#he’s like ooooh you’re my my my kind of woman

[laurearte]

Un couple biiiiien randonnée biiiien parc naturel

[twistiraki]

Alright so I’ve had this idea for awhile! What if Vil came up to reader and was like “I need you to model some underwear for me. Being as you’re the only woman here, I would like for you to model some lingerie.” (Sorry male Yuu :( ) How would some of the boys react to seeing the reader modeling underwear? (You can choose whoever) This doesn’t even have to be NSFW, but maybe a little suggestive?

OOOOH thank you soooo much for the ask!! This is my first ever ask!! I was soo Hyped that it took a bit longer then normal. You can always send ask! - Twisti🎀

‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗ TᗯIᔕTEᗪ ᗯOᑎᗪEᖇᒪᗩᑎᗪ Pairing Riddle x F!Reader, Jack x F!Reader, Malleus x F!Reader. (Separate) Warnings suggestive ‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗‗

As Vil walked down the halls of Night Raven College, he realized that he needed a model for his latest project: A line of lacy lingerie for the upcoming collection of a high brand. But the company also asked him for a female model he seemed fit for the brand. His keen eye for beauty and attention to detail made him the perfect candidate to capture the essence of the collection. Plus, with his charming personality and good looks, he had a way of making the models feel at ease and bringing out the best in them.

As Vil set out to find the perfect model for the lingerie line, he had a clear vision in mind. He needed someone who was not only beautiful but also confident and comfortable in their own skin. And after looking around the school, he knew exactly who he wanted to ask. As he passed by the courtyard, he saw Y/N sitting by herself, enjoying the sunshine.

Approaching her with confidence, Vil greeted her with a smile. "Hello, Y/N. I was hoping I could speak with you for a moment."

"Of course, Vil," Y/N replied with a smile of her own.

"I'm in need of a model for the upcoming lingerie collection photoshoot, and I believe you would be the perfect fit," Vil explained.

Y/N felt her cheeks flush as Vil asked her to model lingerie for a photoshoot. She was flattered, but also incredibly shy. "I don't know, Vil. I'm not really comfortable with that kind of thing," she murmured, biting her lip nervously.

Vil smiled reassuringly at her. "You have nothing to worry about. You have a natural grace and elegance that will complement the lingerie perfectly."

Y/N still looked hesitant, so Vil continued, "Plus, the photos we take will be used as prototypes of the magazine for the company. Your contribution will be invaluable."

The thought of her photos being used as prototypes for a company made Y/N feel a little more confident. She looked up at Vil, her expression uncertain.

"I don't know if I can do this," she said.

"Of course you can," Vil said, his voice filled with confidence. "You have nothing to worry about. Just be yourself, and I'll take care of the rest."

Y/N looked at Vil, and she could see the confidence he had in his choice. Slowly, she nodded her head.

"Okay, I'll do it," she said, feeling a little more certain.

Vil smiled, pleased with her decision. "Wonderful. I knew you'd make the right choice," he said, giving her shoulder a gentle squeeze.

As they made their way to the photoshoot location, Vil continued to reassure Y/N, offering tips on how to pose and telling her how great she looked in the lingerie. His confidence was contagious, and soon Y/N found herself feeling more comfortable in front of the camera.

"Okay, Y/N, let's start with this one," Vil instructed as he handed her a colorful lace lingerie set. "Stand over there and give me a fierce pose."

Y/N did as she was told, striking a confident pose as Vil snapped away with his camera.

"Perfect," Vil praised. "Now, let's try this one."

As the photoshoot continued, Y/N felt more and more comfortable in front of the camera. Vil's directions were clear and concise, and she could tell that he knew exactly what he wanted.

"You are doing a great job, Y/N," Vil said with a smile. "You really brought the clothing to life."

Y/N couldn't help but feel proud of herself. She had never modeled before, but Vil had made her feel like a natural.

"Thank you, Vil," she said gratefully. "That was a lot of fun."

Vil smiled. "It is my pleasure, Y/N. You have a natural talent for modeling.”

As Vil was taking a few more shots of Y/N, the door suddenly opened and Riddle walked in, holding a pile of books. He froze on the spot as he saw Y/N in a revealing piece, her cheeks turning pink from the sudden interruption.

"U-um, sorry to interrupt!" Riddle stuttered, averting his gaze. "I didn't know there was a photoshoot going on here."

As Riddle stood there, his face turning as red as his hair, Vil quickly turned to him and said, "Riddle, what are you doing here? This is a private photoshoot, you need to leave at once." Riddle was so embarrassed that he quickly turned to leave, but before Riddle could make his escape, Y/n spoke up. "It's okay, Riddle. You can stay if you want," she said, smiling warmly at him.

Vil raised an eyebrow in surprise at Y/n's words, but he quickly regained his composure. "Very well, Riddle. But if you're going to stay, you can help me with the lighting," Vil said, gesturing towards the lights set up around the room.

Riddle hesitated for a moment before nodding and approaching the lights. As he helped Vil adjust them, Y/n continued posing in various pieces. Riddle couldn't help but steal glances at her, his face still slightly red.

As the photoshoot was back on in full force, Vil's phone suddenly rang. Vil let out a sigh of annoyance as he checked the caller ID, "I have to take this," he said to Y/n and Riddle.

As Vil excused himself to take a phone call, Y/N and Riddle were left alone in the room. Y/N decided to break the awkward silence, "So, Riddle, what do you think of the lingerie? Do I look good in them?"

Riddle's face immediately turned red as he stuttered, "Y-yes, you look great! I mean, the clothing looks great on you."

Y/N smiled and walked towards Riddle, "You know, I always thought you were really cute, even with that stern expression of yours."

Riddle's eyes widened in surprise, "Wha-what are you saying, Y/N?!"

Y/N giggled, "Oh, come on, Riddle. Don't act so innocent. I've seen the way you look at me sometimes. Don't you think we could have a little fun while Vil's gone?"

Riddle's face turned even redder as he stumbled over his words, "I-I don't know, Y/N. We shouldn't do anything like that.”

Y/N pouted and leaned closer to Riddle, "Oh, come on. Live a little, Riddle. Don't you want to see what it's like to let loose for once?"

She walked over to Riddle and playfully tugged on his bowtie, loosening it just a little. Riddle's face turned red again as he stammered out a protest, "Y-Y/N, what are you doing? You shouldn't mess with my clothes like that! There must be a rule for messing with clothes!"

But Y/N just giggled and leaned in close to Riddle, "Oh, come on, Riddle.”

Riddle gulped nervously, but before he could respond, Vil walked back into the room, ending the flirtatious moment. However, Y/N couldn't help but notice the way Riddle's eyes lingered on her as he quickly looked away.

As Vil was in the middle of directing Y/n for the photo shoot, the door to the room suddenly opened. Vil turned his head to see who had interrupted, and he saw Jack standing there frozen in shock.

Jack tried his best to compose himself. Vil cleared his throat and spoke up, "Is there something you need, Jack?"

Jack didn't respond immediately, but he eventually found his voice. "No, nothing important."I heard some noise and came to check it out, but I didn't know she was in the middle of a photoshoot," Jack replied, his eyes fixed on Y/N, who was posing for the camera.

Vil looked at Jack, then at Y/N, who had noticed Jack's presence and was trying to hold back a laugh at the sight of his wagging tail.

Vil chuckled to himself, "Looks like you’ve got an admirer Y/n." Jack blushed and looked away, feeling a bit embarrassed.

Y/n noticed Jack's discomfort and decided to break the tension. "Hey Jack, would you mind helping us out here? We could use an extra hand with the lighting," you said with a friendly smile.

Despite his initial reluctance, Jack eventually agreed to help out.

When the shoot continued, Vil's phone rang. He excused himself, taking his phone out of his pocket.

"I have to take this call, but I'll be back soon," Vil said, hurrying out of the room.

Y/N continued to pose, trying out different positions and angles. But then Jack broke the silence.

"Uh, sorry, I didn't mean to interrupt you," Jack said, trying to apologize.

"It's okay, Jack. You can stay and watch if you want," Y/N teased, smirking at the wolf boy.

Jack's ears perked up, despite his efforts to hide his excitement.

"I-I'm not here to watch,I just wanted to help" Jack stammered, trying to act cool.

Y/N giggled at Jack's reaction. "Relax, I'm just joking. But you're welcome to stay and keep me company while Vil is gone."

Jack hesitated for a moment before nodding, taking a seat nearby. As Y/N posed for the camera, she noticed Jack lingering on the edge of his seat. She gave him a sly smile, knowing he was feeling a little flustered.

"Jack, come over here," she said in a sultry tone. "I could use a little help adjusting this bra. Do you think you're up for the job?"

Jack's face turned a shade of red as he walked over to her. "I-I'll do what I can," he stammered.

Y/N chuckled, noticing the wolf tail wagging behind him. "Don't be ashamed of your feelings, Jack. It's not every day you get to see a woman in lingerie, is it?"

Jack looked away, his stoic demeanor returning. "I'm not ashamed. It's just... unprofessional," he muttered.

Y/N rolled her eyes playfully. "Lighten up, Jack. It's just a little fun. Vil won't be gone for long. "So... you like what you see?""

Jack's face turned even redder, his gaze flickering nervously to the ground. "I-I didn't say that," he protested weakly.

Y/N just laughed, enjoying the way she could fluster him so easily. "Relax, Jack. It's just a compliment. Nothing to be ashamed of."

"You know, Jack," she said with a playful smirk, "if you ever need help controlling that tail of yours, I'm always here to lend a hand."

Jack's face turned bright red as he tried to maintain his demeanor. "I-I don't know what you're talking about," he muttered, his tail wagging uncontrollably behind him.

Y/n laughed, enjoying the effect she had on him. "Sure you don't," she said teasingly, giving him a wink before walking away.

By the time Vil returned, Y/N was practically glowing with amusement, and Jack was a nervous wreck. Despite his stoic exterior, it was clear he had been thoroughly flustered by the experience.

Vil noticed the easy rapport between Y/N and Jack, a hint of a smile on his face.

"Sorry about that, I had to take care of some business. Did I miss anything?" Vil asked, taking his camera out once again.

"Just some modeling practice with my new assistant," Y/N said, winking at Jack.

Jack blushed again, but Vil just chuckled. "Well, let's get back to work. We still have a few more outfits to try out."

As Vil directed Y/N to pose ,Malleus entered the room, his eyes widened with fascination as he observed the show before him. "What is this about?" he asked, his curiosity piqued.

Vil's expression darkened as Malleus entered the room. He quickly composed himself and approached the dragon. "Malleus, this is a private photoshoot. I must ask you to leave," Vil said firmly, but politely.

Malleus, however, seemed completely unaware of the situation. "Photoshoot? I am not familiar with that term," he replied, tilting his head in curiosity.

Vil sighed, slightly exasperated. "It's a session where we take pictures to showcase the lingerie. It's not something that should be interrupted."

Malleus nodded, still not fully understanding. "I apologize for my ignorance. But may I watch? I am fascinated by this concept."

Vil hesitated, unsure of what to do. But Y/n spoke up, breaking the awkward silence. "It's okay, Vil. He can stay and watch. I don't mind," she said with a smile.

Vil glanced at Y/n and then back at Malleus, still hesitant. "Alright, but please don't get in the way or make any comments that could make Y/n feel uncomfortable," he said sternly.

Malleus nodded eagerly, his eyes shining with excitement as he watched Y/n pose in the clothing. Vil couldn't help but feel a little annoyed at Malleus's lack of understanding.

Y/n giggled softly as Malleus stared at the camera with confusion. "It's called a photoshoot, Malleus," she explained, placing a gentle hand on his arm. "It's a way for us humans to capture moments in time, like this one."

Y/n led Malleus to a nearby seat where he could watch the rest of the shoot. "Why don't you sit here and watch?" she suggested. "I promise, it's really interesting. Plus, you get to see all the different pieces I'll be modeling."

Malleus smiled "Very well," he said, settling into the seat and watching as Y/n posed for the camera.

As the photoshoot continued, Vil's phone rang, and he stepped out of the room to take the call. Y/n was left alone with Malleus.

"So, Malleus," she said, walking closer to him. "What do you think of the shoot so far?"

He looked at her with a mixture of curiosity and fascination. "I must admit, I am quite intrigued by this human custom," he replied sly.

Malleus stood up from the chair and walked closer to Y/n, his voice low and deep as he spoke. "You know, Y/n, I never expected to find myself enjoying a human photoshoot. But seeing you in those pieces, it's quite fascinating."

Y/n couldn't help but blush at the compliment, feeling her heart race in her chest. "Oh, really? I'm glad to hear that, Malleus."

He chuckled softly, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "I must admit, it's not just the photoshoot that's caught my attention. You are quite lovely, Y/n. Perhaps you could teach me something more next time?"

Y/n couldn't believe what she was hearing. "Is there anything else you'd like to know about modeling, Malleus?" Y/n asked with a playful smile.

Malleus shook his head, his eyes still locked on her. "No, I believe I have learned everything I need to know about, especially with you as my guide," he replied, his voice low and seductive.

Y/n giggled, feeling her cheeks flush at his words. "Oh, is that so? Well, I could always teach you other things," she teased, winking at him.

Malleus stepped closer, his gaze intense. "I would like that very much," he said, his voice filled with longing.

Y/n's heart skipped a beat as he reached out to brush a strand of hair behind her ear. "You're so beautiful, Y/n," he whispered, his breath hot against her skin.

She couldn't help but feel a shiver run down her spine as his fingers trailed along her cheek. "And you're so charming, Malleus," she replied, her eyes sparkling with desire.

As they leaned in closer, their faces just inches apart, Vil's voice interrupted the moment. "Sorry to interrupt, but I had to take this call," he said, holding up his phone.

Malleus and Y/n stepped back, both feeling a pang of disappointment at the interruption. "We should continue this later," Malleus said, his tone promising.

Y/n smiled, feeling her heart flutter. "I can't wait," she replied, her voice filled with excitement.

[aritamargarita]

ATTITUDE || 001

IT'S YOUR FIRST introduction to the World Wrestling Federation and you’re surprised at the fan reaction. It makes you giddy, but now people (including those in the back) are going to be expecting much of you. Your two best friends, Torrie Wilson and Stacy Keibler, return back to the hotel room and you guys chat before heading to sleep.

The adrenaline rush is still coursing through your veins as Shane McMahon helps you back over the barricade. You had just shown up to interfere in a match between Matt Hardy and the Big Show.

Shane told you that you needed to focus your attention on the redhead, Lita, and deal with the other, Trish Stratus, if necessary.

At one point in the match, Lita yanks Trish off of the apron and her shirt went along with it. Yikes.

Shane figured that this was a wonderful opportunity for you to get in there. He lightly pushes you forward and that was your cue to get the hell in there.

Lita was so busy with trying to beat on Trish that she hadn’t even noticed you jumped over the barricade. You can see her scream at Trish to “get up” as you approach. Her back is toward you. Perfect!

At first, the crowd was confused, but once realizing that you weren’t a fan, they holler and cheers at your appearance, quickly recognizing you from WCW.

“Is that—my god!” JR yells. “That’s [Name], from WCW!”

The crowd seems to get even louder when you yank Lita‘s shoulder and turn her toward you to smash your forearm right in her face.

Trish is looking on in awe, covering herself and scooting backward from the scene. Whoever you were, you kind of saved her?!

“She’s not taking too kindly to Lita right now!” Paul exclaims with laughter in his voice. “Fight, fight, fight!”

Lita doesn’t even get a chance to fight back, you’re moving way too fast.

It’s a little strange to hear the crowd so excited, but you try not to let it distract you as much.

Before you had gotten out of there, you made sure to give Lita a final parting gift. A swift DDT. You throw your arm around her neck and sweep your leg back, before pulling both of you down to the floor. Lita’s head slams into the concrete and you hop up from your spot.

The crowd gives a resound “ooooh” in response. If your DDT was in a box, it’d be wrapped with the prettiest bow anyone has ever seen.

Meanwhile, Trish wants to be thankful to you, this stranger that beat the hell out of Lita. Yet, she’s not sure if she should be feeling so grateful.

Covering herself with her coat, she slowly starts to make her way to the other side of the ring. She doesn’t want any problems with you!

And luckily for Trish, you didn’t have enough time to handle her, so you’ll save it for next show. Just disrupting the match equilibrium is enough.

No one was expecting you at all. You’re following behind the footsteps of people like Lance Storm, Hugh Morrus, and Booker T…..you are officially the fourth star to appear from WCW.

These random occurrences were no coincidence. To the WWF, it just meant man or woman, anyone could get it at any time.

Let it be known that the forbidden door is completely blown off its hinges. There was no longer any boundaries.

You had quickly made your way out before security could retrieve you and Shane had been waiting for you by the barricade. You two made a swift exit, with him encouragingly patting your side as he holds onto you.

Right now, he’s still guiding you out to the limousine with a camera trailing behind you two. The crowd cheers don’t end despite you two getting the hell out of there. You can still hear the noise from the arena.

“Great job, [Name]!” He exclaims. “Bet my father wasn’t expecting that! Now both divisions have something to look out for!” Shane quickly opens the door for you. “Get in!”

You quickly hop into the limo, shuffling in. Shane follows you and closes the door afterwards.

And just like that, it was the start of your WWF journey. You had always wondered if it’ll be like WCW. The backstage environment was sure to be different than this ones.

You suppose there was only one way to find out.

You’re splayed out in the seat of the limo, and though Shane had squished in there with you, he finds it to be a better idea to go sit across from you.

“I haven’t heard people cheer like that for a woman in years!” A but of an exaggeration, but it still holds true. People made a lot of noise for you.

Your attention is on the ceiling. It still hasn’t set in that the crowd might actually like you. You’re more focused on the fact that you’re actually here in the WWF.

You wouldn’t have ever guessed it. WCW was the place you wanted to be when you started. Years before you debuted, all you did was practice.

Really. Practice, practice, practice. Until you couldn’t move anymore. Your old mentor, Madusa, ensured that you were conditioned enough to be in the ring.

She kept you there for a while. You’d jokingly say that she was holding you hostage, but it ended up being for your benefit. You learned that they would pull the women from the school too early.

Madusa did not want them to make that mistake. She made sure you knew what you were doing before you could go anywhere!

You have to admit though, the training at the power-plant facility wasn’t the best. There were other woman who didn’t exactly know what they were doing. It was easy for them to mess up.

And it’s actually where you met your two close friends, Stacy and Torrie. You were nervous, they were nervous, it’s only inevitable you three would mutter things to one another.

You were more than happy to give them tips on what you knew. From you, they were more than happy to learn. Eventually it grew from only talking in the school to completely hanging out with each other.

It was really nice to finally make some genuine friends.

Shane takes you out of your daydream by holding out a bottle of champagne. “A performance like that deserves some reward! Want some?”

“No, I’m okay.” You shake your head. “But hey, I’m just glad I could get in there!”

Shane thinks you’re downplaying yourself. “Seriously, that was amazing.” He says. “I couldn’t believe it. WWF should know by now there’s one hell of a storm brewing.”

You didn’t realize it at first, but maybe you like this so called “invasion” more than you thought you would.

“You mind if we head to Times Square? I’m due to speak WWF New York.”

Your reply is sluggish. “Yeah, yeah, sure. What is that?”

“It’s mainly a restaurant, but we do some live events there too.” He summarized. 

That quickly reminds you of the WCW Grill in Vegas. You’ve been there many times, whether it to be signing things or just hanging out with other coworkers. 

You lean up from your seat. “WCW had something like that in Vegas! They closed last year though. Bummer, I kinda liked their food. And I think I had a menu item once!”

“Really? Well, I’m sure the WWF’s will be better.” Shane pauses for a second. “I mean, for once. Besides, we’ll be bigger and better. Then you can really get your name on the menu.”

You let out a chuckle. He slipped up a little. “Right.”

”I’m gonna need you for Smackdown too.” Shane says. “You don’t have to worry that much about transportation since we’re staying here for it.”

Oh joy! Seriously! No worrying about catching a flight tonight, that’s less stress on your shoulders. 

“Then I’ll be there.” It’s not like you wouldn’t be anyway.

”While you’re at it, mind asking Torrie if she could attend as well?” He requests you.  “I’ve got a great idea for the both of you.”

A great idea, he says. Not like you’ve heard that before. “Color me intrigued, what’s the plan?” 

