#so we’d get on the playground structure

[kalething]

When phone bans were more strictly enforced in my school, kids just found more and more creative ways of hiding them. We had to hand in our phones on Sunday? Some of them bought fakes. The guy got one of those airport metal detectors and he’d come into the classrooms randomly to check our desks and pockets, so we kept our phones in our dorms. My best friend snuck into his office once to steal it and went over different types of materials to see what it beeped on. We kept them under our pillows, or in our lockers, and when the searches extended to the dorms too (they went after the boys first because they were a lot more obvious about having them), my dorm went over the whole room to find a hiding place. You know what my best friend found? A hidden, empty compartment, behind the AC on the ceiling next to her bed (she’s on the top bunk). She could reach it if I went up on her bed and held onto her.

And honestly, I’m not sure why they tried so hard to ban phones in particular. Sometimes the guys fought each other with a broomstick and the garbage can lid. One time this dude bite his own tongue so hard in the middle of a phrase than blood started dripping out while he was talking. A girl was seducing a dude next door for gifts while my teacher was wondering if he was harassing her.

"kids don't pay attention in class anymore Because Of Phone" is so funny as an argument. students haven't paid attention in class since school was invented. my parents' generation were in there making flipbooks out of the corners of their notebooks and doodling random shit instead of taking notes. and they didn't have phones.

[threeboy]

Random Thoughts About Disneyland & Star Wars Galaxy's Edge

I had the chance to visit Disneyland California in Spring 2024, a trip that brought back a lot of memories since my last visit was decades ago as a kid. Reflecting on the experience now, here are my random thoughts...

General Thoughts

As a kid, I thought Disneyland was all about rides. Now, as an adult, I realize it’s a mix of rides, shops, and food.

The Park Hopper option isn't worth it. If you have the time, focus on one park per day. The distance between parks is farther than expected, and it doesn’t justify the extra cost.

Lightning Lane is definitely worth it. You can book a Lightning Lane for specific rides and then use the time between bookings to find rides with shorter lines and be more efficient.

The food is a bit expensive, but the quality is good.

One major difference from when I was a kid is the performers. Back then, characters roamed freely, ready for photos or autographs. Now, interactions are more structured—you usually need to book or wait in line.

Disneyland Park

The first thing my wife did was put the kids on Thunder Railroad, and she scared the shit out of them! The last time she went to Disneyland, she was a teenager and only cared about the more thrilling rides. We then got the kids to go on some of the story-based "dark rides" and the kids loved them - my wife did too.

Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage was very different from when I was a kid (pre-Nemo) and it's been gussied-up with underwater screens, but despite the updates, it still felt quite dated. The ride is getting replaced, so I’m glad I had the chance to experience it one last time.

Indiana Jones™ Adventure had been overhyped in my mind for decades, so nothing could quite live up to that level of anticipation. The ride itself was still cool, but the movements were too jerky for my taste.

Mickey’s Runaway Railway was suprsingly good. We only tried it on the last day, but it was so good we wished we’d used a Lightning Lane on it every day.

My kids loved Pirates of the Caribbean—we rode it seven times!

Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride is wild—literally. It features the characters drinking, crashing, dying, and going through hell. I wonder what the hell the movie is about.

Mickey’s Toontown was still under construction the last time I went, so it was great to see it all finished. My kids enjoyed the playground areas, and it was neat to see the interactive stuff, even though a bunch of shit was busted.

Haunted Mansion and Splash Mountain were closed during our visit, so the kids missed out on those classic attractions. Hopefully, we’ll ride them next time.

Disneyland Star Wars

(Including the Star Tours stuff here even though its technically in Tomorrowland.)

Black Spire Outpost was an incredible experience. They nailed the Star Wars vibe—walking around felt like stepping into the movies. We caught the fireworks from there one night, and it was absolutely rad.

My kids loved the interactive features available through the app, which let them activate lights, sounds, and effects in the scenery. Not many people seemed to use these features, though.

Star Tours has been updated since the '90s, now featuring randomized content. Every ride offers a slightly different experience. My son and I rode it 13 times, almost seeing all the video segments—though Disney added more after we left. Guess that’s how they get you to return!

Smuggler’s Run made me feel sick, but I still went on it three times. The concept is awesome, but switching between watching the screen and pushing buttons messed with my stomach.

Rise of the Resistance: A friend told me I had to ride this—even if I had to pay to skip the line. So I did. Twice. Then, one evening, the line was only 40 minutes (we got through in 20), so we rode it again. Disney’s tricks are all on display here, and the trackless carts really enhance the immersion.

The build-your-own lightsaber and droid options were tempting, but hella expensive. We ended up getting the kids the cheaper lightsabers at Star Tours.

California Adventure park

This was my first time visiting California Adventure Park—it wasn’t around when I was a kid. Of course, it decided to rain during our visit, which dampened the experience.

My kids weren’t really into Pixar or Marvel at the time (though they’ve since become Marvel fans). Several rides were closed due to the weather, and many live performances were canceled, which was disappointing.

My son and I lined up for Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: Breakout! The pre-boarding area and lead-up areas were awesome. The video content during the ride was great. However, the ride itself was, as the French say, horrible.

Web Slingers: A Spider-Man Adventure was a lot of fun, and it's exciting to think about how the entire Marvel area will expand.

Pixar Pier felt like a cleaner, more polished version of Playland in Vancouver.

It was strange seeing people walking around with beers in a Disney park.

The Riveting Conclusion

Overall, it was a fantastic trip, and the kids already want to go back. Disneyland truly nails the details. The park’s expert design—with immersive areas and carefully crafted sightlines—makes each world feel like a complete escape.

Disneyland is a masterclass in “how to make you forget you’re standing in a parking lot.”

[eflen-n-reegee]

Peter’s Playground Part 2 - “Baby Steps”

Hi! I hope you guys enjoy part 2! I’m really enjoying writing about this world and these characters. 😊

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

“Are you nervous?”

Wendy shrugged, her eyes on the red door leading into the Playground. “I’ll be okay…”

“Wendy.” Ashley’s voice was firm, and she turned her friend so they were facing each other. “Are. You. Nervous.”

“… A little.”

Ashley nodded, and spoke more gently. “Wanna tell me why?”

Despite herself, the question made Wendy giggle. Ash had promised to be her “grown-up” for the day, and it seemed like she’d really meant it. “I don’t know, I just… I still feel a little weird about trying to regress or dream or whatever, and I’m kinda worried about… Don’t take this the wrong way, but I feel silly.”

Ashley nodded again. “That’s part of the fun of it, at least for me. I know I look silly, but if I regress enough, I don’t care what anybody thinks. But that’s just me. You don’t have to do anything that makes you feel silly, and if you get uncomfortable, we can leave. This is supposed to be fun for you. Okay?”

Wendy took a breath, squared her shoulders, and nodded. “Okay. Let’s… give it a try.”

Ashley nodded, then opened the door and took Wendy’s hand. “Stay close, okay? I don’t want to lose you!”

There was a table here, just as there’d been by the yellow door, and Wendy took a nametag. Then Ash led her further into the building, guiding her past a castle-shaped play structure and various stores, both familiar and not. She finally stopped in front of the Gap.

“So before we go looking around, I thought we’d stop in here and see if there’s something you like - something to make you feel younger. How’s that sound?”

Wendy’s eyes widened, but she slowly nodded. I don’t NEED to buy anything, I don’t NEED to wear anything, I can change my mind whenever I want…

The store was basically what Wendy expected it to be, except for the clothes mostly featuring characters and logos from kid shows.

“This is a special outlet,” Ashley explained. “A lot of this stuff isn’t available anywhere else.”

The only “unusual” aspect to the store was the Baby Gap Corner, which sold adult-sized infant and toddler accessories. Wendy winced slightly, looking at the pacifiers. “Um, I… I don’t think I want one of those.”

Ashley shrugged. “No problem, not everybody likes ‘em. I was thinking of a chew necklace, actually.”

“Oh.” She followed Ash’s eyes to the display rack at the edge of the corner. Some of the necklaces could be mistaken for ordinary jewelry - like the ones with black string and white rubber shark teeth. Others could not. Wendy found herself staring at one made of rubber beads in all shades of purple.

“Do you want that one?” Ashley asked.

Wendy shrugged. “It’s… cute. I don’t know if I’d use it, though, or even wear it that much.”

“But you think it’s cute?”

“Yeah.”

“Well right now, that’s good enough.” Ashley pulled the necklace off the rack and checked the price. “C’mon, I’ll treat you.”

Wendy opened her mouth to argue, then stopped herself. Try to think like a kid. A kid wouldn’t say no to a gift. “… Thank you, Ash.”

Ashley grinned and led the way to the checkout. Wendy hung back, watching the cashier for signs of judgment, but he only smiled at her.

“Have a great day!” he said cheerfully.

“Thank you!” Ashley chirped back, beaming.

Once they were out of the store, Ash took the tag off the necklace and slid it over Wendy’s head. It was heavier than she’d expected, but the weight of it was sort of nice. She fiddled thoughtfully with one of the beads.

“Alright, what do you want to do now?”

Wendy shrugged. “I don’t really know… You pick.”

“Wanna play outside?”

Wendy blinked. Ash had mentioned there was an outdoor area, but she’d also mentioned there was water. “We’ll get wet, won’t we?”

“Yeah, but we can play in the grass until we dry off. Or we can use the people dryer.”

“The what?”

“It’s like one of those hand dryers - you stand inside and the air dries you off. They have them at amusement parks sometimes.”

“Oh… Okay, I guess.”

Ashley started down the hall, paused, and circled back. “How’re you doing?” Her voice was very soft and slightly concerned. “Is this too much?”

“No, it’s okay,” Wendy said, fiddling with her necklace again. “I… I still feel a little weird, but I wanna try this.”

Ashley smiled and took her hand. “Okay then. Let’s give it a try.” And she led Wendy to a set of orange doors.

It was something like a courtyard, surrounded on all sides by the walls of the Playground and yet open to the air, with most of the ground covered in bright blue tiles. There was a play structure shaped like a life-sized pirate ship, and a grassy area further away, and people everywhere. That made sense; it was a warm day, sunny and slightly muggy, perfect for playing in water.

They walked over to the pirate ship, which was swarming with laughing people. The cannon ports shot water at intervals, and at Ash’s prompting, Wendy let herself be splashed by one. She shrieked and then laughed as the water hit her. Then they climbed a rope ladder onto the ship, slipping on the sopping deck. There were various water spouts all over - at the base of a faux telescope, behind the wheel, in an ascending spiral up the mast - so there was a half-inch of water everywhere they stepped.

Ashley spun around the mast, letting herself be drenched in the falling water, while Wendy cautiously took the wheel and moved it from side to side. Okay. You’re a pirate. You can do this, just pretend you’re a pirate.

After a minute she gave up and went to lean against the railing. She was trying to play and relax and regress, but she just felt self-conscious. I think I started to regress last time. Why isn’t it working now? Wendy sighed, watching the people playing around her. They truly looked like they were having a wonderful time, but she didn’t know how to act like they did.

“Wendy?”

She jumped in surprise and spun to look at Ashley. “Oh! Uh, hi-”

Ash smiled sympathetically. “It’s not working, is it?”

“I…” Wendy paused, sighed, and shook her head. “I don’t know what I’m doing wrong.”

Ashley frowned. “This isn’t a right or wrong thing, Wendy. Sometimes people just can’t regress. That’s totally normal.”

“But last time-”

“Was last time, and today is today. Sometimes it’s easy and sometimes it’s not. So what? We can try again on another day, okay?”

Wendy sighed and fiddled with her necklace. “Okay.”

“Come on, let’s dry off.” Ashley chuckled. “I feel like I jumped in a lake.”

Wendy laughed too. “You LOOK like you jumped in a lake.” She thought a moment and then asked, “Can we sit on the grass for a little while?”

“Sure. It’s hot enough to air-dry.”

The grassy area was well maintained, thick and deep green and free of rocks and sticks. Ashley laid down while Wendy sat, curling forward so the sun could dry the wet spot on her back. Ash stared at the sky, occasionally pointing out shapes in the clouds, but Wendy kept her eyes down. She watched a small spider creep along through the grass, falling off one blade and crawling up another. The coldness of the water on her clothes gradually became a pleasant warmth, like the heat of a campfire. Almost without realizing, Wendy laid down on the grass and stared at the spider eye-to-eye. It was evidently frightened by her presence as it skittered quickly away, but she had no inclination to sit back up. Her mind felt…

“Wendy?”

… off, in some way. Like she was about to fall asleep.

“Weeendyyy…”

She blinked in surprise, looking up at Ashley, who had an odd smile on her face.

“I wanna stop by one more place. Is that okay?”

Wendy nodded slowly, some of the fog clearing from her mind. “Um. Sure.”

Ashley took her hand once more and guided her to a set of green doors that opened onto the blue section.

The store they eventually entered had a sign calling it “The Playground Public Library”. It was mostly what one would expect (shelves and shelves of books, carts for reshelving, a counter where one could check out), but there were also play-mats and beanbag chairs and plush armchairs wide enough for two adults to sit side by side. Ashley led Wendy to one such chair and made her sit, then grabbed a small pile of picture books from a return cart. She finally sat next to Wendy, cracked open one of the books, and began to read out loud

“ ‘On the night you were born, the moon smiled with such wonder…’ ”

Wendy felt a little confused, but she sat and listened while Ashley read, one book and a second and a third. The words brought the fog back into Wendy’s head, making her feel comfortable and safe and… small.

“ ‘The first drops plop down big, making dust dance all…’ Use your necklace, sweetie.”

Wendy blinked. She hadn’t realized she was chewing on her finger. “So’y,” she mumbled, putting the chew necklace into her mouth.

“That’s okay. ‘… dance all around us.’ ”

By the time the fourth book was finished, Wendy’s thoughts were unusually simple, mostly consisting of observations about various colors and textures. She was vaguely aware that this was the closest she’d ever gotten to regression - or maybe she actually was regressed? - and also that Ash was grinning in a way that made it clear she knew.

