#but due to circumstances outside of his control he is unable to arrive at the arranged meeting point in time so they both leave without him

[random-iz-stuff]

What would tenn do if she was rescue by zim from meekrob? Would she follow order from the tallest to take the credit if zim trash the planet(is zim so he will)? Or go to earth with him to see what his been doing on earth.

It would really depend on the circumstances of their rescue. Because there are two separate groups trying to get to them, The Armada and Zim, who is working without the Empire’s knowledge or approval.

Zim isn’t supposed to know about Tenn’s capture. No one but the highest of the Irken society (that being the Tallest and their advisors) is supposed to know about it, but Zim learned about it anyways.

Zim originally suspected that something was wrong not long after the events of Megadoomer, as he had been in semi-frequent contact with Tenn up to that point, and asked the Tallest about it. After all, they’re the people that are directly in charge of high priority invader missions like Larb’s invasion of Vort, Tenn’s invasion of Meekrob and (presumably) his own invasion of Earth. But the Tallest gave him nothing because it was classified information that cannot be released to the public.

So Zim, knowing that something was wrong but being unable to get any information from his leaders, took some classified documents from the Massive when he took control of it in Backseat Drivers From Beyond The Stars. Just while he had the once-in-a-lifetime chance.

Since then, Zim has been working on a Meekrob Rescue Mission, and it’s one of his better plans, with Zim trying his best to make sure that there are as little flaws as possible before he decides to attempt it. He’s got a whole room in his base dedicated to it.

But while that’s going on on Earth, the Empire is trying to think of it’s own solution, and as much as the Tallest hate to admit it, Zim may have a large role in it.

Now, Tenn’s rescue poses several massive problems to the Empire. Firstly, they can’t make it obvious. The Irken public cannot know that their highest evaluated invader failed their mission. Tenn is one of the faces of Operation Impending Doom 2, right next to Larb (sent to Vort) and Grapa (after he replaced Skoodge), and the fact they they failed their mission would ERADICATE trust in Operation Impending Doom 2 as a whole.

And unlike Skoodge, they can’t replace Tenn with someone else. Skoodge is a short Irken that no one cares about or paid any attention to, not to mention that he only became a face of OID2 AFTER he conquered his planet. Tenn was hyped up as the best invader the Empire had and people actually paid attention to them. Tenn along with Larb were central figures even BEFORE the great assigning, and people will DEFINITELY notice if they’re replaced. This means that the Empire’s options are a bit more limited than what you’d expect.

There’s also the fact that Tenn was assigned Meekrob for a good reason. Meekrob is notoriously hard to even get close to given how aggressive the Meekrob are when it comes to people entering their territory. They rarely ever leave it and they never under any circumstances let people in. Even when conducting trade, Meekrob meet up with trading ships outside their territory and don’t let trading ships enter their borders. And once you’re on the planet, good luck because Meekrob is so hard to remain on that it’s almost comical. The atmosphere is toxic to any non-Meekrob life, Meekrob can speak to each other via telepathic networks so one person finding you means that everyone in the area knows where you are, Meekrob are tough in battle and will shoot first and ask questions later, and you probably don’t have much gear because sneaking onto Meekrob usually requires a small, fast ship with little cargo to avoid detection.

So a rescue mission needs an extremely capable soldier that will most likely be working alone due to how hard it is to get even one person on Meekrob. They will have little to no help from the Empire once they arrive and will be going up against an entire planet’s worth of people. And that’s before you consider how they’ll escape. It would require absolute stealth, especially since Meekrob is actively watching for invaders now. In other words, you need an invader. No other type of soldier is equipped for the job.

But the thing is, the Empire doesn’t want to use invaders that have already completed their missions. Successful Invaders are popular figures in the public eye, and one of them being sent on a mission of any kind would be a big thing, especially a mission ordered by the Tallest. There’s also a very large chance that the invader will fail this extremely dangerous almost-suicide mission, meaning that the Empire will need to cover THAT up too. So they need an invader or something with invader training, but that invader needs to be pretty much unknown by the general public, so when they inevitably get sent to their death and disappear, no one will notice or care.

The Empire can’t pull invaders from their current missions either, so that leaves us with exactly two options: Skoodge and Zim.

Skoodge is an extremely effective invader and because of his height and the fact that he wasn’t given credit for Blorch, no one knows who he is, nor will they care when this short Irken dies. But no one wants to use Skoodge because of his height. If Skoodge succeeds and brings back Tenn, most likely leaving Meekrob completely exposed and ripe for the Armada to swoop in and take over in the process, people will know. And it would be very difficult to wipe all traces of Skoodge from Meekrob related media. Footage would need to be destroyed or covered up, voice clips from calls would need to be destroyed or covered up, and so on. And if anything goes wrong there, an extremely short Irken will forever be attached to the destruction of Meekrob. It’s too risky and would be a nightmare to cover up.

That leaves us with Zim. Even though his current mission is fake, Zim still has invader training, and can be quite effective in the right situations. He’s also Zim, so no one will notice or care about his death.

It also guarantees that Zim won’t get in the way of mission like he might if it’s done without him, as the Empire remembers how he came looking for information regarding Tenn before and some are paranoid that he’ll somehow figure it out and throw himself at Meekrob without a plan, throwing any prospect of a rescue mission into jeopardy.

Plus, unlike with Skoodge, Its much easier to edit out Zim if he does succeed. Zim and Tenn have the same body shape, eye colour, etc, with the only large difference being in height. All the Empire needs to do is add eyelashes, curled antennae and a few inches of height to Zim in any footage he appears in and the story instantly looks like Tenn did it all on their own. Plus, even though Zim is below average in height, he’s not as extremely short as Skoodge.

Using Zim also gives the Empire several possible outcomes, all of which are at least slightly beneficial.

Outcome 1: Zim fails. This means that Tenn remains captured, but Zim is no longer a problem. Plus there’s a good chance that Zim will take a good chunk of Meekrob down with him.

Outcome 2: Zim success and brings Tenn back to Empire space. This means that Tenn is safe and Meekrob is most likely in the perfect position for the Armada to take over. Zim is still alive, but he can be sent back to Earth while getting none of the credit due to how easily the Empire can photoshop Zim to look exactly like Tenn.

Outcome 3: Tenn dies on Meekrob and Zim returns empty handed. The worst outcome out of the lot of them, but even here Zim’s escape from Meekrob would leave it open for attack.

The only problem is that this plan involves Zim. The single most unpredictable Irken in existence. Even if the Tallest tell him exactly what to do, they’re still less “guiding him” than they are “pointing him in the vague direction of Meekrob and hoping for the best”. All plans for Meekrob involving Zim also involve an evacuation plan for every ship near the Meekrob system, because Zim being involved could damage the Empire more than he damages Meekrob.

Plans detailing how exactly Zim should be used also vary wildly. Some say that Zim should be given proper, modern invader equipment for this mission instead of the trash he’s normally given to maximize the chance of him succeeding, others say that he should be sent with what he has even though it isn’t modern invader tech to minimize the amount of collateral damage and destruction that he could cause, and one guy suggested a three step plan that goes as follows:

Step 1: Put Zim in a giant mech like the one he drove in OID1.

Step 2: Fire the mech out of a massive cannon directly at Meekrob, hopefully smashing him into Meekrob’s surface before anyone has a chance to react.

Step 3: Tell Zim to go ham and watch the fireworks from a safe distance.

This plan was not received well and has started several arguments.

Neither Zim nor the Tallest are aware of each other’s plans. The Tallest don’t know that Zim knows about Tenn’s capture and don’t want to tell him unless they’re absolutely certain that he can be effectively used, and Zim is under the impression that the Tallest would never use him in a rescue mission because he’s already on a different Super Important and Super Secret Mission here on Earth and definitely doesn’t want to tell the Empire about his planned rescue mission because he stole classified documents to learn about Tenn’s capture in the first place.

So what happens to Tenn after they’re rescued (and even if they’re rescued at all) depends entirely on what happens first; the Tallest swallowing their pride and rolling the dice with Zim or Zim completing his preparations and going for it without the Empire’s knowledge or approval.

If Tenn’s rescue is an Empire Mission, Tenn would be immediately brought to the Massive for debriefing, medical stuff, the Conquering of Meekrob and it’s organic sweep, dealing with Zim, the like. Tenn would be given credit for Meekrob and Zim would be shoved to the side. Even if Tenn wanted to give credit to Zim, the Empire wouldn’t allow it.

If Tenn’s rescue is done by Zim on his own, Tenn would be taken back to Earth and Zim’s base for a while to recover from everything (Maximum security Meekrob prisons aren’t exactly nice places to stay for long periods of time), but would eventually head back to Irken space and the Massive for most of the above reasons.

Once again, Tenn would be forced to take full credit for Meekrob because the Empire doesn’t want anyone to know that they failed and got themselves captured, plus the Empire might not even know or believe that Zim was involved at all. The Tallest might assume that what was actually Zim sneaking onto the planet and blowing a good chunk of it up in the process was simply Tenn escaping on their own.

And even if they don’t assume that, Meekrob have a lot of enemies. Even the Resisty refuses to work with them. That massive event that happened down on Meekrob could have been anyone, Irken or not. And the Tallest have no reason to believe it was Zim as long as you ignore Tenn telling them that it was Zim. After all, that walking defect could never do something that impressive on his own.

[only-mildly-evil]

[mfb-better-fury]

Episode 2

Day

The boy from the observatory is exiting an airport on his quest to find Gingka by going to the WBBA headquarters. He momentarily stops to wonder if he should go elsewhere, but his musing is cut off as Johannes appears, forcing him into a bey battle. (Beat Lynx VS Mercury Anubius) Feeling outmatched, the boy decides to flee, but Johannes catches him easily.

Determined to find Gingka and share what he knows, the boy makes an escape by knocking numerous crates and boxes over.

At the WBBA, Kyoya is asleep in a bedroom with the new Leone sitting on the nightstand next to him.

Out in the hall, the others are gathered, having been joined by Hikaru. Gingka, Kenta, and Madoka are beginning to question Benkei about Kyoya’s condition. He is uncomfortable with this but admits there’s no point in hiding it anymore.

Shortly after the events of Battle Bladers, he had started noticing Kyoya acting somewhat strangely. Kyoya had denied anything was wrong at first, but after about a month he’d shown up out of the blue looking shaken. He’d then confided in Benkei that he was beginning to hear a dark voice in his mind. Obviously this concerned Benkei, and this worry only grew when Kyoya added it had gotten clearer over the past few days. He could now tell that it had latched on to his desire to defeat Gingka and was driving him to want more – to destroy him and Pegasus completely. Convinced this had to be L-Drago’s doing, the two of them had reached out to Hikaru and Tsubasa.

At the mention of her, the trio looks at Hikaru in surprise; she refuses to meet their eyes. She admits that what Benkei says is true – she and Tsubasa both had known about Kyoya’s issues all along. The three of them along with Benkei had decided to keep it all a secret so as to not worry anyone, though as they all knew from the World Championships that had not worked out with Tsubasa.

Madoka hesitantly starts to ask something but keeps faltering. Hikaru answers the unasked question – she’s never heard voices, exactly. For her it was a cold, crushing feeling when she launched Aquario, and nightmares when she slept. She is not eager to talk about this and quickly moves back to the topic of Kyoya.

Hikaru and Benkei explain that the reason Kyoya had distanced himself from them all after Battle Bladers was because of this voice, as he didn’t want to put them in harm’s way. Once it was loud enough that he couldn’t disobey it, however, costing him his spot in the Japanese representative team, he had decided that the only way to be free was to sate it. To do that, he had to find another way into the tournament so that he would be able to face Gingka. This is why he disappeared and formed Wild Fang.

Kenta asks if Nile and Demure know; Benkei solemnly confirms. Just as Benkei had found Kyoya with them, the dark power had spiked as it was realizing it would have a chance to face Gingka now that Kyoya was in an opposing team. It took all three of them to calm Kyoya and Benkei had confessed everything to them. There had been many more spikes during the championships, including one just before the press conference with Chandora. After they had snapped Kyoya out of it he wasn’t fit to attend, so they had sent Benkei as a way to cover their tracks and make sure no one knew something was wrong. Benkei adds with a sad smile that he is and forever will be grateful beyond words for them standing by Kyoya’s side, rather than running away to save themselves.

Gingka, Kenta, and Madoka are worried into silence from hearing all this. Hikaru sees this and assures them it’s not their fault and they shouldn’t feel like it is. As it is now, Tsubasa has broken free, and her nightmares are starting to dwindle. Benkei adds that this is the first time Kyoya has erupted like that since just after the World Championships, meaning it’s been a few months and they see this as great progress.

Even so, Gingka can’t stop himself from commenting that if he had been able to stop L-Drago when Ryuga had first reawakened, none of this would have happened to them in the first place. However, he let Pegasus’ anger about Ryo’s supposed death take control of him. He looks at the bey sadly. Benkei, Kenta, and Madoka remember the strange red aura that had surrounded him back then. Kenta says he had always wondered what exactly that was, and it makes sense that it would have been from Pegasus given the circumstances.

Hikaru is unable to provide Gingka with reassurance, not knowing what to say. She simply reaffirms that it is not his fault, no matter what he thinks.

After an awkward silence, Hikaru says she’s going to check on Kyoya and heads into the bedroom. Benkei watches her go; when Madoka asks if he’s going to follow he says no. Though he will follow Kyoya to the ends of the earth and fight by his side forever, this is one thing that Hikaru is better suited for than he is. He takes out Dark Bull to look at sadly, saying that it is all he can do to simply keep Kyoya from hurting anyone because he knows Kyoya would never be able to forgive himself if that happened.

The others are quiet for a moment before Kenta notices something and asks what happened to Bull. Benkei is caught off guard and tries to evade the question, but as he does so Bull is shown more clearly – it is rather heavily damaged.

Madoka cries out in alarm at this and demands to know what happened, before stopping herself as she remembers how Benkei had stopped the new Leone from hitting Pegasus, then proceeded to battle it. She realizes that Benkei has been going against Kyoya during these dark power spikes for months and feels horrible that she hadn’t thought to ask to check on Bull and Leone after the World Championships.

Benkei quiets her, saying that while he may not have the best tools like her or access to a bunch of new parts, he is still fully capable of taking care of his bey. During the World Championships, and even before that in the days of the Facehunters, he was the one who would clean and repair his teammates’ beys so they could continue to battle. This surprises them all as they hadn’t realized Benkei had this skill.

Even with this reassurance, Madoka begs him to let her give Bull a thorough repair while they try to figure out what’s going on with Leone. After looking at Bull again and thinking to himself that there is only so much he can do, and Bull has given him so much strength protecting Kyoya, Benkei relents on the condition that she allows him to help. Madoka agrees to this compromise.

In the WBBA bedroom, Hikaru is sitting in a chair close to the bed when Kyoya stirs. She is relieved to see him awake, but he doesn’t respond. His only action is to quickly look around then pick up Leone from where it sits.

After a lengthy silence, Hikaru gently tells Kyoya that Madoka would like to watch the new Leone in battle so they can try to learn more about it. Kyoya turns away at this. After another pause, Hikaru comes to a decision and leans forward a bit to say: “What if…”

Later in the day, the group along with Ryo is gathered in the multi-stadium arena in town. Kyoya and Hikaru aren’t present, making Ryo wonder what made them late when Hikaru was the one who told them Kyoya was ready to do the test battles and they should meet here. Though Kenta worries something may have happened to Kyoya, Benkei assures them that the two likely took a detour so that Kyoya could better clear his head before facing them. He then asks that they not bring up the incident, revealing one more thing – Kyoya hardly remembers anything that happens when the dark power spikes. The others are startled, but Ryo promises to keep quiet at least for now.

Moments later, Kyoya and Hikaru arrive. Hikaru apologizes for being late and explains they had needed to stop to pick something up. Kyoya says nothing and is clearly avoiding meeting their eyes. Due to his silence, Hikaru adds that Kyoya’s ready to get things started.

Benkei immediately offers to be Kyoya’s opponent, but Madoka shuts him down. She reminds him that Bull needs to be looked at and he should not battle until that has been done.

Gingka clenches his fists at his side and holds his tongue. Though he wants to help, he is certain that it would be a bad idea for Kyoya to battle him again so soon after what happened.

Kenta begins to offer to battle, but this time Hikaru denies it. She instead asks him to hold her tablet, then explains that Kyoya will be battling against her. Everyone else but Kyoya is shocked at this and Ryo asks if she’s certain. She responds by saying that it will be good for the both of them, then begins to head down to the stadiums without another word; Kyoya follows.

As they watch Hikaru and Kyoya take their places, Madoka expresses her concerns about Hikaru battling in a tournament-level stadium for the first time since Battle Bladers. Ryo is watching silently, hoping Hikaru knows what she’s doing.

Hikaru takes a moment to look at her launcher, then readies it. Kyoya only stares at her for a moment before speaking at last: “Are you sure?” The concern on his face is just as clear as it is on the others’ and Hikaru’s apparent confidence falters slightly. Her launcher lowers for a moment, but she then takes a deep breath and lifts it again. Her response: “I trust you, Kyoya.”

