#dan really is on fire eh

[random-bean-allie]

went to see daniel howell's show tonight.

for the very first time i saw a queer person freely making jokes about their sexuality and everyone in the room was cheering and.. it just made me really happy.

[norrisleclercf1]

Tennessee Whiskey

Pairing: Country Singer!Reader x Lando Norris

Rating: PG-17

Words: 7.3K

Warnings: None really, just language, the dickhead known as Rhett

Requested: Yes/No

Songs: Save a Horse, Ride a cowboy by Big & Rich, Tennessee Whiskey by Chris Stapleton, Life is a Highway by Rascal Flatts, She's Country by Jason Aldean, What Hurts the Most by Rascal Flatts, All-American Girl by Carrie Underwood, Jolene by Dolly Parton, Bless these Broken Roads by Rascal Flatts, Fancy by Reba McEntire, What Ifs by Kane Brown

Synopsis: You're as smooth as Tennessee whiskey

You're as sweet as strawberry wine

You're as warm as a glass of brandy

And honey, I stay stoned on your love all the time

Some country songs just write themselves

A/N: I want to thank @monzamash for giving me the idea of how they met but also @vintaqestar for fueling this even more. And also Chris Stapleton for me listening to song and giving me the inpsiration. @bibissparkles

"Welcome to Nashville," Lando smiles brightly at the older gentleman holding his hand. 

Nashville, Tennessee. That's where Lando was currently, here for a Jack Daniel's event. He's never been to Nashville, but he is standing in the back room of a cramped yet packed bar. Jack was releasing a new bottle, a special one with McLaren on it. Fans and nonfans alike were here for the event. 

He was also told that some country singers would be there. The base was thumping, and the thick smell of smoke and alcohol had his throat tightening. Oscar was leaning against a wall, probably not wise as Lando had touched it, and it was sticky. Yet, Oscar looked the most relaxed Lando had ever seen. 

"You bunch sure know how to throw a party," Oscar voices, a little louder than usual. But with the southern drawl of some singer, a song about a tractor that is somehow sexy. "How is a tractor sexy?" Lando whispers, lips right against Oscar's ear. The Aussie turns and shrugs his shoulder. "I don't think they care, look." Oscar points to the crowd. 

Oscar was right; Lando was watching people sing and do some type of synchronized dancing. "What are they doing?" The older gentleman, whose name Lando couldn't remember, something like Dan, laughed loudly. "It's called line dancing." Oscar and Lando share a look and just shrug their shoulders. "When do we go out?" Oscar asks, but Dan waves his hand. 

"Ah hell, you ain't gonna go on stage, boys; you're behind the bar. We don't showboat out here. Unless you're like them," Dan, maybe Cash, points, and Lando looks over. He sucks in a breath seeing a woman holding a torched guitar. It was gorgeous, with dark wood, but through the low lights, it looked like fire was taken to give it this smokey look. "That's The Cadillac's. A new band, but damn, they think they're going to clean house at the CMA's." Dan yells, tipping his hat. 

Lando stopped listening, though, unable to take his eyes off the woman with the guitar. With their hair pulled back and a black cowboy hat placed on their head. Oscar looks over at what has Lando's attention and chuckles. "Hey, who is that?" Oscar asks, pointing to who Lando is staring at. "Eh, oh, that's Y/n L/n, the lead singer. Sweet, sweet girl. Born and raised here in the south, want me to introduce you two?" "Yes," "No," Oscar and Lando answer simultaneously. 

"Excuse Lando, he gets nervous meeting new people. We'd love to meet them." Oscar chuckles, and Dan smiles and pulls the two drivers over. 

"Honestly, what even is a McLaren?" Your drummer, Cassie asks, fixing her belt buckle. She earned something from Barrel Racin and would cut anyone for touching it. "I think it's a type of car, Y/N?" You whip your head up at your bassist Judd asks, poking you. "What? Yeah, it's a car, but this is for Formula 1. I said yes to this cause it's Jackie's bar. We started here, guys; just be polite." You urge knowing that Cassie and Judd tended to get in some trouble. 

"We'll be on our best behavior, ma'am." Judd tips his hat, and you just roll your eyes. "Kids!" You three turn, seeing Jackie barreling towards you with two young men dressed in Vols orange. "Y/n, this is Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri; they're the drivers for this fancy party." Jackie laughs and pats the one named Lando on the back. "Nice to meet ya'll," You stick out your hand. 

Lando mumbles back a hello but doesn't shake your hand. "Oscar," You turn, and what you assume is the oldest of the two shakes your hand. "Y/n, nice to meet ya." Oscar smiles, but you turn back to Lando and give him a small smile. "Well, um, catch ya later." You clear your throat, and Lando looks up and nods. 

"Yeah, gotta a crowd to sing to," Judd places his arm over your shoulders, and you can tell he is staring down at Lando. "And I gotta get these boys behind the bar," You wave off Jackie, smile at Lando, and nod your head at Oscar as you three take the stage. 

Lando jumps a little at the roar that builds into the building, even on the street. This place was shaking alone with just the cheer of the crowd. "Here, and don't worry about making difficult orders, just the ones with the new whiskey. You two should be fine." Dan says, or Jackie, actually. "Thanks!" Oscar laughs as Lando can't pull his eyes off the stage. 

"Hello, Nashville. Now, let's give a big warm welcome to our other half from across the pond. McLaren Formula 1 Team!" You scream; a bright light lands on Lando as people cheer, and Oscar has to nudge him to wave. "Alright, we're all here to drink but also dance, so let me introduce myself to you, lovely people. I'm Y/n, and we're The Cadillacs. We're gonna start off with a good one. So sing if you know it, dance, who cares." You laugh. 

"I've known you since Brad and Angelina

We go back like Pontiac seats

If I got an aisle with a mess I gotta clean up

I know you'll be showin' up with bleach, hmm." 

Lando smiles, hearing the opening lyrics, and people quickly move, grabbing someone to dance with as the sound of the violin and guitar complement one another. 

All those names that we don't ever speak of

Got a couple nights that have slipped my mind

Proof and photographs have been deleted

If you ever needed an alibi

'Cause dirt on you is dirt on me

And we both know our hands ain't clean

If it all blows up and we end up on the news

If you go down, I'm going down too

"Hey, can I get a whiskey sour?" Someone yells, and Lando snaps his head away from you and to the woman before him, and he nods. Lando hums along, even going as far as to tap his foot to the beat. 

It's a good thing we're each other's kinda crazy

Ain't no judgment or keepin' score

If you rob a bank, I'm your getaway Mercedes

God knows that's what friends are for

'Cause dirt on you is dirt on me

And we both know our hands ain't clean

If it all blows up and we end up on the news

If you go down, I'm going down too

If you go down, I'm going down too, yeah

"They're pretty good. The crowd loves them!" Oscar yells, handing off 3 beers, and the cowboys yell and head off, the crowd growing more with each passing minute. Like the music was drawing them in more than them. Which was probably true. 

I keep all your secrets by the dozen

You know where my skeletons sleep

Hypothetically, if you ever kill your husband

Hand on the Bible, I'd be lyin' through my teeth

'Cause dirt on you is dirt on me

And we both know our hands ain't clean

If it all blows up and we end up on the news

If you go down, I'm going down too

Our bodies are buried, and they're in the same ditch

So even if I wanted to, I can't snitch

30 to life would go quicker with you, yeah

Smiling at the crowd, you can't help but pull your attention to the bar, seeing Lando bop his head and smile brightly. You feel this lightness in your chest when you see his smile; he is adorable. But he was also gorgeous in this unique way; you could stare at him for hours. Unsure why, you're glad he was enjoying your song, which was currently snug at number 1 in the charts. 

So, if you go down, I'm going down too

If you go down, I'm going down too

If you go down, I'm going down too

You finish off the ending and sigh as the crowd roars, and you scan it and see Lando smiling and clapping loudly. You blush and look back at the crowd and then at Judd and Cassie. "Hey? One of the oldies?" You ask, knowing the crowd would love it. "Fuck yeah!" Judd laughs, knowing the next song is about your ex. A nasty piece of work. 

"Alright, one more 'cause we've got some great talent here. Now, how about a song warning men what happens when you cheat on a good ole southern girl?" You laugh seeing men groan, but the woman jumping up and down. This was the song that catapulted your career. 

Right now, he's probably slow dancin' with a bleach-blonde tramp

And she's probably gettin' frisky

Right now, he's probably buyin' her some fruity little drink

'Cause she can't shoot whiskey

Right now, he's probably up behind her with a pool stick

Showin' her how to shoot a combo

And he doesn't know

Lando's eyes snap up at you on the stage, hearing the dark rumble change in how you started to change and how you give yourself a deep southern drawl. Lando laughs as he watches you lean into the song, singing your heart out as you hit each note with emotions. Lando shudders, hating to be the guy this song was written about. 

He doesn't know how it happened, but Lando ends up singing along with the crowd and starts to jump when Cassie hits the drums and joins in on the chorus. "Maybe next time, he'll think before he cheats!" Lando yells and watches the stage go dark. "Damn, the group got a new fan?" Lando blushes when Oscar nudges him, but he just looks away. Something about you was pulling him in. 

"I sure hope so!" Lando jumps, hearing your accent right there. Damn, you looked good. Lando melted slightly with a light shine to your skin, hair a little messy, and cheeks wide from your smile. "Want some water?" Lando freezes, hating that's what he started with. You giggle and lean over the bar, not caring for the way your skin is sucked into it now. "How about a double shot of whiskey? Think ya could do that?" You ask, staring at Lando. 

"Yeah," He breathes, and you giggle, jumping back down as you watch him move behind the bar and fix the drink. "Hey, how old are you?" Oscar turns and gives a lopsided grin. "I'm 22, Lando is 24." Your eyes grow wide, hearing that Lando is the oldest among them. "Really? For sure, I thought it was you." You laugh, Lando blushing even harder. 

"Here," He slides the glass over, and you smile, taking a sip. "Damn, good whiskey." Lando chuckles and hands off some other drinks. "So, what is Formula 1?" Lando turns, and you swear you feel your chest flutter. He had gorgeous eyes that were the perfect blend of blue and green. "It's international racing," "So you travel the world? That's gotta be fun," You yell as people cheer for the next act. 

"I guess! It's tiring after a while, but we meet cool people." Lando leans onto the counter, giving you a little smirk. "Am I one of those cool people?" You flirt. Lando chuckles and looks away with a blush. "Yeah," He breathes. "Yeah, you are." Taking another sip of your whiskey, you put it down and lean in. "Good, 'cause I think you're pretty cool too." 

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"Damn, they sure know how to party." Oscar groans, rolling his neck as Lando helps you pack up. "It's the southern, just be happy football wasn't going on." Judd laughs, slapping the poor kid on the back. Oscar, much smaller than your bassist stumbles forward. "And we have to do this all over again Friday." Cassie sighs, pulling her jet black hair out of its braids. 

"Hey, if you're not doing anything, um, would you like to join us for the week?" You ask, fiddling with your fingers. Lando looks up, Oscar being pulled away by Judd and Cassie like he was a little boy. "Um, I'd have to check my schedule." He mumbles, wondering what exactly McLaren would have him do until Friday. 

"Oh, yeah, you're probably busy." You chuckle, rubbing the back of your neck. "Nope, he's not busy. As long as you have him back by Friday night, you can keep him." Lando jumps, seeing Jon there all of a sudden. "Where'd you come from?" Lando squeaks, feeling bashful as if a parent just caught him doing something he shouldn't be doing. "The hotel and Miss. L/n, whatever you want to do with him, go crazy." Jon smiles and slaps his hands down on Lando's shoulders. 

"Well," Lando can see your confidence inflate again and smiles, feeling himself grow comfortable. "How about showing this Brit the southern life? We're going back to my ranch upstate; how about it?" You ask, leaning against a speaker. Lando thinks it over, though he wants to say yes immediately. "Yes, I'd love to." Your smile grows so that even your cheeks puff out. 

"Great, I might want to say your goodbyes now. There is no cell service in those parts. Real nice," Lando pulls out his phone and hands it to Jon. "No need for cell service when you've got no phone." Judd laughs and tips his hat. "I like you," Lando nods in agreement, and Jon makes a noise. "Just tell Zak, well, I don't know, but tell him I would get injured." "Yeah, we won't have a pretty boy here riding horses," Cassie calls, and Jon looks between you and Lando. 

"Alright, just be careful." Jon waves Oscar over, who gives Lando a thumbs up and out of the bar. Lando chuckles and turns, balking when Judd is staring at him. "You stick out like a sore thumb." Judd muses, ruffling his dirty blonde hair. "Hey, Y/n, pretty boy here should change, don't you think? Or else those fans of him will totally notice him." You haul up your guitar and look him over. 

Black joggers, a bright neon papaya sweatshirt, and black sneakers. "Do you own jeans?" Lando nods, but Cassie snorts. "Not skinny jeans, like wranglers or something?" She walks around him, checking him out. "Um, no?" "Well, we hit Broadway and get him a new fit." Judd muses, and you blush; Lando would look good in a cowboy hat. 

"Come on," You finish loading everything up and watch the trunk pull off, leaving you four outside. Lando follows you, but you reach back and lace your fingers together. "Careful around here. Drunks and others won't hesitate to pickpocket ya. So, stay close." Lando doesn't even bother pulling his hand away, loving the weight of yours in his. "In here," Judd shoves you 3 into the door and laughs when you stumble into the store owner glaring but stop seeing who it is. 

"Judy boy!" "What up, old man? Think you can do a makeover here for our boy!" Judd points behind him, and the owner looks him over. "Of course, bring him here." Lando doesn't know what happened, only that he's shoved into a room and returned wearing a black t-shirt, cowboy-cut jeans, and perfectly fitted black cowboy boots. "Now, the hat." Judd muses, and you giggle, sitting on a stool. 

"Lookin good," Lando turns and stutters, seeing your hair free. Wow, he was awestruck by you, hat off, and he finally got an honest look at you. "Pretty," He whispers, and Cassie snorts but muffles it when Judd glares her. "Hey, Bud, add in some orange, will ya'? It's um, shit, forgot your name, pretty boy." Judd laughs, and Lando can't help but join in. "Lando," You and Lando say at the same time. 

You look away when Bud starts to make the hat, and Lando can't help but turn to you. "What got you into singing?" You look up and smile, and Lando knows that smile. It was the smile of someone who remembered their first time falling in love. "My daddy, he was a farmer. I'm the oldest, so he'd wake me up, and we'd check the fields together. Every morning before school, no matter the rain, sun, or cold, it didn't matter. It was hard work, but he'd have this little radio. He'd turn it on, and we'd sing together. Some of the best memories I have are with that old bugger." You smile, looking down. 

"Does he come to your shows?" You take a deep breath and clear your throat. "No, not anymore. He passed about 3 years ago." Lando curses himself, but he stops seeing your soft smile. "He's not in person, but I have him onstage with me for each show. The guitar I got?" Lando nods, knowing the one; it looked old but was a gorgeous piece. "He gave it to me, same as my hat." You jump off the stole and rock forward to lean on the counter. 

"Almost done there, Bud? We gotta long drive home," You yell, and Bud just curses you, but you giggle and bump your shoulders into Lando's. 

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"Wakey, wakey," Lando groans, feeling something wet touch his face, and he pats it away. "Lando, come on, you gotta wake up." "Mhn go away Osc," Lando hears Oscar tsk and kicks him, rolling off the bed with a screech. "What the hell, mate!" Instead of Oscar, all 6'4 of Judd stood a very shirtless Judd. "Breakfast will be gone soon; it's better to go eat. Then we can go," Judd leaves the room, and Lando turns, seeing the large Bluetick Coonhound named Rusty staring at him. 