“So. How’re you feeling?”

“Mmkay,” Wendy said faintly, pulling her necklace from between her teeth. “Kinda… slow? Like everything’s… slower.”

Ashley giggled and gently touched her shoulder. “Do you wanna try playing again?”

“… Not outside,” Wendy said thoughtfully. “The water’s too cold, ‘n the sun makes me sleepy.”

“That’s fair… What’s something you liked to do when you were a kid?”

Those memories felt oddly far away, and it took Wendy longer than she’d expected to answer. “Dress up. I like that. And pretend stuff.”

Ashley’s grin widened. “There’s a little theater by the food court with lots of costumes. Some people put on little shows, but it’s fine to just dress up. Wanna go?”

Wendy lit up. “Yeah!”

This time Wendy was leading and dragging Ashley behind her, excitedly looking around for something that resembled a theater. She almost passed by the store with darkened windows - “The Playhouse”, the sign read - before Ash stopped her.

Inside was a small sitting area and a stage barely a foot high. Wendy ignored it completely, her eyes fixing on the door marked “Props and Costumes”.

The backstage area was packed with racks of clothes; Halloween costumes, handmade outfits, and even some authentic uniforms. There were also a few people dressing up and posing in front of the wall of mirrors. One of these people turned when they entered, grinned, and waved.

“Hey Jonathan!” Ashley said, waving back. “Oh! I, uh, never actually introduced you two.” Smiling sheepish, she motioned between her friends. “Jonathan, this is Wendy. She’s kinda new to all this. Wendy, Jonathan is one of my regressor friends.”

Wendy smiled shyly and waved, fiddling with her necklace.

“Hi!” Jonathan said. “Wanna play dress up? I’m gonna be a Viking!”

Wendy gasped in excitement, her eyes raking over the clothing racks. “Can I be a pharaoh?”

“Yeah!”

Ashley smiled as the pair began to grab costumes and jabber about accessories. “New to this.” You’d never guess.

[bcdrawsandwrites]

Fandom: Psychonauts

Rating: K

Genre: Angst, Friendship (sorta)

Characters: Caligosto Loboto, Morceau Oleander, Mrs. Loboto

Warnings: Child abuse (both shown and referenced)

Description: Caligosto had no plans when he ran into the forest. He didn’t fully expect he’d be able to get away, but he didn’t expect to run into someone else, either.

Beta Readers: @jaywings​ and Pinky G Rocket

Notes: This is based on a sketch I did late one night. In fact I wound up writing out the entire fic shortly after drawing it. I... just like the idea that they met at some point.

---~~~---

The second his mother's back was turned, Caligosto ran.

He didn't have any plans for where to go—only a frantic desire to get away. If his mother noticed, she probably just thought he was running to get one of the good swings before some other kid did.

Your son absolutely has the sickness.

But... I'm not sick, I feel fine.

Never argue with the doctors, Caligosto. Can he be treated?

...Can we speak alone?

Why? Dad, what's—

"Cali! Cali, hey!"

A loud clang cut through his thoughts, and Caligosto stumbled to a halt, looking toward the metal play structure shaped like a castle. Two girls—Debra and Kathy, a couple kids from school—squatted in the entrance to the main tower, smirking down at him. Kathy was holding a little rock against the wall—it must have been what made the noise.

When the girls giggled at him, he realized he hadn't answered them. "What?" he asked, tugging at the hem of his shirt as he glanced out to the far edge of the playground.

"Come up here, we got somethin' to show you!" Debra called. Kathy giggled at her side.

"Yeah! We found some more teeth to go in your weirdo collection!"

He looked back to them, brows raised. But the memory resurfaced of their insisting they'd found a "cool fang" last week, then laughing hysterically when they placed a sharp thorn into his palm.

"Yeah right," he growled, and turned to walk away.

There was a light thwack, accompanied by a sharp pain in the back of his head. He spun around, one hand rubbing the back of his skull while the other one clenched at his side. "What was that for?!"

"What, don't you want more teeth for your collection?" Debra held up another small rock while Kathy fell backwards into the tower, rolling with laughter.

"But those aren’t—"

Debra chucked the rock, and Caligosto reacted automatically with an outstretched hand.

The rock hovered in the air before him. Debra was no longer smiling.

"Uh... th-there's the tooth for you, Cali!" She began to scoot back into the tower. "You can keep it!"

Normally he would leave it at that, just walk away and find someone else to play with, or play by himself. But his chest and eyes were burning, and his head hurt. "No," he said before he could think. "I'll take some of your teeth instead!"

With a yellow flash, the stone zipped back toward the tower. Kathy sat up just in time for the rock to bounce against her head, and screamed.

Panic gripped Caligosto's chest as Debra screamed as well.

"Not fair! You said you wouldn't do that anymore!" She scrambled toward the slide on the other side of the tower. "MOM!"

Breath hitching in his throat, Caligosto broke into a run, following his original route of heading to the far end of the playground. He could barely feel his legs beneath him, and he was nearly struck by one of the kids on the swing set. (It must have been deliberate—he swore he saw the kid glare at him as he passed.) Moments later, he was tearing across the green field just beyond the playground.

What do you recommend?

We'd like to go forward with the procedure.

...He's a child.

A very sick child.

"No, I'm not sick, I'm not sick, I'm fine," he panted. His eyes watered in spite of his glasses blocking the wind. The basketball court was empty today, so he cut through it, heading for the distant line of trees beyond.

He didn't dare look back. At any moment his mother would be coming for him, and she would drag him home, and take away another one of his toys...

"Oh!" he cried, stopping just past the first tree. He hadn't thought to bring any of them with him... Not even his favorite teddy. His mother had threatened to throw it away just last week, and his heart wrenched. His entire body ached to turn back, but a shout in the distance that sounded a bit too much like his mother made him press forward.

"...Too late to turn back now," he said, voice cracking.

This far into the trees, he couldn't run without risk of tripping, but hopefully no one would look for him here. Rubbing the aching spot on the back of his head, Caligosto looked around as he marched forward. He'd explored a little of these woods before, chasing a rabbit into them once. He also knew there was a trail that ran through here somewhere, so he'd want to avoid that if he could.

Truth be told, he didn't know what was past here. But so long as it wasn't his parents or the doctors, he didn't care. Maybe there was another lake with some fish he could try talking to, or maybe a street with a bus station—he was pretty sure he'd kept some quarters in his pocket. Or...

He paused.

Somewhere deeper into the forest, he could hear a sound. It was definitely a person, but it wasn't his mom. In fact, it sounded like another kid.

A kid... crying?

Brow furrowing, Caligosto moved closer to the noise. The closer he got, the louder the sound became—whoever was crying was really wailing. For a moment he worried it was one of the girls, but it definitely wasn't either of their voices.

Whomever it was, they broke off into gross wet sniffles for a moment, trying to get a hold of themself, before breaking down into sobs anew.

Caligosto slowed as he drew nearer to the source, which was somewhere behind a tree. A little sneaker poked out from behind one of the roots—was this a little kid? He crept up behind the trunk, peering around the side, and spotted a fat kid sitting against the trunk, face red and dripping with tears and snot. Notably, a funny little propeller cap sat atop his head.

Blinking, Caligosto leaned in closer. "...Why are you crying like that?"

The kid broke off into a yelp, frantically scrubbing at his face. "I'm not crying!" he said with a hiccup. "I'm a man! Big guys like me don't cry."

Caligosto frowned; even if the kid were standing, he wouldn't come anywhere near his own height. (Then again, few kids did—he was a few inches taller than his tallest classmate.) "It looked like you were."

"I wasn't! I-I'm a b-big strong man... w-we don't cry." He tugged at the grass in front of him, drawing in a deep, shuddering breath through his nose, then out through his mouth. He was shaking badly.

"Okay." Leaning one hand against the tree for balance, Caligosto squatted down next to the kid. "So uh... what are you not-crying for?"

"I... um." The boy swallowed, rubbing at his nose. "I can't tell you."

"Why?"

"M... my dad would be mad."

Caligosto looked around the forest; he couldn't hear anyone nearby. Carefully, he moved his feet out from underneath himself, taking a seat next to the kid. "I don't think your dad's here."

"Oh." The kid looked around, finally turning, then gave a start as his eyes slowly gazed upward to meet Caligosto's. "...You're tall."

The statement made him snort with laughter. "Really? I had no idea." He got down on his elbows and knees before laying belly-down on the ground, glancing back up at the kid. "There, I'm short now."

That got the other kid to giggle, if only for a moment. He glanced away. "...Promise not to tell?"

"...That I'm short?"

"No," the kid growled, ripping up a fistful of grass. "Don't tell anyone about... why I'm not crying."

"Oh!" Caligosto raised himself up on his forearms. "I won't tell."

The kid's mouth wobbled, and he sniffled again. "I—" he began, and his voice cracked. "I-I th-think my dad... w-wants to kill me."

Caligosto froze.

Will he be safe?

We've never done the procedure on a child before. There's no guarantee for his safety, but... he certainly won't get better if left untreated. So what do you say?

...I'll leave it to you, then.

"Oh," he said at length. "Y... you too?"

Slowly the kid nodded... before giving a start, staring at him wide-eyed. "You too?!"

Caligosto's stomach twisted, and he lay back down into the grass, his cheek to the ground. “Yeah.”

"B-b-but why?!" the kid cried. His face had gone paler, his body trembling. "You're tall! You're big! Wh-why would your dad wanna kill you?"

"It's not 'cuz I'm tall," Caligosto grunted. "It's... 'cuz I can do stuff... that I'm not supposed to." He buried his face into his arms. "Cuz I'm sick."

The kid didn't say anything for a long while, and Caligosto wondered if he'd run off in terror.

Instead, there was a whisper very close to his head: "What's the stuff you're not supposed to do?"

Glancing up, he spotted the kid's face inches away from his own. He quickly pushed himself upright to put some distance between them. "Just stuff!" he cried, crossing his arms. "Stuff... like... like moving things without my hands, and setting stuff on fire, and... and..." He fidgeted. "I... I think I can hear fish talk..."

"Oh," the kid replied, eyes huge. He was quiet for a moment, fiddling with the grass before looking back at him. "Well, I can—"

"CALIII!"

Caligosto jumped to his feet, heart hammering, and the kid jumped up with him.

"Cali, you come back right this second!"

"'Cally'? Is that your name?" the kid asked, looking up at him with furrowed brows. "I think your mom sounds mad..."

"I..." he whimpered. "I gotta go." Without waiting for a response, he broke into a run, bolting out into the forest.

"Wait! Uh, come find me again later!" the kid called after him. "Or... or I'll find you! Maybe?"

"CALI!"

Caligosto did not reply, only trying to put as much distance between himself and his mother as possible. But this was the forest, not the field, and his foot caught against a tree root, sending him crashing forward. "Ugh!"

"CALIGOSTO!"

Before he could get back up, his mother grabbed his arm and hoisted him up to his feet, keeping a firm grip. He didn't dare look up at her.

"What are you doing out here?!"

"I-I..."

"Let’s go,” she snapped, tugging his arm and leading him away and out of the forest. “By the way, Mrs. Jameson told me what you did to her daughter. Since you still can't behave, I won't be taking you to this park again."

"Wh-what?!" he cried, and began to pull against his mother's grip. "No!"

"Caligosto," she said, her voice rising toward the end, and he froze up, numbly allowing his mother to lead him.

But he glanced back at the forest, thinking to the kid he'd seen, wondering if some angry mother or or father were dragging him home, too.

I'll... try to find you again, someday, he thought.

Whoever you are...

[dellb1969]

1981 Tekakwitha Children’s Home

If memory serves me right, it was here that I spent much of my second round of the sixth grade. Unlike the previous attempt, I was actually more present this time.

I was in class, I was doing the work and I was getting good grades. I have to think that it was because I was in a more structured environment. My house parent was vested in me and he cared, taking his role quite seriously. It was unusual to have that show of strength presented to me so openly and blatantly.

His name was, Charlie.

I had a room to myself and I preferred it that way, I hung posters on the wall and I wanted a plant. I asked for a clipping of a plant from one of the staff members and I grew it in water like I had seen my grandmother do many times.

When the plant was ready to be transplanted I chose a hanging basket and Charlie hung the hook and plant for me. When the other boys made fun of me, he defended me by telling them of the process in which it took the plant to grow and how I did that by my nurturing it to life and to grow roots.

It was a different world having an uncomplicated life of sorts, one where normalcy was a possibility. The problem with a child coming from chaos is that I didn’t have all of the skills to exist in normalcy. I coped better in a chaotic life where I had to troubleshoot my problems with the limited resources and knowledge that I had.

Still, I did my best while I had the chance. One of my good friends there was the same boy who I was forced to witness his rape by the same two teenage boys that raped me an hour before. It was like an unholy bond that we shared and I could see the differences it made in him some eight years later when our bedrooms were in the same unit.

When we would walk past that room, he would run the six feet to put distance between the door and him. I noticed my own behavior as well, I’d walk all of the way to the opposite side of the wall. Once I asked him as we walked past, ‘do you ever think about what happened in there?’

He reassured me that he didn’t.

Our friendship was a different one, changing after I witnessed him coming out of his bedroom closet looking exhausted and carrying a lotion bottle and a pillow. I didn’t know why or more so that I really didn’t want to know.

In a few more years he would be sentenced to prison for committing a rape that was so heinous and grotesque that I still cringe to this day thinking about. Yet, I can tap into his psyche and understand it a bit. There’s something that as even a victim of rape cannot be forgiven.

I was spinning out of control here during this particular stay, my preoccupation with alcohol was at an all time high. I wished that I was older. I began to hang out with the high schoolers, I found that I related to them more.

My time here went into the Christmas holiday and soon the next spring.

