#wilson audio speakers

[hifilounge]

Wilson Audio WATT/Puppy Now On Permanent Demo, The Rebirth Of A Speaker Legend!

Hi All,

So I am really excited to say that we now have the new Wilson Audio WATT/Puppy speakers on permanent demo, this is basically the 9th iteration of the legendary WATT/Puppy design as it went through 8 different versions between 1986 to 2011 when it was retired and as HFL launched in 2012 my only experience of these speakers is within customers systems that I have heard and loved so it is great to have our first WATT/Puppy’s on permanent demo which Wilson Audio have brought back to celebrate their 50th Anniversary.

I had a feeling these would be a special speaker so when ours arrived I couldn’t wait to get them up and running but I was then admitted to hospital for a week then off work for another 10 days or so which was torture as I just wanted to hear our new WATT/Puppy’s, anyway we got them up and running at the weekend and I am pleased to say, as expected, they sound truly brilliant, they are so the right size for most UK homes so I can see them being very popular.

The origin of Wilson Audio's WATT/Puppy dates back to 1986 when founder David Wilson created the WATT, which stands for Wilson Audio Tiny Tot, as a loudspeaker to monitor his own recordings with. In 1989, the companion Puppy was released to increase bass output, and with it the WATT/Puppy combination was born. I was told a while ago that the WATT/Puppy is the biggest selling High End speaker of all time which isn’t a surprise I guess with a history like this, this iteration is basically what David Wilson would create today if he had the resources Wilson Audio have now making it the most accomplished WATT/Puppy yet, I’m sure he would have been very proud of where his initial designs have ended up.

50th Anniversary Meddalion!

A cool touch is that they come with a 50th Anniversary Medallion throughout 2024 to commemorate this incredible milestone, generally this will either come in silver of black, depending on the colour you choose your hardware, ie spikes etc, but if you order them in any variety of red then you get a red medallion making these the rarest version. Well when I heard this I just couldn’t resist and ordered our demo pair in the stunning Premium Cranberry Pearl which really does suit these speakers.

I won’t go on about the spec as this can be found on Wilson’s website but needless to say this is a highly engineered speaker with all Wilson’s 50 years of expertise put into practice into a speaker that for me is such the right size for this county and as I always say there is real magic in the Wilson mid which is so apparent in the WATT/Puppy, they give a big full sound that just feels so right and engaging so if you would like to come in for a demo please feel free to get in touch anytime.

Please find a selection of photo’s below and a like to Wilson Audio on our website -

All the best,

Regards,

Paul.

[lulu2992]

Who is the voice of the female Deputy?

When I saw this question, I decided to try to find an answer.

I looked up all the actors listed in the credits, listened to their voices (in interviews, demo reels, or other videos), and… I’m still not sure who played the female Deputy.

While I usually find it relatively easy to recognize voice actors in French, my native language, it turns out that’s much harder for me to do in English. Also, it doesn’t help that they’re usually very good at changing their voice/accent and that, in real life, most of them don’t sound like the characters they play.

I still believe the person who played the female Deputy is also “Cult Follower Female 5” (CFF5), but it seems to me the actor used a different accent and tone so the cultist sounds a bit “villainous”. In any case, I didn’t find anyone that sounded exactly like the two characters…

According to my ears, though, the female Deputy and the female Captain from New Dawn have the same voice. Outside of cutscenes, the Deputy has 314 lines in Far Cry 5 (which you can listen to here, here, here, here, and here) and the audio files were all reused for the Captain. In cutscenes, so the “lines” that were specifically recorded for New Dawn, the character sounds exactly the same to me, which means the voice actor must have worked on both games.

I looked at the names that appeared in the credits of the two games and narrowed the list down to the 15 (+1; see below) likeliest candidates, so here are the people who, in my opinion, could potentially be the voice of the female Deputy, as well as, when the information was available, either in the game or on IMDb, which character(s) they played:

Claire Armstrong

Kailea Banka

Carolina Bartczak (Cult Follower in FC5; apparently not in FCND, but you never know)

Kimberly D. Brooks (Gun for Hire)

Nicki Burke (Cult Follower in FC5, Selene in FCND)

Lucinda Davis

Stacey DePass (Nana in FCND)

Amber Goldfarb (voice of Faith’s Priestesses, “Cult Follower Female 3”, and, I believe, Rae-Rae)*

Julianne Jain

Mara Junot (Sherri Woodhouse, “Civilian Female 6”)

Helen King

Erica Linbeck (voice of Anne, but also this and this)

Cynthia Kaye McWilliams (Resistance Soldier)

Debra Wilson

Kim Yarborough

Mayko Nguyen, who plays Kim Rye, was credited a second time as a “voice talent” in Far Cry 5, which implies she may have also played one of several NPC. Since she worked on New Dawn, she too could be the female Deputy’s voice.

Again, English isn’t my first language, and after spending two days listening to all those voices, everyone started to sound the same to me :’) If you’re a native English speaker and/or have a great ear, though, maybe you’ll be able to more easily solve the mystery! We can do it!

*IMDb says Amber Goldfarb played “Noodle’s owner” (the woman who called Ms. Mable for her pet snake) but the files tell me the voice is actually “Civilian Female 6”, so Mara Junot.

And under the cut, just in case, I included all the other female voices who appear in the credits.

FAR CRY 5

MAIN CAST Beryl Bain (Tracey Lader) Sarah Booth (Tammy Barnes and, according to IMDb, a “Civilian”) Luisa D’Oliveira (Deputy Joey Hudson) Jenessa Grant (Faith Seed) Debra McGrath (Nancy) Tasya Teles (Mary May Fairgrave)

VOICE TALENTS Carolina Bartczak (Cult Follower) Lauren Jackson (Skylar Kohrs) Erin Mathews Julie Nathanson (Jess Black) Kristen Peace Murry Peeters (Grace Armstrong) Claire Rankin Cara Ricketts (Dr. Sarah Perkins in FC5, Mickey in FCND) Charlotte Rogers Paula Shaw (Ms. Wilhelmina Mable) Jane Wheeler (Adelaide Drubman)

PERFORMERS (I’m not sure they recorded voices and they apparently didn’t work on FCND) Michela Cannon Roanna Cochrane (Cult Follower) Athena Karkanis Karen Knox Janet Porter Melissa Robertson Alyssa Trask Brandi Marie Ward

FAR CRY NEW DAWN

MAIN CAST Reina Hardesty (Carmina Rye) Leslie Miller (Lou)

VOICE TALENTS Rylee Alazraqui Mary Faber (in the “Additional Thanks” section in the FC5 credits and in Lost on Mars according to IMDb) Camryn Jones Rachel Kimsey Melanie Minichino (Gina Guerra) Carolyn Ratteray Marisha Ray Nadia Verrucci

PERFORMANCE CAPTURE PERFORMERS (again, I don’t know if they recorded voices in FCND) Ava Augustin Tamara Brown Jenny Raven Ajanae Stephenson Lydia Zadel (also credited in the “Additional Thanks” section in FC5 and a voice in Lost on Mars according to IMDb)

Good luck!

[audio-luddite]

Family dinner and tunes.

Had a nice family dinner at my daughter's house. The dinner was lovely with a touch of exotic. The dog was happy to see us. I play with him and sneak him treats. The kids were in the usual whirlwind of showing us their artwork and latest school skills, and gymnastic tricks. It is exhausting to spend time with them, but worth it.

The "B Team" Stereo got a workout. My son-in-law has been enjoying it. It sounded a bit off to me. He was thrilled by the sound, but there was something......

About halfway through this LP I saw that the linear tracking was out of line. So I adjusted that. Then I noticed the cartridge was twisted. I fixed that. Then I saw that the bottom of the pickup was touching the record every so often. Oh shit! I rebalanced and reset the tracking force. It was seriously wrong. The kids apparently played with it wanting to be like dad and granpa. Dear dear me. Have a talk with them please.

I was impressed that sound still came out and the system was tolerant enough to still work. I was impressed that my S-I-L did not notice. Well he is still new to all this. He really has a lot to learn. Even if he does not get all "high end" crazy like someone I know he is enjoying the system. Maybe the B Team is all he ever needs.

That makes we wonder. Some people buy fancy fast cars, but are poor drivers. High end audio may be like that. It would explain how so much crap is sold for stupid money to "happy" customers. If it costs more it must be better.

I can walk into a room and know something is right or wrong with a system. Or maybe it is my imagination. I remember going into an expensive audio showroom and there was music blasting in the big listening room. A really expensive system was running. Wilson Watt-Puppy Speakers with McIntosh electronics. It was awful. The room had concrete walls and the treble literally hurt. The customer in the listening chair was grooving and having a great time. I was not. This is when you had to go to brick and mortar stores the online market place did not exist. I forgot what I was shopping for.

Right now it is the day after the big meal. I have a stream going of Beethoven's Emperor Concerto. Composed when Napoleon was a hero of liberation. ( Until he attacked Vienna.) I have the Vienna Philharmonic playing on the other side of my living room wall.

I am being lazy so the stream is running. It sounds fine. The Vienna Philharmonic is a good band. The recording is nice, you get a hint of the room sound here and there. I have two LPs of this piece. I will not be getting them out to compare. That is too geeky even for me. I am relaxing today.

[definitive650]

In the realm of audio refinement, Wilson Audio stands as a maestro, crafting an auditory experience that transcends the ordinary. With a legacy deeply rooted in precision engineering and an unyielding commitment to pushing the boundaries of sonic excellence, Wilson Audio remains a beacon of innovation, sculpting sonic elegance with unmatched precision.

Precision Artistry Unleashed

Wilson Audio's speakers are not merely devices; they are meticulously crafted masterpieces that redefine precision in audio engineering. Each speaker undergoes a meticulous process, a testament to the brand's dedication to elevating the construction of audio equipment to an art form. Wilson Audio's commitment to precision artistry ensures that every component harmonizes to create an unparalleled auditory symphony.