Her words hit, and Kyoya readies his launcher. In her mind, Hikaru reminds herself of something she has always been sure of: No matter what has happened to him, Kyoya is their friend. He would never hurt her.

The two count down and they both have a successful launch, which Ryo is happy to see. Madoka begins the analysis of the new Leone as it and Storm Aquario begin a steady but lighthearted battle. (? Leone VS Storm Aquario) Though troubled by everything that has been happening since yesterday, Gingka is relieved as he watches Hikaru slowly begin to relax and let herself get into it.

Outside in a park, the boy from the observatory hasn’t been able to shake Johannes. He’s now walking backward to keep an eye on Lynx but is flung back after a hard attack. Struggling to sit up the boy calls Johannes a bully; Johannes claims it’s not personal, just his job. He then calls for Lynx and the explosion knocks the boy further away. His cries call the attention of someone passing by, who considers the situation for a moment before turning in their direction.

As the boy tries to get a hold of himself, Johannes is snickering and saying that he should just give up now and go back home. Shaky and scared though he is, the boy refuses; Johannes tsks and says he tried to warn him before sending Lynx in for a finishing move. Before the attack can connect, they hear the call of someone launching their bey. Lynx is knocked away from Anubius as Storm Capricorn enters the battle, bouncing all over. Startled, the boy looks back in the direction the bey came from.

Tobio is still holding his launcher and muses aloud that he’s all about taking down a target, but there’s no point in a battle where the opponent has already lost their fighting spirit.

After a brief delay of confusion, the boy recognizes Tobio from Battle Bladers. He then hesitates because as he recalls, Tobio had entered as a member of the Dark Nebula. Then, out loud, he realizes something more important: “You know Mr. Gingka!”

Tobio acknowledges and agrees with this statement, to which the boy continues that he desperately needs to speak to Gingka as soon as possible. As Tobio gets a better look at the boy he finds that he looks somewhat familiar and wonders if he’s seen him in Gingka’s crew before. He decides it’s not important at the moment and turns his attention back to Johannes, telling him that if he wants a challenge then he and Capricorn will gladly oblige. Johannes watches Capricorn’s movements and the way it’s hitting Lynx for a few seconds, then hisses that this has become too annoying and calls his bey back. He takes off before either Tobio or the boy can say anything.

Tobio calls back Capricorn then turns to the boy, asking how he knows Gingka. The boy confesses that he’s never met Gingka but his cousin is often with him. This intrigues Tobio and he internally recalls that he hasn’t been able to pay Gingka and his friends back for helping him repair his, Ryutaro’s, and Tetsuya’s beys after Doji had made them battle Ryuga. As he looks at the boy again, he realizes why he looks familiar – he reminds Tobio of “what’s-her-face...Madoka”. He doesn’t remark on this yet, just tells the boy to call back his bey and they’ll go somewhere that he can get patched up. The boy watches him for a moment in silence before nodding, though he’s clearly wary.

In the arena, both Kyoya and Hikaru have managed to gain their footing. There is still clear hesitation in Hikaru’s calls to her bey, but she has started to smile. Kyoya has started to come out of his silence as well, though he is still fairly subdued.

Ryo observes that Leone is quite clearly much stronger than before and asks if Madoka has made any headway. She nods and begins to talk about her findings – Leone’s fusion wheel has been separated into a core and a frame, and if they rearrange these pieces, different modes are now possible to achieve. By flipping Leone’s fusion frame, Kyoya will unlock a counter mode instead of his typical defense. This is why after evolving, Leone’s hits had gained so much sudden power. In counter mode, Leone would be considered an attack type bey. On the other hand, if the fusion frame is flipped right-side-up, Kyoya should still be able to access defense-type features as per normal.

The others are impressed, but Gingka still wonders what caused the transformation in the first place. Ryo agrees with this and asks Benkei if he can remember anything strange happening before the battle took place. Madoka adds that he should share anything even if it seems insignificant.

After some thought, Benkei confesses that he may know something, though he’s not sure if it’s important. The night before last, he and Kyoya were training in Wolf Canyon. After Dark Bull was knocked out their training was interrupted by a light headed straight for Kyoya, now holding Leone. Once the light had faded and they could see again, Leone was left dimly gleaming and both bladers were confused as to what had just happened. He finishes with how since it had happened so quickly he assumed he must have just dreamed it.

Ryo is bewildered by the mention of “a light that fell from the sky” but Madoka remembers that she had seen the same kind of light pass by her window as she was working on Pegasus that same night. She then pauses and seems to contemplate something, murmuring about lights from the sky and wondering why that sounds familiar, though the others don’t hear this.

As for the battle, Hikaru has started to realize that although she is shaking, it doesn’t feel like the same cold fear that usually takes her over. No – this is excitement. She can’t remember the last time she felt this way. After taking a breath and clenching her fist, she thinks to herself that this is what she’s missed so much. Words from her mother, not from when she was a child but far more recently, pass through her mind: “At the end of the day, what beyblade is meant to be is a game. Taking it too seriously will take out any enjoyment you could get from it, and then what’s the point of battling at all?”

Hikaru knows she’s been letting her fear control her. For a while, she was too shattered to try and do anything about it. Now though, as she looks across at Kyoya who is still not quite himself, and down at Aquario which she can hear singing with the excitement of being active once again, she knows that just like Kyoya and Tsubasa have had to do, it’s her time to fight her fears.

As Kyoya is mentally noting Aquario’s attacks don’t seem to be very effective against the new Leone, Hikaru calls out and catches his attention. He finds her standing taller than she has in a long time, and she asks if he’d like to see if he can still take hits as well as he can dish them out. After a surprised pause, he manages a small smirk and wonders if she’s up to the challenge.

Hikaru tells Aquario that it’s time they let loose and have some fun, then calls for Infinite Assault. Aquario’s duplication technique goes into full effect, surrounding Leone and barraging him from all sides like waves crashing onto the shore of a small island. Noting that Leone is hardly bothered, Kyoya asks if that’s the best she’s got. Hikaru answers that she’s not done yet and she’ll make Leone lose its footing no matter what; her blader’s spirit has begun to rise around her for the first time in months. Kyoya tells Leone to stay steady; Hikaru tells Aquario not to hold back.

A pulse runs through the real Aquario, unnoticed. Before anyone can really process it, Hikaru’s spirit explodes and the stadium is engulfed in white light.

[broadstbroskis]

surprises- pt 2 | mat barzal

back for part two! thanks for the love on part one! i would like to highly encourage you all to watch how i met your mother, which is referenced in this chapter, and is one of the all time greatest tv series (with one of the all time worst endings-does it count as spoilers if its this old??)

anyway, enjoy part two💜

part one

-----

Mat rolls back into town a week after you’ve confirmed the results. So just when you think you’ve got your panic under control, you and Molly catch him walking out of his apartment as you’re walking out of the elevator back toward yours, and the panic flares up immediately.

“Hey!” Mat grins, walking faster to meet the two of you at the elevator, where Molly is holding the door for him. “Missed you guys!”

“You too!” Molly says, when it becomes clear that you’re incapable of speaking. “How was home?”

“Good.” Mat smiles. He looks lighter, happier, as relaxed as he always does upon his return from home. You almost laugh when you realize it won’t last long. “But it’s great to be back.”

“Always is, right?” Molly smiles.

Mat nods. “Yeah, and not just because you two won’t be killing my plants.”

“Oh shit!” Molly slaps her mouth over her hand and you freeze, eyes wide. In all the panic, you two had totally forgotten to even attempt to water, let alone replace the plants in his apartment.

“Oh shit is right!” Mat laughs, used to this particular brand of chaos from you and Molly. “Usually you guys at least pretend like you’ve done work and buy new ones! What happened?” You look down, avoiding his gaze completely, and Molly coughs out a string of words you’re certain aren’t English and definitely aren’t a real sentence. “Oh shit, did something actually happen?”

“Do you want to have dinner with us tonight?” Molly blurts.

“Molly!” You cry.

“Okay, never mind?” She hesitates.

You sigh. No, her first thought was right. It’s best to just rip the bandaid off. “No, tonight’s fine.”

Mat’s giving the two of you a weird look-well, actually, it’s directed mostly at you. Like he’s finally noticed you refuse to meet his eyes. “Is everything okay, you guys?”

“Yeah,” Molly assures him. “We’re good!”

“YN?” He asks hesitantly. “Are you okay?”

“Yep.” You squeak, eager to go take some deep breaths away from his presence. You’ve got some thinking to do about this evening. “All good.”

Mat eyes you skeptically, but shrugs one last time. “I’ll see you guys tonight then.”

-----

Around fifteen minutes before Mat is due to arrive at your apartment for dinner, Molly pulls on a sweatshirt and starts to make her goodbyes. “Well, hit me up if you need me; Brian says his offer to beat Mat up still stands.”

“You’re leaving?” You ask incredulously, from the kitchen, where you’re filling a bowl of chips to snack on before pizza arrives.

She gives you a look. “I mean, do you really want me here?”

“Yes!” You huff immediately.

Molly presses harder. She knows you too well. “Really?”

You sigh. “No.” It’s definitely something you want to do on your own. Just you and Mat.

“Right.” She laughs. “I’ll come as soon as you call.” She promises, reaching out to hug you supportively. “If you want me back tonight, I’ll be here!”

“Thank you.” You squeeze her one last time and then let her go.

The next fifteen minutes rival only the time you spent waiting for the line to appear on that first pregnancy test you took just over two weeks ago on how high your anxiety is. UberEats buzzes your phone, notifying you that your pizza has arrived, so you slip down to pick up dinner, noting the slightly open door of your apartment when you come back up and pausing for a minute before entering yourself.

Mat’s arrived. This is it. No going back once you step inside.

“YN!” A voice that is decidedly not your neighbor’s shouts the second you walk in the door. “Aw man, and you’ve got pizza? A woman after my own heart!”

You freeze in the doorway as Mat slugs the arm of his teammate. Anthony Beauvillier just laughs. “Sorry.” Mat apologizes. “Just for his everything. I figured you guys wouldn’t mind if he came though.”

“Heh.” You say, unable to articulate a real thought. Under literally any other circumstances you wouldn’t have minded Tito being here. But now? This second?

“Where’s Moll at anyway?” Mat asks, looking around.

You realize that you’re still frozen in the doorway and start to make your way toward the two of them slowly. “Uhh she’s uhh at Brian’s.”

Mat frowns, like he’s trying to place his name. “The guy all over her Insta?” You nod. “Rude. Invites us over for dinner and then ditches us?” He pulls out his phone and starts texting. “I’m going to give her so much shit.”

“Heh.” You say again, looking for any subject to move on to. “Should we eat?”

“Fuck yeah, I’m starving.” Mat says, throwing his phone down after finishing his text.

You try to smile at that, try to keep things as normal as you can as the three of you make small talk while you get plates and pizza. You’ll just tell him later. Tito will go home and you and Mat will talk at the end of the night. Or tomorrow. You’ll go over first thing in the morning and tell him if you need to.

You’re so distracted by this thought you don’t even notice Tito. “Beer?” Mat nods and Tito chucks him one from the fridge. “YN, catch?”

“No thanks.” You say nervously.

Tito shrugs but when he comes over, he’s got two bottles in his hand and he slides one over to you. “Which one?”

“Uhh.” You hesitate. This was not how you wanted this to go down. “Neither.”

Tito laughs. “I’ve never seen you turn down a beer! What, are you pregnant?” He jokes. 

There’s absolutely nothing you can say to that so you bury your face in your hands, unable to face Mat, who’s now choking on a very poorly timed sip of beer.

“Holy shit!” Tito mutters repeatedly. “Holy shit, holy shit.”

And it’s that that finally gives you the strength to look up at Mat, tears in your eyes. “I’m so sorry.”

“Get out.” Mat gestures to his best friend, voice still sounding absolutely wrecked from minutes of choking.

Tito’s already moving before he even says it. He’s got his beer in one hand and grabbing one of the pizza boxes in his other and practically running from your apartment. From the silence between you and Mat you can hear the door to Mat’s place slam shut and then Mat, who hasn’t taken his eyes off of you since you looked up at him, opens his mouth to speak, but you cut him off. “I’m so sorry.” You repeat and then the damn breaks, the sobs coming uncontrollably.

Mat’s arms wrap around you, pulling you close the second he gets over to you. He presses soft kisses into your hair and holds you closer and closer but you’re fairly certain that he’s crying the same as you are the entire time.

-----

It’s hours before you can lift your head again and you only know that because it’s dark outside your window. Mat has, apparently, moved the two of you to your living room couch at some point, because his arms are still wrapped around you and you’re both lying comfortably on the couch, instead of collapsed into his arms from the chair. He doesn’t seem to notice your arrival back to Earth, one hand just gently moving through your hair, and so you take a shaky breath and start. “Please don’t be mad.”

“Mad?” He sounds incredulous and his hand stops moving for a second, but just before you have time to mourn the loss, picks right back up. “I mean-” He lets out a deep breath. “How could I be mad?”

You shrug. You’re pretty sure you’ve hit every emotion on the spectrum since you found out, including anger, and you tell him so. “I’ve been a bit of a wreck for the last couple weeks.”

“Well I think you’re allowed to be.” Mat replies. “But weeks? Why didn’t you tell me sooner?”

“About two.” You tell him softly. “I really didn’t want to tell you over the phone.”

He’s silent at that. “You could’ve...I don’t know. Told me to come home, or something. I would have been on the first flight back.” Yeah, he probably would have; you’re almost certain of it. But the time to process the news yourself was needed, whether you knew it at the time or not. “I’m sorry you were going through this by yourself.”

“You’re here now.” You tell him. “That's all that matters.” He drops another kiss into your hair. “And now we can talk about what to do going forward.”

He freezes. “What uh. What do you want to do?”

You pick your words carefully. “I want you to know that I’m not holding you to anything. Really! I just wanted you to know-

“I’m going to be here.” Mat cuts you off.

“Okay, but you don’t-”

“YN.” Mat says, maneuvering himself so he can look at you. “I’m serious. I’m here for this, all the way. You’re in, I’m in. Whatever you want to do. Okay?”

You nod. “Okay.” You repeat.

“Good.” He smiles at you, the first time since the news dropped, and you hesitantly return it.

“Brian did threaten to beat you up if you weren’t in, so I guess it’s good you’re sticking around.” You poke him.

“Skinny little Brian, all over Molly’s Insta?” You nod. “You don’t think I could take him?”

You shrug. “Won’t have to find out, will we?”

Mat laughs, lying his head back against the pillows and pulling you close again. “I’ll find something to throw down with him, don’t you worry.”

-----

Your first official check up with your OB/GYN has you feeling so much better about the baby thing in general. Anxieties eased with your questions answered, you text Mat a picture of the ultrasound on your way home, captioning the picture we have a cherry.

“Where are you?” He demands, when he calls you less than a minute later.

“Walking into the building.”

“You went without me?” He sounds hurt, legitimately so, not like he’s faking it for the dramatism, and it occurs to you that maybe you should have let him know what was happening. But there were just so many weird things changing with you; you just wanted to be able to fire off questions to your doctor about everything.

“I’m sorry.” You suppose you could have just kicked him out of the Q&A portion of the day. “Really. I just-you can come next time, I promise.”

“I want to!” Mat says quickly.

“Are you home?” You ask. “I can come over right now.”

He is, so instead of going over to your place, you bump over into his, where he is, unshockingly, playing some video game with Tito. Mat shuts it off the minute you enter though. “Hi.”

“Hi.” You laugh, sitting down in the chair across from them, delighting in the look on Tito’s face as he looks between the two of you.

“I guess...I’m going...to go.” He says slowly, making no moves to stand.

You fight back a laugh. “Tito, d’you wanna stick around?”

“Yes!” He grins at you immediately. “How’s our little girl doing in there?”

“Our?” Mat parrots. “What do you mean our? What role did you play in this?”

“Godfather, obviously.”

“Oh, you think?” Mat grins.

“Actually, right now, you are one of five people who does know about this.” You tell Tito. “And I’d like to keep it that way until we get a chance to tell some other people we need to.”

His eyes light up. “Can we call ourselves Team Baby?”

“You can call yourselves whatever the fuck you want as long as you keep it between us three, Molly, and Brian until 12 weeks and you don’t get those stupid fucking t-shirts made, alright Ted Mosby?” He’s already texting; you’re sure he and Molly are already in plans to make shirts.

You look over at Mat, laughing at  his friend, but Mat’s just eyeing you carefully. “You’re okay?” He asks. “Everything’s good?”

You nod. “Right on track.”

Mat nods, looking more pale than you’ve ever seen him, and he breathes out a deep breath. “Right. So we’re having a cherry then.”

“Next week, it’ll be a strawberry.” You inform him.

That does absolutely nothing to decrease the worry on his face.

[cruelfeline]

I’ve spoken of the questionable nature of Hordak’s initial ability to choose; given the nature of his “upbringing,” I don’t agree that he had equally viable options to choose from upon arriving on Etheria. Additionally, I’ve noted the first time I believe he really did have those viable options: once he and Entrapta started working together, and Entrapta introduced the idea of a satisfying life without Horde Prime.