"Don't drool on me, please," Rusty opens his mouth and barks loudly, with Lando chuckling, "Yeah, yeah, alright." Lando stands and moves, staring at the new clothes given to him. Sliding in jeans and a t-shirt, he threw on the baseball cap and walked out barefoot. "Good morning," you sing, and Lando sighs; he could get used to this. 

"Judd said we're going somewhere?" You turn and smile. "We're going fishing." Lando makes a disgusted face that has Cassie spitting out her coffee. "Oh shit, if he makes that face again, I'll piss myself.' Cassie cackles, which has Judd chuckling as well. "Scared of a little fishie?" "They're disgusting." You shake your head as Lando shivers. 

"Really? You at them just fine last night." Slapping your spatula down, you see Judd with a blank face. "Judd," You hiss, "Hey, don't pass out, pretty boy," You turn and gasp, seeing Lando whiter than white. "Lando, he's joking. We didn't fish last night. It's just a joke." You plead and help him sit down on a stool. "Promise? Promise that wasn't fish?" He asks, eyes wide, and you bite your bottom lip. "I promise that wasn't fish." You explain; great, now you'd have to lie about what Bass was for the rest of his life. 

"Shit," Judd chokes into his mug, and you glare at him. "Go take the dog out," You hiss and watch as Judd takes Rusty out. "Don't you have something to do as well? You've already eaten." You point to Cassie, who looks up and groans. "But, I want more." She whines, and you huff, "It's for Lando and me. Now go." Cassie huffs and shoves on her boots and stalks off outside into the cool air. 

"Was it really fish?" Lando asks, and you look down. The poor boy's lips were swollen from chewing on them, and his eyes were wide. "No, it wasn't fish. Judd was just fucking with you." You giggle, trying so hard to not laugh. "Good, 'cause last night was good, but if it was fish, ugh." Lando sticks out his tongue, and you turn back to ensure you didn't fire the bacon. 

"Okay, well, how about getting me the orange juice. Coffee?" You ask, pointing at the pot, and he shakes his head. "Don't drink it; I'll take the juice, though." He opens the fridge and grabs it, pouring two glasses. "I'm glad you know how to cook, I suck at it." You snort on a laugh and flip the bacon. "I'll teach you how to make eggs." Your grandma would always tell you someone needed to know how to cook at least one thing. "I'll burn the house down." But you roll your eyes. "I highly doubt that." 

"Now, grab me four eggs," You point to the cart. "Crack them open into that bowl and then scramble them." You instruct. Lando cracks them open but stops staring at them. "Do I shake them?" You laugh, plate the bacon, and turn the eye down. "No, take that fork and stir hard, but not too hard. You get them everywhere." You instruct and go to the oven and take out four fluffy biscuits. 

Lando nods and stirs the eggs, and you watch, ensuring he doesn't make a mess. "Perfect," You wipe your hands and turn the eye of the stove back on. "Now, come here." Lando walks over, and you giggle. "With the eggs, Lando." "Right, knew that," He mumbles and grabs the bowl, and you place him in front of the stove. "Next step, pour the eggs in. Some spray the pan, but I just finished cookin bacon, and the grease will add extra flavor." "Jesus, this one meal will fuck up my diet." "Stop," You pinch his side, and he yelps, but you both start laughing. 

"Okay, pour the eggs," Lando does as you say, and you grab a plastic spoon and hand it to him. "wait a minute. then take the spoon, pull the eggs off the ring of the pan, and start bunching them up, and then like you were stirring them, it'll break them up." You explain and watch as Lando does as you say. "Stop, that's perfect." You take the pan, add fresh eggs to the plate, and smile. "And there you go, you just made eggs." Lando smiles brightly and leans forward but stops and pulls back. 

Clearing his throat, he smiles and grabs your plates. "Where, too?" He asks, and you point outside, cursing yourself for thinking he would kiss you. You two just met; why would he do that. Pushing the screen door open and hearing the comforting snap of it, you groan. "Woooo, that was painful," You turn and see Judd leaning on the counter. 

"Fuck off, Judy," But it had no bite to it. "Hey, just sayin, but he was going to kiss you." Judd winks and walks off, heading somewhere deep into the cabin. Rolling your eyes, you grab your orange juice cups and see Lando sitting on the outside bar, watching the sunrise. "This is wish when I had my phone, to take pictures of this." You set the cups down, sliding into your own chair. "No, you don't. It's stuff like this you don't want your phone for. Just enjoy." You grumble and bite into your eggs, and Lando shrugs. 

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"I thought you meant fishing on a boat?" Lando groans, trudging through the woods. "Hell no, a bunch of tourists are here, and this is a secret little place Y/n and I found as kids. So be nice. We don't tell anyone about this place." Cassie yells back, and you giggle at Lando's long sigh. "Why'd you bring the guitar?" Lando asks you, seeing the soft cover hanging off your back. "Sometimes, being out here gives me good inspiration." Lando hums and sees Cassie and Judd stop. 

"Finally," "Nuhuh, pretty boy. You and Y/n are going further up." Judd boops Lando's nose, who whimpers and hangs his head. "Aren't you supposed to be an athlete? Where's that stamina?" Judd teases. "I'm not built to dig around the southern woods, much less in these temps." "Stop your complaining and go," Judd shoves Lando, and you two walk further from there. 

"They're fishing; we're just going to relax upriver. Or did you really think we'd make you fish?" Lando thinks it over and then sees you're not carrying fishing poles and that Cassie and Judd had most of them. "Oh, didn't even cross my mind, honestly." Smiling, you lead the way and stop seeing the clearing that has the river in front of it. "Hey, Whiskey, tell me we can stop now." Lando groans, and you turn, confused at who he is talking to. "What?" Lando looks up and stops. "Whiskey, it's your nickname. Since the first thing that got you and me talking was whiskey." You're glad your face is already flushed, or Lando would see the giant blush covering your entire face. 

"Oh, uh, ahaha yeah, we can stop here." You place your guitar down, fluff out the blanket, and grab bug spray and sunscreen. "Come here. You'll cook like cornbread in a cast iron." Lando turns with confusion on his face that has you smiling. "You'll burn Lando. Come here so I can put sunscreen on you." You explain as he shrugs off his shirt. "Shit," You whisper, and his eyes cast up. "What? Something wrong?" As he spins around looking for something. 

"Wha, oh no, nothing, here." You hand the sunscreen to him, looking away from him. Lando takes it and smiles as he sprays everything on you. Removing your top, he easily applies it to you as well. 

You don't know how much time passes under the southern sun, but the soft breeze makes it bearable for you and Lando. "What are you writing?" His voice was smooth, like the wind was barely touching you. "A new song," You reply and scratch out some words. "Well, I figured that, Whiskey, but I meant, what exactly are you writing?" Lando rolls over onto his stomach, hands under his chin as he looks up at you through his lashes. "Oh, well, it's something new. I doubt the fans would like it." You comment, fixing the guitar settled on your knee. 

"That I doubt. I don't usually listen to country, but if from the songs I've heard from you if this new song is anything like the ones I know, people will love it." Lando smiles, smile brighter than the damn sun. "Yeah, well, Rhett would disagree with you there." You snort, "Whose Rhett?" Lando sits up now, eyebrows bunched. 

"My ex, he's a bull rider. Cassie's older brother," You add on, and Lando rolls his eyes. "Well, Rhett is a jackass." You giggle and look at him. "You don't even know him," "I know he clearly didn't support you. Your new song will be awesome. Play it for me." Lando scoots closer, and you lean back, unsure if you should. "It's different," You whisper. 

"Different is good. It heals the soul sometimes. Now, play." Lando demands, eyes boring into yours. "Fine." You grumble and peel the guitar off your sweaty knee onto your lap. "It'd sound better with my electric guitar, okay, just don't judge." You warn, but Lando shakes his head no. "I'd never judge you, Whiskey." 

Okay," You take a deep breath, strum the first couple of strings, and start singing the words. 

Used to spend my nights out in a barroom

Liquor was the only love I'd known

But you rescued me from reachin' for the bottom

And brought me back from bein' too far gone

You're as smooth as Tennessee whiskey

You're as sweet as strawberry wine

You're as warm as a glass of brandy

And honey, I stay stoned on your love all the time

I've looked for love in all the same old places

Found the bottom of a bottle's always dry

But when you poured out your heart, I didn't waste it

'Cause there's nothin' like your love to get me high

And you're as smooth as Tennessee whiskey

You're as sweet as strawberry wine

You're as warm as a glass of brandy

And honey, I stay stoned on your love all the time

When you finish, you sigh and look at Lando, who is staring at you. "Ugh, god, I knew it! This song sucks. Listen, there is supposed to be a guitar solo, and I probably won't even give it my record. Ugh!" You yell and flop back, squinting at the sun. "That was," you brace yourself for the lashing for how different it wasn't you or the image you were giving the world. It was different, and people would stop listening to you and the band. 

"THE BEST SONG EVERY" "What!" You sit up as Lando launches himself at you, pushing you back down and hovering over you. You swallow hard, focusing on his chain dangling around his neck. "Whiskey, that was fabulous. You have to give your record label that song. And finish it; I want to hear all of it, promise me." He pleads, and you nod your head as he pulls off you; sitting up, you blink, trying to control the urge to devour his lips. 

"Oi! Love birds, time to go in. Can smell the rain coming!" Lando hops up and nods as you just quietly pack up your guitar. Lando walks past, but Judd stops you. "Do I need to kick his ass?" He whispers, and you shake your head. "No," "Then what's wrong, Y/n?" "He believes in me," Judd lets his hand slip, and you walk off, leaving your friend smirking. 

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"Ugh, I'm stuffed. Seriously, tell me what this is." Lando gives Cassie and Judd puppy eyes, but they just share a look and quickly snatch all the plates. "Nope," Lando deflates and groans, and goes over to the radio and turns it up slightly. The storm and music make a perfect blend. You four were out under the tin roof of the large porch. It was about 12 ft by 12ft and had a built-in fireplace. 

It was where your grandpa would come and pick with his band, and now, where you sit and do the same thing. You swear, sometimes you can still hear that damn banjo or violin. You lean back in your rocking chair, the same one he sat in and taught you how to play, Lando coming up and sitting beside you. 

"Friday is in 4 days," He whispers, and you clear your throat, hating the thought of Lando leaving. "I know, and it's probably best we get there early." You reply, tightening your hand on the beer bottle. "Teach me how to dance." You turn, shocked by the change of subject. "Judd told me you're taking me to some get-together and that there will be line dancing. So teach me." You blink at him and sigh, "I don't know how to." Lando chuckles and stands. 

"Okay, then just dance with me." Lando holds his hand out to you, staring at you, gently lacing your fingers together. Lando tugs you up, and you quickly melt together as you don't listen to the music. Just the way his hand holds yours and the weight of his arm on your waist. "Screw it," You whisper and place your head on his shoulder, nose brushing his neck. "I have to leave for Begas after Friday's event." "Be quiet." Not wanting to hear about him leaving. 

"Whiskey, I don't want to leave, but you know," "Lando, just dance with me." You whisper, effectively making the Brit snap his mouth closed. 

"Judy," Cassie whispers and gently pokes Judd, who groans and opens his eyes. "What," He grumbles and yawns stretching. "Think it's about him?" Cassie whispers, and Judd turns his head and sees you and Lando dancing more to the pounding sound of rain and thunder. 

"What's about him?" Judd reaches over, snatches Cassie's opened beer, and sips. "That song she's writing, the one she stopped. I bet it is; she's never really experienced love." Cassie whispers, and Judd rolls his eyes. "Yeah, I wonder whose fault it is." Cassie flinches, knowing her brother Rhett really fucked you up, something she regrets every day. 

"He's different." Judd looks over and watches as Lando kisses your forehead softly and closes his eyes, leaning more into you. "I sure hope so; I'd hate to bury him in the backyard." 

-----------------------------------------

"It's loud in here!" Lando yells, which has you and your friends laugh. "Seriously? You had us buy a race and listen to real F1 cars, and you say this is loud?" You yell in his ear, Lando's arm tightening into your side. "Yeah, well, we get earbuds!" Lando screams, fixing his cowboy hat. A black one with an orange string tied around it. Other than that, it looked average. Judd had picked out Lando's outfit, reminding you why you loved your best friend so much. 

Lando was wearing a white button-down with a couple of buttons undone to show off his various necklaces and had black jeans paired with it; they hugged his thighs and ass so perfectly that even Cassie stared. He wore the cowboy boots you bought for him, and you giggled; he looked a little silly with the hat, but he loved the hat and refused to go without it. 

"Now, can we dance?" He points to the line dance. It was to the song Country Girl by Luke Bryan, and you laugh, shaking your head no. "Hell no, I'll trip." Lando chuckles as Judd ushers you to your booth and makes you and Lando sit inside. "Okay, but just once, dance like that! Promise?" You just nod in agreement even though you were dreading the thought. 

It was 2 hours of Lando begging and getting 2 dances in with Judd and Cassie that you stood, and his eyes lit up. "I'm getting us another round." Lando deflats but nods and kisses your cheek. Jolene by Dolly Parton comes on, and you run to the bar smiling and breathless. "Hey, can I get 2 beers and a double shot of JD?" The bartender turns and nods their head. 

"Still drinking like a man huh?" That voice, that voice still had your body freeze up. Fuck, what was he doing here? He was supposed to be in Texas for a competition. "What? Not going to turn around?" You shudder and turn, coming face to face with your ex, Rhett. "Rhett," Breathing out his name felt like fire on your tongue. "If it isn't my sweet baby, missed me?" He asks and leans against the bar. "Fuck off," You turn to leave, not even caring for the drinks anymore. 

"Now, now, sweets. Come here. Still trying to act like that tough girl when we both know you're still that little girl inside." He hisses, tightening his grip on you. "Let me go. I'm here with someone." "Really? You aren't wearing his hat." 

Judd looks over, wondering where you could take so long and tense. "Fuck, Cassie, goddammit. Your brother is here." Cassie's eyes pull away from the blonde girl beside her, and she groans. "Dammit," Cassie groans and pulls away from the girl and stands. "Whose that?" Lando asks, hearing not the best. "That would be my dickwaffle of a brother, Rhett. Y/n's ex." Lando feels anger course through his blood. "Yeah, well, you know that 2nd song we sang at the party?" Judd asks, taking off his hat and fixing his rings. "Yeah, the one about the cheating?" Lando asks, "That was about Rhett," Judd adds, and Lando moves quickly to your side. 

You feel a presence beside you and suddenly feel the heavy weight of a hat on your head. "Now, she's wearing my hat. Now let go of my girl, right now." You turn, seeing Lando and sag into his side as Rhett drips his hand. "Really? This little boy? Oh, how your taste has fallen," Rhett gets in your face, but Lando effortlessly shoves Rhett back and pushes you behind his back. 

"The only little boy I see here is you, you shriveled 2-inch dick. Get the fuck out of here," Lando seethes, and you have to smother your laughter as Judd steps up behind you and Lando easily towering over you both. Rhett blanches, knowing Judd would easily slaughter him. "Whatever, enjoy my leftovers." "I do, and I eat her out every night." Lando spits without thinking twice. You blush and move, hugging his back as you hide your face. Lando moves, covering your hands with his one large hand. 

"Mr.Norris, I think you've earned yourself a dance." You whisper, causing Lando to spin around and smile. "Really? Well, let me do the honors, darlin'." You laugh at his fake accent. "So bad," You laugh as he tugs you into his arms, leading you to the dance floor. "Stay there!" You yell and run up to the DJ booth. Lance watches as you lean over, and he's never been happier about you wearing tight jeans and a loose top. You looked damn good. 

