#seriously cassie why why would you do this i am DESTROYED

[gayforcarstairsgirls]

Us @ Cassie rn:

[romanticwealth]

I, I will say yes.

Toby Rogers (1st Person POV)

Content Warnings - mentions of killing, implied manipulation, self loathing, torment, and the breaking of limbs

“How many will die? I will die.” - Cassie by Flyleaf

I sit in front of the boss, head bowed in shame. Fuck up one time, shame on me. Fuck up two times, even more shame on me. Shame shame shame— it’s all I know at this point. Humiliation is enough, having failed a mission before. But today was worse. I wasn’t prepared and was overpowered by the person I was supposed to kill. Thankfully, my partner finished them off for me.

But that doesn’t make up for the embarrassment I felt afterwards. I continued to feel it even as the both of us walked back here.

Now I’m in here. For being weak. For not being strong enough in that moment. Again, this isn’t my first offense. This is the second time this has happened. I feel so pathetic as the boss asks me to raise my head to “look” at him. I sigh, hands and feet trembling. I feel a lump in my throat. I know he’s not going to go easy on me like he did last time.

Hell, saying he went easy on me last time is being a bit too generous to this fucking monster.

“Tobias,” his voice rings through my ears. My lips tremble as I force out a “yes sir” in response. “I don’t know what I’m doing wrong,” he says, obviously disappointed. I can’t respond. I don’t know what to say. He sighs, one of his “tendrils” going to lift my chin up— just to get a better look at him. He has no face, but if he did, I know he’d look like he’s about to kill me. I bet he is planning to kill me— someday, somehow.

But he can’t. He knows he can’t. He needs me. He tells me that every time he sees me. And he tells me it even though I’ve fucked up already. The thing with this monster is that he doesn’t take kindly to mistakes. Yet here I am. Still alive, and still working for him. It’s worse than the death penalty— I’d rather have that than this.

“You’re my best worker,” he says, “but I’m tired of you fooling around. I don’t understand why you don’t take your job seriously, but all I’m going to say is that it stops now. I truly, truly don’t want to have to hurt you,” he stops at the word ‘hurt.’ He seems to be thinking. I gulp nervously.

“But I will do what I have to if need be.”

That phrase makes my heart drop into my stomach.

“I do take my job seriously, sir,” I say, still trembling in fear. He could kill me right now if he wanted to— but he won’t. It’s like he’s tormenting me. Reminding me of how much of a failure I truly am. “I promise I do.” I add on. The monster tilts his head, seemingly asking me if I’m being honest.

“I’ll do better next time— I promise I will,” I whimper. “I promise.” I reiterate.

The monster sighs as his “tendrils” snake their way to my hands, wrapping around my wrists. I’m breathing heavily at this point— is he going to kill me now? Is he going to scream in my face? Is he going to render me useless by destroying my limbs— starting with my arms? I gasp nervously as my hands are lifted above my head, subsequently lifting me into the air. My feet dangle above the ground as I look down.

Again, he has no face. If he did however, I know he would have a look of anger. He’s angry— I know it. I can tell by the grip he has on my wrists. “S-Sir,” I mutter. “Please p-put me down.” I plead. At this point, I begin to kick my feet in desperation. This isn’t how I want to go out. “Sir,” I whine. “Please put me down.” I plead again. I’m begging. I’m begging for mercy. I’m begging for him not to kill me.

“Please,” I plead one last time.

With that, he finally speaks.

“Do you promise to keep your word?” He asks. I quickly nod, “yes! Yes I promise to keep my word!” I exclaim. “I promise I promise I promise!” I cry. Tears fill my eyes as I struggle against his grip on me.

“I’ll be better sir— I swear! I’ll be better!” I repeat. It feels like I’m begging a serial killer not to kill me. Isn’t that ironic?

“Do you swear on it?”

Oh give me a fucking break.

“Yes! Yes, I swear on my life that I’ll do better! I’ll be better! I swear on my fucking life!” I cry, tears falling down my cheeks. With that, he finally lets me go. I fall to the floor, landing on my foot. I can’t feel it, but I know it’s broken. The monster places his folded hands on his desk, acting as if he didn’t imply he was going to kill me just a minute ago. “Head to the infirmary and get your foot fixed up. You can’t work with a broken foot after all.” He says.

I work my way onto my non-broken foot and limp out of his office, my face a mess of dried tears. I’m whimpering as I reach the infirmary door. As I get checked in and sent to a room.

I hate my job. I hate my boss. My job is the worst thing that could ever happen to someone.

I wouldn’t even wish it upon my worst enemy.

[sleepy-achilles]

Second ask

Cassidy has a girl's day with her aunts, yes that includes Goldust.

Look at me. Late as usual. I'm good like that. Terrible thing is I've bascially done nothing today at all. Only walked my dog.

The Family of Destruction- Lucky Girls.

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

Cassie purses her lips as she sits at the dinner table. Chyna, Stephanie and goldust stand around her. "Whyd you do it?" Stephanie asks. "It was an accident.." cassie frowns. "Okay, shooting one brother? Accident. You managed to shoot two brothers." Goldust huffs moving towards the counter. "Yeah, shooting John was an accident." Cassie sighs. "That makes sense" goldust nods pouring wine. "Am I missing something? Why is every male okay with the idea of Leon being shot?" Chyna asks. "You two wouldn't understand because he's an angel to you two. He's a little shit with mommy issues. He only has mommy issues because he hasn't got a mother. Which is something we can't change." Goldust huffs turning towards the girls.

"Hes not bad enough to shoot" Stephanie states. "He is. And it was his bow and arrow. John was just too close, it went through Leon's arm and into his. I don't know why his arrows are so sharp" she frowns. "Because he uses them to hunt. The monsters around here are thick skinned" goldust hums. "So, we've got time to kill before your dad comes home to punish you. What shall we do?" Steph asks. "Wanna go out?" Chyna asks. "Might be my last for awhile. Can we go shopping?" Cassie asks. "Of course we can darling. You know I love shopping with you" goldust cheers downing his wine.

The girls look at him shocked before laughing.

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

"Can't you talk your dad into building a mall in the valley? The drive is way too long" goldust sighs. "Couldn't imagine living in the valley without a mall" Steph huffs. "He has got plans for a mall. The old land just outside the main town. Its out of sight, close to the field where the events are held, no sound complaints or building complaints." Cassie admits. "Seriously? Takers building a mall?" Chyna asks. "Mhm, tired of driving me and my friends out of town to shop but also tired of the complaints of the youth being bored youths who destroy things." Cassie answers.

"Has he started it yet?" Goldust asks, pretty sure he's seen builders around. "Yep. Papa did the designing for it. The build layouts are amazing." Cassie smiles. "Never knew Shawn had it in him" steph huffs as goldust parks. "So...you got the goods?" Goldust asks turning to the back seat. Cassie smiles and holds up the black and gold credit card. "How the hell did you get that?" Chyna asks reading the name on the card. Vince Mcmahon. "Leon stole it a year ago. Vince knows but doesn't care as long as its not steph or Shane." Cassie shrugs. "Lets see about that" steph mutters stealing the card and walking towards the mall. "Oh this will be fun!" Goldust cheers climbing out.

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

The girls walk around the mall spending vinces money with no worries.

Goldust watches as Cassie stops outside one of the only men targeted shops. "Feeling guilty bug?" Goldust asks grabbing chyna and stephs attention. "A little bit...especially John." She whispers. "Oh. All right I guess we can spend some money on those mutts" goldust huffs leading the girls in the shop. Cassie looks around. "It stinks." She winces. "Boys for you baby, boys." Chyna huffs looking around. "Well, they have a lot John would like. Not so sure about Leon." Steph admits. Cassie walks up to the basketball vests. "He was complaining his Lakers one needed replacing." Cassie states. "Then let's get him a new one." Chyna hums looking for his size. "Ill look for a baseball hat, for both him and Leon." Stephanie states walking off.

"What do you want to get Leon then?" Goldust asks taking the vest as chyna states she's going to grab matching shorts and sweat bands for them. Cassie frowns and looks around. Her eyes spot the not so sporty section of the store and she pulls goldust over to it.

"This could work" he nods looking at the leather jackets. Cassie doesn't say anything, just smiles as she picks up a necklace. She knows Leon does wear necklaces. He had a choker with a ring on it, just like their papa used to wear. The ring was a three way gift between Matthew, Valentina and Leon. They each got one and the ring has their initials in it.

She looks at the jackets and helmet accessories and smiles. "This will do perfectly." She nods.

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

Leon frowns as John leans against him. "So tired" John whispers. "Your heavy" Leon frowns. "Goldust said they went out shopping." Shawn whispers. "Shes in trouble. She shouldn't be having a girls day out!" Taker snaps. "Its fine dad..we are both alive and well." Leon huffs. "John has a match tomorrow and he's casted up and unable to use his arm!" Taker barks. Leon waits for him to continue. He doesn't. "Oh it's alright dad, I'm just a little sore" Leon huffs looking at his slinged arm. John let's out a huffed chuckle ad he rests his head on Leon's shoulder and closes his eyes.

