#Welcome Aboard the Maria

[reploidbuddy]

So since Discord decided to be a butt and stop hosting my images for ao3 I'll be dropping some arts here B)

Starting with everyone’s character sheets from Welcome Aboard the Maria!

Didn’t give Omega a sheet bc I'm mean (/j, I just struggle to draw him actually but it's okay he gets drawn later it's not like he's THAT different)

[ruinedbylanadelrey]

Hi can I request Joel killer x plus!size reader I was thinking that Joel and the reader are married and the reader is pregnant with their second child their first child is Ellie so maybe one day a new woman joins the town and when Tommy and Joel and the reader are showing her around she flirts with Joel the reader is pissed because Joel is clearly blind to notice she is trying to make some sort of move on him so maybe when Joel and the reader get home Ellie is at Tommy’s house playing board games the reader tells Joel that the woman is clearly trying to sleep with him but he just says the reader is over reacting so he believes his wife because when the woman was helping Joel feed to horses she tried to kiss him but he moved away so he goes home and tells the reader she was right and she forgives Joel.

love this idea! Remember that men are usually oblivious to things. In the wise words of mother Lana Del Rey "Cause you're just a man It's just what you do".

masterlist

warnings: talk of body image, talk of infidelity, joel being a dumb man, little bit of angst, jealousy

Joel finally has some normalcy in his life since making his final home at the commune in Wyoming. He has a house, a part of the community, Ellie, and you, his wife. You and Joel got married when he and Ellie came back from the incident. It made him realize that he wants his family forever, he wanted you forever. You've been with him since the day the world came crashing down. You were just Sarah's babysitter when you came into his life and never left his side since then. Only 12 years between the two of you. 

Joel always had feelings for you since the day you first met, your family told Joel that you were looking for some work after your college classes so he brought you aboard to babysit. When he. first saw you his heart stopped. Your fresh face with puffy cheeks is what he liked the most. You were adorable to him, with your curvy body and long hair. How you were just another ray of sunshine in his life.

Ellie became your daughter so fast and easily. Joel admired how you took care of her, making sure she got to sleep, that she was eating, and being there for her as another woman to confide in. You fell in love with Ellie, you thought the world of her. It was easy for you to fall into the maternal role because that is what happened with you and Sarah. 

Joel and you found yourselves pregnant soon after you got married. He was over the moon about you becoming pregnant. It wasn't accidental, you wanted to have his children. You've always wanted kids but that was put on hold for 20 years. Now you have your life together, you're married and a mother to Ellie. 

Joel has always made you feel like the only woman in the world that mattered. You've always had self-esteem issues and they became more present when you got pregnant. Your body was changing, the weight gain is what got to you. Everyone always told you how even more beautiful you've gotten since you got pregnant.

You never saw what they were talking about. Joel told you every day how gorgeous you looked, he couldn't keep his hands off of you. "You're just saying that because you have to." You pushed Joel off of you as you washed the dishes. "Sweetheart you know I don't just say things, especially to you." Joel felt the distance you were putting between him. 

"Joel, I look disgusting. I feel so ugly...anyways I have to get going a new woman came to town and Maria wants Tommy and me to show her around. I'll see you later." You said while drying off your hands and leaving him be. Joel felt like a failure as a husband when you talked about yourself like that. He hated that you didn't see yourself the way he does. 

You were not feeling up to be the welcoming committee. Tommy was waiting for you outside with the young woman. She had to be at least 30 years old, she was incredibly beautiful. "This is our sunshine who is married to my grumpy brother and is going to have my next niece or nephew." Tommy introduced the two of you to each other.

You put a smile on your face and shook her hands. "Oh my goodness, how far along are you?" She beamed as you guys walked into town. "I'm about to enter my third trimester." you rub the baby bump for comfort. "I think it's great that you're having a baby..." the young woman started to ramble about how life shouldn't stop even in the messed up world. 

You tuned her out because you could care less about what she thought. When she met Joel she made it her mission to get him. She didn't understand why Joel would marry you. She thought that you were just so plain. 

Something about her left a bad taste in your mouth and you didn't know why. That was until you saw her talking to Joel one night at the monthly get-together for the community. Her eyes were big and bright when they spoke, Joel was just being nice because she was new and didn't know anyone.

He couldn't be mean to the young woman. You watched her laugh at every he said. You and Joel were in a fight at the moment so you kept your distance from him. It was a meaningless fight, he got tired of you talking badly about yourself and he snapped at you. 

You felt your stomach churn as her hand grazes his bicep while giggling like a schoolgirl. That's what you used to do when you first started talking to Joel back then. It was sick how much she flirted with him. She knows exactly who he is. You couldn't watch this happen anymore so you walked yourself home. 

"How come there aren't many men like you?" the young woman batted her eyes at Joel. He just chuckled at her thinking nothing of it. Joel tried to escape the conversation multiple times but she kept talking. Joel looked around the room for you but he saw you walking out the door, your head was held low.

"Excuse me, miss. I think I have to go." Joel brushes past her and fights his way to the door. The young woman watched him follow you out the door. She rolled her eyes at him running after you. She didn't get why Joel wastes time with you. You're nothing to look at.

She knew that you guys were in a rough patch, he would tell her about how pregnancy hasn't been easy for you while they worked in the stables one day. Joel just needed a shoulder to cry on. The days Joel and she worked together made him feel a little better because he got to vent for a couple of hours before heading to a quiet home. 

You went to the stables to visit Joel before going into town to help Maria with event planning. When you entered the barn you heard giggling and you became sick to your stomach. Of course, she was working with your husband.

You found Joel leaning against the wooden slats and her sitting on the window sill. Her shorts rode up her toned thighs, and her tank top left a little to nothing to the imagination. Their eyes were locked on each other like they were the only two people in the world. Joel had his arms crossed still trying to keep himself in defense. 

You quickly turned yourself around and tried to make yourself forget about what you just saw. Jealousy made itself at home in your heart. You never were a jealous person but your emotions were all over the place recently. You noticed that Joel stopped trying to touch you and not talking to you as much.

It felt like he stopped trying with you. Now you know why because he was getting his emotional fill by another. Ellie noticed the distance between you and Joel, you were quiet and not yourself. She would try to put a smile on your face with her puns but all she got was a half-hearted smile and laugh. She and Dina would try to spend time with you but you would them tell to go and have fun. 

It was family night once again and everyone was dreading it. You served everyone their plates but you sat there and didn't eat. Ellie glared at Joel because she knew about that new woman, you slipped up once or twice when you were talking with Ellie and Dina and told them about the woman and how you knew something was up.

"Why aren't you eating?" Joel broke the silence and ignored the look Ellie was giving him. You got up and went to go clean up the kitchen. You didn't want to have the conversation in front of Ellie or even have the conversation with Joel. "Ellie go to your room-," "Dude, I haven't finished-," "Take your plate with you." Joel huffed, and Ellie took her food with her. Leaving you and Joel alone. 

You pretended to not notice him standing behind you. You hummed a song to yourself and just went about your business cleaning. "Why aren't you eating?" he asked again and grabbed your arm. He spun you around to face him. You looked past him not wanting to meet his gaze. "I'm not hungry and I'm tired." You mumbled, and you yanked yourself out of his grip.

"You need to eat, you need all the food you need." Joel breathed out because he knew what you were doing, punishing yourself. "Why? because I'm a fucking pig that eats everything in sight." You spat and slammed the cabinet shut. "What? You need to eat because you're carrying our baby. I need you to be healthy so our baby can be healthy." Joel didn't want to fight again for the second time that day. 

You felt your tears roll down your face, you lean against the kitchen counter and tilted your head back trying to stop yourself from crying. "We don't have to be married anymore if you want to be with someone else...I won't hold anything against you, we can work out a custody arrangement, if you don't want to be a part of the baby's life then that's okay too." You confessed to Joel, he didn't understand where you were coming from.

Why would you say that? Yeah, you were both going through a rough patch but that didn't mean he stopped loving you. "What are you saying-," "Joel, that woman has her claws in you and I'm not going to fight for someone who clearly doesn't want me." You still weren't making any sense to him. He was dumbfounded that you think he doesn't want you. He would be stupid to not want you because you are everything to him. Joel has killed for you, put you before anyone else. 

"Baby, I do want you. You're my life. I love you endlessly. I don't think that girl is into me, she's just new and wanted a friend. That's all she is. I wouldn't even call her friend." His words didn't bring you any comfort but you had pushed your jealousy aside before you could ruin everything with him. "Joel, just be careful around her...my gut says she's bad news." Your intuition has always been right but Joel always thought you were just a worried person. 

"I promise, now you have to promise to take care of yourself and be gentle with your mind..."Joel brings you into his arms, you felt your body melt by touch, and you breathed in his scent, pine, amber, and musk.

You took in the way he felt against your body. "I just want to be enough for you." You whispered trying to not scare him away. "You're everything and more, now get your fine ass to bed I want to make love to my sweet girl," Joel smirked at you. You were giddy making your way out of the kitchen. You two ran to the bedroom like young lovers.

The next few weeks were going great between you and Joel. Ellie was getting grossed out by Joel unable to keep his hands off you, every time she would enter a room you and Joel were making out like teenagers. "Look I love that my parents are in love but please get a room." she teased. Ellie saw how much Joel made you glow with happiness. It brought her comfort knowing her home is back together. 

Joel kept his distance from the woman, and she was not happy with the news that you and Joel have made up. Your due date was getting closer and Joel couldn't shut up about how you were nesting and how he was excited to have a baby. She was jealous of you; you had everything she didn't.

"If you ever get tired of that fat wife of yours, let me know." the young woman pressed herself against Joel, he trapped between the wall and her small frame. Joel didn't want to hurt the woman in front of him but he pushed her away from him. "I'm being very nice by not beating the shit out of you, just remember next time you want to say anything about her, you talk shit you get hit." He spat in her face and made a run for it. 

Joel ran to you like a little kid and interrupted your meeting with Maria and a couple of members of the council. "Joel, is everything okay? Did something happen to Ellie?" You got up and walked out of the room with him. He didn't have any thoughts in his head. Joel just crashed his lips into yours.

He needed to feel you and taste you because you were his and he was yours. You kissed him back still not knowing where all this came from. "You were right. You're always right." Joel mumbled into the heated kiss. You smiled against his lips and loved hearing the words 'You're always right.' 

[generallyunskilled]

One of these days, probably when my semester ends, I’m ACTUALLY going to write a fix about the ARK-era extended Robotnik family. Til then; I’m whipping up profiles for the OC Robotnik family.

Maria’s Dad: Stanisław/Stan Robotnik. Elder of the two sons of Gerald Robotnik. Gentle, friendly guy but also full of passion. Holds an MD and a PhD in biology, immunology and neurology. A child prodigy like many of the Robotnik family, he spent much of his time studying, aspiring to one day aid his father in the betterment of humanity. The ARK finished completion around the same time as he received his last PhD, and about a month after he married. Being a member of the Robotnik family, he was among the inaugural resident-researchers on the ARK, and intended to study rare diseases and conduct vaccine research. He and his wife struggled for some time to conceive, and after many tries, Maria was born. Stan’s life work was fatherhood more than any of the research he ever did on the ARK, but often his job as a father and his job as a scientist intertwined, given Maria’s condition. He could work for hours on end, dedicating large amounts of his nights to his causes. Often has to be dragged away from work to do other things, like spend time with the rest of his family. Since so much of his work surrounds Maria, he positively dotes on her. Besides Gerald, he’s probably the most devoted to her. Age during the ARK raid: 45

Maria’s mom: Anastazja/Anna Robotnik. Maiden last name Czaplicka. Met Stan during his studies for his second PhD. Was a student at the same university, studying for her masters in anthropology. Also holds a degree in sociology. They married shortly before graduation. A people person, but also deeply analytical. Charismatic but also inappropriately chatty at times, and often delves into subjects that aren’t related to the conversation at hand. Probably the only Robotnik family member with any semblance of being religious ever since Gerald’s wife died. Believes in God but keeps her views mostly to herself, respecting her husbands family’s difference in views. Joined Stan as an important part of the ARK’s inaugural resident-researchers. She was to observe social and cultural changes involved in the formation of the new colony. A special research team was created just for this purpose. Her friendly nature allowed her to be a welcome presence in the lives of most people on the colony, aiding in the study. When not observing the residents of ARK for work, she’s happy to host social parties and have tea with them anytime. Given her limited medical knowledge, she spends most of her time worrying about Maria, ensuring all protocols regarding her care are followed to a T. She’s always hovering around Maria when she can, and is absolutely particular about the living space being as safe for her as possible.