I had a girlfriend whom I really liked to be around, she was two years older than me. She had this curly hair and one of the sweetest smiles I had ever seen, she lit up when she smiled. When we were together and alone on the playground we were the only two people that existed. We’d sit on the swing together, holding hands. I was really drawn to her innocence and tomboy attitude. Alas, I was too young for her. She liked high school boys, again I wished to be older.

In a matter of weeks I would be in juvenile detention for being a general nuisance and that time I broke into the sanctuary and stole two cases of wine and wafers, I held a big party behind the gymnasium until the wee hours of the night. Yes, I had to go.

[harveybwabbit92]

they meet you again/getting to know you:

Zim: Miss Bitters had returned and Drena seemed to have disappeared from the class's memory, except for Zim he knew better, The Ove human was still here... he could smell her. It was recess, Zim had managed to avoid Dib who was busy helping Gaz with her late homework. 

The Irken made sure all the other children were preoccupied with their little playground games; He readjusted his wig letting his antenna loose, Zim whiffed the air his antenna waggled around quizzically trying to pinpoint the blonde's location before settling on a quiet shady bench just out of the way from everything and everyone.

 Zim put his wig back to it normal position and calmly walked over to the secluded area and sat down, to the naked-eye it looked like no was sitting there except for the weird green skinned kid and an empty space.

Zim's senses knew better however he knows she was there. "I knew there was something interesting about you." he stated tickled that his instincts were on point, the "empty" moved rippling like a heat mirage the Irken blinked and a familiar blonde was sitting next to him seemingly fading back into existence, eating bag of peanuts while looking at him with mild interest.

"I could say the same to you Martian boy."

"Irken actually."

"Well if we're being open, Artificial human."

"I thought humans frowned on that sort of thing?"

Drena snorted. "Only the ones they know about." she spat bitterly offering Zim some of her peanuts, the Irken grimaced. "I can't eat those, you got anything with sugar?" The blonde thought for a seconds before searching through her bag and finding one of those cheap valentine lollipops and handing it to Zim, the Irken cock a brow the candy's shape, but shrugged and unwrapped it. "So you can camouflaged?" he asked curious about your abilities.

"Yeah, I age slow and heal pretty fast too..." Drena mumbled nonchalantly popping a couple peanuts in her mouth, If the Irken wasn’t sucking on lollipop he'd be drooling right now. 

Unbeknownst to Zim; Dib was watching them the whole time he couldn't hear what they were saying, the big headed boy's eyes narrowed suspiciously as he tried figure just what horrible things Zim was planning to do to Drena.

========================================================================

The Tallest: To say the tallest were curious about Y/n was an understatement, they were absolutely fascinated by her, How someone so tall could be at the bottom of the "food-chain" as Zim put it, the earthbound Irken told them human social structure wasn't height based like theirs, it was all based more on success, looks, personality and wealth.

Tall or not Y/n was average at best, nothing special, she's as the humans tend to say is "just another a cog in the machine." Regardless; Red and Purple were hooked. they wanted to know more about her. The only con was they'd have go through Zim for that to happen, and it was pretty clear, Tallest or not Zim was very protective of Y/n, it was obvious they shared a sibling like bond; Zim would blow up the moon for her if she asked!

So Red got an Idea he had special SiR unit commissioned and sent to your residence they had gotten Gir to tell them your address in exchange for a box of crayons and gummy bears; which to the their disgust the Gir proceeded to eat as soon he got them, Cut to you sitting in your house (you live pretty far out from the city) when a large explosion shook it's foundation (that was the sound of the sound barrier breaking), you had thought Dib was back and had blown up your car! You grabbed a metal baseball bat and looked out the window... Nothing. 

Bullshit! You heard something! you put on your shoes and opened the front door only to be greeted by a cardboard box with the Irken Empire symbol stamped on it, your brow furrowed as you looked around the porch and surveyed your yard for damage and saw nothing, which confused you even more, looking back down at the box, you cautiously brought it inside and looked at the note on the box top.

[From: the Tallest To: Y/n L/n from EARTH .] 

Tallest..... those were Zim's leaders right? Why would they send you something? Curiously you opened the box and this dark more serious looking version of Gir emerged from the box, confusing you further as it saluted you. "Um... Hi?" you greeted. "Greetings Madam, prepare for incoming transmission from the Almighty Tallest!" Before you could answer the robot's head popped open and these seed looking things shot out! 

One went into the ceiling and planted itself onto your roof and extended outside and bloomed into a satellite, while the other imbedded itself into the wall across from you split apart 4 ways and formed into a large screen, it turned on and you were greeted by two obnoxiously tall Irkens, both almost identical in appearance save for red and purple eyes that matched their clothes, 

Both looked oddly excited to see you. "Oh! Y/n... uh can we call you that?" the red one asked you slowly nodded still trying to process what the hell was going on? "I see you got our gift!... do you like it?" he motioned towards the SiR unit, as purple one butted in. "We can trade it in for another model if you want!" he was shoved out of the way by his red eyed counterpart. "You said you let me handle it!" he hissed.

You blinked staring up at the hole in your ceiling; wondering what's it gonna cost to patch that up? before finding your voice. "He's um, cool?" you and were going to ask why had they sent you a robot? but Red and Purple at each other bemused then looked back at you. "Cool?....What is "cool"? is that good?" Purple asked curiously. "It means excellent?" You say hoping to calm them down, both seemed relieved to hear that as their body language seemed less tense and more relaxed, after a few seconds of awkward silence you finally spoke up. 

"So why send a stranger like me a robot?"

"Well a few weeks ago we caught a glimpse of you during a call from Zim, we couldn't help but notice you and your.... tallness."

"Few wee... oh! When I fell asleep and Boss thought I was a chair?"

"Yes... that's another thing we'd like to ask about."

Pretty much your early evening was occupied by an impromptu Q&A with a pair of alien leaders who still couldn't comprehend how someone as tall as you was working a simple low-wage security job, instead of being a big deal senator or military commander, You had told them what Zim had told them, about human society and it's construct. Fame, money and Vanity run the planet, and you have multiple leaders instead of one or two, but that's rabbit hole you rather not go down, You told them how you met Zim and the circumstances of your partnership.

They pointed out that it was Zim's fault that the big headed kid even thought you were an alien. which you acknowledged, but had counterpointed that Zim didn't kidnap you and blow up your motorhome just to prove he was right! "The little runt still hasn't apologized and pretends it never happened!" You huffed crossing your arms and leaning back in your chair. "So yeah, I joined Zim, he's actually pretty fun when you get to know him." Both Red and Purple brains kind of stalled hearing you talk about Zim in positive light, before that all to familiar beep from your alarm going off the cut the session short, you apologized but duty calls and you promise to continue your chat later.

The tallest snapped out of their stupor and bid you goodnight and hoped you have fun with your Sir unit, said robot proceed to disguise itself as a rabbit and would not leave your side and even went to work with you... you were thinking of naming him Ede, after that Eye-bot from Fallout New Vegas.

[losingitinjersey]

We’re struggling with establishing boundaries.  I know structure, routine and firm boundaries are important for kids but GOSH is it hard to implement and keep up.  I keep reminding myself that we’re both learning.  I’m learning how to be a parent and she’s testing me every which way and learning from how I respond.  

Yesterday, we went on a walk, as we’re now doing almost daily, and on these walks Erp starts off walking until she indicates she wants to get in the stroller.  This usually is about 10 minutes then I take over for the rest of the hour and a half.  Recently, in about the middle of the walk we take a detour to the playground so Erp can run around, though she usually just spends the time playing with the buckles on the stroller and her sister’s car seat.  

After yesterday’s playground time she didn’t seem interested in returning to the stroller so I let her walk thinking she’d just get tired in 10 minutes and I’d put her back in.  This time, she kept wanting to walk into the street and sit down.  It’s not a busy street by any means but I don’t want to encourage this behavior so every time she started going into the street I’d redirect her back to the sidewalk.  This would cause her to pull herself onto the ground and throw a mini tantrum.  Fine.  I’d pick her up and we’d start over.  This happened five or six times until three yard work trucks came to where we were and parked around us (we just happened to be occupying where they park, they weren’t aiming to be near us).  I then tried to put her in the stroller (which means removing the car seat to do so) and Erp wasn’t having it.  She screamed, cried, bucked her body and did everything in her power to not get in the seat (to which she was successful because I wasn’t about to force her).  All of this while we’re in the company of probably 5-8 yard workers now.  I’m doing my best to keep my cool, talking to her calmly trying to explain that I understand why she’s upset and why I’m asking her to get in the stroller, etc.  It’s not working and she is resisting me entirely.  After maybe 5 minutes of this (it feels like 30) I place the car seat back on the stroller, scoop Erp up under my arm and we walk down the block to a less occupied location.  

We try walking again and she keeps wanting to go into the street.  Several more tantrums later I’m finally able to get her into the stroller and she happily enjoys the rest of the walk while I’m reeling from the experience.  I end up walking us to the local Barnes & Nobles that has a Starbucks inside and treat myself to a keto iced shaken espresso.  Thankfully, the rest of the day went better.  

Today we went to the Toddler Story Time (versus last week’s Baby Story Time) and it was much more successful than last week! Probably because I brought snacks this time :) Oh, the power of snacks.  Other than walking around in the beginning (which led to her wanting to walk into the street again, wtf child) I was able to navigate her back to the mat where she sat on my lap and ate her snacks throughout.  She didn’t get up and move around or follow along with any of the gestures but she definitely seemed to enjoy herself.  Progress! 

Later in the day I started reaching out to other local daycares to get on wait lists since I doubt the one right around the corner from us will be calling us anytime soon given that we’re sixth on the list for placement.  I first made a virtual tour for Thursday with a school but then read the reviews online and they were awful so I cancelled that one.  Then I submitted a request to get information with a second one and scheduled an in-person tour at a third daycare for Friday.  Within 15 minutes of doing all of this I get an email back from school two saying they have one Toddler Room spot available if I’d like to schedule a tour.  (!!!!!) I respond within 30 seconds with an emphatic YES and we now have a tour scheduled for tomorrow morning at 9 a.m.  

I’m now going through all of the emotions.  I KNOW Erp needs this. I know she’s not getting the socialization she needs nor is our home environment developmentally stimulating enough for her.  This is a good thing.  We want her to start interacting with her peers and learning and growing.  I know that I’ll benefit from not feeling the guilt of keeping her entertained plus the time back to myself is something I’m not familiar with but I could sure use.  I’m hopeful I like the school, that the spot is still available and she’s a good fit, that we can afford it (have no idea what the cost is yet), and that this is a good move for us all.  Selfishly, I’m going to miss the fuck out of being with her all day every day and don’t know how I’m going to handle that.  Let’s not get into the fact that we’re navigating all of the above knowing there is rampant RSV going around and, oh yeah, a global pandemic to which there is no vaccine for kids yet. 

Parenting is hard, yo. 

[plutoswrath]

Hiiii

Sorry to bother but I have Lilith conjunct Pluto in my 5th house.. I started looking it up but I can’t find anything specific and figure how this aspect plays out in my life/future life.. Is it actually an aspect that defines potentially bad/abusive people?

Sorry if my English isn’t perfect but it’s not my first language :)

Hello! Don’t worry about your English, it’s perfectly fine (and I’m not a native speaker as well, so no pressure here haha)

Pluto conjunct Lilith in the 5th house:

♡̩͙ Focus will lie on ego here, an inner rebellion of what one wants to be and enjoy without the judgement and oppression of others. You might say it can feel like a constant, inner (and eventually even outer) rebellion.

♡̩͙ Here, we might find patterns of being ostracized and shamed for what brought one joy, made one feel special. In general, this combination can be a double edged sword as yes, ultimately there is a great resistance to succumbing to those who want to keep the native oppressed and in guilt about how they want to enjoy themselves (possibly wanting no children, or enjoying ‘unconventional’ ways of physical intimacy or unconventional hobbies), but at the same time the way of gaining this freedom can result in the individual acting over the top and even exaggerating their ego even more.

♡̩͙ While trying to free the self from believes about the way they handle their ego and seek pleasure, the native might try to gain lots of attention to make up for what they’ve missed (genuine interest and acceptance) from others.

♡̩͙ Either this, or they reject ego completely. Again, with Lilith and Pluto in contact we’re talking about extremes, there is a strong ‘this or that’ mindset, likewise this effect can be beneficial for the individual. As they decide to truly heal, they can be stubbornly fixed on building a healthy relationship to themself.

♡̩͙ Here, I think it’s important for the individuals to believe in themself, to believe in their talents. If they want to become and to be, to create and show themself to the world they are ought to do this with the outmost self believe. Because both, Pluto and Lilith, have the theme of autonomy on common. Both are ought to be free from power structures of those who casted them away.

♡̩͙ Also, I think it’s important for this individual to let their creativity flow. Too much blocked creativity (especially if it’s done on purpose) will lead to subconsciously searching for new ways that can become ones ‘playground’. They should watch out for fake friends/admirers, feeling lonely and eventually isolating themself from the rest, acting superior. Basically what we’d consider ‘narcissistic’ traits, wanting to be part of the rest or at least admired for ones uniqueness

♡̩͙ potentially trying to ‘come out on too’ even though one might realize that the top is equally as lonely as the bottom.

♡̩͙ There can be early childhood wounds that withhold you from accepting your wounded and needy inner child for what it is and working with it. Could be, that there were rigid believes of appropriateness and altruism, as well as sexual denial/oppression in the environment these people grew up in

♡̩͙ can be too focused on getting external recognition and making people recognize them in extreme ways

♡̩͙ Authority for the self comes first. Could fall into trying to be authoritative over others, because of self rejection.

[noladyme]

xo - Red (A Clark Kent/Superman oneshot)

Just a really funny; warm; kind; built like an Olympic athlete, with perfect lips friend? Tag-list: @wolf-lover-bookdragon @wonderlandfandomkingdom​

TW: Fluff. So much fluff. Explosions.

