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fuckit-hero-of-trains · 3 years

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Sit by the fire until... Chapter 2

ao3 link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/25870150/chapters/81650737

Here’s the thing they don’t tell you when you get magically transformed into a bunny rabbit against your will by the corrupted darkness of the Sacred Realm: somethings, unfortunately, tend to stick.

Now, Legend isn’t saying that he’s hiding a cotton tail under his tunic or that his soul secretly aches to frolic in meadows or spend his time sleeping in holes or whatever else it is that rabbits do when they're not busy being very confused and scared twelve year old Hylians.

No.

But that doesn't mean he was left unscathed by having his entire anatomy re-written in less than an instant.

Because of course he wouldn’t. Goddess forbid he ever catch a break for once in his life.

He was still pretty young when it happened, so Legend can’t remember if his teeth had been quite so bucked before the incident. Regardless if they were or not, they sure as Hylia are prominent now. Then there's also the fact that he never really grew into his ears, the damn things always just a shade longer than they should be for a regular Hylian.

Before he joined this wild cucco chase masquerading as an adventure, Legend would sometimes catch himself looking at Ravio wondering, Is that how I would have looked? Besides the hair and eyes, the merchant was supposed to be his mirror image after all. Zelda and Hilda were, so it stood to reason that he and Ravio should be the same.

In which case, the bucktooth thing was going to be a problem regardless.

The ears, on the other hand, are a completely different story. From the quick glances Legend has managed to steal of Ravio’s side profile, the merchant has relatively short ears himself, which just make the Veteran’s own look comically long when the two stand side by side.

And ugh, and that wasn't even touching on his… less physical changes.

Namely, his cravings.

Noshing on some leafy greens while home alone doing some chores? A-Okay.

Getting caught by Warriors and Twilight absentmindedly chewing on the hay he was supposed to be feeding the horses? Ehhh, not so much.

Goddesses, his ego still hasn’t recovered from the amount of jokes the Pretty Boy had made at his expense. And that’s not even mentioning the veritable mountain of carrots he found in his bedroll, no doubt courtesy of that flea bitten farmhand.

Regardless of the less than natural way he got these… attributes, Legend couldn’t say they were all bad. ‘Cuz sure, his ears were a bit longer than average, but he could also hear better than most of his companions, able to catch the sound of crunching leaves above even their loud bickering. Like wise, his eyes were sharper than others in the low light of dawn and dusk, allowing him to see things others would miss.

Frankly, both skills had helped keep him alive during his quests. He was thankful for them in a weird huh, guess that works kinda way, but thankful all the same.

But sometimes Legend wanted to wring the goddesses necks because really? Being turned into a rabbit couldn’t have fixed this particular problem?

This particular problem being his absolutely horrible pollen allergies.

“ A-A-A!”

Each rapid, involuntary inhale feels like a simultaneous punch to the gut and a gasp for breath, the air yanked into his body and then stoppered up. It leaves the veteran in a state of limbo as a paralyzing calm falls over him; lungs full of air, shoulders hiked up, muscles tensed.

For a second, everything feels lodged in place, frozen, like the Champion had used his stasis rune on him.

And–

Legend clamps his mouth shut and tucks his face into his elbow just as tension snaps and–

“- acheew! ”

Nothing but a soft, cut off sneeze slips past his lips, yet, the force of holding it back still sends Legend bowing over. He stays there, hunched over for a breath as his body recovers, before he straightens back up, sniffing irritably as he tries to ignore the itch prickling at his eyes and the congested pressure throbbing behind his sinuses.

A chortling huff sounds next to him and when Legend glances down he can see Wolfie– or should he say, Twilight– peering up at him, mouth open and tongue lolling in a doggy grin, but icy blue eyes too pointed, too teasing, to be anything but human.

Legend's nose twitches tellingly as it begins to tickle again and the wolf gives another stuttering huff. A laugh. Legend can practically hear Twilight’s twangy, Awww. You sneeze like a bunny.

The bastard.

“Yeah, yeah, laugh it up, dog boy,” Legend grumbles, wiping harshly at his face in an attempt to stave off another sneezing fit. “Don't you have trees to piss on or something?”

That earns him peeled back lips and a growl, but Legend just sends the other a responding sneer as strides past the grumpy wolf and out into the rolling field of tulips that stands in front of them.

Another huff, this one more annoyed than amused, sounds behind the veteran before the wolf streaks past him, loping through the flowers with his nose down and tail high.

Legend rolls his eyes.

Twilight loves to show his teeth, but the farmhand is quite literally all bark and no bite.

And besides, they both have better things to do than needle one another. If Legend is going to be miserable, he may as well take steps to make that misery as short as possible.

Afterall, they aren't out here swanning through a meadow of flowers for pleasure.

The last Dark Portal they had all walked through had, once again, separated them. Legend and Twilight were lucky enough to find one another quickly, though, now that Legend thinks about it, it probably had less to do with luck and more to do with Twilight’s nose.

After regrouping, they had tried to search for the others more that day, but a storm had them holed up in a cave overnight to wait out the deluge. They had gotten up early to start their search again today, but so far they had no such luck in finding any of the others in the forest.

Which just left the inexplicable meadow of tulips surrounding the wood.

Legend had been hoping that the rain would keep some of the pollen at bay, but nooo that would be too merciful, wouldn’t it?

If anything, the rain just made this whole experience more aggravating. Now, along with stinging eyes, a running nose, and a throbbing head, Legend also had the delightful honor of feeling the tulip stalks and leaves and petals sliding wetly across his skin, the annoying slap of his tunic smacking his thighs as it got more sodden by the second, and the disgusting squish of water between his toes with every step he took through this Wind Fish damned field.

And sure, maybe it was worth it to reunite with the other heroes, but really, would it kill the goddesses to make his life just a little bit easier.

A bark pulls Legend from his miserable musings. Twilight's dark tail stands out among the ocean of pastel pinks and yellows and oranges, wagging frantically twenty meters away. It disappears after a second, replaced by a muzzle and expectant eyes.

Twilight barks at him again.

He must have found something.

Finally, Legend thinks as he begins to make his way over toward the other, hopefully a reason to get out of this floral hell hole.

“What is it, boy?” Legend asks, voice going high and mocking as he takes delicate care stepping on as many flowers as possible, “Little Time-y fall down the well again?”

Instead of a growl for his effort, Legend gets a flurry of black flecks falling upward, like pieces of reverse snow, in his peripheral vision.

“You know,” Twilight says as he straightens to his full height, eyes half-lidded. Unamused, “You’re really not as funny as you seem to think you are.”

And before Legend can interrupt that– No, actually, you just have a dog shit sense of humor. Literally– Twilight continues, “I can smell the smithy all over this thing.” He nods down at a small tree stump breaking through the tide of flowers. “The scent is a bit old, probably from sometime before last evening, but still traceable. I should be able to find him from here.”

Legend eyes the stump for a moment, peering into the cracked hole in the top of the wood. Inside, he can see the round, red caps of several toadstools sprouting.

He can also sense magic. Close to that of the fairies– natural and glittering and smelling of moss– but not quite the same.

The Smithy’s doing?

Or a natural occurrence?

Regardless…

“Welp,” Legend says, straightening up, “Let's go find him. Couldn’t have gotten far on those little legs of his.”

“Again,” Twilight huffs, the black fractals already consuming him once more as he transforms, “You’re not as funny as you think...”

His voice distorts and fades into nothing as the magic swallows him whole, leaving Legend once again having a conversation with a very unimpressed looking wolf.

“I like you better when you can’t talk,” Legend tells Twilight as the other sets off, snuffling at the ground.

The other pauses to give Legend a look that would be more at home on a disapproving mother’s face, before continuing his tracking.

He also whaps Legend in the leg with his tail.

Hard.

The prick.

They continue on their trek together like that for a while, Twilight occasionally pausing to shove his nose into the dirt some more as he decides which direction to follow as Legend trails behind, keeping his eyes peeled for a quadripartite tunic and a head of straight, gold hair.

It isn't long before the farmhand turned canine breaks off into a light trot and then a jog, and then a full on sprint.

And stops just as suddenly.

Legend is out of breath by the time he slides to a stop behind the farmhand, but from a cursory glance around, there doesn’t seem to be a short, mouthy smithy anywhere in the vicinity.

“What happened?” Legend asks, still searching, turning circles as he cranes his neck, “Did you lose the trail?”

Twilight gives a light whine, grabbing Legend’s attention.

Then he does two full spins and sits primly, looking up at Legend.

“The hell is that supposed to mean?” Legend crinkles his nose at the canine. “Use your words.”

Wolfie rolls his eyes in a way that Legend didn’t think was possible for dogs and then stands.

The canine stares at him intently, as though making sure Legend’s eyes are locked with his own. And then he flicks his eyes over the yellow tulip he is sitting next to meaningfully. Then back to Legend. Back and forth back and forth, his eyes go for a full minute before he stops and stares at Legend once more.

Legend feels as his face wrinkles in confusion.

It's just a regular tulip, just like the thousands currently around them. Pretty enough, he supposes. The bulb seems to be a little wilted, like it's been weighed down by rain water perhaps, but other than that, nothing to sneeze at.

Or everything to sneeze at, if you’re Legend.

Legend gives the flower one more skeptical glance before turning to look at Twilight once more, brow raised.

“Pretty,” he assures the other. “Not sure how it helps us find Four.”

Twilight heaves another too human sigh.

And then he reaches up, takes the sleeve of Legend’s tunic between his teeth, and yanks.

“Hey!” Legend yelps as he’s dragged down into the dirt, “Watch the teeth! The embroidery on this thing took forever to do and even longer to enchant!”

Twilight pays him no mind, pulling him down and forward, closer to his chosen tulip.

Legend tries his best to keep his face away from the damn thing.

“I swear on The Three, if your slobber stains–”

Legend’s words crumple up and die in his throat.

There’s something in the tulip.

At first glance, Legend would identify it as the Smithy's earring. The small feathered one that he takes special care of. The one that Four refuses to tell Legend the origin of, besides his cryptic, “From a friend.”

Legend would say that it was just the earring, but… but it isn’t.

Rather than being completely red with a white tip, Legend can see that this little feather is only mostly red. Right before the tip, a darker red plumage takes over, followed by purple and blue and green.

Also, rather than being attached to the small, golden chain and stud Four uses to fasten the jewelry to his earlobe, it’s attached to a body.

A very, very small body.

By now, Twilight has let go of his sleeve, but Legend both doesn’t notice and doesnt care, all of his attention fixed on the little creature before his eyes.

From what he can tell, the little creature is asleep, curled up in the bulb of the flower, his feather tail tucked up near his nose for warmth. Looking past the plumage, Legend can see that the little guy has a very rat-like face, complete with a small, twitching pink nose, long whiskers and–because the creature is shivering– long, chattering rodent incisors. Oval shaped ears stick out from the creature's head, a mix between mouse-like and Hylian.

And framing those ears is shoulder length, soaking wet blonde hair.

Blonde hair held out of the little guy's face by a green headband.

And…

And he’s wearing the smithy’s tunic?

“... Four?” Legend whispers in amazement.

And just saying the other’s name out loud is like a spell because suddenly Legend can see all signs. The little guy has Four’s bag over his shoulder and the Four Sword at his hip. That same magic that was by the stump– the not-fairy, fairy magic– completely surrounds him, dusting him in the same way he is currently dusted in yellow pollen.

“Is that you, Smithy?” Legend asks a little louder.

But rather than startle awake, the small creature– Four, Legend reminds himself– simply hunkers down more fully into the flower, curling up more fully as his shivers increase.

“He must have transformed in order to speak with the Minish around here.”

Twilight’s voice, even though it is a whisper, gives Legend a start. He hadn’t realized the other had transformed, nor had he seen the farmhand crouch down by his side.

The other isn’t looking at him as he speaks, cool blue eyes instead locked on the fitfully sleeping smithy, face concerned.

“He once told me that the Minish are insatiable gossips. He must have transformed to try and find us.”

The concern on the farhand’s face darkens the longer he stares.

“He must have been caught out in the storm,” Twilight says grimly.

Legend tries to imagine what that would be like. To be the size of a mouse and out in a storm. Tries to imagine what it would feel like for gale force winds to pull at drag at him, crushing him into the dirt one moment and yanking off his feet the next. Tries to imagine dodging back and forth between tulips, avoiding the head sized, stone cold rain drops pelting down from the sky

It's not a pretty pictograph, he’ll admit.

And ugh, Legend really isn't a fan of what it's making him consider.

He spares another glance at Four.

And fuck, the little guy shivers and shivers and shivers until the fower he is sleeping in is shaking with it.

And then, he sneezes, the sound coming out tiny and squeaky and weak.

Son of a bitch.

With a sigh that is as weary and reluctant and annoyed as he can possibly force it to be even though the vetran is feeling none of those things, Legend takes hold of the flower near its stem. As gently as possible, he digs his nails into the soft green there, cutting the flower from the ground while keeping it intact.

He hands it to Twilight, who takes it from him with gentle, if slightly confused hands.

With one hand, Legend flips open his shoulder bag. With the other, he rips his hat from his head with a motion probably a tad more violent than is really called for. He arranges the hat inside the bag, making sure to cover his items with the soft fabric while also shaping a soft bed.

Without looking up from his work, Legend extends a hand out to Twilight.

Makes a grabbing motion when what he wants isn't immediately in his hand.

After a second, Twilight slowly places the stem of the flower back in Legend’s hand and the Veteran gently lowers it in the small nest he had created, making sure the bulb sits in a place both shielded from the sun and extra comfortable thanks to the extra fabric padding beneath it.

In one smooth motion, Legend takes a hold of the strap of his bag, pulls it carefully off of his shoulder, and places it on the other side of Twilight’s neck.

And then, he reaches down and touches the dark stone hanging from the necklace around the farmhand’s throat, letting the darkness flock around and consume him.

When Legend blinks open his eyes, Twilight is looking down at him smugly.

He is looking down farther than usual.

Also looking smugger than usual.

“Shut up,” he grumbles, shaking out his fur before hopping on all fours to get closer to the bag.

“I didn’t say anything,” Twilight replies, not bothing to wipe the smug look off his stupid face even as he lowers the bag to the ground for easier access.

“Yeah you did,” Legend hisses quietly as he clambers carefully into the satchel, settling down the nest of leather and items and hat.

He pulls the flower closer to his side where it is warm.

Inside, he can feel as Four’s shivers begin to lessen.

"Cute," Twilight laughs from above them.

"Fuck you," Legend whisper spits, though he makes no move to push Four's flower away. If anything, he pulls it closer when he hears the smaller hero start to make small, chittering snores, surprised the smithy could sleep through such a racket.

Twilight, thankfully, doesn't comment, instead pulling the top of the bag loosely closed to give them some shade. Then, Legend feels as he gently lifts the satchel back up, slings it slowly over his shoulder as to not disturb the contents inside, and begins walking, hopefully back in the direction of the forest.

Legend can still hear the farmhand laughing to himself from within the bag, but without the others' eyes on him, he finds he doesn't care.

The pollen still itches at his eyes and nose and Legend can still feel the pound of his sinuses even now. But something about the shade and warmth and soft rocking of the bag makes it hard for him to mind.

Four gives a harty twitch, kicking a petal directly into Legend’s face.

And even that doesn't dissuade the veteran from his task.

Instead, Legend sighs and pulls Four even closer, relaxing despite the discomfort.

He’s got dirt on both Twilight and now Four, the two heroes with sticks most firmly inserted into their asses. He can get out of whatever chores and lectures they try to pin him with.

Yep, he thinks , distantly. That's why he did this.

For the blackmail.

And no other reason.

#yes this is the live write that started the whole sneet thing #I write fluff and thats the thanks I get for it /j #lu legend #lu twilight #lu four #reluctantly soft legend is such a mood #I adore it #also #the image of minish four curled up asleep in a tulip made me go feral #so I had to share it with others #train writes #linked universe #linkeduniverse

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sixofpomegranates · 3 years

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Rain in California - Act 1 - California

🥀Mini Series “Rain in California” Act 1 - Part 1 - California🥀

✨My Main Masterlist✨ | 18+ | AO3 | Wattpad

🥀Soundtrack🥀 | ✨Aestethic Trailer✨ | 🥀Masterlist🥀 | Words: 9.4k

A/N: The music used in this story is not owned by me (obviously) & I used it in the same style that 'Rock of ages' and 'Mamma Mia' used songs. I gave them a different meaning and context. The meaning and context are NOT representing the one that the ORIGINAL ARTIST had.

TW: ANGST, mention of loss/death/addiction/sobriety/murder, suicidal thoughts/tendencies, depression, addiction, substance abuse, drugs, alcohol, ABUSIVE RELATIONSHIP, stalking, death by overdose, mentions of OD, passive aggressiveness, arguing,

Songs in this Chapter: La di die – Nessa Berrett Going to Hell | My Medicine | Heaven Knows – The Pretty Reckless

“Spence?”

Spencer looked up from his book.

Oh, so now he was allowed to talk with them about the case.

Since the briefing they hadn’t talked to him about anything. Spencer had to beg them, to let him work on this case.

He had really felt left out and why?

Because the stalking victim was a famous Rockstar with addiction issues. Spencer was hurt about his team not wanting him to be on the case because of this. Yes, he had struggled with addiction in the past, but he had been clean for over ten years now.

Was this unfair treatment…this distrust in his sobriety, ever going to stop?

It wasn’t like they had cared much about it when Emily had faked her death or when Maeve died, but this, for them, looked like a too high risk? Because there was a pretty girl involved?

He tried his best not to sound passive aggressive when responding.

“Yeah, JJ?”, with success.

“I asked if everything´s okay.”

“Sure. Why should anything be wrong?”, the blonde shrugged a little, an apologetic look on her face.

“Well the case-“ “It´s just a stalking case. Nothing we haven’t already seen. I actually wonder why we even need to come. The stalker isn’t aggressive and hasn´t hurt anybody. Right now he´s just importunate. The police should be able to catch this unsub themselves.”, he had accidently let a little of his passive aggressiveness slip and Emily, who was sitting next to JJ, looked at him.

“The record label convinced the police to contact us. They seem worried about their artist.”

“From what I know…this girl can take care of herself.”, Luke snickered, earning himself a ‘Come on, really?’-look from Emily. “Sorry, but have you seen or listened to her music? She could probably beat Reid in a fist fight.”

“Just because she´s making rock music, doesn’t mean she´s tough. But we should talk a little about the case, Reid if you ever feel unco-“, he quickly interrupted her with a snappy tone.

“Why, because she´s an addict? I don’t care about that.”, Emily lifted her hands in a calming manner.

“Okay, jeez. Just the way you´re on edge, since the briefing, doesn’t look like you are okay.”, Spencer took a deep breath, trying to talk calmer this time, now almost pleading in tone.

“I-I know. But I´m clean since was twenty-six. I never touched anything again and I don’t feel the need to. I even regulate my alcohol intake, never drinking more than a beer, maybe two glasses of whiskey. Which means, that statistically all of you are at a higher risk, of becoming addicted, during this case, then I am. You guys need to trust me.”, the dark haired woman sighed and nodded.

“You´re right. I´m- We´re just worried. You´re our friend, Spencer.”, she handed him a file. “Just promise me you talk to one of us, if something changes.”

He nodded opening the file. A picture of [y/n] looked at him. Dark heavy make-up, dark clothing and jet black hair with colorful streaks.

His younger self would´ve been as attracted as terrified of her.

He flipped through the pages. [y/n] [y/l/n]. Twenty-six years old. Stalker since approximately two years. Nothing extremely outstanding for a stalking case…which was kinda outstanding. No letters, no calls, no pictures, no break in, no threats…sometimes she would get random, expensive present delivered to her mansion, but that was it. Given that she was famous, this presents did not even have to be from a stalker.

“Are we sure there´s even is a stalker?”, Spencer frowned at his own question, Emily shrugged as a response.

“According to the manager, Philip Schuyler, since the first time she played his concerns down, he gets these calls of a man asking for [y/n] and how she is doing. The label didn’t take it serious after he told them, but then the unsub stole the last finished album from [y/n]´s band ‘Shot Monarch’, before it could get released and distributed, also erasing every digitally existing copy. He then called the manager and send the owner of the record label a letter; typed on a computer, no fingerprints; stating that he wanted to be taken serious. Later [y/n] got the USB, containing all her songs, with a dozen white lilies, her favorite, back per mail with an apology letter; stating that she had done nothing wrong and didn’t need to worry, since he could never harm her or her carrier. That´s when the label pushed the police to contact us.”

“Because they are worried about the music…not the woman.”, JJ sighed, shaking her head.

“Well, that´s the industry. At least her manager is worried. Police states that he got himself a gun license after that and tries to be everywhere [y/n] is.”, Luke added.

“Something about that is off.”, Spencer whispered, rubbing his stubbles, before looking at JJ, Emily and Luke again. “There is nothing that indicates a stalker, but every time somebody doubts his existence, he does something noticeable. I know she is famous and that comes with the stigma of having crazed fans as stalkers, but most stalking in general is committed by someone known to the victim, such as an ex-partner or acquaintance. We should check that out.”, JJ nodded.

“It would also be smart if one of us stays by her site.”, Luke quickly raised his hand.

“I volunteer. I- Like- Really! If necessary I´ll sleep in the SUV.”, Emily raised an eyebrow.

“Can it be that you´re a fan? I heard you and Penelope freak out a little over the case earlier.”, a shy smirk appeared on his lips.

“‘Shot Monarch’ has really good music. Since my road trip a year ago, I love their stuff. Penelope actually tol-”, Spencer interrupted him determined.

“I´ll do it.”, Emily quickly shook her head.

“Reid, no.” “Why not?”, his voice got high, making him quickly cleared his throat. “Because-“ “Because she is taking drugs. Do you trust me that little, Emily?”, Spencer snapped at her and she leaned back into her seat. Sure the others from the team were older than him, but he was in his late thirties, and yet was treated like a child.

“Fine. If you think you can handle it, do it. But stop being so sassy, I hate that.”, Emily looked at look in defeat. “Luke tell him what you know about [y/n] and the band.”, he nodded pulling out his phone.

“Okay so, [y/n] is the lead singer of ‘Shot Monarch’. She´s from a small town in Ohio and came to LA when she was eighteen, to become a singer after going viral. They are a band since five years, the name never really got explained by them, but it has something to do with the butterfly; at least that’s a fan theory I now from Penelope. Plus it makes sense, because [y/n] has a tattoo of one on the back of her hand.”, Luke flipped through some pictures of older man, reminding Spencer of bikers and insurance agents at the same time. Like middle-aged fathers that liked rock but still had a nine-to-five job.

“Hank, the guitarist, was a lawyer before and in a cover band with his high school friends Tom, the bassist, who worked for an insurance company, and Leroy, the drummer, who was history teacher and is also married to Hank. They met [y/n] at an open mic night and even though she´s twenty-six and they are in their late forties, early fifties, they got along so well, that they became a band. That´s ‘Going to Hell’ by the way. One of the more controversial songs.”, Luke pressed play on the video and already moved the lips to the lyrics.

“Father did you miss me,

Been locked up a while.

I got caught for what I did but took it all in style.

Laid to rest all my confessions I gave way back when.

Now I'm versed in so much worse,

So I am back again, and he said

For the lives that I take, I'm going to hell!

For the love that I make, I'm going to hell!

Gettin' heavy with the devil, you can hear the wedding bells.”

“The guitar you´re hearing is a classic Hank. That guy knows what he´s doing.”, Luke added, seemingly in his element, reminding Spencer a lot of Garcia when she was excited.

Spencer nodded and watched the music video, the overall theme was dark and heavy. [y/n] voice was nice, a little smoky and strong, but everything just sounded so angry. Not really his style, although he preferred older, classical music in general over the ‘normal’ things ‘normal’ people liked. [y/n] wore tightfitting latex, while the men from her band mostly just wore black jeans and shirts, sometimes leather jackets. At one time, she was surrounded by snakes, only wearing white lingerie. She was really pretty, red lipstick making her look like a biting version of Snow White. Like a princess that would rather save herself, becoming the villain along the way, before letting someone else save her.

“Father did you miss me,

Don't ask me where I've been.

You know I know, yes, I've been told I redefine a sin.

I don't know what's driving me to put this in my head.

Maybe I wish I could die, maybe I am dead!

And he said

For the lives that I fake, I'm going to hell!

For the vows that I break, I'm going to hell!

For the ways that I hurt, when I'm hiking up my skirt.

I am sitting on a throne while they're buried in the dirt.

For the man that I hate, I'm going to hell!

Gettin' heavy with the devil, you can hear the wedding bells.”

The lyrics and symbolistic in the video mocked parts of the Christian belief system. Such as the bite Eve had taken from the apple, showing [y/n] taking a bite from the forbitten fruit. The last supper and the crucifixion were shown with a dark twist too. This could be a hint of rebellion, to cope with religious trauma, or simply be a way to cause controversy.

