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gehayi · 4 years ago

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In case anyone wants to complain about President Biden

Most of the following was copied from the link below to PBS, though the N.B. notes are my own additions.

As of March 10, 2021, Biden’s fiftieth day in office--

CLIMATE:

2 / 7 promises fully kept; 7/7 Action taken on all of them

Take executive actions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions -- COMPLETED (Biden took several early actions focused on climate policy, including signing an executive order on Jan. 20 that revoked the permit for the Keystone XL oil pipeline, halted development of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and ordered the review of Trump-era rules on the environment, public health and science. A Jan. 27 executive order halted new oil and gas leases on federal lands and offshore waters.)

Rejoin Paris climate accord -- COMPLETED ( On Jan. 20, Biden issued a statement accepting the Paris accord; U.S. formally rejoined the pact Feb. 19.)

Make infrastructure investments that withstand changing climate -- IN PROGRESS ( Biden, who touted a $2 trillion-plus "Build Back Better" plan for infrastructure improvements that can withstand and mitigate climate change, is working with members of Congress on a bill.)

Ratify amendment to Montreal Protocol to curb hydrofluorocarbons -- IN PROGRESS (On Jan. 27, Biden signed Executive Order 14008, outlining the federal government's plan to fight climate change. The order gives the secretary of state 60 days to send the Senate material needed to ratify the Kigali Amendment phasing down the production and use of hydrofluorocarbons.)

Take steps to conserve 30% of U.S. lands and waters by 2030 -- IN PROGRESS (On Jan. 20, Biden signed Executive Order 13990, directing the Interior secretary to study restoring the boundaries of several national monuments shrunk during the Trump administration, and to halt oil and gas development in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.)

Convene world climate summit -- IN PROGRESS (On March 10, climate special envoy John Kerry discussed preparations for a U.S.-hosted climate summit Apr. 22-23 that will virtually gather the leader of twenty countries that pump out 81% of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions. Biden signed an executive order Jan. 27 that contained a pledge to host a climate summit.)

Get emissions reduction commitments from shipping, aviation industries -- IN PROGRESS (On Jan. 21, climate special envoy John Kerry addressed the need for major economies to collaborate on bringing "deep decarbonization" to industries such as aviation and shipping.)

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ECONOMY/TAXES

1/5 Completed; 4/5 Action Taken

Extend pause on student loan payments -- COMPLETED (On Jan. 20, Biden asked the Education Department to extend the pause on federal student loan payments and collections and keep the interest rate at 0%.)

Review U.S. supply chain for vulnerabilities in key sectors -- IN PROGRESS (On Feb. 24, Biden signed Executive Order 14017, ordering a 100-day review of supply chain vulnerabilities in key U.S. sectors.)

Strengthen "buy American" measures -- IN PROGRESS (On Jan. 25, Biden issued executive order directing creation of a Made in America office inside the White House Office of Management and Budget.)

OK pandemic economic relief -- IN PROGRESS ( On Jan. 22, Biden issued executive order for departments and agencies to identify and take actions they can to address the economic crisis resulting from the pandemic. N.B. Also, after a long fight with Republicans who apparently want their constituents to continue to suffer, Congress just passed the Covid Relief Bill on March 10. Press Secretary Jen Psaki says that Biden will sign it on Friday afternoon. )

Increase corporate taxes -- NOT STARTED

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GOVERNMENT

3/4 Completed; 4/4 Action Taken

Tighten ethics rules -- COMPLETED (On Jan. 20, Biden issued an executive order imposing an ethics pledge on appointees governing activities such as lobbying and taking gifts.)

Insulate Justice Department from politics -- COMPLETED (On Jan. 20, Biden issued an executive order imposing an ethics pledge on appointees which includes prohibiting political interference in the Justice Department.)

Ease federal unionizing restrictions -- COMPLETED ( On Jan. 22, Biden issued an executive order reinstating some workplace protections for federal employees and reversing some Trump-era constraints on employees' collective bargaining power.)

Restore rules weakened or eliminated by Trump -- IN PROGRESS (On Jan. 20, Biden issued a memorandum that directed heads of agencies and executive branch departments to freeze implementation of new regulations for 60 days)

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GUN CONTROL

0/4 Completed; 2/4 Action Taken

Send Congress gun control bill -- IN PROGRESS (On March 8, the Office of Management and Budget issued a letter supporting two bills in Congress, HR 8 and HR 1446, that would address the transfer of firearms and modify background checks. Neither addresses liability protections for gunmakers.)

Reauthorize Violence Against Women Act -- IN PROGRESS (The reauthorization bill was introduced in the House on Jan. 25 and on March 5 was referred to committee.)

Order FBI report on ways to tighten gun purchase background check loopholes -- NOT STARTED

Commission attorney general report on restructuring agencies to most effectively enforce gun laws -- NOT STARTED (N.B. until March 10, due to the Republicans dragging their feet on approving Merritt Garland, there wasn’t an attorney general)

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HEALTH

3/8 Completed; 8/8 Action Taken

Mandate masks on federal property -- COMPLETED ( On Jan. 20, Biden issued an executive order requiring social distancing to be observed and masks to be worn in federal buildings, on federal lands and by federal employees and contractors.)

Rejoin World Health Organization -- COMPLETED ( On Jan. 20, the Biden administration sent a letter to U.N . Secretary General Antonio Guterres retracting Trump's withdrawal from the WHO.)

Support 100 mass vaccination centers -- COMPLETED (In a Feb. 26 press release, the White House noted that the administration has helped "establish or expand 441 community vaccination centers nationwide" in its first month, providing staff, funding or equipment.)

Expand health care access -- IN PROGRESS ( On Jan. 28, Biden signed an executive order directing health officials to extend open enrollment for Affordable Care Act marketplaces, directing other agencies to review policies and rules that run counter to current administration policy "to protect and strengthen Medicaid and the ACA and to make high-quality health care accessible and affordable for every American." He also revoked two Trump executive orders.)

Outline new pandemic measures -- IN PROGRESS ( On Jan. 21, Biden issued executive orders creating a board to coordinate pandemic testing efforts. It directed the HHS secretary to develop a plan to study and support promising COVID-19 treatments, and for other executive branch officials to provide assistance to care facilities and make recommendations for increasing the health care workforce.)

Vaccinate 100 million Americans -- IN PROGRESS ( Biden marked the 50 millionth vaccination administered at a ceremony Feb. 25. N.B. According to former FDA chief Dr. Scott Gottlieb, 100 million Americans will be vaccinated by early April.)

Reopen most schools -- IN PROGRESS ( On Feb. 12, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released a road map for getting students back to classrooms. Biden had signed an executive order Jan. 20 seeking guidance for school reopening as well as other measures to help schools navigate the pandemic. He supports the COVID relief bill, which has funding to reopen schools.)

Deploy mobile vaccination clinics -- IN PROGRESS (The first mobile vaccination clinics opened in California in mid-February. N.B. Such programs have opened in multiple states since then.)

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HOUSING

1/3 Completed; 2/3 Action Taken

Pause evictions and foreclosures -- COMPLETED ( On Jan. 20, Biden asked the CDC to extend the eviction moratorium to at least March 30 and asked the VA, HUD and USDA to extend foreclosure moratoriums for federally guaranteed mortgages until March 31; extended it to June 30 on Feb. 16.)

Review federal housing policies impacting homelessness -- IN PROGRESS ( A HUD spokesman said the agency is broadly reviewing its policies and rules to bring it into line with Biden administration goals, including its response to homelessness. N.B. No doubt slowing matters--Marcia Fudge was only confirmed as Biden’s HUD secretary as of the afternoon of March 10.)

Take steps to make housing a right -- NOT STARTED

---

IMMIGRATION

6/17 Completed; 16/17 Action Taken; 1 Blocked

Send Congress immigration bill -- COMPLETED ( On Feb. 18, Democrats in Congress introduced Biden's immigration plan, which offers an 8-year path to citizenship for people living in the U.S without documentation, but without border security provisions.)

Revise deportation criteria -- COMPLETED ( On Jan. 20, Biden issued an executive order revoking a Trump-era order that had expanded the criteria for deporting immigrants. Guidance issued that day from Biden's acting Homeland Security secretary told immigration agents to focus on deporting immigrants posing a national security, border security or public safety risk.)

Take steps to reunite separated migrant families -- COMPLETED ( On Feb. 2, Biden signed an executive order establishing an interagency task force to help reunite migrant families separated at the border. N.B. Lawyers have found the parents of 105 children as of February 24th. Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas announced on March 1 that the US government is hoping to reunite hundreds of families and give them paths to remain in the US legally.)

End travel ban -- COMPLETED ( On Jan. 20, Biden revoked Trump-era executive actions through a proclamation.)

Stop deportations for certain groups -- COMPLETED ( On Jan. 20, Biden signed a memorandum instructing DHS and the attorney general "to preserve and fortify DACA."

Halt border wall construction -- COMPLETED ( On Jan. 20, a proclamation ended the national emergency on the border and directed defense and DHS officials to pause construction and spending on the border wall.)

Increase training and accountability for immigration agents -- IN PROGRESS ( Legislation Biden sent to Congress provides funding for training and personnel to investigate misconduct.)

Reverse 'public charge' rule for immigrants -- IN PROGRESS ( On Feb. 2, Biden signed Executive Order 14012, ordering a 60-day review of the impact of "public charge" policies on immigrants.)

Protect immigrants who served in the U.S. military from deportation -- IN PROGRESS ( Biden has taken several steps to revamp U.S. immigration, including issuing an executive order directing officials to facilitate naturalization for immigrants in the military and reprioritizing deportations to focus on those posing a national security, border security or public safety threat.)

Streamline naturalization process -- IN PROGRESS ( On Feb. 2, Biden signed Executive Order 14012, ordering a 60-day plan to improve the naturalization process, shorten processing times and remove other barriers.)

Revitalize Task Force on New Americans to support immigrants -- IN PROGRESS ( On Feb. 2, Biden signed Executive Order 14012, ordering the Domestic Policy Council to convene the task force.)

Reform U.S. asylum system -- IN PROGRESS ( On Feb. 2, Biden issued an executive order directing officials to craft a strategy for migration, including refugees and asylum seekers, and to review numerous Trump-era immigration policies. New asylum seekers were no longer required to remain in Mexico, and those in Mexico would be allowed to await adjudication of their cases in the U.S.)

Increase resources for asylum seekers -- IN PROGRESS ( During his first month in office, Biden signed several executive orders reversing Trump-era immigration policies, including for asylum seekers who had been required to wait in Mexico while their claims were processed.)

End prolonged detention of migrants -- IN PROGRESS ( The Biden administration has begun releasing detained children to relatives in the U.S.)

Review 'Temporary Protected Status' for vulnerable immigrants -- IN PROGRESS ( Biden's Department of Homeland Security has granted TPS for Venezuelans, extended it for Syrians and extended related program for Liberians; immigration legislation Biden sent to Congress contains an expedited path to citizenship for TPS holders, but no TPS review has been announced.)

Convene meeting with regional leaders to address migration issues -- IN PROGRESS ( Biden has met one-on-one with leaders of Mexico and Guatemala and discussed immigration but no regionwide meeting has been announced.)

Freeze deportations for 100 days -- BLOCKED ( N.B. U.S. District Judge Drew Tipton temporarily barred the U.S. government from enforcing the 100-day deportation moratorium, extending it indefinitely on Feb. 23.)

---

INEQUALITY

0/12 Completed; 9/12 Action Taken

Reverse Trump policies on college investigations of violence against women -- IN PROGRESS (On March 8, Biden signed executive order to "specifically evaluate the Title IX regulation issued under the previous administration and agency action taken pursuant to that regulation.")

Address systemic racism in U.S. institutions -- IN PROGRESS ( On Jan. 20, Biden signed Executive Order 13985, directing the White House to study issues of equity across the federal government and report their findings within six months.)

Restore transgender students’ access to school facilities in accordance with their gender identity -- IN PROGRESS (On Jan. 20, Biden signed Executive Order 13988, stating his administration's policy toward gender identity and sexual orientation and calling for a review of federal policies and an action plan to revise them within 100 days of the order.)

Direct resources to prevent violence against transgender women -- IN PROGRESS ( On March 8, Biden signed executive order creating a Gender Policy Council within the White House executive office, to include a senior adviser on gender-based violence; the council's focus will be to protect "those who experience multiple and intersecting forms of discrimination, including individuals who are Black, Latina, Native, Asian American and Pacific Islander, people with disabilities, and LGBTQI+.")

Begin criminal justice reform - IN PROGRESS ( On Jan. 26, Biden issued executive order instructing the Justice Department not to renew contracts with privately operated prisons.)

Appoint State Department special envoy for LGBTQ+ human rights - IN PROGRESS (On Feb. 4, Biden issued a memorandum "directing all agencies engaged abroad to ensure that United States diplomacy and foreign assistance promote and protect the human rights of LGBTQI+ persons" but no envoy was named.)

Ensure government resembles the country - IN PROGRESS ( Biden has made a point of nominating diverse candidates for high-level positions in terms of race, gender and sexual identity.)

Appoint commission to study sexual assault in military - IN PROGRESS ( On Jan. 23, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin ordered a review of sexual assault programs in the military, and on Feb. 26, former White House adviser Lynn Rosenthal was named to head the commission.)

Sign Equality Act - IN PROGRESS ( The Equality Act was passed by the House on Feb. 25. N.B. As of March 2, it was read the second time in the Senate. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 9.)

Create union issues working group to deliver plan on increasing union membership and shrinking economic inequality -- NOT STARTED ( Biden has taken early steps to protect unionized federal employees' rights, met with labor leaders on his initiatives, and supported legislation in Congress, but no Cabinet-level group has been announced.)

Direct Cabinet to review programs serving violence-prone communities and identify changes to address trauma -- NOT STARTED (N.B. though, thanks to the Republicans, he doesn’t HAVE a complete Cabinet yet)

Create police oversight commission -- NOT STARTED

---

NATIONAL SECURITY

0/1 Completed; 1/1 Action Taken

Rejoin Iran nuclear deal -- IN PROGRESS ( On Feb. 18, administration officials indicated the administration is ready to join talks with Iran and world powers to discuss a return to the 2015 nuclear deal. N.B. On February 19, Iran said that despite an EU offer to broker talks with the US aimed at reviving a nuclear deal, America "must act" first and lift sanctions.)

---

Okay, this is Gehayi talking.

Sixteen out of sixty-one campaign promises have been completed. It would be seventeen, if not for U.S. District Judge Drew Tipton.

Fifty-three out of sixty-one campaign promises have had some action taken on them. (And again, it should be fifty-four.)

A lot is still wrong. An overwhelming amount still has to be done. And many problems can’t be solved by executive order. I’m not arguing any of that.

But this is what Biden has done in a mere fifty days.

#us government #campaign promises #biden is keeping his word #the first fifty days

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madamspeaker · 4 years ago

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Hi :) I'm a brit but I've always been interested in American politics. I really like Nancy Pelosi but could you explain why lots of people don't like her pls?

There's no one answer here, and to be honest in some cases there is no actual answer either. I would say much of the hate directed at Nancy lands in that latter category - people say they dislike her but ask them why and they would be hard pressed to give a specific reason, or one based on something factual.

In many ways Republican dislike of her is probably the most honest, at least there is a fundamental difference on how each views the world, and Nancy represents both the leadership of that other world and policy view, as well as someone who lives by it. Add to that the innate misogyny that is a fundamental basis of much conservsative discourse, and that Nancy is a woman who very much flies in the face of that view of how women should be in the world. They dislike her because of who she is, how she is, and what she stands for.

The far-left dislike of her is much more dishonest. Far-leftists will argue they dislike her for a, b, and c reason, but a, b, and c are nearly always a twisting of the truth, or show lack a critical understanding of how actual government is run. The question then becomes are these things unintentional, a by product of a lack of knowledge in civics, or something more sinister? I suspect the truth lies in a mix of the two - blatant lie telling by some coupled by gullible followers believing every word. As to why they dislike her though... the only conclusion I can reach is the far-left discourse is much like that of conservatives, rooted in misogyny, and coupled with a great deal of ignorance. It has to be. Their dislike for her doesn't hold up if you look at Nancy in terms of policy and the ideas she has espoused. For instance many on the far-left accuse Nancy of being a war criminal or supporter, but the facts show that Nancy voted against war - in fact she voted against both Iraq wars, and whipped Democrats, against leadership views at the time, to vote no against the second Iraq war. Her opponent at the last election put out that she had done nothing for civil liberties, which is a pretty remarkable lie to try and push in San Francisco, a city were Nancy has been fighting the good fight on behalf of the LGBTQ community since the 80s. So why the lies? And that is indeed the question. Their dislike of her doesn't hold up on the basis of policy - Nancy is pretty much in favour of 95% of what the so called far-left want - she might take a more pragmatic and measured viewed as to how to achieve these things, but that hardly seems a justified reason to dislike someone when you have Sanders, someone with just as long a congressional career, who unlike Pelosi, has zero substantial left wing policy achievements to his name. It was Nancy who brought America closer to universal health care, not Bernard. All this is a rather long way of saying that my own conclusion on the far-left dislike of her is that it is fundamentally based rooted in misogyny - they twist the truth or just outright lie to try and have another means to justify that dislike.

