#yeah no all the serpentine are full of trauma me thinks

[balerionthedead]

*holds up Pythor and Aspheera*

These babies can hold so much trauma; they deserve redemption.

These babies can hold so much thirst for revenge that it ultimately leads to their own downfall.

Haha, maybe it’s not such a good idea to lock guys in tombs for a significant portion of their lives. It could never have consequences in the future. Hahaha. Ha. I’m not looking at anyone in particular. I’m not pointing fingers at a certain pair of brothers. No. Never.

[satansaidmyturnintheh3llscape]

Everything Right/Wrong with Ninjago “Legacy of the Green Ninja” E1: Darkness Shall Rise

The ninja really can’t parent for sh*t can they?😭 Disclaimers: Show owned by LEGO. This is not a professional review/critique - it’s mainly intended for comedy!

- Intro ✅

- The ninja have their golden weapons throughout the intro in every episode of this season, despite the fact that they no longer exist after this episode ❌

- Lloyd’s title card is adorable ✅

- We’re still not updating Nya’s title card? Come on, there’s like a thousand cool ways you could go with it! ❌

- “Our tanks out of commission…” Your tank? As in the Ultra Sonic Raider? I wouldn’t call that thing a tank, plus you only even had it for, like, 5 minutes ❌

- “… we don’t even have a place to sleep!” This line implies that they’ve only been repairing Ninjago City for a day, but there’s no way they’ve managed to do this much in that short a time span ❌

- “I’ve always wanted to feel like part of a community!” Considering that Jay grew up an only child living in the middle of nowhere, it actually makes a lot of sense that he’d have this sentiment ✅

- If the ninja are here and Wu and Nya are leaving AND they don’t have a place to live, then where is Lloyd right now? Did they really leave an 8 yr-old alone in the middle of a densely populated city? ❌

- “It’s a days trip.” This entire episode takes place in 1 DAY?! How does that even work?!?❌

- “Because I was the one in the first place who told you not to awaken the Devourer!” No, no you didn’t. ❌

- “I’ve always been partial to snakes…” You just turned one into goo, like, a few hours ago ❌

- Garmadon’s plan is to avoid killing Lloyd by instead killing his family, leaving him orphaned and having to deal with intense amounts of trauma as if that’s somehow better??? ❌

- You know it’s a lost cause if even your realtor can’t lie enough to make a house seem livable

- “There’s also a dragon keep on the roof.” If these are the only 4 dragons in Ninjago, why would they make a dragon keep? ❌

- “Maybe we can get a hero discount.” It’s called a “hero suite,” meaning it’s probably meant for heroes, so why would you get a discount for simply meeting a requirement? ❌

- “We always said we could use a little more responsibility.” Does a kid just not fit that quota or…? ❌

- I can only imagine what went through Kai’s head that made him think, “yeah, I could work at children’s parties. This won’t end badly at all.” ❌

- Why has no one made a gif of the clip of Lloyd hitting the punching bag and then getting hit right back and knocked off his a*s?

- “Is this jar getting bigger?” It must be, because the last time we saw it the coins already reached up to the goal line ❌

- “Release the Devourer!” “No you idiot!”✅

- Is Cole the only security guard this bank has? Shouldn’t they be hiring more people? Especially since he’s like 17? ❌

- “That’s okay - I hated that job anyway.” Yeah, you all hated your jobs, Cole, but you weren’t doing them because you liked them, you were doing them because you needed money ❌

- “I think I may have picked the wrong track,” How? You followed the train moments after it left! Did Jay’s bio parents drop him when they left him in the junkyard?!?! ❌

- Is the show trying to imply that someone’s hand managed to make a hole large enough to drag Kai, a full-sized person, through? ❌

- “You are such a gentleman!” ✅

- “Venom can’t hurt me.” Since when?!?!? ❌

- I would sin the generals for telling the ninja their plan, but I actually don’t have the grounds for it because the ninja had nothing to do with saving Lloyd, so instead I’m gonna sin everyone on this train for the blatant incompetence they all have… just in general ❌

- “Door is locked.” “I know! I want it open!” Siri ✅

- Skales cuts a hole in the window with the not-at-all-sharp part of his staff??? ❌

- “… he’ll have no choice but to let me lead the Serpentine! Hya!” Hya? ❌

- “What’s going on in there?” Excruciatingly blatant plot convenience ❌

- “Who needs weapons when you can make your own!” Making your own weapons would still make them weapons, though ❌

- Also, property damage ❌

- It is ridiculous how weak the serpentine have become over time ❌

- “I think I found Jay!” Line delivery ✅

- Instead of just jumping to one of the very open sides that he would be safe on, Jay attempts to outrun a godd*mn train ❌

- “Losing Lloyd is by far our greatest loss.” I wish the earlier seasons did a better job of showcasing the ninja’s relationship with Lloyd. Like, most lines like this imply that the only reasons they’re sad is because Lloyd is valuable to them as the green ninja, not as they’re little brother. ❌

