they scoured the entire building for some sort of trace to point them in the direction of where you were. But there wasn’t much to go on. Dean was starting to lose hope that Balthazar was right about you being here. It seemed like Crowley might not have been bluffing about making this harder than he thought. As he started to lose hope, he heard the softest noise coming from down the hall he and Josh were occupying after taking down a few demons. Both of them figured it wouldn’t hurt to investigate.

You were alone once again after she drifted off somewhere else for a short while. It was a relief and yet a curse. Before she left you alone she made sure to handcuff your arm back up, acting like she hadn't snapped the bone in half like it was nothing. You had no way of escaping if you wanted to. Every part of you ached. The idea of moving made you feel sick to your stomach, or maybe that was the dehydration you felt along with the hunger pains from being neglected of the things you needed to survive. You sniffled as you involuntarily inhaled yet another breath.

Part of you wanted to give into the urge of crying from the pain that you were in from your throbbing head and jaw, all the way down to your legs that you couldn't feel anymore. What really made you feel the worst was your missing finger, the one she mercilessly cut off and paraded around like it was some kind of toy. It was gone forever. You knew if you ever made it out of here alive, if there was a chance that the boys figured out where you and the Braden family were, you were never going to be the same. You let out a sigh as you shut the one eye that you could, feeling defeated at how all of this was turning out.

Right as you were about to give up on all of this, life always had a funny way of improving before it could get worse. You felt someone ever so lightly touch your shoulder, breaking you out of the thoughts that were clouding your mind. You slowly opened up your eyes to see a face that you thought that you might never see again. The ends of your lips stretched into a smile as you opened your mouth to speak Dean's name, but the action made you wince in pain, the bruising around your jaw was too much at once. He felt overwhelmed with happiness at the sight of you. But you could see the horror in his eyes when he inspected the damage that was done.

“What the actual hell?” You were greeted by another voice that you weren't expecting to hear. It was of a face that part of you didn’t want to ever see again. Because he was partially the reason why you were here in the first place. But Josh Carver was a man nobody couldn’t stay mad at for too long. His intentions were pure, and like you and the Winchesters, he made a mistake he was trying his hardest to fix. He reached a hand inside his pocket and gave you a small smile. You could see that he was trying his hardest to remain calm, even though he knew deep down Josh was blaming all of this on himself. “Hey, it’s gonna be okay. We got you.”

"Two handsome men to my rescue. What a sight to see." You couldn’t move your jaw all that well, but you managed to speak without moving your mouth too much. Never in a million years would you have expected to see Josh and Dean in the same room without wanting to rip each other's throats out. Now the both of them worked together to get your hands free from the cuffs that kept you restrained. You looked around the room best as you could, trying to hide the pain when you moved. “Guys, she’s—”

“We know. But we gotta get you out of here first. Hey, help her—” Dean instructed for Josh to try and help you up to your feet by balancing one side and him with the other. He touched your left arm in attempting to do so. But all he managed to do when he touched you made a muffled cry of pain escape you as he flinched slightly, swearing he felt something hard and slightly sharp poke him through the fabric of your jacket.

Dean refrained himself from swearing when he realized what it might have been, a broken bone that pierced the skin. He noticed that you could move your right arm when you cradled a fist into your palm and attempted to stay quiet. Dean nodded for Josh to take your good arm and wrap it around his shoulder. Josh attempted to do so as he bent down slightly to get a good grip around your waist to balance your weight on his own. But even touching that area caused you even more immense pain from the look that crossed your face.

“It hurts.” You couldn’t help yourself but whine at the excruciating pain you felt from the slightest pressure put on your rib cage. There wasn’t an ounce of self control in you anymore when you felt hot tears starting to roll down your cheeks, feeling like you couldn’t take much of this. “Dean, I can’t—”

"Hey, hey. Sweetheart—look at me." Dean cut you off before you could claim that you couldn't go any further. He crouched down at your level and forced you to stare at him directly in the eye. "It hurts. I know it does. But we gotta get you out of here and to a hospital. And the only we can do that is if you get yourself up to your feet. That's all you gotta do. Okay?"

Every fiber of you wanted nothing more than to have one of them whack you against your skull so they could just carry you out of here. But you reminded yourself that you’ve been through worst pain before. You inhaled a deep breath and nodded your head, showing Dean that you could do this. You looked over at Josh and extended your right arm so you could let him attempt to help carry you again. It took a few tries before you managed to get yourself up to a standing position after you managed to get the feeling in your legs back again.

You sucked down every sort of curse word and insult at the tip of your tongue at how much pain you were putting yourself through. The three of you managed to make it all the way across the room with no sort of trouble. The possibility of escape without much trouble crossed your mind. You wondered if she ran off when things started to get tense. Whatever sort of tricks she had up her sleeves were no match for the Winchesters. However the wishful thinking wasn't the case when you saw the bitch appear out of thin air, blocking the one exit that you needed to get the hell out of here. Dean stopped dead in his tracks when he saw the demon with those black eyes and a smirk he wanted to punch right off her face.

“Leaving so soon, boys? But you just got here.” She said. Her tone of voice mocked a saddened one when she realized what you were trying to do. “Y/N and I were starting to have fun. You should really join us.”

Dean pretended to think for a moment about the idea of sticking around in this mold infested place and being tortured by the demon who put all of this elaborate plan together. She raised her brow slightly as she crossed her arms over her chest. The hunter took it as an opportunity to take his chance. You watched as Dean lunged forward with the knife in attempt to take down the demon once and for all. But you should have known she would have seen that coming.

It all happened so fast. You felt Josh's grip around your body disappeared and replaced by the brutal force of concrete against your backside when she pinned you against the wall. You withered in pain at how the act not only knocked the air out of your lungs, but sped up your heartbeat, making breathing even worse. You forced yourself to manage the pain as you slowly opened your eyes to see what was going on. You spotted the demon knife was just a few feet from your reach. but Dean was nowhere to be seen. Your eyes darted around the room until you spotted him and Josh just across the room, her back turned to you. You could just see the smile on her face when she let out a sigh and placed her hands on her hips.