Age during the ARK raid: 43

Iwo’s Dad: Jakòb/Jacob Robotnik. Has a PhD in engineering and mathematics, also is an expert in computer science (he has no specific degree in it because we didn’t start having those til after when I imagine the ARK was around). His focus as a resident-researcher is in the mechanical functions of the ARK. He has a keen interest in aerospace engineering, naturally, and is in charge of keeping the ARK’s functioning as a space station. He is also using his time on ARK to develop new technologies in computer science, automation, and robotics. Jakòb is incredibly impassioned when it comes to his work and very proud of the modern marvel that is the ARK. Since his work is so crucial, managing all the various engineers, and doing his own work in the field, he’s often the busiest man on the entire colony. And when he’s not on the clock doing work keeping the place running, he’s often tinkering with pet projects he always have. Additionally, he became a sensation for becoming the first man married in space, having met his wife on the ARK, unlike his brother, who was married prior to coming aboard the ARK. The couple debated for a while about having children, content to be an aunt and uncle, but would eventually have Iwo. Jakòb however was quite busy and didn’t have as much time to spend with his family as Stan did with his. Oftentimes however, you could find that he’d drag Iwo’s crib into the workshop for some company.

Age during ARK raid: 37

Iwo’s mom: Daniela Robotnik. Maiden last name Grabowska. Holds a PhD in Biology and a masters in engineering. Was recruited for the ARK’s research program from Poland as part of their worldwide search for the brightest scientists to serve as researchers in never before performed studies. She worked as the head biotechnologist on the ARK, and works on important studies on the intersection of medicine and mechanics. She’s one of the highest regarded scientists on the ARK besides the Robotnik family and even has other scientists working under her. She met Jakòb in the employee lounge a few years into her time at ARK. The bonded over their shared interest in engineering and robotics. They married about a year later. She is well known on the ARK for her strong spirit and commanding presence. She is strong and holds her ground, often blunt and to the point about it. Her employees often view her as a hard boss to deal with at times, but she does everything out of the desire for everyone to do their best. Full of intense passion similar to Jakòb’s about her work, her hobbies, and everything else in her life. She’s almost always in high spirits and gets along with just about everybody. She refused to completely abandon her work following the birth of her son, but in a somewhat diminished capacity as Iwo was not allowed in the biotech lab the same way he was allowed in Jakòb’s workshop. She tries her best to be an active mother otherwise, but keeping up with a one year old after her work can be tiring. If what she was doing wasn’t so important, she might think about putting it on hold just for a little bit.

Age during ARK raid: 34

Additional headcanons about canonical members:

Gerald Robotnik is half Austrian on his mothers side. She met his father when she came to Poland as a teenager for her father’s work.

He comes from a long line of Professors and was a child prodigy himself.

Gerald’s wife died a few years into the ARKs operation. His riches come from years of work in the medicine field, and selling his numerous inventions.

—

Maria has a lot of dolls and “play pretend” type toys as a young child, as she usually can’t do most active play for very long.

She also knows Polish, of course but doesn’t use it often, to the chagrin of her grandfather.

Due to having to sit still for a long time for certain treatments, Maria developed a lot of relaxed hobbies as she got older, like drawing, knitting, and paper crafts.

—

Iwo was big as a baby. He was 10 pounds, 5 ounces.

When he was teething, he would chew on anything he could get in his mouth, up to and including his fathers tools.

His first word was “Mine!” Yelled out at another baby in the ARK nursery.

[youalmostcapturedjacksparrow]

𝕁𝕒𝕔𝕜 𝕊𝕡𝕒𝕣𝕣𝕠𝕨'𝕤 ℝ𝕠𝕤𝕖 ℂ𝕙𝕒𝕡𝕥𝕖𝕣 𝟙𝟙

Chapter 1 | Chapter 2 | Chapter 3 | Chapter 4 | Chapter 5 | Chapter 6 | Chapter 7 | Chapter 8 | chapter 9 | Chapter 10 | Chapter 11 | Chapter 12 | Chapter 13 | Chapter 14 | Chapter 15      

Chapter 11: Escaping the Pearl

General POV

Will had brought Elizabeth to the Interceptor.

Where she found an unpleasant surprise.

There were no navy or royal guards on board.

'No no, Not more pirates' Elizabeth said when she stood on the deck.

'Welcome aboard miss Elizabeth.' Gibbs said stepping forward.

'Mr. Gibbs?' Elizabeth said with an confused look in her eyes.

Will jumped on board of the ship.

'Hey boy, where be Jack?' Gibbs asked to Will.

'Jack? Jack Sparrow? ' Elizabeth spat at Will

'And where did you leave Rose!' Ana Maria stepped forward.

'Rose? As in Rosemary?' Elizabeth asked even more confused.

'They fell behind' Will said and took Elizabeth below the deck.

Everyone stared at Mr. Gibbs.

Who stood there gulping but then straightening his shoulders.

'Keep to the code.' He said nodding towards Ana Maria.

'Weigh anchor! Hoist the sailes! ' Ana Maria shouted.

'Split-quick you dibbies!'

Rosemary's POV

The pirates had dragged us to the middle of Isla the Muerta.

I was standing next to Jack feeling uncomfortable.

While Jack was hanging on an oar. Looking at Barbossa.

'How the blazes did you get off that island?' Barbossa spat towards Jack.

'And how are you still alive?' he spat towards me.

I replied with just an wink towards Barbossa. Changing my stance.

'When you marooned me on that godforsaken spit of land, you forgot one very important thing, mate' jack said with a straight face.

'I'm Captain Jack Sparrow' he said while opening his arms probably expecting some form of applause.

'Ah. Well, I won't be makin' that mistake again. ' Barbossa said while walking forwards towards Jack and me.

'Gents, you all remember Captain Jack Sparrow.

And the beautiful daughter of a certain commodore' Barbossa said while brushing his filthy hand across my cheek.

Making me trying to turn away from him.

'Kill him, and take her' Barbossa said.

While the crew grabbed me and cocked their guns towards Jack.

I started a fight immediately the pirate with the fake eye was holding my arms but I stomped on his feet and took his sword while spitting in the eye of an other pirate trying to grab me.

'The girls blood didn't work did it?' I heard Jack say with an smirk on his face.

To which all the pirates stopped their doings and looked sheepishly towards Jack. Making me quit fighting and looking at him to confused.

Barbossa stopped dead in his tracks. Turning around towards Jack.

'Hold your fire' he cursed.

'You know who's blood we need.' He spat at Jack.

'I know who's blood you need.' Jack said with an wink.

General POV

(Back to the interceptor)

'What sort of man trades a man's life for a ship?' Elizabeth cursed while trying to wind a bandage around the cut Barbossa made in her hand.

'Pirate' Will simply replied.

He watched Elizabeth struggle for a second before taking her hand.

'Here. Let me.' He said softly and took her hand fixing the bandage.

'Thank you' Elizabeth softly replied.

'Rose told me you gave Barbossa my name as yours Why?'

'I don't know' Elizabeth softly replied

But she gasped when Will tightened the knot around her hand.

'Sorry. Blacksmith's hands. I know they're rough' Will softly said

'No. I mean, yes, they are, but.. ' Elizabeth brabbled.

Will was adjusting the bandage and then leaving it. But Elizabeth told him not to stop.

He looked at her. And she looked back in his.

They moved in closer.

'Elizabeth' Will softly said while laying a hand on her cheek.

Elizabeth gasped and guided his hand towards the necklace around her neck.

'Its yours' she softly said as she pulled the necklace off her neck and gave it to Will.

'I thought I'd lost it the day they rescued me.' Will said looking at the necklace.

'It was a gift from my father. He sent it to me.'

Elizabeth didn't have anything to say but when she looked back up towards Will. he had an confused look on his face.

'Why did you take it?' he asked her.

'Because I was afraid that you were a pirate.

That would have been awful. ' Elizabeth softly explained

Will was thinking and all of a sudden it clicked.

'It wasn't your blood they needed.

It was my fathers blood!

My blood.' He looked at the necklace in his hand.

Clutching it in his fist.

'the blood of a pirate.'

'I'm so sorry. Please forgive me Will.' Elizabeth said softly asking for his forgiveness.

But Will slammed his hand on the table trying to process this.

To which Elizabeth walked off. Trying to leave him alone.

(Back towards Jack and Rose but on the black pearl)

General POV.

'So you expect to leave me on some beach with nothing but a name and your word it's the one I need?

And watch you sail away on my ship?' Barbossa questioned Jack.

Rosemary sat at the table in the captains quarters. Looking at Jack and Barbossa making negotiations.

'No. ' Jack exclaimed

'I expect to leave you on some beach with no name at all, watching me sail away on my ship, and then I'll shout the name back to you.

Savvy? ' Jack said simply towards Barbossa.

Rosemary took an apple out of the bowl on the table.

And couldn't help but laugh at what Jack had just proposed.

Barbossa looked at Rosemary with his eyebrow raised. And she looked at him, and took a bit out of the apple .

'But that still leaves me on some beach with naught but a name and your word it's the one I need.' Barbossa said trying to explain the story to Jack again.

'Out of the two of us. I am the only one who hasn't committed mutiny.

Therefore, my word is the one we'll be trusting.' Jack said while searching an apple out of the bowl to. Nodding towards Rosemary and taking a bite out of it.

'Although, I suppose I should be thanking you, because, in fact, if you hadn't betrayed me and left me to die, I would have an equal share in that curse, same as you.' Jack said while sitting down his feet on the table.

Rosemary almost chocked on the apple she was eating.

Such sass! She thought to herself.

'Funny old world, isn't it?' He said towards Barbossa

'Hmm' He said while having an eye twitch.

Suddenly the scar faced man walked up into the quarters.

'Captain. We're coming up on the interceptor.' Which made Rosemary sit up in her chair.

The pirate smirked at her. And she narrowed her eyes.

'I will get him. ' she cursed under her breath.

Barbossa smirked at Rose and Jack and stood up walking towards the helm of the ship.

Jack and Rose followed on foot and Rose looked out of the rail of the ship. Seeing the interceptor on their starboard getting closer any second.

Barbossa was reeling out his binocular and looked at the ship.

But Jack jumped in front of it, trying to get Barbossas attention.

'I'm having a thought here, Barbossa.' Jack said.

'What say we run up a flag of truce, I scurry over to the interceptor, and I negotiate the return of your medallion aye?

What say you to that?' Jack said while waving his apple around.

'Now you see Jack. I say that's exactly the attitude that lost you the Pearl.' Barbossa said with a soft smirk.

'People are easier to search when they're dead.

Lock them in the brig.' Barbossa said while pushing his binocular back into one piece.

Barbossa took Jack's apple when they grabbed him. Looked at it. And rolled his eyes.

He threw it trough the sails of the ship. Cursing under his breath.

Rose also got caught before she could try to put up a fight.

(Back to the interceptor)

General POV

Elizabeth openend the handle towards the upper deck. When she heard Gibbs scream orders around.

'Hands aloft to loose ta'gallants!

With this wind, she'll carry every sail we've got! ' Gibbs Barked around.

'What's happening?' Elizabeth said as she stepped closer towards Gibbs.

'The Black Pearl' Ana Maria said.

'She's gaining on us!' Elizabeth looked over her shoulder over the sea. And she saw the Black Pearl getting closer and closer.

'This is the fastest ship in the Caribbean. ' Elizabeth cursed and walked up the stairs.

'Teel them that after they've caught us.' Ana Maria said.

'We're shallower on the draft right?' Elizabeth asked Ana Maria.

'Aye ?' Ana maria answered her question confusingly.

'Can't we lose them amongst those shoals?' Elizabeth asked pointing towards the shoals in the distance.

'We don't have to outrun 'em long. Just long enough!' Gibbs exclaimed.

'Lighten the ship! Stem to stern!' Ana Maria Shouted while she pulled over the helm.

'Anything we can afford to lose, see that it's lost!' Gibbs shouted towards the crew.

(Back to the Pearl)

Rosemary's POV

Jack was being held by the scar faced pirate. And the fake eyed one and the chubby one were holding me down.

As they took us below the deck towards the brig.

There was so much water on the floor. That Jack was trying to tell them.

'Apparently, there's a leak' Jack exclaimed which made the pirate lock the door faster and walk off.

'Well great! And what do we do now Jack?' Rose mocked at him.

'We've been captured by these pirates and they're gonna sink the whole crew on the interceptor including Elizabeth and Will!' She was almost shouting at him.

'Were you even trying to help us?' I threw my hands up. Towards him.

Jack was just plainly ignoring me and looking out of a hole in the ships side.

'Look at this!' Jack exclaimed and waved to me that I should take a look.

I rolled my eyes but walked closer seeing that he was right.

'What the fuck? Barrels?' how?' Rose asked confused.

'they're lightening the ship. They're smarter then they look' Jack said. Smirking.

'Lets wait how this play's out. We're going to be fine Love' He said with a smirk patting to the chest he was sitting on just enough room for the both of us to sit.

I rolled my eyes but took the spot and sat next to him.

General POV

'Haul on the main brace! Make ready the guns!' Barbossa shouted at his men.

'And run out the sweeps.' He said smirking towards the scare faced pirate.

Will came out of the lower deck of the interceptor and saw everyone throw the food and barrels over the railing.

When he looked over the side of the ship. He saw the Black Pearl pull out their sweeps.

When a fellow crew member Marty was going to lose the cannons Will interrupted him

'we're gonna need that'

When Elizabeth looked back towards the Black Pearl she saw it was gaining in on us.

'It was a good plan, up till now.' Ana Maria said genuinely to Elizabeth.

[adiascinzentos]

Chapter 49 - "The fifth day"

"And then... i like Australians... yes I do..."