“I want you ladies to go undercover in the WWF. Somehow, someway. Get as much information as you can from anyone you run into.” He explains. “If anything goes wrong, WCW will protect you. You’ve got my word on that.”

“I believe you. But how should I do that? Just waltz up in there and proclaim I’m one of them now? I just attacked Lita!” You throw your arms out for extra emphasis.

“Relax. Just act like you were misguided. And when you learned that I wasn’t in the right, you want to change your ways. If I were you, I’d apologize to Lita first.”

It was only a six minute drive from MSG to WWF New York. When the limo pulls up, you can hear the sound of the crowd on the outside of it.

The only thing you could do was nod at Shane. It’s go-time.

Leaning up from your spot, you take a second to fix yourself up, fixing your shirt and adjusting your hair so that it’s presentable. Wouldn’t want people to get the wrong idea…

Rumors still can circulate, even if you were seen in the ring earlier! The last thing you wanted was for dirt sheets to grasp at straws, with your boss of all people.

Shane gets out first, then takes a second to open the door. He then pulls it open and you are greeted with the crowd on both sides of the sidewalk.

When they turn their heads to see who else was in the vehicle, they cheer over at you. All you can really do is wave with a smile.

Do they really know who you are?

Photographers are at the ready, their bright white lights flashing at you. It makes you squint every time a camera would go off. You just hoped those photos won’t come out bad.

Shane waits for you, offering his arm for you to take while you get out of the car. You happily take it and he ushers you to go inside.

It’s like walking the red carpet, albeit shorter and quicker. You two go in, and you try to look at what they’ve got on display as you walk.

Lots and lots of action figures. You can only look over there for a few seconds, but you do catch a Lita figure on one of the holders.

There’s a lot of others, but you’re not quite sure who they are. Stone Cold Steve Austin? Triple H? Edge? None of those people ring a bell.

As you two approach the steps, there’s only one thing pops into your mind.

…You can’t believe that this place has two floors! So far, it was beating that WCW Grill by a long shot. Upstairs was for merchandise, and as you two go down you assume that the restaurant was around here.

You’re greeted by another large crowd of people and the both of you make your way over toward the stage.

The camera nearby moves over to the both of you.

Shane lets go of your arm and goes to grab a mic from a stagehand. You wait for him by the center of the stage.

Before he says anything, he reaches down toward the crowd to give them high fives. Shane comes back toward you.

“Surprise,” He says. “Well obviously, I’m not Perry Saturn, and she’s not Terri Runnels. But dad, I know you can hear me. It’s your son Shane, how’re you doing?”

The crowd cheers his name and you keep the smile on your face. This place was WWF New York, but before anyone knew it, it could easily become WCW New York.

“You know, the one that owns WCW. The very organization that has you a little heated under the collar. Because WCW continues to infiltrate your WWF.” Shane motions over toward you.

“[Name] made an example out of two women on your roster, and believe me, that won’t be the end of it.”

You nod your head. You’re eager to take these women down, one at a time. You definitely need to make a mental checklist.

Shane continues on. “You see dad, that is done out of necessity. Because in order to build a brand like WCW, we need television exposure. But I’ve gotta give you credit on this because I didn’t think it was possible, through all of your connections you have been able to block WCW from airing on any television network period.”

When he pauses again for a split second, the crowd cheers him.

“Here’s how it’s gonna go down.” He says. “I may not be able to compete with your checkbook but I can compete with your brains. Since you have prevented WCW from airing on any network, it’s now time for WCW to invade the WWF.”

You clap your hands toward him, then try to signal for the crowd to make some noise. They do and you smile. “Thank you!” Although your words were drowned out by the crowd.

“One of the people to lead the charge in one division stands here next to me,” Shane turns to you. “I reckon that she’ll become the next Women’s Champion in no time..”

You hope so. That’s a big step in your career. You were one year too late in getting the WCW Women’s Championship, despite Madusa’s efforts to revive it.

To your surprise, Shane holds out the mic toward you. He must’ve expected you to say something.

You try not to look like a deer in headlights as you take the mic and speak up.

“All I want is to lead WCW to victory. Whatever it takes, I will do…so let this be a warning to the entire women’s division. What I did to Lita was a demonstration of what’s to come. Trust me when I say that no one can stop me, but feel free to try if you want to…that is if you don’t want to end your career early!”

Shane laughs at your words. Hopefully the women (and men if they so dared,) would take heed. You pass the mic back to him.

“Oh, but that’s not all,” He points a finger up. “Might I introduce the second person to lead the charge, I’m sure that you and Stone Cold Steve Austin know this man very well. Ladies and Gentlemen, the WCW Champion, give it up for Booker T!”

As Booker makes his way from behind the curtain with a mic, he throws up his arms.

You watch as he reaches down to high five the fans. After of which, you reach out your own hand for him to shake. He grabs your hand and shakes firmly.

Shane mimics you, shaking his hand as well.

“Last night, at King of the Ring, it was just too easy, no, it was just too damn easy to take you outta the game!” Booker says.

There are mixed reactions at his words, with more cheering than booing from the antsy crowd.

“—And you call yourself the WWF Champion? I respect that, but ask me what I call you. I’m calling you out to let you know that if you want some you can come and get some, because I’m gonna be here at WWF New York, kicking it all night long!”

Shane brought back up his own mic. “I’d like to call this my dream team. These two are going to lead my brand new company to victory. Dad, this is a warning to you.  I’m just here to say that you’re on borrowed time..”

That’s all that was needed to say.

Shane was 100% sure that his father was watching. He’s also sure that he was boiling in anger. It’s exactly what he wanted.

The camera makes sure to get all three of you into frame. It’s up to you, as that’s left was for you and Booker T to apply pressure on the WWF..

After the segment at WWF New York, Shane fortunately allowed you to return to your hotel, but told you to watch the remainder of Raw when you could on the television.

You’re not exactly sure what his plan was, but now you’re curious to see. All you knew is that Booker T was asked to stay and they went off somewhere else while you just left through the back this time.

Just what in the world were they up to?

Shane was nice enough to send you your own limousine after bidding you a good night. Most of your energy had fizzed out and you could tell that his had too.

All you were excited for was to flop onto your bed. You don’t even move the comforters, all you do is just lie down for a few minutes. You’re sure you can move a little later.

There’s a lot of big changes going on in your life right now. You think the first biggest one was Shane McMahon’s entry to WCW and how quickly everyone went on his side.

It’s only fair. It’s the competition, hell, it’s the son OF the competition. Who specifically came in saying that he was against his father.

But what made him so trustworthy anyway? A lot of your coworkers were immediately on his side. You knew WCW was declining, but you never thought everyone else would stoop low enough to side with competition.

At least, not that quickly. The way things were going in the company, it made you feel like you had no choice but to trust him. So far, no betrayals, so everything is going okay so far.

You do get enough energy to at least turn on the television to Raw. You figure it’s only right to honor Shane’s request.

Immediately, you’re greeted by the sight of Shane McMahon heading down the ramp with a pep in his step. His father is not happy to see him at all.

Seeing the brand new WCW logo projected onto the ramp makes you feel…

Well, you don’t know how it makes you feel. You can safely say it makes you feel weird though.

You’re so used to it having an obnoxiously large watermark behind it, with the barely visible text of “World Championship Wrestling”.

Now it’s all small, jagged with the points on each letter. You have to tilt your head slightly in order to see it better.

Eventually, the camera moves away from the ramp and decided to follow Shane who was circling around the ring.

With you being able to hear the commentators properly, you wonder what they had to say about your prior run-in. You should’ve asked someone back at home to tape it!

“WCW does NOT belong in Madison Square Garden!” Paul is almost standing out of his seat by now with all of his screaming. 

“You may be right about that, but—“ Unfortunately, JR isn’t allowed to get one single word out thanks to his partner.

“You’re damn right I’m right! I grew up here, I know these things, I see these things!”

You roll your eyes. Shouldn’t Paul Heyman be worried about his own company instead of everyone else’s?

Oh, wait…

You chuckle to yourself. Thank god no one could hear your thoughts or that you were backstage. That wouldn’t have been good.

Vince is beckoning Shane into the ring, but unbeknownst to him, Booker had hopped right up into the ring, ripping his jacket off in the process.

It’s so over for him! You can’t help but smile. You watch as Booker lays in punches onto him, causing him to stagger backwards.

Booker takes advantage of this and runs toward the ropes, bounces off of them, then lifting one of his legs to give him a scissor kick.

Just to add salt in the wound, he hits a spinaroonie to get off the canvas.

How amazing is this?! You can see the entire WWF locker room run down the ramp but Shane and Booker are way too fast, making their exit.

This obviously must’ve been what Shane wanted you to see. Maybe this means that the ball is back in your court now.

You wonder how you can upstage Booker this time. It’ll definitely be hard since he literally knocked the hell out of the literal CEO of the WWF! Vince McMahon!!

Although, Shane offhandedly mentioned he has a sister who also happens to be in the business. You could always find something to do with her if he allows it.

Are you still buzzing from earlier? You had thought your energy was all gone, but it seemed like there was still bits of adrenaline in your veins.

You had only a few seconds to make your appearance count and from what you can think back on, you did a pretty damn good job.

The sound of the door unlocking makes you snap your head to your right.

“Helloooo!” Torrie sings from the doorway. “[Naaame], are you here? I’ve got Stacy with meee!”

Ah yes, your unofficial roommate for this trip. Torrie Wilson. And Stacy, who insisted that she room with you guys this time.

You think she’s just scared of being alone, which is understandable. But there was no need for her to try and sneak into your bed when she could use the pull out couch!

“I saw you on TV,” Stacy exclaims. “You were great! You really kicked….what’s her name? Ah, who cares?! The crowd was really loud too!”

“Yeah.” Is all you can really say to that. And then you fall back onto your bed, turning away from them and putting your head onto the cold pillow.

The both of them share a look, but Torrie’s the first to question you. She takes a seat next to you on the bed. “What’s your problem tonight? I’m surprised you haven’t called us on that dying Nokia you’ve got. Normally you’d be the one to drag us out after a show.”

Torrie teasing you about your phone was nothing new, but you still take offense anyway!

“I’m holding onto it!” Your words are muffled. “My 1999 phone is getting me places, okay?!”

Stacy takes a seat on the opposite side of you. “Aren’t they making a new one in like November?”

“Are they?” You turn your head so that they can hear you better. “I hope they have other colors. But honestly, I’m tired. Kinda.”

“Kind of?” Stacy repeated. “How much sleep did you get last night?”

You hold up five fingers.  “Five, so just enough to me. I had a flight to catch to get here, so five was really pushing it. I can’t really tell if this schedule’s gonna be worse than our old one.”

“Oh, you poor thing!” Torrie exclaimed, rubbing her hand on your back. “You’re right, but with Shane McMahon being our boss, I’ve gotten more sleep than I would normally! But that’s pretty bad to say, huh?”

“Yes,” You mumble. “Yes it is.” She just haaad to rub it in your face.

“Listen, I don’t think we have to be at the next show—“  You quickly interrupt Torrie. “About that, Shane wanted me to ask you to be at Smackdown. He didn’t say anything about Stacy this time.”

It makes Stacy cheer. “Yay! I get to relax aallll day tomorrow. You know what? [Name], I saw this really cute top at Delia’s earlier today. Now I can go back and buy it for you!”

“Was it that crop top with all those safety pins on the side?” Torrie turns over to Stacy. “If it was, that one totally screamed [Name].”

”YES!” She exclaimed. “That’s exactly the one I’m talking about!”

”From the sound of it, it sounds like I’m gonna have to have a lot of trust in that top.” You say. “And when did you guys go shopping??”

”Earlier. See, they said they needed us.” Torrie removes her hand from your back. “Then I guess they changed their minds since they had you?” It’s the only logical explanation she comes up with.

Whatever, it’s really no big deal. ”Well, you’re gonna be needed tomorrow anyway. And Stacy, I’m sure they’re gonna ask you to show up again. People went crazy! It would be bad if we just left you two in New York.” 

“I wouldn’t mind at all!” Stacy finally decides to take a seat too. “Times Square is beautiful! If I could, I’d totally live here.”

“I saw a rat walking down the street with pizza.” You comment. “And you’d stay here. Crazy, crazy, girl.” 

Stacy definitely rethinks it. “…Well, now that you say that, shopping only!”

“Hold on a second, it had pizza?!” Torrie exclaims.

It’s gonna be a long, long night, that’s for sure.

*painfully gives a thumbs up.* I SWEAR THIS WAS LONGER WHEN I LOOKED AT THIS OMG. but, yeah. Here we go again, please strap in for the ride

[NEXT CHAPTER]

[sillygoose067]

Charles's Angel(s)

Ch. 45

Charles Leclerc x Reader

Author's Note: Short and sweet (hopefully). Fluffy(ish), talk of influencers and influencer trips. Basically a whole chapter of y/n and Kika.

While “talking sense into you” certainly did not include caressing and making love to you in front of the full-length mirror in your bedroom, it did empower you to gain enough confidence to pack some of your more fashionable clothes for your impromptu trip.  

“Aren’t you going to miss me?” you pout at Charles. “It’s almost like you want me to leave.” You feign hurt, making your boyfriend frantically grasp for comforting words.  

“No, baby, it’s not like that– I just...” 

You laugh, placing a hand on his chest and pushing up on your toes to peck his cheek. “I’m just joking, Herve. Relax.”

…

Of course, Charles takes the liberty of dropping you off at the airport, where an overexcited, jittery Kika is waiting for you.  

"Okay, we need to have some ground rules.” 

“What do you meaaaan? I’m going on a trip to have fun. There’s no ‘rules’ in ‘fun’!” 

However, your boyfriend is super serious when he cuts you off. “No staying out too late, no getting too drunk without Francisca around, no taking things from strangers, no forgetting to video call me every night, and no not having fun,"  he finishes counting off his fingers.  

“Okay, dad” 

“One more snippy comment, and I’ll show you how brats get treated.”

 "Byeeee,"  you wave and blow a kiss to your boyfriend, who’s standing at the gate, arms grossed, shades on, and looking like the epitome of rich, golf dad. Or maybe Daddy. Definitely looking like a rich Daddy. But like, a rich, racecar driver kind. That you already bagged. You smile to yourself at that. 

…

The flight was alright, but you were in first-class with Kika, which meant you were asked to join her when she filmed the entire time; the food and reviews, drinks, shows, getting un-ready, and getting ready before landing. Obviously, you’d never done any of those things on a plane before, too worried about the looks you’d get from the other passengers. But having someone else do it with you definitely took away a lot of the anxiety, and you had lots of fun doing the skincare with your friend.  

“Wow. This is what people come to see when they visit Bali?” you ask, blown away by the beautiful sights.  

You’re led away by Kika until the two of you reach a top-tier hotel, where you’re checked into a single room. Ooooh, like sleepover, your inner child giggled.  

Then the next few days, you go through the motions, following Kika’s instructions and getting thoroughly surprised when an extra care package is sent to the hotel– for you. You read the little note inside.

“Dear Y/n, 

We are honored that you have decided to join us on this trip and would like to announce that we’d like you to become an ambassador for our humble company. An established young woman and talented artist like you is bound to make an impact on the world, and we’d simply like to be a part of the journey. 

Thank You,

[A company that you’d like to collaborate with’s name]”

As Kika reads the note over your shoulder, she embraces you out of sheer excitement. “Oh my god! They want you to be an ambassador?!?!? That’s such a cool opportunity! They only asked me to try on and recommend their products, but if they asked you to be an ambassador, that means they either really like the content you filmed with me or you're famous.” She looks at you suspiciously. “Are you famous?”

You let out a nervous laugh. “Uhm, a little bit? Do you… not know what I do for work?”

“Girl, you’re famous, and you didn’t tell me?!?”

“Okay, I think you’re getting a little ahead of yourself here… I’m not that famous. Just within the industry, but it’s not like the world knows me.”“Well, now they will,"  a cunning smile creeps onto her beautiful face. “Come, let me see what you brought. We need to dress you in the most stylish clothes possible. And then send pictures to your darling boyfriend to drool over.”

[chocotonez]

jake sim w/ an aloof girlfriend

a/n: to clarify the request was for “tsundere” but I’m very sorry as English is not my first language and it was not translating well becuz there were just so much content ?? ANYWAYANHWAH!! thanks to the one who requested such a scenario ❤️

cw/genre: swearing, babying of reader, jake being a flirt n tease, reader referred to with she/her pronouns and as “girlfriend,” fluff, and lmk if anything else should be tagged! (not proofread and wrote on phone while watching John Wick)

-he finds you so adorable it’s insane

-he understands your aggressive-awkwardness and accommodates to it (helping you get out of unwanted situations, making sure not to push any touchy subjects), but he can’t help it

-the way you pout and hide, or the way your eyes widen because of his flirty remarks, so cute!!

-he couldn’t help it he just wanted to kiss u all over ur pretty face <3

-hates when people call you “bitchy”, points out double standard bullshit where if you were a guy ur personality would seem desirable but “ooooh since my pretty sexy beautiful girlfriend is a woman suddenly she can’t be stoic mf”

-he’s your hype man! you shy up or get all nervy because of some social situations he takes the lead

-he understands your love language, and is very patient and tolerant and is amused by your antics

-“love you so much honey!!” and you’ll just go 😧😐 “l-love you too??”

-he never pushes you too far out of your boundaries, be as vulnerable as you need or want to bbg, he understands

-patient and takes time to understand your love languages and your sort of subtle indications of affection

-sometimes there are things you just can’t bring yourself to express because that’s just so…scary so you write it down or text it to him

-has collections/screenshots of any sorta cute messages you send?

-some of his faves are: “sorry I can be so aloof sometimes. I really do love you”, “thank you for always being so understanding of me,” and “I love you.”

-he really likes showing you off

-“hi guys my name is Jake and I love my girlfriend”

-has an account dedicated solely to you and you are always just so embarrassed to see it or whenever he brings it up because how do you love anyone that much?? Especially you??

-always so reassuring and kind but

-he just has to make you blush a little bit ;)

-“hey cutie, aren’t you looking adorable today?” or pinching your cheeks if you dart away from eye contact

-loves it if you’re shorter he thinks you’re literally just grumpy cat

-never messes around too much w your emotions tho >:3 just enough to see you blush teehee

-overall he likes seeing you smile, making you blush, coddling you, babying you, playing with your hair, giggling, poking your cheeks, god you’re so cute

-ok I need to stop before I start rambling.

-jk just a few more words

-I think he’s very aware of when you’re genuinely uncomfortable by any sort of affectionate actions

-so he always makes sure you’re safe and okay mentally/emotionally

-but he also just really like seeing you smile/giggle so sometimes he really lays down the compliments

-he does it all to get a reaction out of you, to see you blush or laugh, but not for his entertainment

-he just lives for those rare moments of your happiness <3

-OKAY now I’m done

[jade-kyo]

RvB 20th rewatch: s4

Getting closer to done with the Blood Gulch Chronicles!

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Love that Caboose knows Church so well he can predict what he’ll do next 😂

THE FIRST BOW CHICKA BOW WOW

Tex is so silly… she’s the only one aware of the horrors 🙂

Ooooh Andy… you were truly something

“And you’re the only one who saw it… just like signs of Donuts heterosexuality!” Absolutely one of my favorite jokes in the whole show holy shit

“Well Church you’re kind of a long way from hero” I am in agony

Watching Donut and Simmons fight over the ghost in the background has me cackling

DONUT SCREAM LIKE A WOMAN

“You know if I killed a ghost would it come back as a ghost of a ghost” and Church was not about to test that theory 😂

Fun fact I just found out from the s3 commentary: crouchasourus, the name Andy suggests for the alien, was a reference to an email they received from a fan suggesting a name for the “dinosaur” (the fan didn’t know it was an alien)

“And my bullshit meter agrees” Sheila you will always be famous to me

Ah yes Simmons first breakdown

Andy

I respect Tex being horny on main

“We’re both just a couple of lovers” “that sounded kinda gay dude” yet another heavily quoted line for me

Love Church trying to have a genuine moment with Tucker and just giving up

Nah bro Grif straight telling Simmons to talk to him more aggressively I’m losing it

Tucker being all cowardly boy doesn’t know he’s gonna be the best of them, he doesn’t know that he’s gonna be leader, he doesn’t know he’s gonna be a hero. Crying.