“This is nice, isn’t it? All of us together in one room. I'd apologize for the obstacles I put you boys through to get you here, but you can't be too safe these days. There's a lot of psychos just wanting to hurt people. " She said, the remark causing a smile to spread at the ends of her lips. The two men didn’t find it amusing as she had. The demon peered down at the two men for a moment as she began wondering what she could do. "Too bad Sammy's not here. It would make my life a lot easier. I mean, I got a laundry list of people I need to check off. Starting with you three chuckle heads.” Dean tried his hardest to somehow break free from the hold she had on him and Josh. But he knew it was no use. He was like a fly trapped in a spider’s web, watching as the black widow crept closer to him with all intentions of eating him alive. “Get in line, princess.” Dean said. “You ain’t—” "I'm the only one that matters. 'Cause after I get with you three I'm going straight after Sammy, then your little slut and her bastard child. And that's just the beginning, baby." She said. She cuff off the Winchester from speaking by squeezing her fist to stop the air supply from his lungs. She watched him struggle as she continued talking. "Then when all of you are out of my way, I'm going after the big dogs. Crowley and Castiel will never see it coming. They're too worried about finding Purgatory to watch their backs.”

You swallowed slightly as you watched her movements. She was too focused on hearing herself talk, she didn't notice when you started to slowly inch yourself over to the knife. Much as it caused you pain to move, it was the only option you had left. "Those idiots think if they can get away with what they did to me, they've got another thing coming. Those souls are mine. I worked my ass off for them. And I had to be trapped with that thing for decades. Three freaking decades with her behind the wheel and ruin everything I’ve always wanted.”

You pressed your back against the wall when you watched her look over her shoulder to give you a look of disgust before turning her attention back over the two men. "Being trapped in your own body? It's worse than hell. But thanks to you idiots, I’m free. And I'm not gonna stand back and watch those idiots ruin the one thing Lucifer promised me. If Raphael wants a rematch, fine. I'll kick his ass. I'll show this world how it was supposed to be. I'll be the new bloody Devil—"

There was one thing that you and the demon side of yourself had in common and it was control. The both of you always wanted to have whatever you were up against in your favor. You couldn't tell how many times you tried to solve a problem by taking it on as your own and ignoring help from others. It was how you landed yourself in this situation in the first place. She was exactly everything you hated about yourself—controlling, vicious, power hungry, always wanting things she couldn't have. And it seemed fitting that it was you who plunged the knife into her back, taking her by complete and total surprise. Because if there was one thing you loved about yourself, it was defying people's expectations.

You stood behind her with a smirk of your own on your lips when you looked down to see the blade was peaking out of her stomach. For a moment you forgot about the pain as you enjoyed this victory. The moment you had been waiting for since you learned about how your mother sold her soul to have a child, about being a half demon and fighting constantly to be yourself. You ripped the knife out and watched as she still stood there, shock crossing her face from what you did. Blood began to slowly trickle out of her wound, but she made no effort to stop it.

"The only person who's dying tonight is you." You hissed at her. "Say hi to Lucifer in hell for me, you bitch. ‘Cause that’s where you’re going.”

You finished what you started by shoving the knife into her heart, watching as the woman who looked like you—but carried everything you hated about yourself—stared at you with a scared expression from what you did. It was her turn to feel the torture and the agonizing pain. You stepped back and watched as she fell to the ground, the expression forever frozen on her face.

Silence fell between the three of you as all of you stared at the dead body that laid on the floor. You heard the sound of your own shallow breathing and your heartbeat pounding in your ears. Slowly, you moved your gaze away from the body and to Dean, who seemed even more surprised at what had unfolded. You found yourself suddenly overwhelmed with the urge to cry. It wasn't because you were sad, it was the quite opposite. You wanted to cry out of relief because you were happy. You were overwhelmed with what you had accomplished all on your own.

"It's over." You whispered so quietly, you barely heard yourself. You let out a faint laugh, slowly, it grew into a glorious laughter that made your ribs hurt even more. You didn't care. Everything you ever wanted—everything you ever fought for—was here. "Oh my God. It's..."

You wanted to finish what you were saying, but you found yourself suddenly stopping when you felt the pain becoming overwhelming and the ability to breathe becoming harder. The two men were up on their feet when they saw your eyelids suddenly growing heavier as you started to wobble around. Before you could hit the ground, Josh managed to grab you as Dean fetched the demon knife. Both of them didn't waste a second in getting out of here, leaving the body of the demon that you had killed behind.

[Next Part]

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[sequentialartconfidential]

Week Two: 1/10/2018

Books purchased:

Head Games Graphic Novel Craig McDonald/Writer Kevin Singles/Artist First Second

The Imposter’s Daughter Graphic Novel Laurie Sandell/Writer/Artist Little,Brown

Motor Girl Real Life TPB Terry Moore/Writer/Artist Abstract Studio

My Favorite Thing is Monsters Emil Ferris/Writer and Artist Fantagraphics

Elsewhere TPB Jay Faerber/Writer Sumeyye Kesgin/Artist Image

Royal City Issue 9 Jeff Lemire/Writer/Artist Image

Stray Bullets Sunshine and Roses Issue 31 David Lapham/Writer/ Artist El Capitan

Star Wars Forces of Destiny (Rey) One-Shot Jody Houser/ Writer Arianna Florean/Artist IDW/Disney

Star Wars Darth Vader Issue 10 Charles Soule/Writer Giuseppe Camuncoli/Artist Marvel

The Vision Hardcover Collection Tom King/Writer Gabriel Hernandez Walta

So it was a light new comic day for me but I still spent about $52 because I bought the new Vision hardcover collection which runs $40 by itself. I only picked up four new comics today (what I have heard some people call “floppies” so I’ll use that term here to designate new single issue comics). I did pick up some TPB’s (trade paperbacks) at a used bookstore and I did finish My Favorite Thing Is Monsters so I’ll be reviewing those as well. I have not read the Vision book yet so I’ll talk more about that next week. From what I’ve heard and read the book is supposed to be fantastic so I am looking forward to reading it. So let’s do this…..

