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that-one-weeb-but-starwars · 3 years ago

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My Love| Echo pt 3

Note: i'll edit this later, my mouth hurts from wisdom teeth removal but wanted to get it out for you.

Warnings: No real warnings, but there is a semi spicey scene and mentions of nudity towards the end, but doesnt go into too far of detail. And Echo's legs are cannoned a bit lower than tcw meaning yes Echos got an ass, but his legs and thighs stuff like that are still metal so

Reader: Male

Part: 1 | 2 | 3 | 3.5 | 4 | 5 | 6

Master list

Y/n watched the boys try there food. They're faces lighting up as the room became silent, people busy digging into there food.

Y/n ate his own, his hand on Echo's thigh under the table, Echo's leg touching Y/n's.

"Ma'm this is way way! Better than rations!" Wrecker cheered.

"Im glad you like it so much, so tell me boys. What brought you over here?" Margie asked.

Hunter swallowed his food, "well we wanted to meet Echo's boyfriend Ma'm, we had no idea they had been dating for so long."

It was lucky for the group that talked they stayed together, near the head of the table where Margie sat, a small kid or two down from her.

"Echo's been nothing but a delight. To both my son and my family." Margie praised, "he's a good kid, Im assuming he gets it from his older brothers?"

"Oh...uh." Hunter spoke.

"He's older than us." Crosshair responded for the group.

"Oh?" She smiled, "you learn something new every day."

She looked at Y/n who nodded and smiled, "Yep."

"So where are you boys staying?" She asked.

Oh shit. Was the only thing Echo could think of. His brothers? Staying here?

"Oh we have our own place." Tech responded, "We live in a building complex called the Marauder."

Well that was a lie.

"Wait. Isn't that the name-" Y/n was cut off when Hunter kicked him.

"Ow.."

"Sorry. Foot must've slipped." Hunter responded his head slightly jolting towards the side, Echo was lost in his food, eating small spoon fulls, he was listening inteny even though he tried to cover his easedropping up.

"Oh! Yeah!" Y/n chuckled, Echo's frame slightly picking up.

"Oh. Nice place then?" Margie spoke.

"Oh..uh yeah. Decent..just a bit cramped but we don't mine." Hunter told, "we do alot of delivering off world too, so we work a decent amount...Echo! Echo here works the hardest. He may not be the strongest but he sure knows how to uh-"

"Pack a crate! And log the ports data. He's also a skilled mechanic!" Wrecker joined in.

What were they doing? Fake Prasing him? Why?

She smiled, "You boys seem like you like your jobs."

The boy's nodded, Y/n watched as Tech, Hunter and Wrecker hyped up Echo. The boy's trying to support Echo, "and you? Crosshair was it?"

Crosshair stopped from putting a spoonful in his mouth, "Oh. I.-" he looked at Echo infront of him, "I have a long way to go, a lot to learn."

"The youngest then?" She questioned.

"Yeah..." Crosshair responded bringing the food to his mouth.

"That's a sweet little bussniess you all have then," she congratulated, "We'd have to work with you one day, we have a business of our own."

"What's the bussniess if I may ask?" Tech questioned.

"Well our main bussniess is a food bussniess, you know selling buying, producing, but recently we've started a non-profit organization for battle droids."

"For battle droids? Clankers?" Wrecker asked.

"Thats what them clone boys call them," She smiled, "we basically rehab them, and send them back into the world, most as servants, translators. Small things."

"That's uh well..."

"I know I know. But here we believe that everything stands a chance." She contuined, "Echo has helped us alot on efficent repairs."

Echo nodded as he put a spoonful in his mouth.

"We have one that takes care of the animals in the small barn." Margie told, "Y/n! Have you showed them the animals dear?"

"No ma. This is only the second room they been in." Y/n informed.

"How dare you not give them a tour!" His mother spoke fake harshly, Y/n chuckling his mom soon following after.

"Oh mommy dearest I ask your humble apologies even though I don't deserve it. I suppose I'll sleep outside in the barn."

The two laughed as they smiled at one another.

"I'll show them around afterwords. Prepaired for your world to be rocked." He told the boys infront of him.

"Well I welcome you to the family boys. Its always a pleasure to have another few join the bunch!" She cheered.

"Thank you." Hunter spoke.

She smiled for a final time return to her food as did the others, small talk. Kids started asking to be excused, when excused they took there dishes and walked into the kitchen to clean there dishes and put them on the drying racks.

Echo finished before Y/n asking to be excused he got up with his dishes and went to clean them. Wrecker asked next, he being excused as he grabbed his own things and left.

Echo was along cleaning his dishes, his plate flat in the sink as he scrubbed the plate with one hand.

"Wanna hand?"

Echo turned his head, "oh. No. Im good."

Echo turned back towards his plates.

"Echo. Im. Im sorry." Wrecker apologized, "he's better than any lady you could date."

"Oh. Uh." Echo spoke, "thanks..."

"I didn't mean to hurt your feelings." Wrecker told him.

Echo frowned, "I. I know Wrecker. I shouldn't of yelled at you."

"We've should of waited for you to explain."

Putting his dishes on the drying rack he turned to Wrecker who stood next to him, Wrecker's dishes sat on the counter patiently waiting for his turn.

"It's. Okay." Echo responded, "I, I forgive you, at the end of the day. I'm the only one dating him. Right?"

Wrecker smiled, "So. We're okay?"

Echo nodded, quickly being picked up in a hug as he chuckled, patting Wrecker's shoulder.

"Now do your dishes before Y/n's mom cuts your head off." Echo joked waving smally to him.

Echo walked back out, going down the hall and too the living room, the room filled with silence as he collected the cups from eariler.

Bent over setting all the cups down accordingly there was a whistle, a soft one, not loud enough for anyone to hear if they weren't in the room.

"Would you look at that ass." Y/n spoke, Echo standing straight as he turned around, "aren't you a gifted fellow?"

Echo chuckled, "You should be careful what you say in here."

It was Y/n's turn to chuckle.

"Why's that?"

"Why do you think?" Echo questioned as he watched Y/n walk forward, grabbing his hips and pulling Echo closer.

"All I do is tell the truth," Y/n smiled.

Echo's arms drapped on Y/n's shoulder's, Y/n holding his hips.

"Now this is something we shouldn't be doing in here." Y/n teased.

Echo smiled, "One kiss never hurt anyone?"

"Oh?"

Y/n smiled, leaning down kissing Echo. His hand running through Y/n's hair, Y/n pulled away from Echo, foreheads resting on one another.

"I love you." Y/n told him.

"I love you too." Echo smiled.

Y/n pulled him into a short kiss, "You wanna sit on my lap again baby?"

"Gladly-" Echo was cut off again with a kiss, a chuckle filling his mouth from Y/n.

"Get a damn room!"

Y/n pulled away, glaring at the teen.

"Well Enzo. I am in a room! So get out of it!" Y/n argued, Echo's head in Y/n's shoulder.

"Well mom wants you to give those guys a tour." Enzo responded.

"Alright." Y/n spoke, turning back to Echo, "Later baby."

Echo was give a kiss on the lips, Y/n grabbed the tray.

"I can do that," Echo spoke stopping Y/n.

"How about you can do this one day, when we have our own home." Y/n spoke, "you know when we're married and have a little farm."

Echo flushed deeply, a farm? With him and Y/n all by themselves? Sounded...sounded. amazing.

Y/n pulled away from him tray in hand, "come on let's give that tour."

Echo followed Y/n dropping off the tray and then taking the boys around, introducing them to all the kids, big, medium small to twilek, zabrack, human to torguata. All of diffrent personalities. Some reading on there bed, some working out, some listening to music, others playing with dolls and action figures.

And then there was his room, nothing special, Echo and his favorite record in sitting still as the song had finished, a box of records tucked under the small table the record player sat on. The sheets a dark purple his pillow cases a matching dark blue a window at the far end.

"Please come in." Y/n responded offering them to come in and look around.

They filed in, the room fitting all them comfortably.

"It's quiet simple," Tech explained, "Your personality is a bit more bubbly so I was expecting something wild."

"Like that?" Crosshair questioned.

"Like what?" Tech responded turning around to face the wall behind them.

The wall was filled with photos, drawings and dried flowers, a vintage theme, branching off into its sub groups.

"There it is." Tech repsonded adjusting his glasses.

"Please feel free to look around." Y/n responded.

Crosshair stood next to Wrecker as they looked at the photos.

"Hey! It's Echo! Look!" Wrecker cheered as Crosshair peered over, the photo of Echo asleep on the couch, kids knocked out with him, "and Kamino!"

"How's you get a picture of Kamino?" Hunter questioned now also looking at the photos.

"Echo here got it for me." Y/n smiled as Echo rubbed the back of his head, "Its not just my memories up there- Hey! Lets get our own photo up there!"

Y/n got up going over to his desk as he lifted the top up pulling the old porloroid out.

"Echo." Crosshair spoke as the clone came over, "wanna explain this one?"

Echo looked at the photo, he clearly knocked out in Y/n's bed, his back bare hinting towards what had happened before hand, the blanket covering to his mid back and down, his arms tucked under a pillow permentatly fluffing it up as his cheek was baired into it.

"Not bad." Crosshair spoke nudging his brother, he was trying.

"Here is is new film and all." Y/n smiled going towards the group, "Come on! Gather around."

Y/n smiled as the group akwardly grouped together infront of the window. Looking at the group he rushed over, pushing them closer together.

"It'll be on a timer so I only have a few seconds." Y/n told them walking back over, "ready?"

"Uh sure?"

Y/n quickly pushed the button rushing over to the group, he quickly stood next to Echo. There was a click as Y/n rushed back over. The photo coming out the bottom as Tech rushed over intrested.

"Oh nice its comin through already." Y/n smiled, soon waving the square around as he walked over to his desk picking out a red and black thumb tack.

"Hmm..." y/n spoke rushing over to the wall looking around, "hah! Echo come here! Help me put this up."

Echo walked over as the boys watched him hand Echo the image and tack.

"See right there." Y/n pointed a spot above the door, dead center towards the ceiling.

"We'll move this one." Y/n said pulling up an old photo besides the light switch "up there."

Handing Echo the old photo they swapped Y/n pinning the new one with the group with a smile.

"Ready?"

"Yeah-"

Echo was grabbed by the legs, Y/n picking him up as Y/n grabbed the back off his thighs.

"A bit higher." Echo spoke as Y/n pulled his arms back, tight on Echo's thighs he pushed the clone upward, his thighs now trapping Y/n's face as Y/n's hands vanished behind Echo's kama skirt.

"Got it?" Y/n asked his chin resting at Echo's belt.

"Yeah." Echo spoke, his face red as he cleared his throat.

"Ready?'

"No- Y/n-" He spoke as Y/n laughed walking towards his bed, "Y/n! Y/n! I'll kill you don't- Ah!-"

Y/n tossed the trooper on the bed he bouncing as he let out a grunt, Y/n only chuckled turning back towards the boys, "come on i'll show you that barn they were talking about."

Y/n lead the boys along to the backyard, showing them the small barn his father worked on fixing a small animals leg, waving a B-1 droid showed up in a happy matter the others ready to fight.

"Master Y/n!"

"Please Y/n is fine B." Y/n smiled, "Boys this is B. He helps with the animals."

With an akward introduction the batchers kept there distance, but with the end of the small barn came the end of the tour. It now late in the hours of the day as the boys made there way our. Excusing themselves for the night.

"You'll have to come back." Y/n smiled.

"If its okay with Echo and your mother. " Hunter spoke, "and you of course."

"We'd be delighted to have you again." Y/n smiled, "Please. Come anytime with Echo. Or by yourselves. We're open doors."

Hunter nodded, the batch saying there goodbyes and thanks once more. They started there way away from the home, Tech staying back, "I suppose not all regs are regular after all. And that's good."

With his last comment Tech rushed to join the others.

Echo stayed behind with Y/n who smiled as the boys vanished.

"Now. That we're. Alone." Y/n teased.

"Alone? Really in this house?" Echo teased back.

Y/n chuckled, "as alone as we can be."

Echo smiled as Y/n closed the door.

"I'll go make some more milk and honey, you. Go get ready to cuddle." Y/n ordered playfully.

"Thats something I can do."

Him and Y/n unfortunately went separate ways, Y/n cleaning the cups and pot setting them to dry as one of the old B-1 droids would put the mass of dishes away during the night.

He pulled out another pot, putting it on the stove filled with the sweet liquid he wipped the tray clean, putting a fresh set of cookies on a small plate and two cups. Just in time as the pot started to whistle, pulling it off the stove he turned the gas off and went to his room.

Holding the tray in one hand he opened his door, "hey hope you didn't miss me too..."

Y/n's frame filling the door way, but froze seeing Echo's bare back facing him, a blanket sat high waisted on him as Y/n quickly stepped in, quiet with his steps he locked the door behind him, Echo now standing up and facing Y/n the blanket still around his waist.

"I uh..." Echo responded with a flush, "thought...you might like this first..."

Y/n flushed as Echo dropped the blanket, setting the tray on the nearest surface big enough, the floor flush against the wall besides the door, he walked over, kicking his shoes off in the process.

"Baby you have no idea how much I like this." Y/n told him, Echo's gaze away.

Maker. Y/n took his thumb to Echo's chin, Y/n's soft skin lightly tapping up Echo's chin to look up at him. Holding Echo's chin in place with his thumb and index finger Y/n smiled smally, his eyes filled with love for the pale male infront of him.

"Y/n. I..." Echo trailed off.

"Shh..." Y/n hushed softly, his thumb running down Echo's lip and back to his chin, "You don't have to say anything..."

Echo raised on his toes, leaning up to kiss Y/n, Y/n leaned down, the first kiss was almost shy, there lips only pressing together in sweet presence of one another. The small kiss leaving Echo breathless. They pulled away shortly. Another one soon be initiated, Y/n nudging Echo to sit down softly, he following Echo's movements, Y/n sitting besides him, the kissing barely any more intense, Echo swinging a leg over Y/n's straddling the taller male.

Y/n held the small of Echo's back, the two's makeout session growing in heat as Y/n's hands running down Echo's back and to his ass, where he gladly let his hands rest of Echo's warm skin while they kissed.

It was soon for breathe they pulled away, Y/n attaching himself to Echo's neck. Echo's hand through Y/n's hair as he hummed against Echo's pale skin, earing a soft mewel.

"Y/n...take me...take me away..." Echo whispered, Y/n laying Echo down on his back, his lips never movinv from Echo's shoulder.

"Take me away...Y/n..." Echo meweled softly, the words spilling from Echo's vocal cords once again.

Y/n stopped momentarily to lean up into Echo's ear, "only if I can come along baby..."

The night was filled with passion, hair being pulled in pleasure, moans dripping off each others lips, ripped from there vocal cords in call for the other one. Pleads drawn from the bottom as Echo left a few new scratch marks on Y/n's back, along with a line of hickeys following Y/n's collar blade to sholder. Y/n did the same, leaving hickies along Echo's body, where skin met metal.

Echo laid flat on his stomach now, his head turned towards Y/n. Y/n held a stupid large smile on his face, his finger's interlaced with Echo's.

"That was somethin else babe." Y/n told him softly, "Parched after the time of your life?"

Echo chuckled as Y/n pulled himself up, and out of bed. Echo receiving a pleasent veiw of Y/n's behind with one side having present marks, they currently defined and fresh, marks both darker and lighter spotted Y/n's back, mostly towards his shoulder and nape of his neck.

Echo watched Y/n pick up the tray and make his way back to the bed setting it on the nightstand, climbing back in the covers as Echo nuzzle up to Y/n.

"Clingy now are we? Let me pour you a cup atleast." Y/n chuckled.

Pouring them both cups Echo was handed one cold cup, "Thanks."

"Mhmm," Y/n acknowledged the two cuddled up, "shame its cold. Must sat for too long, needy thing arent you?"

Echo flustered, but took a risk himself, "Could still be longer."

"Oh? And what are you gonna do that I haven't done to you?" Y/n teased, Echo took a heavy drink, hoping it would bring him energy later taking Y/n's he sat it on the nightstand next to his own side of the bed.

Echo pushed Y/n onto the bed flat, the covers still hiding Y/n's lower half.

"I haven't rode you." Echo told boldly.

Y/n smirked up at him, "You're right you haven't,"

Echo's leg's swinging over Y/n, "Think you can handle me?" Echo questioned.

Y/n chuckled, "Baby you have no idea what I'd endure for you." Y/n sat up, holding Echo's face with a hand.

"Lets see then." Echo responded Y/n biting his lip as he pushed the covers down with a foot.

Y/n was pulled into a kiss, his hands running up and down Echo's back as Echo pushed him to the bed, the kiss never breaking.

Read the Next Part here if you like smut or stay generally sfw here

#star wars #the bad batch #sw: tbb #star wars: the bad batch #echo tbb #tbb echo #echo x male reader #star wars echo #bad batch echo #the bad batch echo #echo the bad batch #x male reader #lil smutty my bad #oof #i liked how this turned out

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rhysismydaddy · 4 years ago

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Unholy Matrimony Pt. 5 (Nessian)

Damnation Series

Parts 1 / 2 / 3 / 4

____________________________________________________________

~Cassian~

A week later, I’m exceptionally proud to say I haven’t given in yet. No matter how much I want to.

Tensions the past seven days have been... high, to say the least.

Both of us are doing our absolute best to drive the other insane.

She’s doing it so I either sign the deed and give in or turn to someone else, both which would give her Sera back.

I’m doing it because if I have to suffer, she can bet her pretty ass she does, too.

Ironically, tonight’s our engagement party. A celebration of our undying love and an announcement to the world the Russians and Italians of New York should no longer hate and murder each other.

They’re allowed to be sexually frustrated as hell, but no, they can’t kill each other.

I’m waiting for the little minx who’s spent the week making me regret ever even asking for the club, drinking bourbon so I’m too drunk to even be tempted by her--which is likely enough to kill me--when she finally deigns to grace me with her presence.

I take one look at her, starting at the high blonde ponytail that would wrap around my fist at least twice and ending at the very high, very red shoes I immediately want by my shoulders.

“Fuck.”

Obviously the reaction she was looking for, she smiles.

Her dress is a cream color thing that clings to her curves and is short enough to showcase her long legs. It’s somehow classy, while low enough to draw my eyes to her breasts as she comes down the stairs towards me.

Nesta stops right before me, close enough I smell the jasmine and vanilla of her skin, and looks at me through her lashes.

I turn my gaze to the ceiling, vowing to keep it there until I trust myself to not do something stupid like tell her she’s the most stunning thing I’ve ever seen.

“I’m so fucked,” I mutter hopelessly.

If possible, she comes closer, sliding all the interesting, female parts of her against me. “You would be if you just gave me back my shit.”

I glare down at her. “I don’t like to lose.”

“Would you really be losing?”

I keep my mouth shut, because the answer to that question is a big fat no. God, she’s good.

“Tell me again why you refuse to put us out of our misery?” I ask in return, trying to remind myself who the fuck I am.

Even though I wonder if it is our misery. I can’t read her, can’t tell if this is affecting her like it is me.

She gives me a cold look. “What do you see happening after we get married, exactly? You think you’ll work a few hours at the club I spent three years building from the ground up, come home and eat a home cooked meal, then fuck your complacent little wife however you want?”

I have no idea what to say, because when she puts it like that, I sound like the biggest douche in the world.

Nesta sees the hesitation in my eyes and rolls hers. “It’ll be a cold day in hell before I allow you to disrespect me like that, stronzo.”

“I respect you,” I say immediately, meaning the words.

“Just not enough to value my career.”

“Nesta-”

“Deal with it. If you somehow keep the board from voting you out in the next two weeks and manage to not sleep with me--which is unlikely, considering the way you look at me--the club will be yours.” She takes a step back, steeling her spin. “But I will not.”

I’m conflicted as hell, torn between wondering if she’s just playing me or being sincere.

Apparently done with the verbal smackdown, Nesta spins towards the door.