“A threesome with cheerleaders” another vocal stim right there

Ah yes Grif and his love for Simmons hole

God Church is such a fucking dork. He just like me fr.

NAH I NEVER NOTICED SARGE RAG DOLLING IN THE BACKGROUND AGJAJSGDJD

And Donut becomes Church’s favorite red

“I think you might be projecting” man even Leonard “most repressed man alive” Church knew Simmons was gay

LOVE Church and Sheila just fucking with Simmons

“Or it’s a key all the time and when you stick it in people it unlocks their death” Caboose my beloved

“Is he republican?” Caboose really coming in here with the best political joke in the series

“Could’ve just thrown it on the floor and cut out the middle man” again a very quoted line for me

“Officer hot pants” Simmons says that like he’s into it

“I am allergic to things I don’t want to do” me too Caboose

Preggers

“I do not want to catch pregnancy”

Grif genuinely trying to cheer up Sarge is weirdly sweet 😂

GET CRUSHED DONUT

Ahhh Blood Gulch is so silly! They’re doomed 🙂 also I was half asleep towards the end of the season so if my notes seem less coherent that’s why 😂

[wqintraining]

NEW X-MEN: THE ANIMATED SERIES: SEASON 3, EPISODE 11

We open at a political rally in Washington Square Park, which has drawn a massive crowd. The people in the crowd are volatile, and holding anti-Mutant signs. The press are also here, and a stage is set up. 

The microphone on the stage is tapped to test it as a man begins speaking, thanking everyone for coming, and asks them to please settle down. It’s revealed that he’s a briefly seen figure from earlier in the series: Graydon Creed. 

Creed thanks everyone for coming, and says that while he understands these people’s anger completely, they must be civil. They’re not animals - not like Mutants. Graydon speaks about the rising Mutant threat. Attacks on Paris, riots at the school that’s supposed to keep these freaks contained, why, he’s even heard from some friends in Washington that multiple government bases have been destroyed by Mutants over the last several months!

And yet, of the hundreds of bills moving through state legislatures to curtail these threats to all hard-working humans, those same friends in Washington are unwilling to take action nationally. And the good people of America deserve better. They deserve someone who will take action!

As he talks, men in suits pass out yellow armbands with “FOH” written on them to the crowd. 

GRAYDON: “For the past two years, I have proudly served as a Represenative for the state of New York. But no matter how great the odds may be against me, I can not sit back and tolerate this political disgrace any longer.” 

A hologram appears behind Graydon of his “FOH” logo. 

GRAYDON: “Ladies and gentleman, it is my honor to abandon the Republican party, and to welcome you all to the only political faction that can guaruntee mankind’s future. One that will find a solution to the Mutant problem once and for all! I proudly announced my candidacy for President of the these United States, and welcome you all…” BEAT. “To the Friends of Humanity!”

The crowd all eagerly slip on their armbands and cheer Graydon’s name. Graydon happily soaks up the worship. 

In a bakery, a red-headed woman in a casual yellow dress stands in line, cake in hand. As she nears the front of the line, she’s approached by a smug Pietro. 

PIETRO: “That doesn’t look too appetizing.” 

WOMAN, acting confused and annoyed: “Huh?” 

PIETRO: “That cake is from the fridge. How long ago do you think that was made?” 

WOMAN: “Do you normally go up to women and insult their confectionery purchases?” 

PIETRO: “Only when they’re as stunning and deserving of better as you.” 

WOMAN: “Ooooh, I see. You think you’re some kind of smooth talker. Some rich guy who thinks he can sweep me off my poor feet? I know your type.” 

PIETRO: “I’m sure you do. Interested?” 

The woman pushes Pietro back, getting out of line. 

WOMAN: “I have less than zero interest in getting with some self-absorbed pretty boy who thinks the world of himself. I prefer my men…down to Earth.” 

PIETRO, shrugging: “Just as well. I’m married. My wife would kill me if she saw this.” 

WOMAN, smirking: “Oh…I don’t know about that.” 

Pietro smirks back and the two kiss. The people behind the counter, as well as those in line, are a little befuddled. 

PIETRO: “I’ve missed you, Crystal.” 

A campaign ad for Graydon plays on a TV, narrated by him. It discusses how Mutants are not only the greatest threat to America, but the world, and no matter what differences they hold, all humans must stand together against them (he says over a clip of conventionally attractive non-white and queer people wearing FOH armbands). He mentions how he is the son of two of the most evil Mutants of all, Sabretooth and Mystique, which is why he knows how monstrous these creatures are by nature better than anyone. But it’s also why he knows how to fight them. And that’s what he’ll do as the next president of the United States. 

GRAYDON: “I’m Graydon Creed, and I approve this message.”

The tv in the headmasters’ office is turned off. 

SCOTT: “I liked him better when he was just trying to kill me with a spear.” 

Scott is seated at his desk, with Emma at his side, while Magneto stands on the other side of the desk, along with a well-dressed and well-presented thin black woman who looks just a little familiar. A binder sits on the desk. 

STEVIE HUNTER: “This starts airing in 48 hours. The notes there are what my people were able to scrounge up about his campaign.” 

EMMA, mockingly: “Your people?” 

STEVIE, not interested in banter: “Interns.” 

SCOTT, flipping through the notes, weirdly enthusiastic: “The kids did a good job organizing these.” 

STEVIE, genuine but amused: “I remembered how you liked your binders.” 

ERIK, in a huff: “Graydon timed this. He made the switch from would-be hunter to politician years ago. He’s only taking this step now because of our failures.” 

The metal in the room starts shaking, until Emma calm’s Erik’s mind. 

STEVIE: “Riiight, if you guys are gonna kill him, please do not make me an accessory.” 

SCOTT, standing up with a smile: “We’re not going to kill him.” Scott shakes her hand. “Thank you for this, Stevie.” 

STEVIE: “Anything for you guys. Never forget where you come from.” Looking straight at Emma for a little banter: “No matter how weird things get there.” 

Emma, trying to play it as cool as Stevie did, scoffs dismissively. 

ERIK, approaching Stevie: “I apologize for my outburst, Congresswoman Hunter. As always, you are a credit to your species.” 

STEVIE: “Thank you, Erik. I’ll remember you said that the next time you go crazy and try to kill us all.” Erik is left gagged. “Don’t be afraid to call my office, Scott.” 

SCOTT: “Of course.” 

As Stevie departs, Scott and Emma both laugh at Erik, Emma falling onto Scott’s lap. 

ERIK, trying to not be embarrassed: “Oh, please. She could have just as easily said something similar about you.” 

EMMA: “But she didn’t.” 

Erik grumbles, as Emma snickers. 

SCOTT, putting his arms around Emma: “Okay, okay. So. How do we kill Graydon?” 

At the grocery store, Sooraya is helping her mother do some shopping. Mirah and Sooraya are jubilant following Ramadan, feeling renewed and refreshed. And also very, very hungry as they’ve been fasting. 

The two speaking in Arabic, Mirah admits that while the last year for her has been one miracle after another, following years of pain, so much of it has been strange and foreign to her. This helped her get back in touch with what really matters. 

Sooraya smiles at her mom, happy to see her so happy. She then briefly flashes back to the end of the previous episode, and the voice speaking to her. 

SOORAYA, in the present, in Arabic: “I feel the same way. I love my friends, but…I had missed this.” 

Mirah hesitates to respond, which concerns Sooraya. Mirah tells her she didn’t want to do anything rash after the tragedy at the school, but she was wondering if, after this semester, Sooraya might not like to complete her final year of school somewhere else. Somewhere safer. 

Sooraya is upset and confused by this. Her mother was the one who told her that she had to say at the school, that it was where she was meant to be  with the gifts she was given. Mirah sighs and says she knows, but she knows her “Dust” is powerful enough to defeat any villain she faces. But her little girl deserves to be safe in her own bed. 

Soo understands her fears, but she and her friends are stronger together. She cannot abandon them. And “Dust” is still needed to defeat the enemies who have been tormenting them. 

At the checkout, Mirah notices Sooraya becoming solemn over the discussion. To lighten things up…

MIRAH: “You said that one of the “Horsemen” was a Crusader, didn’t you?” Soo nods. “Well then…we can delay this conversation until you have separated his skin from his flesh.” 

Sooraya giggles. That sounds fine. 

As the two exit the store, Sooraya says if her mother did wish to pull her out of the Jean Grey School, she would obey, but wonders if she could transfer to a school in Jersey. Mirah teases her, saying she thought she didn’t enjoy the date she set her up on. 

SOORAYA, amused: “It’s not that. It’s–” 

MIRAH: “If you’d like another date with that nice young man, you only have to–” 

Mirah stops talking part-way through her sentence, confusing Sooraya. 

SOORAYA: “Mother?” 

Mirah coughs up blood, as Sooraya’s eyes widen in horror; she’s been shot through the stomach. 

Mirah falls over onto the ground, as Sooraya screams. She immediately uses her powers to put pressure on the wound, calling desperately for someone to help. 

SOORAYA, tearing up: “No, no no.” BEAT. “Somebody! Please!” 

Back at the school, Cyclops, Emma, and Magneto are working out their plan to take out Creed. They quickly agree on two things.

 First, this stays between them. This is not an X-Men mission, nor will the X-Men ever be used to carry out assasinations. Creed just has too much potential to spread chaos in this climate, and has to be neurtralized, so they’ll bear the splatter of his blood themselves. 

CYCLOPS: “Of course Magik wouldn’t mind helping, but I don’t want to encourage her.” 

The second point is that this has to be quiet. Obviously all of them could physically kill Creed, but if it got out that they did so, that’s it, they’re done, humanity’s war on Mutants stops being cold. Even if he didn’t have mental defenses, something as easy to disguise as Emma’s telepathy could still be tracked back to them. 

MAGNETO: “With civilian casualties out of the question, a large-scale “accident” cannot be initiated either.” 

EMMA: “It doesn’t leave us with very many options.” Emma gets off of Scott. ‘Don’t say anything else. He’s deep in thought.” 

ERIK: “Would you care to fill me in?”

EMMA: “I’m not in his head. That’s just his planning brow.” 

ERIK: “You can actually tell when he’s–?”  

SCOTT: “I’ve got it.” Emma gestures to him proudly. “The last time the X-Men fought Graydon, neither of you was much better than him. “He never worked directly with either of you, but he did team up with some of our other enemies. Human and Mutant alike.” 

EMMA: “Where are you going with this?” 

Scott smirks. 

SCOTT: “If we can’t assasinate Creed using our powers, then we do it the way baselines do. One of us needs to get close enough to poison him, and make it look like any one of the other people he has bad blood with are responsible. Creed would never let his guard down around, “Magneto, Master of Magnet”--” 

ERIK, embarrassed, but threatening: “I called myself that one time, Summers.” 

SCOTT: “And we’re all still laughing. Point is, he’d never trust you.”  

EMMA, seeing where this is going: “But The White Queen who helped fund the second generation of Sentinels….” 

Scott nods. If Emma doesn’t like the plan, they can think of something else. 

SCOTT: “But I know how you enjoy outplaying small men.” 

Emma takes a moment to think it over. 

Emma sighs. 

EMMA: “Let me go make some calls and put on some gloves. I refuse to greet that cretin bare-handed.” 

At a hospital, Mirah is rushed inside from an ambulence, with Sooraya running along with the  medical workers, tearfully calling out to her mother, until she’s told she can��t go any further, and she has to let the doctors work. 

Sooraya, extremely emotional, nearly snaps at the nurse telling her this, her hands turning to sand, but…

“Sooraya!” 

Soo solidifies and is calmed down by the arrival of her friends, save Laura. Cessily runs right up to her and tightly hugs her. 

CESSILY: “She’s going to be okay. After everything she’s been through, this isn’t gonna be the end, alright?” 

Sooraya weakly nods as she hugs her friend back. 

Nori questions what even happened, all Soo having said in her message was that her mother was shot. As Dust pulls back, she tells her she wishes she knew, but she doesn’t have any idea. 

DUST: “I understand that there are many who would like to hurt women like us. But this was no act of random violence.” 

Julian promises her they’re gonna figure this out, and they’ll make whoever did this wish they were never born. Roxy comes in from a softer angle, asking her if there’s anything she needs right now. 

Sooraya wipes her tears and asks the two speedsters if they could get her some of her things from her room. The EMTs weren’t sure how long she’d be in surgery. She definitely needs her prayer rug. And some snacks. 

JULIAN: “One dried fruit and nut bowl coming right up.” 

NORIKO: “We’ve got you.” 

Soo weakly smiles as thanks her friends, before the two speed off. 

Sofia steps forward. 

SOFIA, emotional: “Sooraya, I…I am so sorry you have to go through this. I have thought for years that there is nothing worse than the pain of losing a parent. But the fear you must feel must be even worse.” 

Sooraya sniffles, but shakes her head. She will be okay. They both will. Allah would not have brought them back together, just to separate them again. Sofia tells her to hold onto that hope tightly. 

SOFIA: “I can’t move as fast as Surge and Hellion, but if you’d like, I CAN try and listen for any updates from the operating room.” 

Sooraya would appreciate that, so Sofia gives her a hug and tells her she’ll get right on it. As Sofia walks away, Cessily and Roxy help Soo to find seats in the waiting area. 

Once she’s out of sight from her friends, Sofia’s face hardens. 

In Clan Akkaba’s headquarters, Akihiro is continuing to train Laura. He’s still largely kicking her around, but they’ve become much more of an even match. 

AKIHIRO, stomping down on her on the ground: “Better. Much better. But you’re still fighting like the X-Men taught you. If you’re gonna keep calling yourself a weapon, you should at least fight like one.” 

Death tells her to go again as he takes his boot off of her, before his phone rings. He tells Laura to grab some water while he takes this. 

AKI, answering the phone: “My lady.” 

SOFIA, in voice over: “Tell me this wasn’t us.” 

AKIHIRO, unsure what she’s talking about: “Only operation we have planned for today is Quicksilver. Did something else happen?” 

Without the conversation being heard, Akihiro reacts as he’s told what happened, and given orders, confirming that he understands. Death hangs up. 

AKIHIRO: “Class for today is over, “Sis”. That was the boss. I’ve got someone to find. And you’ve got somewhere you need to be.” 

Laura is confused and worried. 

In central park, Pietro has a picnic with Crystal, wine and the store bought cake included. They romantically feed each other bites of the cake, using purple prose to describe its adequacy. Pietro thinks they could use something a bit more refined to wash it down and moves up to pop open the wine. Crystal tells him to be careful he doesn’t spray them, which Pietro, moving too quickly, proceeds to do. 

Crystal screeches, which makes Pietro laugh, before he apologizes and waves his hands to dry them both off. 

CRYSTAL: “Idiot.” 

PIETRO: “Perhaps, but you married me. So what does that make you?” 

CRYSTAL: “At the time? 22.” 

Crystal sighs happily and lays her head down on Pietro’s lap as he pours them each a glass of wine. 

CRYSTAL: “I wish he could do this every day.” 

PIETRO: “The price we pay living world’s apart. How are things on the blue side of the moon?” 

CRYSTAL: “I’m the wrong girl to ask. I try to spend as little time in Attilan as I can.” 

PIETRO, teasing as he hands Crystal her wine: “I’m sure the king and queen just love that.” 

CRYSTAL: “My sister and brother-in-law should be grateful. If it wasn’t for everything they had to offer Luna, they wouldn’t even have their princess to show off on special occasions.” 

Pietro’s expression becomes more sincere as he holds Crystal’s hand. 

PIETRO: “May I see her?” 

CRYSTAL: “Of course.” 

Pietro grabs Crystal’s phone and turns on it, revealing her lockscreen: a nine-month old baby girl. Pietro’s heart melts as Crystal sits up and puts her arms around him from behind. 

PiETRO: “She’s beautiful.” 

CRYSTAL: “She is. I wish you could have been there when she was born. I’ll never forgive Medusa.” 

PIETRO: “Can…can I meet her?” 

CRYSTAL: “I’ve got a little apartment in Brooklyn. She’s there with a sitter right now.” 

Pietro’s eyes widen with excitement. Before anything else can be said however, as a powerful wind blows away their picnic, and a blast of green energy knocks down a tree. As everyone else in the park flees, Pietro and Crystal leap to their feet. 

MALICE, flying down: “We honestly didn’t mean to time it like this, but frankly, Pietro? Keeping you from ever seeing your daughter sounds delicious.” 

CRYSTAL: “Lorna?” 

PIETRO, enraged, changing into his costume at super speed: “No. Not even close.” 

In an office building floor, the Friends of Humanity are already hard at work, with dozens of employees making cold calls for the organization, designing merchandise, or completing other assignments. 

Graydon works in his corner office, until his secretary informs him that “the mutant” is here. Graydon tells him not to be so dismissive of this one. 

GRAYDON: “Ms. Frost is one of the good ones. At least, she used to be.” 

Emma enters the office, much to the disgust of the people working there, where she’s greeted by Graydon, wearing a perfect politician’s smile. 

GRAYDON: “Emma, I am so happy you called.” 

EMMA: “I’m glad you were able to meet so quickly.” 

The two shake hands, Emma indeed having put on gloves. 

GRAYDON: “I haven’t been in politics long, but you never give a potential donor like you time to change her mind.” 

EMMA: “I highly doubt you have any donors like me.” A man walks up with a power-inhibiting collar.  “What is this?” 

GRAYDON: “I can understand with how utterly your people have been losing lately wanting to come back to the winning team. It’s not like you ever gave a damn before you made the mistake of growing a heart. But I hope you’ll understand that, given you are still an X-Man, I feel the need to take precautions. Do you?” 

Emma is perturbed, and we see in part why, as she’s psychically patched in to Scott and Erik, who are back in their office. Scott tells her to go ahead and do it. He’ll have one of the kids from her telepathy class to patch them back in. He’ll have them leave once they’re sure Emma is secure and before she does anything. 

EMMA, putting on her own political smile: “Of course.” 

Emma tries to not be embarrassed as she collars herself for Graydon. 

GRAYDON: “Perfect. Now we can talk on more equal footing. Right this way.” 

Graydon leads Emma toward his office, but swears as two kids run past them both, a young boy with dark black hair and a little blonde girl in a frilly dress chasing after him, with the boy screaming at her to not give him cooties. 

EMMA: “Are you running a political campaign or a daycare service?” 

GRAYDON, recomposing himself: “I apologize. They’re Carlton Kilgore and Lenore Kensington’s brats. Apparently they were just dying to see what their daddy and mommy were getting involved with. One of my staff was meant to be watching them. Penelope!” 

“I’m sorry, sir!” 

Emma’s practiced smile falters as she hears a familiar voice, and sees an even more familiar face, as Monet comes around a corner, saying she’ll get the kids back in order right away. 

GRAYDON, sighing: “It can wait. Penelope Enduque, meet Emma Frost.” 

MONET, offering her hand: “It’s an honor, ma’am. I’m a big fan of your old work.” 

EMMA, hesitant, shaking her hand: “Charmed.” 

In their office, Scott and Erik smack their faces. In his office on the other side of the world, Roberto smacks his own face. 

 In the hospital, Mirah is in surgery, with several doctors sweating as they work on her. Out in the waiting room, Julian and Noriko have returned and are noshing on snacks they brought over, while Cessily joins Sooraya in prayer on the floor. 

Laura burts into the waiting room in a panic, looking for Sooraya. 

LAURA: “Soo!” 

Dust notices her and, without a word, shifts into sand to fly over to her best friend and hug her. 

NORIKO, under her breath: “Took her long enough.” 

Roxy and Julian each punch one of her arms. 

LAURA: “I’m sorry I wasn’t here sooner.” 

SOORAYA: “I am just glad to have you here now. Will you join Cessily and I in prayer?” 

Laura nods without question. 

Nearby, Sofia is on the phone again. 

AKIHIRO, in voice over: “I’ve got your assassin.” 

SOFIA: “Already?” 

AKIHIRO: “You gave me the location where the target was hit. Of course I was able to track them from there.” 

SOFIA: “I didn’t realize you possessed Warpath’s skills.” 

AKIHIRO: “Yeah, well…I may have also asked Exodus for help.” 

Sofia is mildly amused. Aki asks her if his lady wants all the heads of the people responsible for this, but Lady Akabba tells him to stand down. 

SOFIA: “We can use this.” 