Sonic Elegance Redefined

At the core of Wilson Audio's philosophy lies the pursuit of sonic elegance that captivates and transcends expectations. These speakers go beyond conventional audio reproduction; they are conduits for an immersive auditory journey. Wilson Audio's unwavering commitment to sonic elegance ensures that each note, from the gentlest melody to the most resounding crescendo, is an exquisite expression of sonic finesse.

Aesthetic Fusion

Beyond their sonic brilliance, Wilson Audio speakers seamlessly integrate into the aesthetic fabric of any space. The brand's design philosophy harmoniously fuses form and function, resulting in speakers that are not only auditory marvels but also visual masterpieces. Wilson Audio speakers become integral components of a room's aesthetics, adding a touch of sophistication to the overall ambiance.

Sonic Precision in Every Note

Wilson Audio's speakers possess an extraordinary ability to unveil the precision embedded in every musical note. Every nuance, from the subtlest tones to the profound depths, is meticulously reproduced. The brand's commitment to sonic precision ensures that listeners embark on an auditory journey where each note is a testament to the brand's dedication to revealing the true essence of music.

Pioneering Sonic Frontiers

Wilson Audio stands as a pioneer, continually pushing the boundaries of what is achievable in the world of high-fidelity sound. The brand's legacy is not a static reflection but an ongoing exploration of new sonic frontiers. With each innovation, Wilson Audio reaffirms its commitment to shaping the future of premium audio, pioneering advancements that set new benchmarks in the industry.

In the symphony of premium audio, Wilson Audio is not just a brand; it is a sculptor of sonic elegance, harmonizing cutting-edge innovation with the finesse of precision craftsmanship. From the intricacies of construction to the avant-garde innovations shaping their design, Wilson Audio invites enthusiasts on an extraordinary auditory journey where every note is a testament to the brand's unwavering pursuit of crafting sonic excellence.

[speakeraktifbluetoothterbaik]

PABRIK! (WA) 0851-7988-9353 Speaker Paling Mahal Merek Apa Elsound Audio di Jl. Lio Genteng, Panjunan Bandung Bandung

Speaker Paling Mahal Merek Apa: Menelusuri Dunia Speaker Premium Terbaik

Dunia audio high-end menawarkan berbagai pilihan speaker dengan harga yang bisa membuat banyak orang ternganga. Speaker Paling Mahal Merek Apa sering kali menjadi pertanyaan bagi para audiophile dan penggemar audio yang ingin mengetahui merk-merk yang memproduksi speaker dengan harga selangit namun kualitas suara tak tertandingi. Artikel ini akan membahas beberapa merk speaker paling mahal di dunia, fitur-fitur unggulan mereka, dan mengapa harga yang tinggi sering kali sepadan dengan kualitas yang ditawarkan.

Merk-Merk Speaker Paling Mahal

Ketika mencari Speaker Paling Mahal Merek Apa, beberapa nama besar selalu muncul di daftar. Merk-merk ini dikenal karena kualitas suara mereka yang superior, desain yang mewah, dan inovasi teknologi yang mereka tawarkan. Berikut adalah beberapa merk speaker paling mahal yang layak dipertimbangkan.

1. Wilson Audio

Wilson Audio adalah salah satu merk yang paling dikenal dalam dunia speaker high-end. Dengan sejarah panjang dalam industri audio, Wilson Audio terkenal karena produk-produknya yang menawarkan reproduksi suara yang sangat akurat dan detail. Model seperti Wilson Audio WAMM Master Chronosonic bukan hanya sekadar speaker; mereka adalah karya seni dalam bentuk audio.

Keunggulan:

Teknologi Time Alignment: Memastikan setiap frekuensi sampai ke telinga pendengar pada waktu yang tepat.

Build Quality: Dibuat dengan tangan oleh ahli audio untuk memastikan ketepatan dan daya tahan.

Harga: Dengan harga mencapai $850.000, Wilson Audio menawarkan salah satu pengalaman audio terbaik di dunia.

2. Focal

Focal adalah merk asal Prancis yang telah lama dikenal dalam dunia audio premium. Mereka menawarkan berbagai speaker dengan teknologi mutakhir, salah satunya adalah Focal Grande Utopia EM. Speaker ini dirancang untuk memberikan pengalaman mendengarkan yang sangat detail dan immersif.

Keunggulan:

Teknologi Electromagnetic: Menjamin reproduksi suara yang sangat detail dan bass yang kuat.

Desain Elegan: Cocok untuk ruangan mewah dengan estetika tinggi.

Harga: Dikenal dengan harga sekitar $300.000, Focal Grande Utopia EM adalah investasi serius untuk audiophile.

3. Bowers & Wilkins

Bowers & Wilkins atau B&W adalah merk asal Inggris yang telah lama dikenal dalam dunia speaker premium. Bowers & Wilkins 800 D4 adalah salah satu model mereka yang terkenal, sering digunakan dalam studio rekaman profesional.

Keunggulan:

Diamond Dome Tweeter: Untuk treble yang sangat halus dan detail.

Suara Presisi: Reproduksi suara yang sangat akurat dan natural.

Harga: Dengan harga yang bervariasi, model tertinggi dapat mencapai lebih dari $50.000.

4. Goldmund

Goldmund adalah merk Swiss yang dikenal dengan produk audio high-end yang sangat presisi. Goldmund Epilogue Signature Audio System adalah contoh nyata dari produk mereka yang menawarkan kualitas suara dan desain yang sangat mewah.

Keunggulan:

Reproduksi Suara Presisi: Teknologi canggih untuk pengalaman audio terbaik.

Material Premium: Menggunakan bahan berkualitas tinggi untuk durabilitas dan estetika.

Harga: Dengan harga sekitar $1 juta, Goldmund Epilogue Signature adalah salah satu speaker paling mahal di dunia.

5. Magico

Magico adalah merk yang dikenal dengan teknologi canggih dan kualitas suara yang sangat tinggi. Magico Ultimate III adalah salah satu produk mereka yang paling mahal, dirancang untuk para audiophile yang sangat serius.

Keunggulan:

Horn-Loaded Driver: Untuk detail suara yang luar biasa.

Material Kelas Dunia: Dapat bertahan dalam waktu lama dan memberikan performa terbaik.

Harga: Sekitar $700.000, menjadikannya salah satu pilihan teratas dalam kategori speaker mahal.

Mengapa Harga Speaker Bisa Sangat Tinggi?

Speaker Paling Mahal Merek Apa tentu bukan hanya soal harga, melainkan juga tentang kualitas dan teknologi yang ditawarkan. Berikut adalah beberapa faktor yang mempengaruhi harga speaker mahal:

1. Teknologi Canggih

Speaker mahal sering kali dilengkapi dengan teknologi terbaru yang memungkinkan reproduksi suara dengan akurasi tinggi. Teknologi seperti time alignment, electromagnetic bass drivers, dan horn-loaded drivers memastikan bahwa setiap frekuensi suara ditangani dengan sangat baik.

2. Material Berkualitas

Material yang digunakan dalam pembuatan speaker mahal biasanya sangat berkualitas. Beberapa speaker bahkan menggunakan bahan seperti emas, perak, atau karbon untuk meningkatkan kualitas suara dan daya tahan. Material premium ini juga berkontribusi pada desain estetika speaker.

3. Desain dan Konstruksi

Desain speaker mahal sering kali sangat mewah dan dirancang untuk menjadi pusat perhatian dalam ruangan. Proses konstruksi juga sangat teliti, dengan perhatian pada setiap detail untuk memastikan performa audio yang optimal.

4. Eksklusivitas

Banyak speaker mahal diproduksi dalam jumlah terbatas, menjadikannya produk yang sangat eksklusif. Eksklusivitas ini menambah nilai dari speaker dan membuatnya lebih menarik bagi kolektor dan audiophile.

5. Kualitas Suara

Yang paling penting adalah kualitas suara. Speaker mahal dirancang untuk memberikan pengalaman audio yang sangat baik, dengan kejernihan dan detail yang jauh di atas speaker biasa. Mereka dirancang untuk membuat setiap sesi mendengarkan musik atau menonton film menjadi pengalaman yang tak terlupakan.

FAQ tentang Speaker Paling Mahal Merek Apa

1. Apa yang dimaksud dengan Speaker Paling Mahal Merek Apa?

Speaker Paling Mahal Merek Apa merujuk pada merk-merk speaker yang dikenal memproduksi speaker dengan harga yang sangat tinggi, tetapi menawarkan kualitas suara, teknologi, dan desain yang sangat baik. Merk-merk ini sering kali menjadi pilihan utama bagi para audiophile dan kolektor.

2. Mengapa harga speaker bisa sangat tinggi?

Harga speaker bisa sangat tinggi karena penggunaan teknologi canggih, material premium, desain eksklusif, dan proses konstruksi yang sangat teliti. Selain itu, eksklusivitas dan kualitas suara yang ditawarkan juga berkontribusi pada harga yang tinggi.

3. Apakah speaker mahal selalu memiliki kualitas suara yang lebih baik?

Secara umum, Speaker Paling Mahal Merek Apa menawarkan kualitas suara yang lebih baik dibandingkan speaker biasa. Teknologi canggih dan material berkualitas tinggi memungkinkan speaker ini untuk menghasilkan suara yang sangat jernih dan detail.

4. Apakah saya perlu ruangan khusus untuk speaker mahal?

Sebagian besar speaker mahal dirancang untuk ruangan besar dan memiliki akustik yang baik. Meskipun beberapa model dilengkapi dengan teknologi untuk menyesuaikan suara dengan akustik ruangan, memiliki ruangan yang cukup besar akan membantu mendapatkan hasil yang optimal.