Hand on the handle, she turns back around and cocks her head. And then she answers the questions I hadn’t realized I’d been too scared to ask.

“No and yes.”

My brows raise. “What?”

“No, it hasn’t all been just me trying to mess with you. Yes, I want you as much as you want me. But I respect myself too much to allow someone who blazes into my life and steals something from me without a care or even a real negotiation to have my body, too.”

She walks out the door, leaving me standing in the living room stunned.

I eventually follower her down to the garage and we leave for the party Rhys is hosting for us downtown. But even though I go through the motions once we arrive, my mind is on the woman next to me the entire night.

I hate admitting it, but she’s right.

I took something that belonged to her, didn’t even question talking to her first, then acted like she was in the wrong for doing whatever she could to get it back.

I’ve said I like how strong and independent she is, but I tried to take that independence and turn her into something else. I bulldozed my way into her life, then acted like I was the one inconvenienced by it.

And seriously, why am I even fighting for this place? Yeah, I like it and think it’s unique, but the place is above board. Which to me translates as boring.

The past two weeks, I’ve had to go to investment meetings, deal with sending out the nightly invitations for entrance, and plan events for upcoming holidays. Things I never do with my other properties.

I hate managing things--I hire people to do that kind of thing for me. But I know I can’t hire someone, because who the hell besides my fiancé would do the job right?

No one.

I realize that on the drive home, and it gets me thinking. By the time we’re inside the apartment, I’m already mentally finalizing the details.

I tell her I have to take care of something, go to my office, and close the door.

Then I pull up the marriage contract, along with the deed to Sera, and hit print.

~Nesta~

A week after our engagement party, I realized I’ve started to lose hope.

Cassian’s managed to wrangle or bribe or threaten the board into not voting him out, and the employees have stopped calling me to ask when I’m coming back. He hasn’t touched me or tried to seduce me in six days--probably a record for him--and I start to feel like I’ve lost.

My club will be his in a week, and after we’re married, only him signing the deed over will get it back. Something that will never happen, considering it’d be a serious hit to his pride to do something as weak as give me what’s rightfully mine.

My club will be his, but like I said, I won’t.

Which honestly is just as upsetting.

Even though he’s a stubborn, boneheaded stronzo with a big enough ego for us both, it’s hard for me to overlook the moments of the past three weeks that haven’t revolved around Sera.

Little moments that have made it harder for me to pull away from him.

He’s made me laugh more than anyone I’ve ever met, whether with his foul sense of humor or stories about his violent, wild childhood. He stopped leaving the toilet seat up when I pointed it out. He hasn’t said a word about me ordering take-out all the time or working in bed while he tries to sleep.

He even dealt with one of Alexei’s buyers for me when they tried to renegotiate the price originally agreed upon.

And he hasn’t really pressed the celibacy thing. Sure, he’s complained about it enough for me to want to smack him, but I don’t know any other Made Men, Russian or Italian, that would’ve respected my wish after how much I’ve teased him.

If he would just-

I cut that train of thought off and focus on the report in front of me, because at this point, it’s obvious he won’t.

I sip my wine, which is starting to grow on me, and look over shipment records from one of Alexei’s yards, flagging crates that need to be smuggled instead of brought in through the main channels. Repressing a groan at the thought, I realize I’ll have to go down one night this week and make sure they arrive without problem.

I take another long pull from my glass.

“Drinking to forget?” Cassian asks, leaning in the doorway of the bedroom and looking me over.

I shrug, not much in the mood for banter.

“I got you something.”

Sighing, I reply, “Yeah, me too. It’s on the nightstand.”

His brow furrows as he walks over and picks up the ring box, opening it to look at the titanium band inside.

Just another symbol of our lifelong, happy, sexless marriage.

He puts the ring back in the box and extends a hand. “It isn’t a ring.”

“What is it?”

“Get your ass out of bed and find out.”

I would, except I don’t want to. And I don’t really want whatever stupid, materialistic thing he’s bought me-

He closes my laptop and pulls the cover back, ducking when I swing a fist towards his head. “Violent little wolf,” he teases.

“Stop calling me that,” I demand, trying in vain to keep the blanket on me so he can’t tell I’m not wearing anything underneath the t-shirt I stole from him.

He pauses, sighs, and scoops me up, blanket and all. “I love watching you fight how much you love me calling you that.”

“I don’t have to fight anything except he overwhelming urge to smack you.”

Cassian just huffs, walking us out of the room, through the living room, and into his office. Then he puts me down, smacks my butt to get me moving, and grunts when I elbow him in the ribs.

“Maybe this will fix your bad mood,” he mutters, flipping the light switch on and bathing the office in golden light.

I take an involuntary step forward, eyebrows going high on my forehead.

I’ve only been in here once before, just long enough to notice the obnoxiously big desk and wall of windows behind it. I’d taken in the black leather couch and wing-backed chairs, determined it was a typical male office for a typical male, and vowed to work somewhere else.

But that was a while ago, and it’s obvious he’s done some home improvement.

There are decidedly now two desks in the corners near the windows, angled in to the middle of the room where two cream-colored leather chairs sit. The desks are identical, mahogany and classic without being ostentatious.

A rug covers the hardwood floors, a deep maroon color that matches small details throughout the room.

It’s beautiful.

Cassian leads me with his hands on my shoulders to one of the desks, and I let him guide me around to the chair and push me down in the soft leather.

I look up to ask him what this is about, but he jerks his chin to the desk where to two papers lie.

One is the deed to Sera.

A rush of surprise goes through me as I see he’s transferred the building back over to me, even going so far as to deem the process irreversible. It’s signed and dated a week ago, the night of our engagement party.

My eyes are shiny as I look at the other document and read through it.

“What is this?”

“A partnership, of sorts,” Cassian explains, leaning a hip on the- my desk like he did in his Capo’s office. “You’re now a partner at my businesses, and if you sign, I’ll be yours.”

My eyes find his, and I see that he’s serious but still choke out, “What?”

He smiles and shrugs, like signing over half of your life’s work is easy. “You had me pegged when you first saw me and figured out I’m a fighter. I hate everything about running a business except the in-person negotiating and knitty gritty shit. It’s boring to me, and while I can do it, I’m not nearly as good at it as you are.”

“Cassian-”

“So run them both. I’ll do the day to day shit I know you hate, and you’ll do the rest.”

I can’t hardly process what he’s saying.

“What if we disagree?” It’s a valid question, considering we’ve basically been fighting the entire time we’ve been engaged.

“We talk about it and try to figure it out. And if we can’t, the original owner has the final call and veto power in all situations.” His eyes say he knows how important it is to me as he says, “You’ll still be in control of your property, and I’ll still be in control of mine.”

I don’t know why I’m still asking questions, because it sounds great, but there’s one more thing I want to know.

“Why?”

He sighs, sitting on the desk fully and looking down at me with open, honest eyes. “Because I’m tired of doing this shit alone. I’m tired of going to work and dealing with every single thing and then coming home and having no one who understands.”

He looks out the window, shoulders tight. “I thought you’d be like my friends’ wives, which is why I was such an ass. I thought you’d be just another thing for me to take care of, and I’m sorry it’s taken me this long to realize you could be my partner, not just my wife.”

His eyes are back on mine, the heat in them making my heart pound. “I’m sorry, Nesta. I’m sorry I stole Sera in the first place, then refused to hear you out and give it back. I have a tendency to be a little stubborn.”

My lips twitch, and his eyes soften at the sight.

“But what you said about respecting yourself stuck. I don’t want you to feel like I don’t respect you, because I do. You’re smarter than me, cool when I’m rash, and have the mind for business I never have.” He smiles softly. “I know you’re just as alone as me, and just as tired of it. So say yes.”

I feel a smile on my face as I get to my feet, moving to stand between his thighs. “Are you just doing this so I’ll sleep with you?”

He sighs, dropping his head in shame to rest against my chest. “You caught me.”

My arms wrap around his shoulders, his going around my waist, and I use the opportunity to play in his hair. It’s so soft and curly, and he makes a content sound as I run my hands through it.

“Are you saying yes, little wolf?” he murmurs against my collarbone, dropping his head to rub his face across my breasts.

I roll and tug his hair to keep the randy bastard away. “Yes, pervert, I’m saying yes.”

Cassian smiles a big, goofy smile so ridiculously charming I lean in and kiss him.

His hands lock at my waist, resting on the curve of my back, and for a moment, he just lets me kiss him.

It isn’t our first kiss by any means, but it’s the first one where neither of us have ulterior motives, so I take my time.

I kiss his top lip, his bottom lip. Find I like them both equally.

My hands work across his shoulders, the thick muscles contracting under my hands, and I sigh his name.

Cassian’s hands fist in the fabric of my pajamas--which happen to still be his shirt--and draws me closer. He kisses my neck, inhaling deeply.

“You smell so fucking good,” he mutters, biting down softly and making me gasp. “It drives me crazy.”

His hands slip to the back of my thighs, then I’m on his lap, knees on the desk next to his hips. “You drive me crazy,” he clarifies.

He kisses me again, hands sliding up my thighs to my ass to grind me against him. Callouses scrape against my skin as he sweeps the shirt off and tosses it behind me.

“Shit,” he murmurs, eyes dropping to take me in.

The fact that he’s still fully dressed while I’m in nothing but my underwear makes me feel even more exposed, doing strange things to my mind. I start unbuttoning his shirt while he kisses down my chest.

He teases one with his hand while he takes the other in his mouth, swirling his tongue around the peak. I squirm, pressing my hips more fully against is, but he holds me still, kissing and teasing me until I can’t take it anymore.

“Cassian,” I murmur, tugging his hair to pull his gaze to mine. “Thank you for the desk. I love it.”

His brows furrow, and I can see him start to think about how much I’ve teased him, but before he can worry that’s what I’m doing, I whisper, “Now fuck me on it. Please.”

A muscle in his jaw flickers, and his fingers dig into the flesh of my hips.

Before I can say another word, he stands and spins us around, sliding me on the desk. He holds my thighs around his hips, and then an idea seems to dawn.

“Wait right here.”

“Seriously?” I ask, even though he’s already half-way out of the room.

“Don’t you dare fucking move!” is the shouted response.

I roll my eyes, but he’s back quickly, holding the red stilettos I wore to our engagement party. I howl with laughter, and a faint blush colors his cheeks, but he stays firm in his desire and puts them on the floor beside my feet.

Then he leans against the window and watches while I slip them on.

His golden eyes blaze as I lean back on my elbows and slowly spread my thighs, in nothing but lace panties and heels.

“I’ll buy you all the desks you want, if you sit on them like that.”

Laughter bubbles out of me, and he’s suddenly on me, leaning over me to kiss me in a frenzy.

I rip his shirt open, and he doesn’t even break the kiss as he throws it to the floor. I hear the telltale clink of a belt, and then he stands up to slide my panties down, grab my legs, and guide them up.

I feel him brush over the center of me, instinctively lifting my hips to give him a better angle.

But he doesn’t give me what I want.

Cassian just stands there, gaze gliding from the hells on his shoulders to the apex of my thighs.

“Hold that thought,” he mutters, dropping to his knees and putting his mouth on me before I can even blink.

My back leaves the desk, a gasp escaping me.

“Cassian.”

“I want you to come on my tongue, then you get to come on my cock.”

“Cassian.”

He hums, the sensation sending shivers down my spin. He kisses me like he’s doing it for him, not me, mouth on every part of me it can reach.

I can see the lines of his tattoos on his shoulders, the top of his curly hair. It’s too much to handle, so I just lay back down on the desk and throw my hands above my head to hold on to the edge of the desk.

The only time he stops is to tell me things that apparently can’t wait five minutes, but I don’t even care because every word out of that sinful mouth makes me burn hotter.

“Come for me,” he demands breathlessly a few minutes later.

“Don’t boss me around,” I groan, even as I do exactly what he wants.

He lets me ride it out, dropping kisses to my thighs and stomach and hips.

As soon as I catch my breath, he’s on his feet, putting me in the exact position I was in earlier.

And then he’s pushing inside me, and I honestly almost come again from the feel alone. “Thank God,” I groan, the past three reminding me of the misery teasing him put me through.

“Fucking hell, you’re perfect.”

Hands on my thighs, he holds me in place as he starts to move. But as he picks up speed, going harder with each thrust, his hands have to slip to my thighs to keep me still.

I say his name, sounding like I’m begging him for something, and he groans. His head’s thrown back, bare skin shining and making him look likesome sort of beautiful devil.

“Hurry up, little wolf,” he almost pleads.

The sound of that stupid fucking nickname does me in, and I come with a loud moan. I would’ve kicked him in the head if he hadn’t immediately dropped down on top of me to kiss me without abandon.

His hips still but he keeps kissing me until he has to break for air.

I’m boneless and limp beneath him, and he looks me over with male satisfaction.

Then his mouth drops open, betrayal in his eyes, and he says, “I just realized you didn’t speak even French! All these weeks of me fucking fantasizing about that... well, I guess we’ll just have to do it again.”

“Accorde moi un instant,” I pant in French, asking for a moment.

He grins down at me. “Take your time. We have a lifetime.”

My lips twitch, and I don’t stifle the urge to smile.

I’m about to say something, but then his expression turns serious. “You realize I have to fuck you on my desk now. Equality and whatnot.”

I laugh and pull his mouth to mine. “As long as you know I’m still not giving you my side of the bed.”

He tugs on my bottom lip with his teeth. “We can share.”

We get married seven days later, surrounded by a crowd of family, dirty politicians, thieves, drug and arms dealers, and friends.

In the past week, we’ve solidified our business model to a thing of perfection. I handle public relations, real estate and development, and negotiations for the shipping business. Cassian handles both the Bratva and Cosa Nostra soldiers in New York, training new recruits, drug distribution, and negotiations for the arms business.

Basically, I do what I’m good at, and he does what he’s good at.

I know it’s ridiculous to trust someone with half my business after only a month of knowing them, but like Cassian said, I was tired of doing this shit alone.

I’d been dreading the future, dreading taking over and doing everything myself. And now I don’t have to.

I have him to lean on, him to trust.

Looking up, I notice him watching me as we dance, not at all paying attention to the crowd. “What are you thinking about, little wolf?”

“I’m thinking how I thought of this marriage as nothing but an alliance at first. I guess it still is that, but... it’s also more.” He spins us around to the music, watching me with a knowing expression. “You’re more to me than that. And I’m... I’m happy. Working with you and the thought of our future makes me happy.”

He smiles.

“You love me,” he states with quiet confidence.

My heart starts pounding, because I’ve never told a living person that before.

But it’s never been true before, and it is now, so I respond steadily, “I do.”

“I love you, too, Nesta Orlov. Have since the moment I saw you.” He sounds so relaxed about it, the words falling from his lips so easily.

“Doesn’t it scare you?” I ask, not understanding how he’s the calm one all of a sudden.

“Anything you love something, there’s the risk you could lose it or it could hurt you.” Cassian brushes a thumb over my cheek. “But I could never be scared to love you.”

I shake my head and start to say something, but he cuts me off.

“Every morning, when you wake up, there’s this little moment where you look around, confused. And then you look at me, and that hesitation in your eyes just... melts.” He dips me, wrapping his arms tight around me. “You look at me like you trust me, and love me, and want me.”

He presses a soft kiss to my lips. “That look is worth every risk and hardship and whatever else loving someone entails.”

I kiss him back as he brings us to standing. “Italians are such saps.”

He shows off the smile I’ve realized he only gives me, and I say the words I know he needs to hear just as badly as I did. “I love you, Cassian. You’re worth the risk, too.”

______________________________________________________

THANK U FOR READINGGG soft ending for the win

#nessian #nessian fanfiction #acotar #acosf #acowar #a court of thorns and roses #acotar fanfiction #nessian archeron

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chocolateslatte · 5 years ago

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🚨The Rise of Skywalker Detailed Review and Spoilers Ahead🚨

George Lucas: “If the boy and girl walk off into the sunset hand-in-hand in the last scene, it adds 10 million to the box office”

The “fairytale” we got: A long long time ago in a galaxy far far away, there was a curse of pain and death in a family that just went on and on. They were never able to break it and they all die, the end.

Well, you did it JJ, you little punk...you ruined 40 years of cinema. Kids are coming out of theatres crying, they can’t understand. I guess this was the “fun and hopeful ending” you were speaking of during the press tours. Are you on crack or something, or just sadistic....why would you promote it like that!? Did you forget Star Wars at its core is a story of hope, light, a fairytale in space for children? They did it...they united Reylo’s and Fanboys through hate.

JJ you do realize tragical romances are only tragically romantic if there was romantic buildup? Romeo and Juliet married in secret, Anidala did as well and flirted in the fields. How was this supposed to be satisfying? A five-second beginning, middle, and end. How this went through multiple execs is beyond me.... I would have understood if Reylo was Rian’s creation. BUT JJ LITERALLY was the one who told Rian to go forth with it...he created Reylo so you can’t say the last Jedi derailed things on that front. JJ wasn’t brave enough for his own vision. This movie was like “the crimes of Grindlewald”, a lot of stuff happening that made me feel nothing.

Okay, first things first. The OG trilogy was necessary, the prequels were necessary to set up that Vader did not start off bad. What was necessary about the sequels? They just dismantled everything the Skywalker family worked for. Why did we have to see ALL of our favorite characters die? Was the aim that a villain can only be redeemed through death? How original. I’m convinced what they were planning for since force awakens was a journey from villain to hero...but instead we got this a 10min redemption resulting in death a la Vader. Why call Adam Driver’s character a “Disney Prince”?When did Happy endings become so controversial? We go to the movies to feel hope, to escape reality...George Lucas understood that. JJ’s trilogy is uninspired, bland and contributes nothing to the saga. JJ went as far as to recon his own “The Force Awakens”.It had the chance to define generations but no. Literal and utter garbage. Rian made some odd choices but he was bold, unafraid and had the vision. HE knew emotion was at the heart of Star Wars.

WHERE DID THE SKYWALKERS RISE? MORE LIKE RISE OF PALPATINE, HE BLOODY WON

BUT my problem is not with the ending, it’s the bloody entire movie. This movie made me realize that it's not Reylo that I am a fan of, it was Ben, Leia, Han, Ani, Padme, and all those other characters. I’m upset because this movie is not my Star Wars: of family, love and above all else hope. This is just a 2.5-hour video game with no emotions. This trilogy was all angst with NO payoff.

Okay, you will never ever convince me Palpatine was planned the whole time. This whole movie was retcon for the Last Jedi that pissed off the fanboys. Lucas films did not have an outline for the three films and Rian derailed whatever they wanted to do....except they didn’t even tell him what they wanted! This should be a cautionary tale of why you need to plan. Kylo ain’t bad, Snoke is gone....well pull out Palpatine I guess. This whole film is JJ’s mad scrambling. Alright, I will humor you, tell me how Palpatine came back when he fell down a shaft and exploded....not *boom boom because of force*. The force in this movie is not canon George Lucas force, it’s just an easy out whenever JJ wants one.

1. Opening Crawl: As soon as I saw this I knew all the leaks were true, I wanted to bolt from the theatre. When I saw them in August I laughed cause it was so ridiculous it couldn’t be true. How could Disney let a whole movie leak? The plot seemed like a bad fan-fiction. Actually, fanfics are way more true to lore. Anyway, so Palpatine “announces” that he’s back. Is this the shrewd Chancellor Palpatine we know? Certainly, not...why in the world would he announce it rather than keep on the DL and just attack. Yo Palps ain’t this dumb why would you let them (the resistance) prepare?? Because of plot...well okay.

2. Did Last Jedi even happen: this film is the sequel to the force awakens, like TLJ never happened...except it’s acting like there was some movie in between that JJ made. Okay, so why is Kylo trying to run Rey over with his tie fighter...he doesn’t really want to kill her. It’s just meaningless action shots. And don’t get me started on exposition, the dialogue: “hey look its the Knights of Ren”. Except they do nothing. Cool cool. Kylo’s character goes back to Force awakens era like no development had occurred...except he’s not even there he’s just messing around not even being a real villain. JJ’s specialty is set-up and he does this beautifully....but he can not wrap up and follow through.