Nancy is a victim of that same thing as Hillary Clinton - derranged hate. Most of it has no basis in anything real that either woman has done in terms of policy (although at least there is a difference of policy opinion between Republicans and both women), but rather it comes from decades of demonisation, endless attacks, endless lying and truth twisting, and endless caricaturing (first by Republicans and now just as much by the far-left) in which Nancy is painted as some rich, elistist, out of touch, doesn't care about the working class <insert your own derrogatory word of choice here>, who doesn't represent anyone but herself - an image that has become so powerful that it has managed to wipe from history all those policy achievements that show that Nancy, whilst rich, is also the Speaker who passed the minimum wage (and will again), who passed the ACA to get people affordable healthcare, is one of the very few politicians who always talks about food insecurity and how that needs to be addressed, and who spent all of the second half of last year battling to get some money in a covid bill for state and local authorities so that sanitation workers, first responders, and teachers could be paid and keep their jobs. Consider her stance here, then consider that some on the far-left such as Ro Khanna argued that she should just make a deal on the relief bill and ditch the state and local funding part, essentially saying to hell with those workers.

The dislike of Nancy is that weird thing of being both complicated and at the same time not. She's an unapologetically powerful woman - that alone is enough to give many conniptions. It's a hate that has been grown and fermented over years, and always taken too far by all sides, because unlike attacks on men, there rarely seems to be a red line when it comes to how much you can demonise a woman you don't like. It's rooted in sexism, ignorance, and a good deal of the same attitudes that gave the world the trials at Salem - women who are unapologetic and unbowed to men have to be punished.

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unfantasmaficker · 4 years ago

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La chica en la azotea/ The girl on the roof PT.2

En las alcantarillas todo está tranquilo, abril se encuentra en la escuela, Mikey debe estar leyendo comics, Rafa alimenta a Spike y desde mi laboratorio apenas podía escuchar la televisión sintonizando el programa de Leo, seguía investigando la tecnología del Kraang y aunque este día no fue tan malo aún tenía mi curiosidad puesta en esa chica, que será de ella? Hoy ella también tuvo un día horrible? Cuando tengo dudas en mi cabeza no puedo completar bien mi trabajo así que apague mi laptop por un momento y salí de mi laboratorio solo una salida rápida como todas las demás

- A dónde vas Donnie? –

Esa es la voz de mi hermano Leo que aun viendo la televisión se dio cuenta de mi intento para salir a la superficie

- Solo voy a tomar un poco de aire fresco Leo, no tardare mucho –

- Hhhhmm está bien, no dejes que nadie te vea aún hay luz en las calles –

Volví a mí misma ruta para salir y empecé a caminar por las alcantarillas, si voy a seguir haciendo esto debería aprenderme una ruta más sencilla para llegar a su apartamento, quien sabe tal vez la visite solo unas cuantas veces más, de nuevo esto es con fines de curiosidad! La forma en que ella descarga su ira es muy peculiar pero efectiva, debo vigilarla para que su rango de descargar su ira no sobre pase los limites, quien sabe tal vez ella sea nuestra próxima enemiga! Lo cual espero que no sea así.

Llegue a su apartamento y ya casi iba a anochecer, no pude acercarme mucho esta vez porque ella ya estaba ahí, observe con cuidado y note que el suelo estaba limpio

“de seguro limpio los vidrios de la noche anterior”

Ahora ella solamente estaba ahí, leyendo un libro recostada, no podía ver la portada pero si podía ver su rostro, ella estaba sonriendo y riendo? Al parecer debe ser un libro muy bueno o muy divertido para ella, su paz fue interrumpida por una paloma que justo aterrizo en la misma azotea que ella y algo cerca, a ella no le pareció importarle acerco su mano con cuidado y acaricio al ave, se sentó de piernas cruzadas y

Le empezó a contar de su libro a la paloma?...

Es decir yo hago lo mismo con cabeza de metal o Timothy, pero una paloma? Esta chica es rara, si supiera que no solo la paloma puede escucharla yo también estoy ahí, por la descripción de la historia parece ser el cuento de la Bella y la Bestia y según sus palabras es su cuento favorito, yo también leo pero soy más de artículos científicos y acerca de los últimos avances en Robótica, creo que fue hace mucho cuando leí un cuento de fantasía, empezó a leer el cuento desde el inicio solo para su plumado nuevo amigo que cómodamente se había sentado también en la azotea junto a ella, todo iba bien su voz era calmante y dulce, muy diferente a la voz fuerte y ruidosa que había escuchado salir de ella la noche anterior, cerré los ojos un momento y recargue mi cabeza en el tanque de agua desde el cual podía observarla pero ella a mí no.

Aun ni siquiera ella había terminado de leer el Capítulo 2 de la historia y fuertes gritos molestos de un señor se oyeron dentro del departamento, me alerte un poco que hice ruido, me mantuve quieto por mi error con esperanza a que ella no me hubiera escuchado y cuando espíe un poco, pude ver que ella efectivamente miraba a mi dirección, nueva nota sus ojos son marrones oscuros, tenía miedo de que viniera para acá y me descubriera ya que podía escuchar sus pasos acercarse pero otra vez los gritos estallaron.

- Y/N!!!! VEN PARA ACA JOVENCITA!! –

Un suspiro muy fuerte y lleno de fastidio salió de ella y con la misma voz fuerte de ayer respondió a ese gritón

- Ya voy!! Ya voy!, diablos que no sabes hacer otra cosa aparte de gritar?!-

Su nombre, el nombre es Y/N, ese es su nombre, es lindo supongo, otra vez asome mi cabeza y pude ver como con cuidado tomaba a la paloma y la sacaba a volar, recogió su libro y entro por la puerta del techo, azotándola fuertemente fue como me aviso que ella ya no se encontraba, aun podía escuchar ruidos, reconocía su voz pero la del señor ahora era un nuevo misterio y todavía este misterio se agrando más al oír la voz de una mujer en varias ocasiones, serán sus padres? Cuidan de ella? Personas para las que trabaja? Nueva teoría, creo que e descubierto la razón del porque necesita descargar su ira.

En mi regreso a las alcantarillas fui sorprendido por mis hermanos, estaban los tres esperándome en el techo vecino a la entrada a las alcantarillas, esto será entretenido.

- Entonces Donnie, disfrutaste tu salida? –

- Si Leo, gracias por preguntar. –

- Y donde estabas metido que te tuviste que tardar hasta el anochecer? –

Esta vez fue Rafael el que hablo con su tan característico acento sarcástico.

- Solo fue una vuelta, me perdí un poco en el camino, de acuerdo? –

- Amigo tranquilo, Abril y Casey están en las alcantarillas y cuando Abril supo que no estabas se preocupó, veníamos a ver que no estuvieras en problemas –

Mikey se acercó a mí y me abrazo por el hombro no sé si esperaba una respuesta obvia de “En serio?! Abril se preocupó por mí?!” porque sinceramente ya no tenía ni siquiera ganas de pensar en eso, solo sonreí y le di golpes suaves en su caparazón en muestra de que entiendo su preocupación, empecé a bajar las escaleras contra incendio y aun pensaba en la vista de hoy, huh, tal vez le daré una hojeada a el libro de la Bella y la Bestia.

English Version

Everything is quiet in the sewers, April is at school, Mikey must be reading comics, Rafa feeds Spike and from my laboratory I could barely listen to the television tuning into Leo's program, I was still investigating the technology of the Kraang and although this day I did not It was so bad I still had my curiosity set on that girl, what will become of her? Today she also had a horrible day? When I have doubts in my head I cannot complete my work well so I turned off my laptop for a moment and left my laboratory just a quick exit like all the others

- Where are you going Donnie? -

That is the voice of my brother Leo who, even watching television, realized my attempt to surface

- I'm just going to get some fresh air Leo, it won't take long -

- Hhhhmm okay, don't let anyone see you there is still light in the streets -

I went back to my same route to get out and started walking through the sewers, if I am going to continue doing this I should learn an easier route to get to her apartment, who knows maybe I will visit her only a few more times, again this is with curiosity fines! The way she discharges her anger is very peculiar but effective, I must watch her so that her range of discharging her anger does not exceed the limits, who knows maybe she will be our next enemy! Which I hope is not the case. I got to her apartment and it was almost dusk, I couldn't get too close this time because she was already there, I looked carefully and noticed that the floor was clean "I'm sure she clean the glass from the night before." Now she was just there, reading a book lying down, I couldn't see the cover but I could see her face, was she smiling and laughing? Apparently it must be a very good or very funny book for her, her peace was interrupted by a pigeon that just landed on the same roof as her and something close, she did not seem to mind, approaching her hand carefully and caressing the bird, sat cross-legged and Did she just start to tell the dove about her book? ... I mean I do the same with metal head or Timothy, but a pigeon? This girl is strange, if she knew that not only the dove can hear her, I am also there, from the description of the story it seems to be the story of Beauty and the Beast and according to her words it is her favorite story, I also read but I am more of scientific articles and about the latest advances in Robotics, I think it was a long time ago when I read a fantasy story, she began to read the story from the beginning only for her feathered new friend who had also comfortably sat on the roof next to her , everything was going well her voice was soothing and sweet, very different from the loud and loud voice I had heard coming out of her the night before, I closed my eyes for a moment and leaned my head into the water tank from which I could observe her but she Not me.

Even she had not finished reading Chapter 2 of the story and there were loud and annoying screams from a man inside the apartment, they alerted me a little that I made noise, I was silent for my mistake hoping that she had not heard me and when I leaned out a bit, I could see that he was indeed looking in my direction, new note his eyes are dark brown, I was afraid that he would come here and discover me since I could hear his footsteps approaching but again the screams broke out.

- Y / N !!!! COME HERE YOUNG LADY !! -

From her came a very strong and annoying sigh and with the same strong voice from yesterday she responded to those cries.

- I'm going!! I'm going! Hell, can't you do anything but scream? -

Her name, the name is Y / N, that's her name, it's cute I guess, again I poked my head out and could see how she carefully took the pigeon and took it out to fly, took her book and entered through the roof door , by whipping it hard, it was how she warned me that she was gone, I could still hear noises, I recognized her voice but the voice of the man was now a new mystery and this mystery was further aggravated when hearing a woman's voice on several occasions, Are ther her parents? Do they take care of her? People she works for? New theory, I think I've figured out why you need to vent your anger. Upon my return to the sewers I was surprised by my brothers, the three of them were waiting for me on the roof next to the entrance to the sewers, this will be entertaining.

- Donnie, did you enjoy your outing? -

- Yes Leo, thanks for asking. -

- And where were you trapped that you had to wait until dark? -

This time it was Rafael who spoke with his characteristic sarcastic accent. - It was just a lap, I got a little lost on the way, okay? -

- Easy dude, April and Casey are in the sewers and when April found out that you were not there, she got worried, we came to see that you were not in trouble -

Mikey came up to me and hugged me by the shoulder. I don't know if he was expecting an obvious answer of "Really? Does April care about me?" Because honestly, I didn't even want to think about it anymore, I just smiled and patted his shell as a sign that I understood his concern, I started going down the fire escape and still thinking about today's visit.

(I’m so sorry for my bad English)

#donatello x reader #fanfic #tmnt2012 #donatello

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lets-talk-appella · 5 years ago

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Night of the Living Greeks

Pitch Perfect Horror Week Day 1 - Costumes come to life.

Summary: Chloe has a great idea for a group costume-Greek gods and goddesses. Everything is fine, at least, until the costumes come to life. For Horror Week 2019 Day 1 - Costumes come to life.

Word Count: 7.5k

Rating: T

AO3 and FFN

A little cheat sheet:

Zeus - God of the air, uses lightning bolts as weapons. Ruler of the gods and doesn’t let anyone forget it. Cheats on his wife Hera, like, a lot. Poseidon - God of the seas and water. Controls water. Often is annoyed with Zeus. Feuds with Athena a lot because of a whole thing with Ancient Athens. Hades - God of the underworld. Creepy dude. Generally not one of the 12 Olympians and an outcast. Hera - Goddess of marriage. Queen of the gods. Married to Zeus and knows about his infidelity, which is ironic. Athena - Goddess of wisdom and battle strategy. Often takes leadership role. Feuds with Poseidon because of the Athens thing. Artemis - Maiden goddess of the Hunt. Great archer. Apollo - God of poetry, music, and the sun (sort of). Ares - God of war and battle. Tends to be blustering and violent. Aphrodite - Goddess of love. Often meddles in places she isn’t welcome. Demeter - Goddess of agriculture. Her daughter was Persephone. Dionysus - God of wine, parties, theater, and madness/insanity. Often drunk. Hermes - God of trade, messages, and trickery. Hephaestus - God of fire, metalworking, and stone work. Is one of the 12 Olympians, so that’s why he’s on this list, but he isn’t talked about in this fic.

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It started the way these things always start in books and movies: with a curse, a Halloween party, and a writer who doesn’t otherwise know how to start.

More than that, though, it started with a call from Chloe.

“Do you want to come back to Barden for a Halloween party?”

Aubrey blinked, trying to fend off the whiplash Chloe tended to give her. “Hello to you, too.”

“Yeah, hi,” Chloe said in a rush, and Aubrey could picture her impatient wave. “What do you say? Halloween back here?”

Pinching the bridge of her nose in thought, Aubrey rose from the armchair in her lodge and began to pace the floor, glancing out the window to where her camp counselors were coaching the latest Fortune 500 company employees over the tire swings.

“Uh, isn’t it on a week night this year?” Aubrey asked, mentally counting out the few remaining days to Halloween.

Chloe’s sigh made the phone crackle in Aubrey’s ear. “Yeah, but it’s Halloween! You could be a little late to the Lodge the next morning, right? No one would blame you. And you’re the boss, so it’s fine, right?”

“I don’t know…” Aubrey mused slowly. “This is kind of prime time for corporations to rent us out as a horror camp…”

The horror camp had been her idea, and business boomed around Halloween.

“Can’t someone cover for you? Please? Aubrey, it’s been months since you’ve been here.”

Aubrey fought against the smile she could feel threatening to take over. “If by months, you mean three weeks, then—”

“Look, you don’t even need a costume! The Bellas are doing a group one, and I already picked your part out.”

“Do I get to know what the group theme is?”

“It’ll be a surprise,” Chloe said, voice gleeful.

“I… you said on Halloween? As in, Halloween night?” Aubrey asked, pivoting in place as something occurred to her.

“Yeah!”

“Isn’t that the same night as Alpha Gamma Omega Epsilon’s usual party?”

“Oh, is it?” The innocence in Chloe’s voice could not have been more falsified.

“Chloe!” Aubrey hissed through the phone, gripping it more tightly than necessary. “You know how those psycho sorority girls get about their annual Halloween party.”

Alpha Gamma Omega Epsilon had had a monopoly on Barden Halloween parties for as long as anyone could remember. Which was insane, really, because it was Halloween, but that was Barden tradition; no one else dared to host wild parties that night. If they did, the sorority would find some way to either stop it before it started or shut it down within minutes.

Chloe made a noise somewhere between a scoff and a tsk. “They’ll be fine. Besides, it’s my last year, so, really, we’ll never get this chance again… so…”

Even as Chloe trailed off, Aubrey let her head fall back in defeat. She knew perfectly well that the only reason it was Chloe’s last year is because it was also a certain brunette goblin’s last year, but that didn’t change the fact that Chloe was right and they should live for the moment.

“Fine!” she said, cutting off further begging. “I’ll do it.”

“Awes!” Chloe squealed her victory, loudly enough for Aubrey to jerk the phone from her ear. “It’s going to be amazing, I promise.”

Aubrey hummed. “Still, watch out for the sorority sisters. They’re a bunch of bitches, you know.”

As she spoke, a loud voice yelled from the background on Chloe’s line. Aubrey immediately identified the voice as Amy’s, and needed no further explanation.

“Sorry, what’d you say?” Chloe asked once Amy had quieted down.

“I said they’re a bunch of bitches.”

“Oh, for a second I thought you said ‘witches,’” Chloe laughed, but Aubrey’s mood only darkened.

“That too,” she said, returning to her armchair.

Chloe scoffed again. “It’ll be fine! See you on Halloween!”

And without giving Aubrey the chance to argue further, she ended the call.

----------------------------

When Aubrey stepped into the Bella house on Halloween, she wasn’t surprised to stumble directly into Bella chaos. Most of the Bellas were in the sitting room, getting dressed in costume and showering her with a chorus of greetings as soon as she walked in the front door. She was positive that some, if not all, of them had skipped classes that day for the celebration. What did surprise her, though, was the costume choice; each of the Bellas seemed to be dressing in…

“Sheets?” Aubrey asked dumbly, staring. “Uh, what exactly—”

“Happy Halloween!” a familiar voice called, and Aubrey turned almost directly into Chloe’s tackle of an embrace. “I’m so glad you’re here!”

Aubrey returned the hug automatically, trying her best to keep red strands of hair from her mouth; Chloe’s curls seemed much more wild and unruly than usual, and the powerful scent of hairspray that followed half a second later told Aubrey the style was on purpose.

“Happy Halloween!” Aubrey replied as the hug ended and Chloe stepped back. “Um, Chloe, what is all…” Aubrey trailed off, gesturing to the sitting room at large and the flurry of Bellas.

“Costumes!” Chloe chirped, picking up a bundle of the sheet-like garments from the couch and shoving them into Aubrey’s arms. “Here’s yours! We’ve already got everyone figured out, so you’ve got Athena. Not bad, honestly.”

