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embracethemadmess · 2 years

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Dreaming with the Witch- #4a Bewitched

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Ships: Steven Grant/Marc Spector, Marc Spector/Wanda Maximoff

Categories: F/M, M/M

Summary: Steven is refusing to sleep at night again, but this time he also doesn’t want to front during the day, so Marc has to cover for him at work, running on little to no sleep every day, straining his voice on -quite bad- British soft accent. If that wasn’t enough, there’s this third alter still actively moon knighting without the other two knowing. All this leaves the body completely exhausted and, well, on the edge of falling apart. One time the system meets a witch willing to help heal both the body and the disturbed minds in it.

Chapter summary: First part of the chapter called Let your body talk to me, saying everything I need, in which we're gonna dive deep into Marc's past, including his relationship with his mother, his traumatic time in the army, as well as the abuse he's gone through in psych ward. In this particular part, though, the system meets Wanda again.

wordcount: 6048

a/n: Between my moving out, sick cats and working full time, the plans for this chapter changed a bit and I had to start from the end. Fun fact, this was supposed to be the shortest one of the three parts, but my word doc says its length is similar to the previous whole chapter :))))) hehe, I'm so done with myself, honestly. Enjoy reading this mess of a story, I'd appreciate your opinion on it. Talk to me, lovelies xx.

Disclaimer: I'm expanding my knowledge of the D.I.D., but I do know research isn't always enough, so please feel free to correct me if I got anything wrong in the series.

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He doesn't know where he is, who he is with and how he ended up there.

Everything seems too far away; the harsh reality is twinkling at him with the shine of the most carefully polished diamond enticing the eyes of a robber from behind the thick weaves of the mourning veil called powerlessness, distant and exclusive, forbidding his eyes the privilege of observing his surroundings, and his ears of hearing what wicked rumours are being spread of a miserable creature that he is.

What he does know, is he makes quick work of gathering neatly in the centre of his foggy mind, guided by the hatred of being left in the dark - unprepared for a fight, at the mercy of what's about to come at him.

New pieces of information flood his brain as he's trying to dot-paint the work of art of his current situation on a shredded canvas of his numbed senses.

There isn't much that he can hear, his heart throbbing ear-splittingly loud is taking almost all of the space made for sound to be heard, but in between rapid beats, a voice barely above whisper tries to enter in a mission of straddling his temples with the sweetness of caramelized almonds. It's calling for him like a siren song lures sailors to destruction, and it sends shivers down his everything - his bones shaking within the coat of flesh, the blood boiling inside his veins, his skin sinking under the hills made out of crispation.

"Easy, soldier," the voice, most likely a woman's voice, says. "I've got you."

The tone she's using is soft, his injured brain states. It's soft and warm like a favourite blanket in the middle of winter that one puts over their lap on a couch to rest in front of a TV with a mug of hot cocoa burning the skin of their hand in the nicest way possible. He doesn't second-guess the fact that he likes that tone.

Contrary to his hearing, his feeling seems to be working overtime with everything hitting him all at once. His heart pounding against his ribcage in the rhythm of his panting; hot breaths bouncing off the wall of skin close to his mouth and coming right back at him, crashing over the hairs of his own bearded chin; his knees weakening slowly under the weight of his limp body; cold waves of wind assaulting his bare arms as if deeply offended he dared to stand on its way in the voyage across London; accelerated pulse underneath fingertips clawing at her neck and pressing there with descending strength; pulsating pain cuddling the knuckles of that same hand; and finally - the way a scarlet-red trickle of blood is staining its way from his forehead down his face, breaking pale skin in two almost equal islands of pure distraught.

He's hurt, not only emotionally, but also physically, or so it seems. Having imaged things that weren't true for years that day, he can't be sure if he's actually bleeding, and even if he wanted to ask, he couldn't; his voice stuck deep in his throat, blocked by the lump resting there.

Once he has finally let go of her neck, allowing his hand to slide down the delicate porcelain of skin on her chest and through her breast clothed in a black blouse, he feels his knees give up completely, to which he answers with a weak sigh slipping through his lips. He doesn't fall, though, even if he's prepared for it by closing his eyes and jaw clenching in direct response to pain about to strike him. Instead, a pair of arms is being wrapped around his waist in a matter of seconds to keep him in place, standing still in a warm embrace, although with his face squeezed a little by the cheek of her tilted to the side head as if in attempt to hold him tight with everything she has to ensure his safety.

"Gosh, you're heavy."

As she says it, the beginning of her struggle hits all of his senses and yet, he can't do much to support her trembling legs under the weight of two bodies, or her back leaning dangerously far back in order to create a surface for him to lie on; despite his willingness to help, he can't force his limbs to tense up and stand on his own, so he just is there, with his face nestled to the crook of her neck and his nose between two small buttons of her blouse.

"Hold on," she mutters as if he had a choice, a hint of labour engraved in the rhythm of her breathing right across his ear. One of her arms then leaves his waist while the other grips the fabric of his shirt tighter and he wants to protest, whether against her abandoning him or Steven's favourite shirt being crumpled in her fist - he doesn't know and frankly, he doesn't care. He wants to say something, craves to let out a growl and maybe pick up his pride from the level of the lowest circle of hell that he thinks he has dropped accidentally when he landed in her arms in the first place, but he can't and sadly, it's quickly added to the long list of things he despised himself for.

While he's busy fighting with his own thoughts, from the corner of his eyes he sees her palm facing the ground on her side, with fingers bent in a way he would call uncomfortable, and red energy coming out of them, bolting to the cold concrete just a moment before they're both standing upright again. She's no longer ruining his shirt, instead, she gives his lower back a few gentle pats prior to leaving him be - still a little dazed and unsure. His brows furrow at his body feeling weirdly light being held in place by the very same scarlet mist surrounding him from every angle from his toes to his hips, dancing blithely between his legs and even around his shoulders and head, as he takes quick notice of some swirls in these areas.

What's also there, is the familiar pressure right behind his eyes which he feels like he hasn't felt in months. It's not invasive like in old times - in fact, it's barely there, subtle, gentle like the person it's associated with.

Marc, Steven purrs into his ears, a clear worry soaking his voice. Love, are you alright?

"Hey," is all Marc can muster to breathe in hush tones. Despite everything, that had happened that day, despite all the blue feelings pushing and pulling him in every way like a rag doll, his voice still sounds stern, the tone of it still floats on a low register. The only real difference that can be heard is the obvious relief in it.

Before he can say something else, ensure his headmate that yes, he's fine now, and maybe hide under some basic statements the fact that he missed his voice, the woman in front of him lights up a little at his greeting.

"Hey," she repeats after him, eyes bright not because of the red glow covering her irises, but because of the delight wrinkling the corners of them and pulling the corners of her lips upwards slightly but enough to bare a few of her teeth. This smile suits her, Marc can't help himself but think as soon as he sees how genuine her expression seems from where he's standing.

Blimey, she looks gorge with that braid. Steven's voice catches his attention again, causing him to frown at the revelation. Indeed, her hair was loosely braided on one side of her head, falling lazily on her shoulder on full display, with a few lonely strands refusing to stay in a rusty-red plait.

"What 'r you up to?" Marc means this question for Steven as he feels a stronger tug in his chest that almost makes him wince, but since Steven can't be seen by the outer world, in his opinion it becomes quite fair that it's Wanda who tilts her head again, this time guided by curiosity, not a difficulty, and folds her hands over her chest, the looseness of it imitating that of the braid perfectly. The black puffy sleeves of her blouse look massive in comparison to the rest of her petite figure.

"Well, actually... I was thinking of coffee, maybe...," a hesitant reply enters the air between them, more of a question rather than a statement. "Wanna grab one with me?" comes next and Marc raises both of his eyebrows in pure surprise. Like everything the body does when he's in command, it happens quickly, almost unnoticeably - every emotion vanishing from his face as soon as it crawls under the skin there, taking over facial muscles for a fraction of time so tiny, one could miss it with a blink of an eye.

He then notices he's no longer drowning in the red mist of hers, to which he responds by smoothing the fabric of the patterned shirt on his stomach, then lifts one of his hands and clears his throat, coughing once in the closed fist before opening his mouth with clear intention to politely decline her invitation. He feels fuzzy, his head migraine-heavy, yet uniquely light at the same time, like all his thought have been somehow captured in a bubble and squeezed shut, away from his consciousness.

The delicate fragrance of something - tangerines and vanilla, he thinks - hits his nostrils, takes his attention away from how the redhead's eyes turn the natural shade of green again.

"Eh, y-yeah, why not."

Excuse you, what?! Usually sweet, the tone of the Brit's voice at this moment sounds more like a shriek of an irritating quality, causing Marc to flutter his eyes shut, pain sitting in the deep crease between his knitted brows. Steven seems not to care at all, though and continues spilling words of a lecture that ring in his ears and echo throughout his entire skull, Are you mad, it - no, Marc, it takes two to decide in this household - or is it bodyhold? Dunno, the point is, we've just voted no, haven't we? My days, you've just said it out loud, are you really gonna change your mind just 'cause she asked the same question twice?

Steven is babbling, meaning he's either irritated with him or nervous, that much Marc is sure of. Probably both, is the conclusion he settles with. Maybe he can feel Marc's desperate need for water, too, since he's shuddering internally, feeling extremely cold on the outside and quite hot from within. He almost slips there a little, close to actually flinching hard at the mix of dehydration and his headmate's reprimand, but he manages to catch himself and trap the body in his signature tension before the woman in front of him takes notice of it. Though, for a moment he wonders if he wasn't too late with that reaction, simply due to the way he finds her staring at him with a look intense enough to make him want to curl up in himself and hide the exposed nerve he thinks he has somehow become in the face of that studying gaze.

"Wanna share with the class what's on your mind that took your head high up to the clouds?" she asks, voice just above the whisper, which he wouldn't catch if it wasn't for his constant wariness. There's this ghost of a smile, dancing on her lips, that holds the warmth of a thousand suns.

Marc sighs. "It's just that...," he mouths, his hand jolting to the back of his head to rub at the skin of his nape. "I don't think'm a good companion, I feel like shit."

As soon as he admits that, with a nonchalant shrug and eyes focused on everything but her look, she's visibly biting a widened smile that tries to deepen mimic crinkles on her cheeks. For a moment it looks like she's contemplating something before she takes a single step toward him.

"Being absolutely honest with you, you kinda look like shit, too." There's a playful glint in her eyes when she says it, then takes another cautious step while gesturing at his forehead. "May I?" A question equally cautious arises in the small space between them, making Marc arch one of his brows, doubt clear as glass nearly breaking the indecipherable expression.

Slowly, he nods but his glare follows her every move as she gently touches the skin in the centre of his forehead, thumb hesitantly sliding down his face in almost the exact same route he's tracked the blood earlier. The feeling of release comes after, there's no longer this dull sensation boring into his frontal lobe and he hides his surprise well, even if he feels himself grow more and more suspicious of her doing.