3. Rose Tico: yup last Jedi never happened, she has nothing to do. She and Finn are irrelevant. Finn has reverted to being obsessed with Rey. Cool Cool. I honestly feel so bad for the lovely Kelly Marie Tran. How did you relegate a relatively big character into the sidelines?? Why introduce two new characters this late. Rose could have filmed in for them...but alas we must snub Rian at every turn because that’s just how petty JJ Abrams is. ( don’t get me wrong Jannah was cool)

4. The Rise Of Poe Dameron: Finn has been relegated to a side character who does nothing and just yells “REY!”. It was a great setup, a stormtrooper who was force sensitive but doesn’t want his life to be fighting for nothing. You could have explored trauma, the discovery of the light but nope nada. Tell me the point of his character journey. So flat and static. And with Jannah and the ex stormtroopers they could have gone with the arc of these lost, sad kids coming together to find family.

5. Leia: Okay you’re telling me our Princess would give up on her son before he was born, just throw away her lightsaber and accept Ben’s fate? Cool alright. And she knew about Rey Palpatine and didn’t say anything...my princess would never.

6. Mary Sue Rey: Ahh Rey this girl feels no emotion in this movie...just like the audience. Sure she’s trained but she can just do stuff with the “force” that even Jedi masters can’t. Stopping a whole starship, something even Yoda could barely do...yup she can do it. Beat Kylo all the time except one, yup she can. Manipulate the force in mind-boggling ways, heal people...sure Luke couldn’t but Rey certainly can. Cause she is the chosen one...hell even Ani wasn’t this talented and he had years of training. Poe and Finn have a genuine connection, Rey just seems disjointed (totally understandable why)...but if so the ending is even worse. She doesn’t even find peace with her friends. She’s not realistic and human like Luke and Leia were.

Force sensitivity in the galaxy: What a perfect setup, the boy with the broom at the end of TLJ that was force sensitive. The message is that the power to use the force was spreading through the galaxy. No longer confined to the elite. People were hearing of Luke’s battle of Crate and rising.

7. Kylo/Ben: I still maintain that he, other than Ani was the most nuanced character in the whole saga. His arc from Force Awakens to Last Jedi had progressed. How great that even someone from the legendary line of skywalker and solo could fall to the dark again. He wasn’t flat, he was a tortured boy that was conflicted since the first movie. How great would it have been to see him as a conflicted supreme leader, which was set up in TLJ. But *gasps* a plot of his very own, no can do, this is the nature of JJ’s crush on Rey and Daisy.

Disney released comics that made us sympathize with him, to see that all along he was manipulated by Snoke, and Palpatine the voices in his head. Neglected by those who were supposed to love him. Adam Driver was cast perfectly, he had almost no lines that weren’t related to Rey’s charcater arc. If he were a woman I’m sure everyone would be offended. That single line’s delivery “Dad-”

Come on Poe had more lines than him, and Driver according to JJ was half of the protagonist. He was pitched an arc opposite that of Darth Vader that’s why he signed. Man JJ really did do everyone dirty.

8. Ben had no lines while redeemed other than “ow”...I am so sorry ADAM that this nasty ass JJ did this to you...this part was 100% improv by Adam, I am willing to bet my life on it. You know why “ow” was brilliant? Cause it meant he felt pain and emotion, he was no longer hiding behind the hardness of Kylo REN. Adam’s performance as Ben left me speechless, he was convincing as Kylo, intimidating...but as BEN he shines in the way only Solo’s can. The way his eyes become determined once he accepts he must give his life, and he does so happily for the love of his life. His soulmate. Star Wars and JJ never deserved the talent that is Adam Driver.

9. They are supposed to be equals in the force yet they missed the opportunity to fight Snoke together. Tell me how they are equals. He existed only to further Rey’s plotline.

Oh and the other Jedi including Anakin whisper and help Rey...when his own grandson has been asking for help in distress for like 30years. Nice real nice.

10. Finally Reylo: it felt unearned cause there was no buildup, JJ just threw it in for kicks forgetting all the P&P parallels he was shooting for. An afterthought. Driver and Ridley’s acting saved the day, they had no lines. Adam Driver is truly one of the finest actors. You could see the difference between Ben and Kylo in his subtle gestures...the sass was pure Han Solo.

11. And then the death: I wouldn’t even say we won, but at what cost. We won in no way. Had he died fighting I would have understood, but this death was so unnecessary and put in just for the fanboys. Let me say again I would have been okay with death had it been justified. How is this any different than Vader x Luke. JJ can only copy not create. How crazy that you can just bring people back from the dead...Anakin is here like, am I joke to you? I could have brought Padme back say what???? What was the point of his whole fall to the dark. The force is infinite, that’s the whole point...once you know how to use it you can’t run out of it like juice. Oh, and Ben did not become one with Rey but rather the Force according to the Disney website. So why pray tell did he not appear as a force ghost? I’m convinced JJ was on crack.

12. No Mourning BEN no acknowledgment: 5 seconds! And then she moves on from losing her soulmate, half of her soul. She loses it over Chewie but nothing, no emotion not even a second over her other half. Seriously? No one ever knows Ben came back...nada. JJ set up Reylo, time and time again he has said that he crafted the story around the romance. He was left scrambling after Last Jedi and this was a last-ditch shock ending. No Reylo theme song, no across the stars

13. Last Jedi told us you don’t have to come from a powerful family to be important. THE WHOLE thing was that you could be force-sensitive and be a nobody. Nobodies can become somebody. A Hero is not born but made. The force lives in all beings, not just powerful families. It inspired me, what a great message to young guys and gals. Kylo’s line, “you come from nothing, you are nothing...you have no place in this story” finally turns out true. You have to come from something to have a part in the Star Wars story. And Rey had darkness inside her cause she was human. Because none of us are pure, we are shades of grey. But no, it’s cause darkness only runs in families. In the Last Jedi when she wants to see her family all she sees is herself and a shadow (Ben) who joins with her. Please do explain this JJ. And if this granddaughter thing was set up I would have had no problem...but they pulled it from their asses. You can have nothing but mean something. But no pander to the fanboys. In the end, a Palpatine lived and all the skywalkers ended....and we are supposed to have hope. Palpatine really did win.

14. Rey’s biggest fear was ending up in the desert alone, we were told “the belonging she seeks is ahead not behind” and “there’s someone who could still come back”. They mentioned she felt just as alone with the resistance. Only the other half of her soul understood her. This is truly tragic and sad...I am so heartbroken for her. And don’t tell me she isn’t there to stay...the soundtrack is called “a new home”. Enjoy the rest of your days being exactly where you started Rey....but hey at least you got a droid boo. I’m convinced this is not the balance JJ envisioned in the first movie. At one point in TFA Rey looks up sees an old woman alone, scavenging in the desert. This rattles her to the core and it starts her journey of wanting a better, different life. I am so sorry Rey. Okay so you may say she has the resistance and her friends...but let’s consult the last Jedi. In the end when everyone is on the ship...Rey is surrounded by friends yet looks more alone than ever. No one but Ben, maybe Luke, Leia, and Han understood her pull to the dark.

How sad that these two hopeless souls who had never known a moment of belonging and true love, found it for all but a few seconds.

I will quote: “preventing female characters with strong, compelling narratives from experiencing love, intimacy, and affection is just as regressive as reducing them down to sexual accessories. Assumes that women must choose between a romantic interest and depth of character”

Men really can not write good female characters, can they? A woman really can’t be a badass and end up with the love of her life

15. The Skywalker’s and Redemption: How truly truly sad that Han and Leia gave their life for their son who also died at a young age. ALL the Skywalkers and Solo’s have a tragic end. This is not what George Lucas wanted. What a tragic way to end this saga...they weren't able to break the curse. AND to all those troubled kids out there that lashed out and made terrible mistakes in their youth....doesn’t matter what you do dying is the only way out. You could have exiled him, made him pay in other ways. Nothing can be done to make up for your sins but death, no amount of good means that you can come home. To the young boys that get wrapped up in terror organizations, sorry the only way you can be redeemed is death...don’t bother changing and coming back. They could have exiled him, had him start an academy with Rey for Jedi kids. He could have spent the rest of his days redeeming himself. Why tell us he was literally preyed upon, haunted, and manipulated as a child. Even in a fantasy world, a victim of mental illness and abuse can not catch a break. Ben as a child could not fall asleep due to the demon-like voices in his mind. Everyone abandoned him in his time of need. Ben never desired power like Anakin, he went over to the dark because “the voice” of his grandfather promised belonging. I am shocked that this is the message Disney sends us. Oh and yeah you can totally take on the Skywalker name for kicks...the disrespect I swear

16. The worst bit is that I am 90% sure there was another ending that was scrapped. There was a promo shot of Jannah in a field, soft lighting, lush planet. It was exactly like P&P. Daisy Ridley said the lasts scene was known to only Her, Jannah on that panel (Driver was away). Convinced Jannah was looking at Rey and Ben starting a new life away from the desert which she and Luke hate so much. Hence the production of “A New Home” soundtrack. Hence why the “Farewell” song played behind Reylo kiss was hopeful. Why Luke’s soundtrack when he became part of the force was not triumphant. Why the death scene was sudden and cut weird and no sorrow from Rey. CAUSE THEY SCRAPPED THE ORIGINAL ENDING LAST MINUTE. Everyone knows JJ was still editing one month before. The concept art which was supposed to be released this month has been pushed to March. Why you ask? They need to remove the pages with a happy ending. He just didn’t have the guts, pandered to everyone and yet no one. He was successful in creating a beautifully filmed action-filled movie with none of the heart of Star Wars.

And then she goes and buries Anakin’s saber on freaking TATOOINE. He HATES Sand and Luke wanted to get away from there as soon as possible. Of course, a Palpatine would torture them that way. But nostalgia is the cash cow so. JJ can only generate nostalgia, not create original stories. IF he had any creativity she would have buried it at Padme’s grave.

The fanboys say “leave the romance for the romance movies”....have you seen the original trilogy or the prequels? Star Wars has always had hope and romance entwined with it.

SO AFTER 40 YEARS...PALPATINE WINS...HIS BLOODLINE LIVES ON

...and people thought the prequels were bad

JJ you also said that your goal was for people to come out of the movie feeling more hopeful and happy then they went in...yet here I am. My roommate literally had to console me and buy me ice cream. I am just so numb. I am sure the casual fan will enjoy this, as seen from the rotten tomatoes ratings. I think the critics were too generous with this one,

Star Wars is very simple at its core, Good vs Bad and Dark vs Light. The kids are expected to understand that a Palpatine being the only one who lives is hopeful? That is the conclusion of three generations of Skywalker sacrifice...

This is how the Skywalkers are remembered...In Tragedy and Curse??

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arsonistvoyager · 5 years ago

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A Jedi for a Clone Pt. 3 // Captain Rex x Reader

Pairing: Rex x Reader

Summary: You warm up to Rex and the rest of the clones.

(And big thank you to @mangoberry43 for that amazing idea where reader is trying to not be scary so the clones like her lmao I will definitely work more onto that!)

Part 1 Part 2

taglist: @starflyer-104 @mangoberry43 @kaminobiwan @persaloodles @painkiller80 @passionofthesith

Rex hadn’t seen the projectile flying his way until the very end. His breath hitched and he froze. For a second everything seemed quiet on the battlefield, while his eyes were locked on the object a mere 10 meters above him. The battlecries of his brothers which had been sounding from every corner around him were suddenly gone. And in what he thought was gonna be his last moment he lowered his two blasters and closed his eyes.

---

You were tempted to let it happen. To watch it from distance. To see him fear his last moments. For some reason you couldn’t. Instead you had ran over the broad heads of Seperatist B2 droids before using your force abilities to jump inhumanely high into the air. With one swift motion both of your lightsabers cut in diagonally through the projectile, sending it’s 4 severed parts into different directions.

Softly landing on your feet again you turned to look over your shoulder to see Rex remove the arms he had put over his helmet to cover himself and his posture relax. “Thank you General.”, he sighed, nodding towards you, before tightening the grip around his blasters.

You stared at him for a few seconds, not saying a single word before you jumped forward, deflecting the shots that the advancing droidekas were firing at you.

“Another victory for the Five OH FIRST!” Many of the men cheered to Jesse’s words, throwing their helmets in the air and patting each other on their backs. You glanced towards them through the opened entrance of the tent you and your fellow Jedi were in, scanning their happy, laughing faces and subconsciously looking for that of Rex. Stop it. You shook your head lightly to clear your thoughts and looked back up at Anakin. He was talking to Master Windu, reporting to him about how you and his men had defeated the separatist forces that were exploiting the planet of its resources, while him and a selected few clones had freed the enslaved inhabitants of Arami.

The High General nodded and thanked Skywalker on the report before turning to you. “(L/N), Skywalker, rest tonight. Tomorrow you will stay with the Arami people and await the arrival of Senator Organa. He will negotiate a potential alliance with their leaders and arrange Arami’s accession into the Galactic Republic. We suspect Separatist forces might intervene, so it is of utmost importance that the leaders stay out of harm.” You and Anakin nodded simultaneously. “May the force be with you.”, you told him and Master Windu nodded in response. “May the force be with all of you.”

You pressed your finger on the holoprojector and the blue, static image of the Jedi disappeared. For a second you both stood there without saying a word. You decided you would take the first steps and leave. “You’re an amazing fighter, (Y/N).” Skywalker’s voice was gentle. As if he was trying to see if what your reaction to his words would be. And how he should proceed.

“Of course I am I was taught by a great-...By a respectable Jedi. As were you. It was almost a pleasure working with you, General Skywalker.” The young Jedi seemingly relaxed. “Well our work is not yet over. We’ll see what the morning brings. It was a hard fight and I think we all deserve a relaxing ni-” You hadn’t bothered staying for his speech and already left the tent.

Outside of it you saw many of the clones setting up campfires like the night prior. Looking above you to the sky, you gazed towards the millions of stars that decorated the dark blue abyss that formed the rest of the galaxy.

The fight had been long and exhausting and had stretched into the late evening. You locked your lightsabers onto your belt and looked around for water. Not before long your eyes landed on a crate of boxes that were put up close to the refugee camp of the surviving Arami.

With a few quick steps you made your way over to the boxes and looked through them. The force really was with you because as you suspected there were flasks of water in one box and stashes of ration bars in the others. You pulled one of the flasks out and sat down cross legged next to the boxes, drinking its contents.

While doing so you observed the camp that the clones had set up for the Arami. Most of them were sitting closely together around another campfire, holding each other. A few were tending to their and others wounds, using the medical supplies you had brought with you in the name of the Republic.

And a few of them, mostly kids, were playing with soldiers, clones. They used the helmet of one of them and played catch, others were sitting at the knees of a clone, listening intently to a supposedly very interesting story he was telling. You grabbed a ration bar and ripped the wrapper off with your teeth before biting into it and observing the clones and the Arami laugh together.

Sitting next to some boxes felt weirdly lonely all of a sudden.

On your other side you heard more laughter. Turning over you observed more clones and – Rex finally. He was laughing with his brothers, leaning onto one of the wooden logs they used as seats, his legs sprawled into both directions. All of them had removed the chest plate and arm pieces of their armor, as well as their helmets and some had even taken off their leg protection to be more relaxed, thus sitting in nothing but their black full bodysuits.

You figured it must’ve become heavy after some time and had to admit you wouldn’t want to be stuck in it for more than 24 hours either. Nonetheless this battalion was special. It most definitely had to do with their reckless young General but they themselves seemed so unique to you.

You chewed on the yellow roll of food in your hand and pulled your legs to your chest.

Trying won’t hurt anyone...Maybe I should hide the lightsabers? No don’t be ridiculous (Y/N).

You held the ration bar between your teeth and grabbed a few more that you stuffed inside your pockets before you stood up to dust off your pants and robes from the dirt you had been sitting on. Pulling out the ration bar from between your teeth you made your way over to one of the campfires that was occupied by Rex, goatee, whos name you learned was Fives and a bald one with the symbol of the republic tattooed over half of his face. CT-5597...Jymes? Joost? Jesse! It was Jesse.

“And so I told her you know what? When this is over and the seppies have been kicked to the Galaxy’s A-” You knew exactly by the way the troopers voice cut off that he had seen you approaching him and his group. Fives swatted him with his foot. “Come on continue, Burn! I mean I know the story is freshly made up banthafodder but I’m a little invested!” He laughed giddily until his eyes followed those of fellow trooper, Burn, and he fell into silence.

“General!”, he tried his most to sit up in a more appropriate position and smooth out the folds in his bodysuit. The others followed suit, including Rex who sat up a little more straight from his position on the ground.

“At ease, soldiers.” You swung one leg after another over the log that Rex was leaning against and sat down on the wooden seat. They all visibly relaxed but sent shy glances towards your figure.

“By all means continue your conversation. Hungry?” You threw out the ration bars you had snatched up earlier and smirked as their eyes followed the food. “Are we allowed to take those?”, one of them asked.

“What’s your name, soldier?” He immediately fell back into his stiff position. “CT-9225, sir!” You rolled your eyes. “Your name.” You noticed Rex look up to you in curiosity, before looking back at the tasty ration bars spread in front of him.

“My brothers call me Sly, sir.”, he finally answered, noticeably a little more relaxed. “Am I not your General, Sly?” Maybe you were playing with him. He stiffened again. And maybe you were enjoying it a little.

“Yes sir.” “Then I hereby allow you to eat those sticks of...I don’t know what they’re made of actually.” Maybe you came off more official than you had intended to, because they only hesitantly reached out to grab one each.

Nevertheless the conversation didn’t pick up again. And you were inexperienced in this. Sure you could lift huge rocks and spaceships with the power of your mind, you could manipulate someone's thoughts with a flick of your wrist, you could slice through anything with the deadly ancient weapons to your sides but how in the makers name were you supposed to make people who were afraid of you like you? You’d think the Jedi would’ve taught you these things, being negotiators and the so-called keepers of peace after all.

You decided to try. “We will stay here for tomorrow as well. Possibly a few more days.” Sure, boring status updates would do. Or… “That sure makes me miss those zygerrian pirates I encountered a few days ago. I mean I would call them over for some fun but they might not have tongues to speak with anymore.”

Nobody said anything. In fact, your surroundings were so quiet you swore you could hear Jesse next to you gulp. “Because I cut them off? With my lightsabers.” Rex had halted in his motion and lowered the ration bar from his lips. “That was a joke. I’m funny too.” You huffed at the everlasting silence. Maybe joining wasn’t such a good idea after all. The boxes and crates hadn’t been that bad.

You were about to stand up when you saw the Captain sitting at your feet tremble. Shortly after you heard a soft giggle and soon enough it turned into a full, boisterous laugh. You watched in confusion as the others hesitantly joined in and relaxed their bodies again.

“General with all due respect, you’re terrible at telling jokes.” He giggled once more and opened up the wrapper of his ration bar. You did not believe yourself when the thought crossed your head, but you liked the sound of his laugh.

“Honestly I thought it was kinda funny.” Fives spoke up. “Apart from the whole...I’m kinda scared that it’s an underlying threat and she wants to cut our tongues off kinda thoughts I had at first.” You tilted your head into his direction and the corners of your lips raised slightly.

“Who said it wasn’t a threat?”

Silence.

“That was a joke. Right?” You rolled your eyes, again. “Yes, trooper. That was a joke.”

You looked up from the rolled up ration bar in your hand to the fire in front of you. How you wished that it was creamy white marshmallows instead of the bland protein snack. Had the Clones ever tried marshmallows? You doubted that the Kaminoans gave any to them even if they did have them.