As Sofia re-enters the waiting room, Sooraya, back on her mat, cringes. 

The same soothing voice from the end of the last episode speaks her name in her head. 

Sooraya’s eyes fill with rage as she stands up. 

CESSILY: “Everything alright, Soo?” 

SOORAYA, quietly furious: “They will be soon. My prayers have been answered. I know who shot my mother.” BEAT. “And I’m going to kill her.” 

Everyone else looks at Sooraya with concern. 

In Central Park, Pestilence taunts Quicksilver as she touches down on the ground, asking if he hasn’t told his wife about her. 

MALICE: “Becuase I know all about you, Princess Crystalia Amaquelin.” 

Crystal demands to know what’s going on, with a pissed Pietro explaining at super speed. 

CYRSTAL: “And you didn’t tell me about this, why?” 

QUICKSILVER: “Sorry, I’ve–” 

MALICE: “It’s because he’s got more in common with dear old dad than he’d ever like to admit. Including poor time management. Lorna understands that well.” 

QUICKSILVER: “Enough! Your tricks were enough to work once, but not again. Return my sisters to me, and you may survive the day.” 

MALICE: “Return them? There’s Magneto’s possesiveness. How do you put up with this, Crystal?” 

Quicksilver howls in rage as he rushes Malice, but he collides with her magnetic field and is sent flying. 

CRYSTAL: “Pietro!” She turns with fury to Pestillence. “You say you know who I am. If that’s true, and you still made the choice to come for my family…” Crystal’s eyes glow yellow as the earth shakes, a powerful wind blows through the park and lifts her above the ground, fire materalizes and spins around her, and water is ripped out of the grass to do the same. “You must have a death wish.” 

The two stare each other down as Pietro speeds back over, the fight about to start. 

Back at the hospital, Cessily asks Sooraya what she’s talking about as everyone gathers around, Laura holding Sofia’s hand, showing that Sofia still hasn’t broken up with her. 

Dust explains to her friends that, recently, Allah has been speaking to her directly during prayer. She’s known for some time that she was directly chosen by him, but this has been a wondrous, holy experience for her. 

DUST, glaring at Nori and Julian: “And I can see from your expressions that you believe I’m being tricked. I promise, I know that this is real.” 

SOFIA: “And he told you who shot your mother?” 

Sooraya casts her head down. 

SOORAYA: “Leper Queen.” 

JULIAN: “What?!” 

NORI: “Are you serious?!” 

Hellion and Surge recall taking Leper Queen down when she attacked the school last year on Parents Day, and question how she could have gotten out of SHIELD’s prison. 

Roxy facepalms, being the first to put it together. 

ROXY: “Those Akabba creeps we fought were also from SHIELD’s prisons. She must have escaped while Exodus was doing his recruitment drive.” 

Sofia’s eyes panic at the realization she IS indirectly responsible for this. Laura squeezes her hand to comfort her. 

JULIAN: “Don’t suppose Allah was able to tell you what her problem is and why she shot her.” 

SOORAYA: “He did not. But I will find out.” 

CESSILY: “Right, so, I totally get wanting to do this yourself. If Julian and Nori beat her once, we can all do it together no problem.” Her face shifts with concern. “But you’re not a murderer.” 

SOORAYA, without hesitation: “I have killed before.” 

 LAURA, letting go of Sofia and approaching Sooraya: “When you had no choice. You still have nightmares about it.” 

SOORAYA: “And now my nightmares will be filled with my mother bleeding out on the ground.” 

SOFIA: “Laura is right, Soo. Whether or not she deserves death, this is exactly what led Quentin down the path he went.” 

Laura turns back to Sofia for a moment with confusion, unsure why her brainwashed friend would be taking her side on this.

Julian and Nori toss in their support with Sofia and Laura, calling back to their experiences at the start of the season 

There’s a moment of silence as Sooraya thinks, staring at each of her friends. 

DUST: “If you will not help me…then I must do this alone.” 

Sooraya burts into millions of sand particles to fly away. Hellion tries to stop her by telekinetically grabbing all of them, but while he catches most, he misses just a few specs of dust, which is all Soo needs to make it outside before reforming her body and flying away. 

ROXY: “Oh, this is bad. What do we –?” 

Laura, without taking a moment to consult with the others, races out of the hospital. 

NORI: “That. We do that. We go after her, and we stop her. Hellion and I will at least. Mercury, Bling!, start calling X-Men, and get everyone you can to come help us. Wind Dancer, I–”

SOFIA: “I will stay here and keep listening for updates on Mirah’s condition. Her survival is more likely to calm Sooraya’s rage than anything else.” 

NORI: “Yeah, that works.” 

JULIAN: “Alright, let’s get out of…here.”

Cessily wrapps her arms around Julian. 

CESSILY: “Please don’t let her do this.” 

JULIAN, hugging her back with one arm: “Don’t worry. We’re not losing anyone else.” 

Julian shoots a smile at Sofia, who smiles back. 

Surge and Hellion race off. 

In Graydon’s office, he and Emma sit down to talk business, with Emma knowing all the pretty little words she needs to use to handle him. Her real attention is on Monet, standing behind Graydon, who reaches out to her telepathically. 

MONET: “What do you think you’re doing here?” 

EMMA: “I imagine the same thing as you, “Penelope”. Shouldn’t you be in school?” 

MONET: “I dropped out.” 

EMMA, angry and disappointed: “What?!” 

MONET: “I’m still completing the work to obtain my degrees, but university itself was a waste of my time.” Still wearing a phony smile, she looks right into Emma’s eyes. “Just like high school now that I think about it.” 

EMMA, frustrated: “Whatever resentments you hold toward me, you shouldn’t allow them to affect your education.” 

MONET: “My resentments? I do not resent you for getting Everett and Angelo killed, Ms. Frost.” Emma’s fake smile falters just a little. “Or for what you did afterward. You just…mean nothing to me.” 

Emma holds back her feelings about this as she returns her attention to Graydon, who wants to know what she’s expecting in exchange for becoming the largest donator to the Friends of Humanity. 

GRAYDON: “Obviously you won’t be purged like the rest of your kind, but I know enough about you to understand you want more.” 

Emma confirms his assumption. She wants to be involved with the Friends of Humanity directly, as well as leniency for a handful of her students, an assurance that her bank accounts won’t be touched, and a segregated space, similar to Genosha but without the madman in charge…

Erik rolls his eyes as Emma spins her story. 

…for any surviving Mutants, including herself, to occupy. 

EMMA: “Living among humanity won’t be a good fit for anyone, and you can trust me to keep them in line.” 

Graydon hardens his face as he thinks over this carefully. He isn’t given the chance to come to a conclusion on his own. 

MONET: “Sir, if I may speak?” Graydon turns to her with a “This better be good” look. “I wouldn’t believe a word out of this Mutant’s mouth.” Emma’s eyes turn livid at M going this far to spite her. “You remember our poker evening with Sunspot last year, don’t you? We’ve both been tricked before.” Monet smiles at Emma. “I really do hope you’ve returned to your senses, Ms. Frost, I looked up to you as a mature role-model when I was very, very young, but the stakes of what we’re attempting here are simply too high to put to chance.” 

Before Graydon can speak, Emma jumps in. 

EMMA: “Mr. Creed, do you typically allow your nannies to speak for you?” Monet now narrows her eyes at Emma. “However much Ms. Enduque is donating to be a part of this endeavor, I can’t imagine it’s worth being undermined in such disprectul fashion.” 

BEAT

Graydon sighs. He didn’t realize these two were so similar (this comment upsetting both Emma and Monet). He’s going to make some calls from people who’s judgement he trusts, requesting Penelope to show Emma around in the meantime. 

MONET, smile back on: “Of course.” 

Emma and Monet shoot smug glares at each other. 

In Central Park, Quicksilver and Crystal’s battle against Pestillence has commenced. Malice blasts at Crystal, but can’t hit her as Pietro is holding her and moving them both around at super speed. Crystal attempts to burn Malice with a wave of fire, but Pestillence protects herself with a shield. Malice attempts to use the metal in the Earth’s surface to swallow Crystal and Quicksilver up, but while it initially works, Crystal’s superior command over the elements frees them with ease. 

 Seeing that her attacks can’t penetrate Pestillence’s shield, Crystal controls the air molecules around Malice, within her shield, and crushes her with them. Malice screams in agony, prompting her shield to drop, allowing Pietro to leap right in her face and snap his fingers at super speed. The ensuing bang sends Malice flying across the city. 

CRYSTAL: “Is there a plan here? Or do we just keep hitting her until she gives in?” 

PIETRO: “The Horseman were each gifted an additional Mutation by Apocalypse. That’s what she used to poison Wanda. If we beat her, she loses the artificial X-gene. Apocalypse’s “survival of the fittest” nonsense and all. That may cure her.” 

CRYSTAL: “Couldn’t it also leave the effects permanent?” 

Pietro, streessed, seethes. Yes, that is possible. But they couldn’t force her to do anything for them without beating her. 

CRYSTAL: “We could attempt negotiations. She has to want something, right?” 

PIETRO: “What she wants is the extinction of humanity.” We cut away from Pietro and see Malice, where she landed, at an industrial sight. “She’s a monster.” 

As Pestillence aches, struggling to stand, she flashes back. 

Several years ago in Yorkshire, a fifteen year-old Alice MacAllister, dressed in a school uniform, with several facial and body piercings and punkish accessories, attends a protest against a law being put into effect prohibiting Mutants with visible Mutants from showing themselves in public. 

Alice holds a sign, and joins in with the rest of the crowd’s chants. An older man with a slight facial Mutation tells her he’s not about to complain about anyone joining in to help the cause, but questions based on her outfit if she shouldn’t be somewhere else right now. 

ALICE: “It’s fine, sir. School is nothing but state propaganda designed to control us. If it were actually meant to teach us anything, we wouldn’t waste so much time on fluff we’ll never need to know. It’s indoctrination, plain and simple. This? This is what’s real. This is where I can learn.” 

MUTANT, putting his hands up: “Intense, but okay. Your life. Hope you don’t get in any trouble.” 

ALICE: “Pssh. It’ll be fine.” 

We hard cut to Alice being slapped by her mother later that evening as she’s berated for skipping school. 

MOM: “You’ve made clear you don’t care about yourself with how you’ve mutilated your body, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t care about your future!” 

ALICE: “The only way I have a future is if things change! If your generation keeps destroying the climate and building death robots to hunt innocent people–” 

MOM, dismissively: “My generation?” 

ALICE: “Yes! Literally yes!” 

Alice’s mom sighs. She gets it. This is how all teenagers are. But one day, she’s going to wake up and think just like her. The fire will die out, she’s going to become “boring”, and when she does, she’ll have wished she worked hard enough to have achieved a comfortable life. 

MOM: “I want better for you than I have, dear.” 

ALICE: “So I’m just supposed to turn a blind eye? How can I study maths when people are being genocided?” 

MOM: “Do not use that language. That is not what’s happening. Besides…” She places a hand on her daughter’s face. “They’re just Mutants.” 

“What’s this about Mutants?” 

Alice and her mother are both taken aback by the sound of a gravelly voice slurring its words. 

MOM: “Go to your room. I’ll handle your father.” 

Alice breaths and weakly smiles. 

ALICE: “Thank you, Mum.” 

MOM: “This conversation isn’t finished.” 

ALICE, face falling: “Yeah. I know.” 

Alice stomps off to her room, bitter. 

In the present, we pan across a forest. Men can be heard loudly grunting in unison. Underneath the forest is a bunker, where muscular men in military fatigues, some with actual military tattoos, are running combat drills. 

As we pan across the bunker, we see other men undergoing intense workouts and marksmanship training. Still others are studying poisons and traps. And then there are those who are allowing themselves to be slashed by metal claws, blasted with ray guns, and electrocuted. 

One man is sparring with an unseen opponent, before said opponent stabs him through the chest with a knife. He falls over. 

The camera pans up to reveal Leper Queen. 

LEPER QUEEN: “Walk if off. Mutants will do far worse.”  

SOLDIER: “Y…yes, ma’am.” 

As Leper Queen herself walks away and grabs a towel, a man in uniform approaches her. 

OFFICER: “General, we have a problem?” 

LEPER QUEEN, unworried, toweling off her sweat: “Did the beast not take the bait?” 

OFFICER: “No, ma’am. Just as you calculated, shooting the mother of X-23’s closest friend is drawing her out, and measures are in place to lure her here.” 

LEPER: “Then what’s the problem?” 

OFFICER: “The daughter.” 

In the forest, Dust travels through the thick trees furiously in sand form, inadvertently breaking off bark and knocking down branches. 

OFFICER, in voice over: “She’s coming too.” 

LAURA: “DUST!” 

Sooraya doesn’t stop moving. Laura races across treetops until she can leap down and get in front of her. 

LAURA: “I’m not going to stop you.” 

Before Dust can collide with Laura, she stops and reforms her body. 

DUST: “Then you are going to help me? 

Laura nods. 

LAURA: “You’ve always understood better than the others. You’re the only one who could. You know what death tastes like.” Laura approaches Soo. “The blood on me is too thick to ever come off. But I can keep you clean.” Laura bares her claws. “I’ll take Leper Queen out, myself.” 

Soo needs a moment to think this over, not overly fond of the idea, but she accepts it. 

DUST: “Thank you, Laura.” BEAT. “When I look at you, I do not see any blood.” 

Laura isn’t sure what to say to that. Nor does she get the chance to figure it out. Laura shoves Sooraya to the ground as a turret fire of tranquelizers into shot into her. 

DUST: “Wolverine!” 

Dust begins transforming, but she’s hit by and trapped in an electric net. She briefly screams, before passing out. 

Back in the city, Monet continues to put on her act touring Emma around the Friends of Humanity’s facilities. As she does so, she telepathically communicates with someone else. 

BETO: “So would you like to give me the full story here?” 

MONET: “No.” 

BETO, getting a manicure in his office: “You mean because telepathic communication at this distance is difficult for you?”

MONET: “Shut up.” 

BETO: “Come on, be honest with your boyfriend.” 

MONET: “I do not recall giving you permission to use that term.” 

BETO: “And I don’t recall asking for it.” 

Monet sighs internally, and gives a brief overview. She never liked Emma. From the day she joined Generation X, she hated her. She hated how Emma clearly thought they were alike, and, more than that, she hated every time Emma was proven right. 

MONET: “I refused to end up like her.” 

BETO: “Not that I’m her biggest fan, but why?” Monet wrinkles her face, being this open extremely difficult. “You know keeping things all bottled up is a very “Emma” move”. 

MONET: “Hate you.” 

Beto makes kissie noises. 

Monet sighs and continues. She went through a lot in the process of joining Generation X (flashes are shown to a fully red, spiky girl in all black running around with Jubilee, Chamber, Husk, Skin and Synch, and fighting against Emplate). And one thing she could never shake was how much pain she was always in, and how constantly angry she was at herself. 

And then there were Everett and Angelo’s deaths (a flash is shown to Monet undigging Synch’s corpse out of rubble, crying as she holds it, Jubilee crying at her side, and Chamber beside her hugging Skin’s body tight), and what Emma did afterward (a flash is shown to the four remaining Generation X members watching as Emma vegtablizes Adrian and kills her men, horiffying them). 

MONET: “I refuse to spend my life loathing myself as she does. I refuse to fail like her. And I will never do anything less than to practice what I preach.” 

Beto exhales as his manicure is finished and he gives a large tip to his manicurist on her way out. As far he’s concerned, she doesn’t need to worry about any of that; he’d expect nothing less from her. 

BETO: “But I do understand. My relationship with Magneto has had similar…bumps. Only if you’d like to, we can discuss this more later. For now, let’s stay focused on keeping Emma from ruining our plans.” BEAT. “M? Monet?” 

MONET, outloud: *Something that needs to be censored* 

In the office, Emma and Monet have been surrounded by guards and put at gunpoint. 

In the past, Alice wakes up in her bed. Only, as she rubs her eyes, her spirit leaves her body. It takes Alice a moment to notice what’s happened as she floats over to her mirror, making her scream. 

Alice calls out for help from her mom, but there’s no answer. She hyperventilates as she tries to go back in her body, but she can’t. 

ALICE: “This can’t be happening.” She stares at herself in the mirror. “What am I?” 

Alice calls out for her mom again, rushing for her door. When she can’t touch the doorknob, she whimpers and tries phasing through the door, which she succeeds at. She comes down to the kitchen in tears, her mother cooking and her father reading the news (specifically an unsubtle pastiche of The Daily Mail), and begs for their help, but neither can see or hear her, Alice’s mother just calling out for Alice to come downstairs. 

Alice becomes completely hysterical as she drops to her knees, falling through the floor. 

In the present, Malice forces herself to stand up as Quicksilver and Crystal arrive at the industrial sight. 

QUICKSILVER: “Last chance.” 

The injured Malice stares intensely at the two heroes, who glare right back. It seems like she may be nervous, but then she smirks. 

MALICE: “Bad luck I landed here.” 

Malice surrounds herself back in her forcefield as she flies up, while simultaneously throwing all the metal beams and heavy machinery in the area at the duo. Pietro picks Crystal back up in his arms, and with difficulty and some intricate flips, dodges everything thrown at them. 

As a pissed and fearful Malice attempts to throw it all again, Crystal flies out of Quicksilver’s arms to attack Malice head on. Malice keeps Pietro busy, focusing her magnetic assault entirely on him, while growing red eyes on each of her palms to engage Crystal with the power of Pestillence. 

Both moving at lightning-fast speeds, Crystal attempts to strike Malice with either her fists, her flames, or her water, while Malice blocks, dodge, and attempts to hit the princess with one of her arrows. 

MALICE: “Lord Apocalypse was right about you Inhuman Royals. You’re much stronger than the last few X-Men I’ve fought.” 

CRYSTAL: “Tell me something I don’t know.” 

MALICE: “Well, okay. But only cause you asked, love” 

Malice and Crystal both fall to the ground as their eyes glow, and the metal in the area ceases to charge Quicksilver. He’s confused, before noticing what’s happened to the two women. He speeds over them, unsure of what to do, panic written all over his face. 

In her bunker, Leper Queen confidently paces back and forth in front of prison cells. She stops walking in front of one of the cells. 

LEPER QUEEN: “I was hoping you would wake up first…” Laura is shown, leaning against a wall, chained and collared. “X-23.” 

Laura glares back at Leper Queen silently. 

LEPER QUEEN: “What? No reaction? Not even going to ask who I am or what I want?” 

BEAT

LAURA: “I have been an X-Man for over a year. No answers you give will make me understand the things humans do.” 

Leper Queen assumes Laura is insinuating she’s like those zealots the Purifers, or those absolute fools, the U-Men. She wants to make clear that’s not what this is. 

LEPER QUEEN: “If scientists and doctors could hurry up on manufacturing an effective cure for your increasinlgy common disease, the world wouldn’t need a Leper Queen. But since a cure remains out of reach, it falls to me to purge this disease from the Earth.” 

Laura rolls her eyes at Leper Queen’s monologuing, and her seeing herself as any different from the others. LQ narrows her eyes. 

LEPER QUEEN: “Mock me if you wish. I have the support of our soon to be president. And with him in office, and my Sapien League enacting a purge, Mutantkind’s days are numbered.” 

LAURA: “Okay. And how does shooting an innocent, baseline woman help you?” 

Leper Queen steps toward the bars of Laura’s cell as she explains that shooting Mirah Qadir was a necessary evil. 

LEPER QUEEN: “It wasn’t ideal, but it was the best I could do…with your bitch of a mother already dead.” 

Laura growls as she leaps toward the bars, but is restrained by her chains. 

Leper Queen laughs as she bangs her fist on the bars. Her face then falls. 

LEPER QUEEN: “My daughter was only three years old when she was infected with a Mutation. Burned our house down, and took my face off. But I was still naive enough to believe it was just an unfortunate accident. An isolated incident.” She chokes up. “Then one day I come home. And I find her dead. Body mutilated. Covered in claw marks.” 

Laura’s eyes widen in horror as she realizes what this is about. 

LEPER QUEEN: “I won’t say her name. You wouldn’t remember. You were just the government’s attack dog after all. The lives you took didn’t mean anything.” BEAT. “You Mutants aren’t just threats to humanity. You’re threats to each other. And then there’s you, specifically, X-23. What I fear most. A corrupt government using your kind as weapons.” 

