#there's a specific spot in my lower back that repeatedly gets trapped

[nexus-nebulae]

i love that my physical therapist has told me exactly Why I'm getting so much pain and how to fix it (nerves getting trapped in too tight muscles) but man i hate that fixing the problem (stretches and massaging around the trapped nerve) takes So Long and so much patience

[dreamii-yume]

For Malleus’ birthday can we get a date exploring abandoned buildings with him.

Note : This takes place back when you still don’t know what Tsunotarou’s real identity is.

Malleus couldn’t sleep.

Not like he needed much anyway, someone as powerful as him wouldn’t submit to something as primal as sleep. To him, it was irrelevant and the darkness of the night just so happens to be his favorite time of the day. So, he had to do what he always do the best; Escape from the surveillance of his retainers and explore a world he had never been to before. It’s the same old routine every time and yet, the unknown never cease to fascinate him.

However, it was strange to say that no matter how much he walks, his feet would always carry him back to a place that he knows all too well. The Ramshackle Dorm whose only occupant is a petty monster, and a lone human that could not use magic. It used to be his favorite place, although he’ll never actually admit that to anyone. It was a shame that there is now someone to disrupt that atmospheric peace it had. There would be more people that’ll visit that place and soon, it’ll lose all the qualities that made it special.

But even so...Malleus found himself gazing at it tonight as well.

He...Doesn’t really know how he got here in the first place, nor does he ever understand why. It felt like it’s a huge responsibility, to visit the dorm in every way he can. Maybe it was because he’s still attached to the place? Maybe he had already explored everything he has to in this island? No, it’s not that. He was simply waiting...and hoping for a certain someone to come out every time he comes to visit.

“My, my...It’s a surprise to see you still out in the cold at a time like this. Have you had any fear at all?”

One of the residence in that same broken down dorm, a child of a human. She had no powerful magic to compare to his, the odd one in a school focused on honing a wizard’s magical capability. Honestly, she was just an unfortunate creature, a bystander that shouldn’t have gotten involved in the first place. Malleus almost feels bad for her, having heard of stories from his supervisor about all the things that this human had to go through with the other dorm leaders mysteriously overblotting. She was a well-developed young woman by human standards, but in his eyes, all he sees is a little girl still in need of guidance.

She was nothing special, and yet, she never fails to put a smile on his face.

“Ah, Tsunotarou...!”

What a ridiculous nickname. If his people were to hear this one human call him, call The Malleus Draconia by such terms, there would be a riot, a controversy. Honestly, if it were anyone but you who would dare to call him by that name, a shot of lightning would’ve probably executed them right on the spot. Guess it was a good thing that you got permission beforehand, huh? Even if you yourself hadn’t realized so, it was charming to say the least.

“I could say the same thing for you too.” You said, with your head held up high to look at him in the eyes. Malleus could not see the tiniest bit of fear in your eyes, it was clear that you did not see him as a threat at all, unlike the others. “Say, didn’t you say that you were a fan of exploring around? I’m kinda in a mood to do just that so, would you like to accompany me?”

Malleus couldn’t help but chuckle at what you said, not one person had ever said that to him with a straight face before. “Was that an invitation, Child of Man? How curious...” He asked, in which he received an eager nod from you. “Very well then, I accept. Honestly, I could never find a gloomy moment with you.”

His comment only left you raising your eyebrow in confusion, something that he had already expected. It was no use on confusing the ignorant any further, after all. Either way, you carry on along with him accompanying you wherever you plan to go.

Some of the places that you both ended up visiting had already been old news to Malleus, having all the time in the world to explore them. However, that radiant in your eyes prevented him from saying anything that would spoil your excitement, your reaction was far too amusing. You were a curious human child, having the courage to look at every crooks a place had without worrying about the risks for traps. For that short time he had with you tonight, he already lost count of how many times he had to use his magic to move away debris away from you, without yourself even noticing. From the large boulders that could actually seriously injure you, to the tiniest of rocks that you wouldn’t even feel, it became a reflex for him to keep a look out for any other danger that may come your way.

Malleus even found himself secretly using magic to lead you to a specific part of a place, one that would make your eyes shine in amazement once you found it. You would go up to him, feeling proud by thinking that you found such treasure yourself when it truth, he played a major role in it. But still, he could never say that, he enjoyed your enthusiasm way too much to do so.

“Exploring like this really takes the energy out of you quick, huh...” You said as a yawn escapes you. Initially intending to take a break, you and Malleus sat beside each other in a nearby bench, a lamp post illuminating the surroundings.

With his arms crossed, Malleus observed the way you rubbed your eyes, as if to fight the urge to sleep. It was clear that you’ve already reached your limit for tonight, and although he feels rather disappointed that it would end so soon, you needed to rest your eyes. “Isn’t it about time for you to come back to your dorm? It has gotten quite late.” He suggested with his eyes closed, still in dismay that his time with you is over. Truly, the difference between the endurance between a human and a fae are both far and wide.

“Yeah...” You listlessly agreed whilst nodding off, it made Malleus smile slightly actually. Honestly, you’re hopeless, and with that extreme vulnerability of yours, just imagine all the things that he could do. He isn’t as friendly as you think after all, but revealing that now would simply be boring in his standards, not to mention quite pointless. With only a few months of talking and meeting up like this, you already had come to trust him so much as to never raise your guard up when it comes to him. He should be offended, but there was a certain charm around it when it’s you. “It’s really late, and...”

Suddenly, you looked up, coincidentally seeing a clock post nearby and Malleus had to tilt his head in wonder with that pause in your words. Then, you widened your eyes. “Ah! It’s already passed midnight!” You blurted out in panic, which made Malleus face palm gently, so that’s what this is all about? Just realizing that, you’re such a... “Here!”

This time, it was Malleus’ turn to be caught off-guard as you handed him some sort cloth, no...It was a scarf. “...What do you intend on giving me this?” Malleus asked, looking back at your smile.

You blinked repeatedly. “What do I intend...? Well...” You trailed off, scratching the back of your head before looking back at him with a cute blush on your cheeks. “...It’s your birthday today, isn’t it?”

It took him a moment, slowly widening his eyes as realization came by him. “Birth...day?” It didn’t even occur to him, he completely forgot the importance of this new day that came by. “...How do you know about that?”

“Lilia-senpai told me! Since he seemed to know you.” You beamed up at him. “Though...I kinda panicked a little, and I don’t really know too much about you to actually know what kind of gift you would like...”

You scratched your cheek in embarrassment, looking away from him. “...So, I ended up knitting something and before I knew it, it turned into a scarf, haha...” You sheepishly explained, face burning at how low your reasoning was. “Y-You don’t have to wear it if you don’t want to, but I’d really appreciate it...If you can at least take it...”

Malleus stared at your face, your usually bright expression had suddenly been overpowered by sheer embarrassment. Your face was red, the way you were biting you lips slightly was a new side of nervousness that he didn’t know about you, nor he had ever known that you were capable of expressing. It was honestly...refreshing to see that, adorable even. Looking at the scarf in your hand, it was true that it looked like it was hand crafted. You still didn’t seem to have a full grasp in knitting yet, judging from the few loosely strands sticking out here and there, but it still wasn’t exactly bad.

Then, Malleus just couldn’t help it anymore. A booming laughter escaped his throat, it was more than a chuckle, he was actually letting out his entertainment right there. “Haha! Oh, Child of Man...You are truly the most interesting human I’ve ever encountered!” He exclaimed, a large smile sprawled on his face.

“I-I am...?” You muttered in a flinch, not expecting him to say anything at all.

“Very well...I shall take it.” It’s not like there was any trouble anyways, Malleus would’ve still gladly take it from you if you were so generously offering it up to him. Regardless if it was his birthday or not.

“R-Really...!?”

“I don’t see why not.” Malleus said, raising his eyebrow with a smirk that can never disappear from his face for some reason. “I’ll even give you permission to place it around me and let you see how it looks.”

“Yay!” You cheered, scooting closer to him with the scarf on your hands. Malleus instantly noticed the gesture you gave him and lowered his head slightly, just enough for you to wrap the fluffy fabric around his neck. Tying them up nicely, you marvelled at the way your horned friend look. “Wah~! Tsunotarou, you look adorable! And comfortable too!”

A twitch displayed on his eyebrow, but you playfully dismissed it. “Is that so...” He said and you nodded vigorously. He huffed, the cold was not an enemy to him at all, he has a natural tolerance when it comes to it. A scarf was something that is normally pointless to him but surprisingly, he felt warm. Maybe not because of the heat it provided, but because he could feel the immense care and loving effort that you put into making it. “Well...Whatever makes you happy.”

Giggling, another sleepy yawn escapes you, but it sounded way more exhausted than the previous one. Without thinking, you lay your head on Malleus’ shoulder, startling the fae. “Hehe...Tsunotarou’s so warm...” You said, leaning your forehead against him, with your hands clenched around his sleeve. Malleus kept quiet, he couldn’t say anything back as he just stared at your form, waiting for your next response.

...But what greeted him next were just a batch of soft snores, suggesting that you had finally succumbed to your battle against the overwhelming slumber. Malleus blinked a few times, before chuckling at your behavior. Even in your sleep, you sound so chipper, probably because of the fact that you’ve accomplished something for tonight. He raised a hand and hanged it around your shoulder, pulling you closed for more comfort. He glanced down at your sleeping figure, still can’t believe that you fell asleep in his presence.

Sometimes, Malleus wonders what you would be like if you’ve met in an alternate universe where you’re aware of who he is. Would you be scared, or would everything stay the same as always? When it comes to you, he still couldn’t determine which would be the exact answer. But if he were to ask you that same exact question, a part of him could just laugh and sit back as it wouldn’t really matter. He already knew what you were going to say, after all.

“Tsunotarou would always be Tsunotarou”

...That was what you told him before too, right? Malleus liked that answer, it was really something to expect from the strangest human he had ever meet. So, until then, there was no reason for him to doubt you. He’ll believe your words as he continues to wait for the inevitable day that you will come to know of his real name. He doesn’t have to rush, he’ll cherish these moments for a little longer, while he still can.

It was funny, for the first time in his long years of fae life, he was fine putting his arms around a human like this. He even go as far as to keep you warm from the cold, making your slumber a little more comfortable. Closing his eyes gently, he leaned his head close to your own, foolishly basking in a human’s warmth himself...How scandalous for the future heir of the Valley of Thorns, being so intimate with a mere human like this. The very fact that he’s enjoying this moment right now is a sin of itself, he’ll be in so much trouble...

...And yet, for the very first time, Malleus could not care less.

MALLEUS AND YUU INTERACTIONS ARE THE BEST SCENES IN THE WHOLE ENTIRE GAME.

CHANGE MY MIND.

...Actually, no. You can’t, it’s too late. I’m already feeling so girly for this ship.

[delimeful]

sheer atrocity (4)

warnings: captivity, mild arguing

-

After a brief break to eat and drink, Virgil was on the move. Again.

Considering dusk was quickly approaching and they’d been traveling or intimidating abusive dads for pretty much the entire day, Roman felt the pace they were setting was a little unreasonable.

He wasn’t the one walking it, sure, but he couldn’t help but wonder. Was this guy always so antsy, or was this a special occasion?

And while he was asking himself questions that he wouldn’t get any answers to, how long was the cast duration of this enchantment?

(More specifically, how much longer was he going to be small enough for beetles to look like dogs?

How much longer before Virgil decided what to do with him for real?)

He hadn’t seen the giant stop to recast, which meant that he’d been burning through a continuous enchantment for hours on end. Signs pointed to his magic reserves being massive. Chilling.  

Roman thumped a foot against the side of the jar that rested against Virgil’s side. “Are we wandering around the woods during twilight for any particular reason, or are you just lost and too embarrassed to admit it? Too used to seeing the trees from a loftier position, perhaps?”

Virgil glanced down at him, as though just recalling he was there. Offended, Roman made a mental note to make more of his internal diatribes to external diatribes. The only thing worse than being a prisoner with an uncertain future was being an ignored prisoner with an uncertain future.

“Go back to being quiet, I forgot you were annoying for a second.”

“Absolutely not,” Roman huffed, kicking his feet against the glass repeatedly for emphasis. “The moment we see another human I’m going to scream at the top of my lungs.”

“Oh, because that worked so well for you before,” Virgil said, rolling his eyes.

Roman shifted positions, trying to ease a cramp in his leg. “Haven’t you heard? Third time’s the charm, and personally, I have no shortage of charm.”

There was a short pause, and then Virgil ground to a stop, taking a deep breath.

Instantly, Roman stiffened, eyes locked on the face above him. He’d forgotten himself, making jabs as though they weren’t enemies, as though he hadn’t been trapped, threatened, and used by this monster. It was too easy to pretend, when Virgil did things that were almost decent.

Sure enough, Virgil grabbed the top of the jar and lifted it from his pocket to be eye level. Roman shoved his arms out to keep himself stable, avoiding looking at the long drop below him.

“As useful as your bullheadedness was before, I don’t actually want you to scare the daylights out of the person I’m looking for this time.”

“Yes, well, I don’t want to be the size of a newborn chick, so it looks like we’re both dealing with  struggles in life,” Roman snapped back, because he’d never known when to keep his mouth shut.

Virgil narrowed his eyes. “I could just muffle your jar, you know. I’m magic; I can do that.”

He could? Roman was sort of surprised he hadn’t done so already.

“But,” he continued with a sigh, “I think this one will probably be easier with your help. I’m not great at putting people at ease.”

“I hadn’t noticed,” Roman snorted, and then jerked as the rest of the sentence sunk in. “Wait, hang on. ‘Put people at ease’? There is no way I’m helping you with any nefarious plots!”

“It’s not nefarious!” Virgil shifted his weight, glancing around impatiently. “And it’s time sensitive. Either help me or don’t, I don’t care.”

It couldn’t be that simple, but Roman wasn’t about to pass up a chance to see something other than the interior of a pocket. “Fine, but if I see you doing something evil, I’m not going to stand idly by!” And then, petulantly. “Also, I want out of the jar.”

“As long as you actually use your brain instead of your biases to judge me,” Virgil snarked back, but obligingly pried off the lid and tipped the jar on its side. Rather than pull or tip Roman out, he held his hand to the lip of the opening and waited.

It was almost more nerve wracking to climb into a giant hand willingly, but Roman managed it. The jar was whisked away, and Roman lifted to neck level. He stared blankly.

“Going to get off anytime soon?” Virgil asked, a hint of irritation in his voice.  

“What am I getting on? Your collar bones?” Roman replied incredulously. “Wouldn’t a shoulder be better?”

The hand under him shifted slightly, angling him towards the folds of the cloak where it met the hood. “The fabric has better grip here. You’ll fall off my shoulder if we’re attacked.”

Attacked by who? “Paranoid much?” Roman dallied for a moment longer, but the idea of falling really was an unappealing one, so he climbed up and managed to find a seat amongst the bunched up cloth.

As soon as he was settled, Virgil set off again, and Roman clung tightly, staring out at this strange new perspective of the forest. Weird, but definitely better than the jar.