Sete horas e cinco minutos, já tenho o perfil em mente, não parei de pensar nele... parece tolo, mas gostei mesmo dele... acordei... bem, mas com um ligeiro sentimento de sonolência reles... pois é... é a falta de folguinha... o que vale é que de tarde estou livre... embora com cursito...

...

Será que o chefinho vai achar o mesmo que eu? que o Australiano é o perfil indicado? É que lá está... será a minha primeira grande decisão... e ele pode ter uma segunda opinião... será que ele topa... que eu fiquei um pouco "apanhada" por ele? não queria ser parcial... ou deixar o meu lado mais... nem sei explicar... mas... o meu lado mais... não sei hehe...

É que neste caso... diria que quatro dos cinco seriam adequados para a posição... seria sempre uma escolha dificil, mas também é preciso... haver uma pequena ligação, para saber se há uma pequena compatibilidade... i guess...

Dez horas em ponto... tenho meeting com o Dono disto tudo... começo a falar... a expor os resultados e as minhas ideias... e ele... well, ele deu conta, e começou a rir-se...

"I knew... yeah, You like Aussies, his perfect for ya..."

Corei, parecia uma pita que foi descoberta ao ter uma crush...

Mas será mesmo crush? ou foi só encanto pela aparência e labia dele? estou assim tão needy? é que apesar de tudo... a relação... tem de manter-se profissional... e no entanto... eu escolhi-o por... ser uma crush...

O Chefinho... depois de rir-se lá vestiu a "farda" e começou a debater comigo, os perfis... e quem... segundo a opinião dele... ele escolheria, e well...

Era o Aussie.

E ele riu-se porque ele já sabia que o ia escolher... mas serviu como teste... ele queria saber se o escolhia pelo perfil dele ser o adequado, ou porque... lá está... seria parcial, e foi um meio termo de ambos...

...

Ele acompanhou bem de perto a situação da minha antiga relação... e ele não é contra haver relações entre colegas de trabalho... desde que isso não interfira com... o trabalho...

E ele deixou-me esse aviso, um conselho de "amigo"... que no fim do dia... eu seria sempre a "superior"... e para eu ter esse cuidado...

...

Eu entendi a dica, e aceitei humildemente... mas well... dia de overthink incoming...

No fim... ficou decidido...

"Welcome aboard fella Aussie..."

...

...

Sou uma básica.

Passei o dia a pensar nele...

Estou tão needy...

...

...

Focus Maria João.

"Como te sentes hoje?"

A pensar num Aussie...

[wikiuntamed]

On this day in Wikipedia: Monday, 16th October

Welcome, Bienvenida, Dzień dobry, こんにちは 🤗 What does @Wikipedia say about 16th October through the years 🏛️📜🗓️?

16th October 2017 🗓️ : Event - Daphne Caruana Galizia The Maltese journalist and anti-corruption activist Daphne Caruana Galizia was killed in a car bomb attack in Bidnija. "Daphne Anne Caruana Galizia (née Vella; 26 August 1964 – 16 October 2017) was a Maltese writer, journalist, blogger and anti-corruption activist, who reported on political events in Malta and was known internationally for her investigation of the Panama Papers, and subsequent assassination by car..."

16th October 2013 🗓️ : Event - Lao Airlines Flight 301 In Laos's deadliest air accident, Lao Airlines Flight 301 crashed into the Mekong River, resulting in the deaths of all 49 people aboard. "Lao Airlines Flight 301 was a scheduled domestic passenger flight from Vientiane to Pakse, Laos. On 16 October 2013, the ATR 72-600 aircraft operating the flight crashed into the Mekong River near Pakse, killing all 49 people on board. The accident was the first involving an ATR 72-600 and the..."

Image licensed under CC BY 2.0? by Blue Stahli Luân

16th October 1973 🗓️ : Event - Henry Kissinger Henry Kissinger and Lê Đức Thọ are awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. "Henry Alfred Kissinger ( KISS-in-jər; born Heinz Alfred Kissinger, German: [haɪnts ˈʔalfʁeːt ˈkɪsɪŋɐ], on May 27, 1923) is an American diplomat, political scientist, geopolitical consultant, and politician who served as United States secretary of state and national security advisor under the..."

Image by U.S. Department of State from United States

16th October 1923 🗓️ : Event - Roy O. Disney Roy and Walt Disney founded the Disney Brothers Cartoon Studio in Hollywood, which eventually grew to become one of the largest media and entertainment corporations in the world. "Roy Oliver Disney (; June 24, 1893 – December 20, 1971) was an American businessman who co-founded The Walt Disney Company with his younger brother Walt Disney. He also served as the company's first CEO and was the father of Roy E. Disney. ..."

Image by Florida Development Commission

16th October 1822 🗓️ : Death - Eva Marie Veigel Eva Marie Veigel, Austrian-English dancer (b. 1724) "Eva Marie Veigel (also Eva Maria Violette, with variants Eva Maria and Ava-Maria) (29 February 1724 – 16 October 1822) was a dancer and the wife of actor David Garrick...."

Image by Sherlock, William P., b. ca. 1780, printmaker.

16th October 🗓️ : Holiday - Teachers' Day (Chile) "Teacher’s Day is a special day for the appreciation of teachers, and may include celebrations to honor them for their special contributions in a particular field area, or the community tone in education. This is the primary reason why countries celebrate this day on different dates, unlike many..."

Image licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0? by Kiran891

[smoochesforghost]

infinite suffering

alternate bit + bonus under the cut:

[avesnongrata]

Here, have some SHIELD shenanigans!

--

Maria rushed down the corridor half a step behind Fury, her long strides keeping pace with his heavy footfalls. The briefing room door slid shut behind them with a hiss and two short bleeps. Natasha and Clint already waiting for them. Clint slouched in a chair opposite the table. He straightened up a little when she glanced at him, but he avoided meeting her gaze. Natasha stood beside him, her back straight, her face stony and inscrutable. The Widow at the war table.

"What's going on?"

Natasha met her eyes, unblinking. "There's been a security breach."

Maria's jaw clenched.

Fury tapped at the control panel, calling up images on the wall display behind him. "They got in right under our noses. A pair of them, though who knows how many others there are by now. Made a mess of the auxiliary nav unit."

Several photos of frayed wires flashed across the screen. It was a mess, alright. No rhyme or reason to the ones that had been snipped, and the edges looked as if they'd been gnawed through rather than cut. Probably a rushed job, or an attack intended only to cause chaos.

Fury balled up his fists and continued. "Rat bastards could have dropped this thing out of the sky with all of us on it if our newest agent hadn't discovered and eliminated the threat. I've never seen such ruthless efficiency, not even from you, Hill."

The back of Maria's neck prickled. There was no way a breach like this had happened on her watch. There was no way some rookie agent had caught it before she had. What the hell was going on?

Fury's eye flashed. "I'm promoting her to Head of Security, effective immediately."

"Wait, what?" Maria snapped. "What new agent?"

Fury keyed another command into the panel and the door slid open again. A little black cat trotted through it and wound herself around Natasha's ankles. To Maria's chagrin - and Fury's obvious delight - the cat wore a little black vest with SECURITY emblazoned across her lanky shoulder blades. It had a little SHIELD logo on it and everything.

"Welcome aboard, Agent Liho," Fury deadpanned.

Maria huffed in indignation. "You're kidding, right? We can't have animals up here."

"Come on, Hill, she'll come in handy." Plus I worry about her when I'm away. Natasha didn't say it out loud, but Maria knew her well enough to know it was true. "She's already caught two mice-"

"Rats," Clint interrupted.

"They weren't rats."

"They were huge!"

Natasha rolled her eyes but otherwise ignored him. "You said she could come aboard if she pulled her weight."

"That's not what I said." Maria crossed her arms stubbornly. "I said there was no room for anyone who didn't directly contribute to the operation of the helicarrier."

Natasha smirked. "Then why do you let Barton stay?"

"Hey!"

"Good point," Maria conceded.

"HEY!"

She turned to glare at him. "What are you doing here, anyway?"

"I just wanted to see the look on your face." Clint shifted in his seat and swallowed hard. "Not that one, though. That one's scary. I'm just gonna--" He cocked his thumb in the direction of the door, got up out of his seat, and beat a hasty retreat.

Liho chose that moment to hop up onto the table. Natasha clicked her tongue and scooped her into her lap instead. "Nope, no agents on the table," she scolded.

Maria almost scoffed, but caught herself. That was rich, coming from Natasha. The number of times she'd shifted her hips up onto the table, coaxed Maria closer, wrapped her legs around her waist...

Natasha winked at her as if reading her thoughts. Maria's ears burned.

She wheeled on Fury again, resolutely returning to the matter at hand. "The vest was your idea, wasn't it."

"It is pretty funny," Fury grinned. "And look how cute she is!"

He was more than immune to Maria's glares, but that didn't stop her from trying to wither him with one. (Though truth be told it was already beginning to lose some of its heat.)

"You know, if the cat stays, people might start to catch on that you're actually a big softie."

"I'm overruling you on this one, Hill. The cat stays." Fury bent over and rubbed a knuckle under Liho's chin. "Though Agent Romanoff, I expect you to brief our new Head of Security on proper prisoner containment procedures."

With that, he turned on his heel and left the room, muttering under his breath about decapitated carcasses and his favorite pair of boots.

"Are you really mad?" Natasha asked softly once he was gone.

Maria sighed. Of course not. She could pretend all she wanted, but at the end of the day she never could deny Natasha anything.

"No. She can stay." Maria scratched Liho behind the ears. The cat leaned into her hand and purred.

Natasha reached out and rested her hand on Maria's forearm. "Thanks."

"It's a good thing you're cute."

[forasecondtherewedwon]

Dolls’ Eyes — A Jaws AU

Pairings: established Peggy/Steve, developing Brunnhilde/Carol Rating: T Chapters: 14/14

Summary: Tony Stark snapped his fingers and the vanished half of the universe returned, but Thanos escaped the battlefield, fleeing into space. Now that he’s virtually powerless, most of the Avengers consider chasing him all over the universe a waste of resources, but Peggy Carter—newly deposited in the 21st century—is determined to finish the job. Brunnhilde and Carol Danvers have the same idea.

When scattered rumours of fresh killings escalate to the death of one of their own, the three women team up to defeat Thanos once and for all.

read the prologue

read ch. 1 one / 2 two / 3 three / 4 four / 5 five 6 six / 7 seven / 8 eight / 9 nine / 10 ten 11 eleven / 12 twelve / 13 thirteen / 14 fourteen

After everything, Carol wasn’t surprised that Brunnhilde put up a fight over being told to just rest. Carol reminded her that she was lucky to be alive, to which Brunnhilde responded that it wasn’t anything like luck, and went on to list the incredible, lifesaving properties of her fine armour, explain the enhanced durability provided by her Asgardian biology, and enumerate all of the injuries she’d previously sustained that were apparently worse than being electrocuted half to death, and then nearly drowning while incapacitated. Carol didn’t believe half of it, but it was kinda hot when Brunnhilde bragged.

So, in spite of Carol’s efforts, Brunnhilde kept getting up the second her back was turned in order to haul bodies off of Thanos’s ship. As they started to fix everything Carol had broken (including a patch job of that hole in the roof), a scan of the local environment informed them that almost all of the life on this planet was aquatic. They left the stack of corpses on land. Whatever water critters were around, they didn’t need toxic eyeball goo leeching into their habitat.

Carol caught Brunnhilde shaking out a twitching arm and made her sit to do electronic repairs rather than manual labour. (Carol had that handled anyway, plus, she knew where all the bodies were because she was the one who’d left them there.) Brunnhilde protested that she was the captain. Carol came way too close to saying not of this ship, but stopped herself. Instead, she suggested Brunnhilde do like any other captain would and let her underlings take on the grunt work. That got a smile, if not verbal agreement.

Thankfully, Peggy was a fast learner; Carol explained the basics of what she’d done to wreck something and Peggy quickly understood how to walk back the damage. They worked their way through the ship, staying at neighbouring stations so Carol would be there if Peggy had questions, and Peggy would be there if (when) Carol had messed something up so badly that it needed four hands to fix.

“Maria would’ve been great with this,” she said without thinking, holding up a fistful of wires while Peggy tinkered beneath.

“Maria?”

It was easier to talk about her than it had ever been before. Like with the repairs, she could tell that Peggy understood without Carol having to do much more than gush over how good Maria had been at fixing stuff, how thorough she’d been with the plane she’d kept in the hangar on her property, how reliable, how trustworthy, how patient…

“Yes,” Peggy told her with a smile. “She sounds like she was wonderful.”

“She was.”

But when the two of them had finished their circuit of the ship and Carol went to tell Brunnhilde they were good to go, she wasn’t there. Carol panicked, worried that Brunnhilde had overheard all her praise of Maria and somehow missed the tone of a person who was in the late stages of grief, who had accepted the worst and was keen to keep living, maybe even loving.

When she couldn’t find her on the ship, she jogged down the ramp, intending to look for her outside. The second she turned to face the water, she spotted Brunnhilde coming towards her from the escape vessel. Carol ran out to meet her.

“What’s all this?” she asked in a tone of amusement, because Brunnhilde had her arms full.