Running back over, you keep Lando's hat on your head and see everyone clearing out, and the people who enjoy line dancing come back out. "Aight, this one is for our special guest, Miss. Y/n L/n herself," A roar surrounds you two as you turn and wave and turn to Lando. "Judd taught me this one when we were teens, so just don't judge. "This song is for you," You hear the familiar DumDeDeDum, DeDeDumDeDeDum, DeDaaDaaaaa DumDeDeDum, DeDeDumDeDeDum, DeDaaDaaDaaDaaDaaaa feels your ears and Lando whips his head to you. 

"Are you serious? You know this song!" And Lando gets a cheeky smirk on his face. "Remind me to introduce you to Daniel one day." Rolling your eyes, the heavy guitar beat hits, and you tell Lando to follow your movement. Stepping forward and then back, Lando moves with you. 

Well, I walk into the room

Passing out hundred dollar bills

And it kills and it thrills like the horns on my Silverado grill

And I buy the bar a double round of crown

And everybody's getting down

An' this town ain't never gonna be the same

With the lyrics, you laugh and step side and then jump and turn, shuffling your feet forward like a horse walking. Lando laughs, head back as he does it as well. 

'Cause I saddle up my horse

And I ride into the city

I make a lot of noise

'Cause the girls they are so pretty

Riding up and down Broadway

On my old stud Leroy

And the girls say

Save a horse, ride a cowboy

Everybody says

Save a horse, ride a cowboy

Getting to the chorus was always your favorite part. Hearing the line, you take off the hat, as does every other female, and some guys swing the hat around and stop. Lando laughs but you stop him, "Only those that ride do that part." Lando's eyes widened, and you smirked, glad you could catch him off guard. "I think I've got it now." He yells. 

Well I don't give a dang about nothing

I'm singing and Bling-Blinging

While the girls are drinking

Long necks down!

And I wouldn't trade ol' Leroy

Or my Chevrolet for your Escalade

Or your freak parade

I'm the only John Wayne left in this town

And I saddle up my horse

And I ride into the city

I make a lot of noise

'Cause the girls they are so pretty

Riding up and down Broadway

On my old stud Leroy

And the girls say

Save a horse, ride a cowboy

Everybody says

Save a horse, ride a cowboy

You and Lando dance as his arms wrap around you, and you two do the moves in sync as he catches on quickly. "Save a horse, ride a cowboy!" You two scream, and you swing the hat and pull him close, Lando leaning in to kiss you, but you pull back, kick up your right heel, and go back to the moves. 

I'm a thourough-bred that's what she said

In the back of my truck bed

As I was gettin' buzzed on suds

Out on some back country road

We where flying high Fine as wine

Having ourselves a big and rich time

And I was going, just about as far as she'd let me go

But her evaluation of my cowboy reputation

Had me begging for salvation all night long

So I took her out giggin frogs

Introduced her to my old bird dog

And sang her every Wilie Nelson song I could think of

And we made love

"Does that mean I'm your thoroughbred?" Lando jokes, but his voice reaches a deeper tune, and you turn, smirking. "Why? Wanna be?" You ask, making the moves backward as Lando pulls you in. 

And we made love

And I saddled up my horse

And I ride into the city

I make a lot of noise

'Cause the girls they are so pretty

Riding up and down Broadway

On my old stud Leroy

And the girls say

Save a horse, ride a cowboy

Everybody says

Save a horse, ride a cowboy

What? What?

Save a horse, ride a cowboy

Everybody says

Save a horse, ride a cowboy

Lando leans in, and so do you; this time, there are no interruptions as Lando captures your lips, and you melt into him. You never understood some country songs about love, having thought you might experience it with a true southern boy like Rhett. But who would've thought you'd feel it was some Brit. "Save a horse, ride a cowboy," Lando whispers, pulling away, and you giggle. "Earn that belt buckle first, big boy, and then we'll see." Lando bursts out laughing, a high-pitched, gasping one that makes you laugh hard as the beat fades. 

------------------------------------

Lando stands in the bar, the same one just a week ago, and you two stand in your same spots, but this time you don't wear your daddy's hat; instead, you're wearing Lando's and possibly the white dress shirt from last night. "Is that your shirt?" Oscar asks, and Lando turns and shrugs but knowing damn well it was. 

"It sucks we won't be able to see them again?" Lando tunes it out. You and he talked about it last night. And you both knew that this could work; besides, he was your country song, and you his Whiskey; you two weren't goin nowhere. "Yeah right; JD was so damn happy with their show they invited them to their private booth for Vegas," Jackie yells, and Lando smirks and moves through the darkness. 

You yelp when cold hands touch your skin, and you turn, smirking when you see those sea-green eyes you love so much. "So Vegas, uh?" He asks, and you sigh rolling your eyes. "Yeah, Judd wants to go." "Really not to see me?" "Okay, maybe you too." You tease, and Lando nods and leans in, kissing you gently before pulling. 

"So, how about it's only fair you spend a week in my world now?" You think it over, wrap your arms around his shoulders and nod. "Only fair," "Yeah, only fair." You muse and hear gagging beside you and turn, glaring at Cassie, who is wearing round pink-tinted glasses. "You two make me sick. Bad enough, we heard you all last night; now we gotta see this?" Cassie groans while Judd cackles. 

"Leave the kids alone, grandma. They're in love." "What'd you just call me?" Judd yelps as Cassie smacks him hard with her drumstick. Turning back, you face Lando. "Tell me your coworkers aren't like this?" Lando laughs nervously and shrugs. "We're totally fucked," Lando and you giggle as you hear Jackie yell loudly, introducing you 3, bringing back a sense of deja vu. 

But you knew the cute Brit behind the bar was coming home with you this time. "Go kill it, Whiskey." Running onto the stage, you smile into the bright spotlight. "Alright, we're starting off with something new. It's called Tennessee Whiskey," 

[joannerowling]

is it true that Rowling sent flowers to marilyn Manson? 💀

Unknown/unclear. Manson tweeted once "thank you for the lovely gift JKR" with a picture of roses that doesn't seem to have been taken from the internet, however JKR never acknowledged it, which is out of character.

Since your angle is obvious here, let me disappoint you: i'm perfectly knowledgeable about the topic of JKR's supposed "friendships" with Johnny Depp and his clique, and comfortable discussing it. In fact, here's a reddit thread written by someone who is anti-JKR, which i'm linking so that anyone not knowledgeable can learn the basics (it's factual enough, though not always honest in providing all context), and so nobody can accuse me of ignoring the subject out of misplaced idolatry.

TRAs seeking to undermine JKR's character through any mean available have attempted the "oooo, JKR the so-called women-defender is actually friend with abusive men!!" route a few times. It's failed to gain much popularity, even amongst themselves, because there's just not much meat to it. (Which, considering that most attacks against JKR rely on making stuff up about Harry Potter that she never wrote, is saying a lot i feel.)

JKR's connexions with Depp amount to buying stuff from him. No picture of them hanging out, no known exchanges besides saying they admired each other's work. Vague hearsay from untrustworthy sources - one of the things the above reddit thread fails to contextualise is who Dan Wootton, the guy who accused JKR of being too close to Depp and refusing to fire him from FB, exactly is (hint: not a trustworthy guy). I'm pretty sure Wootton is a blueprint for Culpepper in the Strike novels, if you get the reference.

The only thing confirmed is that JKR initially believed Depp's word against Heard's. I feel like she is a pretty good judge of character in general, but eh, no one is immune to a famous actor's charms. The fact she hasn't come to defend Depp during his latest trial suggests she may have changed her mind – she hasn't exactly shied away from defending unpopular people when she felt strongly enough about their innocence. But, she didn't feel strongly enough about defending Heard either. Maybe at this point she feared she would do more harm than good; maybe she still supports Depp privately; maybe she's too proud to admit to have been wrong. Maybe she just doesn't like Heard and didn't want to support her! Who knows.

What i know for sure is that JKR pours like half of her money into charity work to help women and kids. She makes her positions on abusive men clear, both in public and in her fiction, so you can't even accuse her of influencing anyone into supporting them. Even if i didn't like JKR, i really fail to see what could possibly be the problem here. I feel like people just NEED women to be secretly wicked witches who manipulate everyone into believing they're good-hearted when in fact at night they're evilly cackling at the suffering of babes. It's misogyny my dude, that's it.

Edit: on second thoughts this was an insane reply but i STAND BY IT

[psychologicalwarclaire]

I scrolled past a rise fic that had this tag

Are you telling me that my friend and I are gonna have 2012 TMNT part 2???

Woah woah woah woah!

Ninjago writing quality depends very much on personal opinion. A show that has been going on for 13 years is not gonna be perfect all the time!

Here's a season play by play based on my personal opinion

Rise of the Snakes & Legacy of the Green Ninja (seasons 1 & 2) - pretty fantastic writing. Writers still getting a hang of the characters in the beginning, but overall very good.

Rebooted - not my personal favorite for REASONS. Some writing is my meast favorite part of the show (cough love triangle cough) but the finale is epic.

Tournament of Elements - PHENOMENAL. Season four has some of the best writing, pacing, action, and characters in the show.

Possession - not my personal favorite but pretty good writing for the most part. Very interesting concepts.

Skybound - ...okay so some people love this season, some people absolutely hate it. Writing is not the best, but it can be enjoyable for some people. I personally really like it.

Day of the Departed - eh. It's... fine.

Hands of Time - oof. The main writers Dan and Kevin Hagemen were gone for this season and it shows. It's...not the best.

Sons of Garmadon - absolutely fantastic. There are some parts that offset some people, but I personally think that season 8 is a fantastic season.

Hunted - SO GOOD. Finale is a little rushed but the rest of the season is REALLY REALLY GOOD.

March of the Oni - eh, it's okay. There are some really good parts and some not super great parts. Very rushed and an underwhelming finale but it's not BAD by any means.

Fire Chapter - it's... rough. Fine though. Writers are gone again and the 11 minute format doesn't work super well at first.

Ice Chapter - also kind of rough but there are more enjoyable moments.

Prime Empire - pretty awesome. I really like this season and think that despite it's faults, it's one of the better ones.

Master of the Mountain - STUNNING. Season 13 is really really (two really's) amazing. Fascinating and wonderfully executed.

The Island - four episode special that is uh... okay? Definitely very forgettable.

Seabound - AAAAAAAAAAWESOME. Genuinely amazing. Writing is top notch in every single way. Seriously so very very very very good.

Crystalized - the first half is really enjoyable and REALLY well done. The first half is epic. The second half... trips up a bit. I've only seen the second half once and it was pretty good at the time, but the more you think about it the more disappointing it gets.

Dragons Rising season one - YES. YES. New writers took a little bit to find their stride and adjust back to the 22 minute format, but the season is SO GOOD. Good characters and concepts and it's freaking awesome.

Dragons Rising season two part one - YES. AMAZING. I personally was a little frustrated but the whole thing is doing a really good job of setting stuff up and balancing the many, MANY plotlines all happening at the same time.

So overall, Ninjago has some fantastic writing. Yes, sometimes it is inconsistent, but the writing is never outright BAD by any means.

[yonpote]

hi so your dan is the sun phil is the moon post reminded me of this old phannie post that i loved (which i found on my blog from 2015 but the original post seems to be deleted) https://www.tumblr.com/dapgolf/133646165110/galaxieshowell-whenever-i-see-sunmoon-post?source=share

YES

oh absolutely like dan's the loud yapmaster and phil is keeps his most pressing thoughts to himself :)

i do disagree with phil being 'unintimidating' like i get what op was going for but im eh about it, but i forgive them cuz this was peak "innocent cinnamon roll" phil perception so whatever. i think phil being the moon is more about the air of mystery he has about him, never really revealing his truest thoughts unless he wants to. theres also something here about the push and pull of the waves but i cannot think of what that metaphor could be lol, the element of cups is water!!

i agree w op's take on dan, he's loud and fiery (fire is the element of wands) and he can definitely be a bit much and setting shit ablaze when hes at peak feisty energy, but then on a cloudy day when he hasnt been on social media much and hasnt been in phils videos for months you really miss him and you would have him yapping about mac and cheese for ten hours over nothing at all

[tooxmanyxships]

This is just 2k of pure pain.

You're warned.

⚠️ Major character death ⚠️

It's been a year. One horrible year since Daniel died. 

 

To say Lando was a wreck when Daniel died is an understatement. He was simply inconsolable.

 

Daniel was his reason to smile. Now that reason was gone. 

 

The only person who could understand him a little bit was Max.

 

Max who loved Daniel just as much as Lando did, but in a different way. 

 

The whole grid can still remember the guttural screams both boys let out when they watched Daniel's crash. 

 

The absolute devestation that fell over the paddock. 

 

Carlos had caught hold of Lando, trying to hold him up.

 

It took more than one person to hold Max back from running towards Daniel's demolished car.

 

It was clear. 

 

Daniel wasn't gonna get out. 

 

Not alive at least.

 

The races for the rest of the season were canceled after that. 

 

Nobody felt like getting close to their cars anymore. 

 

 

"Marry me." 

 

Lando spit out the sip he just took from his drink to stare at the older man. 

 

"W-what?!" 

 

Daniel chuckled, but it sounded nervous. "We're in Vegas. We've been together for what... 2 years?" 

 

Lando scratched at his curls, "2 years and a half." He murmurs, swatting at Daniel's arm when he chuckles. 

 

"It's about time then, don't you think?" 

 

"You can't just ask me this, just like that, out of the blue!"

 

"Why not?" 

 

"Because!"

 

"I wasn't exactly asking either...."

 

"That's even worse!" 

 

Daniel grinned, "Would it be better if I did it like this?" 

 

And then he reached into the inside pocket of his jacket, producing a little velvet box out of it. Lando gasped, clasping a hand over his mouth, as Daniel went down on one knee. 

 

"Lando Norris. Love of my life. Will you marry me?"

 

Lando couldn't speak. Couldn't even move. 

 

"Lando?" 

 

Daniel's worried tone and his hand on his cheek shook him out of his trance.

 

He didn't even realize he was crying. 

 

He clasped onto Daniel's hand on his cheek and twined their fingers together.

 

"Yes! Yes I will marry you!!!"

 

Daniel's worried frown turned into a spit eating grin. 

 

He got up from the floor and gathered Lando up in his arms, spinning him around until they were both dizzy. 

 

The ring wasn't slid on his finger until the ceremony the next evening. 

 

The whole grid was there. Max and Carlos as proud best men. 

 

It was the quickest, but also the best marriage ever. 

 

No one could predict it would be this short lived. 

 

 

It was just minutes before Q3 would start. 

 

Somehow Lando got kicked out at Q1 and Max's car had dnf'ed in Q2. 

 

As sad as it was for him, Lando had still made his way over to the Redbull garage (yes, Daniel was a Redbull driver again) to wish his husband of one day good luck. 

 

"I'm sorry you aren't out on the track with me," Daniel murmured in between soft kisses. 

 

"Eh. The car was shit. You'll just have to drive for both of us." 

 

"I'll do you proud." 

 

"You always do, Dan." 

 

"I love you, hubby." 

 

Lando's smile lit up the whole paddock. 

"I lw1ove you too. Go get them!"

 

Daniel winked and blew him a kiss before pulling on his balaclava and helmet, lifting himself into his car. 

 

Lando made his way to the media pen, still smiling, finger playing with the ring around his finger. Completely unaware of what he was about to witness.

 

It was in the middle of an interview that his attention was pulled towards the screen. 

 

"That's Ricciardo's Redbull spinning! Crashing against Ocon's Alpine and flying up in the air! Oh no.... No, this is a bad one..."

 

Lando watched on in complete horror as he saw Daniel's car catch fire. He could also see absolute mayhem in the pitlane.

 

He heard a scream, then another one very close by. 

 

He didn't even realize the second scream was his own until he felt Carlos' arms wrap around him as his knees buckled.

 

Daniel wasn't coming out. 

 

It was taking too long. 

