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andiwriteordie · 3 years ago

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Okay I absolutely want to take turns and play a little ts st game so.. tag you're it.

(I am also obsessed with you, if that wasn't obvious)

THIS IS MY NEW FAVORITE GAME YAY YAY YAY

i'm gonna go with one of my most favorite taylor swift songs (legit this has been in my top 3 songs on spotify since 2019 or 2020 lol): the archer. i constantly go back and forth between whether it feels more mike or will to me because it just... it feels so much like both of them.

(prepare yourself for a loooooooong analysis. bold = mike; italics = will; both)

Combat, I'm ready for combat

I say I don't want that, but what if I do?

Alright, breaking this down section by section, be prepared for a long post, my friend. I think about Mike so much with this lyric, simply because Mike has a more combative nature than Will does. He’s hot-headed, brash, and easily angered, and we see him escalate a lot of situations (not even just with Will) because of that. But it’s so interesting, because while Mike’s nature is to be more combative and feisty, I feel like this also then contradicts other parts of Mike’s personality. Mike wants to be needed. Mike wants to be loved. His biggest fear is losing people that he cares about. He fears being abandoned by the ones he loves so much. So, these two lines to me just capture that internal battle, especially in the context of Byler, where Mike jumps to these argumentative, harsh words with Will (see rain fight, see Rink-O-Mania fight), and yet, he doesn’t want that. We know he wants things to be normal with him and Will again, but he’s using his combative, argumentative mask to hide those true feelings.

'Cause cruelty wins in the movies

I've got a hundred thrown-out speeches I almost said to you

Cruelty wins in the movies. Ouch. This just reminds me of how Mike is trying to put on a facade. He is trying to emulate what a traditional, masculine kind of guy is supposed to look like. Guys aren’t supposed to be sensitive. They’re not supposed to care as much, and they’re certainly not supposed to care about other guys that much, right? Mike wants to be like the men he sees on the screens and that he sees in real life too (see - how he tries to follow Lucas’s example of traditional masculinity). But then, we see again, this other side to Mike. Lettergate theory truthers rise up. Mike has so much he actually wants to say to Will. Words he’s too afraid to say out loud and that are lost on pages he’ll never send or hidden in the back of his mind, where nobody gets to see them. But he wants to say them. He really really does.

Easy they come, easy they go

I jump from the train, I ride off alone

I think I’m gonna talk about Mike’s side of the chorus first, then I’ll talk about Will’s side when the chorus comes back around. God, “easy they come, easy they go” KILLS ME. I just have the images of Mike standing outside of Will’s home as Will (and El) are driven away from him in both the S2 finale (when they’re going to save Will from the Mind Flayer and when El is going to close the gate) and when Will and El’s family move from Hawkins. People keep leaving Mike, and that’s his biggest fear. It’s not just Will and El either; it’s all of his friends. We see these fears spilling out when he’s angry at Lucas in S4 for the basketball thing.

I never grew up, it's getting so old

Help me hold onto you

This line is so freaking ironic to me, because Mike is just the opposite of that, right? He forces himself to try and grow up. He tries to push his childhood away in S3, and in doing so, he hurts Will and the rest of his friends too. He’s trying so hard to ignore all these confusing feelings and repress them, but in the end, it just hurts Mike more too. He feels like he has to grow up, but he doesn’t actually want to. That’s getting old, and Mike just wants to go back to when things were okay—back when he could still be close to Will, could hold on tight to Will, could do things that weren’t looked down on because they had the innocence of youth to hide behind. And so, I read these lyrics as almost like… Mike’s inner child quietly asking if he can go back to that, begging to return to how things used to be?

I've been the archer

I've been the prey

Who could ever leave me, darling?

But who could stay?

Again, going back to the theme of Mike’s fear of loss and abandonment. “I’ve been the archer” - Mike has hurt people with his harshness and the words he’s said. He’s hurt Will before. But God, don’t other people realize how much Mike has been hurt too? “Why am I the bad guy?” Mike literally asks Will, because God, doesn’t Will get that he’s hurt Mike too? That Will didn’t reach out and didn’t answer his calls? That Mike feels like he keeps getting left behind, that everyone else is moving on and moving forward, when he just feels stuck? When he keeps losing the people (the person) who means the most to him?

Dark side, I search for your dark side

But what if I'm alright, right, right, right here?

Alright, moving on to some Will lyrics now! I can interpret this a couple different ways… But when I think about these lines, I just imagine Will in the aftermath of S3 and before S4, hurting and thinking about Mike. Because Mike has been his best friend for years now, and Mike did hurt him. Mike said harsh words and cruel things to Will, and maybe there’s a part of Will that is angry and hurt. That wants to leave their friendship behind, because Mike did it first, right? For what was probably the first time, Mike showed Will his “dark side” which is so shocking to Will, who has only ever been able to see Mike’s light and his love.

But that’s the thing that Will gets to learn about love and friendship—that you don’t just sign up to love the goodness someone has. You sign up for the good, the bad, and the ugly. And yeah, he’s seen the bad parts of Mike, but he’s also seen so much good. The bad does not discount all the years of love and friendship he and Mike have shared with each other, and Will wants to return to that friendship. He misses Mike. He’s not planning on leaving anytime soon.

And I cut off my nose just to spite my face

Then I hate my reflection for years and years

Okay I couldn’t decide who I wanted to analyze this set of lyrics more for, so I decided to do both. God, I love these lines so much, because when you think about that phrase “I cut off my nose just to spite my face” and its meaning that, “Hey, I’m going to do something that’ll hurt somebody else, but surprise? It hurt me just as much too,” I just think it’s so Byler. I don’t think either of them intentionally try to hurt each other, but when they do hurt each other, they end up hurting themselves just as much.

So, with both of them, I think about that time between S3 and S4. How neither of them really reached out all that much. How many they didn’t quite know how to be around each other anymore. How a little bit of resentment built up in their hearts, even if they didn’t want it to. How there were probably moments when Mike called Will and got no response, so he decided to be a little stubborn and not try again—until it just hurt too much not to try and reach out. How there were probably moments when Will saw letters coming in from Mike to El and how he thought about his own letters to Mike that he stubbornly decided not to send, because Mike couldn’t reach out first. How both of them wanted to reach out, but how both of them were hurt that the other wasn’t initiating. God. They’re so stupid, and I love them!

I wake in the night, I pace like a ghost

The room is on fire, invisible smoke

And all of my heroes die all alone

WILL WILL WILL WILL WILL. Literally this section of lyrics is so Will coded, like? I can’t. I love this song so much, Abby. I love that it’s a discussion of anxiety/mental health issues and how that then affects the way we love people. Because now, with Will’s perspective, I just… I think about how much Will has gone through. How he’s suffered from PTSD and probably still struggles with nightmares, even years after his kidnapping and possession. How when we see him in S4, he’s still trying to hold onto his past and his friendship with Mike, because of how much stability and comfort Mike once brought him.

Rewinding a little bit because if I’m gonna talk about Will’s mental health, I’m gonna talk about S2 because I love S2 with my whole heart? Literally all of this just reminds me of Will’s struggle with adjusting after S1 and then how he was targeted by the Mind Flayer in S2. He knows he isn’t the same, and everyone keeps reminding him of that. “The room is on fire, invisible smoke” - just reminds me of Will seeing the Mind Flayer and feeling his presence, but being told by Owens that it’s probably just all in his head. “Invisible smoke” like he made it up… all in his mind. Not to mention, “All of my heroes die all alone” excuse me. Bob. Dying because of something that’s indirectly Will’s fault? Ouch.

Help me hold onto you

Look, this little line gets its own paragraph because I’m not done talking about S2/S4 parallels yet. Again, thinking about how in S2 Will was struggling so much with adjusting and with being stalked, and who was there for him? Mike. Mike was this steady, constant presence, and he was the one person who didn’t treat Will with kids gloves or like he was broken or different for what had happened. He gave Will the courage to keep fighting! So, now in S4, especially at the end, we just see that struggle of Will knowing his and Mike’s friendship isn’t what it used to be, but God, he’s back in Hawkins, and he can feel Vecna’s presence again, and when will this end? Is Will going to be alone in this, this time around? God, he hopes not, and maybe that’s part of why he’s trying so hard to stay close to Mike too. Mike is his best friend, but Mike is also the one who most helps Will keep fighting. And sure, Will “ripped the bandaid” off, but then sitting on the couch next to Mike and quietly telling him these things—that One is back, that he’s not going to stop, that they have to kill him? It all just reminds me of this simple, simple lyric, and how Will is trying to return to that S2 dynamic. “Help me hold onto you,” is what he feels, even though he knows he shouldn’t.

I've been the archer,

I've been the prey

Screaming, who could ever leave me, darling?

But who could stay?

I mean, come on. “I’ve been the archer” in the sense that Will has done things he regrets. He was used by the Mind Flayer/by One to hurt and to kill people. But then, at the same time, “I’ve been the prey” because Will was One’s first target. He was abused and had his autonomy and control ripped away from him. One used Will to then perpetuate more destruction and harm. And that’s terrifying to Will, especially knowing he can still feel One and still is connected to him. But then, it’s just so beautiful to me, because in all of that, who stays with Will? Mike does. And Will knows it. Through the worst parts of his life, Mike stayed. The year before that, Mike moved heaven and hell to try and find Will. So, now, as they’re moving into S5 and into the fight of their lives, it’s just that question of… will Mike stay with him this time? Can they go back to the people they were and the relationship they had?

(I see right through me, I see right through me)

'Cause they see right through me

They see right through me

They see right through

Can you see right through me?

They see right through

They see right through me

I see right through me

Obviously, a lot of repeated lyrics here, but I just like thinking about how both Mike and Will are hiding parts of themselves—their sexualities and their feelings for each other. For two people who have built a friendship on the idea that “friends don’t lie,” it’s heartbreaking that they now find themselves in a place where they have to keep secrets from each other. And I just imagine, as they stumble close to crossing that line, as the walls fall down ever so slightly, if they’re wondering if people can see through their lies. Surely, somebody sees through their lies—Jonathan did with Will’s van monologue. And Mike’s fear is someone seeing through his lie in the monologue he gave to El. Because they both are well aware that they lied in these moments; they can see through their own lies and I’m sure they regret it. So, is it only a matter of time before somebody else sees through the lie too?

All the king's horses, all the king's men

Couldn't put me together again

S2 Will right here. I think about Will, feeling lost and feeling different and feeling broken, after his experiences in the Upside Down. He’s always felt like a freak, but now, he can’t run away from it. And it’s getting worse. The doctors are trying, and he knows it. Owens is a nice enough man. But nothing is helping. Maybe Will can’t be fixed. Maybe he’ll always be different and always be the freak, and there’s no running away from that. And it sucks… but even in spite of all of that, he still has Mike. His best friend. And Mike’s not going anywhere.

'Cause all of my enemies started out friends

Ouch ouch ouch ouch ouch, whatever you do don’t think about both Mike and Will feeling like the other one hates them now or is disgusted by them in the aftermath of their S3 fight. Nope, no, don’t do that. Mike feels so guilty; he’s hurt Will and said things that he regrets. And now Will isn’t reaching out to him. Will already feels different because of his sexuality and feelings for Mike, and now, he feels like Mike must know and must look at him differently. They used to be best friends, but now, they can barely even call themselves friends.

[Help me hold onto you

I've been the archer

I've been the prey

Who could ever leave me, darling?

But who could stay?

(I see right through me, I see right through me)

Who could stay?

Who could stay?]

Lots of repeated lyrics, which I think I covered already. :)

You could stay

You

Combat, I'm ready for combat

And this… this right here. I love this. Because after all of this, after this song is a massive confession of anxiety and of the worst parts of yourself, after the vulnerability of asking the person you love to please stay, please don’t leave again, I interpret this as a bit of a hopeful ending. Who could stay? … You. You could stay. So with Byler, I view this as just that moment of understanding that I hope they’ll get in S5, where they realize in spite of everything that has happened, in spite of what they’ve said to each other and the mistakes they’ve made, in spite of the negative ways they view themselves… Mike is choosing to stay there for Will. And Will is choosing to stay there for Mike. They’re not planning on leaving each other’s sides. They will face whatever comes next together, as a team. Neither one of them is going anywhere. It’s Mike and Will, up against the world.

#andi's asks #byler #st x ts #byler swifties #abby i am so sorry for this #i wrote a whole small book #also i love this and i love you ok #ok bye now #andi and abby analyze #new tag!!!!

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shhh-no-ones-home · 4 years ago

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zombie bucky barnes x reader

+++++++++ prompt: Sam calls you to help them out and when you arrive you become overwhelmed with feelings. You can't figure out why until later when Bucky takes your hand and his past flashes through your mind. He can't tell why you're crying until you snap out of your daze and hug him tightly

Song: don't fall asleep at the helm by sleeping with sirens

tag list: @cynic-spirit +++++++++ when I got the call from Sam I was a little worried about the outcome of this mission. I understood why he needed me but also we both knew the risks. but he wouldn't have called if it weren't absolutely necessary. the debriefing told me exactly how important it was and that eased my mind a little. the toll it would take on me would be a big one though, so sleeping on the plane to where he was was much needed. what I wasn't expecting though was how heavy I would feel when I finally got there. the weight that came from those around me was very intense and though I was trying to focus on the emotions of only one person it was becoming too hard to handle. at least without touching someone to hone in on them alone.

when we got out of the building it helped a little, him introducing me to his friend Bucky who was standing and waiting by the car. I shook his gloved hand and the rest was history. we sat in the car to the private airport across town in silence apart from Sam going over mission plans again. it was everything I could do to not fall asleep in the backseat. the feelings fluctuated as we wove through traffic but I was really just waiting for the next plane ride. that way i could have a break; no one there except the three of us and the crew.

when we got there however, nothing really changed. even as we got in the air, the night sky peaking in through the open windows. i was still feeling a deepness around me and part of me had an idea of who it was but i couldn't tell for sure without touching either of them. but that could wait. what i needed right now was to sleep again. I couldn't handle the toll anymore.

so I sat on the jet with my eyes closed. I told them I was going to nap but god help me if I couldn't fall asleep. I was so overwhelmed it was hard to focus on anything outside of what I was feeling. there was a pang in my heart the more silence that crept into the jet. I knew it couldn't be Sam that was making me feel this way but it could be anyone else here. I just sighed, sinking further into the seat and trying my best to let go. then I heard:

"so, what's her deal? why did you call her?"

from Bucky. there was a short silence and I knew Sam was choosing his words wisely.

