#nui tuesday

[kagehiradaily]

day eighty.three - nui tuesday 🎬

[the-kickster]

Oh no! Mata Nui has fallen asleep!

Tahnok Tuesday

[1930sdarlin]

Today is truly an epic day!

I had gotten my first Twst Nui (Malleus) during Christmas of 2023.

I didn't think about buying Lilia, Silver, and Sebek until recently and I found them for great prices on Mecari!

I was able to get Silver and Sebek as a bundle and they arrived today. Lilia arrived Tuesday (of the week I'm posting this).

And now the Dia-Fam is together. ♡♡♡♡

And they will safe guard me when I'm sleeping. 🐲🦇🗡🐊⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️

[uwmspeccoll]

Typography Tuesday

Richard J. Hoffman (1912-1989) was a long-standing letterpress printer and collector of type in the Los Angeles area from 1925 until his death in 1989. One of his final projects was this publication, When a Printer Plays, printed in 1987 at his shop in Van Nuys, California in an edition of 200 copies. The book is an historical presentation of fleurons and printers' ornaments with over 200 designs of his own invention made from individual pieces of foundry and monotype units that he collected over more than 50 years. California rare book dealer John Howell called When a Printer Plays Hoffman's magnum opus, noting that "Hoffman lavished the utmost care upon every detail of typesetting, arrangement, margins, proportions, multi-colored patterns, and illustrations."

Hoffman begins with Garamond and Granjon ornaments first designed in the 16th century and moves toward more contemporary ornaments by designers such as Bruce Rogers, Will Bradley, Thomas Maitland Cleland, David Bethel (Glint Ornaments), and Rudolph Ruzicka (Fairfield Ornaments). All the letterpress printers we know delight in creating borders and designs from typographic ornaments, and Hoffman quotes Bruce Rogers:

When my own time comes to be marooned on a desert island . . . instead of taking along the favorite volumes that most amateur castaways vote for, I think I shall arrange to be shipwrecked in company with a Monotype caster and a select assortment of ornamental matrices. The fascination and amusement . . . that can be got out of the almost numberless combinations of a few simple units would enable me to cast away for an indefinite period with great contentment.

Linotype Electra was used for the text in this book, with Deepdene for display. Our copy of When a Printer Plays is yet another donation from the estate of Dennis Bayuzick.

View more posts of type ornaments.

View other books from the collection of Dennis Bayuzick.

View more Typography Tuesday posts.

[southernhispanics]

TORCIDO TUESDAY: Spanky from BARRIO VAN NUYS, Dopey from SOUTH SIDE GENTS and Blanco from ONTERIO VARRIO SUR Black Angels. Be sure to check the hashtag for more photos of this varrio.

[girlygirltournament]

(32 bracket base here by @mad-scientist-showdown)

This is the full 128 bracket!! Full list of matches under cut!!

Preliminary Polls

Round 1 Statistics

Round 2

Round 3

Round 4

Round 5

Round 6 (the finals!)

Directory

Bracket 1 - Side A

Mizuki Akiyama (Project SEKAI) Vs. Maria Campbell (My Next Life as a Villainess)

Flora (Winx Club) vs. Abby Sciuto (NCIS)

Mitsuba Sousuke (Toilet-bound Hanako-kun) vs. Forrest (Fire Emblem)

Enid Sinclair (Wednesday) vs. Pearl Houzuki (Splatoon)

Haley (Stardew Valley) vs. Sakura Kinomoto (Cardcaptor Sakura)

Veruca Salt (Charlie and the Chocolate Factory / Willy Wonka) vs. Sonoko Suzuki (Detective Conan)

Cinderella (Cinderella) vs. Silena Beauregard (Percy Jackson and the Olympians)

Kim Possible (Kim Possible) vs. Amy Rose (Sonic)

Bracket 1 - Side B

Sakura Chiyo (Monthly Girls' Nozaki-kun) vs. Lydia Bennet (Pride and Prejudice)

Caroline Forbes (The Vampire Diaries) vs. Makoto Kino/Sailor Jupiter (Sailor Moon)

Rosie Mayfield (Style Savvy) vs. London Tipton (Suite Life of Zack and Cody)

Momoi Satsuki (Kuroko's Basketball) vs. Tuesday Simmons (Carole and Tuesday)

Effie Trinket (The Hunger Games) vs. Stella (Winx Club)

Honey-Senpai (Ouran High School Host Club) vs. Victorique de Blois (Gosick)

Sakura Minamoto (Zombieland Saga) vs Madoka Kaname (Puella Magi Madoka Magica)

Cure Sparkle/Hiramitsu Hinata (Precure Pretty Cure) vs Lindsay (Total Drama)

Bracket 2 - Side A

Lola (Shark Tale) vs. Colette "Coco" (Thea Sisters)

Therese Wolf (Fable Comics) Vs. Orca/Dex @labor9 (Tumblr User)

Princess Ozma (Wizard of Oz) vs. Aelita Schaeffer (Code Lyoko)

Webby Vanderquack (Ducktales) vs. Hiyoko Tosaka (Hatoful Boyfriend)

Fernet (100% Orange Juice) vs. Donko (Taiko no Tatsujin)

Blythe Baxter (Littlest Pet Shop) vs. Shezow/ Guy Hamdon (Shezow)

Numbah 3 / Kuki Sanban (Codename: Kids Next Door) Vs. Ami Onuki (Hi Hi Puffy AmiYumi)

Jessica Day (New Girl) vs. Caitlin Cooke (6Teen)

Bracket 2 - Side B

Shirou Fuji (Mizutama Honey Boy) vs. Kitty (BBC Ghosts)

Rainbow Brite (Rainbow Brite) vs. Zari (Duolingo)

Momoko Ryugasaki (Kamikaze Girls) vs. Peaches (Ice Age)

Barbie (Sandman) vs. Tilly (Rent a Bridesmaid by Jacqueline Wilson)

Sally (Ninjago) vs. Rainbow Dash (My Little Pony Generation 3)

Princess Pea (Super Why!) vs. Mai Oota / P-Chan (Gokinjo Monogatari/Neighborhood Story)

The Cat (Red Dwarf) Vs. Queen Red Riding Hood (The Land of Stories)

Arcee (Transformers Generation 1) vs. Gaby Solis (Desperate Housewives)

Bracket 3 - Side A

Cher Horowitz (Clueless) vs. Cornelia Hale (W.I.T.C.H)

Marianne Dashwood (Sense and Sensibility) vs. Clover (Totally Spies)

Perfuma (She-Ra and the Princesses of Power) vs. Mabel Pines (Gravity Falls)

Lilligant (Pokémon) vs. Biscuit Krueger (Hunter x Hunter)

Allison Reynolds (The Foxhole Court: All For the Game) art by @detrinity vs. Isabella Garcia Shapiro (Phineas and Ferb)

Hello Kitty (Sanrio) Vs. Barbie (Mattel)

Mari Tsutsui (Rainbow Days/Nijiiro Days) vs. Ella (Total Drama)

Tahani Al Jamil (The Good Place) vs. Rosalina (Mario)

Bracket 3 - Side B

Elle Woods (Legally Blonde) Vs Daphne Blake (Scooby-Doo)

Ty Lee (Avatar: The Last Airbender) vs. Amulet Heart (Shugo Chara!)