Head Games Graphic Novel Craig McDonald/Writer Kevin Singles/Artist First Second

This book was okay. Just okay. I really liked the artwork by Kevin Singles. The cover blurb about him says this was his first time drawing a graphic novel and he did a really good job on it. Good visuals that enhance the story even when it’s meandering around which it’s prone to do. That brings me to the story itself. The main character is a Hemmingway like writer named Hector Lassiter who, the introduction tells us, is the subject of ten novels by Craig McDonald.  I’m not sure that I could read another book about this guy so ten seems like overkill. The problem I have with the character is that he’s too extra. He helped Blackjack Pershing chase Pancho Villa, he served in World War One, he’s buddies with Hemmingway and Dashiell Hammett, he has romanced great beauties such as Marlene Dietrich (who he endearingly calls “Kraut”…ugh), he’s a hard drinking, award winning book writing, son of a bitch. It’s as if Hemmingway’s life story was written by Dashiell Hammett and filmed by Sam Peckinpaugh. That may sound like a fun combination but it’s really a mess. Just like Hemmingway he is a hard drinking writer living a life of great adventure and sadness, just like Hammett he is a crime writer suffering from ailments that have slowed him down in his old age, and just like almost all of the great Peckinpaugh films he is a man out of time, unable to adjust to getting old and the changing world around him. He’s too much and the plot is as well. I won’t give it away but it’s convoluted and involves Pancho Villa, Prescott Bush, Orson Welles, and gun toting members of Yale’s Skull and Bones organization. I was kind of bored with it by the end.

Pass. Don’t bother unless you want to check out the art.

The Imposter’s Daughter Graphic Novel Laurie Sandell/Writer/Artist Little,Brown

I liked this book but I do tend to favor true stories and personal reflections, especially when it’s a good story. Laurie Sandell is a very good writer and her art is fun and colorful. The drawings are loose and a bit cartoony but they fit perfectly with her story and oh what a story it is! I won’t give too much away but here is the premise, Laurie’s dad is an imposter, I mean he is her real dad but nothing he has ever told her is true. He brags about his heroics in Vietnam and being a pen pal with the Pope and little Laurie is enamored of her larger than life dad until she discovers that all of his stories were lies. Not only that but he also turns out to be something of a scam artist. This causes Laurie to start seeking not only the truth about her father but also discovering who she really is. It’s a great read if you like personal memoirs like I do.

Buy. I recommend this to people who like slice of life comics.

Motor Girl Real Life TPB Terry Moore/Writer/Artist Abstract Studio

Motor Girl is okay. This is the first volume I’ve read and I’m not sure that I need to see more. Like most of Terry Moore’s stuff I’m “meh” about this. To be more specific, in case “meh” doesn’t serve well enough, I like his books but can live without them. I would buy another volume of this if I found it on clearance like this one (I paid $4 for it) but I wouldn’t go out of my way to find one and I certainly wouldn’t pay full price. It was a fun read with a few interesting ideas but nothing earth shattering. Like most of Moore’s work this one has a female lead (which I have no problem with). This lead happens to be a former Marine who works in a junkyard named Samantha (Sam). Sam spent some time in an Iraqi prison and has the scars, both physical and mental, to show for it. This leads the reader to question if anything they are seeing is real, like the giant talking ape she hangs around with or the aliens that keep coming to visit her. You may find that intriguing and want to know more but I’m not sure that I do.

Pass. For me, your opinion of Terry Moore may vary.

My Favorite Thing is Monsters Emil Ferris/Writer and Artist Fantagraphics

So I finally finished this and I have to say that all the praise this book is getting is well deserved. There is a lot going on here but the characters and their development keep it interesting. The artwork is phenomenal, drawn as if in a lined notebook with colored pens, sketchy but technically sound with gorgeous crosshatching. I was a bit irked that the book ended because I wanted to keep reading and it just left me hanging. I know there is a second volume in production now but there’s no telling how long that will take because this one must have taken forever to do. There is a ton of diversity and representation in this book with little stereotyping or misrepresentation. The book itself deals with monsters both real and imagined, from werewolves to Nazis, zombies to child abusers. I won’t give any of this away because I think it needs to be read without prejudice going in. I highly recommend this book and, if you don’t want to take my word for it, I suggest you look at any of the reviews online because almost all of them agree.

Buy. Yes, buy this. You will thank me later.

Elsewhere TPB Jay Faerber/Writer Sumeyye Kesgin/Artist Image

I thought this book was interesting. I enjoy most of Faeber’s books, especially Copperhead, so I was intrigued by this one. This is another book I picked up relatively cheap and I’m not sure if I would have bought it otherwise. I’m glad I bought it because I enjoyed it but I’m not sure I would continue to buy it. The art by Kesgin is nice and the story is unique but not exactly exciting. The gist is that an alternate dimension exists where things from other worlds get sucked in and trapped there. If you have seen Thor 3 then it’s kind of like that. A lot of people and things that have mysteriously vanished end up here, like DB Cooper and Amelia Earhart. Amelia is of course plucky and brave just as she was in real life and DB is a money hungry cad but together they plan to overthrow the head of this crazy place and escape back to their lives. I did enjoy the book but I’m not sure it’s something that would hold my attention over a long period of time.

Pass.  I reserve the right to change my mind if I ever read another volume because I think it may have potential but for now it’s a pass.

Royal City Issue 9 Jeff Lemire/Writer/Artist Image

I like a lot of Lemire’s work but sometimes his work is a little surreal and difficult to follow. I prefer his books that are about people and their relationships. This is one of those books. Some may find the book slow moving but it’s atmospheric and we are slowly seeing the characters develop and it’s worth the wait. The pacing mirrors the slow moving small town that the characters inhabit. It’s the story of the town just as much as it is of the Pike family. This is the story of people who grow up in dead end factory towns who never leave and always wonder what could have been if they had left. Everyone in this town is haunted by regret and lost dreams, the Pike family is haunted by that as well as the ghost of their little brother, Tommy. Patrick Pike, the de facto lead character, is one of the people who escaped from the town becoming a best selling author but now his star is fading and he’s come back to town to deal with his own ghosts. I love this book. Some may find Lemire’s art a bit cartoony or loose for their taste but I find it homey and ethereal. The art fits the story perfectly and Lemire knows how to use angles and varying shot lengths that help underscore the impact of this morose tale.

Buy. I love the book but I expect that not everyone is a fan of Lemire, or slow building character pieces, or mesmeric art so think about whether you enjoy those types of things before picking it up.