What was childhood like for them? Could it even be consiered childhood, due to their accelerated aging? And what else had they missed out on that you took for granted? And what in the force’s name was this feeling you had not felt for a long time? It couldn’t be guilt. Jedi knight and war General (Y/N) (L/N) didn’t feel guilt. Neither for the droid armies, nor for the clones. Master Krell had taught you to not give in to your feelings and form any sorts of attachment. It was not the Jedi way but maybe both you and your Master had failed to follow this ancient rule.

“Okay that’s it I think I’m calling it a night.” Sly was the first to stand up and stretch his arms far above his head. You saw him from the corner of his eye but you were still looking towards the flames. Burn joined him as they walked away. “I think I’ll just sleep here, the weather is so nice.” Five’s sprawled out on the ground before he rested his head on his two crossed arms. “What do you say Rex, you joining? The ground is surprisingly softer than the cheap cots they provide us with.”

At the mention of his name you looked up. “No. I have to go to General Skywalker and discuss tomorrows plans with him. Besides I like the cots.” Rex smiled at his brother while tapping on the ground around him, seemingly looking for something. “Kriff, where is my crutch…” Your head whipped around to face him. “Crutch?” He started looking for said crutch around the fire but paused to shoot you a fleeting glance.

“Earlier today. After you force pushed the collapsing tree out of my way before it could hit me, if you recall General, I tried to doge one of the B1 clankers and almost fell down the cliff, I uh...you were busy taking down the commander droids with General Skywalker, you couldn't’ have seen.” Your gaze pierced through him. “It’s no big deal, already got a painkiller.” He rubbed his neck over the spot they had probably injected the painkillers and stopped his search on the ground. “Got a little limp though.”

You stood up and brushed the dust from your pants before walking around the fire and stopping right in front of him, your hands planted on your hips. One of your hands reached out to him and he looked at you perplexed. “What are you waiting for? I’ll help you move. I don’t have all night I wanna get some sleep too after all.” Rex nodded, a slight blush creeping onto his cheeks. One hand grabbed his helmet off the ground, the other wrapped around yours. With one swift motion you pulled him to his feet and Rex turned his head away. You were strong he knew that but it was still weird.

When you noticed him swaying slightly you glanced down to his feet, noticing he was trying to balance all his weight on one leg, while the other one was bandaged up and dragging behind.

Grabbing his left arm you wrapped it around your shoulders and firmly placed your right hand on his hip. Finally you secured his left hand in your own and started walking carefully towards the lit up tent that Anakin was most likely still in.

Rex was trying his best to walk on his own – not because he was embarrassed that you had to help him, but because he didn’t want to bother you for having to help him in front of the eyes of his brothers.

“Thank you, General.”, he murmured, looking at your face before his body relaxed against yours. You looked straight ahead as you practically dragged him across the base. “Call me (Y/N).

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a/n: I am once again asking you kind people that read this thing to forgive me for not making it more romantic arrghh. I WANT TO. But it just didn’t feel right YET! It’s coming, if you’re patient enough to wait for part 4. Speaking of. 4 parts??? How crazy is that. 2 weeks ago I didn’t even think about writing for tumblr but here we are!

#star wars #star wars the clone wars #swtcw #Clone Wars #The Clone Wars #clone troopers #captain rex #captain rex x reader #captain rex x you #reader #star wars rex #clone wars rex #fives #anakin skywalker #clone wars x reader #star wars x reader

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kedreeva · 4 years ago

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Checked on Aurora’s eggies because it feels like it’s been a year and they still aren’t hatched. They’re alive, but it looks like they’ve got maybe a week, maybe a little less, left. They’re a mis-matched clutch a few days apart, so I’m kind of hoping she will sit with them longer than usual to give the later ones a chance. I’ll be putting food and water RIGHT next to her so she will be inclined to stick close to the nest longer. Worst case scenario, I got most of the box chickens to new homes so Starburst, who is broody on an infertile nest right now, will be able to hatch the late babies, and since they’re only a couple days apart, I’m PRETTY sure I can sneak them under Aurora at night the day they hatch and get her to take them. After all, Aris was still open to new babies for a couple of days after. If not, I can always just bring them in and raise a few myself indoors again.

In general updates, we spent most of today clearing junk out of the cool basement instead of the ridiculously hot and muggy barn, and we’ve more than half filled the dumpster with a lot more to go. I’m going to have to call for some additional time, since we’re going to need another weekend. We did get the other shelving unit set up, so that’s nice, and made a plan about clearing the last 1/3 of the barn which is mostly piles of lumber that need cleaned and sorted, and for the junk around them to be thrown out.

Joslin is doing GREAT with her babies, as is Aris. Wilma is in a big dog crate in the barn with her babies, and a heat lamp at night because she’s too small to cover them all the way anymore. They got moved because the morning I had to leave them locked up a little longer due to severe weather, I think Aris grabbed the little purple pied chick and broke her toe. She was limping pretty badly and it did bruise for a couple of days, but she’s starting to put weight on it again and it’s back to a normal color now, and they’re separated so it can’t happen again.

Tanner went to a new home yesterday. He was causing major issues here with the other birds, and if he had been another rooster I might have put him down for the behaviors he was displaying, but someone ended up taking him despite the issues explained. Hopefully he gets his act together for her. With him gone, Dottie was able to resume living with the other chickens instead of the quail, which everyone was much happier about.

The pigeons are doing good. They currently all hate me, because I netted a bunch of them to give to a guy who raises them nearby and had been looking. The lesbihens have made a 4-egg nest next to their Very Big Wife, Joslin, and all of the rest of the pigeons have somehow decided Joslin is the most amazing pigeon ever- they roost at night on the rim of her nesting box and make warning Whough noises at me when I come in to see her. My relationship with them is going to be a work in progress for a while, I think.

It’s been an interesting week, for sure. I am officially out of birds to sell or rehome for at least the next two months, which means I am where I meant to be 3 months ago in terms of progress on the farm. Hopefully now I can be on track for getting the stuff done I wanted to get done this year.

#peafowl #peahens #peachicks #chickens #starburst #aurora #aris #29 box chickens

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hazard-and-friends · 4 years ago

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i watched the first episode of canine intervention tonight, here’s some uncensored liveblogging featuring my spicey dog training takes:

“my dog training system is known all over the world" mhmm. lemme google this guy.

by clicking through his in person training site to his online remote training course, i found a whole lot of big red flags: "Establish pack leadership" dogs don't have pack leaders. anyone who wants to make you a leader is not using a good understanding of dog behavior "Time your praise and corrections" the times when i use corrections are when i'm the least on my game. my goal is NEVER to use corrections/positive punishment. why should i? it's concerning that he uses it as a core part of his method. "Exercise and reinforce your leadership as a way of life" more leadership bullshit.

fancy letters are not the end-all-be-all, and there are trainers i seriously respect who have none of them. but they don't talk about leadership and corrections. it's concerning that he talks about his sports team as a kid, where he went to high school, and his celebrity clients, but not his mentors and education in training.

back to the show

why does his facility have enough dogs to keep them in kennels? how does that teach aggressive dogs how to be safe in a home environment?

not all of the dogs in the first shot of a class (~1:38) have two collars on but a lot do. that's not a red flag (i worked sydney in two collars [her flat collar and a martingale, because syd was very gear smart and it was nice to tell her that we were doing heeling now]) but with what i saw on his website? it's quite likely that one of those is the dog's normal flat collar with tags, and the other is a prong, choke chain, or electric collar

also: "I help the dogs that no one else will" is a flat out lie

if you're willing to take on any human aggression cases, generally you’re willing to take on all of them. now, some of these cases may generally lead to a recommendation of euthanasia. but that's in the best interests of the dog and owner

oop class shot where it's clear that they're wearing prongs

here's two points not about this guy specifically: 1) it is hard (impossible?) to do humane, ethical dog training in a 45 minute episode slot. it's not good tv. it's slow as hell. there's no drama. the aggression trainers i know? have never been bitten. many have never been CLOSE to being bitten. no tv value. 2) the positive dog training community is OVERWHELMINGLY white and middle class.

it's also full of racists.

"Nearly a million dogs are euthanized yearly and over 40% of them are pit bulls" i've calculated that first statistic myself, but it's important to put it in context: this is USA specific, and that's down from 3-4 million 20 years ago. the second one, i would love to see his source.

he's right that it's important to understand where aggression comes from

anyway back to those two points, at the same time that it's really, really hard to do compelling TV with ethical dog trainers, it's also really REALLY important that the positive dog training community be working on being anti-racist. and it's really, really important that low income dog owners and people of color are getting good dog training.

alright first case! he's had her 3 months, 3 bites in that time. 10 attempted attacks. she's a young adult bully breed mix who had one front leg amputated after being shot. owner walks her in a muzzle which is a) too small and b) not bite proof.

"I see what we're working with" he says, after approaching a dog in her crate. hazard responds similarly to someone coming in, but he's not a bite risk. that's not a good evaluation.

he is correct about lady macbeth's motivations: this is a dog who's scared as hell and making herself really big and scary so that everyone leaves her alone.

okay he's also right that playing with her around strangers is really, really good for fear aggression

"frenzied just chaotic state" yeah no

reality check for y'all: i am not an aggression specialist and i have seen more freaked out dogs

she was on edge! she was unhappy! but holy shit was she not even remotely close to what dogs are capable of

"she just bit me!" she nipped your cheek, not breaking skin. that's a level 1 or 2 (of 6). that's not NOTHING but it's well within normal for a dog who's being restrained when she wants to be somewhere else.

[note that at no point in the episode was the owner ever given any sort of indication that lady macbeth is not this horribly aggressive Pit Bull TM. nor was there any discussion of a bite scale.]

"The only option we're gonna have is to [board and train] for 3 weeks" "I have no choice but to take her back to my facility back in San Jose and work daily with her" no!!!!!

[15 minute break]

lmao sorry i had to go yell at gf about how much this board and train is not necessary and in the process penny decided to cause Drama again

ANYWAY, the b&t is not necessary because all of those aggressive incidents bar the first could have been avoided if the owner was on the ball. this is not JUST a lady macbeth issue, this is ALSO an owner issue. both of them need to relearn how to handle new people.

as a bonus, lady macbeth needs to learn to trust her owner, which she categorically cannot do in a b&t

"The box is an important training tool to teaching new behaviors. It's also a first step in establishing pack leadership" ok this is new to me

and new is not a good thing here

text: Obedience depends on a dog's trust and respect for their pack leader calculus depends on your trust and respect for your math teacher! if you respect them a lot you will magically be able to do calc!

I WAS HOPING. I WAS TRYING.

i was HOPING that his training for her fear aggression would be based in toy play.

instead he's got a fake arm and he keeps reaching out to poke her, and the owner says "no!" and does a leash pop (leash wrapped around her neck) every time she tries to bite.

"She doesn't know it's not his hand" it smells like plastic what would she THINK it is

also funky that we're 19 minutes into the episode about an aggressive bully breed mix and the trainer's childhood bully breed mix who killed a dog, and like. not a single mention of what these dogs were bred for.

let's go back to "how are you teaching aggressive dogs to live nicely in a home, if they are spending most of the day in a wire kennel"

for shits take, high school doesn't teach you how to handle your emotions! why should obedience class teach your dog the same?

and then like, every time she breaks the down he yells NOPE and leans over her??????

dude you're scaring her into being obedient. while you're talking about how it's important to treat her fear.

text: Fear based aggression can be reduced by desensitizing the dog to strangers you're right! it sure can! THAT'S NOT WHAT YOU'RE DOING HERE

you've got a dog on her side with one hand over her, the other on a skinny check chain on her neck. every time she does anything but lay flat, the leash is popped and you say no. you are flooding this dog and creating learned helplessness.

jo summed it up well with this: he's good at seeing the behavior, he knows what he's looking at, he just can't change it. he only knows one method.

jo and i are now trying to figure out if "dog training but marie kondo not cesar milan" is a viable tv show

jas correctly stops the friend and changes how he approaches the dog, that's a good response

i'm laughing bc after a 3 week board and train which is not going to be less than $4k, he's giving the exact same "how to meet new people" directions that i would give to a similar client--at the start of our time! not at the end!

"I can't imagine imagine a dog having it too much worse than she did, the fact that she took a gunshot, the fact that she had no security for years of her life" alright dude a) think worse, this PALES to abuse cases b) let's not? shittalk? the care that people without reliable housing give to their dogs (and occasional cat!)?? because what they do for their pets is incredible, and it isn't necessarily connected to her opinions on strangers

so yeah still laughing bc like. that "happy ending" would be my first session with a client. that's how you START handling stranger danger. and for this the owner paid thousands.

#ethics in dog ownership #dog training #ask to tag

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inkribbon796 · 3 years ago

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Dr. Strangelove and Ticking Timebombs Ch. 2: Slippery Fingers

Summary: A strange container, strange meet-ups and zero coincidences.

Chapters: 1, 2, 3

When the heroes got to the warehouse, they were stopped by the bomb squad and several individuals in full hazmat gear walking around. Abe was sitting on a bench and rubbing his temples, Oliver was standing next to him. His vape in his hand.

Which surprised Logan because Oliver usually didn’t travel this far from the base.

“What happened, did the situation get worse?” Logan asked.

“You could say that,” Abe rubbed his face and stood up. “I was planning on showing you what was in that container in person, but Bing was in some camera feed and he called Brighton’s Health and Safety, and they came with fucking hazmat suits. Then he came in and started clearing people out.”

“Why?” Logan asked in confusion.

“Lo,” Bing shot out of the closest electrical panel, “there you are. An’ Marvin, perfect, I was about ta call you.”[1]

“Yeh wanted me an’ Logic?”[2] Marvin asked in confusion.

“Yeah,” Bing answered. “So you can’t go inta the warehouse, they’re still sortin’ out the pitchblende an’ findin’ what else got contaminated.”[3]

“Excuse me, did you say “pitchblende” why is that here?” Logan demanded.

“What’s pitchblende?” Tommy asked

“It’s a radioactive ore,” Logan explained. “Uranium-235 and Uranium-238 can both be synthesized from the ore to build nuclear reactors, but why is it here?”

“Why are you guys here then?” Silver asked.

“Well the ship’s manifesto caused some red flags to get raised,” Abe answered. “Some good Samaritan called the cops and pulled the container to the side. But instead of there being people in the cargo, there were some crates. And one of them was a lead box full of what Bing identified as pitchblende. He was watching us through some camera because he was bored, or some shit. And I’m glad he did because he saw what was in the box when my partner lifted some of it out and he cleared all of us out instantly. He was looking out for us.”

“Do we know where this shipment was supposed to go after it reached port?” Logan asked.

“Apparently a truck was supposed ta[4] come fer[5] it last night,” Bing answered. “But they pulled the container an’[6] no one saw a truck pull up fer[5] it. So I bet it scared ‘em[7] off.”

“I believe you might be right,” Logan decided. Then he looked at Abe. “Was there a name orva destination?”

“Just a name, a Tuberculosis Gadget,” Abe read with the type of smile he usually had just before he hit someone . . . typically that someone was Wilford. “I’ve seen some bad fake names, but this one is pretty up there.”

“Tuberc—” Tommy repeated in recognition.

Which immediately got Abe and Logan’s attention.

“That name ring a bell, kid?” Abe asked.

“I’m not a kid,” Tommy shot back.

“Whatever big guy,” Abe rolled his eyes. “Do you know the name or not?”

“Yeah, but I don’t know why it would show up here,” Tommy shrugged. “Don’t know what Tubs would want with somethin[8] radioactive. He’s a lawyer, not some crazy maniac.”

“Does he have other aliases, do you know this individual’s name?” Logan demanded.

Tommy hesitated for a second before he opened his mouth, but Ghostbur had started glancing around, half bored and half unable to put his concentration on any one thing for too long.

As the other heroes were trying to get information from Tommy, Ghostbur spotted two people off in the distance, watching them. He was so excited he spoke without thinking. “Tubbo? Hey Big Man, look, it’s Tubbo and Jack.”

The heroes looked at the two people just inside the cordoned off area. One was a man with a shaved head and red and blue glasses, the other was a much shorter man with a fluffy vest and brown hair that covered his eyes and most of the burns on his face. The second figure had a set of curled goat horns coming from his forehead.

“Tubbo?” Logan repeated in surprise, recognizing the burns.

Abe startled a bit, “Excuse me, but this is an active crime scene investigation, I’m going to have to ask you to leave.”

“Ghostbur, what are you doin’[9] here?” Tubbo asked before his eyes scanned the crowd before he just stared at Tommy. “Tommy, why the fuck are you workin’[10] with these assholes?”

Tommy sputtered in surprise, as the other heroes braced to intervene, “I am not some common pleb named “Tommy” or some such shit.”

“Tommy, don’t be a fuckin’[11] idiot,” Tubbo shouted. “I know it’s you, I’ve known you fer[5] fuckin’[11] years. You’ve only covered half yer damn face, an’[6] you didn’t even try to even talk deeper at the very least. You’re shit at hidin’[12] yer[13] identity.”

Tommy paused for a second or two, then said in a deeper voice, “I am not Tommy.”

“That’s worse, mate,” Jack Manifold told him, rolling his eyes behind his 3D-colored glasses. “Please use yer[13] normal voice. That one’s just complete dogshit.”

“Well fuck you too,” Tommy scowled, his tone a touch quieter.

Logan’s head was spinning, unable to reconcile the young man at the bed and breakfast who loved bees, with this same young man arguing in front of him. His whole body felt on edge. “Did you order this shipment?”

“Yer[14] gonna half to be specific,” Tubbo asked with a smile. “I order a lot ‘a[15] things.”

Jack looked at the amount of heroes, “Maybe we should just—”

“Save it, you can go, but I’m not goin’[16] anywhere,” Tubbo warned with almost an angry growl to his voice.

“This is an investigation, you can’t just be here,” Silver warned.

“Were you here to pick up a shipment from dock 14?” Logan asked.

“The one with my new smoke detectors an’[6] lanterns?” Tubbo smiled.

The other heroes were confused, but Abe and the androids weren’t.

“That’s not the only thing in there you sick fuck,” Abe spat.

“So it is yours?” Logan reeled a bit, Tubbo’s smile didn’t drop. “I don’t understand, you own a bed and breakfast, what on Earth do you want with Uranitie?”

“Ehhh, science marches on, big guy,” Tubbo shrugged.

“This not just for the sake of science,” Logan rebutted, a desperate tone to his voice. “This is a potential ecological and natural disaster waiting to happen. What do you intend for these items?”

Tubbo’s answer was given with terrifying calm, “To prove a point, really.”

“Ta[4] us?” Marvin gestured to them. “We get it, yeh[17] wanna be some big scary threat. We’ve faced worse.”

“Nah,” Tubbo dismissed. “You’re still human. Don’t care what you think ‘a[15] me.”

Then he gestured to Logan, “I meant ta[4] them.”

“Me?” Logan scoffed in disbelief as the pads of his fingers tapped once to his chest. “I thought you proved your point more than effectively at your establishment. But clearly I was gravely misinformed about your character.”

“I meant demons in general,” Tubbo dismissed. “Don’t take it personally. Although speaking ‘a[15] you, how lifelike are yer[13] little arms because the one that liked spiders had a whole personality an’[6] everythin’[15]. Did you give him that or is he naturally that skiddish. Hope it’s the second one because that’s seriously fucked up, dude.”

“The—” Logan felt alarm pass through him, he hadn’t been aware that Virgil and Tubbo had done more than look at each other across the game room of the bed and breakfast. “When did you speak with him?”

Tubo’s entire demeanor seemed to change. “The purple one? Can you not see everythin’[18] the others do?”

The skin and hair on Logan’s body stood on end, as if one current was going through him, “I think you must have confused me with someone else.”

“That depends on if you’re still the one who said you liked my bees,” Tubbo asked.

“I don’t think it wise of me to give my identity to you,” Logan warned.

Tubbo nodded, “Then tell yer[13] boss that Dream wants to speak to him. Has fer[5] a while now, we just haven’t been able to get past his door guards.”

Tubbo and Jack then looked up at something.