Holly Munro (Lockwood and Co) art by @lucy-j-carlyle vs. Nikki (UP2U: World Traveller, Love Nikki, Shining Nikki)

Birdo (Mario) vs Lambdadelta (Umineko: When They Cry)

Smurfette (The Smurfs) vs. Regina George (Mean Girls)

Tsukimi Kurashita (Princess Jellyfish) vs. Todomatsu Matsuno (Osomatsu-san)

Blossom (The Powerpuff Girls) vs. Rarity (My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic)

My Melody (Sanrio) vs. Nui Harime (Kill La Kill)

Bracket 4 - Side A

Emily (Stardew Valley) vs. Mitsuri Kanroji (Demon Slayer)

Nana Komatsu (Nana) vs. Lucia Nanami (Mermaid Melody Pichi Pichi Pitch)

Bugs Bunny (Looney Tunes) vs. Minako Aino/Sailor Venus (Sailor Moon)

Rose Lavillant (Miraculous Ladybug) vs. Marie (The Aristocats)

Glinda (The Wizard Of Oz) vs. Hilda Valentine Gonreil (Fire Emblem)

Ichigo Momomiya/Mew Ichigo (Tokyo Mew Mew) vs. Coco (Bluey)

Princess Peach (Mario) vs. Starfire (Teen Titans)

Draculaura (Monster High) vs. Charlotte La Bouff (Princess and the Frog)

Bracket 4 - Side B

Bee (Bee and Puppycat) vs. Natsuki (Doki Doki Literature Club)

Bubbles (The Powerpuff Girls) vs. Strawberry Shortcake (Strawberry Shortcake)

James (Pokémon) vs. Kurako/Kuranosuke Koibuchi (Princess Jellyfish)

Platinum the Trinity (BlazBlue) vs. Aoi Hyōdō (Maid-sama/Kaichou Wa Maid-Sama!)

Mad Mew Mew (Undertale) vs. Minnie Mouse (Disney)

Tsunoda (Aggretsuko) vs. Cure Coral/Sango Suzumura (Tropical Rouge Precure)

Daisy Duck (Disney) vs. Cure Flora/Haruka Haruno (Go Princess Precure)

Yukiko Kanzaki (Assassination Classroom) vs. Buffy Summers (Buffy the Vampire Slayer)

[magicalgirlartist]

I forgot I said I was going to update on Tuesdays too now lol

Summary: Kopaka tries to puzzle things out and gets thrown for a loop for his troubles.

[chromorbid]

Stream schedule for the week of 10/16/23!

Tuesday (10/17) - I'm going to be playing BIONICLE - Mata Nui: The Online Game for the first time ever! This was right in my wheelhouse as a kid but for some reason I just never got into it--we're fixing that this week, and I'm gonna play through the whole game to the end! We may even play through the sequel after if the chips happen to fall that way :eyes-emoji:

Thursday (10/19) - Nothing definite is planned but we're going to finish MN:TOG for this slot if I don't finish on Tuesday, and find something else to play if we wrap it up early!

Saturday (10/21) - Back into Fate/Samurai Remnant! Last time we left off, we dueled the roguish Rogue Lancer who offered us his services in anticipation of a rematch... i wonder what this feisty blue man's true Name Could Possibly Be.....?!

See you theeeeen~

[tiredspacedragon]

BIONICLE Retrospective

2002: The Bohrok Swarms

Part 1.2: To Trap a Tahnok :REMASTERED:

It's a shame I couldn't get this one to go up on a Tahnok Tuesday, but doing that would mean waiting almost an entire week to post this and ehhh... I don't wanna.

So, the thing about 2002 is that, more than any other year of Bionicle, it is deeply repetitive. There's a lot of material for 2002, comics, mini-comics, web animations, a posthumous book. But a lot of it tends to cover the same events again and again. So when something like To Trap a Tahnok comes along, something that has its own completely unique story to tell, it's a breath of fresh air.

This comic does a lot of things I really like. Mostly little things, to be honest, but I'll start with a bigger one because it's worth mentioning. Because it is an original story unique to this medium, To Trap a Tahnok does not suffer from the same pacing issues as The Bohrok Awake did. It's not slow by any means, but each scene transition; which this issue actually has, already giving it a leg up over the breakneck velocity of its predecessor; happens comfortably, with none of the sequences feeling too cramped or too drawn out, making this issue an engaging but not tiresome read.

What I truly enjoy about this issue though, are the snippets of character work and worldbuilding it provides. I've mentioned in an older post how much I enjoy the mention of time passing at the beginning of this comic, a week since the Bohrok's emergence, to be precise. This little nod to the passage of time is a positive addition for a number of reasons. It establishes how long the Bohrok have been active, of course, which can give readers a good impression of the state the island is likely in, given how much destruction the Bohrok have been shown to be capable of in a short span of time. It also plays into the sandbox formula used in 2001. From this point on, the story is suggested to unfold relatively quickly, but that's a whole week's worth of adventures for young fans (or less young fans, as the case may now be) to dream up and act out with their own toys, pitting the Toa against the Bohrok in their quest for the Krana.

Speaking of Krana, this issue gives us our first look at Krana'd Lewa, and while he doesn't do anything, only briefly appearing at the end, this is another reason why the established time jump is important. We don't know how long Lewa was in that Nui-Rama hive wearing an Infected Kanohi, though his brief moment of clarity and the fact that he'd already finished collecting all his Kanohi by that point would suggest that it hadn't been very long. Here though, we know for certain that Lewa has been wearing this Krana for a week. No wonder it will have a much more lasting effect on him than the Infected Kanohi ever did.

Moving away from that one time mention though, I also want to commend the continued quality of the character work here. The Tahnok themselves are a main draw here, putting their dogged determination and surprising resourcefulness on full display, as well as showing off some of their Krana powers, something that doesn't seem to happen that often, honestly. We also get what is technically the first appearance of the Bahrag, though only their thoughts. They're not much more than generic ominous villains in the shadows at this point, but even this early their speech patterns are established and we get our first mentions of the "before-time" and the "restoration" of Mata Nui, which are also our first hints towards the Bohrok's true mission and its technical nobility. I do wonder how the Bahrag are aware of the island's name being Mata Nui, though. Perhaps "Mata Nui will be as it was in the before-time" actually refers to the robot, meaning Mata Nui, or rather the GSR, will be scoured clean and returned to its original state.

The Toa do quite well for themselves here too. I only noticed when I made the original version of this review, but all of the Toa put in an appearance in this issue. Lewa, naturally, is sidelined, but the rest each have an opportunity to contribute to the plot in some way. Gali and Pohatu are the main focus, an uncommon pair it's nice to get to see working together, while Onua and Kopaka both briefly appear when Pohatu explains their contribution to his plan, showing off more of that delicious teamwork from last time. Kopaka also goes on to show up in Tahu's scene, showing some good character development for both of them. Tahu is continuing his habit of delivering rousing speeches, this time to the Ta-Matoran, and it's not a bad one. "Remember -- your bravery, your wisdom, your spirit, make you as mighty as any Toa!" Wow, sure would be a shame if one year after this comic was published it was retconned that Tahu virtually held no respect for his Matoran at all by this point. Wouldn't it be wild if that happened? *ahem* Anyway, we also get Kopaka calling Tahu "my friend," and that's just delightful.

Back when I last looked at To Trap a Tahnok, I really liked it, a lot more than I expected to. I still do quite enjoy it, though I don't think I'm quite as enthusiastic over it as last time. Which isn't to say that I think it's worse this time around, I think it's more that I went into it this time knowing I liked it, so I wasn't as surprised. Still, I'm impressed by just how much Greg managed to cram into this issue without it feeling bloated or weighed down. It's well done, and the unique story is appreciated.

And that's as far as I got into 2002, so everything from this point on will be new ground! You might think that might mean I'll be slowing down, and I might, but it'll only be to pace myself. I've actually had several more retrospective posts basically done and sitting in my drafts since...January, maybe? ><' So after some minor edits, there's plenty more on the docket for the foreseeable future.