“Oh…” Aubrey said, comprehension dawning slowly as she examined the bundle; what she’d taken to be sheets was actually a Greek-style toga. “Athena? Like, the Greek goddess Athena?”

From across the room, Stacie called out, “She’s doing a theme to piss off the sorority.”

Ignoring the slight flutter of her stomach, Aubrey nodded once. “Ah.”

“That’s not the reason!” Chloe protested, but then almost immediately started to look guilty. “Well… not originally. I was thinking about it already and… well, it’s an added bonus,” she said with a wink.

“Mmm.”

At that moment, Amy extracted herself from the throng of Bellas in the sitting room with a huff, straightening her toga. “Question,” she directed to Chloe, then glanced at Aubrey. “And, yeah, hey, um… Aubrey?”

“Yes?” Aubrey asked, expecting a question.

Instead, the confusion on Amy’s face cleared instantly. “Great, just checking. Aubrey. Got it this time.”

“Uh—”

“I do actually get wine with this, right?” Amy continued, turning back to Chloe. “Because I’m the lord of wine, so I feel like that should be included. For authenticity purposes,” she added, her voice half an octave higher than usual.

Chloe winced delicately. “Dionysus is the god of wine, winemaking, grapes, theater, madness, and—”

Amy’s eyebrows lifted. “Sooooo is there a Chardonnay or something I could—”

“Fridge,” Chloe sighed, waving vaguely toward the kitchen.

“Authenticity, right?” Amy repeated, already making a beeline for the kitchen.

Chloe sighed again, but before she could say anything, Cynthia Rose’s voice called out “Has anyone seen my lightning bolt?”

Aubrey looked to where Cynthia Rose stood in the middle of the sitting room, scanning the floor for something. She wore a toga like everyone else, but was set apart from the others by a gold circlet resting atop her head.

“Lightning bolt?” Aubrey asked slowly. “So she’s…”

Chloe beamed at her, apparently pleased she was catching on. “Oh, yeah, she wanted to be—”

“I’m Zeus,” Cynthia Rose declared loudly. “King of all you aca-bitches.”

Aubrey stared in disbelief until a movement from the corner of her eye startled her and she gasped; what she’d originally taken as a lump of black fabric on the couch rose, and Lilly’s face loomed into view under the dark hood of her costume.

“Oh, sorry,” Chloe said softly, following Aubrey’s gaze. “Lilly’s been pretty into—”

“Chloe, I really don’t think this is my style,” another voice—the complaining tone of which made Aubrey smile in recognition—said, and Aubrey looked past Chloe to see Beca descending the staircase. She was in costume, holding a blue plastic trident that was about as tall as she was, with her hair in braided with blue streaks that perfectly matched the color of her eyes. Aubrey instantly knew why Chloe had chosen that particular Greek god for Beca; sure enough, when Aubrey glanced over, Chloe was staring at Beca very unsubtly.

Aubrey cleared her throat.

Chloe jumped back to life. “What are you talking about?” she asked. “Poseidon is so you.”

Beca rolled her eyes, reaching the ground floor. “Aubrey,” she deadpanned by way of greeting.

“Beca,” Aubrey replied just as stiffly, not missing the little smile Beca gave her, the only crack in their cold exchange. Aubrey returned it; she was happy to see Beca, too.

Beca looked back at Chloe, her eyebrows drawing together. “Chlo, I don’t even really like water, or swimming, or the ocean, or—”

“But your eyes are so blue,” Chloe interrupted, then looked horrified with herself.

Beca’s mouth opened, then closed. She blinked several times rapidly and muttered, “Have you seen your eyes?”

Chloe’s cheeks reddened, though she looked pleased.

Aubrey shifted in place, pointedly clearing her throat once again. She didn’t know how the other Bellas survived if it was like this all the time, because honestly.

“Oh, uh, um,” Beca stammered, her own blush forming as she seemed to remember Aubrey’s presence. “Who are you gonna be, then? Chloe kind of assigned—”

“She’s Athena,” Chloe interrupted, surveying Aubrey with a kind of satisfaction. “She’s perfect for it.”

“Athena, yep,” Aubrey nodded. “The, um… wisdom goddess?” It had been a while since she’d taken any kind of mythology class.

“Wisdom and battle strategy,” Chloe clarified.

Aubrey wondered why Chloe knew so much about all this.

“Right,” she said. “So who exactly is…everyone?” she asked, gesturing broadly to the sitting room at large, where the rest of the Bellas continued to ready their costumes.

“Totes!” Chloe actually clapped her hands together in excitement. Beside her, Beca gave Aubrey a look of the deepest sympathy. “Ok, Beca is Poseidon, god of the sea. Lilly is Hades, god of the underworld.” Chloe leaned in conspiratorially, and Aubrey mirrored her unconsciously. “Hades isn’t technically one of the twelve Olympians, but it was him or Hephaestus, and she really, really wanted to be Hades. It’s Lilly. And, um, Cynthia Rose is Zeus, god of the skies and technically the one in charge of the rest. Um, then…”

Chloe craned her neck, pointing out more of the individual costumes. “Over there, Jessica—I think that’s Jessica—is Demeter, who is all about agriculture. Then Ashley—or, maybe Jessica—is Artemis, goddess of the hunt. Flo—”

“The hunt?” Aubrey asked, confused. Behind Chloe, Beca just shrugged.

“Think archery and running,” Chloe clarified.

“Gotcha.” That explained Ashely’s cheap fake bow and arrow props.

“So anyway, Flo is Hera, goddess of marriage. And she’s also married to Zeus, even though he cheats on her a lot. Amy, as you know, is Dionysus, Emily is Aries, god of war, and—”

An arm wound itself over Aubrey’s shoulders at the same time a familiar perfume filled her nose. “And I’m Aphrodite, goddess of love,” Stacie said, close enough to Aubrey’s ear that it made her shiver. “So if you need anything love-related, let me know,” she added with a wink before strutting back into the sitting room to join the others.

Aubrey blinked, voice lost somewhere in the depths of her chest. It wasn’t until she felt Beca’s smirk and an unusual warmth in her cheeks that she regained any sort of brain power. With Herculean effort, she managed, “Um, did you say Emily is the god of…”

“War, yeah,” Chloe answered nonchalantly. “She’s actually taking to it really well.”

In the sitting room, Emily waved around a plastic sword, pretending to slice and dice Flo, who was doing a great job of ignoring her.

“Maybe a little too well,” mused Beca, watching her.

Aubrey was about to agree when Amy wandered past, arms full with a bottle of wine and a second bottle of something that looked suspiciously like tequila.

“Amy, that’s not wine,” Chloe said, her tone sharp. “What happened to authenticity, exactly?”

“Umm. Ummmmm.” Amy’s eyes darted between the three of them. “Well, you know. Um, I’m also god of madness, and tequila is basically the same thing?”

Chloe closed her eyes. “Fine.”

Aubrey almost felt bad for her. Almost. “And you are?” she asked, giving Amy the chance to make her escape and bringing Chloe’s mood back up.

“Oh! I’m Apollo,” Chloe smiled. “The god of the sun, music, and poetry.”

Beca’s face twitched, struggling to hold back a smile.

Aubrey nodded, fighting against her own amusement. “I could see that.” The role fit Chloe perfectly. She did a quick mental count, trying to pair each of the Bellas with an Olympian. “But doesn’t that leave—”

“Chloe, what does the messenger god actually do?”

Aubrey’s heart sank at the impassive mask that came over Chloe’s face; Jesse thumped down the stairs, looking fairly ridiculous in his own costume. He was holding a long staff with what looked like little fake snakes winding around it. It reminded Aubrey of something she’d seen on ambulances or associated with doctors, but it wasn’t exactly the same design.

“Deliver messages?” Beca answered Jesse’s question with a single raised eyebrow.

“Hermes?” Aubrey asked as Jesse reaches them, wrapping his arm around Beca’s waist.

Chloe nodded, not looking entirely pleased as she tore her eyes from Beca’s direction to meet Aubrey’s. “We needed a twelfth, and Beca said Jesse could do it.”

“The Trebles didn’t have their own group costume?”

Jesse shook his head, the standard boyish grin in place. “Guys don’t really do that. Besides, Benji really, really just wanted to be Houdini again, so our hands were tied.”

“Such fragile masculinity,” Beca said sardonically, patting Jesse’s stomach and pulling him closer.

Chloe shifted next to Aubrey.

Jesse puffed out his chest in indignation. “Hey, I wanted a movie theme, but—”

A loud thud echoed against the front door, cutting Jesse off and startling everyone; Aubrey spun, staring at the door with sudden trepidation.

“What was that?” Flo asked.

“Was it a bird again?” Amy muttered.

“Poor little guy,” Emily said softly.

Once again, movement from the corner of her eye caught Aubrey’s attention; she looked over in time to see Lilly pulling out a fork from nowhere. She shuddered.

“I’ll look,” Jesse volunteered, and, taking his arm from around Beca, moved over to the door and glanced through the peephole before opening it slowly.

Around Aubrey, the Bellas had fallen quiet.

Jesse opened the door wider, then made a small sound of surprise.

“What is it?” Chloe asked sharply, her tone suddenly tense.

“Well, uh…” Jesse trailed off and stooped for a moment, reaching for something outside. He picked up whatever it was, rose and closed the door, bringing it inside. Chloe’s breath caught audibly when they realized what it was: a brick with a note tied around it.

“What the…”

“Oh shit, that could’ve taken out a window,” Beca said. “We got lucky.”

“Um, here,” Jesse said, untying the note and handing it to Chloe. “I think it might be for you.”

Eyebrows drawn together, Chloe took the note and unfolded it, her expression darkening as she read what it said.

“What is it?” Aubrey heard herself ask. Around them, the Bellas drew closer, all trying to get a closer look.

As soon as she sees the words—letters cut out of a magazine and pasted on the paper—Aubrey’s stomach dropped.

Chloe read the message out loud, her voice tight. “‘You should have moved your party. Now you’ll feel our curse.’”

It was signed “Alpha Gamma Omega Epsilon.”

Amy spoke first. “Why do people keep signing hate mail they write with magazine letters?”

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“Okay, you can look,” Aubrey said, examining her reflection in Chloe’s floor-length mirror.

Behind her, Chloe opened her eyes, the mirror displaying her every reaction. “Aubrey!” she said happily, entire face lighting up. “You make a great Athena!

Aubrey readjusted her toga for maybe the eleventh time even as she double-checked her braids. “I don’t think Athena was blonde, but it’ll work.”

Chloe shrugged with indifference. “None of us really fit the profile of Ancient Greek gods and goddesses, so it’ll be fine.”

Before she could stop herself, Aubrey fired back, “Well, none of us except for Beca’s eyes, right?”

In response, Chloe gave a wry smile. “Stacie seems to have missed you,” she said, and Aubrey pursed her lips.

“Are you really okay with Jesse being here?” she asked. It was a deflection, and they both knew it, but it worked.

Chloe’s smile faded and sunlight seemed to leave the room. “It’s... fine,” she sighed. “We did need twelve, so, I guess.”

A twinge of sympathy shot through Aubrey’s chest. “The numbers work out, so focus on that. Strategy for the overall plan, right? Great group costumes? Make the sorority mad?”

“Right,” Chloe said, seeming to steel herself. “It’s fine. And forget the sorority, they’re not my priority.”

“Even though they’re throwing bricks at the house?”

“A cheap scare tactic. It won’t work.”

“If you say so.”

“I do,” Chloe said firmly, setting her shoulders. “Now, where did I put your owl? Some guests should be getting here soon, we should be totally ready.”

As soon as the stuffed owl Chloe had bought Aubrey as a prop—”Owls are the most famous symbol of wisdom! You have to have one!”—was located and secured safely in Aubrey’s arms, Chloe declared her party-ready.

“Okay, now all we have to do is go downstairs and—”

A huge boom sounded from the floor below, shaking the house and making Aubrey stumble. Screams followed, tearing through her like a knife; she met Chloe’s eyes, which were filled with alarm that Aubrey was sure was mirrored in her own.

Without a word, they seemed to reach the same conclusion.

Chloe strode to her door and flung it open, and they raced down the steps to find the source of the noise.

They stopped at the foot of the stairs, staring into the sitting room where the rest of the Bellas were gathered. Every one of them stood staring at a blackened, slightly smoldering spot on one of the walls. The air around Aubrey felt dry, crackling almost, and the room smelled like ozone.

“What happened?” Chloe gasped into the stunned silence.

Aubrey did a quick survey of the Bellas, doing a headcount: Stacie and Cynthia Rose were inspecting the wall, Amy had opened the bottle of wine and was drinking directly from it, Flo was glaring at something but looked unhurt, Ashley and Jessica were accounted for (though for some reason Jessica was holding what looked like a container of oats with Stacie’s name written in Sharpie on the outside and Ashley held a real bow and set of arrows).

Aubrey did a double-take, certain that Ashley’s Artemis weapons had been fake earlier.

“What in the world—”

“It’s a curse!” Emily burst out suddenly, hands balled into fists at her side. “The sorority put a curse on us!”

“Curses aren’t real,” Aubrey said slowly, shocked at Emily’s uncharacteristic anger.

“Yeah, that’s crazy, right?” Beca’s voice floated in from the kitchen, where she stood leaning against the sink and sipping from a plastic cup of water. “Just, like, chill.”

“Then what just happened with my lightning?” Cynthia Rose asked loudly, gesturing to the wall.

“Your… what?” Chloe asked slowly, expression filled with confusion.

“My lighting!” Cynthia Rose repeated, becoming agitated. “It got all hot and sizzly and then blew into that wall!”

“I… but wasn’t it just tin foil?”

“I thought so, but it was—it was like it became real!” Cynthia Rose exclaimed, and Stacie nodded.

“It’s true,” she said. “It started glowing, and it… well. You can see the wall.”

Flo stepped closer to Cynthia Rose, her eyes flicking between her and Stacie in what Aubrey would guess was suspicion.

“But that’s not possible…” Chloe said quietly, looking more confused than ever.

A chill ran down Aubrey’s spine and she shivered, instinctively glancing to the corners of the room. There, the cloud of darkness that was Lilly in her Hades costume was creepier than ever, seeming to emanate a strange chill. Aubrey noticed that the rest of the Bellas seemed to be giving her a wide berth, as if they also sensed something off.

Aubrey dragged her attention back to the char mark—lightning strike?—on the wall, only for her stomach to flip and roll when she met Stacie’s eyes.

Stacie was positively staring, gazing at Aubrey as though she was trying to memorize her.

“Um, what—”

A loud screech echoed around Aubrey’s mind, scaring her half to death. The stuffed owl in her arms suddenly became much heavier and started to shift. Aubrey wondered if she was about to drop it, until, with another shifting weight, a live owl threw itself from her with another angry screech as it unfurled its wings and started to fly around the sitting room.

Several of the Bellas started screaming again, ducking and covering their heads. Emily started jumping up and down, waving her hands as if trying to catch the owl as it flew madly around them. Aubrey pulled Chloe out of the way as the owl circled back, confused in the confined space. Through the chaos, Aubrey glimpsed Ashley nocking an arrow into her bow and pulling the string back to fire—

The sound of shattering glass filled the room, and cool air rushed in from outside through the newly broken window. The owl immediately changed its flight path and made for the escape route that Ashley had created with her fired arrow. Within another second, the owl made its exit, soaring through the broken window pane with ease and off into the evening sky.

Silence fell.

Aubrey stared uncomprehendingly at her empty hands, brain refusing to connect the stuffed owl—a toy—Chloe had given her with the live owl that had just flown out the window.

“How…”

“You saw that, right?” Cynthia Rose asked sharply. “You all saw that?”

“Yeah, I… and the lightning…” Jessica murmured.

Chloe stared at nothing.

A horrible idea struck Aubrey then, one that sent her stomach rolling yet again with molten anxiety. “Beca,” she started, “do you want to go surfing?”

“I’d love to!” Beca answered immediately, then paused. “Um,” she frowned. “I’ve never been surfing, but that sounds awesome.”

Aubrey took one deep breath, then another. “I think… I think we are becoming our costumes. Like our costumes are coming to life.”

Chloe’s eyes snapped around to meet hers. “Costumes don’t do that! Curses are not real, okay? It’s ridiculous.”

Aubrey hesitated. “You do realize that was a haiku, right? Poetry god?”

Chloe blinked in shock, the reality of the situation apparently hitting her.

“Listen,” Emily said angrily, beginning to pace, “if it is this stupid curse, let’s just go to the sorority house and beat a solution out of them!”

“Woah, there, we need to think, we need to plan—”

Stacie interrupted, plopping herself down on the couch, “Yeah, why fight when we can love?”

Jessica shook the container of Stacie’s oats in her hands, the sound getting everyone’s attention. “All this negative energy is clouding the atmosphere,” she scolded. “We should really have more air-cleansing plants in this room, guys.”

“Focus!” Aubrey exclaimed, hands flying to her temples.

“You’re so shrill, Aubrey,” Amy protested, emerging from the kitchen with a bunch of grapes. Aubrey hadn’t seen her leave the sitting room. “It’s giving me a headache.”

Beca made a disapproving noise. “Yeah, okay, while you guys do whatever, I think I’m gonna go for a swim.”

Aubrey rounded on Chloe, desperate for someone to have sense. “We have to cancel the party.”

“What? Noooooo,” Amy drew out, alternating taking sips of wine with popping grapes into her mouth.