“Well, I think you’ve all made yer[13] point clear so you win an’[6] get to keep my stuff,” Tubbo shrugged. “G.G, we’ll just be off then.”

“No wait a second,” Abe ordered as Jack and Tubbo pulled out some green eye orbs and were already turning.

“Give me those!” Marvin yelled as the heroes raced forward. The orbs went sailing as Silver and Marvin raced for the two of them. Marvin grabbed onto Tubbo’s arm. “Yer not goin’ anywhere yeh—”[19]

The eyes opened and Silver flew back in surprise but Marvin didn’t and felt something rip Tubbo right out of his grasp.

Marvin screamed in pain as all of his fingers broke and the two people were gone.

“Fook!”[20] Marvin shouted in pain, holding his hand. “Motherfooker!”[21]

“Marv,” Silver began. “I’ll call the docs.”

Marvin screamed as he tried to keep his fingers still. “No, I’ll go after, we need ta[4] find these guys.”

“****!”[22] Bing cursed. “When did someone ****[20] with the cameras?”

“What?” Abe shouted and raced back into the warehouse. Logan was already on the phone with Henrik for Marvin.

Tommy and Ethan were a bit torn on who to go with for a bit but he shouted for Tommy to start getting into communication with Jackie and the other heroes.

Bing and Oliver were faster into the warehouse, keeping Abe out until they were sure it was clear. When the two androids got inside they saw several agents and hazmat workers lying dead around the facility. Arrows sticking out of some of them, bullet holes in others, and one or two of them had three lined up puncture wounds like they’d been stabbed with a trident or a multiple-pronged weapon like it.

Besides the dead people, the boxes were all missing. There were a few stray smoke detectors and a lantern or two that had been thrown by the wayside and were probably broken. But the lead boxes were gone, as were the box of magical crate

Bing tested the radioactive signature on the air and still found it slightly contaminated and therefore unsafe.

“Hey Bing,” Oliver messaged the other android.

“Yeah?” Bing replied as he was messaging Abe and giving him pictures and a report of the situation.

“Found something,” Oliver held up a small box that had come from the crate of magical supplies. Bing took a few pictures of it before opening the box and found that someone from the investigation team had already started labeling it. It was full of chunks of raw coconut.

“Weird,” Bing commented, taking more pictures and then placing the box in a radioactive-leak proof container so they could decontaminate it later.

They had missing radioactive material to find.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Accessibility Translations:

1. there you are. And Marvin, perfect, I was about to call you.

2. You wanted me and Logic?

3. So you can’t go into the warehouse, they’re still sorting out the pitchblende and finding what else got contaminated

4. to

5. for

6. and

7. them

8. something

9. doing

10. working

11. fucking

12. hiding

13. your

14. You’re

15. of

16. going

17. you

18. everything

19. You’re not going anywhere you—

20. Fuck!

21. Motherfucker!

22. Shit!

#superhero au #masks and maladies #dream smp #footnotes #logan sanders #tommyinit mcyt #ghostbur #marvin the magnificent #bingiplier #oliver #google yellow #abe the detective #silver shepherd #tubbo underscore #jack manifold #vague threats #magic #the fic where Tubbo is ride or die for science

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flipomatic · 4 years ago

Text

Closed Book Chapter 3

Chapter 1 Chapter 2

Author Note: So I know I said 4 chapters in the first one, but I’ve been moving things around and making changes so it’s probably going to be more. It keeps growing but 7 is the max I promise. This chapter is much more chill than the first two.

______________________________________________

Another day, another afternoon spent trapped in the Blight family home. The twins were about halfway through their punishment and they both yearned for freedom.

They were both lurking upstairs in the main hallway. Emira stood in front of a window, looking out at the forbidden expanse beyond the field they called a yard. Ed leaned against a wall to her right, the toe of one foot tapping in an uneven rhythm against the floor. He seemed like compressed spring, ready to be released and bounce around the room.

“I can’t take it anymore.” Ed stood up straight as he expressed his frustration, no longer leaning on the wall. “I’m going out the attic window. You in?” Emira looked over as he made the offer with an extended hand and a crooked grin.

Emira already knew how that would end. It would be the same as when she tried it a few days before, a complete disaster. Might as well let Ed attempt the escape though, maybe he would have better luck. If he didn’t, it still would be funny to watch her father drag him back.

“Not today.” Emira couldn’t resist a smile at the mental image of Ed literally being dragged to his room. “Best of luck, watch out for the creaky floorboard.” And the traps, she added only in her head.

Ed nodded, “Will do.” With a wave, he departed in the direction of the attic stairs. Emira didn’t watch him go, instead turning back towards the window.

There wasn’t much to see out there, a couple trees, some grass, a squirrel or bird every once in a while. It was only slightly better than staring at a painting.

That changed when a short figure walked out into the field. It couldn’t be Ed, that would’ve been way too fast for him to have escaped.

It was Mittens; that shade of green hair was unmistakable. It was hard to see her in detail from the second floor window, so Emira had to squint to try. She seemed to be carrying some kind of small object and a water bottle, but didn’t have her school bag or any books with her.

She stopped under the nearest tree and put down both the bottle and object, then took up a casting stance. An abomination rose from the earth in front of her, punching the air ahead of it.

Ah, so Mittens was out there to practice magic. Even when she was free to leave the house, she stayed nearby to train. Emira would’ve felt jealous if this didn’t provide a good opportunity for her.

If Emira offered to help Mittens train, there was no way her mother would say no. This was a great chance to get some fresh air and maybe watch Ed try to scale the outside of the house, if he made it that far.

In a much better mood than before, Emira left the window to look for her mother downstairs. As expected, she was thrilled that Emira wanted to help her sister train. She gave permission to train with her behind the house, but to not leave the property line. That was one potential loophole removed, but Emira couldn’t complain.

After grabbing an additional water bottle, Emira departed the back door of the house. Mittens was right where she last saw her, but the abomination looked different now. It seemed misshapen compared to earlier, specifically like it was now only legs with no body.

“Hey Mittens!” Emira called out loudly and from a distance. She had startled Mittens with an abomination summoned once before and had been beaned with abomination goo for her error.

Mittens looked over when she called, expression unchanged as she dismissed the abomination. “What do you want?” She asked when Emira reached her, crossing her arms in front of her chest.

“Just to offer myself as a training partner.” Emira dropped her water bottle next to Mittens’, making note that the other object she brought had been a training wand. “If you’ll have me.”

“You’re only doing this to get out of the house.” Mittens was too astute for her own good.

Emira gave it to her straight. “Two birds, one stone.”

This drew an eyeroll from the other teen. “Fine.” Mittens gave in with a frown.

In contrast, a smile grew on Emira’s face. “What are we working on?” She couldn’t remember the last time she practiced magic with Mittens.

“Abomination magic.” Mittens said bluntly, as if that answered the question properly.

“Yeah I know that’s your track,” Emira tried again, a little bit of surliness wasn’t enough to stop her. “What are you trying to do with it?”

“I’ll show you.” As Mittens relaxed her posture, Emira moved to the side so she would be away from the summoning zone. After a moment, Mittens used two hands to draw a large circle. It glowed purple before an abomination appeared out of it. However, like before this was not a typical abomination. It was just a foot this time, significantly larger than a normal abomination foot, appearing out of the magic circle. It also stayed attached to the circle, unlike a regular abomination.

Emira inched closer to get a better look. “So you’re just summoning one limb?” She asked, impressed at the creativity being displayed. She hadn’t thought of Mittens as one to modify spells like this.

“One or two, it depends.” With a lift of Mittens’ hand, the abomination foot lifted and then stomped the ground. She then waved to dispel the abomination. “If I can make them big enough, they’re quite useful.”

That made sense. “Your full-sized abominations are still pretty small, but a whole leg that size packs a much bigger kick.” Emira commented with a nod.

Mittens grimaced. “I wouldn’t put it quite like that.” She said sharply, and then sighed. “But yes.”

“Oh, how about I make some targets for you to hit?” Emira hit her right fist into the palm of her other hand in a punching motion. “That way you can adapt each time.”

For the first time that day, Emira felt like Mittens was really looking at her. Not just looking in her direction, like she had been while they talked before, but was actually paying attention to her. Though it was just a look, it carried a distinct weight.

Mittens mulled it over for a moment. “That would be great.” Was what she settled on, which Emira was glad to hear.

“Let’s get started then.” Emira lifted one hand to draw a circle, casting an illusion spell. She made an illusionary crate a meter away from Mittens. It was about half a meter tall and, since it was an illusion, it would be easy to smash.

In response, Mittens moved closer to it and drew a magic circle in the air. She summoned a large abomination foot, which crushed the box easily.

Emira prepared the next target, and then the next after that, as Mittens kept destroying them. She tried to make it harder by putting some mid-air, but even that didn’t stop Mittens. Her sister worked with a look of grim determination as she cast each spell in this exercise.

They trained for a while, creating and destroying, until Emira called for a break. She was starting to sweat under the heat of the sun, and she could tell by the speed of abomination summon that Mittens’ magic needed a rest.

Emira sat down in the shade under the tree, grabbing her water bottle to rehydrate. “Come sit with me.” She called to Mittens, who was still standing out in the sun.

Mittens stood there for a few more seconds, then turned to join her. She collapsed next to Emira on the grass and picked up the other bottle to take a long drink.

“Your abomination magic has improved a lot, I’m impressed.” Emira commented, not expecting Mittens to choke mid sip.

She coughed a few times to clear the water from her throat. “T-thanks.” Her cheeks were flushed, at least partly because of the choking.

“I remember when you first summoned one of those things, it was barely the size of your hand.” Emira flashed a smile her sister’s way. “You were so cute back then.” Mittens had been young, around 5 or 6, when she first started casting magic.

“Thanks.” This one was delivered dryly, sounding far less sincere.

“That reminds me, why did you go into the abomination track?” Emira had been wondering this for a while. She knew Mittens wanted to join the Emperors Coven, but that could be done from any track.

She watched as Mittens expression changed. It went from mildly annoyed, which was left over from the previous comment, to more contemplative. Emira wished the illusion track had a mind reading spell; that would make her life so much easier. She had to wait until Mittens was ready to respond.

“No reason really.” She said, her gaze shifting to just over Emira’s shoulder. It was a clear deflection, a statement that didn’t even come close to answering the question.

Emira let it go; she remembered what happened last time she pried too hard for answers. Maybe it would be better to share something instead.

“Did I ever tell you,” Emira put the cap back on her bottle as she started to speak, “that I almost joined the beast keeping track?”

“No way.” This brought a small smile to Mittens’ face, her eyes refocusing on Emira. “You, a beast keeper?”

Emira could feel her cheeks warm. “I know right, it doesn’t exactly match my image.” She chuckled. “But I’m not kidding, I considered it.” She waved one hand out in a sweeping gesture as she continued. “I thought having a legion of beasts would be so cool! They could play pranks, and nobody would ever know it was me.”

Mittens actually chuckled at that. “You know the beasts are unique to the witch, right?”

“I found that out the hard way, landed straight in detention.” It was long enough ago that Emira could laugh about it. “Went right back to illusions after that.”

“I’m sure Ed was happy to have you back.” Mittens said softly, still smiling.

“He practically bawled when I came back to class.” Ed wouldn’t admit it, but he had always been the clingy twin. “I’m better at illusion magic anyway, it was the right choice.”

Mittens brought her hands together, looking down at them. She inhaled sharply before speaking. “I’ve been trying to learn a fire spell.” The words sounded strained. “Even though it’s not abomination magic, it could be useful.” Her eyes popped back up to Emira’s, watching her and waiting for a response.

It would be easy to tease her about the new spell, but Emira pushed that urge away. “Have you been practicing it?” If she had, Emira wasn’t sure where. Fire spells could be quite volatile, and the house was not burned down.

“Only the theory,” Mittens shook her head. “Everything is too flammable.”

“Hmm.” Emira thought about it, where it could be safe to learn a fire spell. “What about at The Knee?” Oh yes this was a good idea. “It’s covered in snow, so even if you accidentally burn something it can be put out easily.

Mittens thought about it before responding. “That could work, but it’s too far to go alone and our parents will never let me.”

“Ed and I can take you.” Emira asserted, quite boldly considering she was currently grounded. “We can help you test out that fire spell too.”

“You can’t go, you’re grounded.” Mittens knew that fact too.

“If you ask her, mother will say yes.” This wasn’t guaranteed, but it was pretty likely.

Mittens conceded with a nod. “I can try.” Her eyes moved away from Emira, focusing on the house behind her. Mittens brow furrowed and she rose to her feet. “Um, Em…” She lifted one hand to point towards the house. Emira turned to look that way and jumped up as well when she saw it.

Somehow, Ed had made it out of the attic window. He was currently climbing down the side of the house, avoiding crossing any of the other windows. He moved across the siding slowly, using magic to help stay on the wall.

“Look at that, he made it.” Emira commented as he reached halfway down the house.

“What in the Boiling Isles is he doing?” Mittens asked incredulously.

“Getting some fresh air.”

Ed made it to the ground safely, though his pride probably took a hit when Emira called him over to the field.

There was no time to escape the house; they had to discuss taking Mittens to train at The Knee.

Chapter 4

#the owl house #the owl house fanfic #the owl house fanfiction #emira blight #amity blight #edric blight #emira #amity #flip writes #three chapters in three days let's go

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shadowshamrock · 4 years ago

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Before You Go

Title: Before You Go Ch. 10

Summary: Chuck is serious this time about the world ending thanks to his hissy fit with the Winchesters. The Winchesters are not as alone as they thought in their war against god. There’s always been secrets from the Men of Letters that could always be revealed. Someone from Dean’s past always had a connection and they come back to remind him.

Chapters: 01 | 02 | 03 | 04 | 05 | 06 | 07 | 08 | 09 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14| 15 | 16

Words: 2062

Isabel watched Jack and Castiel drive off and she made a phone call to Sheriff Evans. She told him, Jack was arrested, and they could rest again. She went back to the warehouse; she went to one of the crates and pushed away the dust sitting on top. They hadn’t been moved in a while by the look of the dust. She took out her phone, going through her contacts. She stared at her grandmother’s name and wondered if she’d even pick up. She tapped it, the call started and figured it was at least a start.

“A few minutes late, but who’s really timing these things?” Kathryn Monachi always spoke this way. “Which question are we answering today?”

Isabel hated the way her grandmother spoke. She could predict things but with her age it seemed to be diminishing. However, tonight she seemed to know Isabel’s life was going to take a turn, which was the reason she was making the phone call in the first place.

“Hi Kathryn. Nice to hear your voice too. The knife wound is fine, by the way.” She said, the sarcasm dripped from her words. She needed to get to the pony. “First, I need a favor.” She said pausing.

Kathryn gave a small chuckle. “Don’t you always. We cleaned up the Kabaiel’s mess already with Sheriff Evans. Kabaiel’s life was long already, and Jack’s purpose is more important than ours. You’re welcome.” She stated this so nonchalantly; it made Isabel angrier.

Everyone kept mentioning Jack’s purpose and somehow, she was involved. She sat on her motel bed and tried to gain her composure. Everyone who raised her seemed to know what was going on more than she did, and it was annoying. She was starting to realize Dean’s aggravation was legitimate and she could feel her power start to pulse through her.

“Kathryn, what exactly do you see? Apparently, Death is really insistent on my involvement and now you’re suddenly okay with it?” She asked.

She heard Kathryn move on the other side. “I can’t see you as much, only when you’re with the Winchesters. That angel, Castiel you spend a lot of time with him and that changes my sight. I don’t think this is a phone conversation, but to put it bluntly you’re not exactly my granddaughter.” She answered.

Isabel’s head spun. “Excuse me?” She said calmly as possible.

“Kabaiel ironically was the one who brought you to us. Told us officers to train you. Your mother and father wanted children, so they decided to take you. You were an interesting child, always curious, hear a lot more than most telepaths. You were quick, lethal, obedient for the most part, and easy to put through what you had to because the attachment was gone. Kabaiel never told us who your parents were. Just that you were sleeping for ages, and that you were the light out of the darkness.” She told her all of this and the room started spinning.

Isabel parents were killed, she was starting to see a trend. She had the phone away from her ear in order to compose herself. She gained some of her composure again, trying not to feel as though she was meant to be alone.

“So why never tell me, but make damn sure I knew my place?” She asked.

Kathryn let out a sigh on the other end. “Again, my dear, we had orders.” She simply stated.

“Orders for what?” She asked.

“To make sure you left the Winchesters alone. But what good did that do. You and Lucan meeting Dean Winchester all those years ago, the plan was thrown off. Things needed to be… adjusted.” Kathryn finished this sentence as if Isabel should know what was meant.

Isabel was tired of hearing about plans at this point. She took another deep breath, why was everyone so sure the Winchesters would be the ones to take care of everything. It was getting ridiculous, and the boys had suffered enough. She wanted to know more, realizing at this point she may not have the energy to, and she stilled the anger inside her as she felt the drum of power beat through her. “Death greets me like an old friend. I have no parents, and all you can say after that is it’s just orders?” She asked finally.

Kathryn paused on the other line letting out another deep breath. “We tried with you Isabel. We only had what I’ve told you. Your purpose as far as I could tell was to be obedient like the rest of us, but I can say you never did fit in with the rest of us Nephilim.” She added. “Don’t let me keep you; I tried to love you the best I could. You’ve just been different…” her voice showed a hint of sadness. “I know you loved your mother as much as she loved you. Don’t let that change anything. When she took you under her care, she had Anabel and she always took that as a thank you.” Kathryn finished finally and Isabel didn’t know what to say.

A part of her always felt Kathryn blamed her parents death on her even though she couldn’t fully remember what happened. She hadn’t realized she had started crying, tears hitting her lap. She sniffed. “Thank you, Kathryn. I’ve got to go.” She said, wiping her hand on her sleeve.

“Oh, and Isabel, the light and the dark, remember they cannot exist without each other.” Kathryn added. “Take care and I do love you.” She said.

The phone call ended, and Isabel sat in slight disbelief and disappointment. She had learned over the years to never ask questions if you didn’t want to know the answers, but she hadn’t exactly expected that revelation at all. She fell back, laying out herself on the bed. She didn’t know her heritage at all, just that it seemed relevant and insistent on balance. She looked at her tattoo on her arm and raced the letters. How was only 18 hours ago Castiel’s fingers had been there. She smiled softly remembering and happy Castiel had Jack back. She rolled on her side, picking up her phone again. She went to dial Castiel’s number but didn’t feel ready quite yet.

The news she received was heavy and she knew Castiel would try to figure out who her parents were. She had parents, loved them to death, and now her story was just her wandering the world. She felt her purpose was gone. She remembered the voice in her head, it was Jack’s. She wondered why in his capture; Jack reached out to her. She looked at the time, trying to figure out if she could make it back to the bunker. It was already too late to try and get a rental car, and she believed sleep could clear her head at this point. She needed to change out of her bloody clothes, tossed the shirt in the trash, made a mental note to get new one and turned on the shower.

Isabel let the cold water turn to hot, steam filling the bathroom. She rested her naked body against the tile, cool to her skin, and sobbed. It was starting to be too much; mentally exhausted. She finished up her shower, looked down to analyze her wound and she noticed a light scar. She frowned, wondering when she started to heal quickly and wrapped the towel around her. She came out of the bathroom and on her bed was a plastic case and a letter.

These were always yours. The note was in her grandmother’s script. She scowled, a little ticked off someone got into her room while she was showering.

Isabel put her clothes on quickly just in case and sat down on the other bed across from the box. She didn’t know what was in it. She was trained to fight all her life and she wondered if it was some type of weapon. She moved to open it, and her phone rang. She raised an eyebrow, taking it out and not recognizing the number. She hit the answer button and put it up to her ear.

“Hello?” She asked.

“Isabel, hi, it’s me, Jack.” The voice was comforting, and she smiled.

She crossed her legs on the bed and sat. “Let me guess, Castiel gave you my number to check on me?” She asked.

