#WHO IS VOTING YES WITHOUT EXPLAINING. EXPLAIN YOURSELVES

[guns-blazing]

im gonna throw up ummmm uyhh

nuance/other

like

th

Okay'

everyone in thge tags talking about how she needs to see axis as a person first ✅✅✅THANK YOU at the time the game ends she does not respect him even remotely and she needs to cut that out if she wants to have amny kind of relationship that isnt hostile.but since everyone seems to grasp that i'll instead just say that in a hypothetical post-canon they can work through their issues and like each other. and now i'll go on to how axis feels. which is:

UAAAH UHHRHG ghgh RRRHGGHHHGHHHnjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjsyukd

First let's looka t that Other Thing too! (im imagining this in the canon space that kanako and axis were friends pre-integrity. if you dont subscribe to that idea just imagine this post without kanako mentioned it might work with just chujin ok? ok) does axis call chujin his father and kanako his sister?

uh holy shit? probably not? which is not probably an entirely ok thing?

the ketsukanes are a very traditional nuclear family

axis is not supposed to be ALIVE. the robots are not meant to be SAPIENT.

if axis had even thought to bring up being family to chujin once he would have been shot down. and if axis had asked kanako. well. lets jusr say chujin's the guy that raised kanako. but axis has very strong feelings towards both of them, and chujin created him and they care about each other, axis should at least have the space to explore that maybe chujin is like his dad, maybe kanako is like his sister! he doesn't have to feel like they are because why would he??? he isn't a monster! he can do things his own way, he doesn't need to subscribe to monster things like having a family. they can just be "creator" and "creator's daughter." but i think he should at least be allowed to consider that they're family and i do not think he would and i question, even after the game ends and he's "free", if he would allow himself to consider that, or even be able to question that? because how would he learn about family if he can't leave the steamworks and none of the other robots have family? how would he think about kanako being his sister if he doesn't remember she exists? (canon, btw, if you arent privy to my me it's canon that axis can't remember people after a recharge unless he scans them in and he cannot scan kanako in since she's truelabbed.) how would he feel about chujin being his dad if he hasn't seen him for a long time and how would knowing he's dead affect that?

and now this loops back to CEROBA again but we've already ESTABLISHED they need to get to the point where she sees him as a person. i feel like most of this would come after the barrier is broken, and kanako is now open about the fact that she knows axis and used to be very close to him. and kanako and axis would unpack how they feel about each other and if they're "siblings" or want to stick with "close buddies" or "the man who made me also made this guy." i dont think neither ceroba nor axis would even consider the possibility of labelling each other as family unless that happened, axis because theres nobody who better fits the definition telling him so, ceroba because... i mean, chujin never brought axis up and when axis brings chujin up he never callls him his dad so why would she even consider her being a mom? and in the case that kanako and axis are actually Not close and Never met and Don't meet after the barrier breaks. well good luck ceroba+axis they're never exploring anything

and now actually taking a step back to look at ceroba and axis in isolation. what would being a mother to axis entail? what would axis being her son entail? they've never lived together (i mean i've seen a couple post-barrier interps where they live together on the surface but not a lot and i've never seen one i liked but that's besides the point), age isn't a meaningful descriptor you can apply to the robots but he's certainly not a child who needs taken care of, and a lot of the problems he has she probably can't take care of simply because she's not an engineer. the only thing she has to offer him is advice–he's not particularly clever, and somehow i doubt emotional intelligence was installed in him. ceroba has to process, like, everything wrong with her life herself, but whether that takes a year or five years or ten years, axis will have been sapient for about a year or five years or ten years, which is not a lot of time to have spent self-aware and he'd still need someone to help him understand how he feels. i think ceroba'd be good for that! i think they have a lot in common. they'd be skipping over the raising-an-child part, but i'm sure ceroba could still hassle him over leaving his room i mean charging station a mess, or help him file his robot-taxes, or comfort him after a messy breakup with guardener. likewise, he could insist on making breakfast in bed for her on her birthday... okay actually i was gonna list more examples but i'm too captivated by the idea of axis making ceroba breakfast-in-bed. however bad i'm imagining it going it would undoubtably be worse. i need to see that can someone make that please

which brings up the question, like the one i stated earlier with chujin and kanako: in that case, would axis and ceroba be familial? everything they can do for each other are also thigns a friend could do. does their relationship have to be mother-son? and

IDK. nuance/other

Ok I called axis (beta)ceroba’s “son she hates” on my beta uty talksprite post as a joke but that does remind me of smth im curious abt

Timeframe for when they would start doing it if u answer the first two can be as long as u want it to be. Just as long as u believe at some point in time post uty canon they would likely do it

[bellezaycafe]

Get Your Shit Together - Chapter 7

genre: 2024 and onwards AU, with the 2024 starting grid.

pairing: Romantic!oc x that triangle y’all voted on. Platonic!oc x the whole grid.

warnings: swearing, mentions of physical crimes, discussions about gangs, mentions of bars and alcohol. Besties arguing. talk about the accident in chapter 4.

context: Part 1 and Masterlist…

comments: here’s the Max and Sadie content I promised. I like to reveal details slowly, as you can tell. Also, I’m writing Oscar like he’s a genius because I can see him putting the pieces together before anyone else.

Also, I'm not referring to AlphaTauri as Visa Cash App Racing Bulls or whatever their rumoured name is.

The three time World Driver Champion grumbled as his phone buzzed. He was tired of people texting him. He wanted one day of peace.

Lando: you should have told me

Max: Told you what?

Lando: why sadie disappeared

Max froze and knew his peaceful day was gone. Either Lewis had spilled, which was unlikely, or Lando had found the Australian girl.

Max: Who told you?

Lando: she did

Lando: you should have told me

“Goddamn it, Lando,” he muttered and pulled himself off of his couch.

Max: I take it you found her

Lando: by accident

Lando: but yeah we found her

Max sighed and tapped the call icon. This would go so much faster if he wasn’t wasting time typing.

Lando picked up in two rings.

“Witness fucking protection, Max,” he greeted.

“Is she with you now?” It was the first thing on Max’s mind.

“No.“

He couldn’t see Lando’s face but Max could hear him pacing.

“Lando-“

“Witness protection, Max. Gangs! Attempted assault!” The boy was raging.

But Max picked up the details Sadie had never told him.

“She’s told you more than she did me. What attempted assault?”

Lando didn’t reply as another voice, faint from distance, interrupted them.

“No, I’m not giving you the phone. Go ta- Hey!”

There was a scuffle and Max Fewtrell’s came over the line.

“Max, mate. Can you stop this dumb fuck from doing something stupid?”

“It’s Lando Norris,” the Dutchman commented.

“Yeah, that’s the fucking problem.”

There was more background arguments which had Max impatiently tapping his foot.

“Right, I’ve got the phone now,” came Oscar’s accent. “And you’re on speaker. Do you want me to explain?”

Max grunted an affirmative.

“Right. Sadie works a bar at a restaurant about 45 minutes drive from here. Lando and Max went there for dinner because Daniel said it was good and low key. Lando recognised her, she recognised him. She drove him back to my mums house and apparently ‘explained what she could’ on the way.”

Max could hear irritation in the young Australian’s voice and wondered why he was riled up.

“Okay, and now she’s gone again?”

“Yes,” Lando whined.

“And she left without giving you a way to contact her,” the Dutchman guessed.

“Yes,” Lando grumbled.

“Sadie has our numbers,” Oscar added. “Lando’s and mine.”

“She’ll text you if she wants to.” Max tried to reassure.

“Will she?” Oscar asked.

“I don’t know,” the Dutchman admitted.

“She unpredictable,” Lando observed.

“No shit,” came Max Fewtrell’s voice. “She took your fucking car to the leg for you. If anything is unpredictable, that’s it!”

“Right, I’m going. You three can argue amongst yourselves, but trust me on one thing. Don’t chase her. Sadie is scared and she would rather hurt you than risk herself.”

“I don’t believe that,” Lando stated. “She risked herself for me once. She did it without thinking, she-”

“Lando, she was doing her job.” Max cut him off and he flinched at the harshness of his own voice. “I’m going. Don’t do anything stupid.”

And he hung up.

Then pulled up a contact he hadn’t touched since the beginning of November.

She answered faster than Lando had.

“He called you, didn’t he?” Sadie’s voice was a little distant and Max could hear the road noise. He knew her car had bluetooth and wasn’t concerned.

“Yeah,” Max sighed out the confirmation.

“Did you give him my number?”

The distrust stung.

“I swore that I wouldn’t. Kid, I haven’t even given it to Lewis.”

He heard Sadie sigh.

“Just checking,” she grumbled.

“Are you okay?”

“Yeah.” A lie.

“Kid-“

“Max, I’m 21.”

“Don’t care. You keep lying to me and I’m gonna keep calling you kid.”

Kelly walked into the kitchen, still in her pyjamas despite the late morning. She immediately knew who he was talking to. She raised an eyebrow at him and poured herself a cup of coffee.

Max flicked the phone onto speaker.

“I’m fine, dumbass.”

“You’re not.” But he wouldn’t push, he’d learnt not to.

“I will be.” It was always the same answer, again and again.

“Alright well, check in with me like usual okay?”

Sadie muttered a confirmation but Max knew that she was debating a disappearing act.

“Sadie,” -he hoped using her name would connect with her heart, rather than her fear- “just the check in. You know you don’t have to do more.”

“I know that I don’t have to do anything,” she quipped. It wasn’t a snap, she’d never snapped at Max. “But okay, I’ll text you in December.”

“Thank you.”

“Have a good day, Max.”

Max rolled his eyes. Of course she had already worked out the timezones.

“Have a good night, kid.”

To be fair, he had too.

The call disconnected and Kelly placed her hand on Max’s. It was a silent reassurance that Max appreciated.

“Penelope will finish her TV time soon,” Kelly said as she kissed his cheek.

He snaked a hand around his girlfriend’s waist and drew her close.

“We should go out for lunch,” she added.

“Thank you,” Max said into her lips.

It was a grateful sentiment that held far too many layers for his tired mind.

——$——

December landed while Max was battling it out in Qatar. Oscar had taken Saturday's sprint, again, and fought hard during Sunday's race. The Dutchman had defended through the final four laps, fending off both Australians in cars that shouldn’t have been outperforming the Ferrari’s or Mercedes’.

But Oscar had pulled an impressive P2 for a second year in a row, and Daniel had been all smiles as he'd pulled his AlphaTauri into P3.

But as Max hauled himself out of his hotel bed on Monday morning, thoroughly hungover, he found a text from Sadie.

She'd set her own contact name in his phone.

Ego Crusher: All safe and okay here. I know that Qatar was this weekend, saw that you won. Congrats on another win. Congrats to Oscar for beating your slow ass in the sprint. He's good at keeping you on your toes.

Ego Crusher: I didn't tell you until now because I wanted you to focus on Qatar, but the trial started last Wednesday. Should finish Monday my time. I'll let you know what the result is. This is the last four.

Max hissed out a breath, both at his aching skull and her news. He checked his time in Qatar, 9:30am, and did the mental maths for Melbourne time. Sadie would just starting work, 5:30pm, if she had shifts during the trial.

The Crushed: Thanks for letting me know you're okay. I hope the trial is going well.

The Crushed: I know you said you don't want to leave Australia but if any of those dicks are acquitted I'm sending someone to get you.

He left his phone on the kitchen counter, poured himself a glass of water and contemplated his capacity for the energy of Daniel Ricciardo that day.

Max's phone chimed. He cursed at the sound's affect on his headache and flipped it over.

*new message from Ego Crusher*

So Sadie wasn't at work.

Ego Crusher: Yeah, yeah. You said that already. Tell Kelly I say hi and give P a hug for me when you next see her.

The Crushed: Will do.

The Crushed: Update me.

Ego Crusher: Will do :)

Max flicked his phone onto silent, texted an update to Kelly and went to put it back on the countertop. Before he let it go, it vibrated again.

*new message from Oscar Piastri*

He cursed in Dutch.

Oscar Piastri: I know you're in contact with Sadie. She told Lando and I about the trial back in Melbourne. We haven't heard from her and we're worried.

He swore again.

Max Verstappen: She'd kill me if she knew I told you.

Oscar Piastri: You just confirmed it but okay

Max Verstappen: If I said nothing Lando would try to find her again and then we'd all be worried.

Oscar Piastri: You're not wrong

Max Verstappen: She updated me overnight. Trial is still going but so far so good.

Max Verstappen: How long have you known?

Oscar Piastri: Figured it out after you hung up on Lando in Melbourne. You spoke about her like you knew her.

Oscar Piastri: And thank you.

Max finally set the phone down, sighed and cursed, again. His life had never been simple but he didn't know if it had ever been as complicated as it was since Sadie had appeared.

He had siblings. He had Victoria. He had quite a few of them amongst his father's numerous marriages. And he was familiar with the protectiveness that came with being an older brother, and essentially a step-dad.

But he wasn't quite sure how to protect someone who didn't want his protection. Or wasn't actually his sister.

----$----

I did promise some Sadie and Max. I didn't promise it was going to be sunshine and joy though.

@snubug @cmleitora @izzy-marvel @aquangxl

a few came up with “no blog found” so i hope they worked

[definitelysapphic]

I gotta say all you guys sharing vote for Biden posts really are not helping yourselves by going "hey idiot babies, here are a handful of differences between trump and biden that i will not elaborate on in the slightest. if you don't see the difference you're a stupid privileged child!" bc the two types of people who want go vote third party are either a) genuinely uneducated and you refusing to talk policy beyond putting little green check marks beside things he claims he wants to do without explaining how he plans to do them (or, whether you like to admit it or not, his complete lack of plans on some of your little checkmarks) doesn't help meaningfully educate people at all. then there's group b) informed people with lived experience of being sidelined by this administration who aren't going to be talked into overall harm reduction by you making strawmen arguments about how privileged and stupid they are when that's not the case. have you considered you might be the stupid privileged one when you're telling someone whose family was deported under the biden admin that they need to "suck it up" and vote? that's so cruel. maybe bother listening to the nuanced things people have to say to win them over instead of dismissing them out of hand. also if you'd like another way to not sound like a dickhead moron, stop making blanket statements about how all third party votes are a vote for trump. people who live in areas that always go blue can protest vote without harming anyone. before y'all jump down my throat yes ofc trump is worse but all you're doing is driving people away by being condescending pricks who repeatedly show you don't know nearly as much as you claim to. stop dismissing legitimate grievances and put in the hard work to meet people where they're at instead of behaving like the stupid privileged children you claim everyone else is. and if the way this post is worded pisses you off, my point has been made

[thefoxtrot008]

Dialogue Prompts

Alright, you guys. Here is part 9 of the dialogue list! I had created a bunch of plot lines here, so they're all sporadic. Like the others, these are not categorized, but it is long, so enjoy!

"I think it you're trying to leverage that, then your son is worth a lot more than you're wanting to admit."

"I mean, I suggested that we dump his body far in the lake, but no, nobody ever listens to me."

"I thought I told all of my guests that this was a forbidden area."

"This party is so lame. The champagne is flat and the food is bland."

"Doesn't anyone else think it's weird that we haven't seen our host all night?" "I could throw a better party than this."

"You're staying for dinner and that's final."

"Maybe if you're good, you'll get the best of treats."

"I love you, but I need you to shut up and shoot!"

"That's how you throw a punch! That's my girl!"

"Can you not hit me when I'm driving!"

"Did you... did you get the job?" "Oh, honey... If it's any consolation, I'd hire you."

"Because I'd know you'd be the best damn agent there is."

"God... you're just... you're just the best baby."

"Give me the keys! I'm driving."

"Since when did you learn how to fight like that?!"

"I'm overruling that." "Oh, really? Then what's the point of voting?"

"Looks like we got all the evidence we need." "We call this in right?"

"How are you so calm about this?" "It's not illegal unless we get caught."

"Yea and look how that turned out."

"I respect that." "You're not helping!"

"That's twice now we've let them slip past."

"How are we over thinking this and under thinking it at the same time?"

"It doesn't get any better than this."

"This is the real world. This is how they deal with things, okay? They kill people who are problems. Get over it."

"You're choking on your own blood!"

"I just remember a bright light and then poof! All gone!"

"The last thing I need right now is for you to tell me how to hold my weapon."

"Why didn't we do that in the first place?!"

"Since when have I never kept a secret?"

"Tell him, that I need a little bit of space here."

"Well, maybe fulfilling the prophecy isn't something that you have to do!" "The prophecy pertains to me. Not to you, in case you've forgotten. So, you have no business here."

"Just admit that you both were wrong!"

"It is my duty and I will not abandon it."

"For that, you'll have to face the wrath of my brothers."

"The curse has been lifted. I am free."

"On behalf of my ancestors, I apologize."

"I'm assuming your guest will not like my being there."

"It haunts me just like it haunts you."

"So, you're not here to get your usual then?"

"It's short notice. How do you know he won't kill me upon arrival?"

"And you're sure that will prevent me from dying?"

"You weren't supposed to eat that!"

"I've hit that stage three times already!"

"Is that you in the cell next to me?"

"I did what I came here to do. I broke the family curse."

"And you got all of it?" "Yes, I think so."

"They were just dumb enough to get caught."

"Back! Get back! This is a diversion!"

"Here, you can share this blanket with me."

"We should set them up together, I think they'd be cute." "They're total opposites, so, no. Not the best of ideas."

"I thought your apartment was on the other side of town?"

"that's a win in my book."

"I'm going to break one of your anger walls on of these days and it's going to be great."

"Oh, guess who figured that out?"

"What? You're bringing civilians into your case now?!"

"Of course it is! You're basically offering us money for not doing our job."

"You're here illegally and without a warrant."

"I swear, I'll take a look at it." "Something tells me you won't."

"It's so cute when he tries though." "It's hard not to laugh."

"He's older than he looks."

"It's like I'm running a nursery here. Absolute childish nonsense."

"This is my brother. You've guys got two seconds to explain yourselves."

"One more strike and you're out."

"Hate to bring it to you guys, but, in case you've forgotten, I got fired."

"Well, surely, you won't let a little thing like that stop you." "Yea, you've broken the rules before."

"Did you say weeks? You've known for weeks now and you're deciding to tell us?" "Would you rather have me not tell you at all?"

"I can't believe you kissed him." "I've kissed a lot of frogs back in my day, no big deal."

"I'm not letting you get in that car."

"I'm not big on musicals, but that particular one was amazing."

"You are not going to go see him." "And you want to what? Let him get away? That's what I thought."

"Here's the papers that you asked for."

"Of all the times you decide to lecture me, you decide nows the best time?"

"Were you thinking fresh start?"

"I like him. Can we keep him?"

"Thank you sweetheart."

"No, not her. Please tell me it's not her."

"Do you want to listen to the tape or not?"

"Hey. I'm the only one that can insult him like that. Take it back."

"This is serious!" "They took our shoes again!"

"Not going to lie, that was so hot."

"Tag them and bag them."

"Do you have that on your person at all times?" "As you can tell, it's very useful."

"Even I knew what that meant!"

"You speak chinese?" "I'm fluent in at least three other languages."

"How'd you learn to drive like that?"

"How many times has he told us to lay off?"

"Oh, come on, sweetheart. We both know you don't have it in you."

"No, I'm serious. Are you going to tell me who that is?"

"I think I agree with that statement."

"That's the same reaction I had." "It's only protocol."

"They took us off the case."

"I'm pretty sure they don't have this place bugged."

"We're missing the bigger picture."

"Um, I was dropping some stuff off?" "You've always been a terrible liar you know that right?"

"What happened to being my partner in crime?"

"Turn on the news man. No one cares."

"No way! They'll be looking for us too."

"Not at the same time of course, that would be wrong."

"So, stop pointing it at us!"

"You brought her into this?" "What was I supposed to do? Leave her at home?!"

"If you touch me, I swear to god, I'm going to punch you in the face!" "Duly noted."

"This is not suspicious at all."

"I forgot about those blokes."

"It was fantastic and you undersold it."

"Quit trying to be cool and let's go!"

"Exactly, they're the good guys!"

"Oh come on, I didn't mean it."

"I'm sorry, alright? I apologize. I was outta line."

"No! Are you even listening to the story?!"

"Let's settle this right now!"

"Did you really have to say it like that?!"

"I'll talk to you, you're reasonable!"

"Don't look at them, look at me!"

"He still doesn't understand the concept."

"Oh! It's you. Not that I'm not pleased to see you, of course."

"I haven't had the time to clean it up, okay?"

"We started this thing together and now we're finishing it!"

________________________________________________________

And that's a wrap folks! :)

[dear-ao3]

welcome back to saphs silly season monstrosity post. i asked and y'all voted that i should keep it going so here we are. if you DONT WANT TO SEE THIS POST EVER AGAIN then block the tag #saph explains silly season 2024

today is february 9, 2024 and without further ado we have this weeks drama:

we've got stake, we've got alpine, we've got the distinct lack of painted cars, we've got the singapore race, we've got charles's spotify account, we've got alex albon and hm what am i missing???

ah yes. christian horner.

strap yourselves in folks!

first up is stake f1 team kick sauber. aside from having a ridiculous name they also now have legal problems. which, incidentally, have to do with the name. allow me to explain:

stake is a crypto betting casino esque company. they have sponsored the team before (when it was called alpha romeo) but now they are the Title Sponsor. this presented a few problems initially because betting is not legal in all the countries where the races are, so they legally can't be called stake all the time at all the races. thats why they're also called kick sauber. kick is the name of another one of their sponsors (its a streaming platform actually owned by stake), not the title one, but still a prominent one. they have removed the stake sponsor from the car in previous years at races where gambling promotion is not allowed.

well well well if only it were that easy.

you see. casinos, even crypto casinos, need to be licensed. and stake is apparently not licensed in switzerland. now why on earth does this matter? well. sauber is a swiss team. and sauber took on stake as their title sponsor. they're being sponsored by a company that is technically not legal in their country.

you would think that this would have all been caught before they launched the car and rebranded themselves, but alas.

and, according to sports illustrated, "The Federal Casino Commission in Switzerland has initiated proceedings against Sauber due to the unlicensed status of Stake, potentially resulting in a substantial fine."

yes. you read that one correctly.

now apparently this wasnt a problem when stake was a lesser sponsor but now that its the main sponsor, this is bad news for stake f1 team kick sauber.

apparently tho the team isn't super concerned and is confident in the original plan to run under two names depending on the country. they have tho removed the name stake from their website. which is an interesting choice for people who are confident they're doing nothing wrong.

two car launches happened this week, the first was alpine. the alpine car looks a lot like every other car this year: a lot of plain black carbon fiber and very minimal paint. everyone has been shitting on this because not too long ago all the cars were pretty painted, but then merc decided to run an all black car to save weight because the paint weighs more and now everyone is copying them and the internet is memeing the shit out of it:

(via the instagram account f1troll)

the alpine instagram admins even shitted on themselves with this video of them pointing at the car and going "carbon fiber" over and over

then the visa cashapp racing bulls showed up in an actual painted car and saved the day:

is that technically silly season drama? no but its fucking hilarious.

its also not really part of the silly season that charles leclercs spotify account keeps getting hacked and someone keeps posting their own song onto it, but its objectively hilarious. he keeps having to post on his instagram story that "guyssss this isnttt meeee"

now back to the silly season drama.

shape of the singapore race, form of suspected corruption.

now tbh i dont really get this one too much so ill do me damndest but it might behoove you to just google it yourself if youre curious.

one of the races on the f1 calendar is the singapore grand prix. its a street track (as opposed to a track track) and if you recall, it was the only race last year won by a non red bull driver (carlos sainz). singapore has a contract to be an f1 track until 2028. (yes tracks have contracts just like the drivers, remember its a stupid bonkers sport)

well apparently its currently being reviewed by the local government to see if it can/should still happen for 2024. why? well someone got arrested.

the someone in question was the transport minister, s. iswaran. he stepped down following several charges of corruption. he was in charge of tourism and started around the time when the singapore gp began several years ago. according to the bbc, he was accused of taking more than 100k USD worth of flights, hotels and f1 tickets "in exchange for advancing property tycoon Ong Beng Seng's business interests" and ong beng seng was involved in bringing the grand prix to singapore in the first place (according to sports illustrated). (its also worth pointing out that singapore rarely ever gets involved in political scandals)

now because s. iswaran was involved in the original f1 singapore track contract, the contract is being investigated to make sure that the race actually benefits the country (i think). and they are still gearing up for the 2024 race and so far nothing has been found that would suggest that there was corruption in the race contract, but its still a possibility.

so in short, the singapore race could be off the calendar.

and now with that we are back at alex albon. it would seem as though he is signed for 2025 with williams but now red bull want him for potentially 2026 on a three year contract.

now as we know, alex has said that if williams is performing then he is willing to stay with the team. as we also know, alex has also already driven for red bull and they tossed him aside for checo in 2021. checo has since kinda started fucking shit up for red bull and if theyre looking back to rehire alex albon, over danny rics and yuki tsunoda, then this is probably pretty dire of a situation for them.

also. red bull do Not like admitting they made mistakes in their driver contracts. notably, they never took pierre gasley back even when it was wildly speculated that they regretted swapping him in 2019.

red bull is also in the shit for entirely different reasons right now but well get to that later.

but regardless, red bull have supposedly expressed interest in having first refusal of alex when his williams contract expires in 2025. meaning, they are the first to claim him potentially (i think). again, this says more about the red bull team than it says about alex albon. red bull have not one, not two, but three drivers lined up for a red bull seat (danny rics, yuki tsunoda and liam lawson). and if they are overlooking All Three of them for someone they have previously ixed, then that may present a problem for the current racing bulls drivers (danny rics and yuki) who are likely only driving there with the hopes of getting promoted up to red bull.

and lastly. we have christian horner.

he had his first hearing today about the allegations. it reportedly lasted 8 hours with breaks and no conclusion was reached.

again, he is being investigated for "inappropriate behavior," but it is also being called "controlling behavior" and it may have included "inappropriate photos," depending on what report of the events you are reading. regardless, the accusations were made by a female employee.

several news outlets, not just racing news outlets, have reported on this, but ive gotten most of my information from sky sports.

originally, red bull wanted to have all of this squared away before they release their car next week, but that clearly is not happening. (honestly it will probably extend into the start of the season) mostly because this is now a legal case and there is stupidly long legal proceedings that now have to take place because it is a legal case.

in any case, christian has still denied the accusations and though hes been advised to vacate his position, he still has not. red bull is worried about their image with the whole ordeal and him being in his position still but, no one has forcibly removed him and unless someone does i dont see him leaving. there are people who are reportedly on the inside who think that he will not survive his position.

also, hes not only the team principal of red bull, hes also the red bull racing ceo.

and as christian horner once famously said on drive to survive. red bull is an energy drinks company. the f1 team was created to advertise their product and they will only have the team as long as they are benefitting from it. so will this scandal make red bull change their mind. we dont know.

also, again, max verstappen is only basically at red bull as long as they are winning. and if they lose max verstappen, they're kinda completely fucked. and if christian has to leave his position and the new leadership isn't as good, this could be possible.

now theres also a whole lot of red bull drama with the various higher ups that i really dont get and its very confusing but all you need to know now is that christian horner has a feud going with some of the other management (helmut marko) and should the investigation happen in a way that isn't good for christian this could be very very interesting for the red bull management.

also lets get a reminder here that THE SEASON HASNT EVEN STARTED YET.

stay tuned kids.