- “I go away for a day and everything falls apart!” I love her ✅

- “I’ve got a better idea…” K but don’t you still have to clean up the apartment? Are you just gonna leave it like that or…? ❌

- “Lights out!” Actually it looks like the lights are already out. What you turned out were the cameras ❌

- If the golden weapons were used to create all the land in Ninjago, then how were they birthed at the Golden Peaks, which is land in Ninjago?❌

- “I fear there is a great disturbance in the force…” WHAT. WHAT WAS THIS LINE??? WHERE DID THIS COME FROM? WHY WAS IT HERE?? WHA- ❌

- Hey, what happened to the money the serpentine stole? They took huge bags, none of which I saw on the train. Did the ninja ever return those? Are we just gonna ignore it? ❌

Sentence: The ninja are still awful parents, but maybe the real awful parents were the sperm donors we met along the way… wait-

[kittydemon9000]

SO MERLOPIAN KAI PART 2 ELECTRIC BOOGALOO

So, with Kalmaar, he ofc immediately goes to his parents about his feeling, slightly placing his revenge on hold. They are...dubious about it, but Maya raises the point of how there has never been a human/merlopian hybrid before, and from what Ray has told them about having two EM parents it’s possible for Kai to have some water abilities himself, which could be what gave Kalmaar his feeling. So, they agree to look into it.

Moving on..... Uh. Kai doesn’t have a fun time in S6, as briefly as he’s there. You see, Nahdakahn knows exactly what buttons to press and is able to get Kai into a panicked state where he, on the verge of a panic attack and mental breakdown, just says “I wish that I could just be normal! I wish I could just go home! I wish I could be with dad and mom and father and Kal and Bentho and Nya!!!”

The “normal” comment comes from how they weren’t able to completely hide Kai’s heritage since yeah, there were other people on the boat who saw him. That and he also tried a lot less to keep it hidden. And because some humans are assholes, he has to deal with that.

So ofc, Nahdakahn interprets it in the worst ways and as two wishes. Kai is now a full human yes….but was also sent to where the fish fam currently were……which just so happened to be at the bottom of the ocean.

So yeah, double trauma for both groups. Kai got to experience what drowning felt like, and his fam was essentially forced to watch him die since there was nothing they could do. They were too far under to take him to the surface and too far from the palace to take him there.

But dw, it gets even worse.

You see, the whole reason Nahdakahn is being this malicious about Kai’s wishes is because he learned that Kai was the reason the Preeminent was destroyed, thereby destroying Djinjago.

Nahdakahn is then able to do a “oh? Is this not what you wanted? I thought you wished to be normal.” Which ofc sounds really bad since it’s in front of his family. “But, I understand. You grow tired of the stares in the street, how they whisper behind you back about what you are. Not human, not merlopian, not normal. Just a freak masquerading as one of them.”

This ofc supremely pisses off the fam. Like, weapons drawn ready to commit murder.

But then Nahdakahn stop them with a “ah ah ah, I wouldn’t do that if I were you. After all, I am the only way your son has a chance at living. So go ahead. Make a wish.”

Trimaar ends up being the one to do it, and is smart enough to know this uh will twist it in anyway he can so says. “I wish for Kai to be sent safely to the surface without harm done upon him.”

Blah blah blah, your wish is yours to keep, Trimaar realizing “wait there’s a lot that could be interpreted” but too late BAM now Kai’s kinda stuck on the Misfortune’s Keep.

And he....generally has a pretty bad time. Think Jay but this time it’s personal.

However, Kai’s appearance had Trimaar get the Merlopian army and start heading to the surface. The remaining ninja have a brief moment of “are you kidding me two enemies at once” before learning that this is Kai’s lost family and they’re here to help.

So now the ninja have a whole ass fish army to help them, plus a very protective, very angry fish family.

But for the rest of canon, the only difference is that when they’re leaving Tiger Widow Island, Nya gets snatched along with Jay(who was taken because he hadn’t used his wish yet) and they aren’t stuck on the island, and then later that Kai gets sucked into the sword when the ninja launch their rescue mission.

But yeah, it gets all Un-Happened by Jay’s wish(which at seeing Kai physically hurt and being emotionally torn apart at his baby sister dying, wished that none of this ever happened and that Nahdakahn was never found), only like canon Nya and Jay still remember what happens.

Nya is now firmly on team Kai Is Alive and tells her parents everything about what happened and the wish Jay made, and more importantly where Kai is.

Unfortunately, they need to take some time and prepare. Trimaar and Maya have been doing their best over the years to open the populace possibly making bonds with the humans, but now it’s finally happening. They can’t just go up there out of no where, since from what Nya has told them 1) most humans don’t even know they exist and 2) in the past few years they have been subject of many attacks, mostly from non-humans, so they need to make sure the humans understand they don’t mean any harm.