Fifth date. Things were supposed to happen, right? I mean, at least a kiss; other than a peck on the cheek. But he was a friggin’ gentleman; which I couldn’t help but be a little annoyed about; as it made it very difficult to get to the fun part of our relationship. Not that we didn’t have fun, mind you. Clark had an uncanny way of turning my frown upside down.

Ever since I’d run in to him – literally – at that coffeeshop a few months ago. I had left home early, so I wouldn’t be late for my first day at my new job, at the elementary school. I’d been so nervous about it; I hadn’t been able to fall asleep until 3 am; and was now battling exhaustion, nerves, and the fact that my new red shoes were really uncomfortable – all at the same time. I’d ordered a large black coffee; extra strong; and was on my way out the door – the sun in my eyes – when I tripped on the steps; my drink splashing out of the cup.

Suddenly; two strong hands were grabbing my shoulders; and pulling me up to stand. “Are you ok?”, a warm voice said. I looked up, and found two friendly blue eyes looking me over. “Yes, thank you”, I smiled; before noticing the large brown stain on the man’s white shirt. “Oh, crap. I am so sorry!”. He looked down himself; and smiled. “It’s fine. White isn’t my color anyway”. I laughed. “Still, I’m so sorry. Didn’t I burn you?”. The coffee had been scolding; I knew. He smirked. “I’m thick skinned”, he insisted.

He was still holding on to me; and I felt a warmth spreading in my stomach; making me short of breath. “Miss?”. His eyes suddenly looked worried. “Are you sure you’re ok?”. I smiled. “Yes, absolutely. It’s just been… a morning”. He chuckled. “Can I buy you a new cup of coffee?” I simultaneously nodded and shook my head. “Yes… no… I mean, I should buy you one; as an apology”.

He removed his hands from my shoulders; leaving me to stand on my own. “No need for an apology”, he smiled. “But I’ll take the coffee”.

We’d spent 10 minutes sipping at our hot drinks – for which he’d insisted to pay – and talking about what we did for work, and what our favorite movies were; having noticed an advertisement for some superhero movie on a passing bus. Apparently Clark wasn’t a fan of superheroes; but found it hilarious that I loved The Wizard of Oz – being from Kansas himself. Then; Clark had asked for my number, and I’d given it to him. He shook my hand, and we’d said goodbye.

The next afternoon; he’d called me, and we’d gone to see a movie – one about aliens instead of superheroes. He’d still been frowning all the way through it. “It was just really… unrealistic”, he said afterwards over a beer at a local bar near my apartment. He walked me home, declining my offer to come up for coffee; and had given me a short hug, before saying goodbye.

The next time has been a trip to an apple picking farm. “You can take the boy out of Kansas…”, I’d chuckled, as he’d carried a bushel of Granny Smith’s back to his car. “I just really like pie”, he’d smiled. He’d driven me home; and on the way there, told me about his moms pies; and how it was his favorite thing in the world – next to sweet potato fries. When he dropped me off; he leaned in, and kissed my cheek. “Goodnight”, he’d whispered; and I’d bit my lip – and hoped for more. More didn’t happen.

Then there was the quick cup of coffee on both our lunchbreaks; where I’d told him about how I’d sprained my ankle on roller-skates – 3 times in the same amount of years. He’d snorted a laugh. “Well you are kind of clumsy”, he’d said, and removed a strand of hair from my face; putting it behind my ear – before running off for a sudden work emergency.

And lastly; the roller-skating rink. Because I insisted. And he said he couldn’t say no to me. That night, he’d held my hand as we went about the floor; and grabbed my waist several times, as I was about to fall. “Careful, slick”, he’d said. “Oh, is that my nickname now?”, I’d chuckled. “No. I think I’ll call you Red. From those godawful shoes you were wearing when I met you”. It was another kiss on the cheek; and a hug that lingered, and made my knees weak. And then just… goodnight.

So yes. I was just about desperate to kiss the man. He was gorgeous; which at times had made me feel insufficient and a bit self-conscious – but then there was the way he looked at me. His eyes would light up as I talked; as if I was the most fascinating person he’d ever met. Even when our conversation was about cereal, or how one of the kids at my school had put bead up his nose. It was like his eyes drew me in; and then – as my breath would hitch, and I’d part my lips – he’d pull back as if nothing had happened.

I couldn’t help but ask myself; does he just want to be my friend? My really funny; warm; kind; built like an Olympic athlete, with perfect lips friend? I’d decided that I needed clarity on where we were going with our relationship – even if that thought did make me feel like I was living in a sad rom-com, where everyone was always talking about their feelings.

Tonight, it was dinner. Nothing fancy, just a steakhouse I’d suggested. If Clark turned out to just be in it for the apple picking and coffee; then at least I could drown my sorrows in a medium rare steak, with enough bearnaise-sauce to drown a small elephant.

—

Putting on my favorite jeans, black pumps, and a snug top; I waited for the call to let me know Clark was by the door on the street. He’d never been inside my apartment; and didn’t seem very interested in it either. This isn’t real, I told myself to guard my feelings against the inevitable rejection I’d have to face that evening. We’ll eat, laugh; and he’ll walk me home – and then tell me that he’s got a wife and three kids in Smallville, waiting for him to come home for game-night.

A text message made my phone light up. Hey Red. I’m late. So sorry. Be there as soon as possible. – C

Great. That gave me even more time to just hang out… and be anxious.

No worries, Kansas. See you. xo – R Send… Crap, why did I write xo? What am I; a teenager?

I sat down on my couch. Deciding I needed to pass the time doing something other than stare at the wall; I turned on the television. Landing on the news; I dropped the remote.

In Stockholm, Sweden, the building of a new sky-scraper in an old neighborhood; had made a nearby building begin to crack in the foundation. The old residential was quickly giving in; and families were being evacuated from their homes. There were firetrucks spraying water at the structure, to avoid flames from any electrical fires.

Though it was a terrible situation for those families; I was confused as to why one building falling apart half way around the world, was a breaking news story here. That was until I saw a figure at the bottom of the screen; seemingly supporting the weight of the building on his shoulders. Oh, right! That guy! The Superdude…, I chuckled to myself; and went to see if Clark had texted me back yet.

Nothing. It was probably the xo-thing. He didn’t know how to reply to that.

The news story ended when cameras filmed Superman handing a shaking and wet puppy to a little girl; who kissed his cheek in thanks. I always found it kind of neat, that the flying caped man managed to know where every camera was; so that anyone watching would find it difficult to make out his features. From what I could see; he was sort of cute. If Clark doesn’t work out; I could always throw myself of a building; and have that guy catch me. It must be lonely in that fortress of solitude; maybe he’d like some company.

A text. Outside in 5. Can’t wait to see you. xo – C

xo. He’d written xo. Right. Big girl pants on, and go talk to him.

—

Outside the door of my building stood Clark; a smile the size of the sun plastered across his face. My heart jumped. He opened his arms; and took me in for a hug.

“Hi, Red”, he breathed. “I’m so sorry I’m late. It was a work emergency”. “It’s fine”, I said and looked up at him; and opened my mouth to say something more – until I noticed something strange.

“Clark?”, I said. He was still holding on to me. “Yeah?”. “This is going to sound weird, but… why do you smell like wet dog?”.

He pulled back. “Yeah… I was doing a story at an animal shelter”, he said. I narrowed my eyes at him. “Let’s go!”, he said, and took my hand.

It was a beautiful night; so we decided to skip the cab, and walk the few miles to the restaurant. We walked down the street, hand in hand. It wasn’t the first time we’d held hands; but then it was because he was trying to keep me from falling. This was different. It wasn’t strange; but warm… familiar. I swallowed hard. “I want to talk to you about something, Kansas”, I said. He looked down. “You don’t want to do that at the restaurant?”, he said with a strained voice. “No, I think I need to do it now”, I answered. He nodded. “Ok. Do you want to sit down?”, he asked; and gestured at a bench on a playground we were passing.

Once seated; I let go of Clarks hand. “What’s up, Red?”, he asked earnestly. “You seem… tense”. He laughed nervously. I smiled. “I like you, Clark. A lot”, I said. “I like you too. A lot”, he smiled. I matched his nervous laughter. “It’s just… lately, I’ve been thinking. About us… and what we are”. He looked down. “Yeah, I figured we’d get to this at some point”. I nodded. “We have fun”, I said. “Like friends. But I don’t know if we both feel like this is more than that. Friendship, I mean”. He sighed. “Right. No, I get it”, he said. “You’re new in the city, and shouldn’t be settling down with anyone serious”.

I looked at him confusedly. “I’m not sure I follow”, I smiled. He took my hand. “You’re an amazing woman, Red”, he said “And I’ve enjoyed spending time with you. But maybe you’re right, and this is a good time to call it quits. If that’s what you want”. My heart fell into my stomach. “Is that what you want?”, I asked timidly. “I want you to be happy”, he said, smiling sadly. “With or without me in your life. I’d just hoped I’d have a few more dates before you came to your senses about me”.

I frowned. “Clark… you need to be clear with me here”, I said. “Are you breaking it off with me?”. He looked at me with a frown on his face. “I thought you were breaking up with me…”, he said. “You suggested that restaurant; and I thought you wanted to be in public when you did it”. I laughed. “No. I just… really like steak”, I smiled.

He exhaled with relief. “Good. Because I was lying. I really don’t want you to be happy without me…”, he said. “I mean… crap… I want you to be happy; I’d just really like to be a part of it. If you’ll have me”. I bit my lip and nodded. “I’d like that”, I said. “I thought you saw me as a friend because… you haven’t…”. I couldn’t finish the sentence. He took my hand, and tried to meet my gaze. “What? Tell me”, he said. I took a deep breath. “You haven’t kissed me”, I said; meeting his eyes for a second; before looking down in embarrassment.

He put his hand under my chin, and raised it to finally meet my eyes for real. “Red, I’ve wanted to kiss you since the moment you spilled scorching hot coffee on my least favorite shirt”, he smiled. “I was just waiting for the right time, and…”. He exhaled and took my other hand; playing with my fingers.

“My life is… complicated. The work I do; sometimes it’s dangerous”, he said. I raised an eyebrow at him. “You write fluff pieces for The Daily Planet”, I chuckled. “That too…”, he muttered and looked down.

I smiled; wanting to ease the tension. “You know, I was watching a news story while I was waiting for you”, I said. He looked up at me with questioning eyes. “Yeah?”. I chuckled. “It was about that Superman guy. He was helping some people; in Sweden I think”, I said. “I was telling myself; that if you didn’t want to see me anymore; I could always just… throw myself of a building, and he’d rescue me. Then I could hook up with him”. He laughed nervously. “What? Like a rebound?”. “More like a… third choice. If you didn’t work out”. He narrowed his eyes at me. “Only third?”, he said. I scoffed. “Have you seen Aquaman? I mean, come on!”, I grinned.

His lips tightened, and he stifled a laughter. “So… if Superman is third… and… Aquaman…”, he raised an eyebrow at me, “… is second. What does that make me?”. I sighed. “The guy I’ve been waiting months to kiss”.

He looked deep into my eyes; and my breath hitched. He put his hand on my cheek; and he leaned in close to me, stroking my temple with his thumb I brushed my nose against his; and closed my eyes, letting my lips part.

Suddenly; he pulled back. “Clark?”, I asked. His eyes were scanning the area; before they met mine again – alarmed. “Red, go home.” “What’s wrong?”, I said. “Did I say something?”.

He stood up and began backing away; his eyes again searching his surroundings. “Listen, go straight home. Don’t stop for anything. I’ll… I’ll call you when I can”. He ran around a corner, and was gone. I heard a strange woosh, and a stray cat ran from the alley he’d gone in to.

I felt suddenly cold. This was the weirdest date I’d ever had; and it hadn’t even really started. Then there was the fact that the guy I was falling head over heels for, finally said he care about me too – and then just… left. That’s it, I laughed to myself. I’m finding a really high building to jump off.

I began walking home. Slowly. I didn’t want Clark to have the pleasure of getting me to do what he wanted me to. Jerk. Not a jerk. Crap; I really like him. More than like. This is real.

I heard a crash, and then a screech; like metal being torn apart. I felt a warm gust of wind, forceful enough to make me stumble. I looked up. Was that seriously a bus flying through the air?

Another crash; this one even closer. I fell to the ground; and was scrambling to get up, when I saw a minivan sliding on its roof towards me. I got on my feet, and bean running out of the way; when something red and blue slammed into the minivan; making it alter its course. Was that?…

I ran towards my block. Red, go home. I’m going; but where are you Clark? Are you ok?

I kept running; fishing my phone out of my pocket, and dialing Clarks number. It kept ringing, but went to voicemail. Hey. This is Clark Kent. Leave me a message and I’ll get back to you… beep. Come on, Clark. I need to know you’re ok!

I redialed. Suddenly I heard a phone ringing near me. I looked into a bush; and saw… Clarks jacket? His phone was ringing in his pocket. 2 missed calls from Red – heart emoji. Damn it, Kansas. If I wasn’t so pissed at you; I might think this was really sweet. Where are you?

Screeching… a car landed on the ground 10 feet from me; the force of it throwing me to the ground again. I got up slowly; rattled from the shock.

I began running again; getting closer to my block.

Suddenly; a tank truck was blocking my path; crashing into a bus-shed. My heart was in my throat, and my chest hurt from having run so fast. I tried turning around, but a bus had crashed into an RV, blocking my path in both directions. I was trapped.

I looked up. The sky was covered in smoke from the many burning vehicles around me. The sound of a large crash made me look towards the truck. Something made the vehicle fall onto its side, and slide towards me with such speed that the shock of it made me fall.

I looked back – there was nowhere to run. In three seconds, I would be smashed between the truck and the bus.

Three… Oh God…

Two… Clark, where are you?

One.