Sorry i tried to scroll past but, i know nothing about f1 other than max verstappen is fast, my dad doesnt like lewis hamilton, fast car goes in a loop and sometimes expodes. Could you give me a crash course in f1 drama? Im very intrigued. Whats the tea as it were?

a terribly loaded question, but i will do my best. i’ve talked about some of the drama before like the red bull second seat and the chronicles of haas but allow me to briefly try my hand at explaining the nightmare that is the upcoming silly season

under the cut we go

silly season is when the drivers go through contract renewals, extensions and switches. usually it’s confined to the first half of the season (march-july) but it has been known to extend all the way to the last race of the season and they like to switch people around at random sometimes. driver contracts are complex, there’s a lot of money involved and basically You Are The Face Of The Team so if you have a shit season then you make the team look bad. but at the same time you could have a shit season because you have a shit car. it’s sticky stuff.

so. there are only twenty seats in formula 1. 10 teams. each team gets two drivers. (there’s also reserve drivers but we’re not going to get into that). who ends up with a contract is largely up to the teams, they can pull the contract out from under people they can also cut you mid season. they’ve done it before.

of the 20 drivers on the grid, 14 of them have contracts expiring at the end of the year. yes. 14. you see how this could get complicated.

so let’s meet the teams.

red bull racing. they came first this year (and last year) in the championship. like aggressively first. like they won the championship by over 350 points. they are definitely the team to beat. but if you end up with a seat at red bull, you do have to deal with max verstappen being your teammate and he won all but three of the races last year. he’s the golden boy. red bull are also notoriously silly when it comes to contracts and famously swap people mid season who aren’t performing.

mercedes. merc is home to 7 time world champion lewis hamilton and they have won the championship a great many times, though not since 2021. they are kind of in their flop arc and their car the last 2 years has been pretty garbage, but they have still made it work because they were able to come in second last year.

ferrari. god help the poor little meow meows with a ferrari contract. ferrari is a notoriously great team and they’re trying to get back to the top again but their strategy every single time has fallen short. to the point where their drivers are the ones doing the strategy in their cars while driving. they came in third last year and have been decently consistent at getting first in qualifying and then getting beat by max verstappen on race day.

mclaren. they’ve definitely worked their way up over recent years. they ended fourth last year and have had some championship wins before but not nearly as many as say merc and ferrari. their team ceo (owner? director?) is a little interesting and their car started out a pile of flaming hot garbage at the beginning of the year but they did manage to get their shit together.

aston martin. they are owned by canadian billionaire lawrence stroll, father of lance stroll (one of the drivers for the team). they’ve undergone several name changes over the recent years (force india, racing point, etc). they positively slayed at the start of the season and then one day they sucked. they finished fifth in the championship.

alpine. the frenchest french team. they’re (i think?) still partially owned by the french government. both of their drivers are french. (their drivers also hate eachother but we’ll get to that. just know they’re in the middle of a modern french civil war). they had the opportunity to have a good rookie driver (oscar piastri) this past year but in a thrilling twitter battle, he publically flamed the shit out of them and went to mclaren instead (and slayed). they're usually solidly middle of the pack. they ended sixth in the championship.

williams. williams has been one of the back of the grid teams for the last many years but they have finally started to get their shit together and don’t quite suck as much as they used to. all of the points this year were scored by only one driver though (except one but we’ll get there). they came in seventh.

alpha tauri. they are the sister team of red bull. so technically redbull owns both teams (meaning they can swap drivers between teams. they like doing this.) they’ve just kind of been There for awhile but they did slay towards the end of the season when one of their drivers led the race for several laps. basically tho, this team is the gateway to redbull. they came in eighth.

alpha romeo. recently renamed to stake f1 team (but sometimes they are going to be called kick sauber. this is a whole other drama post and i’m not getting into it). they’re also just kind of there. generally unproblematic. seems that really great drivers who get ixed out of a contract for a younger driver end up here or young drivers who are in their early years are here before they go to a better team. they ended ninth this year.

haas. oh haas. goofy team. they suck. point blank they suck. they keep loosing sponsors because they suck, they don’t win ever (one time they came first in qualifying last year). they cursed themselves in australia in 2018 by not tightening their tires and its been downhill ever since. they came 10th. their team principle got let go (fired?) who’s to say today.

so those are the teams. it is important to note that:

-there is a cost cap. each team is allowed to spend no more than 135m per year.

-not all cars are equal. some things are standard. they all undergo the same testing. but the cars are all very different. so you can be a good driver but stuck in a shitty car. which makes it impressive if you are doing well in a shitty car.

let’s meet our drivers!!!

starting with the guys who’s contract is not ending in 2024:

max verstappen. 3 time world champion. 26 years old. general beast on the track. he dominated the whole season. he’s currently racing for red bull and has a contract with them through 2028.

lewis hamilton. 7 time world champion. 39 years old. he drives for mercedes. he will not leave mercedes until he retires. he really really wants to win an 8th world championship and is willing to stick it out a few more years as long as merc still believes in him. his contract expires in 2025.

george russell. the other merc driver. 26 years old. hes aggressively british and says thinks like blimey unironically. walking meme. got his merc seat in 2022 right when they entered their flop arc by getting his tractor of a williams to finish second in qualifying in the middle of a rainstorm. his contract expires in 2025.

lando norris. mclaren driver. 24 years old. he has notably never won a race in his five years of formula one (mostly because right when his car finally was good enough max verstappen was 20 seconds ahead of anyone) but he is regarded as Very Good. he has only ever driven for mclaren. and even though there is another year left on his contract there is mass speculation that he will not renew his contract with mclaren after it expires and he may move up to one of the top teams (red bull, merc, ferrari) (tho i think he doesnt hate himself quite enough to go to ferrari). his contract expires in 2025.

oscar piastri. the other mclaren driver. 22 years old. this was his rookie season and he positively slayed. like people compared his rookie season to lewis hamiltons rookie season. he also had the positively funniest start to his rookie year because alpine announced that he would be driving for them (he had been their reserve driver and in the alpine academy) and he posted a tweet that basically said yeah thats false i never singed anything with you and im going to race with mclaren instead (he dodged a bullet) and then alpine tried and failed to sue him for $4m USD. he signed a contract extension with mclaren this year and his contract expires in 2026.

lance stroll. aston martin driver and son of the aston martin owner. hes doing ok, tho there was conspiracy that he wanted to quit and have a tennis career awhile ago. but basically since his dad owns the team it seems that hes guaranteed a seat for as long as he wants one.

so now. moving onto the good shit. the people who have contracts expiring in 2024. hold onto your hats people.

charles leclerc. (everyones favorite slutty little soup can). 26 years old. he is currently at ferrari and he has been since 2019. notably, he was given the longest contract in the history of ferrari after a stellar rookie season at sauber (renamed to alpha romeo, renamed to stake f1) where he got the tractor of a car consistently into the points. having the longest contract in the history of ferrari was a flex at the time, but now its likely how he will introduce himself at therapy sessions. ferrari have fucked this man left right and center up the ass with a plastic lunchroom spork. hes talented, he can drive, and he can drive well. but the strategy that ferrari has absolutely sucks. either something is wrong with the car (see him blowing out his gear box on the formation lap in monaco, his car completely crapping out and spinning into the barrier in brazil before the race even started) or they fuck up his pit stops or put him on the wrong tires and honestly its just frustrating. but will he leave??? likely not. you'd have to pry ferrari out of his cold dead hands and at this rate that might be where this is headed though there has been some minor speculation of him going to another team like merc or red bull, but merc doesnt have any open seats and red bull is a whole other dumpster fire of drama. ferrari are going to have to pay him a boatload of money to make him stay.

carlos sainz. the smooth operator. 29 years old. ferrari driver. previously carlos was at toro rosso (renamed to alpha tauri), renault (renamed to alpine), and mclaren before signing with ferrari. he has been at ferrari since 2021 and has voiced that he would like to stay with them for however long he can. there is speculation that lando might replace him at ferrari (but landos contract is not up until 2025) and there is also some speculation that alex albon might replace him. while charles is clearly the golden boy at ferrari, carlos is slightly slower but also definitely consistent. he was THE ONLY non red bull driver to win a race this past year, in Singapore after max verstappedn was knocked out of qualifying by alpha tauri reserve driver liam lawson (more on him later) and because he basically came up with his own strategy in the car while he was driving.

sergio perez. aka checo. red bull driver. 33 years old. and oh boy here's where we open the can of worms. checo was previously at racing point (renamed aston martin) and it was very near the end of the 2020 (?) season and he was out of a contract. he had a bonkers race where he was knocked to the back of the grid and then overtook everyone and somehow ended up winning (there is more to that story but just trust me) and christian horner, red bull team principle, mr ginger spice and definite disney villain called him and said congrats sir you have a seat at red bull! well. fast forward. hes been causing problems. problems as in crashing a lot, generally not doing great and pissing the crap out of red bull. it is basically guaranteed at this point that he will not be getting a contract extension. there was actually talk this year of him losing his seat mid season to one of the alpha tauri drivers, because remember, red bull owns both teams and they can switch them whenever they want to (and they have!) but ultimately this did not happen. even though checo has a seat at red bull until the end of 2024, its mass speculated that he is going to get switched with an alpha tauri driver, probably daniel ricciardo (more on him shortly) mid season because there is a speculated clause in daniels contract that says that if checo isn't performing well in the first few races daniel is getting his seat.

daniel ricciardo. 34 years old. alpha tauri driver. man oh man what a guy. outside of being the prankster of the paddock, he has one of the most batshit careers of anyone currently on the grid. he started out at red bull and was showing real talent and skill and was on track to win things (and was!) and was there until the end of 2018 when max verstappen (his teammate) started getting preferential treatment and also red bull started having a lot of problems with their engines (which were being outsourced from Renault (now alpine) and another team on the grid) and well very very long story short he made the surprise move of the century and decided to sign with Renault (which makes no sense they're the one with the engine problems) and was there for 2 years before moving again to mclaren where he was reportedly not treated very well and had a hard time driving the car so they mutually ended his contract with them early and he basically retired at the end of the 2022 season and became a red bull reserve driver. then halfway through the 2023 season alpha tauri ixed one of their drivers, nyck de vries, because he wasnt doing well and promoted daniel back up to a full time driver at alpha tauri (which we know is only a step down from red bull) but then he broke his hand in a crash in zanvort (?) and then he was replaced for a few races by formula 2 driver liam lawson (who we will also talk about) and then he came back to finish out the season in alpha tauri after he was cleared. daniel has admitted openly that he never should have left red bull and he was given bad advice to do so. hes towards the end of his career at this point and its well known that he Really Really wants to finish out his career at red bull again. he and max have already been teammates before and they do work well together and daniel is great driver (see his comeback in texas (or maybe it was brazil?) this year). so. Pretty Sure that daniels going to get either an extension at alpha tauri or go up to red bull. thats what we all want. get this man in a red bull we need him there biblically.

liam lawson. now technically liam is not actually a formula 1 driver. hes a formula 2 driver, but he was daniels replacement for five races and there has been some speculation and some confirmed news about him so hes getting included. when he was racing for f1 he was at alpha tauri. hes 21 and looks like he belongs in the movie grease. no one was expecting him to slay in formula 1 and he positively knocked everyones socks off. the scene: Singapore. which, if you'll recall, is the one race that a not red bull driver won. this was largely because liam lawson slayed the absolute game in qualifying. the qualifying part of racing determines what order the cars start in on the grid for the race and theres three parts, the first two parts the bottom 5 drivers each time get knocked out and then the top 10 complete for the last 10 spots. liam lawson knocked BOTH max verstappen and checo perez out of qualifying in the second round by going very slightly faster than them, effectively fucking up red bulls race and allowing carlos to win. and he also scored points in that race, which no one was expecting. now thats all fine and dandy, but here's the speculation: hemlut marko (im pretty sure) (who is somehow decently involved in the decision making at red bull though i couldn't tell you how) said that he thinks that liam lawson will be in an f1 seat no later than 2025. meaning that he will probably get offered a contract this year. and hes already raced for alpha tauri. red bull have sunk a good amount of money into him. they clearly want him. so if he gets offered an alpha tauri seat in 2025, that means theres a good chance danny rics is going to red bull. do you SEE how the plot here is THICKENED

yuki tsunoda. age 23. currently at alpha tauri. and fun fact, the only alpha tauri driver to race there the whole year. he had three separate team mates. he is slaying and hes often slept on. he has a bit of a temper and likes to shout on the radio and also hates working out (they had to force him to move to italy or something to work out, long story) but hes been kinda killing it. he led several laps in the abu dhabi race this year and hes decently consistent. people think theres possibility that he could get moved up to red bull on account of the fact that he is younger than daniel and clearly has more years in him,, but there is also possibility that he might not because red bull like to make stupid decisions. and if he doesnt get moved up to rebel, will he stay with alpha tauri? we don't know.

alex albon. age 27. currently a williams driver. alex albon is another one with a batshit career. he started out his rookie year in 2019 at alpha tauri then got moved up to red bull halfway through the year when red bull decided that pierre gasley wasnt doing a good enough job (more on him later) and stayed with red bull for a solid year and a half until he lost his seat in 2021 to checo. he has been with williams for the last two years and is basically carrying the team. like. williams as a team scored 28 points this year. and alex albon scored 27 of those 28 points. and as we know, williams is still kind of in their shit arc (though they are doing much better. they didnt score any points for a solid 2 (?) years. so this is an improvement.) and if you can get a shit car to perform you catch the eye of bigger teams. now, alex has already been a red bull driver. and he was on the cusp of podiuming two separate times when lewis hamilton ran into him. this (among a few other things) basically killed his chances at getting resigned at red bull because he wasnt ""performing"" and red bull are bitches who love to win. but some people think that red bull should give him another shot. like daniel, hes already been max's teammate and he can definitely drive. but theres also talk he might go to ferrari because ferrari think that he might compliment charles's driving style (or something). but going to ferrari at this point is kind of suicide. so.

logan sergeant. age 23. the only american on the grid. the other williams driver. he just finished his rookie year. he scored a grand total of one single point this season, in texas, and it was because charles leclerc and lewis hamilton both got disqualified because the floor of their car had more wear (by literally less than millimeters) than it was allowed to, bumping him up from 12th to 10th. he has never done better than alex albon. he was also the very last driver to get a contract for 2024, with williams waiting until i think december of 2023 to announce his contract extension. clearly, hes on thin ice. but people have also said that he needs time to get used to formula 1 (other people have pointed out that oscar piastri slayed his rookie season this year and this statement about needing time is largely false). where logan ends up next year though will largely depend on how well the 2024 season goes for him.

fernando alonso. 42 years old. many people like to point out that oscar piastri is actually younger than fernando's racing career. he won tiktok creator of the year (somehow) and is also a 2 time world champion. he retired a few years ago, just to show back up again and slay. during the first half of the season when aston martin had a zoom zoom car he killed it, and then they had problems on top of problems and he didnt do well. except for that one race in brazil where he came in third, beating checo by literally .05 seconds. he hasn't really made any hints about retiring a second time and he is kind of carrying aston Martin right now (he scored 205 points this season, coming in 4th and tying in points with charles leclerc, lance stroll only scored 74 points this year.) and they did have their best year yet this year. (though they are relatively new).

pierre gasley. 27 years old. french. drives for alpine. the french team. previously he raced with toro rosso (now alpha tauri), then got promoted to a red bull driver in 2019, then halfway through the season they decided he wasnt doing a good enough job and he got demoted back down to alpha tauri. then he won a race with alpha tauri just to stick it to red bull. after the great oscar piastri contract twitter war, he was signed as alpines second driver, with Esteban ocon being the other driver (more on him soon). estie bestie and pierre (both french) were childhood friends and now hate each other for unknown reasons and basically feuded on the track for most of the season. french civil war at alpine. he scored 62 points in 2023 and came in 11th. not really sure where he will end up, it is possible that he will stick it out at alpine.

esteban ocon. 27 years old. also french. currently driving for alpine. another one with a silly bonkers career. he started out at force india and had a baller few seasons there but his teammate at the time was checo, and checo didnt really cooperate with him too much and caused some drama that cost estie bestie some places and some points. max verstappen also beat him up in the garage once. thats not really relevant but it did happen. anyway, after the owner of force india was arrested for .... i don't remember what maybe it was embezzlement or bankruptcy or something money related, the team was backed by lawrence stroll and became racing point. but all of that happened mid season and lawrence was basically like look ill back you guys for now but next year my son gets a seat (lance) so one of you two (checo and estie bestie) have to go. and ultimately they let estie bestie go even though he was more consistent because checo had more sponsors and they needed money. so he was out of formula 1 for a few years (but was a merc reserve driver) and then went to Renault, which then became alpine. he did come in 12th though overall this season, just behind pierre. so. will alpine keep both him and pierre and keep the civil war going? whos to say.

nico hulkenberg. 36 years old. haas driver. in his 200+ f1 races he has never been on the podium and he really really wants to be on the podium. unfortunately this will never happen in a haas because haas fucking sucks. and everyone knows it. he is getting towards the end of his career though. though! stake f1 will become the mario Andretti and audi team in 2026 (don't question it) and they have supposedly voiced interest in nico. so we will see if he hangs on that long to end up at audi. for now tough, hes definitely hating it at haas. though, haas are going to have a different team principle next year so maybe that will change things. i have a sneaky feeling through that haas will probably end up with another 2 rookie drivers because everyone else is smart enough to not race for them.

kevin magnussen. 31 years old. haas driver. hes another deeply interesting character. he has had one podium. in his rookie season. in his first race. and none since. kevin started at haas in 2017 and then left at then end of 2020 when he basically got kicked off because the team needed money and they wanted to bring in drivers with more sponsorships. these drivers were mick schumacher and nikita mazepin. so kevin basically was forced to retire after the 2020 season. this went decently well for haas. until russia invaded ukraine right before the start of the 2022 season and, well, nikita was Russian and it was never distinctly proven that his dads company (who was sponsoring the team) wasnt also funding the invasion. so nikita got fired and they were literally like 2 weeks out from the start of the season, down a driver. who are you gonna call? kevin magnussen! and hes been back ever since. but hes clearly getting annoyed with haas. there was one great clip from this year where his car caught on fire and he kind of just stared into to, clearly hoping it would burn for a long time. so the likelihood of him extending his contract is looking slim.

valtteri bottas. 34 years old. currently a driver for stake f1 (alpha romeo, kick sauber, whatever you wanna call it). previously, he was a mercedes driver and notoriously helped lewis hamilton win a great many championships, until he lost his seat to george russell in 2022. there was a rather awkward part of the 2021 season where valtteri knew that he was out of a merc seat the following year and kind of just chose violence. he slayed. then he went to alpha romeo, grew a mullet and made a calendar of his ass. quite the glow up if you ask me. hes also very interested in cycling. honestly though, i have my own personal speculation that hes going to retire at the end of this year.

zhou guanyu. 24 years old. driver for stake f1 (alpha romeo/kick sauber, etc etc). hes doing alright. he just finished his second season, in his first season he was majorly out qualified by valtteri but this past season he managed to out qualify him a good 6 times. which is decently good for the tractor of a car hes driving. its possible that he could get a contract extension, but like logan, its probably going to depend on how the 2024 season goes for him.

and thats all the drivers. theres also a few others i didnt talk about, like some other f2 drivers who want seats and mick schumacher, who is currently a merc reserve driver, all of which could be contenders for f1 seats. but one things for sure. this is going to be the silliest fucking silly season.

feel free to add on and peer review me

[teamconductors]

Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Lost Tracks of Time, Chapter 17

Summary: Sneasler is back and Ingo is healed, so it’s time for the team to get back to the Pearl Guild.

Author’s Note: Got another expositiony chapter, and this one is probably A Lot >_> Sorry about that. Next chapter will be better.

ALSO! I’m doing a poll about the next Derailed chapter! Y’all got one week to vote, I’m only doing one scenario. I can’t guarantee it’ll be posted before or after next chapter, but it’ll be done. The vote will close on May 21st at 12 PM PST! The link is: https://take.quiz-maker.com/poll4340898x5D6d42A0-136

Thank you @furiouskettle!

(Shippers DNI)

In one of Team Galaxy’s medical rooms, Sneasler, Ingo, and Emmet all sat in their own beds. Sneasler used reeds she collected to repair her basket. Ingo’s gem healed, so he spent his time reading the book Emmet got from Laventon. Emmet sat next to Ingo as his brother read the book. Chandelure floated above Ingo and slightly away from Emmet. Eelektross stood outside in the hallway, his head peaked into the room.

“…A region called Johto had a Magnet Train. It used two sets of magnets to levitate above the tracks and propel the train, and it could reach speeds over 400 kilometers per hour!” said Ingo. “I can’t picture that type of speed! Can you, Emmet or Sneasler?”

“It sounds cool,” Emmet said.

“Wow, that’s something,” Sneasler said. A mindless, repetitive activity could make her fall asleep, but Ingo’s talking served as good background noise while she focused on her weaving. She almost completed her task, too.

“It doesn’t seem like there were any trains in this region, which is a shame. Rescue Teams would benefit from a fast mode of transportation! We could even potentially visit multiple mystery dungeons in one day!” Ingo said.

“That… doesn’t sound… awful? Sounds like a lotta work, though.” Sneasler said. She finished weaving the basket and felt around to make sure it was sturdy.

“Eelektross, you must remember trains. Why did you not tell us what they were?” Emmet asked.

“Well, it’s hard to explain without pictures…” Eelektross twiddled his claws. “Also, I thought it’d be fun if you two rediscovered your special interest yourselves…”

“Well, I am enjoying learning about trains, so your gut instinct appears to be correct, Eelektross!” Ingo said.

“Oh, I just remembered something. Sneasler, why did you call Ingo a Warden?” Emmet asked.

Sneasler stopped inspecting her basket. She paused and turned to gaze to Emmet. “…When did I say that?” she asked.

“You called him “Warden Ingo” when you were attacking us, then you made him faint,” Emmet said without a crumb of politeness.

“That… does sound familiar,” Ingo said. His gaze took an express line to the distance. His appearance almost seemed to age as he tried to dig through his mind to find the meaning of that title. He wasn’t even sure how he knew that was a title specifically and not something else.

“Did I really say that?” Sneasler asked, almost horrified.

“Yes,” Emmet said.

Sneasler brought her hand to her mouth briefly, then she lowered it to her chin to rest on. “Warden. …It’s a term from when humans were a thing. There were… special humans who kinda acted like guardians or babysitters for the Nobles. I dunno, they liked doing it to help live with pokemon, and my ancestors liked it because they got food and respect and stuff.”