So DotD happens, then the beginnings of S7 :)

Right out, Kai never liked the museum curator. Up to that point he’d only ever caught fleeting glimpse of him but something about him Kai just despised. As a result, he also visited the museum as scarcely as possible, and thus didn’t notice a very interesting painting containing a two very strange figures.

When he learns his name was Dr.Saunders.....things don’t go well.

It happened when Kai brought the helmet with his dad’s symbol on it. As much as he disliked the curator, he was the most likely to be able to recognize what kind of helmet it was.

Then in his anger he gets himself captured.

He’s taken to a special cell lined with vengestone and has guards around the clock, and Krux takes extra care to make sure Kai doesn’t know where Ray is.

ofc it’s around this time that the Merlopians arrive and express their wishes for a possible alliance between their two races. Unfortunately they showed up at literally the worst time, and double unfortunately the people in charge of diplomacy decide to bring some of the ninja in as an extra precaution because of the villains have been running around.

So the people who join the meeting are Lloyd and Jay from the ninja(they would’ve brought Kai but he hasn’t returned from his missions yet and isn’t answering their calls) as well as some police officers and from the Merlopians is the whole royal family plus a few guards.

Both Jay and Nya have a silent moment of staring at each other since “I know and I’m not sure you know but I think you know but I don’t want to say anything since you might not”

And just as they’re about to start, The Time Twins attack. Because why the hell not.

They’re actually able to hold them off for a while, but unfortunately there are too many Vermillion. Then Kalmaar whips out his Water Powers which causes him to get kidnapped since they need both Fire and Water masters for the blade.

While they’re recovering, Lloyd then gets a panicked call from Zane saying that he checked the museum footage and Kai has been captured. The gets overheard by the royal family, and then Lloyd asks why they looked so upset at which they learn(sans Jay since wish) that Kai is royalty. The eldest son actually, and thus first in line for the throne, as well as being presumed dead for the past five years.

So basically Krux has kidnapped the King and Queen’s husband, the crown prince, and the second in line prince(if anyone knows a more fancy term for this please let me know)

Maya, Trimaar, Nya and Benthomaar are not happy. Not with the Ninjagian people, no they’re fine, but they’re bout ready to murder Krux, and they don’t even know about Ray yet.

So they offer any help they can.

Zap back to how Kai and Kalmaar are doing.

Kalmaar is….kind feral tbh. Like, he’s biting, clawing, trying to strangle them with his tentacles, and before they got vengestone cuffs on him was trying very hard to drown anyone.

Ofc, this does little to the Vermillion and soon Kalmaar finds himself in the cell right next to Kai’s. He’s overjoyed to see his brother again, albeit upset that this is why.

They both reluctantly come to the conclusion that there isn’t much they can do at the moment, and there are many Vermillion guards right outside their cells, so they decide to start catching up.

And for pretty much the rest of the season canon is pretty much the same, just shuffle around the characters a bit and add a protective Fish Fam. 

Though their little trip back in time is quite sight for the Past EMs, especially because of how Kalmaar is using his powers, which leaves Kai mostly stuck in his Fish Form. This time they don’t even bother trying to explain, just give instructions on how to defeat the Vermillion and jumping into the battle. 

And I mean just imagine that from the EMs perspective. An enemy you thought you defeated just returned with a giant metal creature and an army of snake things that don’t look like any kind of Serpentine they’d ever seen. Then a shark person and squid person??? show up and not only do they know how to fight the snake things but they also seem to be Elemental Masters???? Despite the fact Ray is very much alive and they didn’t even know there was a Water EM. Then the two not only summon dragons but they also fuse their dragons into an even bigger one with two heads.

And then all of them disappear into the sky without a trace.

W i l d

But yeah, after that it calms down quite a bit. Kai spends the time skip before S8 reconnecting with his family and his dad, and through some tech courtesy of Borg they're able to bring Ray with them :D

And Kai actually goes to meet the Jade Royal Family since y’know. He’s the crown prince. He’s kinda important and legitimately forgot about it. Luckily Kalmaar is able to help coach Kai through it, but is also a bit smug about how he finally has something to teach to his older brother. Kai was actually the one who suggested asking the ninja for help protecting the mask.....but we know how that inevitably ends.

Bentho, Kal and Nya were actually on the ship for this particular adventure, and then Nya and Bentho were dragged along when they got sent to the First Realm. Bentho, despite being the youngest sibling and to the surprise of literally everyone, was actually really good with kids and spent the most time with Little Wu, right behind Cole.

But yeah S9......Nya and Bentho have a really bad time in the First Realm beause of the heat, but at least they don’t get captured. Kai on the other hand....

Yeah at some point he gets accidentally splashed with water and well.....it definitely doesn’t help with the Oni accusations. The Dragon Hunters decide to burn him along with the Wind Dragon, which moves up their Build Our Own Dragon time table.

After they escape Faith is actually pretty chill about the whole fish thing, but she does ask a lot of questions. 