“Food, Peggy’s jacket, a couple beers that didn’t get smashed when Thanos rammed us, uh…” She tried to examine the rest of the pile she was carrying, but it teetered and slipped; laughing, Carol scooped a few things out of her arms before they could end up in the shallow water.

“I thought you might’ve taken off on us,” she said lightly.

“I didn’t think you thought I’d be capable of that after getting zapped.”

“I was just…”

Brunnhilde walked close, pressing her arm into Carol’s.

“I know. I would’ve been the same way if it’d been you.”

“I don’t even know if I can get electrocuted,” Carol said.

“I’m not gonna recommend trying it for fun,” Brunnhilde told her. “Anyway, I used all my discs on Thanos and I dropped the remote in the water somewhere… You’d have to go to Thor with your request, ask him to bring the lightning down.”

“Straight to Thor?!” Carol laughed. “That seems a little extreme.”

“Or you could just stand around outside in New Asgard during a storm and wait for it to happen naturally.”

“And why would I need to be in New Asgard specifically?” Carol asked in a teasing voice. “I could get struck by lightning anywhere.”

She watched Brunnhilde flounder but couldn’t get an answer out of her, not on the way to the ship, not while she was distracted with Peggy asking her a slew of health questions, and not while they were trying to figure out how to get this humongous spaceship off the ground with a crew of only three people.

As they made their rocky assent, Carol was too busy to wonder whether Brunnhilde had heard her talking about Maria before she’d left the ship to scavenge from the escape craft. They had just broken through the atmosphere, blue sky giving way to black, when Brunnhilde spoke.

“Love’s like war.”

It was so sudden that Carol snorted a laugh.

“Ok, poet,” she said. She was tempted to devote some time to getting Thanos’s ship to play her music, if only to put on ‘Love Is a Battlefield’ for Brunnhilde. To let her know what had been said on the subject already.

She smirked to herself when Brunnhilde continued, clearly not giving a shit about her interruption or joking criticism.

“It is.”

“What do you mean?” Carol asked more seriously.

Brunnhilde shifted in her seat, engaging different protocols for outer space travel. Carol noticed the tremor had gone from her arm.

“You do better in both because of experience,” Brunnhilde said, looking straight out the viewport. “Anybody who can’t appreciate the benefit of falling for someone who’s been in love before is a fucking idiot.”

“And you’re not a fucking idiot.”

“I hope that isn’t a question.”

Carol smiled and shook her head. They flew in silence for a while.

“When we get back,” she said eventually, peering shyly over at her captain, “I owe someone important to me a visit, but then I’m coming to see you. Just a heads-up.”

“Vaguely threatening.”

“Sorry.”

“No,” Brunnhilde told her, grabbing her forearm to get her full attention, “I liked it.”

Heat raced up Carol’s neck until she was blushing as bright red as her suit, or the dumb acid burn on her arm.

Just then, Peggy’s agitated voice came from the other end of the wide flight deck.

“Someone’s coming right at us!”

Before Carol had the chance to say what the hell? or who? or again?, an incoming message threw a distantly familiar face up in front of them, hovering in the form of a hologram.

“Hey,” Carol greeted. “Small universe.”

—

Peggy had never thought to imagine what Gamora might be like. She’d had an account of Peter Quill’s affection for her from Rocket, but had recognized that a portrayal of the woman that crew had known—the woman Peter had loved enough to forfeit his life in the quest for reunion—couldn’t be fully accurate. At best, the Gamora they described would be one layer removed from the real person. The Gamora they had known and the one whose hologram had just appeared before Peggy, Carol, and Brunnhilde were a handful of years and a thousand experiences apart.

It seemed absurd to Peggy that this woman may wish to harm them, but she really ought to have considered it.

“Was it your distress signal I picked up?” Gamora asked flatly, eyes locked on Carol in the pilot’s seat.

“Umm… yep.”

“And you still require assistance?”

Carol glanced at Brunnhilde, then over to Peggy, who nodded. They certainly had worked wonders, she felt, in getting this massive spaceship off the planet, but who knew how many things could go wrong between here and Earth? Peggy doubted either of her shipmates had told her the half of it. They were simply short-staffed, too few fingers available to plug any metaphorical leaks they might spring on the journey.

“Yes please,” Carol told her.

With a nod, 2014 Gamora went from unknown quantity to ally. Peggy sighed in relief.

The three of them were transported directly from Thanos’s ship to Gamora’s. The process was quite indescribable, Peggy thought. Tingly, quick, with a bit of a lurch as she rematerialized on an entirely different flight deck from the one she’d just left. Had the transfer been instantaneous? Had she, perhaps, ceased to exist for a moment or two? She was full of questions but unsure to whom she should direct them.

Gamora, while welcoming in deed, was somewhat inscrutable when they met her face-to-face. Standoffish. Unsure of herself, Peggy realized. Immediately, she warmed to the woman. She had been in her place herself once, sort of, if not precisely in her intimidating boots. It hadn’t been so long ago that she’d been ferried through time to find the world completely changed. What Gamora needed was a reason to trust them the way they were trusting her.

“I take it you killed my father?” Gamora asked plainly once they were aboard.

Oh dear. It seemed they weren’t off to a very auspicious start.

Brunnhilde stepped in front of Carol, who’d just been opening her mouth to speak, presumably to claim responsibility.

“I was the captain,” she stated. “Thanos was killed on my orders.”

“Uh, no, not explicitly,” Carol argued.

“Anyway,” Peggy piped up, “I’m the one who shot him in the head.”

“And he was only vulnerable to that because I electrocuted him to within an inch of his despicable life and his helmet fell off,” Brunnhilde countered.

“On a planet I flew us to,” Carol reminded them.

“We’ll be sharing the blame,” Peggy informed Gamora on behalf of her crewmates.

Gamora cocked her head consideringly.

“And if it’s approval?” To their universal silence, she explained, “I know what he was capable of in my time, and I saw enough of Earth to get a general idea of what he was set to accomplish if he wasn’t stopped.”

“Were you out here hunting him too?” Peggy took a step towards her.

Directing her gaze away from them, Gamora blinked rapidly, looking momentarily confused and upset. In the next second, she’d hidden any outward hint of those feelings.

“I should’ve been,” she said, “but I’ve never been able to stand up to him like I should have. After I left your planet… for a while, I wasn’t looking for him. But I began to see signs. And then Peter Quill came.”

“Peter!” Carol said. “You saw him? Did you talk to him? Rocket never said—”

“No. I just watched. I followed him for a while. I knew he was looking for me. He was so… loud.” Gamora made a face. “Leaving word for me everywhere, telling traders and transports that he was my boyfriend. He was an idiot, but an entertaining idiot… I barely noticed that I’d stopped keeping track of Thanos until he just showed up…

“I was a coward,” Gamora went on. “I saw my father intercept Peter’s ship and I knew what would probably happen, but I couldn’t put myself between the two of them. Was I supposed to stand up for this guy when I’d never been able to stand up for myself? I was raised to be cruel, to think of myself, that attachments formed to accomplish anything but the acquisition of power make you weak. I know Thanos killed Peter. It’s my fault he’s dead.”

Peggy stood in front of her, refraining from placing a reassuring hand on Gamora’s shoulder when she gave her cagey eyes.

“It’s not,” Peggy told her firmly.

“I only heard your distress signal because I heard Peter’s first,” Gamora said. “I went onboard after my father had left; it was days before I could force myself to do it, maybe longer. I used his communications system to speak to his crewmates on Earth.”

“You must’ve just missed us leaving,” Brunnhilde said.

“That’s what he told me. He said three more morons had left the planet, on their way to hunt down Thanos.”

“And you’ve helped us,” Peggy said, tone insistent. “If you do feel any responsibility for what happened to Peter, then surely you should also believe that you’ve redeemed yourself by saving our backsides.”

Gamora’s eyes squinted as though she were in pain.

“I owed him more than this and I hate it,” she said, jaw clenched. “He was no one to me. He knew someone I’m never going to become.”

“Shhh. I know,” Peggy said soothingly.

“I don’t see how that’s possible. Have you ever had someone tell you they love you when it feels like it’s impossible that they even know you? That whoever they loved had to be a different person from who you are?”

Peggy’s shoulders fell. She could feel the bittersweet smile on her face.

“Actually, yes.”

Gamora appeared surprised to have been brought up short in such a manner.

“Do you have any advice?” Peggy urged softly.

For a minute, Gamora was quiet, staring hard at the wall. Peggy could feel that the others had backed away, giving them time and space when Gamora’s stream of information had been diverted by the confusing grief she was obviously experiencing.

“Whatever lengths he goes to because he thinks you’re better than you are…” Gamora finally said, turning her head to look Peggy in the eye. “Try to be worth it.”

“Got it.”

Peggy folded her hands together, pressing her right palm to her wedding ring.

—

They were about to get underway, their new crew of four on a significantly smaller, though sleeker, ship. (Brunnhilde didn’t mourn for the one they’d left in the shallows; it had served them well, first the Asgardians and now the team responsible for the death of Thanos.) However, staring out the viewport from the seat in which she’d been installed as the effective second-in-command, Brunnhilde didn’t feel right. The sight of Thanos’s ship just hanging there in space unnerved her. It would be better if no trace of the Titan remained.

“Let’s blast it,” she suggested to the deck at large.

“Thanos’s spaceship?” Peggy checked.

“Yes.”

“Well,” Carol said, “we aren’t near anything. There’s nothing for the debris to hit…”

Brunnhilde smiled slightly and looked to the captain.

“Gamora? Do you have any weapons on this ship that could do the job?”

“There is one thing I’ve been saving for a special occasion,” Gamora said, gaze fixed on Thanos’s ship. “First, we’re going to need to get clear.”

She piloted them away—away from the planet, away from the ship. Part of Brunnhilde wanted to request the honour of launching the torpedo Gamora was setting the coordinates for, locking it onto her late father’s final vessel, but she was already satisfied with the role she’d played. Let Gamora take this final, symbolic step. It was like Thor’s hideous couch; Brunnhilde had helped him lug the thing into the open air, but permitted him to drop the match (once she’d soaked the cushions in lighter fluid, just in case it wasn’t sufficiently saturated in spilled beer). She would content herself with watching it go up in flames.

And it did. It was an impressive explosion, scattering wreckage in a wide perimeter Gamora had kept them outside of. They were briefly silent as jagged hunks of metal twisted in the void.

“That’s one way to get the stink of dead bodies out,” Carol noted, and Brunnhilde turned to her, shoulders shaking with laughter Carol quickly joined in on.

They flew for some time, and it was good just to relax, to stretch in her seat and tilt her head from side to side so that her neck cracked horrendously and Peggy said things like “good lord!” while Carol laughed her ass off. Brunnhilde remained alert though. She couldn’t help it. In the old days, with the Valkyrie, there’d been a certain relief when the battle in which they’d been engaged was done, but they’d only known true rest once they’d returned to Asgard. Home. The last time she’d been on a ship bound for Earth, the atmosphere had been one of intense grief, muffled weeping in the corridors. They’d known Earth as Midgard and had little admiration for its country of Norway, chilly with fog and swathed in the bleak colours that reflected their inner emptiness. Nothing they loved was there—not their people, not their gleaming towers and soaring statues. How could it ever possibly feel like coming home?

Brunnhilde had honestly believed she’d lost her ability to experience that feeling, that, without her sisters-in-arms, the sensation was lost to her. Yet, despite the tension she still carried from the fight, she felt it easing. She felt herself longing for home, her little house at the water’s edge. For the chance to return to her people as their king and announce a great evil defeated. Maybe this tension was only anticipation after all.

In contrast to the fruits of her own contemplation and revelation, Gamora’s private thoughts had left her expression mournful and roving. Brunnhilde exited the deck to relieve herself and find something to eat in Gamora’s stores, and when she returned, she addressed her.

“You’re not taking us all the way to Earth, are you?”

Gamora flicked her gaze sideways to assess her. Brunnhilde knew there was no judgement to be found in her face, so she stared back calmly.

“I’m taking you to Quill’s ship. Thanos, in his infinite arrogance, didn’t damage it. Maybe he thought he might like to return to it some time and claim it as part of his fleet. It’s a tribute to how much I continue to feel my father’s influence that I planned to do the same. Not build a fleet, but go back. There’s something about that ship… I find it comforting.”

Brunnhilde frowned thoughtfully.

“Are you sure you don’t want to take it and leave this one for us?”

“No. What I felt when I was onboard, examining it and… and removing Quill’s body for space burial… that was just a feeling of, I don’t know, another life. There’s a group on Earth for whom that ship means something. And it’s the only thing they have of him. I couldn’t keep it.”

“One of those people is your sister,” Brunnhilde said carefully.

“Yes.”

“I tried to talk to her, but she doesn’t like me very much. I don’t blame her,” she added as Gamora gave her a wary look. “She was upset.”

“Nebula is at her most dangerous when upset, and she’s always upset, so she’s always dangerous.”

“She was upset about Peter’s death. But I think also because, without him, no one was out here looking for you.”

Gamora stiffened.

“If she really wants to find me, she can come look for me herself. I’ll be ready.”

“She doesn’t want to fight you,” Brunnhilde said. “She misses you. I think. It’s really none of my business.”