“Please forgive me father,

I didn't mean to bother you.

The devil's in me father.

He's inside of everything I do.

For the lives that I take, I'm going to hell!

For the laws that I break, I'm going to hell!

For the love that I hate, I'm going to hell!

For the lies that I make, I'm going to hell!

For the way I condescend and never lend a hand.

My arrogance is making this head buried in the sand.

For the souls I forsake, I'm going to hell!

Gettin' married to the devil, you can hear the wedding bells.”

As the video ended Luke took his phone and put it back into his pocket.

“Their earlier stuff had a little more emotion to it, was about heartbreak, suffering and made you feel. This is one of the more recent ones and you can hear that it´s now mostly just stuff like sex, drugs and anger. Most people think that´s because [y/n] writes all of their music and she´s…seen better days…”, Luke sighed, trying to make it sound as polite as possible.

“Because she started taking drugs?”, Spencer raised his eyebrows, but Luke shook his head. “Oh, no. She, according to many rumors and an interview with her father, has taken drugs since she was a teen. But at this point…she just simply seems to have given up, having chosen to not go deeper with her songs anymore. I mean, they still slap. They just don’t slap your heart anymore, you know?”

“Not so nice, when your father talks to the press about your addiction. Could her father be a suspect?”, JJ asked, making Luke shrug and shake his head at the same time.

“Most likely not. He said in that interview that he wishes her the best, but doesn’t want to speak to her again.”, Emily mouthed a silent ‘ouch’, the whole talk about the rockstars private life making Spencer think.

“Maybe that´s part why she´s taking drugs? Often people use them to cope with-“, Emily interrupted him, profiling [y/n] and her substance abuse, quickly.

“Reid. We´re not going there to fix her, just the stalking situation.”, he nodded, knowing that he had a savior complex, always trying to help and save everybody.

“Exes?”, Spencer asked and Luke shook his head.

“Just one is known, Dean Lennox, singer, now married with kids. He and [y/n] were together for two years and according to him it was toxic. Like, always fighting, jealousy, distrust, fear of being left but she still didn’t want him close at the same time, lying. After their last breakup, he told a gossip magazine, he just couldn’t watch her destroy herself anymore. She never commented on it.”, JJ looked at Spencer worried.

“She seems like a handful, are you sure you can handle her alone?”, he chuckled while nodding.

“I´ve been through worse. How hard can it be to watch a twenty-six year old? When she, like Luke said, really doesn’t want anyone close, I´ll just sit on her couch and let her do her thing.”

*****

After landing in Los Angeles and checking into their hotel, the team drove to police station. There already waited a massage for them with an address. It was from the manager, he wrote that he was terribly sorry, but they needed to come to the recording studio, since the band was on a tight schedule all morning. Luke had tried his best, but Spencer could see his excitement through his tough-guy-façade. He, JJ, Luke and Emily took one of the SUV´s and drove to the address.

The building they entered was large and with great security. Expensive, white marble flooring in the entire entrance hall. They showed their batches to the lady at the front desk and the security, she called somebody and soon a short, pudgy man, dressed in a designer suit walked out of the elevator and up to them. He smiled at them friendly and shook everyone’s hand.

“Ah, the agents. I am so glad that you´re here. Hi. Hello. I´m Philip Schuyler, the manager of ‘Shot Monarch’.”, Emily shook his hand and pointed at the team.

“Nice to meet you. I´m unit chief SSA Prentiss, those are SSA Jareau, Alvez and that´s Dr. Spencer Reid. He will take on the job as bodyguard for Miss [y/l/n].”, the man scratched his brown hair, avoiding the bald spot on top.

“Yes, uhm, please just call her [y/n]. She really dislikes being called Miss [y/l/n]. We also already have police and security around her house, so I don’t know how important a personal bodyguard is. I really want this case solved and it would be terrible if we would hinder your work.”, Spencer lifted a finger.

“Actually, it would be better if I´m able to stay close to [y/n]. Normal police and security could probably oversee minor details about the stalker, Mr. Schuyler.”, the man waved off.

“Please, Mr. Schuyler was my father. Philip is completely fine. Everybody calls me that.”, he started walking to the elevator and the agents followed him. “Right now the band´s having a little break. After that, we need to record one more song for the ‘live in the studio’-version of their new album, that just came out. Are you familiar with their music?”, they got into the elevator and Luke already nodded.

“Yeah. Really great. Big fan.”, Emily lifted her hand, silencing Luke.

“I´m sorry. If that´s a problem we can-“, Philip laughed, interrupting her.

“Oh, no, no. [y/n] will love that. She likes meeting fans and showing off her music.”

They got out of the elevator, walked through the little hallway and entered the large double door in front of them. There was the recording studio. A lot of technical things, Spencer didn’t know much of, and a large glass wall in front of it, showing another room.

The recording room was large, with a black leather couch and beanbags in it and nice, warm, wooden flooring. A drum set was placed on an vintage looking, red carpet and the overall lighting was warm and inviting as well. The door to the room was open and he could hear the three men, from the band, talking and laughing inside.

“Guys, can you come out for a bit?”, Philip asked them and they looked up, walking up to them. “Okay, uhm, guys, those are the agents from the FBI. You know? The once coming because of [y/n]´s stalker.”, the largest man, a head taller than Spencer, smiled through his long grey beard that contrasted his bald head.

“Nice to meet you then, I´m Hank. That my husband Leroy,”, they shook hands with the dark skinned, skinny man, who in contrast to his husband was cleanshaven, with short black hair and glasses, “and that´s our friend Tom.”, the chubby, white, blond waved at them friendly.

“Why would like to talk with each of you individually, later at the police station, if that is possible.”, Emily said before introducing her team again, also mentioning Spencer´s duty as bodyguard. Leroy grimaced his face.

“Uh, [y/n] will hate that. The girl does not like being babysat.” “I´m not going to babysit her.”, Spencer answered, making Leroy chuckle. “That´s not how she will see it though.”, Hank sighed and put a hand on Spencer´s shoulder.

“Our girl is going through a lot right now. So it would be nice of you, to not take everything she´s saying personally, okay?”

“Personally?”

Spencer raised his eyebrows. He desperately hoped [y/n] wouldn’t be a bitch the entire time, since he couldn’t promise to not give her a piece of his mind, if so.

“[y/n]´s a little belligerent…Easy to get triggered and then she blows up like a bomb.”, Tom said and JJ cocked her head. “Is the stalking getting at her?”, Leroy shook his head. “Not really. But her mother died a few months ago and since then…little rough patch. She´ll get better. We all hit rock bottom once.”

“Is she going to therapy?”, Emily asked straight forward, making Tom, the chubby one chuckle. “Not since she hit the last therapist a few years ago. We paid his medical expenses and he was nice enough to not sue her. But we are here to help her, once she´s ready to let us.” “Must be exhausting, for you.”, JJ said empathetic and all the men waved off.

“Because of the drugs? No, it´s not that bad. She´ll collect herself. I have seven kids. Four of them are going through puberty right now. Phil has a toddler and Leroy and Hank have three rescue dogs and a couple of snakes. We can handle her.”, Tom laughed and the rest of the men started too.

“And that little stalker…Imma just say, I´m gonna rip him a new one, should I ever get the chance of meeting him. Counts for all of us.”, Hank added with everyone nodding in agreement.

“[y/n]´s a really nice girl and she´s been through a lot. If you´re nice to her, chances are high she´ll warm up to you and you won´t have any problems.”, Tom said to Spencer making him nod.

“And if she doesn’t?”, the tall doctor didn’t get an answer and just witnessed the rockers share a look.

Nice girl. Drug issues not so bad. Be nice and maybe she´s nice to you. For Spencer all of that sounded like he would have to walk around on eggshells, while she would blast through walls like a wrecking ball. The manager, Philip, checked his watch and looked around.

“So, where´s [y/n]? One more song and we´re done. Would be great not to hold up the investigation for too long.”

“She went to the toilet thirty minutes ago. We just ate our sandwiches. She said she wasn’t hungry.”, Leroy answered and at the same moment [y/n] walked in.

Spencer looked at her and for a moment forgot how to breathe. Short, high waisted, leather skirt, low cut, tank top and biker boots, all black, rounded off with fishnet stockings. [y/n] looked like she had climbed out of a teenagers wet dream. The perfect, little goth-girlfriend. She stretched a little and Philip looked at her.

“Bonjour, Philly.”, she said with a sassy undertone, while walking up to him and leaning on his shoulder. He was the same high as her, which wasn’t really tall, about 5,4, if Spencer had to guess.

“Hey, where were you?”, the pudgy man asked her.

“Took a nap in my car.”, she booped his nose and gave him a sheepish little smile. Spencer knew she was high. In fact the whole room knew it.

“You drove here?”, Tom asked shocked and [y/n] grinned sarcastically.

“I guess so, else somebody explain to me why my car´s here.”, Phillip patted her shoulder, looking worried as she took four pills out of an orange pillbox from her bag. He gave her a glass of water and she swallowed them. The men from her band looked at her concerned, making her give them a pearly white smile.

“Headache.”, she explained and they only nodded. Spencer couldn’t help but think, that she wasn’t having a headache and even if she had, it was probably a withdrawal symptom.

“You know that I don’t want you to drive when you´re…”, her manager looked at the agents and stopped talking, making her look at them as well.

“What? Why´d you stop talking? That the fun police?”, she started giggling at her own joke, making the band chuckle, since she clearly didn’t know how accurate she was with her joke.

“That´s the FBI, Princess.”, Hank told her and she made a fake shocked face and then laughed again.

“Officer- No wait, agents, right? I swear I did nothing wrong. Weed´s legal in Cali.”

The team shared some looks and Spencer couldn’t help but roll his eyes. [y/n] was not just on weed. Most definitely not just on weed.

“They are here because of your stalker.”, Philip explained and she shrugged almost disappointed.

“Oh, that guy. Well, then hello. Nice to meet you. I´m [y/n].”

She shook hands with JJ and Emily as they introduced themselves. Luke couldn’t help but breathe in sharply, as he shook her hand and almost choked on his own spit as an aftereffect. She started patting his back with wide opened eyes.

“Shit, you okay? Asthma?”, [y/n] reached into her black, designer handbag and gave him a bottle with clear liquid. Luke took a sip, quickly grimaced his face and began coughing harder.

“Vodka.”, he stated through his coughing. [y/n] quickly took the bottle from him and took a sip too, without flinching. She then started cracking up at her mistake.

“Whoops. Mixed up the bottles, the other´s probably in my car. Philly, can you bring him…?”, Philip nodded and gave Luke a fresh water bottle from the mini fridge.

Wow. Vodka hidden in a water bottle. Spencer licked his lips, taking in the view of her bandmates looking at each other. ‘Not that bad’ looked different. ‘Not that bad’ would not have her sleeping in her car, midday, with a bottle of ‘water’ and coming back high as a kite. Luke, by now, had stopped coughing and [y/n] stepped away from him again.

“You good?”, she asked him, watching him wipe away his tears.

“Y-Yeah. Sorry.”, the black haired girl waved him off.

“Nah, don’t worry. I had asthma till I was twelve.”, he shook his head.

“I- I- No asthma. Just a really big fan.”, she started laughing again and although the light was dimmed, Reid could clearly see Luke´s cheeks turning red.

“Oh, that´s cute. But ‘Take My Breath Away’ is by Berlin.”, that sentence actually made the whole room laugh except for Spencer, who didn’t understand the reference. “What´s your name?”

“Luke Alvez.”, she shook his hand again, this time he didn’t almost choke.

“Well, nice to meet you, Luke. What´s your favorite song of ours?”

“25, no doubt. Really amazing. Like a James Bond song.”, the bandmates chuckled.

“We said that too.”, Leroy snickered, patting Luke´s shoulder and [y/n] nodded.

“It´s also my favorite. Excited to hear one of the new songs?”, Luke nodded excited and she turned her head to Spencer. “We both don’t know each other yet. Hi, I´m [y/n] and you are?”

She sounded quite collected. Clearly high, but able to think straight if necessary. [y/n] must´ve been doing this for a while now, seeming to have figured out, how much she could handle while working. Spencer had been at that point too once. You wanted to do your work and be good at it, but needed to be high, to make it through the day. So you just tried over a period of time, bit by bit, how much you were able to take before doing a shitty job. ‘Not that bad’ didn’t make you figuring out a system to be high all the time.

“Dr. Spencer Reid.”, he shook her hand.

“Dr. Reid will be your bodyguard, [y/n].”, Philip explained and quickly earned an angry look, as she let go of Spencer´s hand instantly.

“What? I don’t need a bodyguard, we talked about this.”, she hissed at her manager, but then started laughing after looking Spencer up and down. “And then that guy?”, Philip nodded as she rolled her eyes at him. ‘Do not take it personally’, Spencer told himself.

“I am more than capable of protecting you.”, he stated as friendly as possible, making her giggle.

“From what? A difficult math question?”

[y/n] mocking tone started to piss him off, but as Spencer felt Emily´s look on him, he played it cool. After all, he had to proof himself able to handle her.

“Your stalker.”, he corrected her and she licked her lips, pulling out a pack of cigarettes, looking at Luke.

“Since you don’t have asthma, would you mind if I…?”, Luke shook his head and she smiled. “Nice.”, she looked back at Spencer, at his gun. “Philip has a gun too.” “But Philip isn’t an FBI agent.”, Hank told her, making her shake her head in protest, like a little child.

“That´s ridiculous. And all of that just because a stranger sends me stuff, people send me stuff all the time.”

“You should be more worried about this guy.”, Leroy said and Tom nodded in agreement. “Yeah, what if he´s dangerous?”

“What´s the worst that could happen, like honestly, Doctor?”, she cocked her head at Spencer, looking up at him with an almost flirty smile.

“He could kill you.”, he gave back objectively, making the rockers obviously worried. “Geez. You make that sound like it´s a bad thing.”, she snickered and looked over to Luke. “Luke, wanna hear some music?”, he nodded.

“It would be an honor.”, his sentence made her giggle as she walked past him.

“You´re really cute.”

[y/n] walked into the recording room, Tom, Leroy and Hank following her. She put on her headphones and lit a cigarette, putting the package on the little table next to her mic. Philip closed the door and started pushing some buttons on the sound mixer in front of him. JJ whistled impressed.

“You do the technical stuff too?”, he nodded, chuckling.

“Since the stalking started, I try having as little people near [y/n] as possible. Thought it might just be a little crush from a weirdo and when he doesn’t get to see her, he gets over it.” “We need a list of the people that worked here though.”, Emily told him and he nodded.

“Of course.”, then he pushed a button and started talking into his microphone. “You guys, ready? Last song. ‘My Medicine’, then we can go home.”

They all approved of his words and started to playing. [y/n] relighting her cigarette and clearing her throat. Spencer couldn’t tell if that was her simply not caring or doing it for the feeling of the song. However, it seemed to fit the style.

“Somebody mixed my medicine

Somebody mixed my medicine”

“I love this already.”, Luke whispered and JJ chuckled.

“You haven’t even heard anything yet.”, she snickered.

“Doesn’t matter, the feeling is there.”, he lifted his arms, showing her his goosebumps.

“Well you hurt where you sleep and you sleep where you lie

Now you're in deep and now you're gonna cry

Got a woman to your left

And a boy to your right

You start to sweat so

Hold me tight 'cause

Somebody mixed my medicine

I don't know what I'm on

Somebody mixed my medicine

Now baby it’s all gone

Somebody mixed my medicine

And somebody's in my head again

And somebody mixed my medicine again, again”

Spencer watched [y/n] starting to move to the rhythm, swaying her hips and tapping her left foot to the beat, then looked to Philip pressing some buttons.

“She´s gonna be happy with that one.”, he whispered almost to himself and the next time Spencer looked at the band again, it almost felt like she was attentionally singing in his direction.

“Well I drink what you leak and I smoke what you sigh

See you cross the room with that look in your eye

Got a man to his left and a girl to his right

You start to sweat so

Hold me tight 'cause

Somebody mixed my medicine

I don't know what I'm on

Somebody mixed my medicine

Now baby it’s all gone

Somebody mixed my medicine

Somebody's in my head again

And somebody mixed my medicine again, again”

She started moving her head in a way that made her long black hair fall in her face, framing her features almost delicately. While Spencer starred and earned some grins from [y/n], he could hear Luke whisper with Emily, who actually seemed to like the music too.

“There's a tiger in the room and a baby in the closet”

The room laughed and Spencer looked confused, having JJ tell him, that it was a movie reference. Sometime he felt like an alien, having such simple references fly over his head. Star Trek or Book references would´ve been easier for him…although he still didn’t know what that ‘Twilight’ book was Penelope and JJ talked about a couple of times. Or that other book all the women had talked about in their break….what was it called, ‘Fifty Shades of Grey’? They had told him it was a romance novel, so he just assumed it was like ‘Pride and Prejudice’ by Jane Austen.

“Pour another drink mom I don't even want it

Then I turn around and think I see someone that looks like you”

Philip pressed some buttons again, [y/n] now harmonizing with herself.

“Well you hurt where you sleep and you sleep where you lie

Now you're in deep and now you're gonna cry

Got a woman to your left

And a boy to your right

You start to sweat so

Hold me tight 'cause

Somebody mixed my medicine

I don't know what I'm on

Somebody mixed my medicine

Now baby it’s all gone

Somebody mixed my medicine

Somebody's in my head again again

And somebody mixed my medicine

Again, again, again

Again, again, again”

The music started to slow down again, just like [y/n] movements, making Luke whisper words in awe.

“Somebody mixed my medicine

Somebody mixed my medicine

Somebody mixed my medicine”

Philip and the team applauded as [y/n] took her headphones off and the men put their instruments away.

“I´m happy with that.”, she said looking at Philip. “You, Philly?”

“Sounded great to me.”, he gave back, happy to answer.

“What about my new favorite fan. Luke?”, Luke quickly pushed Spencer aside to get to the microphone.

“Loved every second of it! Like- Amazing! Really!”, she giggled, throwing her head back and came through the door.

“What about my new guard dog?”, Spencer pointed at himself, not knowing if she was talking about him. “Of course you. So, what do you think, Doctor?”

“I- I don’t really know.”, she raised her eyebrows at his answer.

“Okay? Was it the drugs or just the music in general?”, he felt himself go pale. “Ah, okay. You´re prude, get it. I mean you already have that whole tutor-thing about you, so…Bach or Chopin?”

“Pardon?” “Which one? Or is it Mozart, or the deaf bitch, Beethoven?”, she grinned snarky.

[y/n] had a mocking tone in her voice, making Spencer feel embarrassed and like he was in school again, when the other kids in high school were making fun of him for not being cool enough. But he was too old to be bullied by a little junkie, who thought she was better than him.

“I´m surprised somebody like you would even know them.”, her smile vanished.

“Little bitch.”, she snapped at him, stepping closer as he cocked his eyebrows at her. Philip quickly walked between the two of them and smiled.

“So, what are we doing next? The albums done. Taken care of. [y/n] have you eaten something today? You wanna go out for dinner?”

“No, I haven’t and no, I don’t want to, when THAT is around.”, with ‘that’ she clearly meant Spencer.

“Now don’t be grumpy, Princess. You started it.”, Hank told her and she started to pout, shoulders relaxing.

“Wasn’t worth my time anyways.”, she murmured and Spencer felt himself getting proud. This was the first person, trying to bully him, he had stand a chance against.

“So, we´re gonna need you at the police station, if that´s okay?”, Emily asked Leroy, Hank and Tom, who nodded. “And Spencer, you should take [y/n] home and check out her house.” “Mansion.”, [y/n] corrected Emily. “I have a mansion. Worked too hard to have it being called a house.”, Emily only nodded, not letting herself get bothered by her words. Philip nodded, completely ignoring his clients snappiness too.

“I follow you in my car.”, he told Spencer. “[y/n] give Dr. Reid your keys, please.”, she shook her head indignant.

“No. That guy is not driving my car. I´ll drive.”, the whole band now started saying no.

“[y/n], you´re not driving.”, Tom ordered and Leroy nodded. “You´ll get an DUI so quick, it´s not even funny.”, Spencer lifted his hand, waiting for the key. “Oh, come on.”, she groaned, looking at her bandmates like her childish behavior would change their mind.

A nice sound. An annoying person, not getting what they want. Almost as beautiful as her [y/e/c] eyes, that actually were rather bloodshot, when Spencer thought about it.

“Should the police pull you over and see that you´re high, they´ll look through your car and I don’t think you want be taking in custody for drug possession, right?”, she handed him her keys and Spencer couldn’t help it and whispered “Thank you”, in the most mocking tone he was able to.

“Fucking cunt.”, she whispered back at him and he just chuckled.

“I´ve been called worse. So your little words don’t hurt me…sorry.”, she then grinned.

“Things like Spencer?”, [y/n] asked him, spitting his name like poison.

Spencer took a deep breath and watched her go out the door, telling himself to not answer her.

“Hey, kid.”, Spencer looked at Hank and he just lifted his thumb.

“You held yourself better than we thought you would.”, Leroy added, Emily looking at Spencer concerned.

“You sure you can handle her?”

He nodded, walking out the door and to the elevator which doors [y/n] was holding open for him.

“Hurry up, bitch boy! I wanna go home.”

*****

Of course the rich, spoiled brat drove an imported sportscar. When Spencer got in, he firstly had to push back the seat, not having enough room for his legs and then tried getting [y/n] to tell him where she lived.

“Try google, smart ass.”, was her answer and he sighed.

[y/n] then rolled down her window and grabbed a joint from her glove compartment. Spencer quickly leaned over and snatched it from her hand, making her whine as she tried getting it back.

“You´re such a bitch. Give me-“, he interrupted her whining.

“No. First tell me you´re address.”, she sat back into her seat.

“Fine. I´ll lead you there.”, [y/n] said, making grabbing motions with her hand and he handed her the joint back. She lit it and smoked out of the window.

Spencer knew he should have questioned why she gave up and let him win so easily. After ten minutes they weren’t at her mansion, they were at a McDonald´s.

“You´re fucking kidding me, right?”, he snapped at her and she began to giggle.

“You´re kina hot when you´re angry.”, her flirty grin and the way she bit her lip made him furious, because it was hot.

“What is wrong with you?”, Spencer almost yelled and she leaned back and pointed somewhere. “I´m hungry. Drive-Through. Over there.”

“No.” “Come on. Don’t be a bitch, dog.”, she snickered, resting her feet on the dashboard.

He looked at her, for a second thinking about simply getting out of the car and leaving, before he could hurt her. Maybe she was really too much for him to handle, the drugs were manageable, but it was her personality that drove him mad, yet he wasn’t someone to give up easily. Cars started to honk behind them.

“You´re holding up the traffic. I just wanted something to eat.”, [y/n] said, now almost annoyed because she wasn’t getting what she wanted. Spencer took a deep breath.

“Okay.”, she looked at him confused.

“Okay?”, he nodded, pulling into the Drive-Through. He was above this. ‘Give her what she wants, so she´s at least quiet.’

“You win.”

She started clapping and hugged him, smelling like marijuana and something he couldn’t quite make out. When they came up to the microphone box, [y/n] crawled over Spencer´s lap, forcing him to look and think respectfully. She ordering a bunch of stuff and then looked at him.

“What do you want? I only have booze at home, so…”, he looked at her a little startled. Was she trying to be nice to him?

“You wanna buy me something?”, she nodded like this behavior was normal to her. “Sure.”

“Surprise me. I never eat fast food, I don’t know what´s good.”

She nodded and then told the voice from the box to double her order. Sitting back into her seat, [y/n] took out a hundred dollar bill from her purse, handing it to Spencer. When they pulled up by the window, taking their things, the woman in the window nearly lost it when she saw the rockstar, starting to cry. [y/n] was really nice to her and asked her if she wanted to take a photo in the parking lot. Of course the woman said yes and after paying, where [y/n] had left almost fifty bucks as a tip, Spencer had to park and wait till they had made the photo and given an autograph.

“Okay, now drive before it goes viral. I wanna eat that stuff before it gets cold.”, she told him, taking a sip of one of the milkshakes.

“That was nice.”, she shrugged and then told him her address, telling him she´d scream when they reached it.

*****

Lo and behold, no twenty minutes later they parked in front of [y/n] mansion, next to another, more run down car, belonging to Philip. The mansion would´ve made Rossi´s mansion cry. At least twice as big and the property was enormous. In contrast to [y/n], it was very light and minimalistic from the outside and the inside.

“Most rooms are empty. Too big.”, she explained walking straight into the open living area, that had a large terrace with pool and a view over the Hollywood hills. She put the paper bags filled with food on the large kitchen island and sat on a barstool.

“You could sell it and buy a smaller one.”, [y/n] shrugged and took out a burger, starting to eat it.

“Philip says I´m gonna grow into it.”, she answered, mocking the tone of voice her manager had probably had.

Spencer watched her type something on her phone and a minute later Philip came into the room.