And then S10..... kinda the same. They end up dropping off as many people as they can with the Merlopians since the smoke can’t reach them.

I might make a Part 3 for the rest of the seasons, but yeah. this is where we’re at.

[godzillasrighttoe]

Here, some Gen Z copy and pastes for you guys.

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warning ⚠️this video will give u nightmares-trauma- lack of sleep - anxiety- fear of leaving house- physical fears and more!!

hEy hEy hEy😍just😄tHiNk🤔while😔you've🌚been🤨getting🥳dOwN⬇️and😊oUt🚪aBoUt⚠️the🤟LiARs😡 and😊the🤟dIrTy dIrTy💩cheats🤬in🥵the🤟wOrLd🌍🌎🌏you🤡could've🙄been😏getting🥳dOwn⬇️to2️⃣tHiS😋sick🤒🤧🤕🥴😵bEaT😔👊

🎤šaWãrAśęNàī🥰KìMì😸Wã⛓šHöJô👻Nâ💅ñÖ?✨böKù🌸Wâ🧚‍♀️ýARiçHiñ🤴BįCChĪ😼ńO😩oSû🚣‍♂️Dà🎉YO💧Ãah🍌

GET BACK🤺YOU🤺SCOUNDREL🤺THOU SHALL🤺NOT TAKE🤺ANOTHER STEP🤺TOWARDS🤺ME🤺🤺🤺

Juice WRLD - All Girls Are The Same

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[stunudo]

BAU Prep School AU: Class of 18

image link

Welcome to the Frederick Buchanan Institute located in scenic Quantico, Virginia, a senior high academy that shapes the best and brightest minds. Its motto is “Behavior, Analysis, Unity,” the mascot the Submariners, colloquially “the Unsubs”. The small school supports the most accomplished faculty from across the country.  2016-2017 school year  Class of 18

Private Lives

December 15, 2017 8:19pm

           The young couple walked down the promenade holding hands, he was oversized and his hand a massive casing for her birdlike one. She had a simple bag crossed against her torso and a collection of shopping totes in her opposite hand. The nearly-man was humming “Silver Bells” and their hands swayed with the old melody.

“I still don’t get why you won’t go out with me, Chloe Roycewood,” Lucas Turner improvised some lyrics. The blush on her features burning against the chill in the air, she rolled her eyes. They had been talking since the Homecoming dance, but she hadn’t allowed anything more than that. If there were no labels then things could go slowly, or they could remain friends, if he ever came to his senses and moved on.

“Lucas, don’t do this again,” She sighed, letting the fog of their breaths the only indicator they were here together and not in opposite directions inside their own heads. He was a natural optimist and thought of possibilities while she was haunted by her past. “We’re having a nice night, right? Let’s just get our lists done so we can get some cocoa before curfew.”

He obliged, because she was right, like always. And any time spent with her was better than none at all. He bought his mother some of her favorite perfume and his father a handful of scratch off tickets as a joke. She had more siblings than he could get straight, but a lot of the gifts she searched for were within the same stores. He preferred not to think about his half-brother and whether he would be making an appearance for Christmas morning. The vindictive and arrogant Dr. Mason Turner was sure to ruin any family gathering.

They unloaded onto a table near a collection of food carts, separating their purchases and checking off the lists on their phones. It was nearly ten when Lucas returned with fresh gingerbread biscotti and cups of hot chocolate. Chloe was confused because she had found a simple bracelet that neither of them had bought that evening.

“Lucas, stop it, I know some clerk didn’t just leave it in my bag,” Chloe chuckled at his actor’s innocence.

“Merry Christmas, baby,” Lucas shrugged awkwardly, with hands full. Chloe’s resolve crumbling at the raw tenderness in his eyes.

“Lucas! But! No! I didn’t get you anything. And we’re not-”

“Chloe,” Lucas struggled to set everything down around their bulky bags. “You don’t have to get me a gift, that’s not why I bought this for you.” He took the hard case out of her hand and gently released it from its display. He held it up as an offering, waiting for permission to clasp it around her wrist. She held back the bulky sleeves of her winter coat and sweater, somehow his massive fingers were able to fasten it. “See, perfect.” He looked down as she appraised the way the street lights reflected on the tiny gems and delicate metal settings.

“I don’t deserve this.” Chloe whispered. “I don’t deserve you, Lucas.”

He took her hands in his, despite being in public and having a very personal conversation. He led her down to the stone bench seat at their table, their knees bumping as they sat facing outward. “Chloe you have to stop with that, we’re just people. And I like you, a lot. And the way you look at me is like nothing else I have ever felt. Please, you have to feel something for me too?”

“Of course I do! You’re amazing and sweet and handsome. But—”

“But, what?” He picked up his cup to sip as he listened. She clutched her in her bare hands, cradling the warmth as she stared into the depths.