Next up: Into the Nest

[iantimony]

midday tuesday

sort of getting a handle on the volume of work i have to do. ough. writing this tuesdaypost while i wait for the initial step of a simulation to finish running so i can see if what i'm doing is correct.

listening: listening to haken's fauna album again because i'm seeing them live soon (!!)

next listening (against my better judgement because you can probably figure out where i live based on it): local bar had some bands this past weekend, i missed the first group (dopplepopolis) unfortunately because i am chronically late to things that don't have consequences but allegedly they did a holst mars cover ?? which sounds fascinating and i'm so mad i missed it. the second group was alright (the lunar diamonds), pretty good stage presence and they clearly had a lot of fun but their original songs were a little forgettable to me, their cover of psycho killer WAS a banger. i'm very sad they don't have that put up on spotify. but the third group (please her). oohhhh baby. i fell a little bit in love with the lead singer, not gonna lie! i went and listened to their spotify and while some of it really doesn't hit the same as the live performance it's still very fun. she had a spray bottle full of water and was periodically spritzing the audience. at the very end she was like "welcome to church, you may be seated" and had us all sit/crouch on the floor to listen to her announcements about the band over a groovy backing track. their bassist is INSANELY good too. mans be slappin that thang. they listed their genre as "scorpion core" which i still do not understand but god bless 'em.

anyways. they have one album out right now (bandcamp / spotify) and it's worth giving a listen. favorite track: 12 @ the Party, followed closely by Fellas!. i will probably buy it next bandcamp friday.

the lunar diamonds only have one track up on spotify but it is one of their originals that i found toe-tappy: Treads

i'll have to give the band i missed a chance but it will likely not hit the same as if it were live. c'est la vie

finally, haven't finished the release radar for this week yet, but i do really love ethan bortnick. the way he meshes classical-inspired piano with the alt beats is just so fun. hide n seek

reading: next mdzs book came in from the library! truly nothing like the rush of getting the notification "your book is ready to take out" before the estimated date :3 so i'm a little ways into volume 2 now, we're in yi city, xue yang is soooo much more obviously desperate to get xiao xingchen fixed in the book than in the show. loser (affectionate)

watching: next verse same as the first. dungeonmeshi and kill la kill with boyf. the kelpie animations were really fun and also the kraken !! good shit. there are other posts that have explained this better but i love the way trigger is animating the backgrounds. as for klk, we're on ep15 now! i have forgotten sooo much of this show, nui harime showed up and i was like oh SHIT i forgot about her !! entirely!!! so it's been a really fun rewatch.

playing: ran dnd saturday and played dnd on monday! saturday dnd defeated the mdzs dancing fairy :b at some point i will probably design something that involves finding a haunted arm pointing in a direction to reuinite its body a la nie mingjue but we've got some very strong anti-undead characters in this party so that may not go over very well. monday dnd involved getting hunted by a spooky fey hyena and getting robbed by a goblin group. something something goblin microaggressions. still fun even though i was VERY sleepy by the end of it.

making: pottery that i FORGOT TO PHOTOGRAPH ... i was like "i'll take pics at open studio saturday" and then the kiln was running so, on one hand, yayyyy kiln! on the other, no pics for this tuesdaypost. so. more pics next week. i did make some hopefully-teacups for my bf, depending on how severe the shrinkage is, but these are the smallest items i've been able to make (0.5lb clay) and it's sooo much harder than i thought it would be. pics with ruler for shrinkage measuring purposes

you might catch in the first photo that the top cup has noticeably thicker walls than the others ... don't worry about it ......

eating: coconut fish and tomato bake thing that i added too much lime to by accident but still tasty... sheet pan tofu and brussel sprouts!!!! so this is an elite one, adding to the arsenal. literally just halve the sprouts and cube the tofu, drizzle w olive oil and salt and peppy, roast at 450 til its. done. whenever. while that's roasting make rice. the sauce is 1:1 ratio of tahini to hoisin sauce with minced garlic to taste. it is To Die For and SO easy. last night roommate made turkey meatballs with couscous and even though the couscous burned just a little bit it was still yummy!

misc: turns out ... if your body wants ~9 hours of sleep a night but you make it live off of 7 for weeks on end ....... eventually you will get sick LOL. probably partly alcohol ibs stuff but still. sunday was a total wash for me and i went to bed at 10pm and felt normal monday morning. so. i need to just be going to bed earlier (pain). work this week not as terrible at least. i am doing my shit that i need to be doing and it's going okay! which is good because i'm calling it an early week kinda for that concert hehe. oh valentines day! boyf got me a little leatherman multitool keychain and it's so cute and i love it, and i got him a bird scope phone holder so he can take bird photos easier!!!

[smalls-words]

Chapter Six: The Container

Summary: Natasha wants to keep her personal life away from you. But a case interrupts that.

Pairings: Natasha x Fem!Reader, Steve Rogers x Fem!Reader (separating co-parents), Natasha x Yelena (siblings), Yelena x Kate (something's there that wasn't there before).

Warnings: Death (suicide), threatening, Natasha being a bit more of an asshole, Natasha being a bit softer too. Lmk if there's anything else!

A/N: If you have any ideas for the story and/or want to see some drabbles, feel free to send something into my inbox :)

Series Masterlist

*not my gif*

This was not how you wanted your morning to go.

“What made you think you'd get away with it?” You interrogated, staring down at your culprit.

“If you come clean now, I'll go easy on you. So, tell me. Did you eat… the chocolate cake?”

Peggy shook her head, her pigtail braids clipped neatly against her head. “No, Mama.”

You stood up and slowly turned at the sound of suppressed laughter being covered by coughing, glaring at Steve. 

“I'm sorry. It's just cake, Y/N.” He snickered.

“Cake is not the point, Steve. This is about honesty and personal responsibility.” You sighed.

“Fine. I got this.” He patted your shoulder gently, to which you grabbed your coffee and held it easily in your fingers. 

“Hey, munchkin. Do you remember when we had that talk and we said that lying is a really bad thing? Well, some of your birthday cake is missing. Now, I didn't eat it, and we know Mama didn't eat it, so… is there something you want to tell us?” 

Peggy sighed, looking at Steve regretfully. “I ate it.” 

“Mm-hmm.” He hummed in victory, turning to see you shaking your head.

“But Natasha said it was okay.” 

“Oh, really?” Steve questioned.

“She said, if you really want to do something, you should. And I really wanted to eat some chocolate cake.” Peggy emphasised.

Steve faltered slightly. “Huh. That's… interesting. Why don't you go grab your stuff?”

You put your coffee down, a sixth sense in the back of your mind spiking as Steve turned to you once Peggy was gone. “I am so glad to hear that advice from Natasha, of all people, is on the personal responsibility lesson plan.” 

“Steve, it's not what you think.” 

He scoffed. “You know what, Y/N? Your private life is none of my business, but when it comes to Peggy - keep Natasha out of it.” He spat her name like it was poison on his tongue.

You thanked whoever was up there that your phone rang. “Valeria. Yeah, yeah. I'll hold.” You covered the bottom of your phone with your hand. “Okay, I get it Steve, but just don't forget tomorrow night's Taco Tuesday, okay?”

His eyes widened. “I can't do it.” 

“Why?” You hissed.

“I'm working a stakeout in Van Nuys.” He shrugged.

You shook your head at him. “We agreed on planned family time so that Peggy can maintain some normalcy during the separation.”

“I know, but… this is important. I don't have a choice, Y/N. This is work.” 

You rolled your eyes. “Yeah, I've never heard that one before.” You got quiet at the sound of the officer’s voice back on the line. “Yeah. Long Beach? Okay, I got it. Thanks.”

You hung up, looking at Steve with disappointment. “You know, when she asks where you are tomorrow, I'll be sure to tell her that something important came up.”

“Y/N, don’t be like that…” He tried to grab your wrist but you were already out the door, almost slamming his fingers in the frame.

You would have been glad to hear his high-pitched whine of pain.

⧖⧖⧖⧖⧖⧖⧖⧖⧖⧖⧖⧖⧖⧖⧖⧖⧖⧖⧖⧖⧖⧖⧖⧖⧖⧖⧖⧖⧖

The physical crime scene was minimal but the location was packed with cops confiscating illegal contraband from containers, checking the books to make sure everything was accounted for whilst you hovered over the dead body with a forensic.

“What is this bruising from?” You asked, gesturing to a spot on the corpse’s neck.

“Possible imprint. I'll know more once I'm back at the lab.” He replied.

“Okay. Call me when you get something.” 