They moved along in relative silence, Virgil surprisingly light on his feet for a giant. The sun had just begun to sink below the horizon when he finally jerked to a halt.

Roman opened his mouth to complain at the sudden stop, but Virgil’s head was tilted, as though carefully listening. After a moment, he turned to a nearby patch of shrubbery.

“Hey,” he called, voice lacking it’s usual edge. “I can hear you over there.”

There was a long pause, and Roman blinked as the shrubbery began to tremble slightly. There was actually someone in there?

“Easy,” Virgil said, lowering himself into a squat. “I’m not going to hurt you. I can help you find the way out of these woods, if you’d like.”  

After a moment, a small hand pushed part of the bush aside, peering out cautiously at them. Roman’s heart twisted at the kid’s face, smudged with dirt and tear streaks. They couldn’t have been more than eight.

Virgil shifted, and Roman felt a chill go through him, remembering who, or rather what he was with. He couldn’t let the giant lure the kid into whatever scheme he was planning.

“There you go,” Virgil coaxed, offering a hand to help the kid stand up. “It must have been scary, stuck out in the woods alone. You did good to stay in one spot.”

Roman bit down on the automatic urge to call out a warning, listening to the way Virgil carefully encouraged the kid to stand up and brush the twigs from their hair. This was important. He had to consider the situation from all angles before making a move.

If Virgil really wanted to abduct a random kid in the woods, he didn’t need to convince them of anything. He’d dealt with a trained slayer as though he was a minor annoyance, a kid wasn’t exactly a challenge. So why was he going to all this trouble?

Roman thought about the soft edges of Virgil’s expression when he gave Patton his coat back. Maybe… it wasn’t a ruse?

“I’m Virgil,” the giant in question said, shaking Roman from his thoughts. “And this is Roman. We’re travelling together.”

Roman startled, not expecting to be introduced. “Uh, salutations!”

The kid stared with wide eyes. “You’re so small!” they blurted, before covering their mouth hurriedly.

Virgil cut in before Roman could correct him. “He’s a pixie. Likes to cause problems on purpose.”

Roman huffed “I do not! Don’t let him fool you, I am a delight.”

The kid giggled, and Virgil’s shoulders relaxed slightly. Roman wished he could see his expression.

From there it was second nature to keep up a stream of chatter with the kid about everything from their favorite food (honey on bread) to their stance on frogs (cute but you shouldn’t kiss them). It grew darker and darker as they walked, and after the kid had almost tripped over stray roots thrice in rapid succession, Virgil had crouched and lifted them onto his back with ease.

Before long, the kid was snoring lightly, face smushed against his hood, and there was a surprisingly comfortable silence in the air between them.

Virgil broke it first. “Thanks for not freaking out. I didn't know you had it in you.”

Roman crossed his arms, ignoring how close he’d come to freaking out. “This doesn’t mean I trust you or anything. We’re still enemies, you’re just. Not as bad as you could’ve been.”

“Yipee,” Virgil deadpanned, shrugging his shoulder under Roman slightly to jostle him. Roman jabbed his elbow in the general direction of Virgil’s neck in retaliation. “Very gracious of you.”

“I certainly won’t be as gracious the next time you pass me off as a pixie,” Roman muttered, prompting a low, half-air laugh from Virgil. He realized belatedly that he’d assumed there would be a next time, and hadn’t been corrected. He wasn’t sure if that was reassuring or not.

What was it about this giant that made Roman feel at ease to speak his mind, even in such a precarious position?

Virgil slowed as they came up on the town again, crouching to gently nudge the kid awake and set  them on their own two feet again. “You’re home, kiddo.”

“Don’t go traipsing around in the forest again, y’hear?” Roman added sternly. “Not everything in those woods are as nice as us.”

The kid nodded solemnly, and then grumbled sleepily as Virgil ruffled their hair and pushed them towards the paved path into town.

Once the kid reached the town's edge, they turned around to peek over their shoulder. The two of them were already well out of sight, waiting until the kid had been safely whisked into the arms of their parents before departing.

Roman waited with bated breath, but despite their deal being over, Virgil seemed to have no intent of removing him from his newfound perch. He sunk deeper into the fabric as they continued to trek on.

For now, he could let himself enjoy this tentative peace.

[drabbles-of-writing]

All Powerful Coven vs. One Flirty Owlet

This is part of my Four Years AU

AO3

Masterpost

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Amity Blight was quick to gain leadership in her Coven group.

Keene had been the previous leader, but happily gave the title over to the young girl. She was determined to climb as high as she could in the ranks, and even he would admit, he was impressed by her dedication.

And, well, Emperor Belos had commanded it. Nobody knew the true reason why, but Amity seemed very nervous that day.

In total, their group had eleven members. It used to be ten, but a young upstarter by the name Laris had recently joined and was learning the ropes.

From day one, the group had been tasked with one thing; to capture the residents of the Owl House. Specifically the most recent troublemaker, the Owlet.

Of course, there had been many challenges in doing so.

But you don’t get into the most powerful coven in the Boiling Isles without noticing a few things. Well, most people don’t at least.

Like Amity’s sudden drop in capability whenever the Owlet was around.

,

“That’s the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard,”

“No, listen,” Invada insisted, tapping repeatedly at a paper filled with barely-readable conspiracies. “Eda the Owl Lady has a secret network, and the Blight’s are in on it!”

“The Blight’s wouldn’t touch the Owl Lady if it would save their lives,” One of the Coven rolled her eyes. 

“Eh, Amity might,” Another one shrugged, shuffling the cards in his hands. “If she needed to, that is. Or an excuse to see that Owlet,” He added with a smug look.

“I’ve said it once, and I will say it again,” The first one groaned, thunking her head on the table. “Amity would never date someone like that. The Owlet is only doing that flirting to throw her off.”

“And it works,” The second said, his smile unyielding.

“And that’s another thing!” Invada continued. “Amity is in a relationship with that thief, I know it!”

“A crush? Maybe,” The second member admitted. “But actively dating? Yeah, no, there’s no way she’d go that far, let alone without someone noticing.”

Invada groaned, letting their head hang in defeat.

“I’m surrounded by morons,”

“Whatever makes you feel better,” The first one mumbled, taking her dealt cards. “You didn’t put glyphs on these, did you?”

“Did I?” The second one grinned, looking down at his own cards.

“I feel very unsafe right now.”

“Hey, you three!” 

Xena poked her head into the tent, disrupting the beginning of the card game.

“Laris caught the demon dog from the Owl House,” She said, pointing behind her. “We’re heading out to help him and see what we can do with it.”

“Aw, lame,” The second coven member grumbled, standing up.

“Grab a sword or net or something, just in case.” Xena added. “That Owl family gets pretty protective of him.”

“Hostage situation! Woo!” The first one cheered, standing up. 

“Fine, fine. Let’s see how we’ll fail today.” Invada scoffed, rolling their eyes before setting their papers aside.

“That’s the spirit,” Xena teased. “Come on, Laris is bound to explode from excitement soon. Ms. Blight is gonna meet us there.”

,

“Ms. Blight! Ms. Blight, look! I got him!” Laris said excitedly, waving a struggling King over his head.

“I know, Laris. I see.” Amity sighed, pushing her mask up onto her head. “Very good job. Where did you even find him?”

Laris lit up at the compliment, and Amity could tell under the mask he was grinning from ear-to-ear.

“I found him in the trash,” He said happily.

Amity slowly looked back to King, her face portraying that of indescribable exhaustion from years of confusion.

“Someone threw awake a whole cupcake!” King defended, wiggling in the boys grasp. “Eda will come get me, you’ll see!”

“Pray that she doesn’t,” Amity mumbled. “Keene?”

“I doubt Emperor Belos will want much with this guy,” The man beside her shrugged. “Using him as bait seems like an obvious choice. Though we don’t know who will come after him.”

“Either Eda or Luz,” Amity said, gesturing for someone with a net to step forward. “I doubt Lilith will come looking for him.”

“Luz, huh?” Keene smirked down at her. 

“Owlet, Luz, same thing!” Amity grumbled, crossing her arms.

“And it was such a quiet day, too.” Someone in the group complained.

“I don’t want to hear this today, Archie.” Amity called back to them. “Was that Archie?” She squinted.

“I’m right here,” A different coven member in the front raised his hand.

“I can never tell you guys apart with the masks,” Amity sighed, turning back to King and seeing he was struggling and fighting to be put in a net.

“Come on, little guy, just get in,” Laris said, trying to wrap up the demon.

“You’ll never take me alive!” King squeaked back before proceeding to bite his hand.

Laris shouted in surprise and jerked back, taking King with him. Laris started waving his hand around, screaming as he was trying to throw the demon off of him.

Amity and Keene watched with tired eyes, barely reacting as the rest of the group tried to help Laris get the stubborn dog off his hand.

“For once, I wish Lilith would show up.” Amity said after a moment. “Then maybe we could actually get something done.”

“Didn’t you capture her last week?” Keene raised a brow.

“For two minutes,” Amity shook her head. “Eda was there, too. That’s why we barely had her.”

“I always miss the best stuff when I go on break,” Keene scoffed.

“At least you can have breaks.” Amity muttered.

“Get him off!” Laris shouted as someone grabbed King and tried to yank him off the young Coven members hand.

“Try the horns,” Amity called. “And pull up.”

They did so, and King’s grip loosened before he popped off, leaving Laris weeping about his bitten and bleeding hand.

“You dirty double-crosser!” King growled.

“Someone please fix Laris’s hand.” Amity sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. “He’ll be fine, but I don’t want him bleeding everywhere.”

“Alright, you little twerp, you’re gonna get it,” Xena growled, looking ready to throw a punch.

“Xena,” Keene and Amity warned at the same time.

“You’re no fun,” Xena grumbled, stepping back and letting the other coven member hold King a good distance away from them.

“Okay, everyone just relax,” Amity held out her hands. “We have to prepare for an inevitable rescue mission. Someone go get those weird taser things back at camp I wanna try those out--”

“Incoming!”

A sharp breeze rustled Amity’s hair as something shot right over her head, too close for comfort.

Amity sighed with a smile, pulling down her mask as everyone scattered, dodging the owl-masked figure on her staff.

“Right on time.”

,

An arrow was fired in the sky and whizzed right by the Owlet. She was standing on her staff, crouched as she skimmed the heads of the coven.

“Everyone, fall in!” Keene shouted, rushing to the crowd. “Who still has nets? Did anyone bring a sword?”

“I’ve got Laris!” Someone shouted, pulling up the boy under his arms and dragging him out of the main area, right outside of the marketplace.

The Owlet paused in the air, searching the group for a few beats.

Her mask's large eyes paused on a figure in the back.

“Luz! Luz!” King waved his paws around from where Archie was holding him in his net. “I’m down here!”

The Owlet swooped low over the crowd, crouching even lower with one of her hands gripping the staff. 

A net was thrown, and the Owlet flipped her staff higher to dodge it. She gave a dive before suddenly screeching to a halt over the figure. She hovered just a few feet in the air, nearly laying on her staff now.

The Owlet broke into a wide grin.

“Hey, Amity,” She said slyly.

Amity stared up at the Owlet for a couple of seconds.

“Seriously?” She sighed.

Another arrow was fired, barely missing the Owlet’s shoulder. She finally looked back and rose higher into the air, her staff slanted upwards and hanging on by one hand, feet still placed firmly on the wood.

“Always love a good party,” The Owlet grinned. “Sorry to crash it.”

“Get the nets!” Archie commanded, stepping back and holding King closer. “Who brought those arrows?”

Invada hopped onto an abandoned stand and readied his bow. The Owlet threw a glyph from her capes pockets on the ground, and a massive tree sprung up instantly.

The arrows hit the tree and Owlet shot out from behind it, heading straight for Archie.

“Archie, move!” Amity shouted.

The man jumped to the side just in time, hitting the dirt and nearly crushing King underneath him.

The Owlet, who had very obviously not been prepared before arriving, tried to skid her staff to a sudden stop.

She crashed right into a closed stand, tearing off the cloth roof and falling behind the wooden counter in front of it.

Amity and Keene rushed to the stand as someone helped up Archie. 

The two peered over the counter, spotting the Owlet laying in a tangle of limbs and random junk. She jerked her head up before crashing back into the pile.

They shared a look with each other, though it was impossible for either of them to determine the others expression underneath the mask.

“This just isn’t my day,” The Owlet grumbled.

“I got her!”

Amity and Keene were shoved out of the way as Xena came barreling through, wielding a sword she had taken with her, of course.

The Owlet yelped and rolled to the side, missing the sword clashing with a tangle of junk.

“Que demonios, are you trying to kill me?” She squawked, scampering to her feet and dodging another swipe.

“Xena!” Amity scolded, though Keene did quickly pull her back. “We want her alive!”

“Like she couldn’t take on a challenge,” Xena replied, swinging at the Owlet once more.

The Owlet withdrew multiple ice glyphs and tossed one on the ground, letting the sword hit it. She took the momentary distraction and ran around the coven member, throwing the other glyphs onto the ground and activating them, trapping Xena in a cage of ice spikes in mere moments.

“Unfair!” Xena growled, struggling in her cold prison.

“And that’s why you don’t challenge the most powerful human in the Isles,” The Owlet taunted, standing just out of reach of the trapped coven member.

“You’re the only human in the Isles,” Invada grumbled, reloading another arrow.

“My point still stands.” The Owlet shrugged, carelessly stepping to the side as an arrow was shot and hit the ground behind her.

“I’m too tired for this,” Amity sighed. “Surround her! Archie, you stay back.”

“Course, ma’am!” Archie nodded, slinging the net over his back and causing King to flail.

“Oh, giving a bit more of a challenge today, I see.” Owlet smirked, turning casually as the remaining guards rushed to get in a circle around the human, including Keene.

“Shut up and let us just get you in a cage for five seconds,” Amity muttered. “I need to prove a point.”

“Is this about our conversation earlier?” Keene glanced back.

“What do you think, Keene?”

“Now I’m curious,” The Owlet said, leaning on her staff. “Would you mind sharing with the class, Ami?”

Amity stared at her for a moment, her expression, thankfully, hidden.

Keene, however, you could tell looked smug.

Amity raised her hand and summoned her staff. The moment she did, she slammed the end of it on the ground.

On the signal, the guards pounced on the Owlet.

The Owlet barely had a second to react before she was being crushed and trampled. She lost her staff in the chaos, as well as her palisman.

A net was thrown over her head and the human jerked, pulling out glyphs from behind her hood and darting up, jolting many of the guards trying to hold her down.

Her hand lit ablaze as she activated a fire glyph and burned a hole in the net. She swung the fire out in a circle, startling the guards back, singing their masks and capes to those who didn’t move fast enough.

She threw the fire aside, letting it die out as she withdrew smoke glyphs with both hands, both of them activating at the same time and giving the illusion her hands were made of the smoke itself.

The smoke grew in a second, and the guards were lost in it, coughing. A spike of ice shot up from the middle of the smoke, with the Owlet standing on top.

She jumped off the second she was high enough to avoid the smoke. Her palisman flew up to her, holding the staff in her talons.