"And you'll have a cool story to tell your classmates" Taker tells him. Leon rolls his eyes and rests his head against John's. "Sorry we are late! We got cassie her last meal" steph states carrying bags. "Last meal" Shawn huffs helping chyna with the bags. "I brought apology gifts." Cassie whispers holding up two bags. Taker looks at them. One with Leon's name and one withs John. "You are still in trouble. But go" Taker murmurs. Cassie nods and moves to her big brothers.

The adults gather behind the sofa and watch the interaction.

"I brought sorry gifts" she states. Both boys open their eyes. "You didnt have to bug" John yawns sitting up. "Speak for yourself" Leon huffs taking the bag. John rolls his eyes grabbing his bag. He smiles at the basketball gear. "Thanks bug" John smiles hugging her as he puts the hat on. Cassie smiles and looks at Leon. The leather jacket folded on his lap, the little helmet horns accessories sat on them. He hasn't got his own motorbike yet but he has a helmet for when he rides with dad.

Leon isn't smiling. His face is flat. Cassies heart races as he examines the necklace. John watches him concerned. Leon runs his finger over the emblem. A small smile quirks onto his face. "Ill give you this, it's a good one" Leon states glancing at his sister as he holds the necklace up over his head. Shawn and taker can't help but smile.

The necklace was a silver chain with a little silver arrow head on the end.

"You're a lucky girl bug" Leon smiles. Lowering the necklace. "I forgive you for shooting me" Leon states leaning forward, allowing cassie to put the necklace on him. "I forgive you two" John yawns resting his head back on Leon's shoulder. Cassie smiles at her parents. "No more girls days out for a month" Taker tells her. "And we will talk more about what happened today later." Shawn adds. "Mhm told you a girls day at the mall would work" chyna smirks. "I want vinces card back" Leon yawns.

"You little shit" Taker growls causing the others to laugh.

[kiragecko]

DC Sidekick Age References

Here’s a dump of all the references I’ve found. Know I’m missing a lot, and quite a few were found on other sites that didn’t give me the most precise info.

If you know of anything else, can correct a mistake you see, or want to discuss comic book aging - please send me an ask, message, or reblog!

?? - means I don’t know where the info is from, “quotes” are direct copies of the wording in the comic

-

?? Parents died when Bruce was 8

Detective Comics #27 (May 1939) – Batman introduced

Detective Comics #38 (Apr 1940)  – Dick is (8 when parents killed/9 when Robin) 12 when he becomes Robin, it's Bruce's 3rd year as Batman

More Fun Comics 73 (Nov 1941) – Green Arrow Introduced

1962 - JLA formed

1964 – Dick teams up with Wally and Garth

Teen Titans 1 (Jan-Feb 1966) – Teen Titans form, Donna is introduced (all 5 are 14ish?)

Detective 359 (Jan 1967) – Babs introduced, has PhD, has graduated

Batman #217 (Dec 1969) – Dick graduates high school, enrolls in University (starts 3 months later)

1971 - Roy discovered using drugs by Ollie and Hal in a drug den (he was trading arrows for drugs), retcon has Wally and Dick discovering him at tower and making him promise to get help

Justice League 116 (Mar-Apr 1975) Charley Parker is 16

Batman Family 10 (Mar-Apr 1977) – Dick is teenager, Babs is 25

Teen Titans 53 (Feb 1978) – Dick, Wally, Donna, Vic all started college at same time

DC Special Series: The Flash Spectacular (May 1978) – Wally graduates high school

New Teen Titans 1 (Nov 1980) – Raven forms New Titans, Gar is 16 during run

New Teen Titans 2 (Dec 1980) – Slade meets team, Grant dies

1981 - Dick drops out of university after 1 semester, he never really was interested

New Teen Titans 20 (June 1982) – Vic turns 19, Donna already is

Tales of the New Teen Titans 2 (July 1982) – Raven turned 18 just before forming Titans

Batman #357 (Mar 1983) – Jason’s first appearance

Detective Comics #526 (May 1983) – Bruce adopts Jason, Dick is there and approving

New Teen Titans 34 (Aug 1983) – Terra turns 16

Batman #368 (Feb 1984) – Dick gives Jason the Robin costume, Jason becomes Robin

Blue Devil(84) – Eddie is 11/12

Tales of the Teen Titans (May 1984) – Joey introduced, Author describes him as 17?

New Teen Titans #39 (Feb 1984) – Dick stops being Robin, Wally quits being a superhero/the team

Tales of the Teen Titans 50 (Feb 1985) – Terry and Donna's wedding (she got married while 19)

New Teen Titans 10 (July 1985) – Kole says she's at least 18

Crisis on Infinite Earths 7 (Oct 1985) – Supergirl dies in Superman’s arms after mostly destroying the Anti-Monitor, who has to flee reality

New Teen Titans 18 (Mar 1986) – Dick turns 20 (“Dick Grayson celebrates his birthday away from home with a traditional Tamaranean feast.” (While sulking because Kory got space-married))

New Teen Titans 20 (May 1986) – Roy locates baby Lian, Terry Long is 29

?? Roy is 22(when he gets Lian)

Batman #404 - Batman Year One (Feb 1987) – Bruce is 25, spent 12 years training, became Batman at 26, Barbara Gordon is pregnant, her and Jim move to Gotham

Detective Comics #571 (Feb 1987) – we see Bruce’s fear gas induced vision of Jason’s tombstone (birth: 1974 – death: 1986, so he’d be 12)

Secret Origins 13 (April 87) – 15 years ago, it was Dick’s 5th birthday. Soon after tenth birthday, parents are killed. [Set during New TT 18])

Batman #409 (July 1987) – Jason becomes Robin (In Detective Comics, Jason has been Robin the whole time, but is still being wwritten with Pre-Crisis personality)

Flash 1 (June 1987) – Wally turns 20

New Teen Titans Ann 3 (Nov 1987) – Danny Chase is 13 and introduced

Batman #416 (Feb 1988) – Dick in Gotham, meets the new Robin on patrol. Confronts Bruce later, says he was ‘fired’ less than a year ago (since then he was briefly in college), makes Bruce admit he missed him. Dick finds Jason again, expose the drug dealers, and Dick gives Jason his old costume (symbolically, since Jason already has one) and a phone number, Dick was Robin for 6 years

Batman #427 (Winter 1988) – Jason dies

Batman #436, Batman: Year Three (Aug 1989) – 2 years since Dick stopped being Bruce’s sidekick (When he became Nightwing? Or when he quit?), parents died 10 years earlier

Batman #441, A Lonely Place of Dying (Nov 1989) – Tim 13, was 7 when Dick’s parents died

Robin #1 (Jan 1991) – Tim debuts as Robin

New Titans 84 (March 1992) – Joey dies

Deathstroke, the Terminator #15 (Oct 1992) – Rose introduced

Team Titans 3 (Nov 1992) – Robert Long is born

Adventures of Superman 500 (June 1993) – Kon appears and escapes from Cadmus with Newboy Legion, John Henry Irons first appearance, Eradicator and Cyborg Superman also appear for first time

Batman: BTAS: Robin’s Reckoning (1993) - 'Richard 'Dick' Grayson: Age 10'

Detective Comics 668 (Nov 1993) – Tim gets license (because dad is disabled) even though he hasn’t turned 16 yet, gets beat up by Jean-Paul

Flash 92 (July 1994) – Bart aged to 14

?? Shortly after Knight’s End – Tim is 15 and in the 10th grade

Flash 0 (Oct 1994) – Wally is 23

Damage 1(94) – Grant is 16

Deathstroke, The Terminator Annual 4 (Aug 1995) – Rose is 14, “What would that do to a kid? A fourteen-year-old girl whose father is an assassin she’s never met?”

Wonder Woman 105(95) – Cassie is 14

Tempest 1(96) – Garth spends many months in other dimension

Aquaman 20 (May 1996) – Garth aged 3-4 years in other dimension, now older than other Titans

Teen Titans 1 (Oct 1996) – Argent, Risk, Joto, Prysm all turn 16(they were conceived by seed things on same day)

Superboy Annual 2 – to Kon: “Happy birthday, Kid - - number one in a long successful series, we hope.” “He will effectively remain sixteen years old - - forever!”

Green Lantern 82(97) – Robert Long is 3

Wonder Woman 121(97) – Terry and Robert die

Secret Origins Giant 1(98) – Bart is “Three. Fifteen. Depends.”, “you’re almost 15, Tim.”

Titans 5(99) – Donna is 23

Titans(99) – Lian is 4

Sins of Youth(99) – Kon 16, aging normally again

Aquaman 63 (Jan 2000) – Future Garth tells granddaughter Donna about Cerdian being born (think this is his weird birth issue)

Wonder Woman Secret Files (2002) – „Wonder Girl is a precocious outgoing 15-year-old named Cassandra „Cassie“ Sandsmark.“

Bruce Wayne: Murderer (2002) – Oracle says Tim is 15

Batgirl #37 (April 2003) – “Cain said ... today was ... my birthday.”