5. Apakah speaker mahal hanya untuk musik?

Tidak. Speaker Paling Mahal Merek Apa juga sangat cocok untuk home theater dan menonton film. Banyak speaker mahal dilengkapi dengan teknologi seperti Dolby Atmos atau surround sound, yang membuat pengalaman menonton film menjadi lebih imersif.

Kesimpulan

Menemukan Speaker Paling Mahal Merek Apa yang tepat adalah perjalanan yang melibatkan pemahaman mendalam tentang berbagai merk dan model. Merk seperti Wilson Audio, Focal, Bowers & Wilkins, Goldmund, dan Magico menawarkan produk dengan harga yang sangat tinggi, namun kualitas dan teknologi yang mereka tawarkan sering kali sebanding dengan harga tersebut.

Jika Anda seorang audiophile atau kolektor yang mencari pengalaman audio terbaik, berinvestasi dalam speaker mahal dari merk-merk ini bisa menjadi keputusan yang sangat memuaskan. Dengan teknologi mutakhir, material premium, dan desain yang sangat mewah, speaker-speaker ini tidak hanya menawarkan suara yang tak tertandingi tetapi juga menjadi karya seni yang akan memperindah ruangan Anda.

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Kontak dan Pemesanan Hubungi

0851-7988-9353 https://wa.me/6285179889353

Klik link berikut untuk informasi lebih lanjut : https://linktr.ee/elsoundspeakers

Follow juga akun sosmed yang lainnya :

Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/elsoundaudio/ Tik Tok | https://www.tiktok.com/@elsound.audio Youtube | http://www.youtube.com/@ElsoundAudio

Official Website : https://elsoundspeakers.com/

Belanja di Marketplace:

Tokopedia | https://tokopedia.com/elsound Shopee | https://shopee.co.id/elsoundspeakers

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[mcbastardsmausoleum]

Warner Bros. Discovery Home Entertainment Announces The Wizard of Oz 85th Anniversary Theater Edition 4K UHD, includes recreated collectible memorabilia

#PreOrder Wizard of Oz - 85th Anniversary Theater Edition Steelbook Giftset (4K Ultra HD + Digital) https://amzn.to/3AwKO8v

1939’s acclaimed and beloved classic The Wizard of Oz will be released on 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray as an 85th Anniversary Theater Edition on November 5. Directed by Victor Fleming (Gone With the Wind) and starring Judy Garland as Dorothy Gale, The Wizard of Oz is widely considered to be one of the most influential films in cinematic history.

The 85th Anniversary Theater Edition includes a 4K UHD disc of the film, a Blu-ray disc of the film and a digital code, along with commemorative steelbook packaging, a reproduction of the original program, a reproduction of the film’s premiere invitation, reproductions of 8 original lobby cards, reproductions of 2 original poster cards, and a reproduction of the film’s original movie ticket.

Adapted from L. Frank Baum’s timeless children’s tale about a Kansas girl’s journey over the rainbow, The Wizard of Oz officially premiered at Grauman’s Chinese Theater on August 15, 1939. The film was directed by Victor Fleming (who that same year directed Gone With the Wind), produced by Mervyn LeRoy, and scored by Herbert Stothart, with music and lyrics by Harold Arlen and E.Y. Harburg. Ray Bolger appeared as the Scarecrow; Bert Lahr as the Cowardly Lion, Jack Haley as the Tin Woodman. Frank Morgan was seen in six different roles, including that of the "wonderful Wizard" himself. Dorothy was portrayed by a 4'11" sixteen-year-old girl who quickly earned her reputation as “the world’s greatest entertainer”-- the incomparable Judy Garland.

The Wizard of Oz received five Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture, and captured two Oscars -- Best Song (“Over the Rainbow”) and Best Original Score -- plus a special award for Outstanding Juvenile Performance by Judy Garland. The film was an overwhelmingly popular and critical success upon its initial release and repeated its ability to captivate audiences when MGM reissued the film in 1949 and 1955.

Released to wide acclaim and recognition, and with a long-lasting legacy in the film world, The Wizard of Oz owns a place in multiple AFI lists, including: 100 Years… 100 Movies (#6); 100 Years… 100 Thrills (#43); 100 Years… 100 Heroes and Villains (#4); 100 Years… 100 Songs (#1); 100 Years… 100 Movie Quotes (#4); and Greatest Movie Musicals (#3).

In 1989 The Wizard of Oz was part of the inaugural group of films selected for preservation in the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress for being culturally, historically, and aesthetically significant.

The 2017 remaster used an 8K 16bit scan of the original Technicolor camera negative which became the basis for the 4K UHD scan. The process was overseen by MPI colorist Janet Wilson, who oversaw every remaster of The Wizard of Oz for the past 20 years.

The 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray disc of The Wizard of Oz will feature Dolby VisionTM HDR that dramatically expands the color palette and contrast range and uses dynamic metadata to automatically optimize the picture for every screen — frame by frame.

Also, the 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray disc of The Wizard of Oz will feature a Dolby Atmos soundtrack remixed specifically for the home theater environment to place and move audio anywhere in the room, including overhead. To experience Dolby Atmos at home, a Dolby Atmos enabled AV receiver and additional speakers are required, or a Dolby Atmos enabled sound bar. Dolby Atmos soundtracks are also fully backward compatible with traditional audio configurations and legacy home entertainment equipment.

The Wizard of Oz Blu-ray disc contains the following previously released special features:

- The Wonderful Wizard of Oz: The Making of a Movie Classic

- Prettier than Ever: The Restoration of Oz

- Deleted Scenes/Behind the Scenes: Over the Rainbow, Jitterbug, If I Only Had a Brain, Wizard of Oz excerpt

Street Date: November 5, 2024

Ultra HD Blu-ray Languages: English, Latin Spanish, Canadian French, Brazilian Portuguese

Ultra HD Blu-ray Subtitles: English SDH, Latin Spanish, Canadian French, Brazilian Portuguese

Running Time: 101 minutes

Rating: Rated PG

DOLBY ATMOS [CC]

[bigjoe11]

Wilson Audio • Sasha V Loudspeakers $51,000 Review

https://www.theaudiobeat.com/equipment/wilson_audio_sasha_v.htm Regarding the price of such an experience, I’m always bemused when someone asks me whether speakers that cost as much as a luxury motorcycle, for instance, are worth the price. Given that I don’t hold a degree in macro or microeconomics, nor do I have any experience running a manufacturing business, my opinion about what constitutes…

[bestpctips]

American beauties

New speakers from the USA AVAILABLE: NOW WEB: WILSONAUDIO.COM ABSOLUTESOUNDS.COM UTAH’S WILSON AUDIO has just released a couple of new products. The Alida CSC multi-channel speaker is a wall-mount with a claimed frequency response reaching below 40Hz, which uses a 25mm Convergent Synergy Carbon (CSC) tweeter, custom in-house-built crossovers and a mounting bracket employing a…

[monoandstereo-matejisak]

Wilson Audio SashaV Speakers

> monoandstereo.com http://dlvr.it/T2n066 → monoandstereo.com

[hifilounge]

Wilson Audio Sasha V Loudspeakers Now On Permanent Demo!

Hi Everyone,

So when it comes to Wilson Audio there isn't much to say really that hasn't already been said but it is always big news when we get a new pair of Wilsons in for demo and this time we are delighted to now have the new Sasha V's on permanent demo in the stunning Medio Grigio finish, grey to you and me, it goes without saying that they look and sound stunning.

The Sasha DAW's were such a popular speaker for us and Wilson that I am sure when it came time to update them it must have been quite tricky for Wilson as they really were the perfect speaker, the right size, expensive yes but not silly money and sounded so good but things march on and as Wilson had not so long ago updated their Alexx V's with trickle down technology from the incredible XVX's it was time to upgrade the Sasha's with the same tech resulting in a speaker that really has moved the game on from where the DAW was, not small feat I have to say.

If you haven't heard a Wilson speaker you really do owe it to yourself to come in and choose some of your favourite tracks to play on our new Sasha's, the dynamics, mid and solidity to the bass is just perfect, Wilson Audio really are the masters of speaker design that just pulls you into the heart of the music, when I listen to a Wilson it is very difficult to find any faults with their presentation, well for me they are as perfect as a speaker gets, I know that comes at a price but if you are one of the lucky ones who can go to the Wilson level then I know you will enjoy your music like never before, generally once people become Wilson Audio customers they are for life as nothing else comes close to the balance of honesty, accuracy and musicality.

Please find a link to Wilson Audio on our website and if you'd like to come in for a demo anytime please feel free.

Cheers,

Paul.

[mughees8]

Prepare to embark on an auditory odyssey like never before! Join us in our exclusive voice chat, where passionate experts and enthusiasts have delved into the world of Wilson Audio speakers. see on Wilson Audio In this illuminating conversation, discover the secrets behind these iconic speakers, exploring their unparalleled design, acoustic engineering, and the sheer artistry that defines the audiophile experience. Gain valuable insights into the meticulous craftsmanship, innovative technologies, and the meticulous tuning that elevates Wilson Audio to a league of its own.

[audio-luddite]

Pontificate

VERB

express one's opinions in a way considered annoyingly pompous and dogmatic.

Yah OK that is me (sometimes?). Though it is a common thread in the audio hobby. Tribes form and hold fast to their dogma. You know how that works. Tubes are best. MOSFETs are best. Give me Single Ended Triodes, or give me death. At the head of these tribes are annoyingly earnest people. Only they are right, all others are misguided.

My tribe is vinyl is best. Linear tracking turntables are the best. ARC Preamps ...... well you get the idea. I am pretty open about other things. Any amplifier technology that works is OK in my books as long as we have triple digit Watts on tap and some damping factor.

The most egregious pontificators are the golden ears with YouTube channels and or magazine columns. I find them entertaining especially when they miss things or just go far down some rabbit hole. That is why I check them out so often.