“Sneasler… I don’t remember much of what happened before I became a Sneasel. Was I a Warden?” Ingo asked.

“Well… Uh…” Sneasler scratched her head.

“Is something the matter?” Ingo asked.

“There’s… Um… Listen, there isn’t an easy way to put this. Ingo, I don’t think you used to be a human. I think you’re a weird Sneasel, but… I think… I think part of why you’re weird is because you’re some reincarnation of the Warden Ingo I knew.”

“The Warden Ingo you knew?” Emmet repeated, brows raised and scrunched to showcase his confusion.

“Sneasler, what are you on about…?” Eelektross asked.

“Oh crap, I never… UUUGH!” Sneasler held her head in her hands. “Okay, Nobles have a bunch of weird powers, and they’re mostly useless except for the one for getting out of Distorted Floors. Anyway, one of the weird things is having past Noble’s memories.”

“Is… that so?” Ingo asked.

“Y-Yeah… Ugh, listen, I have a lot of problems remembering that shit, and the further back the memories go, the blurrier they are, but… I do kinda sorta remember… there was this weird ass human that my ancestor found that became a Warden… and his name was Ingo.”

“So to confirm, you believe I am a reincarnation of human Ingo?”

“Basically. It makes sense enough. It’s been hundreds of years since he was around…”

“What of Emmet? Was there an Emmet back then?”

“I don’t think so… I dunno, I don’t remember much from that time, but there’s nothing up here about an Emmet. Unlike some folk, though, I do believe you two are genuine Sneasel twins. Like… c’mon, it’s obvious.” She gestured between Ingo and Emmet.

“And you never mentioned this… why?” Eelektross asked.

“Oh, okay, Eelektross. Tell me: how do you tell someone ‘By the way, I think you’re some reincarnation of someone that used to work for my ancestor’?” Sneasler crossed her arms and scowled at Eelektross.  

“Like that,” Emmet said. He received an icy glare from Sneasler, but he was an ice-type pokemon and thus was not very affected.

“But… Ingo wasn’t some warden. Chandelure recognized Ingo’s soul. They recognized it from a different region!” Eelektross said.

Sneasler shrugged. “Maybe that’s how reincarnation works? I don’t know! I have a bunch of memories and stuff that aren’t mine, but I still know freaking nothing!”

“…I’m afraid I don’t recall much about my past to disprove your theory, Sneasler, but… something feels amiss if that is the truth,” Ingo said.

“Yeah, I dunno anymore. That’s what I thought for a long ass time, but now…” Sneasler sighed.

“What was Warden Ingo like?” Emmet asked.

“Let me think, it’s all really foggy…” She paused to think. “He was kinda a sad man. He tried to hide it, but it was pretty obvious. Not quite the same as our Ingo here.”

“That’s a shame,” Ingo said. He handed the train book back to Emmet, who happily flipped through the pages again. He noticed something shiny in Sneasler’s pile of berries. He moved a couple aside and found a gold bracelet. Tarnish and dirt covered the item. Ingo rubbed away some of it and felt an engraving as he cleaned it. The engraving resembled Sneasler’s face. Ingo’s heart raced.

“What the hell?! Where did you get that?!” Sneasler asked, pointing at the bracelet.

“It was in your belongings,” Ingo said. “I apologize for grabbing it without your permission. What is it, if I may ask?”

“It’s… How did it get in my basket? It’s… a Warden bracelet. It, uh, would be given to a Warden – my ancestor’s Wardens, I mean,” Sneasler said. “…If you want it, you can keep it. I’m obviously not using it.”

Ingo finished cleaning the item. Despite its obvious age, it shined gold and blue.

“Can I have that?” Emmet asked.

“Is that okay, Sneasler?” Ingo asked.

“I dunno why you’re asking me. I told you, I’m not using it, so do whatever,” Sneasler said.

Emmet took the Warden’s bracelet and placed it around his left wrist. It dangled when he held his arm up, as it was too large for him. It stayed on, though, and Emmet liked its weight. It may not be the same as the Arc Watch, but at least his uniform was closer to Ingo’s again.

“Team Conductors, are you ready for departure?” Cyllene asked as she approached the room. “My team will escort you back to your Pearl Guild.”

“Oh, we’re departing now? I thought Rei was still tinkering with my Arc Watch,” Ingo said. Though he didn’t fully agree with the prospect, Ingo recognized that Rei was skilled with tools and the watch needed to get fixed. The gesture also acted as payment for Team Galaxy helping them, which made Ingo feel better about receiving their assistance.

“Right now, it’s more important to get you back to your guild. I’ve been trying to contact them over what happened, but there were some difficulties at the Pelliper Post,” Cyllene said.

“Alright, alright, we’ve had enough lollygagging and train talking, let’s get moving,” Sneasler said. She packed up her belongings into her basket.

“There’s never enough train talk,” Emmet said as he boarded Sneasler’s basket after a ticket punch. Ingo followed suit.

***

Both teams ventured through Eterna Forest to get back to the guild. It was a similar path Ingo and Emmet tried to take the prior night to escape a Chained Sneasler, minus the detour to the mossy rock. Ingo and Emmet rode in Sneasler’s basket while everyone else walked on foot.

Ingo was still reading the book Emmet found. While flipping through the soft, velvety pages, he found one page with the corner turned down. “What’s this?”

“Oh. I found a verrry interesting page. I wanted to show it to you,” Emmet said.

Ingo turned to the page. “”Unova’s Battle Subway”.”

“The book talks about the Battle Subway?!” Eelektross asked. Chandelure’s eyes widened, and they hovered closer to Sneasler’s basket.

“The heck is a Battle Subway?” Sneasler asked.

“It appears to be a subway that also coordinates pokemon battles. What an interesting concept!” Ingo said. He turned the page. After some silence, Ingo popped open Sneasler’s basket and poked his head out. “Chandelure and Eelektross, do these people look familiar?” Ingo held out the book, which had a picture of two humans in front of the Battle Subway.

Eelektross’ eyes went wide. “That...! That’s you two!” Next to him, Chandelure’s flames danced around happily. The picture of their young trainers fueled their flames with nostalgia.  

“That’s us?” Ingo and Emmet asked at the same time.

“Wait, I gotta see this!” Sneasler said. She reached over and behind her, and Ingo placed the book into her hand.

The picture faded from age, but its colors remained true and showed Sneasler that the two humans wore monochromatic uniforms. She could understand them not recognizing their human faces (if this really was what they looked like), but she had no idea how Ingo or Emmet didn’t recognize their own poses. They pointed at the camera and at the ground. The human in white had a wide grin and strange aura. It had to be Emmet. The other human in black frowned but had a more friendly air about them. That could only be Ingo.

“Y’know, with you guys talking about being humans, I could never imagine what you two would’ve looked like. But if this really is you, then… you look like giant ass nerds,” Sneasler said.

“I think it’s from when the Battle Subway as still new… Wow…” Eelektross said. Tears started forming.

“What’s this I hear about Ingo and Emmet being human?” Laventon asked as he sped up with Team Conductors. “It may sound strange, but I believe it! There are several accounts of humans turning into pokemon, you know! Ghost pokemon are probably the most obvious examples, but…”

Sneasler tuned out Laventon’s lecture. Her gaze lingered on “Ingo”. Picking at the memories at the back of her head, Sneasler thought of Warden Ingo as a depressed mess of a human barely holding onto sunshine. But the Ingo in the picture not only looked younger but cheerier and happier.

Either this wasn’t the first time Warden Ingo was reincarnated, or there was something else happening that she didn’t understand.

The Noble got lost in her thoughts while the twins tried to explain to Laventon that they didn’t have their human memories yet and thus couldn’t contribute to his research. It took a familiar voice to pull her out of her head.

“Sneasler! I smell Sneasler!” a newcomer said.

“Arcanine?!” Sneasler asked.

Arcanine ran toward them from the group’s right. When he was in view, Cyllene sidestepped to avoid him pouncing straight onto Sneasler. Her basket didn’t break, but Ingo and Emmet were thrown out of it. “Hey, you’re not angry!”

“I am now!” Sneasler said from underneath Arcanine. “I just fixed my damn basket!”

“Oh, sorry! You and your little bros have been gone for a few days, so everyone is all scared!” Arcanine said as he stepped off Sneasler.

“Good day, Lord Arcanine!” Ingo said. “What do you mean by “everyone”?”

“I know that voice!” Palina, with Lian on her back, caught up with Arcanine and the group.

“You’re all okay, thank the Almighty!” Lian said. “We heard Lady Sneasler got Chained and we all got worried…”

“Thank you as always for your concern, Lian,” Ingo said.

“Seriously, what happened?” Palina asked. “There was a massive forest fire in Veilstone, and Noble Basculegion saw Sneasler with glowing red eyes, then she vanished…”

“There was a forest fire?!” Rei asked.

“…Hey Chandelure, how much fire did you use in our fight?” Sneasler asked Chandelure. The rest of Team Conductors faced the ghost pokemon to see their answer. Chandelure glanced between everyone, smiled, and shrugged sheepishly. Eelektross facepalmed.

“Ah, there you are…” Kleavor approached the group at a slow, steady pace.

“Good day, Lord Kleavor,” Ingo said.

“You.” Sneasler narrowed her eyes at Kleavor.

“Ah, Sneasler…” Kleavor stared at Sneasler directly in the eyes.

“I am Emmet. Look at this,” Emmet said. He climbed back into Sneasler’s basket, rummaged around its contents, and held up the Toxic Plate.

Arcanine and Kleavor jumped. “You still have your plate?! That’s amazing!” Arcanine asked.

“That’s…!” Kleavor coughed and collected himself. “Not bad, Sneasler.”

“Perhaps we should continue our journey to the Pearl Guild?” Ingo said as he returned to the basket. “Based on your reactions to locating us, we should return to Guildmaster Irida posthaste.”

“If the Nobles plan to return with you to your guild, then this is as far as my team needs to go, I assume?” Cyllene said.

“Oh, you’re Cyllene, correct?’ Kleavor said.

“You know her?” Sneasler asked.

“Yes! Cyllene wants the Guildmaster rank!” Laventon said. “And to get that rank, you need the approval of at least six Nobles in addition to the Pelliper Post Office.”

“Oh.” Another Noble thing she didn’t know about, Sneasler thought.

“Impressive. I hope she reaches her destination!” Ingo said.

“Wait, Cyllene, we can’t leave them yet! I still want to repair Ingo’s watch!” Rei said.

“You won’t mind if we tagged along?” Laventon asked the Nobles.

“I’m sure Irida wouldn’t mind!” Lian said. “We don’t get visited by independent teams much. And you helped Ingo and Emmet, right? That’s good enough for a visit!”

“Very well. I accept the invitation then,” Cyllene said. “Thank you for allowing us to join you.”

“Yeah! The more, the merrier! Let’s get back now!” Arcanine ducked his nose under Sneasler and threw her upwards. She, along with Ingo and Emmet, landed on Arcanine’s back and held on as Arcanine took off back to the Pearl Guild.

“AAAALL ABOOARD?!” Ingo and Emmet said as they took off deeper into the forest. Everyone else had to run to keep up with the eager Noble.

***

Gaeric didn’t often take the role of sentry duty, as his duties as the guild’s nurse kept him busy. But because all the rescue teams were out searching for Lady Sneasler or performing rescue missions with the remain Nobles, only he and housekeeper Calaba were left to mind sentry duty. Since Calaba had a bad back, she took gate opening duty while he took the lookout tower.

“We got visitors!” Gaeric stared down the binoculars. He announced into the megaphone, “They are Lord Arcanine, Lord Kleavor, Lady Sneasler, Team Conductors, and-!”

Gaeric stopped his announcement upon hearing frantic wing flapping and a one-Glaceon stampede. Calaba couldn’t open the gate fast enough. Irida and Chatot ducked underneath the opening gate to greet the guests and see if Gaeric’s announcement was correct.

Outside the gates, Sneasler was still on Arcanine’s back. Kleavor, Eelektross, and Rei all had to catch their breaths. Cyllene and Chandelure had no issues keeping pace with Arcanine due to their abilities. As for Laventon, he used the winds to fly and follow them without moving a single foot.

“Incredible! It is you!” Chatot said at Sneasler and the twins in her basket. Ingo and Emmet hopped out to face Chatot on even footing. “I had no doubts you would return, but the guildmaster…”

Irida shook her nerves off, collected herself, and stepped up to face Ingo and Emmet. “Welcome back, Team Conductors. I’m glad you and Lady Sneasler returned in one piece!”

“Good day, Clan Leader Irida,” Ingo said. “We apologize for our delayed return. If I may ask, what have we missed while we were away?”

“A lot of things… I am so glad…” Irida gave Ingo, Emmet, and Sneasler a large but soft smile. “But first and foremost, Azelf, Uxie, and Mespirit wish to talk to you.”

***

In the Pearl Guild’s infirmary, Mespirit floated around the room and opened each cabinet and drawer, one at a time. A transparent Azelf followed Mespirit and almost encouraged their sibling to inspect every item they find with silent support and little cheers at interesting things. Uxie sat on their bed and watched the chaos unfold. Their once-cracked gems had healed.

“Whoa, you actually are awake!” Sneasler said as she entered the room with Ingo and Emmet in tow.

“Good day, Lake Guardians! It is an honor to meet you properly. My name is Ingo.” He saluted and tipped his hat to the three.

“I am Emmet. You aren’t broken anymore.”

“Emmet, that was rude,” Ingo said.

“Good to meet you, and he is not wrong,” Mespirit said. “Our lifeforces were split into pieces, after all. It is infuriating, but we are back now.”

“P-pardon me? Your lifeforces have been split?” Ingo asked.

“Yes. From what Irida told us, you know of the Red Chain, but you don’t know how it is made,” Uxie said. “The Red Chain is constructed from pieces of our lifeforces. We suffer minimal ill effects when we make one Chain, but thirteen Chains have been constructed.”

“Thirteen?!” Sneasler said.

“Correct,” Uxie said. “As a result of our lifeforces being stolen, my siblings and I were on the brink of death by the time you and your peers found us.”

“But you seem fine now,” Emmet said.

“Yes, and that’s because several of the Chains have been destroyed, returning our lifeforces to us!” Azelf said. “Your group has a large hand in that, right? You must have powerful wills!”

“Hold on. I heard that Ursaluna and Avalugg were freed, so only eleven should have been destroyed,” Sneasler said. “What about the other two?”

“Those Chains still exist, so we are not back to full strength,” Mespirit said. “As soon as we are back to our original strength, our attacker will wish he never did it!”

“If I may ask, do you know the location of the remaining Chains?” Ingo asked.

“And who hurt you?” Emmet added.

“Unfortunately, we do not know the location of the remaining Chains,” Uxie said. Ingo noted that they almost seemed depressed from having to say that. “We do know the identity of the one who attacked us, but we will share that once all the relevant pokemon who want to know all meet. For now, we wait.”

“Right. I’m still at the Diamond Guild,” Azelf said. Their body began flickering. “See you all later!” Azelf, or rather their astral projection, disappeared.

“Likewise, I know Uxie wishes to speak with you in private. I shall depart and thank nurse Gaeric for taking care of us,” Mespirit said. They flew past Eelektross and Chandelure and into the guild.

“Lady Sneasler, thank you for coming to Lake Acuity. I fear for what might have happened to me and my siblings had you and your team not shown in time,” Uxie said. “I owe you another one.”

“Cool, thanks, Uxie. Since you’re probably not doing much else, mind if I cash in those favors now?” Sneasler asked.

Uxie nodded. “What can I do for you?”

“These two got some memory problems.” Sneasler picked up both Ingo and Emmet by the scruff of their necks, one twin in each hand. “You’re the Being of Knowledge and all. Think you can help them shake off their amnesia?”

“I will see what I can do,” Uxie said.

Sneasler placed Ingo and Emmet back down. Uxie first floated in front of Ingo no more than 5 centimeters away from his face. Ingo stared at Uxie’s forehead gem, which had a faint red glow. After a moment, Uxie floated to the side and stood in front of Emmet. Emmet turned his gaze to the side to avoid eye contact (even if Uxie’s eyes were closed).

Uxie furrowed their brow and rose to face Sneasler. “I will be able to help Emmet recall his old memories. I will not help Ingo, however.”

“What? Why not?” Emmet asked.

“What, it’s something even you can’t do?” Sneasler asked.

“It is not that I cannot help him. It is that I refuse to,” Uxie said.

“You refuse to?” Emmet asked. His smile turned cold as anger rose within him. “If you can only restore one of our memories, do it for my brother.”

Uxie floated down to face Emmet directly. “My abilities are not absolute. I have the ability to restore memories, but I will only do so if I can safely.”

“Do you mean to tell us that you can’t restore mine safely?” Ingo asked. After an affirmative nod from Uxie, he continued. “Are you certain there’s no possible way?”

“Ingo, your mind is held together by duct tape and rusty screws. Would you like to know what could happen to you if one little thing goes wrong during your memory restoration?” Uxie faced Ingo directly. “You can suffer complete memory loss with no hope of restoration. You can lose the ability to form new memories. You can gain debilitating anxiety, severe depression, or even a complete personality change. You may enter a comatose state. You may even di-.”

“We get it!” Eelektross said. He covered Emmet’s ears during the listing. He didn’t want Emmet’s anxiety to go through the roof from picturing the effects Uxie described.

“…That is just a few of the possibilities,” Uxie said.  

Sneasler’s mouth hanged open. “Duct tape? Rusty screws? How… how?!” She vaguely gestured at Ingo. “Ingo is fine. He’s a bit weird, but so is Emmet! They’re twins, for Arceus’ sake! What the hell is the difference between them that makes it such a big deal for you, Uxie?!”

“That is a simple answer. Emmet only has one case of amnesia. Ingo has two,” Uxie said.

“WHAT?!” Emmet and Sneasler asked simultaneously.

“I… lost my memories twice?” Ingo looked down at his hands. He rubbed the familiar fabric of his sleeve between his claws.

“Yes. Severe sudden memory loss takes a toll on the mind and spirit, but the mind can be stable. Two cases, however? I am amazed that you are a functioning person. You would need a being more powerful than me to restore your memories safely. Otherwise, you will have to recover them naturally. My apologies.” Uxie bowed in the air to Ingo.

Ingo found himself at a loss of words. Not even his train of thought could form something coherent.

“…But you can still assist me?” Emmet asked. He didn’t care as much about restoring his memories as much as Ingo, but if him remembering their past could help Ingo, that would be enough.

“Yes. I should be able to restore yours safely,” Uxie said. “You should know you’ll only immediately recall the most recent memories. Older memories will come back gradually but surely.”

“That’s fine. I will do it,” Emmet said.

***

In Ingo and Emmet’s tent, Emmet laid down in his bed, his coat splayed as a bedsheet and hat on his chest. Uxie floated above and behind him. Ingo, Sneasler, and Chandelure hovered around Emmet, and Eelektross watched from the entryway.

“I will need everyone to exit,” Uxie said. “I need to reduce possible distraction, and this will not be pleasant to witness.”

“…Can I remain in this station?” Ingo asked. “I want to be here for Emmet. Or is it too dangerous?”

“…If you wish to stay, you can,” Uxie said. “But know that any interference with my process could cause permanent damage.”

Ingo sat on the floor. Emmet offered his hand to Ingo, which Ingo accepted and held.

Chandelure was the first to exit the tent. With arms crossed and indecision on her face, Sneasler stepped out as well. Eelektross had to move to let the other two exit, so he was the one who closed the tent. The three didn’t leave and instead sat outside, waiting.

Emmet closed his eyes. His smile stayed on his face. Uxie hovered just above the ground and laid their hands on Emmet’s temples.

Uxie’s three gems glowed. “Let us begin.”

[cryingcow]

Character Story - Daigo (2006) [RGGO]

I know I said I’d finish this March cuz I have exams the whole February, but at the time I didn’t think I’d be using this to cope with my exams sooo here we are XD (thanks to @arysthaeniru​, @blurred-voices​, and @konnanjanai​ for unanimously voting for Daigo!)

Story: The Jingweon Mafia planted 31 bombs in Kamurocho. Daigo takes this opportunity to demonstrate that even he can have cool adventures and beat people up while Kiryu’s off doing whatever. (Srsly tho, I forgot what Kiryu was doing while this was going on lol)

Daigo: “Are you hurt?!”

Guy bruised and bleeding: “My fingers were about to be chopped off!”

Daigo: “. . . Is that a yes or a no?”

Notes:

1. Text within \“  ”/ is spoken in Korean. (Presumably. It was still written in Japanese so . . .)

2. I translated 神さまの言うとおり as “As the Gods Will” specifically so it would be the same as the title of Takashi Miike’s film in wiki lol (same dude who filmed a certain 2007 Yakuza movie)

3. ど-��-ら-に-し-よ-う-か-な or “do-chi-ra-ni-shi-yo-u-ka-na“, which is the Eenie-Meenie-Miney-Moe that Majima did :D

.

CHAPTER 1

.

|December 2006. The Omi Alliance under the direction of Goda Ryuji begins the invasion of Kamurocho. But due to Kiryu Kazuma’s success, the Tojo Clan managed to withstand it. However, it turns out that the Korean Jingweon Mafia had planted a large number of bombs in the city. To overcome this crisis, one takes command of 300 Tojo Clan members--- the young Dojima Daigo.|

Daigo: “. . . There’s no time. I will briefly explain the current situation. The Jingweon Mafia planted a total of 31 bombs in the city. With the cooperation of the city’s informant ‘The Florist of Sai’, the locations of the bombs have already been identified.”

Tojo Clan member A: “Ah! Then isn’t it an easy victory?”

Daigo: “No . . . There’s a problem. All the bombs have a set timer.”

Tojo Clan member A: “What . . . ?!”

Daigo: “The detonation time of the bombs aren’t synchronized, but . . . if they’re fast, we have less than an hour left.”

Tojo Clan member B: “Only one hour . . . ?!”

Daigo: “In other words, we have to hurry to find a way to disarm the bombs.”

?: “Please wait a moment.”

Daigo: “You’re Inagaki . . . right? What is it?”

Inagaki: “Heh, you remembered my name with this many people? Impressive of you. But hey, one thing . . . there’s one thing I want to clarify. Daigo-san, I’m following you now because the Fourth Chairman’s endorsement.”

Daigo: “. . .”

Inagaki: “You hear the rumors in the city? Daigo-san. It’s said you made a lot of careless mistakes since leaving prison. There are voices calling for you to be the face of the Head family, but . . . if you ask me, it’s not funny.”

Daigo: “. . . Inagaki, I understand what you mean. I’ll keep it in mind. However, we should be working together for the moment. Is that alright?”

Inagaki: “Of course. But how do you intend to disarm the bombs?”

Daigo: “That’s-”

{Daigo’s phone rings.}

Daigo: “. . . Yes, this is Daigo.”

Florist of Sai: “It’s me. I’ve found what you asked me to look for.”

Daigo: “Really?!”

Florist of Sai: “I just sent over the data. I’ll let you handle the rest.”

Daigo: “Understood, please leave it to me.”

{Phone call ends.}

Inagaki: “What’s the call about?”

Daigo: “An illustration, from the Florist. I asked him to investigate. The Jingweon Mafia that scattered the bombs . . . the location of their hideout.”

Inagaki: “For what . . . ?”

Daigo: “It’s almost impossible for those of us with no knowledge to disarm a bomb. But if you have the blueprint for the bombs, you can grasp the structure of the bombs.”

Inagaki: “I see. If we can grasp its internal structure, we can disarm it.”

Daigo: “Yeah. According to the Florist, there are a total of 5 Jingweon hideouts.”

Inagaki: “Hm. Is there even a blueprint for the bombs out there? What’s your basis?”

Daigo: “The basis is . . . none. But this is the only hand I can think of right now.”

Inagaki: “Ha! You’re betting 300 Tojo Clan members on your intuition?!”

Daigo: “. . .”

Inagaki: “Kuku. That’s alright. If you can find the blueprint, then fine. If you don’t find it . . . you’re taking responsibility for it.”

Daigo: “Yeah. I’m prepared for that.  . . . Okay everyone, split up and go to the locations!!”

----

Tojo Clan member: “Daigo-san . . . the hideout we’re in charge of raiding is here.”

Daigo: “Yeah. I don’t know how many Jingweon Mafia members are in there. Don’t let your guard down.”

{Daigo’s phone rings.}

Daigo: “Hello. This is Daigo.”

Inagaki: “. . . It’s Inagaki. I’ve arrived at the raid point. All the other raid teams are ready.”

Daigo: “All right. Then the Tojo Clan shall attack the 5 power station hideouts of the Jingweon Mafia all at once. That okay? The fate of Kamurocho depends on us! Brace yourselves! After taking control of the hideout, contact me as soon as you find the blueprint for the bombs!”

Inagaki: “Heh, understood.”

{Phone call ends.}

Daigo: “. . . Alright, let’s start too!!”

Tojo Clan members: “Yeah!”