Jack smiled on the other end. “Well, no, but I’m sure when I asked for it, that’s why he gave it to me.” He said. “Are you though, okay, I mean?” He asked.

Something deep down believed she had no reason to lie to him. She let out a long breath she didn’t realize she had been holding. “No, not really. A lot happened today.” She said.

Jack sighed. “I’m sorry you died.” He said.

Isabel huffed. “I’m beginning to realize it was calculated. Not that I think it was you… it wasn’t your idea, was it?” She asked.

“No, Billie is very firm about you and me. I have strict orders to lie low so Chuck can’t find me. All I understand is Chuck can’t see you. It confuses him when Sam, Dean, even Castiel interact with you.” He confirmed.

Isabel took this in for a moment with the information she had found out today. “The reason I’ve been told to leave them alone all my life.” She muttered. She stood up and opened the box. She smirked; it was her sais she couldn’t find the day she left all those years ago. She had a feeling Kathryn knew she was leaving and kept them from her on purpose. She ran her fingers on one of the handles, feeling the power of angel magic. She smiled, picking up a blade as Jack spoke.

“What do you mean?” Jack asked.

“I need to ask a big favor, before I tell you this, I have to know you won’t tell Castiel. I plan to myself, I’m just not ready yet. Can you do that?” She asked. She adjusted the blade in her hand, balancing the weight of it in her hand. As she twisted the blade, she noticed a symbol that wasn’t coming to her as she waited for Jack’s answer.

“That’s a big ask.” Jack responded.

“I know; and I know especially since we just met, but something else is telling me to trust you. Can I?” She asked, putting the blade back down in the box.

Jack smiled to himself, feeling the same way. “Yes.” He answered wholeheartedly.

“My family history isn’t what I thought it was. I’m still Nephilim, I just don’t know which family line I come from. My powers apparently aren’t the same as everyone else’s I grew up with.” She told him.

Jack was amazed. “You had a whole family of Nephilim?” He asked.

Isabel forgot Jack was young. “Yes. I’m sorry Jack. Apparently, we’re the only ones left. Well, there’s my grandmother, but she insists she’s not like you where she’s a direct line. I thought I was the same way, but I’m starting to reconfigure that story.” She told him.

“Isabel, you realize that’s not something I can just keep from Cas. He’s like my dad and from what I can gather from how he was on the way home after you stayed behind, you mean a lot to Castiel too.” Jack told her this with full confidence.

Isabel ran a hand through her hair. “Yeah, I know. I just, need some time.” Isabel said.

Jack sighed. “Look, Sam and Dean will be able to help. I hope to see you soon, please.” He added.

Isabel smiled softly, he sounded so hopeful, it was hard to say no despite how resentful she was feeling. “I’m heading back in the morning. Get some rest Jack, good night.” She said.

Jack smiled happily at the phone as he hung up. He knew how happy Castiel felt when she came back and felt that shatter when she pushed him away. He found things so confusing still, however since interacting with Isabel in the Empty, even briefly, he felt a strange bond to her. She was a Nephilim like him, that he felt for sure; with the way Billie talked about her, she was as special as he was, and he wondered a bit why he was picked over her. Billie kept answering with in due time and Jack hoped meeting her would bring answers.

#spnfanfiction #castiel x oc #canon x oc #supernatural x oc #spnfanficpond

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farfromtommy · 4 years ago

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evansxxx’s i dont wike it challenge prompt #15

a/n: this is my contribution to @evansxxx ‘s 1000 follower challenge! the prompt is italicized and bolded! i loved loved LOVED it. congratulations on 1000 followers and thank you for letting me participate!

warnings: none! just fluff!

----

“Daddy, look how cute these kitties are! We need to save them! Please Daddy!!” Your 4 year old looked up at Chris with her big blue eyes. You were at home with your newborn while Chris and your daughter, Penelope, went out to run some errands. The last one being picking up dog food at the pet store, which conveniently was having a huge adoption event. They had almost made it out the door, avoiding the crates lined up against a wall holding adoptable animals.

Penny had a soft spot for animals. Dodger being by her side since day 1 definitely had something to do with it. Now Chris was looking at his daughter as she was cooing at the bonded pair of kittens in a crate. They were pawing through the wire of it and meowing quietly at the little girl giving them attention. Chris sighed and adjusted the bag of dog food hanging over his shoulder.

“I don’t know, baby. I don’t think your mom would be very happy with us if we adopted these kittens without her permission. Let’s go home and talk to her about it and we can come back some other day.” He tried reasoning with her. He knew he was either going to be walking out of the pet store with a screaming toddler or a crate of kittens, a cart of cat supplies, and the happiest little girl on the planet.

“Mama will love the kitties, daddy! I know it!” She pleaded. She walked away from the crate and over to Chris, reaching up and tugging on the hem of his shirt. He set the dog food down next to him and crouched to her level. Penny wrapped her arms around his neck and just whispered “please daddy I really love them” over and over again until she knew she had him right where she wanted him.

She pulled away and put her tiny hands on either side of his face and smiled as she rubbed her hands across his beard. Her blue eyes that matched his staring at him with her signature puppy dog look. He sighed as he felt himself start to give in to his little girl. “You are just like your mama, you know that? I can never say no to her. She must’ve taught you her ways.” He poked his fingers into her sides and stood up. She giggled and grabbed his hand and dragged him over to where the kittens were.

A volunteer saw him inspecting the cats and made their way over with a clipboard and a pen. Chris smiled at them, reaching his hand out to take the clipboard from them. “Follow me this way, we’ll get all the paperwork signed.” The volunteer said, motioning towards the small table set up near other crates.

“Lets be quick before she decides we need a new puppy, too” He looked back at his daughter as she talked to the cats through the crate. He sighed and sat down with the volunteer, signing all the adoption papers for the 2 new members of the Evans family.

“Christopher Robert Evans, I sent you out for like 5 things. None of those things being 9 week old kittens!” You whisper-yelled at your husband as Penny was walking around showing her new pets the house.

“Y/N, you should’ve seen the way she was looking at them. She hugged me for like 10 minutes just whispering ‘please daddy I love them’ into my neck! What was I supposed to do?” He said back, a look of a wounded puppy spread across his face. You shut your eyes and pinched the bridge of your nose.

“Chris, we have a 6 week old, you should’ve told her no! How do you expect us to take care of a 4 year old, 6 week old, a dog, and two kittens? We already have so much on our plate before you brought home 2 cats, what were you thinking adding this onto it?” You sighed, sitting down next to him. You knew he felt guilty, but the minute Penny came running into the room with 2 cats and Dodger trailing behind her, it all flew out the window.

“Mama look! They follow me!” Penny cheered as she threw herself into your lap. The kittens stopped at the edge of the couch and inspected you and Chris a little more. Chris picked them up and set them both on his lap. Penny laughed as one of them started to climb up his arms and onto his shoulders. You reached out and picked up the sibling, bringing them close to your face. They purred as you scratched the back of their head. You smiled a little bit and set them back down.

Penny jumped off your lap and ran to the bags from the pet store and brought out all the toys they bought. The kittens followed the noise and chased after all the toys Penny threw. Her giggles filled the room as she sat on the floor and played with them.You leaned into Chris’s side and he wrapped an arm around your shoulders. You both watched as you saw how happy Penny was with her two new friends.

“You’re lucky I love you.” You said, wrapping an arm around his midsection. Chris chuckled and planted a kiss on your forehead.

“Just think of them as tiny little roommates whose tiny little poops you get to clean up, it makes it more fun.” He said with a smirk on his face. You smacked his chest lightly and scoffed.

“We already have 2 roommates whose tiny poops I have to clean up, and none of it is fun. I’ve been cleaning up poop for the past 4 years, and will be for the rest of my life if we keep having kids and you keep bringing home animals.” You said. Chris threw his head back in a laugh.

“I potty train kids, not cats. That litter box has ‘Chris and Penelope Evans’ written all over it. I hope that makes it more fun for you.” You leaned forward and grabbed the baby monitor off the coffee table.

“Mama! Dodger loves the kitties, look!” You looked over and saw both cats curled up next to Dodger fast asleep. Dodger couldn’t care less about the cats and let them do anything to him.

“I see that!” You smiled at her as she made her way to you.

“Do you love the kitties, Mama? Daddy said you get mad if we brought home the kitties.” She asked, not meeting your eyes. You leaned forward again and pushed some of her brown hair out of her face.

“Do they make you happy?” You asked her quietly. Her head shot up and her bright eyes met your e/c ones.

“Yeah Mama they make me the most happy! Dodger still my best friend but I love the kitties!” She said looking over at her animals all curled up with each other.

“If they make you the most happy, then I love them. I love anything that makes you smile, baby.” You ran your thumb along her cheek, her face breaking out into the biggest smile. She threw her arms around your neck and planted kisses all over your face. Chris laughed as you were being attacked by the toddler. Her head shot up as she heard his laughs and crawled over to attack him with kisses.

You heard a noise coming from the baby monitor and saw that your son had woken up and was probably ready to eat again. You stood up and made your way to the nursery to grab him.

“You better get the litter box set up before your tiny roommates wake up and start making tiny poops all over my rug. I will end your life if they make a mess on my rug, Christopher!” You called over your shoulder, disappearing into the hallway.

“Okay Miss Penelope, you heard mama. Let’s get their bathroom set up.” Chris clapped his hands and got up from the couch.

“I think you should do it, daddy. I’m in charge of toys and you in charge of poops!” Penny giggled and ran to follow you down the hallway.

“Let’s adopt cats she said. It’ll be fun she said.” Chris mumbled under his breath as he grabbed the plastic litter box and jug of cat litter.

----

a/n below

ughhhnasndlkasnas omg i love it so much. thank you again @evansxxx for letting me participate in this challenge i had so much fun writing this! i hope it did it justice! i didnt want to put this at the beginning and take away from the challenge so if you’re reading this far, thank you, and here is my masterlist and and taglist form if you’re interested in more of my work! my inbox is always open for requests, questions and anything else you can think of. <3

masterlist

taglist form

#evansxxx1000 #writing challenge #chris evans x reader #dad!chris evans #chris evans x y/n #chris evans

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a-table-of-fics · 4 years ago

Text

Cull to Adventure, Chapter 5, Draft 1

[[As Tumblr increased the size limits for posts, I can finally put this chapter draft all together.]]

Marie was already in a sour mood, having woken up far earlier than preferred. But it got worse as she realized she might as well have slept in; hardly anyone was around today. The heat wave, combined with the fact that all games were postponed until the respawn points have power again, meant that no one was around. Marie knew she couldn’t move too far from where the Outpost was without drawing unwanted attention, but it was a bit demoralizing. She was glad she had the parasol for the scant shade it provided in the midday sun, but she still tugged at her kimono every so often.

Well, if she wanted to find her cousin and the stolen Zapfish, she would have to do it herself. She didn’t want a second celebrity disappearance to cause more chaos, but she didn’t have much choice. Agent 2 would have to complete the rescue mission alone.

As she looked in the Outpost for her Charger, she debated whether Gramps should be alerted at this point. She decided against it, still; he was probably stressed enough about his mission with Agent 3, and she didn’t want him throwing himself in danger trying to find Callie. That was her job, darn it!

She opened a drawer and found her charger waiting, but…where was her uniform? The armored hoodie, the short, the boots, even the headset were all missing. She rustled around; maybe a bit of disorganized Callie rubbed off on her…but no, they were gone! Someone was in here! They took the Splattershot and one of the Ink Tanks, too!

A flash of panic came over Marie; someone had come in, and the outpost was breached! But… wait, why wasn’t her charger taken? Or any other supplies? Just the Agent getup and weapons—Oh.

Oh no.

She ran out of the shack, stumbling over her kimono a few times as she went for the manhole to Inkopolis. She had to get to Ammo Knights, and fast. It was lucky there wasn’t really anyone in the Square; while Marie took care to make sure she wasn’t immediately recognized by the adoring public, she didn’t care as much in the rush she was in.

The doors to the Ammo Knights store burst open the moment she unlocked them. Sheldon barely had time to look up in shock before the idol was in the back, frantically booting the computer up. Several monitors came up, each showing different angles of a new part of Octarian territory. None of the cameras could see anything, but when Marie put the headset on and heard panting and slight whimpering, her suspicions were confirmed.

Cull had gone into Octo Canyon alone.

Marie took a deep breath, turned the mic on, and coughed politely.

“Eh—” started Cull’s yelp, before he remembered where he was and clammed up.

“Oh good, you remembered the headset,” Marie said, keeping her voice level. “Okay, I think we can get you through this, but… I’m not sure where you are…”

“C-came in a-and made it to ch-checkpoint…”

Marie checked. The simulated sunny beach area in Octopolia did have a trail of green, including some inflated sponges. And it led right to a smaller respawner, directly in front of a massive road of pink ink. From where the camera was situated, Marie could see a Balloon Fish, but there were a few things behind it that were too blurry to see.

“They got some- some kinda robot b-bombs!”

“Octopods?” Marie asked. “Shouldn’t be a big deal, right? They just run at you.”

“…B-but that one at the start was so fast…C-can I really take more than one in a f-fight…?”

Marie leaned back in her chair, noting where the blurs were.

“You don’t have to, ex-Agent 4! If you can take that Balloon Fish, the Octopods should all pop with it!”

“B-but if I go up there, w-won’t they pop it and…?”

“Nah, they’ll run up to try to blast you. The Balloon Fish’ll be fine!”

Bad time for a joke, Marie realized, as she saw something shake in the respawner.

“Look, look,” she said, frantically trying to clear Cull’s head of some of the anxiety. “All you gotta do is keep your distance! Pop that balloon before the Octopods get to you.”

Cull finally surfaced, out of the respawner, and swallowed. He looked at the expanse of Octarian pink before him; it was going to take a lot of ink to even get to the Octo-bombs. He started firing, and Marie saw that his attention was divided between his path-making and the upcoming encounter.

“Hey, eyes on the prize, kid, not the road!”

Well, now the kid’s movement was slower, but at least he seemed more alert.

A thought came to Marie.

“…Ignore that when you start driving, ok?”

The Octopods started to rush in, but it was too late. Cull had already hit the Balloon Fish, taking the bombs and their weird red balloons with them. Octarians had the strangest ways of holding Power Eggs.

“Nice.”

That just left a layout of crates in a flattened “u” shape against the wall, a wall which had two Balloon Fish attached to it. As Cull looked up and around, Marie took a moment to swap through the cameras, finding a launchpad at the top, and the next camera showed a checkpoint. Thankfully, nothing between there and their current position Cull would have to worry about.

“All right, so just pop those balloons and swim up there. Nothing to worry about.”

Cull looked, hesitantly, but nodded. The Balloon Fish made short work of those boxes and covered the wall in green. But… he hesitated, rubbing the back of his head. Marie could hear sheepish mutters of “uh” and “oh boy” over her headset. She was about to ask what the holdup was, maybe throw in a joke about enjoying his handiwork, but all that came out was “wh” before she realized the problem – he was a slow swimmer when it wasn’t a vertical slope.

And she had seen the kid climb, too. This looked like a tougher thing to scale, sure, but his grip back then was impressive, and she was sure he could have figured something out. At the very least, it would probably be better than him struggling to swim up like he would have to now.

“Okay kid,” she said, attempting to hide her haste in correcting this, “I don’t usually recommend this, but you might want to try a running jump here.”

“O-okay…”

Marie watched as the ex-Agent stepped back, steeled himself, and sprinted to the wall. He jumped, and Marie thought he was going to slam into the wall, his squidforming was so close. However, it wasn’t close enough to conceal the fact his tentacles were… well, half-gone. He disappeared in the ink in a flash, but Marie could still tell, especially as he splashed and struggled to get the vertical movement.

Marie couldn’t do much more than watch; explaining how to swim to a fellow Inkling would just be dumb, and she wasn’t good at motivational platitudes. Still, she could try to encourage.

“Almost halfway there. Just keep breathing.”

“Just got past the second Balloon Fish; you’re almost there!”

Cull finally slipped over the edge onto wooden floor again. He couldn’t even kidform, and Marie could hear him panting and fully view his squid form.

His fins were much more disk-shaped than most, making his silhouette look less like an arrow and more like a mushroom with a point on top where his mantle ended. His skin had a spotted texture, as if someone had lightly sprayed him with darker green paint. More prominent, however, were his eight arms, all irregular stumps of what was expected, clearly from an injury long ago. His two tentacles, while about as long as most Inklings’, were notably thinner, and showed the same signs of being cut off at the end.

And Marie had sent him headfirst into danger. Worse yet, he refused to leave.

Cull wasn’t panting for too long; he soon kidformed, and was silent on his walk to the launchpad. Marie wasn’t sure what to say; she may like snarking, but humiliating someone was something else entirely.

A few quick key presses, and Marie could watch him land on the next section, where there didn’t seem to be much going on. There was a single sponge floating in the middle of a gap in the road, but not much else to see other than a few pillars. As Cull tentatively clambered down in case there was something, Marie switched to the next available camera. She could see Cull fill the sponge with ink to make a bridge in the distance, but more importantly, there were patrolling Octarians moving in a synchronous circle on some grates that were jutting out of one of the pillars.

“Octotroopers above you,” Marie called out, as Cull walked forward. She could see him step back onto the sponge, looking up and spotting the enemies. He tentatively moved forward, but never so much that he committed to a plan before stepping back. Thankfully, neither Octo seemed to have seen him, their gaze focused squarely on what was in front of them rather than what was below.

“C’mon,” Marie said, after about fifteen seconds of this, “You gotta do something if you wanna get outta here!”

“Uhm…”

“Oh for— just go! Take ‘em out and find a way up!”

Well, at least he was moving forward. The bad news was, the Octarians saw him, and began firing shots through the grate. At least the ex-Agent 4 was aware of this, and trying to zig-zag a little bit. He made it under the grate, with only a few spatters of pink on him for it. When he shot straight up and splatted one of the Octotroopers, however, his reflexive ducking was not enough to stop himself from being coated in green ink.

Despite herself, Marie had to stifle a snicker. Maybe it was just a needed release from stress, but there was something adorable about that pratfall. It reminded her of something that happened when she herself was younger, when she played one-on-one with Callie. The exact same thing happened to her, except she completely missed Callie…

“Y-you there?”

Marie took a breath, composing herself. Cull didn’t need the idea that she was laughing at him, nor did he need to hear her worrying about the other Squid Sister.

“Yeah, um… look for a way up the pillar. Looks like the grating goes to another floor… Just watch for that Octoslob and you’ll be fine…”

But Cull wasn’t looking up now. His attention was caught by something out of range of the cameras. He fired ink offscreen, slowly and carefully. Marie didn’t hear any return fire or Octarian shouts from his microphone, but all the same, this was concerning.

“Uh, I said ‘up’ the pillar…”

“Th-there was a lot of pink ink over here…J-just want to be sure…”

“I understand that,” Marie said, quietly kicking herself for not thinking of the possibility of an ambush, “but they’d have a hard time chasing you up. You might be better off—”

She heard the sound of wood breaking, and hoped to the Crane that Cull was alone; she’d be hard pressed to help him if she couldn’t see.

“Huh…Is that…?” he said, after a pregnant pause.

“Hmm? What was that?”

“N-nevermind, I must be mistaken…”

Marie heard some paper rustling, and then some grunting and splashing before Cull emerged from behind the pillar, now on the second floor. He took a few breaths, leaning against the column, before finally heading to the wall.

After making a break through a few more Octarians and some kind of wall-cleaning robot, he made it to a dead end. Behind a bunch of crates destroyed by a nearby Balloon Fish, there was nothing but a sheer drop to the facilities miles below. To his left, he could just see a large wooden wall, with the launchpad there. He groaned.

All Marie could say was “Sorry, kid, but you gotta make it through this.”

Cull stepped back to look, but he didn’t know if he could make another climb like that so soon. Instead, he looked to the re-inflated Balloon Fish, and then at the wall; not even at the launchpad!