“Why would you wish to get involved in our family affairs?” Gamora’s voice was more curious than accusing. “Besides murdering our father, of course.”

Brunnhilde sighed before answering.

“I’ve lost many people I cared about. I don’t have a family anymore.” She glanced over to see Carol and Peggy bent over a screen together, Carol’s sudden snort infecting Peggy until they were both laughing. “I mean,” Brunnhilde corrected herself, “I didn’t.”

When they arrived at the Benatar and Gamora transported Carol and Peggy off her ship, Brunnhilde motioned for Gamora to hold off a moment on removing her.

“If we don’t meet again,” she said, sticking out her arm for Gamora to grasp.

Gamora gripped her tightly and nodded.

“I think we might though. I thought about it and realized it’s easier for me to find Nebula than for her to find me.”

“I may have left you her coordinates.” Brunnhilde released Gamora’s arm. “Enjoy Missouri.”

She joined Peggy and Carol on the Benatar, pausing to bend over Carol’s seat to surprise her with a deep kiss before she took up her own position. She brushed stray strands of hair back out of Carol’s dancing eyes.

“I’m going to have to redo your braid,” Brunnhilde told her.

“Oh, we’ll have time. We’ve got quite a road trip ahead of us. Luckily… Peter left us his tunes.” Beaming, she started up a song with a bright beat.

Brunnhilde smiled and went to her seat, fastening herself in as Carol readied the vessel for launch.

“You know,” Peggy said thoughtfully, slinging her jacket over the back of her chosen seat, “before all of this, I was actually quite afraid of outer space.”

Carol laughed.

“I can’t imagine why.”

[reploidbuddy]

I write fanfics, so I thought I’d drop my biggest darling here <3

It’s a treasure-hunting pirate AU consisting of two fics: The shorter more introductory “Welcome Aboard The Maria” and “At Hope’s End”. I might put a separate entry for one-shots relating to it one day. Perhaps if I need a break from my current new fic >:]c

[evelyn1056]

Leave suggestions on who's next

Other Headcanons:

*HC #1*

_________________________________________

I got 'Nother headcanon/idea peeps

Now I have ideas for them individually but this one is for both:

Meeting Cala and Captain

Ok so here's how it starts out. The Cup bros travel to the docks and find Captain Brineybeard

Cuphead:"Oh look mug's a pirate"

Mugman:"Ahoy mister pirate"

"'Oi there(or whatever captains say), who be it"

"I'm Cuphead and this is my brother Mugman"

Mugman waves at him

"who are you"

"I'd be Captain Brineybeard; the mighty-est of all the 7 seas, "

"cool ship, can we take a ride"

Basically the cups want a ride on the boat

" Sorry boys but I'm on a hunt"

"REALLY, we LOVE going on hunts"

"Oh do ye now"

Brief second of silence till Cuphead bumps Mugman in the arm

" oh, oh yeah we love to do some hunting"

" very well then hop aboard"

They hop on the boat and they sail off.

Minutes later

"ok boys-"

CB(Captain Brineybeard) notices that the boys are goofing off.

"OI GET OVER HERE OR I'LL THROW YOU TWO OVERBOARD"

Both run to CB

"ok boys here she is"

They look and out in the ocean they see a huge 'shadow'. Cups get excited but, ofc, mugs is a bit scared but tries to face it. And, as a 'caring-once-in-a-while' brother Cups is takes notice:

"Mugsy, it'll be ok, remember the time on Mt. Eruptus"

"Oh yeah"

This makes mugs more calmer and while the figure begins to emerge from the ocean they sort of freak, not really, of the giant octopus (if ya know what I mean).

"there she is"

"that thing, pft it's not that bad"

"that's not all. OI GET OUT OFF THE WATER SO MY NEW SHIPMATES CAN TAKE A PROPER LOOK AT YA"

a muffled fine can be heard while this 'mermaid/(Medusa)' rises from the water. The cups are shocked.

"ain't she a beauty, oi blue one go get the net"

" right away"

"oh hey there, trying to Capture me again?"

Mugs comes back

"OI WHY DON'T YA INTRODUCE YOURSELF"

"with pleasure, I'm Cala Maria and this buffoon had been trying to Capture me for years but always failed"

"THAT'S BECAUSE YOU ALWAYS CAUSE MY SHIP TO GO OVERBOARD"

"I'LL DO IT AGAIN IF I HAVE TO"

"YOU WOULDN'T DARE"

"I WON'T IF YOU DON'T TEMPT ME"

While them to are fighting in the background:

"uh Cups, should we interfere"

"let's just give them a minute, I wanna see how this goes"

Now back with them

"YOU LITTLE-. OI BLUE GUY, MUGHEAD"

"it's Mugman"

"WHATEVER ARM THE CANON"

"OHOHO, YOU WOULDN'T DARE"

" I WILL,

Fire"

Mugman fires the canon, it missed.

"SORRY"

"OH YOU LEFT ME NO CHOICE"

She turns into that Medusa thing.

"QUICK SHIELD YE EYES"

They do that while she attacks

"what is she doing"

"JUST DON'T LOOK SO YE DON'T TUN INTO STONE"

"YOU LITTLE PIECE OF SEAWEED"

Ending

Cala is still in her monster state but them CB goes to the canon somehow and fires it gets her this time

"AAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH"

"HAH YOU CAN'T GET ME YOU SCALLYWAG"

" Um Mr.Brineybeard Captain sir, you sure this is ok"

"yeah it looks like you're harming her"

"HARMING HER‽ You are pulling my leg ain't ye. You should know how long I'd waited for this moment to come"

"but look at her she probably doesn't want this"

CB looks over at Cala who is struggling to escape the net. He looks back at the Cups and see their pleading face. Now feeling guilt he just says:

" Argh, very well. I'll free her"

He tries to take off the net but with Cala's struggling to move away just makes it worse.

"Hold still lad"

"not before you tell me who are you gonna sell me to"

"no one, I only need to do is the next part of this 'Catch & Release' thing"

" wait your..."

"releasing you, yes I am"

With the net down Cala swims out of the netting

"why'd you do that you had me"

"HEY this is a ONE time thing, and besides I won this round and I liked trying to hunt my enemy down. Also these two wouldn't stop looking at me"

"well thanks and thank you boys"

" well you're welcome"

"See ya for the next round Captain, bet I'll win again"

" OH we'll see bout that"

She leaves

"So where to Captain"

" I'm taking you boys back to the docks"

"aw"

"I have had enough of today"

Then the episode ends.

_________________________________________

Possible Titles:

Captain's hunt

High seas ahead

There be a beast

Captain of the Maria

Looting across the sea

_________________________________________

And that's it.

+HC #2+

[logo-comics]

Well, someone's gonna suggest this eventually, so...

Fortune Lover DLC: Pirate Maria at Pirate School.

For the fans of Fortune Lover's Pirate Academy DLC and Fortune Lover's Black Flag DLC, we are proud to present a combination of both settings!

Welcome to the Sorcier Academy of Piracy! A school that most certainly doesn’t exist! Due to a law hidden deep in Sorcier’s royal charter, all members of nobility are required to serve aboard a naval vessel at some point. This, in turn, gave rise to the Sorcier Academy of Privateering, which was useful during the Warring Sorcier Era, before being largely forgotten beyond more than tradition.

Maria Campbell, daughter of the infamous Gentleman Pirate, Captain Martin Campbell, is very disappointed when she’s brought to the gates of this infamous school, heard of only in urban legends.

Nobles trying to emulate the Pirate Lords of Old, all attempting to be more impressive than one another, it did, however, offer the chance at some truly intriguing alliances.

Meet the Capture Targets:

Geordo Stuart: The Sadistic Prince, he’s a popular choice to become King of Sorcier. Ruthless and fond of crippling ships piece by piece, what he lacks in pirate sensibilities, he at least makes up with tenacity.

Alan Stuart: The Forgotten Prince, he’s the twin most likely to stay in the trade for longer, if left to his own devices, if only because it allows him to make the most of his Water magic. Outwardly cold and distant, he uses strategies designed for precise, professional takedowns, with only the piano in his cabin showing any sign that he has a love of anything. Ironically, he's one of the ones whose closest to a pirate in sensibilities of all of the boys.

Keith Claes: The Playboy, he’s more interested in the romanticized idea of a pirate meeting girls in every port than the actual training, but his dirt dolls are useful, provided he maintains a solid supply of earth. To say that Maria has little respect for him would be an understatement

Nicol Ascart: Sorcier’s Most Beautiful Man, he chose training here rather than any other Academy at his younger sister’s behest. Lacking in creativity, he operates more by the book during training. He is, in the end, more of a Sorcier Naval officer than a pirate, which any pirate will tell you is an important distinction.

Sirius Dieke: Bright and exuberant, he is the most obvious liar that Maria has ever met in her career as a pirate. Maria, for her part, is disinterested in the young man as a pirate, but suspects there’s more than meets the eye otherwise.

Next up, Meet the Rivals:

Mary Hunt: The Platonic Ideal of Etiquette, Maria has something of a soft spot for the girl, given that she reminds her of her father, long lost as sea.

Sophia Ascart: The Hidden Captain: she’s rarely see, but makes her will known through her loyal first mate, she is both fond of the romantic ideals of piracy and a surprisingly skilled tactician. While nothing resembling a pirate, Maria thinks she has more potential than her brother...

And, of course, what game of Fortune Lover would be complete without"

Katarina Claes: The Villainess Pirate, she’s infamous for being a menace when among the nobility, she seems to have quite the knack for piracy and somehow got her hands on a decommissioned uniform that seems right with how she operates.

Meanwhile, straight from the Black Flag DLC, we are proud to bring back these gameplay mechanics!

Confrontation Mode - “I fought the undead corpse of Black Boris, himself and put him back into his grave in pieces. You think that being a soft little noble playing at being a pirate makes you capable of threatening me?” Maria is allowed to fight her bullies and opponents with word or through physical violence!

The Duelist’s Club - “We’d be delighted to cross blades with someone as well-known as you!” Yes, those entire Duelist’s Club from Fortune Lover’s Club Activities DLC have made their way into the plot of this one, hoping to work with Maria to hone their own skills, as well as her own!

Recruitment - “I’m looking for someone that I can trust…” Find students that are willing to put in the effort to become real pirates and join you on the high seas!

Observation Mode - Find out what you can about the students, staff, and layout of the Academy to escape and return to your ship and the sea!

All of this and more awaits you in Fortune Lover’s High Seas DLC!

Addendum: As a result of noteworthy fan requests, we have added a Katarina Romance Route.

[moonbeambucky]

Hey Neighbor (Part 6)

Pairing: Bucky Barnes x Reader Word Count: 2313 Warnings: none

Summary: You had a plan and then life came along with one of its own. With your future almost derailed you worked hard to get yourself back on track and finally everything seemed to be going right… that is, until your new neighbor moved in.

A/N: A huge thank you to my wonderful beta Sam @buckyofthemyscira​​​ Feedback is always appreciated!

PART 5 | HEY NEIGHBOR MASTERLIST

Buzzing. There was constant buzzing in your ear, a combination of all the sounds around you blurring into an indiscernible mix you forced yourself to focus on. The steady drone is too slow for the quickened bounce of your leg shaking against the floor of the Uber that’s bringing you to your destination much faster than you expected. Your stomach is twisted in painful knots that sear deeper as you see the illuminated sign of Metro-General Hospital.

The way you’re feeling makes you want to head left through the emergency room doors but instead you charge ahead towards the main entrance. After giving your name you move to the side and await instructions from the security guard.

The buzzing hasn’t stopped though you quickly realize the pulsating vibrations were coming from your phone inside your bag. Quickly checking it you saw a text from Bucky wishing you good luck on the interview. You smiled seeing his name, feeling a moment of relief.

There was a shift in the air after you opened up to him the night before about why social work meant so much to you. Bucky had a much clearer understanding of you, commending the drive you had to come so far even with the obstacles you faced. You exchanged numbers before he left, acknowledging that Bucky was no longer just your neighbor but someone you considered a new friend.

The security guard hands you a visitor ID and gives you instructions to get to Ms. Rodriguez’s office from the elevator. Smoothing out your blouse you gave a friendly smile to the fellow passengers that entered as the doors opened to almost every floor on the journey up.

Two right turns and then a left at the nurses’ station until you found the corridor with blue doors. You rang the bell that buzzed a second later and pushed open the now unlocked door to enter an open room. A woman sits at a desk in front, gesturing for you to sit down on the row of chairs behind you as she continues her phone conversation.

Her desk is covered in a stack of thick manila folders, with one file open in front of her that she references on the call. You try not to eavesdrop despite being right there so you move your head slowly to observe the rest of the room. Cubicle walls divide a few other desks beside her. The walls are lined with tall file cabinets and a large potted Ficus drinks up the sunshine in the corner.

At the back of the room is a door that unexpectedly swings open, having been pulled so hard it seemed like it could have come off the hinges. A tall slim girl is scowling as her boots stomp down the hallway. She’s dressed in jeans and a black leather jacket as dark as her loose, uncombed hair. A woman steps out from the doorway, crossing her arms over her chest.

“Follow protocol Ms. Jones and we’ll get him.”