“Howdy, partner!” 

*Oh, God.* You thought to yourself before you looked up to see Natasha strolling in, adjusting the cuff of her polka dot black long-sleeve whilst her phone bulged from the pocket of her grey jeans. “We're not partners.” You remarked.

She looked you up and down, your leather jacket covering a viridian shirt that matched with your black jeans, her eyes lingering slightly on your boobs. “Right. So, what unpleasantness felled this heap of unrealised ambition then?” 

“Suffocation, a crushed trachea. And this heap has a name.” You grumbled. “Erwin Scovell, 55. He worked security here for 20 years.” 

“Ooh, talk about suffocating.” She sighed.

“Vice suspects this place has been used by criminal organisations to store illegal contraband. A container went missing, so Scovell probably walked in on a robbery in progress. Security cameras were disabled, so no video either. Probably gonna need to canvass the area…” 

You trailed off as light caught your eye; light that stemmed from the torch in Natasha’s hand, flickering between your boobs whilst she gleefully observed through the forensic’s goggles.

You scoffed. “Natasha, it's a dead body. A little respect, please.” 

“Do you know, I am amazed by the deferential regard you people hold for rotting flesh. I mean, this poor sap's either already in Hell or in the Silver City enduring the welcome speech, which is far worse than Hell, if you ask me.” She stood, standing over the corpse.

You brought your hands to your face, taking a few deep breaths before a tactic formed. “Okay. Let's pretend for one second that you're someone else. Someone nice, someone mature.”

“Ooh, I love role-play.” She licked her lips. 

“Great. So, since we don't have any leads, let's focus on the next steps of the investigation, like what was in the stolen container.” 

“But I've already solved it. I know what killed Erwin.” 

“What?” You asked, entertaining her for a moment.

You really shouldn’t do that.

“Boredom! I mean, getting murdered is probably the most exciting thing that ever happened to him. When do we get to raid a drug house or shoot someone? I mean, I gave up an epic foursome to be here.” 

“A man died, and we're going to do everything we possibly can to catch the killer.” You huffed.

She gave you a deadpan expression. “Pass.” 

As she walked away from you, you followed after her with frustration bubbling beneath. “Are you joking?” 

“Hard pass.” She emphasised.

You exploded a little bit, like a tiny volcanic eruption. “Hey!”

She turned around, still giving you that same look that annoyed you. “After all of your manipulations to get to work with me, you're really gonna walk away because you think this case is boring?” 

She sighed. “Just call me when you've got a murder with a pulse. Or at least someone good-looking. I mean…” 

You turned around, looking at the corpse as it was covered in a white sheet. “That woman is unbelievable.” You muttered to yourself.

And whilst you were easily capable of talking to the other officers, since you were the primary for the case, you didn’t expect Natasha to be back so soon.

“What? Have you thought of any new offensive things to say?” You glared at her.

“No, I've changed my mind. I've come back to help. Any leads yet?” She gave you a smile, but you weren’t sure if it was genuine or not.

“I need your help like I need a third boob. Wait. Don't say a word. Knew it was a mistake the minute it came out of my mouth.” You sighed, wanting to facepalm yourself.

“We're partners, and I'm offering you my services.” She grabbed the forensic’s dust brush and tickled your nose with it.

You snatched it from her grip and put it back in the bag. “I think you need a refresher course on how a partnership works. You left me hanging, remember?” 

“Yes, but now I'm here because of the robbery.” She replied.

“Robbery? Why?” 

“Because the container that was stolen was mine.” 

You scoffed. “You somehow left that out before.” 

“Well, I didn't know before. Wanda handles logistics, storage and such.” She shrugged.

“And did you know that this facility was used to house illegal contraband?” You questioned.

“No. But what better place to store my stuff than somewhere where people hide illicit goods?” 

You closed your eyes for a few seconds, annoyance and frustration mixing. “Asking the obvious here, but was your stuff illegal contraband, too?” 

“Define ‘illegal’.” She chuckled sheepishly. 

“What was in the container?” 

“A personal item, insignificant.” 

“Yeah, but what was in it?” 

“The only thing I brought with me to Los Angeles.” 

“I know, but you're not answering the question-” 

“Look!” She interrupted you abruptly, acknowledging your frustration with her surrendering hands. “I was storing some stuff, it was stolen, the theft sets an awful precedent, so I'm obliged to make the person responsible pay. Now, if you let me help, I'm certain we can solve this case quickly. And I have a lead.”

⧖⧖⧖⧖⧖⧖⧖⧖⧖⧖⧖⧖⧖⧖⧖⧖⧖⧖⧖⧖⧖⧖⧖⧖⧖⧖⧖⧖⧖

“Snow cones? This is your lead?” You asked as you stood in line for the snow cone truck, the beach positively warm as you stripped off your jacket.

“We don't have time for this. We should be working.” 

“What can I get you?” The truck owner asked with a happy smile. 

“Uh, yes. I'll have two Tropic Wonders and your face smashed into the ground.” Natasha smiled, grabbing him by the shirt before pulling him out and onto the ground, shifting her grip to his neck.

“Natasha, what are you doing? Stop!” You growled, pushing back against her but she was incredibly strong, evident by the muscles underneath her shirt that you gripped tightly.

“I believe they call this interrogating.” She smirked.

“Natasha, stop!” 

“He needs to tell me where my stuff is.” 

“Natasha! This is not how we do things!” 

She lifted him off of the ground and onto his feet, even if it was just his toes touching the ground. “This pathetic sap's real name is Frankie Costa, and his real job is transporting and storing illegal goods. Wanda set up the warehouse through him so if someone knew to rob it, he'd be involved.” 

“I wouldn't steal from my own operation. That warehouse is off-limits. Chica, I'm trying to get out of the storage racket.” 

“Yes, focus, Frankie. Who took my property?” She asked sternly.

“I don't know. I'm trying to find out myself. This is bad for business.” He wheezed through her firm grip.

You observed the phones around you, recording Natasha’s assault. “And who would know about the storage service?” You quickly questioned.

“Who are you?” He looked down at you.

“I'm someone with one of these.” You gestured to your badge on your hip. “But she doesn't have one. So say if I were to walk away, she can do whatever she wants to you. Or if you're not responsible, you can point us in the right direction of someone who is. Cool?” 

Although you paid her no mind, Natasha felt a thrill chase down her spine at your deviousness.

Frankie nodded. “Okay, okay. Los Diablos.” His pronunciation tinged with Americanism.

“The biker club?” 

“Yeah. I run the warehouse, but they run the docks. If anything went down, they would know about it. That's all I know. I swear.” He wheezed again.

“All right, all right.” You tapped Natasha’s forearm.

“Fine.” She let him go back into his truck to make her snow cone.

As you walked to the top of the staircase, back onto the sidewalk of the main road, you could feel Natasha’s eyes on your ass. But you couldn’t ignore her as she came to your side - mostly because she was being annoying.

“That was incredible. It was musical, poetic really. We were like fish and chips, salt and pepper. Hipsters and condescension.” 

“Give me one good reason why I shouldn't arrest you for assault.” You hissed. 

She shrugged. “Fine, Frankie's a complete scumbag, and he skimps on the cherry syrup. So that's two, actually.” 

“Something's going on with you, and it has to do with that mysterious container, so no more games. What's in it?” 

She huffed. “It was a gift from my father.” 

You scoffed. “That's still not an answer. I mean, what, was it his memoirs? Some priceless porn collection?” 

“Look, if we're gonna work together on this, you're gonna have to trust me, all right?” She turned in front of you, making you stop.

“You're right, we shouldn't work together on this.” You looked defeated as you walked past her. 

“Aren't we being a touch dramatic?” She chuckled sheepishly, a skip in her step as she caught up with you.

“You know, I put up with a lot of crap to let you in on my cases, and that's because thus far you've been honest with me, but now, for some reason, you're not telling me the full story.” You stopped again, her eyebrows furrowed slightly but you couldn’t detect what emotion they held.