Stray Bullets Sunshine and Roses Issue 31 David Lapham/Writer/ Artist El Capitan

I enjoy David Lapham a great deal but almost exclusively on things he does by himself. I haven’t enjoyed much that he has done for outside publishers but I love his crime books like Stray Bullets and Murder Me Dead. Lapham does have a tendency to get off track at times but this run has been relatively straight forward. One of the fun things about Lapham’s characters in these books is that almost no one is innocent and almost no one is completely a villain. There are a lot of realistic characters in these books who just happen to do really dumb things. These books can be fun one second and deadly serious the next, it’s a good mix. There is a lot of history built into this series. I think the original series had 100 issues, I can see the omnibus from where I sit but I’m too lazy to get up and get it. The good news is that you don’t have to have read all of those books to get into this series but, you know, it wouldn’t hurt and that was a hell of a series so…. These books center around crime but they are mainly character pieces about crappy people. Lapham is great at building character and dialogue, sort of like a comic book version of Quentin Tarantino without all of the foot fetish stuff. If you haven’t read any Stray Bullets I suggest you correct that. I hope Lapham keeps doing this series for a while, it’s what he’s best at.

Buy. Go get the omnibus! It may be a bit expensive but it’s worth it! Then start on this series.

Star Wars Forces of Destiny (Rey) One-Shot Jody Houser/ Writer Arianna Florean/Artist IDW/Disney

This book was not as good as the Leia one. I guess these are tie-ins with some new Star Wars merchandise? Like Disney Princesses in space? I don’t know and I really don’t care to find out. I won’t spend a lot of time talking about this because it’s not worth it. Nice art, irritating story. Do you want to know what happened to Rey and BB8 between the time she found him and the time she took him into town? No? Me either but Disney seems to think we do. This books ends with a deus ex machina rescue that will just make you wonder why you read the whole book.

Pass. Unless you’re ten or younger I guess.

Star Wars Darth Vader Issue 10 Charles Soule/Writer Giuseppe Camuncoli/Artist Marvel

Why do I keep reading these Star Wars comics? That is all.

Pass. Only for Star Wars fans with low expectations.

That’s all folks. I’ll read The Vision and get back to you!

[xenosgirlvents]

Codex Craftworlds 8th Edition

The Codex has come, lets take a look at it and see what GW has done with the first Xenos Codex of 8th Edition;

I like that the intro bit is written to be just a positive look at the Aeldari/Asuryani, I never enjoyed that both Chaos Codices have their intros written from the perspective of an Imperium faction with; ‘lo! Turn back! Tis foul losers in here!‘ and such as it feeds into the meta-narrative that even players of other factions should always be most concerned with the Imperium instead of their own.

The opening Key Art is well drawn, sure, but dumb as it depicts something that’s never happened with two important characters (Magnus and Eldrad) and since its obvious the Asuryani are going to lose its baffling to put it as the first major artwork in their own Codex.

We then again get lengthy bits on the the Asuryani’s past, basically nothing new worth mentioning, though once again we get this ‘none could challenge them’ fallacy considering we know DAoT humans were just more widespread, powerful and advanced, so GW really just needs to sort their timeline out and get some consistency for a change.

We get info on the Path, little on civilian culture sadly, then we do come to one new piece which is the, apparently mandatory now, ‘how your army is setup’ bit which is fine and introduces some markings and ranking systems and is perfectly adequate.

We then get to a lengthy section per each Major Craftworld; Biel-Tan, Ulthwe, Iyanden, Saim-Hann and Alaitoc. I’m really disappointed with the lack of actual fluff here, its mostly just flavour text again telling us ‘They are X they do Y’ with almost no feats listed at all. Sigh. Sadly, yeah, we again see that if you compare it to, say, the list of feats the individual Chapters got in Codex Space Marines, the Major Craftworlds are renowed really for only 1 thing; getting invaded and losing a lot.

Anyway, each one in detail; Biel-Tan’s gives us a little bit of post-GS Fluff. I’m very happy to see we get confirmation on its fate, its is still intact, but damaged, and is still inhabited, they did not abandon it en masse. Yay! Less happy to see that it’s lost Half its entire population, so now 3/5 of the Major Craftworlds are ‘Shadows of their former selves’ whilst Chapters like Scythes of the Emperor, Crimson Fists and Blood Angels all recover to full strength in hand waves. Sigh. The female Autarch looks nice though.

Ulthwe; they are now the only Major Craftworld specified as being ‘populous’ which is at odds with their former characterization. Then again I guess when already 3/5 are explicitly wrecked they need to make a new one the ‘big one’ to explain why we should even care about this useless faction. Anyway they’ve splintered into three groups; the biggest are just still Ulthwe citizens, a second group’s gone nomadic following exiled Eldrad and the third are just the people following the Ynnari.

Iyanden; they are apparently very united in supporting the Ynnari...which clashes with what was said in Ghost Warrior and makes me wonder why they aren’t Ynnari then. I think I like the art of the Spiritseer and Wraithguard a lot though, its cool.

Saim-Hann’s section is best, gives more insight to them, fleshes them out in a general sense, the Wild Rider Clans, their customs, how they interact with others, relationships with Orks/Necron/Harlequins/Imperium and so on, so very good world building. No events, activities or feats really listed, but still good and, I feel, the best of these exposes.

Alaitoc is mostly nothing new, although we get random info on the Ynnari (this is still the Asuryani Codex isn’t it?), we also learn that most of the Imperium’s knowledge of the Asuryani is because Alaitoc sucks so much that the Inquisition keeps managing to capture their agents and torture them. Go Alaitoc? Not really sure how being told your faction just sucks is great, since we’re given no reciprocal feats of Alaitoc’s to counter it. Ugh. At least Eldorath is not mentioned once.

Then we get mini-pieces on Altansar, Ill-Kaithe, Lugganath, Iybraesil, Yme-Loc (how are you handling being bitch-slapped by the Ad-Mech oh ‘greatest of Vaul’s Smiths’?) and Mymeara in which we are told pretty much nothing worth mentioning which hasn’t been said before.

Now we get to the ‘timeline’ section and I’ll keep track of battles won/lost as well as new fluff.

We start off with a ton of the old normal about the fall of the Empire, little to nothing worth saying about it. We then get the old sections on GC-era Asuryani too.

Our first two battles are Eldrad getting curb-stomped by Fulgrim and Lugganath’s near-death in he Shattering. (1 loss/1 win).

We then get Rasilena mentiond vaguely, but apparently going into detail about the only major Asuryani victory, and their most badass moment ever, over Space Marines would look bad in their own Codex, so it is skipped over. (1 win).

We get more old Fluff in the Ghost Harvest and stuff ripped out of the Iyanden Supplement. (2 wins).

We get the horrible War in the Webway, old as before.

We get one nice expanded bit on when Saim-Hann beat rando Slaanesh Daemon of the week. (1 win).