A gush of wind; and I flew in to the air. No… I didn’t fly; I was lifted. My feet were dangling in the air; and one of my shoes fell of, landing on the ground hundreds of feet below me. Someone was holding on to me; his strong arms around my waist; and my chest pressed to his – which was adorned with a red S on a yellow background. What?

I let out a terrified whimper. “It’s ok. I’ve got you”, a warm voice said. I looked up into my saviors face. “Clark?”, I gasped. “Hi”, he said with a crooked smile. I opened my mouth to say something. “Don’t speak…”, he said. “The air is kind of thin up here”.

I looked down; and realizing how far up in the air we were, I panicked. I wrapped my arms around his neck and let out a weak squeal. “It’s ok, Red”, he chuckled. “I won’t let you fall”.

He set me down on the top of a building a few miles from the explosions. Once on stable ground, he held on to me for a second; making sure my legs would carry me. I stepped backwards, holding my hand up in front of me. “Y-you…”, I stuttered. He looked at me apologetically. “I know. I should have told you. It’s just… complicated”. He tried to smile.

I stumbled; and fell to my bottom. He took a tentative step forward. “I know. I get it. You’re scared”, he said. I shook my head. “No… it’s… you!”, I said.

He reached his hand out to me. “Please, let me help you up”. I gave him my hand; and he gently raised me to my feet. “Are you ok?”, he smiled. I simultaneously shook my head and nodded. “Yes?”. It was almost a question. He sniggered.

Suddenly I began laughing – the ridiculousness of the situation too comical. “I was supposed to fall off a building; not land on it”, I chuckled. He began laughing with me. “Yeah, I must have gotten those two mixed up”, he said. “It’s like I’ve said; I can’t say no to you”.

I sighed, and gently laid a hand on the S on his chest. “So… what now?”, I asked. He smiled. “I really want to continue what we started on that bench”. I chuckled and bit my lip. “Ok”.

He slid his arms around me – his tall and broad frame almost enveloping me – and I melted into his arms. His face came close to mine; and the last thing I saw before I closed my eyes; where his striking blue ones, boring deep into me.

He tensed up; and when I opened my eyes again, he was frowning, and turning his head, as if listening.

“I’m so sorry, Red; but I have to finish this”, he said. Another gush of wind; and he was gone. “Seriously?!”, I yelled after him.

—

I made my way down the skyscraper Clark had left me on; where I was met by the sirens of police cars, and people pointing at the sky. I was out of danger – I knew – but no less rattled. I was wearing a pump on one foot, and limping barefoot on the other; until I simply gave up; and took off the shoe – throwing it in a trashcan.

I walked all the way home; confused and dizzy. On my block, people were standing in the streets, murmuring to each other; and looking at the fires in the distance. It was as if there was line drawn through the city. On one side; havoc, and crashed cars – on the other, where I was… nothing. It was as if nothing had been touched.

One of my neighbors tried to stop me in the doorway; noticing the shell-shocked look on my face, and my bare feet. “Were you in that? Are you ok”, he asked. I shook my head. “I’m fine. It’s nothing”, I smiled.

I stumbled into my apartment; threw my jacket on the floor, and grabbed a beer from the fridge – plopping down on the couch.

Well… that was something…

Without anything else to do, I took a large swig of my beer; and turned on the television.

“… explosions in downtown Metropolis this evening; as terrorists connected to the incarcerated Lex Luthor, placed explosives on multiple vehicles, throughout the city…”

Footage of explosions, and scenes of police cars and firetrucks racing down the streets.

“… no casualties, due to the quick intervention of the group calling themselves The Justice League…”

A man who looked like Robocop, pointed at the camera, and the screen blurred. There was a flash of red; and just after it, footage of a group of men captured by a shiny lasso, held by a woman dressed like a Greek goddess. A burning building was drowned in water; and a smirking longhaired man – still hot… – was yelling booyah’s at it.

“… headed by the Batman; and Metropolis’ own Superman…”

I saw the Gotham Knight shaking hands with…

It was Clark. It was always him.

There was a knock at my door. When I opened it Clark stood outside. Not red and blue Superman – just my Clark; dressed in jeans; a plaid flannel; and wearing his glasses.

“Hi”, he said. “Hi”, I answered. “I brought you something”. He pulled out my black pump; the one I had dropped from the air. I chuckled. “Great, now I just need the other one”. He pulled out the other one as well. “It might smell a little. It was laying in a trashcan”. I took the shoes from his hands, and half smiled at him. “I have something of yours as well”, I said, and gave him back his phone, from my jacket on the floor. “Thanks”, he said. “The suit doesn’t really have pockets”.

He clenched his jaw. “Can I come in?”, he asked. I stepped aside, and he walked into my combined kitchen/living room. “You have a nice place”, he smiled. “Thanks”, I said quietly; as I closed the door behind him. His large frame seemed to fill the entire space. “Do you want a beer?”, I asked. He looked at me warmly. “Yeah, sure”. I handed him a cold one. “You can sit down”, I said. “Unless… you pulled a muscle flying me through the sky”.

He chuckled at me, and sat down on my couch. “No, I’m fine”, he smiled. I raised a brow; and sat down on the couch with him – leaving some space between us. “Right; you can lift buildings and stuff like that”, I muttered.

He exhaled, and took a swig of his beer. “Yeah… about that”, he began. “I was going to tell you”. “Why?”, I muttered. “It seems like something pretty big. I get why you’d want to keep it private. Have a… secret identity”.

He frowned. “I wanted to tell you, because I care about you. And I want you to be a part of my life… all of it”. I met his eyes. “Really”. I bit my lip. “You… care”, I said. He reached for my hand; and I let him take it. Our fingers linked into each other. “You’re funny; smart; passionate”, he said. “And you’re beautiful”.

I scrunched up my face in embarrassment. “Ok, now I’m uncomfortable”. “Why?, he said, and stroked my cheek; moving closer to me on the couch. I sighed. “Because you’re… you. The Superdude. You can see every flaw…”. “There isn’t a flaw on your body”, he smiled. I scoffed at him. “I’m serious! Every little thing… the wrinkle between your eyebrows when you’re concentrating… how your one hand is a little bit smaller than the other… that beauty-mark on your back…”. “How did you know about that?”, I interrupted. He smiled embarrassedly. “That loose fitting top you wore on our last date. The dark blue one”, he muttered. “I love all of it”. I half-smiled. “There’s actually two of them… the beauty-marks”, I said. “I didn’t want you to think I was creepy for looking”, he smirked.

“You love it?”, I mumbled. He swallowed. “Yeah, Red”, he said. “I mean… I’ve fallen hard for you”. I giggled nervously. “So, this is real…”, I muttered. “I want it to be”, he smiled. “Do you?”. I nodded, and looked at him through my lashes. “Yeah, I do”, I said.

He let out a relieved sigh, and chuckled “Good… Are you sure?”, he smirked. “I could introduce you to Arthur”. I frowned. “Arthur?”, I sneered. “In that case, never mind!”.

We laughed together; before Clarks face became apprehensive. “And…”, he couldn’t form the words. “Your other side?”, I said. He shook his head. “It’s not my other side. It’s me. It’s who I am”.

I squeezed his hand gently, and placed it on my knee. “I fell for you, without knowing everything you were”, I said. “What I know now… just makes you… better”. His eyes lit up. “Really?”, he half-whispered. “Yeah”, I smirked. “Besides; I kind of like how the suit makes your butt look”.

He raised his brows at me and laughed – putting his free hand to my cheek, and stroking my temple. “Oh!”, he said. “Well… yours isn’t half bad either”. I frowned. “Did you x-ray my pants?”, I asked; narrowing my eyes at him. He tightened his lips. “Not yet… do you want me to? I mean… I’m up for it”, he smiled, and moved his other hand up my thigh.

I chuckled; and put my hand on his cheek; pulling him closer. “Let’s do the kissing part first – we can get to what’s in my pants later”, I smirked. “Unless, of course, you have another superhero emergency you need to tend to".

He closed his eyes and listened; then opened them again. “Nah, we’re good”, he smiled; and his lips met mine.

He tasted like apple pie and sunshine.

—

[perseusjackson-jasongrace]

Hi I dont know if you want jercy requests at the moment but i had an idea for one :

Dark percy murdering calligula as a revenge for jason

Hello angel! Whew this request was willldddddd and I had soo much fun with it. There isn't any jercy per se (in fact Annabeth and Percy are together in this) but Percy is furrrrrious about Jason and he exacts a very twisted sort of revenge for his friend's honour. Basically this was an excuse to write dark!percy and by gods I hope I delivered!

CW: revenge driven, grief, graphic depictions of violence

Burning Maze Spoilers

he used to be nice.

He used to be nice.

Percy had been digging around the weapons room when his name had been shrieked like a dying animal. He had been looking for protective gear to give to little demigods in his sword-fighting class, when a scream like broken bones cracked through his body. He had been starting another calm, routine-controlled day at camp half-blood when he heard the news that made him snap.

*Two hours earlier*

“Jackson,” Annabeth knocks at his cabin door. He hears her voice carry through the open windows, and over the continuous sound of the ocean. “Pers, we have breakfast in half an hour and you have a sword class to teach today.”

The event had been printed on her wall of “to-dos” so that neither of their adhd brains would have the chance to forget. But he groans at the reminder, not wanting to escape his warm bed, or the duvet that wraps around him like a hug, or the pillows that hold his head as if he is a god. Sometimes he wishes he was a Hypnos kid. Their whole thing is sleeping . The knock sounds again.

“Seaweed Brain, come on,” His girlfriend sighs, “You promised we’d talk to Chiron about the—"

The loud and obnoxious cry of a harpy sounds somewhere in the distance and whatever she says next is drowned out completely. He knows though. Knows what she’s going to say and what they have to do. So he drags himself out of bed, like the last sack of potatoes on the crate. Heavy and bruised and discarded for the most desperate of the lot.

“I’m up,” He manages to rasp. He doesn’t like talking to people till he’s brushed his teeth, and eaten something, and spent at least half an hour staring at an empty coffee cup. A New Yorker through and through he supposes.

“Okay,” He hears Annabeth call, “I’ll see you at the dining hall then.”

He makes a sound half way between a grunt and a yawn and hopes she understands because that’s the best she’s getting out of him. The morning routine is quick, even done at the speed of a stubborn toddler. Soon he is sitting at the Poseidon table, scarfing down eggs and toast, and washing it done with a second cup of coffee. The buzzing in his veins is completely normal. And he’s definitely not speaking at a thousand miles an hour. This is how he always talks. Why on earth they allow coffee in a camp full of adhd kids, he’ll never understand. But it works in his favour so he isn’t going to complain.

By the time him and Annabeth are done talking to Chiron about introducing therapy to the camp, he feels like his eyes are moving faster than his sensory receptors can process and his thoughts are moving faster than his ability to process at all. So when his girlfriend, smiling at him about something, stops outside their training room he looks at her with furrowed brows and asks, “What are we doing here? Are we training for something?”

She frowns, “How much coffee did you have this morning?”

“Only three cups.” He shrugs, and clenches his hands in his pockets as if she can see through the fabric to the shaking body underneath.

Her grey eyes widen as if she’s about to scold him, a petulant child being chided by their ever tired caregiver. It makes the part of him still attempting to function slightly wild. He squishes that part down with the force of a thousand ships. Someone calls Annabeth’s name so with a quick peck to the cheek she leaves him in front of the training room and jogs towards the middle of camp and out of sight.

He stares at the room, trying to get his brain to stop focusing on things he doesn’t need to focus on right now, like the three lines of a song he heard at the grocery store a week ago that he hasn’t been able to get out of his head.

He used to be nice.

Entering the training room he scans the schedule and sees he’s teaching a class of small people, campers younger than ten who are just learning the ropes but should disaster ever strike will be ushered to the Cabin 9 bunkers to wait out the storm. It is a rule that no-one under the age of twelve be subject to war if they need not be. And he will make damn sure the need never ever surfaces.

He gathers swords of various shapes and sizes, along with a few daggers, and the straw dummies that have seen better days. It boggles his mind that they’re at a camp for children of literal greek gods but somehow there’s no funding for basic necessities like extra cots in the Hermes cabin, and better dummies to stab.

Muttering to himself he moves aside metal and stacks of straw, trying to find protective gear in the pile dumped at the corner of the training room. When he doesn’t see any he lets out a long suffering sigh... he has to go to the weapons room, which is more of a broom closet with deadly devices than anything else.

The room smelt musty, and the reek of rust slams into his nostrils at dizzying speeds. It reminds him of blood, and it made his skin itch with the need to get out. But still he bends down and searches through the mess of celestial bronze, and gold and—

The scream cauterizes his happiness. He is panic and pain and death and everything brutal in a single awful instant.

“PERCY!” His name has never sounded so full of agony, each syllable holds the stages of grief.

He is running towards the anguish before he’s even fully realises what’s going on. But what he sees when he crests the hill is enough to make the warmth of his heart run burning cold.

Annabeth is curled on the ground, tears like rivers of woe streaming down her cheeks and a purple flag clutched tightly in her fists.

“What happened?” His voice is soft. If he hears himself too loudly he’s going to shatter.

Annabeth cries harder, her whole body shuddering. Grief is overwhelming. Grief is all consuming. Grief will make itself known like thorns in your thumb or bullets in your heart.

“What happened?” He repeats.

And someone, far away, right next to his ear, inside his head, says, “It’s Jason, Jason Grace. He’s dead.”

He used to be nice.

It takes him three days. Three days of non-stop travelling, by foot, and air, and sea, to reach Caligula’s home. A palace. A grave. It is three days too long. Too long for a murderer to be walking free as if there are no consequences to his vile actions. But still he is here now and he will see the fall of a great, and watch how he bleeds just like everyone else. Not gold, the colour of the emperor’s one true love, but red, the colour of his victims.

Percy's eyes are almost black with violence, green so dark it reflects the night sky. His hands clench and unfurl as if practicing to wrap around a throat and squeeze till the symphony of breathing plays its last note. His body is strung taut, a bow string waiting to release. He is murder. He is nothing. He is your worst nightmare.