Thinking about these matters (because thinking about Hordak is apparently my life’s work now), a very sad notion occurred to me: once Hordak finally has the real ability to choose his own path, that choice is taken away from him. Again and again.

This moment here, when both Entrapta and Hordak appear less-than-thrilled at the prospect of the portal actually fulfilling its intended function, marks the first legitimate choice I feel Hordak is able to consider. 

His visible cheering up at the prospect of just working on the portal “until it’s perfect” (AKA forever) suggests that he is actually leaning towards the option of just staying on Etheria with Entrapta, potentially severing his ties to the greater Horde. Prime’s later assessment of Hordak wishing the former wouldn’t come for him all but confirms this.

The sadness comes in when, rather than having the opportunity to choose not to activate the portal, Hordak has this first real choice taken away by Catra. He never hears Entrapta’s warnings about the portal’s instability. He never gets the chance to weigh portal safety against Entrapta’s companionship against Prime’s respect. He not only gets lied to about the circumstances surrounding the portal’s stability and Entrapta’s absence, he ultimately gets no say in the matter at all, and portal activation occurs without his consent. 

hey sorry tiny interlude but look at his precious face here how is he this level of baby?

After this initial removal of agency, things get worse. In the aftermath, once the portal situation is resolved, Hordak is no longer really in control of his future. The portal worked, after all. Horde Prime is coming. Horde Prime will have to be impressed and appeased and handled. That choice, that chance to live for himself, is suddenly gone, vanishing as quickly as it had appeared. Hordak once again finds himself with only one acceptable option: conquering Etheria. Because if he doesn’t, there is a very high chance that he is going to die.

Furthermore, Hordak’s ability to so much as revisit this choice is soured whenever he thinks of Entrapta’s supposed “betrayal.” Not only has the choice been functionally taken away, but any consideration of it is ruined by lies altering what Hordak believes to be the facts defining the situation. He can no longer view life without Prime as a viable option, not only because Prime is coming soon, but because the idea that someone could care for him, imperfections and all, was apparently just a trick to take advantage of him. The new possibilities Entrapta had introduced no longer seem viable, again leaving only the conquer-Etheria path. 

To make things even more depressing, Hordak’s ultimate meeting with Prime is also taken out of his control. Light Hope activates the portal that brings Etheria into the greater universe - Hordak has no say in this. Horde Prime himself snatches Hordak up and initiates their interaction - again, Hordak has no control. 

Hordak isn’t able to even minimally prepare for any of it. He has to face his brother on his knees, in damaged armor, injured from a lost battle, exhausted and frightened and unable to approach the situation from the place of dignity and power I’m certain he wanted. Any and all control, any agency, is completely removed. From portal-activation start to finish, he is completely at another’s mercy, events around him proceeding entirely without his input. He never makes the decisions that end up hugely impacting him.

I suppose my final takeaway from all of this is how viscerally awful it is to watch this individual, someone “born” into a society defined by complete subservience, try like hell to take some control over his own life only to be denied the ability to do so again and again and again. Either due to cruel lies, or other people’s actions, or both.

Hordak was supposed to die. He was deemed sick and unworthy, and he was sentenced to death on the battlefield because that is what Horde Prime decided was appropriate. Since then, Hordak has been trying his damnedest to essentially win back his right to live. Even so, his actions remain focused on pleasing Horde Prime, stuck in this framework of worshipful subservience, and he’s unable to really live for himself. When he finally gets a viable new chance, finally sees a way out, a way to live his own life, it’s snatched away from him almost the instant it’s presented. Hordak’s ability to make meaningful choices, to have agency in his own life, is repeatedly taken away from him until, finally, he loses everything. And that’s why I find him so unspeakably tragic: because his whole arc involves him being able to appreciate himself, to live for himself, to make his own decisions outside of Big Brother’s shadow, and he keeps losing the ability to do so.

and if he doesn’t get a happy ending after all of this I am going to lose it

[somegirlsnerdywords2]

Anime i’ve Watched

That begin with a F (Part 1)!

Yep this is how i’m going to bring over all the anime and manga i’ve watched and posted about on the old blog. It’s not so detailed but it will have to do. Anything new I watch or read from this point on will have their own posts.

Fire Force (Enen no Shouboutai):

Genres: action, supernatural, shounen

Synopsis: Spontaneous Human Combustion: a chaotic phenomenon that has plagued humanity for years, randomly transforming ordinary people into flaming, violent creatures known as Infernals. While Infernals make up the first-generation accounts of Human Combustion, the second and third generations became known as pyrokinetics—people gifted with the ability to manipulate and control their flames while remaining human. To combat the Infernal threat and discover the cause, the Tokyo Armed Forces, Fire Defense Agency, and Holy Church of Sol produced their answer: the Special Fire Force. Young and eager third-generation pyrokinetic Shinra Kusakabe, nicknamed Devil's Footprints for his explosive ability to ignite his feet at will, becomes a member of the lively Special Fire Force Company 8. Upholding the brigade's duty to extinguish the blazing Infernals and lay their souls to rest, Shinra is determined to become a hero who will save the lives of those threatened by the flame terror. However, this is not the hero's game Shinra imagined. The Fire Force is a fractured mess of feuding brigades, abnormal Infernal sightings are increasing all over Tokyo, and a shadowy group is claiming to have answers to the strange fire that caused the death of Shinra's family 12 years ago. Faced with many obstacles within and outside the Fire Force, Shinra fights to uncover the truth behind the burning mysteries that have kept him in the dark. [Written by MAL Rewrite]

My Rating: 7/10

Finished airing in 2019 with 24 episodes. 

My Thoughts: Awesome art and animation with some killer themes but ultimatly dissapointing. Had a few moments of deep feeling but mostly fell flat. To be fair I will probably still watch the second season though so really it wasn’t all that bad! It was fun... so there’s that! 

Free!:

Genres: slice of life, comedy, sports, drama, school

Synopsis: Haruka Nanase has a love for water and a passion for swimming. In elementary school, he competed in and won a relay race with his three friends Rin Matsuoka, Nagisa Hazuki, and Makoto Tachibana. After claiming victory at the tournament, the four friends went their separate ways. Years later, they reunite as high school students; however, Rin couldn't care less about returning to the way things used to be. Not only does he attend a different school, but the sole thing important to him is proving that he is a better swimmer than Haruka. After the bitter reunion, Haruka, Nagisa, and Makoto decide to form the Iwatobi High School Swim Club, but they will need a fourth member if they hope to take part in the upcoming tournament. Enter Rei Ryuugazaki, a former member of the track team whom Nagisa recruits. As the time to compete draws near, the four develop a close bond while training intensely to come out on top and settle things between Haruka and Rin once and for all. [Written by MAL Rewrite]

My Rating: 6/10

Finished airing in 2013 with 12 episodes. 

My Thoughts: THE swimming anime featuring pretty boys that swim.... That’s it, that’s all I can remember about this anime. Not a glowing review to be sure and the rating isn’t promising either. Take this all as you will.  

Free!: Eternal Summer:

Genres: slice of life, comedy, sports, drama, school

Synopsis:  Even though it has been a year since the Iwatobi High School Swim Club has been created, new members have yet to join the club. Now that Haruka Nanase and Makoto Tachibana are senior students, along with their younger friends Nagisa Hazuki and Rei Ryuugazaki, they have to find a way to attract new members. If not, the club will be forced to close the following year due to a lack of membership. Meanwhile, with impending graduation, it is also time for the seniors to decide their plans for the future. Unlike their friend Rin Matsuoka, the new captain of Samezuka Academy Swim Club who is determined to fulfill his dream of being a professional swimmer, Haruka and Makoto are unsure about what career path they want to take. Further problems arise when an old friend of Rin's, Sousuke Yamazaki, comes to the city to study at Samezuka Academy; the recently scouted swimmer's arrival causes tension in the relationship among him, Rin, and Haruka. [Written by MAL Rewrite]

My Rating: 7/10

Finished airing in 2014 with a total of 13 episodes. 

My Thoughts: Despite the rather pitiful rating of the previous season they managed to pull me in for the second. How you ask.... well really your guess is as good as mine at this point. Apparently I liked it slightly more than the first season so I mean that’s great! 

Fruits Basket:

Genres: slice of life, comedy, supernatural, drama, romance, shoujo

Synopsis: After the accident in which she lost her mother, 16-year-old Tooru moves in with her grandfather, but due to his home being renovated, is unable to continue living with him. Claiming she will find someone to stay with but also fearing the criticism of her family and not wanting to burden any of her friends, Tooru resorts to secretly living on her own in a tent in the woods. One night on her way back from work, she finds her tent buried underneath a landslide. Yuki Souma, the "prince" of her school, and his cousin Shigure Souma, a famous author, stumble across Tooru's situation and invite her to stay with them until her grandfather’s home renovations are complete. Upon arriving at the Souma house, Tooru discovers their secret: if a Souma is hugged by someone of the opposite gender, they temporarily transform into one of the animals of the zodiac! However, this strange phenomenon is no laughing matter; rather, it is a terrible curse that holds a dark history. As she continues her journey, meeting more members of the zodiac family, will Tooru's kindhearted yet resilient nature be enough to prepare her for what lies behind the Souma household's doors? [Written by MAL Rewrite]

My Rating: 9/10

Finished airing in 2001 with a total of 26 episodes. 

My Thoughts: The art style makes me want to cry just looking at the cover. Great series though with amazing characters and a great story.

 Fruits Basket 1st Season:

Genres: comedy, drama, romance, shoujo, slice of life, supernatural

Synopsis:  Tooru Honda has always been fascinated by the story of the Chinese Zodiac that her beloved mother told her as a child. However, a sudden family tragedy changes her life, and subsequent circumstances leave her all alone. Tooru is now forced to live in a tent, but little does she know that her temporary home resides on the private property of the esteemed Souma family. Stumbling upon their home one day, she encounters Shigure, an older Souma cousin, and Yuki, the "prince" of her school. Tooru explains that she lives nearby, but the Soumas eventually discover her well-kept secret of being homeless when they see her walking back to her tent one night. Things start to look up for Tooru as they kindly offer to take her in after hearing about her situation. But soon after, she is caught up in a fight between Yuki and his hot-tempered cousin, Kyou. While trying to stop them, she learns that the Souma family has a well-kept secret of their own: whenever they are hugged by a member of the opposite sex, they transform into the animals of the Chinese Zodiac. With this new revelation, Tooru will find that living with the Soumas is an unexpected adventure filled with laughter and romance. [Written by MAL Rewrite]

My Rating: 10/10

Finished airing in 2019 with a total of 25 episodes. 

My Thoughts: My eyes have been cleansed. The artwork is quite clearly a step up from the original... the entire series is actually. The character and story are just as amazing but this time wrapped in a more lovely picture. Tons of feeling and life lessons to be learned. An instant classic and a must watch in my opinion! 

[newstfionline]

Saturday, December 26, 2020

Getting creative to help the homeless (AP) After three years on the streets, Tiecha Vannoy and her boyfriend Chris Foss plan to weather the pandemic this winter in a small white “pod” with electricity, heat and enough room for two. Portland this month assembled neat rows of the shelters, which resemble garden sheds, in three ad-hoc “villages”—part of an unprecedented effort unfolding in cold-weather cities nationwide to keep people without permanent homes safe as temperatures drop and coronavirus cases surge. “We just get to stay in our little place. We don’t have to leave here unless we want to,” said Vannoy, wiping away tears as they moved into the shelter near a downtown train station. “It’s been a long time coming. He always tells me to have faith, but I was just over it.” ... “Those (are) folks who would under normal circumstances maybe come into a drop-in center to warm up, or go into the subway to warm up, or go into a McDonald’s to warm up—and just not having those options available to them. What then?” asked Giselle Routhier of the Coalition for the Homeless in New York City.

Raise your mittens: Outdoor learning continues into winter (AP) Cindy Soule’s fourth graders in Maine’s largest city have studied pollination in a community garden. They solved an erosion problem that was damaging trees. They learned about bear scat. Then came a fresh layer of snow and temperatures that hovered around freezing—but her students were unfazed. Bundled up and masked, they scooted outside with their belongings in buckets. They collected their pencils and clipboards, plopped the buckets upside down in the snow, took a seat and went to work. The lesson? Snow, of course, and how snowflakes are formed. Schools nationwide scrambled to get students outdoors during the pandemic to keep them safe and stop the spread of COVID-19. Now, with temperatures plummeting, a smaller number of schools—even in some of the nation’s most frigid climes—plan to keep it going all winter long, with students trading desks in warm classrooms for tree stumps or buckets.

Explosion in Nashville that damaged 20 buildings, injured 3 people an ‘intentional act’ (USA Today) Authorities believe an explosion that occurred in downtown Nashville early Christmas morning and was felt for miles was an “intentional act” sparked by a vehicle. Police responded to reports of a suspicious vehicle parked outside the AT&T building just before 6 a.m. Upon arrival, police said an officer “had reason” to alert the department’s hazardous devices unit, which was en route, when a “significant explosion” happened. Three people were hospitalized with injuries, police said. At least 20 buildings were damaged, Nashville Mayor John Cooper said. The sound of the explosion could be heard from miles away, and people reported windows shaking from South and East Nashville. “It looks like a bomb went off,” Cooper said. The downtown area will be “sealed off” for further investigation and to make sure everything is “completely safe.”

US to require negative COVID-19 test from UK travelers (AP) The United States will require airline passengers from Britain to get a negative COVID-19 test before their flight, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced late Thursday. The U.S. is the latest country to announce new travel restrictions because of a new variant of the coronavirus that is spreading in Britain and elsewhere. Airline passengers from the United Kingdom will need to get negative COVID-19 tests within three days of their trip and provide the results to the airline, the CDC said in a statement. The agency said the order will be signed Friday and go into effect on Monday. “If a passenger chooses not to take a test, the airline must deny boarding to the passenger,” the CDC said in its statement. The agency said because of travel restrictions in place since March, air travel to the U.S. from the U.K. is already down by 90%.

Many just want a hug for Christmas this year, Queen Elizabeth says (Reuters) All many people want for Christmas this year is a simple hug, Britain’s Queen Elizabeth said in her annual festive message, saying it would be hard for those who lost loved ones to COVID-19 pandemic or were separated by curbs on social mixing. In her traditional pre-recorded Christmas Day address to the nation, the 94-year-old monarch repeatedly spoke of hope for the future whilst acknowledging millions of Britons would be unable to have their usual family celebrations this year. “Of course for many, this time of year will be tinged with sadness; some mourning the loss of those dear to them, and others missing friends and family members distanced for safety when all they really want for Christmas is a simple hug or a squeeze of the hand,” Elizabeth said. “If you are among them, you are not alone. And let me assure you of my thoughts and prayers.” “Remarkably, a year that has necessarily kept people apart has in many ways brought us closer,” said the queen, adding the royals had been inspired by stories of those who volunteered to help others in need. “In the United Kingdom and around the world, people have risen magnificently to the challenges of the year and I’m so proud and moved by this quiet indomitable spirit.”

For the European Union, It’s a Pretty Good Deal (NYT) The European Union emerges from fraught negotiations with Britain over its exit from the bloc with a sense of satisfaction—that it has maintained its unity and its core principles, especially the integrity of the single market of now 450 million consumers that is the foundation of its influence. And it is now looking ahead to its life without Britain. The final deal is a free-trade agreement that recognizes Britain’s desire to leave the single market and the customs union while preserving tariff-free, quota-free trade in goods with the European Union. To that end, Britain agreed to a mechanism, with arbitration and possible tariffs for violations, that would keep its regulations and subsidies roughly in line with those of Brussels, to prevent unfair competition. But the deal will require inspections of goods to prevent smuggling. The deal also covers many mundane but crucial matters of visas, health insurance, and air, rail and road travel. It treats Northern Ireland, which is part of the United Kingdom, as within the E.U. customs area to prevent the need for a hard border on the island, but requires some checks on goods going from Britain to Northern Ireland. And the deal reallocates fishing areas and quotas, given that Britain is now an independent coastal state.

Pope Francis celebrates low-key Christmas Eve Mass amid coronavirus restrictions (Fox News) Pope Francis celebrated Christmas Eve Mass on Thursday night amid coronavirus restrictions that reduced a normal crowd of as many as 10,000 congregants to a group of fewer than 100 people, according to reports. During his homily, the Roman Catholic leader urged followers to reach out to the needy, noting that Jesus Christ was considered an outsider. “The Son of God was born an outcast, in order to tell us that every outcast is a child of God,” the pope said. May the Child of Bethlehem help us, then, to be generous, supportive and helpful, especially towards those who are vulnerable, the sick, those unemployed or experiencing hardship due to the economic effects of the pandemic, and women who have suffered domestic violence during these months of lockdown,” he said.