"her powers are sort of unique. she can feel other peoples emotions, their struggles, their reasonings. I didn't know anyone better to help us with this. she can walk into a room and immediately know everyone without ever even speaking to them."

I heard Bucky's chair squeak as he shifted uncomfortably in it.

"and this will help because?"

"we'll be able to find exactly who we need to find. and if worst comes to worst and they don't give us the information we need, she can get it."

I squeezed my eyes a little tighter. my body was feeling more anxious than sad now. and I thought my emotions were bad. another silence fell over the plane though and it wasn't long before the feeling left and I fell asleep.

what could have been only a few hours in and i was jolted awake in a cold sweat. there was so much fear running through my veins i wanted to vomit. i breathed deeply as i looked around the darkness of the jet. Sam was fast asleep in the chair next to me like he was before. but looking around i didn't see Bucky. so i got up. everything in me was telling me to go back to bed, to leave it alone, to try to forget what just happened. but i needed to know if it was him. as i made my way to the back of the jet where the bathroom was he emerged, wiping his hand on his jeans. he just looked at me with a stern look on his face before side stepping me, putting his gloves back on.

everything in me wanted to say something. to touch him and see what it was that made him feel this way. and to know if he always felt like this because i was sure it was killing me. and i couldn't project onto him without him telling me he wanted me to, thats just how it worked. so i couldn't help him any. and i wanted to so badly. maybe it would help him sleep even just a little bit. but i guess i wasn't in a position to offer. instead i just went to the bathroom and when i was done went back to my seat and stared out the window until the sun began to peer over the mountains.

°°°°°°°°° the mission was a long one but we did it. all information was secured and now it was break time. we made it back home, or at least to Sam's home, and it was good to see Sarah and the boys again. they were so excited to see all of us, Cass and AJ both a little more excited to see Bucky again than me but that was okay. as far as i was concerned it was just relieving to be around happy people who didn't drain me. Sam knew i needed that more than anything after the mission we just finished.

we sat around the porch and chatted for a bit, the boys playing in the yard, pretending to be the new captain America and winter soldier. Sam and Sarah had made their way inside now, cleaning up after lunch and talking about god knows what. i was focusing on the feelings radiating off Bucky, sat next to me on the porch swing, swaying slowly. it was comfortable, the breeze whirling around us and rustling the trees.

"you did good."

Bucky said out of nowhere and i looked to him. the feeling shifted.

"uh thanks, it was nice working with you."

he nodded slowly.

"I'm sorry."

he said and i raised a brow.

"for what?"

he cleared his throat.

"for draining you."

he said a little guilty and i sighed.

"can i tell you something buck?"

he hummed, looking over me now.

"none of it was your fault."

he looked to the ground quickly, picking at his finger tips.

"hey, no, look at me. please."

i said and he did as told.

"i feel everything. i cant escape that. no matter how much i try to control it. i have to deal with other peoples demons. and though its true I've never felt anything like the weight you carry, I can tell that you are stronger than anyone I've ever had the pleasure of meeting and I haven't even touched you to know why."

we just kind of stared at each other for a moment.

"i never asked for any of this but i somehow still feel like its my fault. but then people say I'm a hero and i feel like i have to keep going. to earn that title. cause it definitely doesn't feel like i deserve it."

i think i understood a little bit of that more now. because i had been there. people exploited me for y powers and now here i was, working with captain fricking America.

"It's okay to fall behind, to not want to be apart of this anymore. But it's also okay to feel like you owe it to yourself or to others."

he tilted his head to the side.

"What do you mean?"

i shrugged.

"You never signed up for this, I can feel it in the way the air shifts around you. i can see through part of the veil. its telling me who you were. You were supposed to die, alone in the cold for someone you held close to you. But you didn't and now you feel betrayed... bitter... or maybe lost?"

"I don't know what you're talking about."

he said quickly, shifting and looking to the ground again, and i sighed.

"James I can't see exact events just by being near someone, but the way I feel when I walk into a room with you? Everything changes. Yeah sometimes it's good, and I'm so glad you've found a family in Sam, but you're still that kid from Brooklyn trying to keep the little guy out of trouble."

his head snapped in my direction.

"you could give me your hand but it might be proving me right."

he relaxed a little bit.

"Who knows, maybe I'll always be that guy, but I've changed so much I'm not entirely sure he's still in there."

i looked ahead of us at Cass and aj still running around the yard, pretending to be Sam and Bucky.

"He must be, or else why would something so innocent try to emulate it?"

he glanced over the yard at them play fighting before slipping his gloves off. i knew he kept them on because of me. Sam had told me he usually took them off when he was with him. maybe this was the beginning of something trustworthy.

"Sam told me you can help."

i watched as he opened and closed his hand a few times.

"if you let me in i can."

his gaze shifted between my eyes before holding his hand out.

"i feel like I've tried everything else in the book."

he said softly. i nodded once before taking his hand in mine. in a moment his whole life flashed before my eyes. his childhood was beautiful, him and Steve playing in the school yard and having sleep overs. his teens troubled but what else would you expect from the doom of a war. then he was being experimented on, rescued, and fighting alongside the howling commandos. then i finally understood where the cold came from. there was a fight on a train, he fell so far only to be stolen and experimented on. i could feel tears slipping down my cheeks as i stared ahead of us. it all washed over me in large waves, drowning me out so the only thing left was him.

he was poked and prodded at, ripped apart and put back together. everything he was was taken out, thrown in a blender, and then something else was forced back in. he was still a good man despite what they did to him. despite putting him on ice for years until they needed him to fulfill their evil wishes. he said he remembered all of them and i knew now he wasn't kidding. he fully remembered everything he ever did and then some. it was heart breaking. and then there was Wakanda. i could feel my heart swell in my chest at the relief of the words disappearing from his subconscious.

there was years in a hut in a field, him being his own person. there was the fight with thanos and a large gap of darkness. then there was Steve leaving and how hard that was before finally coming to a slow stop at what had happened between the flag smashers situation and where they were now. it was everything and nothing all at once and it hurt like hell. i knew he was getting better, the therapy helped but he didn't think it was. there were other methods that worked much better, like the love he found here.

"you okay?"

he asked softly and i nodded, realizing how tightly i was holding his hand. there were tears in my eyes and i could feel the wet on my face as the breeze continued to flow around. when i finally got the clarity to look at him he seemed nervous. hell he felt it too and now so did i.

"a hundred years is a lot to share with a person."

i said before blinking a few more tears out and looking at him. he pulled his hand out of mine and sat forward again.

"im sorry i shouldn't have asked."

he said quickly.

"i knew it would be too much."

i shook my head and grabbed his chin gently for him to look at me.

"you don't owe anyone an apology. i want to help you. even if its getting you through tonight with no nightmares."

his breathing hitched in his throat for a moment as he scanned my face.

"you could do that?"

he asked and i nodded, pulling him into a hug. he was tense at first but this wasn't something he had the luxury of having in a while and he slowly melted into my touch. it made me want to cry again and i knew in that moment i needed this as much as he did. and who knew, maybe we could help each other. this was it so i held him tighter.

"bucky, for you i could do anything."

#wattpad #x reader #sam wilson #bucky barnes #james buchanan barnes #white wolf #winter soldier #the falcon and the winter soldier #captain america #one shots #imagines #333 #marvel

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heyhilana · 5 years ago

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Tag 9 people that you would like to get to know better

Tagged by @sleepwithacommunist and @agirllovespasta (thanks lovelies 💕)

Top 3 ships: Gosh I am not a person that has a lot of ships but there are some that I love :)

1. Stiles Stilinski and Lydia Martin (Probably one of the few ships that I will forever love)

2. Lucifer Morningstar and Chloe Decker (From day one I’ve been shipping them and now my dream is coming true. well hopefully because season 5 better end on a high note for them)

3. Michelle Jones and Peter Parker (We love two nerds that can’t seem to act normal around each other)

Top 3 characters: (This will also fall into book characters as well because I want to do this with all of my favorite characters):

1. Javier Peña (I just love this javi so much. I think that he has multiple sides of him that make him a complex character but also a very loveable one. He’s not perfect and he’s often too hard on himself which a lot of viewers can relate to. I think that because he’s not a perfect good guy and rather a man that tries to do the right thing whenever he can but will do what may be wrong in other people’s eyes if that’s the only option, makes him a character that I will forever love to watch and write about. Also, that man gives me so many ideas and hc’s and I don’t mind it at all.)

2. Rufus Emeterio (This character resonated with me in ways that I cannot explain. It wasn’t so much the upbringing that I resonated but rather the changes that he went through. The guilt, the suffering, the fear of love in some ways, I mean practically everything that he felt before meeting Mateo was something that I felt deep down. But then once he met Mateo, and he begun to see life, or rather what was left of his life in a different light, I feel that his transformation changed me in some way. He didn’t blame himself for what happened anymore nor feel the immense guilt that weighed on his shoulders. It was like he could breathe again despite his last breath coming in mere hours. He changed for the better before he died with regrets and I think that because of that, I’m starting to look at life in a different way.)

3. Mateo Torrez (I already went in with Rufus but Mateo truly hit different. While Rufus was the more outgoing one, Mateo really hit home with how he didn’t go out as much, had few friends, and was holding on for other people but was not living for himself. It was like I was looking into a mirror and I saw the older, male version of myself. I love how he truly emulated how hard it is to try new things at first because change is not something that happens right away. I love how hard he loved the people in his life and how he would try to protect them because it’s all the stuff I would do. Mateo is one of the few characters that I can say are fictional versions of me and I wish that he was a real person because I would seriously hold him so close to my heart.)

Last song: This Ain’t Love by Giveon (It helps so much with writing angst and also, his song Vanish is good for writing angst too.)

Last movie: Life as We Know It. (I stg it’s one of my favorite movies because it’s really funny and it has the right amount of sappy stuff to make your heart melt. Also, Sophie is so damn cute in that movie so that’s a plus.)

Currently reading: History Is All You Left Me. (It’s already pulling at my heart strings and I can’t stop reading it.)

Currently watching: Hannibal and Lucifer. (I’m watching them at the same time and it’s perfect for when I need a small break from one show since I can just bounce to the other one.)

Food I am currently craving: Literally anything Reese's. It could be the cups, the minis, the king size ones, the one’s with the pieces in the cups, like seriously I’ll go for any of them since they all slap. (I have a true obsession with them and if anyone buys me Resse’s I’ll just love them forever)

I don’t know who to tag so if you see this, consider yourself tagged!

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askadvancewars · 2 years ago

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2014

okay so some time back I was asked to explain what’s going on with this chart

I tried my best at the time but I don’t think I did a very good job so let me do it again

These are the COs for Blue Moon, Green Earth and Yellow Comet introduced in AW1

In AW:DS they get a tag with each other

These are the COs introduced in AW2

In AW:DS, they don’t have a tag with the previous two COs but they do get a 105% bonus, since they spend the previous game/story fighting together

These are the COs introduced in AW:DS

In AW:DS, the COs introduced in AW2 get a tag with these guys instead

So in AW1, Olaf and Grit are Blue Moon COs who work together, and so are Eagle and Drake. Kanbei and Sonja are father and daughter. They all get tags together in AW:DS.

In AW2, new COs are introduced to each group: Colin is a new Blue Moon CO sent to their HQ; Sensei is Kanbei’s teacher who came out of retirement; Jess comes back from training abroad. The new COs get a 105% compatibility bonus with the two previous COs since they all spent time fighting together through the Macro Land war (that’s my take anyway).

The AW2 COs get reintroduced in AW:DS with a new CO, who they share a tag. Sasha is Colin’s older sister, Grimm is another of Sensei’s students, and Javier is Jess' lover friend(*), another Green Earth CO and Allied Nations comrade who fights to free Omega Land from the Black Hole threat also Javier wants to bang Jess like a drum (probably).

*that’s the most in-canon, in-text relationship I can give for Jess and Javier. Jess calls Javier a “stalwart friend” in the yield/lose dialogue in Omens and Signs. Aside from the fact that they’re both Green Earth COs who fight for justice and freedom and that Javier is into Jess but then again who isn’t? I know I am (Advisor's Note: True!). I’ll get back to this in part 3 of my award-winning series, “I think about Advance Wars too much”.

Because of their time of introduction and relationships, the AW2/Macro Land COs have a bonus with the other 3 COs of their country.

That’s pretty much what I wanted to point out, haha.

Orange Star and Black Hole don’t share the same pattern because they have more COs and didn’t add them one per game.

And then there’s Javier.

Despite being a new Green Earth CO in AW:DS, he shares the same pattern of having one tag with CO and then having a 105% compatibility toward the other COs of one country. Y'know, just that one country is Yellow Comet.

I found that really cute, if a little bewildering. Kanbei and Javier never meet in Campaign Mode but they’re very much alike since they’re both old-timey swordsmen who are enamored with their own feudal ways. One of their French victory convos even say they are “Bushido and Chivalry combined”.

Sensei and Grimm are bit more confusing since they don’t really talk during campaign. I mean, thinking of gaming reasons aside (Javier’s defensive style would be good with Grimm’s attacks? Maybe???)–I guess their personalities would match well. Maybe Sensei likes Javier because he’s like Kanbei, and then he and Grimm bond over being both Omega Land COs. And there’s dialogue against Clone Kanbei where, depending which version you play, Jess will compare Javier to either Kanbei (Japanese, French, German, Spanish) or Grimm (English, Italian).

Or maybe Javier just loves the Yellow Comet.

Bittmann and Kikuchiyo’s tag name is “Soul of a Samurai”. Like, every other tag is some reference to them being swordsmen or men of honor. But the Japanese (and Italian) refers to them having a samurai’s soul.

Then again, samurai could just mean they’re both want to emulate past military nobility. But samurai gives out a very Japanese image and Javier’s clearly supposed to be the European image of a knight.

So…Soul of a Samurai = Javier sharing Kanbei’s ‘soul’ as a samurai???

that fucking weeaboo

“jess why are all your friends so weird”

but all his tag bonuses are with the best people so it works out

#aw miscellany #I like how this ended up to being Javier (best GE boy) meta

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ficdirectory · 7 years ago

Text

Somewhere Inside (Disuphere series #4) Chapter 15

(To listen, click here) - 12:25

“So, I don’t wanna start without Levi and Dominique, but I have feelings for feelings laundry…” Francesca ventures, eating a big spoonful of mint chocolate chip ice cream.