“Hey, where were you? I got worried.”, he asked them and [y/n] handed him a salad.

“It´s the one you always have.”, he smiled at her.

“Thank you. You´re so nice.”, she shrugged at his words, not really caring.

“Yours is in here too, dog.”, she now told spencer.

Ah, yes. She was being bitchy again. Spencer had only waited for it to happen. He said nothing, but walked up to the white kitchen isle and took the bag she pointed at.

“Milkshake, burger, fries. Fast food essentials.”, she stated, finishing her small cheeseburger and getting up to her fridge, taking out a beer. She held it to Spencer who declined and then to Philip who did the same. “Lame asses.”, she chuckled, opening it and standing at the counter, watching Spencer eat. “So you´re here for…?”

“Technically it would be the easiest for all of us, if I just stayed.”, she raised her brows.

“Staying like, in my house staying?”, he nodded and she shook her head. “No chance. I enjoy my solitude.”

“[y/n]. If it´s easier for the agent and better for you…”, she sighed, opening a drawer and taking out some pills, swallowing them with her beer. “Fucking hell. But don´t expect me to be considerate of you.”, the rockstar told him.

“Should you consume them with alcohol?”, Spencer asked, taking a bite of his burger and she shrugged.

“I´m going to sleep…you guys…do what you want, I don’t care…”

“Do you need me to do your laundry?”, Philip asked and [y/n] shrugged again, it seemed to be her favorite motion. As she walked down the hallways and Phillip yelled after her. “Don’t forget that you have a gig tonight, [y/n]!”

“THAT`S WHY I`M GOING TO SLEEP NOW, DUMB ASS! WAKE ME UP WHEN WE NEED TO GO!”, she yelled back, followed by the smashing of a door.

“She´s a nice girl.”, Philip said in the middle of the silence, as Spencer took place on one of the barstools.

“Like a car crash.”, the man in his fifties chuckled.

“I know she´s difficult, but in here she´s good.”, he pointed at his heart. “She has suffered a lot of losses in her life.”

“Then, just as a random thought, you should get into therapy before she OD´s.”, Spencer answered sassy.

“I know what you mean. But as long as she doesn’t want help or overdoes it…she has a system.”, Spencer let his head fall back and groaned.

“You know about that fucking thing?” “You too?”, Philip asked back in surprise. “Profiler. Took me no longer than the nap in her car, to figure that out.”

Yes, a small lie from Spencer, but it sounded better then: Oh yes, I was addicted to dilaudid once. I had a system too!

“Tell me, how does that train wreck of a system work?”, Philip leaned back from his salad.

“Well, she takes her painkillers in the morning and smokes some cannabis to get out of bed. When we´re touring or she has to be at shootings, interviews or anything else that needs her to focus, she only smokes and takes the pills all day, alcohol in water bottles is a new one though.”, Spencer sighed and thought if he even wanted to know more.

“And when she´s alone or not busy?” “Then she does the harder stuff.” “Harder stuff like cocaine, LSD…?”, Philip nodded. “Nothing with needles though…she´s scared of them.”

“She will not always be, if she continues like that.” “I know. That´s why I do my best to keep her busy. She even has her own recording studio here, knows how to handle everything herself. I thought it might make her spend more time making music than getting high. I also go out with her a lot, to a point where my wife starts to get jealous.”, he laughed bittersweetly. “Have you ever been to Disney World, agent?”, Spencer shook his head. “I take [y/n] there once a week, because she likes it there. I spend more time with her there then with my own daughter.”, [y/n] was famous, no chance people wouldn’t notice her.

“Does she even get to do anything there?”

“Not often. She mostly meets her fans there, but she loves that a lot. She is really sweet to them too, they mean everything to her.”

That was the first time Philip had said something that was true about [y/n]. She had, not once been mean to a fan. The complete opposite actually. She had been nice and thoughtful, going out of her way to make the woman at the Drive-Through happy and was nice to Luke.

“I know she was a little mean to you today, but she also bought us food, seeing it as a matter of course. There are two sides to every person, like a coin.”, Like a coin, just that [y/n] sides flipped as quickly like one too. Philip sighed and got up from his barstool. “I´ll show you around a little, if you want to.”

Spencer nodded, getting up, following the short man around the house.

*****

[y/n] had been right.

It was way too big and many of the rooms were empty. When Spencer asked Philip about the necessity of such a big mansion, he told him, that he had hoped to motivate [y/n] to have a family one day. But now the only rooms in use were her bedroom, one of the five guest bedrooms, which Spencer got to stay in, the open living area with kitchen and living room, the recording studio and a little library. The latter made Spencer a little jealous. In the middle of the room even stood a white piano with notes on it. [y/n] also had a lot of books, all dusty, because she never read anymore. He would´ve killed to have his own library…she probably didn’t even value what she had.

When they returned into the living area, Philip gave Spencer some spare keys, beginning to clean up a little and putting the food in the fridge. [y/n] didn’t lie, when she said, she only had alcohol at home. JJ came over and brought Spencer his go bag, asking him how it was going. Of course he said he was doing great, but couldn’t help but rant to her about [y/n]´s behavior.

“Well, she is an addict, Spence. You know how erratic some drugs can make you.”, he nodded.

“Yeah, but she really tries pushing me and then, one second to the other, she´s nice and polite. Have you talked to her bandmates?”, JJ laughed.

“Way too long. We had interviews with them and then Luke just couldn’t stop talking to them, he has also taken about a million pictures with them and facetimed Penelope so she could meet them too.”, Spencer chuckled.

“Sounds like they had a good time. Anything else happened? Found out something?”

“[y/n]´s mother was an addict and left the family when she was younger. When she found out her daughter was famous, she got back in touch with her, to borrow money. [y/n] didn’t care and even got her to live with her, in one of the guest bedrooms. She overdosed a few months ago, since then [y/n]´s addiction got worse.”, Spencer´s eyes got wide.

“She didn’t die in the guest bedroom though, right?”

Just as JJ wanted to answer, [y/n] walked in. Philip walking behind her with a duffle bag.

“She died in the bathroom and she didn’t overdose perse, she drowned after falling unconscious in the bathtub, while being high.”, she answered cold, seeming to have overheard their conversation. [y/n] grabbed a beer from the fridge and continued calmly while taking some colorful pills. “I found her. The bathroom that it happened in is always locked. Don´t worry.”, Philip fidgeted a little with his hands, looking for his keys.

“Uh-Uhm. Agents? We need to go. The concert…”

“You coming too?”, [y/n] asked, looking at JJ and she shrugged. “We could also invite the cute one…Luke. It´s about 20.000 people so two more won´t hurt…right Philly?”, Phillip nodded.

“You´re all invited. SSA Prentiss as well.”, he said and JJ smiled at them.

“Thank you. That´s very nice, but I´ll have to talk to them first.”, [y/n] shrugged at that and drank her beer.

“You have my number, just call when you know. We start half past eight.”, Philip then took the empty beer bottle from [y/n] and threw it away. “Show time.”

*****

Half an hour into the concert Luke had shown up, completely hyped.

“What did I miss? We had some ex-staff members to talk to. Did they already play ‘Going to Hell’?”, Spencer nodded. “Argh, dammit. Doesn’t matter, that song´s amazing too.”

During the whole concert Spencer watched [y/n]. The music wasn’t that bad, a little harsh, but it was mix of hard and alternative rock after all. At least that´s what Penelope said, when Luke started facetiming her. After the last costume change, Spencer pulled [y/n] aside. He asked her to not be so ‘touchy’ with her fans. Since she would kneel down and hold their hands. He tried telling her about the risks of having the unsub in the audience, but she only laughed.

“I´ll be as touchy as I want, bitch.”, he started to frown.

“At least don’t stagedive. Luke says you always do that and the risk of the unsub use-“, she interrupted him, wanting to go on stage.

“Fuck off, dog.”, he held her arm, trying to reason with her.

“Can you ple-“, she tried pulling away, like an angry child.

“No.” “Stop being so fuck-“, [y/n] interrupted him again.

“Stop trying to fucking babysit me.”

“I just want to hel-“, she ripped her arm away. “Yeah, fuck you too.”, the rockstar answered, not letting him finish and walked back on stage.

Philip walked up to Spencer, having seem the ordeal of him trying to talk to [y/n] and him now driving the heel of his palm into his eyes. This girl gave him migraines.

“What happened?”, Philip asked and Luke answered for Spencer.

“He told her not to stagedive.”, Philip laughed a little and shook his head.

“Oh yeah. Never tell her what to do. She hates that and then does it out of spite.”

“You don’t say?”, Spencer answered sarcastically.

On stage [y/n] took her microphone, saying something to her bandmates and then smiling sweetly, while talking to her fans.

“This next song is for my lovely new babysitter, who thinks he can tell me what to do.”, the crowd started booing and she laughed. “I know, I know. But it looks like he doesn’t know how things work around here…So I think we have to help him out a little.”

The music started to play and Luke patted Spencer´s arm.

“She dedicates ‘Heaven Knows’ to you! Penny have you heard? She sings ‘Heaven Knows’ for Reid!”

“NO! SHUT UP!”, the blonde on the phone squeaked.

He and Garcia started to freak out while Spencer watched [y/n] clapping her thigh and stomping to the beat.

“Jimmy's in the back with a pocket of high

If you listen close, you can hear him cry

Oh Lord, heaven knows, we belong way down below

Sing it!”

She lifted the mic to her audience she started to sing for her.

Oh Lord, heaven knows, we belong way down below, way down below, way down below

“Judy's in the front seat picking up trash

Livin' on the dole, gotta make that cash

Won't be pretty, won't be sweet

She's just sittin' here on her feet singin'

Oh, Lord, heaven knows, we belong way down below

Go!”

Again her fans obeyed her, Luke and Penelope freaking out next to Spencer. If it wouldn’t have been a moment, were he had to fear which move she had planned next to unnerve him, he might have even enjoyed this song and the involvement of her fans in it.

Oh Lord, heaven knows, we belong way down below

“Sing, oh Lord, tell us so, we belong way down below”

She now looked at him for a moment, while her audience sang. Before, again, walking around the stage, touching her fans hands.

Oh Lord, tell us so, we belong way down below

Way down below, way down below, way down below, way down below

“I've had better days, man, I've seen better days

I've had better ways, man, I know better ways

One, two, three and four, the devil's knocking at your door

Caught in the eye of a dead man's lie

Show your life with your head held high

Now you're on your knees with a head on low

Big man tells you where to go

Tell them it's good, tell 'em ok

Don't do a goddamn thing they say”

Spencer was surprised how well her fans knew her lyrics. She would just have to point at them or lift her mic and they would instantly sing were she stopped. Not missing a beat.

Oh Lord, heaven knows, we belong way down below

Oh Lord, tell us so, we belong way down below

Way down below, way down below, way down below, way down below

“I've seen better ways, and I know better ways

I've seen better days, man, I've got better days”

[y/n] now stood at the edge of the stage, back turned to her audience. She smiled directly at Spencer, fingers held like a gun to her head.

“Gina's in the back with a pocket of high

If you listen close you can hear the cryin'”

At the last word she mimicked shooting herself and let herself fall back into the crowd. Her fans got wild and continued her song, while Spencer certainly not in a long time, if ever, felt so much spite and frustration against a woman, other than Cat Adams.

Oh Lord, heaven knows, we belong way down below

Oh Lord, tell us so, we belong way down below

Singin' oh, Lord, heaven knows, we belong way down below

Oh, Lord, tell us so, we belong way down below

The crown placed [y/n] back on her stage, where she walked up to her bandmates again, waving at Spencer and Luke with the sweetest smile.

Way down below, way down below, way down below, way down below, way down below

*****

After the concert and the encores she and the band got behind stage, where Spencer for the least thirty minutes had waited to give her a piece of his mind. As [y/n] giggled and walked up to him and Luke. He grabbed her arm, a little harsher than planned.

“What the fuck is wrong with you?”, she blinked at his yelling, answering with her innocent eyes blinking and a mocking tone.

“What´s the prob, dog?”

“What´s- Do you really care so little for your own safety?”, Hank came up to them, having seen Spencer´s grip on the girls arm.

“Hey! What´s going on here? [y/n], are you okay?”, Spencer quickly let go of her.

“Yeah, the dog is just pissing himself because I stage dived.”, he quickly took a deep breath.

“I´m not pissing myself, [y/n], but I told you not to do it. What would you have done when your stalker would´ve been in the crowd and lost it? Nobody would´ve been able to get to you fast enough and help!”, Hank looked at her in disappointed shock.

“Is that true, [y/n]?”, the black haired girl ignored her friend and just continued arguing with Spencer.

“Well, maybe I don’t want anybody’s help!”, she hissed at Spencer.

“Then why are we even here?”, Spencer hissed back. “BECAUSE I BRING MONEY! Else the label would let me rot in a fucking corner! GOD! You are ruining my after-show-high. I hate you!”, [y/n] yelled and Spencer tried not to yell back, tried to be the bigger person, only hissing back at her.

“Oh, trust me. That feeling is mutual.”, she swallowed hard and then turned around, stomping away.

*****

After half an hour waiting, Spencer got a call from Philip, telling him that [y/n] refused to see him again and would be sleeping at his house tonight. He told him, that he should just let himself into the mansion and eat what´s in the fridge. It wasn’t from use, to try talking to [y/n], when she was that angry. Tomorrow Philip would call him and bring her back into Spencer´s care.

Spencer did as told, Luke driving him to the mansion, telling him that it wasn’t his fault. He then got into the large, empty mansion and grabbed himself a well-deserved beer. Being alone in this big house was depressing. After his third beer he stopped, walking into his room.

He pulled his blue and gold sobriety token, he had gotten for being clean ten years, out of his bag. Thumb rubbing over the golden X in the middle of it. He actually had deserved a twelve year token by now, but since prison didn’t actively attended the meetings anymore, having grown past it. Yet, he still kept the tokens he had, close to him.

They reminded him of his achievement, reminded him to be proud at himself.

Spencer never wanted to fall back into the dark hole he was in, when he was addicted, and even when [y/n] would throw tantrum after childish tantrum, she wouldn’t cause him to relapse. He was stronger than this. Stronger than her.

To be continued...

Give me your feedback [also anonymous!]

Taglist (lmk if you want to be added/removed)

#spencer reid #spencer reid fanfic #spencer reid fanfiction #dr spencer reid #post prison spencer #criminal minds fanfic #criminal minds fanfiction #criminal minds #spencer reid angst #angst #reid x you #spencer x y/n #criminal minds x y/n #spencer reid reader insert #spencer x reader #reader insert #spencer reid x you #rainincaliforniaff

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maxismatchccworld · 3 years

Text

Patch Notes

PC:1.69.54.1020 / Mac: 1.69.54.1220 Console: Version 1.35 Happy Holidays Simmers! It’s time to go back in to Create a Sim! Where in this update you will find 100+ new skin tones, customization sliders for skin tones and makeup, and three improved base game hairstyles! Every skin tone now has a value slider that allows you to change the light to dark value of that skin tone, unlocking a much wider variety of skin tone options for you to play with! You will also find that our skin tones are now filterable to warm, cool, and neutral tones (as well as miscellaneous that covers our occult skin tones).

The new makeup sliders add more choices and opportunities for you to customize your Sims, and express your Sim’s style! Hue, saturation, value or brightness, and opacity are now available to modify on the makeup. We have locked some of the sliders where it did not provide an optimal experience or make sense for the makeup. Expect us to continue our work on these issues into the future to provide you with more. In addition to the customization opportunities provided, you can also save custom swatches as you tweak your sliders to get the perfect look. When you click on the swatch (for skin tones and makeup) as you modify the sliders, you will have an opportunity to save your custom settings, so you can re-use it later without having to remember your perfect looks! Did we mention that we made some hair updates? We did - we updated a base game child hair (cfHair_BraidedPonyTail), and we added a second version of that hair that removes the baby hairs (cfHair_BraidedPonyTailPlain). And we updated a base game male hair that you may find difficult to recognize from the original hair (ymHair_flatTopTextured)!

We have updated the Main Menu!... Again! The idea behind this change is to create a more cohesive experience and give Packs a more proper space as we continue to grow our content lineup. As a nice bonus, we highlighted the Gallery in a more meaningful way to inspire you.

-SimGuruGnome & SimGuruRusskii

Now onto the fixes:

Sims 4

Sketching so much that the Digital Sketch Pad just quit on you? Never fear! Freelancer Sims that use the Digital Sketchpad will now be able to complete designs without being reset abruptly.

Happy Birthday to all! Sims will now properly Age Up. Adulting is hard but they will make it, don’t worry.

Fixed an issue in which Doors, Windows, and Arches had cutouts when being reflected in Mirrors. Rorrim Rorrim no eht llaw, ohw si eht tseriaf erutaef fo meht lla?

Sims that do not have the Fishing Skill, or have not been Fishing at all, will not get notifications about identifying Fish. THEY WERE FISHING WITH THEIR MINDS.

The following careers have added the “Take Vacation Day” option, yay!Editor Russkii note: I didn’t want to add each line in each pack for this fix, it would have looked weird and robotic so that is why I chose to do one bullet point for all in this section.

Child Sims will no longer forget they are in their Sleepwear when they go to school. Though in these times of Work and School from Home, I don’t blame them one bit.

The Sweet Escapes Country Toilet will no longer be Comfortable AND Uncomfortable at the same time… There can only be one!

Sims with the Best Selling Author Aspiration can now complete their task of writing 3 Best Sellers.

Fixed an issue in which resized objects would disappear when they were part of downloaded Gallery items.

We revised our Careers (Pack specific and not) and we made sure there were no Chance Cards that were repeated constantly.

We noticed we had added the option to Clean Up Toddler on kitchen and bathroom sinks for both Toddlers and Children by mistake, so we removed it for both age groups from the sink… but how would have they fit? Like… how? These are the questions that keep me up at night.

Build Snowpal interaction is no longer available on non-natural ground (For Simmers that own Seasons and/or Snowy Escape). That's why it's called a Snowpal, not a Floorpal!

Gardener (Seasons)

Military (Strangerville)

Lifeguard for Teens and Conservationist (Island Living)

Law, Education, and Engineer (Discover University)

Civil Designer (Eco Lifestyle).

Get to Work

We made a clarification on the Xenophilia moodlet when interacting with Alien Sims. It should no longer say “From Discovering Aliens” but now it correctly reads “From Interacting with Aliens.”

Fixed an issue in which childbirth was not possible if Simmers changed the color swatches of the Surgery Tables. Now listen, I have heard about renting whole hospital wings for a birth in real life and other eccentricities, but this… was really something.

Get Together

Male Sims will no longer get Pregnant after receiving calls from NPC Sims.

City Living

NPC Sims will now text and call with invitations to Festivals. I personally welcomed the calm and quiet of my phone not beeping about constantly. But I can’t miss a Festival!

Sims rejoice! Yard sale customers will no longer invade their Home Lots and use Household objects. It is a Yard Sale… OUT in the yard, not an Open House.

Did you ever regret trusting some Sims enough to give them your apartment keys to constantly get visits from them for Milk and Juice? You can rest assured that they will no longer visit you for this purpose. I think some neighborly love is appreciated, but this went beyond the proverbial “May I have a cup of sugar?” type of situation.

Fixed an issue in which interactions to participate on GeekCon contests would not appear when interacting with objects.

We decided to give a bit more clarity when displaying the location of Festivals, so now it will display as “Near <insert location>” and not a distinct location that is not entirely correct. This is true for Festivals in Snowy Escape as well.

Cats and Dogs

Pets will no longer sleep in random places when told to sleep on their Pet beds. In my world they can sleep where they are most comfortable, my conspiracy… allegedly.

Seasons

Sims can now Shower in the Rain… Jury is still out on Singing and Dancing.

Sims will no longer “lose” their shovels when performing other autonomous activities while performing the interaction “Shovel Snow.”

Our friendly neighborhood Snowpal has been properly renamed to Chill from Chil. Everything I knew before was a lie… a LIE!

Ever felt like the Holiday spirit has just been too much to handle, and Father Winter starting to show up everywhere and not letting you do much of anything getting a bit… out of hand? Fear not! Father Winter will stop replicating himself* to spread holiday cheer. *Note this fix is not entirely retroactive, new saves should see this without issue. Existing saves will correct themselves over time.

Get Famous

Duck Security SCROO9E Super XL Smart Vault will no longer disappear after Sims Woohoo in it… you can say Woohoo can be romantic and magical, but maybe not to this extent?

NPCs from the Actor Career sometimes would never show on Set, making gigs impossible to complete. We've spoken with their union reps and everyone has agreed to stop this ridiculous strike. What were they striking about? Was there even a Strike? We may never know.

Island Living

Mermaids and other Occults should no longer be able to make hybrid occults. How were they making them? Oh boy, I'm not sure if it's appropriate for me to give you the mermaid-birds and spellcaster-bees talk.

Randomly generated Mermaid Sims will no longer be seen without some features in affected Simmer Saves. However this fix is not retroactive, so it should be seen fixed in new saves.

Pizza delivery to Lagoon Look Lot has been fixed to arrive promptly. This is Sulani Deep Lagoon Pizza, home of the 2x1 Mermadic Kelp Pizza and the Salty Llama Combo, may I take your order? <Descriptive Simlish on the line> Uh huh… uh huh… <Indescribable Simlish on the line> Yes, we now can ACTUALLY deliver to Lagoon Look… <Interrogative Simlish on the line> Yes, we told our delivery Sims that they need to deliver it there and not keep the pizza for themselves… like give it to the actual client. <Surprised Simlish on the line>

Discover University

Has this ever happened to you? Your Sim is ready to make an offering to the Sprites only to find a crystal stuck without being able to move it? No longer a problem, Sims now can remove offerings so all their rituals can resume. Sprites rejoice.

We fixed an issue for our Console Simmers that wouldn’t allow them to close the Humanoid Robot’s Behavior Module Menus correctly.

Fixed an issue that would cause items to be repossessed when loans were fully paid. That is NOT how it worked Repo Person… NOT how it worked.

Sims with Research & Debate Skill 3 or higher will no longer be able to “Convince to” with Toddler Sims.

Masquerade Secret Society Masks are now properly unlocked in Create a Sim when joining the Secret Society.

Fixed an issue in which Heckle animation was sometimes not being performed autonomously by Sims while playing Ping Pong.

Eco Lifestyle

Fixed an issue that triggered the Off-the-Grid notifications after traveling to different Lots in Evergreen Harbor, even when they are not labeled as Off-the-Grid.

We spoke to all Eco Inspectors, and they have agreed that they should NOT be charging the Energy efficient appliances fine if your appliances are fully upgraded to be super efficient and amazing. I mean all that work and still get fined? Not in this house!

Fixed an issue in which some placeholder text was showing in notifications after Dumpster Diving.

The Americana Station Speakers will now play Music… as the prophecy foretold.

When the We Wear Bags N.A.P is active, Grim Reaper will not be partially invisible when appearing on a Lot. Grim Reaper contributes!

Living the No Appliance lifestyle? We’ve got news for you! Sims will no longer be penalized for not having “Eco-Friendly Appliances.” No appliances, no fines!

Snowy Escape

Vending Machine Canned Soups and Drinks won’t spoil anymore. Time to stock up!

Sims can no longer go on Hikes while holding their Toddlers.

Space Heaters will now be able to be placed on Lots from Inventory. Sharing the warmth everywhere!

Fixed an issue in which the Shoe Removal Sign in 5-1-2 Kiyomatsu was not working properly. We also added Shoe Removal Signs in 5-1-1 Kiyomatsu and 2-4-2 Wakabamori.

Sims will now be more visibly furious when having the appropriate furious sentiment toward other Sims. “Yes, I’m mad!... No! This IS my furious face!”

Fixed an issue with some animations that would stutter while Snowboarding or Skiing. We also made sure that Sims with a high level of those skills would not always choose the Bunny Slopes.

Izzy Fabulous’ Star Simmi Rank was just too fabulous so we had to correct it to be one star less than displayed. Don’t worry Izzy, you are a full 4 stars in my book, you are that fabulous to me.

After much debate of whether it is the Cave Shrine or the Mountain Shrine for Hiking destinations we finally decided to just call it Mountain Shrine.

We revised the Snoop-Proof Bamboo Blinds and it is now possible to drop’em like they’re hot with the Thousand Words Window.

NPC Sims will no longer “take over” the Slopes for themselves for an indefinite period of time, now they will be sharing with all Sims the joys of the Slopes.

Fixed an issue in which Sims would get highlighted in the Sentiment Panel as if receiving new Sentiments every time traveling is involved.

Sims with Rock Climbing Skill 7, or higher, are able to autonomously climb the Tall Wall (Such tall! So much wall!). There is no need to not face what makes you uncomfortable… autonomously.

Had a chat with Yamachan and asked if he was ok, he seemed to start random conversations and then randomly say goodbye without reason. We are happy to report that he is OK now and will try not to do that. Give us a hug Yamachan.