“I'm telling you everything you need to know to help find my stuff.” She huffed.

“A man was murdered, and all you can talk about is your property?” 

“Yes, but if we find it, then you find out who killed the security guard, it's a win-win. So, please, enlighten me. Under what rock will we find Los Diablos? It's a very on-the-nose name, if you ask me.” 

You sighed, pulling out your phone. “We won't find them anywhere. It's a conflict of interest.” 

You quickly walked away from her, wiping away the small tear that rested on your cornea. The dial tone rang three times before the caller answered, a sigh coming through.

“Look, Y/N, I told you, there's nothing I can do about tomorrow.” 

“Truce. This is a call for Steve the detective. I need your help.” 

“Okay.” He answered cautiously.

“It's about my case.” 

“Homicide at the docks. Security guard killed during a robbery.” 

“Yeah, that container that was stolen, it was Natasha’s.” 

You heard his hesitation. “That storage facility was filled with black market goods. You think what Natasha had stored there may be illegal.” 

You hummed. “Whatever is in that container, she won't tell me. And for a woman who's all about oversharing, says a lot, so I want you to look into her, try and find out what she might be hiding.”

“Absolutely.” You heard his pleasure shine through before he ended the call.

⧖⧖⧖⧖⧖⧖⧖⧖⧖⧖⧖⧖⧖⧖⧖⧖⧖⧖⧖⧖⧖⧖⧖⧖⧖⧖⧖⧖⧖

Natasha sat on the couch with her arms spread over the back of it, listening to the noirette talk.

“When Y/N told you to leave, how did that make you feel?” Kate asked.

“Well, pissed off, of course.” She remarked. 

“Whatever was stolen from you must have been very important.” 

“No. Actually, no, it's the principle at stake here. I mean, nobody steals from me and gets away with it.” Natasha chuckled wryly. 

Kate sighed, folding her legs as her fingers intertwined with each other. “This loss brings up an issue that we've been skirting since we began our work together. Your identity.” 

“It's still the Devil, darling.” 

“Yes, but who are you trying so hard to become?” 

“Nobody. I'm completely unbecoming.” 

Kate took a breath. “And yet you keep trying on many hats to hide your horns. Party girl, cop, club owner…” 

“Yes, you forgot ‘mistress of all things tongue-related’. Speaking of which, shall we?” She smirked, moving to unbutton her top. 

Kate held her hand up to stop her. “That's for later. I think we're onto something very important here. One of the hardest things we ever do…” She waited for Natasha to sit back down. “Is to learn to be ourselves. I want you to tell me who you believe is the real you.” 

“I…” The redhead sighed. “I am… second-guessing your skills as a therapist.” 

Kate held back her initial remark. “You're feeling judged. So you're lashing out and judging me. But that's excellent. It's transference. Which means you seek my approval.” 

Natasha rolled her eyes. “I seek no one's approval. And time's up. Suddenly I'm no longer in the amorous mood.” She stood, grabbing the door handle. 

Kate stood too. “Okay, hold on... Hold on, Natasha. You think that's a fight. I think it's progress.” 

“Or maybe I'm just realising what a waste of time this is.” Natasha left, closing the door behind her. 

“I'm glad you came ba…” She faltered, recognising another doctor instead of Natasha. 

“Oh. Is everything okay?” Yelena asked, standing in a plain jacket and jeans. 

Kate smiled nervously. “It-it's you. Hi.” 

“I'm sorry, it's just, uh, thin walls.” Yelena chuckled sheepishly.

“Oh. Yes, everything's fine. Uh, please.” Kate gestured for her to come in.

“Thanks again for drinks the other night, Kate.” 

“Uh, yeah. Yes, that was fun.” 

“Yeah.” Yelena chuckled. “And what do parents do to their children to make them believe that they’re the Devil? I don’t mean to be unprofessional, but… It’s a few red flags in the family department there.”

“We're colleagues. Cone of silence.” Kate promised, sitting on her couch. “And I think she struggles with her identity, if anything.” 

“Patients with delusions. They can be really challenging.” Yelena commented.

The noirette smiled to herself. “She's actually quite charming. She’s incredibly kind, but tries to hide it behind her ‘Devil’ stature.” 

“Yeah, but even Satan disguises himself as an angel of the light. 2 Corinthians, chapter 11, verse 14. Two years of seminary school before I decided I wanted to help people in a different way.” The blonde explained after receiving an odd look. 

“Ah. Interesting. I thought you seemed… pure.” 

“Listen, you really helped me with my patient the other day, and I would love to return the favour. I know the Bible inside and out, so if you ever need a consult, just let me know.”

“Thank you, Dr. Belova.” Kate gave her a sweet smile before Yelena left to go back to her office.

⧖⧖⧖⧖⧖⧖⧖⧖⧖⧖⧖⧖⧖⧖⧖⧖⧖⧖⧖⧖⧖⧖⧖⧖⧖⧖⧖⧖⧖

“I can't explain it. Lux's books are clean.” Steve spoke over the phone whilst you stepped out of the car, making sure it was out of view of the bar’s cameras.

“How is that even possible?” You scoffed.

“I had them run for discrepancies with receivables. I looked for hidden payments. Whatever Natasha’s into, it's not running through Lux.” 

“All right, thanks for trying.” 

“Listen, Y/N… I want to talk to you about Taco Tuesday.” 

You spotted the head of red locks over the bush before you even turned the corner, Natasha’s awaiting stance brightening slightly with a smile. “Hey, Steve, I got to go.”

You rolled your eyes at Natasha as she walked next to you. “Next time you secretly follow someone, don't tailgate them. Draws a little attention.” 

“It's not my fault you drive like an elderly turtle.” She remarked.

You pinched the bridge of your nose. “Natasha, just… go home.” You huffed, already having a migraine.

“Detective…” 

“It sucks not getting what you want. Now you have to deal with it like the rest of us.” You walked ahead of her towards the bar door.

“I'm sorry.” 

You turned around, observing her nervous stance and downcast lips. “What did you just say?” 

She straightened herself up a little bit. “I apologise. I crossed the line this morning with Mr. Snow Cone. It was a mistake. I realise that now.” 

“Wow. You must really be desperate.” 

“I prefer determined. Look, I need your help to find my stuff. But you have to admit I've proven myself useful. Despite the methods employed, Frankie did give us a solid lead. Insanely wild guess, but this is where we'll find some Los Diablos.” She gestured to the sign on the blacked out window.

You nodded, showing her the photographic evidence on your phone. “There's an imprint on the victim's neck that we found under UV light. Killer must've worn some kind of bracelet when he strangled the security guard. Cross look familiar?” You then pointed to a bike, the same symbol on it.

Natasha grinned. “Well, what do you know? Our suspect awaits.” 

You had to be careful in a bar like this - most of the bikers were grown men, save a few women, and all of them looked like they knew how to throw a punch - and you definitely didn’t want to turn it into a fight.

But Natasha didn’t care.

Grumbling came from the annoyed bikers as their music turned off, which was Natasha’s doing by pulling out the plug. She then climbed onto the bar, most of the men looking almost predatorily at her assets. “Excuse me! Pardon the intrusion, you Village People rejects, but one of you has stolen something that belongs to me. So please identify yourself, so I can punish you accordingly.” 

“I thought we were past you thinking you're invincible.” You huffed at her. 

“I really want to find my stuff.” She remarked at you. 

“What the hell did you just say? Hmm? Hermione Granger?” 

“Mess him up, Renny!” A cheer came from the crowd, a few supportive cheers added. 

Natasha jumped down easily. “Well, since you're obviously lower on the human evolutionary chain, perhaps your hearing hasn't developed as well as it should, so I'll repeat myself. Who... stole... my... property?” 

As Renny took a swing at Natasha, you grabbed his elbow and shoulder and swung him onto the ground, putting your knee on his back. “Everybody back the hell off or you're going to jail.” You threatened.

Natasha kinda wanted to see that happen. 