"That's better," she mutters as if to herself, then without any explanation turns around and starts walking toward the nearest gate. Marc's nose wrinkles when he doesn't feel the itch of blood staining his skin, and he scratches the expression away with a knuckle, almost instantly hissing under his breath at his own stupidity, being painfully reminded of the presence of fresh cuts and wound swelling decorating both of his hands.

Marc, please, just- just allow your survival mode to kick in, yeah, and let's go home, la-

Steven's in his ears again, cut off almost right away; his voice is carrying a full range of the worst emotions Marc can find in it - dread, concern, panic, all tied by extreme fatigue that Marc's feeling as well. Has been feeling for a while now.

"You coming?" Wanda - he genuinely hopes he remembers the right name - calls after him, glancing from over her shoulder, and when she sees he hasn't moved an inch, she doesn't even wait for him to answer, already coming back to where she previously stood. "C'mon, it's just a quick coffee break." Her talking reminds him so much of Steven's babbling at the moment, which makes him wonder whether it's a sign of stress in her case, too. "Promise I'll let you go right after. Won't even force you to order a pastry. And I'm pretty sure I've seen a small café right down the street, so it's not like we have to tramp for miles to get there."

By the time she's done talking, she's already standing by his side, lightly grasping his elbow. He doesn't expect it at all, therefore he jerks away like he's been burned by the touch, his jaw clenched, his hands closed into fists lifted defensively as if ready for a fight. As a response, he gets her wide-open eyes and mouth opened agape, with her arms raised in surrender and her legs moving back in an attempt of restoring the distance between them.

"Sorry," she says apologetically and clears her throat, a clear sign of discomfort. "Didn't mean to scare you."

He scoffs at the implication. "'s fine, you didn't scare me." I don't like being touched unexpectedly, plays the lower parts in the harmony of his reply, hidden but giving the statement the right, a little dark shade of seriousness.

They're walking side by side, their shoulders don't brush against each other even once. Marc is dragging his legs rather than actually walking, lazily but cautiously following Wanda wherever she is leading them; his gaze is focused on the ground as always, not really interested in the world before him, but his body is set slightly rightward to where she's taking one step after another at a mild pace, whether to block a possible attack on her or to block an attack from her - he doesn't really know. They don't talk, even Steven has resigned to aimless naming things they're seeing along the way, but that doesn't mean they're stuck in uncomfortable silence; actually, it's better this way, Marc thinks, neither of them feels compelled to fill the space in with useless words and they don't draw the unwanted attention of random passers-by.

Dog.

Marc is walking along the edge of the pavement as he always does when women accompany him, in case they stumble, it's easier to catch them, preventing them from falling under speeding cars. He's done this so many times with Layla and even girls before her, it became part of his nature, the only exception being his mother.

Kind-looking old lady.

He notices Wanda has her hands casually shoved into the back pockets of her black jeans, though there seems to be something off about her behaviour. He could be wrong, but she looks way less relaxed than she was at the back of the museum Steven's working at. Despite not looking directly at her, he can see from the corner of his eye that at some point her body has welcomed the tension twin to his own, letting it devour her bone-deep.

Fancy car.

It's interesting, Marc admits to himself, to see someone else equally disturbed in public. He has watched Steven from the comfort of the backseat of their head for years, a silent observant of the mundane life his headmate has created for himself, so he always knew Steven shared this personality trait with him, although driven by completely different reasons - Marc avoided crowds because he felt out of control over a situation and overwhelmed by the possible danger waiting for him around the corner, too many alien faces to be wary of, too little space to see a knife or a punch coming his way; Steven to some extend craved relationships with people, which made him more trusting than Marc would ever allow himself to be, but he also always preferred meeting one or two people at a time, simply due to the fact that, if there were more people around him than he could focus at, an intrusive thought would creep into his mind making him feel anxious that they were laughing at him and talking behind his back about how big of a weirdo he was. But still, Steven was always a part of him, a part of his world, a treasure Marc felt he needed to protect. They were in this together, even if for the most part Steven wasn't even aware of him. Layla was always open to the world, she liked people, she enjoyed being around them, or at least didn't ever mind being among them. She smiled a lot, she had no trouble making friends - that she wasn't exactly honest while doing so, it was between her and those who would catch her red-handed, Marc being one of the very few examples. She would never get uncomfortable in a crowded place like the city of London mid-day like Wanda did now, apparently.

Some daft cow on an electric scooter.

"Oh, for fuck's sake." The man curses out loud, a raspy voice cutting through the silence between him and his company like a sharp knife. That earns him her furrowed brows, so he quickly gestures toward the kid crossing the street. "He should get off the scooter before the zebra crossing," he murmurs as an explanation, then takes his eyes off of what's in front of him and devotes himself to looking at the sidewalk beneath them. Her understanding nod is the last thing he sees and Steven's huffed sigh is the last thing he hears concerning this topic.

Silence coats their fragile forms once again, letting them gather their thoughts in peace, so neither of them would say something they don't mean.

Ladybird.

Marc grunts in warning, even though Steven's voice overlaps with the sound of a bullet being shot that his mind has pulled out of the darkest corner of his memory just for him, and a part of him is grateful to the Londoner. Nonetheless, it's a threat and Steven's well aware of it, so he goes silent right away, not daring to speak again for the rest of their little trip down the street.

Call me weak once more and I'ma stick the next bullet up you fuckin' ass, understood?

The American grips the doorknob tight enough for his knuckles to go white from the force. He pulls the door, lets Wanda in first and blindly follows her to the second floor of Selfridges where they're welcomed by grey walls with big mirrors placed in the middle of every panel created by some kind of purple flowers draped down to the diners as well as hanging from the ceiling. There were... a lot of flowers in there, too many for Marc's liking, settled quite literally everywhere, not only on walls but also bureaus in shades of milky white and greyish baby blue, and atop windowsills, amongst the putrid green of moss.

On their way to one of the free tables, he sees some young women dressed in an awful shade of pink dresses, one of them sitting with a superstitious smile on her face, a cup of coffee in her hands and a wicker bag put at the table, posing for pictures the other one is taking. He rolls his eyes at the sight, then catches a glimpse of his reflection in one of the mirrors - the figure, so much alike but clearly not him, is holding his hands close to his chest and looking around the place, amazement written all over his face - and he lets out a defeated sigh because of course, he should've guessed his headmate would appreciate a climate like this one.

Wanda chooses the table by the windowsill, Marc pulls out a chair for her before taking the seat opposite. He's sitting straight, averting his eyes from Wanda's exploring gaze, toying with his watch as a distraction for his shaking hands. He can't necessarily say the atmosphere looming over them is tense or heavy, it's just that he doesn't have anything to say to her; hell, he doesn't even know why he agreed to come here with her. His headmate also couldn't understand, Marc judges by the pout painted on his face that he's gracing him with from the mirror above the redhead woman.

The energy seems to have shifted, even though nothing really changed besides the air becoming lighter as if their presence got somehow erased from the consciousness of people around them. He doesn't mind any of it, in fact, it causes him to exhale deeply and lean back against the backrest.

Steven, on the other hand, has his arms crossed over his chest, an attempted - and failed - intimidation dancing across the soft edges of his face. Marc quickly decides not to spare him any attention.

Understood?!

His own voice, dripping with rage, spitting venom mixed with unshed tears, rings in his ears, followed by the sound of a thud. It purses his lips in a thin line, deepens his frown, and even almost forces him to squeeze his eyes shut, but he fights against it; swallows it hard, sending it down to the lowest pit of his stomach.

"Good afternoon," an audibly bored greeting enters the closest space around them. Marc turns his head to his right only to see a young waitress nearing their table, and tilts it to the side at what he wetnesses next; one second the girl looks like she doesn't even care to hide tiredness crawling out of every pore in her pale skin, not a trace of professionalism in the way she's approaching them - the next she has a polite smile stretching her lips upwards and sprinkles of joy spilt across her eyes as she continues: "What can I get you today?"

"Well, I came in here with a coffee in mind, but now I think I'd rather get a cup of frothed milk with a drop of honey, please."

Marc's neck almost snaps from him rapidly turning his head back to Wanda after he hears that same sweet tone of her voice he's started associating with her, now sounding a bit different due to the sudden change of an accent. His face betrays nothing, though, and he clears his throat when the waitress directs her focus to him.

"Tripleshot of espresso to go," he says without even a hint of hesitation, which earns him a suspicious look from the green eyes in front of him. There's something hidden in them, something Marc rarely sees - worry. Wanda throws a glance at his hands, then she looks back at his face while gesturing with a flat palm of her lifted hand for the waitress to wait a moment. "I'm not staying," Marc adds automatically before she cuts him off.

"How many of 'em have you drunk already?"

Mommyboy's gonna cry?

Steady beats of his heart are starting to pick up pace as the derision bounces off the walls of his skull, echoing mercilessly. He feels his lungs pressing against his ribs, it's painful and it makes breathing difficult, causing him to clench his fingers in a fist around the chain of his watch in a desperate need for an outlet of some sort.

Soon there are two other hands covering his own, loosening his grip and disconnecting them just so the owner can take them in her own. It's a gentle movement, her thumbs rubbing swollen knuckles as if he was about to shutter any minute from now; as if he was drowning in agony.

Which wasn't so far from the truth, but that's something he doesn't intend to reveal.

"Yeah, we'll have two frothed milks with honey, please, both to go." With these words Wanda turns to the waitress, sending a warm smile her way. "Names are Marc and Wanda."

"I don't-"

"I'm not trained in dealing with heart attacks, Marc, and I sure a hell don't wanna witness one today," is what she answers to his protests with, cutting him off before he's even got a chance to spit out his rights.

The waitress exits the booth they're sitting in, Marc could swear he sees her flinching a few steps away from their table, her arms slacking to the position he first noticed when she approached them. Normally, it would feel weird and Marc would want to investigate. Normally, he would stand up and walk out the door without saying anything, because it would be clear to him that something was wrong and he didn't like it. Normally, he most likely wouldn't even be in such a place with a person he's only met once.

Normally. But nothing about his current state is normal, therefore he simply rolls with it.

He can't say it's not impressive in his eyes, that she sounds so confident and the look on her face shows pure determination when his frown is so prominent it almost hurts his forehead to strain the muscles any longer. He's used to the fact that his murderous glare intimidates his opponents to the point they trail off in what they're saying and avoid his eyes, looking for the easiest way out of the confrontation. She - Wanda - keeps her head up, eyes never leaving his when she asks:

"How many sleepless nights do you have behind you?"

Marc doesn't answer. Instead, he makes himself more comfortable in his seat, taking his hands away from underneath hers, placing one of them on his lap and pinching at the moss with the other. All while pretending he hasn't noticed healthy skin on his knuckles that were very much covered in wounds up until a moment ago.