Food Stalls at Mt. Komorebi Festivals won’t be closing shop randomly during Festival hours anymore. <guitar and piano intro> Closing time, open all the Stalls and eat all the food in the world...Closing time, turn all the lights on and let Yamachan greet you heeeere…

Create a Sim asset ymHat_EP10HelmetGoggles has been fixed to no longer display clipping around the neck area as well as we made sure no facial hair is removed when wearing this asset.

Dine Out

Experimenting with photo frames will no longer use the same picture of an Experimental Meal when displayed.

Hot Pot meals are now part of Restaurant Menus! I miss the times I would go to eat Hot Pot at a restaurant. One of my favorites has a conveyor belt that carries your fixings never leaving your table for a thing. *happy sigh*

Vampires

Vampire Sims will no longer be affected by temperature, so they won't be constantly obsessed with lighting fireplaces trying to get warm.

Post edited by EA_Leeloo at 6:30PM

Source: https://forums.thesims.com/en_US/discussion/984647/december-7th-2020-patch-notes

#s4 patch notes

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pcttrailsidereader · 3 years

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Fire, Fire, the West on Fire

Howard Shapiro

In Washington state an unusual for August light rain fell overnight. A year ago we were choking on thick smoke from fires in British Columbia. The dryness combined with ample fuel combined for an epic fire season. The epic fire years keep outdoing one another year after year. This year there are still fires in BC but the wind gods have taken mercy on us in western Washington (for the most part) and spared us the wrath of terrible air and thick smoke (at least for now).

To the south in Oregon and California it has not been the same. All along the PCT from south Lake Tahoe north(Caldor fire) the fires are raging. These are fires that are relentless and may burn for months to come. All this is making we humans focus on the impacts of climate change combined with decades of flawed forest practices. Sometimes it feels that the challenges are bigger than all of us.

Several years ago I navigated a fire re-route in southern California near Lake Lorena. Re-routes have become more and more common to anyone hiking the length of the PCT. In the current time, fire is preventing many thru hikers from getting from Campo to the northern terminus. The result is a hop scotch of sorts for people who are attempting a thru hike in 2021. These people will go north or south in the hopes of connecting the dots as best they can before the snow flies.

So what are the three elements that give these fires life? Oxygen, heat, and fuel. All are in abundance throughout the west. These elements are what firefighters call the fire triangle. If any one of the three is taken away then the fire dies. If firefighters do what is called lay fire, using drip torches to purposefully burn areas to create a barrier in an effort to stop the fires growth that can sometimes slow a fire by taking away fuel. Using water and airdropped retardant (mud) takes the heat away from the fire. Beyond these two methods there is no way to cut off the supply of oxygen.

Two out of three helps but is at times, just not enough. Fire behavior is powerful and not always predictable. the most recent examples are Oregon’s Bootleg fire and the Caldor fire to the south. As the west continues to suffer from drought conditions fire remains a constant threat to a way of life for ranchers, farmers, townspeople, and hikers. The impact fire has on the landscape is unquestionably profound.

Walking through these burned out forests is a reminder of just how small we are. When the burned out landscape stretches for as far as your eyes will take you, the effect of fire cannot be denied or even fully comprehended. The fact remains that we cannot take anything for granted because nature will have the final word despite our missteps and renewed efforts to try to do ‘better’. That means fire will be a part of our lives and hiking experiences for years to come. This fact may force all of us to approach a thru hike differently or not at all.

There will still be many who start at Campo and have every intention to reach Canada. Timing and determination, as always, will be key ingredients in how successful any individual will be. Even before the trend of big fires every summer timing and determination were important factors. As the 2020′s unfold how fire influences our decisions around when, where, and how we hike will continue to take a prominent role.

These most recent fires will burn themselves out either with the help of humans or time. From this vantage point we can hope for plenty of snow in the high country and rains in the low country this fall and winter. When spring rolls around in 2022 some mild temperatures and a bit of rain would be welcome too. Fire season is like anticipating a house guest you know is coming but you just can’t be sure how long they will linger.

#Dixie fire #Caldor fire #Fire triangle

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noneya-business-me · 4 years

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Defenseless in the sun

It started like most of these disastrous training days go. Normal. There was a bit of rain the night before, but that didn’t bother any of the young heroes in training. They had been in worse situations before. Bakugou gazed lazily out the window of the bus as they travelled further and further up the mountain. The expanse of dark forest involuntarily made him shiver as he tried to shake off the feeling of fingers on the back of his neck. “You good dude?” Kirishima asked, leaning into his space trying to see what he was staring at.

The blonde grumbled, rolling his eyes. “I’m fine.” He replied, shoving him back in his seat.

His friend smiled widely at him. “I think it’s good for us to have a change of scenery,” he stated, sensing his apprehension, “we’ve been stuck on the same boring training field forever.”

Bakugou rolled his eyes again but gave him a slight nod in agreement. “Everyone listen here.” Aizawa called, standing at the front of the bus, “we’re going to be pulling into our location any minute now.”

The bus lapsed into silence as they listened to their teacher giving them instructions about unloading the bus to get ready for the day. They soon pulled into a clearing where they all filed out to do their tasks before they would get directions for their exercises. Bakugou shoved his hands in his pockets with a scowl as Kirishima pulled on his arm to bring him closer into the group.

“Today we brought you up here to do a combination of wilderness survival and rescue training.” Aizawa explained, “you’re going to be separated into groups of three and moved between stations for the morning, a break for lunch, and then switch to rescue training in the afternoon.”

He motioned towards the numbered off sections around the clearing with different people standing by for the students to move. “We’re lucky enough to be joined by some instructors from the Musutafu Outdoor Survival School so be on your best behaviour,” he hissed with a glare, pointedly towards the blonde’s own friend group.

When the idiot squad gave him excited nods, he sighed with a shake of his head. “I’m allowing you to pick your own groups today so don’t make me regret it.”

The class murmured excitedly as they moved into their groups of three. “I’m not getting dragged down by some shitty extras.” Bakugou snapped, gritting his teeth audibly.

“Come on man! This is going to be fun!” Kirishima smiled, pumping his fist into the air, “we just need to find one more person.”

He glanced over to the other groups seeing that they were all already grouped up. “You’re going to be my group of two then.” Aizawa stated, quickly noting who was in which group, “there are 7 stations to complete by lunchtime. You’ll spend 25 minutes at each station, and you’ll hear me whistle when it’s time to change. Are there any questions?”

He quickly took the silence as a no and motioned for the students to go to a station. Kirishima quickly pulled the blonde to the first station along the clearing. “Hi guys!” The instructor greeted happily.

While Kirishima replied happily with his own hello, Bakugou simply grunted in acknowledgement. “So here we’re going to learn how to gather the right wood and build a fire.” She stated, motioning to a pile of wood next to her.

Bakugou rolled his eyes as he slumped to the ground. He zoned out as she drawled on about making sure it’s dry and not damp at all, and blah blah blah. “Dude, pay attention,” Kirishima hissed, nudging him with his elbow.

Bakugou glared at him in clear annoyance. “I already know all this shit.” He growled, “I’ve done this a shit ton of times when I’ve gone hiking with my dad.”

“Do you want to do your test now then?” The instructor asked with a tight polite smile.

The blonde shrugged, moving to his feet and sifting through the pile until he found the right wood he needed. He also gathered a small pile of dry leaves. He placed the wood down next to the pile and carefully let out a few sparks from his palms. He had learned from the training camp that even his smallest explosions could be important depending on the circumstances. This was the perfect opportunity to test his control. The leaves quickly started to smoke before a small flame formed and he carefully built it up with more brush and wood. “There.” He stated, standing up and crossing his arms with a huff, “Do I pass now?”

“Well, you were supposed to use one of the techniques that we show you.” The instructor replied, holding out one of the wooden dowels that he was supposed to use.

“I can do it!” Kirishima interrupted with a wide smile. taking the hand drill and starting to gather his own brush, “we’re a team so we can work together!”

The instructor looked apprehensive before giving him her own smile. “All righty then.”

The redhead didn’t have any problems lighting his own fire, slightly impressing the other teen. Before long they heard Aizawa’s whistle cut through the air prompting them to continue to the next station and repeating seemingly the same process. Kirishima being overly excited and Bakugou tuning out but still passing the tests easily. They built shelters, tied knots and lashes, located the perfect place to set up a campsite, and went over navigations with a compass and map. For the fifth time that day their teachers whistle shrilled through the air, making the blonde groan again. He was seriously considering going over to their drowsy teacher and breaking that whistle in half. “Come on dude,” Kirishima whined, “aren’t you having fun at all?”

“Like I said before, I’ve done this shit a million times.” The blonde hissed, stomping towards their next station.

The other boy playfully nudged him in the arm. “Yeah, but it’s beautiful outside and we’re not stuck in a stuffy classroom all day.” He stated, “this is a chance to hone your skills and become the best in the class. You’re already leagues above most of us as it is.”

Sometimes the blonde hated how well his friend could read him. He knew exactly what to say in order for him to see the value in any task, no matter how much he hates the idea of some things. Kirishima could already see the fire building in the other’s eyes. “As if any of you losers could be better than me at anything,” Bakugou smirked, running ahead of the redhead to settle at their station first.

“That’s the spirit Bakugou!” He shouted, clashing his fist together.

“What are we doing?” The blonde snapped at the sheepish looking instructor.

They jumped a bit at his volume but quickly settled again. “You’re refreshing your knowledge of first-aid and CPR.” He replied, sitting down on the ground across from them.

The two of them instantly deflated, disappointed that the adrenaline they had just worked up was wasted on a relaxed station. “Don’t look so sullen,” the instructor stated, adjusting his glasses to flip through the manual in his lap, “First-aid is extremely important especially when you’re going to be pro-heroes. There’s going to be a lot of people that need immediate help that are inaccessible to medical teams right away.”

The two of them quickly sobered up in order to listen to the man. Even the fiery blonde knew how important these lessons could be, especially after his failure at the provisional licensing exam. They re-learned dressing different types of wounds, splinting limbs, and the basics of CPR; practicing on each other throughout. “Good job you guys.” The instructor praised, “I think that’s the best I’ve seen today so far.”

“See I told you.” Kirishima grinned at his friend.

“Whatever you loser,” Bakugou replied with a small smile.

“It’s about to switch groups so you guys go ahead.” Their instructor stated, glancing at his watch.

The two nodded, moving onto their final station. By the time they got close to their next destination they could see Tokoyami, Todoroki, and Koda staring down at a small pile of acorns that they had apparently gathered as food. “I don’t think we could eat this to survive.” Todoroki stated bluntly, “I found some berries though.”

He reached in his pocket, pulling out a hand full of squished berries. He stared at his hand before glancing down at his pocket that was stained through from the squeezed-out juices. “Oh.”

Bakugou could barely contain himself from slamming his hand to his forehead in exasperation. Kirishima looked just as bewildered as he felt. “Technically you can survive off of that if you leech them first but not for very long.” Their instructor laughed before the whistle prompted them to move on.

He turned to the pair as the other group departed. “I guess you guys are the lucky group that gets to gather food for lunch.” He stated with a grin.

“What do you mean?’ Kirishima asked.

“The last group at each station has to contribute to a part of the lunch break like building the fire to cook or building the shelter for shade.” He replied, “and you guys get to gather the ingredients to cook with!”

He handed them a booklet with different pictures of plants circled and locations to find them. “It’s like a scavenger hunt!” Kirishima yelled, grabbing the paper with stars in his eyes.

“That’s a good way to think about it.” The instructor replied, “you guys better get going.”

The pair looked at each other before shrugging and moving into the forest. They walked in silence for a few minutes before the redhead decided to speak up. “I thought there would be a little more lesson than just ‘here’s a picture now go find it’.” Kirishima mused, carefully pushing branches out of his way.

Bakugou growled angrily as a branch flew back in his face, spraying him with water from the rainfall the night before. “I’m about. To lose it.” Bakugou hissed, earning a laugh from his friend.

“Don’t. Laugh.” The blonde growled, clenching his jaw so tight it was almost painful.

The redhead put his hands up in surrender, giggles still on his lips before his eyes caught on sunlight streaming through the dense forest. He unconsciously moved towards the light, like a moth drawn to a flame. “Hey idiot!” Bakugou shouted after him, grabbing for his arm, “we have a shit ton of work to do!”

“It’ll only take a second!” Kirishima whined, pulling his arm away and jogging over to the tree line.

The blonde rolled his eyes but followed after him, breaking through the trees and finally seeing the trail they were supposed to get onto to gather their list of ingredients. He glanced between the path and the quickly retreating back of his friend that had completely crossed the path to the opposite side of the trail. He could hear the twigs and branches breaking as he forced his way through. “This better be quick,” He groaned loudly, throwing his head back.

He rushed after him, shielding his eyes from the sudden sunlight to find himself in another small clearing. This time it overlooked the rolling mountains and hills, swallowed by a sea of trees far below. “Wow,” Kirishima exclaimed in awe, his breath taken away by the sight.

“It’s pretty beautiful isn’t it?” Bakugou stated, standing beside him.

“You don’t seem that impressed.” The redhead teased.

“I’ve hiked up here with dad before.” The blonde replied, scanning the closer mountains and pointing out one of the peaks, “that was the first one that we climbed when I was in elementary school. He had to carry me most of the way, now I’m the one carrying him.”

The mountains always seemed to make him somewhat nostalgic and relaxed.

The redhead looked at him thoughtfully. “It sounds like you and your dad really get along.”

The blonde shrugged, his expression unreadable. “He’s much different hiking and camping then he is at home.”

Kirishima nodded in understanding. “Maybe we can go hiking sometime too,” the redhead suggested moving closer to the edge to look over the forest, “I want to go up my first mountain to be the same as your first mountain.”

The blonde gave him a small grin, “that doesn’t sound too bad.”

His grin immediately fell as he felt the first shift in the ground. “Get back here Kirishima!” He suddenly called to the other, moving forward to grab him.

“What-“

Suddenly the ground crumbled beneath them. The intense and heavy rain from the night before caused the ground to soften significantly, the mini landslide was probably going to happen anyway. Although, it didn’t help with their added weight on the small ledge. The feeling of falling was sudden but brief as the two students dropped to a ledge beneath the cliff they had been standing on. Bakugou all but shrieked as pain coursed up from his ankle and rattled his entire body.

“Bakugou! Are you okay?” Kirishima shouted, kneeling down next to him.

“My ankle.” He gasped in reply, grimacing at the already blotchy purple patches appearing on his pale skin, “it’s completely shattered.”

It felt like the world was blurring in and out of focus, the pain was so intense. It was almost ironic, considering he had been in worse situations before. “Good thing we re-learned our first aid today huh?” Kirishima laughed, standing to leave Bakugou to stare at his ankle as he breathed shakily through the pain.

“HELP!” Kirishima started to yell into the sky, “SOMEONE HELP US!”

“They’re going to notice we’re missing eventually,” Bakugou hissed, trying to shift his weight to sit back. He clenched his fists tightly, letting out a long exhale.

“HELP US!” Kirishima screamed again, stumbling a bit as he gazed at the edge of the cliff where they fell from.

The sun was high in the sky, beaming down at them with no shade for them to hide in. Sweat was quickly collecting on him, the constant breeze quickly cooling it on his skin. “Shitty hair you’re just going to tire yourself out.” Bakugou wheezed with a grimace.

The other fell silent and turned partially to stare at him with a blank expression although his brow were knit together tightly. He opened his mouth to say something but quickly shut it glancing back up at the cliff face.

“What the hell are you doing?” Bakugou questioned, his throat starting to knot up. Something was wrong. Very wrong. “Kirishima get back over here.”

The redhead glanced at him before turning to move back towards him. All at once it was like Bakugou’s body completely seized up. His entire core felt bitter cold, his spine went rigid, and the knot that was in his throat completely choked him. Half of Kirishima’s face was covered in blood, fresh blood still pouring out of the open wound on his forehead. He could already see the colour had drained from his friend’s skin, leaving him pale almost grey and his lips were beginning to turn blue. The redhead stumbled towards him, before catching himself on his own foot and tripping to the ground. Bakugou yelped, moving as quickly as he could to his fallen friend. “Are you okay?” He demanded, trying to get the redhead’s eyes to focus on his. He could see now up close that his pupils were different sizes, a clear indication of a concussion at the very least.

“I just tripped it’s no big deal.” He slurred in reply, as the other started ripping fabric off of both their uniforms. The blonde could see the signs from a mile away. He was going into shock and based on the lessons that they had before, the shock could kill him just as easily as the head wound could. “Kirishima, do you know where we are?” He asked frantically as he tried to press the cloth against the wound to keep it from bleeding.

Kirishima stared at him for a moment before glancing to the side taking in the wide expanse of forest. He muttered out a soft, “woods?” under his breath. Bakugou let out a nervous chuckle at his blatant attempt at cheating. “I need you to be specific. Why are we here?” Bakugou urged.

The other stayed silent, in turn making the adrenaline in the blonde’s body skyrocket as he began to go through his first aid steps. ‘ABC’s first.’ He thought, checking through his airways, breathing, and laying the back of his hand on the others forehead to gauge his circulation. ‘He’s really clammy.’

He continued to pack fabric against his head and the blood began to soak through. He could feel his heart beating loudly against his rib cage, trying to not let that distract himself from checking and making sure Kirishima’s was okay. He could feel his own hands becoming sweaty as he worked away at him, making sure to periodically wipe his hands off in case he started to spark off in his panic. It suddenly hit him like a ton of bricks how much he took advantage of the idea of having to perform first aid on someone. He had done it before, plenty of times. There were a few people on the hiking trails that had fallen and needed a brace and a call for help and he had easily done that, but this was different. This was his best friend and it wasn’t a simple cut or sprain, this was his life; and the thought of that sent him into a panic that he had never felt before. All at once, Kirishima’s eyes suddenly fell shut. “No!” Bakugou yelled, “you have to keep your eyes open Kirishima!”

He quickly checked his pulse again. It was slow but it was still there, his breathing shallow to match it. “SOMEONE HELP US!” The blonde finally screamed, louder than he ever had before, which was surprising considering who he was, “PLEASE SOMEONE HELP US!”

Everything was happening faster than he could keep up with, because in the next moment the movement of the redhead’s lungs stopped and he laid still. His hands were jerky and unsteady as he moved to position his palms over the other’s chest. He pushed down firmly, the crack of the other’s ribs raising his panic even more but he knew to push through even as tears began to bead in his eyes. He counted out 30 compressions, leaning down to listen for any sign of breathing. Nothing. He delivered his rescue breaths and continued. “C’mon breathe!” He wailed, his body cramping up everywhere, “Breathe Eijirou!”

He took in a shuddering breath as he choked around his words, “God damn it breathe!” He begged, “I refuse to let you die here!”

His head began to feel fuzzy and out of focus as he began to hyper-focus on the other. The world blurred around him. He could only feel detachment as the sun above them burned at his skin, and sweat pooled at the nape of his neck. He didn’t fully understand as he was pulled away from his friend by someone behind him. He whimpered loudly as his weight was shifted onto his shattered ankle. The sudden shock giving him a sliver of clarity to realize that his CPR was halted. ‘If I stop, he’s going to die.’ He thought, weakly struggling to pull away and continue.

“Bakugou, calm down.” A muddled voice stated, holding onto him more firmly.

“He’s going to die.” He snapped back, his head lolling lazily as another tear rolled down his cheek, “I have to help him.”

“You’ve already saved him.” They replied, steadying the boy’s shaking form.

“Huh?” Bakugou questioned blearily, as he slumped in his arms.

He glanced back, seeing the rigid but soft expression of his teacher. His hair whipped around his face, as a helicopter lowered carefully for the paramedics to safety load Kirishima and take him to the hospital. He stayed silent as Uraraka used her quirk to carefully lift him up the cliffside, the exhaustion quickly overtaking him. He could see the blurry forms of his friends trying to approach him but being pushed off by their instructors from earlier. “He’ll be okay right?” He breathed out slowly, wincing tiredly as his ankle was splinted for transport.

“He’ll be okay.” Aizawa repeated, with a slow nod, “and you’ll be okay too.”

“I don’t care about what happens to me.” The blonde snorted, with a small grin.

His teacher shook his head with his own tight grin, “you’re going to be exhausting as a pro hero.”

“You can count on that,” Bakugou replied, the tension releasing from his body as his eyes began to flutter.

“Just rest up Bakugou. We’ll take care of everything else.”

When he woke up again, he almost felt like it wasn’t dramatic enough for him. His mom and dad were both beside his bed, and for once his mother had the same concerned look as his father. They filled him in on everything to do with his medical diagnosis. His father carefully rubbed ointment onto his arms and neck where his skin was sunburned, and in some places peeling from the sun that essentially baked him alive. His ankle had been shattered like he assumed and had to be fixed surgically upon arriving at the hospital considering their fears that any of the splintered fragments could puncture something. “Stupid weak ankle,” Bakugou muttered as his doctor came in the show him his x-ray and the placement of the steel plates and screws holding him together at the moment.

He almost lost his shit when he was told that the recovery time could be between 3 to 12 months, but quickly settled after a stern glare from both his mother and father. As the doctor packed up their charts, his mom opted to grab some food for the three of them down in the cafeteria. Not long after the doctor left, Aizawa entered to go over the events that lead up to their rescue. He made sure to mention immediately that his friend was safe and in no immediate medical danger. He had hit his head hard as they were falling and had some minor internal bleeding but was projected to make a full recovery. Based on the information they provided to each other, the blonde had kept up CPR for 17 minutes. He belatedly remembered the feeling of zoning solely into performing the task, nothing mattered at that point besides making sure he was doing everything perfectly despite how much his limbs ached and oxygen wouldn’t enter his lungs. “He’s extremely lucky that you started CPR right away,” Aizawa stated, “who knows what we’d be planning right now if you didn’t.”

“Can I see him yet?” Bakugou asked, a bit hesitantly.

His teacher contemplated for a moment before nodding slowly, “you just have to be gentle around him. He just woke up a bit before you.”

“He woke up before me?” Bakugou asked with a baffled expression, “how the hell is that possible?”

“If I knew that I’d be a doctor and not a teacher.” Aizawa drawled, earning an eye roll from his student.

“Just take me to him.” Bakugou snapped in annoyance, throwing the blanket off his lap and sitting up.

“Easy there Katsuki!” His dad interjected, making sure his IV tubes didn’t get tangled up in the bedsheets, “please calm down a bit. You’re still healing.”

The blonde gave him a blank look, before moving to get up again. “Stop!” His father shouted again, moving to go into the hallway, “just let me grab you a wheelchair first at least.”

“I don’t need a damn wheelchair!” Bakugou loudly complained as it was rolled into his room and beside the bed.

“I don’t care!” His father snapped, making the blonde freeze in surprise.

His dad never yelled like that. The twisting in his gut squeezed uncomfortably all over again. “I was scared shitless when I heard that you got hurt and needed surgery.” He stated, his eyes glossy with unshed tears, “so for the love of god just take it a bit easier than usual. For my sake.”

“Okay,” Bakugou replied softly, letting his dad help him into the wheelchair. He was careful to keep the weight off of his bandaged foot.

He could see Aizawa shifting uncomfortably at the doorway. Not wanting to witness his family’s little dramas but still sticking around to take him to his friend’s room. They called a nurse in to the room to attach the I.V to his wheelchair and they were set to go. “You should probably wait for mom or she’ll lose it when she comes back,” Bakugou stated.

His father stared at him in worry before sighing and giving him a small smile. “You’re probably right.” He replied, sitting back down in his chair, “just.. don’t take too long.”

“Don’t miss me too much!” Bakugou called back as his teacher wheeled him out and down the hallway.

He was only a few doors down from his own which surprised him, considering he assumed the other would be in the ICU or something like that. He could hear his booming laughter before they even knocked on the door, followed by a wheeze and a quiet ‘ow’. Aizawa quickly knocked on the door, listening as the laughter quieted down a bit and the door was opened by a smiling black-haired woman. “Oh hi-“ she paused when her eyes fell on Bakugou.

Her eyes watered a bit before she leaned down to softly but firmly hug him. The blondes brows knit together in confusion before she spoke again. “Thank you for saving my son.” She breathed softly.

“Hi Aizawa Sensei!” He heard Kirishima call from his bed on the other side of the room.

“He really is awake.” Bakugou sighed in relief but shock.

His mom nodded in agreement moving back to let the two in. “Bakubro! You’re awake!” Kirishima shouted happily.

His head was tightly wrapped in bandages and he was hooked up to some machines and IV’s but other than that he looked perfectly healthy. “You scared the shit out of me you asshole.” Bakugou choked out around the lump in his throat, “you’re not making me cry again you ass, I’m already dehydrated.”

The redhead laughed loudly again, as his friend was set right next to his bedside. “We’ll give you boys some privacy.” Kirishima’s mom said sweetly, all but dragging their teacher out with her.