Take for example a person reviewing a speaker. There are so many methods, techniques, and design philosophies that your head will spin. Whichever speaker on review is very good to the best (depending). That Audiophiliac guy has had 60 year old Klipschs and bi-polar planars and baffleless cones, and boxes and well everything as his go-to reference at one time or another. He has interviewed speaker designers and praised their work while keeping completely different types as his reference.

Thing is I have a problem with contradictions. If one way is best the others are not. For example PS audio makes a speaker range that has an exotic diaphragm based treble driver that is the end result of years of work. In many respects it is the child of one of the early speaker design gods Arnie Nudell of Infinity fame. It is apparently VERY good.

BUT there are competing designs by Wilson Audio which is by many people considered the GOAT but uses fairly conventional magnetic coil based drivers. Many of them very carefully tuned but still box based.

The trick here is the position of the drivers can be adjusted to exactly align with your head-in-a-vice listening position.

Then you have electrostatics and planar magnetics and on and on.

So which approach is the best?

Those guys above are both are not inexpensive and have quite divergent design philosophies. So actually neither can be best.

I am certain they both sound very good with well matched equipment and room treatment. The room has to be "tamed" to work with these guys.

Any speaker can sound good within limits. Many sound very good even with flaws that someone from another tribe would consider fatal.

I do not like speakers that blow sound out front and back. I built those and was happy, but very much of what you hear is not in the source. It is an effect that muddles the sound. It is sound waves bouncing off back walls and other surfaces. Your brain compensates for that. I now prefer to minimize brain compensation.

Clarity and wide frequency range are my thing. Clarity means a minimum of extra sound waves coherently produced. Wide range means deep bass, and well my high frequency is not what is once was, but I have measured response way over my ear's limit.

If you sit in close to the "good" spot and cannot even identify where the speakers are that is good. You just want a curtain of sound an illusion of something or even somewhere else stretched across the room. That is the true goal. If you have that you are there already.

I recall a golden ear saying that a particular tube amplifier had very little "tube fuzz". I supposed that meant he heard it often, but forgave the other devices that flaw. "Solid State detail" was another thing he said. So SS has more detail? I recall another questioning MOSFETs as having a particular not quite right characteristic. Of course very many think that old school Bipolar transistors are fundamentally wrong for not quite clear reasons.

I could go on for hours about phono pickups. I may have once or twice, but I have some wise men on my side.

It all falls down to my mantra. There is no best. Better is what you like. If you like something more it is better.

[speakeraktifbluetoothterbaik]

AGEN! (WA) 0851-7988-9353 Speaker Paling Mahal Elsound Audio di Jl. Solontongan Bandung Bandung

Speaker Paling Mahal: Pilihan Terbaik untuk Pengalaman Audio Tanpa Tanding

Ketika berbicara tentang speaker audio berkualitas tinggi, satu hal yang sering menjadi pertimbangan utama adalah harga. Dalam dunia audio, harga yang tinggi sering kali menjadi tanda kualitas luar biasa, baik dari segi teknologi, material, maupun desain. Speaker Paling Mahal sering kali menjadi incaran para audiophile yang menginginkan pengalaman audio terbaik di rumah. Dalam artikel ini, kita akan membahas beberapa pilihan speaker paling mahal di dunia, apa yang membuat mereka begitu spesial, dan mengapa speaker dengan harga selangit sering kali dianggap sebagai investasi yang berharga.

Mengapa Memilih Speaker Paling Mahal?

Speaker Paling Mahal bukan hanya sekadar perangkat untuk mendengarkan musik atau menonton film. Mereka adalah simbol kemewahan dan kualitas. Speaker kelas premium ini dirancang untuk menghasilkan suara yang sedetail mungkin, memberikan pengalaman audio yang benar-benar imersif. Kelebihan speaker mahal dibandingkan dengan speaker biasa meliputi kualitas suara yang lebih jernih, bass yang lebih kuat, dan treble yang lebih halus.

Alasan utama memilih Speaker Paling Mahal antara lain:

Teknologi Audio Canggih: Speaker mahal biasanya dilengkapi dengan teknologi terbaru seperti Hi-Res Audio, Dolby Atmos, dan fitur surround sound yang menghasilkan suara dari berbagai arah.

Material Berkualitas: Dari bahan pembuat driver hingga kabinet, semua komponen dipilih dengan sangat hati-hati untuk menjamin daya tahan dan kualitas suara terbaik.

Desain Mewah: Tidak hanya soal performa, speaker mahal juga memiliki desain elegan yang bisa menjadi elemen dekoratif di rumah Anda.

Daya Tahan Lama: Speaker premium biasanya lebih tahan lama dibandingkan speaker biasa karena menggunakan material berkualitas tinggi.

Pilihan Speaker Paling Mahal di Dunia

Berikut adalah beberapa speaker paling mahal yang ada di pasaran, yang tidak hanya menawarkan kualitas suara terbaik tetapi juga merupakan karya seni teknologi audio.

1. Hart Audio D&W Aural Pleasure - $5 Juta

Speaker ini bukan hanya sekadar alat untuk mendengarkan musik, tetapi juga karya seni audio yang luar biasa. Hart Audio D&W Aural Pleasure terbuat dari bahan mewah seperti emas 18 karat dan perak murni, menjadikannya salah satu speaker paling mahal di dunia. Suara yang dihasilkan sangat jernih dan detail, dengan bass yang mendalam dan treble yang halus.

Keunggulan:

Terbuat dari emas 18 karat dan perak murni

Kualitas suara yang sangat jernih dan mendetail

Salah satu speaker termahal di dunia

2. Focal Grande Utopia EM - $300.000

Focal Grande Utopia EM adalah salah satu speaker terbaik dari Focal, brand audio asal Prancis yang sudah terkenal di kalangan audiophile. Speaker ini menawarkan teknologi elektromagnetik yang memastikan reproduksi suara yang sangat detail, dengan bass yang kuat dan treble yang sangat jernih. Ukurannya yang besar membuat speaker ini cocok untuk ruangan yang luas, dengan kualitas suara yang imersif.

Keunggulan:

Teknologi elektromagnetik untuk kualitas suara superior

Desain elegan yang cocok untuk ruangan mewah

Bass yang sangat kuat dan terkontrol

3. Wilson Audio WAMM Master Chronosonic - $850.000

Wilson Audio WAMM Master Chronosonic adalah puncak dari teknologi audio ultra-high-end. Speaker ini dirancang khusus oleh Dave Wilson, pendiri Wilson Audio, untuk menghadirkan pengalaman mendengarkan yang mendekati realita. Speaker ini mampu mereproduksi suara dengan akurasi luar biasa, mulai dari frekuensi terendah hingga tertinggi. Wilson Audio menggunakan teknologi time alignment untuk memastikan setiap frekuensi sampai ke telinga pendengar pada waktu yang tepat.

Keunggulan:

Teknologi time alignment untuk akurasi suara yang sangat tinggi

Reproduksi frekuensi yang sangat luas

Dibuat dengan tangan oleh ahli audio

4. Goldmund Epilogue Signature Audio System - $1 Juta

Goldmund Epilogue Signature adalah speaker audio sistem high-end yang dirancang untuk para penggemar musik yang mencari kualitas suara terbaik tanpa kompromi. Speaker ini memiliki desain yang sangat mewah, dilengkapi dengan teknologi suara kelas atas yang mampu menghasilkan reproduksi suara yang sangat detail. Goldmund adalah brand yang dikenal dengan presisinya dalam dunia audio, dan Epilogue Signature adalah bukti nyata dari reputasi tersebut.

Keunggulan:

Reproduksi suara yang sangat presisi

Material premium dan desain mewah

Teknologi canggih untuk kualitas audio yang tiada tanding

5. Magico Ultimate III - $700.000

Magico Ultimate III adalah salah satu speaker paling mahal yang menggunakan teknologi horn-loaded driver untuk menghasilkan suara yang sangat detail. Speaker ini dirancang untuk mereka yang benar-benar serius dengan pengalaman audio. Magico menggunakan material kelas dunia dan proses manufaktur yang sangat presisi untuk menciptakan speaker yang menghasilkan suara yang alami dan detail.

Keunggulan:

Teknologi horn-loaded driver untuk detail suara yang luar biasa

Material kelas dunia yang tahan lama

Kualitas suara yang sangat alami dan akurat

Faktor yang Mempengaruhi Harga Speaker Mahal

Mengapa speaker seperti Hart Audio D&W Aural Pleasure atau Focal Grande Utopia EM bisa memiliki harga yang sangat tinggi? Ada beberapa faktor yang mempengaruhi harga speaker mahal, termasuk:

1. Teknologi Suara

Speaker paling mahal menggunakan teknologi canggih yang tidak ditemukan pada speaker biasa. Teknologi seperti time alignment, horn-loaded driver, dan electromagnetic bass drivers memungkinkan speaker ini menghasilkan kualitas suara yang lebih akurat dan mendetail.

2. Material

Material yang digunakan dalam pembuatan speaker mahal biasanya berkualitas sangat tinggi. Beberapa speaker bahkan menggunakan bahan mewah seperti emas, perak, atau karbon, yang tidak hanya menambah daya tahan tetapi juga memberikan nilai estetika yang luar biasa.

3. Desain dan Konstruksi

Speaker paling mahal sering kali dirancang sebagai karya seni audio. Desainnya bukan hanya soal estetika, tetapi juga memainkan peran penting dalam meningkatkan kualitas suara. Beberapa speaker premium dirakit secara manual oleh ahli audio, yang memastikan setiap detail dipertimbangkan dengan teliti.

4. Eksklusivitas

Speaker mahal biasanya diproduksi dalam jumlah terbatas, menjadikannya produk eksklusif yang hanya dimiliki oleh segelintir orang di dunia. Eksklusivitas ini turut menambah nilai dan harga dari speaker tersebut.

5. Pengalaman Audio

Yang terakhir dan paling penting adalah pengalaman audio yang ditawarkan oleh speaker mahal. Speaker kelas atas dirancang untuk memberikan pengalaman mendengarkan yang mendekati realita, membuat pendengar merasa seolah-olah berada di tengah-tengah konser atau studio rekaman.