“I’m damaged goods, Lucas. There’s something broken inside me, I don’t think I can give you everything another girl could, the way a girlfriend should.”

“Chloe, I’m not Brayden. I don’t want you because of what your body could do for me. You must know that I love you for you, right?”

She gasped at his confession, this was deeper than she thought, and she had to let him go, for both of their sakes. “Lucas Turner, you stop that right now.” He was stunned and then the wave of hurt washed over his usually carefree features.

“If only it were that easy,” Lucas set his cup down. “Chloe, to me you are perfect. You are the same thoughtful, beautiful soul that I met freshman year. Yeah, it took two years and some awful things before I could build up the courage to ask you out. But trust me when I say, I love you, all of the bad included. And there is nothing I would ever expect from you other than the privilege of remaining at your side. Okay? Because I’m already yours.”

The confession lingered in the darkness of the winter night and Chloe sniffled before answering.

Dec. 18 6:58pm

           There was enough experience in Dave Rossi’s past to understand a poor matchmaking endeavor when he saw it. Though his innate hospitality guarded him from admitting his assumptions and sharing a night with a beautiful woman was never one wasted, not entirely. Tara rang his doorbell before the hour struck and she was stunning, a red dress that hugged her like a sports car traversed serpentine mountain roads.

“Dr. Lewis, welcome,” they genteelly kissed cheeks.

“Dave, call me, Tara. Thanks for having me over,” She stepped into the foyer as he closed the massive ornate door. “Some place you’ve got.”

“That it is, now, rumor has it you’re a Scotch drinker?” His smooth nature brought a smile to her face.

An hour and a half later they were seated in his library, listening to old albums and chatting easily.

“I have to admit, Monica was a bit insistent.” Tara deadpanned after he confided his reason for asking her over for dinner.

“Now, I’m no expert, but I’m not exactly your type, am I?” Dave smirked.

“No, but dinner was to die for,” Tara scrunched up her nose in slight apology.

“I’m not offended, but now we can say we did as she asked and move on, as friends,” Dave held up his glass to strike Tara’s in solidarity.

“To friendship and good spirits.”

“Here, here.”

Dec. 21 5:31pm

           The problem, for him, with these types of situations or meetings as they were called was that the concept of anonymity was unattainable. The support group met in the basement of an old church in a rundown part of town just off Capitol Hill. He knew the area well as it had some of the best authentic food places while he was starting out in journalism. He was sad to say some of those restaurants hadn’t survived the ’08 recession or possibly the recent immigration enforcements. But Matt Simmons had accepted he needed helped and that was always the first step, wasn’t it?

Maybe that was the final stage of grief, either way he walked into the circle of folding chairs and sat down quietly. A few people remained standing by the massive coffee maker and others shared silent half smiles of greeting. The tightness in his chest was constricted, but he continued to breathe. His phone buzzed, and it reminded him to shut it off. It was a text from his niece, Hannah.

Did you find it? Or are you dead in a ditch from a mugger?

외삼촌?

He shot off a quick reply and powered down the distracting device as the shuffling of chairs told him it was time to start. The meeting started when a calming woman in a decidedly outdated Bohemian style skirt addressed the group. She explained who she was and how she came to be working with this particular group.

“Now, we have some new faces, but I don’t want to put anyone on the spot tonight.” She smiled kindly and Matt gave an appreciative nod. “Why don’t we go over our goals from last week and see who had success?”

The majority of the attendees clutched an index card or searched for one among their purses and pockets. One other person glanced around the room before shyly looking in Matt’s direction, the look of recognition and confusion coated his fellow newcomer’s features. His grip tightened on his tricep and he kept his eyes level at the trauma counselor. Their assignments had to deal directly with their own experiences, things they hadn’t been able to do or things they had avoided since their personal trauma or ‘event’ occurred.

Matt wasn’t sure if this was the kind of group that could help him, his experiences were far too specific, and his weathered press pass wouldn’t allow him into veterans’ groups. He listened intently for the progresses and set backs of each of the victims, though he knew they weren’t considered that it was the easiest way to describe them. But that put him into that category and his mind wondered to what he was now. Who he was now, that it had happened. Now that he was here, seeking help from a timeless hippy and people who had been scammed of their life savings or had been bitten by their neighbor’s dog.

The guilt mixed with the familiar feeling of not belonging and he continued to grow uncomfortable. His neck tickled and his readjusted how his legs were crossed, one ankle on a knee instead of at the ankles. He focused inward because the people around him were overflowing with emotion and he didn’t think he could take another burden home with him tonight. Then he heard a voice, but it didn’t matter who was speaking because the words were what resonated in his tattered heart.

“--- the everyday things seem inconsequential, like does it matter if I brush my teeth when I can’t look in the mirror? What’s the point of writing a return address on an envelope if that name means nothing? It’s not that its hard to accept that I have changed, I don’t recognize the person I was to begin with, let alone the person I have become.” The other newcomer was slowly speaking to the chipped floor tiles, her voice shaky yet sure.