The girl turned around scoffing, “We’ll get him faster if I throw his ass through a wall.”

“Jessica,” she warned, flaring her eyes at the girl in a silent challenge.

It only took a moment for you to realize the woman was Ms. Rodriguez and suddenly your stomach began flipping again.

“Ms. Y/L/N?” she asked and you nodded, standing up to greet her with a handshake and a smile.

She asked you to follow her into her office, watching her thick braid sway as she walked ahead of you, holding the door open for you to enter. Her office wasn’t very big, or maybe it only felt that way since it was surrounded by even more large file cabinets.

“I apologize for that,” she began, “Jessica thinks using her fists might yield more results. This is a tough field, tell me what you wish to get out of it.”

Having recounted the full story with Bucky you were emotionally prepared to discuss all aspects of why you wanted to go into this field and it was clear to Ms. Rodriguez that you wanted to make a difference in the lives of those you were advocating for.

Her fingers twirled the large silver cross around her neck as she stared at you, your nerves rising under her silent gaze. Her face eventually relaxed into a smile and the weight was lifted from your shoulders as she welcomed you aboard as an intern. You couldn’t help the wide smile that spread across your face but when she began talking hours and scheduling it quickly dropped. You explained working full time and the hope you had for fulfilling your internship hours in the evenings.

“The issue is that some patients require our help to connect them with outside organizations to provide services and it’s unfortunate but most places stop answering their phones before 5 o’clock. There is a lot you can learn from us here but I would expect some daytime hours, otherwise this internship does not benefit you and I don’t mean to be frank but I can’t have you waste my time.”

Her straightforwardness made you feel nauseous but you understood. Your goal was so close, 1200 hours away until completion. You weren’t going to let it slip away.

“Thank you Ms. Rodriguez. I would love the opportunity to still do my internship here with you. If you’ll allow me the opportunity to speak with my employer, perhaps we can come to an arrangement.”

This may be another obstacle in the road but you were going to get through it, somehow, someway.

The following day you woke up earlier than usual despite your lack of sleep. You almost texted Bucky at night, asking him to play anything in hopes the sound of his music would help drown out the anxieties in your mind. Instead you tossed and turned all night, unable to shut off your brain.

You didn’t want to text him anyway, knowing he would ask how the interview went. You avoided Steve and Wanda’s texts as well, seeking refuge at The Grind House but instead of doing research papers you worked on several plans. If you couldn’t make Stark Industries work with your internship then you’d have to find another job, or two, or three if need be.

You would make this happen no matter what but that didn’t ease the pit in your stomach; the familiar sense of dread that weighed you down uncomfortably like sandbags on your shoulders. Optimism and fear were fighting for dominance in your mind and for now you gave in to all the fears and worries. There would be no telling what path you would travel next, not until you spoke with Maria.

Steve wasn’t in yet so you were thankful to not have to run into him in the morning. The clicking of your heels against the tile floor echoed throughout the empty lobby. You couldn’t help but tap your foot, impatiently waiting for the elevator to arrive. Lost in thought you didn’t hear the footsteps of a person come up beside you. It wasn’t until you entered the elevator and were surprised to see someone else walk in.

Dressed in a sharp three-piece navy suit with a deep red tie stood Tony Stark. A perfectly trimmed goatee framed his smile as he took off his tinted sunglasses.

“G-good morning Mr. Stark,” you nervously greeted.

“Morning miss….” The word slithered on his tongue, dragging out the sound as he combed through the information of his brain to remember your last name. “Y/L/N!”

“You know who I am?” You didn’t mean to sound so pathetic but the words blurted out before you were able to stop them.

“That’s right kiddo. I know everybody that works for me,” he boasted.

He pressed his lips together forming a tight line, and he checked around the elevator as if you weren’t the only people there.

Tony leaned in closer to you, whispering, “Actually, that’s a lie. There’s one guy up in legal whose name I can’t ever remember. Is it Gary? Glenn? Gene? Geor– you know what, never mind. I know his face. That stays between us, okay?”

You nodded your head, but couldn’t help the odd chuckle that fell from your lips.

“So, are you angry?”

Your posture straightened, tensing up after his question caught you off guard.

“Before. The tapping?” He tapped his foot to mimic your earlier actions. “Pepper does that when she’s angry, usually at me.”

“Oh, no I… I’m just eager to speak with Maria about something.”

The elevator doors opened and Tony gestured for you to step out first.

“Might be a little difficult, she won’t be back for at least a few months.”

Worry settled on your face as Tony explained he asked Maria to head Stark International and begin overseeing their newest office in Australia.

“I had no idea…” you trailed off, wondering what this means not only for your internship but your job. “I’m her assistant…”

“That’s on me,” Tony said, raising his hands in defense. “I’m sorry, this was a real last minute decision. I know Maria thinks highly of you so if you’d like we can arrange for you to join her down unda,” he said with an accent.

“No!” You didn’t mean to shout. “I’m sorry. I can’t go there. I…I....” your voice trailed off as your lip began to tremble, feeling yourself plummet deeper and deeper into a pit of fear and uncertainty.

Tony noticed the panic on your face and the short gulps of breath you were taking. He guided you to the nearest chair and asked you to focus on taking long, deep breaths and blowing out steadily.

“You still have a job here if that’s what you’re worried about,” he said softly.

Tony’s eyes were full of compassion and based on everything you knew from Mr. Lee he made you feel comfortable enough to want to open up to him. With a deep sigh you explained your situation, from needing this job to afford an apartment up until the internship hours you were hoping to discuss with Maria, all the while still ensuring he knew how grateful you were for the job you had.

Tony pondered for a bit before the elevator opened and a few employees shuffled in, greeting him with surprise.

“Follow me,” he asked of you, following him to his grand corner office with floor to ceiling windows showcasing a beautiful view of the golden sunrise.

You took a seat on the soft leather chair in front of the sleek obsidian desk. His office was decorated with oversized black and white photos of old planes and cars, a few personalized touches and a small wet bar off to the side and yet everything seemed sterile. Maybe it was the way his own chair squeaked as he sat, like it was still being broken in.

Your fingers twiddled in your lap as you anxiously waited for Tony to break the silence. He gazed at you for a little longer, nodding slightly and quirking his head as if he was having a silent conversation with himself.  

“Stan told me you were a good kid but I wish he knew about your background. I would’ve put you on my team a long time ago.”

Your head twitched, taken aback. “Your team?”

“Me, Pep, a few others. We’re in the beginning stages of building a nonprofit organization, The September Foundation. I want it to change lives; develop after school STEM programs, fund student research, the whole shebang.”

The tendency you had of not shutting your mouth when you should have continued as you questioned why he thought you were appropriate for this.

“You want to help people, same as I and being part of this doesn’t look so bad on a resume.”

“My hours…”

“...can be flexible,” he finished. “We’ll work out the details but the job is yours.”

Tears of joy flooded your eyes but you held them back, closing your lids with relief as things were finally coming together.

“Thank you Mr. Stark, thank you so much!”

You shook his hand enthusiastically and turned on your heel with a smile. You nearly made it to the door before realizing you had no idea what to do now especially with Maria no longer there.

An awkward bubble of laughter came up as you asked, “What should I be doing today Mr. Stark?”

“Please, call me Tony,” he flashed a bright smile. “Greg or Graham or whatever his name is will finalize the legal paperwork in the next few days. Use those days to brainstorm. Tell me what communities you think we need to be in, what would benefit most, what would draw kids in. On Monday you’ll meet with everyone else to go over ideas.”

With a renewed sense of spirit you went to your desk, first to write Maria a congratulatory email on her new position and then to call Ms. Rodriguez about the internship, afterwards you went straight to work.

“Steve!” you shouted before the elevator doors finished opening, running as best as you could in heels towards him. “I have so much to tell you! I got the internship! I have a new job here! I’m– ahhhhh!”

Steve wrapped you in a firm hug as your excited ramblings turned into squeals of joy.

“We have to celebrate!” you beamed. “I’ll call Wanda and Sam and…”

You stopped to think about Bucky. He was new in your life and yet somehow the idea of celebrating without him felt wrong.

Later that night you knocked on his door, sporting a wide smile that spread across your face. It stretched even wider when he opened the door and blessed you with a sparkling grin.

Opening your mouth you said the first words that came to mind, “Will you go out with me?”

PART 7

[allcrncthing]

TITLE :: WHAT?

DESCRIPTION :: Flynn gets an unlikely visitor early one morning.

TIME PERIOD :: July, 2012

CHARACTER(S) :: Flynn Aspen, Nick Fury

WORD COUNT :: 1.7k

WARNINGS :: Swearing

NOTE :: This is part one of two in the DON’T RUIN HER mini-series!

It was seven in the morning when knuckles thumped against her apartment door. Flynn shuffled out of her room, rubbing her eyes as she went. God, I hope it’s not Mrs. Baust complaining again. Mrs. Baust was Flynn’s elderly neighbor located on her right. For whatever reason, she didn’t like the redhead; always complaining about stupid shit and trying to her the landlord to kick Flynn out.

She opened the door then nearly slammed it shut. Standing before her was Nick Fury, director of SHIELD. “Can I help you?”

With his one good eye, he looked her up and down. “You know why I’m here. Get important shit and meet me on the roof.”

“Mister, you must be confused.”

Fury scoffed. “Me? Confused? Hurry up and grab your shit, I’ll see you on the roof.” He closed the door for her, leaving a dumbfounded Flynn in his wake.

She pressed her forehead against the cool wood of the door. “How the hell did he find out?” She groaned, agitated. “Christ Flynn, he’s Nick Fury, he always finds out.”

Around three months ago Flynn found out she had powers. She gained them after a chunk of alien tech fell from the sky. Crazy, right? The tech--which was a good sized piece of metal if she was being honest--slammed into the back of her neck, embedding itself in her skin. Flynn could still feel it back there, sometimes rubbing her finger over the weird bump when she was nervous or bored. It must have been from a far-off society that thrived off radiation or something, because these new powers were seemingly radiation based. It was all still very new to Flynn, so she wasn’t 100% sure of anything regarding her abilities.

She trudged back to her room, shrugged off her lavender old lady nightgown, and stepped into bleach-stained grey sweatpants and an oversized I HEART NYC shirt. It was left over from her parents’ visit a while back. Hey, she wasn’t going to get all dolled up for a stranger who told her to “pack up her shit” at seven something in the morning.

Flynn grabbed a duffle bag and filled it with the basics; toiletries, a few pairs of clothes, and chargers for her devices. She hopped whatever Fury wanted with her was quick and easy. Trying to explain her disappearance at work would be a bitch.

Minutes later she appeared on the rooftop, seeing Fury standing off at the ledge, looking off into the distance. “Seen Fallen Soldier recently?”

Her blood ran cold.

Flynn licked her lips, “No.”

“Not after your skirmish in the alley?” He pressed, turning to face her.

Flynn shook her head.

Fallen Soldier was one of HYDRA’s goons. He was a fallen World War I soldier by the name of Dennis Van Dyke. According to what Flynn had read--which may or may not have been on the dark web. . .--HYDRA recently reanimated his once frozen corpse to snuff out anyone with powers. His supposed mission was to kill his target before dragging their body to a local HYDRA lab for testing.

It just so happened that he went after Flynn. Three nights ago while walking home from her shift at work, the corpse struck. He came at her with stinking, peeling flesh and the sharpest bayonet she had ever seen. While he moved at a slow pace, every time he made contact with Flynn she would get knocked over by his force. The fight was her first real power test-run. Flynn discovered she could fly and somehow create fireballs among other things. Going against Fallen Soldier was tiring. So much so she lit him on fire then proceeded to pass out on a nearby rooftop. Flynn was lucky he didn’t find her and kill her in her sleep.

Fury turned back around, facing the sun once more. From his coat pocket he drew a remote. In the sea of buttons he pressed a white one off to the left.

Hundreds of feet in the air floated the SHIELD Helicarrier. Flynn had never seen the beast of an air ship in person before. She only saw pictures of it from the battle in New York.

“Wow,” she breathed, nearly dropping the duffle bag.

“Welcome to your new home.” Fury said, watching as a ramp came down from the helicarrier’s underbelly.

Her brows immediately furred together. “My what?”

“New home! Can’t let you stay down here with that undead bastard looking high-and-low for you.”

Fury walked towards the ramp, taking quick strides. “Hurry up so we can get started on paperwork.”

She scampered after him like a puppy. “Why?”

“You’re just full of questions.”

“Oh no, how dare I question the man who told me to pack up my stuff and follow him.” Flynn groaned.

A look flashed over his face, like she did have a point. “I watched your fight with Fallen Soldier and I liked what I saw. Had to get to you before HYDRA.” Fury pressed another button, opening a door on the carrier’s side.

“Is this a temporary thing?”

“Temporary?” He howled. “Does Tony Stark shop at Walmart?”

“No. . .”

“Well, you have your answer.”

The inside of the helicarrier was bustling with life. Scientists in crisp white lab coats drifted around while armed security members marched from corridor to corridor, looking for any threats. Standing in the middle of that mess was Maria Hill.

The brunette had her arms crossed, eyes focused on Flynn. “How the hell did you get her onboard so quickly?”