FAQ tentang Speaker Paling Mahal

1. Apa itu Speaker Paling Mahal?

Speaker Paling Mahal adalah speaker yang dirancang menggunakan teknologi audio terbaik dan material premium, dengan harga yang sangat tinggi. Speaker ini biasanya ditujukan untuk audiophile atau kolektor yang menginginkan kualitas suara terbaik di dunia.

2. Mengapa harga speaker bisa sangat mahal?

Harga speaker mahal disebabkan oleh penggunaan teknologi audio canggih, material berkualitas tinggi, dan desain eksklusif. Beberapa speaker mahal juga dirakit secara manual dan diproduksi dalam jumlah terbatas, menjadikannya produk eksklusif.

3. Apakah Speaker Paling Mahal benar-benar lebih baik dari speaker biasa?

Secara umum, Speaker Paling Mahal menawarkan kualitas suara yang jauh lebih baik dibandingkan speaker biasa. Mereka dirancang untuk audiophile yang sangat memperhatikan detail suara, sehingga setiap frekuensi suara terdengar lebih jernih dan akurat.

4. Apakah saya perlu ruangan khusus untuk menggunakan speaker mahal?

Ya, banyak speaker mahal dirancang untuk ruangan besar dengan akustik yang baik. Beberapa speaker premium bahkan dilengkapi dengan teknologi yang bisa menyesuaikan suara berdasarkan akustik ruangan, tetapi tetap disarankan untuk memiliki ruangan yang cukup besar untuk mendapatkan pengalaman audio terbaik.

5. Apakah speaker mahal hanya untuk musik?

Tidak. Speaker mahal juga sangat cocok untuk home theater dan menonton film. Banyak speaker premium yang dilengkapi dengan teknologi Dolby Atmos atau surround sound, yang membuat pengalaman menonton film menjadi lebih imersif dan nyata.

Kesimpulan

Speaker Paling Mahal tidak hanya sekadar alat untuk mendengarkan musik atau menonton film, tetapi juga merupakan investasi dalam pengalaman audio yang tak tertandingi. Speaker seperti Hart Audio D&W Aural Pleasure, Focal Grande Utopia EM, dan Wilson Audio WAMM Master Chronosonic menawarkan teknologi canggih, desain mewah, dan kualitas suara yang jauh di atas rata-rata.

Meskipun harga speaker ini sangat tinggi, bagi para audiophile sejati, mereka adalah investasi jangka panjang yang memberikan pengalaman audio yang tidak bisa ditemukan di speaker biasa. Jadi, jika Anda mencari kualitas suara terbaik dengan desain yang elegan, Speaker Paling Mahal adalah pilihan yang tepat.

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[babyjamiebarnes]

Build-A-Bear

Part Twelve

Featuring: Bucky x Stark!reader, dad!Tony, Steve, Sam, bff!Peter Parker

Warnings: language, mentions of smut/sex tapes, blackmail/threatening

Summary: With Tony now on your side, you and Bucky are able to take steps toward stopping your blackmailer — until things take a dark turn.

Author’s Note: Ugh, it’s not as long as I’d like it to be but it’s a good lead-up to the final chapter and I won’t feel so bad about taking forever if I finally get something out there 😖 I haven’t been in the best headspace lately but things are kind of looking up so hopefully I get the conclusion out faster 😞

Series Masterlist

Tags: @amourmarvel @fangirlvoice @kennedywxlsh @devilswaldorf @what-the-hap-is-fuckning @alyispunk @fredweasleysbitchh @wearegroot @sunflowerbebe107 @prestigious-tea @brckenmemories @angelbabymed @charmedbysarge @cruelsummer-s @fandomlovver @ahahafudge @thebivirgin

You thanked every deity in existence that there wasn’t enough room for you and four grown men in the Jeep because your dad had to drive separately from you, Bucky, Steve, and Sam. Once the doors shut, however, there was one question lingering in the air.

“So… how’d it go?” Sam asked.

Bucky let out a sigh.

“I’m still alive,” he deadpanned.

“Are you gonna… you know… stay that way?” Sam asked slowly.

You couldn’t help the giggle that escaped your lips at the question. And when Bucky glanced over at you, he laughed quietly too. Which led to Steve chuckling at him and Sam smiling at the way he (unintentionally) relieved some of the gravity of the situation.

Bucky’s shoulders relaxed a bit for the rest of the drive, but you caught him growing tense again when you all met your dad in the underground parking garage. It was the only place in your apartment building with no windows and no audio, but you knew there was video surveillance. There was a chance your stalker had access to the video, most likely through hacking the system, but they wouldn’t know what was being said. As you approached your father, he pulled what looked like two sniper rifles out of the backseat.

“Barnes, Wilson. You’re coming with me,” he said.

“Dad,” you chastised, assuming he was only taking Bucky with him to keep him from you.

“He was a World War II sniper, [Y/N]. It makes sense to have him using a scope to check where this psycho was watching you.���

You were silent in response, mostly because you knew he was right. And you’d still have Steve with you in your apartment, so it’s not like you’d be left alone.

Bucky immediately checked the safety and pulled back the bolt handle to make sure it was fully unloaded. He didn’t expect it to have anything in the chamber since there was no magazine, but he learned to take extra precaution. And just like when he cleared your apartment all those months ago, something about seeing him wield the power of a firearm made you shiver. How very American of you.

“These are all connected to a secure line,” Tony continued as he handed everyone the type of flip phone you had in middle school. “I hope you all remember how to text the old fashioned way because we’re not calling unless absolutely necessary. Considering what was in the video,” his jaw clenched as his eyes shot daggers at Bucky, “there are probably audio and video devices all over the apartment.”

“We scanned for that when we first started staying with her,” Sam said. “I just figured the video was taken before her identity was released.”

What he said just solidified Steve’s assumption. You definitely knew who was blackmailing you.

“It was after,” you said. “It was… that night was shortly after the…” you hesitated. Everyone looked at you patiently, but you could see Bucky take a subtle step away from your dad. He knew when the video was taken. “Um, it was shortly after the, uh, the pregnancy scare.”

All eyes moved to Bucky and Tony. The emotions that flickered across your dad’s face clearly showed his thoughts: shock, confusion, realization... You wouldn’t be surprised if this was the straw that broke the camel’s back; Bucky must’ve had the same thought as he darted to stand behind you.

“The what?!” Tony barked. “You — Barnes! I’m gonna —” He cut himself off and just huffed out a heavy breath, his hands curled into fists by his side and his jaw tight in an attempt to calm himself down.

“Not to make things worse but it takes two,” you said. “I was a willing participant.”

“But did it have to be with him?!”

“Dad!”

“I’m just saying, pumpkin, it could’ve been Parker!”

“He’s a kid!”

“And he,” your dad countered, pointing at Bucky, “is a senior citizen!”

“Oh my god,” you groaned. “I’m not having this conversation now. We’ll argue about my taste in men later. Go check out the buildings.”

You twisted on your heel and pulled Bucky down for a very unnecessary kiss. You knew it pissed your dad off, but he was being so frustrating! With a snap of his fingers, Tony got Sam and Bucky to follow him out the doors to the street where they would split up and check out the buildings within view of your kitchen and bedroom to see which one the photos were taken from.

Steve led you up to your apartment so you two could stand in the kitchen for everyone to look for from their respective buildings. You hopped up onto the counter while Steve leaned against the fridge across from you, arms crossed and brow furrowed as your eyes met.

“I think you’re right,” you said plainly. Steve held his finger up to his lips and pulled out the flip phone. You were kind of shocked he knew how pre-smart phone texting worked, but he continued to surprise you.

What makes you say that?

It’s not easy to get in this building. It’s even harder to get in my apartment.

Right as you hit send, a familiar jolt of realization shot up your spine. There was one major thing all of you were forgetting. You leaped off the counter and ran to your bedroom with Steve hot on your heels. In your earlier panic, none of you thought to look for a camera in the bedroom. There’s only one angle that video could’ve been taken from and it would’ve had to be inside your room.

If your memory served you correctly, the camera would’ve been set up somewhere on or near your bookshelf. Steve stood in the doorway while you scanned through all your books. You practically knew your setup by heart, so catching the skinny book that was out of place didn’t take long.

You turned to face Steve as you said, “I don’t have a hard cover copy of ‘Romeo and Juliet.’” You turned back to glare at the book and mumbled, “I actually hate ‘Romeo and Juliet’.”

The book was pretty thin, making it stand out even more in your extensive collection, but the title was written in a clear, elegant script along the spine. It almost made you question your own memory — until you noticed the ballpoint-sized hole near the bottom. The black background made it almost indistinguishable, but when you pulled it from the shelf, the hole was evident. And when you pulled it open, you found wires inside the cut-out pages and a small camera tucked against the hole in the spine.

“That fucker didn’t even clean up after himself,” you spat, throwing the pseudo-book onto your mattress. Steve picked it up and checked it out before calling Peter.

“Hey, if I send you a camera, can you see if it’s being wirelessly streamed to a separate device?” Your head snapped back to Steve at those words. When did the old man become so well-versed with tech? The last you knew, he struggled to take an iPhone video. Just a few months ago, he asked what the difference was between a flash drive and a hard drive.

While Steve talked to Peter, you walked back to the kitchen to see if the other boys were all in place. You didn’t have the scopes and binoculars they did, but you could still take a guess at which building your stalker took the photos from.

There weren’t many buildings high and close enough for that kind of angle and clarity, but the one you eyed most was just a bit to your left and a couple stories above where your apartment sat in your building. It wouldn’t be cheap to get a place like that, which made you start to doubt Steve’s assumption.

As you stood in the floor-to-ceiling window frame of your kitchen, your flip phone started buzzing in your hand.

“Yeah?” you answered.