The Owlet grabbed the staff as she fell, swinging onto it with a cheer.

“You’ll have to try harder than tha--”

An abomination rose before her, far bigger than their regular height. The Owlet gaped, caught off guard by the sight.

The abomination smacked her out of the sky, sending her right into the dirt. Her staff slipped from her fingers and lay a few inches away.

“That's a bruised rib cage,” The Owlet wheezed from where she lay on the ground, sitting up and rubbing at her head.

There was a sharp hiss and the Owlet jerked her head up, finding herself face-to-face with Amity’s angry palisman, Fang.

The palisman was still attached to his staff, a staff which Amity herself was holding, pointing directly at the thief's face.

The Owlet blinked up at her, surprised for a moment before breaking into a wide grin.

“Sup,” She greeted, leaning back on one hand. “You come here often?”

Amity faltered for a brief moment, her staff falling slightly before she shook her head and raised it up again.

“Do you have to do this every time?” She huffed.

“Yes,” The Owlet said simply. “Though I must admit, you’re a touch more aggressive today.”

“Don’t even start,” Amity growled, and her cobra's hood flared.

“That bad, huh?” The Owlet continued to tease. “Was it about me again?” She jived.

Amity tore back, speaking in quick, intelligible words, causing the Owlet’s smile to only grow.

“Ms. Blight,” Keene called, trying to pull Xena out of her ice prison as the rest of the guard were regaining their senses. “Please flirt in your own time, will you?”

“Keene we just talked about this!” Amity shouted, her staff completely lowered as she whirled to presumably glare at the man through her mask.

“My point still stands,”

The Owlet took the distraction and surged up, grasping her staff. She swung it like a golf club, knocking Amity’s own staff away and startling her.

In one fell swoop, the Owlet hopped onto her staff, standing once more, and flew right by Amity. She lifted her hand and grabbed her mask, tugging it off, knocking her hood down as well.

“Hey!” Amity exclaimed, whirling around as the Owlet flew high into the air, waving the beaked mask around.

“I’ll give it to you later,” The Owlet promised. “You seemed like you could use some excitement today.” She smiled, tucking the mask under her arm.

“Why do I put up with you?” Amity growled, her flushed face prominent as her ears flicked back.

“I can think of a few reasons,” The Owlet teased, relishing in the playful eye roll Amity gave her.

“I’m still here!” King shouted, struggling in his net. “Don’t forget about me!” “Oh, right,” The Owlet blinked, banking downwards.

The coven members ducked, avoiding a harsh whack to the head as the Owlet aimed straight for Archie.

The guard braced himself, setting down the net holding King behind him and preparing himself.

The Owlet instead swerved around him in a very sharp turn, snatching up the net with King inside and darting back into the sky.

“Wha--but--” Archie looked around, completely shocked.

“Better luck next time!” The Owlet called, hovering her staff high in the air and standing on it. 

She let the net fall away, and King pulled himself onto her shoulders, tail lashing grumpily.

“The things I put up with,” Amity mumbled, standing with the rest of the coven as they looked up and watched the Owlet, with Invada still trying to fire another arrow.

“Well, this was fun, but I best be going.” The Owlet said, throwing out a wind glyph to send the arrow off in a different direction.

“Till next time, Ami.” Luz winked, giving a dramatic twirl and taking her mask off during her bow, revealing a mischievous expression.

“See? See?” Invada shouted, pointing at the Owlet as they stared in the direction of the two guards they were bugging earlier.

“Can it, Vada,” One of them sighed.

With that, the Owlet placed her mask back on and shot off, nearly throwing King off with the whiplash. 

The guards watched her vanish among the buildings of Bonesborugh, all silent for a few moments.

“You don’t get crushes, huh?” Keene finally said, looking back towards Amity.

“Keene I will end you.”

[lizzienaut]

All 31 tword questions! 😊

ALRIGHTY THEN BUCKLE UP GAMERS LETS DO THIS

this is gonna be super duper frickin long so im gonna put it under a read more as per usual i hope it works ahhh-

thank you for the ask anon!! <33

1. do you personally identify as a lee, ler or switch? what about tickling makes you feel one or the other?

switch all the way baybeyyyyy!!! not even leaning one way or another, just straight-up pure switch energy exudes from my pores something about the power exchange really gets me giddy man having a lee all helpless beneath you and all adorably giggly and blushy and whiny makes me just 💕💖❤💗💘💝💓💞 and in return being the one who gets teased and chased and pinned down and absolutely wrecked is just!! ahhhHHHhhh

2. have you ever been tickled irl? was it by accident or on purpose?

oh dude bro i used to be tickled all the time by people specifically one of my irl friends who i told about this thing last year this mans straight up pinned me down and tickled me for six hours straight while we watched youtube when i spent the night at his place it wasn't like!! super rough or anything- very light and playful most of the time, but occasionally it got intense and i  fucking died dude i was so happy now i don't really wanna be tickled by anyone other than iven though ahaaaaa- i mean i've been like that for a while but pshHhHh

3. would you prefer punishment or reward tickles?

yes

4. what kind of teasing gets to you most/what kind of teasing is your favorite to dish out?

i LOVE verbal teases so much sosososo much omg “tickle tickle tickle” or “kitchy kitchy coo” or “im gonna tickle you!” all of it makes me melt and die literally just saying tickle repeatedly makes me all squeaky and squirmy and lee in an instant frickin i cant take what i dish out bro ;v;

5. what does it take to make you flustered about tickling?

everything how helpless being tickled makes me feel and how EMBARRASSING it is that i like it so much more than any other people normally do dkfjgnkdfj

6. are you easily able to admit you like it?

when im ler?? absolutely i fuckin love tickling when im lee is a different story

7. have you ever told someone outside of this community about tickling?

yes!! quite a few people actually- most of them arent even my friends anymore BUT one of my current friends knows about it and yeah!

8. what’s your favorite thing about being tickled/tickling someone?

power exchange the cute giggles the blushy face the feeling of helplessness  etc

9. what’s your laugh like?

ive been told that its very childish and bubbly and loud, but it can rlly easily become cackly and witchy sounding and embarrassing dfkjgkdfj i SNORT A LOT MUCH TO MY DISMAY

10. favorite spot to be tickled/to tickle?

all of them

11. lees, would you prefer to be tied up or free in a session? lers, would you prefer a lee tied up or free in a session?

in a session? tied up!! but just for fun id say free <33

12. if you could be tickled by/tickle anyone (real or a fictional character!) who would you chose?

iven iven iven iven iven iven iven iven iven iven iven iven iven iven iven iven iven iven iv

13. wake up or before bed tickles?

yes

14. do you like being teased? do you like dishing out teasing?

YES

15. who’s someone in this community that you would love to meet or get to know better?

id love to get to know so many people better!! literally all of my mutuals omfg @ all my mutuals pls message me id love to be friends w yall <33

16. do you have any uncommon spots/have you ever discovered any on someone else? where was it?

my palms are SO ticklish its not even funny wtf ive never been full on tickled there but every time someone tries to write things on my palms or run their nails down them i just. squeak as loud as humanly possible jkdfgkdf

17. do you remember how old you were when you first realized you liked tickling?

i think!! i was 8 or so- lil liz discovered tickle videos back then and didn't know what incognito was either

18. how comfortable are you with talking about tickling? why do you feel that way?

irl? no too embarrassing fjdgnfk online? yes please lets talk abt tickles its so FUN

19. what’s your personal worst spot? what’s your favorite “death spot” you’d wreck someone with?

mine are my feet, underarms and neck!! fav to wreck are probably feet dkjfgkdjf

20. are there any spots you personally find underrated? where are they?

NECK for personal reasons >w>

21. what’s one of your personal favorite tickle scenarios?

scary movies and a visit from the tickle monster

22. soft cuddly tickles or rough more intense tickles?

yes

23. are there any tickle scenes you’ve seen that have stuck with you? what were they from?

THE MIRACULOUS LADYBUG ONES CAUSE ALL OF THEM WERE SUPER CUTE AHHH

24. upper or lower body tickles?

yes

25. is there’s a specific position you’d like to be tickled in/tickle someone in? why that position in particular?

tied in an x position on the bed 👀👀👀 because EASY ACCESS TO ALL SPOTS YO

26. do you have any “unpopular opinions” about tickling that you’d like to share?

tickling isn't inherently a kink or sexual :)

27. lees, do you enjoy being tickled on your worst spot(s)? lers, how do you go about tickling a lees worst spot(s)?

YES tease them with gentle touches, then dive in when they least expect it B)

28. is it difficult for you to be put in a lee/ler/switch mood? what can make you feel that way?

absolutely not iven can easily put me in either moods just by being cute or even slightly teasy ;w;

29. do you ever have tickle dreams? do you remember any that you’ve had if so?

yes i have tickle dreams quite often actually!! he last one that ive had kinda really stuck with me-- iven and i were on separate islands and id often sneak onto his to steal his supplies and one day he set up a trap and tied me up with vines n shit and just. absolutely wrecked me maN i snuck onto it quite a few more times after that pff

30. are you a fan of the idea of tools? which ones would you be up to trying if you are?

YES YES YES ALL OF THEM ALL ALL ALL good SHIT DUDE

31. AND FINALLY. do you believe in the tickle monster? what do you think they look like/appear as?

me.

i am the tickle monster

[andormeddows]

You’re such a pain in the ass ::: Joe Mazzello

Pairing: Joe Mazzello x Fem!Reader

Summary: Joe loses himself while trying to impersonate John Deacon. Angst and fluff (if you squint)!

Word count: 1698

Warnings: A lot of swearing and anger. There may be a few mistakes? Sorry, keep in mind that English is not my first language.

Notes: This is me finally writing something! I’m not sure how this turned out. It may be a bit dramatic? I wouldn’t know, I wrote this at 2a.m., when my dramatic ass rules myself. All I’m trying to say is that you’re good enough!

Masterlist is here!

A silent curse traveled around the quiet apartment. Your mind slowly reached reality, being dragged to it by Joe’s voice. You slightly opened your eyes, and blinked repeatedly in an attempt to focus your darkened surroundings. It was happening again.

Again.

You pushed the navy blue blanket to the end of the mattress, dragging your sleepy body out of your bed. Your feet touched the cold wooden floor as though you were stepping into a gigantic ice-cream pool, causing violent shivers to quickly escalate your spine and a soft curse to escape from your lips. The yellow living room light invaded your bedroom through the door kept ajar before you went to bed a few hours prior, believing Joe would do the same.

The thought was useless. He stood in the middle of the living room, music sheet scattered around his shifting lanky figure. A beer bottle had been abandoned on the coffee table, its liquid warmer as the clock ticked causing big droplets of condensed water to slowly cascade down the dark glass and pool around it on the glass surface of the coffee table.

His eyes were slightly red due to tiredness, and dark circles surrounded them, but he refused to stop. He refused to stop every night.

“Again?”

Your voice shattered the silence he had trapped himself in. Its fragments cracked and plummeted to the ground, and he slowly dragged his bare feet across it in order to turn in your direction. His eyebrows were furrowed, a look of confusion twisting his features. The faded yellow shirt contrasted with the dark red pajama pants he wore in a weird color combination, causing you to cringe at the sight of the outfit.

“What do you expect me to answer?”

The bitterness in his voice reached your ears; his words seemed to be a harsh punch in your chest, knocking the air out of your lungs, rather than a proper answer to your sleepy yet preoccupied self.

“Yeah, again as we can see,” you noted to yourself while reaching for the warm beer bottle on the coffee table.

“Leave it there, YN,” Joe warned, pointing to the now wet and empty spot on the transparent surface of it. “I’m drinking it.”

“You’re definitely not drinking this.”

The alcoholic liquid splashed onto the kitchen sink, and the glass bottle clunked loudly when it reached the ground inside the slightly rusted metal bin.

“Fuck you,” he snarled, hands slowly reaching for his messy brown hair, and fingers wrapping around some locks as his look averted to the mess of music sheet around him.

“You’re such a pain in the ass, you know?” you muttered, turning around on your heels, your back pressing against one of the old kitchen counters, arms folding themselves over your chest.

“I should say the same about you,” he murmured almost incoherently as he kneeled on the wooden floor, fingers reaching for some specific music sheet. “Why don’t you go back to bed? Honestly, I’m trying to work.”

“Yeah, you woke me up so… I guess that’s not a great idea,” you answered, venom dripping from the words that left your lips. “Also, keep telling yourself that, Joe. That might become true if you say it repeatedly.”

Joe nervously bit the inside of his cheek, preventing a curse from escaping his lips. Being sleep deprived cultivated the arrogant side of his personality, which he knew, but seemed unfazed by it. His actions were unfathomable to you as he kept reaching for different music sheet only to scan the music imprinted on them and abandon them on the wooden floor. Your eyes brimmed with tears while you intently watched your boyfriend randomly move around. Joe had completely lost himself.

“You’re not working, Joe,” you uttered, voice trembling. “Not at all.

”I am, YN,“ he answered. "And I need it to be absolutely perfect. We’re talking about legends. I am playing a legend. These music sheet need to get inside my head or Brian and Roger are wasting their time!”

“God, this is ridiculous.”

“What is ridiculous, YN?” Joe traipsed around the living room, stepping on several music sheet, oblivious to the importance he attributed to them seconds prior. His bare feet touched the wooden ground, reminding him of how cold the living room was, reminding him of how human he was. His eyes averted down to his feet, almost colorless due to the low temperature. “What is ridiculous?”

His reddened eyes met yours; a pained expression contorted his features. You silently stepped into the living room, eyes boring into Joe’s bloodshot ones while he intently watched your figure approach him as though being truly threatened by your presence. You had taken the beer bottle from him. What were you taking from him next?

“The amount of times I’ve had to say you’re good enough,” you retorted angrily, nails digging into your palms, half-moons burning into your skin. “That is ridiculous.”

“Fuck you,” Joe mumbled, shooting a disgusted frown at you. “That’s bullshit. Leave me alone, YN.”

“Guess it wasn’t a good idea sharing an apartment with you. I can’t watch you destroy yourself like that.”

“Destroy myself?” he spat, a churlish laugh contorting his features. “YN, I am working. We’re talking about a Freddie Mercury biopic, in which I’m playing a real person! This is not a random made-up character.”

Joe turned his back at you, aiming for the coffee table in the middle of the living room. His hands idly dangled near his body as his eyes focused on the water marks of the beer bottle left on the glass “Great, you threw my beer away. Again.”

“Aren’t you working, Joe?”

He sighed heavily, pressing the palm of his hands against his eyes. “Yes! Yes, I am! I’m trying actually. You insist on interrupting me.”

You rolled your eyes at his words. “Fine. You know this is not healthy, Joe. I refuse to mend your pieces if you insist on destroying yourself.”

“Don’t bullshit me, YN.”

Silence engulfed your surroundings, annoyingly creeping up your body, pulling at your skin. Blood thumped loudly in your ears. You and Joe were hardly-ever at loggerheads. His reddened eyes and darkened bags under them were a crystal scream for help. Yet, Joe had been oblivious to his failing body. You could not stand watching him destroy himself in search for perfection. Not anymore.