A whistle grabbed your attention, as intended, and you saw a man walk easily between the crowd like Noah. “Pardon my boys. They don't always have the best, uh, people skills. Take a breather, Renny. Now!”

You moved off of Renny and he walked away, albeit annoyed that a woman of your height had been able to get him to the ground. 

“Hank Cutter. I'm in charge here.” He introduced himself to Natasha, eying her valuable suit and rings. “Oh, a Mrs. Police. How are you?”

Surprisingly, you didn’t take his comment offensively. Whilst he was dressed as a biker, he had the aura of a father - one that was kind, but could be firm, as previously demonstrated. 

“Why don't we chat in my office, okay? Follow me.”

After you closed the door of his office, adorned with guitars and posters of Los Diablos, you began your interrogation. “We heard that you control the docks, and if anything goes down, Los Diablos are in on it.” 

“Really? We're just a riding club, okay?” Cutter chuckled. 

“Whose members have been arrested for guns, drugs, murder.” 

“A few bad apples shouldn't paint us all in a bad light, now should it, ma'am?” 

“But it does paint you as suspects.” 

“Hey, look, just because we have a reputation as outlaws doesn't mean we had anything to do with a murder.” 

“You like being considered a criminal, don't you?” Natasha asked, and you immediately saw her mojo working as Cutter’s pupils dilated. “Yeah, you do. What else do you want?” 

Cutter chuckled, almost giggled in fact. “To own a clothing line.”

“Clothing line? I-I did not see that one coming.” You stammered. 

“Yes, managing bikers must be so exhausting. All that brawling and pillaging.” Natasha sighed sympathetically.

“I'm 54.” Cutter shrugged. “I'd rather be in my hammock playing my Stratocaster. All this motorcycle riding enlarged my prostate. It's unpleasant.” 

“That's an unfortunate occupational hazard.” Natasha looked down at herself and you immediately looked away. 

“Tell me about it. Look, we've trademarked our name. We're selling T-shirts and jackets, and we're gonna re-brand and go legit.” He grinned proudly.

“There's a lot of money in the apparel industry.” You interjected. 

“All the more reason to keep our noses clean. See, we used to cover the docks, not anymore. I specifically ordered them off-limits.” 

“Maybe someone missed the re-branding memo. Killer wore a bracelet with an iron cross. Left an imprint on the dead security guard at the warehouse.” You showed Cutter the photo, to which he scoffed. 

“Look, uh, a lot of bikers wear iron crosses.” 

“Yeah, well, I'm interested in your guys who have iron crosses.” 

“Hey, look, I've told you everything I know. If you have any more questions, feel free to contact my attorney.” Cutter’s tone signalled the end of the conversation.

“But we're not finished yet.” Natasha grinned, only for your hand to fall onto her bicep. 

“Yeah, we're done. Thank you, Cutter.” You muttered after closing the door.

As soon as you stepped outside, Natasha complained. “Why are we leaving? He's hiding something. It's obvious. We need to force it out of him.” 

You faced her. “We have this little thing called due process. We can't just force things out of people. Besides, there's an easier way to get our bad guy.”

As you got into the car, Natasha followed before hearing the locks click whilst you placed the keys in the centre console. “Did you see the look on Cutter's face when he saw that photo? He knows exactly who robbed the docks. He's gonna need to deal with this immediately.” 

“Or it puts his plan to re-brand in jeopardy.” Natasha concluded, which you nodded at. 

“Defying his orders, it's a huge challenge to his authority. He's not gonna want to deal with this in public. Bet you the first person he goes to see is the owner of that bracelet.” 

“What, so your strategy is just to sit here, paralysed, hoping that Cutter leads us to the suspect? What a terrible idea.” She scoffed.

“Hmm, you think so?” You hummed, ignoring her mostly. 

“I do, I mean, for one, even though Cutter's no brain surgeon, surely he wouldn't just…” She trailed off and you grinned at the sight of an angry Cutter on the phone. 

“Wouldn't what?” You remarked. 

“Well done, Detective.”

“Oh, don’t act so smug.” You sneered playfully as you started up the car just as Cutter pulled out of the bar. 

⧖⧖⧖⧖⧖⧖⧖⧖⧖⧖⧖⧖⧖⧖⧖⧖⧖⧖⧖⧖⧖⧖⧖⧖⧖⧖⧖⧖⧖

“This is the longest I've sat in a parked car and not had sex.”

“Ew.” You grumbled at Natasha.

The car was not as comfortable as a cinema lounge chair, but it wasn’t too bad. You were still hungry from not having had lunch, or dinner for that matter since it was already late.

“You can't enjoy this. This… sitting around endlessly, waiting for something to happen.” She huffed.

“You know, if sitting here not being entertained is so terrible, then maybe it's a sign you should be somewhere else.” You scowled, deciding to not look at her anymore.

“Have I done something to offend you?” 

“Only every time I see you.” 

“Ha, ha, ha. No, this is different.” She waited for you to turn and face her.

“Y/N. Look at me.”

Oh, how quickly your decisions cave when she speaks. 

You sighed, turning to face her. “For the first time, I don't think you're being honest with me. You have this mysterious container that was stolen that someone was willing to kill for, you make shady deals with shady people, you're violent, your personal records only go back five years, and the books from Lux are way too clean.”

She raised an eyebrow at you and you looked down at your hands, fidgeting with the only ring on them that you still hadn’t taken off. “I had Steve go and check it out.” You murmured.

“You had Steve deal with Wanda? Alone? Oh, dear. For the first time, I actually feel sorry for Detective Douche.” She snickered.

“It all points to you being a criminal.” 

“So what's the big deal? What if I am a criminal?” 

“I'd have to arrest you.” 

“Ooh, whip out the cuffs, then. Why shy away from a little bondage fun?” She grinned.

You shook your head in dismay, not seeing her frown as you turned away, tracing your nail against the condensating window. “You know, Natasha, this is serious. And despite all your weirdness I… I actually really like working with you.”

“I like working with you too, malyshka.” She murmured.

You looked down as her hand twitched, almost like she wanted to reach out and take yours. But that gentle facade quickly faded as her infamous smirk came to her lips. “What a momentous revelation, Detective Valeria. We should celebrate.” 

“You can celebrate from jail when it turns out I'm right about you.” You rolled your eyes.

Her hand engulfed yours. “I have never lied to you. And I will never lie to you.”

Warmth. Kindness. Why did it have to be like this? Why couldn’t she just be kind all the time instead of being an asshole?

“What was in the container?” You asked.

She took a breath, never breaking eye contact with you. “Russian dolls.” 

“Russian dolls?” You asked again, to which she gave you a single, slow nod. 

The sound of a motorcycle engine broke your eye contact, your hand slipping out of hers. “Here we go.” 

The conversation had already started out badly, but you didn’t expect Renny to pull out a gun and shoot Cutter. “This is Unit 831. Shots fired at 21st and Lewis. We need backup and an ambo, now.”

You jumped out of the car and raced over to Cutter, applying pressure to his chest. “Mrs. Police. Didn’t expect to… see you so soon.” He coughed. 

“Save your air, Cutter. We might just need your statement.” You smirked, looking down at your jacket.

“Oh, screw it. You owe me a leather jacket.” You used yours to slow the bleeding, his hand coming to your wrist.

“Thank you.” 

“Don’t worry about it. Just keep your breathing slow and steady.” 

You waited until paramedics arrived before getting into a squad car, inputting your car’s licence plate to find Natasha at a warehouse. You didn’t wait for the uniformed officer, instead racing in with your gun in hand to hear chatter echoing from above.

“Natasha!” You yelled out, but your voice fell on deaf ears.

You got to the door just as Renny leapt off of the side of the building, too far for Natasha to grab and save him. You blocked your ears from the deadly thud before the frozen statue of Natasha turned to face you.

“I couldn't stop him.” 

You waited on the side of the curb as paramedics arrived, collecting Renny’s body whilst Cutter sat in another EMT. He silently held out his jacket to you, which you gratefully took in your shivering form, before he too went to the hospital.