 

He really wasn't coming out, no matter how hard the marshals were trying. 

 

He couldn't hear anything of the absolute chaos around him because his ears were ringing.

 

Fingers wrapped around the ring on his finger. 

 

They just got married. 

 

This was supposed to be the happiest time of his life.

 

A dream come true. 

 

Not this nightmare. 

 

 

Every day and every night since then, Daniel's ethereal form watched how Lando suffered.

 

How he stayed in bed for the next two months most of the time. Only Max, sometimes Carlos too, were allowed to visit him. 

 

It was absolutely heartwrenching to watch. Especially because he couldn't do anything. Lando couldn't even see him. 

 

Sometimes he thought Lando felt his presence. Same with Max. 

 

Max wasn't much better off than Lando, Daniel could tell just by seeing his face when he visited Lando. 

 

When he had to watch Max crawl into bed with Lando, hearing them cry until they were too exhausted and fell asleep. 

 

Their sleep never lasted long either.

 

They often remenised about their own times with Daniel. 

 

As friends. As teammates. And for Lando, as lovers. 

 

Daniel listened to the stories with a soft, sad smile on his face. 

 

Sometimes he wishes he could pull them both into a hug. 

 

He mostly wishes he could put a smile back on Lando's face. 

 

He misses that smile so much. 

 

 

Now they're a year later, back in Vegas. 

 

Lando on one hand wishes they wouldn't race there anymore, but on the other hand he knows how much Daniel loved Vegas. 

 

So ironic....

 

But something happens that year. Something none of them expected. Least of all Lando. 

 

"That's P1 Lando! P1! You're the Vegas GP winner!"

 

“No... I... I won?! "

 

“Yes! Your first win!"

 

"Oh my---" and then he's sobbing. "I can't believe this. Daniel.... Holy shit. This... This is for Danny. "

 

Zak's voice comes through the radio. "Well done, Lando. I'm sure he'd be proud of you." 

 

Lando is caught between laughing and crying. 

 

He parks the car and sits there, head bowed. He still can't wrap his head around this victory.

 

He finally lifts himself up, with shaking arms and shaking legs. He almost trips and falls, but Max, who's P2, is there to catch him and wrap him up in a hug.

 

They pull back long enough to take off their helmets and balaclavas, dropping them into Lando's car for a moment, then they're hugging and clutching at each other once again. 

 

"He's so proud of you, Lando." Not 'he would be' just a 'he is'. "Can you feel it? He's so happy for you."

 

Lando nods, crying into Max's shoulder, his hand snaking up between their bodies, fingers curling around the ring on his necklace.

 

He can't feel it, but, Daniel's wrapped around his back, his arms wrapped around both him and Max as the three of them cry with smiles on their faces. 

 

He's so proud of his boy. Of his husband. 

 

He only wishes he could show him. 

 

But somehow, he thinks he knows. 

 

 

They're standing up on the podium. 

 

Oscar P3. Max P2 and Lando P1. 

 

One hand is holding his trophy, the other is wrapped around the ring on his necklace once again. 

 

He stares up at the clouds as the anthem of Great Britain plays, hoping he's looking down  smiling. 

 

Then...... Something happens. 

 

As the anthem is about to end, it changes. It changes into the Australian anthem and Lando's jaw drops. 

 

He looks over at Oscar, then at Max. They both just look as flabbergasted as he does. 

 

He can tell there's a commotion behind the scenes. They're trying to stop the music but it doesn't work. 

 

He looks back up at the sky, sees how the sun comes peeking through and he gets it. 

 

His fingers clasp around the ring even harder and he smiles. 

 

It feels like he's bathed in sunlight. Wrapped up in his husband's loving embrace. 

 

Max gets up on the top step with him, wrapping his free arm around his waist. He knows he's looking up at the sky and smiling too. 

 

Mere seconds later, Oscar does the same. 

 

They just stand there, basking in the warmth and glory.

 

The whole crowd is looking at them, then up at the sky. 

 

There's a reason for everything. 

 

And this reason was Daniel. 

 

 

"Congratulations again." Oscar's soft voice startles Lando a little. 

 

They're sharing a hotel room together because Max is rooming with Carlos, the two of them became a lot closer the last few months, and Oscar is the only other person Lando allows to get close to him.

 

He's his teammate after all. Has been since before Daniel died. 

 

To be honest, they've been growing closer the last few months too. Since racing season started up again. 

 

At first Lando didn't let him in, Oscar had expected that, but he was so insistent. Just never giving up. And eventually, Lando let him in again. 

 

"Thanks," He smiles, patting the space on the bed next to him. "Still can't believe I just had my first win." 

 

"I can," Oscar smiles back, sitting down next to him. His eyes go over to the ring around his neck. "So could he. Obviously." 

 

Lando's eyes go down to his chest, his hand going up to hold the ring once again. 

 

"I still don't know how that happened." He whispers, feeling Oscar move closer, feels an arm being wrapped around his shoulders. 

 

"I don't either. But it did." He rests his head on Oscar's shoulder and feels his fingers card through his curls. 

 

"I know I'm not him," Oscar whispers softly, his free hand curling around Lando's hand that's holding the ring. "and I'll never try to replace him. But I like you, Lando." 

 

Lando closes his eyes, fingers clenching around the ring even tighter. 

 

"I know. No one will ever be him." He feels Oscar's starting to retreat, but he stops it by twining their fingers together around the ring. "But I think he'd like it to be you." He opens his eyes, turning his head so he can look into Oscar's eyes. "I like you too, Oscar. I just.... Need time." 

 

Oscar nods, squeezing the fingers that are twined with his. "I'll give you all the time you need." 

 

It's like they can feel the ring vibrate inside their joined hands and they both gasp. 

 

Lando looks out of the window and nearly topples over, out of the bed. as he sees a well known reflection, just in a flash. 

 

His eyes quickly glance over to the corner he thought he saw the reflection stand in, but there's no one there. Of course there isn't. 

 

He can't be there - - - 

 

"Lando, look!“

 

Oscar's breathy voice makes him look at him and Oscar points to the window Lando was just looking through. 

 

The window is fogged and instead of a reflection, he can now see words that are written in the fog. 

 

'It's okay. Proud of you. Love. Always. DR3' 

 

Lando entangles himself from Oscar, gets off the bed, then holds his hand out towards his younger teammate and walks with him to the window. 

 

He stares at the words, then replies on the glass next to it. 

 

'I'll never forget you. Love. Always. LN4' 

 

He thinks he sees the light on the other side of the road flicker a few times. He knows it's not just his imagination when he feels Oscar squeeze his hand. 

 

A single tear leaves his eye as he feels like he's losing Daniel one last time. But at the same time he smiles, because he knows he's happy for him. 

 

He feels Oscar wrap his arms around him from behind and hook his shin on his shoulder as they both stare out of the foggy window. 

 

The light flickers one more time. Then it's dark. 

 

Daniel's gone. 

 

But he'll live on in their memories. 

 

And in the little things he left behind. 

[cozyfoxy]

Mystical Paths

Summary: The Howells have been the proud owners of a small but famous bookstore since the 1800s. They are known for being the only shop that collects original copies of magic writings. Dan works as the bookkeeper of the shop. As the busiest season approaches, one of the most renowned magic families reaches out to the shop and offers to gift them an original Spellbook of sorts. Little did Dan know that these offers would change his life forever.

First Chapter

Read on AO3

Genre: AU

NO WARNINGS

In just one week, Howell’s Mystical Enchantments had earned more money than they typically would in a month. Having Philip Lester’s book in their possession had proven to be a true blessing for the family. Dan was incredibly grateful for the gift, but even more so for the protection that Philip had given him. He truly had needed it.

Overall, the book had been very popular and had gone off without a hitch, however, no one had been able to read it yet. Most customers would swear under their breath and storm off when they saw blank pages, others would groan, but thank Dan for his time, sometimes giving him a tip. Some customers though, would get angry, even violent towards the brunette.

The first time it happened wasn’t too bad. The woman whom Dan knew to be a quite powerful alchemist from Ireland had attempted to throw the book to the floor when she was unable to read the pages. The attempt was of course a failure, as the book had stopped just above the floor and leaped into Dan’s hands, perhaps for protection. Dan really had no idea, but it had brought unwanted attention to him from the crowd.

“Well, well, well. I’ve always been told that Howells don’t have magic, eh? I think this youngin just proved they was lying.” An older woman called out from the hood of her cloak.

Dan had stuttered nervously, trying to find a way to explain the truth when a voice that made the brunette think of honeysuckles on a warm Spring morning sounded from the book. “Idiots. The book is charmed! Daniel here is the keeper, the protector. No, he wields no magic himself, that’s our job. Now, I suggest we all calm down before my creator is summoned. He won’t be as gentle as I am.”

Despite his nerves, Dan felt himself smile when the book moved itself back to the pedestal that it had been displayed on. He walked over to the next person in line to take their payment and continued with his day as normal. Well, as normal as he could with such a powerful book in his possession.

The next time a customer had gotten angry, it had been aimed directly at Dan. A taller man, not much older than Dan had tried to read the book and failed. The man had groaned like so many others before him and set the book down, before glaring at the books keeper.

“Your family is filled with lying cunts. No way this book is from the Lester’s. You all are just trying to make a quick buck! Fuck you all, I want my money back!” the man yelled, moving closer to Dan.

Dan swallowed thickly, shaking his head, “I apologize sir but we do not offer refunds here.”

The man laughed, a shrill, nails on chalkboard kind of sound, “Okay, yeah, that’s fine. Then I’ll just have to take it back myself, or get something just as worthy.”

“Okay Leon, let's leave the boy alone yeah? He ain't done nothing wrong, he’s just doing his job. Back off.” another man had called out, grabbing his friend by the shoulder.

Dan watched nervously as ‘Leon’ shook the hand off of his shoulder and began whispering a strange sentence under his breath, something that Dan couldn’t understand. Magic. Dan gasped and jumped behind a book display, screaming when books in front of him suddenly caught fire. The smell made his stomach wretch and chaos erupted around him.

“Leon what the fuck is wrong with you?!” the man’s friend yelled, using his magic to diminish the flames.

“Just getting my revenge.” Leon snarled, walking closer to Dan.

Before Dan even had time to blink, the room filled with a cold fog, and loud shrieks pierced the room. The room was otherwise silent, everyone had paused to get a good look at what was happening once the fog cleared. Some of the customers had pulled out their phones and they were recording what was happening.

Once Dan could get a good look, a gasp passed his lips. The same fox that had originally delivered the book tackled Leon to the ground and stood hard against the man’s chest. Leon looked absolutely terrified of the fox, he was shaking beneath the animal. Everyone around watched in shock when the fox seemed to huff into the man’s ear, and Leon began to glow a sickly green color.

“What? What are you doing?” Dan asked, walking closer to the crowd.

The fox only paused for a moment before pressing both front paws against Leon’s throat, making him yell in pain. With the yell, came a mist from his throat, the glowing green color leaving his body and forming a ball in the air. Dan stared at the ball with the rest of the crowd, covering his ears when the fox suddenly let out an ear-piercing scream; the ball moving towards him. The fox quickly swallowed the ball, seeming to shake its head in disgust before turning to the crowd.

“Let this be a lesson to you all, and anyone who dares to mess with the Howells in any way. I will not hesitate in any circumstance to step in and take control of the situation. You don’t want that, none of you do. And now, poor little Leon Whitlock has no magic, he will be an embarrassment to his family. Well, more than he already was.” the fox spoke in a very familiar voice, without moving its mouth.

Leon’s friend stepped forward, breathing unevenly, “You… you took his magic? That’s not even possible… no one can take magic from other people. Who the hell do you think you are?”

A charming, soft laugh graced the room, the fox moving closer to Dan, “Yes, I took his magic. It is very possible, but only for me, I suppose. And to answer your question, I am Phil Lester.” the fox explained before looking at Dan.

“Are you okay little dove? He didn’t hurt you, right? Just scared you?” Phil’s voice echoed in Dan’s head, making him smile.

“I’m okay, I promise. Just shaken up. Thank you for saving me. I don’t know what I would’ve done without you.” Dan thought back, watching as Phil nuzzled his palm, huffing and nodding before disappearing into thin air. The crowd watched in complete awe, most typing furiously on their phones. Dan was too bewildered to worry himself with what the crowd had just seen, he was too focused on the fact that he had just seen someone have their magic taken.

After the hectic week that Dan had gone through, he couldn’t be more thankful for the weekend. His parents had decided to make it a long weekend, saying that Dan needed a break from working so hard. Normally, Dan would argue with them, lie, and say that he wasn’t overwhelmed; but this time, he agreed. He desperately needed time to be with himself, to worry about himself instead of the magical world that he was thrust into.

He had always been around magic, but not so intimately. He had always watched from afar, getting only as close as needed for his job, but now, Dan felt like a magnet for magical energies. It was as if he could feel the warm buzzing of magic in his lips, in his hands, and his mind. Maybe it was because Phil was able to speak to him through his mind, he must be feeling Phil’s presence.

“You called?” Phil’s voice echoed in Dan’s head suddenly, making him jump.

Dan stuttered anxiously, trying to decide what to say, “Well, yeah I think? I didn’t really mean to subconsciously. Sorry I’ve just had a hell of a week, I’m all over the place. I mean, I’ve been around more magic in the past week than I have in my entire life. It’s a lot to take in.”

Phil chuckled softly, a gentle, warm sound, “I could tell it’s overwhelming for you. I can’t say that I understand, but I do want you to feel more comfortable. It will take time, but you will adjust, magic will just become a normal occurrence in your life. I can’t make the stress go away completely or anything; that’s more of my mum’s specialty. But I can help you calm down and relax if you’d like.”

“How could you do that?” Dan asked out loud, lying on his bed and staring at the ceiling. Maybe he was going insane, talking to a voice that wasn’t there. Sure, magic was real, but could this really be happening?

“I need you to trust me, Dan. I know that’s hard but just try. I need you to close your eyes until I say to open them.” Phil explained softly, a smile clear in his voice.

Dan debated with himself silently. Phil was telling him to close his eyes, but why? Could he trust someone that he didn’t even know? Could Dan really find it in himself to listen to what the strange voice told him? A sigh passed his lips before he allowed his eyes to flutter shut, still facing the ceiling. Phil had proven that he was going to protect Dan, so he wouldn’t do anything to harm him, right?

“Okay little dove, open your eyes slowly.” Phil hummed, pride evident in his tone.

The brunette opened his eyes slowly, gasping loudly when his eyes were met with a midnight blue sky, that enveloped him in what felt like a warm blanket. He could see the twinkling specks of light clearer than ever before. They seemed more like fireflies than stars, close enough to touch. The only sounds that touched Dan’s ear were that of a gentle wind and something that sounded like ocean waves. He could even smell the sea.

Despite his attempt to force his emotions down, tears burned the rims of his eyes as he searched for his favorite constellations. “How?” Dan whimpered, wiping his eyes with the back of his hand. He didn’t even know what he was asking really, he was in complete awe.

Phil chuckled, “Magic Daniel. I am capable of things that most people can’t even imagine.”

Dan shook his head quickly, “no, I mean how did you know this would help me relax?” he whispered, moving into a sitting position.

“Oh, that. Well, it's something that I always do for myself when life gets overwhelming. I kinda went on a limb, but I’m glad you like it.” Phil whispered, sounding unsure for the first time since the men had begun to talk. “Also, I’m… I’m well, here. With you. I know you can’t see me right now, I’m camouflaged, but I’m here. That’s why you’re not hearing me in your head anymore.”

Dan’s eyes widened and he looked around himself anxiously, attempting to find any proof of Phil’s words, “I didn’t even notice I could properly hear you… why are you hiding though?”