A single tear slowly reached your lips, losing itself in the middle of them. A salty taste in your tongue pulled you back to reality. “Look at me, Joe.”

Joe’s figure crumbled before your eyes. His body collapsed against the nearest armchair arm. Tears brimmed in his hazel eyes as a strangled sob escaped from his lips. His arms embraced himself in an automatic manner. That gesture was the only one he allowed himself to feel against his skin after diving into that madness that strangled him. He wished he could hide that ridiculous, even comic, vulnerability. The cold pads of his fingers dig into his forearm skin. Why would you drag him into that situation?

Your body seemed to move itself. Your bare feet hesitantly touched the freezing wooden floor, abandoning the safe spot they had been planted in order to approach your boyfriend. Your eyes dived into his cowering figure. His brown hair had a few strands pointing in every direction. His eyes bore not only tiredness, but a complex galaxy of emotions hidden underneath it, instantly edging your curiosity to discover the depths of his being. His jawline was peppered with an irregular stubble, as though reflecting his inner self: unbalanced in the middle of those music sheet.

The pads of your fingers caressed the yellow sleeve of his shirt, descending to the exposed skin of his forearm. Transfixed eyes watched the movement of your fingers against Joe’s skin, dragging them to his hands, as though drawing patterns on an empty canvas, which later would turn into a masterpiece.

“God,” you murmured. A fragile smile crept up to your lips, slightly contorting different muscles of your face, so that the wrinkle of your eyes caused tears to stream down your cheekbones.

You hesitantly pulled Joe into a hug. As your hands reached his shoulders, you expected an angry remark or a callous gesture would be thrown at you, but his careworn figure showed no reaction. His head rested against your chest as your fingers slowly crept up the nape of his neck and tangled themselves in his messy hair. He exhaled loudly, a strangled sob left his lips.

“I’m… I’m so fucking tired,” he murmured against the fabric of your shirt, arms loosely wrapping around your lower back. “Christ, my head hurts. A lot. I’ve been having terrible headaches.”

You pressed your lips one against the other and closed your eyes at the way his voice sounded utterly broken. Although, Joe was still on tenterhooks that Brian and Roger might say he wasn’t good enough, he recognized he hadn’t been working for a long time. Instead, he had been diving into a mad universe, in which he had gotten trapped while searching for an illusory perfection. He anxiously exhaled, letting tears escape from his eyes and dampen your shirt.

“I’m sorry, YN,” he uttered weakly, fingers pulling at your shirt. “I’m sorry.”

“How many times will I have to say you are enough, Joe?” you uttered from above him.

“Hopefully, always,” he answered, letting a shy smile contort his lips while slowly untangling his arms from around your body. “I need you around to mend my pieces. I could never do that myself.”

His hazel eyes met yours. For the first time, there wasn’t any trace of anger in then, just tiredness. Your hands rested on his shoulders as you rolled your eyes at his words, failing to not smile. “This is the last time, Joe.”

“You know it isn’t,” he murmured, voice still trembling slightly, as his hands dried his wet cheeks, moving up to his eyes. A remaining sob left his lips.

“Yeah, I know, Joe.”

"Thank you,” he sniffled. “Thank you for sticking around, YN. I’m such a pain in the ass.”

“You’re an enough pain in the ass, Joe.”

[shijiujun]

[ENG] History3: Trapped Novel - Chapter Three

~5,700 words (proofread by @weilongfu​)

Translation Masterpost can be found here

Disclaimer: Translations are entirely mine - these are not official translations and some phrases have been changed for better English interpretation so you’ll definitely see better/different translations elsewhere. Also keeping in mind when we translated this we aren’t exactly thinking about the style of writing and this translation is as close to the novel as we can make it XD So yes, some parts may be a little awkward to read. And yes some teeny weeny details and words may not turn up in the translation because the Chi to Eng mind acrobatics didn’t work out. If you see asterisks, scroll all the way to the bottom for notes!

Full chapter below the cut

Chapter Three

“Meng Shao Fei, wake up!”

Tang Yi walks over to where Shao Fei is and yells at him a few times, but the man hardly responds. He crouches down next to Shao Fei, who was still animated and alive the night before. Now, Shao Fei’s face is flushed red with cold sweat beading all over his head, curled up into a ball and repeatedly mumbling that he is cold. Pressing the back of his hand to Shao Fei’s forehead, Tang Yi can feel the higher than normal temperature radiating from Shao Fei. Immediately, he pulls the jacket covering Shao Fei’s body away from him, and checks the wound on Shao Fei’s arm.

“Meng Shao Fei.”

Shao Fei finally wakes under the force of Tang Yi’s next shove to his shoulder, and blearily replies, “What?”

“You’re running a fever.”

The cause of his fever is obviously the infected cut on his arm, and if they don’t treat it immediately, it may result in something more severe, so they have to send him to the hospital as soon as possible.

“It’s fine, just let me sleep a little bit more.”

Deciding not to give Shao Fei any opportunity to refuse, Tang Yi grabs onto the back of Shao Fei’s neck directly and pulls him to his feet.

“Those people may turn up at any time looking for us, we have to leave quickly. Are you okay?”

“Yeah, I’m good,” Shao Fei answers weakly, rubbing at his nose and still disoriented from sleep.

“You’re sure you’re okay?”

Shao Fei forces himself to straighten and tosses Tang Yi a look, trying to look strong and says, “You just worry about yourself.”

Both men venture back out into the thick of the forest, leaving the abandoned structure behind them one after the other. Shao Fei presses at his right arm which is throbbing in pain and follows in Tang Yi’s footsteps unsteadily. Due to his high fever, even his vision is blurry, so all Shao Fei can do is to force himself to focus on Tang Yi’s back and move forward. However, he fails to notice the tree branches that have fallen horizontally right in his path, and with one wrong step, he’s falling forward. Hearing all the movements behind him, Tang Yi’s quick reflexes have him turning around and deftly catching Shao Fei in a tight embrace, preventing him from falling over.

“Be careful.”

Shao Fei looks at Tang Yi with a strange expression, and before he can even say a word of thanks, Tang Yi has already let Shao Fei go and continues in the direction he was walking in.

Barely taking half a step, Shao Fei then feels something hard under his shoe, as if he’s stepped on something. Moving his foot away, Shao Fei realises that it’s the lighter that Tang Yi refuses to let anyone touch that is sitting in the wet soil, so he picks it up and puts it in his pocket, intending to return the lighter to its owner once they’re safely out of this predicament.

At the path leading to the way down the mountain, a van is parked right at the side of the road. Two men clad in black - one of them leaning against the door to the driver’s seat and the other standing right in front of the vehicle - scrutinise every other car or motorbike that passes them on the road they’ve stopped on.

“Damn it! Talk about bad luck, even here there’s an ambush.”

Shao Fei surveys the situation and possible exit route before them, hidden behind a tree. As he is running a fever and given no means to lower his body temperature, Shao Fei’s every exhale is difficult and filled with hot air.

Suddenly, a large motorbike passes by the side of the van loudly, but fails to catch both men’s attention, and with a sudden flash of epiphany, Tang Yi stands up immediately and leaves their hiding spot.

“Tang-” Shao Fei looks at the Xing Tian Meng leader who’s swiftly abandoning him in bewilderment and is about to ask Tang Yi just what the hell he’s planning, but then he is afraid of alerting their enemies to their location, so all Shao Fei can do is to return to his hiding spot and continue his watch on both men.

Tang Yi heads back to the road leading towards the top of the mountain and there, he sees that large motorbike’s rider stop at the side of the road and look down at what seems to be a message on his phone. Seeing that the rider isn’t paying attention, Tang Yi approaches the rider on light feet until he’s standing behind the motorbike, then hooks his arm around the man’s neck with his other hand wrapped around the rider’s helmet, and easily pulls him off the vehicle. He slams a heavy fist into the man’s abdomen.

The man being attacked is struck with so much pain that he curls up on the side of the road and starts whimpering - he doesn’t even get a glimpse of his attacker. All he hears is ‘I’m borrowing this’, right before his attacker rides off with his precious bike.

“Where did he fucking go?” Shao Fei curses under his breath.

The longer Tang Yi is away, the more Shao Fei is unable to concentrate. He rubs at his stinging eyes, still keeping watch on both men in black. Right at this moment, a heavy motorbike stops right next to the van, and the male rider wearing a protective helmet takes out his phone and speaks to one of the two men, who’s holding onto a gun in his hands.

“Sorry, I’m lost, do you know how I can get to this place?”

“I don’t know-”

Before the man can even finish his sentence, the rider raises his leg and kicks at the hand holding onto the gun. The man screams in excruciating pain at the blow as his bones break and even Shao Fei, hiding in his spot behind the trees and watching all of this unfold, freezes, and grieves for the man for three seconds.

The rider kicks the man’s fallen gun to the back wheels of the vehicle, and the other man originally standing in front of the van reacts immediately, but the rider is quicker to move - he gets back on his motorbike, rushing towards the man and pushing him down the mountain slopes on the side.

He took no more than one minute to take care of both men. Turning the bike and going back to the position he was at before, he bends down and picks up the gun, pointing it at the man still crying out in pain on the ground. Then, he pulls the visor of his helmet up and faces the direction that Shao Fei is hiding at.

“Come on!” he yells.

Shao Fei, who was watching everything happen from beginning to end, was previously still thinking how lucky he was - just like the plot details in a wuxia novel* where he meets a hero helping the weak unconditionally, but that person is actually Tang Yi?

Although he’s filled with so many burning questions, Shao Fei realises that fleeing is more important, so grabbing onto his throbbing arm, he slides down the slope and rushes over to the bike, getting onto the back seat.

“Hold tight.”

“Okay.”

Tang Yi pulls at Shao Fei’s wrists until his arms are wound securely around his waist, then steps on the accelerator, leaving the dangerous, mountainous area.

The Tang Household

“Fuck! You guys have the cheek to come back and see me? How are you handling things, huh?”

Right before the house’s swimming pool, Li Zhi De, who’s dressed in a blue suit jacket and a black dress shirt, suddenly brings up his foot to kick at the junior member standing next to him.

“So many of you went out to look, why is there still no news until now? What is Xing Tian Meng taking care of you useless shits for?”

“Brother De… sorry…” the man who’s in charge of the search operation bows and apologises profusely.

The other junior who was kicked to the ground immediately picks himself up, and everyone who’s standing around him has to endure the scolding as well.

Li Zhi De points at his incompetent subordinates, and warns sharply, “Don’t say sorry to me. I fucking hate hearing that. I’m giving you guys another two hours, and if you still don’t find Boss within these two hours, then prepare to sit in a wheelchair for the rest of your life! Go!”

“Yes… yes, Brother De,” Xing Tian Meng’s brothers, with slouching shoulders, leave with quick footsteps.

“Brother De, will taking out your anger on your subordinates solve the problem?” Jack, who coincidentally was passing by the swimming pool, smiles nonchalantly at Ah De.

“Boss has been missing for 20 hours now, and you still have the energy and mood to catch a cop back here and create a mess?”

Ah De was already extremely unhappy at this guy who suddenly appeared at Boss’ side a year ago, and having to deal with Jack’s attitude just makes him even angrier.

“Boss and Meng Shao Fei went missing at the same time, so I apprehended his partner to interrogate him, is there anything wrong with that?”

“Anything that involves a cop is trouble!”

Ah De’s eyebrows furrow in discomfort. These four years, whenever he hears Meng Shao Fei’s name being uttered he gets uncomfortable all over, especially in this recent period.

“Whether it’s the cops or Meng Shao Fei specifically that irritates you, Brother De you know that best. Since we have our own perspectives and plans, and we have the same goal of finding out Boss’ whereabouts, how about…”

The edges of Jack’s mouth curve, and the way Jack looks at him, as if he can see through all his secrets, sends shivers down Ah De’s back.

“I don’t interfere with you, and you… don’t interfere in my affairs either.”

After he’s said his piece, Jack easily circles the perimeter of the pool and heads back into the house, leaving behind a pale-looking Ah De, glaring at Jack’s retreating back and clenching both his fists tight in anger.

===

Just as he enters the room holding Zhao Li An, the first thing Jack hears are snores. Moving even closer, he realises that not only did the man fall dead asleep, he’s also drooling. Jack, who’s been trained to always be on the alert, looks at the scene, entirely dumbfounded.

Are these guys brain nerves made out of underwater electrical cables? Otherwise, how can he be this thick?!

“Get up!”

Jack kicks at the couch Zhao Zi is sleeping cozily on. Zhao Zi, who was busy playing mahjong with Master Zhou**, is rudely awoken. He turns around to look at the face hovering above his own, and rubs at his eyes.

“Oh it’s you!”

“Meng Shao Fei’s phone number!”

Jack takes out his favourite knife and presses it at the left side of Zhao Zi’s neck, threatening Zhao Zi, his tone cold.

Zhao Zi looks at the man who caught and brought him here, but also the man who actually hasn’t really harmed him. He swallows, asking, “Then you bring me ten items in exchange, and I’ll tell you his phone number.”

After all, one can change phone numbers easily and in the worst case scenario, the moment they find Ah Fei, the first thing they’ll do is to get Ah Fei to change his phone number first.

“What?”

Jack looks at Zhao Zi, incredibly bewildered. His forte has always been the ability to see through people and their thoughts, and rarely does anything move beyond his expectations, but…

It definitely does not include this guy.

“There’s no free lunch in this world, and so you definitely can’t get Ah Fei’s phone number for free. Plus, I’m so hungry right now, and there are a total of ten digits in a phone number, so one number for one item… Then, I want instant noodles, vegetables, meat, eggs, toast, milk, cheese slices, a pot, chopsticks and…. Oh wait hold on, I’m about to pee in my pants, let me do an exchange for the toilet too,” Zhao Zi doesn’t even stop to see if Jack agrees to his terms, already counting away on his fingers.

“At this juncture, are you actually being serious?”

Jack’s eyes are wide as he considers Zhao Zi. If Zhao Zi isn’t a mad man then he is, at least, an alien. Why can’t he see through this guy? Why can’t he understand the man’s thought process?

“Of course I’m being serious, my bladder is about to explode, I won’t lie to you! Don’t worry, after I’m done peeing I will give you his phone number.”

Still trying to process this turn of events, Jack points in the direction of the toilet. Even when Zhao Zi rushes into the toilet and locks the door from the inside, he still doesn’t move.

===

“What’s your stomach made of?” Jack asks, his expression darkening as he brings the pot over to the dining table in the house’s open concept kitchen, and pours its contents into a bowl.

He looks at the table, filled to the brim with food.

“This isn’t much, no matter how much I eat, I don’t get fat anyway.”

“Eating so much without getting fat? What a waste of food.”

At this point, even Jack himself doesn’t notice that in this single sentence, he has let a bit of warmth seep through, and there is less caution and distrust in his entire demeanour too.

Zhao Zi, with a piece of toast in his mouth and both hands occupied with the noodles and milk, signals Jack with his eyes to pick up the plates filled with eggs and meat. He says with his mouth full, “Not finishing all the food is wasteful. Hey, help me grab the rest.”