“Well, I don’t think they’d want you to keep your feelings in…” Mariana says.

“Right, you can definitely share with us,” Jesus encourages.

Francesca looks at Pearl, in case she wants her brother to be here, like Francesca kind of wants Dominique to be here. She was there for Francesca’s real feelings. So it would feel better if she was here for them now.

“Nah, I think I’m gonna wait for them. ‘Cause we don’t leave people out, right?” she asks.

“That’s true,” Jesus nods.

They play some cards while they wait and eventually Dominique and Levi do come back.

“Hey! We waited for you!” Francesca says, opening her arms, in case either one of them wants a hug.

“You did? That was sweet of you,” Dominique hugs her first. Levi comes next, a little bit like he’s nervous.

Francesca tries to make his hug really good so he’s not worried about whatever he’s worried about anymore. He still seems sad, even though he’s smiling.

He says, “Thanks.”

Then, Dominique sits by Francesca and Levi sits by Dominique.

“Francesca, did you wanna share?” Mariana asks.

She glances at Dominique. “I kinda got scared to come over and ask you guys about having dinner,” she confesses, looking to Levi and Pearl in turn.

“You did? Why?” Levi asks softly. He looks serious. Like he’s still worried, but this time it’s about her.

“Because...sometimes...I don’t know…” Francesca tries.

“You’re doing fine,” Dominique says.

“Because this one time...my mom made me go up to the counter at the store and pay for the stuff we were buying. She gave me money and stuff, that wasn’t the problem.”

Jesus and Mariana are listening close. They don’t know this story.

“What was the problem?” Jesus asks.

“She just gave me the money and said to do it. She didn’t explain anything. When I asked what to do she was like, ‘What’s to explain, Francesca? It’s simple. Just listen for the total and then give her the money.’ So, I listened. And I gave her all the money, like Mom said. But then she got all mad…”

“Why?” Mariana wonders.

“Because, she’s like, ‘Francesca, don’t you know how to make change?!’ But she hadn’t told me to do that.”

“She just told you to hand them the money,” Jesus sighs.

“Yeah. Then it was really embarrassing, because she was yelling at me that there was a line. And I was taking too long. She ended up taking the money away and doing it herself. I cried in the car on the way home, and she said I had to grow up and learn to do things faster. But…”

“It’s math. And we can’t do math fast.” Mariana fills in.

“Yeah,” Francesca nods.

“So, I kinda got scared it was gonna be like that again. Something that seemed easy but really wasn’t. Or that I was gonna get yelled at if I didn’t do it right.”

“We’ll never yell at you, buddy,” Jesus promises. “Only if you’re in real danger. To warn you.”

“Do you guys think it’s fair that she did that?” Francesca asks.

“No,” Pearl answers fast. “It doesn’t sound fair at all. You asked a question and she didn’t give you all the information that you needed. Then she blamed you for not knowing it. That doesn’t sound fair at all.”

“‘Cause we can ask stuff to each other?” she checks.

“Absolutely,” Dominique nods.

“I just got scared…” Francesca says again. She doesn’t know how else to explain the fear. How she never wants to make a mistake. Because she might get made fun of or yelled at, even by her family.

“I’d be scared, too.” Levi allows. “I’ve been in a situation where I didn’t know what to do. It’s not a good feeling.”

“Nope,” Francesca agrees. “Did you get in trouble, too?”

Levi nods. His eyes look the saddest ever.

“Were you ten like I was?” Francesca asks.

“I was eight.”

“What happened?” she wonders.

“I played in the mud. And came inside, and got the floor dirty…” he says, not looking at anybody. “I didn’t realize until it was too late. I was trying to figure out how to clean it up, but I got in trouble before I could…”

“Not with your dad, the funny guy, right?” Francesca presses. “He was nice, right? ‘Cause he was your best friend.”

“No, not with my dad. Someone else.”

Pearl reaches out to squeeze Levi’s shoulder and he shrugs away. “No hugs right now, please.”

Pearl tries not to feel miffed. Here’s Levi, actually sharing during Feelings Laundry, an actual opportunity for her to support him, and he’s shrugging her off.

She tries to listen as Mariana talks about feeling out of her depth with Stef, as well. Pearl knows that it’s been about a year since Mariana was in a car accident. Knows that she came out of it with a brain injury. Knows it probably makes a million things harder.

But Pearl’s not got the energy to think about other people’s problems right now. She’s got her own. So many, they might drown her. When she lets it, her mind wanders back through the years, to the woods. To high school. To the nice guy who’d asked for a ride home when she was sixteen. To the way he ruined her. Threatened to kill her.

If she lets herself she can smell the dirt. The woods. Her own fear. It’s taken her some time to get used to seeing the accents of Levi’s work uniform. The name tag. The shirt and the pants the same colors as she’d worn. All of it, details that stood out stronger than the pain.

She’d been scared to make a sound.

Suddenly, Cleo’s nails are digging into Pearl’s thighs as she stands on her lap, licking her face.

“Pearl? You okay?” Jesus asks.

She blinks. “Yeah. I’m here. I’m fine.” It’s brusque. Because she can’t very well admit to being in the middle of a flashback, at least not now.

Jesus can tell, Pearl just bets, that she’s not okay. But he doesn’t comment on it. No one does. The others talk. And Pearl thinks about how the air smells up here this time of year. How it’s still cold enough to have that bite to it. That pulls her back through time.

She thinks about how long it had taken her to recover after seeing Jared again six years ago. It was just after Jesus and his family had left last time, and it had very nearly destroyed her. Had it not been for Gracie, and for her friends in the survivor community, and knowing Jesus might still need her, Pearl didn’t know where she’d be right now.

“You wanna share anything?” he asks.

“I’m...not really…” she shakes her head.

“Do you need something?” Levi asks now. Sweet. Attentive. Pearl has to remember that he has the right to say no to things. That not everything has to do with her.

She has to work on not taking everything out on him. On maybe even modeling something good for him to emulate.

“It’s a hard time of year for me,” she finally divulges. “Something bad happened to me when I was younger. A teenager.”

“Was it trauma?” Francesca asks.

“Yeah, it was. And when the anniversary of a trauma comes around again? That can feel hard. Because there are a lot of similarities that can remind me.”

“When is it?” Levi wonders. “Your hard time of year?”

“This weekend…” she manages.

“So, is that why you’ve been all moody?” Levi asks. Pearl, Mariana, Dominique and Francesca all look at him in unison, not amused.

“What?” he asks, confused.

“Dude…” Jesus shakes his head. “Don’t say women are moody.”

“I’m not saying it doesn’t make sense. I’m just...not good with words…” Levi amends. “Is that why you’ve been...grouchy?” he tries again.

“Irritable, and yes. Last time, I think Dominique and I were mentioning. That can also be related to trauma. But I’m sorry. I know I’ve taken a lot out on you.”

“It helps to have more information. To know I didn’t do something wrong. If I did, I’d rather you just tell me.”

“Noted,” Pearl nods.

“Jesus, are you good? From earlier?” Dominique asks.

Pearl’s curious, but doesn’t ask what happened earlier. If Jesus wants to share, he will.

“I got a bit triggered before dinner, but Francesca caught it. I’m okay. Sometimes, it just sneaks up on you.”

“It’s because I talked about it,” Francesca puts in sadly.

“What?” Dominique wonders.

“I talked about one of your trauma things accidentally, and then you got triggered. Sometimes, it’s okay to talk about that stuff, and sometimes it isn’t. I was just trying to help. It made me stressed that I hurt you. It’s part of why I got upset later. Sorry for taking your turn.”

“It’s okay. We share,” Jesus reassures. “And I appreciate you trying to help. But maybe you could ask me if it’s okay to bring up a trauma thing before you do it?”

“Consent again,” Francesca nods.

“Consent always,” Jesus smiles a little. They fist-bump.

“Does everybody have trauma?” Francesca asks.

“Not everybody,” Dominique allows. “But a lot of us here do.”

Pearl notices how Dominique keeps eye contact with Levi for a second as she talks. How he nods a little. It makes Pearl think about what he’d said about the mud. About how it wasn’t Dad that he was in trouble with. Who did that leave? Nia, his mother, didn’t seem like the type to overreact to a little mud.

She wonders if there is more to the story. Feels instinctively there must be, but knows she shouldn’t push.

Levi nods and raises a finger - not even his whole hand - as confirmation that he has trauma, too.

“Wow, I think that really does make everybody here. Except me,” Francesca shrugs.

Pearl has thoughts about the way Stef’s treated Francesca. How normal eleven year old children don’t break down when asked to walk next door out of fear of messing up. To Pearl, that sounds very much like trauma. But she knows it’s not for her to say. It’s for Francesca to own, if, and when she’s ready to do so.

“Dominique, how are you?” Mariana wonders.

“I’m...closed…” Dominique says, cryptic.

“Like a store?” Francesca wonders.

“More like an emotional state,” Dominique explains. “When you’re open, you feel like sharing.”

“Oh, so you don’t feel like sharing,” Francesca deduces.

Dominique nods.

“That’s okay. We respect that, right?” Francesca looks around the table. “Nobody has to share if they don’t want to...because consent.”

“Thanks, Francesca.” Dominique tells her.

Of all the people here, Dominique strikes Pearl as the enigma. She knows almost nothing about her. But Levi’s similarly closed off. It makes sense that the two might be drawn to one another.

“I’m gonna head out,” Pearl offers. “Thanks for inviting us for dinner, Francesca, it was very good.”

“You’re welcome.” Francesca smiles.

“Just come over next time,” Jesus offers. “You know our schedule. If you wanna eat with us, or just hang out, come over.”

“Sounds good.” She’s headed for the door when Pearl realizes Levi is behind her.

“I’ll come home, too,” he says.

“Will you not walk behind me?” Pearl asks, her voice shaking.

“Oh. I’m sorry,” Levi apologizes. He makes sure he’s walking beside her. They don’t talk until they get home.

“Sit with me for a minute?” she asks, patting the couch.

Levi does. Hopes she can’t tell how nervous he is. Is she gonna ask about what he shared earlier?

“I’m using a lot of my energy this week just trying to deal. I do want to be there for you. But I want to be honest with you about what I need, too. So… I think I’m gonna need you to come to me for your hugs. Ask me.”

“Because you don’t wanna give them to me?” Levi asks, confused.

“I do want to. But my mind is pretty full of trauma stuff right now, and it’s hard to keep anything else in there. So if you could come to me and ask me? That would help me remember.”

Levi hesitates a little. It feels a little forward - a little desperate - asking for a hug when they were always freely given. “Can I - I mean… Can I have a hug now?”

“Sure,” Pearl says, softening. She opens her arms and he accepts.

It’s hard to feel totally comfortable there.

But he’ll work on it.

#fic: somewhere inside

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noona-clock · 7 years ago

Text

Double Date - Part 3

Genre: FLUFFFFF

Pairing: The Noonas –> Admin B x Suho, Admin T x Jongdae

Setting: Ikea

By Admin T

From Part 2

As soon as T shut the passenger’s side door of B’s car, before she even buckled her seat belt, she spilled the beans.

“Chen kissed me,” she announced.

B immediately squealed, doing a little victory dance in her seat.

“Disney World is the most magical place on Earth,” B reminded her, grinning so widely she could barely even speak properly.

“Yes, B, it is. It really, really is.”

“Oh, oh, take a picture,” said Suho as he and Chen walked in to Ikea. Chen gave his friend a look but took out his phone anyway while Suho ran towards the display set and sat on the couch. He sat down, crossing his ankle on his knee as he (successfully) attempted to look pensive while he stared up at the ceiling.

T bit back a chortle as they walked in, the two boys unaware that they were already there. She held B’s arm while she tried her best to not laugh. Chen snapped a picture but Suho remained unmoving. He knew what his friend meant and Chen crouched low on the ground to take another picture on his phone.

“...What are they doing?” whispered B at T as she watched the whole scene unfold.

T shrugged in return despite the smile on her face. It was then that she got a brilliant idea and walked closer to Chen before pushing her best friend towards Suho. Chen was so concentrated on taking pictures that he kept snapping away even when B stumbled forward and somehow, magically, made her way next to Suho on the couch.

“Picture! Picture!” shouted T, cupping her hand to her mouth. Chen looked up in surprise, his laughter ringing but T pointed at the two so that he could quickly capture the moment.

“Wh-what?” muttered B in surprise.

“Oh, you’re here!” grinned Suho as he put his arm around B as if it were nothing and smiled at Chen who continued to take a picture. T also took out her phone too because she did not want to miss this moment at all.

“Okay, okay, that’s enough,” chuckled B shyly as she sat up, trying her best to keep a straight face despite T’s teasing smile.

Chen handed Suho his phone who immediately opened it up to look at the pictures. He grinned once it came to one of him and B. He’d somehow took a picture right when Suho was admiring B as soon as she sat next to him. It was perfect.

“That’s so blurry though!” said B as they began walking towards the escalator that led them through the main entrance of Ikea.

“But I like it,” he smiled before pocketing his phone so he can give her all his attention. “So, we’re looking for... a lamp?

B nodded. “T knocked ours over.”

“Hey! It’s not my fault that when I do pilates at our place that the lamp just so happened to be there and..”

Chen’s eyes widened. “Are you okay? Why didn’t you tell me, I would’ve...”

“...Bought them a lamp? Why do you think we’re here?” smirked Suho playfully.

T rolled her eyes at the both of them. “No one is buying us a lamp. I’m buying us a lamp.”

“Oh, look!” smirked Suho, standing next to sink cabinet and already laughing at his own joke.

Chen blinked. “What is it?”

He pointed at the tag that read ‘Godmorgon’ and uttered, “Good morning!” He raised his hands as if it were the best joke in the world. B let out a chortle while T and Chen stared at him in confusion.

“You guys don’t think it’s funny? See, it says... oh, geez,” laughed B as she walked over to Suho who happily smiled at her, glad that someone was finally laughing at his jokes.

“Have I told you that you have the best humor?”

B smiled, feeling her cheeks flush. “This is going to be a fun shopping trip.”