Turkey debates law that would increase oversight of NGOs (Reuters) Turkey’s parliament began debating a draft law on Friday that would increase oversight of non-governmental organisations and which, according to rights campaigners, risks limiting the freedoms of civil-society groups. The government says the measure, covering “foundations and associations”, aims to prevent non-profit organisations from financing terrorism and to punish those who violate the law. Civil-society groups, including Amnesty International and the Human Rights Association, said terrorism charges in Turkey were arbitrary, and that the draft law would violate the presumption of innocence and punish those whose trials were not finalised.Investigations based on terrorism charges have been launched against hundreds of thousands of people under a crackdown following a failed coup in 2016. Hundreds of foundations were also shut down with decrees following the coup attempt.

Half of Russians sceptical Kremlin critic Navalny was poisoned (Reuters) Half of Russians believe that Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny was either not poisoned, as he and Western governments contend, or that his poisoning was stage-managed by Western intelligence services, a poll showed on Thursday. The poll, released by the Levada-Center, shows how hard it remains for Navalny to shape public opinion in Russia even as his case attracts wide media attention in the West and his own slickly-produced videos of what happened to him this summer rack up millions of views online. Navalny, one of President Vladimir Putin’s most outspoken critics, was airlifted to Germany for medical treatment in August after collapsing on a plane in Russia. Germany has said he was poisoned with a Soviet-style Novichok nerve agent in an attempt to murder him, an assertion many Western nations accept. The poll by Levada, which is regarded as more independent than state counterparts, showed only 15% of Russians believed what happened to Navalny was an attempt by the authorities to rid themselves of a political opponent. By contrast, 30% thought that the incident was stage-managed and that there was no poisoning, and 19% said they believed it was a provocation orchestrated by Western intelligence services.

Hong Kong street refrigerator keeps giving (AP) Most people who head to Woosung Street in Hong Kong’s old-school neighborhood of Jordan are visiting its popular restaurants serving everything from curries to seafood. Others may be headed for a lone refrigerator, painted blue, with a sign that reads: “Give what you can give, take what you need to take.” The door of the fridge sitting outside a hockey academy opens to reveal it is stuffed with packets of instant noodles, biscuits, tins of food and even socks and towels for anyone who may need them. Ahmen Khan, founder of a sports foundation on the same street, said he was inspired to create a community refrigerator after seeing a film about others doing the same thing. He found the refrigerator at a nearby refuse collection point and painted it blue. “It’s like a dignity, that when you go home, you open your fridge to get food,” Khan said. “So I want the people to just feel like that. Even if it’s a street, it’s their community, it’s their home, so they can simply just open it and then just put food there, and collect the food.” Khan’s blue refrigerator project went viral on social media and people have been dropping by to leave food inside.

Israeli jets fly over Beirut, explosions reported in Syria (AP) Israeli jets flew very low over parts of Lebanon early Friday, terrifying residents on Christmas Eve, some of whom reported seeing missiles in the skies over Beirut. Minutes later, Syria’s official news agency reported explosions in the central Syrian town of Masyaf. Other Syrian media said Syrian air defenses responded to an Israeli attack near the town in the Hama province. The Syrian Ministry of Defense issued a statement saying Israel “launched an aggression by directing a barrage of rockets” from the north of the Lebanese city of Tripoli towards the Masyaf area. Israeli jets regularly violate Lebanese airspace and have often struck inside Syria from Lebanese territory. But the Christmas Eve flights were louder than usual, frightening residents of Beirut who have endured multiple crises in the past year, including the catastrophic Aug. 4 explosion at the city’s port that killed over 200 people and destroyed parts of the capital.

[bytheangell]

A Vivid Mistake - Part 2

(Read on AO3) (Read part one)

Simon doesn’t know where to go. He doesn’t want to go to Kyle or Eric’s house, not wanting to drag them into any potential danger if the Shadowhunters come looking for him in the city. It’d be easy enough to find him because outside of Clary and the others he really only has a few other friends, and Clary knows where all of them live to track him down.

That is if Clary survives to tell people where to find him.

Luke is out for obvious reasons, even though he gave Simon refuge in the past. The thought of going down to Florida, where Becky is, crosses his mind briefly… but he can’t risk his mother seeing him as much as the comfort of family is suddenly all he wants.

Not that Simon deserves to have anything he wants, not right now and maybe never again.

The whole thing feels like a dream, something his mind does its best to detach itself from, the memory of it playing out like a movie over and over in his head rather than something he specifically perpetrated. He never lost control like that before, not even when he first turned. It isn’t like him. He’d never hurt a fly, let alone a friend.

There’s a small part of him that knows it isn’t his fault, at least not to the extent that he blames himself. He hears Isabelle’s voice say that it’s an accident, that she knows he didn’t mean to do it. He remembers the torture, the burns, and the blisters and the starvation, and knows that what he did in the aftermath isn’t something he’d ever consciously do under normal circumstances. Hell, he’s sure that even the best vampires would’ve broken under those conditions.

Maybe if Simon could convince himself to believe that he could bring himself to stay and try to convince the others.

Instead, he turns to the only place he trusts himself just then - the Praetor.

“You have to help me. I hurt her. I couldn’t stop, I was so thirsty and she didn’t listen, she didn’t stay away, and-” his voice breaks off in a sob. He’s still covered in her blood, still wearing the dirty clothing he spent his captivity in, and between his appearance and his incoherent rambling they take him in and lock him in a room almost immediately. Simon goes willingly, which is probably the only reason he doesn’t find himself chained up somewhere.

The room has a bed and no windows - not necessary for him specifically, but he imagines they might not know he’s a daylighter. Simon looks at the bed longingly for a moment, trying to remember the last time he got any real rest, but instead walks himself to the far corner and sits there, pulling his knees up to his chest.

He’s left alone for a little while, and then someone knocks on the door.

“I’m going to come in,” a male voice says. “I’m armed and I have holy water. If you try to hurt me I won’t hesitate to defend myself.”

“I’m not going to hurt you,” Simons says, then frowns. “I guess that’s what someone who was about to try and hurt you would say, though, isn’t it? But I’m not. I swear I’m not. I never want to hurt anyone ever again.”

The man comes in and Simon can see the weapons on him, open in an obvious warning. Simon remains in his far corner while the man looks him over from his spot by the door.

“Are those burns on your arms?” The man asks.

Simon looks down as if he’d forgotten about them. They look much better now than when he first arrived, still working on healing now that he has the blood to sustain himself again.

“Yes,” Simon says.

“Did the person you bit do that to you?” It’s an innocent question, but Simon’s eyes widen in horror.

“No! No, she would never-” just thinking about Clary brings a sting of fresh tears to his eyes.

“Alright, alright. Deep breath. How about you start by giving me your name, and then you can try and tell me what happened, alright?”

Simon doesn’t want to talk about it. He starts and stops several times, leaving out details then backtracking to fill them in. Some bits are hazy - he still isn’t sure how long he was kidnapped for, or why - and he can see the dread dawning on the man’s face when he gets to the part about Clary and the mention of Shadowhunters.

“I ran when they took her away to heal,” Simon finishes, the guilt written all over his face at his own cowardice.

“Alright,” the man says. “Thank you for your honesty, Simon. Just stay put, alright?”

Simon is left alone again and then told that they’ll give him blood and a room to stay in under the condition that he doesn’t run from them now that he’s here. They want to watch him, make sure he isn’t a danger to anyone, himself included. Simon isn’t so sure he isn’t. He isn’t so sure if he weren’t a Daylighter he wouldn’t have run himself out into the sunlight earlier instead of here… and he isn’t even sure that would be punishment enough for what he did.

He doesn’t ask about Clary even though she’s the only thing he can think about for hours, then for days. Is she alive? Is she alright? Are Jace and the others looking for him? Did the Praetor tell them that he was here if they are?

Simon doesn’t ask any of the questions that swirl inside his head, and he hopes that as long as he doesn’t bring up the Shadowhunters no one will bring them up to him, either.

After pretty constant surveillance and a few more detailed run-throughs of what happened, they decide that he doesn’t need to be kept under lock and key. They ask him just once if he wants to know what happened to Clary and he says no immediately. They don’t ask him again. Despite the freedom to come and go now, Simon never leaves the room. He drinks the blood they bring him, paces until he thinks his legs might collapse underneath him, then sleeps, and wakes up to do it all again. Every day is the same until the day there’s a knock on his door several hours before he’s due for blood.

“Simon, you have a visitor.”

The words chill him to the bone. He stops pacing.

“No,” Simon says simply.

“You don’t even know who it is-”

“No,” Simon repeats with more force. “I can’t-”

“Simon,” says a new voice, one he immediately recognizes. “I think the least you owe us is a conversation,” says Alec Lightwood.

“Us?” Simon questions, swallowing thickly. The door is still closed. If he doesn’t open it he knows the Praetor won’t force him to.

“Figuratively speaking,” Alec clarifies. “I’m here alone. It’s only me. I just want to talk.”

He could ignore the people and the life he ran from as long as he was in this room, alone and detached. He finds it much more difficult to ignore when Alec stands on the other side of the door asking him to talk.

“Please, Simon?”

Fuck.

“Alright,” Simon agrees slowly. He stands, frozen to the center of the room, unable to make his way to the chair by the desk or the bed to sit. The Praetor, a very nice werewolf by the name of Evan, opens the door and lingers there after Alec steps inside, watching the way Simon’s hands subconsciously tense at his sides.

“Would you like me to stay? Or we could move this to the common area…” Evan suggests, and Simon knows what he’s trying to suggest while also trying not to further upset Simon - that he doesn’t trust him alone in a room with Alec. Simon’s about to agree, surely Alec would feel safer that way after everything, but Alec speaks first.

“We’re fine,” Alec says.

Evan looks to Simon who only nods, and a moment later Evan’s gone and the door is shut behind him.

Simon would be more worried that Alec’s only here to kill him if he didn’t know the Praetor takes all weapons before letting a guest in. He may be a crappy vampire but even he can outrun an unarmed Shadowhunter. If Alec wanted to arrest him he would’ve just done that straight away. So maybe… maybe he really is just here to talk.

“Is Clary…” Simon starts, figuring they might as well get this part of the conversation over with.

Alec’s eyes widen in surprise. “They didn’t tell you?”

“I didn’t want to know,” Simon admits. “If I killed her, I couldn’t live with myself. The not-knowing was almost worse, at first, but then I figured someone would’ve come for me sooner if I killed her, so I hoped…”

“She’s fine,” Alec confirms. “It was touch-and-go for the first day. Magnus and Catarina managed to stay calm enough to reassure us, taking shifts so one of them was always there with her, but afterward, Magnus told me they didn’t think she was going to make it at the start.”

Simon takes an instinctive deep breath, despite not needing to breathe at all. It makes him feel a little better just the same.

“Whatever the punishment is - I know I panicked, and I shouldn’t have run. Whatever it is, I’ll come back and face it,” Simon manages, hoping he sounds braver about it than he feels which is not brave at all.

“You’re right about one thing - you shouldn’t have run. But I’m not here to arrest you, Simon. If we wanted to do that we would’ve done it the day the Praetor told us you were here and came to corroborate your story.”

Simon frowns. “But I-”

“You were tortured, Simon. For days. That would’ve broken even the oldest vampires. I shouldn’t have lost sight of Clary in the fight, I should’ve anticipated her running off on her own. What happened is on me, not you,” Alec says.

Simon can only gape, eyes wide, not knowing what to say to that. So he doesn’t say anything. Instead, he backs up toward the bed and sits down on the edge of it, and Alec follows his lead to take the chair at the desk. The two of them sit in heavy silence for a minute or two before Alec speaks again.

“Do you want to know why I’m here?”

Simon knows it’s rhetorical but he nods anyway.

“Because the first thing Clary did when she woke up was ask for you,” Alec tells him. “She wanted to make sure you were okay because she knew you’d blame yourself.”

Simon laughs, but it’s dark and bitter, the sound escaping his lips in a harsh burst. Of course Clary would worry herself over him after nearly dying. After nearly dying because of him.

“She went out looking for you the second she was cleared to leave the infirmary - it’s probably a good thing the Praetor told us you were here, or she’d probably still be out there looking. You know she blames herself for what happened because you warned her to stay out and she didn’t listen-”

“Why are you telling me this?” Simon snaps.

“Because she’s sitting at the Institute waiting for you to come back,” Alec says simply. “And it occurred to me after nearly a week that maybe you didn’t plan on coming back.”

“Of course I didn’t. I don’t. I-” Simon’s voice breaks. “I can’t. Not after what I did.”

“You’re the only one who still blames yourself,” Alec says. “Even Jace regrets telling us to leave you behind.”

Simon, who remembers Jace’s reaction very vividly, somehow doubts that Jace will welcome him back into the Institute with open arms. Alec seems to read his thoughts, or maybe the doubt is just that obvious on his face.

“Though I might give him more space than the others when you come back.”

When. The wording isn’t lost on Simon.

“If she wants to see me so badly then why isn’t she here?” Simon asks, not sure he wants to hear the answer but bracing himself for it just the same.

“The same reason you haven’t gone to visit her,” Alec says with a shrug. “You both feel too badly about what happened to make the first move. You each think you’re sparing the other by staying away.”

Simon knows that Alec wouldn’t be here just to reassure him and he knows that Alec also wouldn’t lie to spare his feelings, but he can’t find it in himself to believe that Clary wants to see him ever again, let alone right now.

“I won’t force you to come back. I just wanted to let you know that you can, whenever you’re ready.” Alec stands as he says the words, brushing the wrinkles out of his clothes from sitting. “Or if you want more company here, just… let me know.”

It’s a kind offer that catches Simon off-guard.

“Thanks,” is all Simon manages before Alec gives another dismissive shrug, turns, and walks back out of the room, leaving the door open behind him.

Simon doesn’t follow. He doesn’t leave then, or later that day, determined to at least sleep on it and think over his options in the morning. Except Simon can’t fall asleep and spends hours tossing and turning instead. He could pretend before, assume that everyone hated him and blamed him and he’d never be welcomed back. It made staying away easier - it made it something he was doing for their sake, and he could justify that.

But now, knowing that not only is he allowed back but that Clary specifically would like to see him again… now Simon has to face the fact that staying away is an entirely selfish decision on his part because he doesn’t know if he’s ready. He doesn’t know if he’ll ever be ready. Every time he closes his eyes he sees Clary’s lifeless body, barely able to bleed out because he left her with so little blood left to lose. He sees her lifeless eyes, her paler-than-normal skin… he isn’t sure if he can ever look her in the eyes again without thinking of that moment he’d give anything to take back.

It’s nearly 4am when Simon finds one of the Praetor on the night shift and tells them that he’s leaving, just so they aren’t surprised to find his room empty later.

Stepping out into the crisp night air Simon pauses to consider his options. He can turn back around and stay... he can go to Raphael and the others at the Dumort for a while... or he can face this head-on. It doesn’t take him long to decide: he’s done enough damage lately to last him the eternity he has stretching before him. If going back will mend any piece of what he broke he owes it to Clary, if no one else, to at least try.

Simon turns resolutely towards the Institute and doesn’t look back.

[sett-sparkclaw]

Answers to these great questions proposed by @aurenes​ 

I’ll try to keep the timeline limited to events that occur before Sett’s exile in 1333

Which dragon scared your commander the most? Sett would prefer that everyone he encountered had clear motives, for he himself has a very upfront and blunt personality. Consequently he really hates anyone being not being so forthright or clearly not letting him in on the whole story (which is funny because his love is an Ash Legion spy). For this the dragon he fears most is Aurene, who is more often than not unclear about her motivations or feelings towards things Sett finds to be important issues like the Charr Civil War of 1332. The idea that he will potentially have to fight her terrifies him.

Who is your commander closest to now? In 1333 Sett is “closest” to Tyborr Horngrabber (charr of a friend I made through game who exists in this lore) who took him in after finding him near death wandering the desert in Elona. I say “close” because Sett absolutely despises him because he has to rely on him. He would prefer to not rely on anyone, but after losing a hand and and an eye after his fight with Smodur it’s not like he’s in much of a position to fend for himself.

Who was your commander closest to prior? He was close to his love Roa Firedagger (the secret daughter of Aethin Skulltwister) who he accidentally killed a year before during the Campaigns of Drizzlewood Coast. She had been spying on the behalf of Malice in the hidden barracks located east of Petraj Overlook when Smodur ordered Sett to blow it up with a charged crystal, killing her and 14 other of Malice’s agents.

How does your commander remember the fallen? In this lore, the charr honor the deaths of warbands by having Immortalization Ceremonies, where charr gather to remember the fallen members of warbands and determine whether the warband is to continue. Higher profile warbands have more public ceremonies while less significant ones are remembered by smaller ceremonies or even private ones. Sett, being well aware of at least the members of his own warband that he killed or saw killed in the war a year prior, and himself being incapable to properly conduct a ceremony given his circumstances in Elona, held a private ceremony on his bedside in Tyborr’s shack. Here where he placed relics he kept of his fallen friends near a candlelight and recites codes of honor and loyalty to maintain that he will never let the warband die. He reignites the candle every night.

Which death caused your commander the most grief? The death of Roa has caused him the most grief. It was the most contributing factor to his eventual confrontation with Smodur. Another event that caused him grief would be the death of his father in 1329, who was killed in front of him by the charr warlord Gore.