LAURA: “I–”

LEPER QUEEN: “I wanted to make you feel the pain of losing a mother. The only thing that could compare to the pain of losing a daughter. But I had to settle for the mother of your friend. I’m sure she’s in surgery right now, but I promise you, she will not survive.” 

Laura is overwhelmed with emotions. Rage, guilt, sadness, helplessness, and more she can’t even describe. 

Dust can be heard groaning in the next cell over. 

LEPER QUEEN: “Oh good. She’s awake. Let’s tell her who’s fault this all this. Before I make you watch me torture her.” 

Laura has no idea what to do as, once again, a friend’s life is in danger because of her. 

Back at the hospital waiting room, with Sofia now alone, she’s flipping through her phone, smiling sadly at selfies she forced Apocalypse to take with her, each one with her doing a different face and pose, while he wears the same annoyed expression in every photo. 

A nurse enters the waiting room, looking for Sooraya. Sofia approaches her and tells her she’s Sofia’s friend. Sooraya had to go take care of an emergency, and she asked her to give her updates. 

SOFIA: “Is Mirah okay?” 

The nurse thinks about how to respond. 

NURSE: “She’s out of surgery and she’s stable. Any other information I can only give to family. I’m sorry.” 

SOFIA, passionately: “I am her family.” 

NURSE, looking Sofia up and down, sarcastically: “By marriage I’m guessing?” 

Sofia squints her eyes, unamused by the nurse’s joke. 

We hard cut to Sofia wandering through the recovery room, looking for Mirah, with the fate of the nurse left up to the audience’s imagination. 

Upon finding Mirah, Sofia pulls a piece of Celestial tech out of her pocket, and uses it to scan her. 

SOFIA, pissed: “The bullet was poisoned. With something not found in any known database.” 

Sofia’s expression softens as she sits down next to the comatose Mirah and takes her hand, as the heart monitor weakly beeps. 

SOFIA: “Look at you. So weak and frail. So pathetic.” Sofia rolls her thumb around Mirah’s hand, bones heard cracking as she does so. “I could break you without even thinking about it.” BEAT. “And yet, even with the Hell I endured to become who I am, I do not know that I could stand as tall as you, that I could be a caretaker, after all that you have been through.” 

Sofia takes her hand off of her.

SOFIA:  “My father and I do not agree on everything. I believe that more humans are fit than he does. I know that my mother was. You, Mirah Qadir, live and you thrive, and you love and support your daughter, even after your years of torment. And rather than fear Dust’s strength, you encourage it. This proves to me that you are fit as well. My world will need humans like you.”

Sofia reaches into her pocket again, pulling out a different piece of Celstial tech. 

SOFIA: “And even if you were weak, you mean everything to Sooraya. Pain can make you stronger, but too much at once can shatter anyone.” She looks up. “Conquest and domination are the only ways I can protect the people that are important to me. And that means my friends.” 

Sofia places the device on Mirah’s forehead, with it melting into her skin. 

Sofia smiles, before getting a text from Akihiro reading, “We have SEVERAL problems.” The look on Sofia’s face turns intense as she gets up and wishes Mirah a swift recovery. As Sofia races off, Mirah’s heartrate increases. 

In Graydon’s offices, Emma and Monet are surrounded by armed security guards, as well as a smug Creed. 

Trying to stay in character as Penelope, Monet asks Creed what he’s doing, with Emma echoing her confusion. 

GRAYDON, folding his hands in front of him: “What is it about women born with silver spoons in their mouths and thinking they’re smarter than everyone else? Although I suppose in your case, Monet St. Croix, I can’t argue that you aren’t.”

MONET, squinting: “I got you the first time.” 

GRAYDON: “Sunspot made for an obnoxiously obvious distraction.” Emma’s eyes widen as she becomes livid over this being how she learns who Sunspot’s partner is. “That was well played.” 

EMMA, chanelling her real anger into an act: “Sunspot? You’re a Mutant?!” 

GRAYDON: “Save it, Ms. Frost. That collar on you is also a remote heart monitor. We’ve got every lie you’ve told here recorded.” 

Emma drops her act and glares, questioning what he intends to do with them. She doesn’t doubt his staff has been stacked with filth who wouldn’t flinch as their murders, but assures him that if they’re killed, the X-Men won’t care about the political repurcussions of what comes next. 

GRAYDON: “Which is precisely why neither of you will be dying today. I’ve fought Cyclops before. So long as he has hope, he won’t make a move.” “Which is why you two will be taken to a nice little bunker I've set up downstairs. I apologize in advance about the smell. The last Mutant I had taken down there still hasn’t been cleaned up.” 

BEAT

MONET: “You clearly think yourself an intelligent man yourself, Mr. Creed. And yet you neglected something simple.” 

GRAYDON: “Oh. What’s that?” 

MONET: “Me.” 

Monet attempts to rush Graydon at super speed, but finds herself moving slowly, tripping over her feet, and getting gut punched and back-handed back into Emma’s arms. Monet immediately pushes Emma away. 

GRAYDON: “Just to be safe, I had your water spiked with some Mutation dampening nanites, courtesy of Kilgore Arms. Get them out of here.” 

The security guards march the pissed Emma and Monet away. 

As they step down the hall, Monet nervously fidgets with her fingers, rubbing the tips together. This gives Emma an idea. 

Emma begins tapping her leg with her finger randomly. With all the footsteps, none of the guards hear it. But Monet notices. And once Emma sees she has her attention, the taps become less random and more deliberate. 

Monet laughs as quietly as she can. 

MONET, tapping her own leg in Morse code: “I bet you’re going to take credit for teaching me Morse code.” 

EMMA, in Morse code: “I taught it to all of you.” 

MONET: “I already knew the basics. This is your fault. I had things under control.” 

EMMA: “You only began drinking water here after I arrived?” Monet pouts in embarrassment. “Now, would you like to hear my plan, or would you prefer to continue to express my worthlessness as a teacher?” 

DRAMATIC BEAT

MONET: “Can I not do both?” 

Emma rolls her eyes. 

Back at the industrial sight, Pietro shakes, unsure of what he should do as Pestillence assaults Crystal’s mind. Malice has left herself completely open to attack, but what if attacking her now causes something to happen to Crystal or Lorna? She wouldn’t have left herself this vulnerable if there wasn’t a trap, right?

Sweat drips down Pietro’s face as he decides he has to take the risk. He has to act! 

Pietro vibrates his fist at super speed ready to strike Malice…but he doesn’t. 

PIETRO: “But then…” 

He flashes back to his impsule attack on Malice in their first encounter that enabled Wanda to get hit. 

PIETRO: “Striking first is what cost me before.” 

With Quicksilver completely in his own head, he’s caught off guard as Malice slips back into Lorna’s body, and blasts him and Crystal away. Crystal hits her head on a metal beam, knocking her out, but Pietro is able to barely get back up. 

MALICE: “Such a dark and twisted mind she has! Do you actually know who you’re married to, hero?” 

Quicksilver growls and screams with rage as he attacks, but even at super speed, he isn’t fast enough to hit her before she invades his mind. 

We transition directly back into another of Alice’s flashbacks. A woman is in a coffee shop, getting her order, when, as she reaches her arm out to take her drink, her arm falls off. Everyone around her screams in horror. But she has a different response. 

ALICE: “Dammit. Not already.” 

Alice’s spirit abandons the body in tears, with it crumbling to dust as she leaves it behind. 

Alice cries as she flies out into the night sky, as we see she’s wound up in New York. This city is filled with those who don’t wish to deal with the hardships of life anymore and are eager for a painless solution, but the bodies just keep burning up faster and faster!

As she curls up into a ball, and listens to the pain and distress of all those beneath her, a single, powerful mind stands out. One that makes Alice stop crying, and instead pant with hunger. 

 Alice flies as fast as she can, until reaching the horribly messy apartment of Lorna Dane. She finds Lorna curled up in a ball on her couch, surrounded by half-eaten food and finished bottles of alcohol, and countless tissues. 

ALICE: “Why are your screams so much louder? And why do you look familiar?” 

Her legs shaking, Alice invades Lorna’s mind. And she gets a slideshow of what she’s been through, including battling against her own father,Magneto, fighting alongside the X-Men, the genocide and destruction of Genosha. 

ALICE: “Oh” Alice puts her hand to her heart. “Wow.”

Alice is punched in the back of the head in the white void she’s floating in by a pissed Lorna, who tells whoever this is that messing with her right now is only going to end one way for her. 

ALICE: “You have it all wrong! I don’t want to hurt you. I want to help us. Both.” 

LORNA, not buying it: “That so?” 

Alice explains how her powers work. How she can take over willing bodies, and in doing so, puts their minds to rest and at ease, without killing them. She’s been doing this for a while now since she lost her own body. 

ALICE: “But the bodies never last. They always burn out. But yours? You’re strong. Stronger than almost anyone! You’re the bloody daughter of Magneto! If anyone could keep me stable, it’s you.” 

Lorna sighs as Alice looks at her with pleading eyes. 

LORNA: “How old are you?”

ALICE: “17. 18 soon. Not that it matters much. I don’t think I actually age anymore.” 

LORNA, rubbing her forehead: “Right. Okay. Sweetie, I’m gonna give you the address of a nice school that takes care of Mutants, and then you’re gonna leave me the Hell alone. They’ll know how to help you. Kapeesh?” 

ALICE, flying up to her: “No! No one can help me, but me. Especially not some posh bloke running a school out of a mansion who’d probably tell me this curse makes me special.” 

LORNA: “So you’ve already taken a tour for yourself.”

ALICE: “More than once.” 

Alice pleads with Lorna. She can feel just how miserable and angry Lorna is. She knows she doesn’t want to go on. And she doesn’t have to!

ALICE: “I know that I’d been through what you…a whole life of fighting and confusion and pain, only to have to live with the guilt of failing to protect 16 million people from dying horrible deaths…” Alice’s intentionally specific word choice gets to Lorna. “..., and then left all alone, I definitely wouldn’t be able to take it. It’s how I know you’re so strong. I wouldn’t even still be here!”

LORNA, unable to keep up the tough act: “I…”

ALICE: “I promise, Lorna, you’ll be happier! And even if I won’t join the X-Men, I’ll still do what you did, and are clearly in no condition to return to: fighting for Mutants, and keeping them safe. It’s something I’ve always wanted to do. I can even bum around your family if you want. Be a better daughter and sister than you were. Please.” 

Lorna cracks completely under the weight of her depression and Alice’s manipulations. She shuts her eyes as tears stream down her face. We directly fade into Pietro crying, as he’s shown all of this. 

We cut from Pietro’s tears to Sooraya’s screams, as Leper Queen electrocutes her. This time, Laura doesn’t both with desperate pleas. She just calls out to Soo to hang in there. She’s going to save her, and she’s going to kill this monster, just as she promised. 

LEPER QUEEN, pausing the torture: “Heh. Do you think that’s going to happen, Dust?” 

SOORAYA, struggling to speak, in Arabic: “I will tear your flesh from your–” 

Leper Queen cuts her off via electrocution. 

LEPER QUEEN: “English, Mutant. This is America.” 

Sooraya can’t respond as she writhes in pain on the ground. 

LEPER QUEEN: “Okay then. Here’s what happens next. We keep at this until I get bored. Then...you get a choice.” 

LAURA, not having been monologued to about any choice: “What? Dust, do not listen to a word she says.” 

LEPER QUEEN: “Oh I think she’ll want to hear this.” She electrocutes Dust again, prompting more screams from Soo, and a flailing Laura to try and fail to break her chains. “I received word from one of my spies. It seems like your mother is going to make it after all.” Soo’s eyes light up. She can’t smile, but it’s a relief. “You may be heathens, but I have chosen to take this as a sign. Killing you to punish X-23 may not be necessary. The torture may suffice.” BEAT. “Provided you are willing to kill her yourself.” 

Dust’s expression is difficult to read as she pushes herself to sit up, struggling through the pain. Laura’s thoughts on the matter, however, are quite clear. 

LAURA: “Take it! Take the deal!” 

That catches Leper Queen off guard. She wants her to kill her? 

LAURA, crying: “I am just a weapon. One who does not want to hurt any more innocent people. But also one that cannot protect anyone.” Laura uncomfortably smiles at Leper Queen. “A thousand of me aren’t worth one of her.” 

BEAT

Leper Queen laughs in surprise. She can’t disagree with that, but it’s nice to really see just how much X-23’s clearly already been broken before this point. 

LEPER QUEEN: “Not mindless enough to just kill who you’re told. Not strong enough to stop me. And still just dangerous enough to put everyone around you in harm’s way. What do you say, Dust?” 

There’s a moment of tension. 

SOORAYA: “You idiot.” 

LEPER QUEEN: “What did you say?!” 

SOORAYA, at the top of her lungs: “I am not speaking to you!” Leper Queen is confused, while Laura just looks more hurt. “This is why you ran away. This is what Kimura put in your head at the Facility. Well…maybe she is right. You do put us in danger. And you are not as strong as you seemed when we were all new. You cannot protect us.” Laura hangs her head in shame. “But there is something you are missing.” 

Laura isn’t sure what she could possibly mean 

SOORAYA: “None of us care! You think we fear you? Living in that school is a sign of a death wish, but we all do it anyway! Because we can help others. And because we care about each other. We all love you, Laura. There is nothing else to it. Maybe we once needed you to protect us, but we are not just children anymore. We can protect ourselves. And you.” 

Laura is choked up, unsure of what to say to Dust’s words of undeserved kindness. 

Before she can figure it out, Leper Queen puts a gun to Sooraya’s head. 

LEPER QUEEN: “Go ahead then. Since you aren’t in the mood to put down an animal. Protect yourself.” She cocks her gun. “Sooraya shuts her eyes and starts speeding through a prayer. “Oh, please.” 

Leper Queen is about to shoot, when an explosion is heard, and the lights flicker. 

LEPER QUEEN: “The Hell?” 

OFFICER, over coms: “Ma’am, we have an intruder! We cannot identify them, but they’re–”

They’re cut off as they let out a final deathly wail. 

Leper Queen curses the bad timing and holsters her gun, before connecting with the rest of her men, and telling them to prepare. One of the X-Men must have found them, but this is what they’ve trained for. They’re prepared for any of them. 

In a dark hallway, soldiers are positioned with assault rifles, grenades, and other weapons and tools to dispatch whichever X-Man they’ve studied. 

The elevator doors open, and it isn’t an X-Man that steps out. Instead, the heavy metal boots of Lady Akabba bang against the floor. 

They stare each other down. 

OFFICER: “Take them out!” 

The second they start moving to attack, Sofia unleashes a wave of flames to fill the hallway, immolating all of them. 

As she continues to make her way through the complex, Sofia doesn’t even draw her sword. Nor does she move swiftly. All of these humans can be easily dispatched by burning them, or by using the air to slice their throats, as she casually makes her way down the bunker. 

Panicking, Leper Queen orders all soldiers to move to her position. They will get their prey here!

Laura and Sooraya have no idea what’s going on. 

When Lady Akabba reaches the floor of the cells, she finds that Leper Queen’s remaining men are in power suits, seemingly made from old sentinel tech. 

WAR, in her modulated voice: “Likely resistant to Mutant abilities.” She finally draws her sword. ‘Very well.” 

They all try to blast energy at her or strike her head on, but it’s no use. Sofia cuts through all of them like butter, even bisecting one man, as she belittlies them. They’ve trained and they’ve armed themselves. And even though she is using no powers and just a blade…

SOFIA, grabbing Leper Queen by the throat: “Your inferiority cannot be changed.” 

Laura and Sooraya now have another reason to be angry and terrified, as they recognize their other enemy, and see her toss Leper Queen through a wall, knocking her out. 

Then, she turns to the prisoners, staring down at them. She raises her sword…but only to cut through the bars, and to break their chains. 

As Laura and Sooraya continue to just grow more confused, a sigh of relief can just barely be heard under Lady Akabba’s helmet. 

WAR: “Are you both okay?” 

It takes a moment to break through the confusion, but Dust speaks up first. 

SOORAYA: “You…you came to rescue us?” 

WAR: “Protecting Mutants is my duty and my mission.” Neither Laura nor Sooraya seem satisfied with the answer. “But more importantly…” War reaches her hands behind her head, and undoes the clasps of her helmet, pulling it off, shaking her glossy brown hair out, and revealing her blue face to a mortified Laura and Sooraya with a flawless smile. “You are my best friends.” 

In the basement of Graydon’s building, Creed’s guards lead Emma and Monet into a dark and filthy chamber. Both women are repulsed, but Monet forces herself to grit and hide her disgust when she notices Emma making the same expression. 

GUARD: “Muties like you don’t deserve ivory towers. This is much more your level.” 

Some of the other guards laugh with him. 

Emma and Monet exchange annoyed glances. 

MONET, shoving Emma against the guards: “I wish I had never met you!” 

The guards shove Emma back, but as she does so, she grabs and yanks Monet’s wrists, shoving her against the guards. 

EMMA: “How ungrateful can you be? You would still be a spiny little hedgehog without me.” 

The guards are confused, but still shove Monet away. They are amused at seeing the two fighting though. 

MONET: “The only man I ever loved is loved dead because of you, and now I am going to share his fate.” 

EMMA: “It must be so easy to blame your problems on others. It’s far less tiresome than taking responsibility for your own actions, isn’t it? For less difficult than making the most of what you’re left with.” 

MONET: “I hate you!” 

EMMA: “And you think that makes you unique?” 

Monet tackles Emma to the ground. One of the guards chuckles, and another man lightly punches his shoulder. 

GUARD: “Much as we’d all love to watch them kill each other, I don’t think we want Magneto coming down on us.” 

The others agree, and separate Emma and Monet, grabbing them. This is the opening the two were waiting for, as they flip their assaulters. The well-trained guards are quick to act and shoot, but they just end up putting bullets in their co-workers. 

Emma and Monet grin  as they use this opening to engage the guards. While the two may be far from master martial arts, they’re experienced. With Emma utilizing more direct strikes, while Monet fights with Aikido, they knock out their enemies. 

Emma sighs and dusts her hands off. 

EMMA: “It was quite silly of Graydon to believe we’d need our powers to best the likes of them.” 

MONET: “I grew up around politicians. I don’t expect much from any of their minds.”  

EMMA: “Too true. Impressive moves.” 

MONET: “Those I will reluctantly give you credit for.” 

Emma tells Monet that Graydon couldn’t figure out that she was still in contact with the school via one of their students. Cyclops says Magik and Kitty should be finding them any moment, and Danger will clear any video evidence of them ever being here, and she can wipe the minds of the riff-rff later. 

Monet compliments her for a well-thought out extraction strategy. Just then, an earthquake shakes New York City, with the fire alarm and sprinklers going off shortly after. 

MONET, smirking: “I have my own.” She starts walking away. “The X-Men are supposed to be superheroes, aren’t they? Leave finishing things with Graydon to us. Ciao.” 

Emma beams with pride while Monet’s back is turned to her, before dropping the expression as she calls out to her. Monet turns her head. 

EMMA: “I know that I failed you all. Don’t think I do not understand that. I was still learning, myself. And I am trying to do better for my new students.” Monet doesn’t seem to care. “But whether you like it or not, we are the same. Us both being here is no coincidence. You can embrace that, or you can attempt to shed who you are and change…which will still make you like me. Regardless of what you choose, if you ever need anything, if you would ever just like to talk, I am here for you. But only if you wish me to be.” 

Monet’s expression softens, touched on some level, but she quickly reverts to being cold and hard. 

MONET: “Save it for Jubilee. She may be stupid enough to trust you again.” 

Monet leaves, with Emma smiling, not having missed the brief change. 

We cut to Pietro in tears, his mindscape shifting to the graveyard of Genosha. 

MALICE, looking like Alice: “It didn’t matter where she went. What she did. What she took. This is all Lorna could see. It was almost too easy to get her to give me this hot bod.” 

Quicksilver punches her at super speed, but he can’t hurt her here. 

MALICE: “If you want to be mad at someone, be mad at yourself. With how negligent you all were, she’d still be suffering now without me. I did exactly as I said. I gave her peace, and I’m helping her people. Young, at-risk Mutants especially.” 

QUICKSILVER: “Do you actually believe “young, at-risk Mutants” would support what you're doing?” 