“Just, stop,” muttered Chen as they looked through the lamps. He was walking side by side with T and as soon as he’d finally made the move to hold her hand, Suho cracked another joke.

T chuckled softly and nudged Chen’s elbow before holding his hand. “Be nice,” she teased.

“Ah waeee, he’s going to be like this during the whole trip!” whined Chen.

Suho spotted a notebok and held it up for all of them to see.

“Sarskild?” read B slowly.

“But I’m sarskilled (so skilled) at this though!” he said, closing his eyes to laugh at his joke as B laughed right along with him.

T bit back a smirk as she looked at Chen’s unamused face.

“What?! You don’t have to live with him though! All day! He does this all day!” continued Chen.

“Oh wait, wait!” came B’s voice as she ran towards them with a lamp shade.

“Oh, her too?!” muttered Chen. T let out a chuckle, gently squeezing Chen’s hand. “Escape plan soon?”

He nodded, his lips curling up into a smile. “Escape plan.”

B, however, held up the lamp shade with a tag that read ‘Ollsta’. “Ollsta’p (I’ll stop) if you want me to,” she said in between chuckles. Suho was already clapping and laughing in amusement when he pointed at another lamp before they both erupted into even more laughter.

“NOT,” said Suho as he read the lamp’s tag out loud.

“We can find my lamp later,” said T as she tugged on Chen’s hand. He nodded in reply, ducking between another row of lamp shades while B and Suho were too preoccupied with laughing.

“Where are we going?” whispered T as they hid from their friends. Chen smirked and kissed her nose. “To our future house.”

“Hey, where’d they go?” muttered B once both her and Suho could finally catch their breath after laughing so much. They’d barely been at Ikea for ten minutes and she'd already laughed much more than she had this whole week. She beamed at Suho while he craned his neck to look around for the two.

He shrugged, smiling right back at her. “Oh, well.” He was grateful to Chen for these double dates. He was the one who helped him meet B, after all, but he’d wanted some alone time with her too.

“Was there anything you need?” he asked, stuffing his hands in his pockets as he walked alongside her.

She shook her head in reply. “Nope,” she answered. “But we can have fun looking at the displays.” She spotted a fully furnished dining table and ran towards it, sitting down at the head of the table. Suho quickly got the hint and sat at the other end of the dining table.

He raised the glass at her while she did the same. “My Queen,” he said in a deeper voice than usual as he puffed his chest out and tried to emulate royalty.

B bit back a smirk and found herself sitting up in the chair, suddenly feeling brave. “My King.”

Suho pretended to drink from the glass before setting it back down. “My Queen, there’s something wrong! We have all our furnishings but no food!”

“How can this be?!” B uttered, taking on an English accent so perfectly that Suho almost got out of character as he looked at her in awe. “Oh but wait, my dear, they did grace us with a picture so we can imagine it!” She pointed at the hanging poster of a turkey dinner.

“Oh, this table must be magical!” replied Suho, unable to hold in his laughter as his face broke into a smile.

He stood up from his seat, walking over to B before holding out his hand to her. “Shall we continue the tour, my Queen?”

B smiled as she took his hand and nodded. “Yes, we shall.”

“I don’t think anyone can find us here,” chuckled T as she sat on the top bunk bed while Jongdae followed. They ran towards the children’s display rooms, playing with random puzzles and toys along the way until they saw the cute little beds and they both had the same idea.

“Maybe we can scare the kids and their parents as they pass by,” smirked Jongdae, sitting next to her. The bunk bed had just enough space for the both of them to fit.

“We can do that,” laughed T, looking down then back at Jongdae. “It’s pretty empty though.”

“Good,” he grinned and T couldn’t help but smile right back at him. They’d finally gone out on their first date just a week ago and while breaking the lamp story was true, T really just wanted an excuse to see him again, even if it was a double date.

“What?” murmured T softly, suddenly feeling conscious as Jongdae smiled at her.

“Nothing, just...”

He shook his head, wondering why he was being shy (when he never really was) and leaned forward just slightly.

“May I...?” he started but T already nodded.

“Yes.”

He smiled, closing the gap between them and kissed her.

Suho handed B candles. “Fenomen?” she asked, reading the tag on it.

“These probably smell Fenomen-al (phenomenal) but not as phenomenal as you,” he grinned, hoping that this’ll make her smile.

“Suho!” she laughed, handing him the candles once more right before he saw her face break into a smile. He mentally patted himself, glad that the girls decided to go to Ikea. This was perfect.

They walked through the different living rooms now and Suho couldn’t help himself when he saw a set of drawers named ‘Komplement’. “Hey, B,” he said, calling her over once again. She walked over, wondering what it’d be this time.

He pointed at the tag and smiled at her sincerely this time. “You also look really pretty today.”

B bit her lip once more despite the smile on her face and blushing cheeks. She stood there watching him as he walked over to a set of chairs named ‘Reidar’. He pointed at her then at the chairs. “Hey, B, I’ve got you on my Reidar (radar).”

Finally, he reached for B’s hand, gently pulling her closer. “I don’t think I’ve asked you out for an official first date just yet.”

“Mmhmm?” murmured B, too afraid to use her words as Suho’s eyes met hers.

“This doesn’t count,” he chuckled softly, his thumb caressing the back of her hand.

“Good,” nodded B.

“Next time,” he said, unable to take his eyes off of hers. “It’s a date then.”

Chen’s hand found T’s waist as he kissed her jaw, unable to let go of her. She hummed softly, her hand running through his hair. One kiss led to another kiss which led to attempting to lay down on said children’s bunk bed which led to this.

They’d both completely forgotten about where they were or why they were there in the first place. However, it wasn’t until a pitter patter of feet that neared them that T’s eyes snapped open.

“Lamp,” she murmured softly. Did they really lose track that they were making out in public on a children’s bunk bed in Ikea?! Yes. Yes, they did.

“My name’s Chen,” smirked Chen as he continued to pepper her neck with kisses.

“No!” chuckled T, swatting his arm. “I meant...”

But before she could continue they heard a small child’s shout. “AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!” T looked over from the top bunk and her eyes widened to see said shouting kid staring and still shouting at them.

Chen immediately pushed away from T, almost falling from the bunk bed as he flailed down the small stairs. “Shhhh, shhh, shhh...”

T was convinced that they’d scarred the poor kid. She could already see parents and customers staring at them. They were going to go to jail for indecency and harming children!

She jumped down the bunk bed, grabbed Chen’s hand even though he was still trying to make the kid calm down and muttered, “Run!”

“What’s with the two of you?” asked B as she ate her yogurt. They were sitting at the cafe. The four of them finally reunited with T’s newly purchased lamp thanks to Chen. B and Suho were convinced that Chen did this because of Suho’s teasing earlier but little did they know that Chen did this because of his guilt that he’d almost gotten T in trouble with the law (and maybe himself too).

T stabbed a meatball and looked up at B. “What?”

“You’re both quiet,” said Suho, arching an eyebrow at Chen. “What did you do?”

“I didn’t do anything!” whined Chen loudly, causing some of the other customers to look at them while T tried her best not to smile but failed miserably.

B eyed T as if to say ‘you’re telling me all about this later’. T caught her friend’s look and smirked right back at the two of them. “It’s like we switched, the two of you are louder than us.”

“That’s because this is Suho’s dream,” said Chen teasingly as Suho kicked his friend’s foot under the table. “Ow, hey! What I meant was that you get to make so many jokes here!”

“Ikea’s great,” muttered B softly before glancing at Suho who immediately smiled back at her.

“Yeah. Yeah, it is.”

Part 4

Y’alls it’s been forever since I’ve been to Ikea so I hope this turned out okay! Next part will be written by Admin B!

Tagging @ravyeolii who asked and so happily wanted to see a Part 3 of Double Date! Thank you, love!! And thank you to that anon who suggested this amazing idea for Double Date Part 3! All the credit goes to you!!

- Admin T

Master list // RULES // Submit a Request! // Read About the Admins

#exo #noonaclock #exo scenarios #exo fluff #exo au #exo chen #kim jongdae #exo suho #Kim Junmyeon #admin t #admin b #self indulgent fic #jongdae scenarios #jongdae imagines #jongdae drabbles #suho imagines #suho scenarios #suho drabbles

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cinemaocd · 8 years ago

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Top 10 Female Characters

I was tagged by the lovely @1outside. I am tagging @idlesuperstar, @tea-with-theo, @blurgle1, @towyns, @dying-suffering-french-stalkers and @onaperduamedee (and anyone else who wants to do it, of course)

1) Susan Vance (Bringing Up Baby): “Everything’s going to be alright” sings Susan as she drives off in David Huxley’s car. A modern day Candide in an art deco ballgown, Susan was my role model in my 20s and 30s. I don’t think I would have gotten a husband without her to be honest.

2) Emma (Emma by Jane Austen): spoiled, rich and bossy, Emma is not everyone’s favorite Jane Austen heroine. But there is so much that was relatable to me in her character. Having grown-up with overly protective parents and a valitudinarian grandfather who lived with us, I could appreciate Emma coping with her isolation and boredom by escaping to fantasies in her head. I GOT why she didn’t warm to Jane Fairfax who was the good girl that was constantly being held up to her as an example. I completely understood why she would take Harriet on as a project and overstep her bounds (this sometimes happens to the “mom friend.”) Emma learns from her mistakes and she takes steps to correct them and change her behavior. Her arc is a personal one, that should inspire everybody, I think.

3) Sophia Croft (Persuasion by Jane Austen) While Susan Vance was my role model in my 20s and 30s, I think Sophia Croft is shaping up to be my role model in my 40s and 50s. “None of us want to be in calm waters all our lives,” she says. Sophia drives the gig. Sophia manipulates her husband (in the kindest and most benevolent of ways) into arranging everyone’s social lives so that the heroine Anne can be with her long lost love, Wentworth. Sophia Croft rules the waves. She lives on a man of war. This 200 year old character seems as fresh and interesting as the day she first appeared on the page.

4) Laura Holt (Remington Steele), it’s slightly embarrassing to admit how much of an influence Laura Holt had on my formative years. But, no, I mean, what a fantastic role model! Laura was smart and ambitious and she had so much garbage to put up with from men (including the love of her life, fake boss, Remington Steele). I emulated her style (I still own a fedora and will to the day I die) and her gumption. I didn’t wind up being a private investigator, but I like to think that Laura’s imaginary man turned flesh, is at least partly what inspired me to become a writer.

5) Connie Sachs (Tinker, Tailor Soldier Spy): If I aspire to be Sophia Croft, I think I am probably closer to Connie Sachs in real life. Connie is doggedly loyal, obsessive in her interests and can’t hold her liquor worth shit. She is an oracle that speaks the truth and George Smiley wouldn’t be half the man he is without access to her incredible brain. Connie is one of the funniest characters ever and just the other day I burst out laughing when I suddenly remembered how she accused Peter Guillam of being a sex maniac because he tried to help her ailing arthritic self down a small flight of steps.

6) Mary Boleyn (Wolf Hall) OK I know she was a real person, but lets face it, no one in the Henrician court can escape having about 20 fictional lives. I spent so much time thinking about Cromwell being infatuated and then in love with her, that I fell in love with her myself. Mary is beautiful and smart and kind and funny and just a little bit petty. She’s a crier and a deep sleeper and she loves sex and wine and shopping. She’s been used and abused by so many men since she was a child but still she has the capacity to find love and happiness. She writes a kick-ass letter. Sigh. I just...LOVE HER.

7) Jane Eyre (Jane Eyre) She should probably be higher on the list because Jane is so brave and smart and truthful. I wish I could be Jane Eyre. Doesn’t everyone? And yet at the same time, she’s not perfect. She has no chill. She falls for anyone who shows her the slightest bit of kindness. But even those flaws are charming and make me love her more. I also love that Jane forgives those who wrong her but doesn’t forget. She keeps a minute log of every sting and she’s not afraid to throw it your face if you’ve got it coming.

9) Angela/Johnny (The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp): I love all of the characters played by Deborah Kerr in this movie, but Johnny has captured a special place in my heart. Johnny is competent and brave in a man’s world, but also a little shy and awkward around Clive and Theo. I think she’s half in love with both of them but doesn’t really know it. I have even come to appreciate Spud. Veuve Cliquot ‘14!!

9) Sugar Puss O’Shea (Ball of Fire); on the outside Sugar Puss is a tough gal, sexy, fearless and a little bit mean sometimes. On the inside she’s a soft little kitten full of kindness and fun. She walks across the room and a dozen men fall madly in love with her. She extorts her gangster boyfriend for a rock the size of a headlight. She can teach you the boogie woogie and the true meaning of “corny.” Sugar Puss O’Shea can do anything.

10) Starbuck (Battlestar Galactica 2004) Starbuck is the female fantasy that we should have more of in our culture. Starbuck does everything a dude would do in her place and gives zero fucks. Starbuck is a badass and hot mess. She is love with a dead guy and it’s doing her head in. (I can relate, sister). She’s some kind of super natural being. She’s the most ridiculously human character, full of insecurities and desires and so, so, so many bad choices. I love her relationship with almost every character on the show. S T A R B U C K.

#Wish I had space for:#Dana Scully #Dr. Constance Peterson #and Fanny Price

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yingqilin · 8 years ago

Text

Where Do I Even Begin?

Well, first of all, I’ve LOVED LOVED LOVED Qilin ALMOST as much as I loved Unicorns, and Dragon. I say ALMOST because I first saw a unicorn on TV when I was 4 years old in the EARLY 1980s! But, I’d never even heard of a so-called “Chinese Unicorn” since about the mid-late 1980s when I saw a children’s magazine called “Cricket” which had a WHOLE SPREAD about UNICORNS, including the Chinese & Japanese versions.

(I don’t believe this was the actual cover. I can’t remember what year the Cricket Magazine issue was, just that it was in the 1980s. This issue was cited in many books written about Unicorns as well, following its syndication. It had a full on spread including many kinds of unicorns from many cultures... if I recall correctly, there might even have been an French Unicorn story as well.)