If your commander could revive one person, who would it be and why? He would likely want to revive his father the most. Sett has very little memory of him because Sett was captured at such a young age. Sett only got to know his father briefly nearly 20 years later and he was soon after killed.

How does your commander feel toward their position of power? In 1333 Sett has no power, not like he had grown to like the political power he gained after his feats throughout the 1320s as the Pact Commander. He never thought of himself as a leader of the charr and consequently never took the pleas of his peers to take a position of power seriously. Instead he acted as a tool used by Smodur and Bangar to get what they wanted, hoping that playing both sides would deescalate the friction evolving between the two and their legions.

Does your commander fear death? He does not fear death, but he wishes he were dead. His will to live is fueled by his hatred of the United Legions and more specifically Smodur.

Does your commander believe they’re on the right path? He has no idea right now what path he is on. As far as he is concerned he is lost and hopeless. However, very soon he will encounter the hundreds of charr seeking refuge in Elona due to the mass death happening in Tyria at the hands of the of the United Legion, and he takes steps to lead and assimilate these charr.

When alone, how does your commander handle grief? He takes his grief out on his craft. He was taught how to create various weapons and devices by the Spark Warband’s Iron Legion defect Bane Sparkhammer. With plenty of forges in Amnoon he always keeps himself occupied to keep himself from reminiscing too much (while selling the weapons he makes).

What is the proudest moment your commander has experienced? The feat he is most proud of would be delivering the killing blow to Gaheron Baelfire in 1325. Not only was this his first accomplishment that earned him higher status among the members of Blood Legion, it was what he considered to be tasteful revenge for making his father suffer extreme consequences in the aftermath of the Flame Uprising of 1299.

How does your commander feel about Braham? Throughout the 1320s Sett was very uncomfortable with the idea of cooperating with other races because of the horrors he suffered from 10 years of slavery. Braham could sometimes break through this because of his fierce personality that reminded Sett of other charr at times, but ultimately for the time he knew Braham he did not ever fully trust him the same way he trusted Rytlock or his bandmates.

How does your commander feel about Caithe? Caithe is even worse with trust issue. He felt uncomfortable sharing any information with her because of this extreme lack of trust that developed the moment he knew of her. This also contributes to why he becomes so distrustful of Aurene in the early 1330s.

How does your commander feel about the dragons? His has the opinion that anything that poses a threat to the Legions must be destroyed or controlled, so this opinion extends to the dragons as well. Of course this does not include his skyscale Gnas, who he trusts with his life.

How has your commander changed overtime? The biggest changes that Sett has gone through include his thoughts about charr diplomacy and cooperation with outside races, his own position in charr society, and what the best form of governance would be best for the charr. Sett had an especially burning hatred for humanity when he was brought to the legions in 1322. All of his slave masters were human, so that association suck with him for a long time. It wasn’t until his time as the Pact Commander that he began to open up to other humans, in part by force at times because of warranted situations. This is why in the years following the defeat of Balthazar, Sett would act on behalf of both Smodur and Bangar as he was split on whose policy would serve the charr the best. This time also tested his thoughts on his own position in charr society. By 1329 he wanted to settle down in Fangfury where his warband resided. They were settling down themselves as the relations between the charr and humans were otherwise normalizing. Sett aspired to participate newly open trades between Blood Legion and Ebonhawke as the sword craftsmanship of the charr in particular interested him, and was in high demand. During this time his 4 four cubs were born which further contributed to this goal. This time of relative peace was short lived with the combined events of Kralkatorrik ‘s reemergence and the charr civil that shortly followed a year later throwing any possibly of settling out the window. In 1333 he has the biggest change in perspective when the charr refugees arrive in Elona. The governance stuff does not really happen until much later.

If given the chance, would your commander give up their fame and power? If so, why? Before it was ultimately taken from him by force, he would have given it up himself. The role of commander had too many obligations that ultimately got in the way of his relationship with Roa and eventually preventing him from ever seeing his cubs.

How many people truly know your commander? The only people who truly know him are his most trusted friends: Rytlock, Roa, eventually Tyborr, Ryland (way way in the future in the 1350s), Aethin, and Tybalt. I could explain why for each but look at the length of this post.

How does your commander handle stress? Up to this point he handles stress by taking more dramatic actions to reinforce his plans. His problem has been not knowing when to stop or being unable to evaluate when a situation is getting out of hand, oftentimes requiring powerful figures around him to keep him in check.

How does your commander unwind? He unwinds in various ways but the most effective is playing instruments. As a cub he was taught various traditional Flame Legion songs by his father that he often plays while meditating or entertaining others.

Can anyone calm your commander down, no matter what? If yes, who and why? Sett isn’t very hard to reason with as long as the one reasoning with him is up front and direct about what he is doing wrong and offers a better alternative. He more inclined to listen to charr he trusts.

[tvdversefanfiction]

The Originals: Always and Forever (Season 6)

Episode 1 - What We Did In The Shadows

Warnings: I do not own the original content to “The Originals”, “The Vampire Diaries” or “Legacies” or any of the characters from the television shows.

15 plus, displays of Violence, Gore, Torture, M/M, F/M, F/F.

The end was supposed to be the simplest thing Klaus and Elijah Mikaelson ever had to do in order to defeat the hollow once and for all Klaus had to die and due to their ever co-dependent relationship Elijah decided to die alongside his vampire/werewolf hybrid younger brother both believing that their deaths would be the end of their stories but death is never the end it’s simply just a new beginning especially in a world where nobody stays dead for long but before they could even fathom returning from the land of the living they had to escape where they were first and before they could escape where they were they had to first work out where they were.

It didn’t take long for either Klaus or Elijah to work out their existence was not of the afterlife nor the peace kind as they learned while in a world which was the exact replica of New Orleans that they were well and truly alone or so this is what they were led to believe while they co-existed with each other until one day Elijah came across another spirit in the form of a face from his past.

Klaus stood on the balcony outside of his bedroom in this dimension’s version of The Abattoir looking down on the completely empty French Quarter which gave him nothing but misery as he drank a glass of whisky before Elijah vamp sped onto to the balcony with a glass of whisky also as he stood by his brother’s side.

“Not quite what I expected for our after lives, but I suppose it’s still better than the idea of hell itself.” Elijah said to his brother before taking a sip of his drink.

“Did I not tell you the story of how Bonnie Bennet destroyed hell?” Klaus replied to his brother with a sly smirk on his face. “There’s no hell for us to reside in although being tortured in the flames of hell would be an upgrade from utter nothingness.”

“I quite enjoy the peace and quiet around here brother, but I suspect it will get tiresome eventually.” Elijah admitted.

“Try being stuck here for a thousand years with nothing but yourself for company and some very different scenery.” Tatia shouted them after vamp speeding on to the streets of the French Quarter standing beneath the balcony in which the two brothers stood.

“You’ve got to be bloody kidding me of all the after lives you just had to hunt me down.” Klaus shouted back at her, mistaking Tatia Petrova for her doppelganger Katerina Petrova otherwise known as Katherine Pierce.

“Niklaus do the math she said she’s been here for a thousand years.” Elijah told his brother as he stared down at Tatia looking like he had just seen a ghost, which he had.

“Tatia Petrova.” Klaus uttered in total shock to see her after a thousand years.

“I’ll meet you downstairs boys we have a lot to discuss.” Tatia responded before vamp speeding out of sight as Klaus and Elijah followed suit.

All three of them vamp sped next to the fountain within the compound roughly at the same time but if we’re being pernickety it was Tatia, then Klaus then Elijah in that order.

“How is this even possible?” Elijah asked her. “You died a thousand years ago.”

“I’ll answer your question in a moment Elijah but not before you answer mine.” Tatia replied to him. “How did you change the location of this prison world?”

“Prison world...” Klaus said as he rolled his eyes. “Great we’re in a bloody prison world.”

“You boys don’t even know where you are.” Tatia sighed clearly disappointed to realize they were more clueless than her. “I had hoped you’d have some way of getting out of this wretched place considering in a thousand years it hadn’t changed till now, but I guess I’m just supposed to be pleased with company after all this time.”

“Tatia how did you end up here?” Elijah quizzed her eagerly. “Why didn’t you find peace?”

“Do you remember when we first met how I told you both the story of how I was meant to die with my husband, yet I refused?” Tatia began to explain her circumstances. “Well I made sure the moment you and your siblings turned to find out all I could about what you had turned into. I went to Ayanna to consort the spirits fearing use would one day turn on me which you did Elijah.”

“I don’t understand if Ayanna put you here why didn’t she tell you how to get back?” Klaus wondered.

“Because Ayanna never put me here Esther did.” Tatia revealed much to the Mikaelson brother’s surprise.

“I didn’t want to be some trophy to Esther’s spells any longer especially after she did what she did to you Niklaus.” Tatia admitted while her, Klaus and Elijah stood in the compound. “Ayanna was told of how the blood of an original could make another undead like them, but I was never sure it would work however I knew I had to be safe for the sake of my son.”

“My greatest shame has always been what I did to you.” Elijah replied with a sense of sadness in his eyes.

“I awoke shortly after dying as an undead only for Esther to dump me here stating it was some kind of lesson for her children on how to learn to behave with their newfound lust.” Tatia continued to explain. “She threw me into this world with her spells without a thought about me or my son and then she told me she would return but she never did.”

“Our mother has committed many heinous crimes in her time but dumping you in a prison to teach us how to behave like she was taking away our toys has to be up there.” Elijah said to her, guilty of how his mother’s treatment towards his first love.

“She told me she was going to help you all control your blood-lust and then she’d come back for me that she was merely protecting me but I knew the minute she wouldn’t let my me take my child that she was never coming back for me.” Tatia admitted.

“So, this world changed when we arrived?” Klaus asked her. “What was it like before?”

“Like home and now I guess this is the home you and your siblings built for each other.” She answered him while looking around the compound. “I had hoped it would be a sign of escaping this place, but I suppose I probably should’ve given up hope by now.”

Suddenly the entire compound began shaking viciously much to Klaus, Tatia and Elijah’s surprise before the nearby windows exploded by the pressure as the three of them fell to the ground unable to keep their balance any longer as the world began spinning before their very eyes until they found themselves lying on the ground within the woods deep within the bayou much to their surprise as the hollow herself Inadu appeared from behind the trees.

“Did you think I’d just accept death easily?” Inadu asked Elijah and Klaus as Klaus, Tatia and Elijah rose to their feet. “I just jumped into the nearest prison world available although I didn’t expect you both to join me here.”

Elijah vamp sped towards the hollow witch who raised her hand and magically snapped his neck causing him to fumble to the ground unconscious before even getting near here as Tatia followed suit by being the next to vamp speed towards Inadu who again magically snapped her neck and last but definitely not least Klaus vamp sped over to Inadu but this time managed to get next to right up to her and snap her neck with his bare hands.

“Come back from that you bloody bitch.” Klaus said furiously before turning around to check on Elijah and Tatia kneeling towards them with one hand on each of them trying to shake them back away unaware of the rules of this prison world and whether or not they’d even awake when suddenly he felt the wind picking up before he once again disappeared with Tatia and Elijah, this time Inadu’s lifeless body disappeared with them.

Elijah, Tatia and Klaus found themselves all awake and standing side by side in the same white hall that was once the location of Elijah’s subconscious following his first death at the hands of the hollow as they looked around seeing nothing but a never ending hallway with endless ancient brown doors on each side of the hallway as Esther walked out of one of them much to their surprise.

“You treacherous bitch!” Tatia screamed at her instantly before vamp speeding over to attack the Mikaelson mother only for Tatia’s neck to be magically snapped for a second time, this time by Esther.

“There’s no need for profanity.” Esther said as Tatia’s unconscious body fell to the ground. “Not when I’m here to help this time.”

“You made me believe I killed her.” Elijah snapped at his mother. “You made me believe I was to blame for her death.”

“To be fair my dear Elijah you did kill her it’s just as we all know death is rarely the end for anyone.” Esther explained to her noble son.

“Where the bloody hell are, we now and why the bloody hell are you here?” Klaus snapped at his mother.

“You were in a prison world that I created with the help of the Gemini coven and when they heard of Inadu’s escape into they were waiting for the chance to grab her so they can finally make the hollow pay for her many sins.” Esther revealed to her sons. “Once they grabbed her I decided to grab you and take you this world that I have been forced to make my home I guess out of all the prison worlds I am lucky enough not to be a version of hell.”

“What do you mean a version of hell?” Klaus asked his mother, confused as to his knowledge there was only one hell and Bonnie Bennet had already destroyed it.

“Trust me that’s a long story for another time my boys and you’ve already wasted too much time between worlds as it is.” Esther told them before going on to say. “All the acts I committed against you and my siblings acts no mother should commit and all because I thought you were all beyond redemption and I was horribly wrong.”

“Forgive me if we don’t give a damn whether you’re sorry or not.” Elijah snapped at Esther.

“And forgive us if we would rather do anything else other than spend all of eternity with you.” Klaus piped in.

“I only brought you here briefly before I brought use back, I figured it was the least I could after all the times I tried to kill you both.” Esther revealed to her sons. “And before you worry the hollow is being dealt with so she will no longer be a worry for you.”

“You want to resurrect us,” Klaus scoffed. “All those times you wanted us dead and now you finally decide to bring us back.”

“Actually, it was more my idea than your mother’s, but she was more than willing to accompany me.” Dahlia admitted as she appeared out of the same door that Esther had just come through. “Don’t get me wrong I will stand here and weep like your mother and apologize for acts I’m not sorry for but I will admit there’s a reason I want you both to return to the land of the living.”

“Klaus you have a granddaughter now.” Esther revealed to a stunned Klaus. “Your daughter Hope and her wife Josie Saltzman had a child together using their joint ex Landon Kirby as their sperm donor and Hope carried the child making her biological a first born Mikaelson.”

“Your lying Hope’s only 15 years old.” Klaus snapped in disbelief of his mother’s words.

“Actually she’s not well at least not this time you’re granddaughter is somewhat unruly with the darkness that comes with being a first born Mikaelson witch along with all the other genetics she got from both parents and whereas Freya helped Hope there is no one to help Hope’s child.” Dahlia continued to explain.

“Why where is Hope?” Elijah asked her, scared to know the answer as Klaus just stood there in shock.

“She found peace with her wife Josie just like Freya found peace with Keelin.” Esther replied with a sadness on her face. “All taken before their team but luckily they have an eternity of peace and Hope is happy with her wife Josie and her mother Hayley.”

“My daughter is dead?” Klaus asked in shock as tears began forming in his eyes, struggling to accept his sacrifice for his daughter wound up in vain or at least that’s how he saw it in that moment.

“Kirby needs someone and quite frankly my time adopting, and kidnapping is well and truly over.” Dahlia told both Mikaelson brothers as Elijah stood in shock while tears began to far down Klaus’ cheeks as he began mourning his daughter.

“So, you want us to go back to help Klaus’ granddaughter?” Elijah asked them both.

“Yes, we could’ve probably chose someone else, but your mother pushed for the two of you.” Dahlia admitted.

“What about Rebekah and Kol?” Klaus cried, fearing about hearing of more deaths within his family.

“Their still very much alive but with Rebekah waiting to take the cure, Nik struggling with his own issues and Kol completely off the rails since his wife’s death there’s nobody left for your granddaughter Klaus.” Esther revealed to him. “Hope would want no she would demand that you accept this her daughter meant the world to her.”

“Davina’s dead too poor Kol no wonder he went off the rails.” Klaus said sympathizing with his brother while struggling to cope with all the recent revelations.

“Who the bloody hell is Nik and what issues does he have?” Elijah asked.

“Nik Malraux-Mikaelson is the child of Freya and Keelin.” Dahlia replied to Elijah. “Now are you accepting this fate or not? I have an after life to get to before they realize, I’m not currently in my own prison world.”

“I guess I have no choice,” Klaus said while drying his tears. “I will not allow my granddaughter to suffer the same fate as my daughter, if only I was there to save Hope none of this wouldn’t happen.”

“I’ll only go back if Tatia’s brought with us.” Elijah demanded while looking down at an unconscious Tatia before looking at his mother. “You already stole so much from her as did I she deserves this.”

“Very well.” Dahlia said before chanting in Croatian and waving her hand causing Klaus, Tatia and Elijah to instantly disappear out of sight.

“I just hope they’re better as raising a child than I was.” Esther admitted to Dahlia as only the two of them remained.

“They already are sister not after all you were never really born to be a mother I for one can testify to that.” Dahlia cruelly replied to her sister.

It had been many years since the fall of Klaus and Elijah Mikaelson and within that time a lot had changed throughout the world especially amongst the family they had left behind in their wake.

Rebekah Mikaelson and Marcel Gerard

They had lived a happy life for many years but it soon become clear to Marcel that he would one day lose Rebekah to the cure and a human life leading to the two of them eventually breaking up as the girl who loved too easily didn’t make it down the aisle once more.

Freya Mikaelson and Keelin Malraux-Mikaelson

The married couple went along with their plans to have a child with their friend and former New Orleans recent Vincent Griffiths giving birth to a baby boy they named Nik after the infamous Klaus Mikaelson. Freya, Keelin and their son lived a happy life for many years until Freya and Keelin fell victim to vengeful witches leading to Nik Malraux-Mikaelson dedicating his life to finding and killing those witches seeking revenge for the death of his mothers.