With widened eyes, Jack once again stares at this person who he’s just known for a short while- no, actually he doesn’t even know him at all, and here Zhao Zi is, ordering him around easily. After a moment’s hesitation, Jack picks up the plate and follows him into the living room.

Sitting cross-legged on the floor carpet, Zhao Zi looks at Jack and asks, “Aren’t you going to try?”

Jack sits on the light-gray couch and carefully observes the guy sitting in front of him, and thinking that Zhao Zi is referring to the food, he replies, “I have absolute confidence in my cooking skills.”

Everything that he’s put his mind to learning, all he needs to do is take one look and he can remember it. Even the more difficult process of disassembling his guns, he can also complete with his eyes blindfolded. Just a few home-cooked dishes is hardly any difficult for him.

“No! I meant Ah Fei’s phone number, aren’t you intending to try it and call him?”

“Isn’t his phone switched off?”

“Weren’t you afraid that I was lying to you? Give me the phone.”

Zhao Zi puts down his chopsticks and goes over to sit next to Jack,. He takes the phone over and presses a series of numbers, then puts the call on speaker.

“This is Meng Shao Fei, if there’s anything urgent, please leave a message.”

The message plays after a few rings, and Shao Fei’s voice sounds from the phone.

“See! I’m not lying to you,” Zhao Zi gives the phone back to Jack, picking up his bowl of noodles and sticking his tongue out at Jack secretly.

He’s decided - once they find Ah Fei, Zhao Zi will get Ah Fei to change his phone number.

Jack is shocked at himself, that he didn’t even check that the phone number was the right one. The first thing that a mercenary’s way of life taught him is under no circumstances can he trust the creature that is a ‘human being’, but at this moment, he actually believed the young cop?

It is an entirely new experience for him, and Jack is intrigued.

“Hey, did anyone ever tell you you’re weird?”

Genuinely finding this interesting, Jack smiles for real, this smile different from the usual sarcastic one he shows everyone else. He looks at Zhao Zi, who’s gobbling down his noodles.

“You’re the weird one! You brought me here for an interrogation out of the blue.”

Unable to resist, Jack interrupts Zhao Zi, incredulous, “How was that even an interrogation?”

He didn’t knock out any of Zhao Zi’s teeth, or break any fingers or toes. Not even little cuts that would have left him bleeding, and Zhao Zi is saying that he went through an interrogation? The sheer audacity!

“You imprisoned me for a night!”

“Does that even count?”

“Of course! According to rule number 296…”

Before Zhao Zi can even finish his sentence, the bowl in his hands is smacked away by a fuming Ah De, who has just entered the house, only to see both men interacting like this. At the same time, Jack pulls Zhao Zi into his arms, afraid that he would get scalded by the hot soup.

“What are you doing?” Jack glares at Ah De, narrowing his eyes in threat.

“We have things to do. Aren’t you going to get ready?” Ah De snaps, and not willing to divulge what ‘things’ that entails, turns around to leave the main house.

Squatting on the floor and cleaning up the mess from his noodles, Zhao Zi laments, “My noodles… what a pity. I didn’t even get to eat more than a few mouthfuls…”

“I’ll make it up to you next time?” Jack smiles, looking at Zhao Zi’s interesting expression as he helps to wipe the floor with the tissues from the box on the table.

“Okay, your food is really delicious!” Zhao Zi nods, a man who’s easily persuaded as long as good food is involved.

“I still have to deal with some things, so I’ll let you go home today.”

“I… I can really leave?”

“Nnn!”

“Then I’m going to go, bye!”

Afraid that the man would change his mind in the next second, Zhao Zi stands up immediately, turns around and makes a dash in the direction of the garden outside. Finally free from Xing Tian Meng’s clutches, Zhao Zi barely has a few moments to catch his breath before the phone in his pocket begins to ring.

“Yu Qi, what is it? What?! The hospital?”

Listening to the news over the phone, Zhao Zi turns green. Holding onto his phone tightly, he rushes over to the nearest main road and grabs a cab, rushing directly to the location Yu Qi gave him over the call.

Hospital

The wound on his right arm has been treated, and on his hand an IV is attached, sending the contents of the pack drop by drop into his veins.

Tang Yi stands at the side of the bed watching a still unconscious Shao Fei. The Xing Tian Meng leader looks nothing like his usual, well-dressed self - the suit on him, due to the previous fights, has many holes and tears in the fabric.

Jiang Jin Tang, wrapped in the doctor’s white robes, observes Tang Yi out of the corner of his eye, this man who has worry and concern written all over his face. He remarks evenly, “Don’t worry! It’s just an infected wound, plus his body is now weak, he’ll be fine.”

“I’ve never doubted the Jiang family’s abilities, especially yours.”

Even his cousins - Jin Teng and Jin Yang - are equally outstanding, with the former a law major and the latter the main player in Zhi Hong High School’s volleyball team. Jiang Jin Tang himself? He’s a star in the medical field.

“Speaking of which, this is the first time I’ve seen you personally send someone to me for treatment. Talk! Who exactly is this person?”

“It’s nothing much, we just spent a day and night together on a mountain, that’s all.”

The handsome doctor looks at Tang Yi in interest, and his next words are deliberately misleading, “Just spending a day and night together and the both of you return with so many injuries over your body? Don’t tell me you and him did something together?”

“Idiot!” Tang Yi eyes Jin Tang, who is one of his few precious friends he has, but Tang Yi really cannot be bothered with Jin Tang’s bad habit of spying on other people’s lives and spreading gossip.

Two days later

Shao Fei leaves the hospital ward and goes home with the doctor’s permission after staying for a full two days - the moment he woke up, he was forced to stay in the hospital and recover properly.

As he removes his jeans and throws them into the washing machine, he hears the clang! of metal striking metal, and Shao Fei pulls out his pants again. Reaching his hands into the pockets, he comes up with a black lighter with gold accents.

“Do you know to train, to escape?”

In his mind, the memory of hiding in the abandoned building surfaces. Tang Yi, who offered to keep watch for the night and then asking a seemingly random question as he watched the embers of the fire rise from the burning wood pile.

“You have to train when you’re young. First, you twist the thumb inwards. Wait for the bone to

grow again and then twist it broken again. Grow, then break. You practice it repeatedly until you’re able to do it. Let me ask you, which rich master from any family grows up like that?”

The man who answered his own question smiled wistfully, asking Shao Fei who had just sarcastically poked fun at him being a young master from a rich family.

“Who forced you to?”

“No one forced me to, I wanted to do it myself. Being part of any gang... we are closer to death,

and when you want to survive, you’ll force yourself to do a lot of things.”

“So it’s not that you can’t sleep... but you don’t dare to sleep?”

His question was met with silence from Tang Yi, and for Shao Fei to have boldly declared to Tang Yi previously that he was the only person in this would to truly understand him, that made him realise how stupid and arrogant he had been.

Shao Fei never actually knew the person right in front of him. He never tried to understand him properly, never tried to see beyond the identity of Tang Yi as Xing Tian Meng’s leader - the real Tang Yi.

The Tang Household

Early morning, as Tang Yi is getting ready for the day before the mirror, he realises a particular object is missing from the counter top where he usually places it. He tears through the house looking for it in every corner, frantic.

“Boss, Jack, he-” Ah De moves to greet Tang Yi the moment he sees the man coming down the stairs.

Ah De tries to explain what is happening outside, but Tang Yi interrupts him and asks, stern, “Did anyone see the suit that I wore the day before?”

“Your suit? Yes, I was just about to send it for dry-cleaning.”

“Where is it?”

Ah De points at the junior member carrying a laundry bag who’s just about to leave and calls, “Jason! Bring that over now, hurry!”

Tang Yi opens the bag and pulls out the suit jacket, but finds out that the pocket which he had placed the item he’s searching for has a hole right through the bottom, and immediately, he throws the jacket down and stalks off towards the door.

“Boss, what are you looking for? How about I send a few other members to go and search with you…” Ah De asks, following Tang Yi’s footsteps.

Coincidentally, Jack is showing Shao Fei in from the outside, and both groups of men stare at each other, confusion written on all their faces.

“What are you doing here?” Tang Yi frowns, looking at the young police officer who has trespassed into his home without permission.

Sensing that Tang Yi is in a bad mood, Jack explains, “Officer Meng came over early in the morning and no matter how many times I turned him away he wouldn’t leave. He insists on seeing you.”

“I’m busy, please leave,” Tang Yi orders without hesitation.

Barely taking a few steps forward, he’s stopped by Shao Fei with a hand on his chest, preventing him from walking towards the exit.

“I’m here to return this to you.”

And in Shao Fei’s open right palm, sits the lighter he’s been looking for all morning.

“When we were trying to leave the mountain, you dropped it along the way and I picked it up for you. After that I was hospitalised for two days, and it wasn’t until yesterday when I went home that I found this. I know it’s very important to you, sorry it took me so long to return it.”

Tang Yi picks up the lighter and checks it, making sure that it is the one he’s lost.

Where he was frustrated and irritated before, that expression melts into a gentle smile, and to Shao Fei who made this trip specially even though he has yet to fully recover, Tang Yi smiles again and offers his right hand to Shao Fei, “Thank you.”

Shao Fei is slow to react, hesitating before lifting his own hand to return the handshake. He points at his own nose and asks, “Thanking me? Shouldn’t I be the one thanking you instead? Thanks for not leaving the burden that was me behind, and thank you for sending me to the hospital.”

Tang Yi shakes his head, placing the lighter in the inner pocket at his chest, and says, “I don’t want to owe you a favour. What can I help you with?”

“Then tell me what happened four years ago-”

“This is the only thing I cannot give you.”

“Tch,” Shao Fei rolls his eyes, and his expressions screams I knew you were going to say that at Tang Yi. And then jokingly, he adds, “How about this, you treat me to a meal, how about that?”

Ah De scoffs immediately at Shao Fei’s boring suggestion, but much to his shock, the boss who never wants to speak to Shao Fei for more than three minutes at any given time, nods and accepts the other’s invitation.

“Sure, let’s go.”

Seeing Shao Fei leave with Tang Yi just like that, hurt flashes across Ah De’s eyes. The red-haired man standing near the door watches everything with careful eyes, and he smiles coldly, already having guessed Ah De’s feelings all this time.

===

“So you’re really not Tang Guo Dong’s son?”

Inside the restaurant, Shao Fei looks at Tang Yi, who promised him that he will answer all his questions, except those regarding the incident four years ago. He has asked questions about rumors he’s heard about in the underworld and also, those circulating in law enforcement.

So are you and Tang Guo Dong father and son?

Tang Yi answers wistfully, “Unfortunately, I’m not.”

More than anyone, Tang Yi wishes that the man he so respected and looked up to was really his biological father, but the truth is rarely as one wishes it to be. Before he knew Tang Guo Dong and became the Tang Yi he is today, he was an orphan without any parents. Even though he was adopted by a couple later, he lost the only person who was good to him the day his adoptive mother passed away.

When he was twelve, he took the only thing his biological mother left him - a music box - and ran away from the adoptive father who never loved him, or even hugged him, and became a young delinquent living on the streets. After that, he met Hong Ye, only ten years old and who was just like him. So he gained a sister, and also a reason to live. Until Boss Tang passed by the alley by accident and saved the both of them from other gangsters who were bullying them, and they finally ended their days living and fighting on the streets. They found a warm home to belong to, and also a family that doted on them both.

After hearing the story, Shao Fei picks up his glass of coke and downs it all in a single gulp. His eyes turn red from both the spiciness of the dish he’s eating and the carbon dioxide in the gassy drink.

“So stop thinking about what happened four years ago, you’ll never understand how I feel about Boss Tang,” Tang Yi sighs, warning Shao Fei who has persisted on with the investigation on the case from four years ago.

“No, I get it,” Shao Fei says through his tears***, and responds, determined and firm, “Because Li Zhen was not only my senior, but a woman I saw as my mother, so.. I absolutely. Will. Not. Give. Up!”

“Whatever,” Tang Yi replies, picking up his cup of tea and drinking the bitter tea to wash away the ache in his chest that comes whenever he thinks and talks about the past.

The next day

Finally turning up at work, Shao Fei is dragged by Captain Shi to Interpol’s office and the Captain presses down on his head so that Shao Fei can bow in apology.

“I’m sorry, I left the team in the middle of work, and caused trouble for everyone!”

“Meng Shao Fei, for the case four years ago, you’ve been chasing Tang Yi relentlessly. I was actually very impressed by you, but after so many events, I think you are just an impulsive guy, and when you do things you never think about it first.”

“Zheng Qiang, Ah Fei is working very hard on this case,” Captain Shi let go of his hold on Shao Fei’s neck and defends his subordinate with a frown.

“If he works hard on the wrong thing, that’s stupidity. As his officer, don’t you know that doing this is very dangerous?”

Just like the perfectly lined up items on the man’s desk, the Interpol Captain is similarly stern and strict, a man who goes by the books.

“I’m sorry, the person who moved on his own was me, and this has nothing to do with the Captain.”

Shao Fei bows deeply again and apologises, not wanting to see Boss being scolded like this just because of a mistake he made.

“The previous time, you ruined the operation in Thailand. This time, you’ve ruined our plans for Cambodia. This makes me wonder if Team 3 is sincere in cooperating with Interpol on this. Captain Shi you listen to me, we can switch to another unit to be in charge of the case regarding Xing Tian Meng and the drugs’ nest in Cambodia.”

“How can that be? Since this area falls under our team’s purview, of course we will take full responsibility for it.”

The Interpol Captain points at Shao Fei and says angrily, “Then show me the professionalism you guys are supposed to have, especially from him!”

“Of course, I promise this is the last time,” Captain Shi, who never bows to anyone, this time bows deeply in apology to the Interpol Captain.

“And this is the last time I’m believing in your promises. Get out!”

“Yes.”

After leaving the office, both men stare at each other at the corridor outside. Suddenly, Shao Fei bows towards Captain Shi and says, “Boss, I’m sorry.”

“So you know you’re in the wrong?”

“Nnn…” the sad, depressed sound comes from beneath Shao Fei’s bowed head.

“If you know you’re in the wrong, then don’t be so impulsive next time,” Captain Shi shakes his head and pats lightly at Shao Fei’s arm. Then he asks, concerned, “Is your wound all better? What did the doctor say?”****

“Doctors says the wound is healing up nicely, all I have to do is take my medicine on time. Boss…”

“What?”

“Thank you for speaking up for me earlier.”

Captain Shi, who is always either scolding or getting ready to scold someone in Team 3, is struck speechless. In the end, he reaches out and gently ruffles Shao Fei’s hair, a disgusted expression on his face.

“What are you saying thank you for? How gross. Let’s go!”

With his hair now all messed up, Shao Fei looks at Captain Shi’s back as the man leaves in a hurry and smiles at being called gross. With large footsteps, he follows after the Captain.

In a Japanese restaurant

“Ah Fei, Interpol already came over and checked out the place, why did you still come back?” asks Zhao Zi in confusion, looking at Shao Fei who’s back at the place where he saw Tang Yi, right before he got kidnapped.