"What's with the accent?" he asks after staring her up and down. The smile on her face turns from genuine to bitter in a matter of seconds and she lowers her head as she lets the question fully sink in, at least that's what Marc think is happening. She doesn't respond for a moment which leads him to elaborate his thought, "Clearly, you ordered with an American accent but when no one's around but me, you speak with a different accent, a bit harsher one, Slavic-sounding. Bulgarian, perhaps?"

Sokovian.

"Sokovian." Both Wanda and Steven answer at the same time, at which Marc's brow arches slightly. He nods, signing for her to continue. "I'm keeping their minds in a fog, so they don't freak out when they see me. But- ahh, even though I can control what they hear and how they react to it, with the way they hear it it's always a gamble. American accent helps with staying incognito, it's umm, the final self-defence mechanism."

The man hums in reply. For a moment he seems deeply immersed in thoughts, not saying anything, only picking at the moss, and she waits patiently, with fingers of one of her hands fiddling with a button of her blouse.

"So, you're a witch, huh?" He doesn't sound like anything, really, when he queries. His tone is monotone, flat just like the expression he's wearing on his face. Not a spark of freight in the brown of his eyes, not a twitch of snark pulling at the corners of plump lips. A facade impossible to penetrate is what his mien resembles. On the outside, the inside is a whole different story; in his chest, the heart is hammering against the hardness of his ribcage, bruising with each drop of blood pumped from it, the lungs are refusing to give out too much oxygen to the body already rotting with guilt, causing shortness of breath, and the nerves abusing their power over the muscles of his legs, sending tremors down his foot. He receives sensation after sensation telling him Steven wants him to leave the place and hide in the safety of their flat, but he forces himself to sit still, simply because he isn't believing in the concept of safety this day.

His eyes abandon the few freckles sprinkled on her cheeks in favour of the waitress entering their booth with two different-looking paper cups. He thanks her on behalf of both of them, then watches as Wanda takes her cup and then takes a few lazy sips of her frothed milk. His question rests between them unanswered long enough for him to start forgetting it even has been spoken aloud, but finally, she parts her lips in response,

"Does it matter to you?" a question to a question, not really polite of her, he thinks to himself and his eyes soften just a tad at that thought.

"No."

"I am," she replies properly this time. Then adds, "but you already knew that, didn't you?"

"Yes." He feels his headmate huff at him for lying like that, it's so dramatic that he can almost visualise the Britishman's eye-rolling him with his arms folded against his chest. "You said them, not you. Means my mind is being spared?"

"Yes." A short reply is meant as an echo, he gets this much from the gentle smile she serves him right after. A mimicry of his previous response, as she elaborates without him loosening her tongue. "I don't have to. When we first met, you didn't panic, you didn't run away screaming, or call me a monster worse than Thanos, even though you were scared. You still are, yet you're here talking to me, knowing full well I could torture or kill you."

"M'not scared."

Yeah, sorry... She's prolly talking about me.

Marc resists the urge to deepen the frown pulling his brows down, instead, he rubs the skin under the tail of his right brow with his left thumb, using this movement to cover up his panicked glance at his ankle as a direct result of a sudden feeling of restraint squeezing the bone there. Painful memory fades away as fast as it's become vivid in his mind, shocking him to the core with its intensity, leaving his lips even more dried and his soul even more shattered.

"Been both tortured and killed before," he says after clearing his throat to avoid the risk of something in the tune of a squeak ripping out of it instead of his usual low voice. "Got bored, came back." There's an obvious nonchalance slow-dancing on the tone he uses while saying it, and he knows he seems relaxed as ever, even if the experience he's referencing couldn't be more traumatizing if it tried.

Wanda squints at him. She says nothing as she takes in the sight of him, studies his face again, and for a moment he finds himself fearing for her to read his true colours. Then she visibly relaxes, leaning back in a more comfortable position, crossing her arms loosely enough to still be able to drink her sweet milk. He tries some of his - it's a bit too sugary for his liking, but overall the milky foam tastes quite good, its light form tickling his palate before warming his throat. He won't ever admit it and he most likely will never drink it again, so he lets himself enjoy the drink for a minute.

"So..." with it, she initiates a question that he already knows he won't like. "Are you gonna tell me how long it's been since you last had a good night's sleep?"

There's this soft smile playing on her lips again to let him know she means well and it's working because he knows she has good intentions behind what she wants to know of him. All the same, he still can't gather up the energy to reciprocate all that. That's why he decides to get up, finally listen to his mate, his lad up in his head, cosily sitting right behind his eyes.

"M'fine," he states for the nth time that day as his fingers curl around the paper cup, with 'Mark' written lopsidedly on it, and lift it, so he can take it with him. His other hand reaches down the front pocket of Steven's chinos to fish out two banknotes and put them on the table.

Before he takes his first step, though, Wanda closes her own, velvety-smooth hand around his wrist, with one simple yet not too intrusive gesture stopping him in his tracks for a moment she doesn't intend on wasting.

"Let me help you, for your friend's sake if not for your own."

Both he and Steven raise their brow at her words. The latter says something, Marc knows he does, even if it's not audible around his skull, he just senses it. He, on the other hand, just licks the left corner of his lips in preparation to speak. The exchange then happens too quick.

"What friend?"

"You have so many that you have to know the name?"

"I don't have any, that's how I know you're lying."

While she remains silent, he takes the time to properly think his own words through, and let them sink in. He means it, he doesn't have any friends. Always a lone wolf, always unwilling to trust anyone, always too hurt already or locked away from people considered normal by social standards. He had a friend; Layla was the closest person he ever let near him, the closest person to a real friend. Could've been just that if he wasn't the way he was, keeping his distance, hiding things from her, keeping secrets so crucial for their happiness buried in his heart just like Ammit's tomb was buried in the sands of Ancient Egypt. Losing her in Cairo just like he's lost her father.

"Layla," he hears from the outside of his mind which snaps him back to reality. Unspoken question writes itself all over his face while he's drowning in the pale emerald of her eyes, utterly lost for words and on the edge of a stroke caused by shock only. "You wanted the name, right?" is the question she raises next, a bit too early for him to fully comprehend it. "Now, will you let me help you?"

Marc stares her up and down. His thoughts are racing, each one weakening him, each one deafening the outer world so he'd ultimately be left trapped within his own scarred mind, away from the sense of mortality, of humanity.

Steven lets out a sigh.

#moon knight fic #the scarlet witch fic #dreaming with the witch #marc spector #steven grant #jake lockley #wanda maximoff #marc spector x wanda maximoff #marcwanda #marcsteven #moon knight x scarlet witch #mcu moon knight #mcu scarlet witch #moon knight scarlet witch au #jewish moon knight #jewish scarlet witch

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parksaversnews · 2 months

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Haunted Mansion Ride Review

The Haunted Mansion at Disneyland is one of the park's most iconic and beloved dark rides. Since opening in 1969, it has been thrilling foolish mortals with its 999 happy haunts. For fans of the supernatural, the Haunted Mansion balances laughs and spooks perfectly. This review aims to showcase why the ride has remained a beloved Disneyland classic for over 50 years.

Table of Contents - Ride Information - Wait Times, Height Requirements, Single Rider, Duration, Genie+/Lightning Lane, Rider Switch, Location, Early Entry - History and Design - Original Concept and Evolution - Exterior Architecture and Queue - Interior Design and Technology - Ride Experience - Stretching Room - Doom Buggies - Key Scenes and Effects - Animatronics and Characters - Holiday Overlay and Pet Cemetery - Tips for Riders - Comparison to Other Disney Parks https://youtu.be/ktoZWTQ1tc0?si=z8SsXwLrtVwvyHpF Ride Information The Haunted Mansion is located in New Orleans Square at Disneyland Park. It has been thrilling guests since it opened on August 9, 1969. Average Wait Times: The standby wait times vary greatly by season and time of day. In the busy summer and holiday seasons, afternoon waits can exceed 60–90 minutes. Early morning and late evening waits are typically 30 minutes or less. Height Requirement: There is no height requirement for The Haunted Mansion, making it suitable for guests of all ages. Single Rider: There is no single rider line offered. All guests must wait in the standby or Lightning Lane queue. Ride Duration: The total experience lasts around 10–15 minutes from entering the queue to exiting the doom buggies. The ride portion is approximately 7 minutes long. Genie+ and Lightning Lane: Haunted Mansion is available to book using the paid Genie+ (formerly FastPass) and individual Lightning Lane services, subject to availability. Rider Switch: The Haunted Mansion has an active Rider Switch program to accommodate guests with small children who meet the requirements. Early Entry: Haunted Mansion is not part of early entry, unfortunately. Best Times to Ride: During parades/shows, right at park open and the hour before closing typically have the shortest standby waits.

History and Design The idea for a haunted house attraction at Disneyland originated with Walt Disney himself in the early 1950s during the initial planning and construction of the park. Various concepts were considered over the years, originally envisioned as a walk-through wax museum before evolving into the iconic dark ride we know today. Original Concept and Evolution In 1957, an early concept envisioned the attraction as a New Orleans-style plantation home that would transition from an opulent mansion to a ramshackle ghost house as guests walked through. However, Walt insisted that he did not want any part of Disneyland to appear run down. In 1961 the project was put on hold as Walt devoted his team's full attention to creating attractions for the 1964 World's Fair. After the Fair, development resumed in 1965. Legendary Disney animators and Imagineers Marc Davis, Claude Coats, Yale Gracey and X Atencio joined the project and changed the concept from a walk-through to a dark ride using innovative ride systems. The storyline and tone evolved to have a balance between spooks and humor, with music and effects setting the mood. Exterior Architecture and Queue The final design for the exterior was inspired by the Shipley-Lydecker House in Baltimore, built in 1803. The architecture mirrors the antebellum mansions found throughout the American South in the mid 19th century. The façade features white columns, ornate moldings, and decorative ironwork. The interactive queue includes the pet cemetery, musical crypts, and floating instruments while guests wait to enter. The grounds are landscaped with weeping trees and plants to appear abandoned and in mourning. Interior Design and Technology Inside, Claude Coats designed surreal endless hallways, morphing corridors, ghostly ballrooms, and haunting graveyards. Marc Davis counterbalanced with humorous scenes and characters. The various rooms and scenes were achieved using groundbreaking illusions and special effects for the time. The ride introduced the innovative Omnimover system to transport Doom Buggies through the attraction. The buggies can rotate to ensure guests see key scenes. Other effects like the floating candles, dancing ghosts, and hitchhiking spirits utilize Pepper's Ghost, a 19th century illusion technique using glass and lighting. The audio-animatronics, lighting, and set decoration further enhance the mood and effects throughout the ride. The Ghost Host narration guides visitors through the mansion as part of the storytelling.