----

Jingweon Mafia man A: \“. . . How much time until the bomb explodes?” /

Jingweon Mafia man B: \ “Less than an hour. This is the end of this city.” /

Jingweon Mafia man A: \ “Yeah. We prepared as many bombs as there were friends who were killed 26 years ago. The pain that our friends suffered. Let the people in this city taste it . . . !” /

Daigo: “All members, move in!!”

Jingweon Mafia man A: “Who-Who are you guys?!”

Daigo: “You’re Jingweon Mafia, right? We’re Tojo Clan. The blueprint for the bombs you set up . . . hand it over!”

Jingweon Mafia man B: “. . . Hmph. Bombs? Blueprint? What do you mean?”

Daigo: “I don’t expect you to just spit it out. Then we’ll make you talk!”

Jingweon Mafia man B: “Just try it . . . ! Die!!”

{Daigo and the Tojo Clan members defeat the Jingweon Mafia.}

Tojo Clan member: “Daigo-san. Gaining control of the hideout is complete!!”

Daigo: “Alright. Then let’s split up and search for the bombs’ blueprint!”

{They all search the hideout.}

Daigo: “Have you found it?!”

Tojo Clan member: “It’s hopeless. We can’t find it no matter where we look . . . !”

Daigo: (Damn . . . ! Is the bombs’ blueprint hidden in another hideout and not here?!)

{Daigo’s phone rings.}

Daigo: “Hello. This is Daigo.  . . . I see. Understood.”

{Phone call ends.}

Daigo: “The other hideouts are also a bust . . . it’s only Inagaki’s team that’s left.”

Tojo Clan member: “Ugh . . . !”

Daigo: (I’ll ask Inagaki . . . !)

{Daigo makes a phone call.}

Inagaki: “This is Inagaki. This hideout has been suppressed.”

Daigo: “Inagaki . . . !! How was it? Was there a blueprint for the bombs over there?!”

Inagaki: “No, I’ve searched every corner of this hideout . . . there’s no blueprint for the bombs.”

Daigo: “What . . . !”

Inagaki: “. . . But. I found something interesting instead.”

Daigo: “Something interesting . . . ?”

Inagaki: “It’s a map. A map of the true location of the Jingweon Mafia’s hideout. The hideouts we attacked are all dummies; the place on this map is the real hideout. Important things like the blueprint for the bombs . . . might be there.”

Daigo: “Understood. Where?”

Inagaki: “Hinomatsu Building on Taihei Boulevard.”

Daigo: “Got it! We’re heading there right now!”

Inagaki: “No, it’s not necessary. I’m heading to the hideout with my crew right now.”

Daigo: “What?! Wait, Inagaki! Let’s join forces!”

Inagaki: “. . . Why?”

Daigo: “Don’t you think it’s strange? There’s a map showing the location of the real hideout in the fake hideout. This is likely a trap. Let’s join up.”

Inagaki: “Shut up. If we don’t hurry, the bombs will explode. I’m not going to ask for your instructions every time, I’m protecting the Tojo Clan my own way.”

Daigo: “Inagaki?! Oi, Inagaki . . . shit!”

Tojo Clan member: “Daigo-san, this is dangerous! Enemy reinforcements have arrived!”

Daigo: “What?! Tch, at a time like this . . . !”

Tojo Clan member: “Daigo-san! I heard everything! Please leave this to us and go to Inagaki!”

Daigo: “You guys . . .”

Tojo Clan member: “Go quick and stop that Inagaki! Only you can hold his reins right now!”

Daigo: “Understood, I’ll leave it to you!”

{Daigo runs out.}

Tojo Clan member: “Your opponents are us! Bring it on, oraaa!!”

.

-END-

.

CHAPTER 2

.

|To continue, in 2006 . . .|

Inagaki: “. . . is it here? The location of the Jingweon Mafia’s hideout on the map?”

Tojo Clan member: “Inagaki-san. Are you rushing in without waiting for the other raid teams?”

Inagaki: “There’s no choice! If we don’t get the blueprints fast, Kamurocho will become a sea of fire! And if we don’t hurry, won’t the Jingweon Mafia notice our ambush and run away? If we’re striking, we’re striking now. Understood?!”

Tojo Clan member: “Y-Yes!”

Inagaki: (Watch, Dojima Daigo . . . While you were drinking, we’ve been trying to protect this city the entire time. I’ll show you we can protect Kamurocho even without the boy who drinks . . . !)

Inagaki: “Alright! Surround the building with your weapons out! Don’t let a single Jingweon member escape, okay?!”

Tojo Clan member: “Yeah!”

----

Tojo Clan member: “Inagaki-san, this looks like the entrance.”

Inagaki: “Alright, let’s do this by rushing into the hideout all at once. Let’s go!”

Tojo Clan member: “Yes sir!”

Inagaki: “Oraaa! None of you bastards move!”

Tojo Clan member: “Inagaki-san . . . there doesn’t seem to be anyone here?”

Inagaki: “What? Oi, did we get the Jingweon Mafia’s hideout location wrong?!”

Tojo Clan member: “No, the map says it’s definitely here . . . “

Inagaki: (What’s the meaning of this? Were they aware of our raid and escaped first . . . ? Unless . . . )

Inagaki: “What? Something flew by just now?!”

Tojo Clan member: Inagaki-san. Is the thing that flew by that item rolling on the floor?”

Inagaki: “Wha . . . ?! Everybody get down! It’s a flash grenade!”

{The grenade explodes with a loud bang.}

Tojo Clan members: “Gyaaaaa! M-My eyes~!!”

Inagaki: (Shit, I can’t see anything! At this rate . . . !)

Tojo Clan members: “Guh?! Gahaa . . . !!”

Inagaki: “Oi, what’s wrong with you guys?! What’s happening . . . Guhaa?!?”

Jingweon Mafia member A: \ “. . . Is it over?” /

Jingweon Mafia member B: \ “Yeah. They’re all on the floor, as you can see.” /

Jingweon Mafia member A: \ “Kukuku, idiots.” /

Inagaki: “Guh . . . What the hell happened . . . ?”

Tojo Clan member: “Uuugh . . .”

Inagaki: “Oi, you guys! Come on! Wake up!”

Jingweon Mafia man: “Looks like you noticed.”

Inagaki: “Tch?! Bastard . . . !”

Jingweon Mafia man: “We have you all tied up. We’re not letting you rampage anymore. But you guys are fools, coming in without knowing a thing.”

Inagaki: “What’s that?!”

Jingweon Mafia man: “That map is the bait to lure you in here. Split up your force with dummy hideouts and kill the ones who come here using the map, like you.”

Inagaki: “Kuh . . . then why don’t you kill us?!”

Jingweon Mafia man: “Of course, we’ll kill you after we make you suffer enough.”

Inagaki: “What?!”

Jingweon Mafia man: “As you already know, our purpose is revenge for 26 years ago. That’s why we’re going to carve into your bodies the pain our friends felt 26 years ago . . .”

Jingweon Mafia man: “First by cutting off all the fingers on both of your hands! Prepare yourself!”

Inagaki: “Kuh! Damn it . . . !”

Daigo: “Inagaki, are you safe?!”

Inagaki: “What . . . Daigo?!”

Jingweon Mafia man: “. . . What? Are you a friend of these guys?”

Daigo: “Yeah, that’s right. Are you Jingweon Mafia?”

Jingweon Mafia man: “That’s correct. But you’re an idiot. This is the largest hideout of the Jingweon Mafia. Coming in here all alone is reckless . . . Oi!”

 {A bunch of Jingweon men appear.}

Jingweon Mafia man: “Do you still want to fight?”

Daigo: “Of course. Come at me quickly.”

Jingweon Mafia man: “What? Fighting barehanded against this many people . . . Are you crazy?”

Daigo: “Are you guys playing around? Trying to mess up the city for your revenge . . . I’ll kill you!”

Inagaki: “Daigo . . .”

Jingweon Mafia man: “You’re the one who’s going to be killed. Have a taste of our friends’ pain 26 years ago and die!!”

Daigo: “Ora!!”

{Daigo defeats an entire building of Koreans.}

Jingweon Mafia man: “Guhooo!!”

Inagaki: (S-Strong . . . that Daigo really defeated everyone.)

Daigo: “Haa . . . haa . . . Inagaki, are you okay?”

Inagaki: “Sh-Shut up . . . ! Daigo, you . . . ! Why did you come into this hideout all alone?! Isn’t this the headquarters of the Jingweon Mafia?! You’re the one who said it was dangerous without a raid crew! Despite that, you unreasonably plunged in all alone . . . !”

Daigo: “Inagaki. You entered this hideout without listening to me . . . I can’t overlook you ignoring orders, but I took that action to protect Kamurocho. A man like you is needed for the current Tojo Clan. Are you made to die so easily?”

Inagaki: “Kuh . . . !”

Daigo: “Inagaki, we don’t have much time! Wake up your subordinates to search inside the hideout! If this is the enemy’s headquarters, it highly likely that the bombs’ blueprint is hidden here!”

Inagaki: “. . . Yeah, understood!”

{They all search the hideout.}

Tojo Clan member: “. . . There is! There is, Daigo-san!”

Daigo: “What! Show me!”

Daigo: “. . .”

Daigo: “There’s no doubt, this is the blueprint for the bombs. The placement of the trap wire that makes it explode when cut and the wire that stops the timer are all written here. Well done everyone! Now we can disarm the bombs planted in Kamurocho!”

Tojo Clan member: “Ooooooo!!!!”

Inagaki: “. . . . . . tch, damn it.”

.

-END-

.

CHAPTER 3

.

|To continue, in 2006 . . .|

Tojo Clan member A: “. . . I cut the red cord. The bomb’s timer stopped!”

Tojo Clan member B: “Alright, well done! With this, the bomb is disarmed! Yeah, it makes a big difference when you have a blueprint. Everything we can cut is written on this!”

Tojo Clan member A: “But we still can’t be relieved! There are still bombs left . . . !”

Tojo Clan member B: “Well, let’s report to Daigo-san anyway!!”

----

{Daigo’s phone rings.}

Daigo: “Hello . . . really, you were able to disarm it?! All right. You guys should head back to headquarters.”

{Phone call ends.}

Inagaki: “Daigo, the bomb on Taihei Boulevard has also been disarmed! How much progress have we made in disarming bombs?!”

Daigo: “Right now, I just received a report that the 29th bomb has been disarmed.”

Inagaki: “Then there are 2 more bombs left.”

Daigo: “Yeah, Majima-no-ojiki is heading for one to disarm it!”

Inagaki: “Majima . . . the Mad Dog of Shimano?!”

Daigo: “Yeah. I’ve given him a copy of the blueprint so there’s no worry about disarming the bomb.”

Inagaki: “is that so . . . then I’m going to disarm the bomb in the Champion District!”

Daigo: “Wait, Inagaki! You should rest! I’ll disarm the last bomb!!”

Inagaki: “What did you say?!”

Daigo: “You’ve been injured in the enemy hideout. Don’t overdo it anymore.”

Inagaki: “. . . I’m sorry, but I can’t listen to that order. I’ll let you know how it goes.”

{Inagaki runs off.}

Daigo: “Wait, Inagaki?!”

Inagaki: (I’m also being stubborn . . . but I can’t let it end without overturning the disgrace! While Daigo was drinking, we were the ones protecting Kamurocho from those guys from the West. I can’t leave it up to such a greenhorn . . . !)

----

Inagaki: “Here? The last bomb is set up in this empty room?”

Daigo: “Don’t take any unauthorized actions, Inagaki.”

Inagaki: “. . . Daigo? No matter where you look around inside, there’s no bomb, right?”

Daigo: “. . . No, take a closer look at the back of the room.”

Inagaki: “Hm . . . shit?! What’s this . . . !!”

Daigo: “The bomb. It’s bigger than any of the bombs we’ve disarmed so far . . .”

Inagaki: “Yeah, it’s as big as a large refrigerator!”

Daigo: “If something like this explodes, the whole area will be blown away . . . !”

Inagaki: “30 minutes to explode . . . let’s hurry up and disarm it!”

Daigo: “Hey wait, Inagaki!!”

Inagaki: “Gwa!”

Daigo: “Inagaki?!”

Jingweon Mafia man: “I won’t let anyone touch that bomb.”

Daigo: “Shit . . . are you Jingweon Mafia?”

Jingweon Mafia man: “It seems you guys have been disarming our bombs. But it is no longer possible to disarm this bomb.”

Daigo: “What . . . ? What do you mean?!”

Jingweon Mafia man: “You guys seem to have gotten the blueprint from our hideout to disarm the bombs. So I made improvements to the remaining 2 bombs and switched to a different structure than the one in your blueprint.”

Daigo: “What did you say?!”

Daigo: (Unfortunate . . . ! Then even if you have a blueprint for the bomb, it’s useless! Majima-no-ojiki won’t also be able to disarm the bomb around this time . . . !)

Jingweon Mafia man: “What will you do now? If you still want to disarm it, we will do our best to protect this bomb.”

Inagaki: “What did you say?! Don’t you understand . . . if you protect the bomb here, you’ll be blown up?!”

Jingweon Mafia man: “We’re fully aware of that. But it’s all for the steel trap . . . I will protect this bomb even if it costs me my life!”

Inagaki: “Shit . . . these guys are serious!! Oi, everyone! That bomb can’t be disarmed now! Everyone evacuate!”

Tojo Clan member: “Y-Yes!!”

Inagaki: “Daigo! We’re evacuating too! At this rate, we’ll get caught in the explosion!”

Daigo: “. . .”

Inagaki: “Daigo!!!!”

Daigo: “. . . Inagaki, you guys evacuate the passers-by outside.”

Inagaki: “Da-Daigo?!”

Daigo: “We have no idea if such an explosion in the city would kill hundreds of people. In that case, there’s no choice but to stop it here. Besides, I was entrusted with this city by Kiryu Kazuma. So no one is allowed to die . . . of course that means everyone in the city, including you guys.”

Inagaki: “Daigo, you . . . !”

Daigo: “Inagaki, hurry up and evacuate everyone!”

Inagaki: “Kuh . . .”

Daigo: “Go, Inagaki!!!!”

Inagaki: “. . . Damn it!!!!”

{Inagaki and the others evacuate.}

Jingweon Mafia man: “You have great courage. There was a man like you in this city . . . but you’re going to die here. I won’t let you lay a single finger on the bomb!”

Daigo: “You’re an obstacle . . . get out of my way!!”

{Daigo defeats all the bomb-lovers.}

Daigo: “Haa . . . haa . . . Did I get rid of everyone? But now there’s 17 minutes left until the explosion . . . how do I disarm this bomb?”

Inagaki: “Daigo!”

Daigo: “Inagaki! Why did you come back here?!”

Inagaki: “Hmph. If I let the future Sixth Chairman die, I won’t be able show my face to the Acting Chairman.”

Daigo: “!”

Inagaki: “I prepared a truck outside! I’ll load the bomb on the luggage carrier quickly! If we carry the bomb to a place with no people, the damage will be minimal even if it explodes!”

Daigo: “Why didn’t I think of that . . . ! But how do we carry the bomb to the truck? Such a big stupid bomb can’t be carried by just 2 people!”

Inagaki: “That’s no problem . . . Oi, you guys!”

{Tojo Clan members run back in.}

Tojo Clan members: “Daigo-san! Let us help you carry the bomb too!!”

Daigo: “What?! Did you all come back?!”

Inagaki: “Yeah. When they saw you heading back for the bomb alone, everyone said they wanted to help.”

Daigo: (All these guys . . . Coming back here to risk their lives!)

Daigo: “. . . Alright! Everyone hurry and carry out the bomb!!”

Tojo Clan members: “Oooooo!!!!”

----

Inagaki: “Ora ora! Lots of obstructions! Give way! Load it on the luggage carrier if you don’t want to be acquainted with it, fool!!”

Daigo: “Oi, Inagaki! There’s less than a minute before the explosion! If we don’t do anything, it’ll explode in the city!”

Inagaki: “I know that! But where is the least populated place in Kamurocho?!”

Daigo: “That’s it . . . ! Maybe we can go there! Inagaki, hurry up and turn right on that street!”

Inagaki: “What? Were you able to think of a good place somewhere?!”

Daigo: “Yeah! But we don’t have time, hurry up!!”

----

Daigo: “. . . We’ve arrived at the construction site of Kamurocho Hills!”

Inagaki: “I see! There are no buildings here at ground level, and no one is here right now! It’s perfect for an explosion! Let’s stop the truck immediately and throw away the bomb!”

Daigo: “No! We don’t have much time! If we don’t jump off the truck now, it’ll explode . . .”

{The bomb explodes.}

 Daigo: “. . . Phew, that was a close call. Are you injured?”

Inagaki: “No. If you hadn’t kicked me out of the vehicle, I would have blown up with the truck right about now . . .”

Daigo: “No, the bomb would have exploded in the city if you hadn’t prepared a truck. You’re the savior, Inagaki.”

Inagaki: “Don’t mention it.  . . .”

Inagaki: (While everyone ran away, only this Dojima Daigo risked his life and headed for the bomb . . . Taking that step . . . it’s not a step I can take even if I spend my whole life trying. Is this a man who can carry the Tojo Clan on his back?)

----

|Next day . . .|

{Daigo’s phone rings.}

Daigo: “Hello . . . really?! Yes . . . yes . . . Understood, thank you for your hard work.”

{Phone call ends.}

Inagaki: “Who called?”

Daigo: “It was Majima-no-ojiki. He seems to have succeeded in disarming the bomb.”

Inagaki: “Really?! But the blueprint didn’t help, right? How did he disarm it?”

Daigo: “That is . . . it seems he disarmed the bomb with the song ‘As the Gods Will’ . . .”

Inagaki: “Huh? Perhaps . . . ‘Which-One-Should-I-Choose?’, you mean?”

Daigo: “Yeah, that’s it . . . he used it to choose which cord of the bomb to cut.”

Inagaki: “A-Amazing . . . ! So the bomb was disarmed by an outrageous man, the Mad Dog of Shimano.”

Daigo: “Yeah. Him and Kiryu-san, they really are amazing men. With this, all the bombs planted in Kamurocho have been disarmed.”

Inagaki: “I see. Then once again . . . thank you for your hard work, Daigo-san!!”

Daigo: “! What is it, Inagaki? You’re bowing your head all of a sudden.”

Inagaki: “Heh, I’m taking responsibility. Don’t mind me. There’s a car waiting nearby. I’ll take you to the Tojo Clan Headquarters, Sixth Chairman.”

Daigo: “!”

Daigo: “. . . Heh, all right. If you say so, Inagaki.”

Inagaki: “Yes sir.”

.

-END-

Masterlist

[imaginesandinserts]

Irreverent Pt. 32 - The Ball

Title: Irreverent Pt. 32 - The Ball Pairing: Aaron Hotchner x Reader Rating: R Words: 3024

Irreverent Series Masterlist

Jack had had a sleepover the night prior and his friend had just left. The two boys barely slept all night and you and Hotch could both tell that Jack was exhausted. So, at the first sign of a yawn, you nudged him towards his room for a nap. You'd come over in the morning to help with breakfast because Aaron had been on his own the night before. You would've joined, but he'd insisted he could handle it and had pushed you to go hang out with Penelope and Emily instead. You hadn't told the team - even Emily - about the two of you yet. It had only been a couple of weeks since your first date and both of you wanted to keep this to yourselves for the time being.

You had, however, discussed telling Strauss. With the Ball nearly upon you, you figured you should tell her and make the relationship official sooner rather than alter to avoid having it seem as though you were hiding it. Aaron had agreed, though you could tell he didn't love having Strauss know his business. The two of them still had somewhat of an antagonistic relationship ever since she'd questioned his ability to lead the team soon after his divorce. When he'd told you about this, you'd been shocked. That would have been right around when you joined the team, and while yes he had been more subdued and quick to anger those first few months, you had hardly seen reason for Strauss to have questioned his leadership.

"Jack's asleep," you told him, when you found him in his room, finishing up folding the laundry. The yawn you'd been suppressing for a while finally came out.

He smiled at you as he folded the last shirt. "Sleepy?"

"Mm a little. Emily is seeing someone new and so of course Penelope pulled out her computer and now I know that he has a cousin in Utah that was arrested for a misdemeanor charge in 2006," you explained, as you helped him put the clothes away in his closet. You appreciated that Aaron was a very neat and orderly person. Everything had a spot and it was just how you would've done it yourself.

"Well," he said conspiratorially, as he came and hugged your from behind, "Jack is taking a nap. We could also take a nap."

He was holding you so close and he smelled just like his Irish Spring soap and musk and something sweet that was uniquely him. "I hope you actually mean a nap," you mumbled, as you felt his lips against your neck "because that sounds amazing."

He gave a low chuckle as he dragged you over to the bed so you both could lay down. You laid down right next to him, his arm under you as you slung an arm over his stomach and your leg over his. You were quiet for a few minutes, as he tried to let you actually sleep. His hands played gently with your hair and Aaron always ran so warm it was like sleeping with a personal heater. However, now that you were actually lying down, sleep was elusive. You tilted your head up to see him watching you with a slight smile on his face.

"That's not sleeping," he murmured, as he continued to gently massage your head. You'd always liked having someone play with your hair - it was so soothing.

"I'm not actually sleepy anymore," you admitted with a small pout.

"Hmm." His voice was still low and quiet, in the hope that you might be lulled into a nap anyways.

You reached up to his face, a single finger tracing the outline of his face, down his perfect nose, across his pink lips. You'd really allowed yourself to appreciate him lately and it continued to amaze you how breathtakingly beautiful he was. Part of you couldn't believe you hadn't noticed it before but the other part knew that you hadn't let yourself go there. He seemed to be enjoying your exploration as he closed his eyes and just let your fingers ghost over his features.

"Aaron?"

"Mmhm."

"Where do you want to be after the BAU?"

He opened his eyes to look at you, not expecting the question. "Why do you ask?"

"I don't know…I guess with the Ball approaching and us talking about my career and future and all that…I guess I just kind of wondered. What's next for you?"

He let out a large breath as you sat up slightly on your elbows to look at him properly.

"I don't know. When I first started I wanted to do the whole move up thing, but the longer I'm here I don't know if I'm suited for that." He had a far away look on his face - like it was a thought from so long ago that it was entirely removed from the person he was now.

"Why not?" you asked, as you watched him carefully.

"It's a lot of paperwork and a lot of…difficult decisions. With the BAU it's more clear cut - we catch bad guys. Occasionally things are more complicated, but overall I feel like I do good in the world and I get to go home and not worry about the politics of moving up."

"Hmm," you said, coming back down to lay on his chest again.

"What is it?"

"I think Director Hotchner has a nice ring to it," you shared, pressing a kiss to his chest.

"Director?" You could hear the amusement in his voice.

"Yeah, you'd be a great Director for the Bureau." You really truly believed that. He was such a great leader who commanded respect - yours and everyone else's.

"Well I'm glad I have someone's vote," he laughed, trying to brush off what you'd said. That was an ambition for the old him - the one that had just had a kid and was married to Haley and had a whole life in front of him.

"You'll always have mine," you confided, as you hugged him closer, burrowing in more to his side.  "McKinney should be scared."

He had a really soft, perfect, I-am-Aaron-Hotchner-and-I-make-women-swoon smile on his face as he looked at you. Aaron brought his arms around you at that, kissing the top of your head.  "I'm sure he's shaking in his boots as we speak."

*------------*

The meeting with Strauss had gone as well as could be expected really. You and Hotch had asked to meet with her early in the day, before anyone else got there and when you'd explained that you needed to declare an official relationship, she hadn't seemed all that surprised. Which was surprising to you at the very least.

"Have you told your team yet," she'd asked, as both you and Hotch sat in her office and filled out the required paperwork.

"No, not yet." Aaron had responded quickly, not looking up as he said it, concentrating on filling out all the details.

You smiled and looked at her, knowing you had to compensate for his utter dislike of this whole situation. "We just want to keep it to ourselves for now," you'd explained. "It's hard enough working with profilers without everyone knowing everything."

She'd nodded understandingly, but added, "Well, I doubt anyone would be too surprised. I wouldn't wait too long if I were you."

Aaron had simply smiled and stood up, but Strauss asked you to stay behind for a moment.

You looked at her in question as he walked out and closed the door behind him.

"You should know that this could impact the tapping process. I will do my best to ensure that it doesn't, however situations such as this can raise some eyebrows. Are you sure about this?"

You thought about what she was implying, turning to look at the seat Aaron had vacated just a moment ago, before looking back at her. "He's worth it." The answer came easily. It was just that simple.

*------------*

The night of the FBI Director's Ball came sooner than expected. You'd chosen to get ready beforehand with the girls, and the four of you had made a day of it. Aaron saw you when you entered the venue, having arrived only minutes earlier himself. You walked in with Emily and you were wearing a dark green gown which complimented you perfectly.

"Take a picture, it'll last longer."