“Becoming, Maureen, your trauma isn’t a destination, it was a brief stop on the journey,” the leader reminded her. “Thank you for sharing.”

Matt didn’t speak that night, but the idea of losing his sense of self among his varying identities hit a nerve. Maybe he would come back. Maybe he would find another group, but for now he exhaled and let the isolation dwindle as he stepped out into the bustling streets of Christmas shoppers.

Dec. 25 10:17 am The Prentiss Estate

           Emily put their Subaru into park as JJ checked her makeup in the visor’s mirror. “Jayge, you look great, don’t worry about them.” JJ gave Emily a wilted look, because she didn’t want to seem nervous, but Emily’s mother was rather intimidating. “Besides, its Christmas Brunch, pajamas aren’t out of the place, if you ask me.”

“Well, we’re too late for that now,” JJ climbed out to get Henry’s carrier out of the back seat. Emily braced herself for her family and popped the hatch. Their presents were simply yet stylishly wrapped in recycled paper with red bows accenting each bundle. Emily was pleased with their efforts, yet still apprehensive about catching flack for being late. The walkway was cleared of the dusting of snow the area had gotten overnight like an old Christmas special, which made Elizabeth’s resounding welcome at the door unexpected, adding to the surrealism.

‘Emily Prentiss, this is your life,’ she whispered under her breath. JJ gave her a impressed side-long glance and turned on the charm for her mother. Elizabeth gave single-arm hugged and immediately began fussing over the baby.

“How’s my grandson? So handsome!” She cooed as she unbuckled the groggy baby from his fasteners.

“Merry Christmas, girls,” Emily’s dad strolled in with a cockeyed Santa hat on and a mug of something more than coffee.

“Hey, Dad,” Emily leaned onto his shoulder as they gaped at the stranger that was their wife and mother, who was currently melting into Henry’s tiny fists. JJ lingered, making sure he hadn’t peed through his diaper on the way over and that he had his binkie if he woke up angry.

“Well, you know Kateryna has the spread all ready if you’re hungry,” Vince Prentiss murmured conspiratorially.

“As long as there’s Medovik, I’m there,” Emily countered.

“I think there’s three.” Her dad’s eyes disappeared in his wrinkles, she hadn’t realized how much older he seemed.

“Need a refill while I get one?” She offered to top off his mug, he waved her off as he sipped. JJ followed Emily’s path to the dining room with her eyes, the ease of her departure relieving any tension left in the room. It was going to be a real holiday.

After egg bakes and mimosas, fried potatoes and more pastries than they could name, the small family gathered around the unnecessarily massive tree in the living room, the topper forgotten as the last foot of the pine bent against the twelve-foot ceilings. Henry had a mountain of gifts that no two-month-old could ever need, let alone open themselves. JJ and Emily took turns holding the baby or opening his gifts, while Elizabeth watched anxiously that each gift fit their (JJ’s) tastes.

“Now, this was from Kateryna, she made it herself, isn’t it lovely?” Elizabeth explained an unmarked box with a delicate lace bonnet inside. “I’m not sure if you’re going to do a Christening, all things considered, but it is for special occasions like that.”

“The details are remarkable, please give her our gratitude?” JJ held the tiny hat with awe.

“Of course, she’s off the rest of the day, I think she is video-conferencing with her daughter back home.” Elizabeth explained, as if that was the preferred way her cook spent the holiday.

Before long Emily and JJ had packed up the hoard of gifts and Henry. They said their goodbyes with undefined promises of doing it again soon. Emily grabbed fresh coffees for the road as JJ settled in the driver’s seat. Once everything and everyone was ready to go, JJ reached over the counsel and held Emily’s hand, relishing in Christmas time as a family.

Dec. 27 8:56pm

           Alex Blake hadn’t been to this jazz club in years. Walking in the darkness, she found her old friend in his usual booth close, but not too close to the stage. A quintet played to the group of thirtysomethings vaping in the large booth near the back. The more things changed; the more they stayed the same.

“Is that seat taken?” She asked as she greeted Jason Gideon in a warm embrace.

“Yeah, but who needs her anyway. You look good, Alex.” Jason’s voice was bright, his drink was a club soda.

“Thanks, I think.” She smirked. “How’ve you been?”

“Turns out retirement is as boring as it sounds. You?”

“Good, yeah, busy. My dad’s getting older by the day.” Alex placed her drink order with a waitress and then got down to the meat of it. “Have you talked to Dave recently?”

“He tried to take me quail hunting, but we ended up just playing chess all weekend. But that was over a month ago, why?”

She graciously paid for her one drink and letting the air thicken. “Well, he let Monica Walked talk him into a date with Dr. Lewis, for one.”

“Alex, you’ve never been the jealous type.” Jason watched her carefully. Alex choked on her Guinness before throwing a cocktail spear at him. “Something’s up with you.” He said it as he squinted at her deliberate attention on the band.