Ride Experience The Haunted Mansion takes riders on a 7-minute tour through the supernatural realm of "999 Happy Haunts." The experience begins even before boarding the Doom Buggies, setting the tone through immersive visuals, sounds and special effects. Stretching Room After passing the pet cemetery, guests enter the Portrait Gallery stretching room. As the Ghost Host delivers his spiel, the room appears to magically elongate upwards, revealing changing portraits and flying objects. In reality, the ceiling remains fixed as the floor descends, but the effect is startling. Doom Buggies Guests then board the Doom Buggies, vehicles inspired by early 20th century funeral coaches that can rotate to direct the riders' attention. The buggies utilize Disney's innovative Omnimover system to transport visitors through the various scenes of the attraction. Key Scenes and Effects As you travel through the Endless Hallway, ghosts seem to materialize and vanish before your eyes. In the Ballroom, apparitions dance and revel to haunting music. Ghouls pop up from behind tombstones in the Graveyard. Spectral figures also appear in the Attic, Grand Hall, and other rooms. Madame Leota floats within her crystal ball, conducting a chilling séance. A ghostly organist plays a melancholy tune. And three Hitchhiking Ghosts may just follow you home! These iconic characters and scenes have made the Haunted Mansion famous. Animatronics and Characters In addition to the dancing ghosts and Leota, the ride features several incredibly detailed audio-animatronic figures. The Bride, holding a hatchet, stands frozen in the Attic scene. A ghostly organist plays a massive pipe organ. And the Caretaker and his dog cower in the pet cemetery. The three Hitchhiking Ghosts - Phineas, Ezra, and Gus - appear in your Doom Buggy at the end of the ride. These playful spooks may just try to follow you out of the mansion!

Holiday Overlay and Pet Cemetery Every September, the Haunted Mansion transforms into a Nightmare Before Christmas theme for Halloween and Christmas. Jack Skellington and Oogie Boogie appear throughout the ride, and music from the film plays. The gingerbread men in the ballroom become creepy insects, and the attic features presents and trees. The pet cemetery outside the mansion is often overlooked but has some humorous tombstones dedicated to deceased pets like good old Fred who was crushed by a rock. During the holidays, Jack's ghost dog Zero gets a tombstone here too.

Tips for Riders - Look for the Hidden Mickey that appears on the plates in the ballroom scene - Be sure to see the Hatbox Ghost in the endless hallway with the floating candelabra - Listen for the deep organ music and try to spot the ghostly organist - See how many ghosts you can count in the cemetery and ballroom scenes - Watch out for those Hitchhiking Ghosts at the end - don't pick up any extra passengers!

Comparison to Other Disney Parks While based on the original Disneyland ride, the Magic Kingdom and Tokyo Disneyland Haunted Mansions differ in their exterior architecture and some show scenes. The Disneyland Paris Phantom Manor features an entirely different backstory and darker tone. Magic Kingdom: Liberty Square location, brick façade, more colonial aesthetic, additional graveyard scenes. Tokyo Disneyland: Fantasyland location, imposing gothic architecture, unique holiday overlay. Disneyland Paris: Frontierland as Phantom Manor, Victorian architecture, scarier tone and effects, unique bride backstory. In the end, the iconic Disneyland Haunted Mansion set the standard, balancing humor and spooks perfectly to stand the test of time as a Magic Kingdom classic attraction.

Conclusion For over 50 years, the Haunted Mansion has been thrilling foolish mortals with its 999 happy haunts. From its iconic southern façade to the chilling graveyard finale, this dark ride masterfully combines storytelling, innovation, and special effects. The rich detail and dynamic scenes reward repeat rides. For many guests, a visit to Disneyland isn't complete without a tour from the Ghost Host into this beloved realm of the supernatural. Do you dare enter the Haunted Mansion? There's always room for one more... Read the full article

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sw4tch · 2 years

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Ok so i know i said i have 3 active wips already BUTTTTTTTT

One more. Bcus i can't seem to let go of this idea:

mk canon divergence fic where Marc DOES stay in the field of reeds. He stays. He stays.

Steven is left in the Duat.

And what happens to the body?

Jake gets the body in the end. It's his, he's the only one left.

My main idea for this fic would be to explore the idea of Jake slowly coming to terms with the fact that he's the one that got left behind. He has to start living a life left incomplete by Marc.

He also mourns 2 people he never truly deeply knew.

And he mourns Steven the most, after slowly piecing together the kind of person he was from everything in his flat.

But also he comes to understand more about Marc through Layla, through small pieces of info he finds about him, through the things he left behind in the container.

He's making a picture of two people he didn't get to meet, yet he misses terribly.

All of this also accompanied by his work for Khonshu, who he's still bonded to.

Idk where this fic would lead other than a series of sad moments of Jake trying to live a life that's truly his while also being incredibly lonely at first, but i kinda want to squeeze in a scene where Jake somehow gets to the afterlife, to the field of reeds, and tries to confront Marc about why, why he left them, why he left steven, why he abandoned Jake, how could he?!

...but in the end he's just overwhelmed by how oddly glad he is to see him again. Like finding something he lost so long ago. But that just tears him inside thinking about how he's not getting Marc or Steven back ever again.

Like. Where do you go from there you now? This fic isn't a story it's a series of small moments and VIBES without conclusion.

...maybe i could make Jake wander into the duat, trying to look for steven, a pointless search but one he wants to do either way. Steven can never go home for his soul has been lost to the duat, but Jake wants the closure, wants to say goodbye.

Maybe the duat swallows him too. Make it a tragic story in the end.

I want someone to say "i missed you too" right in the end.

Dunno. I just want pure pure angst for this one. And for some reason i want Jake angst most of all. What does the protector have left when he lost those he was supposed to protect? Much to think about.png

#snaily blabber #going ham ngl but MAN i gotta finish writing at least one of those 3 before i start another one aghdhdjdjd

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ofpowdered · 3 years

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location: the great cabin. time: post-mutiny. with: @intrepidim.

“my dear captain.” all the proper titles, all the proper greetings --- a slight curtsy and demure smile, a straightening of her spine and a fidgeting with her necklace. she wanted to be the only thing soft out here, even while the ice around them turned back to water. as silence began to creep its way back to the room, she let out a delicate sigh, as if she was the one with the weight of the ship on her shoulders, as if she was the only one here who sought to understand him. “we are simply having a dreadful time of it, aren’t we?”

she spoke to him like she might her husband: oh, you grand and brilliant thing, look at this idea you have, let me support all you are. “if only there was some sort of news i might return to the other guests. sparkling words from our captain --- something to raise our spirits. after all, even our dinners seem to have taken on a tragic quality to them, and tragedy can only hold our interest for so long... i trust you, i’m sure you know, but the others hardly recognize you yet.”

#intrepidim #event: the salvaged remains.#pls forgive me while i figure out voice!!!#marc: is actively mourning #winnie: Goodness How Boring !

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jyanadavega · 4 years

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Now is your time. You knew mine and @artigas-am73's preferences. Could you rank the current grid from your favourite driver to your least favourite? You can mention other riders if you feel it.

1. Maverick Vinales : which could also be named "why I love to suffer". I litteraly started to support him because I was frustrated to see him always in third place at the end of last season. And without much sign this simple frustration became a bit of an obsession. The incident with Luca Marini did help but it's probably more a compilation of reason.

2. Iker Lecuona : he's cute and hard working. He's a little bit of what I thought of Fabio last year.

3. Takaaki Nagakami : same as Iker, seems like a really hard working guy. I'm happy that he starts to finally get the recognition he deserves.

4. Andrea Dovisiozo : I probably could have ranked him third in place of Nagakami but I think I have already started to make my mourning so I try to detach myself from him. Apart that I love the vibes he send, the fact that he has his head on his shoulders and that he does what he can to don't get involved in riders drama. And he's the only one which I would be as happy if he gets the championship than Maverick.

5. Alex Marquez : is my secret twin ❤️ he's the only one born the same year as me and we both have a brother named Marc. I have a bit of hard time at the beginning with him because I started watching Moto2 when he was winning and with the domination of his brother, it was a bit too much for me. But he's a lovely guy and he deserves way more than being in his brother shadow.

6. Joan Mir/Fabio Quartararo

This is complicated. Or my feeling with this two are complicated. If we start with Fabio, if you had ask me the question last year he would have been way higher. All I wanted was for him to win. And when he won... It was great but for some reason, it wasn't exactly what I thought it would be. I think that if Marc had been there this season, Fabio would have stay higher in my esteem. But now than Marc is not there anymore, it kind of make Fabio the direct rival of Maverick and like you there is a lot of position which can change in this ranking, but in my heart Mav is the absolute first. Also the fact that he is french and thus that the commentator are biased toward him doesn't help his case. And Joan has the opposite way in my heart as Fabio. Like I clearly mistrust him at the beginning, and I never really saw him as cute the same way I see Fabio and Iker. Like there really something in him which make me say this guy is really intelligent. But yeah he's starting to grown in my heart and I don't really know why.

8. Franco Morbidelli : he's a lovely guy, really smart as well, but yeah that's all for me.

9. Alex Rins : Kind of the same as Franco. Lost some point because Franco is also a bit engaged.

10. Miguel Oliveira : I would have ranked him higher before but I discovers recently that he has supported Ronaldo against the rape accusations just because he is also Portuguese and it make him lose sone place. But otherwise really smart guy, nice riding style, the dentist part is quite fascinating as well and I love the drama part of him that we saw at the beginning of the documentary on him.

11. Marc Marquez : if it was a list of who I was the most attracted to, he would be first. But this isn't this list. As talented and beautiful that Marc is, I tends to get bored when someone is too dominant in his sport. I love drama and suspense and the 2019 Marc was the opposite of that. I would probably love him better, had I started to watch him since his beginning but I didn't so here we are.

12. Pecco Bagnaia : he's okay. I feel sorry for all the trouble that he had this year. And I'm happy for him and the Ducati seat.

13. Danilo Petrucci : he just looks like a teddy bear and I want to be friends with him but that's all.

14. Valentino Rossi : he is a hypnotiser, when it's obvious that Marc is actively flirting with the audience, Vale just shines. He's overflowing with charisma. It's hard to not be fascinated by him and I would be really happy when he will end up winning a race. But also it makes it hard to trust him really.

15. Jack Miller : I generally found him funny and if have to compared to another Australian in Motorsport less exhausting than Daniel Ricciardo. I love the taxi mission it shows his friendship toward Rins and Mav (where everywhere else you mostly see Mav love and pride for him). His last comment did disappoint me so, and that's why he so low (also because I really like almost everyone so it quite tight between each position)

16. Brad Binder I like him better than in moto2. His beginning with KTM was quite exciting and I love the fact that his and Miguel fate seems to be linked.

17. Aleix Espargaro : he extremely frank and sometimes it is great and other time a bit less

18. Tito Rabat : I really don't know him enough. But the small stuff that I saw of him seems to go toward and really nice and funny guys.

19. Pol Espargaro : I find him less honest than Aleix and where I'm excited to see what he can do with an Honda, I don't like him much

20. Johan Zarco : I don't hate him, I see he mostly suck at communications and he probably suffers more from a past reputation than what he actually is today but yeah. Also I really don't liked the way he manage his time as KTM, sure enough the Moto wasn't as good as what he thought but still, you have to be a little bit professional and don't give up on the first day.