We get the victory over some Titans again. (1 win). 

We get new Fluff...in which we find the Craftworlds once gathered for a meeting and then started killing each other. G-great. 

We get Eldrad’s big failure on Maedrax again (1 loss).

We get the Death of Gnosis Prime again (1 win/1 loss).

Doom of Malan’tai (1 loss). Is there this much recycled Fluff in the other Codices? I should check sometime, feels like basically nothing new was added.

Perfect War, Iyaden, same old. (1 win).

Clash of Scorpions gets added that after it the Craftworlds purged the followers of Arha.

What is hilarious here is we learn Eldrad made Armageddon 2 happen to save Idharae, and then they just died anyway cause a couple of Space Marines attacked them. Will the inability of Eldrad to achieve anything ever end? Probably not.

In probably the biggest piece of positive Fluff we find out Yriel is insanely successful as a Corsair, though once again GW is okay with it being mentioned that he has stolen ships from pretty much everyone but Space Marines, because I am fast becoming convinced GW literally worships them and would consider it heresy to say poor of them in another faction’s Codex.

Kyaduras makes his ‘we’re screwed’ prophecy and Doom of Iyanden happens. (1 win).

Ulthwe helps drive away Ahriman, old Fluff again. (1 win).

Bio-purge, old. (1 win).

Necron Rising, old, but Alaitoc wins its only battle against Necron ever so good for them. (1 win).

Then we get Altansar back, Cadia Falls, Biel-Tan goes cccracky, Yvraine’s up and Ynnari are here fighting at Iyanden. 

Now we are Post-GS so new Fluff developments. Biggest one; All Craftworlds have been discovered, boarded, and attacked by Daemons. At least Two Craftworlds are probably dead (there must be like 10 Craftworlds in total left by now, with 70% them at least half-dead). (2 losses. 1 win.)

We get told about the Iyanden bout from the Rulebook, nothing new, how does Iyanden even exist anymore? (1 win).

Biel-Tan kills Daemons, I’m beginning to feel that when writing this Codex the authors were like; ‘superiors, we wish to give the faction battles to win against foes!’ and then the heads went; ‘Okay...but only Daemons, no-one else’. (1 win).

We find out the 2nd time the Blood Crusade was fought to a stand still was by five Clans from Saim-Hann...but the other time it took Ghazghkull and the Swarmlord together...and two Vectorums of the Death Guard (not even 1000 men) were able to board and destory part of Saim-Hann while battling their whole fleet...I...do not understand...head hurts...logistics. Anyway more Daemon dead. (1 win).

We get our only example of Asuryani actually manipulating when they release Necron to kill Nurgle Daemons.

We get told a bit about Ulthwe being dumb, then Kairos invades it and Eldrad saves it. (1 win AND a win against a named character...a Daemon...wow this Codex literally only lets Daemons lose).

Then Yvraine has a meeting.

Overall feeling: Could the Asuryani beat someone other than Daemons for a change? If you just make Daemons lose always its just as bad as the Avatar of Khaine, it stops meaning anything if anyone beats them, at this point a kid with a stick could beat an army of Daemons.

Overall tally: 17 wins too 6 losses. Comes out to about 73% which isn’t bad at all. It isn’t Loyalist Space Marine level at all, but its above Chaos/Guard level so honestly I won’t complain about the ratio actually. What I will complain about is the lack of diversity, since its padded out heavily with a ton of wins against Daemons and almost no-one else. In particular not a single victory against Space Marines is mentioned at all.

Named Character wise they beat Kairos and that’s it. Sadly this means nothing as Greater Daemon Characters are almost as weak as the Avatar of Khaine.

Anyway more art then some info on individual units. This section is largely not needing commentary, very little new is told. There is a startling lack of little in-text stories about victories the units achieved, about two in total I think, which is odd. Other than that just lots of lies; Howling Banshees do not stand a chance against dedicated Marine CQC Units, do not believe this Codex, and Eldar Farseers are not great Seers how dare you lie to me like this. Avatar of Khaine just gets generic drivel not mentioning its greatest power; to lose against anything and we get 0 on the Phoenix Lords except now they are apparently so stupid that they once fought each other and Fuegan (characterised as furious, belicose and with an uncontrolled temper) was described as the calm and level-headed one trying to hold everyone back. I don’t even get it anymore ;_;.

Illic is still a nothingburger who’s greatest accomplishment in Fluff is when he failed to do anything and was caught by the Nemesor and saved like a Damsel in Distress by Ko’sarro, way to give Asuryani agency Codex. 

Yriel’s Spear/Cronesword is again killing him and he is still Cursed cause...you expected positive change? What did you think you were reading? A Space Marine Codex? Shame on you.

We’re also again told that nothing in the Webway is as dangerous as the Black Library’s Guardians which is just hilarious since Magnus has been in the Webway and Aeldari never stand a chance against anything Space Marine-related at all. I do wish the Codex wouldn’t lie so much.

We then get a showcase of Miniatures.

Next we’re on to the rules for the Army has a whole and only one thing to note; apparently spending thousands of years mastering and perfecting the art of command and dedicating centuries to the exploration of its every facet in a religious way makes one...just a worse version of what every Ultramarine Chaplain and Librarian is. Great!

For some reason, again, Eldrad is simply not able to Deny as many Psychic Powers as Voldus. I really don’t even know why GW pretends Aeldari are the best Psykers anymore.

I like Warlocks, don’t know why, but they’ve always been so cool to me. They look awesome to me in Art and I wish, considering they are still trapped on the Path of Khaine, they were better individual fighters, as I’d love to actually use them for some cool fighting more often, cause I dig their appearance and lore.

Don’t quite see why Phoenix Lords and the Avatar of Khaine don’t get LD10.

Also weird that Phoenix Lords don’t get a generic Inv Save seeing as GW hands out Inv Saves to HQ’s so much now.

Still dig the Phoenix Lords though, super-cool, but I again must point to this as evidence to those people I meet who insist ‘Phoenix Lords=Primarchs’ because they do not. It is sad, I wish they did, but they just don’t. At best their Chapter Masters and even that’s iffy since most named Chapter Masters could probably easily defeat the Phoenix Lords. Its sad considering each Phoenix Lord has more experience than any Primarch even, but apparently Aeldari just suck that much compared to humans.

Apparently Spiritseers aren’t even as powerful Psykers as Librarians, they are just as good as normal human Psykers. Yeah not realling seeing this ‘we are the best Psykers’ everyone keeps saying.