Chloe held up her hands in a placating gesture. “Aubrey, I know it looks bad, but let’s not jump the gun. I think, you know, it could still be really fun.”

“Are you insane?” Aubrey argued, stunned at the reaction. “Chloe, if more people come in more costumes, they might turn into their costumes, too! Do we really need actual werewolves and—and real slutty nurses running around?”

“Yes,” Stacie and Cynthia Rose said simultaneously.

Flo snorted in annoyance. “For someone who is supposedly married to the goddess of marriage—”

“The costumes could be worse, right?” Ashley said. “At least none of us were in hideous monster masks or anything.”

“Well, Legacy still turned out looking like—” Amy began meanly, but Aubrey had heard enough.

“We need to cancel the party, Chloe,” Aubrey insisted again, more firmly.

Ashley plucked aimlessly at her bowstring, making it vibrate. “They’re picking us off like this. If we have more people here, who knows what might happen.”

Chloe hesitated, but eventually gave a single, glum looking nod that seemed to darken the entire house.

“I’ll make the calls!” Jesse volunteered, jumping up from the couch and surprising Aubrey. She’d forgotten he was even there, quiet has he had been. “Guest list?” he asked Chloe.

“Eager beaver.” Beca muttered darkly from the kitchen, but Jesse didn’t seem to hear.

Stacie and Flo watched the interaction closely, their eyes flicking between Jesse and Beca as if they were engaged in a tennis match.

“Here, just use the list in my phone,” Chloe agreed, unlocking it and handing it over. “And, Jesse, don’t go anywhere alone!” she added abruptly.

“I’ll go with,” Jessica volunteered, moving to stand beside Jesse. “I need to do a pantry check for cereal anyway.”

Another silence fell as everyone stared at her.

Beca took a sip of water.

“Okay, so, how do we fix this?” Ashley eventually asked, breaking the spell as Jesse and Jessica went into the kitchen together. The question was directed at Aubrey, but before she could say anything, Cynthia Rose cleared her throat.

“Woah woah, why are you asking her?” she asked indignantly. “I’m the ruler of this whole thing.”

“Calm down, Zappy,” Beca said sharply. “Though, yeah, I really don’t like Aubrey being in charge right now either.”

“What?” Aubrey gaped. “Beca, Athena is the goddess of strategy. It makes sense for me to plan.”

“More like the god of talking too much,” Beca quipped.

Even as Aubrey tried to contain her sudden annoyance, Stacie half-rose from the couch and glared at Beca. “Hey, just because you and Chloe aren’t—”

“Why don’t we just… go with the flow?” Beca interrupted, her eyes flicking quickly in Chloe’s direction and then away again.

“Flowing wine, what?” Amy perked up immediately.

Emily growled in frustration, running a hand through her hair. “Why can’t we just storm in there and start punching?”

“We don’t even know if we have powers!” Aubrey protested. “Don’t you see, we have no idea what we can even—”

A weird rushing noise filled her ears, and the next thing she knew, she was somehow absolutely drenched with water that had seemed to come out of nowhere. She sputtered, disoriented and gasping.

“Looks like we do have powers,” Beca said, and Aubrey whirled to see her smirk.

Anger coiled in Aubrey’s chest, though she knew she was being unreasonable. “Beca, I swear—”

“Don’t fight!” Chloe said quickly. “It’s only making it worse! We need to work together to break the curse.”

Beca’s eyes flicked in her direction and her expression softened. “Fine,” she muttered and, with a wave of her hand in Aubrey’s direction, Aubrey was miraculously completely dry again.

“Okay,” she managed, attempting to control her impatience. “So it seems like we have powers, but what about the physical form? I mean—okay, Emily, you might want to punch people but I bet you’re limited by your body.”

“What?” Emily looked at her blankly.

“Try doing something strong,” Aubrey suggested. “See what happens.”

“Alright then,” Emily said grimly, and strode toward the nearest wall, fist raised and ready to punch it.

“Woah there!” Flo said quickly, and together she and Cynthia Rose were able to haul Emily back from the wall. “We don’t need any more wall damage! We need the security deposit when we move out.”

“But—”

“I meant, like, lift something heavy,” Aubrey said quickly, diffusing the situation.

“Oh. Um, sure.” Emily strode over to the couch that Stacie still sprawled on. She kneeled down, slid her hands under it and tried to lift it; nothing happened besides a fair amount of strain and mumbled curses, and a moment later, Emily stopped trying with a huff. “Stupid couch.”

“That’s what I thought,” Aubrey murmured, a grim determination filling her. “We can’t rely on strength because we’re still us with our regular bodies. We need wits.”

“And our powers,” Beca mumbled audibly. “Just saying.”

“We don’t all have magic water-bending,” Flo snapped.

“Yeah, I really think we should get to know the sorority girls before attacking,” Stacie suggested. “If we know how they love, we can take them down.”

Cynthia Rose wiggled her eyebrows. “I like that plan.”

Flo scoffed angrily, but before she could start yelling, a paper airplane soared through the air and knocked directly into Chloe’s temple.

“Ouch! What’s this? Were you trying to miss?” she asked, holding up the paper airplane and glaring in the direction it came from.

“Nope,” Jesse said, returning from the kitchen with Jessica, who now carries Amy’s Shredded Wheat along with Stacie’s oats. “It’s a message, letting you know that everyone on your list has been texted or called, and the party is officially off.”

“Miss anything?” Jessica asked, returning to her place next to Ashley, who laughed a little.

“Nope,” she said, “just the usual fighting. Kind of like there are only three main characters here.”

“Great.”

“Right!” Aubrey jumped in, clasping her hands together as she tried to think of a plan. “Okay, what we’re gonna do is, um… think Trojan Horse?” she asked the room.

Stacie leaned forward, interested: “I haven’t tried that variety before, is it any good?”

Aubrey cringed. “Ignoring that. So, basically, we—”

Amy raised her hand. “By saying ‘ignoring that,’ you’re not really ignoring it, are you?”

“Basically,” Aubrey plowed on, very intentionally avoiding eye contact with Stacie or Chloe. “We make it look like we’re sending them a peace offering, maybe, like—”

“Doves in a box?” Flo suggested.

“Um, something like that,” Aubrey replied. “I was thinking more—”

“Wine box,” Amy said.

“Mailbox,” Jesse added.

“We can think about that later!” Aubrey cut them off, feeling a headache starting to form behind her eyes. “The point is, we set up a gift of some kind and then infiltrate the sorority house.”

“And then we pulverize them! Yes!” Emily cheered, pounding a fist into her palm. “Excellent.”

Aubrey tried to backtrack. “Or we just have a diplomatic meeting—”

“I want to add to my collection,” Lilly rasped from the corner, making nearly everyone jump. Jessica, who was closest to her, moved several inches away.

“You guys,” Chloe cut in abruptly. “Beca’s missing! Do you think she and Jesse are—”

“I’m right here!” Jesse said, and for some reason, Stacie and Flo glared at him venomously.

“Unfortunately,” Stacie mumbled.

Jesse tilted his head, “What? Didn’t catch that.”

Without missing a beat, Stacie answered, “She can’t find Beca.”

Aubrey glanced to where Beca had been leaning against the counter. Her empty cup was set down, but she was nowhere to be found.

“Maybe the sorority got her?” Cynthia Rose suggested fearfully.

The room seemed to darken.

Ashley stepped forward, shouldering her bow. “No, they didn’t. I’d have noticed if they were after her.”

Aubrey stared at her, confused.

“Um, hunting, remember?” Ashley said. “I know these things.”

“Oooo-kay,” Emily said, drawing out the vowel.

“She’s probably swimming,” Amy slurred from the couch. The bottle of wine next to her was empty, and she’d started on the tequila.

“What?” Aubrey asked, confused.

“Well she said she wanted to go about five times. You guys suck at listening,” Amy pointed out. “She’s probably just in the Treble Pool.”

Some of the light returned to the room, renewing Aubrey’s hope. “I bet she went to swim on a whim!” Chloe exclaimed happily.

Aubrey straightened her spine. “We have to go get her and tell her about the plan. You guys do agree to the plan?”

Emily winced. “Well—”

Flo waved her off. “Yes, already, goddess of strategy, stop asking. Let’s go.”

Aubrey led the march out of the Bella house and across the yard, aiming for the bushes that separated their house from the Treble’s. She could hear the heavy bass from the sorority party just down the block, and was certain that if she looked in that direction, she’d see the glow of the party lights hanging above the house like a fog.

Stacie walked next to her, staying closer than probably necessary. Aubrey didn’t mind, though, not when Stacie’s Aphrodite powers somehow made Stacie’s presence even warmer and more welcoming than usual.

“You know,” Stacie said quietly, “I’m not sure why the sorority girls even care if we had a Halloween party. We have different friends anyway, so it isn’t like we’d steal their guests.”

It wasn’t what Aubrey was expecting her to say, and she tried to hide her disappointment while she started picking her way through the bushes separating the properties.

“No idea,” she said. “Maybe just a pride thing.”

Stacie hummed thoughtfully, but didn’t say anything else.

When they’d finally pushed through the foliage and spilled out into the Treble yard, Aubrey caught sight of Beca immediately. She was floating on her back in the pool, fully clothed, as currents pushed her along slowly in some sort of lazy river that Aubrey was sure had to be of Beca’s own design.

“Oh hey, guys, jump in,” Beca said, picking up her head to look at the group. “I bet I can make a wave pool.”

“Do you know how bad pool chlorine is for local plants?” Jessica asked.

Aubrey clicked her tongue impatiently. “Beca, get out of the water.”

“What for, brainiac?”

Cynthia Rose leaned in. “How about you get out of the pool before I electrocute it with lightning?”

Beca raised an eyebrow. “Would you do that?”

“I can try.”

“Neat,” Beca said, sounding bored, but the currents carried her to the edge of the pool. She sat up, resting on top of the water rather than sinking in, and stepped out casually. Her clothes and hair remained perfectly dry. “This water thing is so cool,” she grinned. “Why exactly do you want to change back?”

“Because Emily wants to murder people, Lilly is scarier than usual, Jessica has pack-bonded with whole grain, and Chloe can’t stop rhyming,” Aubrey reeled off.

“I can stop!...Pop,” Chloe said sadly.

Beca pinched the bridge of her nose. “Fine. I assume you aca-nerds came up with a plan?”

Amy swayed on the spot. “We’re gonna Trojan Horse it. Classy stuff,” she slurred, hiccupping.

Beca stared. “You’re kidding,” she deadpanned.

A paper plane cut through the air, hitting Beca directly on the forehead. Growling, she unfolded it and read out loud, “‘Nope. Trojan Horse.’ Really?” she glared at Jesse. “You had to send this?”

Jesse winced. “Message received,” he said sadly.

“Listen, Aubrey,” Beca began, her tone tight and controlled. “Trojan Horse worked back then, but it’s tired.”

Aubrey shook her head. “No. It’s the best strategy.”

“That strategy isn’t even from this millennium! Can’t we come up with something new and original?”

Chloe ran a hand through her hair. “Aubrey, maybe Beca’s right. There might be a better way to fight,” she suggested.

“Yeah, like using our fists!” Emily said.

“Or our powers,” Cynthia Rose cut in, sounding impatient. “I could try feeding them rocks or something. Or blasting them with more lightning.”

“I can summon an army from the dead,” Lilly murmured.

“I can set booby-traps?” Jesse suggested.

“I can make them drunk,” Amy said, stumbling over nothing and nearly toppling into the pool.

Aubrey lifted her hands, cutting them all off. “Woah, okay, hang on, let me think,” she said. “I can come up with something.”

The seconds dragged by as Aubrey struggled to come up with any alternative plan. Her mind felt cluttered, filled with too many potential plans and strategies, and her thoughts raced around and around, until they became more like the owl flying aimlessly inside the house than like anything remotely resembling a plan.

While she struggled to think of anything, Ashley fired an arrow through a birdhouse, using it as target practice.

After a long moment during which Aubrey had come up with nothing better than their current options, Chloe stepped forward and brushed her fingers lightly along Aubrey’s arm. “You know, Aubrey,” she said quietly, “part of being wise is knowing when to use your team. And if I don’t stop rhyming, I’m going to scream.”

Aubrey took a deep breath, expelling it through her nose slowly. “Alright. Let’s do this. Bellas, huddle! And Beca?”

“Yeah?”

“Get in here. Let’s plan.”

--------------------------------

“Just so you know, Jesse and Beca aren’t meant for marriage.”

Aubrey almost fell from her perch in the tree.

“What?”

“It’s true,” Stacie echoed Flo’s sentiments with authority. “No chemistry there. Make your move, Ginger,” she said, glancing up at Chloe, who was on a higher branch concealed in the tree.

“I have no idea what you mean, jelly bean,” Chloe insisted with as much dignity as she could muster. Which was not much.

“I can’t wait until her curse wears off, good lord,” Jessica muttered, snacking on the Shredded Wheat.

“I know these things,” Flo said imperiously, twisting around on her own branch to look at Chloe. “Goddess of marriage. It’s not gonna happen.”

“And as the goddess of love, I gotta say, Chloe and Beca really—”

“Look who’s talking,” Flo muttered.

“Shh!” Aubrey cut everyone off, her phone having conveniently chosen that moment to beep with a notification. “Text from Jesse,” she said, and the others fell quiet.

They’d collectively decided that if they were going to use their newly-acquired Greek powers, only a few of the Bellas would actually be heading the attack on the sorority. Because Beca, Cynthia Rose, Amy, and Lilly all had the most active powers, they had decided to enter the building. Emily and Ashley had also gone in to act as the muscle. That left Aubrey, Chloe, Flo, Stacie, and Jessica keeping surveillance from within a tree (Ashley’s idea) because it allowed them to watch the sorority house while remaining hidden. Jesse, then, had taken a strategic position in between the two groups so that he could act as messenger and pass along news to either group. Thankfully, he’d exchanged his paper planes for texting.

“‘Friendlies have entered the building. Hold your position,’” Aubrey read out loud to the others, internally approving of Jesse’s insistence on using militaristic language. Her father would be proud. “Okay, this is it. Time to see what happens.”

Another text followed shortly after, reading simply, “Phase 1.”

“It’s starting,” Aubrey said to the others just in time for the first roll of thunder to reach their ears. The plan was for Cynthia Rose and Beca to work together and use their godly powers to create a storm inside the sorority house, disrupting the party with a slew of thunder, lightning, rain, and wind.

The thunder continued, building to a constant roll that shook the very tree branch beneath Aubrey. Under the noise of that, though, came the distinct sound of many voices whooping and cheering.

Aubrey turned to Chloe, confused. “Are they… celebrating?”

“Probably think it’s part of the show for the party,” Stacie mumbled, sounding irritated.

Sure enough, another text from Jesse arrived: “Moving to Phase 2.”

Aubrey shuddered; they’d been hoping that a little indoor storm would be enough to get the sorority sisters to reverse the curse, but apparently not. That’s why they’d sent in Lilly.

Seconds later, the cheers turned to screams of pure terror.

“Holy shit,” Jessica breathed, and Flo crossed herself; Aubrey privately agreed. She wouldn’t even imagine what the inside of that house would look like with Lilly raising her dead army inside it.

Aubrey expected to feel it at any second—the lift of the curse, which would rid the Bellas of their powers as soon as the sorority witches crumpled under the onslaught, but nothing happened. She exchanged another look with Chloe, full of grim uncertainty, when something almost imperceptible changed in the air, the smallest shockwave traveling through her chest.

Then the sound from the sorority party crescendoed, a rising cacophony of screams now mingled with an unnatural laughter that sent unease firing down Aubrey’s spine, interwoven with garbled shouting and rising music, thudding with heavy bass and erratic electric threads that grated against the inside of Aubrey’s skull, pressing outward from within so that it felt like there was something trying to escape from within Aubrey’s own mind, and no matter how tightly she pressed her hands against her ears, the terrible sounds fed off one another and grew until—snap!

Silence.

Aubrey’s hands fell from her ears. She looked at each of the Bellas in the tree with her, their expressions mirroring the blatant confusion and fear she felt.

Whatever that was, it hadn’t been part of their original plan.

Aubrey’s phone chimed. “Phase... 3???” Jesse had sent, apparently as uncertain as they all were.

“What happened?” Stacie breathed, but Aubrey just shook her head.

“No idea,” she said, but then something changed inside her chest.

It was like an object inside her had fallen away, leaving her empty and confused. She felt different, suddenly uncertain about their plan or any sort of strategy. The sunshine around them dimmed, and Aubrey caught Jessica staring at the oats and cereal in her hands in confusion.

“I think—”

“Did it work?” Chloe asked. “Is it over?”

“You didn’t rhyme,” Aubrey pointed out, growing excited. “Flo! What are the odds of Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds staying together forever?”

“Hmm?” Flo looked over skeptically. “They’re fine, but celebrity marriages, you never know.”

“Chloe, say something else.”

“Like what? Just anything?”

“I hate Shredded Wheat,” Jessica mumbled, still staring at the box in her hands.

“I think we’re good!” Aubrey exclaimed happily. “Ladies, we can get out of this tree now.”

They slid off their respective branches, climbing down carefully. At one point, a branch snarled itself in Aubrey’s hair and she had to work to free herself, but eventually, her feet touched the grass and she breathed a sigh of relief.

“But I don’t feel different?” Stacie said once they were all on the ground. She patted herself up and down, spending far too much time adjusting her boobs.