21. Cal Crutchlow : what I learn with the Asian fan really bumps me. Racism isn't a small matter.

I didn't put Bradley Smith because I forgot he exists most of the time, so it makes it hard for me to have any kind of judgement about him.

#ask game #motogp ranking #i hope it's not too long

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onenettvchannel · 4 years

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OneNETnews EXCLUSIVE: PBS Kids' Arthur is Speaking Out with George Floyd's Death, under the Worldwide Issue of BLM

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS -- A year before the CoViD19 Pandemic in Wuhan, China... There's a newest short Public Service Announcement (PSA) straight from the PBS Kids at WGBH-TV 2: PBS Boston's original longest-running children's programming known as Arthur.

For those you don't know about Arthur from PBS Kids... A simplified explanation from the PBS website based from the About page:

"The chronicle adventures of Arthur Read is based on a children's books by the Author & Illustrator named Marc Brown, who has been working with the beloved Aardvark for over 4 decades. This was started in 1976, turned into the American-wide franchise before it goes worldwide. The viewing age target is aiming to 4-8 years old. His goal is to help foster an interest in reading and writing, to encourage positive social skills, and to model age-appropriate problem-solving strategies. It is originally produced by WGBH-TV 2: PBS Boston and animated by the Oasis Animation."

Arthur Read's house is located from the Elwood, Pennsylvania; under his own show with the same name for over 2 decades. His recent voice actor was named to Roman Lutterotti from 2019. But today, the death of George Floyd is in effect in selected countries worldwide from both North Carolina & Minnesota. The reason why before the worldwide protest starts, Black Lives Matter (BLM) will commence just a few weeks later after his death. You might remember with the non-protest person was arrested in Texas named Jose Martinez (known as BN_King, a former Brony media LIVE Streamer from Fort Worth city), after he was filmed for documenting his personal underground experience on foot (on our sister-affiliated station The Brony Network).

Today, he is now contacting from the video call by reaching out at home to Leah MacGrady, an oldest Lunch lady at the Lakewood Elementary School (LES), during the post-Pandemic of CoViD19 worldwide for the unfair issue of Black Lives Matter (BLM).

Arthur & Buster is speaking out publicly via Zoom by addressing this issue to OneNETnews, "I can't believe someone would be hurt like that, just because they're Black." He adds a response from Arthur... "Racism is so unfair. No one should ever judge someone by the color of their skin. I was talking to Mrs. (Leah) MacGrady the other day. She said there's a really long history of Black people not being treated fairly in this country."

Leah MacGardy was spoked to Arthur Read & Buster Baxter from home with the response of Black Lives Matter issue, "Well, Racism is like a Disease. If you don't treat it, it's just gonna get worse. It's about all of us. It's not enough to just say, I'm not racist, it's not my problem. We have to actively fight against racism. As my friend (John Lewis) once said... If you see something that is not right, not fair, not just, you have a moral obligation to do something about it".

She adds with the finale of response, "Talk about racism with your friends, your parents, your teachers. Don't be afraid to ask questions. We all have a lot to learn about this issue. Listen to people who have experienced racism firsthand. Imagine what it would be like if it happened to you or someone you love. And finally, act. When you see or hear of someone being treated unfairly, stand up for them, say something! It might be scary, but I guarantee you it's better for everyone. And it's the right thing to do."

At the end of the Public Service Announcement (PSA), the memoriam of John Lewis was reportedly died from the Pancreatic Cancer (known as the founding Father of Better America in the 5th District of Atlanta, Georgia from his hometown of Troy, Alabama). His battle was failed for 6 months but not for the CoViD19 post-Pandemic at the Civil Rights & Congress.

The Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas (KBP) was possibly violating the free-to-air network of Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) if they air the Racism episode or the newest short of Arthur, under the Broadcast Code of the Philippines in 2007 with the referencing of Article 15: Section 4. There will be a fine on Television to PHP30,000 (U$D612). Additionally, it also applies to the Senate Bill #2814: Section 3.2 & 4b (Anti-Ethnic or Racial Profiling and Discrimination Act of 2011) with a sentence for a year, known as the Arresto Mayor with other fine of PHP100,000 (U$D2,100). PBS is on the crystal clear kid safe standards to prevent the racism episode or the short, excluding this Public Service Announcement (PSA).

Arthur has warned to the kids' viewers like you to stop this protest or the illegal activity of Black Lives Matter (BLM) for George Floyd. As always until then, it has to make a difference at all cost, during the post-Pandemic of CoViD19 worldwide; even for the bashers on social media themselves. Act responsibly if you can.

SOURCE: *https://pbs.org/parents/shows/arthur/about/ *https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arthur_(season_23) *https://arthur.fandom.com/wiki/Elwood_City *https://arthur.fandom.com/wiki/Leah_MacGrady *https://wral.com/fbi-to-investigate-arrest-of-black-man-who-died-after-being-pinned-by-officer/19114480/ *https://wral.com/protests-over-death-of-george-floyd-end-in-fires-looting-property-damage-in-raleigh-and-fayetteville/19122800/ *https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Lewis *https://troymessenger.com/2020/07/17/john-lewis-lion-of-civil-rights-and-congress-dies-at-80/ *https://troymessenger.com/2020/07/30/lewis-mourned-as-founding-father-of-better-america/ *https://www.kbp.org.ph/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/2007-Broadcast-Code-Revised-June-15-2011.pdf and *http://www.senate.gov.ph/lisdata/112189539!.pdf

EXTREMELY HONEST DISCLAIMER: The views & opinions expressed from this news report are not those from the WGBH-TV: PBS in Boston. It does not clearly imitate this Police Suspect and/or the kids' programme in any matter of tolerance. Furthermore, the assumption for this news report will NOT state, intervene or reflect those of our news reporters. The station, management, interwebs and the network. Thanks for reading everypony...

-- OneNETnews Team

#international news #boston #massachusetts #elwood #pennsylvania #arthur read #buster baxter #arthur #pbs kids #blm #black lives matter #leah macgardy #zoom #george floyd #protest #worldwide #CoViD19 #pandemic #OneNETnews

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weerd1 · 5 years

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Star Trek DS9 Rewatch Log, Stardate 1909.09: Missions Reviewed, “Waltz,” “Who Mourns for Morn?” and “Far Beyond the Stars.”

Benjamin Sisko is on a ship transporting Gul Dukat from a mental institution to his war crimes trial. The ship is attacked by Cardassians and Sisko and Dukat end up with a wounded Sisko in a cave on a small world.

The Defiant is out helping search, but they have to leave the search in just over two days to escort a Federation troop convoy. Sisko is at Dukat’s mercy, but the Cardassian has set up the emergency beacon and has gathered supplies from their shuttle, setting it to an open distress call so whomever catches the signal first will come to get them. Meanwhile, Dukat is seeing visions of Weyoun, Damar, and Kira, all telling him his inner thoughts. Sisko realizes the beacon was not activated and manages to get it running while Dukat is out. Dukat’s mania becomes stronger though, and he is beginning to actively debate Sisko and the voices in his head all at once.

When he discovers that Sisko has activated the distress call, he beats him, and desperately tries to get Sisko to admit that he admires Dukat, and that Dukat had no CHOICE but to be the tyrant he was to the Bajorans. Sisko knocks him out, and makes it back out to the shuttle, but Dukat follows him there, then abandons him on the surface before leaving with his “voices” on the shuttle. Dukat has decided he will have his vengeance on Bajor and will need Sisko in place to do it. Dukat contacts the Defiant just before they break off their search to rescue Sisko. Sisko indeed vows that he will be there to counter Dukat wherever he turns up.

Pulling Dukat out of his madness (kinda) is no mean feat, and indeed every performance here is great. Marc Alaimo showing us the public, smarmy Dukat, now tempered by the loss of Ziyal, then swinging into raving Dukat is really worth watching, as of course is Avery Brooks. My issue here is a larger one. We know they are setting up Dukat to be Sisko’s foil in the last two seasons, in particular with the upcoming Pah-Wraith storyline, but it seems to me this robs Kira of her dynamic with Dukat. I love the show, but I think it might have been even greater to allow Dukat to believe he was the equal to Sisko, when it turns out to be Kira who takes him down after all. (Note: The Author may be biased by his complete and utter infatuation with Kira Nerys.) SHUT UP PARENTHETICAL VOICE!

“Who Mourns for Morn” begins when our favorite barfly dies in an ion storm, and bequeaths all of his possessions to Quark. First Quark finds that there is no money, then that cargo-wise Morn only had several crates of rotting beets. Then, when inspecting the deceased’s quarters he finds only the black velvet painting Morn got at auction last season (In the Cards) and a tub full of mud. In the mud however is a naked redhead who claims to be Morns ex-wife. She says Morn has 100 bricks of gold-pressed latinum somewhere, and she wants her proper cut as an ex, but would be very…grateful. Soon, two rather criminal brothers show up to say that they loaned Morn money they want back, in the sum of 100 bricks of gold-pressed latinum. As Quark is now dodging three of Morn’s old friends, he is approached by a fourth, who is a member of Laurian security saying that Morn is the crown prince of the royal family, and that money belongs back in the treasury. Quark finally figures out that ALL of these people are lying, and helped Morn with a huge robbery years before…of 100 bricks of gold-pressed latinum.

The statute of limitations has run out and they want their cut. Since Quark has now found it in a Bolian bank, he has it delivered to the station, and it is not long before the four turn on each other, allowing Odo to capture them all. Quark checks the loot to find the latinum has been extracted, and the bricks are now just worthless gold. Despondent, Quark goes back to his bar and finds Morn! Morn had faked his death to draw out his old rivals, and now can access the latinum freely. He has in fact pulled the mercury like fluid out of the bricks, and has kept it in his second stomach all these years. He regurgitates enough to be the equivalent of about 100 bricks into a glass for Quark to thank him for his troubles as Quark proposes a business arrangement.

For a joke character whose name was just an anagram of “Norm” to be the barfly back in the pilot, Morn without a single word of dialogue has become a fixture on the show, getting a whole episode devoted to him, and an entertaining one at that. There’s a very noir feel to this as the various criminals come looking to collect, and Quark is the perfect character to drop in the middle. Keep an eye out in the memorial service scene. As Quark talks about making sure someone always keeps “Morn’s chair warm,” he guides a Bajoran man to sit there. That man is Mark Allen Shepard, the actor who plays Morn. (Mustard colored shirt sitting on the right in this pic:)

“Far Beyond the Stars” begins with Sisko getting the news that a dear friend has died in the war while Joseph Sisko visits the station from Earth. Ben’s father tries to comfort him, but the younger Sisko begins to think maybe he can’t fight the good fight anymore and it is time to leave Starfleet. Soon after, he begins seeing people in 1950’s Earth clothes, including a baseball player. He follows the man and finds him self on a street in the 50s where he is hit by a car. He wakes up in the infirmary and Bashir tells him that it would appear the part of his brain that gave him visions in the episode “Rapture” is active again. Soon Sisko finds himself as Benny Russell, a Black man in the 50s working for a small science fiction magazine.