“Caligula.” He scrapes. It is the exact sound of a sword sparking against stone. “Come out, come out, wherever you are.”

Nothing but scared silence greets him. He can feel the fear coating the walls of this burial ground like a fresh coat of paint. He will make a playground of the blood he spills, will invite all manner of creatures to use it as a park. He will revel in the slaughter he is about to participate in.

“Caligula!” His voice is the sharp edge of a small knife. Unassuming but deadly. ‘“It is no use hiding. There is no place you could go where I couldn't find you.” He feels the earth sway underneath him, and he grins. Oh this is going to be fun.

“Fine Emperor, if this is how you want to do it.”

With a shrug, he flings out an arm and turns three columns to dust. He watches the stone crumble, feels the sand on his palm as if he was crumbling the columns in his hands like soft cheese. With a small stomp of his foot a crack rivaling the river Thames splits the marble floor in half. The entire structure shudders, creaks right above him. His grin only gets wider, more dangerous.

“I will level this place to the ground. I will erase it from history as if it had never been. You will not exist Caligula, because you will go with it. Will be crushed under the weight of your own wealth.”

“You’re a fool,” A voice, reedy and nasalled in a way that has his soul curdling, shouts from somewhere on the far side of the room. “You will crush us both."

Percy laughs. He laughs and the sound widens the cracks in the floor. It is deep, and wild, but in the way a wild thing is caged: snapping at it’s bars, hissing to be free. He laughs.

“You are a fool Caligula. A fool if you think i am not willing to die if it means you suffer. A bigger fool still if you think it will not give me great pleasure to spend my last moments watching the life leave your eyes,”

The distant sound of bubbling starts to fill the room. Percy wonders if he can make blood boil. His mother has certainly said so enough times.

“Leave now half-blood,” The Emperor spits. There is still something of arrogant, misplaced bravery in his voice. It amuses Percy. “Leave now and you will not face the consequences.”

“And pray tell,” He contemplates, “Who you think will deliver your consequences if i leave?”

A scoff that echoes into the pathways of his brain comes from the back of the room. “I do not need consequences dealt. I have done nothing to deserve them.”

The sound of bubbling is getting louder. He looks curiously at the cracks still spidering around the room. “Ah Emperor,” He tuts, “That is where you are wrong. People who deserve consequences hardly ever get them. It is those who don’t think they deserve them that become the unlucky bearers.”

“What are you going on about, boy?” He snarls.

The bubbling is loud enough now that Percy almost checks to see if a small brook has carved its way through the floor. There is nothing there except ever growing cracks, turning to rifts and canyons before his eyes.

He used to be nice.

“We can do this one of two ways Caligula.” He starts, honey bees with a sting a little too sharp to be defence. “You can apologise and I’ll kill you quickly, or…” His smile is sickening. “And this is my preferred method, I could watch you die slowly, watch the life drain from your body and into the soil of blood-crops that will grow here, and your dying words will be the mercy you will inevitably beg for.”

The bubbling spills over the cracks, leaking salty water onto the dying marble floor.

“Better choose soon oh dear Emperor,” He giggles, “I am the only thing holding this room together. As soon as I let go the floor will split like your loyalties. You will be crushed to death by your own greed. And if that doesn't happen you will surely drown.” To emphasise his point water starts gushing from the floor, no longer a bubbling stream but a raging river. His laughter is carried along the ripples that hit the walls, already leaking with the all encompassing ocean. “Wouldn’t it be a pity Caligula? To drown in your own home, surrounded by all the things you killed for, watching as they drown with you?”

“Shut up half-blood,” He screeches, “You do not have the power it takes to kill me. You are nothing compared to the centuries I have been alive.”

“Do you know who i am honouring Caligula?” He asks softly, a stark and terrifying contrast to his smile a moment before. “In all your centuries can you remember but one demigod, a dear friend of mine, but just another victim of yours?”

“Does it matter?” He scoffs, “They are all the same in the end. All bleed, and cry, and piss, and die the same.”

The grin Percy lets loose starts hurricanes. It is the absolute wrong thing to say. ‘“If it is all the same to you Emperor,” He becomes terror. “Then i think i’ll spill your blood at his altar.”

And before the doomed emperor could react an invisible hand wraps around his throat and he was being dragged to the middle of the room. His eyes wide, popping out of his head; hands clawing at his neck as if trying to remove the grip they cannot feel; feet flopping helplessly underneath him.

“Apologise for killing Jason Grace.” It is a command.

Caligula glares, attempting to spit at his feet.

Percy tilts his head and with a single crook of his finger he slams the emperor into the wall. The crack is deafening. It makes him grin.

“Apologise for killing Jason Grace.”

Caligula produces an ancient roman gesture, passed through time as if centuries cannot dismantle the insults of humans.

Percy twists his wrist and the emperor’s body contorts into something unrecognizable, bones snapping and shattering to fit their new mold.

“Apologise for killing my friend.”

“Fuck you,” He manages to choke out.

A wave of ocean water alarming in its beauty rises behind him. He is its god. And with a wink he shoves all of it down the emperor’s throat. The column of that pale neck bobs as if attempting to take the water down. He can see the body trying to retch it all up, unable to handle the sheer amount, the salt that comes with it.

“Watch Caligula,” He motions to the palace sinking under the weight of his ocean, “Watch as everything you have ever cared to love drowns.”

Percy grabs a shard of mirror, uncaring of the gash it sweeps across his palm. He holds it up to the ancient powerful Emperor, who is convulsing into nothing. “Watch.”

He used to be nice.

Sometime later when Percy Jackson walks up a hill, and into the fading sun there is nothing but content mania lining his features, and behind him where a grand home once stood, is a trickling river and a single spear carved with the words, “Neo Helios”. The only sign that Caligula, Emperor and murderer, ever existed,

He used to be nice.

Until someone killed his friends.

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

[image id: printed text that reads, "I used to be nice." end id]

[izzielizzie]

Could you write a Nate and Bronwyn story based of the song 18 by One Direction? 🥺😇

Sure! It’ll be similar to this one, where it’s not really a cohesive story if that makes sense? More like moments of their lives. Also, this is far from my best work, so don’t say I didn’t warn you. Enjoy

I got a heart and I got a soul Believe me I will use them both

“He looked like he rolled out of bed, and not alone.” Kate and Yumiko, the most understanding people Bronwyn had met, even believed the stories that Nate slept with every girl that came his way. And maybe it was true. Who knew? But she couldn’t help but remember him in elementary school as he lead his mother  down the hall with so much care.  

We made a start Be it a false one, I know Baby, I don't want to feel alone

Nate would never admit it, but he thought a lot about Bronwyn when they were kids. Back when they were maybe friends. And he knew that they were different now, but he couldn’t help but miss her and her shiny ponytail. So, pulling his burner phone from under his bed, he called the one number he ever bothered to memorize.

So kiss me where I lay down My hands press to your cheeks A long way from the playground

They met at the one place where they last felt whole. “It’s three in the morning. We’ll get caught.”

Nate smiled. “Bronwyn, we’re far from the playground.” He waved his hands at the distant shape of the climbing structure. 

“If we can see it, we’re too close.”

“I disagree.”

Bronwyn shook her head, stretched her arms above her body, and lay down on the rock they sat on, her head ending up on his lap. Nate ran his fingers through her hair, and without thinking, leaned down to kiss her cheek.

I have loved you since we were 18 Long before we both thought the same thing To be loved, to be in love All I can do is say that these arms were made for holding you I wanna love like you made me feel When we were 18

“Happy birthday,” Bronwyn mumbled into his shoulder, his arms around her. 

“Thank you,” Nate whispered into her hair. They shouldn’t have been together, the two of them. Everyone made it clear: Bronwyn was meant to go to an Ivy league, to have an illustrious career. Nate was meant to fail. Not that it mattered to him when his arms were twisted around her. 

It had taken eighteen years, but they finally fit together like puzzle pieces. 

We took a chance God knows we tried Yet all along, I knew we'd be fine

“Then leave!” The words tore from him in a way that froze her very soul. Bronwyn stood, one hand on her suitcase, staring at him. At the anger in the eyes she loves so very much. When had this happened?

“Nate-”

“No Bronwyn, just go. This wasn’t going to work anyway.”

Those words bounced around her head during the flight back to Yale, and it broke her heart. She knew deep down, that they’d be okay, but she couldn’t believe that now. 

So pour me a drink oh love, Let's split the night wide open and we'll see everything We can live in love in slow motion, motion, motion

So maybe flying to her dorm wasn’t a good idea, but in Nate’s defense, Maeve was insistent.  Bronwyn looked exhausted when she answered the door. 

“Hi,” she said dully. 

“Hey. Is your roommate here?”

“She’s visiting family.”

Nate shut the door behind him. He offered her the bottle of sparking juice, the first thing he picked up from the store.

“Green apple?” Bronwyn asked.

“It reminded me of you. Everything does.”

Bronwyn smiled and pulled two paper cups from a cabinet. They didn’t need to speak, not really, since everything they wanted to say was in their smiles. They spent the rest of the night dancing in her room, their arms around each other as the stars fell into the sky. 

So kiss me where I lay down My hands press to your cheeks A long way from the playground

Bronwyn held him, the next time she was home, when the pain was too much to handle.

“Remind me not to dive in front of a bomb next time, okay?”

“On it,” Bronwyn said, smiling at him a little. They were far from children now, but when he flashed that grin, she forgot the horrors they faced. 

I have loved you since we were 18 Long before we both thought the same thing To be loved and to be in love And all I can do is say that these arms are made for holding you, ooh And I wanna love like you made me feel When we were 18

“I didn’t know I wanted to be a lawyer, not until I was eighteen and someone I love a lot was wrongly accused of a crime.” Nate smiled a little as he heard what Bronwyn was saying during her speech at Ashton and Eli’s wedding. He knew she was continuing with her thanks for Eli, but Nate couldn’t help but revel in the feeling of Bronwyn saying she loved him. 

When we were 18 Oh lord, when we were 18

“Being eighteen is hard, I get it honey,” Bronwyn held her oldest daughter as she sobbed so hard her shoulders were shaking.

“No one broke your heart did they?”

Bronwyn looked over her daughter’s curly head to meet her husband’s eye. They smiled a little at each other.

“Of course my heart broke. But I put it back together. With someone I love.”

It took a while for her daughter to feel better, and Bronwyn thought it was wise that she didn’t mention the person who broke her heart ended up marrying her. She really didn’t like her daughter’s ex, and didn’t want to giver her any ideas.  

Kiss me where I lay down My hands press to your cheeks A long way from the playground

“I broke you heart, huh?” Nate asked after everyone had gone to bed.

“Yes, it was traumatizing.”

Nate laughed and pulled her towards him, pressing a kiss on the top of her head.

“Well, I apologize.”

“Wow, that’s a first.” 

I have loved you since we were 18 Long before we both thought the same thing

“You guys have been together since you were eighteen?” Bronwyn smiled at her grandchildren’s awed faces.

“That was like ninety years ago!” another one proclaimed. 

Bronwyn rolled her eyes and glared at her husband as he started to laugh.

To be loved and to be in love And all I can do is say that these arms were made for holding you And I want a love like you made me feel When we were 18 I want a love like you made me feel When we were 18 I want a love like you made me feel

“What are you going to do during retirement?” Nate had asked that question to Eli ages ago, and was slightly amused when he answered that all of his time would be spent with Ashton. Now, when he had all his time to himself, all he wanted to do was be with Bronwyn.

“Thanks for being the best thing that ever happened to me Bron,” he said as Bronwyn turned a page in her book.

“Don’t mention it,” she said as her grey eyes glistened like diamonds. 

When we were 18

Bronwyn wasn’t sure when she really truly fell in love with Nate. Maybe it was when she was ten and watched him care for his mother. Maybe it was during the murder investigation. Or maybe, she fell a little more in love with him every single day she spent with him.

Either way, the day she kissed him on his eighteenth birthday was a pretty great day. 

[blazehedgehog]

If you were in a position that enables you to gun hard at Nintendo's Super Mario 3D Platforming juggernaut (It is impossible, but let's assume that you still went ahead), how would you do it? There are no restrictions, from budgeting, R&D, creativity, and talent. How would you do it, and what other notes would you like to have regarding this?

The problem here is that I only ever have these thoughts when I can think of something I’d like to improve.

So, like, Sonic. Sonic’s not in a place I am happy with, so I made a whole 30 minute video about that and could probably rattle off even more ideas. I even have a whole (somewhat messy, unorganized) design document I’ve been adding to for the last 4 or 5 years.

With Mario... if we were still talking Super Mario 3D World or Super Mario Galaxy, then yeah, my suggestion would basically be to “go back to the big playground levels of Super Mario 64.”

But then we got, uh, Super Mario Odyssey. Which is... basically everything I’d want to do in a 3D Mario. More atmosphere, pushing the boundaries of Mario lore a little bit, opening levels back up again, really pushing the idea of exploring a space... and I was very happy with that. That was the Mario game I’d wanted. It was the closest thing we’d ever get to a true sequel to Super Mario 64.

So I guess what I’d do is just... Super Mario Odyssey 2?

I like the idea that Bowser’s Fury in the upcoming Super Mario 3D World remaster is pseudo-open-world. I wonder if a fully open world Mario game would be possible. Instead of traveling from Cascade Kingdom to New Donk City via the hat ship, I wonder how possible it would be to just make a huge open world where you traveled there without any kind of loading screen or transition. 

Odyssey toys with the idea of giving Mario vehicles, and also transforming Mario in to a vehicle, so maybe that could work, though I do worry about empty space between points of interest. It wouldn’t be impossible to fill those full of stuff, but it’s kind of hard to wrap your head around.