She gave up the façade as the applause died down, “No, it’s just, I’m worried because he wanted me back. But I couldn’t, you know?”

“Yeah, he mentioned it briefly. But that was months ago, why the concern now?” Jason chewed on a toothpick as she shrugged. “Alex?”

“Fine! I was thinking of starting something, but I want to make sure he is okay first. So, is he?”

“Alex, if any one of us is ever something as manageable as “okay”, it’s Dave.” Jason gave her his knowing grin. “It’s not your place to worry about him anymore, just don’t rub his face in it?”

“Of course, enough tough guy routine, though okay?”

“Deal.” Jason ordered another soda and Alex settled into comfortable silence as a new group took the stage. He seemed to have adjusted, despite everything that happened. She was grateful he was his old self tonight, she didn’t want to worry about both of them, but she knew would if it came down to it. Alex and her boys, still a trio, however lopsided it seemed now.

Dec. 29 11:58pm

           Even with her mountains of homework, helping her brother to school and doctor’s appointments and general teenage things; Lena’s parents insisted that she get a part time job to help prepare her, for the “real world”. There she stood in her unflattering tuxedo shirt and jacket at the ticket booth of the movie cineplex, only three more hours of work left on her shift. At her last school, it wasn’t unheard of for students to work, some of them nearly full time. But when the school was full of Pedigree and Old Money like F.B.I. was, it was a symbol of lower social status, despite her parents’ deep pockets and positions in the government. She knew she shouldn’t feel entitled, but she did feel shame.

           So, when May Howard showed up for the third time that week to see The Last Jedi, Lena cringed internally. “One for the twelve o’clock, please.”

“May, you don’t have to be so polite, my boss is in the back and there is no one in the lobby.” She tried to stay positive, but she was thrilled with the quizzical stare she had earned.

“How’s break been?” May put her card back in her wallet and folded into her back pocket.

“Lame, working, a lot. You?”

“Lame, but not doing much else. Working on some modes for a video game, but I doubt you know what I’m talking about so I’m going to stop talking geek now.”

“May, you’ve seen Star Wars three times this week, it isn’t a shocker that you’re a nerd.”

“It may not be surprising, but it is still slightly embarrassing.”

“It shouldn’t be.”

“Really?” May’s palms were uncomfortably sweaty, her neck felt strange.

“It’s 2017, geeks are hot right now.” Lena’s braids bobbed as she talked, she realized what she said and just sort of swallowed her next thought. “But, uh, you should probably get to your theatre, since it already started.”

“Right, well, its like twenty minutes of previews,” May shoved her hands in her pockets of her letter jacket. “Hey, let me know if you have any days free before school starts back again?”

“Uh, sure,” Lena glanced down at another guest’s ticket before pointing towards his showing. “Enjoy your show, sir!”

“If you want to hang out, I mean?” May continued, looking at the toes of her shoes.

“Next Wednesday I’m off, I’ll text you?”

“Wait, you will?”

“Yeah, don’t miss the opening scene, Howard!” Lena exclaimed in a stage whisper, May spun on the spot, tongue in cheek and heart bursting from her chest.

Next Chapter: Forward

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[maychorian]

More late night cogitating about that Voltron DnD Fantasy AU I’m totally gonna write.

Years ago, me and my first gaming group, all best friends who met in college, made a campaign setting together called Wrath & Gunfire (yes, I came up with the name, and yes, I am proud). We especially loved and spent a lot of time on the pantheon. Instead of making up a whole new world from scratch, though I’m certainly going to change a lot, I’m planning to borrow from that setting for my fantasy AU. So I’ve been thinking a lot about what gods and goddesses my Voltron kids will follow in this world.  This is the kind of world where it’s exceedingly rare NOT to have a patron god. Atheists don’t really exist, because in this world, you can literally run into the gods at any time. Following a god is generally a good thing--they give favors to their followers, especially if you use magic, and provide protection during travel and hardships. Plus there’s the usual religious thing of having a sense of community with fellow-worshipers, and the landscape is rife with temples and shrines where you can find succor from clerics and other followers of your patron god or those friendly to him, her, or it.

The full pantheon is here if you’d like to see where this is coming from: http://wrath-gunfire-the-barvan-campaign.obsidianportal.com/wikis/the-pantheon

I’m thinking Leviathan for Lance the Bard. It’s a super powerful dragon god of the ocean and of magic, totally fitting with both Lance’s proclivities and his ambitions. I mean just look at him.

The Leviathan N – Salasaur/The Mighty Leviathan or The Coiled Dragon

The Leviathan is the god of the seas, dragons, and one of the three patron gods of magic. Wise and undisputedly mighty, the Leviathan is often seen as a great serpentine dragon. Legend says that some time in the past, an alliance of the Tiger, Frog, and Whirlwind and their followers wished to oust the Leviathan from the dominance of what is now called Latra. They succeeded in forcing the dragon god into the seas, where the Leviathan took on great powers. Now, while dragonborn and dragons often prefer dry and arid surroundings, their great benefactor rules the seas.