When I was a little kid, I actually didn’t like to read (which was an issue by the late 1900s, and even the government would talk about it, the trouble was they’d demonized comic books in the 1960s-1970s, which resulted in that problem, because even tho’ “correlation doesn’t equal causation” they didn’t know that and thought that the act of reading comics made you into a criminal. My experience was the exact opposite, because I read super hero comics a lot and was more interested in THAT than things like doing hard drugs, vandalism, and shoplifting which was rampant in NJ where I grew up.) So, by the late 1980s-early 1990s children were encouraged to read, read, read. Well, I liked pictures, and I LOVED: unicorns, dragons, and dinosaurs, ANYTHING FANTASY, but also Sci-Fi. (I also loved Marvel Comics/X-MEN, and Disney Adventures Magazine, and nearly all the Jeffrey Katzenberg hit Disney Films)

So, whenever it was something of interest to me, I would read a lot, and I had stacks of books, which I also used to practice learning art, and I was self taught. (I have A.D.D.)

I graduated in May 2001 from the Art Institute of Philadelphia (Majored in Computer Animation AKA CAM). And, by the GW Bush Era, I had already been active online since 1994, and had been blogging, and using many various art websites.

By late 2001, and most of the early 2000s (2001-2007) I spent months and even years sketching and drawing Qilin, interacting in the Furry/Anthro Fandom, and published a lot of my works to GeoCites/Yahoo, and had even created my own message boards, and so on. I even had one called “Qilin Savanna” Altho’ much of these sites are gone, my original works still remain on DeviantArt in my gallery HERE. (I also LIVED IN CHINA many times in the GWB Era often.)

Since that time I’d also written a lot of things, multiple times over, about my research into Qilin (which are not all unicorns, just some).

If you were to type in “qilin cartoon” into Google you can actually see the many many photo images that come up since the time I’d first started publishing my work ONLINE, FOR FREE, you can actually see how my works have influenced people. Back then, there was a MAJOR mix-up with the term, because MOST information available in ENGLISH regarding CHINESE EVERYTHING was often inaccurate, used the dead Wade-Giles Chinese language, or were often confused with JAPANESE. Another issue was that I actually could speak standard Mandarin Chinese, but many people wrote the Cantonese names, or FREQUENTLY confused them with Japanese name for the exact same character (AKA kanji, AKA Hanzi), which is “kirin” in Japanese. Also, the majority of NON-Chinese speaking persons don’t know how to pronounce Mandarin pinyin. (Example: Can you pronounce?: chi, qi, shi, xi, zhi, zi, qu, chu, er, ri, ren, si, ran, yu, you, bo, po, zhou, zhu, cao, zui - Most Non-Chinese speakers CANNOT pronounce these correctly at all. “Chi” sounds like “Tcher” and “Qi” sounds like “Tchee”, “Shi” sounds like “scher” and “xi” sounds like “schee”. There are also variations on pronunciation.)

But, I still stuck to the facts. my father-in-law in China,The late Wang Zimin, actually had special access to a restricted library, and wrote letters to me about Qilin, and the 4 major Chinese magical deities: Qilin, Long/Dragon, Fenghuang/Phoenix, Bixi/Dragon-Heard Tortoise.

Back then, mostly you needed to search “kirin” especially because M. Peña called her artwork “Kirin” but still also called them “Chinese Unicorns”. Her gorgeous sculpture works were sold everywhere for years, nation wide, from the boardwalk to Spencer Gifts, to Flea Markets, and Christmas season mall kiosks.

But, as you scroll through all the works produced since that time, not only the ones titled or tagged as "kirin” but over time “Qilin” starts to replace this as more and more people growing up actually start to study Chinese, especially artists and customers, and many of these young artists are either my fans or students, but fans or students of my students... after a while, people forgot who I was... but my work BECAME PART OF THE CULTURE.

You can SEE that many people emulated my poses, my styles of doing hair, and many other details. Over the years, a number of my fans, and friends would send me private messages FREAKING OUT that either someone stole my work, stile my style, or ripped me off...

That’s actually NOT TRUE. No one ripped me off. THOSE ARE MY STUDENTS.

You guys ASKED ME things like: How do you draw _____? so I made countless cheat-sheet style tutorials (because paid classes don’t ACTUALLY TEACH). Also, if someone wants to learn, (like myself) they try to draw from WHAT THEY LOVE. That means ME. MY ARTWORK. How else will they learn if they don’t copy, ask questions, etc.?

I have many many open source materials in my DeviantART gallery (which are STILL MY MOST POPULAR WORKS OF ALL TIME despite the hours of work I’ve produced artistically.) I have also licensed much of my line art works FOR FREE for people to practice coloring with wither digitally, or to print them out and color with real media like markers, color pencils, pastels, or whatever because people kept asking me.

Actually, I would like to credit a number of artists whom are my biggest influences as well:

Susan Dawe

Glen Keane

Alan Davis

Those are my biggest ones, but I also loved artworks by Burne Hogarth, Auguste Rodin, Edward Degas (I especially love his ROUGH sketch work), Frank Frazzetta, Boris Vallejo & Julie Belle, Fred Moore, Vladimir “Bill” Tytla, AND the film The Last Unicorn was especially the #1 thing that got me actually DRAWING when I was 4 years old.

SO much of my work, especially ANYTHING with unicorns, has been tattooed onto people bodies. Many people personally asked my permission, but I honestly DO NOT MIND. I have found over the years more examples of my artwork tattooed onto people than I can count. It’s LOVE.

However, I’ve also many many times been the victim of theft FOR REAL. Many people have tried to rob my sketchbooks, and many companies have illegally robbed my artwork online. It was the cause of MUCH online fights, wars, and battles. There’s also impersonators: People pretending to be ME, or claiming THEY did my work: also the cause of much much online fights and flame wars.

-Then, of course, there’s LOTS & LOTS of kids online that “rob” my work for RPGs, and fan pages... Honestly, I’m NOT going after children, or fans, for harmless things like that... I’m NOT Metallica.

So, where am I going with THIS?

Well, for one, there’s both ART and PHILOSOPHY which are BOTH a MAJOR part of my life.

I had a number of setbacks, delays, and many other strings of very unfortunate events in my life. Needless to say, I was very depressed. However, I did find myself back in college, first for Philosophy, and then for Art, especially Video... which somehow saw me thrust forward into Animation HEAD-FIRST. Suffice it to say, I’ve worked through, blew threw, and past, all of my blocks, and have been doing animation again. (lots more long stories, but not writing them here)

Many many times, you can’t always reach, yet, what you want. Other times, other persons, or groups want to change you, or make you something else.... and not you. But, it kills you inside...

At some point, you need STOP listening to everyone, and everything else, ESPECIALLY if that’s not FLOWING in the direction are are INSIDE.

I’d already WANTED to produce at least 2 series/films of my own. (”Eyewitness” and “Zenith Beyond The Dragon’s Rue”) Well, THIS is a branch off that tree. This stems from my concepts for “Eyewitness” but sort-of... I had ALWAYS wanted to produce my own small animated shorts, especially with music, like the old 20th Century animated works such as “Silly Symphonies”, “Merry Melodies”, and even Disney's “Fantasia”, but also a number of influences from Far East Asia including PR China, and Japan.

I’ve been multiple times inspired by Socrates, Plato, Laozi, Bruce Lee (Li Xiaolong), and many fusion artists/dancers on the American West Coat including my teachers: Zoe Jakes, and Alyssum Pole, as well as Rachel Brice, Carolena Nericcio, Jamlila & Suhaila Salimpour, but also Matahari, and Kerli Kõiv. People that think differently, question things, or create their own ideas, or even fusion artists.

Well, this project has been on my mind since at least 2001.

In fact, my actual name (Ming Zi) in Chinese is: 任思麒 (Ren SiQi)

It literally means: Duty/Task [to] Think/Contemplate/Dream of Qi[lin]!

Also, as an artist, there are a number of things I believe in, whereas other things I’ve shed like a snake molting its skin. I’m a fusion artist, an eclectic artist, but I still firmly believe in art fundamentals like life drawing, practicing one’s skills, and I use bot digital and real media. I LOVE TO DRAW. I firmly believe in Quality OVER Quantity, yet, in some instances I also think too much detail is overdo, and somethings look better less refined. I like realism, stylization, cartoons, and beautiful things.

I want to create content that is LESS about “being a big success” or ego driven ideas of “stardom”, and lavish money making, but more about THE LOVE OF IT.

I do NOT want to be part of any establishment groups, crowds, clubs, or institutions, and DON’T want to be mainstream, NOR corporate. I have found all of those things to be negative and destructive to my life and therefore regret pursuing those avenues. I’m NOT interested in walking those paths, nor dunking helplessly into those turbulent or stagnant flows, but RATHER Flow my own way, because I have my OWN PATHS. I don’t need to buy their metaphorical light bulbs, because I have my own light that I can shine inside of me.

And, if I am being completely frank & honest, another MAJOR influence on me WAY BEFORE HE WAS EVEN POPULAR was Bernie Sanders. I am a Berner. Sanders actually GAVE OF HIS HEART & HIS TIME FOR FREE. He crowd funded for what he believed in with SMALL MONEY because he was against BIG MONEY.

I have no care for being in exclusive film festivals or galleries. People whom already LOVE my work find their way to it. People HAVE found value in my efforts and work.

Therefore, I wish to begin producing this animated short. It is not cheap tho’. But, I will gladly share my process, my concept work, my practice work, and everything FOR FREE. Free to ALL ARTISTS, and people whom just live beautiful things, art, and QILIN.

I wish to pursue an independent direction in my art. But, I would very much like to include people, if not the world or those in it that care about these things, to interact with me. A long time ago I’d created my “Qilin Savanna” site to interact with people whom also loved Qilin, Unicorns, Dragons, and other things, but also a love for art, or learning art.

This year (2017) while interacting with MANY MANY young people, and young artists, I often found that people WANTED to learn to DRAW, to improve their techniques and practice them, but despite having paid money to attend art classed (including “drawing classes”) they did not actually get what they paid for, did not actually get instruction for what they wanted to learn, but either had to fend for themselves, try independently, or got resources online for free... so, why then were they paying for it?

I have many many times, spent just a short moment with frustrated peers, students, classmates, friends, and fellow artists whom couldn’t draw what they wanted to, and teased me for being some kind of special person... when in fact, whatever I do, others can too. I sat with them, explained, and demonstrated (AKA Using The Feynman Technique) and after that moment of AHA THEY COULD DO IT. And, they didn’t need to come back.

I did THAT FOR FREE.

I did THAT FOR LOVE.

And, NO, I DON’T HAVE A MASTER’S DEGREE. Honestly, at this point, I don’t feel I actually want one. I DON’T want to be a part of that club, nor establishment either. In this way, I’m somewhat like Socrates, Diogenes, or Bruce Lee... only NOT. I’m ME.

I have a lot more to say, but I think I will leave it here for now.

#qilin #kirin #Kylie #Chinese unicorn #animation #cartoon #drawing #art #Kandice Zimbleman #Black UniGryphon #BlackUniGryphon

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foxfyrez · 4 years ago

Text

Chapter 6: Squall

"So you're having a giant racing event this week?" Silent asked the Duke of Detroit. Apparently, he was holding a race for all the gangs to participate in winning a grand prize or something. She was trying to understand why he held events like this if he sometimes pissed off most of the gangs in Motorcity with the stunts he pulled.

"Yep, I figured it was time for another get together with the gangs. And it'll be your first time experiencing this sort of stuff right?" The Duke looked down at Silent. He sat on his throne awaiting confirmation from Babs.

"Yeah, it will." Silent nodded. It had been around 5 months since she arrived in Motorcity and became the Duke's bodyguard. She's made new friends and a new pet. It was going great so far, but she knew that eventually, something bad would happen.

The Duke snapped his fingers in her face, jolting her out of her thoughts. "Hey, Sil, did you hear me?"

Silent jumped in surprise, her mask emoting her expression. "Ah sorry. No, I didn't hear you, could you repeat that for me please?"

The Duke sighed, "I said I wanted you to hang back and relax at the event. You've overworked yourself in the past few weeks, and it's not good if you drop dead when I need you the most!" He leaned back into his throne, "Besides you need to meet the other gangs I'm having join the race, you've only met three of them."

Silent nodded, confusion showing up on her mask. "Ok, so I just-"

"Look, just sit back and watch the show. Eat food and do whatever, just don't leave the grounds in case I do need you. I know you have made some new friends so just hang out with them. Who knows, maybe your loverboy will be there and you two can make out or whatever."

"Excuse me?!" Silent snapped, glaring at him. "I've said this many times, I do not like him! Stop calling him that!" She crossed her arms over her chest. "But ok, I'll hang back and meet some new faces."

The Duke chuckled at her, she was so oblivious to Junior's sudden interest in her that it made him laugh. "Kids these days don't understand love when they see it."

Silent looked at him, "What do you mean—"

"Duke! There's a call for you!" Babs yelled, interrupting their conversation.

Several screens popped up in front of the Duke as he merely leaned on his hand, looking at the gangs that accepted the invitation. All of them were from almost every gang, the ones that could afford to get vehicles or any way to move fast for a race, in Motorcity. Even the mysterious and elusive FoxFyre gang accepted it. He chuckled, clapping his hands together. "Thanks for accepting my invitation, I have an exciting proposition for you."

—————————————————————-

Today was the day of the race, it had taken a lot of time to prepare for it. And that meant Silent had to help everyone set up things, such as food stands and stuff. During this time, she got well acquainted with some of the Duke's other staff. She had only known Babs at first, and now she knew almost all of them except for a few who are afraid of her. She was ok with that.

People were in the stands, cheering loudly as the races took place on various obstacle courses and timed events. Some were roaming around, chatting to friends and snacking on some food from the stalls while others put bets on who would win. There were even some cheap fair games for some of the kids who needed extra stimulation. All in all, it looked pretty fun.

Silent decided to walk around the place as the next race started. She wanted to explore for a bit before watching the grand finale. She ran into a few friends and acquaintances which included Riley, Ryan (Riley's brother), and Antonio. They chatted for a bit before she bid them farewell and walked off.

The sound of children laughing caught her attention, and she looked over to the side to see some kids surrounding Axel. She had wondered where her metal companion had run off to, and now she knows. Axel looked like he was having a good time with the kids, playing tag with them and watching out so he didn't accidentally step on one of them.

"Silent!" Skylar yelled, running over to hug her. He and his older brother had patched things up between them after the ordeal that transpired at Antonio's a week ago. He looked happy as he always did, bouncing in excitement as he looked up at her with his green eyes.

Silent smiled at him, ruffling his hair. "Sup kiddo. You enjoying the event?" She asked.