Maybe structure it a little more like a Metroid game. Maybe Mario is trapped inside of something, like he’s underground or in a submarine or something. Make it easier to compartmentalize different distinct environment types. But that would potentially go against the idea of this being an “odyssey,” of Nintendo’s “Frontier” initiative they were all about.

Could just cheat and link individual areas with pipes, I guess. Sort of like Banjo-Tooie did back in the day.

I wouldn’t mind bringing in Luigi for some co-op, but I feel like Nintendo’s kind of painted themselves in to a corner where you can’t ever just have Luigi anymore. But I also think 4p co-op is too chaotic. Then again, in an open world setting, everyone could split up, so maybe it would be okay.

If all this sounds kind of bland, I agree, but you basically asked me to fix something that isn’t broken. Nintendo tends to run with an idea all the way to its logical conclusion, so it’s kind of hard to improve on perfection.

Maybe I’d just make a Mario Kart game. The ultimate Mario Kart. Seasonal content like in Mario Kart Tour, but as DLC that never rotates out. All the costume variants, all the kart pieces, all the track mod stuff. A Mario Kart with hundreds of tracks. Procedurally generate new cups every time you play, where the game picks out four random tracks for you to race on. Infinite Mario Kart.

Or... hm. Maybe Super Mario Maker 3, but finally bite the bullet and let users create custom graphics and even have a basic visual scripting system so they could modify object behaviors. Plus, a better, easier, and more logical way to share levels with other users. Maybe even put out a quarterly “digest” for free on the eShop where users who did not own Mario Maker 3 could play a selection of the five best levels, like a demo disc. Like a “Here’s what you’re missing” kind of deal. And it’d bolster the community to make higher quality stuff, because getting included in one of these demo packs would be a huge honor and give tons of bragging rights.

THAT would be ideal.

[poisonheadcrabsalesman]

okay for real, top 10 video game monster designd

okay so this will be a mix of games i have played/seen and also range in age and quality. This also got long oh my god im sorry, i pulled up my xbox achievements to refresh and I got nostalgic. There are better designs out there but this was on my brain.

1. Gravemind/ The Flood - scared the shit out of me and they’re super gross and vaguely unknowable. Also the gross level I showed you from Halo 3 was the bane of my existence. The thing speaks in trochaic heptameter and says raw ass lines like “I AM A MONUMENT TO ALL YOUR SINS”

2. Jeff from HL:A no spoilers but enemies like that stress me out and he is well executed and designed. A gross dude. I have not played but have watched 2 full playthroughs.

3. All the funky lil dudes from Voodoo Vince for the original Xbox. Fucked up weird ass game that has a charming art style and a lot of platforming. The Imps, bubba gators, and Gingerdeadmen stick out.

4. The sleepytime robots from Battle for Bikini Bottom, stealth based stress plus loud warning noise. My brother and I hated the Rock Bottom level but this game and its music are ingrained in our DNA now.

5. Cacodemon. good round design and I love the evolution over the years. Glory killing the bastards as I figure out Doom Eternal is rewarding.

6. Elites/ Sangheili - yes another halo enemy. But the design is cool and different from regular space marine shooters. The entire culture and structure of the covenant is interesting and way too much lore is involved but the Elites were always so cool to me, compared to the Brutes/Jiralhanae, which are just a bunch of angry gorilla men. And I mean the Arbiter is right there y’all. They also have energy swords.

7. Striders! I’m remembering all the weird biotech synth enemies from Half Life but Striders are terrifying. Flesh and Machine and horrible calls signalling open fire. The tripod war of the worlds thing going on. The Combine scared me playing the games when they first came out because they were so mysterious and unexplained, were they still people or machine and the alien-ness was scary. I’m not scared of Hunters anymore because you can murder them with their own flechettes pretty easily once you get it down.

8. Fallout - Deathclaws. Okay yeah big scary dino, mutated chameleon thing, but these things are fast and tough and the fucking quarry in New Vegas? Leaving Goodsprings and trying to apply Elder Scrolls “I can probably outrun this” logic DOES NOT WORK. They are a great monster, they lumber, they roar, and they will get you. You see one before it sees you and you might have a head start.

9. I might be one of 3 people on this site to play them but Shadow of Mordor/ Shadow of War is fun. Yes it is basically a lotr fanfic game, but the nemesis system is fucking amazing I do not care what people said. Yes its a batman/ass creed clone. SO? I have fun killing orcs! WELL DESIGNED, LOVINGLY GENERATED ORCS. They have personalities and a history with the player character and a set of revolving traits. Also Carnan is fun. Caragors and Graugs, fuck ghuls, but fun design is a lotr homage playground. I wish something else was coming from this studio. If you’re out there Tumhorn Life Drinker I’m not dying again you bastard.

and finally

10. Okay so lore time for this blog. Poison Headcrab zombies are the worst. Great design, scary as fuck, fucked up noises, and really dangerous in close quarters. Headcrabs in general are great designs, i see u facehugger 2.0. Also enemy that jumps at face? awful! more please! anyways, Poison headcrab zombies.

There’s a couple in Ravenholm and a few in abandoned houses on the coast and in the hospital. I hate the noises they make. I used to replay the Orange Box up to Ravenholm and stop back when i was a kid. During my replay this year, my brother was helping me finally do the lambda cache achievement. Whenever we heard one of the zombies call we’d reenact that scene from spongebob where he’d turn around and yell ‘It sounds like someone’s trying to SELL ME SOMETHING!” and so we called them salesmen. “Uh oh, there’s a salesman up ahead, did you hear that?” This whole blog is a terrible inside joke of a spongebob reference used during a half life 2 play-through. You are now cursed with knowledge! Thanks for putting up with me!

[intergalacticbear]

The KARDASHEV Scale (types 0 to VI)

In 1964, Russian astrophysicist Nikolai Kardashev figured that civilizations can be categorized by the total amount of energy available to them. He defined three levels of civilizations based on their capacity to harness and use power. These have since been expanded by another four.

The Kardashev Scale, as it is called, now lists 7 levels of civilizations based on their power consumption, and implicitly on their technological advancement and extension.

Type 0

A civilization that harnesses the energy of its home planet, but not to its full potential just yet.

As you might have guessed, that’s our good old human selves. We’re currently at about 0.73 on the Kardashev Scale. It is presumed we’ll reach type I in about 100 years, give or take, depending on how fast our technology advances and how diligently we procreate.

Type I

A civilization that is capable of harnessing the total energy of its home planet.

This is where we’re heading, whether we want it or not. The good part would be that we’d achieve an ultimate peak, the bad part is that we’d then soon have more energy demand than supply, because evolution can’t be so easily halted. We’d have to leave Earth and start pumping other planets for their worth, or even milk our own star directly for its power.

Regardless, becoming a type I civilization is overall a good thing. At least in fiction.

As a type I civilization, we would be capable of controlling Earth entirely. Maybe even influence the weather, control volcanic eruptions and earthquakes, influence global flora and fauna, geological makeup, plate tectonics, etc. That’s pretty awesome! On the flipside, we’d have to recycle everything to get by.

Type II

An interstellar civilization, capable of harnessing the total energy output of a star.

This is the next stage in the evolution of a civilization, and presumes a level of technological development that allows for gigantic constructions and utmost efficiency. Dyson structures come to mind here, which are gigantic constructs meant to harness the energy of stars.

I imagine a type II civilization would not just built these megastructures, but also inhabit them and completely control what goes on inside them. It would control the orbit of all planets in that system, harvest asteroids and comets at its leisure, and basically consume the entire solar system. An intimidating power to behold.

Type III

A galactic civilization, capable of inhabiting and harnessing the energy of an entire galaxy.

Here we start to venture into truly sexy science-fiction territory. Or am I the only one getting all flushed and tingly at imagining this scale of evolution? *fans herself*

A type III civilization would span the entire galaxy, colonizing and controlling numerous systems. It would be able to harness, store and use the energy output of all stars within that galaxy. Such a civilization would use planets like building blocks, being able to move planets from one solar system to other, merge solar systems, merge stars, absorb supernovae, and even create stars. The galaxy is their playground, and everything in it becomes a toy. Even galactic cat shit, if accidentally dug out. Probably here on Earth.

Type IV

A universal civilization, capable of harnessing the energy of the whole universe.

This civilization would be supergalactic, able to travel throughout the entire universe and consume the energy output of several—possibly all—galaxies. Think of that real estate size!

It would also be capable of projects of gargantuan proportions, such as manipulating space-time and tinkering with entropy, thus reaching immortality on a grand scale. An essentially indestructible and highly utopian civilization.

Type V

A multiverse culture, capable of harnessing the energy of multiple universes.

Welcome to metaphysics! Leave your common sense at the door, and count your strings before entering.

No doubt a child of the increased popularity of string theory, the type V civilization would outgrow its own universe. It would span countless parallel universes, being able to manipulate the very structure of reality.

Type VI

Even more abstract is the type VI civilization. The type VI exists outside of time and space, and is capable of creating universes and multiverses, and destroying them just as easily. It’s similar in concept to a deity.

It’s hard to imagine a story with such a civilization, since its perfection and indestructible nature would offer little conflict potential. Unless, of course, you’re a lower type civilization waiting to be chewed, swallowed, and digested by one such type VI monstrosity. Recipe for paraversal tragedy.

Type VII

A type VII or K7 civilization would travel, transcend and ultimately oversee or ''be'' the Omniverse which is the collection of every single universe, multiverse, megaverse, paraverse, dimension (alternate or pocket) and realm. Everything is in the Omniverse, and there is only one Omniverse.

It is likely that such power would come from an individual rather than a civilization, as the civilization would have transcended and merged into a single mind that would encompass all thoughts and all timelines, thus being omnipotent, omnipresent, and omniscient. This is the Creator: a god above all gods, responsible for all of existence, past and future.

[soundtrack-scribe]

Parent Teacher Conference

A/N: Anon request- Okay but single dad ashton au where he doesnt wanna risk getting his kid involved with a woman but ur the new teacher for them and yall meet and he falls madly for u

Content: All the feels! And swearing.

And away, and away we go!

~~~

“C’mon, Seb, get a move on,” I called out, peeking my head into the bathroom.

My carbon-copy of a son with a mop of brown-blond curls turned to me, toothbrush in his mouth, and grinned. “Dad! I’m in big kid school now!” his voice muffled around the toothbrush.

“Yeah, and you’re gonna be late if you don’t step it up a notch.”

4th grade. My 9 year old was going into 4th grade. I choked back the memories, refusing to cry, because “Dad, stop crying, it’s only 4th grade.”

“You’re right, bud, it’s only 4th grade,” I had told him, tucking him into bed last night. To him, it was only 4th grade. For me, this was also the anniversary of the day his mom left us 8 years ago.

I looked at my son, his brand new sneakers that would have scuff marks on them when I picked him up later, a long sleeved flannel tied around his waist. God, if it weren’t for the fact that he was clearly me- the eyes and the giggle were a dead give away- I swear he was Luke’s. “Uncle Lu tell you to dress like that?” I asked.

The curls bounced as his head bobbed up and down. “He said it was cool. And I wanna be cool, Dad. It’s 4th grade.”

I imitated my head exploding. God, when did this kid grow up? Seemed like just yesterday his entire body could fit in my hands.

“Dad? Dad!”

I shook my head, clearly the thoughts. “Yeah, bud?”

“Can we go now?” he asked, a Spider-Man backpack slung over one of his shoulders.

“C’mon, then,” I smiled.

~~~

It wasn’t like I hadn’t tried dating since Seb’s mom left us. I had. I was just very selective. I didn’t want to bring a woman home, have things go wrong, and be left to pick up not only my broken pieces but my son’s as well.

My heart was one thing. I’d been known to be reckless with it. But, my son’s was another matter entirely. He was too young to know heartache.

Plus every time I had to cancel a date last minute because Seb got sick, or left a date early because Seb called me in tears asking where I was, didn’t lend itself to much romance. Girls could go on and on about how hot single dads were, but what they failed to realize is that my son would always be my number 1 priority.

~~~

“Mr. Irwin, I’d like to talk to you about Sebastian. Is there anyway you can meet with me after school? Say 2:45?”

I pinched the bridge of my nose. School had only been in session for a month. It couldn’t be time for parent-teacher conferences already. Which only meant one thing- something had happened with Seb. “Yeah, I’ll be there.”

“Who was that?” Calum asked me.

“Seb’s teacher. She wants to talk with me after school.”

“Isn’t his teacher hot?” Mike asked.

“What? No… I mean, she’s attractive, sure. But, she’s his teacher.”

“Ooo, Ash like the teacher!” Luke teased.

I felt my face flush. Alright, maybe I did a little. She was attractive, stunningly so, and she was a teacher. Which meant she understood kids. And maybe, that just might mean she understood single dads.

~~~

“Hello?” I asked, sticking my head in the classroom at 2:45.

The bell had rung fifteen minutes ago and I still hadn’t seen my son. Now, I saw why, as he was hunched in his desk reading, a scowl on his face.

“Dad!” his face lit up when he heard my voice.

“Keep reading, Sebastian,” his teacher’s voice said firmly.

“Yes ma’am…”

“Mr. Irwin, glad you could make,” she smiled softly at me. “Please, have a seat.”

I moved to sit in chair she had just besides her desk. “So, you wanted to talk?” I asked.

“Yes. It seems your son had an incident with a classmate on the playground today.”

“Seb?” I asked, fighting to keep my voice level.

“Alex is a jerk! And she took away my recess!” he shouted at me.

“Sebastian,” both his teacher and I warned, and then I had to work at keeping the smile off my face.

“Anyway,” she said, turning her attention back to me. “There was an incident. Both boys lost their recess privileges for the rest of this week and next week.”

“You keep saying ‘incident,’ what happened exactly?”

“I keep saying ‘incident,’ Mr. Irwin, because your son is an incredibly… strong-willed individual.”

“You can just say he’s stubborn. And it’s Ash, please.”