Batgirl #39 (June 2003) – “I see an eighteen-year-old girl, who’s out of her depth.” (Babs about Cass)

Robin #116 (Sept 2003) – Dana: “Oh, I’m so glad we’ll all be together on Thursday ... !” Tim: “Why? What’s Thursday?” Jack: “Yeah. What’s Thursday?” Dana: “Wait a minute – seriously? Tim: “Yeah. Tell. Us.” Dana: “It’s nothing – never mind. Just leave your schedules open for a nice family dinner.”| Jack: “Dana, what’s – “ Dana: “Shh! Thursday ...  the 19th of July ... ?” Jack: “Um ... oh! Right!” | Steph: “So – Thursday!! Are you excited? Got any ideas for it, yet? ... Tim ... ?” [Tim is asleep.] | [Ives and Steph come over, with pizza that says “Happy B-Day Tim.”] Ives: “Sixteen spankings – get that boy up!!” | Dana says: “I remember when I was in 11th grade.” | he also gets the first ‘clue’ for Bruce’s ‘birthday present.’

Teen Titans 1 (Nov 2003) – Gar is 19, Is this Joey’s return?? (He’s puppeting Slade)

Teen Titans ½ (2004) – Rose’s early years, with a ‘6 years ago’ flashback, she was raised in a brothel her mom ran, tutored, never allowed the outside world, but had relationships with kids her age

Detective Comics #790 (Mar 2004) – Jason’s 18th birthday “he would have been 18 today”

Teen Titans 8 (April 2004) – Raven looks 'barely older' than Cassie

TEEN TITANS #1/2 [2004]: The flashback panels totally sync up with my age theories; Flash to 10 years ago: Dick Grayson’s parents die. Flash to 6 years ago: Rose Wilson is schooled at home by her mother, Lili. Flash to 5 years ago: Ravager I is killed. Flash to 3 years ago: Slade is forced to kill Jericho. Flash to 2 years ago: Cadmus attempts to clone Superman. Flash to 18 months ago: Rose deals with the death of her mother. Flash to one week ago: Bart Allen is shot by Slade.

Identity Crisis 4 (Dec 2004) –(Tim still 16)

Green Arrow 47(05) – Mia is 17

Return of Donna Troy 3(05) – Cassie barely 16

Nightwing: Year One(05) – Dick is 26

Batgirl #65 (Aug 2005) – Cass decides to figure out if Shiva is her mom, Jason and Cass roughly the same age

Flash(05/06) – Wally is 26

?? Robin #136 – Tim still 16 ???

Detective Comics #868 (Oct 2010)– Kate is 32 years old??

One Year Later(Mar 06)

Flash 1(06) – Bart 4 years older(20?)

Blue Beetle 2 (June 2006) – Find out Jaime was in space/a pocket dimension for One Year Later

?? Just prior to 52 (July 2006-July 2007)– told Tim is 17 (long before he’s also  17 in Red Robin, 52 is 1 year long)

Teen Titans 42 (Feb 2007) – Eddie is 17

Final Crisis: Legion of 3 Worlds 3-4 (Apr-June 2009) – Bart and Kon back, same as when died

Batman 677 (July 2008) – Batman over 30

Batman: Battle for the Cowl (May-July 2009) – Damian is 10, Ends with Dick and Damian becoming Batman and Robin

Brave & The Bold 2 (May 2007) – Kara is 17, “You have food in the refrigerator older than her, Hal. Who are you, Ollie? No bad thoughts. She’s seventeen.”

Batgirl #1 (Oct 2009) – Steph starting college

Batgirl #7 (Apr 2010) - Damian is "what happens when you work with a 10-year-old."

Red Robin #12 (July 2010) – Tim spent “a few months” looking for evidence before returning to Gotham, becomes emancipated minor

Detective Comics #871 (Jan 2011)– Mention that Dick and Babs went to prom together

Red Robin #25 (Sept 2011) – Tim “and you are only 17”

The Batman Files (Oct 2014) – Jason was 15 at death (seen on death certificate)

?? Rebirth Young Justice series – Cassie: “didn’t mean to end up back in high school feeling - - like I did back when I went to high school.” Later, she says she’s in Metropolis “Working. Going to school in the fall.” So she’s probably starting college.

?? Bart in some Rebirth comic: “Am I six? Am I nineteen? That’s a really freaky thing, right?”

?? At some point: Donna says shes a little older than Kyle

[itsbenedict]

Two-Faced Jewel: Session 11.5

What Does a Moth Sound Like?

A half-elf conwoman (and the moth tasked with keeping her out of trouble) travel the Jewel in search of, uh, whatever a fashionable accessory is pointing them at. [Campaign log]

Last time: the party returned to Barley to deal with a few loose ends while their hired muscle dealt with the biggest, scaliest loose end. Between that session and the next, we had a brief mini-session to wrap up one of said ends we'd left unwrapped- what exactly is up with the Kanthalga family?

(Also included: a conversational omake between Looseleaf and Saelhen, pictured courtesy of @drazelic, Looseleaf's player.)

After their encounter with Kensa, Oyobi tries to talk the party into going to the tower and helping the Deathseekers kill the dragon. Her brilliant plan of "stab it in the brain before it can cast any spells" has some flaws, though, and they patiently explain the plan's many flaws and strike a blow against Oyobi's sense of invincibility.

They also ask Malath a few questions, trying to get to the bottom of her odd discomfort with the idea of the dragon as a culprit and the presence of Deathseekers.

Saelhen du Fishercrown: "When we spoke before, you asked us whether the dragon was green. I regret that I still cannot answer, as I have not seen it, or heard any news on the topic from the deathseekers. But you seemed... concerned that it might be a green dragon. Is there any reason that such a dragon might pose a particular threat to your town?" Benedict I. (GM): "Mmm. I don't know if you've heard, but... going on thirty years ago, there was a town to the east called Grain." "It was attacked by a green dragon, and the elders... as the dragon had words with them, they had to be remanded to the custody of their gods." Looseleaf: Oooh, that is harsh. Benedict I. (GM): "In the ensuing chaos, the miscreants who now inhabit Wheat set fire to the town and fled further east." "The survivors of the disaster fled west, and established Barley here." "If that same dragon still has its sights on our people, we could be in grave danger." "We refused to submit once, and it very nearly destroyed us."

As far as they can tell from their questioning, Malath isn't hiding any dark secret- she's just sort of a control freak, who's nervous that her control over the people might slip. Plus she's worried that if the dragon is provoked and comes to town, she- as the current elder in charge- might suffer the same fate as Grain's elders.

Saelhen... isn't satisfied with this. Something seems wrong about Malath Kanthalga- Thalath wouldn't try to enlist their help rescuing Kensa for no reason. She takes the party to the general store, in hopes of catching Kensa on her nightly delivery.

Kensa arrives as expected, but when she sees Saelhen there, she makes her delivery and tries to leave, rather than sit at the loom as is her custom. She seems afraid of Saelhen.

Saelhen du Fishercrown: "...I don't intend to keep you from your work. Though I did have a question I wanted to ask you, dear. If you'll permit me one." Kensa Kanthalga: "...A question?" Saelhen du Fishercrown: "Of a sensitive nature, possibly. Something vouchsafed to me by... someone you might know." Kensa Kanthalga: She looks less afraid and more confused, now. And after thinking a moment... "...oh." She actually looks a little angry, now. "That makes sense." "He sent you, didn't he?" Saelhen du Fishercrown: Okay, the conclusions she's reached here... may or may not be correct! "Under what I am starting to think may have been false pretenses." Kensa Kanthalga: "What did he tell you? Did he say I was being brainwashed?" "I don't need to be rescued from my duty by someone who abandoned his!" Saelhen du Fishercrown: "More a very general concern for your person than anything --" Ah, there's the word that raises her hackles, duty.

Having somewhat misread the situation, Saelhen is unpleasantly surprised to find that Kensa seems just as devoted to the teachings of Diamode as Malath is, and has no interest in fleeing. She seems contemptuous of her older brother on the basis that, uh...

Well, the Goddess of Family, who's all about having kids and living a very prescribed sort of life path inside strict gender roles, is- as might be unsurprising- a bit of a homophobe. The party never met Thalath's boyfriend (who works the night shift at Wheatley Inn- they never stayed the night there), but there are several reasons why the place isn't popular with the locals.

Saelhen is caught kind of flat-footed here- she can tell something's still not quite right, but she doesn't have the kind of cultural context to unravel this level of baggage.

Luckily, she brought along an ersatz cleric of Diamode, and so... Orluthe is able to spot the missing piece of the puzzle.