A potential problem is that Leviathan is kind of crazy. So all of his followers face a risk of going crazy. Should be fun. Lance at the beginning of the story is going to be like Lance at the Garrison--talented, but too quick to bite off more than he can chew, a troublemaker who far too often lands himself in far too much trouble. Choosing the Leviathan as his patron god is a pretty risky move for such a naive stripling, but it also has the potential for a big pay-off if Lance can handle it. We’ll have to see what happens.

Pidge follows the Stranger. No doubt in my mind. He’s basically an alien who arrived in the world a few millennia ago from an egg that fell from the sky, and he’s a god of magic and technology. Pidge came from a family of wizards, though she’s been forced to turn to roguery to survive. She is a very, very good rogue, but she retains her wizard intelligence level and love of knowledge.

The Stranger LN – Zynu/The Pale Stranger or The Clockmaker or The Meddler

The Stranger is the god of death, necessity, technology, and one of the three patron gods of magic. The Stranger has few worshipers, but many admirers. While it is mostly a god of things that are seen as unpleasant, the Stranger is well respected in arcane and technological circles, with prayers and sacrifices to him being common there. With his reaping Vulture, the Stranger is a mysterious figure who has intervened in world affairs at critical moments for cryptic reasons.

For Hunk I was thinking the Armadillo at first, which is a god of travel, earth, and protectiveness. Certainly fits him. But I think I like him as a paladin of the Boars even better.

The Boars NG – Moccus and Mindris/The Benevolent Boars or The Boar and the Sow

The Boars are the god and goddess of the harvest, homely comfort, and reproduction. While countless commoners and peasants give a sacrifice to the Boars every year after the harvest and many rulers do the same on a larger scale, the Boars are not worshiped by many who bear arms or who have studied the arcane arts. The Boars call clerics commonly, though the clerics tend to be rustic sorts who advise village chiefs and assist with agriculture; the Boars often appeal to druids of the good persuasion. While it is exceedingly rare to find a paladin called by the Boars, the few who were have been documented to rise to become great defenders of the common man.

Hardest for me to pin down right now is Keith and Shiro. I really like the Wolf for Keith, though. Keith is most assuredly Lawful Good, and a bit of a loner. A strong fighter, AND he has an exceedingly sharp sense of justice and loyalty. The Wolf would love him.

The Wolf LG – Perun/The Loyal Hound or The Cunning Wolf

The Wolf is the god of justice, cunning in the face of adversity, the hunt, and hunger. Friendly to warriors, the Wolf is one of the most frequent callers of paladins. Worship of the Wolf is more widespread in Latra, where they have an appreciation for cagey fighters. The Wolf tends to call more paladins than clerics, but temples dedicated to his worship often have a cleric of the Wolf.

Shiro I’m thinking might be one of the few people in the world who changed patron gods--at the beginning of his career, he was a curious kid who just wanted to explore the world and see beautiful things, with an especial love for the stars and the night sky. So the Prism fits him really well at that stage. 

The Prism NG – Rau/The Many-Sided Prism or The Northern Lights

The Prism is the goddess of spirits, dreams, curiosity and open doors. Her realm is the non-corporeal, and some say that she is thus everywhere at once, and nowhere simultaneously. She is endlessly interested, forever collecting information that she can never use, being unable to touch the world. Because of this, many wizards of the intellectual sort have a particular fondness for her. Her temples are rather rare, but very beautiful, full of stained glass and prisms carefully arranged to catch the light.

But later, after he’s been through a ton of trauma and lost a lot of people and been forced into a war he didn’t really want, he finds comfort and strength in the Bear. I think that makes sense for him, and no, it’s not because he has parental tendencies and she’s the goddess of motherhood. The Bear is also strongly associated with the Prism, since they are both northern gods, and the Bear was the first to meet the Prism on a mountaintop at the north pole of this planet when the world was relatively young.

The Bear LG – Obora/The Winter Bear or The Good Death or The Sleeping Mother

The Bear is the goddess of winter, death, and motherhood. Some see her as an immense polar bear striding through the snow, some as a grizzly protecting her young. Some see her as a great black bear rising up to block the light, and this is the last sight they see. Scholars say that those who die in the Black Bear’s paws die peaceful and warm, soothed into rest as if by their own mothers. Sometimes even those who are not dying see the Black Bear prowling through battlefields, and Tiger and Wolf will pause their struggles to bow to her in the mud and the blood. But, of course, it is far more common to see the Bear in her frozen sanctuary, ruling over winter, breathing crystallized snow from her nostrils and carving icebergs with her razor-sharp claws.

Shiro would also get along well with the Mongoose, though. Like, distressingly so.

Allura and Coran are going to be a surprise. To everyone.

So yeah, it’s coming along.