“I prefer the term strong-willed, Ash,” she smiled at me again and I liked the way it was genuine and soft, her eyes crinkling at the edges. And I liked the way my name sounded rolling off her lips. And I was in trouble.

“So, my stubborn son won’t tell you what happened?”

“Precisely. And I’m not one to involve admin if I can help it. But in order to not involve admin, I need to know what happened. That’s where I’m hoping you can come in.”

“Seriously, Seb? She just said she’s not gonna send you to the principal, and you’re mad she took away recess from you?”

“She wouldn’t take my recess away if she knew what Alex said!” His book was now closed and clenched in his fists, vibrating with his tiny rage.

“Sebastian, I would love to know what Alex said,” she told him, keeping herself calm even though my son was far from it himself. Was that a special gift all teachers had, or just her? “But, every time I ask, you just tell me he was being a jerk. Maybe you’d like to tell your dad instead?”

“He is a jerk!” he screamed, throwing his book. “He’s… he’s… he’s a fuckin asshole!”

“Sebastian James Irwin! What the hell has gotten into you? Start explaining yourself, now!”

His face scrunched up as he realized I was now angry with him. “He said I didn’t have a mom!” he wailed at me before bursting into tears and running out of the classroom.

I fell back in my seat, watching him run off, my heart shattering in my chest. He was right. This Alex kid was a fuckin asshole.

“You okay?” her voice sounded, her hand touching mine.

“I thought I was doing everything right…”

“You are. Sebastian is by far one of the best students I’ve had. He’s so kind and polite to everybody. He’s funny, too. Which is why today surprised me. It seemed so out of character.”

“I better go after him,” I sighed, getting up.

“I’ll come with,” she offered, getting up herself.

It was the first time a girl had offered to come with me before when dad duty called. I couldn’t help it. I smiled at her.

“Now, I see where Sebastian gets his smile from,” she smiled back.

~~~

We found him huddled in the corner of the highest part of the play structure.

“Would you get down, please?” I asked from the ground. Climbing up there myself was going to be a bitch.

“No! Go away! I hate you!”

“Love you too, bud!”

“Where’s my mom?”

“I don’t know, bud. Come down so we can talk, please.”

“No!”

“That wasn’t a question, Seb.”

“I don’t care!”

“You have to the count of 3 to get down here, or I’m coming up there,” I said, really hoping I didn’t have to go up there after him. “1.”

“No!”

“2!”

“I hate you!”

3!” I started my ascent. My kid, the fuckin brat that he was, waited until I was on the middle platform before launching himself down the slide. “You stay right there,” I warned, moving to go back down.

“Sebastian,” I heard her voice say as he started to run. “Are we making smart choices right now, or are we acting on impulse?”

“Impulse…” he answered, stopping in his tracks.

“And, what do we want to do?”

“Make smart choices…”

“So, what do we do to calm our impulses, so we can make smart choices?”

“Breathe…”

“Alright, breathe with me. Ready?”

“Yeah…”

“And, inhale, 3, 4, 5, 6. Hold. Exhale, 4, 3, 2 , 1,” she coached as I watched. Was she trying to make me fall in love with her? “Better?”

“Better…”

“Alright, you ready to tell us what’s wrong?”

“Alex said-” he started, already getting upset again.

She held up a finger. “Calmly, Sebastian. What upset you?”

“My feelings were hurt when Alex said I didn’t have a mom.”

“Why?”

“Because it made me feel sad.”

“Why?”

“Because I have Dad. And Uncle Cal, Lu, and Mikey. And grandma. And Auntie Lauren, and Uncle Harry. And Auntie Crystal and Auntie Sierra.”

“Wow, sounds like you have a lot of people who love you.”

“But, I don’t have a mom…”

“Lots of people don’t have moms. Or dads. Spider-Man didn’t have his parents. Was he still loved?”

“Yeah…”

“So, what’s wrong?”

“Am I broken?”

“No, Seb,” I finally spoke up. Great. My life had come full circle. I was the man without a dad, raising a son without a mom. And now he was asking himself the same questions I used to ask myself. I crouched down to be eye level with him. “You know why you don’t have a grandpa?”

“Because… I dunno…”

“Because I don’t have a dad.”

“Where is your dad?”

“I dunno. But what I do know is that I’m not broken. And neither are you.”

“Are they in Heaven or…?” he asked, struggling with the concept of someone just abandoning him like it was nothing. Death made sense. But just straight up leaving your kid? Hell, even I still couldn’t wrap my head around it.

“No. I wish that were the case, but, no. They just left.”

“So, they didn’t want us…? Why?”

“I dunno, bud. But, I know that I want you. And I know that all your aunties, uncles, and grandma want you. We love you, Seb, and you’re always gonna have us. Promise.”

He nodded, seeming to accept that our love would be enough for him. Then, “Hey, Dad?”

“Yeah, bud?”

“Can Miss Y/L/N come with us to get ice cream?”

“Oh, you think you’re getting ice cream after this stunt? Keep dreamin, pal!”

“But, you promised if I got on A on my test we’d get ice cream. Show him, Miss! Show him my test!”

She laughed and nodded. “Sebastian did get an A on his fractions test. Perfect score in fact.��

“See? Pay up, Daddy-o!” Seb laughed at me.

“Who taught you to call me ‘Daddy-o’, Seb?” I asked, giggling.

“Uncle Lu!”

I laughed again. Of course it was. “Alright. But only 1 scoop.”

“Yeah, yeah,” he said skipping off.

“So, would it be too forward if I asked you to ice cream? I mean, the kid… he’s been through a lot today. You don’t wanna break his heart, do ya?”

She laughed. “You rely on him to get all your dates?”

“Only the ones that are worth it. You’re great with him. He really likes having you as a teacher.”

“I really like having him as a student. I hear his dad’s pretty cute, too.”

“Cute dad, huh? Did you hear he’s single?”

“Oh, wow. Did you hear his teacher’s single too, and happens to love ice cream?”

[superman86to99]

Superman: The Man of Steel #26 (October 1993)

REIGN OF THE SUPERMEN! In this issue: Steel vs. the Cyborg... or, if you prefer, John Henry vs. the Machine. The Man in Black and the Man of Steel are still exploring the Cyborg Superman’s ginormous Engine City (formerly Coast City) when they hear a massive rumble -- looks like someone put the keys in the ignition, which is bad news for everyone on Earth. See, the Cyborg’s plan was to put several of these engines across the planet to turn the Earth into a knock-off Death Star, but his lackey Mongul betrayed him and decided to start the first engine before time. As a result, the whole planet will spin out of orbit and break itself apart due to, uh, physics and stuff.

Our heroes bump into Mongul as he’s making his escape, and he decides to stick around a little while longer to beat their asses. The Man in Black decides to fight Mongul to allow Steel to go into the engine itself and hopefully turn it off before it destroys the planet. Now, Mongul might be a planet-killing bastard, but at least he’s considerate enough to give the Man in Black and Steel a little moment to themselves before they separate. Aw.

“It’s you! The guy who looks exactly like the steel mask I’ve been looking at!”

So, Steel goes into the engine, but the thing is so massive and complex that he doesn’t know how to even start turning it off. Luckily, he gets some unexpected tech assistance from the Cyborg (well, some chunks of metal animated by the Cyborg’s mind) and his complete inability to STFU.

Steel basically just lets the Cyborg keep talking about how the engine works as they fight, then uses that information to formulate a sophisticated plan to shut the machine down. That plan is called “jam the Cyborg and himself into the gears and make the whole thing explode”.

It works! The Cyborg is still alive and he still has a giant, kryptonite-powered fortress in his power, but at least the planet won’t crumble anymore, so that’s something. Anyway, let’s check on how the Man in Black’s been doing against Mongul...

Uh-oh.

Character-Watch:

Superboy had his big character-defining moment a few weeks ago when he pushed himself to the limit to stop that missile, and now it’s Steel’s turn. If Superboy’s moment was about rising up to the occasion, Steel’s is more about using his engineer brain to outsmart the Cyborg. His best stories are the ones where he tackles impossible problems until he finally breaks them down (literally, with a hammer). What a cool character. Too bad he died in this issue and stuff.

Plotline-Watch:

Halfway through the issue we see Green Lantern Hal Jordan coming back to Earth from a mission in space and he’s like “And now to take a big sip of water and check on my beloved home town of Coast City...” Don Sparrow says: “Some rough news, to be sure, but Hal’s been a noble hero for so long, I know he’ll be able to handle the disappointment like the hero as he has been consistently been portrayed for all these decades…”

Don’t worry, we’ll see Hal go “down there” in Green Lantern #46 soon!

We also see Old Man Eradicator flying down on Engine City. It’s all coming together!

Supergirl, once again in her invisible form, tries to help the mostly powerless Man in Black against Mongul, but he showers her with a convenient oil pipe and takes her out of commission in two seconds. If I were the Man in Black, I’d ask for a refund on my Emergency Secret Weapon.

Jeb-Watch: Lois sees Jeb “Homewrecker” Friedman for the first time since he kissed her last month, and he tries to get her attention with a pretty shocking accusation: that she (*gasp*) loves Superman. Jeb expert Don Sparrow says: “I’m pretty famous for my hatred of Jeb in these pages, so I gotta love how hard Lois is ignoring him. Aside from dismissing his sexist jabs, his would-be haymaker about her loving Superman and not Clark is flat out ignored, and to my memory, never brought up again. Besides, if Clark is dead, as Jeb thinks he is, what would be wrong with Lois loving Superman? Stupid Jeb.” Suck it, Jeb.

And I’ll just let Don keep talking now. More after the jump!

Art-Watch (by @donsparrow):

This entire issue feels to me like it’s being backed with a guitar solo, and the cover is no exception: pure badassery, as Superman and the Man of Steel run from explosions like action movie stars.  The opening splash on page one doubles down on the badassery, with Superman wielding an Image-comics-scale firearm (and while Jon Bogdanove has never shown an inability to draw feet, the convenient smoke hiding them does also remind me of Rob Liefeld, so more Image homage). [Max: I think he covered the feet so we can’t see Steel using his jet boots to look taller than Superman, again.]

Then ANOTHER splash follows on page 2-3 where we see the scale of our heroes relative to the giant engine structure.

Mongul’s bearhug looks pretty painful on page 6, and page 7 gives us yet another variation on the great poster from the Cyborg Superman’s first appearance. [Max: Those shots of Cyborg inside the machines always give me Superman III PTSD.] I love the mixture of low-tech and high tech that Bogdanove uses to show us the alien Engine City.  Aside from wires and gears, we also get shapes that look very analog, like transistors and the like.  Also the Cyborg being shown coming to life through his structures is a real visual playground for the art team, with some of his forms looking like himself, and others looking downright monstrous.

Did I think we’d get to see an oiled up Supergirl when I opened this issue?  No, no I did not.

The beating Mongul lays on Superman is very painfully drawn, particularly that last left hook Superman takes. [Max: Why does this look so familiar? It could be that similar cover image with Bibbo punching Superman, but I have a feeling both things are homages to something else. Some Neal Adams thing maybe?]

Mongul’s power level has always been something of a mystery to me.  Alan Moore’s “For the Man Who Has Everything” put him on a par with Superman, right up there with Darkseid for power level.  But then when Superman fought him in the gladiatorial games on Warworld, Superman didn’t have much trouble beating him, even though he had been out of range of a yellow sun for a very long time and was therefore, again, only using a fraction of his regular power.

The sequence of Steel hammering away at the Cyborg is well done, and appropriately reminiscent of The Mechanical Monsters, from the old Fleischer Superman cartoons (a well that Bogdanove rightly revisits a lot!)

STRAY OBSERVATIONS:

This issue serves as a precursor to the Man of Steel comics from the early 2000s, where John Henry Irons served as an unofficial partner to Superman in Superman: The Man of Steel when it was being written by Mark Schultz (one of the more readable Superman titles of the mostly awful Joe Kelly-Joe Casey era).

Mongul’s done a lot of lousy things over the years, but it was downright decent of him to just flat out stand there and wait for Superman and Steel to have their bro moment before attacking the very-weakened Superman. [Max: Great minds, Don.]

This issue reads very choppily, as a lot of the transitions are jarringly abrupt.  From when Superman barely finishes his sentence when they come against Mongul, or later when we cut away from Jeb midsentence to the Cyborg, then jumping right to Steel in the engine room, it can be confusing as a reader.  Anyone else notice this?

Looks like Bog has skipped right past the Clint Eastwood of last week, and is taking the Eradicator right into R. Lee Ermey territory.

It’s fitting that in what amounts to the final issue of this being a Steel comic (until his own later series) that they finally raise the John Henry story, as the inspiration for Steel’s name.  In an industry with a reputation for underrepresenting people of colour, Simonson and Bogdanove’s Superman: the Man of Steel has consistently featured prominent African-American characters, and portrayed them with nuance and dignity rarely afforded in the mid-90s.

I would have liked to seen a little more acknowledgement from the Cyborg of just how much his plans are screwed up, but I suppose it’s all supposed to further demonstrate how insane he is.  One thing after another, his plans fail (Superboy survives, saves Metropolis, Warworld conversion fails, SUPERMAN IS ALIVE, Mongul betrays him, Green Lantern is coming to help, etc).  Now he’s saying “ah, it’s all cool, all that matters is my plan to kill Superman!” Except that he thought that Superman was dead when he hatched this whole plan! [Max: I guess they had to make it sound like there was still stuff on the line before the big climax... but yeah, that was weird. No one’s buying it, Hank.]

Aside from a few pages where they go ALL OUT (like the aforementioned Engine City spread), there’s a real dearth of backgrounds in this issue, with tons of figures on solid or blank backgrounds.

I’m glad we got a little update on Lois after Superman jetbooted away again, it was kind of her to assure them that this is indeed the real Clark who has returned.   Still, that conversation could have been a lot more awkward than it was.

FOOLS! The Man in Black is an impostor! My money’s on Bibbo now.