“Thank you for saving me Bakugou.” Kirishima stated softly after a beat of silence, “who knows what-“

“Save that mushy stuff for when I feel like it.” Bakugou retorted crossing his arms.

The redhead looked at him with wide eyes before he smiled again. “You got it Bakubro!”

That’s why they worked so well together. Kirishima never pushed him to act a certain way or talk about his feelings about things until he wanted to and vice versa. They would have this conversation someday just not today. Today was about living their lives as if nothing had happened despite the fact that the two of them were covered in bandages and had fluids being pumped into their bodies.

“Are you still up for a hike in 3 to 12 months?” Bakugou asked, motioning to his casted leg with a feral smirk.

Kirishima’s sharp toothed smile widened dangerously as he clashed his fist together loudly.

“Absolutely.”

#mha #bnha #katsuki bakugou #crying bakugou #training accident #Kirishima Eijirou #zine submission #kiribaku #my hero academia #bakugou katsuki #angst #story #ao3 #ao3 kiribaku #anime_all_the_time

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mysticalmusicwhispers · 4 years

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APH Liechtenstein Headcanons

for the birthday gal! 🎉🎉🎉

🇱🇮 It’s canon she made a set of pink pj’s for Switzerland, so I think she’d also be a good knitter? In the winter she knits wool sweaters out of handspun yarn (she’s very good at spinning as well, and it’s relaxing) for her and Basch.(Sometimes they’re matching! Basch doesn’t admit it but he finds it rather cute)

🇱🇮 Loves gardening, plants, flowers, all green growing things! She could spend all day just sitting in the flower bed listening to the hum of bees as she feels the soil sift through her fingers. She makes really tasteful bouquets too, they’re usually sent to friends or sitting in a vase somewhere in the house

🇱🇮 Her and Switzer’s house smells slightly of flowers in spring and summer (from the bouquets), dusty books in fall, and wood in winter.

🇱🇮 Appreciates all four seasons equally and doesn’t have a favorite. She tends to see the bright spots in everything; she loves the renewal and growth of spring, with its softly falling rain, the mellow warmth of summer, the vibrant colors of fall, and the stillness of winter, drinking hot chocolate by the fire in hand knitted sweaters, and she thinks about the good things each season brings without dwelling on the inconveniences

🇱🇮 Does a lot of winter sports, especially alpine skiing. She also snowboards (like a badass) and goes hiking in the Alps with her brother a lot

🇱🇮 She has really good aim, whether it’s with a bow and arrow or a handgun. She only shoots at targets in designated shooting ranges (for archery or guns) though

🇱🇮 Isn’t freaked out by many things, including: spiders, shady alleys (although she doesn’t usually wander around there because Basch will go insane), horror movies, jump scares, and mice. She twitches a little if she’s genuinely scared tho

🇱🇮 Personality-wise, she’s very firm, reasonable, polite, and quiet. If she has a request for someone, she won’t bend too easily, but isn’t overly stubborn either, and will agree readily to something she believes is fair and reasonable.

🇱🇮 Re: personality, she reads people well and will do her best to make them at ease talking to her, steering the conversation to things she notices they are enthusiastic/passionate about

🇱🇮 Names: I have no idea what’s up with Liechtenstein’s human names; her canon surname is Vogel (which means “bird” in German, so I think that’s fitting) but people have been changing it to Zwingli because she and Switz are adopted siblings (also a valid interpretation, although Liechtenstein is 76% Roman Catholic, and Zwingli is the surname of a Protestant reformer, so...)??? I think Lili is a good first name though, although Erika is nice too

🇱🇮 She doodles for fun. Her drawings are very realistic, often times they’re pen and watercolor scenes of flowery hills or a castle in the woods; landscape stuff. She can never draw things as cute as she likes though, something which her brother is better at (although he prefers to have Liechtenstein’s talent of realism rather than cuteness)

🇱🇮 She sings in the shower. Her voice is sweet and pure, and she can’t do the really rough growling (??? idk what to call it) that’s in some pop songs. Sometimes she sings rock music, but not often

🇱🇮 Hungary drags her to musicals with all the other female countries sometimes (Switzerland takes her to plays and country fairs only) and they basically spend an evening acting out the musical and singing its songs badly, fun times though

🎉 HAPPY BIRTHDAY LIECHTENSTEIN!! 🎉

#musings #headcanon musings #aph liechtenstein #aph #hws #hetalia #hws liechtenstein #aph switzerland #aph liechtenstein headcanons #aph headcanons #hetalia headcanons #hetalia liechtenstein headcanons #hws liechtenstein headcanons #axis powers hetalia #hetalia liechtenstein #aph liechtenstein musings

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thismightbeaterribleidea · 4 years

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FAQ

Hello! So, during a global pandemic and at the beginning of what will probably be a long and severe recession, at the age of 40 and with basically no knowledge of how automobiles work, I’m going to live in a van.

This might be a terrible idea. Hence, I’m calling my blog This Might Be A Terrible Idea.

If you’re reading this, I imagine it’s because you know me, so I’ll skip the introduction. I like a good FAQ, so let’s start there.

FAQ

Where are you going? Short answer: I don’t know!

Long answer: I’ll probably primarily split my time between Colorado/northern New Mexico, Maryland/Pennsylvania, and Florida. I want to stay as low-budget as I can and also avoid crowds during the pandemic. So whenever possible, I’ll opt for free, dispersed sites in national forests, state forests, BLM (which I now read as Black Lives Matter but here it’s the less-important acronym, Bureau of Land Management), state game lands, etc. I’ll pop into a developed campground every now and then to refill the water tanks, empty the portable toilet, and take a shower.

What kind of van do you have? In late June, I bought a 2007 Ford E250 with a high roof. In its first life, it was actually an Embassy Suites hotel shuttle, so when I got it, it had SO MANY SEATS. After it retired from the hotel biz, it went to a guy who owned a brewery and used the van for ski trips. Then he eventually traded it to a friend’s college-aged son in exchange for lawn-mowing work. This young man was actually going to make it into a camper too but didn’t have time, so he sold it to me.

I got the van for a very low price ($2000) because it’s really high mileage — almost 300,000. It also has a few issues: the dashboard, power windows, and radio only work sometimes. The doors are creaky and don’t like to close. There are splatters of paint (?) on the inside of the driver’s door. The air conditioning wasn’t working. And the interior is pretty beat up.

With help from my brother who actually knows about cars, I recharged the air conditioning. A new, functional instrument cluster is on the way. And the type of engine in this van (5.4L V8) supposedly has a reputation for being extremely durable. If I get a couple of good years out of this vehicle, I’ll be happy.

How are you going to afford this? A few years ago, I paid $4200 for an acre of land in the San Luis Valley, a few hours from Denver. I hoped to eventually put a little camper on it and make a very low-budget part-time home. But a few months after I bought the land, the county changed its rules to prohibit living in campers or mobile homes for more than a couple of weeks at a time. So the camper idea went out the window, and in June, I sold that land for $5000. This was my funding to buy the van and associated stuff. I’m going to try to keep the initial total cost of the van (vehicle, repairs, materials for the interior, solar installation) to about $6000.

I’m incredibly fortunate to be in a position where I don’t have to choose between my job and a weird nomadic lifestyle. About a year ago, I went full-time freelance as an editor and writer. So I’m self-employed and I work from home. I don’t even need the internet that much — aside from checking email, file downloads/uploads, and occasional googling for research and editing questions, I can be mostly offline. Also incredibly fortunate: the pandemic hasn’t affected my work, at least not so far.

I’ll have new and unexpected expenses: food will be more expensive, I’ll have to pay for campgrounds sometimes, the van will need gas and repairs and oil and new tires, and then I’ll want to make livability improvements (like insulation). But I hope that I’ll be able to cover all of that while still living within my means.

Aren’t you selling your condo? Why don’t you get a newer/lower mileage/already converted van? Yes, I am (fingers crossed that the sale goes through) selling my condo in Denver. But I also have no savings, no retirement fund, no emergency fund. And the recession is just getting started… the whole future seems pretty uncertain. I’d feel better if I kept as much of the condo money in the bank as possible, even if that means having a crappier van.

Don’t you worry about safety? Absolutely. I’m a worrying person. I worry a lot! But if I responded to those worries by not going anywhere alone, staying in only developed campgrounds, etc., then I’d have missed out on some of the best experiences in my life, and I’d never go much of anywhere at all.

To stay safe in a van, I’ll use the same approach I use for solo car camping. If a place feels sketchy, I go somewhere else. To avoid trouble from bears, I try not to get food on the ground, do food prep and brush teeth away from the vehicle, and keep the car doors locked when I’m away and at night. To avoid trouble from bros, I try to stay out of sight. I pick spots and set up my campsite so that people passing by mostly just see the vehicle and not me or my single chair or small tent. I have bear spray, which stays in arm’s reach when I’m out hiking and at night, and I have a sharp knife, which is always pretty accessible too.

In fact, safety is why I chose a van over a truck with a camper, which actually would have been preferable. If a truck ever had recurring or expensive mechanical problems, I could just get a new truck and put the camper on it — but with a van, I’ll either have to do the expensive repairs or get a new van and re-do the whole interior. And if I wanted to stay in one place for a while, I could take the camper off and just drive the truck around, saving on gas and wear and tear. But with a truck camper, if I were ever inside the camper and felt unsafe, I’d have to *go outside* and then get into the truck cab in order to leave. With a van, if things start feeling sketchy, I can just hop in the driver’s seat and go.

(Side note: It’s upsetting and frustrating to me that these safety concerns and choices are so linked to gender. Of course men also need to think about safety when they’re out camping alone, but I’m pretty sure I’ve had to think about it at least 200% as much as my equivalent 40-year-old non-threatening-looking out-of-shape single dude.)

If we’re talking about safety from non-sentient threats — bad weather, injuries, mechanical breakdowns, etc. — then I…

a) try not to get into situations that I can’t get out of — whether it’s a too-rugged road, a too-steep trail, or a spot that is likely to turn into a mud pit if it rains. I also think about whether I could walk to get help if I needed to. b) have some basic safety and first aid stuff. Tape, gauze, and a mylar blanket for me; jumper cables and a portable air compressor for the car. c) have a Triple A membership in case I need a tow.

The van came with a handy fire extinguisher strapped to the driver’s seat. To reduce the possibility of being unable to call for help if I get stuck somewhere, I eventually plan to get a cell phone signal booster.

The fire extinguisher or even my bear spray won’t keep me safe from COVID-19. But like I mentioned, I’m trying to stay as far away from crowds as possible. To cut down on contact when resupplying, I’ve got storage for 10 gallons of water (I’m actually going to expand this to 15) and plan to carry enough food for a month. Unless there’s a mechanical problem or breakdown (definitely my biggest concern), I should be able to drive coast to coast while remaining in a relatively firm bubble. The riskiest thing I’ll *have* to do is refuel at gas pumps, but I can pick gas stations that seem less crowded, refuel in smaller towns rather than busy highway rest areas, and go at quieter times of day.

Does your van have air conditioning? Nope! Well, it has the standard vehicle AC, but that only works while the van is running, and most of the time I’ll be parked. There are AC units that can go on top of campers and vans, but they use a ton of power: either you have to be plugged in to shore power at a campground, use a gas-powered generator, or have a million solar panels and batteries. I’m going to get a good roof vent and fan installed, plus maybe put some smaller battery-powered fans in the windows, so that will hopefully keep me from getting heatstroke in the summer.

Does it have running water? Nope! Right now, I have a portable foot-pump sink and a self-contained portable toilet. I plan to eventually build a nicer/bigger sink. I’m also going to order a collapsible tub so I can do sponge baths or use a solar shower (a black vinyl bag that heats up in the sun and has a hose attached). Swimming in freshwater lakes will need to become a bigger part of my life. I’ll probably be a little stinky at times, but people should be social distancing anyway, so if anyone can smell me, they’re way too close.

Does it have electricity? It will! I’m planning to have one large solar panel and a lithium battery installed. (For those who are curious, it’s a 315 watt solar panel with a 100 AH battery.) This will power the roof fan, my laptop, my phone, some plug-in lights, and eventually also built-in lights, the cell phone signal booster, and maybe a small fridge or cooler. The solar power system is going to outlast the van and will be easily switchable to my next vehicle.

Wait. “Maybe” a fridge? What are you going to eat? Ummm… I’ll figure it out? I eat like a scavenging raccoon, so I’m not too picky. I bought a bunch of freeze-dried legume-based soup and stew mixes from Harmony House, some high-protein shake mix from Huel, and I plan to stock rice, quinoa, peanut butter, oatmeal, hard cheese, packaged salmon and tuna, and dried fruit. If I’m driving, I’ll probably also keep an eye out for farm stands and grab some produce that will keep unrefrigerated for a few days. During the pandemic, I’ve been using support for local businesses as a way of justifying takeout or delivery once or twice a week, so I’ll probably keep doing that when I pass through developed areas.

Can you poop in your van? Does it smell? Yes to the first! I haven’t, um, tested it out yet. But after road trip in my sedan in May, when I had to go into a scary (no one wearing masks or social distancing) gas station in Colorado Springs, bathroom and hand-washing facilities for the van became a priority. Right now the portable toilet is just sort of hanging out in the open, but I’m going to build a plywood box to contain it. I did pee in it a bunch during my inaugural camping trip, and I’m happy to report that the chemicals I added to the tank made it not smell gross while also not producing an overwhelming chemical smell.

How will you get the internet? Unlimited data plan FTW! I recently figured out that I can use my phone as a mobile hotspot and connect to it with my laptop. It’s not fast, but it’ll do what I need it to. And I should be able to have connectivity even in more remote areas after I get a signal booster.

Won’t you get tired of living in a tiny space? Maybe. I do have some good practice, though. In the last decade, I’ve gone from living in a 700-square-foot condo (Denver) to a 400-ish-square-foot studio apartment (New Jersey; grad school) to my childhood room in my parents’ house (Maryland; post-grad-school student loan debt). Each time, I’ve gotten rid of stuff, even things it’s painful to get rid of: old books, childhood knickknacks, cassette tapes, drawings, horse show ribbons I remember winning, cutlery and glassware I got as housewarming gifts.

I also tend to feel really at home in my car. I’ve napped in my car, drafted novels in my car, had long and meaningful conversations in my car, had existential crises in my car, eaten hundreds of meals in my car. Car = house makes sense to me. And I hope to be staying in places where I have access to big and engaging outdoor spaces.

What will you do after you live in a van for a while? I have no idea. There are definitely things that I want to do — write fiction, build my career, be more involved with community/communities, get healthier, be a better human — but all of those things are geographically nonspecific. And everything both personally and nationally feels so up in the air. I could end up living in a van for a year, or five, or ten. I might eventually buy a house or a boat or a farm, or settle down somewhere (I don’t know where) in a more permanent way. But I’m not making plans for any of that, and I’m not making plans for an “after.”

I think that’s it for the FAQ! If you have any questions, let me know and I will address them in a later LFAQ (Less Frequently Asked Questions).

Also, please bear with me because I don’t really know how Tumblr works. If you want to start reading, start FROM THE BOTTOM.

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nationalparkposters · 4 years

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Best Things To Do In Rocky Mountain National Park

Best Things To Do In Rocky Mountain National Park: Rocky Mountain National Park's 415 square miles encompass and protect some of the world's most spectacular mountain environments. Trail Ridge Road – which crests at over 12,000 feet offers awe-inspiring overlooks to see these subalpine and alpine worlds. With more than 350 miles of hiking trails, and wildflowers, wildlife, and starry nights -- in a world of superlatives, Rocky is on top! My name is Rob Decker and I'm a photographer and national park enthusiast. In fact, I've been to more than 50 of our amazing national parks. Rocky Mountain National Park is literally in my backyard, and I have explored almost every area of the park — so I'm ready to help! Whether this is your first time to Rocky Mountain, or if you are returning after many years and would like to be re-introduced to the park — this list of the best things to do is just for you! Hiking Rocky Mountain National Park has 355 miles of hiking trails. They range from flat lakeside strolls to steep mountain peak climbs. If you are new to the park, consult with rangers at the visitor centers. They can provide advice about trails which are appropriate to different fitness and experience levels. As you plan your hike, keep in mind that park elevations range from 7,500 to over 12,000 feet. Even very fit individuals coming from lower elevations may experience altitude problems. Symptoms include headaches, shortness of breath, insomnia and rapid heartbeat. To minimize symptoms drink plenty of fluids, avoid alcohol, don't skip meals and get plenty of rest. Fishing Sport fishing is permitted in Rocky Mountain National Park. Fishing activities are balanced with efforts to restore and perpetuate natural aquatic environments and life. Fishing was popular with early settlers and visitors in the Rocky Mountains. In an attempt to improve the sport, many streams and lakes were stocked with non-native species of trout. The National Park Service stocked non-native Yellowstone cutthroat trout as late as 1969. The only trout native to the park are the greenback cutthroat and the Colorado River cutthroat. These efforts to enhance recreational opportunities in National Park areas were reconsidered in the 1970s. Since 1975, native greenback cutthroat and Colorado River cutthroat trout are being restored to park waters and exotic or non-native fish are being removed. Wildlife Viewing Rocky Mountain National Park visitors have a passion for viewing wild animals, especially the big ones. With an elk herd numbering between 600 to 800 in the winter, about 350 bighorn sheep, numerous mule deer and a small population of moose calling the park home, it's no surprise that wildlife watching is rated the number-one activity by a vast majority of Rocky's three million annual visitors. Wildlife Viewing Tips The park's great large-animal population makes it one of the country's top wildlife watching destinations. Here are a few park favorites: Elk can be seen anytime, a popular viewing period being the fall rut, or mating season. Look for elk in meadows and where meadow and forest meet. Bighorn sheep are commonly seen at Sheep Lakes from May through mid-August. Moose frequent willow thickets along the Colorado River in the Kawuneeche Valley on the park's west side. Otters were reintroduced into the Colorado River area and are doing fairly well. These animals are difficult to spot. Mule deer are common and can be seen anywhere. They are most often found at lower elevations in open areas. Bats feed over lakes and ponds at dawn and dusk. Marmots and pikas favor rocky areas. Marmots are best seen on the alpine tundra along Trail Ridge Road. Pikas - small, light-colored mammals - are common in rock piles. Listen for their sharp, distinctive bark and watch for movement. Clark's nutcrackers, Steller's jays, golden eagles and prairie falcons can be seen along Trail Ridge Road. White-tailed ptarmigans, some of the most sought-after birds in Rocky Mountain National Park, are common but difficult to spot. For best results, hike on the tundra and look carefully. Ptarmigans usually remain still, relying on their natural camouflage for protection. American dippers, or water ouzels, can be found along most streams. Listen for their loud call, similar to the rapid clicking of two stones together, as they fly up and down their territories. Despite their good intentions, some wildlife watchers are loving park animals to death. Feeding junk food to wildlife reduces its ability to survive the long mountain winter. When they panhandle near roadsides, animals fall easy prey to automobiles. As they become habituated to humans and lose their natural fear, the animals become aggressive and may be destroyed. Harassing or feeding wildlife is illegal in all national parks. Horseback Riding Horses have been part of Rocky Mountain Park's tradition since its designation in 1915. Recreational pack animal use is balanced with other recreational uses such as hiking. Packing is managed to maintain the natural resources and unique ecosystems in the park. Horses, mules, ponies, llamas, and burros are allowed on park trails. No goats are allowed on park trails. For overnight camping, stock is permitted at established backcountry campsites designated for stock use. There are two stables located within the park: Glacier Creek Stables and Moraine Park Stables. There are many stables outside the park. Find contact information for the various stables in the area. There are two Estes Park stables open in the winter: Sombrero Stables and Aspen Lodge Stables. Approximately 260 miles of trails are open to commercial and private horse use, which makes up about 80% of the total trail network in the park. Wilderness Camping Rocky Mountain National Park offers some unique camping experiences and here are some things to consider when choosing your wilderness campsite. The first step in planning your trip: decide where you want to camp and for how long. I suggest purchasing a Rocky Mountain National Park topographic map to choose a destination and route. Then, use the Wilderness Campsite Map and Wilderness Designated Site Details to select wilderness campsites. Remember to consider the abilities of the least experienced member of your party and the distance and elevation gain from the trailhead to your destination. Elevation Rocky Mountain National Park is a high elevation park. If you live at sea level, it will take you several days to become acclimated. Most trails begin above 8,000 feet and climb abruptly higher. If you are not acclimated, you can get acute mountain sickness. Rangers recommend spending at least one night at 7,000–8,000 feet prior to setting out. This will allow your body to begin to adjust to the elevation. Weather and Clothing When you visit or call the park, discuss your plans with a ranger. Find out if snow has melted from the trails and destinations where you hope to hike. Check the weather forecast before starting your trip. Mountain weather changes very quickly. Within just a few hours, bright sunny skies may give way to raging storms. High winds often occur in the high country. Wind chill accelerates the lowering of body temperature which can result in hypothermia. Proper clothing is your first line of defense against cold. Plan to dress in layers so you can regulate your temperature by bundling up or peeling down. Be sure to pack rain and storm gear. Remember, you assume complete responsibility for your own safety and that of your group while hiking in Rocky Mountain National Park. Ranger-Led Evening Programs All evening programs are free and open to the public and are held at several locations throughout the park during evening hours. Both the Beaver Meadows Visitor Center and Kawuneeche Visitor Center are in non-fee areas of the park. East Side Locations: Beaver Meadows Visitor Center Auditorium (Hwy 36) is located approximately three miles west of the town of Estes Park. Evening programs are held mid- May through mid-June and intermittently throughout the year. Aspenglen Campground Amphitheater is located at the Fall River Entrance (Hwy 34) approximately 4 miles from downtown Estes Park. Evening programs will resume mid-June, 2019. Glacier Basin Campground Amphitheater is located along Bear Lake Road approximately 8 miles from downtown Estes Park.Evening programs will resume mid-June, 2019. Moraine Park Campground Amphitheater is located along Bear Lake Road approximately 5 miles from downtown Estes Park. Evening programs will resume mid-June, 2019. West Side Locations: Kawuneeche Visitor Center Auditorium is located approximately one mile north of the town of Grand Lake (Hwy 34). Evening programs are held on Saturday nights throughout the summer. Please stop at a the visitor center for more information on specific topics. Timber Creek Campground Amphitheater is located in the Kawuneeche Valley (Hwy 34) approximately eight miles from the Grand Lake Entrance. Evening programs are held throughout the summer and into September. Please stop at a the Kawuneeche visitor center for more information on specific topics. Kids Activities Kids are born naturalists. They access the natural world by asking questions, which sometimes come in bunches. Introducing children to the outdoors can begin at any time, but why not begin early? And why not start them out in Rocky Mountain National Park, one of the country's premier outdoor wonderlands. Infants can be carried in a front pack, which can be tucked inside the jacket if it's chilly. Hike anywhere. Your kids will be enthralled by the stunning scenery and the fresh mountain air, so enthralled that he or she will fall asleep in short order. When they reach the toddler stage, children begin to more actively interact with nature. It is a time of observation, of making initial connections and stockpiling notes. It is a wonderful time to introduce them to one of the many discovery trips found around the park. A few suggestions. Explore the edges of Bear Lake while enjoying the guidebook-guided trail tour that explains the area's natural and human history. Water holds an amazing variety of plant and animal life that will pique a child's curiosity. Discover Rocky Mountain's amazing array of wildlife. At particular times during the summer (ask a park ranger), the bighorn sheep come down to Sheep Lakes. Kids especially enjoy watching them cross the road after the lambs are born. Find a ponderosa pine forest and watch for Abert's squirrels. Their dark color and busy activities catch a toddler's eye for contrast and movement. Kids that are a bit older develop a more complex understanding of the world around them. While some children might enjoy expending energy hiking along a trail, most seem happiest thoroughly exploring a smaller area. On any hike with three to five year olds, it's a good idea to include a magnifying glass in the backpack. Textures of trees, plants, bugs and rocks are exciting close-up. In the early summer, enjoy the amazing floral colors found along the trail to Cub Lake. Have the youngsters keep an eye out for hummingbirds that may be visiting the flowers. Watch for beaver along the way in the Cub Creek drainage. Beaver dams are easy to spot in this area and stream banks are ideal places to look for animal tracks. The park has a "Rocky's Junior Ranger Program" for children in kindergarten through eighth grade. Emphasis is placed on park preservation, flora and fauna facts, and environmental education. When kids complete the Junior Ranger booklet, they earn a badge. Check at a visitor center for information. These are but a few of the things you can do at Rocky Mountain National Park. Check with the park rangers when you arrive to see what activities are available, what wildlife might be easiest to see, or where the wildflowers are blooming. I've created three posters for Rocky Mountain National Park -- one that features a view of Moraine Park, one for Cub Lake, and one for the iconic Longs Peak. Click here to see the Rocky Mountain National Park, Cub Lake poster. Click here to see the Rocky Mountain National Park, Moraine Park poster. Click here to see the Rocky Mountain National Park, Longs Peak poster. Rob Decker is a photographer and graphic artist who had the rare privilege of studying under Ansel Adams in Yosemite National Park when he was just 19 years old. Now, Rob is on a journey to explore and photograph all 61 of America's National Parks. He's creating WPA-style posters to help people celebrate their own national park adventures -- as well as encourage others to get out and explore! https://national-park-posters.com/blogs/national-park-posters/best-things-to-do-in-rocky-mountain-national-park

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katlyn1948 · 4 years

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So I was scrolling through some of my old writings from like five years ago and I found a story that I had completely forgotten about! I re-read the thing and it’s not half bad. Maybe I’ll pick up again. I’ve pasted it below if you wanna take a read.