Aaron startled, only to see Dave standing next to him in a matching tux, with a shit-eating grin on his face. Sometimes he forgot that Dave knew, since the rest of the team still didn't. He grabbed the drink proffered by Dave and rolled his eyes good naturedly. No use denying he'd been staring. "How're you liking her odds tonight?" he chose to ask instead, changing the subject.

It was common knowledge that the annual Director's Ball was where up and coming talent was recognized. Aaron himself hadn't gone through the tapping process, but had heard of Bureau stars who were tapped at the Ball, go on to lead new taskforces, teams, and missions - have great careers within the Bureau and beyond it.

"Good," Dave responded, taking a swig of his drink. "I spoke with Erin about it and she still seems pretty confident in her recommendation. She did have to bring up the matter of you two to McKinney, and the final decision will be his."

Aaron nodded as he saw you approach with the rest of the team. Everyone had decided to meet up early on and grab a table together, so you all began to walk over. Aaron conveniently made sure to find himself right beside you. "You look beautiful," he said, leaning in just barely. He saw the slight blush rise to your face as he complimented you, his eyes running appreciatively over you again.

"Thanks," you smiled, "you look pretty good too." He really did. The man could always pull off a suit, but a tux was just a whole new level of attractive.

He pulled out your chair for you as the group found an empty table in the main room and grabbed the seat right next to you. Emily had grabbed the one on your other side and everyone else had found a spot around the table. Past years, the Ball had been nothing more than an excuse to drink and eat on the Bureau's dime and have fun with your coworkers. This year, however, you had to network and get to know other Section Chiefs and anyone who rolled up directly to McKinney. Both Hotch and Rossi had told you that having all of those people on your side was of the utmost importance. Aaron had already been helping you out in that regard, making sure to bring you along to some inter-departmental meetings and getting your name and face out in front of other leaders. You'd asked if he was giving you special treatment, as you couldn't recall him having done this for anyone else. However, he had assured you that he was not, and that if Reid or JJ to want to move along a similar path, he'd do the same for them. Prentiss and Morgan had a lot more experience and connections of their own, so they wouldn't need him to run interference as much.

Once dinner concluded, the string band started playing ballroom music. You all watched as some coworkers began to lead their partners out onto the dance floor. Derek quickly asked Penelope to dance as well, and the two of them were off, with Will and JJ joining them soon after.

"Alright kiddo, let's do this." Rossi reached for your hand across the table and you quickly accepted, allowing him to lead you out onto the dance floor. He knew that with you, he'd at least be guaranteed a decent partner - Emily had both left feet.

"He's right, you know," Rossi said, as he gently spun you around the dance floor, "you do look beautiful."

You smiled. It was nice having someone know about the two of you.

"You really think I have a chance tonight?" Dave had some experience in this matter - more so than you or Aaron.

"They'd be idiots not to pick you." As he said this, the music changed, and Director McKinney had walked over to ask Rossi for your hand. Rossi graciously handed you off, swaying back to the table for his tenth drink of the night.

McKinney smiled at you and respectfully took your hand in his, his other at your waist. "Hello Agent L/N."

"Good evening, sir." Your heart was thudding in your chest, knowing this was the moment.

"You dance very well," he remarked, as he easily led you through the motions.

"I used to dance as a kid. Not easy to forget." You quickly flashed back to the numerous recitals and lessons - most of which your parents had missed.

"I see." He looked contemplative. Sighing, he says, "You should know, the recent revelation of your relationship complicated the decision making process slightly."

You choose to just nod, not trusting yourself to say anything constructive.

"However, I would like to inform you that you can consider yourself officially tapped."

You felt your heart jump as a large smile broke out across your face. "Thank you sir! I really appreciate it."

"You will be working with me directly. You should also know, the only reason this process was not pushed off the tracks is because it is Aaron you're with."

You looked at him in question, imploring him to continue.

"Agent Hotchner is above reproach. Were it anyone else, we'd have questions about the recommendations and reviews. However, I trust Aaron and so I trust that the two of you have done your due diligence and kept everything above board."

"We have, sir. Thank you. I very much appreciate the opportunity."

As he continues to spin you, you catch Aaron's eye over McKinney's shoulder. You quickly shoot him a grin and a  wink, indicating that you got it. His face breaks out into the biggest smile, and you can see him making his way towards you through the crowd. He reaches the two of you right as the music changes, and seeing Aaron approach, McKinney stops.

"Aaron, good to see you."

"Director, how are you?"

The two of them shake hands and exchange pleasantries, before McKinney takes your leave to tend to other guests, promising to have his assistant get in touch with you very soon. Aaron takes that as an opportunity to grab your hand for the upcoming dances, pulling you in much closer than Rossi or McKinney had.

"Congratulations sweetheart," he whispers into your ear as he holds you close, swaying along to the music.

You look up at him and it takes everything in you to not kiss him right there in front of everyone. He catches the look in your eye, because he maneuvers the two of you to a corner of the dance floor where no one on the team is around. Squeezing your hand, he quickly looks around, before leading you off the end and out a side door. Having seen a supply closet across the way, he urges you to follow inside, closing the door behind.

Before you could take another breath, his mouth is greedily on yours, tasting you and drawing out a breathy moan, his name on your lips. Your back is pressed up sharply against a shelf, but the need to just touch him and feel him far surpasses the discomfort. You find yourself unbuttoning his shirt, just to be able to feel skin while he continues to explore your mouth.

His hands have worked their way under the dress and his hands roamed upwards and came in contact with your bare ass. Aaron pulls away, a little surprised at the thong, before returning to his exploration.

You'd managed to open up the collar of his shirt and move your mouth from his, resulting in a whine that turns into a moan as your lips come in contact with his neck. The desire to mark him as yours is something new you're experiencing, but your dedication to the task at hand rewards you with more sounds.

Not satisfied being alone in his ecstasy, Aaron's hand grazes over your breast, drawing a sharp inhale from you as a knot starts to form in your stomach.

"Do you like that?" his voice smooth despite him being a moaning mess a second earlier. You watch as his fingers ghost over your breast and your nipple hardens under his touch. "What about that?" He looks up finally to meet your eyes and his pupils are dilated beyond belief. Briefly you wonder what you must look like.

You'd never really pegged yourself for being much of a talker, but having Aaron talk to you as he touched you was definitely a turn on. You nod shakily, prompting him to cup your breast and run his thumb over the bud, maintaining his eyes on yours. You're afraid you're going to be too loud, so you reach up and kiss him again, allowing him to swallow your moans as he continues his ministrations. You can feel the dampness growing in your underwear and you swear you blacked out for a second when he breaks away from your mouth and takes a nipple into his mouth instead, biting gently through the fabric of your dress.

"Aaron!" You meant for it to be a sharp rebuke but instead what came out could really only be a groan of pleasure.

He looked up at you with false innocence, knowing exactly the effect he'd had on you. However, taking note of where you two were at the moment, he returns his attention to your mouth with promises of continuing later.

By the time the two of you leave the supply closet, trying not to look as though you'd spent the past thirty minutes engaged in intense foreplay, the party was dwindling down and your friends had been looking for you for quite some time.

[dreamingwithbts]

Demon (Boku No Hero) - Chapter 5

Warning: Swearing

I smile after Bakugo drop me off at my house.

“Thank you for coming with me.” I say to him smiling. “Do not tell anyone about this!” He says to me serious. “What? That you can be nice?” I say joking. “SHUT UP EXTRA!” He screams leaving. “Bye Bakugo!” I say laughing and entering my house.

 The time passed quickly and Dad arrived at home and I leave my room to greet him.” Welcome home Dad.” I say, and he turns his buff figure to his skeleton mode and points his finger at me “YOU! HOW DARE YOU?” He screams. “What?” I ask confused. “Your costume! It showed too much skin!” He says dramatically crying. “Ohhh! That! Payback is a bitch isn’t Dad?” I say smirking, this was my revenge for making me train Izuku, even if I would do it voluntarily and for not telling me Aizawa-sensei was my home room teacher.

  Next Day

 The moment I arrived at U.A. a bunch of journalists starting putting their microphones on my face. “Take those things away from my face.” I say only to be ignored by them. “How are All Might classes? What do you think of All Might as a teacher?” A woman starts yelling at my face and I start to get irritated, red mist starting to show on my hands then suddenly someone grabs my arm and pulls me away from the journalist, I look up the persons arm and see Bakugo with his usual scowl on his face. “Bakugo.” I think blushing a little since he doesn’t let go of my arm. “Oh? You’re the one who was caught by the sludge villain....” The journalist doesn’t stop. “Sludge villain?” I think confused seeing Bakugo getting angrier. “Stop it!” Bakugo says between his teeth, then we enter school grounds safely. “Thank you, Bakugo.” I say smiling at him. “You need to control your Quirk.” He says letting go of my arm. “I know.” I say sad looking at my hands. “Hm.” He hums, and we went to our classroom in silence.

 “Good work on yesterday’s combat training. I saw the video and results.” Aizawa-sensei says. “Oh no....” I think scared. “Bakugo, you’re talented, so don’t act like a kid.” Aizawa-sensei says. “I know.” Bakugo says. “Midoriya, you settled in by breaking your arm again, huh? You can’t keep saying you can’t help it because you can’t control your Quirk. I don’t like saying the same thing over and over. As long as you fix the control issue, there’s a lot you’ll be able to do. Feel a sense of urgency, Midoriya.” Aizawa-sensei says, and I smile a little towards the broccoli boy. “Yes, sir!” Izuku says smiling. “And Aka.” Aizawa-sensei says slowly and deadly making me sweat nervous. “Control your emotions, you did a good job controlling your Quirk, but be more careful. Act more with your head than your heart.” Aizawa-sensei says and I nod understanding.

 “Now let’s go down to home room business.” Aizawa-sensei continues. “Sorry about the late notice, but today, I’ll have you....” The suspense was killing everyone in the room. “...decide on a class representative.” Aizawa-sensei says making everyone sigh in relief for such a normal school activity. “I want to be class rep! Pick me!” Kirishima says excited then almost everyone follows his lead. “Let me do it! Me!” I see a very angry excited pomeranian yell his hand in the air and I laugh at him. “YOU BETTER VOTE FOR ME DEMON!” Bakugo yells at me. “When hell freezes!” I say sarcastically making him yell more at me and me yell back. “Kacchan.....Aka-chan....” Izuku thinks watching the two pair yell but shocked, and he sees Aka laugh and Bakugo smirks at her happy even if they were screaming at each other.

“Silence, please!” Lida yells making the class go silence. “It is a job with the serious responsibility of leading others. It is not a job just anyone who wants to do it.” Lida says, not stop talking. “His really serious about his, huh?” I think, then I see Aizawa-sensei on his yellow bag sleeping on the floor. “Seriously.” I think shaking my head. Everyone starts voting and the results are in.

                                        Izuku Midoriya   - 3 votes

                                         Akuma Aka      - 2 votes

                                    Momo Yaoyorozu - 2 votes

                                          Lida Tenya      - 1 vote

 “I got three votes!” Izuku screams shocked. “Eh? Two votes?” I ask very confused. “Why Deku?! Who voted for him?!” Bakugo gets up angry. “Well, it’s better than voting for you.” Sero says making me laugh and Bakugo glare at us. “What did you say?!” Bakugo screams. “One vote....” I hear Lida say shocked. “Since Aka and Yaoyorozu are tied, decide it yourselves.“ A tired sensei says. “You can go Yaoyorozu-san, I really don’t feel like having too much responsibility I think you would do better.” I say smiling at the ponytail girl who smiles back. “Thank you Aka-san.” She says, then her and Izuku go stand in front of the class with a very shaking Izuku. “Then, the class rep is Midoriya, and the deputy class rep will be Yaoyorozu.” Aizawa-sensei says. “S..S..Seriously? Seriously?” We hear Izuku mumbler. “Oh Izu-kun..” I think getting nervous for the boy.

 Lunchtime comes and this time I eat with Izuku, Ochaco and Lida. “Food is so good!” I say eating the rice making Ochaco nod. “This rice is so good.” She says and both of us smile. “Even though I’ve been chosen as class rep, I don’t know if I’m qualified for it.” Izuku says looking at his food. “You are.” Uraraka says. “You’ll be fine Izu-kun!” I say concentrating more in eating so, I missed Lida talking. “It was you?” Izuku asks. “Hm?” I say finally paying attention. “So you and Ochaco voted for Izu-kun?” I ask and both nod. “You were the third vote Aka-chan?” Izuku asks me. “No, sorry Izu-kun.” I say sad, but he smiles at me relief. “I voted Lida.” I continue. “You were my vote.” Lida says shocked. “Yes, I think you would be perfect for the job.” I say. “Thank you Aka-san.” Lida bows at me. “I wonder who voted for me, I know one vote was probably Shoto.” I say. “You know him Aka-chan?” Ochaco asks me. “Yes, since we were young.” I say. “It was Kaachan.” Izuku suddenly says. “Hm?” The three of us says confused looking at Izuku who was smiling at me. “Your second vote was Kaachan.” He says, and I look shocked at him trying not to blush hearing Ochaco giggle a little. “No it wasn’t.” I denied but Izuku and Ochaco both smile at me giggling, and I look to the other side not wanting to look at them and surprisingly my eyes move directly to where Bakugo was, who was already looking at me, almost blushing I take my eyes of him and try to listen to Lida who was talking about his brother, but no success since I had an angry pomeranian on my mind.

 Suddenly we start hearing a loud alarm. “What is happening?” I ask confused. “An alarm?!” Izuku says, and a voice came through the alarm. “There has been a Level 3 security breach. All students please evacuate outdoors promptly.” The voice says. “Shit.” I say while everyone panics and everything turn into absolute chaos.

All the students were trying to run to the exit making everyone to be on top of each other and pushing everyone in panic. “Stop pushing!” I say and everyone pushes me. “Dumb people!” I say starting to get angry especially seeing my friends being squished. “Oi! STOP PUSHING!” I start screaming angry making red mist start appearing on my body until someone pushes me hard on someone chest. “Oi! Calm down!” The person says putting his arms around me. “Bakugo!” I say looking up seeing his face so close to mine, then everyone started to push us both. “Damn it these extras!” Bakugo says when the push us against the glass wall, in seconds Bakugo changes our position making me go back on the glass wall and him in front of me with his hands beside my head, I blush hard when I notice his chest touching my boobs making him blush too. “Sorry.” He whispers. “Don’t worry.” I say knowing he wasn’t doing it on purpose, and I was also trying not to feel his abs then I became serious when I look outside the window and see the press. “Bakugo.” I say gesturing with my head, and he also looks outside and becomes angry. “That damn press started all these!” He says.

“Look!” I say to him and both of us see Lida flying across the room and land on top of the exit. “Everyone, everything is fine! It is just the media! There is nothing to panic about. Everything is fine! This is U.A. Let us act in a way befitting the best of the best.” Lida screams and all the students stopped panicking, making me sigh in relief since we finally have space and Bakugo stops leaning on the glass but still stays close to me. “Thank you.” I say to him, and he only nods still glaring at the press.

 Were back at the classroom after all that panic, and I couldn’t stop thinking about the position me and Bakugo were without knowing he was thinking the same. “What are these feelings?” Bakugo and I think. “Come on, class rep. Start.” Yaoyoruzu says to Izuku. “N..Now, let us decide on the other class officers...” Izuku says nervous. “ But first, can I say something? I think...that Lida Tenya should be the class rep after all!” Izuku says explaining why Lida would be better than him and everyone in the class agrees.

 Couple hours later

 “For today’s hero basic training, it’s turned into a class with three instructors, All Might and me, and one more person.” Aizawa-sensei says. “Hm.” I think suspicious. “Is Dad time strong enough for it?” I also think. “Excuse me! What will we be doing?” Sero asks. “Disasters, shipwrecks and everything in between. It’s rescue training.” Aizawa-sensei says holding a card that says Rescue. “I hope I don’t lose control.” I think while my classmates talk excited. “Hey, I’m not done.” Aizawa-sensei says getting everyone attention. “You can decide if you want to wear your costume or not this time, because there are probably costumes that limit your abilities, too. The training will take place off-campus, so we’re taking a bus. That is all. Start getting ready.” Aizawa-sensei says and everyone went to the changing rooms.

 Remembering The Costume:  (Instead of blue is red)

Everyone was already outside, Ochaco and I left the changing room together and see Izuku in the U.A. uniform. “Izu-kun?” I say getting his attention making him blush seeing me in the costume. “Oh, you’re wearing your P.E. clothes. Where’s your costume?” Ochaco ask him, and I left them talking seeing Bakugo behind Izuku with his incomplete costume. “Eh? Only one bomb? What? Did the other explode while you were getting ready?” I say teasing the blonde. “Shut up! This is a rescue training, I need one hand free and this weigh a lot.” Bakugo explains trying to focus on my face. “I see, I see.” I say smirking. “And you’re still going like that?” He asks looking me up and down. “What? I don’t see the problem.” I say looking at myself. “YOU’RE ALMOST NAKED GODDAMMIT!” Bakugo screams lecturing me while I just stay there laughing while the class look at us strangely. “I didn’t expect to Kaachan and Aka-chan to be this close.” Izuku thinks smiling watching the pair. “I’m happy for them.”

 “Class 1-A, gather round!” Lida says, whistling in a whistle. “When did he get a whistle?” I ask and Bakugo only shrug his shoulder not knowing. “Form two lines by your student numbers in order to make boarding the bus go smoothly!” Lida says. We enter the bus, and notice the bus was different since the front the seats were by the window faces to each other while the back was like a normal bus, we enter, and I sit next to Bakugo who was by the window. “Shoot. I didn’t think it’d be this type of bus.” Lida says while everyone is already seated and the bus was moving.

Everyone was talking to each other, so I took the opportunity to close my eyes and rest a little until I hear Asui. “Midoriya-chan.” She says. “Um, yes, Asui?” Izuku asks. “Call me Tsu. Your Quirk is like All Might.” Asui says making me open my eyes and stop breathing nervous. “Does she now?” I think. “Huh?! Y...Y...You think so?” Izuku asks nervous, but then Kirishima comes and save him making me sigh in relief then smile nervous at Bakugo who was looking at me weirdly.

Note: Hope you like it! New chapter every Friday!

Tag List: @holaaaf

[songsofprotestpeacerevolution]

...First, Donald Trump expressed only the barest of condolences at the murder of George Floyd, but he also said nothing about the fundamental and underlying reasons for the unrest: systemic racism and inequality, a historic absence of respect, and a denial of justice. All of these factors are centuries old and deeply engrained in an American society that systematically delivers white privilege at the expense of people of color.

Yes, he mentioned George Floyd, but he did not touch on long-standing societal problems at all. He sees the crisis as a black problem—not as something to be addressed by creating the basis and impetus for a move toward social justice, but as an opportunity to use force to portray himself as a “law and order” president. The reasons were irrelevant to the opportunity. Remember the supposed invasion of the southern border and his deployment of federal troops ahead of the 2018 midterm elections? The president’s failure to understand the reality of the problem was on full display when, on Saturday, he attempted to explain that his supporters, the so-called Make America Great Again (MAGA) movement, “love African American people. They love black people. MAGA loves the black people.” Evidently his movement, MAGA, is a coherent thing, and it’s white, which leads to the next point about his speech.

Second, Trump was clear he views those engaged in the unrest and criminal acts in these riots as terrorists, an enemy. He said so, ostensibly as justification to deploy the U.S. military to apply federal force—his “personal” force—against the riots. Indeed, the secretary of defense used the military term “battlespace” to describe American cities... ...The president and members of his administration seem bent on ensuring that the so-called antifa—or anti-fascist—movement is fully on display as a principal reason for the violence. To deal with antifa, the president even tweeted that he intended to designate the group a terrorist organization—never mind that he has no authority to designate any domestic movement as such. Those of us who’ve looked closely at homegrown violent extremism do, in fact, agree that a domestic terrorism statute should exist. And were such a statute to come into being, the obvious targets for designation as domestic terrorists are, first and foremost, violent white supremacist groups and individuals who provide material assistance to these groups. And even if antifa is found to fit the statute as well, let me be clear: White supremacists have murdered, lynched, tortured, terrorized, oppressed, and discriminated against black Americans from the beginning of the idea of America. They have killed black Americans by the thousands, often in the most horrific ways imaginable. Far more damage to the United States has come from these terrorists—fascists, Klansmen, and neo-Nazis, all feeling newly empowered today—than those who have opposed them...

...Third, in a bid to create some appearance that he can empathize with those demonstrating peacefully in the streets, the president proclaimed himself the “ally of peaceful protesters.” But, at that very moment, just a few hundred feet away across Lafayette Park, fully equipped riot police and troops violently, and without provocation, set upon the peaceful demonstrators there, manhandling and beating many of them, employing flash-bangs, riot-control agents, and pepper spray throughout. These demonstrators had done nothing to warrant such an attack. Media who were watching over the scene craned their cameras to try to understand what had happened to justify this violence, until it became clear for all to see. The riot police had waded into these nonviolent American citizens—who were protesting massive social injustice—with the sole purpose of clearing the area around St. John’s Episcopal Church, on the other side of the park, so the self-proclaimed “ally of peaceful protesters,” Donald Trump, could pose there for a photo-op...

...St. John’s Episcopal Church is one of the most historic churches in the United States... ...on the afternoon of June 1, it was surrounded by members of the U.S. Secret Service, other law enforcement personnel, and soldiers. Tear gas was hanging in the air, with vomit still on the street from demonstrators overcome by gas and pepper spray. The debris of peaceful protesters attacked in the clearing operation littered the street. As it became clear where the president was headed, and as the reality of what was unfolding set in, a horrified nation looked on.

The president stood in front of St. John’s, holding a Bible aloft, and expropriated the image of the church, the Holy Bible, and the Christian faith as the backdrop and basis for his words and deeds in dealing with this crisis. It wasn’t enough that peaceful protesters had just been deprived of their first-amendment rights—this photo-op sought to legitimize that abuse with a layer of religion. To make matters worse, he was joined in the church photo-op by the other members of his staff and cabinet, including the press secretary, the chief of staff, and the national security advisor. Much worse still, he was joined in the picture by Secretary of Defense Mark Esper and Attorney General William Barr. 

One wonders, did Esper and Barr know that hundreds of peaceful U.S. citizens had been attacked by riot police just minutes before, their civil rights massively violated just to set the stage for their picture? Did it occur to them that in posing with the president and the Bible he held in front of a church, ostensibly calling down the authority of God on this cause, they were violating the spirit of one of the most important strictures in America, the separation of church and state? And if federal troops are indeed dispatched into the states to take action against American civilians, where does the Bible and the Christian God figure into the president’s deployment order? The framers of the Constitution intended the separation for a reason, and the commander in chief just trampled it...

...So, what is to be done? At nearly the same moment that Americans were being beaten near the White House on behalf of their president, George Floyd’s brother Terrence Floyd visited the site of George’s murder. Overcome with grief and anger, he loudly upbraided the crowd for tarnishing his brother’s memory with violence and looting. And then he told Americans what to do: vote. “Educate yourselves,” he said, “there’s a lot of us.” So, while June 1 could easily be confused with a day of shame and peril if we listen to Donald Trump, if instead we listen to Terrence Floyd, it is a day of hope. So mark your calendars—this could be the beginning of the change of American democracy not to illiberalism, but to enlightenment. But it will have to come from the bottom up. For at the White House, there is no one home.

[creepingsharia]

Must Read: “They Thought They Were Free”

…But Then It Was Too Late.

If you read nothing else this weekend read this excerpt in its entirety. It could easily apply to The Americans, 2001 – 201?. (some bold font added)

Originally posted on Creeping Sharia - December 17, 2011

Excerpted from:

They Thought They Were Free

The Germans, 1933-45

Milton Mayer

But Then It Was Too Late

“What no one seemed to notice,” said a colleague of mine, a philologist, “was the ever widening gap, after 1933, between the government and the people. Just think how very wide this gap was to begin with, here in Germany. And it became always wider. You know, it doesn’t make people close to their government to be told that this is a people’s government, a true democracy, or to be enrolled in civilian defense, or even to vote. All this has little, really nothing, to do with knowing one is governing.

“What happened here was the gradual habituation of the people, little by little, to being governed by surprise; to receiving decisions deliberated in secret; to believing that the situation was so complicated that the government had to act on information which the people could not understand, or so dangerous that, even if the people could not understand it, it could not be released because of national security. And their sense of identification with Hitler, their trust in him, made it easier to widen this gap and reassured those who would otherwise have worried about it.

“This separation of government from people, this widening of the gap, took place so gradually and so insensibly, each step disguised (perhaps not even intentionally) as a temporary emergency measure or associated with true patriotic allegiance or with real social purposes. And all the crises and reforms (real reforms, too) so occupied the people that they did not see the slow motion underneath, of the whole process of government growing remoter and remoter.