Fury chuckled, “I have my ways, Hill.”

Maria rolled her eyes. “Welcome aboard, Aspen.” She held out a hand for a quick shake. “Come with me and I’ll take you for testing. It’s just to make sure your physical health is decent. If not, we have world-class doctors on board.”

“Don’t forget about that paperwork,” hollered Fury, walking away from the two women.

The ladies made eye contact. “The paperwork isn’t much, don’t worry. Most of it’s just new stuff the council requires.” Maria explained, easing Flynn’s mind just a little.

They walked down the hall, heading towards the lab wing.

Walking through the helicarrier was just mind boggling. Each part of the air ship held a certain meaning, and all of them served it well. She passed by a holding cell of lower-level, petty villains sitting inside. Many of which were whining about calling their lawyers. Another section was dedicated to the testing out of weapons. A tall ginger dressed in precautionary armor threw a small, onyx colored orb at a rubber dummy (akin to the ones found in dojos). Upon making contact with the dummy, the circle exploded, wrapping it in two thin but sturdy pieces of white rope. The tester let out an impressed noise and went to scribble something down on the clipboard next to her.

Now, they were in the lab wing. Each scientist aboard the helicarrier had their own designated lab, Maria explained. The one they were heading to belonged to their lead medical examiner, the one they sent all of the new recruits to, Doctor Sierra Warner.

Dr. Warner was a tall black woman with thick dreads dyed light brown almost blonde, pulled into a ponytail atop her head. She greeted the two with a smile, motioning for Flynn to take a seat on the examination table. “Welcome,” she said, voice as sweet as her smile.

“Thank you,” Flynn replied as she hopped onto the table.

“Fury’s newest recruit?” She inquired, eye flitting between Maria and Flynn.

Maria nodded, “Yup.”

The following minutes were taken up by basic tests; ones where Dr. Warner would check Flynn’s reflexes and her eyesight. Pretty standard stuff. Then she kind of went off track. “Fury showed me footage of your. . .fight with David Van Dyke--”

Flynn’s eyes nearly popped out of her head. He has footage of that? “How the hell did he get footage of that?”

Dr. Warner chuckled, “SHIELD has cameras all over New York.”

“God, you guys are like big brother.”

“I like to think we have flashier stuff here,” said Warner. “But as I was saying, Fury showed me your video and I thought it would be smart to use a dosimeter on you; just to check your radiation levels.”

“But why?”

The doctor shrugged, “I just have this gut feeling. Here at SHIELD we developed our own version. Instead of having you hold it, you’ll breathe into it like a breathalyzer. The results come back much faster and more accurately. For whatever reason.” Dr. Warner reached into a desk, and pulled out the SHIELD dosimeter, which did look a lot like a breathalyzer. “You can tell that I didn’t help in the development of this.”

“Who did?” Flynn inquired, grabbing the dosimeter. She brought the tube to her lips, sending a steady stream of air into the piece of tech.

“Dr. Celeste Flores-Rivero.” Warner replied, pulling the dosimeter from her mouth after it beeped, allowing her to know it was done processing the sample it had received. “Before she dropped off the map,” she muttered, observing the data displayed on the dosimeter’s digital screen.

“I’ll tell you later,” Maria whispered, giving Flynn’s shoulder a pat.

Dr. Warner chewed on her bottom lip, eyes flitting from Flynn to the dosimeter. “Flynn, I’ve never seen numbers like this before.” She rubbed at her chin, face full of uncertainty. “You’re as radioactive as Chernobyl. Hell, I didn’t even know that was possible.”

“Me?” She pressed the tip of her finger right in the middle of her chest. “Me? Flynn Aspen me?”

She nodded, “Yes.”

Flynn’s fingers went right to the back of her neck, feeling the foreign object just below her skin. “What will happen then?” God, I should’ve just stayed in my fucking room.

Dr. Warner wheeled her chair over to Flynn, resting two gloved hands on her knee caps. “We’ll figure something out. We’ve dealt with the Hulk, we can deal with some radiation. For the moment we’ll keep doing tests and then figure out what our next steps are. Some of the most brilliant minds are here, we’ll find a way to help you cope.”

She let out a heavy sigh, deflating a little bit. “Okay, yeah, that’ll work.”

[doubleattitude]

NUVO Dance Convention, Houston, TX: RESULTS

High Scores by Age:

NUbie Solo

1st: Navy Forrest-’Imagine’

2nd: Harper Schwalb-’Do What I Do’

3rd: Haddie Templet-’Do What I Do’

4th: Rose Ramirez-’Into the Unknown’

4th: Lucia Ruiz-’Popular’

5th: Anika Argueta-’Hallelujah’

6th: Alegria Jilpas-’Pure Imagination’

7th: Sloane Harris-’Never Enough’

8th: Maria Rosales-’Despacito’

8th: MJ Mackey-’I Don’t Want To Show Off’

9th: Mackenzie Griffin-’Small World’

Mini Solo

1st: Alexis Alvarez-’Welcome Home’

2nd: Landry Silas-’Cheek to Cheek’

2nd: Winter Eberts-’Dreamlike’

2nd: Diana Kouznetsova-’It’s In His Kiss’

3rd: Kylie Lawrence-’Breathe In’

3rd: Naiya Abalos-’Forces’

3rd: Tessa Ohran-’Knock 1-2-3′

3rd: Ava Grace Olson-’Tides of Time’

3rd: Isabella Kouznetsova-’Trouble’

4th: Claire Hansen-’By The Roses’

4th: Joli Vernon-’Joy’

5th: Ava Morford-’17 Hours’

5th: Faith Crain-’Notes of the Nymph’

5th: Harper Hammes-’Tu Quieres Volver’

5th: Justin Nguyen-’You Caused It’

6th: Lyla Terry-’Rescue’

6th: Jenesis Jackson-’Single Ladies’

7th: Rory Frye-’Amen’

7th: Brynlee Fitzgerald-’Can’t Get It Out’

7th: Hadlee Heriford-’Unbroken’

8th: Camille Foreman-’Boogie Woogie’

8th: London Smith-’Feel My Love’

9th: Natalie Gerami-’Evil Twin’

9th: Neve Colyn-?

10th: Hadley Richard-’Applause’

10th: Ella Williamson-’Experience’

10th: Khloe Kramer-’Giants’

Junior Solo

1st: Colby Rich-’I Lie’

2nd: Maya Ordonez-’For All That’s Lost’

2nd: Nyah Jackson-’Slow Meadows’

2nd: Kynadi Crain-’So Close, So Far’

3rd: Brooke Toro-’As The Dust Settles’

3rd: Brooke Vorst-’Girl From Ipanema’

3rd: Kinley Bertrand-’Rock With You’

3rd: Stella Vince-’Steep Turn’

4th: Taylor Harrison-’Dawn Chorus’

4th: Beyli Shah-’Heavy Hand’

4th: Anya Inger-’Quiet Thoughts’

4th: Bella Fernandez-’She Was Running’

5th: Brooke Dubbs-’I Know’

5th: Kara Yuan-’Petite Fleur’

5th: Elyse Tompkins-’Power of Love’

5th: Ellie Randolph-’Swan Song’

5th: Baileigh McKenzie-’Take Me’

5th: Emma Fontenot-’The Gate’

6th: Jaelynn Gatchett-’A Place of Peace’

6th: Haiden Neuville-’Before You Go’

6th: Campbell Thurow-’Can’t Touch This’

6th: Elyse Armstrong-’Hard to Love’

7th: Lena Hirsch-’Forsaken’

7th: Jocelyn Nguyen-’I Am Not Myself’

8th: Maegan Abadie-’Infinite’

8th: Juliana Reyes-’She Leads’

8th: Ava Grace Craig-’Sophie’s Choice’

8th: Madelyn McCauley-’Weightless’

9th: Julia Jacob-’Emotional Conclusions’

9th: Keira Kingsmore-’Medora Variation’

9th: Ansley Harris-’The Absence of Time’

9th: Jisselle Garza-’Waiting Game’

10th: Va’Shira Newborne-’Heat’

10th: Ava Grace Gallagher-’The Greatest’

Teen Solo

1st: Mariella Saunders-’Until We Break’

2nd: Chloe Slone-’As The Dust Settles’

2nd: Kate Abernathy-’Doomed’

2nd: Gianna Garwacki-’Epiphany’

2nd: Brecklyn Brown-’Fall On Me’

2nd: Cambry Bethke-’Sacred Space’

3rd: Hudson Pletcher-’Forged Imitation’

3rd: Madison Morita-’Lily of the Valley’

3rd: Paroma Pillay-’You’re Gonna Be Okay’

4th: Sarah Linn-’Under the Skin’

4th: Audrey Berg-’Schim’

4th: Ellie Tostenrude-’Mirror of the Mind’

4th: Grace Lundbom-’Filter’

4th: Hallie Hanes-’Escalate’

5th: William Huguet-’Sinister Heart’

5th: Sofia Ulloa-’Rainy Days and Mondays’

5th: Trista Brackin-’Marathon’

5th: Laila McGuire-’Albatross’

6th: Isabella Ferrara-’The Choir’

6th: Kieran Holmes-’Hear The Bells’

6th: Camille Reynolds-’Breakout’

7th: Nicole Larson-’Absence of Light’

7th: Fayeth Tippett-’Initiate’

7th: Gracie Booth-’Nature of Life’

7th: Jenna Laurent-’Regenerative’

8th: Arden Peterson-’To This Day’

8th: Avery Pesson-’Make My Cry’

8th: Rylie Rios-’Lost Without You’

8th: Rhylan Robicheaux-’An Evening I Will Not Forget’

9th: Kendall Wenmohs-’Carry You’

9th: Braden Ward-’Drilling An Ocean’

9th: Tessa Horsley-’Reflections’

9th: Reagan Wright-’Unearth’

10th: Libby Jo Parsons-’Free’

10th: Mason Ward-’Stones’

10th: Trent Grappe-’White’

Senior Solo

1st: Sarah Bratby-’Paracosm’

1st: Onye Stevenson-’Sleep’

2nd: Sophia Seymour-’Broken’

2nd: Elizabeth Perry-’Still Standing’

2nd: Damaris Salazar-’Unraveling’

3rd: Charlee Fagan-’Veils’

3rd: Selena Hamilton-’Keep An Eye Out’

3rd: Morgan Manning-’Change Gonna Come’

4th: Natalie Wong-’Tributary’

4th: Jaycee Mya Piper-’Happiness’

4th: Madi Autry-’A Face I Used to Know’

5th: Olivia Abadie-’Drawn To You’

5th: Alexa Williams-’Lost’

5th: Lainey Myers-’You Are The Reason’

6th: Camry Blackhurst-’Airstrike’

6th: Amelia Bradford-’Weightless’

7th: Carissa Dowling-’Lonely’

7th: Kaylie Wood-’The Shift’

8th: Camryn Guarino-’Shout’

8th: Presley Gouge-’Shadow Self’

8th: Isabel Ulloa-’Rose In Flames’

8th: Nyla Staes-’Let Go’

9th: Taelynn Ritchie-’If You Could Do It Again’

9th: Hayden Folse-’Particles’

9th: Sarah Hladky-’Swim’

9th: McKenzie Shaffer-’Whispers’

10th: Caroline Cottrell-’Let Him Go’

10th: Sophia Burns-’Rewind’

10th: Madison Morris-’She Used To Be Mine’

NUbie Duo/Trio

1st: Main Street Dance-’Glow’

Mini Duo/Trio

1st: Project 21-’I Am The Cute One’

2nd: Machita Dance Company-’Let’s Do It’

3rd: The Dance Kollective-’Reflection’

Junior Duo/Trio

1st: The Dance Kollective-’Both of Us’

2nd: Jean Leigh Academy of Dance-’Pace of Change’

3rd: Modern Conceptions of Dance-’Deuterium’

3rd: Artistic Dance Project-’Spies’

Teen Duo/Trio

1st: Jean Leigh Academy of Dance-’At Least For Now’

1st: Dance Institute-’Comme Les Anges Volent’

2nd: Main Street Dance-’Destinations’

2nd: The Dance Kollective-’Alter Ego’

3rd: The Dance Kollective-’Ascending’

3rd: Dance Du Coeur-’Hiding Place’

Senior Duo/Trio

1st: The Dance Kollective-’Exhumed’

1st: Artistic Soul Dance Company-’Sunder’

2nd: The Dance Kollective-’I Don’t Believe In Us’

3rd: The Movement Dance Academy-’Wild Love’

NUbie Group

1st: Machita Dance Company-’Land of 1000 Dances’

2nd: Dance Graphics-’Boogie Fever’

3rd: Main Street Dance-’Mom’

Mini Group

1st: Prodigy Dance and Performing Arts Centre-’We Love to Bebop’

2nd: Lancaster Dance Academy-’Want You Back’

3rd: Lancaster Dance Academy-’A Children’s Dream’

Junior Group

1st: The Dance Kollective-’Dreaming’

1st: Jean Leigh Academy of Dance-’Give Me More’

2nd: The Dance Kollective-’Like Lovers Do’

2nd: Dance Du Coeur-’Scapegoat’

3rd: Dance Du Coeur-’Wind It Up!’