MALICE: “I was one when I joined up, and it sounded good to me. Self-care.” Pietro scowls at her, and she grins back. “Lorna tried self-care. It wasn’t enough.” 

PIETRO: “I did my best. Crystal and Luna, the entire world…they needed me. I would have been there for her if I could have, but I didn’t know what she was going through!” 

MALICE, taking the form of Magneto: “How familiar.” 

Pietro dashes back, panic in his eyes. 

MALICE, keeping Magneto’s form: “But were you really too busy? Or were you scared?” 

PIETRO, trembling: “I am not scared of anything.” 

MALICE: “Not even of being as poor a father as your own? Were you thinking more about your wife or him when Luna was born?”

PIETRO: “Do not analyze me. Get out!” 

MALICE: “All that worry, all that desire to be there for her, and you still haven’t met the girl. Shameful.” Pietro, knowing his attacks won’t do anything, still punches Malice millions of times in a rage. “It obviously isn’t all your fault. Magneto was a failure. It is only natural you’d be just as pathetic.” Pietro ceases his attack, panting. Malice shifts into the form of Lorna. “But may I’m wrong. Maybe you were just struggling with your grief in your own way. Genosha burning was your fault too after all. Or maybe, just maybe, you’re afraid your new father is just like your old one.” For just a moment, she takes on the form of King Blackagar Boltagon. She then shifts into Wanda. “He is just as ashamed of you.” 

PIETRO: “Take…take her face off.” 

MALICE, holding back laughter: “Brother…” She hugs him. Pietro doesn’t struggle. “Have the X-Men even told you we already killed her?” 

Pietro’s rage bubbles over, and his psychic defenses are finally able to remove Malice from his mind and, back in reality, he doesn’t hesitate to race forward and attack. 

PIETRO: “Guh…”

Pietro lunges himself right onto Muramasa, Death having arrived, moved Malice’s body, and positioned himself right in front of Pietro.

Quicksilver can barely breathe as he looks down and sees how he’s been skewered. Death grins as he pulls his blade out, and Pietro collapses, unconscious. 

PESTILLENCE: “That was more difficult than it should have been. Sorry about that.” 

DEATH, sheathing his blade: “No need to apologize. The houses of M and Amaquelian are strong. Exodus didn’t think you’d pull it off.” 

PESTILLENCE: “He’s old, he thinks a lot of dumb things.” Akihiro picks up Pietro and throws him over his shoulder. “Mind if I kill the princess?” 

DEATH: “Don’t be stupid. We’re in no position for a war with the Inhumans. Not yet anyway.” 

PESTILLENCE: “Aww. Lame.” 

Malice flies the three of them off, leaving the unconscious Crystal behind. 

In the Sapien League’s bunker, Laura and Sooraya are too frozen to speak. Until…

SOORAYA: “You’re lying.” Dust turns her hands to sand, ready to attack. “This is a trick!” 

SOFIA, remaining calm: “No. No more tricks. It is time for you to know the truth. When I was lost and broken, Apocalypse found and rebuilt me. He became the father I never had. Since his defeat, everything I have done has been to bring about his vision for the world. Not only for us, but for you.” 

SOORAYA: “For us?! You have been attacking us for months! Brian and Sophie are dead because of you.” 

SOFIA, hanging her head: “I have had to tell countless lies since returning to the school. My entire life has been an act.” She looks back at Soo with genuine sadness. “But my mourning was real. I did not want them to die. They were my friends too. Using Quentin was a mistake. I should have–” 

LAURA, cutting her off and drawing her claws: “You should have done a lot, but you couldn’t! They’re controlling you.” 

Sofia looks to Laura with wry amusement, glad she’s speaking up. She was being even quieter than usual. 

SOFIA: “I assure you, Laura. I am not under anyone’s control. I stand above all.” 

LAURA: “Telepathy, possession, and pheremones. Any of them could be doing it, and you wouldn’t know.” 

BEAT 

SOFIA: “Do you think I didn’t know that is what you have been thinking?” Laura is startled, as Sofia turns back to Dust. “Soo, did you know that Laura has been training with Death for the past several weeks?” 

Sooraya is quickly outraged, but Laura explains quickly and bluntly. She went undercover among the Horsemen because she knew the Horsemen had gotten to Sofia.

LAURA: “I just didn’t know what they had made her into.” 

SOFIA: “And I allowed you to follow your suspicion for the same reason as much of what I have done. To make you strong.” Sofia stares her friends down, before walking away. “You aren’t going to fight me. You would have attacked by now if you were going to be impulsive, and you know you cannot beat me.”

Sofia walks through the hole she put Leper Queen through, picks her up, and throws her at Dust’s feet. 

SOFIA: “This is humanity. Hating us for our superiority, while blaming us for their own society. Laura, you did not kill her daughter. Humans did. The same cruel humans who abused you so horribly. Who hurt Cessily and Roxy. You should be happy to know I had Akihiro burn The Facility down.” Laura doesn’t look happy. “They do not deserve this world. Their rule took my mother’s life. They are responsible for what happened to you and your mother, Sooraya. Just as she is responsible for attempting to take your mother from you forever.” PAUSE. “Within one month, I will be the queen of a better world. And I would like you both among my ladies.” 

While Dust’s eyes are filled with hate as she glares down at Leper Queen, she’s stalwart that she could never join her. However noble…even understandable…her motivations may be, she knows that her mother survived. She will not let Sofia hurt her. 

SOFIA: “Hurt her? Soo, who do you think saved her?” Dust’s eyes widen. “Human medical science. Yet another area where they fall short.” Sofia holds Sooraya’s arms. “I still miss my mother everyday. Do not think for a second I intend to harm yours.” 

Laura, realizing where this is going, jumps in to tell Dust not to listen to a word she says. She’s manipulating her. This isn’t Sofia! 

SOFIA: “Oh, Laura. You poor, lovesick dog.” BEAT. Laura is thrown up against the ceiling by the wind, and is forced to remain there. Sofia looks up at her. “I offered you a place as a lady for a reason. Because at my side will not be a queen, but a king.” It's like a knife through Laura’s heart. “We are done.” 

Laura can’t even speak up enough to scream. She can only seethe through her teeth. 

SOFIA, looking back at Sooraya: “Take her worthless life, Dust. This is the mission God gave you. To protect your people. Whatever you think of me, is keeping her alive what he would want?” 

The speed of sand flowing out of Sooraya’s sleeves increases. Laura is able to find her voice just enough to beg Dust not to do this. She pleads with her. 

LAURA: “Don’t become like me.” 

Soo looks at each of her friends, and then back at Leper Queen. She’s hesitant, but then the warm, soothing whispers of “Allah” pass through her mind. 

Soo shuts her eyes. Before opening them, and unleashing her power, disintegrating every trace of Leper Queen. Laura shuts her eyes, unable to watch. 

Dust is shocked and horrified at what she’s done, but before she can think about it too much, Lady Akabba hugs her. 

SOFIA: “I know that was not easy. I am proud of you.” 

Sofia lets go, and Sooraya is able to compose herself, before kneeling. 

SOORAYA: “Thank you, Lady Akabba.” 

Sofia is pleased, but, looking up at Laura, she doesn’t think she’s quite ready to join them yet. She drops Laura from the ceiling and kicks her in the face, knocking her out. 

Sooraya cringes. 

SOFIA: “Do not worry. Soon, you will never have to worry about one of our friends being hurt again. Are you ready to leave this awful place?” 

Soo nods. Sofia tells her she’ll get her teleporter right here. 

SOFIA: “I really am so happy you can see things as they are. I knew you would.” 

DUST, quietly: “Thank you.” 

Lila Cheyney pops in and Sofia introduces her to her court’s very own musician. She will get time to know everyone later though. 

Before they can leave, however, there’s an explosion. 

HELLION: “Wolverine! Dust!”

SURGE: “Are you here?!” 

Julian and Noriko burst in, having finally caught up with the others. Their faces both fall, and they’re both left speechless, as they see Sofia in the Lady Akabba armor, with the same sword she used against them. 

JULIAN, barely audible: “no.” 

SOFIA, more annoyed than anything: “Oh. This is not how I wanted this to go. I apologize for this.” 

Sofia throws her two closest friends against the walls, head first, and with Julian too shocked to put up forcefields in time, they’re both knocked out. 

Back at the school, Cyclops, Emma, and Magneto sit in their office. 

MAGNETO: “While it is nice that it sounds like you and your old student were able to bond, Creed continues to live.” 

EMMA: “But with the measures we took to cover our tracks, there is nothing he can try to pin on us. We are back at square one, but not any worse off. And election day remains a long way off.” 

MANGETO: “That does not mitigate the harm him spreading his rhetoric through his campaign will cause.” 

EMMA: “And we will still deal with him eventually.” 

Emma continues to speak in voice over as we pan across Graydon’s office, lights off, where everyone has gone home for the night. 

EMMA, as the camera reveals Graydon at his desk, dead, with his lifeless face in a puddle of cold coffee: “Better than if we had compromised ourselves by squishing the worm more openly.” 

In the office, Magneto questions whether they should even continue this mission themselves, or if they should entrust it to Monet and her “friends”. 

Emma and Erik both look to Scott, who’s been deep in thought. He presses on his com. 

SCOTT: “Sunspot, you can come in now.” 

Roberto enters, with his usual confidence in his step, greets the headmasters, hoping everything is going well, even if he will be mildly annoyed they called him away from his work without needing him. 

The three stare at him, unamused. 

SCOTT: “We know about M, Sunspot.”

EMMA: “She’s the smartest woman I know, but not the best with her words.” 

MAGNETO: “We imagine she’s also the silent partner you chose to not inform us of.” 

ROBERTO, pissed, but not dropping his fake smile: “Ah. That…well that sucks.” He laughs. 

Beto apologizes for not coordinating better with them, but, given Monet’s history with Emma, she didn’t want her to know she was involved. 

CYCLOPS: “Right. And did Rictor make a similar request?” Beto’s smile curls. “There aren’t too many Mutants who can make earthquakes, and you spent years with one of them.” 

EMMA: “What is it that you’re keeping from us? A new X-Force? If we dig a little further, will we be finding Domino or Boom Boom?” 

MAGNETO: “Does Samuel know?” 

Beto drops his act entirely, continuing to stand tall, but firmly instead of playfully. 

BETO: “Sam doesn’t know about anything. And there is no X-Force active, I promise.” 

MAGNETO: “Then what are you doing?” 

Beto cringes. Erik floats over to him, and tells him they’re trying here, but this game has gone on long enough. He needs to be honest with them. Now. 

Beto, thinking fast, rolls his tongue around anxiously. 

BETO: “I am doing what I have to to protect Mutantkind. Because that job cannot be entrusted to you three.” 

Scott and Emma glare at him, already displeased. Beto doesn’t think they have any reason to blame him though. 

BETO: “Day after day, you three continue to fail. Mutants die, the schools fall apart, the world decays. Things keep getting worse, and yet you hold onto your entitlement that you are the only ones who can lead us. How often do you question where things would stand right now if you had been the ones to leave, and Storm was leading us?” 

SCOTT: “Everyday.” 

BETO: “I’m sure. Just as you’re sure that without her around, you’re the only ones who can do this job. Why? Kitty and I are just as capable of leading this team, and we’re far more likely to appeal to the masses. Is it because you’re the ones strong enough to put down Apocalypse? Because that sounds like his logic. Not to mention we had Iceman for that, before you allowed him to slip away.” 

Emma is irritated by Beto’s self-righteousness. They have failed, yes. But they also do their best. They are here. Always. 

EMMA: “Which is far more than can be said for you.” 

ERIK: “When last we discussed this, you said that you still trusted me. That was a lie?” 

BETO: “That was before you didn’t make any difference.” 

Sunspot assures them that he is not doing anything supervllanous, he isn’t being like his father.He’s just building a shield to protect Mutantkind for when they fail, and the world comes crashing down on them. 

SCOTT: “And you know best because you’re so much smarter than us.” 

BETO, cheeky: “And in the meantime, I remain happy to work alongside you in the capacity you see fit.” 

BEAT

ERIK: “I understand.” Beto boyishly smiles with relief. “But if this is how you see us, as risks more than anything else, then you cannot stay here.” 

BETO: “What?! Headmaster, no. You cannot fire me.” 

SCOTT: “No one is firing you, Roberto. Not in the middle of our current mess.”

EMMA: “But the onus of opening of and being a team player is on you. If you cannot do this, you should extend your next trip indefinitely.” 

BETO, cringing and struggling to compose himself: “Understood.” 

Beto walks away, turning his head before he leaves to Magneto, who turns his face away. Pained, Beto exits. 

The episode ends in Clan Akabba’s headquarters, as Sofia delivers a speech to her cultists and her small army of Mutants in her throneroom, Exodus, Akihiro, Malice, and a guilty-looking Dust at her side. 

She speaks of how three months ago, the world should have been theirs. Lord Apocalypse should have conquered the Earth. He failed. But they carry on his will! 

Lady Akabba tells her followers that the X-Men are in shambles, as we see not just Julian, Noriko, and Laura in chains, but Cessily and Roxy as well (the two taken off-screen), as well as Sunspot ordering a drink in a bar, Magneto alone in his office regretting everything about how the day played out, and the largely empty hallways of the school. 

She tells them that Quicksilver and the Scarlet Witch are their prisoners, and with them, their path to ultimate victory is clear. And with how fierce the hate toward them is right now from humanity, all of their brothers and sisters will soon be joining them. 

SOFIA: “Lord Apocalypse will be restored! Mutantkind will dominate the Earth! Humanity will worship at our feet! And the world will become strong!”

We close out as all of Lady Akabba’s followers cheer her name, Sofia grinning like her father underneath her helmet. 

[vibratingskull]

Ooooh I have a request if you are interested. Speaking of the Thrawn comics and the books. He briefly talked about his sister, what if he found her again with two kids and a human husband? His team ran into the kids on a planet and caused some trouble for them kind of like how he caused trouble for the imperials when he was found on a remote planet by Eli.

Captain: “Grand Admiral we caught these two disrupting our patrols. They seem to be the ones making the traps around this area” *two kids trying to squirm out of their restraints.*

Thrawns sister: “Apologies brother, it seems my husbands message did not get through. These are my children.”

It turns out pretty angsty

Thrawn just raises an eyebrow, unimpressed.

“Do you have an explanation for the states of your armors?”

The stormtroopers just shift weight on their feets, embarrassed. The captain of the squad takes the floor with frustration in his voice.

“Someone laid those booby traps all over the area and… Well, you can see the results.”

Indeed he can. The armors aren’t damaged in the slightest, they are just covered in berry juice, which is a stain on the dignity of the stormtroopers.

Next to him, Eli is failing to refrain from an amused smile.

“Go wash yourself.” Thrawn dismisses them.

Eli lets out a chuckle as they walk away in shame. They will earn a stupid nickname with all this juice.

“Something is funny?” Thrawn asks his friend.

“Nothing.” Eli clears his throat. “It just reminds me of you when we found you on that planet back then.”

Thrawn tilts his head. It’s true the traps seem pretty similar, but his were not as crude and amateurish.

“Should we send a squad of dark troopers to dispose of the problem?” Eli takes out his datapad, ready to send the order.

“No.” Thrawn says softly, “It will not be necessary.”

“Sir?”

“See those contraptions?” He gestures to one of the untriggered traps the stormtroopers brought back to the tent “Those who made them are of small stature. I think they are children.”

“Children? Why coming so close of a war camp?” Eli asks perplexed.

“It is simply their way to signal their discontent with our presence.”

“This is just stupidly dangerous, they could get shot!” Eli exclaims.

“I trust our troops have more discernment than shooting a child, Lieutenant Commander.”

“I got you, rascals!” They hear shouted outside of the camp.

They turn their heads to see a troopers with, indeed, two children under their arms.

“Grand Admiral, I surprised those two rebels setting up traps around the camp!”

“Come on, now. They are merely children, let them go.” Thrawn softly instructs.

The trooper put them down but holds their hands firmly, preventing their escape. Eli gasps, those are not just children, those are chiss children!

“Sir!”

Thrawn kneels to meet the kids at their level, one of them sticks his tongue to him while the other observes the then with a gruff expression

“Where are your parents, children? I would like to speak to them.” 

“No!” One of them shouts. “You’re bad!”

Thrawn shakes his head patiently.

“If you guide me to your parents, I will let you go without even a scolding.”

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

Eli remains mute, pursing his lips.

It isn’t hard to understand that Thrawn would like to speak with members of his race, but this is postponing the whole mission.

The children guided them to a modest house at the border of the forest, or rather a ranch, judging by the field with herbivore creatures roaming around.

Thrawn knocks on the door while the stormtrooper tries to keep the kids calm but they pull and groan all over.

The door opens on a human man, clearly surprised. He looks at the scene before slowly turning towards the in of the house.

“Cha’cah! I will need you on this one!” He calls.

A Chiss woman comes behind him and frowns immediately.

“Boys! Release my children immediately.” She orders with a hard voice, clearly unimpressed by the Grand Admiral present.

“Greetings, civilians.” Thrawn responds unbothered. “May I have a word with you?”

“Release my sons before I kick you out!” She bares her teeth.

“Ma’am, they ventured too close of our camp. They could have been hurt badly, I am simply here to escort them back to you and share a word.”

She seems to calm down but her gaze is still deadly. Eli gulp, she looks terrifying enraged, but now that she starts to relax, just a bit, she looks a lot like Thrawn he realizes.

He shakes his head.

All Chiss look the same to him as all humans must look the same to her.

“Alright.” She begrudgingly responds. “What do you want to know?”

“First I would like to know your name, it is so rare to see a Chiss so far away from the Ascendancy.” 

She crosses her arms on her chest, eyeballing him up and down. Next to her, her human partner looks distressed, not knowing what to do as the two Chiss glare at each other.

“I’m Borika.”

Eli’s eyes widens, Thrawn seems struck by lightning, profoundly shocked. He never saw him like that. Thrawn opens his mouth agape before closing it, his emotion passing on his face like a wave dying on the shore.

“May I know your young girl’s name?” He asks with an assertive voice, a single tremor betrays his inner state.

She snarls.

“What does it have to do with anything?”

“Please answer.”

She tuts, clearly displeased, laying against the door.

“If I remember correctly it was Kivu'rik'ardok.”

Thrawn is stiff, Eli sees his hands rolling into fists behind his back. What’s going on?

“Thank you for your honesty.” He just responds.

“And you? Basic politeness requires you to give me your name in exchange. I need to know who I may sue for harassment.” She retorts with an icy cold tone.

Eli’s shoulders lower, again a paranoiac civilian…

“I am Mitth’raw’nuruodo.” 

It’s her turn to stiffen. Her eyes open wide and she uncrosses her arms like the sky has just fallen on her head. 

“You… No…” She murmurs.

“Cha’cah everything’s alright?” Her partner immediately asks, sensible to her distress.

She remains silent as Thrawn and her look into each other's eyes.

For Maker’s sake, what is going in here? Eli’s completely lost.

“What… Why are you here?” She asks with a trembling voice.

“I am here on a mission. I did not intend to disturb your peace, I promise.” He answers in an almost pleading tone.

“Release my children at once.” She orders.

With a snap of his fingers Thrawn lets them go. They run to hide behind their mother, holding on to her.

“Cha’cah?” The human male tries again.

She shushes him with a gesture of the hand.

“I don’t know if you are welcome here.” She utters to Thrawn. “Not now that you are a…” She doesn’t finish her sentence, shaking her head.

Thrawn remains silent, only gulping.

“Sir?” Eli tries to reach his friend. “Everything is good?” 

“Everything is fine, Lieutenant Commander. We escorted back the children, we have nothing else to do here.”

Didn’t he wanted to speak to another Chiss? Why departing now?

Thrawn bows slightly to the couple and turns away without a single other word.

Eli looks at him walking away and spins towards the family just in time to see her shocked expression closing the door to his face.

Eli looks dumbfounded at the door before joining his superior.

“Sir? Are you sure everything is fine?.”

“Perfectly fine.” He responds a bit too harshly for him.

“Did you… Knew her?” Eli tries.

Thrawn stops and looks at the hills far away before them.

“It was a long time ago, Lieutenant Commander. Things have changed now. For ever.”

They go back to the camp, never speaking of that day ever again.