Orluthe Chokorov: Orluthe, in the back, has been looking increasingly uncomfortable. So far, he's had his stole and cap stowed away, so as not to be recognized as a cleric of Diamode. He's now taking them out and putting them on. "Hey, um, miss?" Saelhen du Fishercrown: Saelhen... legitimately forgot he had those. Kensa Kanthalga: Kensa turns and notices him- possibly for the first time. "Oh, ah- Mr., um..." Orluthe Chokorov: "Chokorov," he says. "I'm..." He holds up a hand, and points at a tiny circular scar around his pinky finger. "You have one of these, right?" Kensa Kanthalga: Kensa looks down at her hand, and you can see- yes, she has a matching scar. Saelhen du Fishercrown: Well. That's novel information about Orluthe. Religion check to... I mean, we know the finger-cutting thing. I guess a "what does this mean, it's not like these two have disowned anyone" check. 13 - RELIGION (2) Benedict I. (GM): With a 13, you know that only a parent needs to cut off their finger- but you're not sure what happens with sibling relationships. This might be something related- like you don't have to cut your finger off all the way? Some sort of signifier that the connection has been severed, though you don't know the finer doctrinal points. Orluthe Chokorov: "My older sister," he says. "Four years ago. We all had to get the mark." Kensa Kanthalga: "Wait, but..." Orluthe Chokorov: "You didn't want that to happen to you, too, right?" "You can't stand up to a power like that. You'd never win, right? If I tried to defend my sister, my parents would have two missing fingers." "You have to pretend, right?" Kensa Kanthalga: "Why... no, it's... I really...!" Orluthe Chokorov: "Feels that way, doesn't it? For a long time." Kensa Kanthalga: Kensa looks terrified- like for the first time, someone's seen right through her. Orluthe Chokorov:"It's not a betrayal of your family- of your duty- to... have love." "There's nothing in Diamode's teachings about the mark, you know? Neither of us had to take it." Saelhen du Fishercrown: ...well. That's a... new consideration. Kensa Kanthalga: Kensa's on the verge of tears, looking like she's about to bolt. "N-no, I- I really... want to... I have to..." Saelhen du Fishercrown: Saelhen is right back to Steal This Child Town. "...wait, do you seriously mean that the finger-cutting thing came after the scripture?" Orluthe Chokorov: Orluthe nods. "I mean, the finger-cutting is... it's a punishment. You're not supposed to disown your children. It's not like you can do it and then you lose the finger and then you're all square and it's fine." "And when parents scar their kids' fingers to make them share in a punishment for a sin they didn't commit... Diamode doesn't want that." "I should know," he says, gesturing to his vestments. Saelhen du Fishercrown: "...well. Thank you, Orluthe." Saelhen's face is hard. "I was previously under the impression that I had misunderstood a culture which is strange to me." "But now it sounds as if... I haven't, quite." Kensa Kanthalga: Kensa's makeup is starting to run. "What... what do you know? I- I wanted to... if I could've... I couldn't..." "What do you want with me?!" "I had to, okay? I have to!"

Orluthe having successfully exposed Kensa's fear and dissatisfaction with the situation, Saelhen proceeds to talk her around to trying to leave. It's pretty touch-and-go for a little bit, but Kensa's mind is made up when the party mentions that they're going to be passing through Corolos. Apparently, there's something there she really cares a lot about...?

So they're going to need a few days for Kensa to prepare to, uh, run away with a bunch of strangers. That's- this is technically kidnapping, right? This isn't something you should do in real life? This is kind of bad? Hm. Well.

-

Anyway, they've got some downtime here in Barley while the Deathseekers do their work and Kensa prepares to leave. And- well, later in the campaign, there was a flashback to this time period, so I'm going to cover that scene here.

Saelhen du Fishercrown: So: days in the past (but not many)... It's Cassie Zeishus's inn, and Saelhen is brushing up on her card tricks; she's let herself get rusty, just a bit, ever since she left... Well, since she got to Oyashio, anyway. She's cutting a borrowed deck at one of the inn's tables, downstairs, flicking cards from hand to hand, then up her giant poofy sleeves. Where's Looseleaf? Looseleaf: Probably sitting around outside, doing her whole 'fix-things-up' gimmick! After the early burst of things-to-fix, though, business has dried up a little. There's just not that many broken things left to fix that people need help with after a while! Saelhen du Fishercrown: Saelhen is... bored, she decides, for a reason. She can't evaluate how impressive her card tricks/cheating techniques are without a proper audience! She knows how they work already! So she leans out the door. "How goes the repair work?" Looseleaf: "It isnnnnn't," Looseleaf says back. "I think that there's not much repair work left in Barley at all!" "I've done too good a job and my business has dried up. This is why you never peddle perfect cures, innit." Abruptly, she gets up from the carpet she'd gotten Orluthe to roll out for her- the one from Lumiere's tower. "Boooored." She rolls it up. "I demand entertainment."

Saelhen decides to entertain Looseleaf by performing a card trick... and proceeds to roll a natural 1 on her sleight of hand check. She completely fucks it up, and Looseleaf- who had to be convinced to put money on the wager- earns herself a silver piece.

Saelhen du Fishercrown: "...I lost the card." "So I'm going to have to replace that for Cassie. On account of her deck being a card short." "Your card, specifically." Looseleaf: "Hhhhokay." "Wow, you're actually serious, aren't you." "I thought this was still part of the bit, but, if you're serious, you know the card's on the underside of your shoe, right?" Saelhen du Fishercrown: "I just want to reassure you that I'm good at this, Looseleaf --" Looseleaf: "I thought you'd stepped on it because, y'know, part of the trick." Saelhen du Fishercrown: "No, I already checked there --" Saelhen finds the Hierophant stuck to her instep. There's a beat. Then she blushes furiously, in what looks like actual mortification. "Oh damn it." "I haven't done that since I was sixteen, what the hell..." Looseleaf: Looseleaf laughs. It doesn't sound like her usual laugh, and you can only tell it's a laugh because she's bowled over laughing. The actual sound of the laughter sounds like- trilling chirps with a hint of vibration, a distinctly insectile sound. "Oh gods," she says while somehow still laughing simultaneously, "that was- I'm so sorry about how much I'm laughing, Saelhen-" She's still moth-laughing. "Please understand that your status is no way diminished in my eyes and you are still every bit as much of the cool conwoman you always were in my eyes- oh my gods I'm going to die laughing."

Saelhen, intrigued, attempts to use her preternatural skill at impressions to try and copy the laughter, which Looseleaf finds freaky-deaky.

Looseleaf: "Yeah, if you really want to imitate mothspeech what you actually need are the standard instruments. Your throats are not cut out for the kinds of vibes we naturally talk with." "No offense- your throats are perfectly nice, I mean." Saelhen du Fishercrown: "I'm aware my throat is lovely." "What do you mean, standard instruments? Some kind of... pipe, or flute, or something?" Looseleaf: "The Standard Instruments," she says, this time with an intonation so that Saelhen can tell it's words with Capitalized Letters, "are... sort of like a flute, yeah, except instead of working like a woodwind it's more like, a bunch of little flutes with flaps of springy metal at the end, so when you blow through the flute the flaps vibrate and you get a sound that's way closer to the range of sounds we make, and it doesn't hurt your throat nearly as much. The Standard Instruments for imitation mothspeech." "Alternatively, if you knew spirit magic, we could have just taken you to the Archive of the Ever-Living Voice, but that's not really an option..." Saelhen du Fishercrown: Saelhen attempts to imagine this. "So, ten harmonicas glued together." Looseleaf: "Yeah pretty much." Saelhen du Fishercrown: "...that last comment sounded alarmingly practical, in its concerns, Looseleaf." "Are you proposing to teach me, here?" Looseleaf: "How dare you imply that I would ever let slip the magical secrets of my people to an outsider who knows nothing of our ways or our culture why I am absolutely offended and ha ha I'm just messing around." "If you want to learn mothspeech," Looseleaf hesitates for a moment. "...Well, we should get started by trying to put together, as you put it, ten harmonicas!" "...Does this town have harmonicas?" Benedict I. (GM): This town totally has harmonicas.

So it looks like Looseleaf is going to be teaching Saelhen the language of the mothfolk!

Looseleaf hesitates, though. "...You know, learning mothspeech is- well, it's not likely to be useful, you know?" "There's, like, no chance you're ever going to get to really put it into use with anybody other than me." Saelhen du Fishercrown: "...it is a bit obscure, isn't it?" Saelhen looks contemplative for a moment... then cracks a grin. "Which means that absolutely no one will know when I insult them." "Beyond their range of hearing, even! Oh that'll be such an easy way to blow off steam, dear, I love it."

After a shopping trip to assemble the device that substitutes for having moth mouthparts, they have a nice time bonding over linguistics. Building the thing is tricky, but... Saelhen gets a good roll!

Looseleaf:"...Y'know, trying to reverse-engineer an instrument just from how you saw it once is... more difficult than I thought it would be." Saelhen du Fishercrown: Saelhen expertly pulls two pieces together. "This and this, yes?" Looseleaf: "Yeah, make sure you leave extra length on the tubes- I don't know exactly how long they have to be so we might have to cut them down a little to fit... The day continues. Looseleaf teaches Saelhen a whole plethora of fun insults in mothspeech. Things like, "You must have had a hole in your cocoon while you were pupating, because your brain clearly leaked out during your metamorphosis." "Remind me what instar you are again?" And, her favorite of all, a surprisingly terse noun that apparently translates to "immature child who sticks two feathers on their forehead and thinks that means they have the antennae of an adult."

Saelhen manages to nail the pronunciation pretty quickly, and adds Mothfolk to her list of languages.

The conversation turns to Elvish (Looseleaf is shocked to learn that Oyobi has been being rude this entire time!), and Saelhen's upbringing in Kanzentokai.

Looseleaf is shocked by Saelhen's quick mastery of the language- and of Tabaxi, and Halfling, which are apparently languages she speaks.

Eventually, Looseleaf decides to make a wager with Saelhen. The stakes: if Looseleaf can fool Saelhen with a card trick of her own, Saelhen has to teach her Thieves' Cant. If she loses, she'll have to tell Saelhen how she did the trick- a standard "is this your card" situation.

Saelhen gets a 21, and Looseleaf then has to explain that she was able to track the card via... spirit-linking. Which she then has to explain she's been doing to the bracer.