He nodded, "Mhm! It's so much fun!"

Silent smiled as she looked around for his older brother. She briefly saw him standing by stairs that led up to the upper level of the building. He ducked behind a ledge upon seeing Silent, but he peered out to stare at them. "Is your brother ok? I don't think he trusts me yet because he's watching me from over there." Silent pointed at where Wormy was.

Skylar followed Silent's gaze and spotted his brother. "He's just worried. I mean, mom and I are the only things he has left since dad stayed up in Deluxe. He doesn't want anything to happen to us." He looked off to the side. "He said that you and him fight a lot because the Duke causes trouble for the Electroblades, and it puts him under a lot of stress." He twiddled his fingers. "But I know you're a good person so he has to deal with you being my friend!" Skylar beamed as he hugged Silent again.

Silent smiled softly at him, patting his head. "He doesn't have to be so far away. If he wants to keep his eye on me, he can hang out with us." Silent suggested, looking over to where Wormy was hiding. "Hey, Casey! Stop being a creep and get your ass over here!" She shouted at Wormy.

Wormy jumped, receiving looks from some passerbys, and headed over to where Silent and his brother were standing. He shoved his hands into the pockets of his red plaid zip-up jacket with a grumble. When he arrived, he stared down at Silent. "What?"

"I never knew you had actual clothes. I always assumed you wore that jersey all day every day like you had a closet full of the same attire." She teased, circling him to get a better look. "Not too bad, I like it."

Wormy rolled his eyes, "Of course I have normal clothes."

Silent giggled, looking at his face to notice his mask was still on. "You wear your mask even when you're not in the gang? Why?" She tried to find an angle to see his face, but the way the mask fit perfectly to it, there was no such luck.

"None of your business." He simply replied. "You still have yours on."

"You know exactly why I keep this on." She shrugged. "Do you keep your face covered because of an injury? Do you have a scar or a burn mark? Like is half of your face disfigured because of an accident long ago?" She was curious; maybe a tad bit too much.

Skylar opened his mouth to speak, but Wormy beat him to it.

"I have scars on my face that I don't like anyone seeing."

"Oh well sorry about the scars, but I don't think there's anything wrong with having scars." Silent leaned against the railing of the ledge. "I mean I got tons of scars from my time fighting off things, and I don't mind if people see them anymore. I mean I used to be self-conscious about them, but over time I got used to it so it's fine. You're not a freak for having them. It's normal." Silent concluded, looking at the race status.

Wormy looked at Silent to see if she was lying, but she was facing the other way. "I can't imagine you having scars. You're too fast for anyone to catch you."

Silent looked back, "True but there have been a few times where I've made a mistake and got punished for it. I can show you if you don't believe me."

Skylar bounced up and down, "I wanna see!"

Silent looked at Wormy for an answer, readying to pull up the sleeve. When she didn't receive an answer from him, she pulled it up anyway to show off her scarred arm. She held it out for them to see. "I have a lot more than this, but I'm only gonna show you my arms cuz I don't feel comfortable showing the others off."

Wormy looked at the scars scattered across Silent's arm. He was surprised by the number of jagged lines that were etched into her skin. Some were clean and others looked faintly fresh, not yet healed. Some of the scars looked like bite marks and scratches from a rabid animal, but too big to be a mutated rat. He found himself staring and couldn't stop. "Are you sure you didn't just cut yourself?"

Silent's mask changed into a frown which startled him. Since when did her mask emote expressions? "That's very insensitive and rude, but I'll ignore it for now. No, I don't do that stuff. These are from me fighting off, uh.." she struggled for a word, "fighting off bad guys."

Skylar looked at them in amazement. "That's so cool!"

Silent rolled her sleeve back down. "So having scars isn't a bad thing, Casey. Hell if I'm speaking my mind here, I think scars are attractive." She shrugged. "And I'm guessing you're pretty hot underneath your mask too." She whispered the last part, her mask emulating a blush on her cheeks.

Wormy straightened up and smirked, "I'm sorry, I didn't hear that last bit. Care to repeat it?" Ok maybe talking to Silent wasn't all that bad. She did just call him hot, and that did boost his self confidence up by a fair amount.

Silent looked away. "Nope, you're imagining things. I didn't say anything else."

"Your mask is emoting so I can see how flustered you are."

"You're seeing things!" Silent hid her mask in her hands.

Skylar looked back and forth between his older brother and Silent, grinning widely. "Are you guys getting along with each other? I'm really happy that you are! We can all be friends now!"

Silent laughed, "I guess we are, I'm happy to make new friends, but I don't think Casey wants to be my friend." She looked at Wormy, tilting her head to the side.

"Stop calling me Casey, only people I'm close with can call me that." Wormy cracked his neck and rolled his shoulder. He wasn't used to standing still in one place for long.

"But Crater calls you Wormy and aren't you close with him?" Silent teased. "But I like the name Casey, it's better than me imagining you like those cute little fuzzy felt worms that kids used to play with back then." She replied, stretching out her back. "I'll keep calling you Casey."

Wormy scoffed, folding his arms over his chest. "Whatever. What did you want me for anyway?"

"Oh yeah!" Silent got sidetracked, "Just to hang out? Like I know you don't like me with your brother and you want to keep an eye on me so I thought if we hung out together, it would make it easier for you to see that I'm NOT a monster."

Wormy couldn't tell if Silent was lying or not, even with her mask emoting her expressions. He sighed, deciding to trust her for now. "Fine, I guess for now that'll do. If you do harm my brother in any way, I'll personally come after your ass." He pointed at Silent.

Silent raised her eyebrows and gave a face that Wormy couldn't recognize. "Kinky, I like it." Silent purred. "But seriously I would never put Skylar in danger." She glanced at the said boy. "I'm happy he's my friend. I would never hurt a friend." Silent held out her hand to make a deal with Wormy.

Wormy could tell she was serious, and he stuck out his hand to grasp hers as the promise was made. He felt her yank his hand towards her. "What?"

"Oh my god, you paint your nails!"

——————————————————————

Wormy and Skylar headed out to meet up with their mom. It was such a nice time hanging out with them and teasing Wormy about random things, but eventually, it had to end. Though she would meet Skylar again at Antonio's so it was all good.

Now Silent was alone with Axel after she successfully managed to get him back from the kids. She walked around the food and game stalls, wondering what she should do next. She wasn't paying attention to where she was going and bumped right into someone. "Sorry about that... ahhh." She began to apologize, but she let out a whimper upon seeing who it was.

Crater was donned in his Electroblade gear, glaring down at her with annoyance. A few of his gang members were with him, now watching Silent in interest. He tilted his head to the side, eyeing the Houndbot beside her. "So the Duke has two dogs now?"

It took Silent a minute to register the insult. "Hey! I'm not a dog." She crossed her arms. She forgot she was standing next to one of the gangs that despised her. She felt afraid after seeing his shadow loom over herself. "Uh so, enjoying the.. race?" She asked him.

Crater leaned closer to her and grabbed her by the shoulder. "I really don't want to explain this to someone like you, but if I see you anywhere in our district, I won't hesitate to snap you in half even if you're the Duke's dog." He growled.

Silent felt her spine shiver in fear as she nodded quickly to appease his wrath. "I understand! Yep, you don't have to worry about a thing!" Even though she had no idea where his turf was. She had to look for that, maybe she could ask Casey about it. She felt uncomfortable with his hand on her shoulder, "So uh, is there anything else you wanted to talk about?"

Crater squeezed Silent's shoulder a bit, hearing her whine. He was about to head off when the Houndbot leaped at him, biting his free arm. He looked at the mutt with a blank expression. "You need to teach your dog some manners."

Silent's heartbeat quickened. "I'm sorry, I'm still trying to teach him some things since he's new to a life without Kane's programming so please be a little easy on him." She quickly explained, hoping he didn't try and kill her dog. She hoped someone would stop by and help, but there's no one who could even stand up to his size other than herself.

Crater let go of Silent's shoulder and grabbed Axel by the back of his neck, squeezing it a little. He let out a deep laugh as the dog tried to escape his grip. "Pathetic mutt." He muttered.

"Get your hands off my dog." Silent growled. She was about to pull out her weapon on him when one of his cronies held her hands behind her back. She growled at him, "and get your hands off me!"

"Sorry, but the boss seems like he's in a good mood. I don't want you ruining it." He replied, leaning in closer to her.

Silent narrowed her eyes at Crater, who was picking on her dog. She cursed at him, struggling to break free as she felt the air around her get a bit colder. She looked around for the source of the draft. Through the crowds of people watching the spectacle, she spotted an animal mask staring straight at her. She blinked, and they were gone in an instant due to the sudden mist that arrived around them.

The Electroblade that was holding her suddenly fell over with a groan, his legs were covered in a thin sheet of ice. "What the hell?"

Silent looked around to see some of the Electroblades were covered in thick sheets of ice, making it impossible for them to move. She didn't know if it was an attack from a monster or what, but she was on guard as she stepped through the mist. She could sense something in the mist; something coming closer to her, but she couldn't see it until it grabbed her arm. She yelled in fear.

Turns out it was Crater who grabbed her, half of his shoulder covered in ice and starting to crack when he moved. Crater looked down at Silent. "Are you doing this?"

"Does it look like I can control ice?" Silent replied, calming down once he gripped her arm harshly. She was afraid he would snap the bone. "Where's my dog?"

Crater growled, "I threw him somewhere." He looked around the mist to find nothing but white everywhere. The ice was starting to form on his shoulder pads again. Before he could speak, he felt a blade at his throat, glancing over to see someone else wielding a sword at him. He recognized the individual as someone from the FoxFyre gang. "Squall..."

Silent looked at the newcomer to see a young man with long silver hair that was pulled up in a low ponytail. He wore a dark blue gray coat, that reached down to his legs, with a semi lighter grey shirt underneath and some black pants. His face was a mystery since he had on a wolf mask the same color as his coat. This was the same mask that she had seen earlier in the crowd!

"Crater, it's been such a long time since we last met hasn't it?" The man spoke with amusement in his voice. "I didn't think you'd stoop so low to harm an unarmed person and their pet dog. Such a shame, and here I thought you had changed."

Crater snarled, letting go of Silent for a second. "I should of known the ice was your doing." He cracked his neck and knuckles. He eyed Silent for a moment and cursed under his breath. "And you're still such a knight in shining armor, aren't you? Doesn't it get old saving lives that don't need to be saved?" He stepped closer to Squall.

Silent was caught in the middle of a rivalry between some dude she's never met before and Crater from the Electroblades. It didn't seem like a good place to be stuck in. She tried to inch away from them, but she could feel Crater grab her shoulder.

"I'm not done with you." He snapped at her.

Silent trembled in fear. Crater could be scary when he wanted to considering he was 7 feet tall and not afraid of anything or anyone. "I thought we were done talking. Can I please go? You seem to have a lovely friend here who wants to talk to you." She pointed towards the newcomer.

"Yes, the frightened cutie is right. I'm here to talk with you Crater. It has been what? Almost two years since we last spoke to each other? I want to know how you're doing," he laughed. "Do you want your men to turn into popsicles?" He snapped his fingers as the mist vanished, and his men were on the ground covered in ice.

Crater straightened up. "Not really, but they can handle themselves." His grip got tighter on Silent, making her wince.

The mysterious man noticed this, placing his sword on Crater's hand and leaned in closely to him. "Ava wishes to know how you are."

Crater let go of Silent instantly, taking in a deep breath. He clenched his fist together and looked at Silent menacingly, "Get out of here, and pray I don't see you anymore during this event." He ordered.

Silent nodded and jumped over one of the Electroblades who was on the ground covered in ice and walked over to Axel, checking him out as fast as she could so they both could get out of there. She helped Axel to move far away from the two men who were having a tense chat with each other. Once she deemed it was ok to stop, she set Axel on the side to fully check him out to see if he was injured in any way.

Axel whined, lying down against the wall of a staircase going up to the second floor. His eye was shifting from blue to red quickly.

Silent had no idea how to fix him. She was a fighter, not a technician or a programmer. "Oh baby, I'm sorry that prick hurt you. If only I knew how to fix you, I need Junior to check you out." She whined, putting her head in her hands in defeat.

#dreaming of motorcity #fyrez writes

0 notes

mrtroy · 6 years ago

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Baseball & My Momma...

Christmas, 2018

Hi Mom –

With retirement on your mind, and knowing that you and Pops are more so in ‘purge mode’ than you are in the market for acquiring big bulky things, this year, I got you a gift that is small in size. However, it has a lot of meaning to me and I want to share that meaning with you in this short story.

Any time I take a moment to reflect, my thoughts often subconsciously jump to my childhood. Often, I’ll think of Bethany or Lake Geneva. Depending on who I may have just seen in person, sometimes my thoughts jump back to a memory I have with that individual. Basketball in the driveway with Justin. Playing golf at Boughton Ridge or Naperbrook with the Lisses. Touch football with KB, the Wioras and Klupchaks. I’m sure the common sporting theme is not shocking to you…

I’ve mentioned three sports so far, but a fourth hasn’t come up yet. What sport could that be, you ask?

Of course you already know…

When I think of baseball – which is probably my favorite thing to think about– there are three things that specifically come to mind.

I think of pitching to Pops on the front sidewalk when he used to sit in that old wooden chair. I think of playing fantasy baseball with Uncle Tony. But most of all, and more so than anything else, when I think about baseball, I think about you.

I’m not sure if there’s a more succinct old adage that describes what I’m about to say, but I think it says a lot about someone when they are the strongest, or most common link you have to your favorite thing in the world.

But, I suppose I shouldn’t be surprised. If someone asked, I could very easily say, baseball and my mom, why yes, these are a few of my favorite things!

You know most of the common stops on our Baseball Memory Lane – • Taping the 1990 World Series – and shaking a ‘why I oughta’ fist at the Reds for sweeping the series in four games • The never-ending quest to provide dry baseball pants before Little League games • The hapless job of trying to buy tickets to out-of-town stadiums with seat locations that could pass without major bellyaching from your favorite peanut gallery • Driving Justin and I to All-Star tournament games and listening to the Peanuts soundtrack in the car • Playing catch in the backyard in the dark every Mother’s Day under the spotlight • Listening to Pat and Ron on WGN in the Summers on the screen porch • Learning how to keep a scorebook during all those Yankees World Series in the 90s

There are a few others – getting heckled as we walked out of Busch Stadium in ’98 after the Cards swept the Cubs. Remember how surreal it was to have all of those Cardinal fans yelling at us? And I’m sure you haven’t forgotten sitting out in the cold at those early Spring games at Naperville Central my freshman year with Mrs. Buoy and Jon Elwardt’s mom…

There are a lot of these examples, but the bullet points are definitely my favorite.