Phil placed his hand gently over Dan’s, smiling when a rose pink danced across the other man’s cheeks, “simply because it is not our time to meet entirely. It will happen dove, I promise. But for now, please try to rest. I know you’re exhausted.”

“Yeah… okay, I’ll try to rest. But can you maybe stay until I fall asleep? I feel safer with you here.” Dan whispered, slowly lowering himself back down onto his bed while the night sky continued to move around him.

“Of course, I would never leave you unless you wanted me to. Goodnight my little dove, sleep well.” Phil whispered, shuddering slightly before allowing his camouflage to fall and sitting at Dan’s feet.

Soft snores filled the room before Phil could even register that the man next to him had dozed off. He watched Dan’s gentle, calm breathing in complete awe. How could one person be so incredibly beautiful? Beautiful without even trying to be? Dan was truly a light, brighter than any star that even Phil could create. Despite the rules that Phil had set for himself, rules about waiting for the right moment for everything; he placed a tender kiss on Dan’s hairline.

“Soon, my little dove, you will fly with me again,” Phil whispered, allowing his human form to fade, falling onto four paws comfortably, before running out of the house.

[liroyalty]

He remembered the days of their youth, when his older brother was to take the throne. When he had come to Camellia and begged for aid, promising their knights they could spare and the resources they had. Remembered of a death that forced xian hua to take over and days that fallowed. He had found peace in Suzannes presence. Her red hue's had reminded him of rubies and shined like them but held a fire he felt that could not be burned out,her onyx hue's didn't shine in the same manner like her ruby hues but still held the same intensity and fire.

Something he remembered admiring, no. He still admired them.

Yi dan was and is a country that made wonderful warriors, it made thier children hounds of war and their people hungry. He was once such hound, and he wondered if she remembered when they were younger. When he promised her he would help her do what ever big thing she wanted. The innocent promises was something he had planed to go through even if they never married each other.

" Alright. If its my throne and all the power and influence it has I ask that you help my sister with her work. She's the one who runs the country as we both know. Besides xian hua will be able to show you the ins and outs better then me."

He trusted sue, a nickname from there shared youth. Trusted her more then he trusted most people. The only other person he could say that was above her would be hua but hua took a knife to the throat to save him.

He wants to play with her hair, wants to hold her hand in his close to his heart like he used to. Wants the affection he could have given her freely....but was that okay ?

He left her alone for years.... He didn't know if she even liked being touched know. He himself had no idea if he could be touched outside his siblings touches.

".....You could have just told me from the get go. We could have skipped this whole nonsense. "

Still...even if he could not touch her, the trust, their bond at least to him was still thier. The instincts he had in his youth never once left, Zhao had no idea what he was feeling then. Hell he still has no idea what it is know but he still knows she was important.

" I trust you sue "

Her eyes weren't like rubies anymore, they were as black as pure oxyx. Truly, it be fitted her now, from a gem of passion, to a gem of strength, self-confidence & steadfastness. Still with the same sharpness & the same fire that forged them.

She's not a little girl anymore, unsure of herself, still sometimes too shy to speak without hiding behind her sleeve & dog plushy. She's princess with the training of queen, a dream to follow, & a presence that commands respect.

It felt a similar reflection. She couldn't put her finger on what, but Zhao didn't seem all the same either. Aside from just looking older, he seemed... restless? Is that it...? It's hard to say but she couldn't tell it was something.

"Eh?" Though, to Zhao's own credit, he did stun her quite a bit, so simply agreeing with her. It was readily against what she knew of people in power, if they didn't want more of it, they at least didn't want to give up what they had. Hell, Zhao should be familiar with people like that, look at Yi Dan's last ruler.

"And you're really giving it all to me...? Just like that?" Not without one thing, helping Xian Hua. ... Helping Xian Hua? Like he needs to ask that? Sue was no less close with Hua then she was him. Though, likely Hua & Ann were closer, but she saw his older sister no less for it.

'You could have told me from the get go. We could have skipped this whole nonsense. I trust you, Sue.'

He trusts her... dear Ying... how rare it is hearing that from someone that isn't Ann. And from him of all people.

"I'm sorry this is the way it had to be done, but... thank you." It's a small & brief smile, but it is there, & it made her remember the innocent days. She can be mad at the world, but him? Not at all. Everything was a wreak in Yi Dan, & still is, she can not fault him & his family for leaving. In a way, it helped her discover her dream, to change the world.

"You have my word, a promise, Zhao, I'm going make things better." Her eyes sharpened again, but with a certain furiosity burning in them, one she didn't have as a child. She's proud & assured in herself & what she can do. "You've paved Yi Dan & your family a path, & will make it's foundations."

[spiffghosthuntingcorporation]

Lads, do me a favour and watch out for yourselves while investigating this whole old company/Dan's origins thing. If the fire was actually set intentionally- well, that reeks of a coverup. There's a good chance the person responsible for this is still around and not above pulling something like this again. -Baba

Hello, I’m writing this from the inside of a closet right now. Our dear friend… Whatever the ghost in this house’s name is, we’ll call him Carl - our dear friend Carl has decided that he really, really doesn’t like Daniel, and is currently hunting our asses.

Actually, it’s you all he doesn’t like. He’s mad you didn’t take your boots off at the door and you’re getting his house all dirty. Also, he doesn’t like the dirty dishes in the sink. I think one of you should wash them.

JESUS - where did you come from?

I just switched from staying in Kevin’s radio to yours when he started hunting. Also, the ghost name is Noah, not Carl.

Well great, I’ll keep that in mind if I ever want to start screaming his name so he can kill me faster.

He probably won’t kill you, just straighten up the kitchen and wipe your feet at the door and you’ll be fine.

Alright, but I’m going to get someone else to do the dishes. I hate washing up.

I’m sure someone else will volunteer if it means Noah will stop hunting. Anyways, what did the person say? The one you were writing to?

Eh, just a warning. Be careful while investigating the old company, if the fire was a cover-up it could be set again, the person responsible could still be around, blah, blah, blah…

Hey, that does seem like pretty good advice.

But being careful hasn’t gotten us anywhere so far! We need to take a risk - we need to break into Spiff’s office and get that file.

But Brian said there were security cameras! Even if you don’t get caught, all Spiff would have to do is rewind the footage, and know for sure who did it!

I guess you have a point.

Wait a minute, does Spiff have a computer?

Of course he does, he keeps a bunch of company shite on it- oh.

All I’d have to do is go through the wires, take a peek at what he’s got on there, and come back! As long as I don’t mess with anything, he won’t even know I’ve been there.

That’s perfect, Dan! Hey, the hunt’s over - we need to finish up this mission so we can tell the other lads and head out!

Oh, Noah’s a Goryo. He told me so.

You could’ve mentioned that a little sooner… Alright, I’m going to radio the lads, so you might want to-

Already ahead of you, I’m just going to chill in your EMF Reader for a bit, if that’s okay?

Works for me.

Alright, everyone, back to the van. I know what ghost it is, and we also have a plan for getting into Spiff’s office! So hurry back, over.

[modded-xcom2-aar]

The Tutorial: Part 2

With utmost priority, Commander began to organize Operation Necrotizing Key.

Dan's Notes: Due to a graphical glitch, two of the soldiers, both of whom normally wear modded-in clothes, appeared in clean-generation outfits. I believe there may be some mod conflicts, as some modded assets were determined to be clean-generation outfits anyways. At the time, I was not permitted to customize soldiers, but this will not be the case after the tutorial section is completed.

Excerpt from Commander Stumpe's Journal:

We were in such a rush to get the mission done that I just told the two closest rookies to slap on whatever the closest pieces of armor they could find lying around and hop in the Skyranger. They seemed a little cheesed off about it, but that's lesson 1 for you: If you wanna wear something besides the basics, you gotta make sure you've got it prepped.

Operation Necrotizing Key After Action Report:

Dan's notes: Not really sure why the game decided the "wilderness of New India" was in the "Greater Anchorage Area", but even without the mod I added that adds more locations, the game is weird about the names of mission locations, often going for a much more general area than wherever it appears on to be on the map.

Central Officer Bradford's Pre-Mission Briefing:

CENTRAL: Communications with resistance forces in the area have gone dark...which can only mean one thing. These people sacrificed everything to give us this shot. We need to recover that converter at all costs.

With the first priority of recruiting the Commander out of the way, the next major mission for reviving XCOM needed to be accomplished: Acquiring an ADVENT power converter needed for base operations.

Prior to undertaking Operation Gatecrasher, regional resistance cells were contacted to find the power converter. Serendipitously, they managed to block the ADVENT convoy meant to deliver the converter to the next location.

Operating in this mission were Squaddie Ranger Jane Kelly, and Rookies Cain Juntley, The Wanderer, and Christopher "Troopz" Taylor.

Dan's Notes: It was at this point going through my footage that I realized that the Steam overlay was on. Whoops! Disabled it between the first and second session.

Enemy forces included ADVENT troops, Officers, and a Sectoid.

Mission Control's notes on the enemy forces:

CENTRAL: The ADVENT Officers seem more capable than the grunts. We're not sure whether to chalk it up to training or stricter mind control. TYGAN: Although they bear some resemblance to the Sectoids first encountered during the invasion, their genetic structure now includes human DNA. They're stronger than ever with an even greater psionic potential. COMMANDER: Oh jeez, those sectoids are real scary now, eh? I miss the old ones, they were a lot cuter and way less of a threat.

The combat began with The Wanderer ambushing a Troop and an Officer by throwing a grenade at the pod while they were scouting the area on a rooftop.

Commander Stumpe's Notes:

Good old grenades. Guaranteed damage and great for destroying cover. Oldest trick in the book is to land an explosive grenade at a rooftop. If the explosion doesn't kill 'em, the fall will.

Unfortunately, just before Kelly could stabilize the Converter, The Wanderer was mind-controlled by the sectoid. While the sectoid hijacked The Wanderer's mind, The Wanderer was dragged over to Cain Juntley and fired on him, killing him in a single burst of fire.

Mercifully, once Kelly had stabilized the converter, she was able to kill the sectoid using her sword.

Commander Stumpe's notes:

Those fellas looked so darn frail. I'd say get 'em a sandwich but they probably eat people. I figure a good whack will hurt them way more than a gunshot.

Dan's notes: Sectoids have a weakness to melee attacks and can easily be oneshotted by any melee class.

With the converter stabilized and ripe for the taking, the mission was considered a success.

For surviving the mission, Troopz and The Wanderer were both promoted to Squaddie. Troopz decided to specialize as a Sharpshooter, while The Wanderer took the path of the Stormrider.

Bradford's Notes:

Just like it sounds, our sharpshooters engage enemy targets with pinpoint accuracy from extreme range. They're also trained in pistol marksmanship for the occassional close encounter.

Raze's(???) Notes:

We are the ultimate weapon, and we will not rest until every last alien is dead. The Storm is coming, Commander. Let's ride it together.

Dan's Notes: I don't utilize sharpshooters as much as I do other classes, however I find training a sharpshooter in pistol skills to be extremely fun and versatile. Sniping-focused sharpshooters are also handy, but when the game is designed to be focused on pushing forward, it's something I put less focus on.

As for Stormriders, I have only gotten to try them out while doing a test run I did during signup week, but they're pretty interestingly designed as a non-templar melee-only class. No idea who Raze is.

In addition to our key objective, XCOM managed to recover an expanded magazine. And as according to original XCOM procedures, bodies were collected and placed into cold storage.

Tygan: These items should prove useful in our ongoing efforts against the aliens. When you have a moment, Commander, I've made some interestesting discoveries as they relate to the implant we removed from you earlier.

Dan's Notes: Forgot to check the loot descriptions for the other pick-ups during the recording. Will see if I can find them later.

Tutorial Geoscape: Part 2

Personnel Logs:

The Wanderer and Kelly sat in the bar. While it was a nice place to relax, it also served as a memorial for all those lost in the fight against ADVENT. Osei, Rodriguez, and Juntley's portraits had been taken and placed on it. This wasn't the only memorial. There was another, much larger one that was dedicated to any original XCOM members that had been lost during the original invasion, which was kept off of The Avenger and in the resistance haven the Avenger was currently docked in, and many resistance havens kept their own personal memorials. Death was a constant risk for those who chose to deny the Elders. The Wanderer had gotten their usual headgear back on: A gasmask and a hat that was good for keeping the sun out of their eyes. They had a special tape deck they liked to use instead of speaking. Not because it was practical or tactical, they just found it aesthetically pleasing. If they needed to explain things more thoroughly, they had other means. Signing. Tablets. A whiteboard if absolutely necessary. Tactical signing was more handy when prepping an ambush anyways. Kelly had her head in her hands. Three operatives were dead in one night. It's not that she wasn't used to death, but on some level she was frustrated with herself. Scouting further away from the convoy, there was no way could've gotten to the Sectoid before The Wanderer started firing on Juntley. She downed another shot. The Wanderer tapped on her shoulder. They began signing to her. She was drunk, but she was familiar enough with signing that she could get the gist. Mind control was like a bad dream, they signed. You could see what you were doing and feel what you were doing, but you couldn't control it. With a dream, you could wake up and remind yourself there's no way any of that could've happened. When you were freed of mind control, you just had to live with whatever the controller decided on. "You know," she said aloud, for she was too sluggish to try signing herself, "I checked the reports and the footage and the stuff. If I, If I had tried shooting him, I don't think it would've worked. Would've missed, or it would've hit and that asshole would keep moving Juntley around. It's not your fault, it's not my fault, it's just," She readjusted her position so she could lean her back against the counter. "It's just like, circrumstatial bullshit. And that fuckin' sectoid The Wanderer nodded. They pulled out the tape record and pressed a button. "[Thank you for your time.]" Said the recorder. They offered her their hand. And then they started arm wrestling, because Kelly was drunk and didn't realize it was supposed to be a handshake.

Jane Kelly and The Wanderer developed the start of a friendship together.

Commander Stumpe was summoned to Engineering to speak with Chief Engineer Lily Shen.

Excerpt from Commander Stumpe's Personal Journal:

Shen's gone? Darn shame...well, I knew it wasn't particularly likely he'd survive 20 years of an alien empire. But his daughter looks like she's got a good head on her shoulders. Love those little robots she's got flying all over the place.

SHEN: I can't promise any miracles, Commander, but I should be able to put some of this stuff together in no time at all. I'd suggest we get started with a medikit, it'll probably come in handy sooner rather than later.

Dan's notes: Medikits are a massive boon in the battlefield. I highly suggest keeping at least two on hand, one for the combat unit and one for the reconnaissance unit. At this point in the game they're very limited, but that won't be the case once we get Specialists in our roster.

Commander Stumpe was quickly thereafter summoned to Research, where Tygan had made completed his research on the implant chip.

From Commander Stumpe's personal journal:

He's right. I can't really explain it, but it was like I was in some kinda endless war commanding endless missions. Every so often it felt like victory had been achieved only to find myself back at the beginning. Kinda like when there's only reruns on TV. I wonder if TV's still around? That's beside the point, I guess. When it was happening I couldn't really tell I was in a loop. It just sorta happened, ya know? Wonder how much of it was real. I remember we had mech troops and gene splicing and every so often you could get a psi soldier. Not to mention all those battles with EXALT. I wonder if they were just simulations or if I was really commanding alien soldiers with an XCOM paint job. Pretty scary stuff.

With the research efforts completed, the Commander went about ordering the next research project, Modular Weapons.

Commander Stumpe's notes:

The most important thing to prioritize are the guns. It's not good when a soldier gets shot to pieces, but the best defense is a good offense. If the enemy goes down before they get a shot in, that's a soldier that never got shot to begin with.

Shortly thereafter, the commander returned to the bridge, where more developments occurred.