“Don’t say anything that might give us away, in case there’s a recording device in your apartment,” Tony said. “I’m in the building right across from you but the angle doesn’t feel right. I think your boy toy is in the right place.”

As if on cue, Steve stepped beside you and answered his phone.

“Hey, Buck.”

“Sounds like you’re right,” you said to your dad. “He just called Steve.”

“We’ll meet you in the parking garage.” With that, your line went dead.

“Okay, meet us downstairs,” Steve said before ending his own call. “Buck’s pretty sure he found the apartment the photos were taken from. Sent the address to Parker so we should get contact info soon.”

You just nodded and headed downstairs again. Things were finally starting to look up. You had two new leads on top of anything Peter, Pepper, and Happy had found and prayed they somehow linked back to Steve’s accused.

Unfortunately, your optimism was shattered when everyone met back up in the garage. Before anyone could say a word, your personal cell started ringing, but the caller ID was... Bucky.

No one said a word as you all met beside the Jeep and you showed everyone the “James 🐻” ringing on your screen, resulting in a lot of confused looks. Bucky pulled his phone out of his pocket and proved he wasn’t accidentally butt-dialing you, freezing your blood in your veins.

“They’re spoofing,” Tony concluded.

“Answer it,” Steve said.

“Put it on speaker,” Sam added quickly.

You nodded as you pressed “accept,” doing your best to keep your voice steady and unbothered.

“Hello?”

“You’ve really done it now, [Y/N].” The voice on the other end said slowly. They were clearly distorting the sound and you’d bet they couldn’t be traced. They’d never be that stupid. “Have your boyfriend search your name.”

You looked up at Bucky who was scrambling to search your name on his phone… and immediately paled. He almost looked like he had seen a ghost, though you’d argue what he actually saw was so much worse.

“They released the video.”

Your throat constricted as you tried to not literally throw up at those four words. And when Bucky shuffled beside you to show you the top results under your name, you weren’t sure how long you could hold it back. The first page of results was just news articles about your sex tape even though it had been released only 20 minutes ago. You snatched Bucky’s phone and clicked the link to the video and sure enough, it was you and Bucky. Two hours of you and Bucky.

“You son of a bitch,” you practically growled into the phone. “That wasn’t part of your fucking deal.”

“You took away my first bargaining chip so I played my second. And believe me, I’ve got plenty more videos. You two are quite the pair,” the unnaturally deep voice snarked. “But now you also know lives will be lost if you don’t listen. You now have three days or that man and his family die.”

The line cut out then, leaving everyone standing in stunned silence.

“I’ll get Pep on taking down the video,” Tony muttered before pulling his phone out to text Pepper. “We’ll have to swing by a couple banks and pull out the money.”

“Dad, I don’t want you to bail me out,” you practically whined.

“We don’t have any other option, [Y/N],” he snapped. “You don’t have to give a shit about him releasing sex tapes of you and the Vibranium Vibrator,” Bucky cringed at that nickname, “but I know you won’t let that other kid’s family die. We’ll keep trying to track them down, but we have to be prepared.”

You sighed. You knew he was right. If you ended up finding the culprit, if Steve was right, you could just put the money back. Plus, two million out of your father’s billions wasn’t enough to break him.

“Okay, fine. Let’s get ready,” you mumbled.

Steve interjected before anyone moved too far.

“I have a plan.”

[master-sass-blast]

Children of the Gods: Part Three, Chapter One.

AT LONG LAST, THE PLOT FICS ARE BACK, BAY-BEE!!! AND B O Y ARE WE KICKING OFF WITH A DOOZY!!!

As you can see by the title: this is chapter one of three for this fic; I had to chop it up due to length.

Also, this fic as a whole makes for my 100th part of the CHC! I feel like I should do something to celebrate. Let me know if y’all have any suggestions.

Summary: It's been months since anyone's seen or heard of Allison Ricci. At last, you think the storm might be over. 

And then Karen Page gets kidnapped again.

Pairing(s): Piotr Rasputin x Reader, Nathan Summers x Wade Wilson, and Frank Castle x Karen Page.

Rating: M for kidnapping, attempted murder, attempted suicide, canon-typical violence, gun violence, and depictions of injury. Like I said, we’re kicking off with a doozy.

Word Count: 4.9k.

Set after “Children of the Gods: Part Two.”

Taglist: @marvel-is-perfection, @chromecutie, @super-darkcloudstudent, @girl-obsessed-with-things, @leo-writer, @emma-frxst, @sadstone-s

There’s no mention or sighting of Allison for nearly six months. Every trail you had for her before goes stone cold. The apartment is cleared out and abandoned. She doesn’t show up in the fighting rings, and even Karen and Frank don’t report anyone following them.

You start to wonder if she died for good this time. That maybe she revived and got herself and her mentor out, but didn’t survive after that.

(You wonder who’ll bury her body, if she’ll be lain to rest next to her family or in a random patch of ground somewhere.)

The storm seems to be over.

And then Karen gets kidnapped again.

***

Wade and Nathan are the ones that technically call it in –by showing up on your doorstep with Frank in tow.

“Allison’s back,” Nate says when your eyes bug out of your head. “Figured Xavier would want to have his people try and round her up, rather than there being an issue with mutant control.”

You blink rapidly, then nod. “Uh… yeah. Let me call Piotr.”

***

The perks of being on a technically-special-law-enforcement team with fancy jets: you can get to the scene a hell of a lot faster than conventional authorities.

You, Wade, Nathan, Frank, and Piotr meet up with Illyana, Mikhail (the two Rasputin siblings are there to “assist” with Allison’s specific powers, considering how things went last time), and Neena in the mall parking lot. After a brief rundown of the plan –get the civilians and Karen out of harm’s way, then detain Allison before the actual cops show up—you all split up and head in through the four major entry points.

The mall is packed when you walk in –go figure, it’s a weekend. Shoppers stroll from shop to shop, vendors at the pop up stands call out to passersby, music plays on the overhead speakers.

“The picture the kid sent me had a pretzel stand in the background,” Frank growls through the speaker in your earpiece.

“Food court, then,” Neena replies –in perfect, crystal clear audio, no less. “The kiosk map doesn’t show too many food stands outside there.”

Illyana tugs on your sleeve and directs you to the left. “We are close.”

You dodge to avoid a cluster of shoppers. “There’s a lot of people here. If she –if she has… weapons, like last time—”

“We’ll deal with it,” Nathan growls over the comms system before softly reprimanding Wade for trying to detour into Hot Topic. “Our goal right now is to capture Allison before she escapes again.”

“Civilian lives still matter,” Piotr insists before putting a hand on the small of your back to usher you around a “Wet Floor: Caution” sign. He’s armored down, but he’s wearing his X-Men suit under a black sweatshirt. “We must consider their well-being.”

“And if we tell them they’re in danger, we’ll make a panicked stampede, and that won’t help us or anyone else,” Nate says tersely. “Just stay calm. Our best bet is to try and talk Allison down without alerting anyone around us.”

“If she tries to hurt Karen—" Frank grits out.

“We’ll cross that bridge if and when we get there,” Nathan declares, tone permitting no room for argument.

The lot of you round another corner, passing by a shop that boasts having “all the latest console games at all the best prices” and a Victoria’s Secret—

“I see her,” Neena says. You hear thuds her footsteps pick up, and a second later you see her jog around a Starbucks stand and head down the hall to the food court. “Twelve o’clock, dead center of the court.”

Twenty meters away, sitting at a little food court table, are Allison and Karen; the former is dressed in all black, leaning back in her seat while staring down the latter –who, all things considered, doesn’t seem too much worse for wear.

Frank inhales sharply, then appears through the crowd a few minutes later, walking so fast he’s practically running. “Too many people here.”

“We’ll talk her down,” Nathan says, rounding the corner nearest the Macy’s with Wade.

Illyana tenses, then grabs your arm before breaking into a run. “We need to move. She has seen Castle.”

Sure enough, Allison’s scowling. She shoves her chair back hard enough to knock it into the table behind her; she stands, ignoring the complaints from the nearby diners. Her eyes start glowing blue as she glares at Frank.

“Ah, shitfarts,” Wade grumbles.

“Everyone down!” Nathan bellows before yanking Frank back and erecting a telekinetic shield.

A massive shockwave of blue energy erupts across the food court, sending shoppers and tables alike flying into the air. The glass, domed skylight over the food court shatters, raining shards of windows and broken lights down on the panicked, shrieking bystanders.

Illyana erects a shield before the shockwave can hit the rest of you. She grits her teeth as debris and a few of the shoppers closest to the epicenter bounce off it, tumbling along the tiled floor. “Still think we will ‘talk her down?’”

No, you think, gulping when you realize that some of the blast victims aren’t getting up. I think we’re well past that.

“Karen!” Frank charges towards Allison, shotgun –loaded with bean bag rounds—in hand. “Get down!”

Karen dives behind a toppled table.

Illyana charges at Allison, clothes shimmering as they morph into black body armor. She leaps over an overturned table, then extends her hand and fires a blue bolt of magical energy at the younger girl.

Allison ducks. She stumbles briefly, but quickly rights herself. She grits her teeth, then screams as she unleashes a volley of azure-colored energy blasts at Illyana.

“Go! Get out!” Piotr waves a few stragglers –with their phones out to film the ruckus, go figure—away. He ducks another round of fire from Allison, then armors up and strides towards her. “That is enough—” 

Allison whips her head to the side, then back at Illyana. She quickly fires a blast at Illyana –successfully knocking the older girl off her feet, then turns and unleashes a beam of blue energy square into your husband’s chest.

Piotr sails into the food court’s Subway stand with a groan and a resounding clang.

You cram down the urge to run after your husband –he’ll be fine, he’s taken a lot worse before—and focus on the fight at hand.

Nate, Wade, and Frank are pinned down; they’re using some trash can stands as cover, but Allison’s got enough firepower to keep them from risking getting any closer.