@bluechiss @thrawnalani @justanothersadperson93 @al-astakbar@thrawnspetgoose @readinglistfics @elise2174 @debonaire-princess @twilekchiss @pencil-urchin @ineedazeezee @mssbridgerton @dance-like-russia-isnt-watching @Cortisolcosplay

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[ihni]

Fic authors self rec! When you get this, reply with your favorite five fics that you've written, then pass on to at least five other writers. Let’s spread the self-love 💖

Ooooh, how fun! <3 Thank you! I've gone through my fics and I'm gonna do 5+1, because why not, right? Seems fic approporiate, in a way. So, here goes:

Over the edge, 16K. (Because it's a scenario I've wanted to write for YEARS and I finally did, and I had a blast writing it! Muahaha!) “You’re still on probation. But if you behave this weekend, we might –“ “‘Behave’?” Billy snorted. “I’m not a dog, Henderson. What do you want me to do? Sit? Roll around? Be a good boy?” His voice was dripping with sarcasm, making Steve snort beside him. Dustin drew himself up to his very unimpressive height in the back seat, puffing out his chest. “Well you can start by not killing anyone!” “Ki– Jesus Christ, kid, I’m not gonna kill anyone!” “Well you almost killed Steve before –“ Here, Billy glanced over guiltily at Steve, who shook his head slightly as if to say it wasn’t a big deal, “– and you have a history of violence. You can’t fault us for making sure!” “Whatever.” “You promise?” “I can’t believe I’m doing this. Yes, kid, I promise I won’t kill anyone.”

Birthday boy, 8K. (Because I've never had so many people telling me a fic made them cry ... don't worry though, there are happier follow-ups!) Neil gives Max a benevolent nod. “You can go.” Max shoots up from her chair, a big smile on her face. “Really? Thank you, I –“ “You can go to the party, but not the sleepover. I want you home at eleven, at the latest.” Trying not to grimace, Max nods. It’s better than nothing. “And of course, Billy will go with you.” “What?”

At least an assist, 8K. (Because it's an alternate first meeting between our boys, and it was fun to imagine an opposite to a meet-cute - also Billy's tied up for most of it, which is always a plus!) “Dude,” he said, more baffled than angry. “Did you just try to bite me?” “I’ll do worse than that if you untie me,” Hargrove growled, as if making threats from the position he was in was somehow normal. “Yeah, because that makes me want to untie you,” Steve snarked back without thinking. Then he sighed and dragged a hand through his hair. He didn’t sign up for this shit. “Listen, yes this sucks, but it’s only for a couple of hours. Why don’t you just chill?” “I’ve been fucking kidnapped, you fuck! I’m supposed to play the finals right now, not kick back and relax while being fucking tied to a chair!” or Steve's teammates kidnap the opposing team's star player to secure a win in the finals. The star player in question is not impressed.

Fast and Frightening, 20K. (This whole fic was born from a chat about possessed cars, and because both me and DearDMVZ quite agreed that Billy would look very fetching tied to the hood of his Camaro while it's racing through the roads outside of Hawkins at night.) There's some seriously fucked-up shit going on. Billy crashed his car, was attacked by some kind of monster, escaped, ran into someone who looked just like him, punched that guy in the face, escaped again, and ended up on a random road somewhere outside of town. And now his own car has turned against him. In short, Billy's not having a good time.

Sleeping Beauty Retold, 8K. (Because I went to town on a fairytale AU and I really fucking like it, still.) Once upon a time, there was an evil king. The king married a woman who had magic, and used her to stay young and strong. To attain true immortality, though, he would have to sacrifice their child on the child's eighteenth birthday. Only, the queen thwarted the king's plans - she stoles the child away in the middle of the night and sent him away, to be raised far from the castle, so that he would be safe. The king never stopped looking. And one day, the child - who had grown up into a young man - was found.

Again and again and again and again, 4K. (Bonus fic, because if I'd had time I would have written 80K of this, I love the concept a LOT. Basically the boys being stuck in a time loop together.) It is Sunday, November 4th 1984, and it’s been Sunday, November 4th 1984 like, fifty-two times now. Fifty-four? Over fifty, at least. Billy’s lost count, which is depressing in itself.

[911-on-abc]

Fuck-it Friday

Thank you sooo much to @wildlife4life for tagging me!! 🥰 (they are also writing an NFL au which you check out) I was going to share a bit from the scene after this one, but then this just popped into my head and I just had to write it. Enjoy!!

The video posted on the Ram's official social media accounts opens to a boy wearing a Ram’s jersey standing with a mic on the sidelines of the team’s practice field. Standing next to him is Evan Buckley, helmet off, but still decked out in all of his gear and uniform. Buckley smiles at the kid, while the boys speaks to the camera.

“I’m Denny Wilson speaking to you from the LA Ram’s practice. I’m here today with Evan Buckley, the Ram’s star quarterback.” Denny turns to Buckley, and the quarterback’s face breaks into a grin.

“Hello Mr. Buckley, I'm Denny.”

“Hi Denny, It’s nice to meet you.” Buckley says as he shakes Denny’s hand with a kind smile. “I hear you have some questions for me today?”

Denny nods at him. He’s about eight or nine years old and a good foot and a half shorter than Buckley. Both of them are fitted with microphone packs, so the microphone is redundant, but Denny still stretches his arm so Buckley can speak his answer into it.

“Ask away.”

Speaking into the mic, Denny asks, “Who is your best friend on the team?”

Buckley lets out a long exhale. “That’s a hard hitting question. I don’t know if I can answer that because I don’t want to make anyone upset because I didn’t choose them.”

“You can have more than one best friend. I have two.”

“Well then, I think I'm best friends with everyone on the team,” Buckley tells Denny. “We’re all very close and I like hanging out with them a lot.”

“Ooooh,” a teammate coos from off screen, “You looove us!” 

Buckley shouts to the player, “Shudup! This is my interview!” Despite his tone, he's grinning with a blush on his cheeks as he turns back to Denny.

“Did you always want to be a footballer when you grew up?”

“Not always. Before I wanted to be a footballer I actually wanted to be a firefighter.” 

Denny’s face lights up, “My mom’s a firefighter!” 

“That’s so cool! Do you want to be one when you grow up?”

“No, not really. My other mom’s a rocket scientist.” Denny says casually, like being a rocket scientist is on the same level as being a teacher or an accountant. Buckley on the other hand looks stunned.

“Oh, sh-” Buckley saves himself off with a cough. “I mean wow.”

“If you had a superpower, what would it be?”

“I think invincibility would be really cool.”

“Is that because you get hurt a lot?” Denny says innocently.

“Woah!” Buckley dramatically clutches his heart. “No mercy, huh kid?”

Unphased by Buckley’s dramatics Denny moves on to his next question. “Do you have any personal hobbies?”

“I like to cook. My coach, Bobby Nash, has taught me a lot. He’s a really good chef.”

“My grandma is teaching me how to bake.”

“Oh yeah? What’s your favorite thing to make?”

Denny perks up, “I like making cookies! And brownies!”

“So you’re a dessert kind of guy?” Buckley says.

Denny leans into Buckley and whispers, “Don’t tell my moms.”

Buckley nods and holds out his pinky to Denny, “Promise.” Denny wraps his pinky around Buckley and nods seriously.

Denny looks off screen like he is receiving a cue from another person and then asks his final question, “Have you ever been in love?” Denny asks.

Buckley’s face turns scarlet, but he answers the question anyway. “Yeah. Yeah I have.”

“Are you in love right now?”

Buck sputters, obviously caught off guard despite the previous question. “Umm… well…” He looks around searchingly, and then narrows his eyes as he redirects his attention towards Denny again. “Which one my teammates put you up this?” 

“You gotta answer the question Buckley!” someone sounding suspiciously like Ravi Panikkar shouts.

"Yeah! Don't hold out on us!" another person, a woman's voice this time, yells.

Buck lets out a laugh and then leans down to speak directly into the camera.  “No comment.”

I've very new to the fandom so if anyone wants me to tag them for these or when I post more from this au please lmk!! 🥺👉👈

[sidecharactersdomatter]

Thoughts I had during TGCF S1 Ep 2

-Previously on TGCF… (Classic ATLA reference, and my whole experience summarized in this fandom is, “It really is for the fans who grew up watching and loving The Last Airbender”)

-More Butterflies!

-Aiaigasa!

-So much blood…

-“As if he’s walked a million miles…” (that subtle foreshadowing)

-Honey, He looks a little too good looking to be the Ghost groom

-The Rain stopped

-He’s removing the veil

-That was also foreshadowing wasn’t it (I’ve heard spoilers, and the final 8th book just came out sry)

-Ugh it’s an ugly mob, and it’s headed by the same bald jerk

-You’ll find out near the end of the season XL(I’ve already watched all of S1) 

-Ooh it ties in with Ep 1

-That temple looks abandoned, and the animation camera for walking inside

-The brides are all dead

-There’s that song again

-Another different walking perspective

-Woah black smoke

-There’s the ugly mob

-The fact that he though XL was a woman…

-The blinking I can’t XD

-Hi Nan Feng and Fu Yao :D

-Hehe Xie Lian’s aggressive kindness

-Thank You Nan Feng

-I wish the Ghost Groom was the bald mercenary

-Hey Xiao Ying

-When the mob scooched away from Bride!Lian I freaking lost it XDXDXDXD

-And Xie Lian’s face XD

-Also I called it she fixed his dress and makeup Yes!

-And Nan Feng and Fu Yao inch away instead of defending him!  

W H E E Z E! XD

-The fact they both agreed to not explain anything XD!

-That’s just disrespectful

-Great more bride zombies

-That’s gonna end up bad

-It really is disrespectful

-Thank you whoever just threw the rock

-More camera shaking

-And of course you’re leaving her with the deceased brides SMH all of you

-Is he Naruto running right now?

-I really don’t believe that whole “Nothing ventured nothing gained” phrase in this age

-How do you like that?  Instant trauma

-It really is for an older audience

-Now NF and FY got concerned

-And hurting the injured is a real low for the mob

-Pengtou you asshole

-Thank you Xie Lian or should I say, Xie Xie Xie Lian, (Yeah I’m gonna go see myself out now)  Bad Pun count: 1

-That’s nice Nan Feng

-They have enraged the ghost groom

-Xiao Ying is a real friend

-That explains the Nan Yang temple

-I love you Nan Feng

-KO!  Flawless victory!

-So the Ghost groom is a ghost bride

-No veils

-And I thought Pengtou was the ghost groom

-Zombie brides!

-Aw great it’s a cliffhanger

-Ooooh a new ending!

[starlightrows]

Welcome back to Krax Watches! Today I’m watching: Sons of Summer

Spoilers below!

Movie starts out fantastic, first person we see is Tem! A++

Exactly what we saw in the trailer with the hand off

You guys, his salt and pepper stubble is EVERYTHING

You know this girl is cool because she has a chuck of pink in her hair

Getting right into it with “one last job”

I have a terrible habit about picking up accents, this is going to make me parrot an Australian/New Zealand accent for the next several days

Several minutes of unnecessary surfing B Roll

They call it liquid ballet… I hope they don’t actually call surfing that

More surfing B roll

These actors are really stiff

Flashback montage of their looooove

This is a stupid stupid stupid stupid plan. Like the definition of a half cocked plan

No one drives a fancy car to a drug drop. Aren’t you supposed to blend in and not stick out?

Oh my fucking god that suit!

I can just see it now, him in the suit checking his watch will be made into a gif in the next week

A mob bridal dinner?

I kind of forgot Tem (still don’t know the character name yet) is kinda the bad guy in this

Ew ew ew smarmy man

I was confused as to what just happened…. They stole the car that had the drugs in it.

The intense red lighting in this (very tame) car chase

More very stiff acting

This dude is more concerned about his girlfriend leaving him for being involved in drug trafficking than the traffickers finding him and busting his skull for it… what the fuck?

How does he know that the girl knows anything?

Or what? What do you mean or what?

Also Tem’s character finally has a name, Frank

Ooooooh he’s in the apartment….. he’s not a bounty hunter in this but I feel like whatever he is, is worse

I don’t know how he didn’t catch her… but the second she leaves that closet he’s going to be sitting there

More surfing

I went to the kitchen to get a snack and make a cup of tea and they are STILL surfing

Who is this woman? That the girlfriend called out of nowhere

Can’t tell if this is trying to be a murder mystery about who killed the blond guys dad? Or if it’s just weird background information

Another rando is introduced

More surfing

Oh… now one of the surfer boys is comatose

Finally a fight scene!

More love scene flashbacks

What the fuck just happened? 😂 why did this bro-y campfire just turn into a fight? The dialogue was more like a porno line than a threat

Oh my god. I can’t stop laughing. “You’re old!” “No you’re old” stab stab slow motion stab 🔪

What the fuck he wasn’t even holding anything to stab him with?

More god damn surfing

So is the cost of dying…. What does that even mean?

Hand is bloody before he punches the tree

This movie just cuts from random scene to random scene with no connection

Blondie is suddenly fine after punching that tree, screaming in the rain and weeping about his dead friend… also their other friend is comatose in the hospital still

Please god no…. Not another surfing montage

Their hair is lightly damp and perfect

ooooh a bromancy vacation montage

Dramatically on a bus for a singular second before cutting to another unconnected scene

Another surfing montage?! How? Why? Fucking why? There’s only 20 minutes left, this better be the last one (just kidding I know there is at least two more coming)

Hang on… there’s only 15 minutes left and this girl has still not been kidnapped like in the trailer… what the fuck?

Lying is bad for your health…. Okay that was funny

Sean Bindaboo… that can not be a real last name

So…. Did the girl just decide to take a bus to nowhere and go on a walking holiday?

Fuck him up Frank!

There is no way. On this entire god damn planet of earth. That Frank just runs into the girlfriend on the side of the road

Finally she’s been kidnapped! I never thought that would make me happy

At least Frank isn’t violent with her

Not gonna lie…. The way Franks speaks when threatening big blond idiot…. Pretty hot

They way Sean runs 😂

His friends are so fucking stupid

What the fuck? The rando girl from the surfing montage agreed to help them with this drug drop? What the fuck is this movie?

I do not buy it. Blondie successfully drowned Frank. I know that’s what happened in the canon of the movie, but that’s dumb

Old footage? For no reason?

Plastic lei and all of them surfing

Wow comatose guy lived! And is surfing with a bandage on

No! Don’t leave the plastic lei in the ocean you assholes

Frank’s not dead!!!! Wait what? How is that the last scene of the movie?

You guys this movie is terrible. 3/10 at best. Glad I watched it though, had to see for myself

[heckinconfusedparade]

X!Knuckles shows SCU!Knuckles the Master Emerald

Nickname for X!Knux: Guard

When Guard offered to show Knuckles around Angel island, he was ecstatic! They can compare similarities, differences, and talk about what they’ve discovered.

When Guard first heard that Knuckles had left his Angel Island most likely for good, he was a bit sad. He doesn’t blame the kid, he found a home elsewhere. Plus no master emerald to guard at that specific place.

Knuckles takes a deep breath of the fresh air around him. It smells like home. “Your island is very beautiful. There are so many things to discover here, so much ancient relics I have not seen on my own island.” Guard faces his little self “why don’t you go check? And bring your brothers with you?” Guard has known this kid long enough to know that he doesn’t go anywhere without his brothers in tow. They are a package deal.

Knuckles looks thoughtful, then frowns “hm.. perhaps not. I do not know what secrets Angel Island holds and if they will have reminders of.. Longclaw. Sonics previous guardian. Or relics of the war between owls and echidnas. It was my kind that took away Sonics mother figure.” Guard chooses his next words carefully “…maybe you’re right. But still, even alone, it could be worth a shot.” “You are also right, other me. We are clever.” “Aren’t we?”

The two approach the ruins. As the Master Emerald comes into view, Knuckles is nearly brought to his knees. This is the most gorgeous thing he’s ever seen. “It’s… ginormous!” He walks up to it, measuring himself against the gem. It’s towering over him. Guard chuckles, placing a hand on the young echidnas shoulder “that was my first thought too.”

Guard hoists Knuckles on top of the emerald before joining him. “This is what you do all day?” Knuckles asks. “Uh, yea, pretty much. Unless I’m needed to elsewhere. I can’t afford to take my eyes off of the emerald for too long.” Guard responds, sighing.

Knuckles raises an eyebrow “is your Eggman also after the Master Emerald?” “Yeah, kinda. He seems to be more interested in the Chaos Emeralds, though. There is a-“

“Ooooh Knuckie~!”

Oh dear god.

It’s her.

Guard stands up atop the emerald. Knuckles joins him, looking for the source of the voice. He spots a figure emerging from the treetops.

“Hello, Rouge.” Guard crosses his arms. Rouge comes into full view, grinning at him. Then she spots Knuckles. She blinks a few times in shock, and flies towards him to get a better look.

“Oh! Knuckie, you didn’t tell me you had a son~ he is such a cutie!” Rouge pinches Knuckles’ cheek. He is debating whether or not to bite her hand off.

“He is not my son.” Guard growls.

“Ah, I should’ve guessed, really. You couldn’t attract a woman even if you screamed her name for the rooftops.”

“HEY!”

Knuckles is very confused by this banter “but.. Rouge, was it? You came here to see other me, did you not?”

Rouge blushes a little then starts laughing. Guard gestures to her “she’s what I’m protecting the emerald from. Rouge here is a jewel thief.” “Righto, darling~! Here’s my card!” Rouge hands Knuckles a purple call card. He’ll hang onto it..for now I guess.

Rouge perches herself on a stone and sits down “so, you’re both Knuckles?” “Yes. This one’s from another universe. According to him and his Sonic, they got here because their Tails built a portal gun.” “I see.”

Knuckles speaks up “this universe is much different than my own. The Sonic and Tails from my universe became my beloved little brothers after we got adopted by a nice human couple.” Rouge did not expect that “oh! A human couple? And the three of you are siblings? Huh! Wow. Do your parents treat you nicely, sweetie?” “Of course! Our parents are strong, respectful, kind hearted noble people. They opened their home to Sonic because he had nowhere to go. Then they extended that courtesy to Tails and I.” Rouge smiles sweetly “aww I’m glad to hear, Baby Knuckie~!”

Rouge came here for the emerald, but ended up staying for tiny Knuckles. LOOK AT HIM HES ADORABLE! And he’s funny.

Guard and Rouge tell Knuckles stories about their adventures with the emerald.

Knuckles wonders if there’s a Rouge in his universe… if so, he’ll have to keep an eye out.

[paybackraid]

You’re All Terrible (But I Love You)

Fandom: Bob’s Burgers

Summary: In “The Ring (But Not Scary)”, Bob said some things to his kids that he probably shouldn’t have and forgot to take them back. So...

Mostly family fic, consistent lowlevel BobLin (because Bob stans Linda and Linda stans Bob)

Also found on AO3. One chapter for now but I have thoughts for more.

--------

“Pile in, everyone,” said Nat with a smile, holding open the door of her limo. “It’s late, I’ll get everyone home.”

“I have to drive Gayle home,” Linda denied. Gayle, looking particularly exhausted, was already climbing into the back of the station wagon. “D’awww, but thanks for coming to the kids’ help, Nat! It was so nice to see you again! We’ve got to find time to go shopping sometime!”

Gene dove into the back of the limo, ignoring a solid five feet of ground. Louise hopped in with both feet, Tina following calmly. 

“If you’re free on Sunday, I’ve got to shop for Mark’s enclosure, you’re free to come.”

“Who’s Mark and where are you enclosing him?” Louise asked, poking her head out. 

Nat laughed, “Mark is my komodo dragon, he needs some fresh resting rocks, best place is out a few miles on Route 1.”

“Ooooh, exotic,” Linda cooed, flashing eyes to Bob. “You can handle the restaurant, can’t you?”

Bob groaned, but more for theatrics than anything. “Fine, go komodo dragon shopping. Don’t bring one home!”

“You’re no fun,” Linda laughed. She reached out and pulled Nat into a hug. “I’ll call you Sunday, it’s a date! Don’t be jealous, Bobby.”

“I said you could go, I’m not gonna get jealous.”

Linda just laughed again. “I’d better get Gayle home real soon or she won’t get outta the car. I’ll see you at home. Be safe!” Linda reached to cup Bob’s cheek and pull him into a kiss, then leaned and blew kisses to the kids in the back seat. “See you at home, babies. Go right to bed!”