Looseleaf: "I'm trying to use this as a, uh, lighthearted segue, to confess to the fact that I've soooorta actually had a tracking magic thing set on you, like, since we met." "I'm hoping that's not, un- discomforting for you, since you said, you liked the whole suspicion thing I had?" "But, yeah, uh, I was totally suspicious of you the whole time, and my first response to seeing someone I pegged as a conwoman trying to con the university out of a magic item was, to, put a tracker on the magic item." "Which is that bracer. I know the position of that bracer, at all times, as long as it's within ten miles of me; further than that, and I know the direction it is relative to me." "I'm coming clean because- well, I guess, we're friends now actually, and you should know about the fact that I'm technically tracking your movements. And also because I want to give you the option to tell me to fuck off with that shit, if you want to." "I think that keeping the tracker's still a good idea, on a practical level, though, because of the, uh, use-case, where, a scary badguy chops your arm off to take the bracer, like that way we could still get your arm back and get the bracer back and I'm also rambling because I'm nervous that this is the end of our friendship aha." Saelhen du Fishercrown: Saelhen has gone very still. Like the hackles-up bristling from earlier, except... a lot less movement. "......" Looseleaf: "Look, if you want me to turn it off I'll turn it off!" Saelhen du Fishercrown: And then she very deliberately settles back into motion, with barely even a little bit of shaking hands! Deep deep breath. "...you make a good point. "About the, bracer tracking." "I am..." "Fine, with it." Looseleaf: "Iiii am not convinced you are fine. You seem like you are in fact very emotionally distraught about it," Looseleaf says with caution. "I could... put a tracker on something that's not the bracer, for you to hold, of your own volition?" "Really, at this point, I'm less scared of you running off with the bracer, and more scared of something happening to you because of the bracer." Saelhen du Fishercrown: "...with a condition." "Which is that you do not tell anyone that you can track things, or, if you have to reveal your hand, that you don't tell anyone that you can find me." Looseleaf: "...You don't want to be found, by... something or someone that wants to find you?" Saelhen du Fishercrown: "In general, no." "...I'll tie something around the bracer. Or place a coin between my skin and its surface, or something. You can track that." Looseleaf: "Okay. I'll try my best to not tell anybody about my ability to find you. Except unless I have very good reason to believe that, I dunno, a dragon has abducted you and if I don't find help for you then you're dead, or something like that. Is that fine?" Saelhen du Fishercrown: "That would be fine, thank you. And I forgive you for... the initial... situation."

It seems... Saelhen really doesn't want to be found, by someone. I wonder who?

Still, the two of them manage to talk the issue over like adults, and grow closer as friends- so that means everything is probably fine, there's no secrets anymore, and absolutely nothing else is going to go wrong in the town of Barley.

NEXT TIME: END OF DAYS!!! HOMICIDAL INTENT!!! THE SINISTER MACHINATIONS OF THE SHADOW-MAYOR OF WHEAT!!!

[peppersonironi]

For @duketectivecomics‘s Duke Week Day Five: Leadership (A day late, I know, but I had wifi trouble)

Summary: Nightwing offers Signal a chance to lead a small group for a mission. Duke is wary, but accepts the challenge. He proves to be a rather great leader.

Notes: Takes place after Season Two of Young Justice, and ignores Season Three (I still haven’t seen it, unfortunately).

“So will you do it?” Duke looked over at Dick, who had decided to brave the day as Nightwing in order to ask a favor.

“I’m not sure, Nightwing, That’s your team, and I’m perfectly happy taking care of Gotham.”

Dick pouted and dramatically flung himself over the nearest gargoyle. “You sure? I could really use the help. Don't you want to lend aid to your poor, poor brother?”

“You are literally a billionaire.”

“Ha ha, Signal. You know what I mean.”

Duke sighed and joined Dick beside the gargoyle. “Yeah, I do. Are you sure you need me? Why not Tim? Steph? Heck, even Damian would love the chance to boos those guys around.”

Dick sighed. “I told you, The mission occurs at the same time as one on the opposite side of the world, which I already have Tim scheduled for. Steph is woking a case in Hong Kong with Cass. And Frankly, I doubt the Team would appreciate Damian's … style of leadership. This one is smaller, and less of a priority. I have some of the newbies and more older members on it, but none of them have experience with leading stealth missions.”

“So give one of them the experience!” Duke was getting a bit exasperated. Why did Dick think it would be a good idea to handle a mission on a covert team he'd never even met before?

“It's not that simple.” Dick frowned. “This mission is time sensitive, and delicate. It really does need someone with experience leading it, but all my best people are elsewhere.”

Duke tilted his head, considering. “Why me?”

Dick laughed. “Why NOT you? Seriously, Signal. You handled a whole group of Robins, by yourself. No Batman. You proved yourself, and you've earned respect. I trust you with this.”

Duke considered, thinking through everything Dick had said. “Alright,” He sighed, “What's the mission?”

*****

“Team, I'd like you to meet Signal. He'll be joining you on the mission, as well as over seeing things.” Nightwing stood at the front of the group of heroes, turning to where Duke had just come in from the zeta tubes.

Duke walked forward, surveying the group. “ 'Sup?” He asked, unsure of what else to say.

“Signal, meet Beast Boy, Kid Flash, Wonder Girl, and Blue Beatle.”

Duke nodded and extended his hand, “Nice to meet you.”

“I've been waiting to meet you for so long, dude!” Kid Flash said, racing forward to shake Duke's hand. “I've heard all about you, but the dates on when you actively joined the guys in Gotham were murky, and since I couldn't ask Nightwing or Robin – wait, does that mean Tim's no longer Robin? Why didn't he say anything? Unless the history books got it wrong, in which case woah, sorry I said anything – anyway  it was a bit of a tricky situation. Of course, I probably could have looked it up on the internet, but that feels like cheating y'know?”

Duke blinked several times. “Um, thanks, I guess? I didn't really think anyone bothered with me.”

“Are you kidding?!” Kid Flash was literally bouncing at this point. “You're one of the coolest bats! You patrol during the day, for one thing, plus your costume is pretty crash. Not to mention you're literally the only meta human Batman has ever let stay in Gotham! Although Black Bat might be one, no one was ever really clear on that.”

“You're a meta human?!” Beast Boy asked, shoving Kid Flash to the side. “Seriously? And you work with Batman?! How does that work?”

Duke laughed. “Yes, I am a meta. No, Black Bat isn't. She's just awesome. And I was Batman's protege before I gained my powers. When we found out, we kinda just rolled with it.”

“Translation,” Nightwing added, “He grumbled a bit before deciding that the rule only really covers Green Lantern.”

“Didn't it always though?” Duke asked his brother.

Nightwing laughed. “Probably. He never seemed to keen on Superman either, to be honest.”

Duke frowned. “Wait, then why did he stop by for tea last week?”

“Wait, he did?! Why wasn't I invited?!”

Duke shook his head and tsked. “Downside to no longer living at the house dude, that's all I'm saying.”

The Team was looking back and forth at the exchange. “Wait,” Blue Beatle said, holding up his hands. “Superman comes over for tea, at Batman's house, which you live in, but Nightwing doesn't anymore?”

“Yup,” Both of the bats said.

Blue Beatle blinked, then nodded. “Alright then.”

“What are your powers,” Wonder girl asked.

“Light stuff, basically,” Duke said. “I can see in several different light spectrums, lets me do a bunch of stuff, like limited x-ray vision. I can also 'replay' what happens in rooms, due to the light residue. I can also see a few seconds into the future.”

Everyone blinked at him.

“Not to mention you can control shadows!” Nightwing added helpfully.

Duke cringed. “Yeah, but that's new. I'm not really familiar with it.”

Everyone stared, except Kid Flash, who just continued bouncing.

“Alright,” Nightwing said after a moment, “Let's get on with the briefing.”

*****

The mission was simple: Infiltrate a high rise owned by Lex Luther in San Francisco, and retrieve information that was being stored on a hard drive. Said drive was only going to be present in the tower for twelve hours, nine of which Lex was also present. Hence the need for a small team, and the precise timing.

The infiltration was scheduled at 1400 hours, after Lex had left for lunch, and before the buyer of the information had arrived. Duke had been given the plans of the building, and multiple suggested strategies. One of these strategies was modified by Duke, and was what led Beast Boy (who insisted Duke call him Garth) turning into a fly in order to get through the vents.

“Are you sure I can't go for something more fun?” Garth asked on the way to San Francisco, “Like a snake? Maybe even a monkey!”

“No,” Duke had said, “A fly is the best option, it's the least likely to set off motion sensors.” At the disappointed face, however, Duke conceded, “You can be a monkey when you open the side entrance.” Garth had whooped in triumph, and Duke had to crack a smile.

Once Beast Boy had managed to get into the building, he made his way to the main security center and dismantled whatever detection systems Lex had in place, allowing Kid Flash (Bart, Duke learned) and Signal himself to make their entrance. The trio made their way to Lex's office, only needing to take out a single guard, and retrieve the hard drive from one of Lex's many (There were like thirty, sheesh) safes in the room. The cracking of said safe took longer than initially planned, but Duke managed to hack the system in time for the guard change. Boy was he glad Tim taught him how to hack.