Piotr and Illyana are both down for the time being; your husband’s tangled up with the condiments trays, while the youngest Rasputin’s on the floor, groaning.

Neena’s working the perimeter, getting shoppers out while setting up to flank Allison from behind.

And Mikhail’s… disappeared—

No, there he is, you think when you see him blink into existence. You let out a short sigh of relief when you see him take Karen’s hand and teleport to a safer distance, then do a short run before launching yourself in the air. Alright, let’s get the boys some cover.

Allison’s head jerks back as she follows your trajectory. Her eyes glow, bits of blue smoke wafting off at the corners, and then she fires another bolt of energy at you from her eyes.

You flit out of the line of fire, then fling an arc of wind at her.

Allison topples onto the tile floor. She yelps, then disappears into the ground to avoid being ensnared in one of Illyana’s spells. She pops back up a few feet away moments later—

Just in time to see Wade duck behind an overturned table.

Your brother snarls, cursing and panicking when Allison renders the table to a pile of ash with a flick of her wrist. “Something tells me that murder baby’s leveled up!”

“Gee!” You holler back. “What was your first hint!”

“Go!” Nathan hollers when Allison uses a bolt of magical energy strong enough to rip through several store fronts. He waves Karen and Frank off. “Get out of here! We’ve got this!”

Allison whirls. She bares her teeth when she sees Frank and Karen escaping, then slaps her palm against the food court floor.

Brilliant, bright streaks of azure energy zip along the floor, twinkling against the tiles before disappearing a few feet ahead of Karen and Frank.

The floor –from edge to edge of the hall, leaving no area untouched—crumple into ash, leaving a pit more than twenty feet deep. The ground between the doors behind Allison and the girl in question evaporate as well, along with the spaces in front of the emergency exits.

“Just when I left my rock climbing gear at home,” Wade grumbles, sounding somewhat winded.

Allison charges towards Karen and Frank, rendering tables, chairs, and random debris to ash as she runs to get a straight shot. She knocks Wade off his feet with via chucking a bolt of energy at him, forces you to duck behind a Pizza Hut counter with another one—

And then runs smack into Mikhail when he teleports right in front of her.

Mikhail wraps his arms around her, then leans back so he clears her feet off the ground. He stumbles a little while Allison rages and snarls. “Got her!”

Allison swears –then twists and drives her heel into Mikhail’s crotch.

Mikhail drops. He curls in on himself, groaning. “Kroshechnyy kon'… O Bozhe, moi yaytsa.”

Allison tumbles to the ground. She dodges more wind strikes from you, then lets out a feral snarl as she charges towards Frank and Karen.

Frank yanks Karen behind him, then shouts as he barrels towards Allison.

He has no game plan. You can see it in his eyes.

You vault yourself over the Subway counter, intent on tackling Allison, or knocking her over with a wind slice, or –something.

Before you can do anything, a blue circle forms around Allison, glowing brightly before expanding into a domed shield.

Allison skitters to a stop. Her dark curls jerk and bounce as she looks around wildly. She seethes, then launches a blast of energy at the shield, only for it to bounce off the veil of energy harmlessly.

A few feet away, Illyana lowers her hand. She smirks. “There. Much better.”

“Will –will that hold her?” Karen asks, voice rough and shaky.

“Until we can find way to transport, da.” Illyana reaches up her sleeve, then pulls out a spell book. “I have potent sleep spell. Will take but moment to find proper runes for casting.”

Behind you, Piotr groans as he finally disentangles his head from a –now very crushed—oven. He staggers, shakes himself, then turns and sags with relief when he sees Allison in the shield bubble. “Oh. Good.”

“Are you okay?” You jog over to him as he armors down and all but collapses into a nearby booth. “Babe? What’s wrong?”

“Ears are ringing.” He groans and clutches his head in his hands. “I hit my head very hard.”

You rub his shoulders, reassuring yourself as much as you are him. You can only imagine where else he’s hurt if Allison managed to concuss him while in defense mode. All you want now is to get back to Xavier’s so your husband can get the medical treatment he needs. “Don’t worry. Everything’s going to be—”

The ground shakes.

You steady yourself on the booth opposite Piotr –then suck a breath between your teeth when it happens again, harder than before. “Shit.” You whip your gaze back to Illyana. “What’s—”

You see Illyana, teeth gritted and eyes glowing blue as she holds both her hands towards the shield. 

You see Nathan, Neena, and everyone else slowly backing away from the dome of energy.

And, inside the containment bubble, you see Allison, flinging attack after attack at the walls of the shield.

Your eyes widen when you watch Allison unleash a sustained burst of energy at the shield walls. Fuck.

Glowing, white cracks form along the shield.

Oh holy fuck.

“Get down!” Neena screams.

Piotr all but tackles you –despite his head injury—to the floor just as the shield gives way. He armors back up, then covers your body with his.

Magic energy explodes through the food court, flinging the remaining tables and chairs into the walls. All the windows –in the skylights, the automatic doors, and the nearby shops—blow out, spraying glass everywhere. The ground shakes, cracking and dissipating into clouds of ash in various places.

Allison crawls out of the crater left by her explosion. She pants, shoulders heaving with each breath. Her mouth tugs into a fierce scowl; her eyes glow so brightly that they’re almost white.

Cracks form on the ground next to her, glowing white and smoking. They widen into gaping holes, with vortexes of energy swirling inside them.

And then these… beasts crawl out of them. Snarling, slobbering monsters with fangs the size of your arm. Their claws shatter the tiles underneath their massive paws. Their eyes glow red, not unlike hellfire. They almost look like wolves, if wolves had crossbred with the Hulk and had ichor and tar dripping off their skin.

Your jaw drops. “What the…”

Mikhail lets out a whoop. “Puppies!”

“Do puppies normally look like they want to turn humans into sausages?” Wade yelps, skittering out of reach when one of the hellhounds lets out a howl that sends a plume of fire into the air.

Illyana swears up a storm. She flicks her wrist, summoning the Soul Sword to her hand.

Before she can do anything else, though, one of the hellhounds charges her, knocking her off her feet and into one of the nearby shops.

“Snezhinka!” Piotr shoves himself to the feet, armors up, and barrels off after his sister –with Mikhail hot on his heels.

The other hellhound stalks towards Neena, Wade, and Nathan. It growls, acid dripping from its teeth and onto the ground, corroding whatever it touches.

“Should’ve worn the brown pants,” Wade groans. “Okay –anyone got a plan?”

“Duck!” Neena shouts when the hound unleashes another fiery howl.

You don’t duck –or run, or attack, or anything useful. No, you freeze, torn between going after your husband and siblings-in-law, helping protect Wade, Neena, and Nate, or trying to get Karen and Frank away from Allison.

Speaking of which…

Allison is lobbing bolts of energy at Frank and Karen; she’s closing in on them fast, quickly cornering them against the crater she’d made between the food court and the rest of the wall.

Frank whisks Karen behind his back. “Hey, hey, hey!” He extends a hand towards Allison in some sort of desperate attempt to get her to stop. “Just calm the fuck down!”

“Go to hell!” She rears back for another attack –and there’s no cover, nothing for Frank or Karen to hide behind or grab onto—

The choice makes itself for you.

You jump over the booth Piotr had pulled both of you behind and whip a wall of wind at her.

The blast launches her off her feet. She shrieks, sailing behind a pile of rubble before disappearing from view.

“Come on!” You leap over to Karen and Frank. The sounds of the hellhounds are too close for comfort –and, judging by Wade’s shrieks, the general amounts of swearing, and Piotr’s groans of exertion, the beasts are winning. “Let’s get out of here.” You get an arm around Karen, then start to put one around Frank, intent on lifting them over the crater and flying them out of here—

There’s a scream, and then a thin, whip-like strand of blue energy wraps around Frank’s neck.

His eyes go comically wide as he flies backwards. He lets out a choked shout, then groans –guttural and rough—when he hits the ground.

Allison stalks towards him. Her teeth are bared, and she looks entirely done with the situation. …And then she pulls a knife out of her jacket pocket.

You level another blast of air in Allison’s direction.

She manages to deflect it with a shield, then fires a volley of energy bolts at you and Karen.

Karen dodges.

You don’t.

You careen into the crater, narrowly dodging exposed bits of steel bar reinforcement and some leaking water lines before hitting rock hard dirt. You grunt, wind going out of you as you crumple against the ground. Fuck.

The hellhounds are still snarling nearby. You can still hear their ghoulish howls, accompanied by the crackling roar of the fire they unleash with each snap. Above the hellish din, Wade’s swearing and shrieking about his ass, Nate’s firing his future gun, Illyana and Mikhail are arguing—

Dammit. You shove yourself to your feet, panting and swearing the entire time. Once you’re upright, you launch yourself to the mall floor—

Which is when a new sound makes itself known to you.

Frank is screaming. That in and of itself isn’t unusual –he does it quite often—but now he’s doing it on his back, hands wrapped around Allison’s forearms, trying to keep her from sinking her knife blade into his right eye.

You’d think it wouldn’t be much of a fight –but she’s winning. She’s using her powers for leverage against Frank’s strength. You wouldn’t think a teenager with arms like noodles would have a shot, but Frank’s arms are shaking as Allison slowly, inexorably, pushes the knife towards his head. 

Frank shouts –and Allison shrieks right back at him; she sounds like a pissed off barn owl.

You stumble forward, wincing and collapsing to your knees when your left leg screams in protest. Shit.

Allison bares her teeth at Frank –and then she freezes. Her body goes stiff. Her eyes roll into the back of her head –and then she collapses against the ground, limp as a ragdoll.

Karen Page stands behind her, stun gun in hand. She lets out a hard breath when Allison drops against the ruined tile floor, then turns the stun gun off and reaches to help Frank up. “You okay?”

He grunts by way of response.

Allison starts squirming against the ground, trying to push herself upright.