The sight of Natasha’s stare into oblivion made you walk up to her, a pair of bolt cutters in hand that you let lean against your leg. “Hey, are you okay?” 

She didn’t answer.

“Looks like Cutter's gonna make it. He just gave a statement.” 

“Cutter?” She asked, dazed slightly.

“The guy Renny shot. Renny was pissed about the direction of the club, he thought they were selling out. So he went out on his own, robbed the warehouse and killed the security guard. We got justice for Erwin Scovell.” You lightly patted her shoulder.

“Wonderful.” She murmured.

You gently nodded, leaning against her as the warmth radiated through the chilly evening. “And they've recovered one container belonging to… Natasha Romanoff.” 

She immediately looked down at you. “Where?” 

“Inside.” 

“You didn't take a sneaky peek before telling me?” 

You looked up at her, and she felt like you were staring at her damned soul. “You'd never lie to me, right?” 

She laughed wryly. “You're gonna watch me open it.” 

You picked up the bolt cutters, handing them over as you stepped away from her. “You're damn right.”

You followed her into the warehouse, the container no longer covered by a sheet since it lay on the ground, and Natasha cut the lock off. She wrenched open the doors, lights turning on inside, with an ancient-looking box resting in the centre.

Natasha took your hand and rested it on one of the padlocks, putting her own on the other before you both lifted to find…

Nine sets of Russian dolls resting on top of straw.

“I told you.” Natasha remarked.

“Why go to all this trouble for dolls?” You asked, rummaging around below the straw to find nothing else.

“Dumayu, mozhno skazat', chto eto chast' moyego naslediya. I guess you could say it's a bit of my heritage.” She translated, smirking all the while.

Your eyes widened. “Since when did you speak Russian?”

“Always, malyshka.” She winked at you.

You rolled your eyes before you hugged her side. “Enjoy your dolls.” 

“I most certainly will.” She murmured against your forehead before you left.

Leaving her to search the rest of the container, finding nothing.

“They're gone.” 

⧖⧖⧖⧖⧖⧖⧖⧖⧖⧖⧖⧖⧖⧖⧖⧖⧖⧖⧖⧖⧖⧖⧖⧖⧖⧖⧖⧖⧖

“I'm glad you came back.” Kate smiled warmly as she opened her door to the sight of Natasha.

“Well, I needed to get my parking validated.” The redhead remarked as she sat down.

“So your items were never recovered?” 

“No.” 

“Earlier, you said that the items weren't that important. Yet now, you seem very upset that they're gone.” 

“Well, I'm a walking paradox. What can I say?” 

Kate sighed. “Sometimes we need to lose something before we can understand its value.”

“I didn't lose anything.” Natasha scoffed.

“No. No, you were a victim of a crime. It's only natural that you would feel violated. And often, our feelings of loss connect to how we feel... about who we are.” 

The redhead raised an eyebrow, but her lips were flat, unlike when she would be playful with you. No, Natasha was hurting.

Maybe she shouldn’t have come to see Kate at this hour. “Oh, right. So we're back on that, are we? You want to talk about my identity.” 

“Yes, because you're the Devil. You told me your names. But you left out a few others. Abaddon. Belial. Princess of Darkness…” 

“Someone's been brushing up on their Sunday school.” 

“Yes. But before you fell, you were known as Natalia. The Lightbringer.” Kate emphasised the final name.

“I don't go by that name anymore.” Natasha grumbled.

“That was a name that connotated your father's love for you.” 

“Right. Was casting his child into Hell also an expression of his love?” 

“Oh, God didn't cast you out of Heaven because he was angry with you.” Kate shook her head.

Natasha guffawed at her statement. “How can you presume to know God's intentions? You’ve never spent a minute with the man.” 

“Oh, I haven’t. And I don’t presume.” 

“Then maybe stick within the limits of your intellectual capacity.” 

“Or maybe my simplicity offers me a different perspective. God cast you out because He needed you to do the most difficult of jobs. It was a gift.” 

“Gift?” She growled, surprising Kate. 

“He shunned me. He vilified me, he made me a torturer! Can you even begin to fathom what it was like? Eons spent providing a place for dead mortals to punish themselves? I mean, why do they blame me for all their little failings? As if I'd spent my days, sitting on their shoulder, forcing them to commit acts they'd otherwise find repulsive. ‘Oh, the Devil made me do it’! I have never made any one of them do anything. Never.” 

“What happened to you is unfair.” Kate tried to calm her down but she wasn’t having it.

“Unfair? This is unjust. For all eternity, my true nature will be invoked to represent all their depravity. That is the gift that my father gave me.” She spat.

“It was an act of love.” 

“How do you know?” 

“Because you are his favourite child, Natalia.” 

“Do not call me that, please!” Natasha stood.

Kate took a facade of charge. “You are his fallen angel. But here's the thing: When angels fall, they also rise. All you have to do is embrace all that you are.” 

“I can't.” 

“Yes, you can. You just have to be open to the process-”

“You don't understand. I can't!”

“But why?” 

Natasha took control. 

“BECAUSE THEY STOLE THEM FROM ME!” She roared, slamming her fist through the wall behind the couch.

Without a moment’s notice, she left, her phone to her ear as she muttered two sentences.

“Someone’s got them, Wanda. Someone’s got my wings.”

[kagehiradaily]

day sixty.two - nui tuesday 🎬

[oliviab-scstudyabroad]

Did Somebody Say "Chocolate"?

Hey everyone! This past week, I was in Argentina yet again! This time, my friends and I traveled south in Argentina to a town called Bariloche. Bariloche is located within the Nahuel Huapi National Park and is the gateway to Patagonia. It is the perfect destination for those who love the outdoors, as the multiple ski resorts allow you to ski throughout the Andes, and the abundant lakes are key spots for fishing and kayaking. Bariloche also has a lively downtown area with architecture modeled after Switzerland. As you can imagine, I was beyond excited to go from the moment that my friends and I booked our plane tickets!

On Tuesday in the afternoon, my friends and I took the bus from Montevideo to Colonia and then rode the ferry to Buenos Aires. Upon arriving, we changed our dollars for Argentine pesos ($1 USD = 480 pesos), loaded our Sube cards (passes that you scan to use the metro and buses in Argentina), and then went to an Asian restaurant called Koi. There, we feasted on Miso ramen and dumplings. I ordered an iced tea, something that I’ve missed since being away from South Carolina! It really is astounding the diversity that Buenos Aires has in terms of gastronomy; any type of craving you might have, Buenos Aires has a restaurant to satisfy it. Because our flight was late at night, we killed some more time in another bar/bookstore called Backroom Bar. After enjoying our Passionfruit Punch drinks and chatting, we headed to the airport via Uber. Our flight left at 1:00 a.m., and we arrived in Bariloche at 3:30 a.m. Because the town doesn’t have Uber, we booked taxis in advance to take us from the airport to our Airbnb. Our host was there to give us the keys and show us around the apartment, and then we headed straight to bed to catch up on sleep.

Later that morning, Will, Karen, and I bundled up (it was about 39 ℉ outside) and roamed around the centro of Bariloche (our Airbnb was a 7-minute walk from downtown). Bariloche is set right along the lake of Nahuel Huapi, so we of course had to take pictures in front of the “Bariloche” letters with the stunning backdrop behind it. We then went to a confitería (chocolate shop) called Rapa Nui to have breakfast. Bariloche is known as the Chocolate Capitol of Argentina, so at Rapa Nui, I ordered a chocolatada (hot chocolate). Karen, Will, and I also shared a waffle topped with chocolate, banana, raspberry, and strawberry ice cream. Needless to say, I was sugared-out after breakfast, but it was worth every bite. We then went to the Center of Tourist Information to ask about the bus system and must-visit sites in Bariloche. The bus lines in the city are on a tightly set schedule, and some buses only arrive every hour. We therefore had to plan our activities around the schedule so we didn’t waste time waiting for the bus. The upside is that one bus ride is 100 pesos, or 20 cents. We definitely were traveling on a budget!