Excerpt from Commader Stumpe's personal journal:

Ya know, one of the things people say when they're flying is "I can see my house from here!" Course, we didn't fly over Manitoba, and even if we did my house is probably a crater nowadays. But it was pretty exciting! We'll be flying all over the place now, so I'll have to get used to that. And the cramped quarters. Reminds me of the old days with the UN.

END OF PART 2

Dan's notes: Unfortunately, I accidentally set off another mod-based glitch during mission select that softlocked the game, so the first recording session ended here. Expect more updates soon!

[exmeowstic]

yaayy thank you @umilily for tagging me for '9 ppl id like to know better'!! im the king at forgetting to just ever talk or say anything abt myself unless prompted to so tag games like these are fun <333

last song: starlight parade by sekai no owari but specifically the knights/fine version bc i remember loving that song years and years ago and got blindsided discovering there was an enstars cover the other day

currently watching: i kinda dropped off and need to get back to watching it but ive started watching hannibal! i love it when guys are insane and weird abt each other. also the food in that show makes me rly hungry which. woopsies </3 (i also recently finished kamen rider ex aid and loved it so so much i would like to watch more kamen rider stuff when i have time/energy. dan kuruto most guy of all time he has everything wrong with him)

currently reading: ive been slowly working my way thru the count of monte christo for a looooong while now! to the point i got distracted and accidentally read the entirety of the hobbit this weekend. it doesnt help i just figured out i can use a library card to access lots and lots of stuff. in general im really partial to classic lit and mystery/detective type stuff. sherlock holmes my beloved

(bonus!) currently playing: ehe im getting sucked into ace attorney and im playing my way thru the second game. its perfectly tailored for me with the insane gay guys and the putting together evidence and figuring stuff out. (guy whos not smart voice) it makes me feel real smart when i get it right <333

current obsession: enstars 100% it cant be anything other than enstars. i love rhythm games and i love pretty guys being so normal abt each other this was also tailor made to make me as insane as possible i havent calmed down since i Started playing in like. october

ahh for tagging im just gonna throw some out to mutuals/friends bc im hardcore blanking on who to tag </3 you can say i tagged you if you would like to do it and you also dont have to if you dont want to heart emoji (also if i got someone who was already tagged i sorry im rapid firing these tags without thought)

@singular-stars @mountainashfae @x-day @cryptidm0ths @meowyoi @zakomoya @writer-and-artist27

[asrisgratitudejournal]

Identity

(draft di bawah ini ditulis tanggal 22/11/2022 lalu kuhentikan karena harus catch train ke London dan plannya lanjutin nulis di train tapi akhirnya gajadi di train malah nonton RunBTS):

Haaa hari ini lagi-lagi nggak produktif. Awalnya pengen nyelesaiin report untuk confirmation dan ngisi semua form GSO dan segala requirement confirmation lain yang harus disubmit tapi MALES bangetttt huhu. Udah di dept dari jam 11 padahal. Dan in 30mins harus leave dept buat catch train ke London ☹ Cape banget gaksi hidup… Awalnya udah mikir apa hari ini mau nge-run oil aja di Lumex… tapi takut ga keburu karena termasuk hari yang short.

Ini tapi lagi ikut term meetingnya Research Discovery Group Bodleian Library sih. Agak random tapi gini-gini ku adalah representative postgrad researcher di MPLS. So far librarian dept Elizabeth dan librarian MPLS Catherine amat sangat helpful jadi sepertinya di MPLS sendiri nggak ada masalah besar untuk disolve sebagai user. Selama 2 tahun ini juga sebagai silent observer/reader aja.

PLUS… I shouldve kept my mouth hand nggak celamitan tapi lagi-lagi I was caught on fire di twitter. TKP: https://twitter.com/nonioktvn/status/1594652081402646532?s=20&t=fyI-hEBUMyg-c-JvkI-hGA ASLIDEH sejak kapan sih w buka gembok akun??? Perasaan belum lama ini masih gembokan? Dan dalam rangka apa juga w buka gembok??? Huf entahlah.

Iya. Yang tadinya tweet becandaan (SUMPAH YA ASLI LOCAL JOKE BANGET itu w pengen jadi menteri pendidikan boong-boongan betul2 cuma teman-teman inner circle doang yang tahu) eh malah jadi ke mana-mana…

Terus yang paling w suka dari semua kebodohan interaksi ini adalah: kan twitter w sangat anonymous ya (just as this tumblr is, tapi at least kalian pembaca tumblr ini tau lah ya bahwa w sedang menempuh hidup sulit sebagai phd student di oxford. Well, semoga tahu. If you didn’t, now you know). Nah akun twitter w tu betul-betul gaada identitas asli w (ya ini karena w gamau orang-orang yang mengenal w secara profesional ngefollow w di twitter aja sih, imejin kl pak supri liat w nge-thirst tweet bangchan apa tidak syok dia). Jadi yaudah… biasa lah netijen, mungkin menganggap w hanyalah basic kpop stan (which I 100% AM, I’m a VERY BASIC kpop stan who happens to be an Oxford PhD student aja somehow entah kena mukjizat apa), terlebih dari bio twitter w yang mendeskripsikan diri w sebagai “stray kids stan account”, mulai deh tuh ada yang ngerujak (ya cuma 1 sih, dan itu juga karena w ngasi reply ke orang yang nanya gitu mayan becanda jawaban w, my bad I guess).

----- di bawah ini ngetiknya udh di tanggal hari ini (setelah kegagalan ngelab hari ini lah kalau kalian ngikutin instastory aku)

But the thing is: I REALLY HATE to associate myself with some sort of labels(?). Dari dulu apparently w gapernah tu di social media manapun nulis yang modelan: Noni, nama SMA + angkatan, nama jurusan S1 + kampus, etc. Walaupun ya pasti memang lebih gampang mengenali orang kalau dia tulis di bionya details kaya gitu, semacem “Oh Ani si anak Labsky angkatan 2013… iya2 tau kok”. Cuma ku kurang suka aja gitu mengagung-agungkan organisasi/institusi. Jadi kaya gapunya agency atas diri sendiri.

Jadi bikin mikir sih kejadian kemarin tuh: “apakah orang akan men-treat w sama jika w menjadi diri sendiri aja tanpa embel-embel ‘lagi kuliah S3 di Oxford’, ‘dosen UI’, ‘lulusan ITB’?”, kalau label yang w pake adalah Noni sebagai ‘stray kids stan’ gimana? Apakah jadinya Noni-nya akan beda? Kan orangnya tapi tetap saya???!

Ku pernah mengalami (sering malah), lagi di lapangan ngambil data sama mahasiswa2 w semuanya cowo, w cewe sendiri. Disamperin lah sama Pak RT/warlok/pernah juga Pol PP lagi patroli. Tebak mereka pertama kali nyamperinnya siapa (terlepas dari muka w kelihatan yang paling tua ya): not ME. Pas w bilang “oh saya dosennya Pak, saya penanggungjawabnya di sini” barulah tu pada kaget semua.

PREJUDICE. Itu ya kayanya word yang w cari. Mau di twitter ataupun di real life, kalau kita dikenalin ke orang “ini Bapak Direktur Bank BUMN bla bla bla”, akan sama kah treatment kita ke dia kalau kita gatau dia direktur BUMN? Harusnya sih sama ya. Kalo orang yang bener ya. Harusnya gaada bedanya dia nge-treat Pak Satpam dengan si Bapak BUMN ini. Kenapa harus beda sih lagian? Masih gangerti sama konsep ini di Indo. Padahal kalau mau ngomong lebih kerja keras siapa, yakin banget dari lahir mungkin si Pak Satpam ini jauh lebih keras perjuangan hidupnya.

Itulah kenapa gasuka banget w claim2 di twitter kalau w dosen UI lah, lagi S3 di Oxford lah, lulusan ITB lah, etc2 (walaupun ya emang benar begitu). Tapi harusnya ga perlu lah ngeliat dulu dia itu siapa lulusan mana pekerjaannya apa kalau kita mau belajar di mana pun dan saling menghormati. Ngeliat orang based on title gitu2 tuh bikin males mikir. Lah emangnya terus kalau dia Ustad gitu misalnya (sebut aja Yusup Mansur), emang udah pasti apa yang dia bilang itu jujur & benar? Kan nggak juga. Ya emang betul mereka pasti sudah sekolah dan sudah belajar lebih banyak daripada kita. Tapi tetep mikir sendiri (critical thinking) tu perlu juga, nggak nelen bulet2.

HAH jadi panjang dan marah2 kan… iya intinya. Treat everyone equally ya yeorobunnn. Terlepas dari apapun jabatan dia, sekolah di mana pun, sekaya/miskin apapun, umurnya tua/muda juga. InsyaAllah kalau kita baik ke siapapun, orang lain juga akan baik ke kita.

Dah gitu aja. Ku harus dandan buat formal dinner. Byeeeea

30.18 23/11/2022 18.45pm

[refecktion-lads]

Ok, I wrote it all out. Jesus Christ, writing’s hard. I had to start over like three times, so I hope it makes any fucking sense.

I’m just gonna copy-paste it all in here for you guys (and Dan) to read. Maybe you can tell me where I’m “lying”, apparently.

-Daithi

How the fuck do I start this? Once upon a time…?

Eh, fuck it. I’ll just type.

So I started work on the “project” a month or so after I was fired. I don’t know why the fuck you tagged along, but you did. You visited me in the office space I’d rented when I was working late into the night, chatting and letting me bounce ideas off of you. You came up with an official-sounding name for it— “Project Schrodinger”— after listening to me ramble for what felt like hours. 

And then we really got to work.

I spent so much time in that little office space— you called it the “Science Tower”, named after one of our inside jokes. I brought in chemicals and tests. You brought in jokes and songs and moral support. I don’t think I coulda got anything done without you.

But at the same time… You didn’t know what was really going on. Sure, you’d listened to me talk about the science and stuff, but I don’t think it ever kicked in. For either of us, I mean. So I kept on rambling and testing and coming up with new things to try, and you kept on listening. We hyped each other up, coming up with crazier and crazier ideas, bolder and bolder tests. I bought a few rats from the pet store, and surprisingly none of them died. Well, I mean, they all half-died, but in the way I expected them to. That sentence alone sounds fucked, now that I’m typing it out.

We were way in the thick of it, then. But I just couldn’t fucking stop, not when we were so close. Those answers were right in our reach, if I could just go a little farther…

You volunteered for human testing. You volunteered, and totally refused to let me test on myself. Completely shut me down whenever I suggested it. That’s when I realised how little you really knew. If you’d really noticed just what we were doing, how crazy it all was, then you wouldn’t have volunteered at all. I’d led you to thinking that our months of experimenting was normal. And I must’ve believed that too. That’s why I didn’t say no to you. Why I let you be the test subject. It worked on the rats, I told you. It was gonna work on humans.

But then I went behind your back. I went and made two doses of my crazy fucking medicine. One for you, one for me. I hooked myself up to some electrodes— all the same except for the ones on your head. You really wanted me to monitor your brain, for some reason. I didn’t get it, but all your other ideas worked out, so why not?

And then… And then… 

We took our shots. I flipped the switch. And then we fell asleep for a really long time.

I never should’ve let you near that place, Kevin. I never should have let you fall down the same stupid fucking rabbit hole I did. You had a whole life ahead of you, and I… Fuck.

That’s it. I’m done. 

The End.

[theslightlyconfusingsirduranix]

Danny Phantom Power Themes

ok so this more or less just appeared in my head and i felt like sharing So i��ve noticed some common ghost traits and connections in the DP universe We’ll start with shadow powers. the main examples for this are Johnny 13, Spectra, and Vlad (who’s a bit of an outlier but his ghost transformation rings are shadowy and his duplicates appear as shadows on occasion). I’ve come to believe that shadow powers are representative of toxic emotions, mental states, and behaviours in a ghost, this is VERY obvious in the case of Spectra as she thrives off of fostering depression and is entirely made of shadow, Johnny 13 is also pretty cut and dry, his shadow is more associated with bad luck but he is also a cheating douche who constantly makes eyes at other women and then badly patches things up with Kitty, who notably, is more loyal to their relationship and doesn’t have a connection to Shadow. Vlad is also pretty obvious, he’s a manipulative and obsessive bastard and he routinely overshadows people to make them obey his wishes. After that we have Fire Hair. Many ghosts share this trait but i’ve narrowed my examples down to 4, Ember, Skulker, Lunch Lady, and Dan. I see the fire hair as a representation of Passion, Anger, and Malice. Emotions that get you heated essentially. Ember and Skulker are pretty obvious examples, both are extremely passionate about their goals and don’t particularly care who gets hurt in the attempt to achieve them, though Skulker is an odd example in that his fire hair only exists when he’s in his mech suit, his tiny form doesn’t have it. The Lunch Lady is also an example of this, the angrier she gets the more fiery her hair is, but she’s a calmer ghost in general than Skulker or Ember so her hair is only fiery when she’s worked up. then there’s Dan, whose default state is kill everything, and who SEEMS calm, but is full of such endless vitriol that his only response to any situation is to kill everyone in it and move on. Now we have Ice powers. Now there are really only 3 examples in the show for this, Danny himself, the Yetis, and Klemper But here’s the thing, it’s really obvious. Ice powers are representative of ISOLATION. Klemper is perpetually trying to make friends because he’s probably the lonliest creature in existence. The Yetis are a society that exists only in the FAR Frozen, a place so remote that there literally ISN’T anywhere that can be called close to it. And Danny is alone, one of the only 3 Halfas in existence, one is his enemy, the other is never around, he doesn’t fit in with ghosts, he’s NEVER fit in with people in general and now has something that separates him from even his closest friends. There is nowhere he can turn to where he can be fully safe and accepted as himself now, because the only others who CAN understand his perspective are either perpetually absent, or trying to turn him into something he isn’t. There is some more but i haven’t really got it straight in my head yet, like how Vortex and Undergrowth are both comprised of their powers rather than simply wielding them and both were either never human or have so completely removed themself from their humanity to the point that they don’t even have humanoid forms anymore, but eh. I’ll figure that stuff out later

[aestivetic]

My Celebrity Opinions

Here is my current list of all the celebrities I can pull up full-on opinions on. I don’t know if they count as “parasocial relationships”, but here they are.

Don’t see a celebrity here? Either I don’t know them, I don’t care enough about them to have an opinion, or I have forgotten what opinions I have on them. Or they’re not online. Or they’re dead. Or I forgot their names. Look, this list was hard enough in thinking of how many celebrities I actually have an opinion on beyond “Eh, they were good in [X], hope they did alright for themselves”.

Robert Carlyle: True character actor. Incredibly talented, but has an equally strong talent for picking wretched material. Seems to keep his head down and show up, perform in whatever Q-tier soap opera he’s in, take his paycheck and go home. Hope he’s doing well.

Benedict Cumberbatch: Better at comedy than he is usually allotted. Looks a little inbred, but that’s what happens when you go to Eton.

Felicia Day: Glad she’s on MST3K and gets to play a very ace villainess after being slavered over for the past decade-ish. Seems alright, better comic timing than usually given credit for.

Guillermo del Toro: Seems like a really fun guy, going on his interviews, writing, and films. Seems to keep his nose clean. Hope he keeps making films, they seem to stay quality. Good sense of decoration.

Neil Gaiman: One of my top-ten favorite living authors. Very beautiful, hope he’s doing alright. Have considered writing  to him, but keep putting it off.

Doug Jones: Seems like a cool guy. Glad he’s still getting work. Amazing physicality.

Matthew McConaughey: Good actor. Lanky and pretty. Would watch him in most things. One of the few actors who can play butch. Hope he takes on that Rust prequel series. Astounded that he decided to act in Reign of Fire. Appreciate his constant shirt allergy.

Mads Mikkelsen: Very still face, making him one of the few people I can reliably recognize on sight. Seems to keep his nose clean. Glad he’s getting work.