Marie was at a loss for words when she saw the kid start clambering onto the enormous ink bomb, and rather quickly at that. Sure, Cull slipped once or twice, but he never once lost his grip. Within fifteen seconds, he was wobbling on top of it, looking almost like an eight-year-old bouncing on a waterbed. He sat down and started rocking, as if he was trying to get comfortable.

“Okay, look,” Marie finally said, “I get it may be tiring, but that’s no excuse for lazing around and…”

She stopped when he stood up, the Balloon Fish rolling back so far that Marie stood up, shocked at how far over the ledge Cull was. Cull, for his part, had an expression like he swallowed a sunfish whole, but kept his eyes to the wall he had to climb. He took one step forward, waiting for the Fish to roll enough…

And then he jumped. His hands reached out, and he was able to grab onto the ledge. By all accounts, he shouldn’t have been able to keep his grip, but it was dawning on Marie that he was a whip-lash squid.

He hoisted himself up, finding another piece of Sardinium, then looked over the edge to see about that launchpad. It was a simple swing down, and Cull was on his rapid way to the next area.

Marie was there to witness each remaining step. The ambush from above, where Cull leapt screaming into his first Splashdown. The attack immediately after, where he managed to actually take one or two of the Troopers before they even landed. Cull getting splatted again by the remaining Octarians, though he didn’t gasp as frantically when he respawned this time. He was able to finish off the other Octotroopers and make it to some more sponge-scaling situations and an easy battle.

After a bridge made from sponges filled with Balloon Fish ink, Marie’s eyes widened. Up ahead, a bulbous flying thing she knew all too well, and she was about to cry out a warning, but stopped herself. She was already dealing with a bit of a nervous wreck; no sense in giving him a heart attack in all three of his.

Instead, she said, as plainly as she could, “An Octobomber. Gross.”

“What—” Cull started, before yelping. He just saw a Splat Bomb land by him, and it wasn’t his.

Marie sighed as he respawned. Even if she didn’t want to scare the kid, that warning may have been less than helpful.

“Sorry, squid,” she said, apologetically. “Didn’t want to scare you…”

Cull walked back over to where he was, far more slowly this time. Shooting gobs of purple at him was one thing, but now they were hurling bombs at him!

“Ugh… how close is the Zapfish?”

Marie blinked. She hadn’t even been looking for the Zapfish; she was just making sure this kid got out alive.

“Um…”

She could see Cull looking around, mostly up and at the corners of platforms. She assumed he was looking for the camera, but he was nowhere close. At least it kept him safe while she re-calibrated the ZapSeek program that Sheldon wrote.

“Let’s see… the Zapfish is… uh…”

“Ye—?” was all Marie heard in response, before the computer suddenly went black. Her eyes widened, and she frantically mashed the power button, but all she heard was the equally frantic clicking of the button.

Sheldon opened the door behind her, frantically pulling out a set of keys. He dashed to a caged area behind the computer, where he kept the generator.

“Sorry, sorry,” he said, trying each key in turn as fast as he could, “Without Zapfish, we gotta rely on this generator, and as you know, this is an old thing, and the fact is, it’ll take a bit to refuel it and start it up again, not to mention the computer booting time—”

“Sheldon!” Marie said, sharply. “Just tell me what I can do to help get it back! There’s a kid lost in Octopia here!”

“Right, right,” Sheldon’s capped silhouette nodded. “Sorry. So, I need you to take the rip cord here and wait to give it a good yank! There’s a coupla things I gotta keep in place over here while you do that…”

Marie walked over, but saw multiple cords that looked pull-worthy.

“Um…”

“You got the rip cord?”

“No…”

“All right, hold on…”

The sound of Sheldon pouring whatever the generator needed slowed to a halt, and he patiently walked over, instantly finding the correct cord and handing it to her.

“I’ll let you know when to pull. It might take a few tries for it to start, but keep at it.”

Marie nodded, not understanding when she heard a variety of switches being flicked, as well as some clatters.

“All right, you ready?”

She pulled the rip cord. A rumble, but nothing else.

“Okay, try again.”

It took a few more pulls, but the generator eventually roared to life.

“Now, lemme take care of getting you started, and I’ll be out of here…”

Marie didn’t dispute that. She was a lot of things, but she was no computer squid. She waited for the slow booting, the password entry, the appropriate programs written by Sheldon…

It felt like hours, but everything Marie was used to was back up. Sheldon saluted, then went back to working on his weapons.

Right, so she could flip through the cameras again, and find Cull who was… still standing at that checkpoint. Her audio wasn’t working, but she could tell he was just calling out, trying to get a response.

It took a minute for Marie to find the volume and fix it, but she was greeted with a quiet, almost fearful “…hello?...Yes?...Is the Z-Zapfish close…?”

“Yeah, hang on,” Marie said, putting on a practiced smile. “It was just a technical thing, sorry.”

“O-okay…”

“Just keep moving forward, m’kay? That Octoslob might have bombs, but he’s pretty slow, so just keep on your guard, okay?”

Cull gulped, but still started taking steps forward. It was slow and halting, with him looking around as if he was expecting the Octobomber to have flown to where he was.

Marie wasn’t going to spur him too far forward; the camera systems for other areas were still loading, and she didn’t want Cull dying down there, especially if it would be from something super avoidable.

Suddenly, after some tentative advancement, Cull ducked into the ink. Marie switched from the loading screen back to him the moment she heard a splash. He was nearing the Octobomber.

“Remember, kid: those Splat Bombs have timers on ‘em. Keep moving, and don’t let ‘em catch you! That’s a rule of the battlefield!”

Cull wasn’t moving.

“Come on, this is no time for hide and splat! You gotta move forward! Once you get to the Zapfish, you can get out of there!”

“But…” Cull whispered, still not so much as swimming an inch, “I-I don’t know…”

“Look, kid,” Marie sighed. “If you want to find your way home, you need to get past this guy. I already told you; keep moving and you’ll be a harder target for him!”

After a second (presumably waiting for the fat flying octopus to look away, which Marie had to admit would be a decent strategy), Cull emerged and started running, firing wildly as he did so. The Octobomber flinched as ink hit them, and they spun around, quickly lobbing a bomb at the Inkling intruder. Cull kept running forward, barely out of the blast’s range. He kept shooting, somehow missing half his shots as he did so.

It gave the Octobomber enough time to fire another bomb. Marie would have congratulated Cull on his plan of circling to avoid the explosives, but she was too busy gasping as he inattentively moved towards the edge.

“Kid, watch it—”

“Yeah, just keep movin’! Works great!”

He cheered as he splatted the enemy, but the cheer was short lived as he fell off the ledge.

Marie didn’t see his ghost swim up. She waited, desperately scanning every pixel, rotating every camera, but she saw nothing.

She started breathing again when she saw his hands inch onto solid ground, followed by the rest of him.

“Oh, thank Cod,” Marie said, more under her breath than anything. “Right, so….”

The hacks into the next area of security cameras finally loaded. Marie wasn’t sure what the delay was. Something about cache? She’d have to ask Sheldon later, but for now she looked into the next set of cameras, and…

“Hey, good news!” she said. “You’re almost to the Zapfish and outta there!”

“Uh, y-yeah…” Cull said, sounding like Marie did when she first learned how to fake smiles. “Uh, al-almost might be a strong word…”

“What are you talking abou—oh.”

A quick pan of one of the cams showed the problem. A series of dry sponges formed a line from the floor Cull was on to the floating island the Zapfish was on. Even if he used the Balloon Fish lined across the sides to fill them up, this would be a struggle for him to swim up what most Inklings could with just a bit of effort.

“Er… yeah, this might be tough…” Marie trailed off. “I’m sure you can make it up there, though…”

“Nnn…”

She saw him standing there, craning his neck to see the sun-shaped wall far above him. She couldn’t see his expression, but she could tell he wasn’t exactly readying up for the climb. Heck, he was walking back to a ledge (thankfully, a part with a railing this time). He looked around a little, but he didn’t see anywhere else he could try to go.

The blue skies made from blue monitor light surrounded him on all sides, illuminating a sparkling blue sea under him. Looking out on the wooden platform into the distant waters like this was filling him with nostalgia, back when he could only be halfway between squid and kid at most. He remembered having to brush his tentacles off his eyes a lot, to see a cloudless sky like this, with rocky beaches and wooden docks. The false sun was still a good one, adding to the illusion pretty well. Even if the air was still the stale air you’d find in caves, it didn’t matter; the atmosphere was so much like that of a beach, giving a very surreal vibe of familiarity along with the floating platforms, debris, and screens. This was inspiring.

“You okay, kid?”

“Hmm? O-oh, yeah, j-just needed a moment…”

He pulled himself away from the view, having calmed himself a bit. He took a breath, and looked at the challenge before him.

He fired at the first sponge until it was dripping with ink. He took a breath, and climbed up to the top of it. It was easier to just climb up the one, and he still had a dry, shrunken sponge in front of him.

He stepped onto the dry sponge, and was about to fire to inflate it as well, but he realized he’d have to do still more climbing with the other pair up ahead. He wasn’t sure if he’d be up to that; even that one small swim took effort. He still wanted to get the Zapfish in something resembling a timely manner, so he looked either way. It’d be a tricky thing, but he’d done crazier tagging a spot on Moray Towers the one time.

Standing on the tinier platform, he looked at the Balloon Fish on either side, and popped one.

Marie’s jaw dropped. She just saw Cull get flung like a ragdoll as the sponge exploded out to its full size under him. He flailed and hollered, but not as intensely as she thought it warranted. Heck, it almost seemed planned, as he landed flat on his back on top of the next set of filled sponges. He grunted, but he quickly got up and leapt at the final wall between himself and the Zapfish’s platform. A couple of grunts and kicks against the wall, and he could move from dangling by his fingers to actually getting onto the platform.

From there, Marie could view him freeing and petting the Zapfish. He sat down as the platform moved to the exit, the Zapfish on his lap. It was kind of adorable, honestly.

#cull goes to octo canyon #cull to adventure #splatoon #splatoon 2 #splatoon 2 fic #chapter 5 #draft 1 #cull to adventure full chapter

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badgersighted · 4 years ago

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Crash 4 Review/Drabble

Just finished the main story mode, these are my thoughts:

Gameplay:

I'm not the kind of guy who picks up on minute differences in gameplay across games, so I'll say this much - Crash and Coco were a joy to play as; they felt pretty much how I remember (or imagine) them to be, so I have no complaints there.

As for Cortex, Tawna and Dingodile, I could probably take them or leave them. I think a symptom of me being somewhat disheartened at playing their levels was due to the levels being so punishing (see Level Design), so I expect they would have been fine in a more forgiving game. Either way, they're good - but not as good as Crash/Coco, and I would have just as happily played the game without their levels.

It's about a 7/10 for me - high for Crash and Coco, subtracting a little for the other three and some of the punishing levels.

Level Design:

Here's where it gets tricky. I both appreciate and dislike the level design for the same reasons (hear me out) - I appreciate how challenging it is, but it doesn't fill me with the desire to go back and get those gems/crates. I think this is more down to the levels being so long than anything. If they were shorter levels, broken up into 5 or 6 levels per hub rather than 2 or 3, it'd be easy to jump in and replay them - end up missing a box and decide to do another lap to get it right. But these levels being 10+ minutes long really does take it out of you.

In Crash 2-3 it'd be 3 minute levels, maybe 5 minutes at most, and you wouldn't feel winded at the end of them if you missed a box. With 4's levels being so long, and such pixel perfection required, I don't feel encouraged to go back and run through a level because I know how much time I'll spend doing it.

So I appreciate the challenge, but the length of the levels really puts a dent in that appreciation. I'll also briefly mention that the crate placement feels a little 'throw crates at the wall and see what sticks' and bollocky, cheap off-screen placement is a little too common, but in shorter levels that would be easier to live with.

Level design is somewhere around a 6.5-7/10. Great mechanics, but levels are just a bit too long to cope with how aggressively punishing they can be.

Mechanics:

I really like the implementation of some of the mechanics in this game. The Quantum Masks are all equally interesting ideas and they get plenty of time to shine (mostly Akano and Lani-Loli as they're in the game longest, Kapuna-Wa and Ika-Ika seem to get the short end of the stick). The vast majority of their segments are enjoyable, encourage you to think and are challenging without being painful (let's ignore Cortex Castle in that description, that level is pain), and they don't overstay their welcome. They blend nicely with the existing gameplay.

Another thing that blends nicely is the rail grinding; it's a nice change of pace, though I would have liked the ability to speed up/slow down so it felt less automated.

I would maybe say that some of the other new abilities that made it in, for example the ropes, felt like addition for the sake of addition and went a little underutilized, but ultimately the game's new mechanics feel nicely implemented.

Lands about an 8.5-9/10

Art Direction:

I really love the style Toys For Bob has going right now between Spyro and Crash. I have no issue with it at all, though I found that certain things didn't track as "Crash Bandicoot" to me sometimes. Some character designs were dead on to me (i.e N.Tropy) while others felt a little too far removed (I don't think Coco needed so much clutter, the goggles alone would have been enough). I think this is more symptomatic of 22 years passing in the real world and a different studio helming the franchise than any real issue with the direction itself, however.

Overall I really like it, it'll just take a hot minute to associate with Crash. It's bloody beautiful, they did a great job on it, so that's a 9/10.

Soundtrack:

I have to say from what I heard I was expecting big things from the music, and it did deliver in certain instances - though admittedly this was mainly where leitmotifs from previous games were used, especially in the boss levels. Overall I liked the music, but it had the same issue as Spyro Reignited that it lacked the punch and was relegated to the background and didn't feel as much part of the level as everything else.

The only level I feel like they really went all out in was Off Beat (one of the best levels in the game). The way the music was a huge part of the level felt a lot more impactful to me, and I think it's why that level sticks in so many peoples' minds.

Overall, soundtrack probably gets a 5/10.

Boss Fights:

The boss fights were fine - N.Gin and N.Brio were pretty decent, Cortex 1 felt a little cluttered together, but Cortex 2 did everything much better, so I presume they were holding out for that. They're mostly comparable to Crash 2 and 3 (Brio's is almost a direct life), so I'm somewhat surprised they didn't try to do more with them.

The most disappointing boss fight for me has to be the Tropys. When I saw they only had two hit points between them I felt a little let down - it came across as an anticlimax for each of them to only have one hit each, and they barely even did anything.

Boss fights get a 5-6/10.

Story & Characterisation:

I'll say one thing - a platform game doesn't need much of a story, but when it has one it has to make the most of what occurs within it. I think Crash 4's story is decent, but it had focus in the wrong areas. Certain characters went very underutilised - notably Aku-Aku and Crash himself, while others were a little too much.

There was a point where I was wondering why we needed Dingodile and Tawna in the game when their plot relevance amounted to very little and the Quantum Masks would have benefited from more characterisation with the time that would free up.

The most egregious case of misused characters for me is the Tropys. The strange little narcissistic selfcest they had going on seemed ripe for a lot of jokes and dialogue, but they were only in about two cutscenes together and then they were gone. Much like Dingodile and Tawna, it made me wonder what the point of having a female Tropy was if she was there and then gone again three levels later... but then Tropy prime didn't exactly do much either. Felt like they failed to stick the landing in that area.

I find it especially odd that Cortex was his more campy form from Twinsanity onwards. I could maybe see it if they'd taken the angle that 3 defeats had made him that way, but they present his Crash-1-self the same way. I think it would have been more interesting to have the two contrast rather than be the same.

For me the story is decent, it's just a bit off and mismanaged, and the characterisation doesn't completely track from Crash 3 to this game. That's a 6/10 for me.

TL;DR - it's about a 7/10 if I'm being harsh and looking at aspects individually, while stepping back and looking at the full picture is around an 8/10.

The game was really fun, I loved the challenge, I think some stuff just needs time to set in for me and my score will probably rise.

#crash 4 #crash bandicoot #crash bandicoot 4 #crash bandicoot it's about time #crash 4 review

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fromcrossroadstoking · 5 years ago

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Luz and the Bug Out

Part 9 of Welcome to the 5061st!

(By the way - the two jokes that Roe tells Luz at the end? He definitely got them from Spina.)

Tags: @gottapenny @itisjustmethistime @indigosandviolets @scarecrowmax

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

November 23rd, 0600

There are 4 important things to remember when you're part of a Mobile Army Surgical Hospital;

1. It's a hospital

2. It's mobile

3. The mobile part makes the hospital part a bit complicated

4. The hospital part makes the mobile part a pain in the ass

Luz wasn't too fond of any of the above parts, but he particularly hated the mobile part. Bug outs were nothing but a waking nightmare as far as Luz was concerned. Tearing everything down, packing it up, trying to keep track of everything, transporting it to a new spot, and setting it all up again - it all sucked. And it all had to be done quickly because, well, see #1 above.

Luz did, however, count it a silent blessing that at least this bug out was happening on a cool November day. Although he was still working up a decent sweat (ok, maybe it was more than decent), at least it wasn't anything like a bug out in the middle of summer.

"George, no offense, but this sucks"

"Yeah, I know Perco, I know."

Frank Perconte had just arrived a the 5061st and it was his first bug out. He was, so far, not having a good time.

"I mean, why the hell we gotta move anyway? The line didn't move that much. Ain`t like we`re gonna be that much further behind it if we stayed put."

"Jesus Christ, Perco. Quit crying and help me with these damn boxes," Luz shoved an overfull box at Perco, "And for the five hundredth time, we`re moving because we`re supposed to be no more than twenty miles behind the line. The line moved up, so now we move up." With that, Luz shoved through the door with another heavy armful.

Perconte huffed and followed Luz out to the truck to load up more boxes.

November 23rd, 0800

Despite the sweat dripping in his eyes, Luz managed to catch sight of Roe walking by with a crate of supplies. Hopping off the ladder he was precariously perched on to try and get some wires down, he did his best to catch up to Roe while seeming casual about it.

"Hey, Gene! Wanna hear a joke?"

Roe slowed his pace a bit and smiled over at Luz, "Sure, whatchya got?"

"Ok, so it`s, uh, like a joke riddle thing and you get two clues. Ready?"

Roe nodded, bemused, "Mhmm."

"How did the turtle cross the freeway?"

"It was closed for construction and he walked?"

"Jesus - no, Gene. You want your first clue or not?"

"Alright, alright. What`s the clue?"

"Well, you got the word free, right? Well, take the 'r' from free and what do you have?"

"Fee."

"You got it! Alright second clue, ready?"

"Uh huh."

"You got the word way, right? Now take the 'f' from way..." Roe`s brow furrowed in confusion, "There`s no 'f' in - "

Realization hit Roe mid-sentence.

"Goddammit, George," Roe tried to look exasperated but he couldn't stifle the burst of laughter.

November 23rd, 0900

The animals were the last thing that Luz packed up. He liked to make sure that they weren`t crammed behind a bunch of boxes and that they were out of the trucks as soon as possible once they arrived at their destination. In total there was one goat (Radar - official MASH mascot), one turtle (Albert), one hamster (Butterball), and of course, Scruffy the bunny. Scruffy was Luz`s favorite pet. What wasn`t to love about the soft fur and floppy ears and beady little eyes?

Luz cooed at the animals as he loaded them up. Radar went in the back of one of the trucks carrying personnel. Sisk promised to personally take care of Radar on the ride to their new base. Albert, Butterball, and Scruffy went in to homemade cages (Luz`s own handiwork) and placed in the back of a supply truck that was only about half full.

Once the animals were situated, Luz hopped behind the wheel of one of the trucks, ready to go. To his surprise, just as the line of trucks was about to move out, the passenger side door opened. A pale, dark haired man shoved over some of the stuff that crowded the passenger seat and squished himself in to the cab of the truck.

Luz blinked rapidly, "Gene?"

"Mind if I keep ya company?"

Luz smiled from ear to ear, "Not at all."

November 23rd, 1015

Admittedly, Luz was a bit disappointed when they reached their destination and Roe left. Luz knew he was being dumb about it - Roe, after all, had his own stuff to unpack and a hospital to help reassemble. But still, Luz couldn't help but feel his heart sink a bit as he watched Roe walk away.