“You will understand me when I say that my Middle High German was my life. It was all I cared about. I was a scholar, a specialist. Then, suddenly, I was plunged into all the new activity, as the university was drawn into the new situation; meetings, conferences, interviews, ceremonies, and, above all, papers to be filled out, reports, bibliographies, lists, questionnaires. And on top of that were the demands in the community, the things in which one had to, was ‘expected to’ participate that had not been there or had not been important before. It was all rigmarole, of course, but it consumed all one’s energies, coming on top of the work one really wanted to do. You can see how easy it was, then, not to think about fundamental things. One had no time.”

“Those,” I said, “are the words of my friend the baker. ‘One had no time to think. There was so much going on.’”

“Your friend the baker was right,” said my colleague. “The dictatorship, and the whole process of its coming into being, was above all diverting. It provided an excuse not to think for people who did not want to think anyway. I do not speak of your ‘little men,’ your baker and so on; I speak of my colleagues and myself, learned men, mind you. Most of us did not want to think about fundamental things and never had. There was no need to. Nazism gave us some dreadful, fundamental things to think about—we were decent people—and kept us so busy with continuous changes and ‘crises’ and so fascinated, yes, fascinated, by the machinations of the ‘national enemies,’ without and within, that we had no time to think about these dreadful things that were growing, little by little, all around us. Unconsciously, I suppose, we were grateful. Who wants to think?

“To live in this process is absolutely not to be able to notice it—please try to believe me—unless one has a much greater degree of political awareness, acuity, than most of us had ever had occasion to develop. Each step was so small, so inconsequential, so well explained or, on occasion, ‘regretted,’ that, unless one were detached from the whole process from the beginning, unless one understood what the whole thing was in principle, what all these ‘little measures’ that no ‘patriotic German’ could resent must some day lead to, one no more saw it developing from day to day than a farmer in his field sees the corn growing. One day it is over his head.

“How is this to be avoided, among ordinary men, even highly educated ordinary men? Frankly, I do not know. I do not see, even now. Many, many times since it all happened I have pondered that pair of great maxims, Principiis obsta and Finem respice—‘Resist the beginnings’ and ‘Consider the end.’ But one must foresee the end in order to resist, or even see, the beginnings. One must foresee the end clearly and certainly and how is this to be done, by ordinary men or even by extraordinary men? Things might have. And everyone counts on that might.

“Your ‘little men,’ your Nazi friends, were not against National Socialism in principle. Men like me, who were, are the greater offenders, not because we knew better (that would be too much to say) but because we sensed better. Pastor Niemöller spoke for the thousands and thousands of men like me when he spoke (too modestly of himself) and said that, when the Nazis attacked the Communists, he was a little uneasy, but, after all, he was not a Communist, and so he did nothing; and then they attacked the Socialists, and he was a little uneasier, but, still, he was not a Socialist, and he did nothing; and then the schools, the press, the Jews, and so on, and he was always uneasier, but still he did nothing. And then they attacked the Church, and he was a Churchman, and he did something—but then it was too late.”

“Yes,” I said.

“You see,” my colleague went on, “one doesn’t see exactly where or how to move. Believe me, this is true. Each act, each occasion, is worse than the last, but only a little worse. You wait for the next and the next. You wait for one great shocking occasion, thinking that others, when such a shock comes, will join with you in resisting somehow. You don’t want to act, or even talk, alone; you don’t want to ‘go out of your way to make trouble.’ Why not?—Well, you are not in the habit of doing it. And it is not just fear, fear of standing alone, that restrains you; it is also genuine uncertainty.

“Uncertainty is a very important factor, and, instead of decreasing as time goes on, it grows. Outside, in the streets, in the general community, ‘everyone’ is happy. One hears no protest, and certainly sees none. You know, in France or Italy there would be slogans against the government painted on walls and fences; in Germany, outside the great cities, perhaps, there is not even this. In the university community, in your own community, you speak privately to your colleagues, some of whom certainly feel as you do; but what do they say? They say, ‘It’s not so bad’ or ‘You’re seeing things’ or ‘You’re an alarmist.’

“And you are an alarmist. You are saying that this must lead to this, and you can’t prove it. These are the beginnings, yes; but how do you know for sure when you don’t know the end, and how do you know, or even surmise, the end? On the one hand, your enemies, the law, the regime, the Party, intimidate you. On the other, your colleagues pooh-pooh you as pessimistic or even neurotic. You are left with your close friends, who are, naturally, people who have always thought as you have.

“But your friends are fewer now. Some have drifted off somewhere or submerged themselves in their work. You no longer see as many as you did at meetings or gatherings. Informal groups become smaller; attendance drops off in little organizations, and the organizations themselves wither. Now, in small gatherings of your oldest friends, you feel that you are talking to yourselves, that you are isolated from the reality of things. This weakens your confidence still further and serves as a further deterrent to—to what? It is clearer all the time that, if you are going to do anything, you must make an occasion to do it, and then you are obviously a troublemaker. So you wait, and you wait.

“But the one great shocking occasion, when tens or hundreds or thousands will join with you, never comes. That’s the difficulty. If the last and worst act of the whole regime had come immediately after the first and smallest, thousands, yes, millions would have been sufficiently shocked—if, let us say, the gassing of the Jews in ’43 had come immediately after the ‘German Firm’ stickers on the windows of non-Jewish shops in ’33. But of course this isn’t the way it happens. In between come all the hundreds of little steps, some of them imperceptible, each of them preparing you not to be shocked by the next. Step C is not so much worse than Step B, and, if you did not make a stand at Step B, why should you at Step C? And so on to Step D.

“And one day, too late, your principles, if you were ever sensible of them, all rush in upon you. The burden of self-deception has grown too heavy, and some minor incident, in my case my little boy, hardly more than a baby, saying ‘Jewish swine,’ collapses it all at once, and you see that everything, everything, has changed and changed completely under your nose. The world you live in—your nation, your people—is not the world you were born in at all. The forms are all there, all untouched, all reassuring, the houses, the shops, the jobs, the mealtimes, the visits, the concerts, the cinema, the holidays. But the spirit, which you never noticed because you made the lifelong mistake of identifying it with the forms, is changed. Now you live in a world of hate and fear, and the people who hate and fear do not even know it themselves; when everyone is transformed, no one is transformed. Now you live in a system which rules without responsibility even to God. The system itself could not have intended this in the beginning, but in order to sustain itself it was compelled to go all the way.

“You have gone almost all the way yourself. Life is a continuing process, a flow, not a succession of acts and events at all. It has flowed to a new level, carrying you with it, without any effort on your part. On this new level you live, you have been living more comfortably every day, with new morals, new principles. You have accepted things you would not have accepted five years ago, a year ago, things that your father, even in Germany, could not have imagined.

“Suddenly it all comes down, all at once. You see what you are, what you have done, or, more accurately, what you haven’t done (for that was all that was required of most of us: that we do nothing). You remember those early meetings of your department in the university when, if one had stood, others would have stood, perhaps, but no one stood. A small matter, a matter of hiring this man or that, and you hired this one rather than that. You remember everything now, and your heart breaks. Too late. You are compromised beyond repair.

“What then? You must then shoot yourself. A few did. Or ‘adjust’ your principles. Many tried, and some, I suppose, succeeded; not I, however. Or learn to live the rest of your life with your shame. This last is the nearest there is, under the circumstances, to heroism: shame. Many Germans became this poor kind of hero, many more, I think, than the world knows or cares to know.”

I said nothing. I thought of nothing to say.

“I can tell you,” my colleague went on, “of a man in Leipzig, a judge. He was not a Nazi, except nominally, but he certainly wasn’t an anti-Nazi. He was just—a judge. In ’42 or ’43, early ’43, I think it was, a Jew was tried before him in a case involving, but only incidentally, relations with an ‘Aryan’ woman. This was ‘race injury,’ something the Party was especially anxious to punish. In the case at bar, however, the judge had the power to convict the man of a ‘nonracial’ offense and send him to an ordinary prison for a very long term, thus saving him from Party ‘processing’ which would have meant concentration camp or, more probably, deportation and death. But the man was innocent of the ‘nonracial’ charge, in the judge’s opinion, and so, as an honorable judge, he acquitted him. Of course, the Party seized the Jew as soon as he left the courtroom.”

“And the judge?”

“Yes, the judge. He could not get the case off his conscience—a case, mind you, in which he had acquitted an innocent man. He thought that he should have convicted him and saved him from the Party, but how could he have convicted an innocent man? The thing preyed on him more and more, and he had to talk about it, first to his family, then to his friends, and then to acquaintances. (That’s how I heard about it.) After the ’44 Putsch they arrested him. After that, I don’t know.”

I said nothing.

“Once the war began,” my colleague continued, “resistance, protest, criticism, complaint, all carried with them a multiplied likelihood of the greatest punishment. Mere lack of enthusiasm, or failure to show it in public, was ‘defeatism.’ You assumed that there were lists of those who would be ‘dealt with’ later, after the victory. Goebbels was very clever here, too. He continually promised a ‘victory orgy’ to ‘take care of’ those who thought that their ‘treasonable attitude’ had escaped notice. And he meant it; that was not just propaganda. And that was enough to put an end to all uncertainty.

“Once the war began, the government could do anything ‘necessary’ to win it; so it was with the ‘final solution of the Jewish problem,’ which the Nazis always talked about but never dared undertake, not even the Nazis, until war and its ‘necessities’ gave them the knowledge that they could get away with it. The people abroad who thought that war against Hitler would help the Jews were wrong. And the people in Germany who, once the war had begun, still thought of complaining, protesting, resisting, were betting on Germany’s losing the war. It was a long bet. Not many made it.”

Copyright notice: Excerpt from pages 166-73 of They Thought They Were Free: The Germans, 1933-45 by Milton Mayer, published by the University of Chicago Press. ©1955, 1966 by the University of Chicago. All rights reserved. This text may be used and shared in accordance with the fair-use provisions of U.S. copyright law, and it may be archived and redistributed in electronic form, provided that this entire notice, including copyright information, is carried and provided that the University of Chicago Press is notified and no fee is charged for access. Archiving, redistribution, or republication of this text on other terms, in any medium, requires the consent of the University of Chicago Press. (Footnotes and other references included in the book may have been removed from this online version of the text.)

http://www.press.uchicago.edu/Misc/Chicago/511928.html

Please share with friends, family, co-workers and strangers.

[rwbyvein]

White Knight: White Queen Falls

Weiss: *misses the step from the porch to the garden in Haven*

Weiss: Oh, sweet, dark god, why have you come for me?

Jaune: *runs up*

Weiss: I think I twisted my ankle.

Jaune: I'll help you.

Weiss: Easy, easy. You'll have to carry me to the couch.

Jaune: *gently picks her up and carries her into the house, and pauses*

Weiss: *closed eyes and blissful smile*

Jaune: *pauses as he stares at her*

Jaune: How's the?..

Weiss: *opens her eyes*

Weiss: *stares at him with a brilliant smile*

Weiss: *eyes wide with shock*

Weiss: *forces a frown*

Weiss: Oh, no, my ankle...

Jaune: *glare*

Weiss: Thank you so much for carrying me to the couch.

Weiss: *kisses him on the cheek*

Jaune: *glare*

Weiss: *looks him in the eyes*

Jaune: Do you want to tell me what's going on here?

Weiss: My sweet white knight has come to save me.

Jaune: *glare*

Weiss: Alright, alright, put me down and I'll explain it.

Jaune: *lays her down on the couch*

Weiss: *grabs him by the back of the neck to stop him from standing back up*

Jaune: *stands back up, now with Weiss hanging from around his neck*

Weiss: You... certainly... seem to have... put on a good deal of muscle...

Jaune: *glare*

Weiss: Alright, alright. This time I am 100% sincere. If you could just... let me down here...

Jaune: *kneels down*

Weiss: *let's go and steps on the ground*

Weiss: *weak ankle gives away and she falls into Jaune's arms*

Weiss (muffled in Jaune's chest): This time I swear it was entirely an accident. The couch, if you would?

Jaune: *rolls his eyes*

Jaune: *gently, delicately seats her on the couch*

Weiss: *cough*

Weiss: *clears her throat*

Weiss: Yes, well, this did not exactly go according to plan. Now, do you want the full story, or should we skip to the most important part.

Jaune: *sits down on another couch*

Jaune: I'm actually curious as to what you've been doing.

Weiss: Well, you see, the plan was to fall, and then have me dear and precious white knight come to my aid.

Jaune: *questioning look*

Weiss: You see, at Haven, I was so overwhelmed with what happened, and could not respond properly. I felt it was terribly rude of me.

Jaune: Huh?

Weiss: If wanted to thank you.

Jaune: And you did that... by... falling down?

Weiss: If I must explain the entirety of my plan. One, fall down.

Jaune: Right.

Weiss: Two, you come and rescue you.

Jaune: Two for two.

Weiss: Three, you carry me link a princess.

Jaune: Three for three.

Weiss: And as you place me on the couch I plant a passionate kiss on your lips.

Jaune: I... kind of screwed that part up...

Weiss: I also was not expecting to... actually injure myself... If you would be so kind?

Jaune: *stands up and walks over*

Jaune: *kneels down in front of her*

Jaune: *grabs her ankle and concentrates to channel his aura into it*

Weiss: *grabs him by the back of the neck*

Jaune: Think it would work a second time?

Weiss: I...

Jaune: *picks Weiss up and pulls her into a magnifiscent kiss*

Yang: That was a really elaborate way to get a kiss.

Weiss: *tries to say something*

Jaune: *won't let her go*

Yang: Okay, it's turning into one hell of a kiss.

Jaune: *drops Weiss onto the couch*

Weiss: *delicately bounces*

Jaune: *sits on the couch beside her*

Jaune: *pulls her into his lap*

Jaune: *kisses her passionately*

Yang: Okay, it's getting kind of steamy in here.

Jaune: *breaks the kiss*

Weiss: *pants adorably*

Jaune: *holds her around her waist*

Weiss: Hardly a way to hold a proper lady.

Jaune: If I knew you wanted to be a damsel in distress, I would have helped you a long time ago.

Yang: Thats was...

Jaune: *holds up his index finger to her*

Jaune: *points at a nearby chair*

Yang: *moves over to the chair and sits down*

Jaune: So, tell me, Snow Angel, does this mean what I think it does?

Weiss: *still panting*

Jaune: I'm going to assume it does. Yang, did you have anything constructive to add?

Yang: Constructive? No.

Jaune: Did you take pictures?

Yang: No.

Weiss: That was...

Jaune: *passionately kisses her once again*

Yang: *starts taking pictures*

Jaune: *ends the kiss*

Jaune: So, Snow Angel, you're mine now, do you understand.

Weiss: I... I mean...

Jaune: Yes or no.

Weiss: Yes!

Jaune: That's all I need to hear.

Weiss: But my love bubbling up inside me, threatening to burst out like sea spray on the shore?

Jaune: *quick kiss*

Jaune: I've been in love with you since I first met you. All I need to hear is yes.

Weiss: Y...

Jaune: *kisses her*

Jaune: But yes means yes. I don't want to play around. I don't want a one time thing. I want truly - madly - deeply... Do you understand?

Weiss: *heavy breathing*

Yang: Give her a minute to catch her breath.

Jaune: No. *kisses Weiss again*

Jaune: I rather enjoy her like this, and I don't want to let her go.

Yang: Even if she says so?

Jaune: *kisses Weiss*

Jaune: All she has to say is no.

Weiss: *panting*

Jaune: *wraps his right hand in hers*

Jaune: So, what do you say, Snow Angel?

Weiss: *panting*

Weiss: Y...

Jaune: *kisses her on the back of the neck*

Weiss: YES!

Jaune: *kisses her on the cheek*

Jaune: You're all mine.

Ruby and Oscar: *stunned silence on the stairs*

Nora: Can we do it?

Ren: Go ahead.

Nora: ABSOLUTELY MAGNIFISCENTLY AWESOME! Totally epic! Wooo! LEADER!

Ren: Congradulations are in order.

Qrow: I hope you know what you are getting into, kid. Schnees aren't exactly easy to handle.

Jaune: The only thing that slowed me down so far is no. I love her fussiness, her grace and charm, elegance and cunning, brilliance and how she is just quite frankly better than the rest of us.

Weiss: I am no such thing.

Jaune: If you are mine then you can be my precious doll.

Weiss: *blushes and hides her head in his shoulder*

Jaune: I want Weiss Schnee, fussiness and all.

Weiss (into his shoulder): I'm not that fussy.

Jaune: I never said it was a bad thing.

Qrow: You and me are two completely different people, kid. It might actually work out for you. I can still feel her cold eyes staring into my soul...

Qrow: *drinks from his flask*

Jaune: Of the two, I got the far more passionate one.

Weiss: Am I really?

Yang: I'd say.

Jaune: You are a cool beauty, but I can see passed that to your compassionate soul.

Weiss: You can?

Jaune: You just do your best to hide it, because...

Weiss: *hides her head in his shoulder*

Yang: Since the gang's all here, let's take a vote. Who thinks we should upgrade Vomit Boy to Vomit Man?

Ruby: Mee!

Weiss: *huffs*

Ren: That is an improvement.

Nora: Vomit Man!

Qrow: *snears and takes another sip*

Yang: Blake?

Blake: *rolls her eyes*

Yang: Looks like Jaune's the tie breaker.

Jaune: Abstain.

Weiss: Motion deadlocked, cannot pass without a majority vote. I'm sure we can think of something much more charming for him.

Yang: Ladykiller?

Weiss: *squeezes him tight*

Weiss: The only lady he's going to kill is... *sighs*

Yang: *snickering*

Weiss: I swear you did that on purpose.

Qrow: How about Blondie?

Yang: I'm not Blondie!

Qrow: I know, that's why I'm trying to give it to him.

Jaune: Yeah, she's Goldilocks.

Yang: Says who?

Jaune: The Weiss knight of Schnee.

Yang: *bursts out laughing*

Weiss: You are not... I mean... I would prefer it not be to my family...

Jaune: I know how much your legacy means to you...

Jaune (whispering): ...and how much you hate it.

Weiss: *contented smile*

Yang (snickering): Yellow Snow

Weiss: *highly offended huff*

Ren: You could just join Nora and I in calling him Leader.

Qrow: Simple, to the point, and I'll have to say, he's a natural leader. Reminds me of another blond-haired doofus I used to know...

Jaune: Who?

Ruby: Dad of course!

Jaune: Taiyang?

Yang: Dad was pretty cool... back in the day...

Qrow: I'll be sure to tell him you said that. Anyway, Blond-leader-kid, are you willing to take responsibility for everyone here?

Qrow: *points at him, wobbling slightly*

Weiss: As long as I get first dibs on him.

Qrow: She's as strong willed as her sister, but I'll have to say you definitely got the sweeter of the two.

Weiss: What is your problem with my sister?

Qrow: Oh, the usual. She's so dedicated to chasing after the tinman... and we disagree... on pretty much everything...

Weiss: General Ironwood?

Qrow: Yeah, general. *rolls his eyes* But now that we're all one big, happy family, someone less drunk than me can smash all of your letters together and make something pronouncable out of it. Yeah, I'm part of a team again, wooo...

Weiss: And what do you have against esprit de corps?

Qrow: Just that my semblance has a babit of ruining things for everyone, and I'm not exactly happy about it.

Yang: There's a reason Uncle Qrow drinks so much.

Qrow: Alright. I think I've been more than enough of a party pooper. You kids enjoy yourselves. I'll be miserable under the tree all by myself.

Qrow (mumbling): They are all really good kids. Kids weren't that good when I was a kid...

[ververa]

"Not afraid any more..." (1/?)

Just another story that nobody asked for 😅 whatever, hope you like it  🤗 let me know if you want me to continue it  😇

 Ally Mayfair- Richards x female reader

After all that Ally had been through because of the Cult and Kai she decided she won't be afraid any more. She had a son to take care of and was going to be a Senator. There was no place for fear in her life. She did realize what she's capable of, but also understood it's good to know how to defend herself. And so she signed up for a self-defense course.

It happened to take place in the gym - where you're working as a personal trainer. Ally noticed you almost immediately. You made a good impression on her, even though she didn't have any occasion to talk with you. She thought you're pretty and seemed to be different from all the women she had met before. She was definitely attracted to you, but didn't dare to do anything.

For the first week of her course she was only admiring you - working - from afar. The distance let her stay in her comfort zone while flipping over you and your flexibility. What Ally loved the most was those moments when you had to show your clients how to perform some exercise rightly. She often found herself starring at your ass. At some occasions, you almost caughed her doing it, but she averted her eyes just in time.

Ally was enchanted by your body, or rather the image of it. She was sure the body - hidden under your T-shirt - must be perfect.

It took about 2 weeks before any interaction between you two took place. You were at the back of the building - smoking during the brake that you had between your classes. You exhaled as you heard a female voice behind you

"Rough day?"

You turned back only to saw Ally in her sportswear. You knew exactly who she was - everybody knew. She was kind of famous since she had begun to appear in television. And indeed - it was quite a rough day. You were done with your colleagues - idiots- who kept on delivering chauvinistic speeches claiming that the best place for women is in the kitchen and they should take care of carrying the babies and looking after them.

"Yeah. Kind of" you admitted

Ally smiled friendly at you

"You come here often?" she asked, and as soon as the words left her mouth she cursed herself mentally for asking such a stupid question

"Well, I'm working here, so every fucking day, I guess" you answered dragging your cigarette

"I'm Ally" she offered her hand "Ally Mayfair..." you didn't let her finish her sentence

"I know who you are. I'm voting for you" you took her hand "I'm y/n"

"Beautiful name" she smiled and you're pretty sure you hadn't seen such a beautiful smile since forever

"So" she continued "As a good senator-to-be I would like to know something more about my voters. Would you like to have some coffee?"

"Y/n!" one of your colleagues called you

"I... Actually, it would be nice, but I've one more classes today"

"Well, you can always give me your phone number"

"Or you can go with me and exercise with us" you said stubbing the cigarette "First class is for free" you winked at her

Ally smiled. She was grateful that somehow you took the lead, as she wasn't sure what to do. It'd been long since she had been on a normal date and she was pretty sure she had forgotten how it all work.

"I would love to"

And she did. At first she claimed she would only watch you and your group working out, but after a few minutes she changed her mind and joined you during a warm-up. You instructed them how to perform different exercises and from time to time came to those people who did it wrong. After an hour of exercises you decided it was time for composing yourselves, so you instructed them to breath making their diaphragms work. They seemed to already knew what to do, as it wasn't their first time. However, Ally wasn't really sure what to do. So, you came to her. You stood next to the older woman, who was on all fours and you placed your hands below her ribs on each side, guiding her to breath in such a way that you hands moved sideways. Ally was surprised at first. She wasn't prepare for you touching her, but damn she did enjoy it. She gasped as you took your hands off of her and thanked everyone.

As people began to leave you looked at her.

"Are you okay?"

"Y-yes. I'm fine. Great actually"

"Your muscles are really tensed. You need to work on them to avoid injuries in the future, you know?"

Ally looked at you

"Especially your hips. Your moves are a bit bounded in that area" you said guiding your hands in the place that you're talking about, but without touching her "It's a common problem. Luckily, there're a lot of exercise that may improve it" you explained

The woman looked at you

"You know a lot about it..."

"I'm... Well, I do. I have to. That's my job. I'm here to help people resolve such problems not only build their muscles"

"Maybe I should consider hiring you"

You only smiled at this.

"It's quite late. I'll see you off, Mrs..."

"You can call me Ally"

"A-alright. So, I'll see you off in case you meet one of my coworkers"

"Why? Is something wrong with them?"

"Probably everything"

Ally chuckled

"They're just arseholes" you added

"Will I see you again y/n?" she asked

"I'm here all the time, so I guess you will"

"And will you give me your number?"

You looked at her not sure what to do. It's not like you didn't want to, but you've just met her and you definitely weren't the one to give your number to strangers.

"I mean... in case I'll want to sign up for your... classes" she looked at you hopefully

"There are my business cards at the door, but I will. I'll give you my private number maybe, so that they won't assign you to someone else, since I've got a full group already"

"No wonder... You're probably the best one here"

"I-" you blushed "Maybe" you smiled shyly taking one of the cards and writing your number at the back of it "Here you are" you handed her the piece of paper

"Thank you" she smiled taking the card "So, see you soon, y/n"

And after that damn smile you knew it definitely wasn't the end. It was the beginning of something that you had never even dreamed about.

[kshitij1997]

Welcome back!

Well, the die has been cast, and Europe shall endure the consequences. Or will it?

Onward with the story :)

All Frozen and Tangled characters belong to Disney. All I own is this retelling and some original characters.

Chapter 10: Felino the crooked nose

 

February the 5th, 1828,

‘You’re a frigid, wormy piece of shit, you know that?’, growled the recently anointed Tsar at the Arendellian Monarch. Not a good sign for the conference the concert of Europe had arranged; the Monarch of Arendelle was hellbent on closing his country yet again, and no one was willing to budge on their stance.