Each person with whom he works seems to be someone form the station, though Benny seems oblivious to this until the magazines artist presents him with a picture of a station, and Benny begins to write the adventures of a Captain Sisko, a Black officer commanding the station 400 years in the future. The editor, a more human Odo, declines to publish the story, but Benny keeps seeing an old preacher (Joseph Sisko) telling him to “walk with the prophets” and to “write the words that set us free.” He persists and writes more Sisko adventures and his colleagues suggest that the story could be framed as a dream, and the editor moves forward with publishing. Benny is out celebrating with “Kassie” (Kassidy Yates) when his young friend Jimmy (Jake) is shot down by two racist cops (Weyoun and Dukat). When he protests, they beat him nearly to death. He spends weeks recovering and finally returns to his office the day his story will appear in the publication. The editor returns however to reveal that the owner has pulped the entire run for not “meeting the usual standards.”

Benny is livid, talking about how real and important it is to tell this story, and they can’t wait; a good man must do what he can, and the idea is important. He breaks down however, and again awakens in the infirmary on DS9 surrounded by family. Bashir reveals that whatever happened has stopped, but Ben has taken Benny’s lesson about standing up to the unjust to heart and will stay on the station in Starfleet. He wonders to Joseph though if their lives might be the dream, and Benny Russell is still out there dreaming, far beyond the stars.

Let me not prevaricate: holy shit. This episode manages to deal directly with racism, and still frame it within the show with the Prophets providing insight to The Emissary with episodes from his own world’s past. Everyone’s simply amazing in the 1950s versions of their characters, and the world comes off as believable. It is an added joy to hear them talk about “Heinlein” and “Bradbury” in context, and a great way to sneak in some easter eggs as the cover of one of the SF magazines Benny samples is a matte painting from The Original Series, and Nana Vistor’s 50’s character is “K.C. Eaton,” a woman writer who has to use her initials to cover up her gender so people will read her. This harkens to the story editor and arguably the best writer on TOS, Dorothy “D.C.” Fontana, who went on to write and edit for TNG as well. Avery Brooks manages to star in this episode while giving one of his most riveting performances and also direct this tale that is obviously a story close to his heart. This is a tour de force, and belongs right there on the level with “The Visitor” and the upcoming “In the Pale Moonlight” as great DS9, great Star Trek, and great Science Fiction. See the world you want, and tell others. It’s how you bring that world to fruition. Don’t wait until it is safer. Do it now. You are the dreamer, and the dream.

NEXT VOYAGE: A strange anomaly shrinks a Runabout and its crew down to the size of something that would fit on my shelf in “One Little Ship.”

#Star Trek #Star Trek: Deep Space Nine #DS9 Rewatch

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thezodiaczone · 5 years

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November Forecast for Pisces

Are you thinking big enough, Pisces? A growth surge is headed your way this month as bountiful Jupiter enters its home sign of Sagittarius on November 8, bringing abundance to your tenth house of career, public image and success. With the auspicious giant tearing through the top of your chart until December 2, 2019, you’ve got 13 golden months to really make your mark.

Even more exciting? This is happening against the backdrop of the Sun in Scorpio and your ninth house of expansion until October 22, which will fuel your confidence to take a leap of faith. At the November 7 Scorpio new moon—on Jupiter’s very last day in Scorpio for more than a decade—you could have a big white-light epiphany or finally make a major move you’ve been toying with all year.

Since October 2017, you’ve been exploring new options—from world travel to study to entrepreneurship—and Jupiter in your no-limits ninth house gave you a sense of endless possibilities. If you didn’t want to be tied down to anything concrete, that was fine. The point was to explore all your options and widen your focus. Pisces in academia may have finished work on a degree while others could have devised a winning business idea that tapped your boundless creativity. Hopefully you enjoyed the free-spirited energy of this year because you’ve got one last week of it.

Now, as Jupiter enters your structured tenth house, things start to take concrete form. In fact, you could be entering your luckiest career year in over a decade, when all your hard work and expertise reach a pinnacle. Pisces who’ve been drifting a bit could start craving a concrete focus. Drop that interview outfit at the dry cleaner, call the recruiter and polish your LinkedIn profile. You might go work for a “serious” company or take a full-time job with hefty responsibilities—and salary and recognition to match!

Jupiter only comes to this zone of your chart every 12 years, and its last visit to Sagittarius was from November 24, 2006, to December 18, 2007. Look back to that time if you can for clues of what might resurface. The tenth house rules fathers and men, and your relationship with an important guy could undergo major evolution (or evaluation).

A couple days prior to Jupiter’s transit, another slow-moving planet also changes signs. On November 6, transformer Uranus, which has been retrograde since August 7, backs out of Taurus and into Aries for a final four-month lap. Uranus was in Aries and your second house of money from March 2011 until May 2018, which brought innovation AND instability to your finances for seven years. The greater goal was to push you onto an authentic path, where purpose and paycheck aligned. As a Pisces, you prefer to make your money by doing something meaningful.

While Jupiter pushes you into the big leagues, this Uranus cycle reminds you not to “sell out” for a fancy title—but to bring your principles along as you ascend! Uranus will hang out in Aries until March 6, 2019, then it will make a permanent exit, not to return in your lifetime. Until January 6, the side-spinning planet will be retrograde, so keep a watchful eye on your budget and spending—and make sure you really connect to your values when fielding job offers or pondering professional next steps.

Midmonth, there’s another cluster of cosmic activity. On November 15, you’ll wake up with a jolt as energy planet Mars zooms into YOUR sign for the rest of the year—and not a moment too soon! For many Fish, 2018 was like a long, surreal trip because Mars spent a huge portion of the year slogging through Aquarius and your twelfth house of rest, healing and the imagination. While you may have had some creative or spiritual epiphanies, mustering the mojo to interact with the rat race was a challenge. Mars was in Aquarius from May 16 to August 12 (retrograde from June 27 on, adding insult to injury) and again from September 10 to November 15. It’s a wonder you’ve gotten out of your pajamas this year at all, Pisces!

Now, as Mars zooms into your sign you can leave those dreamy vibes in the rearview because Mars won’t return to Aquarius for two more years. Hope you’re rested and refreshed for the new, fast-paced phase you’re entering, because you won’t be hitting the brakes anytime soon.

But don’t barrel in without looking both ways! The next day, November 16, communication planet Mercury will turn retrograde until December 6. For the bulk of this signal-scrambling reversal, Mercury will be in Sagittarius and your tenth house of career, thwarting some of Jupiter’s grand plans. You may have some unfinished business at the office to attend to before you charge into the new…and it’s probably wise to check in so you don’t burn any bridges. Because Mercury retrograde can foil technology and travel, back up all your important data and leave early for the airport if you’ve got a business trip planned.

That same day, Venus will end a six-week retrograde, which has been disrupting your most intimate ties all month. At least this is a silver lining to the Mercury effect! And on November 22, the Sun will enter Sagittarius, joining Jupiter and Mercury in your ambitious tenth house. When Jupiter and the Sun make their once-a-year meetup in this success-driven zone of your chart on November 26, you’re on fire when it comes to crushing those goals or making a big move. Don’t be surprised if you get an exciting offer or have an aha moment about your life purpose…one you’ll actually feel confident enough to act on.

The November 23 Gemini full moon beams into a very different part of your chart, putting the spotlight on your domestic fourth house. If you’re celebrating Thanksgiving in the U.S., this full moon falls on Black Friday—so cozy up under the cashmere throw and do your shopping online as you munch on leftovers and nest and bond with la familia.

The next day, November 24, brings even more good news: Your co-ruler Neptune wakes up from a five-month nap in Pisces. Since June 18, you may have felt a bit disconnected from your personal goals or less motivated to pursue them. It was a time to step back and soul-search, so don’t worry if you meandered off course. As Neptune powers forward in Pisces, side by side with motivator Mars, you could make up for ALL the lost time in the last month of 2018. Talk about finishing strong!

Love & Romance

Intensity alert! Romantic Venus will spend the whole month in Libra and your eighth house of sex and intimacy, turning up the heat to max levels. Normally this would be a boon for your bedroom, but until November 16, Venus is wrapping up a six-week retrograde (backward) spin. With Venus retrograde, your thoughts and attention could turn to the past: an old flame, unresolved trust issues or just some raw and palpable feelings you need to process.

With the other love planet, Mars, in Aquarius and your twelfth house of healing and closure until November 15, you’re even more likely to be swept up in a swirl of feelings. Your moods could swing pretty wildly at times, and you could get locked in a fantasy rather than looking at the real picture. Watch for a clandestine attraction or the temptation of a sexy but unreliable ex.

On the upside, all this vulnerability could lead to epic sex and new levels of emotional honesty that you haven’t reached in years. On November 9, when Venus and Mars meet in their third and final trine of 2018, the stars could align for you to meet a soulmate or pour out your heart. If you haven’t fully mourned a breakup, prepare for the floodgates to open—or you might do some powerful forgiveness work and close the door on a chapter that you’ve been obsessing over for far too long.

The best news? You’ll have no trouble moving on (finally) after November 15, when red-hot Mars zooms into your sign for the rest of the year, spicing up the holidays and bringing back your sultry swagger with a vengeance. You’ll have way too many flirty encounters and eager admirers to get hung up on THAT person or situation anymore. And with Venus powering forward in Libra the next day, your sex appeal will be off the charts. Time to treat yourself to some boudoir shots or a sexy vacation getaway as an early holiday gift?

Key Dates

November 30: Venus-Uranus Opposition Intense emotions may overcome you today as these planets collide in your reactive eighth and second houses. You could be caught off-guard by this powerful sense of possessiveness or jealousy. On the other side of the coin, if someone’s had a Svengali-like hold on you—or has been way too clingy—it’s time to cut bait and head for the nearest exit!

Money & Career

Show YOU the money! Your luckiest career cycle in more than a decade begins November 8, when abundant Jupiter starts a 13-month trek through Sagittarius and your tenth house of professional success. If you’re ready to take a business to the next level or enter a whole new field, expansive Jupiter is ready to grant your wish. Since the tenth house rules traditional corporations and hierarchies, you might be offered a promotion or a formal position with benefits, stock options and the like. Globe-trotting Jupiter could also bring an opportunity to travel or work remotely—perhaps opening up your company’s new office in Brazil or Berlin?

After November 16, take it SLOW with any job offers and if possible, sleep on all negotiations (or stall until early December!). Communication planet Mercury will be retrograde until December 6, and it’s backing through Sagittarius until December 1, causing some crossed wires or hazy details. Ask all the questions you need before accepting an offer. Since Mercury retrograde is a reflective time, this could be a good moment for a salary or performance review at your current job or to ask old colleagues for testimonials to boost your online profiles.