"You always makin' cow eyes at him or what?"

"Shut up, Perco."

"I`m serious! I need to know if I should carry around a mop to clean up all the damn drool."

Luz shot a shut-the-fuck-up-now-or-else look over at Perconte who, if the giant shit eating grin was any indication, was fully unfazed.

"Perco, I will kick your ass."

November 23rd, 1020

Luz could feel his chest tighten as he searched the back of the truck frantically.

No, no, no.

Radar, Albert, and Butterball had made the journey safely. Scruffy was MIA. Upon inspection of the cage that had housed Scruffy, the latch appeared to have broken during the move.

Luz couldn't find Scruffy anywhere in the truck. Who knows when the latch broke. Scruffy could have jumped out at any time. He could be anywhere at this point.

Luz could feel his heart breaking.

November 23rd, 1100

Luz hated unpacking even more than packing. Setting everything up again was a massive pain in the ass. This time, however, he merely went through the motions - no jokes, no complaining, barely any talking at all.

November 23rd, 1800

Luz`s misery followed him to dinner.

"Jesus, George, it was just a bunny. How long you gonna mope about it?"

"Not now, Perco."

"Yes, now. Besides, maybe he`ll manage to hop his furry little ass here. Ya never know."

Liebgott decided to add in his two cents from where he sat next to Perconte, "Just get another one."

"I liked that one."

Liebgott shrugged and Perconte shook his head, both at a loss for what to do now. So they ate in silence

November 23rd, 1300

Luz laid in his cot, trying his best to fall asleep. By all rights after the bug out, he should have been out like a light, but instead he laid there, staring at the ceiling for what felt like hours.

He wasn't sure how to explain to the others what his pets meant to him. Wasn't sure how to explain that he grew up in a house full of kids and pets - a house constantly filled with happiness and noise. Wasn't sure how to explain that his pets reminded him of that. Wasn't sure how to explain the comfort they brought him, especially on the bad days. And he especially wasn't sure how to explain that Scruffy looked almost exactly like the bunny his mom had, and had adored, right before she passed away.

Luz was at a loss for words.

November 24th, 0730

Luz was busy reorganizing the papers that had been mixed up during the bug out (he made a mental note to thank Perconte for that later) when a familiar face appeared in front of his desk.

"George," Roe offered a small smile and nod before holding out a Hershey bar, "I know it ain`t Scruffy and it ain`t much but it`s all I got right now."

A ghost of a smile passed across Luz`s face as he accepted the Hershey bar, "Thanks, Gene."

"Oh an' one more thing, what`s the best thing about Switzerland?"

"Uhhh," Luz racked his brain but wasn`t sure where Roe was going with this, "I don`t know."

"Me neither. But the flag is a big plus."

Luz snorted, "Gene, did you actually tell a joke?" A smile started to form on Luz`s face, "You got anymore?"

"Sure do. What do you call an Army noodle?"

"What?"

"An impasta."

Luz let out a short laugh that settled into an actual smile which, unfortunately, didn't last long as the sound of choppers filled the air.

"Guess, I gotta go," Roe excused himself and began to leave but paused in the doorway, turning to look at Luz, "Poker tonight?"

"Yeah, sure, see you then."

They shared a small smile before Roe turned and left.

After Roe was gone, Luz sat at his desk, turning the chocolate bar over in his hands, debating whether to eat it now or later. He was still sad of course, but somehow he felt a little lighter.

#can you guess which joke is my favorite?#because my all time favorite joke makes an appearance in this one #george luz #eugene roe #frank perconte #band of brothers #band of brothers fanfiction #Welcome to the 5061st #i wrote a thing

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ragol43435 · 4 years ago

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Dog Training Advice for New Puppy Owners

Congratulations on the new addition to your family!

From the moment you pick your puppy up, your puppy will be learning how to fit into your family. If you take care to ensure that you understand what your puppy wants and needs and how your puppy learns and begin training your puppy as early as possible, then you will be able to raise a happy, well-adjusted and well behaved puppy. https://puppyhealth225.blogspot.com/2020/07/it-is-important-for-your-boy-to-choose.html

How Dogs Learn

Dogs and puppies are very simple creatures really! There is no 'right or wrong' in their minds, there is just 'safe' and 'not safe' and learning how to best get what they want or need and how to avoid what they don't want.

It can be quite hard for us humans not to want to attribute motivations to our puppy's behaviour that are outside of the safe/not safe, want/don't want mind set, especially when we are frustrated when a puppy isn't behaving how we want it to behave. However, every time your puppy does something you wish it didn't, ask yourself:

- What does he want?

- What does she need?

- Has my puppy accidentally learnt doing what I want isn't safe?

Once you have the answers you can apply them to finding a solution. Here are some common issues that new puppy owners encounter with their puppy and what can be done to alleviate this.

Chewing

Chewing is a very natural instinct (or need) for all dogs. Puppies are teething up until 6 months of age, which we all know is a painful process, chewing can alleviate this pain. Chewing can also provide an outlet for a dog that has not gotten the exercise or mental stimulation it needs. So armed with this and your knowledge of how dogs learn, you can work on ways to give your puppy a safe outlet for its chewing needs and wants:

Provide your puppy with lots of chews, from day one. Make them interesting, pack them with some of your puppy's daily food rations, treats like dried liver or chub so that your puppy will want to chew them and learn that chew toys are safe.

Soak rope toys in water and freeze them. The icey rope will alleviate the discomfort your puppy has from teething, so your puppy learns that chewing these ropes you offer gives them much needed pain relief.

Ensure your puppy has adequate exercise that it needs so that he or she isn't bored and finding other things to chew.

Stuff kongs with some treats that will not easily be extracted, working on getting them out will provide your puppy with the mental stimulation that your puppy both wants and needs. You can also do this by ensuring you have a variety of chew toys and that you don't use the same ones all the time. We buy Webbox Chub (probably not the most nutritional treat) and put that into kongs with some dried food and freeze it.

Stag Bars are also brilliant chews for puppies. They are safe (they do not easily splinter) and very long lasting. Many objects around the home are not safe for your puppy to chew, these include electrical wires, carpet and chair legs and so on. Ensuring that your puppy has the chew toys it needs and not giving it access to things that aren't safe is one of the best ways to ensure that your puppy will learn to chew only on the things that are safe and good for it. Until your puppy has learnt that the best thing to chew is the chews you provide it with, try to remove any objects from your puppy's reach that it may feel are 'suitable alternatives'. If you do find your puppy exploring its chewing needs on something you do not want it to, immediately redirect your puppy to a freshly stuffed chew. Try not to chastise your puppy and ask yourself what your puppy needed or wanted at that time and see if you can use this to ensure it doesn't happen again.

Never give your puppy anything to chew that may resemble something you don't want it to chew. Many people have given their puppy old slippers to chew, but unfortunately no puppy can tell the difference between your designer shoes and an old slipper! Only give your puppy safe chew toys like Kongs which have been purpose built to withstand heavy duty chewing and do ensure that they are not old or starting to break up so your puppy doesn't swallow parts of it.

If you are worried that all these treats will make your puppy fat, then why not weigh out your puppy's daily food ration of kibble and use all of it to stuff chew toys for them?

Playbiting

Again play biting is a very natural behaviour, puppies explore via their mouths in the same way that human babies love to pick things up with their hands. Biting is a natural instinct to dogs that is used both in play, hunting and defence.

When you watch puppies and dogs play, you can see the play bite in action as they mouth each other during play fights. This play fighting teaches them the behaviours that they need in their adult life. Occasionally when one mouths too hard, you will hear a yelp from the other puppy or dog and play will often cease for a while. The puppy who bit too hard learns to soften that bite else they don't have the happy play they want.

Puppies also naturally mouth humans as exploration and when they are excited. At first this doesn't tend to hurt so much, as puppy bites are not as strong as an adult's, however as they get older this bite will hurt more and more and could result in serious problems. So from day one, teach no biting humans, ever. Again to do this, leverage your knowledge on how puppies learn:

Puppies want and need to play. During play time with your puppy, if your puppy's teeth make contact with your skin, immediately say either 'uh-uh', 'no', or 'too bad' and get up and walk away from your puppy, ignoring it for between 1 and 2 minutes. Then return to play. Repeat each time your puppy mouths you. Your puppy will learn that in order to get what it wants, it must not bite you.

Do give your puppy toys that it can bite and chew on, such as rope toys, squeaky toys and chews. Play with your puppy with these toys, so that he or she learns that play continues when they bite the toy, but stops when they bite you. Many trainers say that you should teach a dog to soften its bite before you teach it to not bite, which will ensure that your dog will not cause damage if it is ever in a situation where it feels the need to bite. Whilst this argument has merit, attempting to teach a dog to gradually lower the pressure of its bite is not an easy task. Ambiguity in training this type of bite inhibition will cause more problems than it solves, and could leave you with a confused puppy that does not receive the message that biting humans is unacceptable. So if you would like to teach your dog a soft bite before phasing out biting entirely, discuss this with a qualified trainer. Teaching your puppy not to bite humans at all, ever, is a clear message to your puppy that will be easily understood by following the methods above.

Why would dogs feel the need to bite in adult life? Normally this will be out of fear and the best way to ensure that your puppy will not grow to be a fearful dog and therefore reduce the likelihood it will feel the need to bite, is to socialise them very well as a puppy.

Toilet Training

Toilet Training can be easy if you have puppy that has already begun training with its breeder. However, don't despair if this isn't the case, start a new leaf. Remember your puppy needs to go to the toilet and until you show him where you want him or her to go, they will think the whole world is an acceptable toilet!

Toilet training is easier if you confine your puppy to a single room or area at first. In this area, you should have a puppy bed (or crate if they are crate trained) a 'toiletting area' and the puppy's food and water bowls. Position the toileting area away from your puppy's bed and bowls, it is a natural instinct for a puppy to toilet away from its sleeping and eating area. The toileting area should be the surface that you want your puppy to toilet on outside, for example turf, or shingle in a litter box. If your puppy has been using puppy pads so far, then why not put some grass and soil on the pad so that they puppy begins to connect the two? Have a toilet area in your garden too, an area that you specifically take your dog for toileting, this area should be as quiet and distraction free as you can make it.

During the day time whilst you are at home:

Take out your puppy to the outside toilet area within 20 minutes after it eats, drinks or wakes up. Take out your puppy to the outside toilet area within 5 minutes after vigorous play. Take out your puppy to the outside toilet area every, 1-2 hours for puppies up to 12 weeks old, 3-4 hours for puppies up to 16 weeks old, 4-5 hours for puppies older than 16 weeks. Take your puppy out on a lead, do not simply let your puppy out into the garden to go on its own, you may not know if it has gone or not! Jog to the toileting area with your puppy, the movement should stimulate the bladder and bowels. Stand still and let your puppy have a mooch around until it goes. Wait for no less than 3 minutes, at which time if nothing has happened, you can go back inside, but try again in 20-30 minutes. When your puppy does go outside, praise it, make a big fuss of it, give it a treat and play a game outside with it for a little while if possible. Not only will your puppy be rewarded for toileting outside, it wants to toilet outside as quickly as possible as that is when the fun begins! Beware not to only take your puppy outside for toileting then straight back into the house after, you may end up with a puppy that learns to drag out toileting as long as possible as it wants to see more of the outside!

If outside of these times you notice your puppy circling with its nose to the ground, take it outside to the toilet area asap! In time and with a little observation you will notice the impending signs of your puppy needing the loo, when it happens, rush outside with your puppy. If you see your puppy toileting inside and not on its toileting area, quickly and quietly pick it up and take it to its outside toilet area (if possible or inside toilet area if not) and praise it, if and when it goes on there too - apply the 3 minute wait rule and go back inside if nothing happens by then. Accidents do happen, even with the most vigilant of toilet training. Do not stress, try to work out if you can improve your timing next time, but if not chalk it up as an accident and move on. Do not ever punish your puppy for toileting in the wrong place, it will only learn that humans are not safe when it toilets indoors, not that it shouldn't toilet indoors. Make sure you clean and disinfect the area the accident happened in to remove the scent of the accident which could draw your puppy to toilet there again.

If you are not able to take your puppy outside in the time frames outlined above, or are not going to be home for a long period, or are going to bed for the night, this is when the indoor toilet area comes into its own. By confining your puppy to a single room or small area, you give your puppy a lower margin of error. Puppies do not want to toilet close to their bed or food, so place the toilet on the opposite end of the confinement area, but do ensure that this area is not too big, else they may chose other spaces within the area.

By positively reinforcing your dog with a treat and a good outside play session after outdoor toileting, you will teach your dog that toileting outside is safe and fun and it will want to toilet outside. As your puppy grows older it will be able to hold its bladder for longer and longer periods, from 20 weeks a puppy should be able to hold its bladder for 5-6 hours. Of course, this doesn't mean that you should only take your dog out 4 or 5 times every day, just that in a pinch it can hold its bladder for that long!

In Conclusion on How Puppies Learn

Puppies learn quickly and easily what is safe and not safe and what gets them what they want fastest. Whenever you give them a treat, cuddle, food or a play, ask yourself, what am I teaching? Are you playing with your puppy because it's been barking and you found it annoying? You'll be teaching your puppy to bark for attention. Do you only give your puppy its dinner when it is sat quietly looking at you? Then you'll be teaching your puppy that they get dinner when they are sat calmly, not jumping up at you, howling, or racing around!

Remember to always reward the good, ignore the bad!

Socialisation

Socialisation (or habituation) is the way by which we teach puppies what is safe and 'normal' in the great wide world. Puppies are most open to socialisation in the brief period from 2 weeks to 12 weeks of age, although the socialisation period lasts until 18 weeks. During the socialisation period your puppy should be exposed to as wide a variety of environments, smells, sounds, sights and feels as possible. After this period you can and should continue to socialise your puppy, but this will now take more time, as they will be inclined to be fearful of things they have not yet encountered. If you have a puppy that is older than 12 weeks and it has not had extensive socialisation, then still follow the same socialisation plan as for a younger puppy, but allow more time, treats, patience and repetitions.

Take a piece of paper and write down as many different environments as you can think of that will introduce your dog to a wide range of smells, sounds, sights and feels. Aim to introduce them to at least one of these environments each day and to repeat visits to these places again and again to build your puppy's confidence in these surroundings. Examples of situations to socialise your puppy in could be:

Veterinary surgery - not just for scary things like vaccinations and worming!

Supermarket entrances - supermarkets attract a wide range of people, there are also cars, trollies etc.

Road sides - fast moving cars, trucks and lorries can 'spook' dogs that are not introduced to them at a young age, which makes walking them on the lead by them hard.

Outside in different weather conditions and times of day - wind, rain, night day, all of these can look, feel and sound very different to your dog, not to mention the additional clothing and tools we humans use in different weathers, such as coats, hoods, umbrellas and wet weather gear.

Playground entrances - lots of children, running, screaming and approaching.

Hot air balloon launch sites - the sight of hot air balloons in flight has been known to send many a dog running! If you have something specific like this in your area, such as an airport, army site or RAF site try to find a way to introduce this slowly to your dog.

Fireworks - if it's not November, then see if you can buy a CD of the noises and play them in the background at home, gradually increasing the volume.

The Groomers - your groomer will love you if you take your puppy in early to get it used to the sights, smells and sounds of the salon.

Friend's houses who have healthy, fully vaccinated and well socialised dogs - so that your puppy can meet and interact with other dogs. The more places you can think of the better socialised and happier your dog will be. Try to ensure that each of the places you visit has positive, 'safe' associations for your puppy. Go armed with treats, ask strangers (the wider the variety the better, old people, children, different races, 'dog shy' people too!) to hand feed and give your puppy a non-threatening tickle under the chin. Give your puppy plenty of reassuring touch and contact. Watch your puppy for signs of distress, such as tail going between the legs, ears flicking back, lots of fast brief tongue flicks, a closed mouth and seeing the whites of your puppy's eyes. If you see this, then stroke your puppy to comfort them, and if necessary retreat to a quieter place to calm your puppy and then slowly work up to the situation that you felt caused your puppy distress. If you allow your puppy's distress to prevent you from going to that place or situation that was stressful for it, then your puppy will not overcome their fear and this could develop into a phobia. Equally if you completely ignore your puppy's distress then the puppy may have an overall negative experience which could mean they will always be uncomfortable in that situation.

The more places you can visit and teach your puppy that they are safe in the better, your puppy will not just be learning that those places are safe, but that new situations can quickly turn into 'rewarding' situations where puppy gets what he or she wants or needs. This gives your puppy 'bounce-back-ability'!

Use everything you have to make socialisation as positive an experience as possible. Whatever your puppy wants use it! If he loves balls, take a ball with you and entertain him with it in the situation. If she loves dried liver, take bucket loads with you. If they love a good chew, take one with you so that they can chew away whilst they watch everything go by.

Do discuss your socialisation plan with your vet. You will need to ensure that your puppy does not come into contact with potentially unvaccinated or ill dogs, or areas of ground that these dogs may have toiletted on. This may mean that you should carry your puppy around those areas (or use a pet carrier or stroller to ensure they are not on the ground or in direct contact with other dogs). If your vet tells you that you should not let your puppy out of the house until it is 12 weeks old, please consider finding a second opinion, most vets now appreciate that socialisation is just as important as the vaccination process and can help you work out the safest way cover both. Many vets also offer 'puppy parties' where vets or vet nurses discuss the best way to care for your puppy's health and healthy puppies that are in the middle of their vaccination courses get a chance to safely interact and play with each other. Try to find a puppy party that also has a qualified dog trainer in attendance too, they can help you with any training questions your puppy has!

After the 12 week socialisation period, don't think you can sit back and relax, during this time, do your research on Puppy Training Classes. Find one that encourages positive reinforcement methods only (no leash corrections or harsh punishment methods, such as air horns, rattle bottles or e-collars) and one that is run by a qualified dog trainer, who is a member of the IMDT or the APDT. These classes will help your happy, well socialised puppy, grow into a well-trained, happy dog!

Handling

Throughout its life, your puppy will need to be handled by vets, groomers, clumsy children and doting adults. Dogs can be trained to accept being handled by all these people if they are socialised to it as puppies within the socialisation period.

Start off by doing this at home. Gently touch your puppy's ears and treat it. Work over its body in that same manner, touching tail, hindquarters, tummy, legs, feet (all of them, not just one!), chest, neck, muzzle. All for a treat each, one at a time. Carefully open your puppies mouth to see the teeth and give a big treat. Carefully and briefly hold your puppy's muzzle for another big treat. Repeat this multiple times, as your puppy becomes more tolerant of the handling you can reduce the treats, to 1 for each two areas and then 1 per leg or 4 areas. Get everyone in the family to practice this too. Ask trusted friends to do this and ask if your vet or vet nurse and groomer would mind practicing this when you see them too. Most will agree to this willingly, as dogs that are hard to handle may need sedation when they are brought in, which is costly and poses a risk to your dog's health. After each handling session, finish up with a game so that your puppy learns that not only are there abundant treats that it wants for handling, there is also a great game at the end, handling is win/win. It will learn to love handling!

Continue this handling on to brushing your puppy, trimming nails (one at a time, taking great care to take the tiniest bit off to avoid cutting the quick) and slightly rougher handling that you may expect from children. At each of these different stages increase treats temporarily until your puppy is happy with this treatment.

As part of your socialisation plan, you will have worked out a way for your puppy to meet a variety of people. The more people that pet and handle your puppy the better it will love handling in later life. A dog that stays as cuddley as it was as a puppy is every owner's dream!

In Conclusion

The more you can teach your puppy whilst it is young, the better. Your hard work will pay off as you watch your crazy puppy grow into a well behaved, happy and loving dog. Puppy training classes are an excellent way to continue the hard work you will have put into your puppy by following the advice in this article - do your research to find a positive training class for your dog and you will both enjoy it.

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