Ben Miller: Liked him in Death In Paradise. Unsurprised that he turned out to be anti-trans, given he’s a middle-aged British man.

Patton Oswalt: Very funny, talented writer of imagery. Some of the best writing about fatness I have personally come across. Glad he’s on MST3K.

Jared Padalecki: Very pretty. Dumb as a bag of hammerstones. Has managed to look startlingly like a trans guy throughout his career. Has appeared in Men’s Health (aka Sports Illustrated for gay men) 6 times, a fact I find endlessly hilarious. Can’t hit marker tape for beans.

Michael Shannon: Scary-looking, but he seems alright. Enjoyed his work in The Shape of Water and Boardwalk Empire. Good comedy talent, though it doesn’t get used a lot.

Mark Sheppard: Talented, great sense of timing, openly a short fat guy who’s not played for comedy or gross-out. Appreciate that he seems to keep his yap shut and make good money. Good inkwork.

Rainn Wilson: Better dramatic actor than usually allotted. Gave an incredible performance in Backstrom. Hope he gets work, because political commentary is not his strong suit. But if people kept trying to make me act like their fancast of a job I’d given up ages ago, I’d probably go nuts, too.

Steven Moffat, Bryan Fuller, Ryan Murphy, George Lucas, Tarsem Singh: Can and will be devoured by plot bunnies unless kept on an incredibly tight rein.

Dan Olson; “Andy” of Atun-Shei Films: Voice like butter that makes you smarter. Glad he stays pretty private. Attractive. Incredibly talented writer/performer.

MST3K Crew: Have, by extension, helped me with my lifelong insomnia and nightmares. Glad Mr. Corbett is sober, it’s an inspiration to me. Also inspirational in building a reliable brand with reliable and affordable output, and leaning on clean(ish) humor.

[hjazysol]

Chapter 12: Snake & The Fire

Summary:

Hokori & his small group of runaways find a place to stay for a while. The bounty hunters are also on the move.

_______

The same night after the Okashi Incident. The scene of the action was currently still in the process of getting cleared out. The collapsed rubble of the abandoned Hero Creation Facility entrance began rustling about. Wildly. Emerging in a quick burst of speed shot out the top half of a rather portly male figure roaring out in excitement and bliss.

"ARRRRRGH! I'M ALIVE! HARGHHHH!" It was the Self Proclaimed Protector of Dreams & leader of Star Allies. Dan Aotori. Yanking out alongside him, both Kumo & Taro his subordinates. Both extremely lost of all strength. Well mostly Kumo, Taro was basically fine.

"Dedede sir? What happened?"

The King crossed his arms triumphantly. Softly chuckling to himself. "Ah. Dee my boy...I have no idea, but it's fine we lived! ... ...I remember that girl jumped us. When I woke up. The stone around us collapsed. How we made it out? I don't know. Probably luck."

"I feel sick." Taranza weerily spoke the spider quirk user beside them. Falling into his bosses arm.

"...Hm. Well. I have a job to do. So I'll just go at it alone for now. You can go... You've been spared!" Dan stared forward to the bright sunlight dramatically. His colleagues weakly holding out their hands reaching out to him "No Great King Dedede!"

"...I'm sorry."

"What are they doing?" Some bystanders crossed by the scene viewing Dan & his gang from the moment they emerged. "Must be some crazy street performance."

"They might actually get people's attention if the big guy cosplayed an actually good hero."

".... ...." The King looked down to his subordinates awkwardly smiling. "Go get a taxi back."

______

Sunday Afternoon 2 PM

"The attack on Eusha outside the Pyramid Shopping centre was stopped yesterday by a runaway student of the previously hidden class in UA, 1-S, the boy's name is Hokori Hi- hmm." The reporter had her attention pulled away in a split moment of time before getting to say the full name, shortly after she was covering her own mouth surprised. "Oh that's right! Forgive me. Ahem. But anyway. According to some boys who were involved with the event." A news report following the situation yesterday was being broadcast on tv around Japan. This one in particular was positioned in the top corner of a bar.

The man sat there was listening in to what was being shared. "The attack in question was done by a creation gone rouge after resurfacing 7 years later, one made by Professor Akira Kamijiru. The same man responsible for the incident involving his illegal projects in the Hero Creation Facilities. Leading to it's eventual eradication. "

"Eh really? That quack again?" The man began to get a bit restless at this revelation. "Of course one of those things caused this. They weren't even human."

"Couldn't even survive without their dear old Professor nearby. And those monsters were meant to become greater than today's heroes? Haha! What a joke! Just a madman's failed fantasy."

An elderly but well built man picked up their empty glasses before reaching to wash them out with water. "Ah wait hang on. Kat-Ya One more fill there." The man jiggled around in their pocket reaching out a few yen for another drink. "What about you Kat? What do you think of the scientist?"

The old man Kat-Ya, began topping it up, all while watching the news himself. "Heh? That fogey?" They slid the drink back over to them collecting his pay off the counter infront. "He had ambitious goals that's for sure...It ain't easy ta make someone greater than All Might. And as you said. They ain't traditional human beings either... As proven yesterday, the rats are dangerous unchecked- 7 Years Alone that one was l, as they've been saying... And one small trigger, the thought of being replaced drove em, bizarre."

"If you ask me they should just kill the thing."

"That would be a solution I suppose. Either way they end up more civil than yesterday." Kat continued to scrub at his dirty glassses nearby. "... However, Zen my friend...I do see the craft...Heroes these days have more than just 'save the day' in their minds these days stuff like, fame & status end up being acknowledged more & more. The mad man just wanted heroes who had the fundamentals etched in their minds."

"...I guess I can get behind that. According to what they showed earlier though that clown will give all the quirks that they took back by today...They're smart just like the techy bastard."

"Sir please stop!" The sound of a woman shouting shot through the building alerting Kat-Ya and Zen. To look behind them. A kid dressed in black & white, with the attire of a rough old-school delinquent was setting fire to a table that they sat at in the restaurant portion of the building. They appeared to have a Quirk that solidified fire to make Green Lantern styled structures.

They were currently bashing at nearby tables with a fiery bat. "SHUT THE HELL UP BITCH! I'VE BEEN WAITING TOO LONG HERE WHERE'S THE DAMN SOUS CHEF!? I NEED TO KICK THEIR HEAD IN!? Where I'm sitting, the little ring table I'm in right now? This is where they works for reals ya hears! Another thing I'm annoyed about. How shit the food was here! What're you tryna do poinson me?"

They very briefly pressed the hot bat onto the girls leg burning her skin, she barely reacted though. " Heh... I'm Fightin' em and you ain't doing shit til they shows!" They wacked the sous chef's station leaving a mark on it. "They're lucky this things fire proof. I'd destroy it to set an example. NOW STEP OFF OR I'LL BURN YOUR UNIFORM TO! Heheh! "

Zen wistfully whistled with a smirk on his face, looking over to his old friend. "Well Kat-Ya. Your brats gone and brought a monster home?"

"...Damn rats! ...Kids these days have no respect!" They stepped over the bar counter removing their black vest. "Oi! Kozo!"

"Eh!?" They started eyeing up the slowly approaching old man. "....You... ...You ain't the Sous. Gets lost."

"Oh you'll wish I was lost... It's unfortunate for you though."

______

About an hour Later.

"We're almost there now guys." Having been on a constant walk for about a day after stopping Okashi's attack on Eusha, Hokori's group were still following by Shebi's lead, waiting to see where she's taking them. Everyone except her was tired.

"Shebi we've been travelling for a day straight! My legs are suffering back here." Takaishi was stuck in the back skulking as close as possible as not to be separated from the others. "I need to hear more than cars driving around!"

"Damn... It's really busy today... (sigh) Ok. Here we are get in." The building they were dragged all the way over to wasn't anything like what they'd expected. It was sort of 'adult looking' for someone as obsessed with looking beautiful as she was. "...Oi. What are you dawdling for? Get in!"

"This is Err... Where we're hiding out?" Kageyama said glaring skeptically at the place. "That's a club."

"No that's a restaurant...I have a job here."

"... ...How old are you again?"

"Sixteen."

Kageyama laughed to himself in amusement. "Heh well that's good seeing you in one of those sexy outfits would make the customers ill."

"What!?" Irritated she yanked the boy by his ear pulling him in closer. "I just said it's not some horny ass Club! You're lucky I'm even letting you guys come here. This is a top class restaurant. You barely fit the bill!"

"Alright alright! (Top Class? There's like three broke windows upstairs)"

"Hey Shebi?" Cut in Hokori. "You said you worked here right so what do you do, beat people up if they're too rowdy?"

"I serve food when it's ready." She said with a large amount of pride in herself. And unexpected on her behalf, everyone else wasn't really that impressed, serving plates of food? How boring.

"B-B-But yes. I do also beat up rowdy guests much to the disappointment of my boss, says it's bad for reputation. But the thing is." She pushed open the double doors making the entrance and flying out the doorway came a massively beaten body of a delinquent startling Shebi's guests', she sighed aloud. "He's no better than I am."

"Damn punk. If you have an issue with the food..." Coming up to the doorway with a grey grizzled beard and placing a pair of circle lenses glasses over his eyes, walked out Shebi's boss and the Executive Chef "...You don't harass my waiting staff. You come up to the kitchen & talk crap to our faces!"

~Executive Chef Katsoden Yasuden aka Kat-Ya by friends. Works the bar when he has nothing better to do.~

"If you couldn't beat me you'd never beat the sous chef, now fuck off & good riddance. You're never welcome here again, even if you want to just take a piss and leave!" The door was slammed back & shut on everyone's faces. Leaving everyone shocked mainly by his build. They all expected a nice young man who'd be extremely welcoming to others but what they were facing ended up looking like a foul mouthed bear defending it's territory.

A few seconds later he reopened the door. "Ah... *Hebi Shojo. You showed up."

*Young Snake

"Heh." Shebi looked away from the old man somewhat in disgust. "Well I do still like getting paid you know."

"At this time? You're 1 Hour Late."

"You old crone. I told you to check your damn phone! I said I'd be late!"

The old man grabbed Shebi by the hair lifting her up from the ground. "I've already told you multiple times you damn snake you shouldn't be showing up late to work idiot! You're lucky I even let your shift start so late."

Shebi returned the feeling by pulling his cheeks apart from one another. "And I told you I've been in a bit of trouble recently!"

"YOU'VE SHOWN UP LATE EVERYDAY SINCE I FIRST HIRED YOU!"

"Tch... If you read your messages you'd know I can't think about that even more now... ..."

"..." Katsoden put the kid back on the ground this time, letting go of the hair instead gently patting her on the head. "Listen you brat..." Shebi stayed silent keeping her eyes averted. "...Hey look at me kid..." With that bit of coaxing she timidly turned & tilted her head to look at him. "Listen... ...I'm glad you're ok. But you need to start being even more careful. They're gonna come after you for who knows how long. You always were a loner. But that shouldn't be a reason for ya to get reckless."

"It's just a bit pressuring is all... It's fine...I don't need your pampering."

"... ...Come on, it's time to get to work, snake-" He finally noticed the others guided to this place. "Oh. You runts are the guys who are being tracked down by the Heroes?"

Still bewildered by the massive man's presence they just calmly nod without breaking eye contact. He sighed. "Honestly now! This is a restaurant not a help shelter, you all get lost. Go bother some other guy."

"Y-Yeah we'll go!" Said Kageyama, badly hiding how afraid he was of the man. "A restaurant isn't really a very good place to hide out anyway. Your unsightly Employee over there brought us here!"

"Unsightly?" Shebi murmured giving an intense side eye.

Katsoden responded with a few seconds of uninterrupted silence, til his eyes began to fixate on Hokori for the remainder, his eyebrows now raising with interest. He eventually held the doors open for them all to come in. "Go on then. You're all welcome."

"Eh?... I-Is this a trap?"

"No." He silently glanced over to Hokori. "(That kid. It really is isn't it?"

He pointed to Hokori, Shuri & Takaishi. "Altogether you three are starving... I can tell. Come in I'll make you something but after that you all lea- ... ...Oh?"

After being teased with free food the three were already gone. Nobody even noticed how fast they moved. Kageyama worried about the other customers seeing them followed in after them. "Those idiots! Are they trying to get me locked up!? Stay hidden!"

Once Shebi followed in however absolutely none of the customers made a comment about her being a 1-S runaway. They in fact all cheered from her arrival. "Huh? They're excited by the Gorgon?" Kageyama said murmering with a shade of jealousy.

"Of course they're excited. They could care less if I'm on the run. After all I'm the star of this restaurant! Everyone wants to see me. It's only natural no one can ignore beauty."

"Star?...Tch. Let's hope their eyes don't burn away at the sight of you today."

"My looks & style of fighting aren't the only beautiful things about me Kageyama."

"You're not beautiful. You don't even wear glasses."

Loud clanging pans & dishes could be heard dropping and crashing from the kitchen. Alerting both Katsoden & his right hand girl. "Wha-? Are they fighting in there!? Bah. You get started, Hebi Shojo. I can deal with whatever is happening."

He stormed off to the kitchen door leaving Shebi to her own devices as she stepped passed multiple tables, eventually reaching a horizontally long podium-like structure at the centre of this velvet coloured hall. She didn't utter even a single word. Only grabbed a bandana on the platform next to her, which was tied round the head and had her hair tucked inside.

"Is she getting that stuff out ready for the chefs or something?" Yatsua asked in interest.

"Bit of an odd set up don't you think? Right in the middle of the dining hall." Replied Kageyama.

Finally, to cap off this sequence she pressed a button under the stage-like structure. And surrounding her at that moment popped out a bunch of kitchen equipment. As if on queue all the guests exploded into an eruption of cheers and whistles.

"Well she's definitely popular here."

Meanwhile in the kitchen. "GARAH!? WHAT DO YA MOOCHERS THINK YER DOIN' DAMNIT!?" Katsoden had just cracked open the doors catching Hokori stuffing his mouth full of pre made dishes and ingredients. "YOU! RED HEAD! You've gone and bled my shelves dry!"

Not even uttering the slightest word Hokori raised his hand all before sinking it inside a cake right next to him. That he slowly shovelled into his mouth.

"DO YOU THINK I CAN'T SEE YOU OR SOMETHING!?"

"OWNER OWNER!" One of the chefs in the kitchen yelled out from the pantry.

"Gah! So much in just a few minutes. First a loudmouthed idiot, then she comes late again, now I have food moochers & yet there's another problem! What!?"

"Well i-it's the food. I was going to say it's all gone but err." The employee pointed over at Hokori still stuffing himself with food. "That boy ate everything."

"EVERYTHING!?"

"You said I cou-" The giant man grabbed Hokori by his face, with it still full of food.

"I! I Said I would make you something! Not that you could steal my stuff! Get outt of here!"

"EH!? I'M SORRY! I'M SORRY!" While Hokori was being scolded Takaishi & Shuri had hid themselves behind a wall of crates, now empty because of their food searches.

"Honestly! ... ...("That's the last of the ingredients. I was gonna ask Zen to grab today's shipment... but...") It's fine kid. But you've gotta do a favour now ya hear?"

"O-Of course it's only fair!"

Katsoden pulled out a highly detailed map from a drawer a secure drawer. "I want you to go..." He circled a section of it with a marker. "...Here. Seeing as ya cleansed my place ya can go get the new food and ingredients. Now!" They handed the map off to Hokori. Throwing him out the back entrance of the kitchen. "You better not take too long damn brat. Shebi can make do with her kitchen's ingredients in the meantime."

"Shebi? Hmm. Ah well...This is 3 Miles away... ...I could probably take... No forget it. On foot will do." And off he went on his own.

____

"Shebi-Aneki! You're ok."

"Huh?" Shebi turned from the work station in front of them after being called out to. "Ah! Kyo!"