Think carefully about locking yourself into anything too structured just yet. With freedom-seeking Uranus backing into Aries and your money zone from November 6, 2018, until March 6, 2019, you’ll still crave some flexibility. Perhaps you should consider being an independent contractor instead of a full-time worker or build in the option of working remotely a couple days a week. Your inner Fish still needs room to swim freely!

Key Dates

November 19: Mars-Jupiter Square If you can’t come to an agreement with a boss, client or authority figure, don’t back down—or go all passive-aggressive on them. Dial up the courage to take a stand for yourself. But speak only in positive terms—what you believe in, the greater good, the higher mission. What you don’t want to do is lose your temper, which could get you kicked off the island.

Love Days: 29, 29 Money Days: 13, 23 Luck Days: 11, 20 Off Days: 31, 8

#pisces #monthly horoscope #horoscope #horoscopes #astrology #pisces monthly

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lit-works · 6 years

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Heroes For Hire: The Gang Wars Trilogy

Book 1: After Midnight

Prelude : RWST

The moonlight, pale and as mournful as lilies shone onto the chessboard through the steel-grated windows. Marc spector sat in the recreation room of the Ravencroft Institute for the criminally insane, as a committed patient. He looked away from the ensuing chess game momentarily to gaze through the secured windows. He observed a bird sitting in the tree just outside the window. He was sure it was a Falcon, perched there and looking in at him.

Marc had been committed for a number of atrocious crimes he had committed, the most severe of which include murder. The courts had said he had once cut a man’s face off. Since being at the hospital and receiving extensive treatment he had been diagnosed with Dissociative Identity Disorder, paranoid Schizophrenic hallucinations, and Hero syndrome (a phenomena in which the afflicted desperately crave notoriety or attention for heroic acts, to the extreme of creating catastrophic situations it seems only they can resolve). Hero syndrome most commonly has manifested itself in arson cases that went too far out of hand for the hero/arson. Dissociative Identity Disorder or Split-Personality as it had always been called before seemed to be the root of Marc’s troubling psychoses, according to his institutional psychiatrist. He had developed 3 personas to share his mind with.

He was born Marc Spector. A nondescript Jew growing up in the bronx. But he later became Jake Lockley, a cab driver with some shady connections. He was also Steven Grant, playboy millionaire. However, it was his final alter ego that had ultimately placed Marc into the position to wind up in Ravencroft. He had created the persona of the costumed vigilante Moon Knight, and claimed to have done the egyptian moon god Knoshu’s bidding. While under the guise of Moon Knight he performed numerous illicit activities.

Eventually, like many other psychopathic murderers, Marc was arrested and committed after being deemed mentally unsound to stand criminal trial. For months it seemed that Marc had finally received the help he needed and where he could be protected from and against the community.

But, Marc started having his horrible nightmares again. Cold sweat-inducing, scream evoking, night terrors that stirred him from his sleep to the light of the moon shining in on him in his cot. He was convinced, as he stated in the following therapy sessions that he believed Knoshu was sending him a message through his dreams. Though the message was enigmatic to Marc, the content of the dream itself was vividly concise : flame, with no heat, searing him deeper than the flesh. Dark spirits plotting and menacing. A brutal, savage war amid the very streets of New York littering the streets with the bodies of the youth. An ancient tome. All of this interspersed with vistas of the egyptian deserts and mythic symbolism of the egyptian polytheistic lore. “Typical of his schizoid delusions”, the good Dr. Leonard Samson proclaimed on one occasion.

Soon, Marc began to stop taking his medication. After waiting patiently in the queue for his “ding biscuits”, as the other patients called the thorazine and other various sedatives they were all heavily dosed with, he would cheek his meds instead of swallowing them. He had realized what Knoshu was attempting to convey to him. There was a horrible evil that would occur unless he, Moon Knight, took actions to stop it. He needed to be free of Ravencroft. He needed to fulfill Knoshu’s will.

Finally, on a full moon, just a few minutes before the grandfather clock of the rec room struck midnight Marc enacted his escape.

One of the graveyard shifts guards was performing his routine hall patrol, when he noticed movement in the peripheral of his eye in one of the cells. The treatment staff insisted they be called rooms, but they were cells as much as their inhabitants were criminals. The guard shone his flashlight through the window, and was mortified by what he saw. It appeared one of the patients had hung themselves, again. In a panic, the guard pressed the distress alert button on his radio and scrambled for the proper door key. Once the cell door was thrust open the guard rushed in to try and cut the patient down and hope he wasnt too late. He found himself rather surprised however when the patient was lighter than air and seemed to deflate in his grasp. He was holding onto a set of patients clothing that had been stuffed with pillows and blankets and strung from the central light fixture. Another sick joke the guards were constantly subjected to by the more sadistic or humorous patients. Immediately furious, the guard yanked the bundle of cloth from the ceiling and scanned the cell for the assigned patient. He did not even notice as Marc slipped the truncheon from the guards belt, only the whoosh of air as Marc brought it down onto his temple rendering him unconscious.

Marc had not wanted to hurt officer Bryant, but the man didnt drink coffee and therefore the confrontation could not be avoided. The other guards and remaining on-call medical staff had by this time in the evening had already consumed quite a large portion of what was available in the break and security rooms. Marc had taken the precaution of having his prescriptions diluted into the coffee so he would face minimal resistance during his escape. His fellow patient Quentin Beck, or as most knew him Mysterio, was a trusted patient who was allowed to work in the kitchens and had zero qualms with introducing the chemical into the staff’s diet.

He had to avoid capture if he wanted to follow his visions and fulfill Knoshu’s will, and so could not appear like the asylum escapee he was. So, he stole the white 3-piece suit from the good Dr. Leonard Samson as well as his cane and wing-tipped loafers. In a farewell to the institution, Marc then found a white bag that was often placed over the patients head during constraint to prevent the more violent patients from spitting or biting. He drew the lunar shape of an eclipsed moon on the bag before placing it over his own head and disappearing into the night, a shadow in the light of the night.

12:27 AM

Dispatch : all units, report. We need officers to investigate a potential breaking and entering at The Met. The internal alarms have been triggered, but not the outside alarms. Security staff reported they had footage of an unidentified suspect atop the roof and have sent their own to apprehend the individual. If you are in the area, please report.

Car 10-05 radio: dispatch, 10-4, officer Mcnally and Officer Medina en route to the Met. Investigating potential 10-15, over.

12:45 AM

Car 10-05 radio: Dispatch, this is car 10-05, officer Mcnally reporting from the Met. Investigating the potential 10-35 here, we're gonna need an ambulance out here the met’s security are all laid out. I think one of em got thrown from the roof. No currently visible suspect, still requesting back-up. Officer Medina and i are going to look around the area. Over.

Dispatch: 10-4, over. Car number 10-05 in 5th Avenue area, requesting back-up for 10-35 in progress. Also EMT and paramedic assistance required, a number of ppl are injured at 1000 5th Ave. Please respond, 10-3 over.

12:51 AM

Audio extracted from the patrol car dash-cam footage of squad car 10-05.

(Siren wailing)

(Hurried footsteps)

Officer Mcnally: (to officer Medina) well, what the fuck is this? (To suspect in white) freeze! Drop the cane and put your hands in the air!

Officer Medina: what are you doing at the Met after midnight, huh? The exhibits are closed.

(Silence passes for a few seconds)

Officer Mcnally: i said drop the cane and put your damn hands to the sky!

Officer Medina: damn it, im gonna cuff this clown.

(Sounds of scuffling, resistance and harsh slams)

(Struggle continues)

Officer Mcnally: You have the right to remain silent, asshole!! You have the right to an attorney!! Now get your ass up and into the squad car!!

Officer Medina: (guttural groans)

(Sounds of suspect being apprehended and placed into custody in squad car 10-05).

Officer Mcnally: you alright, Medina?

Officer Medina: bastard broke my arm!!! (Whimpers in pain)

Officer Mcnally over personal radio: Dispatch, suspect apprehended in 10-31 at the Met. Additional charges of about 13 assaults with a deadly weapon, as well as resisting arrest are gonna be pursued with this guy. Bastard sucker-punched the reinforcement officers as soon as they got here and gave me and Medina a pretty good thrashing too. We're gonna need another ambulance, officers injured. But, the suspect is in custody.

1:12 AM

Audio extracted from internal patrol car camera for squad car 10-05

Officer Mcnally: so, what's your name, guy?

Suspect: Moon Knight

Officer Medina: ok, there Mr. Knight you wanna explain to me why you got that bag on your head?

(Silence)

Officer Medina: i mean, the worst most ppl get around Halloween are some kids in costume on their door step, maybe a few eggs and rolls of TP thrown at their house. I get damn near put in traction by some fool breaking into the Met. I thought the holiday seasons were a time for peace on earth and good will towards NYPD.

Officer Mcnally: so, what were you doing there Mr. Knight.

Suspect: the moon led me to a heinous crime so i could stop it, and the moon will not tolerate your interference.

Officer Mcnally: The Moon? That code for something?

(Silence)

Suspect head arched back looking out the rear window of the squad car: I will not allow these misguided villains to stand in your way, I the Moon’s Knight of vengeance must carry out your luminous will.

Officer Medina: uhhh, are you seriously talkin’ to the moon??!! Like the one the cow jumped over??!!

Suspect: there is much more to the moon than the childish stories you know.

Officer Medina: ok, buddy. (Laughs) and i thought seeing a drunk witch fighting marilyn Monroe at that costume party was gonna be the weirdest thing we saw tonight.

#marvel #marvel fanfiction #fanfiction #fanfic #heroes for hire #moon knight #marc spector #me #my fanfic #l1t3rat1

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dailynewswebsite · 4 years

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Report: Longtime Rockets scout B.J. Johnson dies in bicycle accident

Brent “B.J.” Johnson, a longtime scout for the Houston Rockets, died on Thursday in a bicycle accident, in accordance with the Houston Chronicle’s Jonathan Feigen. He was 65.

The accident reportedly occurred when Johnson, who normally rode his bike for 30 miles a day, hit a culvert, per the Chronicle:

“He was driving his bike and hit a culvert,” Johnson’s spouse Claudette stated. “There was development. They’re considering he fell ahead and broke his neck as a result of there was no blood.”

Johnson had reportedly labored within the Rockets group since its 1994-95 championship season. He had remained with the group even because it went by means of 5 head coaches (not counting interims), three basic managers and two homeowners throughout his time in Houston.

Johnson is survived by his vast Claudette, his son Bijan and two stepchildren in Michael Mitchell and Ciara Brown.

A well-respected determine all through the league, information of Johnson’s demise sparked an outpouring of mourning and testimonies of his character:

Nooooooo not BJ Johnson. After I was an unproven rookie, he helped give me a whole lot of confidence that I had a vivid future, even once I did not see it.. I wasn’t even on his group. He at all times had some phrases of encouragement, or simply saved it actual with me. Prayers to his household

—

Jamal Crawford (@JCrossover) October 16, 2020

I’m surprised. Completely surprised. First Vaughn McClure and now BJ Johnson. BJ was one of the beneficiant, caring and humorous individuals I ever met with one of many biggest basketball IQs as well. My prayers and condolences to his spouse and his kids.