Wooden swords clashed against each other, leaving an echo throughout the castle corridors. From afar it would seem that the prince was just practicing his swordsmanship, but move just a bit closer and one could tell that it wasn't the sort. Puzzlement would cross someones face if they were to see what was actually occurring in the garden. Two young bodies moved with ease as each would attack with the sword made out of wood; the prince striked first, but his move was blocked by a young girl in a pretty white dress. She then took her strike, surprising the prince and hitting him just above the wrist.

"You cheated!" Yelled the prince to the girl.

The girl just smiled and returned to the fighting position, ready for another round. The prince chuckled and began to take position when a stout old women came hustling through the corridors.

"Prince William it is time to bathe for the party tonight!"The woman sang.

"But Mrs. Potter, we were about to go for another round of swords." The child whined.

"Your mother ordered it," Mrs. Potter said to the prince. She then looked over to the girl, "and your father is wanting you home Lady Genevieve."

Genevieve sighed and nodded to the stout old woman. She laid the wooden sword on the grass and began to leave the garden.

"Will you be at the party tonight!?" The prince yelled across the garden to the retreating girl.

"Of course! When have we ever missed one!?" She yelled back.

A smile crept on the prince's face as he followed the old woman into the castle.

Genevieve hiked up her dress an began down the hill to the village where her mule was awaiting for her. Because she was just still a child, a horse was too big for her to ride. Her father insisted that she used the mule as her mode of transportation until she was tall enough to reach the saddle on her own. She loved her mule, despite how hideous the thing looked. It was a cross between a horse and a donkey, so the proportions on the animal were incorrect. The head seemed to big for the body and the legs seemed to short to hold the thing up. It was so ugly that the horseman didn't want it in the stable with then other horses, so Genevieve would have to tie him around the back of the stables.

As she approached the stables she noticed the sky was turning a dark sickly color and realized if she didn't make it home by the time the first rain drop fell, she would be in trouble with her father. She paid the horseman and untied Shelly the Mule from his post. Her home wasn't too far from the village, but it was still far enough to take some time to get back.

Genevieve enjoyed her the time it took to get to her home. She would think about all of the possibilities in the future. She wanted to be a knight, just like her father, and protect the king. She would be able to protect her best friend, William, along with the towns people. Her dreams were as big as the sky, but sadly, she knew, that were never going to come true.

She could see her house on the horizon as well as the approaching storm. If she didn't hurry, then her chances of going to the party would dwindle into oblivion. She kicked the mule just a little bit harder and Shelly began to gallop at a steady pace.

The gates leading to her home opened as she approached them and she galloped inside the safety of her home.

She parked Shelly in the stables and entered her home, greeting her was Mr. James, the butler.

"You are late miss. Your father is worried." He said as she hung her coat on the hook by the fire.

"I know Mr. James. Is he in the study?" Mr. James nodded in response and Genevieve climbed the stairs to her father's study.

She gave a soft knock on the large oak door and voice from the other side told her to enter. Genevieve was always stunned when she entered the study. It was huge, with book cases that cover the walls from floor to ceiling. There was a fire place in the corner of the study and above the mantel stood the crest of the royal family.

Genevieve's father was sitting behind the mahogany desk looking over, what seemed like very important documents. There was silence, and that's what scared Genevieve the most.

"Father?" She dared to say.

There was more silence followed by a clearing of the throat. Genevieve's father looked up from his desk and stared at the shivering seven year old girl.

"You are late." He spoke. Genevieve flinched at the deepness of his voice. She knew she was in much trouble for not returning home at the proper time.

"I know." As she spoke, Genevieve felt five times smaller than what she truly was.

"There is a set curfew for you; you must be home before the sun touches the horizon." The stern glare of her father bore into Genevieve's soul.

"I've never been late before. I am truly sorry papa." With her head sunk low, Genevieve hid her face from her father, shielding her tears from his burning eyes.

Her father didn't speak for what seemed like ages, then with a slight cough he said, "I suppose I could forgive your indiscretion this once, but you must hurry to your room and change before your mother sees that you have ruined your dinner dress for tonight."

Genevieve's head popped up; her face full of confusion. She wasn't punished? She could still go to the dinner tonight? Her mouth turned upright into a smile and she hurried to hug her father.

"Thank you, papa!" Her short arms barely wrapping around her father's broad shoulders.

With a soft chuckle, he wrapped his arms around her and gently placed her on his lap. Soon, his face fell serious and he knew he had to tell his daughter the bad news.

"My dear Genevieve, this will be the last dinner we will be attending at the castle for sometime." Genevieve's face filled once more with confusion. She wasn't quite certain of what her father was saying.

"What do you mean papa?"

The knight sighed and looked down at his precious daughter. How can he tell her that a war is upon the kingdom? It is much to tell to such a young child, but it what she must know.

"You see my Evie, there are very bad people who want to hurt your king. In order to protect him and his family, they must go away for a little while." His eyes showed sadness as he saw the realization on the young girls face.

"Does that mean I won't be able to see Willy again?" Genevieve asked.

Her father nodded, but added a quick reply, "You will see him again, I promise. All he has to do is go away after the dinner tonight, but only for a short while."

That put a small smile on Genevieve's face. So she would be able to see William again, but when?

"There is one more thing, my dear. I must also leave for a short while."

"Will you come back?" She asked with hope.

"Of course I will. Now, go and get ready for the dinner tonight. We must leave very shortly." She hopped off of her father's lap and went to clean up.

***

The halls of the castle seemed emptier than what Genevieve remembered. Most of the staff was gone and all that was left were just a few close workers to the royal family. The grand table that could fit fifty people only sat ten. It was composed of the royal family; the king, queen, prince and princess. Then it was Genevieve's own family of herself and her parents. Mrs. Potter, along with two maids were the last at the grand table.

It was most puzzling to Genevieve as to why there were so few people. All of the other dinner parties that she attended at the castle had hundreds of people in the dinning hall; now there were just ten. Nevertheless, Genevieve took her seat across from the prince. The king sat at the head, and everyone followed. Before they were seated, the king rose his glass and spoke to all that attended.

"Good evening everyone. I am so happy to see such familiar faces in a very private matter. I must thank you Sir Malcolm for everything you have done for me and my family over the last twenty years; I truly consider you as a brother. As most of you know, there is a war approaching our kingdom. To protect my family I am sending them to France to live with relatives and I, your king, will be going off to war with my most trusted friend and protector. Tonight is a peaceful night so let us remember it so, for tomorrow the war begins." The king drank from his glass, as well as all of the other members for the table. Everyone sat and the dinner commenced.

The adults were laughing and drinking wine, but as for Genevieve and Prince William, they retreated under the the grand table for some petty privacy.

"When do you leave?" asked Genevieve.

"We leave on the first ship to France tomorrow morning." replied the prince.

"Will I ever see you again?" Genevieve's eyes swelled with tears.

"Don't cry, Evie, you will see me again. I've made you something to remember me by." The prince reached into his coat pocket and pulled out a leather bound bracelet.

"It is really pretty, Willy." Genevieve admired the bracelet in her small hand. "I wish I've gotten you something. It is your birthday next week and I've completely forgotten."

"It is okay, Evie. I am only turning nine, not ten."

Genevieve giggled at his silly response, "Okay, then what shall I get you for when you turn ten?"

"A better wooden sword, so I can beat you!" The prince grabbed after Genevieve to try to tickle her but he missed and landed on her father's foot. There was a noticeable "oof" from above the table and Genevieve had to hold her laughter.

"I do not think a better sword will make you beat me, hahaha."

"Children, I think it is time to come up from the table and say your goodbyes." A gentle voice said from above. Genevieve and Prince William came from under the table and returned to their seats. Dinner went by in a blur. The next thing Genevieve knew, she was giving her best a goodbye hug and climbing into the carriage that her family arrived in.

As the horses sped away from the castle, all Genevieve could do was grasp the leather bound bracelet that her best friend had given to her.

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canyousevmyheavydirtysoul · 5 years

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Bodyguard II: Familial Ties (Part II - Chapter 7) (Brendon Urie x Reader)

Main street. Puente Antiguo, New Mexico.

The team of Darcy, Selvig, Aaron and Jane treaded up the street towards their lab, fast approaching their destination. They were a few feet away from the entrance when a pick-up truck pulled up before them, stopped by traffic. In the back of the vehicle, Jane noticed – partially covered by a tarp – was the dark matter analysis machine from her lab.

“Hey!” she yelled, a bout of anger and a twinge of panic igniting in her, “That’s my stuff!”

Sprinting now, they reached the lab a few seconds later, only to be met with the sight of a gathering of towering government SUVs parked outside, with S.H.I.E.L.D agents hauling equipment out of the workroom and loading it onto waiting vans.

Another group of agents were stripping all the equipment from inside Jane’s van and carting it away, while others emerged from her trailer, arms loaded with scientific instruments and documents.

“What the hell is going on here?” an irate Jane demanded, frowning as she spun around frantically, looking from Agent to Agent, trying to gather an answer.

They ignored her.

Then, a moment later, Agent Coulson leisurely walked over to her, stealing a quick glance in the direction of Aaron, who immediately straightened up at the sight of Director Fury’s right hand man. The doctor’s uneasiness subsided then; he recognized that the presence of S.H.I.E.L.D personnel was most likely a result of your doing.

“Ms Foster,” Coulson spoke in an overly-official manner, the customary tone of all S.H.I.E.L.D Agents, “I’m Agent Coulson with S.H.I.E.L.D.”

It appeared as if Doctor Selvig had been previously acquainted with the organisation, too, because as soon as the name slipped past Coulson’s lips, a wary expression grew on his face, and he stepped forward to place a warning hand on Jane’s shoulder.

“I don’t care who you work for – you can’t do this!” Jane argued.

“Jane,” Selvig said firmly, warning evident in his voice, “This is more serious than you realise.”

“Erik’s right, Jane,” Aaron spoke up, stepping in to try and aid the situation; he knew better than the rest of them just how severe the condition was, “Let it go.”

“Let it go?!” she scoffed, turning to look at Aaron in disbelief as she gestured to all of her stuff being hauled away, “This is my life!”

“We’re here investigating a security threat,” Coulson tried to explain, “We need to appropriate your equipment and all your atmospheric data.”

“By ‘appropriate’ you mean ‘steal’?”

Instead of answering, Coulson handed her a cheque. “This should more than compensate you for your trouble.”

Without bothering to even glance at the piece of paper, Jane threw it to the ground.

“I can’t just pick up the replacements from RadioShack!” Jane was borderline hysterical at this point. “I made most of that equipment myself!”

“Then I’m sure you can do it again,” Coulson replied without missing a beat.

“And I’m sure I can sue you for violating my constitutional rights!”

“We’re the good guys, Ms Foster.”

Coulson tried to walk away, but Jane rushed forward and blocked his path. She was fully herself, fuelled by outrage.

“So are we! We’re on the verge of understanding something extraordinary.” She held up her notebook before continuing. “Everything I know about this phenomenon is in this lab and in this book, and no one has the right to take it from me.”

Coulson gestured to a nearby agent, who promptly plucked the notebook out of Jane’s hand and added it to the pile he was carrying. Jane was left stunned.

Heading for his car, Coulson spoke one last sentence before leaving.

“Thank you for your cooperation.”

✧ ✧ ✧

Fifteen minutes later. S.H.I.E.L.D base. Puente Antiguo, New Mexico.

“Yeah, that was my call,” you breathed, holding your phone to your ear with your right hand as the left tangled itself in your hair. Slowly, you walked to the window overlooking the hangar bay and observed the agents as they transported the various pieces of equipment inside. “I’m watching them move it in as we speak.”

“I thought as much,” Aaron’s voice crackled through the receiver, as he spoke into his cell from his hiding spot behind Jane’s trailer, occasionally sneaking glances at the other three inside the lab, “Jane’s about two minutes away from having an aneurism.”

“And I feel bad that we took her life’s work, I really do, but we can’t risk-“

“I know, love,” Aaron said gently, “You don’t have to explain yourself to me.”

With a tired huff, you leaned your forehead against the metal frame of the window and for a little while, a comfortable silence was the only communication between you and Aaron.

Then, “When was the last time you slept? And no, laying in bed and staring at the ceiling is not sleeping.”

Groaning inwardly, you shifted your weight from one foot to the other, rolling your eyes. Sometimes you wished that this man didn’t know you as well as he did.

“I got a half-hour in on the flight yesterday morning. That count?”

“(Y/N)-“

“I know, I know,” you cut in before he could give you one of his ‘overbearing friend’ lectures, “It’s not for lack of trying, though. I can’t fall asleep, regardless of how hard I try.”

You could practically feel the doctor’s smile through the phone as he muttered his next words. “Maybe you just miss me.”

Overriding all of the stress, anxiety and panic that had taken over you the last couple of days, Aaron managed to get you to crack a small smile.

And he was right – all of the past week’s events had made you miss someone. Whether or not that someone was Aaron, though…

“Maybe,” you said quietly.

With a soft chuckle, Aaron straightened himself up and dusted off his pants, which had captured dust from the trailer. “Listen, now that S.H.I.E.L.D has all of Jane’s research, my consultation is technically over, so should I travel to HQ? Or the base?”

“No, I think it’s best if you stay,” you answered, stuffing your free hand in the back pocket of your jeans as you moved away from the window, “I need you to be my eyes and ears – just in case they decide to… I dunno… get revenge.”

“Don’t think that’s something you need to be worried about, love.”

“Yeah, well… my gut tells me differently.”

✧ ✧ ✧

Pet store. Puente Antiguo, New Mexico.

“I need a horse.”

With a slight frown, the pet store clerk looked up from their phone and at the completely serious face of Thor, standing just in front of the front counter.

“Sorry, we don’t sell horses. Just dogs, cats, birds,” they informed.

“Then give me one of those,” Thor settled, “large enough to ride.”

The clerk looked thoroughly confused, but before either of them could say anything more, the sound of a car horn from across the street caught the god’s attention, and he turned to the open door.

Across the street, Jane called to him from the Pinzgauer. “You still want a lift?”

As the van headed away, it continued up a hillside, revealing a light illuminating the valley beyond. As they moved closer, they saw that the glow came from a massive S.H.I.E.L.D base, now set up around the crater – vehicles, trailers, barricades.

Armed guards were manning a gate in the razor wire fence that ran fifty yards from the crater’s edge, enclosing the complex. Clear, plastic access tubes with junction boxes lead to a translucent cube structure erected in the middle of the crater.

Through the glass walls of the base’s command trailer, Coulson was directing technicians, busy at work.

Within the cube structure itself, a team of S.H.I.E.L.D scientists worked with high-tech machinery, analysing the object at the centre of it all – Mjolnir.

Jane and Thor crawled to the edge of the ridge, looking through binoculars at the impressive S.H.I.E.L.D base.

“That isn’t a satellite crash,” Jane spoke lowly, “They would have hauled the wreckage away, not built a city around it.”

Not bothering to reply, Thor shrugged out of his jacket and handed it to her. “You’re going to need this.”

“Why?”

All of a sudden, thunder rumbled overhead. She stared at him intently, before taking the jacket.

“Stay here,” he instructed her, “Once I have Mjolnir, I will return what they stole from you.” He looked at her thoughtfully, already knowing that she might disobey his request. “Deal?”

“No!” she exclaimed immediately. “Look what’s down there! You can’t just walk in, grab our stuff and walk out!”

“No.”

Jane looked relieved to hear him say that. But that relief lasted a mere two seconds.

“I’m going to fly out,” Thor corrected and before Jane could react, he started heading toward the crater. The first drops of rain began to patter into the dust.

“Wait…” she tried, but he was already gone.

Inside the cubic containment structure surrounding Mjolnir, the needle belonging to a handheld sensor device was spiking, prompting the technician holding it to look over at the hammer – it was giving off a subtle glow. Out of nowhere, a bolt of lightning cracked across the sky above.

A computer monitor inside the base’s security room showed an aerial infrared video image of the area, but it was fuzzy, and the S.H.I.E.L.D workers weren’t able to see much.

With a headset on his head, Dallon stared at the monitors intently, looking for any sign of a disturbance, while an older agent – Sitwell – looked on from the techie’s side, none-too-pleased.

Pointing out the video feed to his superior, Dallon began speaking. “Feed from the keyhole,” he explained, gesturing to the fuzzy images onscreen, “Can barely penetrate the cloud cover.”

The techie hiked a thumb at another monitor, which was squelching with static. It showed an SAR shot of the area, laid out over a terrain map.

“Tech’s barely working as is it, with all the interference that thing’s giving off,” Dallon continued with a huff as he motioned towards the hammer.

He leaned forward to check one of the computers. It showed an incoming airplane. “Hey, we’ve got a commercial aircraft coming in right over us,” he warned, pressing a few keys and enlarging the GPS system, “Southwest Airlines, Flight 5434.”

“Reroute it, like all the others,” Sitwell instructed sternly.

“Right,” Dallon responded, fingers already flying across the keyboard as he worked on doing what he was told; pausing for a moment, he turned to look at the other agent, “Can I get the passengers some free drinks for the trouble?”

Sitwell glared at him, not at all amused. With a shrug, the techie pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose and turned back to the computer.

“It’d be a nice gesture,” he mumbled, continuing to type. He noticed something on an adjacent monitor screen, and held up a hand. “Hold on a sec… we got something outside the fence, west side…”

He pointed at the screen and through the haze, a thermal image huddled beside the fence was visible. Sitwell pulled his radio from his belt and brought it to his mouth.

“DeLancey, Jackson – check it out,” he ordered the two agents on the ground, who immediately hopped into a Jeep and took off to investigate.

Sitwell peered through the window of the security room, something strange catching his attention. In the window’s reflection, a glow could be seen – one that was emanating from the hammer containment area.

Below, the Jeep pulled up to the fence as the Agents scanned the area with a flashlight. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary.

“Looks like we’re good here,” Agent Jackson reported into his radio, “Must have been another coyote.”

Just then, the two agents noticed a section of the fence had been bent up from the ground, leaving a noticeably sized gap. Before either of them could react and call it in, a massive crack of lightning illuminated the night sky – revealing the silhouette of a large man standing outside the driver’s side of the Jeep. DeLancey looked over, noticing.

“Jackson?” He cocked his head at the window.

The agents hastily reached for their weapons, but Thor elbowed Jackson across the jaw, causing him to drop his handgun. The limp body of the agent slumped over the steering wheel, as his partner started to raise a shotgun at Thor.

Thor grabbed the barrel of the gun and yanked it out of DeLancey’s hands, thrusting the hilt back and smashing the agent’s jaw.

With both threats neutralised, the god reached into the Jeep to grab a rain slicker, slipping it on as a means of camouflage. He hurried across the base, managing to get out of sight just as another agent approached the Jeep.

Seeing his unconscious colleagues, he quickly called into his radio. “Agents down! We’ve got a perimeter breach!”

Back inside the security room, all of the monitors were squelching with static and interference, as Dallon worked frantically to try and counteract the problem. Sitwell was holding his PDA with the intention of gaining contact with the agents on the ground – but even that was on the fritz.

He and Dallon watched the monitors warily, as on the screens was the hammer containment area, all lit up as Mjolnir started to crackle with energy.

“Get Coulson,” Sitwell calmly instructed Dallon, while he moved to punch the alarm.

As Thor made his way towards the crater, the alarm blared all around him and security lights exploded to life.

On the ridge just above the crater, a spotlight fired out from the base and swept across the ground towards Jane. She ducked down before the light could catch her, out of sight. Pulling out her cellphone, she dialled Selvig’s number, but got his voicemail.

With a sigh, she searched for Aaron’s number and pressed call. He answered on the second ring.

“Jane? Where are you?”

“Aaron,” she breathed, tossing a fleeting look over her shoulder, “okay, first of all, don’t worry. I’m perfectly fine, really.”

More sounds of mayhem came from the base.

“Wha-“

“But if you don’t hear from me again,” she cut the doctor off, not allowing him to speak, “you might want to come out to the crater site and look for me. I kind of did what you and Erik said I shouldn’t do. Thanks. Bye.”

She hung up.

Emerging purposefully from the S.H.I.E.L.D command trailer, Coulson marched across the mud, radio to his ear. He looked out across the lit up site uneasily.

Across the way, a guard moved through the base, rifle in hand. From the shadows behind a trailer, a figure looked out at him. As the guard raises his radio to check in, Thor quickly rushed towards him and choked him out, letting his body fall to the ground.

The god noticed the AR-15 rifle lying on the ground beside the fallen guard, and he stared at the weapon quizzically; they didn’t have such things on Asgard. Hearing more guards approach, he made the decision to snatch the weapon up anyway, and took cover in the shadows of the trailer.

The guards passed by and Thor peered around the corner, seeing the well-guarded main entrance tube to the centre of the site. A bright light suddenly illuminated his face. He looked to see an ATV moving across the ground, shining its spotlight right on him – the driver had spotted him, and raised his radio to report it.

Knowing he had to act fast, Thor raised the rifle – then flipped it over in the air and caught it by the barrel. He reared the weapon back, then hurled it like a hammer. It flew through the air, smashing the ATV’s spotlight.

Glass and debris showered the driver, who took his hands off the wheel to cover his face and protect himself. Without the guidance of the driver, the ATV roared out of control past the guards near the tube entrance, who all reacted and began chasing after it.

Emerging from the shadows, Thor watched as the guards abandoned the site entrance. Now was his chance.

Climbing to the lip of the crater as a light rain began to fall, Coulson looked down and eyed the damage of the ATV crash. He was not pleased. In a matter of seconds, the light rain became a downpour.

Down at the entrance tube, Thor raced up the ramp, only to come face-to-face with two guards as he rounded a corner. Without hesitation, he knocked out the first guard, and then tackled the second before hurrying further on, just as more guards came up a ladder ahead.

The god punched the closest guard, sending him tumbling backwards, toppling the others on the ladder behind him. He took off running, then, as the guards regrouped and gave chase.

Thor spotted the glow of Mjolnir in the central cube, through the translucent walls of the tunnels, and he hurried through the tunnels to find a way towards it.

Meanwhile, still on the crater lip, Coulson stood barking out orders, as the guards in the tunnel rushed to cut off Thor. The agent activated his radio.

“I want eyes up high. With a gun. Now!”

Inside the command trailer, a sniper dressed in black tactical gear and high-tech night vision equipment picked up a rifle and slung it over his shoulder before heading out.

Agent Barton.

Lightning crackled all around the camp as he approached a crane bucket. After he leaped in, the bucket lifted into the air.

As Thor proceeded to race through the tunnel, yet another guard ran right at him, on a collision course. Thor took him out with a punch to the gut, and then turned to see more agents coming towards him.

Picking up the fallen guard he punched, he threw him into the approaching agents, scattering them. He then turned around and ran back the way he came, with the agents still chasing.

Coulson watched the commotion in the tunnel complex before heading off for the command trailer to enter the tunnels. Meanwhile, the crane basket ascended into the high winds as Barton readied his sniper rifle.

Inside the complex, Thor headed down a ladder form a junction box, with other figures converging on him.

Coulson entered the tunnels through the command trailer and called on his radio. “Barton. Talk to me.”

The crane holding Barton arced out over the structure. Barton took aim. “One shot, one kill, sir,” he said over his comm, “Just give the word.”

From the agent’s point of view overlooking the complex, it was a clear field of vision, nowhere to hide. A digital read-out gave information on the distance to the target. He locked in on Thor, who was inside the plastic tubing, emerging from the junction box and heading towards the cube structure.

“Hello, handsome,” he said slyly, a small smirk on his face at the prospect of having a clear shot. He never missed.

Still racing through the tunnel, Thor came across a wall of agents; the god roared and barrelled through them – elbowing, punching – whatever it took to keep on moving.

As he took down the last agent, Thor saw the last junction box and the entrance to the cube structure up ahead, and he wasted no time in sprinting towards it. He was so close, able to actually see Mjolnir within the middle of the structure, when – bam!

From out of nowhere, a fist landed a powerful blow across his jaw, sending him reeling. Dazed, Thor looked up to see a huge S.H.I.E.L.D agent – the biggest of them all – standing between him and his hammer in the cube structure beyond. With a once-over, Thor sized him up.

“You’re big.” Thor grinned and cocked his head to the side. “Fought bigger.”