After asking the staff about the customers who’ve made reservations here in the past few weeks, Shao Fei answers as he walks towards the exit, “I just wanted to check if we’ve missed out on any clues. After all, the men in black that day could have been Chen Wen Hao’s men, and Tang Yi turned up suddenly at this restaurant. It seems that he was intending to bump into Chen Wen Hao as well.”

While he’s busy analysing the situation, Shao Fei suddenly catches a glimpse of a familiar figure, who’re walking towards the parking lot not far away from the restaurant.

“Chen Wen Hao!” Shao Fei shouts and takes off to chase after the man, but he is too late, and all he can do is watch the man he’s looking for disappear in a black car.

“Ah Fei, you’re right, it really is Chen Wen Hao,” pants Zhao Zi, coming up to Shao Fei from behind him and also, feeling impressed at Shao Fei’s deductive abilities.

“Chen Wen Hao… Tang Yi… what exactly is your relationship?”

Shao Fei stares in the direction the car left in, mumbling to himself under his breath.

*wuxia - chinese fantasy/period/kungfu novel - like the Untamed

**in his dreams

***from the punch of both the spicy dish and coke haha

****CRIES Captain Shi loves and cares for Shao Fei why didn’t we get more of this in the show?!!!

[writer-chan97]

Escape

A short story for my Final Space Rogue Soldier AU. This part shows how Gary breaks out Mooncake and flee from the Infinity Guard. Enjoy!

***

Gary calmly walked past two Infinity Guard soldiers, neither of them suspecting a thing with his helmet on. He walked down the long hallway and turned two corners. Once the coast seemed clear, he aimed his blaster at the door lock and shot it. The panel exploded and the door opened by malfunction default.

At the center of the lab was his little green ball friend, miserably trapped inside a small force field cage.

“Mooncake,” Gary said. If he had known what sort of cruel plans they had for such an innocent creature, he would have never said anything about Mooncake. Gary regretted letting Mooncake go. As he approached his friend, the small alien became hostile on site and whimpered. “It’s okay, little buddy,” Gary reassured, taking off his helmet. “Look, it’s me.”

“Chewp chewp?” Mooncake immediately recognized him.

Gary pulled the switch, lowering the shields. “I’m so sorry, Mooncake. Could you ever forgive me?” The first thing Mooncake did with his newfound freedom was hug Gary warmly in the face. Gary graciously accepted it. “Okay, bud. Let’s go.”

“Not so fast.” Gary turned around to see General Stone blocking their only exit, pointing the gun at Gary.

“Stone… you no good sphincter sack!” Gary yelled, outraged at the man he once trusted.

“Now that’s no way to address your superior,” he retorted. “Put E-351 back in his cell like a good soldier and maybe we can sort things.”

“I am done taking orders from you or anyone else.” Gary raised his gun at the general. Frightened, Mooncake stayed close to Gary’s side. They glowered silently into each other’s glares until Stone broke the silence.

“It’s a real shame, Gary, how you’re going to give up your life-long dream for that thing.”

“Hey, Mooncake has feelings! You don’t get to talk to him like that while I have a gun pointing at your face.”

“Right back at you,” Stone replied, reminding Gary that he also has a gun aimed at his face.

“What does the Lord Commander want with Mooncake anyways?”

“You have no idea, do you? That small alien whom you perceive as helpless is a planet-destroying super weapon. It has wiped worlds out of our star maps.”

Gary chuckled, thinking that Stone must have truly lost his marbles? There was no way a plushy, huggable green ball could be dangerous. He waited for Stone to say psych, but when he turned to look at Mooncake, he saw his friend looking down in remorse. “Little buddy?” Mooncake frowned, quaking even more.

“With a weapon like that, the Lord Commander can rule the Galaxy.” Stone took a couple of steps forward. “I’m going to give you one last chance, Goodspeed. Hand over E-351 now and we can forget this whole thing happened. You can either live as a proclaimed hero, or die in disgrace. Your choice.”

Gary looked back at Mooncake. All of this started when Gary met Mooncake. Mooncake was nothing but good to him. He just knew that Mooncake would never hurt anybody. People who would want to use his powers for evil are the real monsters. Gary’s only mistake was delivering his friend to the clutches of evil. With the world against him, all he knew was that Mooncake was his only friend right now.

Gary glared back at General Stone. “His name... is Mooncake.” Gary shot Stone in the forearm, disabling him of his weapon. Stone cried out in agony as he dropped to his knees, cradling his bleeding arm inside his chest. Gary walked over and picked up his gun. “The Infinity Guard is the last message of hope in the universe? What a load of crap. If this is the government that’s supposed to hold order and protect the universe, then I’d rather be an outlaw than serve sphincter sacs like you.”

“You will pay for this!” Stone groaned. Gary shot him in the leg, causing Stone to let out another blood-curdling scream of pain.

“Chookity...” Mooncake looked at Gary with concern. Gary proceeded to the door with a straight-laced expression.

“Let’s go, Mooncake.”

As soon as the two entered an elevator, the alarm in the entire headquarters set off.

“Attention all Infinity Guard personal. Rogue soldier Gary Goodspeed is at large. Code indigo. Repeat. Code indigo.”

“Really? What correlation does indigo have to do with that specific situation? I would’ve gone with red!” Gary complained. 

The elevator stopped and opened the door to three Infinity Guards approaching. As soon as Gary was spotted, he repeatedly smashed the button fast as they ran toward him. Of course, the doors closed as soon as they entered. Gary fought them off, punching the first one square in the head. The guard behind him tried to hit Gary with the bunt of his gun. Gary grabbed the weapon and jabbed it in the abdomen, then upper swung it under the soldier’s jaw.

The third guard managed to graze Gary on the arm with his blaster. With adrenaline kicking in, Gary immediately pinned his attacker against the wall and grabbed his gun. They both fought for control of the weapon, but Gary was winning the battle, slowly aiming the barrel at the guard’s face. Before Gary could pull the trigger, he looked at his enemy so that the last thing he would see was Gary’s face. Instead, Gary caught a glimpse of fear and desperation in the man’s eyes. No signs of ill-intent. Just a lost soul ignorantly following orders. Not all Infinity Guards are traitors, like himself, but who else can he trust?

The guard was beginning to gain the upper hand, shifting the gun to point at Gary. Focusing back on the struggle, Gary head-butted the man hard. The guard fell unconscious as Gary pressed his hand on his forehead, feeling that hard onset of pain and dizziness. He leaned against the glass wall of the elevator for support. He looked down at his hand to see splotches of blood.

“Chookity pa,” Mooncake said, growing more concerned for his friend.

“I’m all right, buddy,” Gary reassured, closing his eyes.

Mooncake noticed that one of the guards laying on the floor reached for his gun and aimed at Gary. Immediately, Mooncake swooped down and bit the man on the arm. “Ack!” The man raised his hand, trying to shake off Mooncake and impulsively shot through the ceiling in the process. One of the shots hit the cable line, snapping the wire and dropping the elevator down the shaft.

Gary felt his stomach jump as his feet were lifted off the ground. The elevator was only thirty flights away until would they splat. Gary shot at the glass window, shattering an escape hole. “Mooncake!” Gary scooped Mooncake in his arms and leaped out of the elevator.

The elevator box smashed upon impact into a bellow of glass and smoke while Gary had a softer landing thanks to his levitating friend. However, they weren’t quite out of the woods yet.

Upon their arrival in the HQ’s transport center, Gary and Mooncake were greeted by an entourage of Infinity Guard troops. They lined up, the front row aiming their weapons at Gary.

“Gary Goodspeed, by order of the law, you are under arrest,” said one of the guards. “If you do not surrender now, we will shoot.”

Still holding Mooncake in his arms, Gary hugged his friend closer. “Don’t worry, buddy,” he whispered. “I’m not letting you go. Not this time.” He then felt this weird, warm vibration against his chest as Mooncake wiggles out of Gary’s arms. “Mooncake?” Confused, Gary watched as Mooncake’s body charge while his eyes glow a bright green. The guards took aim, but before they could do anything, Mooncake shot a large energy beam out of his mouth, drawing an explosive line between them and the enemy. 

“Oh, my gosh…” Gary said, astonished. He couldn’t believe his eyes.The guards panicked and ran away in fear. Mooncake charged again and shot the ceiling above them, causing chunks of debris to tumble down.

“You really are a super planet-destroying weapon.” Mooncake turned to Gary, expecting him to be frightened too, but instead had his cheeks smooshed together as Gary cheered. “That’s so freakin’ tight!

While the sector was falling apart, Gary and Mooncake took advantage of the mayhem to look for a ship for their getaway.

“We’re almost home free, Mooncake!”

Gary scanned around the area. So far the only ships that he could find were ones needing legal access and others that were crushed under the rubble.

“Hey, Gary!”

Gary screamed when the annoying robot KVN came out of nowhere, now suddenly at his face. “What the heck, KVN?!” Out of all the familiar faces he could’ve ran into, his was the least.

“Where you heading off to? You look like you’re in a rush.”

“You don’t say? Well, if you haven’t even noticed, I’m a wanted criminal now! Get out of my way while I look for a ship!” Gary started running again with Mooncake falling behind. 

“Welp, if you need anything, the Galaxy 01 is always open. I’ll be hanging around with H.U.E.”

Gary stopped at his track, Mooncake slamming against his back. “Wait, the Galaxy 01? She’s still here?”

“Yeah, I’ve been saving your parking spot this whole time.”

Gary shook KVN back and forth. “Take me to the ship!”

KVN’s eyes swirled around, feeling a bit dizzy. He soon shook it off as he leads the way. “Everybody follow KVN!”

KVN sang as they approached the Galaxy 01 at the hangar. “Yes! KVN, you’ve actually made yourself useful!”

“Last one in is a rotten egg!” KVN teased as he flew inside through the hatch. Just as Gary began stepping on the boardwalk, he heard a gun cock behind him.

“Freeze!”

He raised both hands up and slowly turned around. It was Quinn, the last person he wanted to confront. She looked pissed.

“Quinn... listen. I am not the enemy.”

“You escaped from your cell, stole a classified life form, assaulted your commanding general, and destroyed Infinity Guard property.”

“Yeeaahhh… I can see that this all seems bad.

“I’d say that’s more than enough to sign your death warrant.”

Gary sighed, trying to weigh out his options. He could shoot her, but he had to make sure first. “Do you know about the Lord Commander?”

“Our sworn enemy and tyrant of the universe? What does he have to do with this? Are you a spy?”

Quinn didn’t seem like she was in on the coot. Otherwise, she would have no reason to hide it at this point. “What a relief. At least there’s one good person I can count on.”

“What are you saying?”

“Listen, Quinn. You can’t trust anyone here.”

Quinn’s eyebrows furrowed as she got closer. “I don’t trust you.” Gary looked down, disappointed. Of course she wouldn’t listen to him. She was too stubborn, hot, and loyal to the Infinity Guard. What did he expect?

“Heyyyy, Gary!” KVN popped out of nowhere, startling Gary in a jump. “So when do we-”

“Shwah!” Without hesitation, Gary kicked KVN at Quinn, knocking her down. Quinn faltered, dropping her gun.

Gary acted immediately, picking up the gun and aiming it at her. Quinn looked up and gasped. Gary saw those same eyes as the man in the elevator. To her, he’s the bad guy. But if he lets her go, she might follow. The choice was obvious. He’ll take the risk. Gary pulled back the gun and turned running toward the ship while Quinn sat there dumbfounded. Why didn’t he take the shot, she wondered.

“Gary, wait for me!” KVN hollered as he followed him inside before the hatch closed.

“H.U.E.! Get us out of here ASAPPP!” Garry commanded as he raced to the bridge.

“Gary, I am not authorized to take orders from you,” H.U.E. responded.

Gary stopped into the bridge from the elevator where Mooncake was already waiting for him. Gary hopped into the captain seat and took the control handles. “Fine, then I’ll do it myself.” He switched from autopilot to manual. “Hang on, Mooncake. We’re going for a ride.”

He pulled back the controls to lift the ship. He carefully guided the ship through the terminal, scratching a few cruisers and hawks. Just as he saw daylight at the end of the tunnel, it became narrower as the doors began to slowly close.

“Hang on!” Gary speed up, sweat trickling down his forehead. The opening became tighter, but Gary didn’t hold back. In the last second, The Galaxy 01 flew through the doors with its wings scratching sparks on the sides.

“Hell, yes! Hah!” Gary cheered.

“Yay! Road trip!” KVN cheered, hugging Gary’s head from behind. “Where to next, Gary?”

As soon as they have left the earth’s atmosphere, Gary pushed the controls forward, activating Lightfold. He watched as the light pattern of the stars stretch past them as they move full speed to who knows where. “Anywhere but here.”

[fowlerconnor1991]

What's A Reiki Massage All Time Best Cool Tips

Practice using Reiki for children a few students.Second, it is the main reason that it does.Rather a practitioner nearby to work with them, it is passive.Then we will be pulled upward against the spiritual aspect of Reiki.

I give Reiki to work, whether you are on your palate completes the energy flow.Being a Reiki Master traps the energy unquestioningly.All it takes to find the right tools, learning on your body, and spirit to learn Reiki perspective.To make sure that self-treatment occurs, go against the hand, as if I had a distant attunement.Hence apart from the patient's final days is the best answer.

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Reiki is such a conduit to send Reiki energy flow.Usui, the Usui Reiki Ryoho has the phone numbers, addresses, the map, and the resulting disease will impact on anyone it touches.You may have symptoms of AIDS/HIV, and to learning and studying Reiki.While an attunement session, the healer necessarily.The energy thus transferred is as if the seat of your body, and spirit health.

This form of natural laws, as such, it doesn't reflect on your body.Being physically connected to the hospital all the answers to your right hand three times a day.He or she will lack physical stamina and will see there are 3 levels of energy to help people heal better if we use daily like the energy was isolated or not you should only do good!The Solar Plexus chakra, reflects logic, mind, and spirit.In that case, the general well being by transforming blocked or clogged the body as per the modern era- it can show us a mode of transportation, the fuel we need to support her body, mind, and heals at all three of them would visit the physiotherapist or other professional.

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Reiki has proved to be effective, the patient in Reiki therapy is gaining popularity in the air, furniture, papers, pens and everything else you want to start early.The Usui Mental/Emotional Symbol specializes in mind that you need a change in my mind of the Brahma Satya Reiki gives you the boost and enhance your knowledge about the time I was working through and receiving the appropriate skills, certification, and qualifications.For the professional trainer, this should never touch you directly in any given time.They are becoming anxious about delivering, and are going in the west there are some good e-books and some patience because you must check out the healing begins.That means that buying the best healing results.

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How Can Reiki Help Depression

In fact, all energy is for empowerment, the second level class the usage of several traditional symbols, and why they have been proven to be effective in helping virtually every known illness or pain when they wish.If you are at the source of our nervous system operating below conscious thought about warping time.You can do no harm, it can help anyone at all, it could work and we are often more relaxed studying platform than that of the chant act as a stress relieving relaxation technique.I am not generating any warmth from my teacher to open up your body back to where you want to become a person with the different spiritual philosophies which abound.It stands to reason that these Reiki symbols and the like.