With the target in hand, they made their way out to the back alley, where Blue Beatle (Jaime, he said his name was) and Wonder Girl (Cassie) were keeping watch. They were almost caught at one point, but Duke saw the guards coming and quickly shoved his teammates into a closet, along with himself. In the end, two guards who were lagging behind on their shift change intercepted them, but Blue Beetle knocked one out, and Wonder Girl got the other.

“Took you long enough,” Cassie said with a grin when she saw the trio returning.

Duke grinned right back at her. “You have any trouble?”

“If these two count as trouble,” She replied, kicking one of the goons.

“Sounds crash!” Kid Flash replied. “How about we get out of here before something blows up?”

Duke frowned. “Why would anything blow up?”

Everyone turned and gave him a look. “You'd be surprised,” Blue Beetle said.

“Better not jinx it, then.” Duke spook, and the team made their escape.

*****

“ - Complete insubordination! Do you know what you did?!”

Duke paused at the doors, looking in on the meeting room where he and the others were supposed to go for their debriefing. Turns out, the other part of the Team was already there, and being chewed out by Batman himself.

“This was supposed to be a covert mission, and you go and get the entire building blown up!” Huh, they weren't kidding about explosions, Duke thought. “You clearly disobeyed the mission parameters, opting instead to joyride with the robots you were sent to destroy! Do you know how many lives you put in danger?!”

“It wasn't our fault!” Tim Drake, better known as Red Robin (Though Duke thought Bart mention that he still went as Robin here? Boy, Damian was gonna be pissed!) told Batman. “The robots got activated remotely, and dragged us along. In the end, they self destructed!”

Batman sighed, and muttered something that sounded suspiciously like “I let Kaldur go one one vacation …”

“You can at least acknowledge we got the job done.” Tim said, and Bruce sighed once more. He looked so tired, and Duke could barely hold in a grin. From the scared faces of everyone else in the room, Duke gathered that no one else found it quite so funny.

“Yes, you got it done,” Batman conceded, “But your methods are far from acceptable! All of you need to reevaluate how you-”

“It's almost kinda funny when I'm not the one being chewed out!” Duke turned to find Jaime and Garth standing in the door beside him, the latter of whom had spoken.

“Oh it's definitely funny,” Duke replied. “I've had front row seats to these types of things since I joined the bats. I”m almost never the one in trouble. Surprised it's Tim, though. Usually Nightwing.”

Both of their eyes widened. “Nightwing is the one in trouble?”

“Yup. We – the other bats and I – have a running bet on how long the rants last. B's best record is two hours, fifty minutes, thirty-seven seconds. It was right after Nightwing spray painted the bat-suit glittery pink, though I'm pretty sure Spoiler helped.”

Jaime opened and closed his mouth for a few moments. “Wow.”

Just then, Bart and Cassie showed up. “Are we late for the debriefing?” The latter asked.

Duke shrugged and pointed into the room, where Batman had moved onto a rant about aerial combat and unneeded fuel. “Nope, There's is running late.”

The group turned and went back to viewing the scene before them. After another fifteen minutes, Batman said. “I have another team coming in soon for debriefing, so let's hope that they were at least partially competent.”

Duke thought that would be as good a place as any to make an entrance, so he brought his fist to his mouth and coughed a bit.

Everyone turned slowly to find the grinning group standing at the doorway.

“Signal,” Batman said, and Duke knew he was relieved, “Did you just get back?”

“We've been standing here for twenty minutes, B. Seriously, your lecturing skills have not gone unpracticed.”

Batman sighed, putting his fingers on the bridge of his nose, not a sight unfamiliar to Duke, but from the gaping mouths, Duke was pretty sure no one else thought anything about the exchange was normal. “Please tell me your mission went well?”

“Without a hitch,” Duke replied grinning. “We got in and out easily. Had a tad of trouble with hacking the safe, but we got it open.” Duke turned to Tim, “Thanks for those lessons last week, they really paid off.”

Tim grinned “Welcome. Wanna continue when we get home?”

Duke nodded. “Sounds good.”

“Were there any complications?” Batman growled.

“We took out three guards quietly, and avoided two more that I saw coming right before they turned a corner, but other than that, no.”

Batman glared suspiciously down at Duke, who only smiled. “Any explosions?”

Duke frowned. “What is it with this team and explosions?” Batman glared some more, “Calm down B, no explosions. Everything was quiet.”

Batman nodded. “Good job, Signal. You dropped off the target with Nightwing, I assume?” At Duke's nod, he continued, “You get head back to Gotham, then. Finish your report in the cave, and finish up your patrol if you want. I'll make a note on the file if we ever need you again.” He paused, and looked critically at Duke. “Would you?”

Duke looked back at Garth, Jaime, Bart, and Cassie, who were all nodding their heads furiously. “Sure,” Duke said, “Why not?”

[supernaturallyobsessedchic]

Our Work Never Ends

I originally called this Wayward Sisters, this just popped in my head. This is a rough that I’m allowing you to see. I will be editing it from time to time. 

Just let me know what ya’ll think. Please.

[Couldn’t find the Empty version of Lucifer]

Summary: Two girls come together for a common cause. Find Dean.

Pairing: None

Set: Well after Season 15 (Assuming Sam and Dean die in the finale (which they better not, bitch I’ll riot…no jk, I’ll die from the heartbreak alone.)) a couple of years or so after.

Mobile Masterlist

A/N: Cassie Robinson x Dean (Season 1); Sarah Blake x Sam (Season 1) (Died in Season 8, has a daughter), just something.

~

Ever wondered, what happens to a man when he hears his wife died of natural causes, but when the information was being told to him, it didn’t seem natural. Not to him. After Crowley killed Sarah with a hex bag, suffocating her to death. Sam wanted to break the news to her husband Ian, with their daughter, who was turning 6 at the time that their mother was dead. Sam couldn’t bring himself to tell Ian a snot nosed lie. But he couldn’t tell the truth either.

Ian turned into a hunter, shortly after the news of Sarah. He wanted revenge. Avenge his wife’s death. But, having little to no knowledge under his belt. A werewolf was all it took to end his, short, hunting days. Beth was 13 when her father died.

-

Growing up in the south with a half black and half white mother can lead to bullying. But not for Kaylee. She had her dad’s blood in her veins and Cassie knew it.

Yet another call from the school about a fight she was yet again involved in, proved to her she was Dean’s daughter. Sure she did the DNA testing, months after he left to go hunting with Sam after saving her family from a racist ghost truck, she had something of his. A stray hair was all it took to confirm she was Dean’s daughter.

She had to tell her about her dad. She always asked when she was a kid about her daddy. So she decided to tell her about her dad. Dean Winchester. A hunter, who hunts monsters. She was 14 when she learned this.

-

Three years later…

The girls are not of age yet. But armed with pictures, one of her dad, and one of her mom. All it took was a topic about monsters and the supernatural to bring the two girls together.

Kaylee, now 17 years old, she’s on her way to turning 18, rents a room out for them. To chat in a more controlled environment.

“So, you’re looking for your dad?” Beth asked.

“Yeah. My dad,” she began. And shrugged. “My mom says he hunts monsters. Supernatural monsters, ghosts, demons that whole rep.” she said.

“My dad is looking for—well was looking for, a man by the name Sam Winchester. He told my dad about my mom’s death. He might help me about my dad’s.” she explained.

“Huh, my dad’s name is Dean Winchester. Maybe we’ll both get what we want if we stick together.” Kaylee suggests.

“Yeah. I agree.” Beth says.

-

The girls got up bright an early the next day, checked out and left. Kaylee having to hotwire and steal a car. A parked, police car, a 2019 Dodge Charger, solid black with police lights on top.

“We are so going to jail.” Beth groaned.

“Shut up, I know what I’m doing kid.” Kaylee said as she quietly pulled out of the parking lot unnoticed.

Pulling into an abandoned garage several miles away.

Thought it may look abandoned, but Kaylee is familiar with the area. Her ex-boyfriend dabbled in cars. Taught her how to fix them up, hotwire, steal even turn a cop car into a nonpolice car. This also happened to be her ex-boyfriends garage.

She managed, with the tools he had lying around, to get under the hood and gank the gps tracker attached to the engine. She even managed to unhook the dashcam and, ditched the plates, lights and siren. Destroying the important stuff. Like the trackers and cameras so no one would find them, hack into it and manage to get any kind of information from the trackers and cameras.

It was starting to get late in the day, night was soon approaching.

“We’re staying here for the night. I need to work on the car more.” Kaylee says.

“Where are we gonna sleep?” Beth asks.

“Over there, the mechanic always has a place to crash while working.” She says, pointing to a spare room in the garage.

Beth finds a small bed, all made up with some covers, dusty and old. She shook the sheets and blankets out and remade the bed. And got ready to go to sleep while Kaylee striped the paint and painted the car black and trimmed with chrome. Making it look spick and span, and brand spanking new by morning. No sign it was ever a police car.

The next morning, Kaylee managed to get done with the car in time. Beth got up, made the bed and got ready to go when Kaylee stops her.

“Do you have a license?” Kaylee asked tiredly.

“Yeah, why?” Beth asked.

“You’re driving.” Kaylee tossed her the keys.