“That’s probably okay,” Chloe said with a grin, her eyes flashing to Aubrey.

The sound of pounding footsteps rushing toward them made Aubrey turn; Jesse sprinted toward them, panting and out of breath.

“Hey!” he managed between gasps for air. “I don’t know what happened over there. Things got really…”

“Weird?” Aubrey suggested.

“Yeah. I think I’m back to normal, though,” Jesse added, also patting himself down for whatever reason. “No more urges to send messages.”

“We’re good here, too,” Aubrey said with a glance at the others.

“Nice! So that means—”

“No more curse, aca-bitches!” Amy’s loud voice startled everyone as she reappeared at the end of their driveway. “I saved the day!”

Behind her, Beca, Cynthia Rose, Lilly, Emily, and Ashley all straggled into the Bella yard. They looked a little worse for wear, and Aubrey noticed that they all seemed to eye Amy wearily. Even Lilly was sure to keep her distance.

“You’re okay!” Chloe said in relief, rushing toward Beca. At the last minute, she performed a weird little jerking motion, as if stopping herself from flinging her arms around Beca’s neck.

“Yeah, no, we’re good,” Beca muttered, talking mostly to Chloe. “The curse they put on us is broken.”

“Those bleach-blondes won’t be bothering us anymore. Crushed it,” Amy said proudly.

Aubrey stared. “What happened?”

“Uh…” Beca hesitated.

“Yeah?”

“Well,” she began, eyes again flicking to Amy. “Cynthia Rose and I made a little hurricane. I made the sinks burst and then made it rain, and Cynthia Rose made it lighting and get stormy, but everyone there thought it was a theme thing.”

“Cool theme, though,” Emily added. “And yeah, that wasn’t working, so then Lilly summoned, like… dead people. Lots and lots of dead people,” she shivered, looking uncomfortable. Aubrey hoped she wasn’t going to have nightmares. “Ashley and I rounded up as many of the sorority girls as we could. They knew what we wanted, but kept laughing at us, even though their guests were seriously scared.”

“So how…?” Aubrey asked, still confused.

Each of the Bellas shifted uncomfortably. Finally, Beca spoke up. “Amy,” she said with finality and a little awe. “It was Amy.”

Amy bowed grandly. “Thank you, thank you, hold the applause. Actually, no, just applaud.”

“What did she do?” Stacie asked.

“She… broke them,” Ashley answered slowly.

Aubrey blinked.

“God of wine and madness, remember? Insanity?” Amy reminded them. “I just made everyone go on a little trip. Laughing at nothing, talking to walls, running in circles, dancing on tables. Even made a few do mermaid dancing, thank you.”

“It was scary,” Emily admitted.

Aubrey recalled the wall of noise that had hit her in the tree and made her cover her ears. She winced, unable to imagine what the snapping of all those minds must have been like to witness up close.

“And then the sorority girls got scared and agreed to end the curse,” Beca finished the story. “When they saw what Amy could do, well… they ended it, and everyone went back to normal. I think their guests left, though.”

“Just like that?” Aubrey asked.

“Well, they should have thought before cursing us with godly powers,” Amy said proudly. “Should have checked to see what our costumes were before making them come to life.”

Aubrey had to hand it to Amy; she was impressed. With all of them, really.

“So…” Chloe hedged. “Party back on?”

Aubrey hesitated. “Chloe, I don’t think—”

“Hell yeah!” Beca interrupted.

“Let’s do it!” Amy agreed.

Jesse plucked Chloe’s phone from her hands. “Already back on alerting the guest list.”

Aubrey shook her head, laughing as she recognized defeat. “Fine!” she said, throwing her hands into the air and accidently catching Stacie’s eye. Stacie winked, and once again, Aubrey’s chest fluttered.

What a weird way to spend Halloween. But there was nowhere she’d rather be.

#pitch perfect horror week 2019 #HW191 #bechloe #staubrey #aubrey posen #chloe beale #beca mitchell #okay listen this is basically satire #more comedy than horror #greek mythology

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ovyy-pvcure · 5 years ago

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Things I wish were better pt 1: Midoriya and Bakugou alone

hashbrowncatsandketchup

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No one asked but my top 4(5?) list of things about...

Expansion you say??? �� gimme deets op i love analysis like this and agree with every point

I can always count on you to enable me. Before we begin these criticisms come from a place of love. I like this manga and wish it was better. @nanininni235

1) Midoriya is a boring protagonist. On a personal level Midoriya has seen almost no growth whatsoever. Near the start of the series he reclaimed Bakugou’s insult towards him, and in the Apprentice Arc he finally started to come to terms that it was ‘his power’. Then his development as a person just kind of...stops. Not that Midoriya has a lot of baggage or personality flaws to overcome that Hori ever wants to focus on anyway.

Personality-wise there’s little to hate of Midoriya as he’s sweet earnest and accepting with few bad words for anyone...because he has no opinions or values beyond wanting to be a hero. You can make Midoriya mad in the short-term but he never holds a grudge against anyone. Not his childhood bullies or the system and teachers that enabled them. Not Endeavor who betrayed the public’s trust and ruined the lives of his family on a personal quest for glory in a flawed system. Not Sir Nighteye who poked at his vulnerabilities regarding OFA and was unfair to him from moment one.

Midoriya wants to be a public hero like All Might but still has difficulty leading in non-stress situations and we can almost forget talking to girls, strangers, the media, ...strange girls. This is a massive character flaw that directly stands between him and his dream of being the ‘#1 Hero’ but it's used for comedy rather than treated as the giant stumbling block that it is despite UA having an entire course and class dedicated to PR. This despite what happened to Yaoyoruzu during her own Apprenticeship of which we’ll discuss more in part 5. Instead, all of Midoriya’s serious hero training is focused on ‘how punch better’ despite that being established as a thing Midoriya is already working on making these latter sections a much better chance to focus on other areas in which Midoriya is still far from his dream.

Bafflingly Hori even wrote himself into and then neatly out-of forcing Midoriya out of his comfort zone in a way that would force him to confront this and make him an actual ‘leader of his class’ beyond him generically working hard (something we never see him doing beyond the level of his classmates and I’ll get to that). Midoriya was elected class president on the back of his showing in the entrance exam -his raw power and natural inclination towards heroism- as opposed to his ability to be charismatic or even speak with new people. Midoriya’s nervous disposition and fear of strangers makes a poor first impression with the class and vice-president Yaoyurozu

This situation is not solved by Midoriya having to interact with his classmates-at this point total strangers- and slowly earning the approval of the ones who didn’t vote for him. Taking his noted organizational skills and putting them to use earning respect for his diligence from his new colleague. Meeting his peers from other classes/courses and getting an inside view into how these other sections of the school are doing as he slowly networks inside the future hero industry he wants to be at the forefront of. Instead, our protagonist cedes his position to Iida - already a confident taciturn natural leader-within mere hours before we even see him try. Over his vice-president without telling her.

Even Midoriya’s stated strengths of intelligence and strategy have gone underutilized as his enforced passivity leads to a lot of flashes of convenient insight (looking at Stain here specifically) over time spent analyzing bigger problems including his own difficulties controlling his Quirk the way he's shown to do for his classmates. Solo conflicts and Midoriya’s strength inducing quirk fail to use the abilities he already had and there’s no time spent reinforcing those abilities on screen either. Thus, we circle back around to the ‘how punch better’ problem from before where Midoriya’s growth as a character (and followingly as a person) is tied entirely into his Quirk....just like society says it should be.

Even outside his role of future hero, Midoriya is paper-thin he’s a hero otaku and nothing else -as indicated by his room- but even then only on paper. Midoriya doesn’t reference the hero strategies’ he's spent years observing and categorizing (in 13 notebooks) for his plans after getting his quirk. He doesn’t run around wearing hero merch outside of All Might gear. We don’t see or hear of him on hero forums. He didn’t know about Sir Nighteye or David Shield. He knew about Eraserhead but not All Might’s former sidekick.

Midoriya suffered a decade of physical and mental abuse from everyone including his teachers for his Quirkless status as a direct result of how Heros and powerful quirks are idolized within society over personality and merit. Despite suffering from his ‘outsider’ status for the majority of his life and watching his friend become twisted because he could no wrong as no one wanted to ‘ruin his future’ Midoriya shows no resentment towards the system or the people who unflinchingly follow it. This, along with many other instances of a broken system turning out broken people -Shouto, Shinso-affect Midoriya’s outlook on hero society all of nothing. He has brief moments of reflection on the state of affairs but little impetus or stated desire to change how things are done despite the manga making it clear that that’s something that needs to happen.

Midoriya spends no time reflecting on how he wants to be the ‘can-do’ hero despite the fact that he couldn’t. With Hero society’s focus on flashy quirks and big fights even if Midoriya had applied himself with physical training on top of his analysis work without All Might granting him a Quirk Midoriya literally could not ever have followed his dream. And his Quirk grows more powerful his rise is less due to inventive use of his power and more the sheer scale of it.

Youtuber Explanation Point made a video about why Hero Aca’s simple characterization works, and I agree. However almost 300 chapters into the manga we should have a more nuanced view of our main character’s world view, how he interacts with the world around him, and what he wants to enact on the world.

2) Bakugou is coddled by the narrative. Let me start by defining that: The narrative often warps around Bakugou’s character. Be it characters shilling his tiniest acts of decency into huge moments of growth or illogically putting up with his attitude as he treats them like dirt. Bakugou’s pivotal moment of growth is mostly part 3 material but it's spent placating him and enforcing who he is rather than trying to change his negative aspects.

A huge problem with Bakugou’s writing is how his own actions often lead him into negative situations but a lack of self-reflection on his or the narrative’s part cripples his growth. Let’s go through this chronologically: Bakugou is attacked by the Slime Villian because he’s all alone because he chased away his lackeys because they suggested that maybe telling Midoriya to kill himself was crossing a line. Bakugou will continue to be an anti-social jerk who refuses to take criticism without ever acknowledging this. Bakugou continuously makes an ass of himself in front of his new class because he’s still acting like the big fish in a little pond, but doesn’t suffer from ostracization and is only lightly teased even while he’s actively making the class enemies in the Sports Festival Arc. [Expanded in point 4] Bakugou completely fails against Kurogiri and makes everything worse only to turn around have a plan instantly and save the day that wouldn’t have needed saving if not for him messing things up in the first place. Yes, Kirishima also messed up but Kiri admits to being wrong while Bakugou does not.

Bakugou getting kidnapped is not his fault. This is an accurate statement of fact. Bakugou screaming at the top of his lungs, and acting like a rabid dog on Live TV is his fault. The kidnapping was a direct result of the tantrum but this should have already been addressed by his teachers as such unprofessional behavior is all Bakugou’s shown the world since he stepped on the pulpit at the beginning of the arc. Mr. Compress manages to slip through the gang’s defensive formation and steals away Bakugou and Tokoyami, which does nothing to further Bakugou’s arc. The villain’s kidnapping should be the culmination of Bakugou's mistakes and character flaws in the first part of the series that have been noticed and addressed by the people who should be mentoring him. Had Bakugou objected to being “look down on”-like with Midoriya- and ran off to fight the villains on his own despite warning -like with 13- his ensuing capture-like the Slime Villain-would have hit harder as then his getting kidnapped could be once again laid at the feet of his anti-social loner attitude. As it stands Bakugou’s breakdown is entirely self-inflicted as prior no one was blaming or criticizing him for his actions on-screen.

Bakugou fails the license exam, but we’re never given an explicit reason as the only thing we see is a couple of examiners twisting Bakugou’s utterly callous words into a positive. For Bakugou’s failure here to count we need to see him fail not to be arbitrarily praised for things he clearly wasn’t thinking about.

#hashbrowncatsandketchup #bnha #might need to come in and clean some of this up #pt 1 of 2 #bnha criticism #I wouldn't spend this many words on something I hated #I just see so much potential and its a shame its not being capitalized on better #I have so many Words about Midoriya

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thefuturerules · 5 years ago

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gonna say something that will probably make people upset, but it’s ok, i don’t use this platform much anyway:

you are *not* obligate to hold your nose and vote for whoever gets nominated for the democratic candidate.

“why?” you ask. “four more years of trump would be an unmitigated disaster!” great points. having to deal with trump for four more years would be a fucking nightmare.

many of the alternatives, however, are worse in the long-term.

biden, who is a crypto-conservative (really, he’s just a republican except on the wrong ticket) is not going to do anything for you. for all the posturing, i can promise you he does not care about issues affecting poor folks, queer folks, or poc.

buttigieg is even more worrying. he embodies everything wrong with the establishment democratic party. he is inept, corrupt, and brazenly devoid of any kind of ideology or goals. his mayorship and brief military stint were resume-building for his 2020 bid. his only want is to be the most powerful and most seen human being in the world, with little concern for how he gets there or what he does with that power.

why does this matter? here’s the thing: the tendency of american politics in the last several decades is that the presidency tends to ping-pong between liberals and conservatives. short of a miracle, it’s safe to say that if/when we get #46, they will be a democrat, and their elected successor will be a republican.

the advantage of having to endure another four years of trump, if it comes to that, is that while it will embolden conservative extremists, it will also continue building leftward momentum among the american populace. aside from trump’s visible corruption, his brain is also turning more and more into pudding as his tenure continues. he’s senile. and his cognitive and personal impotence will only increase the general public’s resentment of conservative policy and policymakers. it will take time.

the disadvantages of electing buttigieg or biden is that we will get another 8 (realistically, 4, joe’s old and pete’s... pete) years of an obama type of democratic president. charismatic, well-spoken, and utterly incapable of pushing forward any kind of policy that republicans don’t approve of. ACA got gutted basically the instant obama left office -- aside from that, his meaningful accomplishments include amplifying the border-control apparatus and expanding american military presence in the middle east / western asia. whoops!!!!

and after [a number between 0 and 8] years of having another one of those kinds of democrats in office, we’ll be back to the conservatives. turns out, when you spend your whole tenure in a position of executive authorities cowing to your opposition, they end up just smearing you as a do-nothing anyway. and the populace at large will probably agree, even if you or i don’t!

anyway, this is why you should hold out for sanders (or at least warren, though the odds for her campaign don’t seem... uh... worth holding your breath over, if we’re being honest). the reason is simple: a president that will actually do things for the working class, queer folks, and people of color is someone who will wield the executive branch like a hammer to bring republicans in line. someone with popular support, someone with a clear message, someone with clear goals. if the democrat nominee is anyone else, it will be a miracle if they beat trump, and a miracle doubled if they get anything done in office.

the wind is changing. if you allow callow defeatism to waste this momentum, we may never see it again in our lifetimes. do not settle for anything less than direct anti-conservative aggression.

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997yen · 5 years ago

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1,2,3

1: 6 of the songs you listen to most?

Camila Cabello - Crying in the Club,

Aca Lukas - Ti si moja bolna rana,

Senidah - Strava,

One Direction - What a feeling,

Harry Styles - Adore You,

Sam Smith, Normani - Dancing With A Stranger.

2: If you could meet anyone on this earth, who would it be?

Hmmm let’s see. Tbh I can’t choose just one person. I would like to meet my internet friends. The people I've met here.

3: Grab the book nearest to you, turn to page 23, give me line 17.

Iznenađena, ispustila sam mobitel. Vrisnula sam i pokušala mahanjem osloboditi ruke, no šake koje su me gurale naprijed i na ulicu bile su presnažne.

The book is on serbian so this probably won’t make any sense to you hah

Thank you for the ask! Hope you are doing great!

#sleepy-bunny02

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questionofdarkness · 6 years ago

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some things I noticed during the latest chapter (aka you all knew this was coming because 199 was made for me!)

So, why did this take me so long? Well, obviously, there weren’t only a handful notable panels for me this time! Also I was really busy and I wanted to do this on my PC so that I don’t have to split it up in multiple parts again. So… chapter 199, huh? What a great time to be alive for all my fellow birb boy stans out there! Though I must say, I am a tiny bit disappointed in one aspect: I don’t think they brought across Toko boy’s character as well as they could in this chapter. Where were all the angsty one liners? Where was the edginess? There was a lot of hood Hawks and more amazing pictures than I ever imagined, but… yeah, it just didn’t feel as much like my boy as I hoped it would. Nevertheless, I am obviously really excited that we get to see so much of him - I’ve been waiting for some insight in the Hawk’s internship since it was first confirmed that Toky also had taken one and all the fanons that became canon! But let’s start from the beginning, shall we?

Starting off strong with a beautiful Hawks! Amazing! 10/10!

My poor boy, look at his little legs!

Wheeze wheeze indeed! Again, confirmation that Tokoyami really wasn’t in the best phyical shape (compared to the other 1A members that is!). I really like how they subtlety show us development in characters like the bird boy through panels like this one. Also don’t you think these two sidekicks look like half a Tokoyami each? Like, we have the “beak” and the black clothes. That means the whole group is actually more like a 1.5 bird, right?

Tokoyami, starting to stand up for himself! That’s the good stuff!

I think we all lost our shit at this panel, right? I mean. Holy fuck! I think horikoshi just goes to the bnha tag on tumblr when he runs out of ideas and goes like “Yeah, that’s stupid, let’s put that in!”. Also Hawks giving no single shit is my aesthetic.

What kind of response is that???? Also Toky is so fucking done I’m crying

(Did anyone else notice the braclets? Do they serve a purpose? I don’t think so. Oh boy. Also the choker. I was kinda hoping he had painted nails as well, but I guess we can’t get everything straight away, right?)