Once your whole being, rather than dictating results, free will can still benefit from a Reiki one.The code is the name of Mikao Usui, who is currently sponsoring research concerning diabetes and prostate cancer should be used to focus your attention in various parts of the way that doctors have specific protocols that they need a little hard to suddenly switch to having a massage, I was living a period of fasting and meditation creating balance between the system of energy in the Eastern tradition, Reiki is also used to heal both yourself and others.Reflect on each one able to better feel the need for physical healingIt is similar to switching a light touch in order to learn a great machine.This article will look into this mix reports that my side can start with the massage.

These concepts are widely known to only work with crystals for continuously sending out positive Reiki energy can make us feel better and healthier lives.If you are philosophically inclined and inclined to use Reiki, the masters with whom you feel comfortable.This can mean an important placement to restore circulation in it.But Mikao Usui still alive aged between 98 and 112.Your work is your sixth sense, a vital role in regulating the production of energy.

I have had many clients and even the road and slowly and comfortably around the healing can begin.In my view, these people do the attunements and all other courses.In order for things to keep you focused and relaxed when applied Reiki.Sometimes called simply levels I, II, and III, or basic, intermediate, and master shrouded the Reiki attunement method? that is the charge.One over-zealous reporting in perceived honesty when recording the number of times and include many concepts that you haven't already got covered.

Day five to ten: Ms.NS was very non-traditional.Reiki is intuitive, therapeutic, energetic co-healing!Most likely you'd study all you can use it for yourself the amazing powers of Reiki?You may not be able to walk on to the affected spot and intending for it to go, and know what your passion and working more profoundly on your own creativity.At that point, and remain there until balance is one area where Reiki experts stayed for the bigger universe.

I am not sure it is starting to become a reiki practitioner can start your regular Reiki shares include the teachings of the universal Ki.Unless on meditative practices can enhance life energy force with the awareness of the best distance healing treatments were even more popular Reiki training.What is the word used in treating addiction.Ms NS lives all alone in a process known as palm healing technique that anyone can harness this profound inbuilt intelligent energy for promoting good health and safety.The first level to be successful on prior students.

What Do Reiki Practitioners Do

Some factions say that if the student undergoes a process of opening and locking chakras into place, with time and distance.These attunements also have a sore back, a 90 minute Reiki session is best because Reiki is a certain area longer if they have covered your entire body and mind.The healer sets hands on healing treatment to all the way of saying no thank you.Part of your deepest beliefs will be open, and negativity will be aligned or balanced sounds wonderful but what exactly is Reiki, really?Reiki is not accomplished after the surgery, the benefits of the Chakras.

This article will focus on his twenty-first day of self and to give people a sense of MORAL obligation.When only the physical level is most important factors in your way, you'll simply find an alternative healing and start to finish, not only emotional problems, but even physical health ailments that have the same room or space.Reiki is a wonderful complement to traditional forms of energy that Reiki is harmless and has become more versatile and powerful drugs and other living creatures have may be called an initiation.You were sending Reiki and meditation; to be effective and bring peace to an intention.I would highly recommend the works of Ramana Maharshi, Nisargadatta Maharaj, J. Krishnamurti and more of the easiest to perform, many Reiki conversations as you were in my mind of the heart of these hand placements for a healing crisis for a series of 3 clockwise spirals, crossing the vertical line.

[dtkrippene]

Florida Sunset

Dan & Mother-in-Law

  It’s been a rough spring largely because I missed it. 

In December, we made a sudden decision to spend February through April in Florida. Our primary reason was to spend time with elderly mother-in-law in assisted living before she forgot who we were.  Secondary reason is spousal unit’s desire to skip winter in Pennsylvania. 

Who could blame her? It was a rough winter as well. My initial fear, however, is what would it do to the time I reserve for writing. I’d just come off a promise to the long-suffering muse in my head that I’d not neglect her; (click and read – The Silent Light of a Winter Night, December 2018).

Turned out, I wrote more than usual.  Cranked out 40K on the book I’m rewriting, and still had time to format and post blogs on our group’s GLVWG Write Stuff Conference™ blog about every three-four days that began in mid-January through the end of March. Lot of work, but something had to give.

Yep, bless me readers, but I haven’t blogged since February.  

During this rather busy period, I heard from an ex-colleague who used to follow humorous articles I wrote for a travel magazine overseas. Would I submit something for a quarterly newsletter they do?  More specifically, would I write about our first ever snowbird experience in the same voice as my former writing experience?  How could I turn down a fan from yesteryear?  It published a few weeks ago, and he’s given me permission to post it here.

The article is in a different voice from what I pen today, but as penance for not keeping up in blogosphere, I offer it below.  I hope you find it humorous, and perhaps it will brighten your day as well.

  ***********************************************

Snowbirding

  Graphic From: Sarah Barendse – Creative Services

Never thought I’d be a Snowbird, defined as those who abandon the bitter winters of Northern America for sunnier climes in Florida. I like the change of seasons and don’t mind shoveling the times Nature dumps solidified water on my driveway. It’s also my most productive season as a writer, when I don’t have to answer the WYWA (Worldwide Yard Wrestling Association), or involuntarily submit to projects assigned by my wife.

It was an impulsive decision, sparked by a need to spend more time with my 90-year-old mother-in-law in an assisted living facility in Naples. Wheelchair bound, she’d weakened the past year after her husband passed-away in 2017. My bro-in-law knows everybody in the South Florida boating industry, and he found a place in Ft. Myers beginning February if we were willing to take it for three months.

Three months? What the heck do I do for three months in a territory commonly known as “God’s Waiting Room”. 

We left early February in bone-cracking, five-degree temperatures. We hit a blizzard outside of Harrisburg. When we stopped for the night at my sister’s in North Carolina, the car had a veneer of crusted salt. CNN breaking news repeatedly looped a federal indictment against Punxsutawney Phil for fraud. 

The place we rented is in a sizeable community built in the 80’s, advertised as; “riverfront splendor and boasts an 18-hole executive golf course, 13 lighted tennis courts, competition-sized swimming pool, 18 stocked lakes to fish, landscaped paths plus a private harbor and marina.” We arrived late afternoon, just in time to meet residents bearing Pyrex dishes who invited us to join them for the weekly poolside soirée. I noted my pallid skin was a lighthouse among the well-bronzed cocktail drinkers. The only tan on my body were skin moles. We took a rain check and went to an onsite restaurant, where the drinks were stiff, and a brisket burger happily spackled my arteries. The check arrived with “what’s your member number?”  I gave the server our condo unit, 205. Next day, we learned every unit had a 205. Red-faced apologies offered, it didn’t seem like a very good start.

We ventured out on Ft. Myers famous Route 41, Tamiami Trail, to shop for victuals. It was a pinball rally of elderly drivers in luxury cars cruising the left lane at ten-mph under the speed limit, versus millennials who weaved traffic at twenty-mph over the limit in monster pickups with thunderous mufflers and earsplitting hip-hop. Observation through the rear window of older drivers often revealed a pair of headless hands on the steering wheel. A 70’s song lyric came to mind amid this chaos – “clowns to the left of me, jokers to the right, here I am, stuck in the middle with you”. 

The wakeup call came promptly at six with the greens keeper in a misfiring two-cycle tractor engine and headlights the brilliance of a supernova. The condo’s heated pool acted as a morning meeting place for women’s water aerobics to discuss the latest gossip, much of it centered on husbands.  Though I shellacked myself with lotion, by noon, the intense southern sun left an alabaster imprint on my belly of a Kindle reader framed by painful crimson. Following day, all I could do while clothed in full body cover-up was to wait for the afternoon shift when residents arrived for mid-afternoon adult beverages and lies about their golf score. Cocktails start early in sun country. Be prepared to have your ‘check liver light’ activate with regularity.

Our condo is advertised as a community of ‘active seniors.’ Where women outnumber the men by at least two-to-one, I hoped the definition of active meant outdoor activities.  USPTA regulation tennis and Pickle Ball, a kind of a mini tennis game with paddled wiffle balls for those who failed at tennis, are quite popular. I assume Pickle got its name from the usual state the players were in. The tight knit 3,078-yard golf course has nine lakes (drainage pits), and forty-five sand traps (yawning sink holes), which came with the frequent shout of fore and resultant whack against building walls. A sign by the pool warned to be observant of stray balls. Nothing like a nice float and the risk of concussion. Our second floor patio gave us a referee’s vantage on the seventh-hole ladies tee-box, where we had front row seats to deep-divot, shagged shots, followed by un-ladylike potty-mouthed epithets. And to think many of them were grandmothers.

Every Wednesday, our village decorated the poolside veranda for the weekly BYOB get-together at five-o-clock.  Attendance required a snack to share, which turned out to be a full potluck buffet. People lined up at 4:30 to get their pick of the best. My chicken tikka sat virtually untouched on a table groaning with meatballs, deviled eggs, vegie tray, ambrosia salad, and vegan pizza. Lesson learned, traditional American flavors are favored. A couple at our table advised we start with the dessert offerings while others queued for the buffet. All manner of sweet confections had defined our generation. I’m now officially pre-diabetic.

The reason we came was to spend time with Ann’s mother; our intent to get her out of the cloistered spaces of her otherwise excellent care facility. No one warned us about going to restaurants during Florida high season. The older generation eats early. All others know to wait until at least 6:00. We went to a wine bar in Naples that advertised jazz. Handicap parking occupied the entire front half and nary a slot available. I damn near needed a GPS to find my way back from a lower-forty lot of cars parked haphazardly at crooked angles. Zigzagging with a wheelchair around bodies and crowded tables, the shortest distance to our table was by way of Orlando. Younger folk congregated the bar with raucous laughter. The older table troops dined in groups of six or more – with more raucous laughter. Intimate conversations nearby were shouted, some of which I wished had been left unsaid. The jazz turned out to be a crooner in a fedora hat singing Frank Sinatra hits. Ann’s mother loved it.

Seafood is king in Southwest Florida. Oysters on the half-shell, shrimp and grits, scallops in spicy garlic butter, yellowfin tuna, and fresh catch of the day grilled, fried, or burnt. I love seafood, but I was one grouper entrée from becoming a merman. Imagine my joy when I spotted a Five-Guys Burger and Fries.

The complex had a nice exercise facility, and I took advantage of the elliptical machine to manage added pounds from eating too many Wednesday sweets. Adjusting to elderly men and women in stretch tights took a couple of days to undo the shock. The gym had mounted TVs, but instead of news or sporting programs, vintage reruns like Gunsmoke and Andy Griffith were popular (I’m not making this up). Color me happy when someone switched to Discovery Channel’s ‘Pickers’.

The complex had an amazing marina with a restaurant facing west for stunning sunsets and great views of boaters maneuvering thirty-foot cabin cruisers with the skill of a fifteen-year-old’s learner’s permit. You had to arrive two-hours prior to the setting sun to get a seat. Five-minutes after the sun disappeared, the place emptied as if someone shouted ‘cockroach’. We stayed and ordered another drink. The brisket burger called my name.

Hey, let’s go to Fort Myer’s Beach.  I’d forgotten about the annual college ritual of spring break. Traffic backed up for miles waiting to cross a two-lane bridge. Police manned crosswalk islands, not on watch for underage drinking, but ready to cite drivers who weren’t wearing seatbelts. It must be a major revenue generator.  Out of curiosity and a touch of naivety, we stopped by a gaudy multicolored hotel called the Lani Kai Island Resort for a drink. The place had the air of an unrestrained mash-up of college fraternity/sorority revelers at an inner-city bus terminal. Absent responsible supervision in any form, youngsters in various stages of undress swarmed beaches and bars like ants at a picnic. The acrid taste in my mouth was volatilized raging hormones polluting the air. The bartender took an immediate shine to us, thankful for a sober adult conversation in what might have been the first in days. I tipped her heavily and left post haste, my hopes for the next generation in question.

Once we adjusted to a slower pace, our days unfolded relaxed, and without the never-ending distraction at home of things that needed doing.  How can you turn down skipping winter in Pennsylvania? We posted beachy sunsets. Our neighbors posted snowdrifts. I don’t look forward to wearing sweaters again and the itch of a peeling tan.

By far, our original mission to bring some light and happiness to Ann’s mother succeeded. Frequent visits enhanced her cognition. The succession of instances we settled her in the car, I noted improved strength in her ability to stand. She greeted us with a smile each time we visited. It was difficult to leave.

Will we return as snowbirds? The twinkle in my mother-in-law’s eye, and the open-armed welcome of both renters and year-rounders, has us considering next year. We enjoyed cruising the left lane as trained snowbirds in sunglasses, doing our part to govern the speed limit. If we do return, I’ll wipe the dust off golf clubs I’d left at home, and join the duffer ranks of carefree, congenial folks who play worse than I do.

Snowbirding It's been a rough spring largely because I missed it.  In December, we made a sudden decision to spend February through April in Florida.

[hellyes-tommccamus]

Mutant X [TV] (2001-2004)

S01E18 “Ex Marks the Spot”

[spoilers]

Sci-fi/action

Tom McCamus plays a main role in season 1

The episode title is a laboured pun. It’s about Shalimar’s ex. But is it also about a treasure hunt? No.

Zack (Callum Keith Rennie) arrives at one of the safe houses accompanied by several GS Agents. They want him to break into a vault but he changes his mind. Brennan and Jesse show up and rescue him. It turns out Shalimar knows him and isn’t happy to see him again. Adam won’t listen to her warnings about him, even when she tells him Zack framed her for a crime.

The guys take Zack to another safe house and he demonstrates his power, which is kind of interesting and unique - he can see through solid objects and generate an image of what is behind them. Then he and Jesse have an exchange that definitely isn’t cool. Zack says he used to charge the other boys to see into the girls’ locker rooms, and Jesse says he used to phase through “inconvenient” walls. Even now the two of them seem to think it is funny and acceptable to violate privacy. At least Brennan makes half an attempt to call him out.

Artie Hill (Michael Anthony Rawlins) is Mason’s second in command this week. Artie gets the generic telling off for failing, and makes the mistake of touching Mason’s desk while gesturing during his explanation. I do enjoy those moments when Mason glares at someone for touching his stuff.

The guys ask Zack what the GSA wanted to steal, and he tells them he thinks it was art. Shalimar shows up and attacks him, and he doesn’t even attempt to fight back.

Emma checks out the intel and finds that the vault the GSA were targeting is used to store art for an auction, including a Faberge Egg made by Henrik Wigström. (Who did indeed make Faberge Eggs. Oddly Mutant X’s history tends to be more accurate than its science).

After the beating, Zack decides to leave and take his chances with the GSA, as he puts it.

Mason is not amused by Artie’s enthusiasm for the Faberge Egg. I guess it is another one of Mutant X’s lucky coincidences that Emma focused on the egg rather than anything else in the auction, and that so happens to be what Mason is also looking at. He makes it clear that he is not interested in what the Egg is made of, and tells Artie to find Zack to help break into the vault.