Within a split second, Thor and the Huge Agent exploded through the wall of the junction box, then crashed into the mud, sending both of them sliding across the ground.

Barton had Thor full in his sights, standing still as a statue as he awaited further instructions.

Coulson hurried through the tunnel, ready to give the word to Barton, when he stopped short all of a sudden. He could see what looked an awful lot like an electrical storm erupting inside the structure ahead, directly above the crater… and the hammer.

Pushing open the glass door to the temporary office space in the base, you wiped the remaining droplets of water from your hands onto your jeans before entering the room.

Instinctively, you went to retrieve your phone from the tabletop where you’d left it only minutes ago; as you did so, the abundance of notifications blowing up the screen made you frown.

The frown soon turned from one of confusion to one of worry when you saw that the notifs were all messages of missed calls from Aaron. You had left to go to the bathroom a mere three minutes ago, and the fact that he had called ten times over that short span of time brought you nothing but unease.

Hastily, you placed your thumb over the home button, unlocking the phone. You were just about to press the call button when the sound of your ringtone sounded throughout the space, sounding even more piercing than usual now that you were so full of anxiety.

With shaky hands, you answered the call and pressed the phone to your ear. “Hello?”

“(Y/N), oh, finally!” The relief in Aaron’s voice was undeniable, but it soon subsided, overtaken by the sheer panic that he wasn’t able to mask – try as he might.

You listened intently to every single syllable that spilled from his lips and into the receiver, feeling the panic transfer over to you just as easily as his words did.

“Fuck,” you cursed, not even bothering to end the call, instead just turning sharply on your heel, exiting the room and sprinting down the length of the base.

Thor and the huge agent struggled to find their footing in the mud, their balance completely thrown off. Through the translucent walls of the cube structure, Thor saw Mjolnir, but the agent rose up before him, blocking his view almost entirely.

Rain and blood trickled down Thor’s face as he lunged forward, whipping his feet in front of him then kicking out, nailing the huge agent in the chest. The agent went down hard as Thor’s momentum clashed with him.

The god stood, heading for the cube structure, when he was yanked by his ankle in a last effort by the agent. Looking down at his foe, Thor dropped backwards, pile driving his elbow into the fallen agent’s chest; he grimaced in pain, defeated, as the god raced on.

From outside the hammer containment cube, Thor ripped an opening in the plastic wall of the structure. He stood there – soaking, bleeding, caked with wet earth. His hammer rested just a few yards before him, energy surging around it.

Coulson stepped into the structure through an access tunnel, one storey up.

As Thor approached the hammer, Mjolnir started to glow brighter, blue electricity sparking off its surface. The crackling energy seemed to reach out to him. Coulson noticed it, and his interest was piqued.

Above the open ceiling of the structure, Barton’s crane bucket came into view. Wind and rain whipped around the agent as he stared into his rifle site, locked on the back of Thor’s head – his finger on the trigger.

Thor stood next to the hammer, feeling its power. He reached out to it confidently. Coulson observed from above, armed agents approaching behind him. He motioned for them to hold their positions, then radioed Barton.

“Barton…”

Barton stood ready to take Thor down; his finger started to squeeze the trigger.

“Coulson!” you called out, panting as you scrambled your way up the hill; your clothes were stained with mud and your wet hair was matted, flat against your head. “Don’t.”

The agent turned to look at you, squinting his eyes infinitesimally. You didn't say anything to him, just stood there as rain pelted down, looking at him with wide-eyes.

And he understood.

“…hold your fire.”

Barton released the trigger, pulling up. Coulson let his gaze linger on you for a couple more seconds, before both of you turned your attention to the god, watching in anticipation as Thor wrapped his hand around the hammer. He smiled, triumphant, and lifted… but the hammer didn’t move.

Utterly perplexed, Thor tried again with two hands, to no avail – anger and frustration quickly took over him. He strained with all his might, screaming from the effort, bellowing up at the storm and lightning above him.

Something began appearing on the sides of Mjolnir – glowing runes. Thor looked down, seeing them. But still, the hammer didn’t budge.

The god fell to his knees before it, rain pouring down around him, as the glowing runes faded away. He failed.

Unworthy.

Coulson looked on, clearly disappointed, and you… well, you weren’t entirely sure just how to feel. Before you could decide, your focus shifted as the S.H.I.E.L.D agents moved in, guns trained on Thor, surrounding him.

Coulson activated his radio. “Ground units, move in. Show’s over.”

As the hoard of agents surrounded him, Thor didn’t seem to notice or care. He just sat there on his knees, head bowed in the rain – a man broken, lost.

_______________________________

Thank you for reading x

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ilcaeryx · 5 years

Text

Tenacity: Chapter 2 - Shaft [Bakugou Katsuki/Reader]

SUMMARY: It was impenetrable.

TAGS: Reader-Insert Collection, Action

Link to Chapter 2 of Tenacity on AO3

or continue reading below.

Chapter 2: Shaft

The darkness was dense enough that counting down the seconds until impact was impossible.

All of a sudden the freefall ended with your left side striking against a wooden construction, pain flaring up your pelvis and shoulder. It reverbed up your ribcage and leg before you hit the ground. Smack. A clear, metallic sound drilled out and quickly phased out into nothingness, your forehead blooming with pain. Through the emptiness in your ears you couldn't hear your scream, though the air did pass through your lungs and throat. You weren't sure if you were even alive; when you opened your eyes an impenetrable darkness enveloped you. Weakly, you dragged your hand in front of your face and moved your fingers. You could perceive nothing, no contrast nor movement.

Behind your ears a ringing gradually increased as you palpated your eyes frantically with your fingertips.

There's nothing wrong with them. Am I..?

Despite the protest in your body you gathered yourself up on your knees, patting your temples, ears and back of your head. Your hands were shaking violently, tapping desperately for wounds. No way you could fall this far without some injury. There was a silken softness on your hairline and when you drew your fingers to your nose you felt the unmistakeable scent of fresh blood.

A loud thrashing above you transcended into a cacophony of empty creaks when something heavy crashed down a few meters away.

In your terror, you receeded away from whatever it was. Because depending on what had fallen down the mineshaft with you, you would either die a viscious death now or later.

Please, let them remain above.

If you had to, you could fight - your Quirk was an offensive transformation type. Slowly, you clung against the stone wall and rose to your feet, ears fixed on the unknown intruder. Could you fight in the darkness, in this state? Maybe. Survive the fight itself? Probably not. The Quirk itself taxed your body quite severely, even when you were in tip-top condition.

You could feel the familiar prickle beneath your skin on your fingers and forearms, quills ready to erupt through the surface. The ringing abated as you tried to focus on the sounds around you.

It wasn't silent for long. The something let out a raspy groan from the depths of its lungs. You imagined limbs confusedly moving around the wood pieces, splinters digging into the body. A dull boom echoed when it hit the ground, accompanied by a low growl.

"Son of a bitch..!"

"Katsuki?"

"Y/N!"

IT'S HIM.

You scrambled to him, falling to your knees and crawling until you found him. With a light hand you trailed across his chest, up his neck, into his hair, searching for any clues that it really was him. Going by the unruly hair, it was. Katsuki sat halfway up, perched on his elbow.

"What the fuck are you doing, woman?" He swatted your hand away. "More importantly, are you alright?"

Your throat squeezed up. "I don't know… I think I may be blind."

"Don't fuckin' panic. It's pitch dark in here. I can't see shit either."

"I hit my head pretty hard."

Katsuki groaned as he sat upright. You grasped his hand and held his index finger against your forehead, the digit gliding softly through the blood. There was a short break in his breathing, a pause mid-inhalation that would've gone unnoticed by others.

"I can get us out." His breath spilling over your eyelashes and cheeks gave you some comfort, as did those words. You felt him move around in front of you and he hooked his right arm behind your back. In turn, you wound your right arm behind his neck. His neck muscles tensed as he rose to full height, now keeping you in a steel grip with both his hands.

"I think I can stand by myself," you said and grasped the collar of his shirt. "You're hurt too."

"Nah, I'll carry you. I've been worse."

Sometimes he came home quite mangled, so he technically wasn't lying.

His left hand left your leg. The well-known sound of miniature firecrackers set off and a tiny speck of light blew the room up into life, colouring your sight a sparkling white. You blinked in annoyance when random blotches swirled around your vision but it gave you a deep catharsis - you weren't blind.

Katsuki followed the left side of the corridor you had entered closely, relying on his memory after each blast. It was a pretty ingenious use of his Quirk. Every ten or fifteen seconds he'd create a blast of light, then he would move forward. Rinse and repeat ad nausem.

The two of you couldn't move very fast. Because this was an old mineshaft, the stone walls were bare except for wooden beams and the ground was uneven and littered with pebbles. Sometimes Katsuki would lose balance for half a second and clutch you closer out of instinct, causing your ribcage to ache. Actually, whenever he moved his torso any given bodypart would ache. Other than a sharp curse every now and then you didn't complain.

There were parts of the mineshaft system where murky water would hide the bottom. None of you could cross without putting yourselves in danger, so you avoided those sections. You weren't sure if the water wasn't contaminated either. Thus, some parts were inaccessible and you both had to go thirsty.

Eventually, the two of you took a rest. You were tucked in between a pillar and Katsuki, leaning your head against his shoulder. He kept cracking the joints on his fingers, stretching and bending them.

"Do you think those were zombies?" you asked, re-lacing your hiker boots. There had been something bothering you about this scenario. You had fallen down the mineshaft after fleeing five assholes that had attacked you two while dusk was settling in the woods. Other than five grown men ganging up on two camping adults, the strangest thing was how blasting off their limbs and hitting them with blunt weapons didn't stop them. At all. Had he been alone, you're certain Katsuki would've turned them to ashes. However, you were in a public hiking area and it hadn't rained for quite a while. Not a good idea. Thus, you had fled and ended up there.

Katsuki reflected on it and answered: "Probably not. How convenient would it be for these non-factors to appear right in the middle of fuckin' nowhere where we're at? A zombie outbreak wouldn't take place here. If anything, it's probably a villain with a Quirk."

"That has to be one of the most powerful Quirks I've ever seen, then."

He sighed and you were sure he was side-eyeing you.

"You're so easy to impress," he commented and stood up. Your hands met in the dark. Without much effort, he pulled you to your feet.

His hands were damp and you laughed quietly when your fingers glided on his skin. "God damn, your hands are slippery as fuck. You're like an eel or something."

"Let's hope I don't drop you then."

Your perception of time was essentially non-existent. These identical corridors provided no clue whatsoever to how much time had passed.

In fact, your first inclination of a clue had been a humid draft hitting you, drawing your hair away from your face.

"Yo," you pulled on Katsuki's shirt to catch his attention. "Do you feel that? We're close to the entrance."

Katsuki fired off a light blast, the corridor developing into a larger space further up ahead. The blast only lit up a few meters into the room but it was definitely a broader space than the corridors.

"Stay low and be quiet," Katsuki whispered in your ear and slowly let you down.

Katsuki traced the wall with one hand, keeping the other hand outstretched in front of him. Warily, listening for suspicious noise from behind aswell as in front, he crept up to the entrance. He couldn't feel the breeze anymore, though a faint hiss came from one of the two entrances, or both. It sounded like wind wafting through leaves.

The build-up to the flash explosion made his palm itch. Compared to the output he usually worked with, it was almost imperceptible. Since the flash explosion was a lesser version of the Stun Grenade it didn't require as much nitroglycerin and time but if he didn't have to he wouldn't continously use it. There were, with 100% certainty, more of those zombie motherfuckers outside.

Flash one. Room was around ten by five meters with two exits on the opposite side. Spread out in the room were many pieces of what possibly could be mine equipment. No movements.

He held his breath and cocked his head to the left, listening. Nothing from behind, at least.

Katsuki created another flash, taking note of the terrain and advancing towards the middle of the room. Airflow was definitely increasing now.

Suddenly, footsteps about seven meters ahead in the darkness. Hand-to-hand, concentrating the boiling on his palm to the size of a quarter, he charged an AP Shot and fired. It lit up a path straight to an exit, the explosion ripping through a piece of the wall, gravel and dust spewing out. No time to see if it hit. Katsuki loaded the next shot, adjusting his aim to the left. Through the build-up a shrill shriek alerted him, followed by the the contour of something moving in the dark. Boom!

Next shot fired off, he heaved himself over a machine and dashed forward. Half a second of light revealed a man-shaped figure furiously charging towards him, tendrils of smoky dust clinging to the upper part of the torso. In the weak afterglow of the AP shot, his caninas glared before disappearing into nothingless.

If Katsuki couldn't stop him from breathing, he would at least stop him from moving.

He shot off another AP Shot, the left arm ripped off from the body. When Katsuki caught the man stumbling forward, he grinned.

Game over.

Turning his palms behind him and jumping into the air, he blasted himself high enough to almost hit the ceiling and descended upon the fucker. A close-contact explosion to the face would disintegrate his nervous system.

Too god damn easy.

In his right palm, the incoming charge illuminated the space beneath him. There was nothing there.

His heart dropped to his stomach.

"Katsuki?" He heard you scream.

The distinct sound of footsteps continued behind him

When his feet hit the floor, he was on the move. He loaded a weak shot meant to distract.

But it was too late.

The man's feet were dangling limply above the floor, torso and head completely penetrated by dozens of quills, thick as cucumbers. With a sickening, slick sound the head detached from its body.

Your Quirk, under the right circumstances, was very effective.

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tsukiprotranslations · 5 years

Text

[Translation] VAZZROCK bi-color Series Vol. 10 Drama Track 1 - Part 1

Ayumu’s drama track is only one but like the other ROCK DOWN members, it’s over 25 minutes long so it’s cut into two or maybe three parts again~! ww The first part runs from minute 0 to minute 10:15~!

Thank you to @ryuukia for the files~! Please don’t ask her as per her request, thank you!

※ Please don’t re-post these translations without permission. Instead of reposting, please just like/reblog instead ^^

Under the cut, enjoy~!

Track 1: [雨過天晴] “Rain after rain”

[0:00]

(Gaku takes a sip of coffee)

GAKU: Let’s see… Ruu will be at Nagoya tomorrow, huh.

GAKU: Ah, so that’s why he has golden nails. He said he wanted something 3D so…

GAKU: Don’t tell me, he’s planning on Shachihoko (1)… Well, in Ruu’s case, he just might do it.

GAKU: Though, if he had 3D art on his nails during the handshake event, it might just make it more difficult…

GAKU: His partner tomorrow is… Ah, it’s Takaaki-san!

GAKU: If that’s the case then, it might go well… I hope it does. Takaaki-san, I’m counting on you.

(door opens)

AYUMU: Gaku, great work today.

GAKU: Same to you.

AYUMU: Sorry I’m so late.

GAKU: Nah, you called ahead so it’s fine. Did you finish work safely?

AYUMU: Somehow.

(Ayumu sits down)

GAKU: But, it’s kinda unusual for you to have a sudden filming. It’s usually scheduled, isn’t it?

AYUMU: It was originally supposed to be next month. But, since it was connected with Reiji’s filming, we shot mine in a hurry.

GAKU: So that’s what Reiji meant when he said his pay schedule was bumped up.

AYUMU: The site’s conditions were getting concerning so we had to adjust.

GAKU: That must be troublesome.

AYUMU: I think the staff have it much harder than I do.

AYUMU: But, I think we made something great.

GAKU: (smiles) That’s great.

AYUMU: Yeah. Normally when Reiji moves something happens but, I’m glad it ended safely.

AYUMU: Weren’t you at filming until noon, too, Gaku? How did your work with VAZZY go?

GAKU: It felt fresh. Ouka really has a different atmosphere, huh? I guess you could say he has a certain aura.

AYUMU: Well, he has been in the industry longer than Reiji after all.

AYUMU: Do you still have some coffee?

GAKU: There’s still some left over there.

AYUMU: Then, I’ll have some. Gaku, what about you? Want some more?

GAKU: Hm, let me think… Yeah sure, I’ll have some.

[02:05]

(Gaku finishes his cup)

GAKU: Please put it here.

AYUMU: You don’t want a new cup?

GAKU: You’ll have more to wash then, won’t you?

AYUMU: If it’s just washing dishes it’s fine but…

AYUMU: Well, never mind.

(Ayumu gets the cup and stands up)

AYUMU: Wait here a bit.

(Ayumu walks over to the coffee maker)

GAKU: Ayumu, all your handshake events in Tokyo are done, right?

AYUMU: All of mine in Tokyo ended last week. You still have more, Gaku?

GAKU: After the one with Sho, it’ll be all done.

AYUMU: With Sho, huh…

GAKU: Something wrong?

(Ayumu walks back and hands Gaku the coffee)

GAKU: Thank you.

AYUMU: I’ll restrain myself from saying something about a handshake event with Sho.

AYUMU: That’s all I’ll say.

GAKU: You mean, it might get extended?

AYUMU: You’ve noticed that the given schedule is different when it’s with Sho, right?

GAKU: Yeah, I thought it was a printing mistake so I was gonna confirm it with the manager.

AYUMU: Well, that’s right in a way.

AYUMU: The announcement during the actual event shouldn’t reveal anything about the members so it would be the same.

AYUMU: I think it’d be better if we stick to our schedule for our activities.

GAKU: Is that what’s written on the venue?

AYUMU: Naturally.

GAKU: Then, why does it get extended? There’s a time-keeper, right?

AYUMU: There was. There was but…

AYUMU: When he’s in front of Sho, he finds it difficult to say, ‘please hurry’.

GAKU: Ah… I can kinda understand why.

AYUMU: Of course, since it was his job, he did so eventually but…

AYUMU: The one he’s telling was Sho after all so…

GAKU: Now that you mention it, I haven’t seen Sho rushing to finish something.

AYUMU: Me, too. I think they’re just trying to be polite so…

AYUMU: Um… I think it’s because of the difference in generations or… that his (Sho) atmosphere is too different that might be the reason…

AYUMU: That’s what I think.

GAKU: That’s because Sho’s elegant, huh?

AYUMU: It seems like it was only during Sho and Haruto’s event that the schedule was followed properly.

GAKU: I think the question would be, how did Haruto tell Sho?

AYUMU: I wonder now. In any case, I think it would be better to prepare yourself for a longer than usual time.

GAKU: Roger that. I’ll at least prepare myself.

AYUMU: Well, I think you won’t have any problems with stamina anyway.

AYUMU: Now then… Let’s leave the gossip at that. Let’s go over our handshake event.

GAKU: You’re right. This is my first time doing an event in a local area so I don’t know how it’d go.

GAKU: I’m glad that you’re my first partner.

AYUMU: I agree.

GAKU: Woah there~! I’m happy but that was an unexpected answer.

GAKU: I thought that you would find working with Reiji easier.

AYUMU: (sighs) Why does everyone always put Reiji and I together as a set?

GAKU: It’s ‘cause Sho can only move when Haruto’s around, and when Ruu’s being reckless, I’m the one who’s there for him.

AYUMU: I know that. B-but, in next week’s event, the manager will be going with the other members, right?

GAKU: That’s what I heard.

AYUMU: The airline tickets are all taken care of but, after that, it looks like we’re to take care of ourselves.

AYUMU: If we’re going to coordinate our time, we should think along the same lines or…

AYUMU: Anyway, I’m glad to have a partner that can cooperate well.

AYUMU: That’s why I thought I’m glad it was you.

GAKU: (laughs) I see now. You were just thinking ahead.

GAKU: I’ll do my best not to hold you back~

AYUMU: That’s my line. I’ll be in your care.

GAKU: Same here. I’m in your care, too.

AYUMU: Now then, you know the flow of the event day already, right?

GAKU: Yeah. I already confirmed the new schedule.

GAKU: It’s pretty much the same flow as from the one in Tokyo, isn’t it?

AYUMU: In general, I don’t think there’s that much difference.

AYUMU: I haven’t seen the venue yet so I don’t know what to expect but… I think it should be fine.

[06:14]

GAKU: Have there been changes on how we get to the venue?

AYUMU: I haven’t gotten info on any changes.

AYUMU: We’ll be riding a plane to get to the site and then another short trip from there.

GAKU: (sighs) I’m kinda curious about that airplane…

AYUMU: Why? You can’t handle airplanes, Gaku?

GAKU: Nah. I kinda like that thrilling feeling when taking off. My problem is not the plane itself but…

GAKU: Wait a sec… (Gaku searches something on his phone)

AYUMU: Hm?

GAKU: Here.

AYUMU: Eh?! It’s gonna be stormy?!

GAKU: It would’ve been good if the event was in Tokyo but, it seems like the weather’s gonna be bad on the day we’re supposed to leave.

AYUMU: Gaku…! You…! You’re not a man who brings good weather!? (2)

GAKU: Hm?

AYUMU: You said that your hobby was hiking, right? I just concluded that you’re the type who brings good weather from just that but…

GAKU: Let me see… When I go hiking, it’s usually sunny.

AYUMU: Oh… So you really do bring good weather…

GAKU: But, that’s only when I’m with Ruu. When I’m alone, for some reason, the ‘winds start getting stronger’ even when it’s supposed to be sunny out.

AYUMU: Eh…?!

GAKU: It’s not unusual for strong winds to occur.

AYUMU: Ah… I remember now.

AYUMU: The other day, Ruka asked, ‘How’s the guy who summons the wind?’ so I just thought that he was talking about a play but…

AYUMU: He was talking about Gaku, huh…

GAKU: He calls me ‘Fuujin’ sometimes, too.

AYUMU: He’s at god-level…!

AYUMU: Isn’t that kind of extreme?

GAKU: (laughs) If the winds are strong the day we leave, it’d be my fault. Sorry in advance.

AYUMU: You don’t have to apologize. If you do, it kinda… makes my heart hurt.

GAKU: What do you mean…?

AYUMU: I-it’s not like I’m admitting it but… S-somehow I’m… a guy who summons rain.

GAKU: A guy who summons rain…

AYUMU: Yeah… When an event’s going to happen, it’s sure to rain.

AYUMU: When I’m paired with someone, they experience the same thing.

GAKU: …

GAKU: Wind and…

AYUMU: Rain…

GAKU: Judging by the state of things, it’s the end.

AYUMU: If only one happened, it’d be good but…

AYUMU: A synergy, huh…

GAKU: Wasn’t the stage indoors?

AYUMU: It is but, it’s by the next neighbourhood.

AYUMU: If the weather’s so bad that we can’t go out even with an umbrella, the audience would have a hard time getting there.

GAKU: That’s true.

AYUMU: In the event’s guidelines, it was written that in the case of bad weather, it might get suspended.

GAKU: Can’t it just be postponed?

AYUMU: It would be good if they would have compensation for it but… the staff’s schedule is already packed, too.

AYUMU: It would be difficult to do it simply, I think.

GAKU: I see…

(phone vibrates)

AYUMU: Hm? It’s from the manager.

GAKU: I got one, too.

AYUMU: “Since there’s a high chance that next week’s handshake event will coincide with bad weather, there’s been talk of postponing it for now.”

GAKU: “At the very least, it’s only a proposal for now but…” This is…

AYUMU: Gaku, do you think that postponing it is a good idea given the situation?

GAKU: No, I don’t want to think of postponement until the very end if possible.

AYUMU: I’m glad that we think the same. Then, should we share each other’s burdens?

GAKU: Yeah.

AYUMU: I’ll tell the manager that.

GAKU: I’m counting on you.

==TO BE CONTINUED==

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If you like this, please consider buying me a ko-fi here to support my work. (o^▽^o)Thank you!!