One of the best qualities about baseball throughout the course of time has always been that it is in fact, timeless. In the literal sense, nine innings is only nine innings when nine innings are complete. The clock doesn’t run like it does in most other sports. In a more figurative and historical sense, baseball has withstood the test of time, whether it was being played by Babe Ruth in 20s, DiMaggio in the 30s, Jackie Robinson in the 40s and on into today.

Beautifully, that has remained true for us throughout the years, too. Thankfully for you, I presume, you don’t have to worry about getting those baseball pants into the dryer anymore, but as the years have ticked by, our memories have aged quite well, I do believe. • There’s a new Pat & Ron on the radio, and while a certain someone may not enjoy all the ‘heaters’ from the new Ron, they still sound pretty good on the screen porch • The location of our Mother’s Day catch has shifted about 250 miles west, but I know we all still look forward breaking out the old Lou Whitaker mitt just as much now as we ever did • The not-so-old Busch Stadium that we were heckled at in ’98 couldn’t withstand the test of time, but going to the new one in 2015 with Patch and Kaitlin was pretty special. I still laugh thinking of you bemoaning St. Louis – ‘What do you mean they got a new stadium already? Their last one was built when?? (1966) (In a similar tone to ‘why I oughta’) ‘Amateurs!!!’ • Ken Griffey Jr., Chipper Jones and Derek Jeter may have retired and officially ended my childhood, but that Javy Baez guy has been pretty fun to watch. Especially ‘Javy tags’ • And instead of keeping score for those Yankees World Series, how about the Cubs actually winning one? I’m not sure I ever thought I’d write those words. But how much fun was that to go to John Troy’s house and watch the game on his rooftop and hear the cheers or groans from Wrigley before the time delay on TV could even show us what the fans at the park were reacting to? I could go on. Lord knows there are a lot of memories to rehash on this subject. But, none of them come close to meaning as much as what I want to talk about next. What I want to talk about next is one of the greatest things you’ve ever done for me as a mom. It has helped shape who I am as a person and it is an example that I am confident is as timeless as the game of baseball itself.

What I’m referring to here is the way you’ve taken an interest in my favorite game and taken it from something you didn’t know much about, to something now that you genuinely love. I don’t know if it was going to Fenway when you were pregnant with me that began my love affair with this great game, but whatever it was, I always felt like you were right beside me as I grew, and learned, and played and watched.

It has meant the world to me to be able to share this love with you. And, I have tried to emulate the way you have invested in me – and invested in learning the game as a way to connect with me – in other areas of my life. Your example has been my gold standard for what it means to truly take an interest in something not only for your own personal enjoyment, but because you know how important something is to someone else. I know as a parent, there are thousands of examples of things you do for your kids – things you don’t love – because you have to. Or because you believe they are the right things to do. Or because you want to help teach a lesson, or model good behavior.

But it never felt like any of those when I was growing up, or even to this day. It just felt like you were interested in what I was interested in and that you wanted to enjoy what I was enjoying with me. I was incredibly lucky at the time, but I was also naïve. I didn’t realize that this wasn’t something that all moms did. As I have gotten older and talked to more and more of my friends, I have come to realize that what we have in this regard is very, very special.

I know I don’t have to do this, but for the first time ever, I want to thank you for coming alongside me and loving me, and the game of baseball the way you have. It has helped burn a tangible set of examples into my mind about what it means love something and someone in a uniquely all-encompassing way that I can only hope to model at some point later in my life.

As I close this note, I want to look forward.

While I am greatly looking forward to you and Pops being able to retire, there is a part of retirement that I have heard can be a bit of an adjustment. Well, there are many adjustments, I am sure, but one of them that I have heard about is redefining your identity. I have read certain things about how it can be difficult to go from identifying as a long-time resident in your community to all the sudden moving somewhere and feeling like you don’t know anyone and don’t feel like you fit in. I have read that it can be hard sometimes to adjust to not working and in turn not feeling like you contribute in the same way to society. I haven’t worried much about these things for you and Pops. I feel like you do a good job making friends and I’m sure you’ll get involved in your new community to the point where you’ll find purpose in a volunteer opportunity, social club, or societal cause.

On a deeper level, I’m sure it’ll be interesting to see how many parts of your identity change when you go from being all the things you are now to putting a ‘former’ in front of many of them. A former teacher. Someone who used to live one place, or formerly did X, Y or Z. Again, I’m sure you’ll adjust as you go, as you always seem to.

Our relationship has changed, too, and it will continue to do so. Hopefully you’ll go from being a parent to also being a grandparent. Who knows what might be in store on that front…

Normally, I don’t like to tack on a lot of descriptors to the things that define our identities. If we’re too tied up in defining ourselves a certain way, it’s hard to adapt to change. This has been a consistent theme in my work life – trying to learn how not to let too much of my self-worth be defined by how well I am able to meet others’ expectations, or to not let how much money I make define how successful I am. Things like that…

As things change for you and Pops over the next year or so, if you move out of your house, and become a former teacher, a former Naperville resident, someone who used to go to a certain health club for almost 30 years, and on and on, I hope you will cling to the parts of your identity that can’t change.

Daughter. Sister. Mom.

There’s a reason there’s such strong emotions that go along with those parts of your identity. Because no matter what life throws at you, no matter what happens, once you are those things, they are always true about you.

So, please take this small token as a reminder of what a great mom you’ve been, and what a great mom you are.

With a little nod from our friend, Baseball.

Merry Christmas.

Love,

Matt

0 notes

blogdangerousobjectcollecto-blog · 7 years ago

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Palmetto Florida Cheap car insurance quotes zip 34221

"Palmetto Florida Cheap car insurance quotes zip 34221

Palmetto Florida Cheap car insurance quotes zip 34221

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https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/prime-meridian-car-insurance-quotes-jane-avery/"

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sending-the-message · 8 years ago

Text

Embry by xylonex

I was ten years old when I sat in my desk watching president-elect George Bush swear into office. It was January 1989 and I was in fifth grade at Holy Name of the Father School for Children. Sister Mary Benedict had rolled in a television on a cart to show us the inauguration ceremony. Jeffery, the kid that sat next to me, was cracking a joke quietly to his friend Jason. I overheard something about Barbara's bush before Sister Mary Benedict slammed a yard stick onto Jeffery's hand. He yelped in pain. I couldn't help but snicker.

I remember that day so clearly because that is the day I met Embry. Shortly after the inauguration we were released for lunch. I didn't really have a group of friends that I regularly sat with. I moved through the lunch line and began the daily ritual of looking for an empty seat. I was three steps through the door when a girl with yellow pigtails said, “You can sit with me.” I obliged her and sat across from her.

She introduced herself saying, “My name is Embry. What's yours?” I struggled to open my milk carton and responded, “My name is Mike.” She reached over and fiddled with my milk carton for half a second before opening it with one hand. Embry laughed and said, “It took me a while to figure that one out, but looks cool huh?” I nodded and she continued, “So do you always wander around looking for a place to sit?” I nodded again and she smiled. “Well, you can sit with us. My friends will be here in a minute.”

I was about halfway through my ham sandwich when I stopped and said, “I haven't seen you around before. Are you new?” She gulped down the milk she was drinking and said, “Nope. I'm a seventh-grader.” I looked at her in shock and said, “I'm in fifth grade, why would you want to sit with me?” She smiled and said, “Well, because it's better than watching you mope around the lunch room every day.” No sooner than she had finished her sentence a larger kid with scruffy red hair slid in beside her and another girl slid in beside me.

The larger kid said, “Who's the runt?” Embry punched him in the arm. He rubbed the spot as she said, “Cut it out Curtis. This is Mike, he's gonna sit with us from now on.” The other girl chuckled and said, “Is this your new boyfriend Embry? Looks kinda young.” I was about to say something when Embry shot me a look and said, “So what if he is? He's better looking than Frank Olsen.”

Curtis shot his hand across the table expecting a handshake and I extended my arm reluctantly. My father's words echoed in my head as I did so, “Son, if you are going to shake someone's hand, squeeze firm and don't let go until the other guy tries to pull away.” I tried to emulate this but ended up squeezing his hand as hard as I could resulting in his knuckles pressing together. He pulled back his hand quickly and said, “No wonder you're with Embry, that's one hell of a grip man.” Embry kicked me under the table before saying, “Careful Curtis, Mike's the jealous type.” I quickly stuffed my face with the rest of the ham sandwich as Curtis scooted away from Embry. It wasn't much longer until the bell rung and I had to run back to Sister Benedict's classroom.

The rest of the day melted into memory as I spent the day trying to make sense out of what had happened. At three the bell rang and I made my way downstairs. I didn't live too far away and had a permission slip up in the office that allowed me to walk home alone. I was halfway through the parking lot when Embry ran up to me saying, “Thanks for playing along. Frank told everyone in the class I was a dyke and wanted to make him look like a liar.” I saw Frank and Curtis walking up behind her and grabbed her hand as I quietly said, “They're behind us.”

We walked hand-in-hand to the end of the parking lot before Frank called out, “Hey Embry, what's up with the fifth-grader?” Embry shouted back, “I figured I'd get with a real man, not some little boy like you.” Frank ran up on me and said, “So what makes you so tough kid?” I knew I was in over my head, these kids were teenagers. I was big for my age, but Frank still towered over me. Still, I had this cute girl holding my hand and I was enjoying that much at least.

Frank jumped forward and for some reason, I didn't flinch. I shot back, “What's the matter dude? Was that a seizure or something?” Frank arched his back and pushed his neck forward as he jumped in again in an attempt to scare me and instinct overruled caution. Just as he leaned forward in that ridiculous pose I planted my fist firmly on his jaw. He went down hard. High on adrenaline and a feeling of victory I turned to Curtis and said, “WHAT!?!” The large ginger just stood there as Frank tried to pick himself up. Embry planted a huge kiss on my cheek and said, “Come on Mike. Let's get out of here.”

Hand-in-hand, she walked me home.

My father was waiting for me when I on the porch as we walked up. He took one look at her, one look at me, and said, “Young-lady, I need to have a talk with my son. Please go home.” Embry turned to me and said, “See you tomorrow.” I nodded and followed my father inside.

My father sat in his recliner and I stood in front of him expecting the beating of a lifetime. Instead, he looked up at me and with a stern voice he said, “Is it true that you hit the Olsen boy so hard he hit the concrete?” I nodded. My father then said, “Why?” The words just kinda blurted out of my mouth, “He called my girlfriend a dyke and started lunging at me so I clocked him. Isn't that what you told me to do?” He reached his hand forward and rubbed my head saying, “That's my boy. So who's the girl?” I smiled and said, “Embry, she's a seventh-grader.” He grinned and said, “My son, the ladies man. Tell you what, let's go get a burger. Your mom doesn't get home for a few hours anyway.”

I couldn't make it in the door the following morning with out five different kids asking if it was true that I beat up Frank Olsen. Frank was an eighth grader that had been held back. Despite being old enough to go onto the high school across the street, he stayed back. I found out through the rumor mill that he and Embry had been dating. I worked through the first half of classes before sitting across from Embry at lunch.

She looked down at her tray and said, “I'm sorry if I got you in trouble.” I smiled and said, “Don't worry about it, I thought was gonna get it, but then he just took me to McDonald's.” Her eyes lit up a little but then dropped and she said, “You don't have to pretend to be my boyfriend if you don't want to.” I laughed and said, “Might as well go with it. I mean, if that's what you want?” She smiled and said, “Well then, wanna come with me after school?” I said, “Sure, it's a date.” Embry stared into my eyes and said, “A date. Alrighty then.”

Curtis and Frank were standing by the fence at the edge of the parking lot when we walked out. Frank stood between us and the road saying, “Big man going around the school saying he whooped my ass.” I couldn't help but notice the bandage on his forehead from when he had hit the ground the day before. Embry moved like she was going to get in front of me and I put my hand on her stomach saying, “Relax, I got this.”

I took a step forward and said, “My dad took me to McDonald's last night after splitting your wig. Let's see if I can get him to take me to Showbiz Pizza tonight.” Frank paused for half a second before he took off running. Curtis just stood there with his mouth agape before saying, “Damn dude. Your dad took you to McDonald's?” I nodded and he said, “Hey Embry, can I tag along.” Embry shot back, “Sure you don't wanna run off with your brother?” Curtis sighed and said, “He's such a wimp. I don't even wanna be seen with him.”

It wasn't long before the girl from the previous day showed up. Curtis said, “Hey Casey, we're goin to the arcade. Wanna come?” Casey slid up to Curtis and grabbed his arm before saying, “Of course!” We walked down to the riverfront and into Sims Arcade.

Curtis and Casey spent most of the afternoon playing skeeball and spending their tickets on candy. Embry and I had opted to play several of the arcade machines. There was a point where we were playing Street Fighter and she picked Ken. I picked Ryu. She was pretty good, but I ended the fight with a quarter-circle forward and a punch as the console shouted, “Hadouken!” Embry frantically mashed the buttons as I stepped away from the console.

Embry said, “No fair you don't get to be good at fighting in video games too.” She pouted a little and I said, “I'm not really good at fighting, he just left himself wide open. My dad showed me a few things, but I don't think I could take Frankie if he fought back.” Embry smirked and said, “Well, you're my hero anyway. Thanks to you that rumor has fallen to the wayside.” I turned to her and said, “Well is it true?” Embry pushed me away and stormed off.

She took off out the door and I chased after her. She was faster than me but eventually she stopped and I caught up. She stood by the rail on the pier. I was heaving and huffing as I said, “Wouldn't care if you were. My aunt Mindy and aunt Linda are married to each other.”

Embry turned me and said, “I don't know.” I looked at her confused and said, “What do you mean?” She replied, “I don't know if I'm a dyke or not. It's just that I don't really like boys. I mean, I dated Frank but he wanted to be all handsy and I didn't like it. You're sweet and all, but I don't even really like you that way.” I sighed and said, “That's a relief.” She shot back, “What's that supposed to mean?” I leaned on the rail and said, “I mean, you're cool and all but it's like everyone keeps forgetting than I'm ten. I just wanna play Street Fighter and watch TV. Besides, I'm not even supposed to date until I am fifteen. If mom found out she'd kill me.”