— Marc J. Spears (@MarcJSpears) October 16, 2020

Shocked and saddened about longtime Rockets scout BJ Johnson’s demise. You gained’t discover a friendlier particular person within the NBA. So many gamers and scouts credited Johnson for serving to them discover their means within the league.

— Tim MacMahon (@espn_macmahon) October 16, 2020

Extra from Yahoo Sports activities:

from Growth News https://growthnews.in/report-longtime-rockets-scout-b-j-johnson-dies-in-bicycle-accident/ via https://growthnews.in

#Growth News

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davidshawnsown · 6 years

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MESSAGE IN HONOR OF THE 75TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE CONCLUSION OF THE BATTLE OF STALINGRAD, THE 73RD ANNIVERSARY OF THE BEGINNING OF THE BATTLE OF MANILA AND THE 5TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE DEATH OF EX-US NAVY SEAL SNIPER CHRIS KYLE

Ladies and gentlemen, to all the people of the United States of America, to all our remaining living veterans of the Second World War of 1939-1945 and of all conflicts past and present and their families, to our veterans, active servicemen and women, reservists and families of the entire United States Armed Forces, and to all the uniformed military and civil security services of the Allied combatants of this conflict, to all the immediate families, relatives, children and grandchildren of the deceased veterans, fallen service personnel and wounded personnel of our military services and civil uniformed security and civil defense services, to all our workers, farmers and intellectuals, to our youth and personnel serving in youth uniformed and cadet organizations and all our athletes, coaches, judges, sports trainers and sports officials, and to all our sports fans, to all our workers of culture, music, traditional arts and the theatrical arts, radio, television, digital media and social media, cinema, heavy and light industry, agriculture, business, tourism and the press, and to all our people of the free world:

On this very day as we remember the Catholic, Protestant Christian and Orthodox Solemnity of the Presentation of the Child Jesus to the Temple and join in celebrating Groundhog Day with great honor we celebrate the anniversary of the founding of New York City in 1653, the 1848 signing of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo and the end of the Mexican War, and the 1876 foundation of the National League of Major League Baseball, as well as the anniversary of the 1987 Philippine Constitution. And so today, most of all, as we prepare for the official conclusion of the professional football season in the United States of America, we today mark 3 very important national and international events of even greater importance, especially in the military history of the world.

First, we honor with deep respect the 75th anniversary since the historic victory won by the Soviet Armed Forces in the Battle of Stalingrad in 1943, one of the biggest ever Allied victories in the Eastern Front which ended months of Axis advances towards the Eastern Front owing to strong resistance by Soviet forces and the people of Stalingrad (now Volgograd in Russia). Given the huge number of casualties, this victory was indeed won at a hard cost, and with that victory began the long road towards the final victory over Nazi Germany and the Axis Powers in Europe.

Today the world remembers the beginning of the 1945 Battle of Manila, one of the greatest and bloodiest battles ever to be fought in the Pacific Theater. With more than millions of civilian deaths and many more US and Filipino militay casualties, the capital city of the Philippines, at such a high cost of deaths and destruction, was liberated after more than a month of urban battles. In spite of huge Japanese violations of human rights amongst the civilian population, the liberation was a victory won by the Allies against the forces of the Imperial Japanese Army and Navy.

And today, February 3, marks the 5th year anniversary of another tragic but important anniversary in the history of the United States Armed Forces and the entire United States of America, especially of its elite United States Navy SEALs. It was the shooting death of no less than former United States Navy SEAL CPO Christopher Scott “Chris” Kyle, and his friend Chad Littlefield, like him also a military veteran, in the hands of Iraq War veteran Eddie Ray Routh in a gun range located in Glen Rose, Texas, USA, on a sad day that that will forever go down in the annals of our history. The murders of Chris and Chad shocked the whole country and her people on the eve of the Superbowl and their home state of Texas plunged into deep mourning. Today, as we mark as one people the 5th anniversary of this tragedy that stunned the American people, we remember not just this very tragic moment, but also recall the lives of those two people, who were veterans of the armed forces of the United States of America, whose lives were ended at an instant on this very day, and of their years of service to this great nation as personnel of her armed forces.

Half a decade has indeed passed. But still the memory of this event cannot be forgotten nor removed from our memories. Chris was born on April 8, 1974 in Odessa, Texas, the oldest of two sons of a Protestant Christian family of patriots and ranch onwers. Having a brother who also served in Iraq, and also having been a veteran of the US Navy SEALs, serving with loyalty, dedication, courage, honor, commitment and for his country as part of this branch of the Navy from the 1999, the year he joined the service, up to 2008, was married to Taya Kyle for 9 years and several months, and of whom he had 2 kids, his tragic death, together with his veteran friend Chad Littlefield, who we also remember today, was for the republic and her people a day of sadness and anguish. He left behind not just a family but also many decorations of bravery and valor earned while in the service of the American people. But most of all, his enduring legacies to this great country was not just as a writer (having written two books, one for them being the hit nationally bestselling autobiography AMERICAN SNIPER, which was later adapted to film, became a blockbuster with Clint Eastwood at the directorial post and having an all star cast led by Bradley Cooper, Sienna Miller, Luke Grimes, Kevin Lacz and Jake McDorman, which let to its eventual nomination and single Oscar award victory in 2015, among many other awards it garnered) but as a man who chose detiny of service as a United States Navy SEAL, having served in the Iraq War as part of Team 3, where even at the cost of losing his pals and fellow SEALs (Marc Lee and Ryan “Biggles” Job included) he gained a reputation of being the nation’s most deadly sniper in military history with a total of an estimated 260 kills credited to him, 150 being the official count, all done during his 4 deployments to Iraq was part of the War on Terror, beating all other military snipers before him, and making him a national legend and the most lethal sniper in the history of not just the United States Navy SEALs and the entire Navy, but of the entire United States Armed Forces, one of so few who served the nation during this great chapter of its military history, and served with many other special forces operators and soldiers from across the globe. His sudden death shocked his fellow US Navy SEALs, active and retired, including fellow Navy SEAL veteran, Marcus Lutrell, who became buddies thanks to his SEAL training and again during his Iraqi deployment in 2006, a year after the events of Operation Red Wings, having been born in the same state as his long time buddy, their families and relatives and most of all the entire state and people of Texas and the entire country.

As per a 2015 declaration of the Texas state Governor Greg Abbott of the Republican Party, today is marked for the fourth consecutive year as Chris Kyle Day in memory of the man whose legacy to the nation of his birth will never be forgotten by every generation on the very day of his sudden demise. As we mark this day together and in solidarity with the people of the great state of Texas, in these changing times in our world of today we, the people of the free world, together with the people of the United States of America, stand as one in remembering the legacy of this man who faithfully served his country and helped fellow veterans and their families in their time of need. To the people of this great country, he will always be regarded as a hero and a sailor first and foremost, a model soldier to all our people and to our youth, and a great example of service for the country and people in the armed forces. And to the people of the free world and of allied countries of the United States, his story is an inspiration to our youth especially those preparing to serve in the armed services and a model of positive emulation to all of us to serve our people and countries no matter what our differences.

On this day wherein we celebrate the 75th year since the victory in Stalingrad, the 73rd since the Battle of Manila and the 5th anniversary of the deaths of Chris Kyle and Chad Littlefield, together as one people, while recalling the heroic deeds of our men and women who served in wars past and present, we think of all our living veterans and all our active duty men and women of the armed forces of the United States of America, who we thank for their service to their country and people and have become witnesses of love of country and faithful service in our armed forces and all who have been supportive of them and their families and of all our disabled and wounded servicemen and women. As we honor their memory and always strive to rememb er them and make sure we’ll carry on their legacy of service to their country, people and homes, may we who forever cherish their legacy always hold on to them and move forwards a beetter tomorrow for all our generations!

And to the peoples of the United States and the Philippines, let us hold firm towards our military and economic alliance of these two countries and the friendship these two countries share. No matter what will happen in the future, the friendship of these two countries will remain strong and will stand towards a better and brighter tomorrow for the people of the world!

LONG LIVE THE 73RD ANNIVERSARY OF THE BEGINNING OF THE BATTLE OF MANILA AND THE 75TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE VICTORY IN THE BATTLE OF STALINGRAD!

LONG LIVE THE HEROES AND MARTYRS OF THE SECOND WORLD WAR IN EUROPE, NORTH AFRICA AND THE PACIFIC!

ETERNAL GLORY TO THE FALLEN, HEROES AND VETERANS OF TWO OF THE BLOODIEST BATTLES OF THE SECOND WORLD WAR IN EASTERN EUROPE AND THE PACIFIC!

ETERNAL GLORY TO THE MEMORY OF THE GREAT MILITARY HEROES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, CHRIS KYLE AND CHAD LITTLEFIELD!

LONG LIVE THE UNITED STATES NAVY SEALS, THE ARMED FIST OF THE PROTECTORS OF OUR MARITIME TERRITORY, THE ELITE BRANCH OF OUR NAVY, AND DEFENDERS OF OUR FREEDOM AND INDEPENDENCE IN LAND, AIR AND SEA!

LONG LIVE THE VALIANT MEN AND WOMEN OF THE UNITED STATES NAVY, THE DEFENDERS OF OUR SEAS AND OCEANS, AND PROTECTORS OF THE OPEN WATERS OF OUR WORLD!

LONG LIVE OUR BELOVED VETERANS, MILITARY FAMILIES AND THE FAMILIES OF ALL WHO HAVE DIED IN FAITHFUL SERVICE AS PERSONNEL OF THE ARMED FORCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA!

LONG LIVE THE VICTORIOUS PEOPLES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND THE PHILIPPINES AND THEIR GLORIOUS ARMED FORCES, DEFENDERS OF OUR FREEDOM AND INDEPENDENCE AND THE GUARRANTEE OF A BRIGHTER AND MORE PROSPERIOUS TOMORROW TO OUR FREE WORLD!

MAY GOD BLESS BOTH THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND THE PHILIPPPINES!

GO NAVY! HOOYAH!

1930h, February 2, 2017,the 242st year of the United States of America, the 243rd year of the United States Army, Navy and Marine Corps, the 1234th of the International Olympic Committee, the 122nd of the Olympic Games, the 77th since the beginning of the Second World War in the Eastern Front and in the Pacific Theater, the 73rd since the battles of Iwo Jima and Okinawa and the victories in Europe and the Pacific, the 6th since the attacks on Benghazi, the 13th of Operation Red Wings, and the 71st of the United States Armed Forces.

Semper Fortis

John Emmanuel Ramos

Makati City, Philippines

Grandson of Philippine Navy veteran PO2 Paterno Cueno, PN (Ret.)

(The Funeral) (Rendering Honors)

#chris kyle #chris kyle day #american sniper #battle of manila #battle of stalingrad #Navy SEALs

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