#vazzrock #rock down #tachibana ayumu #tsukipro #drama cd #vazzrock translations #my translations

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cumulohimbus · 5 years

Text

100 things I want to do in my lifetime

So, I had a really good conversation today with friends, and I opened up briefly about my stay in a psych ward a few years ago. It came up because I am acutely aware that I haven't been doing well, and am scared to return to a situation anything like my previous stay at said ward despite knowing that being hospitalized would probably be very beneficial at this time in my life. Talking about it did make me remember something though, something that gave me a lot of hope. While my experience with a psych ward was overwhelmingly negative, there was a part of treatment that really got through to me at the time. It especially helped with my suicidal ideation, which is something that's been really problematic for me again lately. Since I remembered it, I'm going to revisit the exercise, and I encourage anyone and everyone who also struggles with suicidal thoughts, thoughts of self harm, mental health issues, or even if you're just having a bad day, to give this a try. It's simple. Make a list of 100 things you want to do in your life. They can be as realistic or unrealistic as you want them to be. They can be big, long-term goals, or small, silly goals, and everything in between. The only rules are to write 100 things, and to avoid sarcastic or pessimistic things like saying one of your goals is to die or something like that. Save the list! Then someday you can go back and cross off things that you've accomplished or edit as you see necessary. Without further ado, here is my list:

1. I want to get my name legally changed to Larkspur Emmett so my dead name is no more

2. I want to get top surgery

3. I want to rekindle relationships within my family, especially with my cousins

4. I want to get scuba certified

5. I want to dive over the "sunken island" location on the lake my family had a cabin on that I visited frequently while growing up

6. I want to go diving in general, seeing a coral reef in person is an especially huge dream of mine

7. I want to rekindle my knowledge of the Spanish language and eventually become fluent

8. I want to continue learning American Sign Language

9. I want to learn more about my ancestry; I know I'm a vast mix of probably mostly European blood, but my family comes from so many different places and I'd like to know more about them

10. I want to finish the art commission I started for my close friend

11. I want to travel to places like Costa Rica, Japan, Chile, and Australia

12. I want to go on exotic travel adventures with a future romantic partner or close friend

13. I want to get my Bachelor's degree

14. I want to earn enough money to live comfortably, probably with pets

15. I want to adopt a pembroke welsh corgi

16. I want to beat my eating disorder(s) for good and be able to stop taking medication to help if at all possible

17. I want to go ziplining

18. I want to go skydiving

19. I want to hike through the Monteverde biological cloud forest reserve in Costa Rica

20. I want to develop a drag persona and perform as my persona on a regular basis

21. I want to make a fursuit (yes I said it, fite me)

22. I want to finish an entire animated music video

23. I want to learn more about plants and successfully keep one alive for longer than a year

24. I want to try my hand at raising an ant colony

25. I want to go swimming more often

26. I want to learn more martial arts

27. I want to learn to be a leader in my community

28. I want to work harder in my college classes

29. I want to learn to not fear loneliness and abandonment, and to appreciate my alone time

30. I want to get (many) more self-designed tattoos

31. I want to continue learning how to appreciate my body without caring about other people's opinions on what is considered "attractive"

32. I want to eat more whole foods both because they're healthy for me and taste far better than anything with chemicals in it

33. I want to meet a few famous people in person, can't think of many off the top of my head though, but I know there are a couple

34. I want to take dance classes again

35. I want to learn how to play a musical instrument (I mean, I took 7 years of piano and can kinda read music, but I wanna learn an instrument that's better suited for short fingers lolol, maybe french horn?)

36. I want to finish the paintings I've started

37. I want to learn how to digitally render things realistically

38. I want to finish the fanfiction piece I started a couple years ago

39. I want to become more patient and less envious

40. I want to heccing fly, okay?

41. I want to feel like relaxation is deserved and expected, and not a luxury only for those who can afford it

42. I want to reassemble an animal skeleton

43. I want to dig up a fossil (specifically of some sort of mesozoic creature, that'd be so cool)

44. I want to get back to using my planner

45. I want to play more (board, card, video, etc.) games with my friends

46. I want to disassociate less and be present in the real world more often

47. I want to be more informed about what is going on both in general, but especially in my more immediate environment

48. I want to take up better drawing habits (more life drawing, warm ups, breaks, etc.)

49. I want to try a real goddamn piña colada, bonus points if it's on the beach

50. I want to try existing in a portable living situation, like a renovated bus or van, for a while

51. I want to learn basic wilderness survival skills

52. I want to learn how to identify many different species of all types of organisms, especially plants and animals

53. I want to get my vehicle fixed up nice and maybe hand paint some things on it

54. I want to learn more about different cultures because they're fascinating and I want to be as respectful of all people as I possibly can be

55. I want to paint the waterfall jungle mural of my dreams in my future house

56. I want to gain better control of my emotions and my responses to them

57. I want to fabricate a working pair of wings for human beings

58. I want to learn/do more embroidery

59. I want to get a cerulean blue Corvette stingray

60. I want to get better about not procrastinating

61. I want to go to more events/be more involved wherever I am

62. I want to go for more walks to places I haven't been to before, bonus points if it's in the middle of the night and/or in the rain

63. I want to do things like play in inflatable obstacle courses and ride on roller coasters without caring about whether other people judge me for doing those things as an adult

64. I want to regain the physical strength I have lost from being sedentary while my mental health has been at its lowest

65. I want to spend more time laying in the sunshine, preferably with the bare minimum of clothes on because I enjoy the warmth on my skin

66. I want to cuddle more with others that feel comfortable enough to participate in that with me

67. I want to learn more about the fabrication of clothing and design/make some outfits for myself

68. I want to cosplay, maybe go to a convention sometime

69. I want to go skinny dipping >:3 (look, it's number 69 on the list, okay?)

70. I want to try all sorts of foods I've never had before

71. I want to see a butterfly leaving its cocoon in real life again

72. I want to read more of the books I own

73. I want to be kissed by someone again...it's been over 4 years...

74. I want to eliminate my habit of requiring a Youtube gaming playlist to be playing in order for me to fall asleep

75. I want to learn more about the history of the lgbtqia2s+ community

76. I want to learn how to cook for myself better, and like, actually use those skills on a regular basis

77. I want to learn how to take care of my vehicle better on my own, like how to change a tire and such

78. I want to learn to communicate better, and just, in general how to be the best friend I can be

79. I want to stop using all substances for the purpose of drowning out my surroundings and messing with my temporal senses, if I'm going to drink/smoke/get high/whatever, I want it to be because I want to for fun, not because I want the chemicals to take the edge off my mental illness(es)

80. I want to start taking better care of my dental hygiene

81. I want to learn more about my legal rights and finances and other "adult" stuff that doesn't really get taught to you unless you specifically go looking for it

82. You know the somewhat obnoxious game Bop It? Yeah, I want one of those again, keeps me entertained for a long time

83. I want to design more things in general, more characters and their outfits and personalities and the worlds they live in, I enjoy that

84. I want to spend more time outdoors with my friends, watch sunsets and collect miscellaneous objects from the universe and such

85. I want to teach someone something, sit down and maybe teach someone how I draw or about something that I am at least somewhat knowledgeable about

86. I want to go to more aquariums; if/when I travel more I want to go to every aquarium I come across

87. I want to start a legit collection of something and like, build it up over a long period of time so it gets pretty impressive

88. I want to get my eyes surgically corrected so I don't have to wear glasses or fiddle with contacts

89. I want to learn more about Greek and Latin roots and just words and symbolism in general

90. I want to lose the embarrassment I have about my hyperfixations because I deserve to not feel ashamed of the things that bring me satisfaction and joy, and it's okay if other people don't share my enthusiasm about such things, I just want to learn to not be embarrassed that I like stuff

91. I want to get over my fears/discomfort re: nudity, especially for life drawing classes; see, it's one thing to see someone nude and divert my eyes but for life drawing I'm kinda forced to look...

92. I want to understand myself better and learn to love me instead of the opposite; I want to be full of love for the beautiful people around me and I want to really solidify in my brain that I am one of those beautiful people

93. I want to do more things for others that are meaningful because that makes me happy, and I want to learn to do those things while also respecting everyone's, including my own, boundaries

94. I want to develop a sleep schedule that is healthy and appropriate, and that I'm able to maintain

95. I want to run in the rain more often and jump in puddles (edit: while typing this it started storming out and I had to run outside in my bunny pajama short-shorts, winter boots, and a sweatshirt, to grab my box of silly plant seed experiments before they blew away, so progress is already being made)

96. I want to get over my intense fear of making phone calls

97. I want to learn how to sing better with my new and improved deeper voice from being on Testosterone

98. I want to get my first tattoo fixed up and hopefully renew the meaning it had to me at the time that I got it -- I want to try to keep that promise

99. I want to spend more time actively working on improving my mental health

100. I want to see more, I want to learn more, I want to do more, I want to be the version of myself that is genuinely amazed and curious by all manner of things, and I know that part of me is still there

And now, once you've finished your list, you have 100 reasons to not give up, because there's no way of knowing what you're capable of doing if you don't exist to try.

#long post #for future reference #silver writes #mental health things #but positive #100 things i want to do #i'll add a keep reading thing later #can't figure out how to do that on mobile

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jarienn972 · 5 years

Text

Only a Little Superstitious - Chapter 21

I've been trying to make the most of some free time while waiting for a pinched nerve in my neck to heal and since I haven't been able to do too much else, I used that time to do some writing. Part one of my latest short story was posted yesterday and today, it's time for this tale to get a much needed update as well!

We left off with our team making preparations for the hike into the mountains and now, the time has come. Will Emma find what she's seeking when they reach the cavern? Hope you enjoy this latest installment!

From the beginning on Tumblr: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20

AO3 FF.net

They drove east, towards the rising sun, in near silence, Carlos at the wheel with Grandmother sitting anxiously by his side, clutching tightly to her backpack. Emma rode in the back seat with Killian's head slumped against her shoulder. As they gained elevation, Emma stared out of the rear window of the SUV at the silvery-orange glow made by the fading lights of the Phoenix metroplex against the low-hung storm clouds. The storm would be upon them soon and while it was making Grandmother nervous, it was precisely what Emma was counting on.

By the time Carlos made the turn off of Highway 60 to begin their ascent into the mountains, the peaks rose before them in silhouette, haze obscuring the morning sunlight. The patter of raindrops began to strike the windshield as Carlos eased the SUV off of the dirt and gravel service road about a half an hour later in a desolate section of Lost Dutchman State Park. The precipitation was light now, but heavier thunderstorms were forecast for later that morning, highly unusual for this time of year in Arizona, but Grandmother sensed a decidedly supernatural influence affecting the weather. She had long feared these storms. No Navajo wanted to be caught unprepared in a lightning storm, yet her young friend was certain that the fury of the storm would help boost the land's natural magic. So, while Grandmother remained leery of the storm, she'd waited her entire, long life to witness the manifestation of magic and there was no way she'd miss out on this.

Emma clung tightly to Killian who had fallen asleep about halfway into their trip up the mountain. He felt warmer than when they'd left Grandmother's mobile home and there was no doubt now that the influence of the dark magic was strengthening. They knew it was a huge risk coming out here in the first place, but now, the states were even higher and even though Killian had regained some movement, he still wasn't going to be able to hike out to the cavern that Carlos had described. Their Park Ranger friend had assured them that he had a way to transport Killian up the mountain since a wheelchair would be useless in this terrain.

So now, as the vehicle came to a stop, Killian shifted slightly in his sleep, causing Emma to instinctively draw him in even tighter to herself, her fingers inadvertently coming in contact with the cold steel of his hook. She pulled her hand away abruptly, the coolness of the steel such a sharp contrast to the warmth of his skin. Just a little while longer, she reminded herself as she willed him to hang on. As soon as she opened that portal, help would be waiting right on the other side. She'd already made arrangements with Regina to have Dr. Whale and an ambulance prepped and ready to go. The only thing she couldn't control was the exact timing and the precise location they'd end up in so the crew in Storybrooke might be waiting around a while.

"This is as far as we can go by car," Carlos announced as he slid the gearshift into Park and turned off the engine. "The cave is about a mile and a half northeast of here. The terrain is gonna be a little rough, but it's passable as long as the harder rain holds off a while."

"What about Killian?" Emma asked, still uncertain what the Ranger had planned. "We can't exactly carry him that far…"

"Don't worry," Carlos insisted. "As I've said before, I've got that covered." He had already clambered out of the driver's seat, making his way around to the back of the SUV to raise the rear hatch. Emma couldn't make out what he was digging out, but she watched as he maneuvered a few items around to uncover something that had been wedged diagonally across the rear storage compartment and shoved partially under the rear seat of the oversized SUV. He made his way back around the side of the vehicle where Killian was seated dragging some sort of metal contraption that looked a bit like a basket she'd seen helicopter rescue teams use, yet not quite the same.

"What the hell is that?" Emma queried as Carlos tugged the rear door open.

"Just the product of a little Native ingenuity," Carlos responded with a wide smile. "There are so many places out here that are difficult to access and sometimes, it's even hard to find a place for a rescue chopper to land in an emergency, so my squad devised a slightly modified rescue transport for use in those inaccessible places. It's basically a re-purposed basket from one of those helicopters, redesigned for use on land. We took the basket and covered it with surfboard foam to help minimize the impact then we added a harness that's worn by the rescuer. It uses the rescuer's upper body strength to drag the victim to a safe location where a chopper can land."

Emma looked over the contraption as Carlos placed it flat on the ground next to the vehicle and began unfastening the safety straps and unfurling the harness. "That's ingenious," she replied, impressed by the thought that had been put into this device's creation, although she wasn't certain how Killian was going to react to actually laying in the modified basket.

"It won't work well if it gets too muddy though," Carlos warned, "so we'd better get moving…"

With a couple of gentle nudges, Emma roused her husband from his slumber and explained briefly how they intended to bring him up the rest of the trail. While Killian wasn't exactly keen on being strapped into a narrow, foam-encased basket to be dragged like a plow, he recognized that he had little choice in the matter. Emma wasn't going to leave without him and his best chance to survive was to be with his wife when she opened the portal and return to Storybrooke. With no way to permanently remove the dark magic welling within him here in Phoenix, he had little chance of getting well unless he made it home.

Not knowing what else they might encounter in this wilderness, Emma tucked her service weapon into its holster at her hip. Magic or no magic, it would take down a predator if necessary. She hoisted the backpack onto her shoulder as she tried to ignore Killian's grumbles of protest while Carlos fastened the nylon straps across Killian's thighs, waist and shoulders. In deference to the injury, Carlos left the strap that would have crossed Killian's wounded chest unfastened, but tucked the ends at his friend's side so they wouldn't drag. Carlos then donned the vest-like harness that attached to the basket via four webbed nylon straps while Grandmother tentatively exited the SUV and slung her own pack onto her back.

They were well stocked with supplies – water canteens, nonperishable food and a supply of Grandmother's herbal remedies tucked into a traditional first aid kit. In the event Emma wasn't able to open a portal home, they needed enough provisions to make it back to the city – a prospect that Emma was trying hard not to contemplate as she placed one of the packs between Killian's feet on the "sled", the term Carlos used in reference to his modified rescue basket.

"We'll be home soon," Emma promised him as she pressed a kiss into Killian's rain-dampened forehead.

"I know, Swan," he replied with a pained smirk. "I'm certain you'll get us home."

"And Regina promised that help would be waiting there for us."

"Aye, Love," Killian smiled up at her, the melancholy in his normally bright blue eyes belying the forced nature of his obviously forced façade. He was trying hard to remain hopeful for her sake as much as she was attempting to remain positive for his, even though neither remained entirely convinced.

The ascent toward the cavern progressed far slower than Carlos' solo trip the previous morning. He was managing the additional exertion of towing the sled far better than Killian was faring though. The uneven, rocky trail was agonizing to Killian, every bounce sending shockwaves of pain through his chest. He was battling to remain conscious, gritting his teeth and doing his best to anticipate the bumps, but he was failing miserably at the latter.

With additional breaks necessary, the hike took a little over an hour, but Carlos' pace quickened as they neared the site of the cave. The rain was beginning to fall steadier now with rumblings of thunder off in the distance hinting at what was to come so they needed to find someplace safe, away from the elements. Grandmother had noticed a rock outcrop with a protective overhang not far from the cavern they sought which would allow them some shelter while Emma and Carlos scouted the cave. Carlos shed the harness as he tugged the sled into the still dry sand beneath the overhang and then directed Emma to a spot further up the trail where the cavern would be found. He and Emma then headed off in that direction, hoping to reach the spot before the deluge began, leaving Grandmother to tend to the aching Killian.

The old woman knelt beside the basket, unfastening all of the straps before extending her hand to help her injured young friend sit up. Killian couldn't help but find it somewhat ironic that he was struggling to catch his breath after no real exertion on his part while Grandmother was barely winded from the strenuous hike. It seemed as though there was more to admire about this wily old woman at every turn, he thought as he watched her shrug off her backpack to retrieve the modified first aid kit. She located it quickly and wasted no time snapping it open, rifling through the contents to find herbs to help ease Killian's scarcely veiled pain. At last, she withdrew a tiny, circular pouch tied with a bright orange scrap of yarn along with one of the water canteens.

"Here," she began as she untied the yarn and thrust her fingers inside the pouch, withdrawing a pinch of the crushed herbs and spices that she offered her patient. "This will help with the pain. Normally, I would brew it into a tea, but we've neither the time, nor the facilities…" She pushed open his painfully clenched fist and placed the portion of herbs into his palm. "It's a tad bitter. You'll likely taste the clove and the turmeric, so I'd recommend swallowing it all quickly. I'll hold the canteen so you can wash it down with some water."

Killian managed a half-smile as he brought his trembling hand to his mouth and tipped the mixture onto his tongue, features contorting involuntarily as the noxious substance hit his taste buds. He forced it down as best he could while the old woman chuckled before unscrewing the cap from the canteen and bringing the welcome relief of water to his lips - before the bitter medicine triggered his gag reflexes. He gulped down two mouthfuls of water in attempt to rinse away the taste, but had to stop himself when he nearly choked from swallowing too fast.

"Bloody hell," he barked once he felt he could breathe again. "If I didn't know better, I would swear that you were trying to poison me!"

"Perhaps poison would taste better," Grandmother teased as she replaced the canteen's lid and stowed it away inside her pack. "Let's get you out of that basket and further under the rock before the lightning hits. No use tempting fate…"

"Aye," Killian agreed, bracing himself for what this would entail. Grandmother crawled around behind him, holding the sled steady as he shifted his weight to the right, against the side rail, so that the basket would tip enough for him to slide his backside onto the ground. Once he was seated on the sandy dirt, Grandmother slid the basket out from beneath his legs. He paused for a moment to catch his breath while the old woman stood up and walked around to his left side and then wrapped her aged fingers around his left bicep.

"Push with your right arm as I pull. We need to make it about two feet further to be safe from the coming storms." Her explanation of what they needed to do wasn't going to make the process any easier. He drew back his right leg as best he could, planting his heel into the sand and hoping for some leverage, assuming he could get his leg to comply and push backward at the same time. It took a couple of tries as Grandmother didn't quite have the strength that Carlos or even Emma possessed, but the old woman surprised him. "Good," Grandmother stated, praising both of their efforts. "Now, rest a bit."

Killian certainly wasn't about to argue with her. While it seemed to have been only minimal effort on his part, moving just that span of inches rendered him exhausted. He leaned his back into the rock wall behind him, drawing his fingers through his rain-dampened dark locks as he struggled to end the burning in his lungs. "Thank you," he said at last, but the old woman shrugged it off.

"No thanks are necessary," she replied as she lowered her weary bones to the ground at his right. "Not many of my generation have lived to witness a childhood dream come to pass. I've spent a lifetime awaiting the appearance of the white witch and as this fantastical story progresses, at times, I feel I should be thanking you."

Killian chuffed at the thought of that. "You've seen nothing yet," he laughed, forgetting for a moment how uncomfortable his chest would feel later, but Grandmother was all business.

"Rest," was her simple order and he didn't dare disobey.

"This is the cave I was telling you about," Carlos announced as he and Emma approached the narrow opening in the mountainside. "I mean, its really just a crack, but the glyphs carved inside here are some of the best preserved in all of the Southwest." Emma reserved judgement for the moment, sweeping her flashlight's beam around the interior before stepping inside, mainly to ensure that they didn't have any critter company. When her light caught the wall that Carlos had raved about, she immediately understood why he took such pride in this. The ancient carvings covered the entire wall, telling a story that time had long forgotten but yet it still resonated with her, perhaps a reminder of her own storybook heritage.

"Wow," was the only word she could manage as she studied the glyphs, instantly recognizing the ones that adorned the dagger's handle. "Any idea what all of this is supposed to say?"

"Unfortunately, no one from any of our People really knows, and as you can see, the panel isn't complete. You can see there on the end where the cavern narrows that portions have eroded and some have even fallen away," Carlos explained as he pointed at the rubble piled at the bottom of the petroglyph wall. "And there's also been additional damage from too many overzealous visitors over the years which is why we decided to close this trail off so we could preserve this piece of history. So little remains of what my ancestors recorded that we have to try and preserve every bit that we can."

"Of course," Emma smiled, even though Carlos wouldn't be able to see her face in the dim light of the cavern. "This was their story, and it's also your story."

"Exactly. I just wish that I could read the message they left behind," he lamented, his own flashlight also focused on the glyphs, aimed directly at the swirl one they believed referenced a portal. "They were trying to tell us something about their lives, and somehow, that swirly thing you call a portal was important enough to be the center of all of this."

"Well, if they did have access to a portal that allowed them to travel periodically to another realm, maybe even multiple realms, I can understand why it would be an important part of their lives, but it doesn't explain why that knowledge was lost."

"If I had to take a guess, it was probably because my People lost their belief in magic, in gods and in everything supernatural that had once been such a huge part of our culture. We became as cynical as everyone else instead of clinging to what made us special…" He paused for a moment to contemplate the words that had just rolled off of his tongue, but Emma picked up on why he'd stopped himself.

"For a moment there, I thought I was listening to Grandmother," Emma commented on his heartfelt reply.

"Maybe you were," he chuckled. "I think I was channeling her there for a second, but honestly, maybe it just finally clicked. Maybe I finally understand what she's been trying to tell me all of these years…"

"Believing in magic is sometimes a hard thing to accept," she stated, recalling her own experience.

"So, on the subject of magic – is it here? Can you feel it here? Is it something you can see or touch?"

"There's something here," she replied, beginning to feel a familiar tingle beneath her skin. "I'll need the storm to strengthen a bit more though so I can draw from it as well, but to answer your question, yes – there's definitely magic in this land, but it isn't anything you can see or touch. It was explained to me once as an emotion, or rather an extension of emotion. You just have to feel it to know it's there."

"So, what are you going to need to open up that portal?"

"First, I need a place to fuse the pieces of the dagger back together. I need somewhere that's preferably flat and not flammable because I'm going to try to redirect some of that lightning to do it. Later, I'll have to summon a lot more power from the storm to actually open up the portal…"

"I'm guessing we're going to need to be outside in the rain to do that, huh?"

"Afraid so. Your ancestors may have told their story of their experience with the portal on this cave wall, but I don't think they actually opened it in here." Exiting back out onto the trail, Emma's eyes drifted upward, scrutinizing the darkening clouds. "Do you know of a flat rock surface anywhere close to here?"

"Yeah, there's an outcrop of boulders a little further up the trail, maybe a hundred yards from here. Come on, I'll show you…"

Sure enough, a pair of mostly flat boulders lay ahead, just off the well-trodden path. The surface would work perfectly for her needs, Emma thought as she lowered her backpack onto the ground, crouching to remove both the bubble wrapped dagger and the plastic specimen jar from the hospital that contained the severed tip. Taking care not to cut herself, she unwrapped the ornate knife and placed it atop the wet surface of the boulder. She then unscrewed the lid from the tiny jar and tipped the metal triangle onto the rock next to the dagger, aligning the broken piece to match the jagged break on the blade.

"Okay," she began, pushing herself upright and brushing her soggy blonde locks away from her face. She took a deep breath as she was suddenly reminded of when she'd unified another set of blades... "Sorry, this is bringing back some not so pleasant memories… Let me try to concentrate…"

Carlos hung back a few steps from the boulders as Emma tried to clear her thoughts and focus only on her magic. She'd long known how much her own powers were tied to her emotions and right now, they were all over the place. She ignored the raindrops crashing atop her head as she raised her right hand and positioned it directly above the blade with her fingers spread wide, now feeling the familiar warmth building. The Park Ranger who'd known her only a few days watched in amazement as Emma's palm began to glow with a brilliant gilded white light, far brighter than the beam of his flashlight and maybe as bright as the flash of lightning that illuminated the western sky. He didn't dare look away as he noticed that the tip of the dagger was now glowing as well and there were sparks flickering as the piece drew closer to the blade it had once been a part of. He jumped back a step as a bolt of light shot up from the ground, followed by a deafening clap of thunder that even had Emma leaping away to avoid being struck, but as the light faded and their eyes fell upon the boulder's surface, the dagger's blade was once again intact.

"Holy sh…!" Carlos started to exclaim, but he immediately censored himself, returning to stunned silence at what he'd just witnessed. He'd never in is life imagined seeing real magic, not those parlor tricks performed by men in dark suits pulling rabbits out of hats. What he'd just seen was nothing like that and he found himself glancing back and forth between Emma and the repaired dagger as she tentatively touched the handle to see if it was safe to retrieve. "That was so not what I expected…"

"Didn't go quite as I expected either," she admitted as she wrapped her fingers around the handle and raised the dagger to get a better look at the re-formed blade. "Now, let's get back to Killian and Grandmother and see if we can get this thing to open that portal." Swinging her pack back up onto her shoulder, Emma admired the blade with a glint of pride in her eyes. She'd been able to summon the magic necessary to re-form this blade so she sure as hell could do the same to open up that damned portal.

But that proud moment didn't last long as a distant cry echoed off of the mountain just as another thundering blast came from above.

"That was Grandmother's voice!" Carlos shouted anxiously. "Something's wrong…" Emma tucked the dagger away and drew her weapon, unsure of what sort of predator awaited them as they sprinted toward the overhanging rock where they'd separated, running as quickly as the rain-slickened earth would allow.

#cs ff #cs fanfic #cs fan fiction #captain swan ff #only a little superstitious

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