~Kyo Oyagashi is the female waiter who confronted the delinquent earlier.~

"...Hey?" She lifted up her the skirt of her work clothes. "What's with the bandages?" She pointed at their colleagues bare thigh noticing the mummy wrap of bandages around it just below the pair of short spats they wore. "You hurt that soft skin of yours again?"

"O-Oh that i-it's fine I just had a slight burn is all. ("If she found out, forget hospital that kid would be in a morgue if I told her what happened")"

"Speaking of... The table has a burn as well..."

"Oh that was the guy Kat-Ya threw out. It's fine though. No major damage. Eep! (So much for that.)"

Shebi stayed fixated on the burn marks temporarily seemingly bothered before smiling generously at Kyo. "They burnt you!?... ... ...Well if you say it's just that burn then it'll be fine. Kat already thrashed him anyway. Just as long as you're ok....But get ready. The snakes are gonna come out to serve the dishes real soon! Oh...You have the orders right?"

"Oh!? Of course!" Frantically rummaging round a small bag Kyo removed at least over 200 notes with multiple food orders on each of them, it was a big place. She handed each and every one over to Shebi. Skimming through everyone of them before placing them on a pile up front.

"Tch. Ok! This'll be easy." She kicked up a leg. Following up behind it flew a tube and nozzle. It was a soda gun. But she wasn't finished she kicked up at least 5 more. "Ok Kyo! Just leave me with the glasses. I can handle the rest now... Ok so the most popular dish today... ...Sushi & Sashimi? I can do that first...But there's also orders for varying bowls of ramen, and... oh, just one Curry. Hm?"

She read the order for the Curry again. Next to it was a drawing of a skull & a hot pepper- Well drawn. "Woah! This person's looking to die today I see heheh. Either that or they want to be stuck in the bathroom all day."

And with the orders read she pulled out glasses & alcohol just before the first soda gun could touch ground. "Now the show can begin." Off it went the second it landed into her hands, Shebi set fired different flavours of cola, lemonade and other soft drinks into the glasses set up earlier. Following up the first, the remaining 5 guns swiftly followed down. And Shebi stretched her arms out to form a T shape.

Every tube connecting the gun fell round her arms wrapping around them like flowing water & coiling themselves safely round her body. "Stick those glasses high!" With a click of the trigger more drinks came firing out into the nearby glasses garnering more attention and cheers from the crowds. Kageyama & Yatsua however were still beyond confused.

"I-Is she? The entertainment or something?" Questioned Yatsua his 4 highest arms both on his head & hips respectively.

"I don't know but however she's doing that all at once is freaky."

Jumping up from behind them rolled in Kyo. "Oh you mean sister Shebi?"

"Eh? Err sure...She's just throwing stuff around."

"Oh it's fine! This is your first time here right, well Shebi is the youngest of the working staff. But she is strong and a star." "A star? But I don't work here?" Kageyama scoffed playfully. "Her ability when cooking & serving is beautiful just like herself. Kat-Ya would much rather die than give up the kid. Especially since she's the Sous Chef."

"...Wha- She's the Sous!? I thought she just served the food. She never said anything about making it..."

"You see the rows of marble paving along the ground?" Separating the already massive amount of tables from one another were shimmering line of marble. Kageyama knelt down to look at his reflection.

"I sure am incredible today...Why are these so special though. Besides my reflection."

"Well that's where Shebi has the snakes come out."

Both the boys continued being enamored with the ground they didn't fully understand. When they looked back to Shebi there was an abnormally sized pot on the workspace infront of her filled with boiling water & multiple smaller ones with some boiling eggs. And all the pop & alcohol was already served and a crowd of roaring cheers followed.

"WHA- She got to so many people already? Did she even leave her own table!?" Yatsua was overwhelmed by how much happened in such a short burst of time.

"Ah. You missed them."

"...Them?"

"Believe it or not Shebi herself is no faster than a professional runner right now. Even if you turned away that's not fast enough to serve out to drinks to every table in this place. For our restaurant that's around 250 down here then the upstairs section takes up an extra 200."

"HUH!? OVER 400!"

Kyo pointed back over to her superior as they were talking Shebi had finished adding the other ingredients for the first massive pot of ramen. But already behind her were several plates of sushi & sashimi.

"SHE DID IT AGAIN!"

"Shh. Now watch."

"Queen..." The fast working Sous Chef raises her foot above her head stretched out at a straight 180 angle. "...Giza!" Slamming down her food deep into the marble with ease the impact seemingly caused it wave round as if it had become the ocean.

The Snakes were here. The shining stone waves rose up from the ground becoming far more tube like in shape with a head at the front.

"A-A-Ahh! S-So...These are the snakes you were on about?"

Kyo nodded- a smile on her face. "Now pay close attention this is the final part."

Swiftly, piling up each plate of both sushi & sashimi Shebi had stuck them ontop of the newly arriving stone snakes and under her control she had them slide around the restaurant at otherwise dangerous speeds. But she was still in control, as much as they do seem independent, as long as they're connected to the ground she can maneuver them mentally.

It was like an express train but for food. "Amazing...she does this everyday?" Yatsua asked, his head locking onto the constantly moving stone reptiles.

Kyo unnervingly laughed at his question rubbing at the back of her own head, a bit embarrassed to say. "She only comes in when she wants money."

"...That's not how jobs work."

"For her it is. He'd never admit it but Kat-Ya tends to spoil her a lot."

A loud masculine sneeze came from the main kitchen. Shebi's snakes sank back to the ground while she separated noodles from the giant container into multiple smaller sized ones. "It's time for the home stretch now"

___

On the way back from getting more ingredients & resources. After following Katsoden's map. Hokori was stood in place extremely puzzled. "Hmm... Despite following the map...I'm lost... ...Hm!? Who's there!?"

Loud bellowing footsteps crept up towards him as he distanced himself slightly back. They were heavy steps. The silhouette peering through the dimly lit alley was massive.

"Oh. How lucky... ...I got to you-" The voice was cut off. And the figure was suddenly gone. Surprising the Bandana wearing boy greatly.

Until. "I really did didn't I?" He felt a widespread grip atop his own shoulder. "I really ended up finding you first? How lucky."

Hokori looked behind to face the man- A hulking man in a purple trench coat. And straw hat. "... ...Hi there! Do you mind moving you're kind of in my way?"

"Unfortunately for you, my friends and I are in the middle of a game. My boss believes you might end up evil. So I'm here to kill you and be the first to claim the head of the strongest in your team...Being you...Hm?"

The small boy circled around his much larger soon to be assailant. "Ah. You definitely train. You must be really strong then right? But I'm sorry I'm not a villain."

"As far as things go that is also correct. So I'm watching you..."

"Wha-... Wa-Watching?"

"I refuse to attack unless you genuinely do bad things. Smiler said to just attack and have fun but I'd rather wait and see for myself."

"Ah... ..." Having met this seemingly relaxed individual Hokori handed over one of the crates he had been wheeling back to Katsoden's restaurant. "Can you help with these then please?"

"...Sure."

"...So how did you get that tall anyway?"

"Milk."

Across the alleyway behind them was Dedede watching from afar. Dumbfounded by this encounter. "There's no way? A boy like that!? With Itaimo?" Clutching his shoulder he knelt down. "...Relax. I'm sure it's just a coincidence. If I reach the boy in time then absolutely nothing bad will happen. I'll beat the big guy then I can ask him what his goals are...I'm sure he's a good kid. I need to help him now."

The big guy, Itaimo suddenly stopped turning around to the exact location that Dedede was hiding from. This behaviour confusing Hokori. "Huh? Hey why'd you stop?"

His glare only intensified. "(...Found...Already?...The boss is right then...I need to work on my stealth.)" He raised a hand... "Lady Metal... Stop him please."

"(SHIT! She's in there to!?) He must have noticed me." He stepped out into the light with Hokori & Itaimo watching. "H-Hey now. Relax. I'm here. No need to call her out!"

"Hmph. Well that's good... Their are plenty of bounties on your head Sir Dan. "You're lucky you're good at heart. Ignoring the less likeable aspects."

"Erm." Hokori spoke up again to the much taller adults. "I really need to get back now... Can we leave please?"

"... Sure. The King can join us. Can't you Sir Dan?"

Aotori didn't say anything he just watched. A skinnier more female shaped arm stretched out of Itaimo's back several massive spikes were inbetween the frail looking fingers on that hand. They approached Hokori slowly with his back turned and walking away.

"OK OK! I'll go jeez." On the immediate command of his shouting the hand retracted back into the hat wearers bulky back. "Good dog."

"...What do you even want with the boy?..."

"Don't worry King... We won't kill him... Yet. We're only here to see whether he does good or bad... ...It's a game you see. Whoever wins gets paid by every person who lost. And at Kastoden's place we will finally know the answer."

"Katsoden's?" The robed man chuckled to himself grinning with a mildly puzzled look. "You'd risk taking me someplace where I get the advantage?"

"Perhaps..."

"... ...So if he's good then you'll just leave?"

"...I will...But my Lady & The Smiler? I can't tell you...They're more thorough when it comes to baring fruit a true personality."

"Tch. Dirty hunters."

"What you call dirty is just buisness."

____

An hour passes once again.

"Queen Giza!" One final snake erupted from the restaurant floor charging straight forward with the last plates of food and any drinks before sinking back down. Shebi decided to take the one plate of Curry to the table herself. It was just one girl sat alone tapping her foot impatiently. "(Hmm? What's her problem? Well whatever... She must really hate her organs if she wants to eat something this hot... Why's the old man even sell this stuff)"

Her friends had sat themselves down at a table. "Woah really! We missed all that?" Yatsua & Kageyama had just finished telling Shuri & Takaishi about Shebi's quirk and how fast she made it move.

"Yeah. It's funny Hokori doesn't even know they have such a strong quirk. But still is so friendly with her." Kageyama's statement confused the others.

"Wh...Why does that matter?"

"If she actually trusted him she'd have said...Fighting as a team would be hard if we can't cover our strengths and weaknesses.... ....But then again."

He turned to his peers giving them a sly smile with a punchable face. "Me & Hokori would be enough as it is. You guys are just deadweight for us. Ahahhahahahah!"

"So obnoxious."

Shebi's angered voice came from the final customers table. The plate of curry was smashed and spilled all over the floor.

It was loud enough to silence the whole establishment. Even the outside the outside ambience was practically non existent. "Oh no!...Not again!" Kyo tried to get as close to Shebi & the customer as possible.

The one who ordered the food poked her finger against the blonde haired girl's forhead aggressively. "Maybe you weren't paying attention then? Your cooking skill is non existent! You call this curry hot!? It's about as cold as you will be in a second! If you don't sort this out!"

"(THREATENING SHEBI!? DOES THAT GIRL WANT TO DIE!?)" Still sat over at the bar breathed through their teeth. "Well shit. Hopefully it doesn't end too badly."

"What's happening out here?" Katsoden stepped out from the kitchen. Burying a cleaver into the bar table next to him.

"Erm. Well your Sous Chef had her cooking insulted. I don't know who that girl is confronting her but..."

"Huh?...O- Oh no!... What's that girl thinking! Grah! Kyo! Stay far away from them and you stop engaging right now Shebi you damn brat! ... ...YOU HEAR ME!?"

She didn't hear a word Katsoden said she was annoyed greatly by her statement. At this moment in time she was only thinking how badly she could hurt the girl that mocked her.

This dark-red haired girl smirked with a lollipop stick poking from her mouth. She was far from done picking on this short tempered cook, staring her down in rage.

"My apologies. You must be the one who serves the food then? If this restaurant relies on a waiter to cook then no wonder this places crap is barely even palatable. Your leader should be ashamed to even live with that."

"You think I'm just a damn waitress huh!? ... ...Krrk! A burial in stone... ...Is what you want then!... RIGHT!?" Shebi took on the red head's taunt she had gone redder that the tomatoes she had lay across her working station.

"Shebi! Drop it already." Droned Katsoden desperately trying to get to Shebi's ears. "It's fine! What happened wasn't in your control, it never was! I don't care about what she's saying! Don't act rash!"

"..."

"..."

Neither girl said anything for a while. They just stared at each other with equally intimidating faces, ignoring the background noise. "GET LOST!" Shebi reacted first swinging round her right leg for a kick. But it missed they had jumped backwards to avoid it.

"Hm. It seems you're as bad as fighting as you are cooking? What was a slow flimsy kick like that supposed to do to someone like me?"

Ignoring the taunt Shebi shot out another kick faster than the previous though it was blocked this time.

"Tch. I guess you're not as fast as you thought!" Shebi immediately answered back with a gruesome spinning kick to her opponents face. 

 The kick was strong enough to send her flying into the bar. The resulting crash breaking multiple bottles on the shelves, & knocking Zen's drink out his hand. "Oi! Leave me out of this!"

"... ... ...Show your chef some respect idiot... ...("She's wearing that same black and white outfit as that sword guy that attacked back then? She's here for us I suppose...It doesn't matter anymore now though.)" Fixing back her long bangs, Shebi stylishly walked away back to her station. Leaving the other customers and more importantly her allies in awe.

"She's... Terrifyingly strong." Whispered Shuri looking at the aftermath from the fight.

However, in spite of the fact Shebi dared assume the fight was over. They got back up removing an emptied wine bottle from their mouth. Various glass shard from the bottles pittering across the ground like a violent storm of knives. "*Hic* Wh-what's yhat huuuuuuuuuuuh!? Respect did you say? Me showing a gorilla like you the strength given to me by my father!"

"...Are you drunk!? It was just one bottle... ...Besides I never asked about you showing your Quirk. Get it together dumbass."

"*Hic* I Kayrya Zuki, daughter of justice do not get drunk. Damn snake! Never! Never!"

"... ...Well what do you want me for."

"*Hic* W-Well you are one of those 1-S students I think. You're kind of blurry right now. I can barely tell~ You are ugly though I can tell that much..." The dark red haired girl raised both her arms. "I don't know if you saw my brother outside there. He got beat by your leader."

Shebi laughed at that proclaim. "Leader!? Kat-Ya? What's with all this formal bullshit!?"

"Kayryu and I, have similar abilities to our father."

"I could care less! Now apologise for what you said already. I won't tolerate disrespect to me. Even less so, to this restaurant as a whole."

Kayrya's hands began glowing a bright orange and made a bubbling noise. As she did this Shebi's breath became visible in the air. "What the? It's cold? ...!?!?" She looked back at Kayrya she was now glowing with orange colours and steaming. "(This looks bad...) Hey! All of you get the hell out of here! This bitch is gonna blow!"

All the customers in the restaurant began a crowded dash towards to entrance. However, Takaishi's hearing noticed a small flickering noise like fire come from under the doorway. "W-WAIT STOP DON'T OPEN THAT!" He yelled out to late the first person to reach opened the doors wide. And flooding in. Was a massive wall of flames.

"A-A backdraft!?"

"*Hic* Now now Snake. Did you forget? My stupid little brother's outside. He's burning things right now. So you see right? There's no escape. I've gained all the heat necessary and with my brother's fire outside I'll never run out."

~Kayrya Zuki. Quirk: Heat Steal. She can take away the heat from anything nearby and apply it to herself. She can then make small explosive bursts that serve as projectiles and can increase striking power. And obviously she's really hot.

"If I apprehend you, father will let me be one of his top guards at the prison." She charged at Shebi, an arm held low for a punch to the body. A tiny explosion triggered just behind her elbow as they threw a fist forward. Shebi, not expecting it to come so quick, was nailed directly in her stomach. Her skin sizzled and burned the second they touched.

"TITZZZZZZ! THAT BURNS!" Before Kayrya followed through too much. She had the marble below trap her feet. And backed off from the fist. After a short while the heat Kayrya absorbed melted the marble away.

"Childish games... Now then. Let me show you just how good I am at cooking."