After returning from the Information Center, our other friends, Joe and Cleo, joined us to take the bus to Cerro Campanario. There, we took the ski lift to arrive at a lookout point where you could see majestic views of Southern Bariloche. The mountains reminded me of the Rocky Mountains in Colorado where I used to live, except the Andes are encapsulated by lakes and islands. Bariloche’s climate is unique in that in the winter, temperatures can drop to -30℉, and in the summer, you can expect the temperature to climb to 75℉. As I was standing at the top looking out at the islands, I could only imagine what it would be like in December to lay out on the sand and take a dip in the crystal-clear lake. I also noticed that the mountains were pretty barren in terms of snow. A local told us that Bariloche gets the most snow in July and August, so that explained why the ski resorts were closed when we went. After taking the lift down and the bus back, we bought groceries in the supermarket and made lentil soup and peppers stuffed with rice, perfect for our cozy movie night that we had that evening.

On Thursday morning, Karen and I woke up early to scout the tourist agencies to see what excursions were available. We picked up a lot of brochures, compared prices, and explained our options to the others at breakfast. I had coffee and tostados at ChimiDeli, a restaurant that one of the tourist agents had recommended. All five of us then shared a chocolate mousse cake adorned with strawberries. Here arise my two tips when traveling: 1. If you don’t know where to eat, ask a local! They are guaranteed to have good recommendations, and it saves a lot of time instead of poking around on Google Maps and peering at reviews of restaurants. 2. If you want to try different types of cuisine, order multiple dishes and share with your friends! This way, you can have a bite of everything without feeling confined to ordering one meal.

After breakfast, we headed to the Chocolate Museum at Havanna and went on a tour! The guide explained to us that pure chocolate comes from the cacao bean, and in the early centuries, pure chocolate was exchanged by indigenous groups as a form of currency. It was also served as offerings to the gods, or high-ranking authorities in the communities. In Europe, people began to mix cacao with sugar and milk, transforming the cacao chocolate into the milk chocolate that we know today. After World War II, a large surge of Italians immigrated to Bariloche, including a man named Alfred Fenoglio. The so called “pioneer of chocolate in Bariloche” started the first chocolatería in Patagonia, and he is known to be the source of the boom of chocolaterías in Southern Argentina that generate millions of dollars in revenue annually. Who would’ve thought! As we strolled through the museum, we drank our samples of hot chocolate and saw life-sized animals pertaining to Bariloche that were carved entirely out of chocolate! Count how many times I wrote “chocolate” in this post 😉

The gang and I then went to Cerro Otto to take the gondola up to another lookout point. The view was once again spectacular, and we got our fair share of group selfies before heading down to catch the bus back to the center. When we were in line for the bus, there was a man that was playing the bandoneon, an instrument similar to the accordion that is found in most tango music (tango was born in Argentina and Uruguay). Playing the bandoneon is one of the main ways that Argentines connect to their roots and keep the culture alive, so I gave him a tip and enjoyed the tunes before boarding the bus. Once in the centro, we went to another chocolate shop called Mamuschka! Mamuschka is iconic for its rotating Russian dolls on the outside of the building and its wrapping paper being adorned with the colorful Russian doll logo. I couldn’t help myself and filled a box with different chocolate assortments, including ositos- little bears that are filled with dulce de leche. I also got chocolate bars for friends and family and immediately put them away when I got home so as not to be tempted to sneak a bite! After Mamuschka, my friends and I stopped in a supermarket to get ingredients to make sandwiches for our full-day excursion the next day. Then, we had dinner in a cervecería called Bachmann! I had passed by the restaurant earlier that day, and I made it a priority to dine there, as my last name is Bachmann! At the restaurant, we had burgers and beer from Patagonia, and the waitress gave me some coasters with the “Bachmann” logo on it. I kept cracking jokes that it was the family restaurant in Bariloche. We spent several hours there laughing and enjoying each other’s company before heading home to rest for another big adventure the next day.

Part II coming soon! Ciao!

[vausena]

Mass Executions in Korlan

[Federal Kingdom of Vau’sena, Kuwhara, Tupuaki- 1 May 2052

Annalies Willems, Cosonan News Network]

     Blood fills the streets across the Korlanic archipelago this past week as new evidence uncovered by an anonymous source in Taone Nui reveals the latest and most severe of the Korlanic government’s crackdowns on dissent under the Ilfiatist regime.

     The footage, which was collected from secondary sources throughout the country, shows scenes of near-unimaginable violence. Midnight exterminations of entire families in their homes, protestors gunned down in the middle of the day with automatic weapons, missiles fired into boats of deserting soldiers, chemical weapons launched into buildings full of people and an entire city in Mellmore burned to the ground are just a few of the truly horrific scenes that have become ubiquitous with Korlanic Rangatira Ikaroa Storinka’s extreme ideology of fear. 

     According to a now-deceased operative who was reportedly executed in public in the city of Seredina on Tuesday of last week, the new wave of terror sweeping across Korlan is part of a new project called Operation Tahuna, targeting all perceived opponents of the Storinka administration and their families. This campaign of extermination has manifested under the command of Rangatira Ikaroa Storinka and Rangamarsolo Iseleli Faletau, the leading figure within the Korlanic military. Estimates of the number killed so far during Operation Tahuna range from 22,000 to as many as 50,000, a number which is only expected to rise in coming weeks.

     Coastal cities like Tupuaki have been flooded with refugees trying desperately to escape the bloodthirsty Korlanic regime. How much death will we see before he finally achieves the peace he so desperately claims to crave?

[southernhispanics]

TORCIDO TUESDAY: Wito and Big Indio from BARRIO VAN NUYS in Tracy in 1987. Be sure to check the hashtag for more photos of this varrio.

[eandamj]

FRENCH POLYNESIA: TAHITI - Tour of the West Coast 13 April 2024

We were collected for a half day West Coast tour after breakfast. We visited first an ancient temple: Marae Arahurahn. We were greeted by a Tiki figure:

We walked around the temple site which was beautiful and well cared for. The remains of the temple show it was built from volcanic rock using dry stone wall technique:

We were next taken to the Maraa Caves:

It was lovely and cool standing just by the caves. There was also some amazing trees:

We stopped to see the surf breaking on the coral reef along the coastline:

Further down the coast we visited a surfing beach with the black volcanic sand which looked amazing:

Towards the south part of the “big” Tahiti island we stopped at the Vaipahi Gardens. (Tahiti looks like two islands stuck together joined by a narrow strip of land. We had spent all our time on Tahiti Nui so far - the larger of the land masses.) The gardens were lovely and had spiritual significance as there was a practice of bringing the Chiefs after death to the gardens for washing of their bodies in the different areas of water. There was another waterfall but also some wonderful flowering shrubs and superb trees:

After a stroll around the gardens we continued our journey south and crossed the narrow strip of land on to Tahiti Iti (the smaller part of the island). We were surprised to see the landscape change and there were farms with fields that could have been European countryside, including cows grazing. This was part of the coast as we crossed to the smaller island:

We were driven to a high look out point on Tahiti Iti. The view back along the west coast of the surf on the coral reef was great:

We were then driven back to Papeete along the eastern coast of Tahiti Nui. It was explained that they had had a major landslide during torrential rain in February and there was so much damage to the road in the south east that it was closed for weeks. Repairs were still going on when we passed that area but at least a single track controlled by traffic lights was now in operation. For many this has caused chaos as there is only one road around the island. There are no passable roads across the centre of the mountainous area.

We stopped at Faaone to see another waterfall - which again has a Polynesian legend attached to it.

We then continued along the main road back to our hotel.

On 14 April we had a quiet day relaxing in the hotel as we are flying at 4am on the 15 April back to Australia via Auckland, New Zealand crossing the International Dateline once more. This time we “lose” a day - Monday - and will arrive on Tuesday!