Banshees are cool, I dig the Exarch’s ability. I also think Iyanden Wraithlords might be pretty cool. 

Then we get Warlord Traits, Craftworld Attributes, Stratagems and a whole bunch of technical stuff which I don’t feel qualified to comment on so I’ll stop here. 

So yeah that’s the Codex in a nutshell. Not sure how I feel right now, certainly I’ll admit I actually expected more, but not sure of my overall feelings. I’ll digest it a bit and compare it to the list I made before to see where I stand and make a decision on whether bothering to continue later. 

One thing that is just a fact, and does honestly disappoint me, is it is becoming clear that GW simply isn’t very willing to let any major Space Marine force ever be defeated in another faction’s codex, but are willing to let Space Marines beat other major factions (just discussing Asuryani alone in the 8th Edition Codices; Alaitoc (twice), Ulthwe and Iyanden have all already been beaten in the Fluff). 

[coilwind7-blog]

Rittenhouse Bar Fires Cook Targeted on Yelp, Facebook for Pro-Hitler Posts

City

We talked to the man who calls himself “so much more” than a Nazi — and the man who led the charge to get him tossed from his job.

Left: Accused “Nazi” Steven James Fullerton. (Photo provided.) Right: Oh! Shea’s Pub. (Photo via Google Maps)

Oh! Shea’s Pub is a casual, laid-back bar and restaurant on Sansom Street in Rittenhouse Square. You might go there to watch a game, throw back some pints with your colleagues. But that’s about it. Oh! Shea’s is just not, you know, the kind of bar that people talk about. But that all changed this week.

Over the past weekend, Oh! Shea’s became the subject of countless angry posts and comments on Facebook. There were threads on Reddit. Threats to boycott. Bad reviews left on Yelp.

Why? Because a cook at Oh! Shea’s had repeatedly published pro-Nazi and pro-Hitler comments and memes on Facebook. And on Wednesday, Oh! Shea’s fired the employee.

It all started with Old City resident Victor Shugart, seen here. The 25-year-old Drexel engineering student, a former U.S. Marine, loathes Nazis. According to Shugart, eight of his nine great-great-uncles on his mother’s side fought against the Nazis in World War II, and his Great-Great-Uncle Red was killed at the Battle of the Bulge after he stepped on a Nazi landmine. So when he saw that a man who seemed like a real-life Nazi was working at a restaurant in Rittenhouse Square, he decided to take action.

“It’s really a dumb story, how I found out,” Shugart tells Philly Mag. “I was up late one night on Facebook, and I saw Jim Kenney talking about how the city declared a state of emergency for Kensington because of the heroin problem. I’m reading through these comments, and I saw this one that really stood out. The guy said that we should just let all opioid users die.”

The guy was Steve Fullerton. Curious, Shugart clicked on the account, and he was shocked by what he found. On Fullerton’s page, there were photos of people giving the Nazi salute. Words and phrases like “Jewess” and “Jew-trickery” were being thrown around. There was a post blaming Africans for slavery. There was pro-Hitler rhetoric. And late in September, the cover photo for that Facebook profile was changed to a Nazi officer’s hat.

A few screenshots from Fullerton, used with his permission:

What Shugart also spotted on Facebook was that Fullerton listed Oh! Shea’s as his employer. So Shugart decided to pay Oh! Shea’s a visit on Sunday. He says that he went inside, ordered a beer, and asked the bartender why Oh! Shea’s was employing a “Nazi.” Shugart claims that the bartender told him that he’d have to leave if he said another word about it. Shugart finished his beer and left soon thereafter without further confrontation.

After Shugart visited the bar, Fullerton posted the following on Facebook: “Just had some stranger come to the bar and ask if I was here BY NAME. And told my co-worker that I was a Nazi and that he had proof. When I walked out, the stranger recognized me, but I didn’t know who he was. My co-worker told him to leave as soon as he saw me. #politicalassassination … But my co-workers have known that I write and read Nazi posts for the last ten years.” (An Oh! Shea’s manager tells Philly Mag that he doesn’t believe that anybody at Oh! Shea’s knew of Fullerton’s online life; Fullerton continues to maintain that they did.)

After that, Shugart and his friends started spreading word about Fullerton and Oh! Shea’s using Facebook, Reddit and other online platforms. He says he left reviews on Yelp to warn Oh! Shea’s customers.

And once word got out, others starting leaving negative Yelp reviews as well. When we checked the Oh! Shea’s Yelp page on Wednesday afternoon, there were three one-star Yelp reviews left there on Tuesday and Wednesday that refer to the “Nazi” in the kitchen. “The owner employees a NAZI that brags about his white supremacists views,” wrote one Yelper. “Disgusting!!!”

Philly Mag spoke with several people who live or work in the area of Oh! Shea’s who said that they were disturbed by the information that Shugart was circulating. One said that Oh! Shea’s was the watering hole of choice for his office. But not anymore. Not after this. Another said that they’d never go in Oh! Shea’s again, even if Fullerton got fired. (None of these other people were willing to use their names, due to fear for their safety.)

And getting Fullerton fired was exactly Shugart’s endgame.

“400,000 Americans died in a war so that we could all agree that Nazism can be thrown into the trash can of history,” Shugart tells Philly Mag. “This guy does not deserve to work in Philadelphia. What does this guy do to the food of people he thinks should be exterminated? What does he do in that kitchen when an order comes in for the Untermensch?”

“So people who you say are Nazis shouldn’t be allowed to work?” I ask Shugart.

“Listen, if you want to hire a Nazi, I get to tell the world that you hire Nazis,” he retorts. “You wanna keep him employed? I get to tell every person I know not to eat or drink at your pub.”

Shugart says that he is pro-free speech. And he insists that he’s not going to target anybody who comes along that he simply disagrees with or whose views he finds offensive.

“I understand that there are conservatives out there and that we disagree,” says Shugart. “But I’m not going to get somebody fired over that. But can we just agree that there is zero room for Nazism in a country that my relatives fought the Nazis for? And a country that I’ve fought for? He may be legally protected by the Constitution. But this isn’t a legal problem. It’s a social one. He’s not welcome in our society with these beliefs.”

On Wednesday afternoon, an Oh! Shea’s manager confirmed for us that Fullerton had been fired due to his online posts. “You just can’t put crazy shit on the Internet and not expect it to come back to you,” another Oh! Shea’s employee said.