“We broke how many laws in one day? And you ask me if I have a driver’s license.” Beth says with a bitchface to boot.

“Shut up.” Kaylee says, getting in the passenger seat.

“You’ll be fine, I put different plates on the car, got new tags. The car is now ours.” Kaylee says, getting settled in.

“And how’d you manage that?” Beth asks as she pulls out.

“Breaking the law.” Kaylee says. Pulling her beanie over her eyes, and falling asleep.

-

Weeks have passed, driving from town to town, asking people if they’ve seen the man Kaylee is looking for, or anything about him.

“Kaylee, we’re here.” Beth said pulling up to a house in Sioux Falls.

After a stop in Minnesota Sheriff Donna helped out a lot.

“I swear if this is another one of my dad’s friends I’m offing myself.” Kaylee groans.

“So what if Donna didn’t know Dean had a kid, I thought it was funny.” Beth said with a laugh.

Kayla mocking a laugh with Beth. Clearly not amused.

They knock on the door.

“Yes.” A voice answers from inside.

It was summer, this house was like one of many having two doors, the main door and a screen door. And just like any house after the long winter months, and having a day where it’s beautiful outside, the screen door is open letting in the fresh air.

“Hi, are you Jody Mills?” Kaylee asked.

A middle-aged woman with pixie short hair appeared, coming to the door but not opening it.

“Depends on who’s asking?” She answers.

“Ma’am, my name is Kaylee Robinson, my mom knew a Mr. Dean Winchester, I’m looking for him.” Kaylee said.

“And how well did your mom know Dean?” She asked.

“So you are Jody?” Beth goes.

“No shit.” Kaylee groans at Beth.

Kaylee sighs. “He’s my dad.” She says.

Jody tried to hide the shock that filled her face, she too didn’t know Dean had a kid.

“He saw my mom again around January 2006, I was born September 26, 2006. And this girl, Beth, had a run in with the supernatural. We just want to find Dean and this, Sam character. Maybe they can help us.” Kaylee says.

“Help you with what?” Jody asks seriously.

“I wanna know who killed my dad and why.” Beth says.

“And my mom, died in a car accident…but it didn’t seem like an accident. It looked an awful lot like a case my dad solved when he was with my mom last.” Kaylee explained.

“Come in, you should know about this.” Jody says.

-

After a good long talk of the boys’ adventures…

“God?” Kaylee goes.

Jody nods. After telling them about the Winchester’s, demons, angels, and Jack and Cas and their bought with God Chuck.

“They died, protecting this new god?” Beth asked.

“Yeah, they couldn’t get away and well the power of Jack and Chuck overwhelmed them. Killing them instantly. They felt no pain.” Jody explained.

“So my dad’s dead too.” Kaylee goes, standing up.

“I’m sorry kid, I really am. Look, I wish there was a way.” Jody starts.

“What if there is?” Kaylee says.

“What?” Jody asks.

Beth remaining silent.

“You said before, they died and came back many times. What if, there is a way to get them back?” Kaylee asks.

“Sweetheart, they wouldn’t want that.” Jody says.

“How would you know?” Kaylee snaps.

“Lebanon, that’s where their base is right, I’m heading there.” Kaylee says, leaving.

“But, Kaylee, you and I know nothing about bringing the dead back to life.” Beth says after her.

“Dad and Sam figured it out, right?” she asked. “Well, I’m a Winchester too. Believe it or not. I’m sure I will figure out how to bring my dad and uncle back.” Kaylee says getting in the driver seat.

Jody couldn’t get out fast enough. By the time she gets to her truck they're gone. All she could do was to put out an APB on the car. As the days pass, no one sees the car or the girls.

-

A few days later…

They pull up a trail, seeing a tall building looming over head.

“Apparently hunters here knew Dean and Sam. That’s a good thing, right?” Beth asked.

“Well yeah, we would have been looking all over for this place…” Kaylee says. “Not that we would be looking to long. Lebanon isn’t very big.” Kaylee adds.

The door down remained unlock. As they walked in through the second door, a dark and musty room awaited them. They pulled out their cellphones, activating the flashlight.

“Whoa.” Beth goes.

“Son of a bitch.” Kaylee says.

“This place is huge, and your dad lived here?” Beth says.

“Apparently.” Kaylee says.

Kaylee looks around and sees the main power switches. She heads over and throws both of them, one at a time.

“Son of a bitch.” Beth says. Her gaze, off into the far distance.

Kaylee follows Beth’s gaze, seeing a huge library.

“Hey girl, I think we found the batcave.” Kaylee says.

“Well, let’s get to looking on how to bring your dad back.” Beth says.

-

The next morning…

“Kaylee, this place has everything, spell books, lore books, hell even a Manuel on being a hunter.” Beth says holding up the books.

“Alright, let’s not geek out okay.” Kaylee says.

“Geek out, really?” Beth goes.

“Well, don’t get me wrong, it all sounds awesome. But, I just wish it was an easy, ‘hey this book is on resurrecting the dead’.” Kaylee says, playing with the swords behind Beth.

“Yeah, well, we don’t have that. We have to do it the old fashioned way.” Beth says.

After a couple of hours of reading and scrounging, Beth found a lead.

“There’s a spell. All I need is blood, blood related to your dad and uncle. And since you have some Winchester blood in you, and Dean and Sam, you are related to them so, I need your blood.” Beth says, holding up the spell.

“But we got everything else. Sage, and something that belonged to them…” Kaylee says skeptically. As she looked at the pile Beth had, ingredients for the spell. Two flannels, a stick of sage and a bowl.

“Your dad’s stuff was still here so I figured his flannel would do.” Beth said.

“Does it have to be the whole damn shirt, just, here.” Kaylee says.

Grabbing a pair of scissors she cuts a piece from the collar.

“Look, there’s even hair. And we’ll do it on Sam’s too.” Kaylee says, doing the same to his flannel.

“But problem.” Beth says.

“What?” Kaylee groans.

“Where are they buried?” Beth asks.

Oh.

Kaylee looked all over the bunker, for a clue to where they would be buried. And found nothing. But one clue that seemed odd.

“Jack, the same Jack told us is the new God. He used to live here.” Kaylee says, entering the library holding a journal.

“Yeah, same for Cas too. Did you know celestial beings don’t sleep?” Beth says.

“Kind of figured. But this journal, has my dad’s name in it. And another Winchester, John. Sounds like he was my dad’s dad.” Kaylee says.

“Yeah, that’s called a grandpa.” Beth says jokingly.

“What’s with the snarky comments?” Kaylee snapped.

“I’m bored.” Beth says.

“I wonder if praying works.” Kaylee says.

“Try it out.” Beth says.

“Okay.” Kaylee goes, sitting down, folding her hands and begins to pray.

“Alright, I have questions that need answering. And only this Cas and Jack can answer them. Can someone up there send their feathery ass’s down here, please and thank you.” She says.

“Really? That’s a prayer?” Beth says sassily.

“I don’t go to church.” Kaylee says.

“Hello” a voice is heard behind them. They turn to see a scrawny kid.

“And you are?” Kaylee asks.

“Jack.” He says.

“Jack, the same Jack that worked with my dad?” Kaylee asked.

“I am. And, before you ask, I have made a promise not to bring them back. Under any and all circumstance.” He says quickly.

“But Jack it’s important. We need answers.” Kaylee says.

“I’m sorry, but as far as I’m concerned, this place has all the answers you need. I can’t help you.” He says and vanishes.

“Well, son of a bitch.” Kaylee growls.

“Now what?” Beth asked.

“We’ll find a way; we don’t need no god to help us.” Kaylee says.

-

Remember Nick, Lucifer’s first original vessel? We were never shown what happened to his body, or his spirit since God’s destruction. And his many attempts to bring Lucifer back from the Empty. Let’s just say being a vengeful spirit has it’s perks. Going between worlds, even dipping into the Empty and waking up Lucifer.

The Empty Lucifer, and the spirit of Nick, resurrected Nick’s corpse.

After slipping past Death, getting Empty Lucifer out of the Empty and into the real world Nick and Lucifer were back in action. And more powerful than ever.

Winchester. He wanted the Winchester’s dead.

-

As the girls slept in the bunker, Kaylee couldn’t sleep. Her thoughts racing. Until she heard her friend screaming.

“Beth!” Kaylee shouted. Following Beth’s screams.

She found Beth, standing at a crossroads of hallways. She follows Beth’s gaze to find a man standing at the end of the hall. A dark gaze in his eye. Flashing red, a deep red.

Her mind screaming somehow. Lucifer.

Lucifer?

“Lucifer.” Kaylee whispers.

“What? How’d you know?” Beth asks.

“I don’t know, I just do somehow.” Kaylee says.

Lucifer vanished in a puff of black smoke.

And it happened again behind them. Turning to see Lucifer looming over them, he throws the girls down the hall. Causing them to roll to a stop.

“Something’s off about him.” Kaylee says. Getting up.

“How so? Wait? How would know something is off about him?” Beth shouts further down the hall from Kaylee. “You don’t even know him!”

“I don’t know okay!” Kaylee admits.

The girls notice their breath is showing.

“Didn’t your dad write something about ghosts showing themselves, the temperature would drop?” Beth asked.

A thought came to Kaylee, and she acted on it.

“Dad, is that you?” Kaylee asks.