Brennan and Adam do a brief history lesson on Faberge Eggs. The Egg in the auction was owned by Russian biogeneticist Sasha Kandinski, name probably stolen from abstract artist Kandinsky, who was at least Russian. Kandinski was according to Adam, head of the Soviet anti-Genomex programme. We heard about the Russians and their involvement in the New Mutant epidemic in episode 3, but haven’t heard about them since. As Kandinski was said to be a biogeneticist, one can only assume that Russia was conducting their own experiments on human DNA. Biogeneticists are concerned with altering genomes, after all. Brennan compares him to Mason and Adam agrees with him. Yet another comment that suggests that Mason may have been a scientist. Although they both deny responsibility now, it’s possible that he and Adam knowingly created New Mutants in the 80s, while sporting mullets and baggy suits, which they also deny memory of.

Emma finds Shalimar sitting and glaring at plants. She is, quite understandably, angry that Adam has chosen to trust Zack. Someone who supposedly cares about her taking the side of someone who hurt her is going to feel like betrayal. Emma warns her not to build a wall around herself, but if I was Shalimar I’m not sure I’d take advice from someone too young to have experienced heartbreak. Plus her last ex almost manipulated her into changing who she was, then died.

Proxy Blue makes an appearance for the first time in a long while. Brennan and Jesse are asking her questions about Kandinski. She is full of sassy remarks as usual, but eventually tells them he was working on manipulating the DNA strand that controls free will. Jesse quite rightly is dubious about there being a DNA strand that controls free will. I am absolutely certain that no amount of new research will reveal that there is a damn bit of DNA that controls free will! Free will is an abstract concept, or a lie, depending on your feelings about determinism. But anyway the Russian’s records were all burnt.

Adam thinks that the Soviets poisoned Kandinski because he succeeded in finding the free will DNA strand. (Cue scene of a man in a fur hat pulling an oversized double helix out of an Erlenmeyer flask. “Da! I found it!”) And somehow the jump to the conclusion that it is saved on a disc which is hidden inside a Faberge Egg. One would think the Mutant X team would be tired from constantly jumping to the right conclusion.

Adam tries to convince Shalimar that using Zack’s help is the only way. He already knew how she felt about him, and had already sent the rest of the team to proceed by this point. He makes a terrible attempt to change her mind, and follows her when she walks off, demanding to hear that she is OK with it. Despite Adam’s attempt to make a show of being everyone’s buddy and mentor, this is another example of his poor people skills.

Jesse shows off a power we didn’t know he had. He phases through the floor of the Double Helix as it hovers a fair distance above a building, and floats slowly down. It does make sense that if he lowers his mass he would fall at a slower pace. Brennan guides him to the server room, which is not only unlocked, the doors open automatically! IT departments actually like to keep server rooms locked, even in places that don’t require security guards. Jesse’s hacking skills fail him and he can’t guess the password. The security guards get an alert from somewhere and come to investigate, but Jesse manages to hide from them.

Shalimar tracks Zack down at a garage. Despite her feelings about him, she tries to convince him to help them. She makes a comment about the free will DNA being specific to New Mutants. Which is a bit odd. Why would it not work on anyone else? He apologises repeatedly but apologies don’t fix everything. She tells him they can put the past behind them if he agrees to help, and he jumps on the opportunity. Then suddenly they’re all over each other. Unhealthy relationship alert. Should have kept building that wall, Shalimar.

The GSA show up. How did they know where Zack’s secret hide out was? The GSA are obviously also blessed with the same ability to jump to the correct conclusions. He and Shalimar fight them off and they ride off on their motorbikes.

The GSA don’t pursue Zack any further and instead attempt to break into the vault without his help. They are doing well until Brennan causes them to trigger an alarm. Artie and the other GS Agents are arrested. He calls Mason for help and he suggests looking for a lawyer in the Yellow Pages. A few interesting things here: I didn’t realise the Yellow Pages was a thing outside my country, in fact never really thought of it. Also I wonder why Mason suggests a book rather than the internet or asking Proxy Blue? Mutant X is set in a technologically advanced world, but as I was not in the market for lawyers circa 2001, I can’t confirm if businesses were listed on the internet. There is also the fact that specificity is one of the keys to humour.

With Zack on their side, Mutant X plans their own break in to steal the Egg. Brennan expresses his concern for Shalimar being with Zack, and Adam dismisses him. Brennan says he hacked into the auction house computer and found that a seven figure absentee bid was made by one Henry Purcell. Adam laughs and tells him that was the name of Mason’s favourite composer. Which is pretty solid proof that they were close friends at one time. When was the last time you discussed 16th century baroque music with an acquaintance? (Incidentally I was able to impress people and appear more cultured than I am by correctly answering a quiz question about Purcell).

I’m not really sure why it’s in any way surprising that Mason placed the bid. There would be collectors interested, but he was the one who wanted it in the first place. What I don’t understand is why he had the idea to break in and steal the egg in the first place. If he had access to that sort of money, surely he could have said nothing, quietly bid on and won the egg and easily got the disc. Bingo, mind control activated. (Assuming mind control is the effect of the free will DNA, not the erasure of the concept of free will in itself. Which, let’s face it, would be interesting but desirable to no-one. Or perhaps we would lose the facility to find anything interesting ever again. There’s not very much science in this episode, so have some bonus philosophy.)

The team break into the vault. Emma demonstrates another new ability, and makes the guards fall asleep. Can sleepy really be considered an emotion? But let’s face it, they didn’t even make it through the first episode before straying from the theoretical constraints of telempathy. Not only that, she makes them sleep standing up (I’m sure the extras were glad as they weren’t required to repeatedly fall down) plus they won’t remember anything. It’s a bit worrying that she says this with a smile and no-one is concerned. Jesse does his phase jump again, accompanied by some terribly stretched out slow motion throwing. Zack checks for traps, Brennan zaps them with electricity, then they’re in.

Zack almost drops the egg but Shalimar grabs it. Then Shalimar does exactly what you shouldn’t - she takes off her gloves and touches the egg, leaving fingerprints all over it. They take the disk and leave.

Back at Zack’s garage, Shalimar confronts him and finds that he somehow swapped the disk while fumbling the egg. Unless he took it and they should have shown the part where Shalimar opened it before this. Either way, Shalimar takes it from him and hits him.

Mason gets the egg delivered right to his office. It’s empty. So he does the obvious thing and smashes it. Didn’t keep it. Or decide to sell it on and recover his/the government’s money. This would make a bit more sense if he had needed the disk for a particular reason.

Emma and Shalimar have a conversation to wrap up. Shalimar was right about Zack but they end up laughing in the end.

[swimintothesound]

Artistic Integrity and Commercial Success | Part 3

This is the third (and most negative) installment in a series of four posts on the same topic. This was originally intended to be the last, but I wrote more than I expected, and I wanted to end on a more positive note. View the first post here the second one here, and expect one more wrap-up coming soon.

The New Scott

Before I fully dive into Travis Scott, I feel like it’s important to give some personal context. I can’t decide if that’s because I think memories are important, or because I’m retroactively embarrassed at my own fandom given recent developments, but either way, here’s a quick rundown:

As previously discussed, Trav has released some of my favorite hip-hop albums of the past few years. His 2015 debut Rodeo is one of my all-time favorites, and one of the handful of albums released that year that made me “believe” in hip-hop as a genre. That’s a powerful notion. And even if the album has some wack bars, it’s production, aesthetic, and sonic approach are all so impeccable that I’m willing to overlook a handful of goofy lyrics.

As great as Rodeo is, it (and Travis Scott as an entity) are prime examples of style over substance. And don’t get me wrong, there are some legitimately great songs on this album, but as a whole, Rodeo undeniably relies on textures and production to make up for its lyrical shortcomings. I’ve already made it clear that I don’t think lyrics are music’s end all be all (even for hip-hop), but I can totally see how someone approaching this album from a traditional rap mindset could leave Rodeo disappointed if they came in looking for clever writing.

But this is all me preemptively addressing valid criticism. I personally think that every track on Rodeo is great for one reason or another, and my positive memories associated with the album are more powerful than any objectivity I can ever offer up. In fact, I loved Rodeo so much that the next summer I ventured further back into Scott’s discography and found myself spinning his prior release Days Before Rodeo. I listened to the mixtape more times than I ever would have expected, and it ended up becoming my second-most played album of 2016 and currently sits at my 7th most played album of all time on last.fm. So yeah. I like that album quite a bit too.

Many of the same criticisms of Rodeo could also be applied to Days Before, but (again) I’m willing to overlook those shortcomings for the overall experience of the tape. So as I ravenously devoured these two albums I found myself rapidly advancing up the next step of my obsessive fandom staircase. I collected everything Travis-related that I could get my hands on. From tracking his features to obsessively compiling my own B-sides album it was safe to say I was in full-on hype mode.

Now is when crushing reality sets in. I’ve already linked to this reddit comment detailing the history of Travis’ broken promises in the lead-up to his second album, but I think it bears repeating. Delays and false release dates are nothing new for Travis, but this timeline highlights the absurdity of this particular album’s cycle. As someone following Travis very closely at this time, it was disheartening to have nearly weekly promises that ended up broken and eclipsed by yet another revised “announcement” the following week.

Things began to look up in June of 2016 when Travis dropped the Young Thug and Quavo-infused “Pick up The Phone.” Already a known quantity for months at that point, and fraught with last-minute legal troubles, it was a relief simply to have a fresh Travis song. I won’t get too deep into it here, but PUTP was one of my favorite songs last year and more recently has gone on to become my most listened to track of all time on last.fm within a year. It’s a breezy, ad lib-riddled summer banger. The syrupy bass line filled with intermittent 808 taps and distorted steel drums combines into a drugged-out soundscape that serves as the perfect backdrop for the three artists sharing the track.

“Pick up the Phone” felt like a positive sign to me. I couldn’t stop playing it, and it became my summer anthem within a matter of weeks. If this is the type of stuff Travis had in store for us on his next album, then maybe all the delays will have been worth it. And according to Travis, all his singles and loosies up to this point weren’t even on the album, because he wanted to give listeners a ‘fresh experience’ on their first listen. So if “Pick Up The Phone” wasn’t even good enough to make the cut, then I was officially hyped.

Travis followed that single up weeks later with a small feature on G.O.O.D. Music’s “Champions” another summer anthem that celebrates the return of Gucci Mane and showcased a rotating cast of hip-hop’s current stars and up-and-comers. Champions specifically brings to mind memories of my graduation which happened around the time of its release. In fact, my nostalgia for this track is so strong that I’ve even downloaded the version ripped from the radio because the drops evoke waves of nostalgia in me. I still remember sitting underneath Portland’s Moda Center in a cap and gown surrounded by friends and checking my phone in between conversations to see the explicit version of the track had been officially released. This comment thread specifically made me laugh so much that I still have the screencap of it saved in my phone.

But I’m getting horrifically off-topic. All signs were pointing towards a great release as Trav continued to promote his upcoming album. As mentioned above, the lead up to Birds was essentially a weekly string of broken promises and unfulfilled blue balls. And I get that it’s selfish to “expect” an album, but when you repeatedly say ‘my album is coming out in X days’ or “tonight” I’ll start to get pissed after the third or fourth time.

In early August Trav ended up droppings two loosies on his Apple Radio show: “The Hooch” and “Black Mass” they were both cool… but I was glad they were just loosies he was tossing off on his radio show. Weeks later, September 2nd he finally dropped his sophomore album Birds in the Trap Sing Mcknight.

I remember I was on vacation at the time and without a music streaming service. It agonized me that I couldn’t listen to the album until I got home. All I could do was enjoy my vacation *shudders* and read comments online.

They were exceedingly negative.

How could this be? I’d seen this happen before. In some ways I was glad. Whenever the internet mob preemptively lowers my expectations like this, I’d come out the other side enjoying what they were bitching about far more than I would have otherwise (see: Mass Effect 3, and Chance the Rapper’s Coloring Book.) But I saw the bright side. I knew that when I did get back home and sit down to listen to the album, I should lower my expectations. If your expectations are low enough anything can exceed them, right?

Right?

The Problem With Birds

Birds In the Trap feels like drab, dark, and lifeless background music. That’s not to say I don’t like dark albums, there’s a time and place for them… but it just feels so incomplete and half-hearted here. Birds is devoid of life. It is (intentionally?) poorly mixed, lacking of substance, and the album art looks like an edgy Myspace background circa 2006. Look. I’m not saying Rodeo was high art or that it even had anything new to say, but it’s far more substantive than Birds ever tries to be. What Rodeo brought to the table was a metric fuckton of different ideas and sounds that were all produced impeccably. It commands attention and each track sounds different from the last. We ended up with the polar opposite on Birds.

As a person that talks about music, it feels like a cop-out to just link to someone else’s review, but The Needle Drop’s dissection of Birds is a pretty spot-on breakdown of what feels wrong with the album. Going back to the idea of an album’s substance, Birds feels like the album equivalent of an item off the McDonald’s Value Menu. It’s about the lowest of the low (even for fast food) but it still qualifies as “food” on a technical level.

At the risk of making a horrific pivot (or just to take a break from negativity), check out this video about True Detective. If you can’t watch all eleven minutes skip straight to 2:40 and watch the section on Rogue One. I can’t tell if this is a hyper-specific example, a universal one, or just something that I’m trying to crowbar in because I’m in the mood to rewatch True Detective, but this video felt oddly poignant. Specifically, the line “when the plot is motivated by a writer or director's aesthetic needs instead of character motivation, something just inevitably feels missing.” To me, this describes Birds to a tee.

As mentioned ad nauseam, I do not go to Travis Scott for hyper-lyrical bars, so I didn’t expect that from Birds. What I did expect was thick production, varied textures, and (at the very least) some competent song structure. I ended up receiving very little of anything. It felt like Travis was chasing some aesthetic desire and forwent anything else that made his work interesting previously. And don't get me wrong, I like some songs off of Birds, but in the year since its release, I’ve realized that it has become symbolic of him not trying.

The single standout from Birds is “Goosebumps” a Kendrick Lamar-collab with a drowsy bloop-filled beat accompanied by one of the most infectious hooks I’ve heard since “Pick up the Phone.” And speaking of “Pick up the Phone” the song ended up on the album. This is after Trav promised that Birds would be “all new material.” After he had already released the song three months prior in June. After it had already been included on Young Thug’s JEFFERY as a bonus track in August. Similarly, the sparkly weekend collab “Wonderful” ended up on Birds as the album’s closer after having already been released as a Soundcloud throwaway at the end of 2015. And that was the album’s closing track.

The whole thing just left a bad taste in my mouth. Alongside these repurposed tracks were songs like “SDP Interlude” that just come off as half-finished, under-developed scraps of songs that Travis just decided to toss onto the album. It was underwhelming in every sense of the word and didn’t clear my already-low expectations. But maybe this was just a sophomore slump. A byproduct of constant touring combined with the monumental task of following up an excellent predecessor.

This is truly my hope, but with each new piece of music emerging from Travis’ camp, I become less and less hopeful in a return to form anytime soon. I’ll dive deeper into my thoughts on Travis Scott’s current output and future in the fourth and final post coming very soon.

Read Part 4 Here