“Bye, Mom,” the kids all called, waving. Linda climbed into the station wagon, still blowing kisses, and she and Gayle took off toward Gayle’s neighborhood.

“Nat,” Bob said, turning on the woman. “You sure you don’t mind bringing us home?”

“Of course not, Bob,” Nat said with a wave of her hand, gesturing to the back door. “What kind of person would I be if I let Linda’s kids and husband get kidnapped or murdered on the way home in the middle of the night?”

“I mean, I doubt if we’d get kidnapped or murdered on the way home, so.”

“Yeah! Kidnapped and murdered!” Gene crowed.

“Gene.” Bob sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. “Would it be less weird if I sat in the front with you? You know, since I’m an adult and also not your customer right now?”

“No, it’d still be weird,” Nat denied, gesturing one last time to the back door. “I like to spread out.”

“Spread out? No, nevermind. I don’t want to know. Thanks, Nat.” He took a breath and ducked his head to step into the limo. The kids lined up on the bench at the back, so he sat on the side-facing one, spreading out comfortably. 

“Of course, Bob. Buckle up!” Nat dropped into the driver’s seat, laughing to herself. “Sorry, limo driving humor. There are no seat belts! Louise, no sunroof.”

“I know!”

The drive was almost uncomfortably quiet. Despite playing for hours in the day and an hour at night at a waterpark, the kids were completely silent. Louise picked her shorts, Tina tapped her heels together. Maybe they were sleepy, but they didn’t look sleepy. Bob figured he’d be carrying maybe one of them to bed when he got home. Gene probably, the way his head was low.

Nat pulled up in front of the restaurant, stepping out to open the back door. Bob climbed out, thanking her, and went to unlock the front door and drag tired kids to bed. All three were awake enough, still suspiciously quiet (although they also thanked her, because in spite of it all they were good kids). 

“Bed, all three of you,” Bob crooned when they passed him. “I’ll be up in a minute to tuck you in. Good night.”

“Night…” called three little voices from up the stairs. Affection coursing through his veins, Bob closed the door to seal the warmth in and turned to Nat. “Thanks again, Nat. Sorry to drag you out in the middle of the night. And to a waterpark of all places.”

“My pleasure! What’s a day without a little adventure in it? You and Linda are cute, you know. Two of a kind. I hope the whole thing lasts.”

“Yeah, well. Me too,” Bob laughed. “For the trouble, why don’t you come here sometime? Burger on the house. Just, uh, not now. I’m so tired.”

“Sure, I’d love to! Linda always says such nice things about your food, I’d love to check it out. Anyway, I gotta bounce, make sure Mark hasn’t taken over my whole bed. Take good care of those kids, Bob. They’re keepers.”

Again, affection and warmth pelted into his veins. Something about someone else telling him his kids were good (not strange, awkward, inappropriate, a menace to society) was incredibly heartening. 

Like Linda said. They were good parents. 

“Yeah, I’ll do my best. Good night, Nat. Good luck with, uh, Mark.”

Nat half-saluted, getting back into her limo and peeling out down the road. Bob shook his head when she left, once again astounded by the amalgamation of friends they had, then turned back to the door to tuck the kids in and wish them good night.

Things were still eerily quiet when he went upstairs. The kids’ doors were all shut. Had they climbed into bed already? 

“Hey,” he said, knocking on Tina’s door. “You three brush your teeth?”

A long pause, and then Tina opened her door and stepped under his arm, avoiding his eyes. “Sorry,” she said softly, moving to the bathroom. Two more doors opened as Gene and Louise also picked their way to the bathroom, also avoiding his eyes.

What. They wouldn’t even look at him?

“Good night,” he said again as they turned around, mouths freshly cleaned. “Sleep well.”

No answer as the three doors closed, occupants tucked safely inside. Bob frowned, glancing from door to door, and sighed a long sigh. Things would be different in the morning. They always were. 

For now, though, he would go and watch TV. He was tired—so tired—but Linda would be driving home disgustingly early in the morning, and he wouldn’t be able to sleep until he knew she was home safe and sound. 

Banjo was on TV28, but it wasn’t a particular favorite of his, so he put it on to pass the time, but didn’t really watch. He had to think up something to do for Linda tomorrow now that his original, blow-their-anniversary-out-of-the-water idea had been ruined.

Maybe he could name a Burger of the Day after her, somehow. That would be cute. 

The Leaf It to Linda burger. Comes with green leaf lettuce and lentils. 

Bob groaned and tossed that idea far away. It was about as symbolic as his infamous heart-shaped food gifts. Maybe he could just make her an omelet.

Maybe he should give up. He was good at that. Hell, just earlier he’d done it. Given up on the ring. At least Linda would know what to expect. She’d have to drag him from the bottom of the lazy river, which might be a surprise, but…

Well, no. The kids had done that instead. Which was a lot to expect from a thirteen, eleven, and nine-year old. 

As frustrating as they were—and they were so frustrating sometimes, but Bob figured that was just being a parent—they had still turned it around and done their best to locate the ring. Gene had been diligent with his best guess of a time table, telling them with startling intensity which rides he had been on in which order and for how long. They’d been out for at least an hour, probably closer to two or three, searching with the rest of the adults for would-be-Linda’s lost ring. 

And then, just as Bob had given up and was ready to nail his own coffin shut and drop it into the grave of “worst husband ever”, they had all turned around and apologized.

And he…

He…

“Craaaaaaaap.”

He’d never said a word! Nat had distracted him, and after that Mr. Wetty had shown up, and then Linda, and he was too busy falling in love all over again to realize he and his kids had to have a serious chat. 

“Crap crap crap crap.”

And after everything he’d said? Spending as long as he had in the water had seriously cooled Bob’s temper, and thinking back on it, he’d said some awful things. They could never speak to him again? They weren’t his kids anymore? They couldn’t come to his funeral?

What kind of a dad said things like that!

And what poor Louise had said? “Do you want us to go live somewhere else? We can go to an orphanage for a while,” and Bob hadn’t had the attention to deny it. 

Shit.

Bob took a deep, calming breath. He had to be calm about this, because any level of emotion beyond reasonable may just signal to them that they were about to be kicked out of their own home, and that was simply and purely unacceptable.

“Hey kids? Can you come out here? We’ve gotta talk.”

It was silent for a few beats, and then doors opened as three pairs of little bare feet padded their way out, Tina in the lead. She stopped just at the cusp of the living room, her younger siblings hidden behind her.

Bob sighed, surprise affection again coiling in his belly. They were so cute. “Come,” he said, nodding to the couch. “Come sit. No one’s in trouble.” They really should be, probably, but it was clear they had taken his words hard. Maybe that was enough punishment for one day. 

Or maybe they should be grounded for a bit. Louise at least would definitely interpret this as “look sad to get out of trouble”. 

The kids piled onto the couch, Louise squished between Gene and Tina. Bob sat on the coffee table to get to their level, resting his elbows on his knees. “First of all,” he said, looking between them, “thank you for coming to help look for the ring. You shouldn’t have taken it out of the house, and definitely not to a waterpark, but I still appreciate that you tried to fix it.”

“I didn’t mean to, Dad!” Gene said, voice quiet. “We were trying it on and it got stuck!”

Bob sighed through his nose. “I understand,” he lied, because these were thirteen-year-olds at most and at their age, he definitely had not wanted to try on his parents’ jewelry. “You and your mom have surprisingly similar finger sizes.”

“We’re sorry,” Louise said, her ears drooping just a tad as if she was in control of them. “Do… we… when do you want us to go? There’s an orphanage on the other side of town, and—“

“Louise, no,” Bob cut her off, heart tight. “You’re not going anywhere.”

The three all cringed, like somehow that was worse. Maybe they were thinking of different things. Maybe they thought Bob would do worse.

God, had he ever implied…?

“Yes, you’re all still grounded. But until the end of the week, not the rest of your lives.” He reached both hands out, one cupping Gene’s shoulder and the other cupping Tina’s. He looked all three of them full in the face, making sure he had their full attention. “And you’re not moving out, or getting kicked out, or whatever. Of course not. You were just being kids, and I don’t know what I expected, hiding anything expensive in this house with these kids.” He sighed quietly, but looked back up wearing a soft smile for them. “I forgive you. And I’m sorry. No matter how angry or frustrated I was, I shouldn’t have said what I did to you. You’re my kids, and no matter what, I love you. Okay?”

Louise looked back and forth between her older siblings, squirming nervously. Tina finally looked up at him, big blue eyes wet like she thought she’d cry. Bob’s heart would surely break if she did. “…Okay. Promise?”

“I swear.”

“Okay…” Gene and Louise copied. Louise was fisting her pants, looking down toward her little feet, and Gene squirmed.

“Bring it in?” Bob dropped their shoulders and widened his arms, urging them in. 

It took no further prompting. Louise hopped off the couch and into his lap in two hops, while Gene and Tina just slid into place in either arm. Bob squeezed them tight, hoping he could translate his affection into hug form. He felt Tina’s glasses press against his shoulder and wiggled her just a little, until she squirmed and the glasses pushed up. Gene copied her, his eyes on his other shoulder, while Louise clung to the front of his shirt like a lifeline. 

God. These were his babies, and they were the most precious things in the world to him.

One by one, he brushed back the bangs (and hat) on their foreheads and pressed a hard kiss there. “I promise,” he said firmly, even more when he felt the shoulder Gene was perched in get just a little bit wet, “that everything is okay between us. I’m still mad, but that’s never gonna change how much I love you.” He kissed Gene one last time, who was surely reeling a little harder than his sisters and always seemed more emotional than them. “You’re still my babies.”

Louise breathed a little, shaken sob and buried her face in his shirt. He squeezed them impossibly tighter to chase away hurt feelings, loving them up.

Bob wasn’t sure how long they remained there. But before they could separate, someone gasped behind them, and Linda appeared next to Gene. “My family!” She crowed, as she was wont to do. Her arms fit around them, one around Bob and one around the kids, and she squeezed them even tighter in a backbreaking hug that had the kids laughing.

“Ow, Lin!” Bob laughed after a moment, but didn’t in the slightest fight her off. Her arm around him and his arms around the kids just felt so right. This was just where the five of them belonged.

“I love my family!!”

[all-that-glitters-is-goldfish]

Blame it on the Alcohol

Pairing: Jay Halstead/Reader

Warnings: Alcohol, Vomiting

Words: ~1500

Description: Just shameless drunk flirting with the best-looking cop in Chicago.

“You’re drunk.”

“And you’re sexy.” You slur, swigging back the last of your vodka cranberry.

“Hey Herrmann, I’ll t-take anotha!” You slide your glass across the counter of the bar, relieved to see the firefighter catch it before smashing into a hundred pieces on the floor.

“Nope. No more. I’m officially cutting you off.” Jay grabs the crumpled $5 bill from your hand.

“Ey, that better be half my tip there!” Herrmann interrupts, slamming down a cup of water in front of you. “Drink that, kiddo.”

You pout your lip realizing that the two were in cahoots to restore your sobriety, but still took the cool glass to press against your parched lips.

“You’re such a party pooper.” You kick Jay playfully under the bar. “I was just celebrating my best friend’s birthday!”

You peer past Jay to look at Sylvie, your ambo partner, who was swallowing back another Jell-O shot given to her by Dawson.

“I don’t understand how someone that small can take so much alcohol.” Jay laughs, having turned around to see what you were so intrigued with.

Your eyes glare at Jay as he takes in Sylvie’s skimpy red dress. You quickly stop staring as he turns back around, his gaze glancing to the still-full cup of water beside you.

“Drink that. All of it.”

“You can’t tell me what to do.” You tease, pushing the glass further away.

“I mean it Y/N. Don’t really feel like taking care of the case of alcohol poisoning you’re about to get.”

“And what if I don’t? Are ya gonna arrest me?”

Jay smiles. “I just might.”

“Better whip out your handcuffs then.” You regret it the moment the words leave your mouth, your face burning hot in embarrassment.

You reach for your water, averting your eyes far from the detective, chugging down the drink. “I uh- I have to use the bathroom.”

Standing up from the stool a little too fast, your feet crossing awkwardly as you try to stand. You would have nosedived to the floor if it wasn’t for Jay’s strong arms and fast reflexes quickly shooting out of his seat to catch you.

“You good?” He asks.

Staring into his eyes causes a bubbling feeling to rise in your chest, that you first mistake as butterflies, but quickly realize is nausea working its way up your throat. Clasping your hand over your mouth you make a beeline to the bathroom, wriggling free from Jay’s protective hold on you. You dash past several concerned glances, ignoring your surroundings as you fall hard to your knees in front of the toilet, surely bruising them in the process.

What comes up from your stomach is a mixture of fruity cocktails and greasy food and you note that you’ll never again be eating a cheese blintz prepared by Brian Zvonecek’s baba again.

You hear the large wooden door to the bathroom open, expecting it to be Sylvie, or perhaps Gabby, but seeing Jay walk in caught you by surprise and you scramble to grab a piece of toilet paper to wipe any spew that may have landed on your chin, instead of the bowl.

“This is the woman’s room.” You really don’t want to be seen by anyone in your current state, especially not Detective Jay Halstead.

“It’s okay, I have a warrant.”

“Very funny.” You try to stand, but a wave of alcohol-induced dizziness takes over you.

“You okay?” Jay asks.

“Never better.” You reach up to flush away the toilet-full of skinny margaritas.

“Why did you let me drink so much?”

“Excuse me?” Jay cocks an eyebrow.

“You’re a cop. You should have made me stop after the third drink.”

Jay smirks, walking across the floor and gently grabbing your arm, helping you stand. You fall into him as the dizziness washes over you again, smiling as he hugs you closer. “I took your keys after the first drink.” He announces, pulling them from his pocket and dangling them in front of you. “Figured I’d let you have some fun.”

“You went into my purse? Getting a little comfortable there, aren’t you officer?”

“I’m off duty. Don’t want to have to write you up for drinking and driving.”

“You know I wouldn’t do that.”

“I know. Just being cautious. I think it’s time we get you home.”

You roll your eyes. “It’s only midnight! The party just started!”

“Don’t make me carry you out of here.”

“You wouldn’t dare.”

Jay smiles as he puts both arms around your waist, ready to lift you over his shoulders. You panic as you feel the nausea floating around in your stomach at the sudden change of motion. “No! Jay don’t please! I will throw up on you.”

He lets go, keeping one hand on your shoulder, afraid of you falling over.

“I need to grab my coat. I have a long walk home.”

“Ha. Walking. Funny.” Jay states, grabbing his own set of keys. “I’m driving you.”

“You don’t need to-“

“It’s not a discussion.”

“I’ll take a cab!” You exclaim, though your brain reminds you of the last $80 in your bank account that you did not want to blow on a taxi.

“You have a free cab right here.” Jay says motioning to himself before waving goodnight to Sylvie and the many emergency responders jampacked into Molly’s. He guides you outside, carefully leading you down the steps making sure you don’t slip, smashing your head onto the icy concrete below.

After ensuring your seatbelt is secured, after you had struggled with it for several minutes, he takes his place in the driver’s seat, pulling out of the small lot.

“You were supposed to make a left there.” You point out, realizing Jay had driven the wrong direction towards your apartment.

“Uh, Nope.”

“I know I’m drunk, but I still know where I live.”

“Oh, we’re not going to your place.”

“Huh?”

“You’re crashing at my house.”

“What?”

“Don’t need you choking on your own vomit alone.”

“So nice of you to care, but I don’t really want to sleep on your tiny sofa. I can imagine the pain in my neck already…”

“Who said you have to sleep on the couch?”

“Well, considering you live in a 1-bedroom.”

“You can take my bed. As long as you don’t puke in it.”

You chuckle, butterflies rising in your stomach as you stare at your knight-in-shining-armor. “I don’t think I can guarantee that I won’t.”

“Well, I’m prepared to burn my sheets then.”

“If you weren’t driving, I’d punch you.”

“Assaulting an officer and public intoxication. Real nice, Y/N.”

“Ooooh better punish me then, tough guy.”

Jay’s face blushes as he grins at you, side-eyeing your nervous expression.

“I mean, I could spank you, but I think that would be considered police brutality.”

You choke on nothing but air, thinking you misheard the handsome red head.

“I beg your pardon?”

“So, are you only going to flirt with me when you’re drunk? Am I too ugly for you sober? Don’t think I didn’t hear that handcuff comment earlier.”

“I-“ You can barely speak, embarrassment flooding your thoughts from working correctly.

Jay chuckles. “I’ll stop teasing till you sleep it off.”

“I- Um. Thanks? How kind of you?”

You throw your head back against the seat and close your eyes, trying to block out the streetlights flickering past your eyes as you drive down the snowy Chicago streets.

“I’m going to have such a headache in the morning.”

“Good thing my brother’s a doctor. He can get you the strong stuff.”

“Sometimes I don’t know when you’re joking.”

You smile at Jay as he finally pulls up to his apartment. He goes to open the car door before you pull him towards you by his jacket, thrusting your lips against his own, perhaps a little too hard. He’s taken aback, but quickly grabs the back of your head, pulling you in closer. Several seconds pass before you pull away, unsure of what drove you to do that.

“I’m sorry.”

“Nah, don’t be.” Jay shakes his head, blushing. “I’ve been waiting for you to do that.”

Jay exits the car, rounding the vehicle and opening the door for you on your side. You stay seated for a moment as he looks at you questioningly. “C’mon Y/N, it’s freezing.”

“I just… I was thinking.”

“Huh? About what?”

“You don’t have to sleep on the couch tonight, either.”

“Oh?” Jay grabs your hand, pulling you out of the car and pulling you into his chest.

“What do you have a Queen? I think there’s plenty of room for two people.”

“King, actually.”

“Okay well, we are not making it 3.”

“We’ll leave that up for debate.” Jay winks, helping you inside to the warm building, still clutching you close against the winter air.

[reasoncourt]

what 5 quotes would you choose as roman's character thesis statements?

I don’t remember half of what he says 😭 but here’s a kind of list.

“This is what it looks like when you resolve all your issues.” - It’s ironic how many off colour jokes he makes in this episode after saying this, alluding to how many issues he has not in fact resolved. That’s a running theme for him.

“You realize how fucked you’re going to be as soon as you’re of no use to him?” - I think he’s the sibling who understands Logan the most. Shiv and Ken think they’re smarter than they are and their attempts to get Logan to respect them consist in them trying to demonstrate to Logan how smart they are and that’s one of the reasons they always fail. If Logan disagrees with you then he doesn’t think you’re smart. The actual way to get Logan on side is to figure out what Logan wants to hear + how to be of use to Logan. Roman, i think, is the only one of the siblings who understands this about him. Obviously, his understanding of this is overriden by his emotions sometimes but the understanding is still there.

“You’re like a peppy fun-gun set to MILF, with a Lean-In, woman-y branding thing that works with the Fit-Bit-moron-whatever-people.” - I just like the way he reads people. I mean, this was him basically telling Rhea there wasn’t an in with him but also, it’s pretty true to his perception of the world. Everything is a game and everyone is wearing a mask to advance themselves in the game. He’s calling out the mask Rhea’s wearing and he does this a lot with other people as well. I actually think one of Roman’s biggest frustrations is that he doesn’t think there’s anybody real in his life (I think Tabitha, Grace, and Brian (my love, brian) are the only people who he thought weren’t wearing a mask with him) (I would add Gerri but season 3 finale would have ruined that for him, unfortunately).

“Look, if we come through this… is there a thing where we like… talk to each other about stuff? Normally?” - His intense need for his siblings to take him seriously and not joke about trauma. Him coming back after the hostage situation and immediately being laughed at was brutal. He’s never treated seriously. I’m almost certain he could tell his family something serious that’s happened to him and everyone a part from Connor would laugh as if it were a joke. He’s kept up the schtick for so long that he doesn’t know how to get it to end. Even when he said this to Ken and Shiv, Shiv immediately made fun of him (all of them are uncomfortable talking about their feelings so that’s not to shade shiv btw)

“napkins and chitchat. ooooh race relations. kale” - I honestly just find this quote amusing. But, I also think social interaction is all a performance he finds irritating. There’s always someone he wants to impress and some way he feels he doesn’t measure up for them. I think he low key wants this normal interaction with his sister and his girlfriend because he wants to be normal for tabitha and he feels like he’s coming up short.