Kol Mikaelson and Davina Claire-Mikaelson

Their epic love remained strong for many years as they continued their marital life in San Francisco until Davina was taken from Kol in after a tragic fire in their apartment building where Davina burned trying to save as many of her neighbors while Kol was away visiting his sister Rebekah. Davina’s death took a huge toll on him leading to the youngest surviving Mikaelson brother going completely off the rails.

Hope Mikaelson and Josie Saltzman-Mikaelson

Following the events in Legacies Hope later married the love of her life Josie Saltzman who just so happened to be her father Klaus’ former lover Caroline Forbes’ daughter which was nowhere near as complicated for the two as deciding for Landon Kirby to be the sperm donor for the child they had together, complication being Landon was both Hope’s ex and Josie’s at different stages in their life. Hope gave birth to her and Josie’s daughter Kirby Saltzman-Mikaelson and raised her together for a while before they too met a terrible fate before finding peace together after their deaths.

Klaus, Tatia and Elijah found themselves reappearing within the very same spot that Klaus and Elijah ended their lives within New Orleans all three completely confused by the series of events which had them to this here, once against the living.

“Elijah, where are we now?” Tatia asked him.

“It’s a long story I guess I should probably start with the first 100 years after your death.” Elijah explained to her before Klaus vamp sped away from the two of them.

Klaus continued to vamp speed through the streets of New Orleans until he reached his beloved compound vamp speeding straight in eager to be reunited with whatever family remained there.

“Rebekah!” He shouted as he vamp sped through the compound finding nobody there. “Kol!”

Much to Klaus’ dismay not only was nobody home but it looked like it had been nobody’s home for a long time sure he was given a brief update on the family he left behind but what both his mother and his aunt forgot to tell them was where the bloody hell everyone who still remained actually were.

[mypersonalrambling]

Study buddy Alex Andersen lowkey wanting to be friends with benefits but doesn’t wanna creep you out or come off too strong and ruin a good friendship but you run into each other at a party and make out then your next study sesh things get even more heated😍😉

Tonight was was one of the only days you didn’t spend studying with Alex. You sat next to him on the first day of class, quickly hitting it off and exchanging numbers. He’d never been anything more than a friend and study buddy.

You thought he was one of the most attractive men on campus. Some days it was difficult to focus on studying when he was sitting so close to you could smell the spearmint gum he’s chewing.

Alex never showed a interest in being more than friends. He was always respectful, giving you plenty of space. Most people would have tried to use the situation to their advantage but not Alex.

Your friend invited you to one of the biggest parties of the year. It was a tradition, everyone met at Alpha Phi Alpha’s fraternity house. The school official seemingly turned a blind eye to the event, letting the tradition keep going as long as nothing terrible happened.

You decided to get dolled up for tonight. A new outfit, makeup, hair all done. You felt like a completely different person. Usually you kept things causal or at most business causal, this was college after all.

Thankfully, there was a group of you going together which made things seem less intimidating. That was until you actually arrived at the party. The yard was already full of people, it looked as if the house was at capacity.

As soon as you walked towards the house, you started to see people from most of your classes except the one person you wanted see.

The later the party went on the less inhibitions you maintained. People were handing you drinks left and right, you drank them without care. It wasn’t your brightest moment but you were having fun.

Suddenly all the alcohol you’d drank rushed to your bladder. The house was large enough to cause confusion or at least when you were this intoxicated. You stumbled around until a hand wrapped around your arm. “Hey, I didn’t know you’d be here,” Alex’s smooth voice overwhelmed your senses.

“Yeah, my friend invited me and I thought it’d be fun,” you said or at least thought you’d said. Alex turned his face to the side, opening and closing his mouth a few times before a what slipped out.

“I really need to pee.” You push your way past him to only reveal you were back at your starting point. “Fuck where is it.”

“Babe, let me help you. I know where the bathroom is.” Alex put his arm around your hips, an instant warmth spread through your body. Your inebriated self threw caution to the wind, wrapping both arms around him, making it difficult to walk. “Someone’s feeling frisky tonight.”

You let out an mhm hmm, maneuvering yourself as close as possible. You were grateful to see the bathroom was open when you arrived. You quickly stumbled in forgetting to even shut the door. You fumbled with the buttons of your pants, who the fuck designed these things, they were like a chastity belt. You tried to pull them down without unbuttoning however they were too tight, “Fuckkkkk.”

You were close to crying and pissing your pants. “Can I help?” Alex was standing in the doorway, concern washing over his face. He must of took your pouting for a yes because next thing you knew his fingers expertly I did your pants. “If you need anything else, I’ll be outside the door.”

A feeling of relief came over you when you sat down on the toilet. The struggle with your pants didn’t subside when trying to re-button them. Alex either sensed your struggle or you were making a lot of noise because not long after he knocked in the door, opening just enough to see you standing by the sink.

He didn’t ask this time, he reached down to button them. “You really are wasted aren’t you? C’mon follow me.” He led you upstairs to an empty bedroom. Once inside, he locked the door which in a usual circumstance would have caused panic but not with Alex. “Lie here for a bit, I’m gonna go grab some water and ibuprofen.”

He handed the pills to you, making sure you took them without issue. All the alcohol made you tired, barely able to keep your eyes open. Not remembering falling asleep, you awoke with arms wrapped around you. A panic set in, did you sleep with a random person? You tried shifting without alerting the other person, unfortunately it didn’t work.

“Trying to sneak away after I took care of you. How rude.” Alex’s voice went a wave of relief over you.

“I...ugh my head hurts. Well I didn’t know who would be on the other end of the arms. Wanted to avoid an uncomfortable situation. Where are we?”

“In one of the bedrooms in the frat house. I didn’t think you’d make it too far as shit faced as you were. You couldn’t even button your pants. I had to help.”

“Ahhhh,” you turned until your head was in a pillow, “I can’t believe I got that drunk. That’s so embarrassing.”

“A little, but I didn’t mind. Kinda nice seeing you outside of our study sessions. You actually do know how to have fun,” he expressed, dripping with sarcasm, accompanied by pokes in the side.

“Heyyyy, stop that,” you whined, “Where’s the bathroom again? I need to wash up. Also what time is it?”

“The bathroom is down the hall to the left and it’s...4:23am. Be careful, there’s probably some straggle partiers.” You shuffled to the door, peaking your head out. When you saw it was safe, you headed towards the bathroom.

You dug through the bathroom searching for anything to help with your breath. Finally you found mouthwash and luckily for you it wasn’t even open. Even better you found mini throw away toothbrushes.

After brushing your teeth, you headed back to the bedroom hoping Alex was still there. You couldn’t help becoming a little excited that he was still there. You climb back into bed he instinctively wrapped his arms around you. “Where there many people still up?”

“No I heard a few rustling around but it seems most have left or are asleep. Alex, thank you for bringing me up here. I guess I don’t know how to control myself.”

“You’re welcome. I wanted to make sure you didn’t end up in any trouble. You never know what others are capable of. I would never let myself live it down if something happened to my favorite study buddy,” his voice was laced with sleep.

You didn’t know if you still had courage from the alcohol or if you were finally tired of being scared all the time but you roll over so you were laying on top of him. He no longer appeared tired, the sleep disappearing from his face. Before he had a chance to say anything, your lips were on his.

Alex’s body became stiff then melted into yours. His lips relaxed, moving perfectly in sync with yours. Your hands were placed flat against his chest, his resting on your hips, giving gentle squeezed periodically.

When the two of you came up for air, you froze. What had you done? What if he wasn’t into you as more than a study buddy? He has been drinking, maybe you were taking advantage of him? When your body caught up to your brain, you jumped off him and the bed, scurrying our the door like an animal with its tail between their legs. You could hear him hollering your name.

The next day you skipped your classes to hungover to concentrate. You hadn’t heard from Alex since last night, well this morning. Today was a usual study session but you weren’t sure he was going to show after last night, not that you would blame him if he didn’t.

You felt slightly better after taking a shower and taking more ibuprofen. You’d already messaged everyone from you classes to see what you missed except for Alex. The closer it became to when Alex was due to arrive your stomach was in knots.

It was half an hour after he was usually arrived. Shit, he isn’t coming. He must be dismayed about the previous nights events. You typed, re-types a message to him five times, still not brave enough to send it. A soft knock on the door startled you from the battle in your head. You opened the door to reveal Alex, “Hey, sorry I’m late. Can I come in?”

You moved allowing him to enter. He took a seat on your bed, leaving the desk chair across the room for you. The two of you sat in silence, both unsure if you should bring up last night. “So, uhh...here’s what you missed in class.” He slid over his notes for you to copy.

The air in the room was thick with tension. Before you were able to say anything else blurted, “What happened last night? Well this morning, you just ran off. Was it the alcohol? Did you change your mind?”

“No, I just...ugh. I got in my head. I thought maybe you were drunk and I was taking advantage of you. That maybe you didn’t like me for anything other than a study partner. I psyched myself out.”

“You couldn’t tell by the way I kissed you back that I wanted you. YN, I’ve wanted to do that for a long time but I thought you wouldn’t want more.” He took a deep breath and swiftly pulled you out of the chair, crashing his lips against yours.

Awkwardly you made it until you were lying on top of him on the bed. Alex was more aggressive, his hands roaming unable to decide where to put them. Yours were locked in his hair.

Alex and you were in sync, attempting to take the others clothes off. It didn’t take long before clothes were thrown across the room, long forgotten. He flipped you over so he could be in control. He attached his lips to you neck, sucking, biting not caring it was going to leave a mark.

Alex took his time, leaving marks down your torso. You don’t think there was one part his didn’t touch. Warmth spread through your entire body. “Please, Alex...” you pleaded. He knew exactly what you wanted, not even taking a mere split second to shift so he was hovering above you.

He thrust his entire length in, giving you little time to adjust. His pace was quick, precise, the only sound was skin against skin. Alex was pushing to your limit, a leg thrown over his shoulder giving him access to become deeper.

One hand was digging into your hips, the other resting beside your head. “Oh fuck Alex,” other expletives too jumbled make sense left your lips. He moved the hand resting by your head to your bundle of nerves. He started by gently teasing, barely using any pressure then progressed until you felt the familiar tightening in your stomach.

Breathy moans escaped your lips, just trying to reach that pivotal high. One particular hard stroke sent you gushing over, your body spasmed, clenching hard around him. Alex never let up the pace, fucking through your orgasm. It wasn’t too long after you felt spurts of him inside of you.

He didn’t move right away, letting both of you catch your breath. “That was...”

“Amazing,” He finished for you. “You aren’t going to run away again are you?” A smirk on his face.

“I should just for that comment,” you retorted. He rolled to the side so he could face you. “I’m sorry Alex. I shouldn’t have run off yesterday. I just didn’t know how you felt.”

“Well for one I spent most of the night taking care of you. That should have been your first clue. Doesn’t matter now though. I must say this is the best study session I’ve ever had.”

You agreed before deciding you best at least get dressed before your roommate arrived. You didn’t think they would appreciate seeing the two of you naked. From then on out it was less about studying and more about who could have the most orgasms; you always won.

[wolf-555-writer]

Heating Up Part 1

So... something else for you guys. I took a little pause from writing the Alex Danvers story and came up with this as I also love Caitlin Snow from The Flash :). 

I assumed some stuff about how to control Caitlin’s powers. Hope you don’t mind... 

Caitlin Snow/Killer Frost x Meta Reader

Summary: Reader is a metahuman and can control heat. Team Flash is in need of your help as Caitlin can't control her powers anymore and is on the loose as Killer Frost.

Word Count: 2,187

“Have you found her?” Barry asks while nervously pacing around in the cortex.

“Can you please stop”, Cisco answers, rather annoyed by Barry. “You asked the same question, like, seconds ago. Nothing has changed since.”

“I just want to know where she is, okay?”

“We all want to know where she is”, Cisco reacts, gaze fixed on the screen. The blue light shining on his face.

“Wait… what do we do when we’ve found her?”, Iris asks perceptively, watching over Cisco’s shoulder, following his every move. “What do you mean?”, Barry replies, looking at Iris confused.

“Well… she’s not Caitlin anymore as she-”. Iris is interrupted by Cisco who quickly lifted his head up and is now staring at Barry. “No, she’s Killer Frost”, as he vividly remembers the vibe he had about Caitlin. Fighting in the dark, misty woods, not being able to reach her anymore, only left with Killer Frost.

“Maybe we need to find a solution beforehand, you know, to turn her back to our Caitlin Snow”, Cisco presents because he definitely doesn’t want his vibe to come true.

“So, what do you suggest, Cisco?” Barry asks, placing himself next to Cisco and finally standing still.  

“Well, what do we need to defrost Frost…”, Cisco teases with a slight grin, one eyebrow lifted, and adding an intentional pause. Because he already knows the answer to his own question.

Seeing his eyes widen, now locked with Cisco’s Barry answers, “Heat!”, as if an imaginary lightbulb suddenly turned on above his head. 

“Indeed, we need heat. Cotrolled heat.”

///

Busy with cleaning the fire truck spotless, you see two guys, kinda nerdy looking, walk into the fire station, gazing around as if they’re lost. One of your colleagues walks up to them. You can’t hear what they’re discussing but suddenly you notice your fellow firefighter point in your direction. Wait a minute- He’s pointing at you.

What would they need from me? They don’t look like law enforcement or something… While you’re occupied thinking about what the reason could be, the two guys are already calling you by name.

“(Y/N) (Y/L/N)?”, the one with the long, black hair asks.

“Yes, that’s me”, you respond. Ceasing the cleaning task, you smoothly jump down from the large fire truck. “What can I do for you?”

“Are you a metahuman that can control the vibration velocity of molecules, or better said: control heat?”, he demands out of the blue. Then the other guy quickly swoops in because your face starts to radiate confusion and plain anger. 

I mean, that’s kind of a personal question...

“My name is Barry Allen and this is Cisco Ramon. I apologize for his inappropriate question”, the other guy eases, now frowning at his partner, apparently named Cisco. “I work as a CSI at the CCPD and we’ve come to a conclusion that you are indeed a metahuman”. You stare silently at the two guys while Cisco whispers something at Barry like -that's exactly what I said-, scowling at him and making a hand gesture.

How the hell do they know this and why do they even want to know? you think, simultaneously trying to come up with a proper response.

“What gave you the indication that, as you just so subtly said, I am a metahuman who can influence temperature?”, you ask them, staring into their eyes stone-cold. Kinda proud of your smart counter question, you casually lean against the glistening fire truck with one arm.

“You were in Central City when the STAR labs explosion happened, right?”

“Yes I was. I was working”, you confirm, still in the dark about the purpose of their visit, now in an intimidating pose with your arms crossed and shoulders squared. When you discovered your powers you surely made some mistakes in the beginning, but those were minor accidents, nothing serious. You quickly had them under control and only used them occasionally at your job. I mean, it does come in handy sometimes. However, you stay careful as of course not the whole world needs to know.

“Well, we have noticed-”. Barry cannot finish his sentence because he is being interrupted by Cisco. They clearly do not see eye to eye on what questions to ask.

What do they even want from me? From my powers?

Watching them fight like a married couple, you hear an alarm go off. A loud noise echoing through the entire station and red lights flashing brightly. You quickly react out of instinct as you need to move out, responding to the call. You hop into the fire truck while putting on all the gear and declare relieved: “Sorry guys, duty calls!”. They silently stare at you with their mouths wide open watching you drive away with the rest of your team, leaving them behind, unable to ask what they really came for.

///

Finally… the long-lasting shift is over. Walking away from the station towards your car, truly exhausted, you bite down in a crunchy red apple. You taste the sweet, juicy flavour, lastly able to eat after the busy day you had. It’s already dark, seeing the moon shine bright. Arriving at the car, keys in hand, you notice a piece of paper on the windshield. Picking it up, now holding the note as suddenly The Flash appears in front of the car. You can’t see his face clearly because the street light he’s standing underneath is broken. He starts to speak with a distorted voice. “I need your help, (Y/N)”.

How does he know my name? you think, staring at him in silence, frowning and still holding the paper in your right hand. He continues while you chew and swallow the remaining apple chunks left in your mouth. 

So it appears The Flash needs your help. He actually needs your powers to be exact. A friend of his is in serious danger. If you want to help him you need to come to the address described on the note. You tilt your head down and read what’s on the piece of paper. By the time you look up again The Flash is gone, feeling a mild breeze as he vanished. Because helping people is in your blood, you don’t hesitate. The Flash asked for my help, that’s not some opportunity I get everyday. Unlocking the door, you hop into the car and start the engine. “Let’s go to STAR Labs”, you announce as you hit the gas pedal forcefully with your right foot while gradually releasing the clutch with your left, driving off with screeching tires.