Reached on Wednesday evening, Fullerton was not exactly apologetic or remorseful about his posts. And he didn’t seem to care that he was out of a job. He said that it wasn’t a “serious job” and that he was looking forward to collecting unemployment. He called me “gay” and a “commie” and added that “it’s a bad time to be a commie in Trump’s America.”

I asked him flat out if Shugart was correct in calling him a Nazi.

“I am far more than that,” he replied.

I prompted him to explain his offensive Facebook posts.

“I’m looking for my Blutfahne,” was his response.

After I spoke with Fullerton, Shugart took to Facebook to alert his friends and followers that Oh! Shea’s “did the right thing.”

“Whoever says direct action doesn’t work hasn’t tried it,” he wrote. “I appealed to their sense of morality, and they listened. So here’s one for doing the right thing in the world, and a thank you to the management at Oh! Shea’s for standing up and fixing what needed fixing.”

Source: https://www.phillymag.com/news/2018/10/11/oh-sheas-philadelphia-nazi/

[thebibliomancer]

Essential Avengers: Defenders #8: “... If Atlantis Should Fall!”

September, 1973

So, here we are. Looking at something completely different.

There’s no tiny disappointed Vision judging us. No A that’s gone off exploring the cosmos.

We’re in new waters. Except for Silver Surfer, all these folks have appeared in Avengers before. I think that purple guy on the cover has appeared a few times.

But what we have in the Dynamic Defenders is something quite different. Its the book about the non-team. Kind of like a support group for ornery loners that work best alone. But frequently accidentally team up.

This is part 2 of the Avengers/Defenders War (well technically part 1 since last time was a prologue) but it doesn’t get to that for most of the book. There’s some Red Ghost/Atlantis Nonsense that is more pressing.

Honestly, before I can get to the / War, I need to go over some context. Because Defenders is the book that explains what happened to the Black Knight and why Strange put a Troglodyte-repelling shield around Castle Garrett.

So how did we get here?

It all started when Namor was dropped from the sky in front of Hulk like a limp bag of smelly fish.

Hulk vaguely recalls liking Namor so he went to get Dr. Strange to help him. And it turned out that it was all a plot by Necrodamus to sacrifice Namor to the Nameless One in front of Hulk and Dr. Strange out of revenge for the three of them thwarting the Nameless One at various times and assorted team-ups.

At the end, Namor recalled that Silver Surfer was the one who dropped him out of the sky so Dr. Strange, Namor, and Hulk all go searching for the Surfer. Surfer doesn’t know anything about any of this because he’s been busy teaching some innocent mountain apes about fire and manners. But it turns out that instead of gentle yetis, they’re secret wizards and there’s a big wizard fight.

After, Dr. Strange mentions he might be able to help get the Surfer past the barrier Galactus used to trap him on Earth by taking a shortcut through another dimension. They end up in the Nameless One’s dimension, where after some shenanigans with a macrocosm maelstrom, Dr. Strange discovers that Barbara Norriss, who sacrificed herself to save him once, has mated with the Nameless One and become his third head.

The four heroes manage to trap the Nameless One and Dr. Strange forcibly separates Barbara from the Nameless One. Which sort of drives her insane. Whoops.

They also discover that you can’t circumvent Galactus’ barrier so easily and the Surfer runs off, feeling betrayed. Oh and then Hulk also runs off, pissed that Dr. Strange harmed Barbara.

It turns out that their dimension jaunt popped them out in front of Garrett Castle. Strange and Namor chase the Hulk inside but are transported to a magical realm and captured by the Executioner and an army under his command.

Remember how Executioner dumped Enchantress like a limp smelly bag of stink fish to hook up with a queen? Yeah. That’s important again.

Dr. Strange and Namor find themselves in castle jail with unhulked Bruce Banner, catatonic Barbara, the Enchantress, and Black Knight.

After Avengers #100, Enchantress snuck off the first time Zeus took a nap and wound up at Castle Garrett. She charmed Black Knight into helping her travel to Queen Casiolena’s realm so she could kick her ass for seducing the Executioner away from her.

It didn’t work out.

But, hey! A catatonic woman! That’s just the tide-changing thing that Enchantress can use to change the tide!

Using her powers, Enchantress implants the Valkyrie personality that she used before over Barbara, creating an All-New, All-Different Valkyrie.

They bust out and fight Casiolena’s army again and this time Enchantress kills the queen, with the aid of a distraction from Valkyrie.

Now with no queen, Executioner has no choice apparently but return to Enchantress’ service.

Black Knight is pissed. He loves her because she magically forced him to and now she’s just going to dump him like a stinky bag of Namor? Well, you know what? He’ll fight Executioner for her!

She’s touched by this display of how much he loves her. So turns him into a stone statue to make an eternal monument to how lovable she is.

And then she ditches the Defenders and Valkyrie. So Valkyrie takes Black Knight’s horse and sword and decides that she’s going to join the Defenders, despite protests that its not really a team. And also that they don’t need her anyway.

Dr. Strange seals up Castle Garrett to keep it safe and takes Statue Black Knight back to his Sanctum Sanctorum in Greenwich Village.

From there, some other stuff happens. Valkyrie helps defeat the Omegatron, a doomsday weapon that Dr. Strange once stopped but then accidentally restarted in issue #1. Silver Surfer returns to apologize for being so melodramatic and helps stop Cyrus Black, a second-rate wizard pissed that he can’t beat Strange even in his dreams.

They run into Hawkeye and he asks to join the team after getting into a pointless misunderstanding fight. They learn that Attuma is going to attack the surface world and go to the beach to stop him. Hulk ditches because he doesn’t want to go into the water. The Defenders sans Strange, sans Hulk, sans Silver Surfer, are captured along with a marine biologist. Red Ghost is working with Attuma and is creating a cosmic radiation brainwashed army of fishes and whales. Valkyrie and Hawkeye manage to break out of their cells only to discover that Red Ghost has brainwashed Namor.

And that’s where this issue picks up.

With a brainwashed Namor being ordered to kill Valkyrie and Hawkeye.

Um. It doesn’t go well. For them, I mean.

Hawkeye’s arrows break on Namor’s skin and he’s stronger than Valkyrie. Hawkeye does manage to knock Red Ghost in the noggin with a vase but his elation is short-lived because it doesn’t break the brainwashing.

Brain POW! Haha.