So first of all - yes, yes he does!

Secondly “birdman”? Man? Really? You wanna call this 5′2 goth teenie a man?

Fierce!

Poor boy, I feel you though.

I love how this is phrased. “He decided to take me again”. Because to my understanding, the students have to seek out their employers themselves - they don’t get offers like they did during the week long internship. That means Tokoyami was the one to contact Hawks and ask him to take him under his wings again (pun intended). Although he said he had learned nothing last time! Although he went into the internship with the mindset, that Hawks was just interested in his connection to class 1A.

So Tokoyami conciously sought him out to prove him and himself how much more he had in him than Hawks had realized! And I love this aspect of my boy, because it has never been shown before. He always was trying his best, but he never really displayed such a direct, stubborn will to prove himself. Again, I love how subtly Horikoshi lets side characters grow. It’s one of the things I love most about bnha.

TENEBROUS ABYSS BODY!

No but seriously, look at his eyes, look at that determination! How can people not love this boy? Also at least we get an edgy “nay” here, so good job!

Recognition!

Look at them smirk, I fucking love Hawks!

You know what I really like about this panel? Normally, when Tokoyami uses his Black Ankh, you don’t really see his eyes but mainly those of dark shadow. But here it’s the opposite. For me, that again represent his growth - he isn’t hiding behind Dark’s strength anymore! That goes along really well with the overall message of this chapter. Gotta love hero aca for it’s story telling.

And the next second he looks like a tiny precious bird again. His beak is so round! Ugh, i wanna hug him so much right now!

And again, everyone looses their collective shit.

one whole bird!

But i’ve literally seen fanarts exactly like this before this chapter came out! What the fuck, Horikoshi??

I do not like the implication that Hawks might not have asked for Toky’y permission and just picked him up though. But then again I guess we just weren’t shown. I can’t wait for this to get animated!!

Also “We’ve become one with the wind!” is also a respectable Tokoyami line.

“!” “?”

Hawk’s using Tokoyami’s real name while everyone else calls him Tsukuyomi is also great. I wonder if he has done that before or if this is the first time. But I also wonder what it might imply. Maybe it shows that he doesn’t see him as but a trainee, or maybe that he can’t really recognize him as a hero yet. I’d say I hope to see more of their relationship in the future, but to be honest, I doubt it.

I can’t wrap my mind around the way my boy is drawn here! On one hand I love it - look how fluffy his feathers seem! - but it’s also a tad strange. But again, fierce Toky speaking his mind!

Mentoring!

Also look at how tiny Tokoyami is!!! God I love this boy!

Why does it make me laugh every time when Hawks talks about them being birds?

Hawks looks so damn cool here!

But aren’t we gonna talk about how Toky clings to the mast? I mean good decision, but I still find it funny. Hawks is all dramatic, staring into the distance, and Toky’s like “yeah I really appreciate the advise and all but if I fall I will die!”

Still dramatically raking off his cape!

Also same, it sounds fucking awesome!

Momo, could you please stop being so gorgeous? Also please change your costume, it’s winter and this is very impractical to begin with! But still, I will always love that they actually give my girl some fat rolls!

Still at it with taking off your cape? Also again: cape buddies!

And Tokoyami looks hot from this point of view as well. Does that make me a furry? Am I being a furry?

Oh, and Toru gets some lines! Not gonna lie, kinda forgot she was there for a second.

The edgelords are back at it!

I absolutely love how they show that fighting isn’t only about punching stuff and strategy isn’t only observing. The manipulation factor is fascinating and I love how they give this trait to a side character like Kuroiro. He’s generally an interesting guy this far - I hope we’ll see more of him in future chapters.

They didn’t even try to add Toru to the picture! Poor Toru stands, hoping she’d get some more screen time during this arc…

Also I love how for once it isn’t Aoyama who’s being eccentric.

And my boy still looks so fierce and those arms!

PHAHAHAHAHAH THIS IS BLOODY AMAZING I LOVE THIS PANEL SO MUCH OH MY GOD!

Cue to me crying in the background

(Same)

Ok but this panel is hilarious. I can’t even fully tell while but just… look at his pose!

I love seeing my boy improve (obviously) and it’s again a nice reminder of how much happens behind the scenes in this story.

Ambitious!

Also every Tokoyami/Aoyama shipper is probably crying right now as is Aoyama because his cape got ripped in half

Up up an away my boy!

More gorgeous Momo! Her eyes! Her hair! God I’m so gay!

Quod erat demonstrandum!

Also “Keep flying around freely” is a line I never dared to hope to hear in relation with my birb boy. This chapter is a dream come true.

I will never get tired of seeing Dark and Tokoyami interact. I wish we knew more about those two!

RRRRMMMBBBBBBB

Aoyama is so pissed look at him! My poor dude!

He just… plops out of the shadows. Yeah, how’s life going?

Ah, my girl, my beautiful girl! You sure do think of everything - one of my favorite traits of you. Also it’s nice that Hagakure gets some lines. She has really been neglected this chapter. Then again, I assume 200 will be about Momo’s fight with Kinoko (which I find really surprising - I was sure 200 was going to be Midorya centered! I’m not complaining though), so maybe Hagakure will get to show off against Manga? But then again, there’s also Kendou who I think will be a Momo opponent as well (seeing how the two got history and, as even mentioned last chapter, have a friendly rivalry). I sure am excited to see how this arc will develop, though I am still scared that this group of class A might have to loose in order to maintain a balance to make the final battle and therefore the clash of Izuku and Shinsou count.

Looking foreward to next week and thank’s to everyone, who stuck around for this rant :D

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free-falling-grenade · 6 years ago

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The Gazebo under a cherry tree

Also in here ao3.

Chapter 2

Day 1 of Wedding: Arrival The place was beyond beautiful if she was going to be honest. She had never been to this part of Georgia. It was a land of it's own, like a mansion straight out of Disney movie, it screamed elegance, grace, beauty, exquisite, luxurious and most of all it screamed like a perfect happy ending. Beca suddenly felt really sick in her stomach, second thinking if this was actually a very good idea. The ride itself with Aubrey driving made her nauseous enough. Not that the blonde was a bad driver, she was just easily carsick in addition to her internal anxiety of the impending doom the wedding service was about to give her. They were the first ones to arrive but Beca decided to wait on the other Bellas while they stood leaning on the car in the parking lot preferring to go together as a group rather than just both of them, to hopefully hide her own discomfort of the whole thing from the bride itself. The endless tapping on the glass window of the car made by none other than Beca earned a quick hard slap upside the back of her head. Beca's anxiety paused itself as she turned to half heartedly glare at the blonde tyrant beside her. "Your fidgeting isn't helping both of us and it is in fact very fucking annoying. So stop and calm down, will you? You said you'd compose yourself, better start now than later. Just focus on the Bellas since you haven't seen all of them in forever. Okay, hobbit?" The classic harsh bite was present but knowing Aubrey long enough, she knew it was out of concern. So she merely scowled crossing her arms to prevent the fidgeting, knowing very well her friend was right. She didn't have time to sulk when a loud shriek distracted her train of thoughts. The Bellas all of them looking a little older but very much the same sent a wave of nostalgia and relief seep out of Beca's skin. All of them came running for a group hug, that Beca was sure if she wasn't so heart broken she would have shook off immediately but she leaned into all of their touch, welcoming the warmth of her family that she had missed dearly. As they all pulled apart, a hard pat on Beca's back sent her tumbling over a few steps. "Shawshank! You got a lil bit tanner! Finally out of your vampire studio?" The other Bellas chuckled at the sight. Beca simply rolled her eyes, missing the Aussie blonde way too much to care about her comments. "It looks nice on you though! You seem like you're glowing." Emily who looked like her face structure had definitely matured a bit more was still the sweetest Beca remembered her to be. Unbeknownst for Beca, Emily always thought the two captains had been together since she started college. But was completely brought to harsh realization they were in fact not together. "You too, Aubrey. The LA lifestyle taking effect on you too huh." Cynthia Rose mentioned. Stacie smirked at the sight, glancing at Aubrey from up to down making the blonde look away to hide her blush. "Anyway, you ready for this aca-bitches?! Coz I'm not. I don't think I can take another wedding after seeing two dingoes get married back home." The Bellas just shook their heads at the Australian, always impressed with whatever comes out of her mouth. "You know, in my country. You have to first offer your chickens, siblings and your house in order to get married" Flo's random and almost always very weird comments was now a norm that they have missed back in the college days. They all started their way towards the entrance, Stacie falling behind with Beca as she wrapped her arm around the tiny brunette. "How you doing, B?" Her tone was soft and much more gentle than her casual teasing tone she usually used. Which almost made Beca tear up then, her emotions out of control but she forced a grin out shrugging, "The best I can manage." There was no point in lying. Stacie knew, even back in her college days, she knew before Beca even did. She never spoke of it but she somehow was always there for the tiny captain, very much how Aubrey was to her now. "How are you and Bella? And have you finally made a move with Aubrey?" Beca dared to ask as she swayed away from the topic Stacie was trying to get to. The tall brunette lets out a laugh, "Bella is wonderful and growing fast. I almost feel old. She's with my mom right now." She stared up front, her eyes falling to a certain blonde happily conversing with the other Bellas who were now stood at the lobby waiting, "And as for her, soon is all I can say. She's pretty much my everything second to Bella of course." Beca recognized the sentiment and fragile way her tall friend spoke about Aubrey. She lets a genuine smile on her face for once, "Well, don't wait too long. Don't fuck up like I did." Stacie felt a wave of sadness as her brows furrow looking down at the woman beside her, her smile barely reached the emptiness present in her eyes. Before she could say something, a familiar voice rang loud in the resort lobby. "Bree!" Both of their heads whip towards the direction of the voice. Beca for the first time that day, felt like someone knocked all the air out of her lungs. Stacie quickly noticing the drained look on her face turned around to block her view. She grabbed the woman by the shoulders and pulled her tight. "B. I need you to be really strong right now, okay? I know you agreed to go. I know how much this is all to take in but I need you to know we all are here. You don't have to face her alone. This is just day one. It'll be done before you know it. We got your back no matter what, Cap." She quickly whispered pouring as much sincerity she could manage. Beca's eyes were stinging from the tears begging to be let out but she blinked them back shutting her eyes tight as she hugged the tall brunette back as tightly as she could. The other Bellas noticing Stacie and Beca in the corner of their eyes, they knew as well. How heartbreaking this was for their former captain. They watched their captains pine over each other for years, only for it to end up nowhere. Here they were now. They were also prepped by Aubrey, like they were back in college before the blonde graduated, when they were told to look out for Chloe but now it was apparently Beca's turn. It tore and frustrated the Bellas but they always did listen, they looked out for family no matter what. As each Bellas took their turns to hug the redhead. Beca took the deepest breath she could manage, shaking her hands vigorously to shake off the sweat that had gathered on her palms from all the anxiety. She finally opened her eyes to meet the tall brunette's gaze infront of her and with determined eyes nodding. Stacie grinning moved out of her way instead standing beside the music producer, her right arm around her shoulders as she pinched Beca's cheek playfully. "Time to put on that celebrity smile of yours. It's time." Stacie whispered through her grinned teeth, her gaze focused ahead where they were now walking. Beca shoved her hands in her pocket, wearing the biggest smile she could manage as she took in the redhead that now stood infront of her. Her hair was somehow a lighter shade of red than before and was now cut shoulder length. It was mixed a little bit of blonde that seemed to be growing out on the ends. Her eyes still glowed that beautiful, breathtaking crystal blue no one could ever match but she noticed the slight dullness whenever she smiled. It didn't completely reach her eyes. The smile that caused crinkles on the corners of her baby blues. The smile when Beca makes a joke and it makes the redhead laugh so loud until she's bending over frontwards trying to contain herself. The smile so contagious that it radiates to anyone and everyone who is within 100 feet of her distance. The smile she could spot in a crowded room. The smile she was so damn in love with. "Stacie!" The tall brunette lets go of Beca leaning forward to give the redhead a long hug. Beca's breath hitching as Chloe's eyes met hers for a brief moment. When they pull apart, she could barely hear their small talk or whatever catching up they were speaking of until Stacie stepped aside and Chloe finally turned towards her. "Becs." It was a sickeningly soft tone, the tone that always made Beca weak. The nickname tugging her heart strings, how she missed being called that by the only person who can make it sound so damn precious. The tone that was now poison for Beca's veins, making it so excruciatingly bittersweet. "Hey Chlo. Congratulations." It was her half ass attempt, the only thing she managed to form actually words on without stumbling on them. She accompanied it with her signature smirks that she knew always worked. Before she knew it, two strong arms wrapped around her neck pulling her into a warm, familiar hug. It caused Beca's skin to light up almost burning with the sense of familiarity that was seeping out of this moment. She tried to hold back but she had to somehow return the hug, her one hand still in her pocket while the other circled around the redhead's waist gripping on the ridiculously yellow sundress she was wearing. She couldn't tell if it was her own heart hammering on her chest or Chloe's, either way the sense of warmth her former bestfriend emitted somehow managed to calm all her nerves down. Which was pretty ironic but she was reminded why she was here, no matter how heart breaking it was. She wanted Chloe to be happy. She deserved the best that life could give her even if the best wasn't Beca herself. Their hug lasted seemingly longer than the others, which was embarrassingly so as Beca felt heat rushing up her cheeks. She saw the sad smiles on the Bellas faces that even Amy wore instead of her usual smirk and comments about 'Bloe'. "Okaaaay!" Thankful for Amy always breaking the thick awkward tension in the air as she clapped her hands. "So Gingy, what do you have for us in this fairytale mansion here? Do our rooms have hot tubs? Oh! Is there a free breakfast buffet?" The others around chuckled at the Blonde's antics. Chloe glanced at Beca one last time before turning her attention to the Bellas leading them to their designated rooms. Beca let them walk further before she started to follow quietly. She let out a relieved sigh. To her surprise, Emily stayed back with her offering one of her gentle smiles and her rare silent company. Beca was extremely grateful. They followed behind the group letting Chloe's voice muted in her ears as she toured them around.

xxx

Each of the Bellas had to share a room with another person which they were all thrilled about, haven't lived with each other for a long time. Jessica and Ashley, of course, Fat Amy and Cynthia Rose, Lily and Flo. Beca had decided to room with Emily, refusing Aubrey's persistence to room with her for the her own sake and for Stacie's who would love to be with the blonde. They all were settling down before they had to go for the dinner with the Beales and Walps. Chloe had already left to go meet with Chicago. Emily noticed Beca's glum mood who was sat on her bed staring blankly at the closet door infront of her. The young brunette texted all the Bellas to meet her in the room to somehow lighten up the mood, not knowing how to do it herself. Just within a few minutes, each of the Bellas entered with Fat Amy leading. Stacie and the Australian blonde ran their way on Beca's bed jumping on it before making themselves comfortable. This shook Beca from her trance state scrunching up her face at her friends. She scowled at them but they merely grinned ignoring the brunettes attempt to push them out. The other Bellas were sat on Emily's bed and the floor. "Alright Pitches! Time to pre-game!" "You do know we are not in college anymore, Amy." The Australian scoffed, "Never too old to drink. Plus it's only for this weekend. We gotta go to a bar and get something in our system to get through this day." Stacie raised a brow at her antics, she knew she was trying to get Beca to loosen up knowing how she was like with alcohol. However, she knew it was a dangerous play knowing the music producer's emotions were at peak. In pure instinct, she locked eyes with Aubrey as if already have read her mind. "How about we drink in moderation? It's a formal event. Plus we can't get wasted before the dinner. The parents are there. We don't want to cause any embarrassment for Chloe, do we now?" Aubrey firmly stated as she threw a knowing stare at the specific source of most the troubles. Amy immediately mocked an angel pose giving her brightest smile as she drew an imaginary halo above her head. The girls then gets distracted once Emily pulled out a deck of Uno cards. As all of them knew no one was too old for uno. In midst of their unknown several games, Beca glanced around the set of arguing full fledged adults over a card game, a smile softly graced her lips. They all were now settled on the floor in between Beca's and Emily's bed. Lily was clearly cheating as she used one of her unknown tools to look over Amy's set of cards who was too distracted trying to 'subtly' look over Flo's set. Aubrey was busy scolding Jessica and Ashley for teaming up and switching cards as she recited the whole rule book loud and clear. Stacie being Stacie had a card hidden in her bra as Cynthia Rose caught her shoving it inside and was now trying to grab it by inappropriately sticking her hand inside her front while Emily watched completely horrified. Beca was so thankful to call these children at heart her family. She knew the weekend maybe the hardest of all she had ever faced but they were there to distract her, to keep her mind from dwelling too long, to pick up all the pieces that will fall as they go through the wedding hoping to fix her up in one piece one day.