///

Arriving at the STAR Labs building, you gaze at the damaged structures. It doesn’t nearly resemble the shiny, new, high-tech building it was before the explosion. Not knowing where to go, you just casually walk inside, no security or whatever. After wandering around in the hallways, you eventually hear faint voices in the distance and start to follow the noise. Suddenly all eyes promptly turn to you, shocked expressions on their faces as you were standing there a couple of seconds in silence. The Flash is not wearing his mask, probably didn’t expect you so soon. You can see who it is. It’s the guy that visited you at work today. 

It’s Barry Allen.

“Wait- What the hell... it’s you”, you exclaim, completely startled. “Okay, I’m out”, you continue since you’re still furious about their inappropriate questions and unsolicited visit at the fire station today. They crossed a line there. You’ve had enough of this weirdness and start to walk away as suddenly The Flash, aka Barry Allen, abruptly appears in front of you. “Wait, just hear me out”, he expresses with credible remorse in his eyes. Apparently they’re in desperate need of your help?

The guy with the long black hair, Cisco, starts to explain how their friend Caitlin Snow cannot control her powers anymore and is on the loose. With the help of your ‘heat’ powers you can counteract Killer Frost’s ‘cold’ powers and turn her back into Caitlin again. Or at least... they think you can. You definitely want to help them, compelled by their story, but you don’t know if this will work. “I mean… I ‘ve never used my powers on a real person before...”  

///

It’s dark outside. The little light that is shining is coming from the bright, white full moon as it’s a clear night. You’re currently in the cold, foggy woods, panting because you’re running, fast. Cisco had found the location of Killer Frost, you don’t exactly know how, probably something to do with his powers that you do not completely understand yet. In the distance you see them, Barry and Cisco, as all of a sudden a shockwave of cold air hits you right in the face. Or call them by their superhero names, Flash and Vibe, who are currently getting their asses kicked by Killer Frost. You’re scared and feel your heartbeat pounding in your chest. Adrenaline rushing through your veins. You notice Cisco taking cover behind a broad tree, seeing the woman with hair as white as snow shooting ice shards at him, piercing the thick bark in the end. They’re talking- no, screaming at each other.

“Caitlin! This isn’t you! Stop!”

“Caitlin is no more, my name is Killer Frost!” she furiously answers while rapidly throwing icy fragments his way.

What if I hurt her? They’ll never forgive me for that, because Caitlin means so much to them. Can I do this?

The help you received from Cisco during your training at STAR Labs did give you some confidence. But it’s not the same, now that you actually have to do this in a real-life, and death, situation.

It cannot wait any longer as the circumstances are escalating quickly. The fight between them is rapidly heating up. No- wait- cooling down? The Flash has now reached Caitlin’s alter-ego, Killer Frost. But he harshly collides with the dirty, forest soil due to the layer of slippery ice that appeared underneath his feet, induced by KF’s cold powers. She aggressively stabs him with a sharp icicle in the leg, making him scream in agony while reaching for his shin. He can’t get away. Cisco is still pinned down behind the tree. You have to act, like right now, preventing a fatal outcome.

Sprinting towards her, you covertly roll over, making an evasive maneuver. You grab her. Arms wrapped around her tight. Closing your eyes and highly concentrating on your powers. You feel heat radiating through your body. You feel it all around you, completely under your control. Contracting your arm muscles extensively since it takes some strength to restrain Killer Frost, who’s now brutally screaming to release her. But you’ve completely blocked out every single sound that is hearable. You block yourself from everything. Clear minded, only focusing on the temperature around you. Controlling it. At a given moment you don’t feel her resisting anymore. 

Did- did I… kill her?

When you cautiously open your eyes you see someone with gorgeous brown hair, very very close to you. Her eye colour not silver-white anymore, but beautiful, hazel brown and sparkling. So... this is Caitlin Snow? You’ve become speechless while you’re still holding her tight. She looks into your lost, dreamy eyes, confused, because she doesn’t know who you are and especially why your arms are wrapped around her so strongly.

“Hi- can you maybe please let me go?”, she asks with a soft whispering voice. With her question she snapped you out of your distracted state and you awkwardly answer: “Yeah… eh… sorry, I-I …”. Relaxing your arms and freeing Caitlin, you stop in the middle of the sentence while you watch her staring at her friends in utter guilt. She did this. She hurt them badly. The smirk that had appeared on your face quickly disappears. Cisco swiftly jumps up from behind the damaged tree and rushes towards you two as he noticed the situation is safe. Barry, who’s still in excruciating pain, has removed the sharp object from his leg and the wound is already healing as we speak, perks of having speed-healing powers. Standing there awkwardly, not knowing what to do since you have done your part, you watch Cisco hug Caitlin.

“You’re back again”, he relaxes his breath. Caitlin stutters. “I-I’m… so sorry guys…”, her eyes becoming watery and looking at Barry, who’s still lying on the muddy ground in pain. He sits up. 

“It’s okay, Caitlin. We’re just glad that you’re okay, thanks to (Y/N)”, he mentions while they all turn their heads in your direction, making you slightly blush. Gratitude overflowing as this feeling is new to you. Honestly, saving people is kind of an everyday business for you. But this, this feels different. Hoping you can pursue these kinds of ‘superhero matters’ more often in the future, you stand there. A warmth rippling through your body, not because of your meta powers. It’s caused by the charming woman you saved today, curious what will happen between you two, as it slightly feels like you’ve found your counterpart. Literally. ‘Heat’ and ‘Cold’, opposites belonging together. 

Continue with part 2

[singledarkshade]

Together Forever

Summary: Trapped alone in the Waverider by the 'Legion of Doom' Gideon does her best to keep Rip from sinking into his depression. Author’s Note: For TimeShip Week Day 1: Doomworld Day - An homage to when Rip and Gideon were stuck on the Waverider together and lived like an old married couple. This was quite a hard one to do but I managed and hope you enjoy.                                 ********************************************* Alone.

He was alone on his ship.

Except he wasn’t.

“Gideon?”

“I’m here, Captain.”

Dropping onto his bed, Rip lay back and stared at the ceiling, letting out a relieved sigh he breathed, “You always are.”

“I have detected a major shift in the timestream,” Gideon told him.

“That’s because we failed, Gideon,” Rip told her sadly, “The ‘Legion of Doom’ used the Spear to change reality thanks to Mr Rory. The crew are gone, and I’m trapped here.”

He lay in silence contemplating his latest complete and utter failure. Only this time he hadn’t only failed his family, he had failed everyone.

“Are you blaming yourself, Captain?” Gideon’s voice cut through his wallowing.

Rip grimaced, hating that she could read him like a book.

“Mr Rory’s betrayal was not your fault,” Gideon reminded him, “There were circumstances which you had no control over. You were not even here for them.”

Rip let out a bark of sarcastic laughter, “You mean if I hadn’t used the time core to scatter myself, I would have been here to notice what was happening with him.”

“I said, and believe, nothing of the sort,” Gideon stated sharply, “And I thank you not to put words in my mouth.”

Rubbing his hand across his face Rip grimaced, “Do you have any idea where the rest of the crew are?”

“I’m afraid I currently have no access outside the ship, Captain,” Gideon told him softly, “My main systems are running on back-up reserves and solar. Whatever has happened to us, it has caused a massive drain on the power.”

Nodding Rip sat up again, “Okay. So, first thing first I need to fix our power problem then we’ll look for the team.”

Gideon watched him try to repair the ship so that they could move from wherever they were berthed and find the crew.

Rip worked tirelessly at first. Spurred on by the hope of seeing the people who had become a surrogate family to him. A hope which faltered as the days, then weeks, went by with no success.

Sadness filled Gideon when she witnessed the precise moment he gave up. He pulled the bottle of scotch from its hiding place and, instead of the one glass he normally poured himself at night, Rip simply drank it all from the bottle.

The next day he began to wander the ship, a bottle in his hand in a way reminiscent to the way he had in the days and weeks after Miranda and Jonas died.

Gideon knew her Captain better than anyone. She knew she needed to find a way to distract him from his depression before it took hold completely.

Thankfully her Captain had some skills and passions that he had never shown to the Legends. One being a love of cooking.

Rip had bonded with Mary Xavier as a child because she had him help her make meals or bake treats when he first arrived at the refuge. As a little boy who had spent so much time alone unable to trust anyone, the love and affection she offered had been appealing. Cooking with her had imprinted Mary on him like a baby bird.

He enjoyed making meals from scratch, especially for the people he loved.

With this in mind, Gideon persuaded him to try to bake cakes that he could then use to welcome the crew back home once they found them.

It worked, to a certain extent.

But Gideon knew she needed other ways to distract him.

                                  *********************************************

  Rip opened his eyes confused.

He remembered being in the galley, trying to make the perfect triple chocolate cake Gideon had found a recipe for. There had been a discussion about adding whiskey to it and then…

He grimaced confused to be standing on a white sandy beach, waves from the deep blue ocean gently lapping the shoreline. Looking down he saw he was barefoot and could feel the sand between his toes. The sun was shining in the deep blue sky that had a few wispy white clouds and Rip found sunglasses on his face, protecting his eyes.

“What the hell is going on?” Rip snapped.

“I thought that you could use a holiday, Captain,” Gideon’s voice made him turn.

Rip stared as she walked towards him wearing a red bikini top and a red wraparound skirt, her hair falling around her shoulders with a red flower tucked in it.

“Gideon?” he asked, before saying quickly at the forming pout, “You look lovely and this place is amazing.”

A bright smile covered her face, “Thank you, Captain.”

“What are we doing here?” he asked, “Aren’t you meant to be trying to restore power?”

Gideon folded her arms and replied, “I am. However, since you have passed out in a drunken stupor, I thought we could take some time to relax on a beach.”

“Which beach exactly?” Rip demanded, ignoring her jibe about his drinking while trying to find some clue as to what memory she’d picked.

“It is an amalgamation of several places,” Gideon replied, walking towards a sunbed that had appeared from nowhere and laying back on it, “I thought this would be relaxing.”

A table with a tall glass filled with some pink liquid, ice and fruit appeared beside her and Gideon lifted it taking a long drink. Glancing over to him, she asked archly, “Are you joining me?”

Rip took a step forward seeing the sunbed was now big enough for him to lie at her side. With a soft sigh, Rip lay down, finding it extremely comfortable. Staring at the wispy clouds in the blue sky, Rip felt Gideon’s hand slide into his.

Gripping onto her tightly, he whispered, “I don’t know what to do to fix this, Gideon.”

“I know, Captain,” she soothed, “We will work on it together but for now, let’s enjoy our holiday.”

Smiling, Rip kept a hold of her hand as he lifted the drink from the table beside him and clinked glasses with her.

                                  *********************************************

  Music floated through the air when Rip opened his eyes. He looked around the ballroom filled with people all dressed in their finery. Glancing down he saw he was in a dinner suit, one he had worn on missions and smiled slightly. Every few days Gideon brought him to a new scenario.

“Dancing tonight?” he asked.

Turning to where he knew Gideon was walking towards him, Rip gaped. The dress she wore was black, off the shoulder with a split up one leg. There were small diamond embellishments on the bodice, and it fit her perfectly.

“Do you like, Captain?” she asked with a shy sweet smile, giving a small twirl to show off the full dress.

Taking her hand, Rip placed a gentle kiss on it, “You look beautiful.”

She blushed before fixing his tie, “And you are very handsome in this suit. I have always liked it.”

“So,” he smiled, “Are we dancing tonight?”

Gideon nodded, “If you wish.”

Rip wrapped his arm around her waist pulling her close taking her hand in his, “That sounds like a good way to spend the evening.”

She smiled as he started them moving, the music bright allowing Rip to spin her around the ballroom. The music remained lively for the next few dances before it changed. As the slow romantic tune began, Rip drew Gideon closer smiling when she rested her head against his shoulder.

Holding onto his best friend, Rip admitted to himself how much he liked to spend time with her in this way. Gideon had always been different from the other AI’s, especially when it came to her emotions. She would on occasion enter his dreams to talk to him, usually at a highly stressful or emotional time although there was the occasional telling off for being reckless. She had also liked to spend time within Miranda’s dreams. From what he’d been told they enjoyed going ice-skating.

Despite everything that had happened from losing his family to losing himself, Rip had always had Gideon and found his feelings for her more complex than he’d ever realised.

The kiss they’d shared recently had only helped him recognise that, but he knew it had been happening for a long time.

Not wanting to think about that or get into such complicated territory tonight, Rip just held her and danced to the music.

                                  *********************************************

  Gideon watched her Captain trying to make a fondant bow, with some difficulty due to the fact it was not an easy task, but also because he was half-way through a bottle of scotch.

They were coming up on a year since they had found themselves in this situation. He had stopped getting dressed properly, and personal grooming had gone out the window. His beard was uneven while his hair stuck up in all directions as the depression and isolation took its toll.

As a Time Master despite spending most of his time alone on the ship with only her for company he always had missions to go on, reports to make to the Council and his family to visit. But this was true isolation and Gideon was only a physical presence for him when he was unconscious.

There had always been times she had wished for a corporeal form to help her Captain but no more than now.

She did her best to keep him in good spirits and sometimes, like today where he was being productive, it worked but other days it didn’t, and her suggestions would only make him angry where he would yell at her and call her names before ending up in a corner huddled in a ball begging her not to leave him too. Those days, once he was sleeping and in whatever setting she created for them Rip would apologise profusely.

She hated that he was lost in this despair, Gideon cared about him much more deeply than an AI should be able to. He called her special for her emotional capabilities, but Gideon believed that it was only because of him she was different.

Watching over him, Gideon waited until he was near the stage he would pass out and guide him to the med-bay. It made it easier for her to connect with him while detoxing his system from the alcohol he’d ingested.

  Rip looked around seeing trees, grass and what appeared to be pond or lake of some sort.

“I thought we could take a walk in the park,” Gideon said from his side.

Turning he smiled to see her in a pair of denim shorts and a yellow gypsy style blouse. Her hair was pinned up and sunglasses were perched on her nose.

“That sounds nice,” Rip offered his arm, smiling when she hugged him close, “Let’s go.”

They strolled along the path, admiring the flowers and watching the different animals that were running around. Some very different and unusual to find in a park.

“Gideon?”

“Yes, Captain.”

Rip tried not to smile too much while he asked, “Is there a reason there are Meerkats running around a park?”

“I like them,” Gideon replied, crouching down to pet the creature that came running over to her.

“Of course you do,” Rip chuckled softly watching her gently stroke the creature’s fur, “Come on, Snow White.”

Gideon laughed and took his arm again. As they walked several little birds and butterflies settled on her shoulders.

“You’re pushing the analogy now,” Rip noted with amusement.

She grinned at him, waving away the creatures, “Better?”

“If you get rid of the trail of rabbits and squirrels who have been following us,” Rip said turning back to where the cute furry creatures sat waiting expectantly.

Shaking her head, “You can be so boring sometimes, Captain.”

“I prefer not to be in a Disney movie,” he retorted.

She gave a disappointed pout, “Then you don’t want to hear them sing?”

Rip began to laugh and hugged her close, “If you want them to sing, then on you go.”

Gideon grinned at him and they started walking again while a chorus of ‘Some Day My Prince Will Come’ began.

Chuckling Rip leaned over and pressed a soft kiss to Gideon’s temple.

                                  *********************************************

  “Gideon, I've finally perfected my fondant bows,” Rip motioned to his creation, “What do you think?”

Your technique has vastly improved over the last year, Captain,” Gideon replied encouragingly, “These cakes are so much more creative than your biscuits.”

Rip nodded before smiling, “Now, credit where credit is due, Gideon. Your idea of adding more gelatine to the mixture was pivotal.”

“Well done,” Gideon praised him “The best one yet, in my humble opinion.”

Rip smiled at the approval before letting out a sigh, “It's a shame that you're the only one here to appreciate it.”

“I'm sure your team would be just as impressed,” Gideon soothed.

“Assuming that they're all still alive,” Rip found the bottle he had sitting nearby and took a drink.

Gideon suggested, “Perhaps you should resume your efforts to send a message out.”

Sitting dejectedly, Rip sighed. “What's the point, Gideon? The Legion have the Spear of Destiny. They're like gods now. There's no point in fighting. Not anymore.”

“Captain…”

“I thought we could make a white chocolate cheesecake,” Rip told her changing the subject.

Sadly, Gideon watched him take another long drink, “That sounds nice, Captain.”

  “Gideon,” Rip cried suddenly sitting up from his prone position on the floor, “I've discovered the missing ingredient for my recipe. Rum,” the empty bottle he was holding clattered to the ground, “And speaking of which, I'm going to need you to fabricate me another bottle of it,” he paused and added, “Ooh, and some nachos.”

“I will do nothing of the sort,” Gideon stated.

Rip blinked in surprise, “What?” he frowned before yelling, “You will do as I tell you, Gideon, I'm your captain.”

Sharply she replied, “Then it's time for you to start acting like one,” he blinked again stunned and Gideon snapped, “Now, sit up straight and show your backbone, Captain Hunter.”

“Gideon,” Rip sighed defeated, “For the thousandth time, I've got no way of getting the reserve power back online, and I've got no way of sending out any signal of any sort, which means that I am destined to live out the rest of my days right here,” he paused before snarling, “With you.”