Teen Group

1st: The Dance Kollective-’Tap Is Life’

2nd: The Dance Kollective-’Killing Me Softly’

2nd: The Dance Kollective-’The Heaven Complex’

2nd: Dance Du Coeur-’Truth’

3rd: Jean Leigh Academy of Dance-’Hymne a l’amour’

Senior Group

1st: The Dance Kollective-’Before I Go’

2nd: Artistic Dance Project-’Letting Go’

3rd: The Dance Kollective-’Give Me Love’

NUbie Line

1st: The Movement Dance Academy-’Crazy In Love’

2nd: Rios Dance-’Anaconda’

Mini Line

1st: Machita Dance Company-’In The Convent’

2nd: Dance Graphics-’Cover Girl’

3rd: Dance Graphics-’Like Jesus’

Junior Line

1st: The Dance Kollective-’Handful of Keys’

2nd: Artistic Dance Project-’Bright Horses’

2nd: Dance Du Coeur-’Small Hours’

3rd: The Movement Dance Academy-’War Child’

Teen Line

1st: Artistic Dance Project-’Greed’

2nd: Dance Du Coeur-’Leave Me My Name’

2nd: The Dance Kollective-’Sing It Back’

2nd: Dance Du Coeur-’Somewhere’

3rd: The Movement Dance Academy-’Trust Me Again’

NUbie Extended Line

1st: The Movement Dance Academy-’Strut’

Mini Extended Line

1st: Jean Leigh Academy of Dance-’Blow, Gabriel, Blow’

2nd: Main Street Dance-’Bom Bom Bom’

Junior Extended Line

1st: Jean Leigh Academy of Dance-’Reasonable Doubt’

2nd: Jean Leigh Academy of Dance-’Knock On Wood’

3rd: The Movement Dance Academy-’Mean Girls’

Teen Extended Line

1st: Artistic Dance Project-’Can’t Pretend’

2nd: Dance De Coeur-’Takeoff’

3rd: The Dance Kollective-’Goliath’

3rd: Tari’s School of Dance-’The Hive’

Senior Extended Line

1st: Artistic Dance Project-’Knocking On Heavens Door’

2nd: Artistic Dance Project-’GO!’

Teen Production

1st: Dance Institute-’Valse Romantique’

2nd: Dance Graphics-’What’s Poppin’

3rd: Main Street Dance-’Work Me Down’

High Scores by Performance Division:

NUbie Jazz

1st: Machita Dance Company-’Land of 1000 Dances’ 2nd: The Movement Dance Academy-’Crazy In Love’ 2nd: Dance Graphics-’Boogie Fever’ 3rd: Main Street Dance-’Mom’

NUbie Hip-Hop

1st: The Movement Dance Academy-’Strut’ 2nd: Rios Dance-’Anaconda’

NUbie Lyrical

1st: Modern Conceptions of Dance-’Ashes’

Mini Jazz

1st: Lancaster Dance Academy-’Want You Back’ 2nd: Machita Dance Company-’Shake; 3rd: Dance Graphics-’Glamorous Life’

Mini Hip-Hop

1st: Avant Dance LLC-’Bad to the Bone’ 2nd: Main Street Dance-’Cruising Cuties’

Mini Tap

1st: Prodigy Dance and Performing Arts Centre-’We Love to Bebop’ 2nd: Jean Leigh Academy of Dance-’Blow, Gabriel, Blow’ 3rd: Main Street Dance-’All Aboard’

Mini Contemporary

1st: Lancaster Dance Academy-’A Children’s Dream’ 2nd: Avant Dance LLC-’La Vie En Rose’ 3rd: Dance Institute-’And So It Begins’

Mini Lyrical

1st: Center Stage Performing Arts Studio-’Happiness’ 2nd: Lancaster Dance Academy-’Sparrow’ 3rd: Dance Graphics-’Salvation’

Mini Musical Theatre

1st: Machita Dance Company-’In The Convent’ 2nd: Dance Graphics-’It’s Party Time’ 3rd: Dance Graphics-’Stupid Cupid’

Junior Jazz

1st: Dance Du Coeur-’Wind It Up!’ 2nd: Jean Leigh Academy of Dance-’Knock On Wood’ 3rd: Dance Graphics-’Tip Toe’

Junior Ballet

1st: Collective Dance Artistry-’Promenade’ 2nd: Artistic Dance Project-’Marco Polo’

Junior Tap

1st: The Dance Kollective-’Handful of Keys’ 2nd: Artistic Dance Project-’Finesse’ 3rd: Avant Dance LLC-’Seville’

Junior Contemporary

1st: Jean Leigh Academy of Dance-’Give Me More’ 1st: The Dance Kollective-’Dreaming’ 2nd: Dance Du Coeur-’Scapegoat’ 3rd: The Movement Dance Academy-’Unraveling’

Junior Lyrical

1st: Artistic Dance Project-’Bright Horses’ 1st: Dance Du Coeur-’Small Hours’ 2nd: The Movement Dance Academy-’War Child’ 3rd: Dance Graphics-’The Light That Never Fails’

Junior Musical Theatre

1st: Jean Leigh Academy of Dance-’Reasonable Doubt’ 2nd: The Movement Dance Academy-’Mean Girls’

Junior Specialty

1st: The Dance Kollective-’Like Lovers Do’ 2nd: Main Street Dance-’1977′ 3rd: Paloma Limas & Company-’My Way’

Teen Jazz

1st: Dance Du Coeur-’Last Dance’ 2nd: The Dance Kollective-’Bringing It Back’ 3rd: The Movement Dance Academy-’Vibeology’

Teen Ballet

1st: Dance Institute-’Valse Romantique’ 2nd: Dance Institute-’Amore Argentine’ 3rd: Collective Dance Artistry-’Sylvia’

Teen Hip-Hop

1st: Dance Graphics-’What’s Poppin’ 2nd: Tari’s School of Dance-’Fame and Fortune’ 3rd: Main Street Dance-’Pinky Ring’

Teen Tap

1st: The Dance Kollective-’Tap Is Life’ 2nd: The Dance Kollective-’Killing Me Softly’ 3rd: Palm Valley Gymnastics and Dance-’Juice’

Teen Contemporary

1st: Dance Du Coeur-’Truth’ 1st: Dance Du Coeur-’Leave Me My Name’ 2nd: Jean Leigh Academy of Dance-’Hymne a l’amour’ 3rd: Jean Leigh Academy of Dance-’The Path’

Teen Lyrical

1st: Dance Du Coeur-’Somewhere’ 2nd: The Dance Kollective-’Remember Her’ 3rd: Creative Dance Studio-’Memory’ 3rd: Artistic Dance Project-’Journey’

Teen Musical Theatre

1st: Modern Conceptions of Dance-’Don’t Rain On My Parade’ 2nd: Avant Dance LLC-’C’mon Everybody’

Teen Ballroom

1st: The Dance Kollective-’Boss’ 2nd: Rios Dance-’Azucar’

Teen Specialty

1st: Artistic Dance Project-’Greed’ 2nd: The Dance Kollective-’The Heaven Complex’ 2nd: The Dance Kollective-’Sing It Back’ 3rd: Collective Dance Artistry-’The One Who Goes Astray’

Senior Jazz

1st: Lancaster Dance Academy-’Gimmie Dat’ 2nd: Pivotal Academy of Dance-’Born This Way’

Senior Hip-Hop

1st: Artistic Dance Project-’GO!’

Senior Tap

1st: Artistic Dance Project-’I Wanna Dance’

Senior Contemporary

1st: The Dance Kollective-’Before I Go’ 2nd: Artistic Dance Project-’Mother’ 3rd: Main Street Dance-’9 Crimes’

Senior Lyrical

1st: Artistic Dance Project-’Letting Go’ 2nd: The Dance Kollective-’Give Me Love’ 3rd: Dance Graphics-’Let You Know’

Senior Specialty

1st: Artistic Dance Project-’Knocking On Heavens Door’ 2nd: Texas Academy of Dance Arts-’You Always Hurt The One You Love’

Best NU Groups:

NUbie

The Movement Dance Academy-’Crazy In Love’

Machita Dance Company-’Land of 1000 Dances’

Dance Graphics-’Boogie Fever’

Mini

Dance Graphics-’Salvation’

Jean Leigh Academy of Dance-’Blow, Gabriel, Blow’

Machita Dance Company-’In The Convent’

Center Stage Performing Arts Studio-’Happiness’

Lancaster Dance Academy-’Want You Back’

Prodigy Dance and Performing Arts Centre-’We Love to Bebop’

Junior

Dance Du Coeur-’Scapegoat’

Jean Leigh Academy of Dance-’Give Me More’

The Dance Kollective-’Dreaming’

Artistic Dance Project-’Bright Horses’

The Movement Dance Academy-’Unraveling’

Dance Du Coeur-’Small Hours’

Teen

Jean Leigh Academy of Dance-’Hymne a l’amour’

Artistic Dance Project-’Greed’

The Dance Kollective-’Tap Is Life’

Modern Conceptions of Dance-’Distortion’

Collective Dance Artistry-’The One Who Goes Astray’

Dance Du Coeur-’Somewhere’

Machita Dance Company-’Holding On’

Creative Dance Studio-’Memory’

Main Street Dance-’Crash Test Dummies’

Tari’s School of Dance-’The Hive’

Dance Institute-’Valse Romantique’

The Movement Dance Academy-’Trust Me Again’

Dance Graphics-’What’s Poppin’

Senior

Lancaster Dance Academy-’Humanity’

Texas Academy of Dance Arts-’Love Lost’

Main Street Dance-’9 Crimes’

The Dance Kollective-’Before I Go’

Artistic Dance Project-’Letting Go’

Studio Pick:

Dance Graphics-’What’s Poppin’

Lancaster Dance Academy-’Humanity’

Dance Institute-’Valse Romantique’

Artistic Dance Project-’Greed’

Collective Dance Artistry-’The One Who Goes Astray’

Avant Dance LLC-’Clap, Clap’

Modern Conceptions of Dance-’Distortion’

Dance Du Coeur-’Somewhere’

West Austin Dance Academy-’Missionary Man’

The Movement Dance Academy-’Trust Me Again’

The Dance Kollective-’Tap Is Life’

Main Street Dance-’Crash Test Dummies’

Machita Dance Company-’Holding On’

[amadeusmccoy]

Aimless

Shadow had been isolated aboard the Space Colony ARK for some time now, lost in a sea of stars within the benevolent wonder of the cosmos. He’d left humanity behind, rejecting them before they could unite to destroy him. Even Rouge and Omega, his two closest “friends,” rarely if ever visited him, with the latter AWOL and the former in command of GUN as of late. His old so-called nemesis, Sonic, was down on Earth protecting those who gave Shadow nothing and Sonic everything. Time and time again, Dr. Ivo Robotnik took a gun and pointed it at the head of the small planet, intent on being the temporary ruler of a sphere of dirt and grass and water, for reasons unknown.

From his high, lonely vantage point, Shadow could almost see Knuckles down on Angel Island, isolated from his friends for weeks at a time for the protection of a hunk of rock and chaos energy. Shadow knew Rouge had feelings for Knuckles, and in many ways the two of them were nearly indistinguishable from each other in light of their mutual solitude.

There were things to be proud of and inspired by on Earth, make no mistake. From the young genius of Sonic’s eager sidekick Tails to the seeming but fragile synchronicity and symbiosis between the humanoid animals of the planet and the humans themselves, who’d naturally taken the role of leadership relatively unquestioned and uncontested. But Shadow couldn’t see through the veil of gray stagnation that plagued his vision, the delusion of persecution and misdirected misanthropy, and he felt this left him beyond the point of no return. Past the realm of salvation.

He was self-aware, if only to a slight degree. He could tell that his outlook was bleak and darkened to a point of aimless obsessive rumination, ever recurring and ever internalized. He knew that he was the one who had driven Rouge away, to his perceived competitor and incomprehensibly upbeat and optimistic world-renowned and respected hero, Knuckles. Despite his very same lonely existence.

That’s the part that stopped Shadow in his tracks, drove him to stand on the edge of the mechanical platform inside the observation deck of the ARK and gaze at the Earth in self-pitying wonder. How did he succeed where Shadow failed? How was he beloved while Shadow was exiled? Were all Shadow’s persecutory thoughts imagined, remnants of Gerald Robotnik’s mental conditioning from fifty years ago, a ghost of past heartbreak and resentment? Or were these valid thoughts, from his perspective? A flaccid, impotent manifesto for a species that doesn’t even dare to ask where Shadow had gone these past few months, or was it years, decades? Stuck on a floating metallic coffin in the bitter darkness of space, in all its infinite yet somehow shallow abyss, unable to partake in refuge or community with those that he vilifies and writes off?

At this point, Shadow had convinced himself that he was welcome to the singular embrace of solitude, for it was always better than the alternative of seeking people and care out and being shut out all the same. Whether it’s Rouge, or Omega, or Sonic, or Maria, they all leave in the end. Leave him to wallow in his mile-deep well of bitterness, which only pushes his friends further away, him closer to annihilation.

But at this point, again, he was unwilling or unable to make a change. For he was damned to be on this empty colony forever, lost in the undrawn canvas of space.