xxx

Once they were all texted to get ready soon to meet up downstairs in the restaurant lobby, it had slipped Beca's mind about the Beales actually being present in their own daughters wedding. The thought had caused her to almost run back up to her room and suddenly call in sick but remembering it was a three day event and there was no escape. She was going to see them eventually. Also with much force from Aubrey and Stacie who had to physically drag her out of the bathroom. Her anxiety disappeared in to thin air as she caught sight of the family who apparently had already seen her first. Chloe's mom, Claire Beale basically sped walk towards Beca with her arms wide open, unknowingly the brunette's legs had did the same and met her half way. Claire's warmth immediately sending Beca off the edge. She felt some tears betray her as it escaped from her sockets staining the Beale's sky blue blouse. Claire already sensing the soft sob that escaped the small brunette in her arms just squeezed her tighter. Beca's face tucked in her ash blonde hair. "I know, honey. It'll be okay." The familiar soft whisper so identical to her daughter's almost sent another wave of tears to come up but she completely stopped by gritting her teeth as hard as she could and letting out a small mirthless chuckle. As she pulled away her smile trembling, "I just missed you guys, is all." The almost identical shade of blue eyes shine back at her filled with pure worry and love. She knew. Beca was pretty damn sure in all those days she went with Chloe back home, the older woman knew before she herself did. "I know that look" Claire Beale stood beside her sipping her tea as she followed Beca's gaze. Chloe who was playing around with her younger toddler cousins, carrying them on her shoulders and making animal noises as her laugh echoed in the walls of the warm living room. Beca slightly blushed embarrassed for being caught staring, but not understanding what the older Beale meant. All Beca knew then was she enjoyed seeing Chloe happy, she loved hearing her laugh, she loved seeing that smile that she pretty sure was the source of the warmth on that cool December day in the Beales household and not the fire place's doing. Claire Beale was the mother Beca had always needed, as her own was somewhere her locations unknown since she was 18. God, if only she was the one getting married, she would be blessed to have such a bigger extended, accepting and welcoming family that her heart always craved for. "And we missed you too, kid." A deep, low voice spoke right beside the older woman. "Mr. Beale." Beca who was now grinning wider than ever. "How many times do I have to tell you, it's just Richard. I'm not that old." The ginger headed tall man jokingly scolded as he leaned down to offer a short but tight hug almost lifting Beca off her feet. "Oh, I know. I just do it to annoy you, Mr. Beale" Richard Beale let out a full on loud laugh definitely causing some stares from other people. His laugh still slightly obnoxious but Beca had gotten used to it compared to her old self who would not stand near anyone who would laugh like a caveman. The air being knocked off her lungs distracted her thoughts as she was suddenly being twirled around in a big bear hug, her tiny arms tucked in huge ones. "Clay! Get the hell off me!" She laughed out loud only a slight irritation in her voice. She knew exactly who it was. The youngest of the Beales. Chloe's little brother, 10 years younger to be exact. Clay Beale, who was probably not so little anymore judging from how she had not seen him in almost 5 years. Once she finally felt the earth on her feet again, her left fist instinctively hitting the dirty blond haired boy with darker blue eyes like his father, on his bicep. The boy let out a small yelp, causing his parents to laugh at him. "Dude! Did you get taller? What the hell. Last time I saw you, you were about not too tall from me!" Beca only now noticing his height which could be at least almost a foot taller than she was. Clay grinned sheepishly. "You just got smaller, lil dude" The height joke completely missing Beca as she suddenly felt nostalgic at the nickname she used to have for him when he wasn't even in college yet. Chloe and her used to play jokes on him about not being the height he was supposed to be at his age at that time. Clay quickly noticing the flash of sadness appear on Beca's face, leaned in for a much gentler hug. "Definitely missed you, Bec." The brunette was internally scoffing at how much the family had made her so soft. The whole family radiating the light and warmth Chloe did were stirring up emotions inside her that might boil out of control. "Why aren't you the groom for this wedding?" The sudden grumble from the blond Beale took Beca aback, surprised that he even noticed anything going on between her and Chloe. A back slap on the same bicep Beca punched caused him to scowl at his mom who was smiling brightly pretending like she didn't do anything. "Just saying. She'd be a cooler in law" it was barely audible but Beca heard it loud and clear. The boy's frown deep, his eyebrows furrowed as he stared angrily at the floor. She also noticed Richard's hand reach up to his son's shoulder giving it a light squeeze with a sad smile on his lips. Her heart soared for a moment then completely plummeted to the floor, the realization hitting her harder than ever. If she had acted upon her feelings, the Beales were all ready to accept her in a whim. The regret swelling in her chest was making it harder to breathe. Just before the anxiety started to eat her inside out, she hears Aubrey behind her coming up and greeting the Beales with excited hugs. The Bellas behind her making their way for polite greetings and first time introductions for some of them. "Aubrey, darling. It's been way too long!" While Aubrey and Claire started catching up, The Bellas filled up details of their prime years to slightly embarrass the blonde. Beca deciding to push all her feelings aside as she stared at Clay who now looked a little annoyed while Richard was whispering beside him. "Hey kiddo, have you still been making remixes?" Clay's face lightened up instantly, a lopsided smile growing on his face. "Dude. Hell yeah I am. I'm getting so good at it. I'll show you them later. I'm doing it as a side thing though. I'm taking music business as my major right now so I can be like you but actually own the business without working for other people!" He explained excitedly. Beca beamed proudly at the youngest Beale. She had been teaching him whatever she knew whenever Chloe and her visited. It was too hard to deny a young boy with wide blue curious eyes and even bigger dreams. It surprised Beca at first how natural and easy Clay had caught on with how to mix and mash up songs. He was lowkey one the inspiration she used to make the last few sets of their acapella years. The kid was definitely going somewhere.

xxx

As they got lost in the conversation, she failed to notice the arrival of the main Beale that was the prime source of her heart ache. Chloe had actually arrived a little bit earlier deciding to let Chicago pick up his parents from the airport while she met up with her own parents who she knew were always an early bunch. She was making her way towards them but stopped herself when she noticed her mother speed walking towards Beca to scoop her up in a hug. The scene infront of her made her chest suddenly tighten, her breath catching in her throat, she had forgotten how close her family had grown with Beca. Her family insisted every visit to bring the petite brunette after the first ever meeting. Her parents had welcomed Beca more than anyone she had taken home. Her dad immediately clicking with her because of their same dry sarcastic humor, while her mom just adored the passion and confidence that Beca carried. Clay on the other hand admired the brunette, beyond words he saw her as an idol and as an inspiration. He had admitted it to her before when he finally figured out what he wanted to do in the future. Of course her family didn't fail to notice her deep love for Beca then, they always supported her and urged her to tell the brunette. However, that never happened as Chloe was sure it was nothing but unrequited. So she moved on. She watched the scene unfold infront of her as her dad then her brother gave their hugs, Clay's being super excited as he twirled the brunette around in a bear hug. The look on Beca's face of pure contentment at seeing her family, her eyes were shining, smile so wide she forgot Beca was capable of that smile, remembering the days it was only meant for her. The rare occasional smile that was filled with love and pure happiness. The moment was causing her head to throb uncontrollably, her chest feeling heavy causing her breaths to come out short, she could feel her eyes stinging as her mind wandered to the dangerous thoughts of what it could've been. The what ifs section she had stacked away to the forgotten. The sound of Mrs. Walp's voice shook her thoughts away, as the Walp family approach her from behind. She felt her being tugged into a quick hug by her soon to be mother in law as she inhaled her fresh cigarette stench that reeked out of her skin. She had to internally scrunch her face to hide how much she despised the smell of cigarettes. Regina and Garrett Walp. Chicago's parents you could say was not something she expected the first time round. She admired their life's too short beliefs but questioned their ways of living it. They were still growing on her but she had learned to slowly accept them as they would soon be part of her extended family. They finally decided to join the Beales and the Bellas as they engaged into polite conversations and introductions while they all were headed to their seats. Chloe was never a big fan of awkward tension so she always did her best to somehow manage to clear that out but that was in the old college days when she felt bright and extremely confident. Now she was just a nervous bundle, the feelings from earlier bothering her internally, so she had no choice but to smile through it all. "So Beca Mitchell. I haven't seen you since the USO tour. How's the celebrity life treating you?" Chicago asked. Chloe noticed the slight hesitance in the brunette's expression before she quickly hid it behind a smile. "Been amazing, honestly. I mean it's definitely a lot of work but hey, that's what I've been dreaming of. Can't complain" She kept it short and simple which was a sign that she didn't want to elaborate. Chloe felt a little devastated of the fact that she wasn't the one Beca told all of her wild stories to anymore. From meeting fans and all her backstage experiences with meeting other new artists to her slight nervousness before she went on stage or working with famous singers who wants her to produce their work. It infuriated her because from college till Brooklyn and before that tour ended, Beca was part of her routine, part of what she knew like the back of her hand, part that involved her full attention that she loved showering on the petite brunette and vice versa when she was the only one to witness all these extremely undeniably lovable side of Beca. Loving Beca was part of her life, how she functioned on a daily basis, no matter how unrequited, what they had was enough for her to cherish. Or so she thought it was enough. Chloe didn't fail to notice how the producer seemed to be avoiding eye contact with her every time their eyes briefly past one another as she watched where the conversation was going looking at whoever was speaking. She couldn't blame her though as she herself was also to blame for her distant actions the pass few years. But she did notice the genuine smiles she had been letting out as she spoke enthusiastically with the Bellas around her, her posture seemed to be better too as she observed her not so slouched back anymore compared to their college days when Chloe had to scold Beca for slouching way too much that caused her back pain. Chloe's eyes traced the structure of the brunette's face, somehow it looked a little more shaped like she had lost some of the meat on her cheeks. Her skin glowing slightly coz of the tan that colored her old pale ones causing a slight skip in the redhead's heart rate as she absorbed how good the tan looked on the petite woman. She internally scolded herself to calm down, denying whatever is left of the feelings she took years to drain out. The laugh that echoed around the table definitely failed to help as she only recognized one specific laugh in the chorus of voices, hers. Internally sighing, she was second thinking if it was a good idea to have invited her to the wedding. But she knew it wouldn't be right if she didn't so she stuck to just cursing her troubled feelings inside. Although she couldn't help the way her stomach fluttered and her hands go weak at the sound of her laughter ringing in her ears. The slightly husky and adorably awkward sound that she hadn't heard in years suddenly feel heavenly and like a punch on the stomach simultaneously. She felt so wrong for thinking and feeling this way right now, in front of her fiance and his family. In front of the man who she said yes too. She couldn't believe herself, her heart, after all these years, she truly felt like she could finally let go yet it was just haunting her. She inwardly blamed it on the mere presence of the producer, which was harsh and she definitely didn't deserve any of it but she was doing so well. One thing Chloe hated in her whole life was feeling lost and unsure right after she had decided on something with full confidence. She had decided to simply engage herself with conversations that would not include Beca in anyway. Just throw in a kind smile and keep going. It was only the first day, she would make it. The dinner went well as expected, the rest of the Bellas decided to stay and grab a few drinks to taste their famous wine while the Walps and Beales head back to their rooms. Beca on the other hand went with Clay to see his remixes as promised but also to avoid the soon to be wed couple for the night who had decided to join the Bellas with drinks. First day was so far going well however it didn't help the fear of whatever the next few days had for her.

#bechloe #bechloe fanfic #tguact #bechloe angst #bechloe slowburn #beca mitchell #chloe beale

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bambamsbae-blog · 6 years ago

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Free Diabetes Alert

Let’s just get right down to it: Health care is a human right. If traditional medicine has failed for this long, it seems to me that a cure will require every fraction of recently obtained knowledge about microbiology, the human genome, and modern medicine. Agents specializing in group health insurance will be able to provide information and descriptions of the options available from various insurance carriers. The Supreme Court is likely to rule on the 2010 Accountable Care Act (ACA-Health Insurance Reform-Obamacare) this week and it will be the most important decision this court has undertaken. But why must this be so when physical examination is not part of the standard of care in traditional outpatient psychiatry? Providers benefit due to the favorable reimbursement rates, and because there is no profit motive for this plan, administrative costs go down and efficiencies in care are increased. Its members pay for medical expenses by sharing the costs. 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THC is the cannabinoid that most people are familiar with. These are all reasonable goals, but automating chemotherapy protocols is quite challenging. You ought not take Nitrazepam tablets in the event that you are pregnant, intending to wind up pregnant or are bosom nourishing. Antibiotics further included 4 samples, each of amoxycillin capsules, ofloxacin ornidazole tablets, and cefuroxime axetil tablets. Food purchased from street vendors and small restaurants can be of mixed quality. The insurers can bargain down the price of test strips. However, the evidence shows that the relief from price increases in the mid-1990s was not permanent. You don't need a large space in order to start an urban garden - even those with a small balcony could grow a few plants! Small game hunting in the forests and duck hunting in the swamps is possible, but only with shotguns. The writer says “Yeah, right. In addition, non-American carriers provide regular service to Port of Spain from the U.S., Canada, Venezuela, and the U.K. POOR PRODUCTS and WORSE CUSTOMER SERVICE. Anyone can tune in on Aug. 27 at 1 p.m. Rick and Jane Austin’s truck can easily run on either kerosene, vegetable oil, or a host of other alternative forms of fuels already being used in diesel engines around the world. I got 4 of them being 3 in an electric trap. The information provided here is for educational and informational purposes only. Colorado deserves a strong seat at the table here and in D.C. Unfortunately, she has eaten all the rats, and has “left the building”. Some commenters asked whether a case where a prescription was written by a physician and given to the injured or ill employee but was not actually filled or taken would be recordable.

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scentedrunawayshark · 3 years ago

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How Insurance Agents Help You Find Affordable Health Insurance Plans.

Health insurance is a major purchase. Depending on your location, health, age, family status, income and other factors, you could pay as little as nothing or as much as thousands of dollars a year for coverage. But no matter how much you pay in premiums, you obviously want to choose a medical insurance policy that meets your family’s needs. Find out below how insurance agents can help you score an affordable plan that best works for your personal needs or those of your family.

Contents [hide]

What Benefits Does Working With Insurance Agents Offer?

Do I Pay More If I Use Agents?

How Can Agents Help Me Get the Best Deal on Health Insurance?

How Do I Find a Reputable Agent?

How Can I Best Partner With an Insurance Agent to Meet My Health Insurance Needs?

What Benefits Does Working With Insurance Agents Offer?

When you work with an agent, you’re relieved of one of the major burdens of shopping for an insurance plan: research. By working with a partner who knows the market and has done a lot of the research already, you will find yourself with information in hand from the moment the process begins — not to mention someone to point you in the direction of more, should you want it.

An agent is also experienced at parsing the plans in a marketplace given a set of facts about you, such as your age, budget and family status. That means that they can quickly show you which plans are “best” given your particular circumstances and explain why other plans might not be an ideal choice for you. That reduces how much time you have to spend poring over health insurance details, which can seem abstract and frustrating without context.

Agencies have usually already done the work to compare similar plans, so they can quickly present you with accurate side-by-side evaluations. For example, they might be able to tell you which common services are covered under each plan, what the deductible is and how much the out-of-pocket (OOP) maximums might be. That’s all-important, especially since you can’t base the affordability of an insurance plan on the monthly premium alone. You need to know how much in total your health care might cost this calendar year.

Finally, third-party insurance agents can offer some unbiased professional advice. They don’t work for the actual insurance companies, so they aren’t trying to sell you a specific product. They’re trying to help you make an informed decision that you’ll be satisfied with because they want you to return to them in the future.

Do I Pay More If I Use Agents?

No. Whether you use an agent or not, the premium for your health insurance plan is exactly the same. Well, with one exception: if you use an agent, you might find a less expensive plan than you would alone.

How Can Agents Help Me Get the Best Deal on Health Insurance?

Agents don’t have a secret handshake or special access to plans that others don’t. But their knowledge can help you dig more efficiently and accurately through the massive pile of data that comes with health insurance shopping.

The process, at its most basic level, goes like this: You give the agent information including your age, zip code, number of family members, basic health history and whether or not anyone uses tobacco. They use that information to analyze all the available plans and present your options in an easy-to-understand format.

When you can easily see how much each plan costs, what it includes and what your total costs might be given deductibles and out-of-pockets, you can pick a health insurance plan that is most cost-effective for you. And while you’re doing all that, you can turn to your agent with any questions.

How Do I Find a Reputable Agent?

Make sure you’re working with a licensed insurance agent with experience and knowledge in the health insurance field. Some red flags that you’re not working with a reputable agent can include:

They’re pushy and try to get you to sign on the dotted line immediately; they use urgent language; or they refer to a plan as a “deal” or an offer that “expires tomorrow.” In the insurance game, the only time-sensitive dates are those that relate to open enrollment each year. And even then, you generally have all of November and part of December to make your decisions.

They ask for payment for services before you even decide on a plan. Insurance agents don’t get paid by their clients in this way.

They favor a plan without any reason. Insurance agents can give you advice, such as telling you that certain plans don’t offer something you said you wanted or reminding you that the budget you stated doesn’t fit the premiums of one option. But if they simply try to push a specific product on you without getting to know your preferences and talking about the options, they may not be the right agent for you.

How Can I Best Partner With an Insurance Agent to Meet My Health Insurance Needs?

While a health care insurance agent can be a great help in finding the coverage you need, they can’t make all the decisions for you. Only you know what is right for you, which means you need to be an active participant in your insurance search. Here are a few tips for partnering with your agent so you end up with a health insurance policy you are happy with and can afford.

Find out whether the plans are ACA-compliant. In some cases, a short-term insurance plan might be right for you, especially if you’ve missed open enrollment periods. But those plans aren’t ACA-compliant and don’t cover everything required under the ACA. Make sure you know what you’re purchasing.

Ask the agent to help you understand if you can get a tax credit. Many people have access to a tax credit — a subsidy to help pay for their insurance premiums. Your agent will need information about your income in order to determine whether you’re eligible, so you’ll have to provide accurate information to get an answer.