“While you were honing your confectionary skills,” Gideon ignored him, “I've been working on new algorithms to redirect power from the idle quadrants of the ship. You need to focus on boosting your distress signal once power is fully back online.”

Rip frowned in thought.

“Now,” Gideon said, “Chin up, Captain.”

“I don't know if I can do this, Gideon,” Rip whispered.

Softly Gideon reminded him, “I believe in you.”

Rip smiled, just those four words made him feel as though he could do anything.

“Now,” Gideon said decisively, “Let's get to work.”

Rip nodded, “First,” he held up his hand, “I'm going to vomit. And second,” he pushed himself to his feet a little unsteadily, “Let's do this.

“Captain,” Gideon said as she watched him throw up in the nearest bin, “Please allow me to perform a full detox first.”

Letting out a sigh, still leaning over in case he threw up again, Rip nodded, “Good idea”

  Gideon stood on the bridge, looking down she stared confused to see that she was wearing a long white dress.

“You look incredible,” Rip spoke up as he walked towards her looking like her Captain once more.

Confused Gideon moved to him, “I did not choose this setting or outfit.”

“I did,” Rip smiled, taking her hand, “I need you to know how much you mean to me, Gideon.”

A loving smile touched her lips, “I do know, Captain.”

He shook his head, “Not the extent,” placing his hand on her cheek he breathed, “Gideon, you are my best friend and my confidant. Any strength I have comes from you and your belief in me.”

“Captain…” she whispered before changing her mind, “Rip, you have always been brilliant. From the moment you stepped onboard my ship I knew that.”

Rip smiled resting his forehead against hers, “I know I’m difficult to live with. I know I don’t deserve your loyalty or your affection, but I am so grateful for it. So grateful to have you, Gideon.”

“You’re mine, Captain,” Gideon reminded him, “Nothing will change that.”

Rip stepped back, still holding her hand, “I chose this dress for you because I wanted to make a few vows.”

“What?”

“From now on,” he whispered, “We’re partners. Always.”

Looking up at him with a smile, Gideon nodded, “Always.”

Closing the space between them Rip pressed his lips to hers in a soft kiss, Gideon responded deepening the kiss. They parted slowly and Rip smiled at her.

“That was even nicer than before,” she sighed.

“Good,” Rip replied, “Because I vow to be yours, if you vow to be mine.”

Gideon nodded, surprised when a gold band appeared on her finger, “Impressive, Rip.”

“You can fabricate one for me when I wake up,” Rip murmured.

“You have to do that soon,” Gideon told him, “We need to save the others and stop the Legion of Doom.”

Rip sighed before he nodded, “Okay, Partner. Let’s get to work.”

“In a minute,” Gideon said, moving closer and kissing him once more.

  Opening his eyes in the med-bay, Rip removed the medical cuff and slid off the couch. Pausing at the fabricator he picked up the gold band and slid it on. Heading up to the bridge he gently caressed the main console where Gideon’s avatar sat, before he climbed into the pilot’s seat and powered the systems up.

“Alright, Gideon,” Rip smiled, “Let’s do this.”

“Yes, Captain.”

Rip held up his hand, “Yes what?”

Gideon chuckled, “Rip.”

“That’s my girl,” he smiled.

“Always.”

[noodlecupcakeswritings]

Till Death Do Us Part - Chapter 12 (Kylo RenxOC - Arranged Marriage Au)

Warnings: Violence, Language, Blood, Attempted murder, Actual murder, Slight fluff maybe

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Chapter 12

Cora’s P.O.V

A few months later

Kylo had stayed away like I had asked, he hadn’t even tried to communicate with me. the silence was…wonderful. It felt so good to be able to walk through my home and not have him as a looming threat over me. Yes, ok there was still Phasma and various stormtroopers but without Kylo I felt a little more freedom. No more pleasing ‘my husband’. I was ruling the planet just fine, always putting my people before anything. I wasn’t drinking anymore either. Kylo’s absence had changed a lot of things for the better.

Unfortunately, there was an event coming up that required his presence. Required us to act as if we got along. I had Phasma forward a message to him, not wanting to directly contact him. With The First Order making their presence known on my planet, other planets were beginning to question things like trade and previous agreements. We had to reassure them that things would remain the same. And I had to hope that they wouldn’t throw their weight around to get more than agreed upon.

He was due back tonight. I would do my best to avoid him until tomorrow where we need to sit down together and discuss the situation. The meeting would be in the afternoon the same day. We both had to be ready. I had a room prepared for him, one away from my own. Dinner was to be brought to him as well. I would dine alone tonight, I’d gotten used to it the past few months. I would be informed of his arrival, hopefully he would be late. I was curious to know what he had done with himself the past few months. If had missed me at all…unlikely but it would be nice.

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Kylo and I had planned to meet for a late breakfast to discuss the situation. I headed to the dining hall, fully dressed and ready for the day. I entered the room to find it empty, of course either he was going to be late or stand me up completely out of spite. Oh well, I could handle this without him. I sat down and picked a few foods for my plate. As I began to eat the door opened to Darwin Navaro, the leader of Antar 4. He was an older man, white hair which was neatly styled as well as his white beard. Darwin and my father had been good friends, I could trust this man.

I’d known him since I was a little girl, he was like an uncle to me. He smiled kindly and greeted me with a hug. It was good to see him after so long. I hoped everything went well today, having him against me was the last thing I wanted. If anything, I wanted his advice, see if he could offer me some help. “I hope I’m not intruding,” He spoke. “No not at all.” “Your husbands not dining with you?” “No. I guess not.”

He offered me a sympathetic smile before sitting down next to me. He filled his own plate with food and we began to eat. “I was hoping to catch you before the meeting starts,” Darwin spoke. “Oh?” “I’m sorry I was unable to attend your coronation and then the celebratory party. Things have been a bit busy.” “It’s ok, don’t worry about it.” “I feel like I should have been there for you. It’s what your father would have wanted.” I sighed, I wonder if he knew the situation with my parents currently. The real situation. How easily they had given me away to a monster.

“How have you been keeping, considering the circumstances?” He asked. I shrugged, “well enough.” “I know it can’t have been easy for you and it still isn’t. I need to know where your alliance is.” “My people are my best interest. I do my best for them, not The First Order if that’s what you’re asking.” “Spoken like a true queen. That does offer me some comfort to the situation.” “Is there anything I can do? For my planet. I’m not running like my parents did. Without me then The First Order will have total control. I’m not going to let that happen to my home.” He smiled proudly, “you’re going to need to continue the bloodline. I know it’s probably the last thing you want right now but you need to produce heirs, plenty of them. Ones that are as strong and stubborn as you.”

I sighed, I knew this would come sooner or later. I didn’t want children at all. The thought of childbirth scared me and the thought of them being with Kylo made it worse. What if they were force sensitive? He’d take them from me and turn them into little sith soldiers, turn them against me. I couldn’t risk it. “I cant-“ I started. “You have to put your home first Cora. What happens when one day he decides to kill you? Then he will have total control. Now that your parents have gone it’s so easy for anybody to come here and take over.” I got to my feet, unsure what to do. He was right. But I wasn’t strong enough. I stood over by the fire, weighing all my options.

Darwin joined me, “you have to let me help you.” “How? They won’t accept any outsiders.” “They will, I’ll make them come around.” Suddenly a sharp pain ripped through my stomach, causing me to yell in pain. I looked down to find Darwin pushing a dagger further into my belly, blood covering the object and his hand. I looked back at him, feeling nothing but betrayal. I’d trusted this man, treated him like family and this is how he repays me? Tears rolled down my cheeks and he pulled the dagger from me. At that moment the doors burst open and Kylo stormed inside.

I sunk to the floor, unable to support my own weight anymore. I clutched at my stomach, doing my best to put pressure on the wound. Kylo took the scene before him in before he flew into a rage. Darwin attempted to retreat but was suddenly frozen in place. Kylo began to crush his windpipe using the force. He closed his fist, killing Darwin instantly. He then ran over to me, pulling me into his arms. “Your safe now,” He reassured me. Another wave of pain shot through me and I let out another small cry. “I’ll make it stop, I promise,” he continued.

Kylo carefully picked me up bridal style before walking as quick as he could out of the room and down to the medical bay. He kicked the door open and placed me down on an empty bed. Nurses and droids rushed over quickly to begin the healing process. I let out another cry of pain, clutching at the white sheet beneath me. It was too much. Kylo could see this and sighed. With a wave of his hand he sent me to sleep with the force.

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Slowly I awoke, my vision a little blurry from sleep. There was a dull pain in my abdomen still but it was no way near as bad as it had been. The lights were dimmed and my room was empty all except for Kylo who was sat beside me, watching me. I felt a wave of calm wash over me knowing that he was here and I was safe. I looked down at my stomach, finding a small light scar across my pale skin. “I had the droids patch you up as best as they could. There’s still some work to be done on the scarring but your almost back to normal. You just have to take things slow for the next few days,” he explained.

“Thank you,” I spoke, my voice a little weak. Kylo turned away from me, “for what? I should have been there sooner, then I could have prevented this from ever happening.” I could tell by the look on his face that he was blaming himself for something that was out of his control. I reached for his hand, lacing my fingers with his. This got his attention, giving me that sad puppy look. I squeezed his hand to try and reassure him. “It’s not your fault. I’m just grateful you walked in when you did and not later when I might have bled out,” I spoke.

Kylo’s jaw clenched as if the very thought of my death was enough to royally piss him off. I attempted to sit up, Kylo making a fuss at every little wince or sound of pain I made. I could tell he wanted to ask me something but he was holding back because of the situation at hand. I decided it was best not to push him, he would ask me when he was ready. However, I did feel bad now for sending him away, without him here I would have died. I was lucky there had been no attempts on my life when he was away. I was lucky to have him. As much as my stubbornness didn’t want to admit it, I needed him.

[fleetingfan77]

The Flaw in Every Crystal

Chapter 20: 'Life in Praxus' Part 4

Aka: Driving Force

We start off with Jazz once again having to ask what has been done to him after waking up rather than be allowed to make his own choices. Though at this point I could see Jazz even rejecting a form of help due to just wanting to have control over even one thing in his life even if it is detrimental to him. Though that goes to the heart of the Praxian culture with foreigners, doesn’t it? They shouldn’t be allowed to make any choices due to the fear that they will make the “wrong” one. To the point that Prowl is even allowed to keep Jazz’s modifications from Jazz himself.

I wonder what range “short-range” really means? Can Jazz only contact people within the city? Would he receive an update, ding, or whatever if say rewind or someone entered the city and be able to contact them? Or does it block any numbers not approved of by Prowl?

It is a bit sad that Jazz has had to stop correcting people that Prowl is his mate because in Praxus he is fully considered such. Though it is interesting to hear Prowl referred to as a “warden” rather than a kidnapper/torturer. It begs the question of if Jazz is beginning to internalize some guilt to think that this must be some sort of karma brought onto him due to a prior action rather than a tragic circumstance. It is also interesting that Prowl is referred to as the “warden” rather than a “jailer” or “guard”. The warden is usually known as the being of absolute authority yet being absent from most prisoners lives and in most media is traditionally depicted as corrupt or not believing in the system itself. So for the metaphor proper from a third person angle it would be the city/culture itself that is the warden and Prowl as a guard with Jazz as the prisoner but since Jazz has been depicted as such a single track mind thinker so far and puts such an emphasis on physical sensations it may be that he is unable to think to blame a city/culture itself but rather would blame a singular person or persons.

Also interesting that Prowl offers to explain all the modifications to Jazz inside of the medical center or just go home. I wonder if its so that if Jazz takes the news badly there will be medical staff nearby? Or could it be Prowl thinking that if Jazz does not wish to know right away then it means that he does not car to know ever?

Then when Jazz comments that some of the modifications were described as “surprises” Prowl sidesteps it by asking for another stop before home. From here it is hard to determine if Prowl knew it was a set up to explain about the modifications or if he is taking it as Jazz saying that he does not want the surprise ruined by Prowl explaining it then and there.

We see then that the stop Prowl wants to make is in the city. Jazz gets a view of a bunch of “subs” walking around in the open with different names on their wings along with a strong enforcer presence. It is odd that Praxus, for claiming to be such a safe city with no significant crime rate, boosts such a large number of enforcers paid to seemingly just drive around the city. Could it be to serve as a reminder to any Praxians or non Praxains who wish to disobey some of the traditions? As a constant reminder of Praxus’s power?

As it turns out the place in the city is the “Reeducation center” which Jazz panics at first thinking it could be a brainwashing center a la 1984 or some such. Which I do not believe a building for the purpose Jazz fears would even been in Praxus since from what we have seen of Prowl and some of Barricade’s comments that “training” as it is is considered more a private family/couple matter rather than anything you would feel comfortable asking for outside help about.

It is interesting that Prowl either does not note or does not care about Jazz’s obvious distress at seeing the building and being asked to walk towards it. It seems also the Prowl has plans to be seen in public or at least be able to drive around with Jazz since he worries about Jazz’s skills getting rusty. It takes Jazz guessing at the building’s purpose to prompt Prowl to tell Jazz what the building is really for.

I wonder if this building is only for foreign adopted frames to practice/learn new skills in or if it is for Praxians as well who have found themselves in a new sub/dom position that they did not think they would have before hand. Jazz is forced to accept this explanation from Prowl as to the building’s purpose at face value, since as Jazz notes, there is really no choice for him to refuse that won’t end in more pain for him. 

It is interesting to note that Prowl simply downloads a map of the building before they left and that Prowl had previously said this visit could happen at any orn. There was also no receptionist inside to greet them so the area but either accept only commed appointments or be open for public use and then just not be used that often since Prowl shows no worry about there being crowds or someone else currently using the track. They also don’t run into anyone else in the hallways on the way to the indoor track. 

The track itself seems to be a proper testing ground with obstacles and even parts of the track deliberately neglected to copy that of what may be seen on the roadways. It seems as the only worker in the building as well would be a medic to help deal with any issues that newly door-winged individuals may face.

Jazz’s collar is then removed into Prowl’s subspace. I have to wonder if it is because the track is a closed area so Jazz would have no hope of escaping anyway or if the collar would interfere with the transformation sequence somehow.

Jazz then asks Prowl to join him on the track though I am unsure if it is to make sure that the track is safe first or if Jazz simply wishes for company. Prowl agrees once he is sure that Jazz will not suddenly crash and burn into the side of the track or some such. 

It is interesting that now without the collar around him Jazz reverts quickly to his old nature and even seems to be flirting with Prowl a bit, I assume in a similar way to when he first arrived and caught Prowl’s interest. I wonder if it is a conscious decision to do so to show how well Jazz is without the collar or if it is simply Jazz trying to pretend for a bit that this is how it actually is and the collar didn’t exist for a while.

We also see Prowl happy to see these actions in Jazz and thinking that it was a good gift to deliver this reaction. Though I wonder then if it is a gift to allow Jazz this movement or if it was for medical reasons? 

We then see Jazz start a race with Prowl. It seems at first to be Jazz indulging but this could also allow Jazz some valuable information that if he ever did get on a road with Prowl, if Jazz would be able to out speed him. This would be the perfect environment to test out how their speeds compare on different terrain and the whole while Prowl simply thinks its his mate enjoying a playful race. And then later get to confirm that while Jazz is having fun he also wants to test his limits properly against an enforcer. 

Though it is also interesting that Prowl decides to deliberately let Jazz take the lead and not pass him even though Prowl believes that he could. Is it because Prowl suspects that Jazz would not like it or wanting to keep an eye on Jazz when driving? It is show that Jazz DOES want to fully race Prowl since he then slows to parallel with Prowl before taking off again though Prowl seems more concerned with making sure Jazz would know how to handle himself alone on the road. We see later that the story has enforcers react some way to a chase that Prowl states he does not want to trigger without having warned Jazz first. Whether this is a chase triggering more aggressive actions or being tied to interfacing like in other stories remains to be seen. Though Prowl does feel pride that Jazz is able to out maneuver/outsmart him in the road maze. Though Prowl then feels the need to scare, cut Jazz off to reestablish dominance over him... via it seems a game of chicken.

Then we see how Prowl’s half-explanations tend to do more harm then good as his sudden explanation of no longer being on the track leads Jazz to believe he upset Prowl rather than almost triggered something in Prowl. And at this point Jazz looks for verbal traps in everything as he does not believe in Prowl saying that Jazz could remain longer, instead seeing it as a set up that he will be punished for leaving his dom’s side later. 

It is interesting to see Jazz’s tendency to lie rather than have to wait or explain something he doesn’t want to. 

It seems also that Jazz is lead back still uncollared and then is left by Prowl in the entrance with no instruction. I wonder if this is Prowl once again falling into the “We had a nice day and I WANT Jazz to just act like a good mate so I will pretend that is what is going on” again or if Prowl is so used to either not having a mate or Jazz being locked up that he didn’t think of it. Jazz, for his part, plays into it as well, getting them both energon and then waiting to be able to dry off Prowl. And although Prowl is happy at these actions from Jazz, Jazz is less so, it seems, or simply reminding himself in his thoughts that Prowl is his captor.

And with that the chapter ends with them falling asleep.

Till next time!