Embry laughed and said, “Look at us. You don't even care about girls and I might. You'd think it'd be the other way around.” I reached into my pocket and fished out a quarter. I handed it to her and said, “Wanna head back and play again?” She said, “You're easily the coolest fifth-grader in our school.” I took her by the hand and said, “Come on, I'm gonna kick your butt.”

The following week in snowed hard and we didn't have school. Like most of the kids on my block I spent my days throwing snowballs and having fun. It was Saturday afternoon when Embry knocked on my front door and my mom answered. I came downstairs from an intense day of playing Mario and goofing off when I saw Embry and my mom sitting at the coffee table in the living room. My mom smiled and said, “I was just chatting with your friend Embry. She was asking if she could take you with her to the winter formal.” I gulped and my mother said, “I was telling her that you weren't allowed to date until you were older. Isn't that right son.” I could tell my mom was about five seconds from sending me outside for a switch when I said, “It's okay mom. We're only pretending to date.” My mom shot me a puzzled look and said, “Is this true Embry?” Embry stared at the floor and said, “Yes Ma'am.”

Mom looked over at me and said, “Care to explain yourself Mike?” I paused for a second and took a breath. “I'm waiting...” she said expectantly. I sighed and said, “Well this eighth-grader named Frank told everyone in the school Embry was like aunt Mindy and I punched him. People started saying we were a couple and we just let it happen. Embry isn't really into boys we're just friends.” My mom sat down and started tearing up.

I stepped forward and said, “What's wrong Mom?” She wiped away a single tear and said, “I'm just proud of you son. Your dad was like that with your aunt Mindy. It's how I met him. If he hadn't stuck up for my sister, who knows what would have happened to her. Things were a lot different back then.” She paused for a second and said, “Okay, we need to get you a suit. I'm pretty sure I'll have to sign something too. You are ten after all.”

Embry and I spent the rest of the afternoon up in my room playing on my Nintendo as my mom occasionally popped in to bring us snacks or just to stand at the door and smile. I really didn't understand it at the time, but that was probably the last time either of my parents ever spoke to me like a child. The following Monday I showed up to class and Sister Mary Benedict said, “Mike, I'm going to need you to go to the principal's office.”

Father O'Malley served as our Principal and football coach. He as wide and tall as a door frame. Even as he sat at his desk, it felt like a shorter man could have been standing next to him at the same height. I sat down and Father O'Malley said, “Your mother signed a permission slip for you to attend the Junior Winter Formal. This isn't the first I've heard about you running around with the Edison girl.”

I nodded and he stood up and walked over to a bookshelf saying, “I was a young man once too and I was tempted by the girls that walked around this school. I know what you must be thinking.” I shook my head and said, “It's not like that sir. We're just really good friends.” He picked a book from the shelf and said, “See that it stays that way son. Here, I want a two page report on this book by the end of the week. If you are going to date a seventh-grader, you can do seventh-grade homework.” I tucked the book under my arm and said, “So does this mean I can go to the formal with Embry?” Father O'Malley smiled and said, “I'll sign off on it and tell the chaperones to keep and eye on you two. Don't make me regret it.”

The following Friday my father drove me to pick up Embry. She lived in a much nicer neighborhood than we did. I walked up to the door with a corsage and knocked. An older man in a red turtleneck opened the door and said, “You must be Mike.” I nodded and he said, “Come in, Embry will be down in a minute.” I sat with him in the living room as he said, “Embry tells me you go to school with her. You look kinda small to be in the seventh-grade.” It clicked in my head that she hadn't told him how old I was. I exhaled and said, “Yeah, I guess I'm not going to be joining the basketball team any time soon.” He laughed and slapped me on the knee before looking me straight in the eye and said, “Don't get any ideas of getting fresh with my daughter boy. Anything you do to her I'll do to you.”

My inner smart-ass welled up and before I could stop myself I said, “Sir, I don't really want to hold your hand.” He shot me a look and for a second there I thought he was going to pop a blood vessel in his forehead before he leaned back and guffawed. “Man, I see why my daughter likes you kid. Have her home by ten-thirty.” Embry came down the stairs in a sparkly blue dress and I walked up with the corsage. She curtsied for her father before leading me out the door.

My father drove us to the school gymnasium and we walked hand-in-hand through the door. We paused to have our picture taken as Casey and Curtis stood in line behind us. Frank had shown up alone and was hovering near the punch bowl. I was worried he was going to cause a scene when he walked up and said, “Hey man, sorry about giving you so much grief.” He shot out his hand and I shook it before Embry pulled on my arm to lead me to the dance floor.

We danced for a bit as I stared up at her and for what might have been the first time in my life I realized what it was to have a crush on someone. Everything about the past few weeks had played out like a movie in my mind before I leaned in and said, “Let's get out of here.” She smiled and said, “Yeah, I could really use some fresh air.”

We snuck out the side door of the gym and ran into a couple of the eighth-graders. They quickly hid a cigarette behind their backs and Embry said, “Relax guys, Mikey's cool.” One of the older kids slapped another on the chest and said, “Hey Tommy. This is the infamous Mikey Goodwin.” Tommy said, “No way, I heard he put Frank in the hospital with one punch man.” Tommy turned to his friend and said, “Hey John, we should see how tough he really is.” John leaned in like he was going to punch and I pivoted on my heel in anticipation. Tommy laughed and said, “Relax kid, we ain't trying to go to the hospital tonight. “

It was around that time that Frank burst out the door saying, “If it isn't Tweedledee-Dee and Tweedledumbass!” He pushed me into the fence and said, “I knew I'd catch you slipping eventually punk.” Before I could catch myself Frank led in with a hard jab. I clenched up and looked down as his hand made contact with the top of my head, hard. The top of my head throbbed as he grabbed his hand and shouted, “Fuck!” Embry tried in vain to open the door but it was locked from the inside. Frank reached into his jacket and pulled out a knife saying, “Fuck this, you're gonna die kid.”

Embry shouted, “Run!” and we took off through the alley and toward the park.

Frank was close on our heels as we ducked behind a tree. Embry pulled me close and we stood there in the snow as Frank ran past us. It was dark and none of the street lights gave off enough light to illuminate the park. Frank darted around shouting incoherently as Embry pulled a finger up to her lips and slowly stepped out from behind the tree. She motioned for me to follow and we crept further into the park. I saw something out of the corner of my eye and immediately grabbed Embry by the hand. She looked at me puzzled as I pulled her toward the jungle gym.

No sooner than we had tucked in under the playground equipment, Tommy and John caught up with Frank and said, “Dude, calm down. You're gonna get the cops called.” Frank shot back, “They gotta be here somewhere, I'm gonna cut that little punk up.” John said, “That's cool, and then we can have some fun with the dyke right?” Frank smiled and said, “Oh yeah, it's gonna be a regular party.”

All of the blood left Embry's face as she stared off into the distance. I whispered, “We need to get out of here.” She didn't say a word. I poked her on the cheek and she whispered, “Just a little farther, there's a police station on the other side of the park.” We crept around the playground equipment and moved from tree to tree as we tried to avoid Frank and his goons.

We could see the lighted sign of the police station when I felt a hand grab my shoulder. It was Frank. I shouted, “Embry! Run!” She made it three steps before she was cornered by Tommy and John. She let out a blood-curdling scream as they dragged the two of us back into the park.

I fought against Frank the whole way only for him to throw me onto the snow by the slide. He pulled out his knife and held it in front of my face saying. “They found a kid dead in this park a few years ago. Blamed it on a homeless guy. He pissed me off. I wonder if they'll name a street after you too?”

My mind flashed back to a conversation with my dad, “Son, if you find yourself in a fight with a stronger opponent and there's no way out, you have to be the meanest craziest son-of-a-bitch on Earth.” Back in the moment, I looked Frank in the eye and said, “Nice Dildo you got there, did you get it from your mom?” Frank looked at me confused and said, “Dildo?” Tommy laughed and said, “I think he's talking about your knife man.” Frank shot back, “I know what he's talking about!” He turned to me and said, “Dildo, yeah. I guess it is a Dildo because I'm about to fuck you with it.”

I laughed and said, “Compensating for something? Well, at least I'll feel that.” I was bluffing hard and literally moments away from pissing myself when I noticed he had dropped to one knee to threaten me. I slammed my knee up has hard as I could and hit him in the groin. He doubled over in pain and I open hand smacked him in the face hard enough to make my already freezing hands sting. He dropped the knife and I picked it up. Embry thrashed against Tommy and John and I lunged at Tommy with the knife he stepped out of the way but not in enough time to avoid the blade as I swiped it across his gut. He screamed in pain as I turned to John and said, “Ready to party?”

He let go of Embry and stumbled backward. In the process he slipped on the ice and fell back on the jungle gym. You could hear the crack as his neck connected with the metal bars behind him. I turned back to Frank who saw John laying limp and Tommy holding his bleeding stomach and shouted, “What the fuck!?! You're just a fifth-grader!”

Embry took the knife from my hand brought it up as she said, “I fucking hate you Frank.” She brought the knife down on his face and jammed the blade into his eye. Tommy dropped to his knees and said, “P-please don't hurt me.” Embry and I looked at each other before walking right past him. We didn't make it five feet before a man stepped out and said, “I heard all the commotion. What's going on here kids.”

Both Embry and I were wearing tattered formal clothes stained with blood as this clean-cut man stood towering over us. He looked over at Frank and his goons and said, “Looks like you've been in a bit of a scuffle. Lemme give you kids a ride home.” I spoke up saying, “You aren't gonna call the police?” The man laughed and said, “I'm sure they'll be fine.” Embry said, “No thanks on the ride man. Stranger danger and all.” The guy shot back, “Embry Edison right? I was in the Army with your dad.” Embry relaxed and said, “Mr. Harrison?” The man replied, “Yeah, come on kids. Don't wanna be here when the cops show up.”

Embry and I followed Mr. Harrison back to his car. It was a four-door Cadillac with leather seats and shiny pearl paint job. We both climbed into the back seat and the man said, “Where do you kids live?” My house was closer so I said, “Five-twenty-nine Center Street.” The man said, “Coming right up. Be there in a few minutes.”

I sighed with relief as he pulled onto my street. That quickly turned to confusion as he continued past my house. I said, “We just passed my house.” The man said, “Relax, I'm just making a quick run to my place.” Embry looked at me knowingly and reached for her door handle. It wouldn't open. She tried again and the guy said, “Child-safety locks honey. It only opens from the outside. Just calm down. This will all be over in a minute.”

I unbuckled my seat belt and the man backhanded me hard enough to knock me out cold.

I woke up minutes later with a throbbing headache. The car had stopped. I tried both doors like an idiot before climbing into the front seat. I went out the driver's side door when I heard muffled screaming coming from a nearby house. I walked up to the window to see the man dragging Embry down the hall. I picked up a rock from the yard and smashed it through his front window before climbing in.

I ran up to the phone on the wall and dialed 911. “911 Operator, what's your emergency?” I said, “I don't know where we are. We've been kidnapped. He has Embry...” I heard her scream again and I dropped the phone and ran down the hall. I burst into the bedroom and the man was standing over her trying to tie her to the bed as she fought against him. He had one hand on her mouth and another on her wrist as I picked up a lamp and threw it at him.

The man turned his attention from Embry and backhanded me again. I flew back and bonked the back of my head against the wall. The man took off his belt and wrapped it around his fist before punching me hard in the face. He busted my nose and lip and pulled back for another punch as Embry jumped up from the bed and used the rope he was trying to jump on his back and start choking him out. He effortlessly pulled against the rope and threw Embry to the ground right beside me. It was at that point we heard a shout from down the hall, “This is the Police! We have a report of a disturbance here. Embry screamed and Mr. Harrison shot down the hall. We heard two gunshots followed by a man shouting, “Suspect down. We're gonna need an ambulance.”

An officer entered the bedroom and saw the two of us on the floor. He spoke into a radio on his shoulder saying, “Make that two more buses, the sick fuck had children in here.” Another officer walked in and said, “First those two kids at the park and now this. Cities going to hell Bob.” Officer Bob nodded and said, “Are you kids okay?” I nodded and Embry started crying. We were led outside and given blankets as we we each led off to separate ambulances.

The next few hours were a blur of interviews and my parents hugging me. I guess at some point Embry mentioned the park in passing and the cops took it to mean that Mr. Harrison had attacked John and Frank. I'd later find out that Tommy had lost a lot of blood and passed out in the snow. There was no word on if he was going to make it, but I have to admit I was hoping that he wouldn't.

I really didn't want to spend my eleventh birthday in Juvenile hall. I didn't have to go to school the following Monday. I showed up to lunch on Tuesday and Embry was nowhere near our usual table. I called her when I got home and her mother answered saying, “Embry is going to another school now. Please don't call again Mike.” Confused, I went to my mom and asked her what was going on. She sat me down and said, “Embry's parents actually called over the other day, I just didn't have the heart to tell you. They're sending her to live with relatives. She says you saved her, but her parents still think you're a bad-influence.” I looked at her confused and said, “But why?” My mom hugged me and said, “Sometimes adults don't make sense honey.”

Despite being shot twice, Mr. Harrison survived his wounds. I even testified at his trial. Embry didn't show up. They didn't just pin the kidnapping on him, but they also charged him with the murders of Frank, Tommy, and John. It was an open and shut case. He was sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole after twenty-five years.

I have a lot of regrets about those days, but I suppose nothing hurts more than not having seen Embry since. Eventually Mr. Harrison got out of prison. I was invited to speak at his parole hearing but the man had served enough time for a death that was effectively my fault. Well, that's the way I felt until I received a letter in the mail a few days ago.

There was no return address and was sent to my parents house. Still, they dropped it off this morning. Inside was a single photograph of a woman in her thirties tied to a bed and covered in blood. The written on the wall in blood was the word Embry. I flipped the photo over and it read, “Just finishing what I started.”

The police are currently looking for Calvin Harrison. He never showed up to his scheduled meeting with his parole officer. As for me, I'm hoping he shows up here.

I'm not ten years old anymore.

#reddit #nosleep #scary #story

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