‘I care not for the impression you choose to have about me, your majesty. I have my reasons and my fears to support my decision. I have to do what I feel is best for my kingdom, as would you if you faced a decision of a similar magnitude.’ Agnarr stated his position calmly, even as he felt no genuine respect for the Russian Monarch. Unlike his late brother, Tsar Nicholas the first had no great capacity for empathy and understanding. He had chosen to keep himself and his people ignorant. After all, what could one say of the sovereign who treated his highest officials and closest advisors like the serfs he saw them to be, and the holy synod under him bragged openly about how it was their god given duty to keep the downtrodden as they were. Oh, how their man, Sergei Uvarov, the Tsar’s minister of education, openly declared: “If I can extend Russia’s childhood another fifty years I will consider my mission accomplished.”

Oh, the Tsar saw himself as a god, and a jealous one at that. Agnarr understood that and knew that as a fellow sovereign, the Tsar could do little but rant in his face for the insult. Even if he would want to wage war upon Arendelle, he wouldn’t wish to give up access to the only warm water seaport he had. Still, Agnarr’s worries were far greater than some disgruntled people in power.

Elsa had lost control of her powers and was crippled in her fear, Anna had been forced to selective amnesia from Grand Pabbie, leaving no trace of Elsa’s powers and Olva...well she hadn’t been so fortunate. Against the advice of Grand Pabbie, he and Iduna had insisted on the procedure of wiping her memory clean of Elsa’s powers and the accident. The hermit warned of the consequences he was facing now with Olva, but how was he to know in his panic and desperation? Now the poor girl had begun experiencing fits and severe headaches, along with bouts of fainting for several minutes. He hadn’t slept this past month properly in the worry of what could happen to his family. Now he had a solution, and he would not back off from it. He must protect his family in any way possible. He must.

‘Your majesties, please don’t antagonise each other. This concerns all of us. You’re not the only ones troubled here. King Agnarr, you’d best explain yourself.’, queen Sophia spoke firmly as she presided over the conference. Agnarr’s declaration had shocked everyone, and he was yet to provide an explanation.

‘Thank you, queen Sophia. I have no intent on stepping on anyone’s face or insulting anyone. This sudden policy of isolation is a measure of precaution. I have it on reliable sources and personal knowledge that there are elements of revolution and insurgency brewing up in my kingdom. I can’t ignore it like the previous bourbon king of France in his time, god rest his soul. I must deal with these rebels quickly and with extreme prejudice. Because if I don’t then Arendelle falls forever, and if Arendelle falls, all northern Europe shall sink along with it.

And before you decide on persecuting war against me, ask yourselves this. Haven’t we had enough of war? We saw 2 decades of war followed by a decade of relative peace. If you ask me, I’d rather prefer the latter. I make this tough choice for the safety of all Europe, please understand.’

He paused to size up the room, who could be his allies and enemies hereafter. Corona and Austria-Hungary were definitely his allies; he knew Reginald would support him in the end. Weselton and the English would be against it; his partnership with them and America would be at risk, he’ll have to accommodate them somehow. Same was the situation with Russia. Maybe the Ottomans had to be brought in to keep Russia in check? Spain and the Southern Isles could be neutral; the Spanish could not care less, their main rivals were the English and the French, they would only vote as a formality. As for the Southern Isles were represented by queen Paulina, for the king had taken ill. On the surface, Paulina looked pleasant and charismatic, yet Agnarr knew that she would be a formidable and dangerous foe if he didn’t play this right. He began to speak again but was rudely interrupted.   

‘And what would be these insurgent elements? The Northuldra?’, asked the duke of Weselton. The room tensed at the duke’s blatant attempt towards badgering the king of Arendelle. Agnarr had to fight a very strong impulse towards bashing the duke’s head on the wall. After composing himself mentally, he replied with barely concealed intentions ‘Why, yes. They have been neglected for far too long. I must attempt to bring them up with the kingdom. They are too obscure and are getting discontent.’

‘Just the language your father used, didn’t he? And where is he now? Lost like the rest of them. I’m telling you; this country is a lost cause. The Northuldra are ‘discontent’? Don’t make me laugh. They’re out for your and your family’s blood. They have been for years.’, the duke was clearly enjoying himself at Agnarr’s expense.

‘And if I hope to pursue a peaceful solution and keep Europe out of the mess, what is so wrong with that, duke?’, Agnarr nearly spat out the last part.

‘It’s always something personal. What, a problem with your kids now?’

‘Why, your uncouth son of a-‘

‘ENOUGH!’, the presiding queen roared. ‘That’s the second time you have tried to lay discord in the concert on purpose, duke. Once it was over my kidnapped child and now this. I swear, if it happens again, you’re going to meet your maker without warning, in front of everyone!’

‘I can’t believe you’re still going on about your bloody kid. She’s fucking dead! I always get enraged how the kings of Europe are disturbed about such trivial matters, and I’m to be punished because I call out the bullshit for what it is?! Fine. Hang, draw, and quarter me all you want, that does not change the fact that once again, some people are sullying the good name of the concert for their own interests.’, the duke spat venom without a care.

‘I’ve heard enough. Marshals, break the duke’s kneecaps.’, an enraged Sophia gave the cold order to her personal guard. The duke’s bravado melted away instantly, and he shrunk in his stature as the marshals came to deal with him.

‘Sophie, stop!’ King Reginald shouted.

‘Pray tell, what now, Reginald?’ his spouse was beyond annoyed by now.

The king of Corona whispered in his spouse’s ear ‘We’ll get the coward some other time. I need to talk sense into Agnarr somehow. I advise you to break for recess.’ A rare sight for the usually tempestuous king to calm down his calmer, more pragmatic wife.

Queen Sophia sighed heavily and announced a recess.

Once they were alone, Reginald confronted Agnarr ‘What’s gotten into you, Agnarr? You’re supposed to be the sensible one amongst us two.’       

‘I’ll tell you what’s sensible. I should invade the fucking duchy of Weselton, lay it to fucking waste, burn it to the fucking ground, and salt the fucking remains barren forever!’ Agnarr snarled with uncharacteristic murder in his eyes.

‘Oh, calm down, crusader. I hate the duke much more than you do, believe me. Nevertheless, even I must agree with that poltroon over your course of action. It’s drastic and uncalled for. Tell me honestly what’s bothering you. We’ll make it right. Tell me.’

‘You don’t believe me? I told you every reason I have for doing this. My kingdom has only just recovered from the previous war. I can’t risk another. I certainly can’t afford it to become a pan-European conflict. At the end of the day, I just want my heir to inherit a stable state. An agitated group of people is not the hallmark of a stable state. Even if it takes me years, I must resolve this once and for all.’

Reginald spoke empathetically ‘Alright, but it still is a visceral reaction to the situation. I think foreign aid would only help more. Are you sure about it?’

Agnarr thought about telling the truth to his best friend, but ultimately decided otherwise; he couldn’t let the secret get out in any circumstance.

‘Yes I am. I also believe that those so-called insurgents are supplied by foreign powers themselves; they would like nothing more than to make my kingdom their colony. And that fucking Weselton shill... I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s behind the whole damn thing.’

‘That may be true, but without solid evidence, we can’t deal with him effectively. We must be sure.’ Reginald advised him.

‘Alright, but I can’t back down from my position. Yes, my kingdom will suffer in the short run, but I know we’ll be secure and united eventually.’

Ultimately, the concert decided that Arendelle would only keep one point of access open to the outside world; the main port. Only diplomats and special traders would be allowed. Every other traveller, from tourist to student would have to be barred from entering the country. It may cause uprising among the international students in his kingdom, but he’ll have to deal with them on his down. To preserve the security, the red tape for the traders and businessmen became very harsh. All, in service towards protecting my family; Agnarr thought.

A week later

A craven figure along with half a dozen guards floated in a rowboat towards one of the northern shores of Arendelle, beyond the mist. A hooded figure in silhouette waited for them on shore, heavily dressed to protect them self against the bitter February cold. Upon reaching the shore, the hooded bowed in respect and said ‘Welcome, honourable duke of Weselton. I hope your journey was pleasant enough.’

‘As pleasant a trip I could hope in stormy, waning winter, thank you for asking.’, the duke removed his cloak and coat to make his face more visible, and gestured his guards to disembark and stand around. The scrawny man took a moment to stretch himself, and at length, spoke ‘How many instances of forbidden people wandering into your grounds?’

‘Not as many as before, however a group of the Iceni tribe were intercepted in the valley of death during patrol two months ago and dealt with without exception. No survivors that we know of.’

‘Good, the illegals are dwindling, soon they would be no problem. However, as long as Arendelle stands, you’ll never be safe. We’ll have to confront them once and for all.’

‘Let’s continue our discussion on the way to camp, honourable duke.’

The Northuldrian camp was twenty-five kilometres inland from the seashore, but the spirits had grown very erratic in recent years, so the Northuldra had to find new routes to their homes every few weeks. The latest incident was particularly severe; a landslide had destroyed the usual detour they took, so they had to take the tributaries by another boat, a slower but safer way of travel.

‘Forgive me, honourable duke. I know travel by water does not agree with you.’

‘I’ll live. Tell me, how is everything holding up north of the mist?’

‘We’re eking out a living somehow. As you know, the rivers have been gradually changing course towards the south, our arable lands are going barren as a result. Adding to the problem, the rains are becoming scarcer with every passing year bit by bit. I regret to inform you that the poppy plantation is facing a loss, the raw material for the heroin would be short this time.’

‘It seems you’ve lost the plot, haven’t you? How will I get you your weapons if your end of the bargain is low? Weapons, armament, lumber and steam technology for ships don’t come cheap, you know?’ the duke said with the faux humility that masked grave threats underneath, and the hooded figure knew well what those threats were. Nevertheless, a low yield was not the biggest problem.

‘There’s more, honourable duke. Arendelle has tried to sue for peace and is willing to cooperate.’

‘Yes, I heard. We both know it’s nonsense.’

‘I’m not so sure. The terms they have offered seem rather reasonable.’

‘I’m sure they are. They may be too reasonable, I’m afraid. Implying something between the lines. The implication being disastrous for the Northuldra. If you ask me, I would never take any terms Europe offers at face value.’

‘I’m a fair sceptic of the south, just as you are. But since the rise of the mist, they have not engaged in any big skirmishes.’

The duke sighed and said ‘It pains me to say it, but you lack an ocean of imagination. There are uncountable ways to fight a war of attrition, and Arendelle has chosen the most insidious way.’

‘What do you mean, duke?’

‘I’d rather tell this to everyone at once, instead of making it a poor game of translation errors.’, with that, the duke fell silent, knowing full well that the hooded figure’s doubts had been flared up.

After a voyage of two hours, the party reached the camp. A huge crowd had gathered upon the riverbank where the canoe stopped. The hooded figure removed his hood and stood beside the Northuldra leader as her most trusted vassal. The Northuldra leader went by the name of Yelena, a woman moving towards middle age, standing barely above the duke in stature, but those aged eyes had seen many ups and downs. The leader slightly prostrated herself before the duke; the Northuldra way of showing respect towards authority.

‘Welcome, o duke! I hope your voyage was pleasant.’

‘As much as I could hope it to be. I must say, the Northuldra’s native lands grow more beautiful every time I venture up’ the duke said.

‘Your grace flatters us. I believe my trusted vassal has given you the lowdown for everything that has happened in the past three months. We’ll be happy to discuss a compromise for the goods you need.’

‘Thank you, your excellency. However, my worries include the survival of the Northuldra as well.’

‘What is that supposed to mean?’

‘You may have received terms from the king of Arendelle for a peaceful cessation in the past few days, haven’t you?’

‘Yes, they are more reasonable than I expected.’

‘I feared so, for if you paid attention, you’d realise that the terms are too positive. They’re willing to overlook the massacre of the group of Iceni that happened two months ago. Not to mention the fact that they may have stumbled about the truth about our trade operation as well.’

‘Speaking of the trade operation, what we may be short of in terms of goods, we’ll make up in plunder in the North Atlantic. I have sanctioned three fleets for the same purpose later this week.’

‘That is encouraging, but I must warn you, the plundering operation would become very difficult very soon. What with the king of Arendelle sealing the kingdom’s maritime and overland borders.’

‘Excuse me, come again?’

‘Oh, I’m sorry. I thought you knew.’

‘No, I didn’t. Please enlighten us, your grace.’

‘Well, your excellency, the king of Arendelle has decided to isolate the country, and I quote his speech: “This sudden policy of isolation is a measure of precaution. I have it on reliable sources and personal knowledge that there are elements of revolution and insurgency brewing up in my kingdom. I can’t ignore it like the previous bourbon king of France in his time, god rest his soul. I must deal with these rebels quickly and with extreme prejudice. Because if I don’t, then Arendelle falls forever, and if Arendelle falls, all northern Europe shall sink along with it.” Now you tell me, is this the language a man would use while suing for peace?’

Yelena became quiet for a moment, taking in al the information. At length, she asked ‘What are the possible ramifications of this declaration?’

‘They could be numerous, but I’ll tell you the most obvious one. Within a month at the latest, the coasts would be dotted by the Arendellian navy, putting a blockade through which nothing except their own ships could get in or out. You can imagine they would be only too happy to hunt down your pirate ships before you’re able to secure any loot at all. You can’t raid through the land, as the mist is your most powerful jailer. It will surely be a stifling experience; I won’t deny it.’

‘What if we do sue for peace? If we sincerely send an envoy to the south?’

‘Aye, you could try that. In fact, I suggest you try that without fail.’ Interrupted a tall, dark man as he made his way inside Yelena’s tent.’

‘Mathias, just because the mist forces me to tolerate and learn to like your presence doesn’t mean you interrupt me in meetings about the matters of state.’ Yelena bristled with annoyance.

‘Believe me, once the mist lifts up, I’ll ride south, first thing on my to-do list.’

‘Mathias, you look familiar. Tall, dark, muscular, good posture. Does your Ethiopian father still till the grain and tan the leather shoes?’, making harsh, cutting remarks was a talent the duke used well.

‘No. Does the honourable duke take me for his wretched bastard slaves in the Congo?’ Mathias growled.

‘Gentlemen, please. Your grace, please don’t mind Mathias. Yes, he’s a southerner. He was in king Runeard’s personal guard from what I gather. He may look brutish and imposing, but he’s harmless and dare I say, a halfway decent man. He doesn’t usually interrupt one of my meetings, so this instance must be special. Tell us big boy, what should bother us?’ Yelena finished as she turned to Mathias.

‘I’m sorry. I’m not willing to entertain the stories of a deserter.’, the duke said nonchalantly.

‘As if your pip squeakiness has ever been in a battle to judge a trapped prisoner of war?’ Mathias seethed.

‘See, even he agrees, we’re at war.’ Oh, they were all playing right into my hands, the duke thought with glee.

‘Yes, and now peace must be made. Yelena, this is not the time to go on the offensive. Trust me.’ Mathias faced Yelena as he settled down beside her.

‘Maybe, but it is a peace we would be forced into. We want it on our own terms, Mathias. I understand you’re homesick, but we haven’t had a home to go back to for decades. We will assert our terms onto the king, and he will have to accept it. If he doesn’t, it’s war.’

‘Lofty words, your excellency. Alas, there’s no substance or weight to back your words. You’ll be blockaded soon, and travel by land is impossible anyhow. I suggest you make a permanent settlement here and be done with it.’, the duke laid the bait.

‘And perpetually disturb the peace of the spirits by claiming their sacred forest? Never.’, and Yelena took it.

‘Well, I can’t negotiate such a big difference in your quantity of goods. You’ll have to offer me something if I must continue supporting your struggle. What about lumber from the forest?’

‘You must be reading a fucking comedy. When we refuse to make a permanent settlement in the forest, YOU PROCEED TO SUGGEST SOMETHING FAR WORSE?!’, Mathias had half a mind to strangle the duke right there, when he was stopped by Yelena.

‘Sit down, Mathias! We’re in desperate times. We’ll have to do what we must in order to survive.’

‘Making a bad situation worse is survival?! Can you imagine or fathom withstanding the rage of the spirits if we cut down the forest?! How can you even consider this, Yelena?’

‘If I may ease your concerns, I’ll vouch for the fact that a sacred relic commands a lot of value in the market. Especially amongst those who are powerful, proud, wealthy and don’t ask too many questions. Here’s what I’ll do. I’ll introduce a tiny amount in the market. People would recognize it as sacred or magical with plenty of history behind it. Once I do that, I can manipulate the price for it and bring you all the money, all the weapons, all the ships you need.’, the duke reassured the Northuldra leader.

Yelena spoke at length ‘Alright, I agree to the venture. Let’s begin with ten logs.’

Mathias hung his head in defeat and nursed his forehead, which had begun to throb. This is not going to end well.

Yelena tried to comfort him after the duke left ‘Listen, for every tree we cut down, we’ll plant ten, I promise.’

‘Even if you do that, it won’t be the sacred forest of the fifth spirit anymore.’ Mathias said ruefully.

As the duke made his way to the ship waiting off the coast on his rowboat, one of his taciturn guards asked him ‘Your grace, why do we need these bunch of sheep worshippers?’

The duke grinned darkly ‘When a rival nation is at war with itself, best let it consume itself.’

Around the same time, somewhere in northern Greece

‘Rider, move your ass and get over here!’ A portly man called out as he wiped a greasy hand on his apron.

‘Coming, Elios!’ Flynn came running in. He was now a man of seventeen; having seen a fair bit of the world by now and had been working with Elios for a few months. Elios had hidden Flynn to save him from ‘The Hawk’, a notorious smuggler who had trapped him in his ring. In return, Flynn agreed to work for him in his front business.

‘Why must I go through this fucking chore every time? To have to call you up like a fucking parade float to just do your blessed job?’

‘I’m sorry for being two minutes late. I already did the prep for tonight; the bar has been cleaned and stocked. I just took a nap, calm your tits.’

‘I’ve heard that many times, give me something new Flynn’ Elios rolled his eyes.

‘What do you think I’ve been doing? Making merry around the city square? Come on, I know better than that.’

‘Don’t bother lying to me. I swear, one of those women is gonna make you the sacrificial goat someday.’

‘Alright, I heard your speech. Got it, can we move on?’

Elios wiped some sweat off his forehead and asked, ‘You know who’s coming tonight?’

‘Yeah I do, friends loyal to the Greek cause.’ Flynn answered without faltering

‘Not just any friend, mind you. The Gent is coming along with the Sicilians.’

Flynn’s ears perked up at that piece of news. The Gent was a legend in Northern Greece, almost singlehandedly forming the on-land resistance against the Ottomans in the Greek war of independence. He had been involved in the resistance for nearly seven years now and was lobbying for foreign support.

‘Wow, that’s a hero if I ever saw one.’

‘I told you I’ll introduce you to him soon. Today’s the day.’

‘Now, why would he visit an affluent restaurant filled with Turks day in and out, I’m sure I don’t know.’ Flynn stated incuriously.

‘Hey Flynn, let his people worry about it. I’m sure his people would be clever enough to figure it out.’ Elios was a practical man who knew the streets well, however, forethought was not his strongest suit.

‘No, Elios. Hear me out. If the Gent is ambushed here, we’re done for. Everything will be up for grabs and I know neither of us would like the prick of the cold sabre chopping our necks. And if we know The Gent is coming, the officials certainly know. And if the Sicilians find out, you’ll end up wearing concrete shoes, old boy. You may know the gutters and the roads, but I know loyalty.’

‘What do you suppose we do now? We can’t really serve them in public view.’

‘That is true. Tell you what, let’s clear the cellar for their dinner. I’m sure they don’t want any outsider to hear what they are discussing amongst themselves. Also, I think you should serve them personally, Elios.’

‘No can do. I’m the front. If I don’t stay there, they’ll investigate. You’ll have to serve them yourself. I’m sorry Flynn. The Gent trusts me, if he sees that I consider you worthy, he’ll be comfortable.’

But I don’t know the first thing about him and the others. What if I offend them without meaning to?’

‘Don’t be stupid, Flynn. We both know you know better than that. If the service is good, they’ll fill your pockets with enough dosh to set you up for years. If I truly know you, you wouldn’t miss this opportunity for the world.’

‘Alright, I’ll do it. Say Elios, what if I warm them personally first about the last-minute change of scenery?’

‘No. I’ll have to warn them myself. Set the cellar up. I did contact them two days ago; I’ll do it again.’

‘Just make sure you’re not followed.’

‘Hey Rider, who knows the street better?’

‘You do, clearly.’

‘Yup. I’ll be back soon.’

A few hours later, a party of people showed up. There was the Gent, a tall slender man, worn down by the hiding and fighting. His face was warm enough, save for the green eyes that could bore holes through the Earth, and a crooked mouth that had a scare across the top lip. Still, he felt like a man who could fight forever. As for the Sicilians, they were something else entirely.

It was a band of seven people. The man most fancily dressed, along with the ruby ring on his little finger and the gold watch and chain, was obviously the leader. The six were presumably his bodyguards, each one burlier and more imposing that the last, looking like killers happy to kill a priest in the middle of a sermon. Ruthless and royal. Dressed to the nines up to their plug caps.

Flynn suddenly felt dwarfed and puny.

‘Gentlemen, this is Flynn, he’s been working with me for a few months, he’ll be serving you tonight.’ Elios gave a short introduction and left. Flynn gave a short bow, not sure how to address these powerful men.

‘What’s your name, green boy?’ The Gent asked.

‘Flynn.’

‘How old are you?’

‘Going to be seventeen next month.’

You’re not from around these parts, are you? Your accent tells me....Austria Hungary?’

‘No sir, Corona. The Rhinelands, to be exact.’ 

‘Uh huh. How’d you end up in Greece?’

‘War orphan from the Napoleonic wars, pushed around all of Europe, ended up here.’ By now, Flynn knew the story by heart.   

‘My condolences. Ok Flynn, you’re going to undergo something unpleasant. Forgive me, just the nature of these times. I need to be sure of your loyalty.’

Before Flynn could reply, one of the goons was upon him, almost choking him with his weight, pressing down on his spine. Even if Flynn had any wind left him, he couldn’t yell.

‘Answer me, why was the room changed at such short notice?’

‘When the Gent asks, you better fucking answer, figlio di sfagato!’

‘Get off him, let him speak.’ The goon got off at once.

Flynn coughed and gasped for air. When he could breathe normally, he said weakly , ‘Mr. Gent, it was Mr. Elios who suggested it.’ Flynn barely finished his sentence before receiving a punch in the gut, knocking the air out of him.

‘That’s a lie. Elios is not that big a thinker. You seem to be smarter than you let on. Why’d you try to protect us from the Turks?’

‘I didn’t want them to kill you here. That would be underhanded and filthy. I’ve heard....heard that you believe in engaging them head on, I didn’t want them to ambush you. You’re a hero around here, would be a shame if I couldn’t do my bit for your cause.’ Flynn was hit yet again by the goon, this time in his nose. Blood had begin ebbing from his mouth and nose.

‘You’ve said enough. I can guess the rest of the story. Either betray the Turks and face the sabre or betray us and face getting shot in the face. Why choose us over them?’

‘I gambled here.....I’d rather be loyal to someone fighting the slavers for freedom than the slaver themselves.’ Flynn braced himself for another hit, but the hit never came.

Instead he could hear a chuckle from the Sicilian leader, who had gestured his goon to stand down. He approached Flynn and held him by the cheek, saying in thick accent, ’Felino. That’s your name from now on. Felino the crooked nose. Drinks on the house, all night. Keep the drinks up, you’ll be richer than the sultan come morning. Good boy.’

The leader, or don as they were calling him now, lightly tapped his cheek and went back to his place, settling down with the Gent and the other goons. Flynn left the room and almost crumpled on the floor. I could’ve died there, he thought for a second. Nevertheless, he composed himself and put on his charm; Felino the crooked nose had a job to do.

Ha, the duke of Weselton’s such a bastard, always stirring up shit wherever he goes lol. I love the potential his character has.

Our Man Flynn is serving the big boys now! What could happen?

Thanks again to those who continue reading this silly story :P

As always, constructive feedback is always welcome!

[sshbpodcast]

Tales from the Holodeck: DS9 Fanfic: Chris’s Teleplay

In celebration of A Star to Steer Her By’s fourth anniversary, we did what pretty much all theaters are doing right now and put together a little Zoom reading. This time around, our latest fanfics in our “Tales from the Holodeck” series are all Deep Space Nine teleplays that you can listen to us cold read here (this one starts at 1:05:58), complete with really dodgy attempts at accents! Follow along with Chris’s teleplay below or read with your friends with your own dodgy accents!

[images © Paramount/CBS]

“Day Trip”

By Chris

Random pick: Bashir

[The DS9 replimat. Garak and Bashir sit at their usual table. The doctor is just wiping his mouth and tosses his napkin casually onto his plate]

Bashir: Well, I’d best be on my way.

Garak: Yes, both of us back to our stitching. The usual time tomorrow?

Bashir: Of course. [beat] Oh, but not the day after.

Garak: Oh?

Bashir: I’m...well, the Chief has been trying to get me to visit Bajor with him and I’ve finally run out of decent excuses not to.

Garak: Excuses? Why, Doctor, I thought your friendship with Mister O’Brien was second only to ours.