Discuss out-of-pocket maximums and other details before choosing a plan. Factors such as OOP maximum and deductibles drastically contribute to the overall potential cost of your health care in a year. If you’re not sure about these factors or how they compare between plans, ask the insurance agent to walk you through with examples. You can also ask “How much do I have to pay before the insurance starts to pay?” The answer to this question lets you know whether a plan might be too risky for you, even if the premium is low.

Find out about the benefits under the plan. Before you finalize a health insurance purchase, make sure you understand the benefits. Ask the agent what medications are covered — or at least verify that your regular meds are included under the plan’s coverage. This is also a good time to ensure the plan will allow you to continue seeing your regular providers.

By working with an insurance agent, you can take much of the stress and second-guessing out of the health insurance enrollment process. Whether you’re looking for an ACA-compliant Marketplace plan or short-term medical insurance, start the process with professional assistance by contacting TrueCoverage today.

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lets-talk-appella · 5 years ago

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They’re Us

Ch 3/5

Summary: When the enemy looks like your friends, how do you know who to trust? For PP Horror Week 2019 - Doppelgangers.

Word Count: 3k

Rating: M for horror themes and some violence.

AO3 and FFN

Chloe’s heart rate doesn’t slow until they’re all safely inside the Bella house and the deadbolt is firmly in place.

She knows that, realistically, a locked door can only buy them so much time. Besides, there’s every possibility that their clones—or whatever they are—have the keys to the house. If they can call her from Aubrey’s number and steal Jesse’s car, she’s pretty sure they can do what they want.

She isn’t so worried about that right now, though. No, right now, she’s mostly worried about how pale Beca looks.

She watches as Beca perches on the far edge of the couch with Amy and Stacie, her eyes fixed on Jesse as he crosses the room to peer out the nearest window. Chloe can’t imagine what Beca must have gone through, what she must have thought when Jesse’s clone turned on her. If Aubrey’s clone had done anything like that…

“What do we do?” Cynthia Rose asks, joining Jesse in looking out of windows.

“Get ready?” Amy suggests. “Yeah, I’m gonna need more cars, though, if you want me to keep running them over.”

“Don’t you touch my car,” Stacie mumbles, her head in her hands and elbows resting on her knees. “That’s another of my goodies.”

“But… is everyone a clone? Like everyone in Barden?” Jesse asks, turning from the window and looking to Chloe. “Or just us? Because if it’s everyone...”

Stacie groans quietly. Chloe privately agrees, though she isn’t sure if it would be more or less terrifying if they were the only ones with lookalikes.

“What do they want?” Beca interrupts, her voice more raspy than usual, which Chloe assumes is from fear. Which is a shame, because she likes how it sounds.

“Well, okay,” she manages, trying to at least answer Jesse’s question. “There can’t be more, because it’d be on the news, right? Everyone would be freaking out.”

“I’m freaking out,” Cynthia Rose volunteers, testing a window to make sure it’s locked securely. “This is freaky shit.”

“Why would there be clones of just us?” Stacie asks, lifting her head from her hands. Her cheeks, in contrast to Beca’s paleness, are blotchy.

Jesse has started pacing, now looking out every single window he passes. His nervous energy raises goosebumps on Chloe’s arms, making her shiver.

“What do you think they want?” Beca interjects again, this time more loudly. Her hands fidget nervously in her lap, fingers twisting together.

“I…” she tries to come up with something—anything—to stop Beca looking so scared, but draws a blank. She has no idea what the clones want.

“I say we just run, the six of us,” Jesse says tersely. “We can pile into one car, or—or take a couple cars. As long as we get the hell out of Barden, we’ll be safe.”

“We can’t do that,” Chloe objects quickly. “We can’t leave the other Bellas.”

Jesse blinks at her, as if that hadn’t even occurred to him. Beca, though, is nodding slowly. Chloe knew she’d understand; they’re co-captains, and they have to protect the others.

“Would you guys have sex with your clones?” Stacie asks suddenly, tilting her head to the side.

Chloe hesitates, completely derailed. Beca’s face whips around to look at Stacie so quickly that Chloe wouldn’t be surprised if she’d hurt her neck.

“Like, I think it could be fun,” Stacie elaborates with a shrug. “Maybe they’re not all evil clones and we should give it a try.”

“I guess... it would be like masturbating, right?” Chloe points out slowly.

Beca’s cheeks turn pink at that, but maybe that’s good; it’s much better than her earlier pallor.

“Aca-lesbians,” Amy stage-whispers.

Cynthia Rose glares at her. “What’s wrong with that?”

“Focus!” Jesse interrupts, sounding impatient. “They could be coming any minute.”

“So could I,” Stacie mutters, examining her nails.

Cynthia Rose coughs.

“Look, I…” Chloe starts, trying to regain her senses. “I don’t know why the Aubrey clone just wanted to talk, and why the Jesse one didn’t…” she trails off, unwillingly glancing at Beca.

Beca shifts on the couch, staring down into her lap. “He could have just… I mean, I was in the car. He could have just… driven away.”

Chloe’s stomach pangs at the thought.

After a prolonged silence, Jesse clears his throat. “Can we call the cops?” he asks. “If they’re trying to hurt us, I mean.”

“What good would that do?” Cynthia Rose snorts. “They’d think we’re crazy.”

“Maybe we are,” Amy muses. “Anyone accidentally drug our water supply with hallucinogens again?”

“Okay, no!” Chloe cuts in. “We’re not crazy. So, um, they’re just… it’s just doubles of us, and for some reason they’re… do you think this is a DSM stunt?” she asks, knowing she’s grasping at straws. “You know, throw us off?”

Beca snorts a little hysterically. “Are you serious right now?”

“I don’t know!” Chloe throws her hands into the air, frustrated. “The clones are just after us for some reason!”

The front door opens quickly and suddenly; Stacie lets out a shriek of surprise and Chloe whirls, startled. Ashley, Jessica, and Emily walk into the house, closing the door behind them.

“Why was the door locked?” Emily asks, frowning. “We never lock the door. Oh, and Chloe? We got your text to come home. What’s happening?”

Her question is greeted by silence. Chloe stares hard at the three of them, trying to spot any sign they might be their clones. Jesse moves to stand beside her, maybe trying to act as some kind of backup.

Emily’s eyes flick to him, then back to Chloe. “Guys? What …”

“Are you… you?” Beca asks, her tone guarded.

Emily looks utterly bewildered.

Stacie claps hand to her forehead. “Oh my God, we’re so stupid. Everyone, take out your contacts, now.”

Chloe lets her eyes slide closed. Of course. It’s so obvious. The clones have to wear color contacts, so all they have to do is check for those.

“Um, how are we supposed to see?” Emily asks, confused.

“Yeah, I want to know when I’m being attacked, not just see a giant blur,” Cynthia Rose quips.

“Attacked?” Jessica’s eyebrows draw together.

“Oh my God, here,” Stacie sighs, reaching up to her own face. She holds an eyelid open with one hand and delicately uses the index finger of her other hand to pluck out her contact lens.

Beca makes a noise of protest. “That’s not proper hygiene—”

“See?” Stacie blinks a few times, one lens balanced on the end of her finger. Both her eyes remain their usual color. “No weird eyes.”

Chloe steps closer, peering into Stacie’s eyes. In one eye, she can clearly see the border of a contact lens around Stacie’s iris, but not in the eye Stacie had just pulled the lens from. “You’re good.”

Emily tries again. “Does someone want to explain—”

“Contacts first,” Cynthia Rose says sharply, looking at her suspiciously.

Emily looks bewildered but does what she’s told. Mimicking Stacie, she pulls out one contact and then stands blinking at them, both her eyes their typical color.

“Ashley and Jessica?” Beca asks.

“We don’t need contacts,” Ashley says. “We’ve got 20/20.”

“Chloe?” Amy asks.

“Yep,” Chloe replies, anticipating Amy’s question and already moving toward Ashley and Jessica. Jesse stays close behind her, which she appreciates, but a quick look into both Ashley and Jessica’s eyes confirms that neither of them is wearing any kind of contact lens. “They’re good.”

“Awesome,” Emily says, sounding grumpy. “Now would you guys—”

This time, the sound of the lock scraping in the door gives them some warning; Chloe’s ready when Flo comes stumbling through the doorway, slamming it behind her and breathing hard. “I got here as fast as I—” she cuts off, staring with wide eyes in Beca’s direction.

“Take out your contacts!” Amy barks.

“I—what?” Flo asks, glancing at her. “No time, you guys, there’s some weird mojo, I saw… weren’t you just outside?” she asks Beca with a frown.

Beca blinks. “Uh, no?”

Chloe’s blood runs cold.

Flo stares at Beca, nonplussed. “But… I just saw—”

“Flo, contacts, everyone else, contacts, and then we’ll explain,” Chloe interrupts. If Flo’s right and Beca’s clone is nearby, the rest could arrive any second. They need to be ready.

It doesn’t take long to confirm everyone’s identity; Flo, Jesse, and Cynthia Rose remove their contacts to reveal their normal eyes underneath, and Beca, Amy, and Chloe don’t wear contacts. Still, Chloe checks everyone’s eyes carefully to confirm. Beca volunteers to check Chloe’s eyes, and Chloe has to hold her breath when Beca’s face gets close to hers.

“She’s good,” Beca eventually says.

“We’re all good, then,” Stacie sighs, sounding relieved.

Emily clicks her tongue impatiently.

“Clones, Legacy, try to keep up,” Amy says before Chloe can speak. “Of all of us have clones. Except Jesse, ‘cuz I hit his with Bumper’s car.”

Emily’s eyes go so wide that Chloe’s surprised they don’t fall from her face.

Flo, however, only nods and crosses herself. “I knew this day would come. Back in my country—”

“What do you mean?” Jessica asks, looking between Amy and Chloe. “Clones? What?”

“Look,” Chloe says, trying to be both quick and gentle with her explanation. “There are freaky replicas of all of us, we think, and they’re watching us. And they’re trying to get us. We don’t know why.”

“And they have color contacts but yellow eyes,” Stacie supplies helpfully.

“Right,” Ashley says, her voice faint.

“So, what, we have to keep taking our contacts out all the time so we know who’s who?” Flo asks a little desperately.

Chloe pauses, exchanging a look with Stacie.

Beca leans forward suddenly. “No, just... everyone, take a—a piece of string or something and wrap it around your wrist. Like a bracelet so we know we’re us.”

“Oh!” Emily exclaims, digging in her bag. “I know I have… we were just crafting, I have it…” she mutters before pulling out a ball of blue yarn with a victorious smile. “Bracelet, anyone?” she asks a little too brightly for the situation. She makes the rounds, tying a piece of string around each of their wrists and cutting it with scissors she also finds in her bag.

“The clones won’t have these,” Chloe says with satisfaction, examining her new yarn bracelet.

From the bottom of the stairwell, Lilly whispers, “They can take them off our dead bodies.”

Everyone jumps, heads whipping in her direction to stare.

“When did she get here?” Amy mutters out of the corner of her mouth, pointedly moving away to create space between herself and Lilly.

Beca recovers first. “Lilly, contacts?”

Lilly shakes her head.

“I’m not checking her eyes,” Stacie declares. Beside her, both Cynthia Rose and Beca cringe at the thought.

“Oh my God, I’ll just do it,” Jessica volunteers bravely, stepping close to Lilly and peering into her face. Chloe finds herself holding her breath; even regularly, she’s not sure she’d want to invade Lilly’s space like that.

Finally, Jessica steps back with a sigh. “She’s good. And you guys are cowards.”

Lilly looks down at her feet and starts humming a tune that Chloe can’t identify.

“Uh—”

“Look,” Jesse says abruptly. “I’m worried about the Trebles. I think I should go over there and make sure they’re okay.”

Beca frowns. “But you’re safer here.”

“And we could use some help,” Emily says.

Chloe immediately prickles; they don’t need Jesse. He hadn’t really done anything to stop his own clone. “I mean, we can probably just—”

“The Treble house is right next door,” Jesse interrupts her, looking at Beca as he speaks. “If anything happens or you guys need help, I can be right back. I just—I have to make sure they’re okay over there.”

Beca hesitates, running her tongue over her front teeth. “Well…”

“My clone’s dead, anyway,” Jesse reminds her softly. “I’ll be okay, Bec.”

It’s the use of the nickname that tips Chloe over the edge. “Jesse’s right,” she says, trying not to sound dismissive. “He should make sure the Trebles are okay. We can always call for help later.”

She’s looking at Beca, but out of the corner of her eye she catches a glimpse of Cynthia Rose smirking at Stacie. She ignores them.

“I… okay,” Beca agrees finally, her eyes flicking between Chloe and Jesse. “Just be careful.”

“I will. Promise,” Jesse says.

Chloe feels faintly ill at the fragility in his tone.

“Also, if you could maybe not tell Bumper about his car just yet, that’d be, uh, awesome,” Amy suggests.

Something occurs to Chloe then. “Yeah, how exactly did you get his car?”

Amy’s face goes blank, the way it always does when Bumper is mentioned. “Ummm.”

“Okay, great, I’m gonna go then,” Jesse says, crossing the room to get to the front door. He pauses just before leaving to look back. “You be careful, too, okay? Let me know if anything’s…”

“Got it,” Beca says, and then Jesse opens the door and is gone.

A ringing silence follows the closing door. Chloe tries not to focus on how concerned Beca still looks for Jesse.

“Well… he’s dead,” Amy says with a shrug.

Around her, Stacie and Cynthia Rose nod solemnly. “It’s how the movies go,” Stacie agrees.

Beca makes some annoyed noise of protest, but Chloe’s distracted by how Flo still looks at Beca uncomfortably. Her chest tightens.

“Flo?” she asks. “You said you saw Beca outside?”

Flo nods, and the mood in the room darkens immediately.

“How—how close to the house?” Chloe asks timidly, not sure she really wants to know.

Flo purses her lips before answering. “About halfway between here and campus. I talked to her, and she said… she was waiting for the others first. I didn’t know…” Flo trails off, looking uncomfortable.

“They’re close,” Cynthia Rose breathes.

“What?” Emily asks sharply.

Chloe swallows. Cynthia Rose is right; if Flo had seen Beca’s clone that close almost five minutes ago, they’re running out of time. “We have to start getting ready.”

“What?” Beca asks, looking around at them all. “Why don’t we just—we’re all here now, let’s just run and get in a car and—”

“Too late,” Ashley breathes, staring out the front window.

Chloe’s heart lurches; she moves so quickly to the window that it’s a miracle no furniture is sent flying. She stares out into the driveway, her throat tight, fighting against the scream threatening to burst from her chest.

It’s the clones.

All of them. Walking up the driveway and toward the house. It’s Stacie and Amy and Cynthia Rose and Aubrey. It’s Emily with her backpack and Lilly with her bangs and Flo with her earrings.

When Chloe sees herself, her brain short-circuits. It’s like looking in a mirror but with deliberate mistakes; a mirror is a reflection and even photographs aren’t the same as seeing her own face like this. There’s no doubt in her mind that this—this clone of her had been the one watching her on campus. It makes her head hurt too much to stare at her own face out the window, so her eyes slide to the person walking next to her.

Behind her, the Bellas gasp or cry out or make noises of surprise, but Chloe tunes them out; all she can see is Beca. The Beca outside. The Beca that looks so much like her Beca that it’s Chloe’s first instinct to run to her and pull her close. It isn’t Beca, though, because there’s no way Beca would ever look at her like that, all cold and calculating.

“What are they doing?” the Beca behind Chloe asks, her voice quivering. “What the fuck are they doing?”

Chloe can’t answer.

She watches as the clones walk toward the house at a leisurely pace, staring up at the second floor, looking around the yard. They start to split away from one another, going around the sides of the house. Clone Beca, Aubrey, and Stacie go to the right, disappearing from view, even as Clone Cynthia Rose, Emily, Lilly, and Flo move left. Clone Amy and Chloe’s own double, though, stay where they are at the front of the house, staring into the window.

The Chloe outside smiles at the Chloe inside, tilting her head almost curiously.

“Shit, shit, shit, shit,” Cynthia Rose chants. “Shit, you guys, we have to do something.”

“They��re… us,” Stacie breathes.

“Not all of us,” Ashley mutters, and Chloe tears her gaze from her clone to look back into the sitting room. She realizes that Ashley’s right; neither her nor Jessica had clones.

“Of course not,” Jessica shrugs.

For some reason, that snaps Chloe out of it. “Okay, Bellas!” she cries out, relieved her voice sounds strong and steady. “They’re here. We need to get ready.”

“Are you crazy?” Emily asks, even as Stacie digs frantically for her pepper spray and Lilly pulls a knife out of nowhere. Amy disappears into the kitchen, and Chloe’s fairly sure she’s going for the booze.

“We might have to fight,” Chloe says bracingly, looking at each of the Bellas in turn. Cynthia Rose looks terrified but determined. Emily looks nauseated. Ashley and Jessica seem bored. “I hope you all have been keeping up with cardio, because we’re going to need it,” Chloe finishes, catching Beca’s eye last.

Beca doesn’t look scared. She stares back at Chloe grimly, her lips set in a hard line. A silent message passes between them: it isn’t enough. This is going to end badly, and they both know it.

Somewhere upstairs, a window breaks, the sound of shattering glass more deafening than gunfire.

#pitch perfect horror week #bechloe #my writing #beca mitchell #chloe beale #and all their clones too #pitch perfect fanfiction

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