She yanks the barbs and wires connecting her to Karen’s stun gun out of her shoulder, seething and snarling all the while. She staggers to her feet, lurching wildly as she tries to regain control over her body. She whirls, dark curls flinging back and forth with abandon.

Frank snaps into action. He immediately throws Karen behind him, forcing her back and away as Allison storms towards them. He holds one hand out, keeping some space between him and the teen. His gaze snaps back and forth, searching wildly for some sort of obstacle to put in her path or some sort of cover to duck behind—

There’s a dull thud, and then Allison lets out a choked shout as she tumbles to the ground.

Behind her, standing in the wreckage of one of the shops, Neena lowers the repression cuff gun your dad created to help capture rogue mutants.

You bend over, panting as you brace your hands against your knees. “Cool. Awesome. Holy shit.”

The snarling of the hellhounds disappears, too; the only sign they were there to begin with are the mounds of ash they leave behind. 

Slowly, your dad, Wade, and the Rasputin siblings come staggering out of the surrounding shops.

You sidle up next to Piotr, who’s already armoring down and looks beat to hell. You nod at him when he nods to you, then focus on the scene at hand.

Allison crouches on the floor. She snarls, yanking at the repression cuff on her wrist.

“Okay –ow, fuck!” Wade cringes as he resets his dislocated arm, then limps towards Allison. “Alright, murder baby. I’ve been chewed on, used as a tug toy, had a shop light fall on my nuts, and I’m pretty sure my third cervical vertebra is never going to feel whole again. Your whole ‘vengeance blood lust’ was pretty cute, but I draw the line at spinal reconfiguration. Time for you to head over to Xavier’s Home for Extraordinary Children and do group fucking therapy like the rest of the X-Dweebs.”

Allison bares her teeth at him, then kicks him square in the crotch.

Wade shrieks, doubling over and dropping to the floor. He curls into a fetal position, whimpering over his “dangly unmentionables.”

“Enough, Allison,” Nathan grits out. He uses his telekinesis to drag her across the floor, steadily sliding her towards him. “It’s done. Let it go.”

“Eat –eat shit!” Allison scrabbles against the floor, searching for a handhold –then snags a loose gun (most likely dropped by Mikhail at some point) and fires at Nathan. She struggles to her feet when he ducks –breaking the telekinetic hold—then whirls and aims at Frank.

“No!” Karen flings herself in front of Frank –which results in a lot of protesting from him—and holds out a hand. “Allison, no! Killing him isn’t what you want!”

“Like hell it is!”

“No, it isn’t. He’ll be dead and you’ll be in jail, and you’ll still have all your anger with no outlet for it,” Karen insists, voice ragged. She fixes Allison with a hard stare. “Let it go, Allison. Killing him won’t change anything.”

Allison sneers. “Fuck you. Like this is about ‘change!’ My family’s never coming back, and I have to live with that every single day. I have to remember waking up to them being gone, to their brains on the walls, to his—” she whips the gun wildly to point at Frank “—stupid graffiti tag on the floor. No, fuck you! I’m the one who has to go through the nightmares and the loneliness and the grief and has to bury my family! I don’t care that this won’t change anything. I’ll feel good for five seconds, and that’s better than the past few months have been!”

Your stomach clenches. Shit.

Frank gulps. Eyes shining, he steps out in front of Karen –even though she tries to stop him—and puts himself right in Allison’s line of sight. “You want me dead? Do it.”

“Frank,” Nathan says, voice sharp with warning.

“Pull the trigger,” Frank says, stepping closer as Allison’s hands shake. “Take me out. I killed your family. I did the same thing to you that happened to me. I’m a hypocrite; I deserve it.”

Allison seethes, body trembling as Frank slowly approaches her. “I will! I’ll do it!”

“Pull the trigger,” Frank says, voice soft and thick with emotion. “Do it, kid. Take me down if you want it so bad.”

Wade pushes himself off the ground. “Castle, I swear to God—”

Allison growls –and lowers her gun. She sobs, shoulders slumping. She falls to her knees, body shaking with each gasping breath she takes. “You couldn’t just… kill me? Do me the favor of not having to live without them?”

Frank flinches, Adam’s apple bobbing as he swallows reflexively. “I don’t do shit like that, kid.”

Allison looks up at him –and her gaze sharpens. She smiles, sharp and manic. “Oh. So that’s what it takes to break you.”

And then she put the muzzle of the gun under her chin.

“No!” You fling yourself at Allison, colliding with her before she can pull the trigger. You tackle her to the ground, wrenching the gun out of her hands before hugging her tight against your chest. “No, sweetheart. No. No, no, no—”

Allison shrieks. Tears stream down her face once more. “Just let me die! Please! Why won’t any of you just let me die!”

You shush her gently, rocking her back and forth. You cast your gaze over your shoulder, looking to Piotr.

He’s scrubbing at his face with his hand. He meets your gaze, eyes widening before he shrugs, as though to say, “I don’t know how to handle this, either.”

“Okay.” Nathan crosses the distance to you and Allison. He crouches behind her, cuffing her hands behind her back before helping her and you stand. “Alright, kiddo. Let’s… let’s get you some rest. Okay?”

“I –I need Ar-Artemis,” Allison sobs. Her body heaves with each step she takes. “I need Artemis, I need her—”

“Okay, munchkin,” Wade says as he walks Allison in the direction of the jet. “We’ll get her called for you. Do you have her number? Anyone else you want us to call?”

“My law-lawyer.”

“That checks out.”

You hang back, letting Wade take over. You feel fried; pain aside, your mind is utterly void, a swirling mass of black and gibberish and too much and screaming and—

Neena hooks her arm around yours. She smiles at you when you look up at her, then gently ushers you after Wade and the others. “Come on. Let’s get back to the mansion.”

***

“I’m gonna fucking murder you, Castle!”

You wince as another angry shriek bounces off the walls of the jet’s cabin. You’re sitting on one of the benches, injured leg propped up on your husband’s lap.

Allison snaps and rages as Mikhail, Neena, and Wade try to buckle her in; somewhere during the walk to the jet, she’d switched from broken weeping to insurmountable rage once more.

Next to you, Frank keeps his eyes trained on the ground. He’s got an arm around Karen, who’s watching Allison in cautious silence.

“You’re fucking dead! I will hang you up by your fucking intestines! I’ll put your fucking sniper scope up your ass, you emo wannabe piece of shit!”

Wade snickers. “‘Emo wannabe piece of shit.’ Good one.”

Now that you’re up close to her, you can see just… how not well she’s doing. Dark bags hang under her eyes, stark against her pallid skin. Her cheeks and neck are gaunt –and, under her dark clothes and slapdash body armor, you suspect the rest of her body tells a similar story of grief and an inability to cope.

Who could cope, with everything she’s been through? The only person in this jet who has a similar understanding is the one that put her family in the ground –and he did that to cope with losing his own family and being shot in the head, so that pretty much says how well he’s doing, technically speaking.

Piotr squeezes you gently when you sigh. “We are almost home.”

Not close enough, you think as Allison all but foams at the mouth while she hurls insult after insult at Frank.

Wade rears back, shaking his hand. “Not the middle one! I need that one! Motherfucker!”

Allison spits his finger out of her mouth. She plants her feet, then tries to launch herself at Frank again.

“Enough!” You stand, careful to keep your weight off your bad leg. “You’re in a jet and you don’t have use of your hands. Either let yourself be buckled in or we’re sedating you!”

“This is bullshit,” Allison growls, even as she lets Neena and Mikhail sit her down and strap her in. Her eyes never leave Frank. “He’s the one who killed my family, and I’m the one in handcuffs.”

You march over to Allison as best you can. You’re not sure what your face looks like right now, but given the way she shrinks back you’re certain you look pissed. You plant your hands on the wall behind her, one on either side of her head, then lean in until you’re almost nose to nose with her. “You’re handcuffed,” you spit out between gritted teeth, “because you tried to kill yourself in that mall. The restraints are for your own safety; they have nothing to do with Frank.”

“But he—”

“Isn’t in our jurisdiction,” you tell her, voice hard. “We picked you up because you’re a mutant engaging in criminal activity. It was either us or the DMC, and if it’d been them, you’d be in the Icebox or dead. Frank only came because you kidnapped his girlfriend –and, frankly, it’s reasonable that he’d want to come along to save her.”

The dark-eyed teen pouts up at you. “But –my family—”

“Is gone,” you finish, voice softer now. You lean back a little so you’re not so in her space. “And I’m sorry you lost them, Allison. I really am. What Frank did was wrong. But you can’t keep on this path. You’re endangering yourself, and you’re endangering the rest of the community by reinforcing the belief that mutants are dangerous through your actions.” You straighten up. “If you don’t calm down, we’re going to have to lock you in one of the changing rooms until we’re at the mansion. Do you want that?”

She glowers, but shakes her head.

“Neither do I—”

“We can go into one of the changing rooms.” Karen stands, and Frank stands with her. She flashes you a sympathetic, appreciative smile when you look at her. “We’ll be fine in there.”

You heave an internal sigh of relief when Neena ushers Frank and Karen into one of the changing rooms, then slides the door shut.

Allison glares after Frank. She sniffs, chin trembling. “He killed my family. I woke up and –and they were gone.”

“I know, sweetheart.” You smooth her hair away from her face as she starts crying again. “I know.

“I want Artemis,” she sobs, skinny shoulders shaking with each breath she takes. “My phone –on my phone—”

“We’ll make sure we call her for you,” you reassure her as you stroke her hair. You grimace as she collapses –as much as the seatbelt lets her—against you, weeping against your neck. You hold her as best you can, trying to ignore the twinges in your leg or the creeping sense of ‘we’re in over our fucking heads… again’ crawling up your spine. “I know, sweetheart. I know.”

[bigjoe11]

Wilson Audio • Alexia V Loudspeakers $67,500 Review

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