Bashir: He wants to go kayaking.

Garak: Ah.

Bashir: Exactly. He somehow manages to injure himself during holosuite kayaking, and that has safety protocols! I dread to think what the real thing might do to him.

Garak: Has he ever gone kayaking outside of a simulation?

Bashir: He says he used to fairly frequently before he joined Starfleet.

Garak: But that was…

Bashir: Over twenty years ago, yes.

Garak: Well. Thank goodness he’s friends with a Doctor. Enjoy your trip. Hopefully you’re wrong and it won’t turn out to be a...what was that charming expression? A busman’s holiday!

Bashir: I sincerely hope so.

[The side of a quickly-rushing river, day. As we pan across the scene we start seeing bits of flotsam and jetsam, equipment, and before long an overturned kayak. Sprawled nearby is Bashir, unconscious, bleeding from a cut on his temple]

Opening credits

[The riverside, where a groaning Bashir slowly comes to. He gets to his feet, glances around for a few moments, lifts kayak and finds nothing]

Bashir: Chief? [pause, then louder] Chief?! [goes to activate commbadge, sees it’s not there] Damn.

[Bashir begins picking up equipment, throws away a few pieces after a brief inspection. The rest go in a small, metal valise. Looks around a bit, then begins walking]

Bashir: Chief?! Chief, can you hear me! Damn it…

[suddenly, a low growling can be heard. Julian stops dead and glances around. From a tree line a wolf emerges. But, you know, a Bajoran wolf. Maybe it has a bumpy nose or antenna or one of those wacky earrings, whatever]

Bashir: I knew we should’ve brought phasers…

[the wolf barks and leaps, Julian throws his arms in front of himself. Suddenly, a high-pitched “thwip” is heard, the wolf lets out a quick, brief whine, slams into the Doctor and the two go down in a heap]

Bashir: I...rather expected mauling to hurt more.

[Bashir pushes the wolf off himself, revealing an arrow having pierced its neck. He glances around, and a Bajoran woman can be seen at the treeline, holding a bow with a second arrow ready to be nocked. Her clothes are unlike any Bajoran outfit we’ve seen before, seemingly made of skins with obvious hand-patching and repairs scattered throughout]

Bashir: I suppose I’ve you to thank for my being alive right now, Miss...?

Ellet: Danzari Ellet.

Bashir: Miss Ellet. My name is...

Ellet: Hold! Do not come closer!

Bashir: Sorry. I don’t mean you any harm.

Ellet: You are neither Bajoran nor Cardassian.

Bashir: I’m human.

Ellet: Human...human... [beat] Federation? Here?

Bashir: Yes.

Ellet: Finally come to end our suffering at the hands of the Cardassians?

Bashir: What?

Ellet: Come now. I know the Federation has ignored the plight of Bajor, but you know what has happened here.

Bashir: Ah, yes, but...well, the Occupation is over. It ended five years ago.

Ellet: What? The Cardassians are...gone?

Bashir: Yes.

Ellet: Do you have proof? For all I know you are a Cardassian agent.

Bashir: Ah...well, no, actually. I was boating with a friend and we capsized. Most of my supplies and communicator were lost. I assume you’ve not seen my friend?

Ellet: You’re the first stranger I’ve seen today.

Bashir: Do you...live near here? Are there many others? Could anyone else have…

Ellet: I cannot trust you with any of that without knowing who you are.

Bashir: I’m Doctor Julian Bashir, from Starfleet. I’m not entirely sure how to prove that, however.

Ellet: Hm. Hands behind your head. I’m going to approach you.

Bashir: Alright.

[Ellet stalks towards Bashir, looks sternly at him. Their eyes lock. He tries a little grin. She suddenly reaches up with the unused arrow and slashes his cheek. He flinches and gasps, and she wipes at the blood with a fingertip]

Ellet: Red. The Cardassians may be able plastic surgeons but even they cannot change blood color.

Bashir: I suppose not.

Ellet: Alright, fine. Drop your arms. Come with me. Tell me what has been happening…

[We see Bashir and Ellet walking into the woods. We are clearly seeing from someone’s Point of View, partially obscured by branches and leaves. There is heavy breathing...commercial break! Oh boy, 90s shit! Vote for Bob Dole! Buy a pager! That Ford Taurus sure is a sexy fuck! AND WE’RE BACK! A small, Bajoran village. There’s no sign of any tech, the homes are simple, aging wooden structures. People do old-timey shit. Bashir and Ellet approach]

Bashir: ...so Winn withdrew her candidacy. Shakaar won the position of First Minister very handily after that.

Ellet: Amazing. A free Bajor. I can’t believe it. I want to.

Bashir: What, my injury isn’t enough proof that I am who I say I am?

Ellet: Plenty of species have red blood, even mine. You could be a collaborator who had his nose shaved down.

Bashir: It would be easier and less traumatic to fill the ridges in, actually. Speaking as a physician. More easily reversed, as well.

Ellet: Which is why the Cardassians would shave it down. Probably without anesthesia.

Bashir: Ah, well…

Pold: Ellet! Ellet come quick!

[a teenage boy rushes up to Ellet and Bashir, barely giving a second glance to the stranger]

Ellet: Pold! What is it?

Pold: It’s Elder Caso! He collapsed!

Bashir: Where is he? I don’t have my full kit, but…

Ellet: Follow me!

[Interior of one of the houses; an old man lays in a bed, his breathing strained and raspy. Other Bajorans stand nearby looking worried. A middle-aged woman, Calra, leans over him, listening to his heart with something that is recognizably a stethoscope. Bashir and Ellet rush in]

Calra: Ellet, who...

Ellet: He’s a Doctor, from Starfleet.

Calra: Starfleet? What…

Bashir: I’ll explain everything in time, but first…

[Bashir kneels next to Calra and pulls his tricorder from his kit. He flips it open and it lets out a somewhat-sickly version of it usual beeps]

Bashir: Damn…

Ellet: What’s wrong?

Bashir: The power supply was damaged. [noting the stethoscope] Did you get a chance to use that?

Calra: Yes. His heartbeat is badly irregular.

Bashir: Does he have any allergies you know of?

Calra: Some hay fever, nothing else.

Bashir: Cordrazine, then. [pulls out a small case from his kit, flips it open to reveal some phials. Pulls one out] Thank goodness, it’s intact. But I haven’t a hypospray. Do you have a syringe or anything?

Calra: Yes. Ellet, over there…

[Calra points and Ellet vanishes for a moment, before reappearing with a tray of needles. Bashir picks one up and glances momentarily at the Bajoran writing]

Bashir: What line is...ah...damn, what’s the Bajoran equivalent of ccs. Ah...right, right! Which one would be half a dectol?

Calra: There.

[Bashir twists the top off the phial and sticks the needle in, slowly pulling the plunger back. He delicately hands the phial to Calra, then starts tapping Pold’s arm]

Bashir: Haven’t had to find a vein since medical school…

[He nods, satisfied, and plunges the needle into the old man’s arm. He picks up the stethoscope, puts it on, and presses the diaphragm to the elder’s chest]

Bashir: He’s stabilizing...good. I suppose it’s too much to hope for that you have IV bags?

Calra: You’re lucky we have syringes.

Bashir: Alright, make sure he stays hydrated. More so than you might think is necessary. Someone should be watching him at all times. Check his heartbeat every hour. If it gets irregular again, a quarter dectol of this. If his breathing becomes rapid at any time try chest compressions. If that doesn’t work get me. [beat] Real, frontier medicine. I knew a young fool who romanticized this stuff…

Caso: Ellet…

Ellet: Father!

Caso: Who...is this?

Ellet: He’s Doctor Bashir, father. He’s from Starfleet. The occupation is over, Father. Bajor is free.

[Exterior, night. We are again watching from an unknown figure’s PoV. We can just make out Bashir sitting with Caso, Ellet, Calra and others by a large fire. Someone hands him a bowl. Switches to the side of the fire as he eats]

Bashir: This is excellent. And you’ve raised or hunted all of this yourselves?

Ellet: It’s what we’ve done since I was born.

Caso: We have been on our own for almost four decades. I was a child when the occupation began. My memories of a free Bajor are...a fog, at best. I can somewhat remember the quiet meetings in my parent’s home. The early days of the Resistance, though I didn’t understand that at the time. I was barely a teenager when we set up our first camp to begin striking at a Cardassian shipping port.

Bashir: So what happened? Resistance camps didn’t tend to become permanent emplacements.

Caso: We had moved here for a major strike planned with another cell. I can’t remember what the target was. Almost every single adult went. Many of the teenagers. I wanted to go, but they said I was just too young. If I’d not been recovering from a sprained ankle they may have taken me. I’m not sure. [pause] No one came back from the mission. We waited for days. Weeks. Before long we began to be sure the Cardassians would arrive and destroy us. But we were mostly children, we didn’t know how best to pull up stakes and resettle. We didn’t know how to contact other cells. We didn’t even know if we were near civilization. After a few months, we realized we were on our own. And...well, we made do.

Bashir: I’d say you’ve thrived. You’ve remained undiscovered and self-sufficient for almost forty years. That’s astounding!

Caso: Yes. But now...now we can rejoin Bajor. A Bajor free of Cardassians. I still scarcely believe it. [beat] I do not mean to seem ungrateful to my savior but...well, have we simply replaced Cardassians with Federation troops?

Bashir: No, no not at all! No, we’re all on a space station. There’s no permanent on-planet presence.

Caso: But your commander is the Emissary?

Bashir: Yes. But he’s a Starfleet officer first. He hasn’t abused his position as Emissary to try and force the issue

Calra: Starfleet is famously hands-off.

Bashir: We try to be. First and foremost we consider ourselves explorers. We’re ambassadors of the Federation, we don’t exist to strongarm anyone into joining.

Calra: Tho you certainly have military might.

Bashir: An unfortunate necessity when not everyone shares our ideals.

Calra: Yes. Like the Klingons. Orion Pirates. Cardassians?

Bashir: Right…

Caso: Calra…

Calra: Tell me, Doctor, when is non-interference just willful ignorance?

Bashir: Sorry?

Caso: Calra, he’s barely older than Ellet, he had nothing to do with…

Calra: Oh, I’m sure they’re making some similar decision now, though. Right, Doctor? What atrocity is your Federation turning a blind eye to now?

Ellet: Calra, come now…

Bashir: No. No, she’s not wrong. The Federation. Starfleet. We let a lot happen in the name of The Prime Directive. I can’t disagree. We don’t live up to our own ideals sometimes. And that’s because we’re flawed. [beat] But that’s the root of it. The Federation has had its brushes with failing itself even more drastically than that. So we stop the Cardassian occupation. Then we get asked to help another culture. Then another. And another. Then one day we don’t get asked but just show up. Then we show up again. And again. And then, suddenly, we’re taking over Bajor instead of the Cardassians. The line is fine. Too fine. And I have yet to meet anyone who I would trust to see it.

Calra: And what do you think about Bajor joining the Federation willingly? Since that is how you see the overture now.

Bashir: Honestly? I don’t know. On the one hand, the Federation has plenty to offer. On the other hand, Bajor is still trying to figure itself out after having its own culture nearly eradicated. But then there is the issue of the worm...Celestial Temple. Bajor is now the most important planet in the Alpha quadrant, which means it could also be a target for countless people.

Calra: You seem to have trouble committing to ideas.

Bashir: I’m a doctor, not a diplomat. My choices are much simpler. If someone is in need of medical help, I provide it. I leave diplomacy to better people than myself.

Caso: Well I, for one, am grateful a Doctor arrived instead of a diplomat. Now, come! No more interrogating Doctor Bashir! Let’s enjoy ourselves, and in the morning we shall send out parties to try and find his friend!

[The spooky PoV shot again. Heavy breathing. WOOOOOO, what could it be?! MOTHERFUCKING COMMERCIAL TIME! It’s a trailer for Twister, fuck did you see that cow?!  It’s the “great googly moogly” Snickers ad! Oh shit they made the Game Boy smaller! BACK TO THE SHOW, HONKIES!

Day, Julian walking through the woods with Ellet]

Bashir: So, are you looking forward to seeing the sites of your homeworld?

Ellet: I...suppose? My whole life has been stories of Bajor. For me, Bajor has just been my village and a few square miles of woodland. I wouldn’t even know where to begin.

Bashir: Well, the capital has some stunning architecture. The Bajoran Gallery has already managed to rebuild much of its collections. I’d be more than happy to show you around.

Ellet: That could be…

[suddenly, a large rock whizzes past their faces and they both duck down into the brush]

Bashir: What the hell?!

Ellet: Come on! There’s not enough cover here.

Bashir: This way!

[the two start running towards a large boulder near a tree line, Bashir slightly ahead. Suddenly there’s the noise of bending wood and straining rope]

Bashir: WHOA!

[Bashir is now danging upside-down, one of his feet caught in a makeshift rope hanging from a branch. Ellet dives behind the boulder]

Bashir: Ellet, what’s going on?! Is this normal?!

Ellet: No! I have no idea what…

[Another rock spirals in and Ellet dives behind the boulder. It bounces off and barely misses Julian’s head Ellet nocks an arrow and glances over the boulder]

Ellet: Where are you…?

Bashir: Could you get me down maybe?

Ellet: Shh!

Chief: [from a distance] You damn Cardie bastards! You let him go!

Ellet: What?!

Bashir: Chief?! Chief! What are you talking about?!

[The Chief is standing in a shadowy area, having gone full Apocalypse Now. His shirt is gone and he’s covered in mud from waist to face as makeshift camouflage. He holds a homemade sling and a rock. His face is hard]

Chief: It’s alright, Julian! I’ll free you from those bastards before they can scream at you about lights!

Bashir: Ellet, please. That’s my missing friend! Something’s clearly wrong with him!

Ellet: So I can’t kill him.

Bashir: Afraid not.

Ellet: Great.

Bashir: Sorry. If you could get me down I could help…okay.

[Ellet has already launched herself over the boulder and started charging towards the Chief. She barely ducks a stone, which ends up hitting Julian in the gut, making him give out a little oof. The Chief loads another stone, but Ellet shoots an arrow that cuts the handle. Time for a motherfucking fight! Chief goes all Classic Starfleet double-hand punches and Kirk-chops. It’s...well, you know. It’s a “Trek” fight. Then Ellet manages to crack him one across the chin with her bow and he goes down. Before he can get up she puts a foot on his chest and has an arrow drawn and near his face]

Ellet: Calm yourself, Chief. No one wishes to hurt you or the Doctor…

[the interior of DS9’s infirmary. O’Brien, in uniform, lays on a diagnostic table while Julian scans him]

Bashir: So my best guess is that spring you said you found had been tainted by spores from some nearby bitari mushrooms. Calra explained them to me. For a Bajoran they can cause rather pleasant hallucinations. Humans, it would seem, not so much.

O’Brien: I swear, they all looked like Cardassians. It was like I was back in the war. Thank goodness I didn’t hurt anyone.

Bashir: You bruised one of my ribs, actually.

O’Brien: Well, being fair, I wasn’t aiming for you. Still, I’ll get you your next pint to make it up to you. Quark’s?

Bashir: I’m going to need a rain check. I’m acting as an ambassador today.

[Ellet walks in, dressed in modern Bajoran clothing]

Ellet: Doctor?

Bashir: Ah! Ellet! I’ll be right with you! A Vulcan survey ship is due back from the Gamma Quadrant in twenty minutes, so we’ll start with a docking pylon! They have the best view!

Ellet: I’m looking forward to it.

[She exits]

Bashir: Right, well. You’re officially released, Chief. You should be all set. If anything seems off just come back here straightaway.

[Julian exits]

O’Brien: Horny prick.

[THE END! END CREDITS!]

Majel Barrett: Next time on “Star Trek: Deep Space Nine”

Sisko: Why is my razor so stupid?!

Dax: Benjamin, Kai Winn is here to see you.

Kai Winn: [incoherent screeching]

[scene change!]

Bashir: Goddamn it, so itchy…

O’Brien: I really didn’t need to know that, Julian.

[scene change!]

Dax: Kira, you’ve got a message coming in from Gul Dukat.

Kira: Ugh. Put him through.

Gul Dukat: Ah, Major Kira…

Kira: I swear to God if this is another thinly-veiled attempt at hitting on me I will cut of your balls and feed them to your pet vole.

THE END!

Stay tuned for whatever bullshit was on your local station in 1996 after DS9!

—

Check out Caitlin, Ames, and Jake’s stories for more Tales from the Holodeck! Also, be sure to keep listening on SoundCloud, follow us on Facebook and Twitter, and don’t drink the tainted spore water!

[ificouldau]

Section 2 - Chapter 9

“Hey, the sun’s coming up.” Junhui mentions, bumping your arm with his and nodding his chin towards the steadily rising light.

“Shit. We left Wonwoo alone at camp,” You say, rising to your feet. “We should head back.”

Jun reaches out his hand, motioning for you to help him up. As you pull him to stand, the sun rises high enough to reach over the distant mountains and reflect on the still surface of the river. You glance over at Junhui, his hair a bit tussled from the nighttime winds as he reaches forward to pat your shoulder.

“Thanks for making time go by so fast,” He says.

( +1 Reputation: Jun is now your best friend! )

With the cat gently slinking back into the cluster of trees, you and Junhui quietly return to the campsite. Upon arrival, it seems that the members are still asleep, tents still closed and no familiar voices to be heard. Good, you’re safe.

“How nice of you to join me.” You freeze up in surprise, spotting Wonwoo still sat beneath the tree from before, book in hand. He eyes you with a cold glare, sending a guilty shiver down your spine.

“Oh shit, Wonwoo... We were just-”

“Whatever,” He mutters, “Just don’t do it again.”

Junhui nudges your shoulder as the boy returns to the book on his lap, and you relieve a soft sigh of disappointment in yourself for leaving him. After sending a reassuring nod your way, you follow Jun towards a nearby log, taking a second to sit and talk a bit more before the others wake. They gradually leave their tents with sleepy yawns, glancing around at the sunlit forest before them.

Mingyu, one of the first few to wake, nods towards you and Junhui with a teasing smile.

“What’s up with the lovebirds?” He asks Wonwoo jokingly. You shoot him an irritated glare as Wonwoo rises to his feet, dusting off his jeans and adjusting the glasses upon his nose.

“Leave them alone,” He says in a low tone, “They’re tired from keeping watch with me all night.”

Mingyu, looking back at you and Jun briefly, shakes his head with a soft smile before turning to greet the others. You can’t help but frown in confusion after Wonwoo’s blatant lie. He’s not mad, and covered for you both in fact, but you’re not complaining, and neither is Junhui.

Everyone is awake eventually, helping one another to pack the tents and finish up the last bit of food from the night before. After making sure no trail is left over from your stay, you all set off in the direction opposite of the village, stumbling upon the empty road you’d followed before. Without much choice, you all follow along its path once again, hoping to find some sense of safety by its end. The walk isn’t as quiet this time, now that you’ve all gotten a bit more used to long distances, but you still find yourself excluded as the odd one out. Even Junhui has left your side for Minghao’s. You travel silently near the back of the group, until Seungkwan slows his own pace in order to match yours.

“Hey, I never got the chance to ask before, but how are you?” He asks kindly. You smile.

“I’m fine. I haven’t gotten hurt or anything. How about you?”

“I’m alive, that’s something. Plus, I’m always safe with these guys.” He smiles fondly at the backs of the boys ahead before turning to you with concerned eyes. “Are you hungry? You must be tired from night watch. Let me know if you need a break, okay? We can slow down-” “I’m okay, Seungkwan.”

The boy laughs, taking note of his worried ramble and falling back into a quiet state. The sincerity in his tone of voice hits your heart with an unexpected twinge of pain. He worries about you like a parent would. His words oddly resemble those of your own mother’s, in fact. Your eyes and heart drop to the snowy ground.

“Hm? What’s wrong?” Seungkwan asks, bending down to match your height, forcing you to meet his eyes.

“Oh, nothing.” You mumble reassuringly, “I was just thinking about home.”

“Home? Oh... It must be hard. At least the guys have each other, but you’re out here alone, huh?”

“Ouch.”

“Oh, sorry! I really didn’t mean it like that. I meant... you’re a part of us now, so you don’t have to feel completely alone. We’re with you.”

You turn to look at him, warmth flooding your heart. Even though he most likely just said it to be nice, you can’t help but feel welcomed. The two of you talk for hours that feel like entire days, walking along the roadside until the patch of forest trees begin to thin out.

( +1 Reputation: Seungkwan )

By the time your legs feel about ready to snap off, Coups waves a hand towards the group, motioning for you all to pause. Straining to look past the thirteen heads before you, you notice a few large structures directly in front of Cheol. It almost looks like… a city?

Tall structures stand a ways apart from one another, some small shops and a good alleyway of distance visible between them.The wide road beside you extends out between the buildings, stretching farther out than you can see, but certainly headed into some sort of civilization. This time, however, the area seems much more modern, much more full and bustling than the village.

Yes, you were right… you’ve found a city.

As you scan the countless signs before you, a small building nearby catches your eye, with the words ‘Police Department’ printed in bold font upon a wooden door.

“No way... ” Mingyu drawls. The boys share shocked glances at the sight of it. The weight upon all of your shoulders suddenly seems to be lifted. Finally… some help.

Joshua laughs, holding his hand out to Vernon for a high five, “Yo, we made it!”

As the boys’ hands connect, Soonyoung unexpectedly begins dashing for the building ahead as all of your eyes widen behind him.

“Soonyoung!” Jihoon screams, reaching out to grab the back of the boy’s shirt, but missing by a mere inch as Soonyoung nears the building with flailing arms.

“We need help!” He screams in a panicked tone, “Please! We need he-”

Before any of you can react, a blurry figure launches out of nowhere, clamping Soonyoung’s mouth shut and yanking him backwards into the forest trees. Cold terror consumes you all as you sprint towards the two at full speed, shouting a thousand overlapping curses, no longer concerned about reaching the city a few feet ahead.

Coups reaches the patch of trees first, gearing up for a fight. The others chase closely behind him, so you do too, struggling to push past their gathered figures to the front of the group.

As the last to reach the commotion, you wonder why everyone is standing still rather than breaking into a fight. You struggle to tiptoe over the taller boys, only to freeze up at the steady voice of what seems to be an elderly man. Junhui turns to look down at you, gently grasping hold of your shoulders and ushering you in front of everyone else. Your breath hitches at the sight of Soonyoung, completely unharmed as the older stranger carefully holds his forearm.

“Please quiet down, son. You’re being chased, aren’t you?” The stranger asks.

Coups intervenes before Hoshi can say anything that could get you all into trouble. “Nobody said anything. Who are you? What do you want?”

The man looks around at the cramped boys nearby him, a worried expression creasing his brows. “I don’t want anything. I’ve been in this town much longer than you lot have. The police won’t do anything for you.”

“Why wouldn’t the police help?” Mingyu pipes up angrily, “What we’re talking about is a crime!”

The stranger sighs, his anxious eyes falling to the ground, “I know, son, I know. I can’t explain it to you just now, but the police are not your friends. Not here.”

Quiet settles over the small alleyway as you and the thirteen boys carefully consider the man’s words.

Before anyone can say anything, Coups suddenly turns around, motioning for the group to follow him back into the city. “We have no other choice. We’ll have to risk it and hope that you’re lying.”

You all step forward, readier than ever to head back, only for the man to jump up in terror, stopping the boys within his reach, “Wait! Please, listen to me. They won’t do jack shit for you. I can’t force you to believe me… but I know more than they do. Please, you’re putting yourselves in more danger.”

The stranger bows his head tearfully, and an odd sense of recognition washes over you, but fades away just as quickly.

Seungcheol only hesitates for a moment before hurriedly turning away again. “We don’t know you. We’re going to the police.”

The boy is clearly unmoved about his decision and begins to leave the forest, the other boys stepping aside to quietly allow him through. Seungkwan suddenly grabs his arm, staring him hesitantly in the eyes.

“Coups… We can’t ignore him,” He whispers to the older boy, and Minghao is quick to agree. “He obviously knows more than we do.”

Coups yanks his arm away, giving the two a warning glare before heaving a sigh. “Guys, I’m sorry. We just don’t have a choice.”

He makes his way through the small crowd, passing everybody by hurriedly. Wonwoo and Jihoon turn to Seungkwan and Minghao briefly, sending them disapproving looks and gesturing for them to follow behind Coups. The boys hesitantly turn away from the stranger to head back into the city, and you feel pressured to turn away as well. As Coups passes you, he freezes, deep in thought.

“Why?” The elderly man’s weak voice echoes from behind, “You’re making a mistake…”

Cheol turns his head slightly, locking his eyes with yours. The strength of his stare feels like it’s burning a hole straight through you. One by one, the boys turn their attention to you, making you feel smaller than a crumb on the dirty sidewalk.

Wordlessly, they all ask you, again, to make a decision.

-Trust the stranger.

or

-Go to the police.

( Vote now on instagram.com/ificould_au. You have 24 hours. )