See, the brainwashing is perpetuated by natural cosmic rays, the kind that strike the Earth continuously. Only way to break the brainwashing would be if... I don’t know... the Earth stopped getting hit by cosmic rays. But that’s unlikely to the extreme.

Anyway, Red Ghost is going to use his brainwashing machine on the recaptured Hawkeye and Valkyrie now. I mean, its never worked on humans before. Usually just kills ‘em.

So two weeks later, Dr. Strange returns to his Greenwich sanctum with good news, everyone!

Using the powers he gained from the departed Ancient One, Strange has made some progress on undoing the spell which turned Black Knight to stone.

On Clea’s suggestion, Strange decides to summon the other Defenders to share this good news with everyone.

But only Silver Surfer and Hulk respond to his summons.

Because remember that thing? With Red Ghost? Cosmic ray brainwashing? That’s still happening.

There is some good news there too. Hawkeye and Valkyrie survived the process. But the bad news is that Red Ghost’s brainwashed fish army is big enough to take on Atlantis.

Back in Greenwich, Silver Surfer wants to forget the missing three Defenders and get on with the good news about Black Knight.

But Hulk pipes up that he knows where they are. But he’s not telling because he doesn’t do what dumb magician wants.

So Silver Surfer puts him in a headlock and Dr. Strange puts him in a trance.

Tranced Hulk tells them about how an Atlantean showed up to get Namor because Attuma was going to attack. There was a fight, Defenders got spanked and taken onto Attuma’s water ship, and Hulk left because he didn’t want to go. He doesn’t know how long ago it was because Hulk does not understand time.

So Dr. Strange puts Hulk into a mystical sleep that he will only awaken from when Strange returns. And then Strange and Surfer surf off to try to find the others.

Meanwhile, thousands of leagues under the sea: ATLANTIS. Brainwashed whales and squids come bursting through the walls. Although, what good are walls in an underwater city? You can swim over them.

But the whales strong enough to SHOK through walls with no problem aren’t as scary as Namor leading the charge.

So the three brainwashed Defenders lead Attuma’s forces into attacking the Atlanteans. Even Hawkeye somehow is effective, shooting special underwater arrows. What some might call “spear-gun spears.”

But suddenly, Valkyrie stops fighting and collapses screaming in sheer, stark terror. And she’s seeing everything in acid trip monster vision.

Its explained that only the Valkyrie personality was brainwashed, leading the original Barbara personality to partially break free again. But Barbara is still insane. And apparently the personalities are trying to kill each other.

On the plus side, this allows Dr. Strange to locate her because mental emanations. Sure.

Reading her mind, Dr. Strange learns what happened to the missing Defenders and that the brainwashing process depends upon the continual flow of cosmic rays.

So obviously the solution here is to dam that flow.

Which Dr. Strange can do. Although it does require him combining his powers with Silver Surfer and the pair of them using every iota of strength they possess.

But yeah. They put a barrier around Earth that blocks all cosmic rays.

... Yup. That sure looks like it covers everywhere on Earth alright.

But it does the trick. More than does it. It depowers Red Ghost, leaving him to PLOOG! in some undersea mud. I kind of have to wonder if the Fantastic Four were similarly depowered during this.

Ben Grimm unrocking and a brief shining hope swelling within his heart. And then at the end of the issue, ploog, back into the Thing.

Anyway. The fish army is now amscraying and Valkyrie is charging at Red Ghost.

So he does the sensible thing and flees. Right into Hawkeye swinging his bow like a bat. Which was the healthier alternative. Valkyrie was going to shove the ebony sword through him.

Namor comes to too and is less than absolutely thrilled with what’s going on. And he has former personal history with Attuma so even less thrilled than that.

So he swims over to Attuma and knocks him out with one punch, man.

That sort of thing is always happening to fish jerks though.

So with the day saved, the Defenders return the marine biologist home and then return to Strange’s sanctum for Part 1 of the Avengers/Defenders War.

Dr. Strange explains he convened the Defenders because he has made the first breakthrough in his efforts to undo Enchantress’ stoning spell.

And some of the Defenders respond to the news.

Hawkeye just thinks he had been wondering why his back-stabbing Avengers buddies didn’t replace him with Black Knight. Because Hawkeye.

Hulk is pissed off at Dr. Strange and Silver Surfer for putting him to sleep but he likes Black Knight. He’ll wait to see if Strange can fix him before putting his fist through some Strange face.

And Valkyrie feels an overpowering, irrational love for him. Possibly because the Valkyrie personality and the stoning spell were both created by the Enchantress. This has come up a few times before. She feels conflicted about it. If she’s cracking up, she doesn’t want to take the risk of loving someone.

Anyway. Magic.

Dr. Strange has found Dane Whitman/Black Knight’s soul in the dark realm it fled to when his body became stone. Because that’s how stoning works. And using the Orb of Agamotto, Strange will contact Black Knight.

A torquoise pencil scribble finds Black Knight’s soul floating in the void and contacts him. Telling him that the Defenders are trying to rescue him and asking if he has learned anything from his vantage point that could help break the spell.

Black Knight responds that there’s nothing except desolate emptiness. But time isn’t moving and he isn’t suffering. He’s had faith but now that the Defenders have contacted him, he has certain hope that they will save him.

So the message scribble turns around and heads back to Dr. Strange.

But it is intercepted. It was Dormammu who guided Strange’s psychic feelers so that they found the Black Knight’s soul. So he knew that Dr. Strange would send a message scribble and with his power combined with Loki’s he knew he could alter the message without Dr. Strange realizing it had been tampered with.

We also learn that Loki’s salary for his aid in tricking the Defenders will be the return of his eyesight. We also learn that Dormammu isn’t much for small talk.

So the tampered message scribble returns to Dr. Strange and gives him the message:

“Yes, I can hear you! I can! Knowledge that I’ve assimilated in this mystic realm tells me I can be rescued through the power of the Evil Eye! Hurry, please! I have had faith -- and now I have certain hope -- that you will save me!”

Dr. Strange has no reason to suspect that this is a ruse. Silver Surfer thought that the Evil Eye had been destroyed but if random mystical knowledge tells Black Knight that it’s around, then it must still exist!

So the Defenders vow to find the Evil Eye or perish in the attempt!

Hm. So we have the Avengers and we have the Defenders. We have the / so now where is the War?

Guess we’ll find it next time when we swing back to the Avengers side of things.