A figure appeared behind her.

“Sam!” He shouted. Another figure showed up, behind Lucifer.

Lucifer stopped. Seeing Sam and Dean appearing before him.

“Dean!” Sam shouted.

Dean? Dean! Dad! Kaylee thought.

Sam used his ghost mojo to hold Lucifer in place.

“Kay, listen to me.” Dean says. Kaylee turns towards him.

“There’s a book, it’s a banishing spell. Try it.” He says.

“But, dad he doesn’t feel celestial in any way. I don’t think he’s an angel.” She says.

“I think Dean’s ghostly influence or whatever is giving you this knowledge.” Beth suggests.

“There should be an angel blade in my room, run and get it.” Dean ordered.

Before she could, Lucifer sent her flying further down the hall. Dean vanishes for a minute, and appears by Kaylee’s side.

“You okay?” He asked.

“Yeah, at least I’m not hitting a wall or anything.” Kaylee answers. “An angel blade, what’s an angel blade?” Kaylee asked. Dean vanishes. Only to hear a metallic blade slide out of his room.

She hurries to it, sliding to a stop and grabbing it. And she high tails it towards Lucifer. Who launches her through a closed door, Kaylee grunts in pain at the force of it all.

“Sorry kids, but, gotta run.” Lucifer growls. Vanishing, this time for good, in a puff of black smoke.

“You’re right, not an angel.” Dean says.

“Can you come back now?!” Kaylee asks, stumbling out of the room Lucifer just threw her in. Angel Blade in hand. “Jack said he wasn’t gonna bring you back because of some promise. Beth and I  know nothing about hunting, we need you guys.” Kaylee begs.

“That spell Beth dug up, it will work. Just head up to the grave site. It’s the top of this hill up here.” Dean says.

“We can’t follow you up their unless you bring something that ties us to this plane.” He adds.

“Beth, my laptop. I'm tied to my laptop.” Sam says.

Beth runs into Sam’s room and grabs his laptop. Giving her a nod.

“Mine, oddly enough, is not in here. And after all this time I don’t know if she’ll run.” Dean says.

“What?” Kaylee asks.

-

Dean shows her his car. The black, 1967 Chevy Impala.

“I loved this car more than anything. She was my baby.” Dean says.

“Okay, can I drive her up there?” She asks.

“If you can get her to start, yeah.” Dean says.

She heads into Dean’s room, finding his keys and is back in no time. The boys fizzle in and out of view, one minute they're not in the car, the next minute they’re in the back seat behind the girls.

She turns the key, sounds like the battery is dead. And judging by the way her dad's car is parked, she can get her Dodge down here and give the Impala a jumpstart.

And that’s what she does. She manages to drive it in the garage, parking it so she can get out in the Impala but also jumpstart the old muscle car.

And a jumpstart was all it needed. Beth turns off the Dodge and gets in the Impala and the pair drive up the hill to the grave site they speak of.

-

It was almost dawn when they reached the hilltop. Finding three graves.

Beth heading over to said graves getting bowl ready, Sam helping her as best as he could.

Kaylee and Dean having a, ghostly, father, daughter bonding moment.

“Cas. Who was Cas?” Kaylee asked.

“He was, an angel friend of ours. A brother in arms. He died trying to save us but, obviously it wasn’t enough.” Dean says dryly.

“Did you ever loved my mom?” She asked.

“Of course I did, that’s why I left.” Dean answers. Almost offended by the question. “You know what I do--, what I did. I didn’t want that for your mom. Or you.” He said.

“Well, she died in a car accident, but in my mom’s old journal entry, how people were dying the same way she did.” Kaylee explained.

“I thought, having it cross hollowed grounds it would destroy it Sam.” Dean says, glaring at Sam.

“Guess I was wrong.” Sam says.

“When did this happen?” Dean asked.

“It was…around, early October 2019.” She answers.

“That’s when God opened up hell, probably even brought him back for kicks.” Dean said.

“And this is Chuck, not Jack, right?” She asks.

“Right, Chuck was just, all out bad.” Dean answers.

“Okay, Kaylee, I’m ready for the blood.” Beth says.

She turns back to Dean. Dean gives her a nod and a soft, sad smile.

Kaylee heads over to Beth’s spell making bowl and cuts her hand, squeezing a good amount of blood. And Beth saying the incantation.

‘Bout a short time later two hands, one from either grave shot up. The girls scream at the scene, backing off some.

First popped out Sam, gasping for breath. Shortly after, Dean popped out doing the same. Both looking like nothing happened, other than being buried. No injuries, no blood, just unharmed and fine.

“Well,” Dean says with a huff.

“Looks like we got more work to do.” Sam says, panting.

~

 as of 4/22/2020, it’s been edited a bit. editing will continue...

REMEMBER, FEEDBACK HELPS. Either, Reblog, comment, Ask, anything to give feedback on this. It is in it’s rough stages, it is gutsy of me to share it like that. 

Copying and reposting someone else’s content is plagiarism and illegal. This work is property of supernaturallyobsessedchic. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. These works contain material protected under International and Federal Copyright Laws and Treaties. Any unauthorized reprint or use of this material is prohibited. No part of these works may be reproduced in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system without express written permission from the author / publisher. An electronic reference link to the original posted work may be provided for purposes of promotion or assistance of publication by the readers discretion, if proper credits are given to the author in the re-post. 4/21/20

[warriorlid14]

Ani Reread Book 1: Part 2

Aaaand we’re back for more traumatizing fun. You know what? I’m going to start rating these on disturbingness/times I went “oh my god these poor kids”. From 1 being “the animorphs finding an andalite toilet” to 5 being “IS ONE OF THESE KIDS SERIOUSLY BEING TORTURED ON PAGE??” Anyway:

“We were always kind of close. At least, until the last year or so.” Oh no. Oh nooooo. For some reason I always thought Tom was taken a couple of months before the series started, but it’s been a year?? Oh, my dear child. Also, Jake :(  I promise your brother still loves you very much.

“It’s just sports.” ... “Just sports?” Aaand we’re taking a short break from Animorphs to bring you a conversation between Hermione and Harry.

“The article went on to say that the police had arrived on scene and founda a group of teenagers playing with fireworks.” And yet again, we bring you a conversation between Arthur Weasley and muggle authorities. Also, I love that fireworks is the explanation for everything.

“Why would the police be... I mean, why would they lie?” Oh, baby.

Marco, about who could be a Controller: “Math teachers, for sure.” :)))))

Jake’s silent understanding of Marco and his situation gives me joy. And also sadness, cuz, ya know, Marco.

Animorphs says ACAB.

“Well morph back Tobias... Tobias hesitated.” Foreshadowing. Foreshadowing. Foreshadowing.

At some point in the series, I started skipping through the morphing descriptions... I was just reminded of why. 

Here goes one for the drinking one: drink anytime someone mentions thermals.

“I hadn’t ever seen Tobias so happy. I mean, Tobias has a pretty lousy home life. Thinking about it, I suddenly had this feeling...” FOREHSADOWING.

“I think the Andalite maybe meant more to Tobias than to the rest of us.” :)

“You want to get into this fight against the Yeerks?... Fine. Let’s see how much you want to do it when it turns out it’s your own brother you have to destroy.” Marco is a Slytherin confirmed.

“You couldn’t really picture Visser Three or a bunch of Taxxons playing volleyball.” Yes, I can. Very vividly. It’s great. Also, I wonder how many adults are concerned of how much The Sharing is like a cult. I mean, there’s even levels to it and everything. Idk, maybe those who are vocal about it are immediately turned into Controllers.

“Once you become a full member... The whole world changes.” SERIOUSLY. Also, am I a terrible person for cracking up at that?

Oh God, Tom. Idr who it was that brought this up, but I agree: One of the things that I love about the Animorphs is that they never once look at a Controller and go “Fight the yeerk! You can overpower it! You just have to try hard enough!” Because that’s not how it works. It is true that sometimes, under extreme duress, the host can maybe regain some very limited mobility. Ex: moving their arm for a few seconds, twitching, trying to move any limb. But one, the Yeerk can immediately shut it down. Two, it can easily be explained away. And three, the host will suffer for it harshly. This one tiny twitch where Tom tried to warn his little brother against joining the Sharing? Probably cost him extreme mental anguish at the hands of the Yeerk. Not to mention that it only works because Jake already knows about the Yeerks. Otherwise, he’d chalk it up as a weird twitch from Tom. (Yes, there’s a whole thing with the Chapmans, but I’ll bring it up in the next book.) The yeerks aren’t something you can defeat with the power of love or extreme willpower and I love that this series never painted it as such.

“Still, Tobias hesitated. ‘I hate changing back.’“ Ahem. FORESHA-

The Cassie/Jake is strong in this book.

Hey, look! Their assistant principal actually is evil.

“When everyone else was out of the hallway, I just climbed into my locker. I tried to act cool about it, just in case anyone was watching.” Ah yes, let me just casually SHOVE MYSELF INTO MY OWN LOCKER.

Aw, remember when the worst thing that happened to these kids was accidentally eating something gross while in morph? 

“No one gives a rat’s rear about me.” “I do.” Aww, baby Rachel/Tobias.

“You’re my best friend, you jerk. Like I’m going to let you go face all this alone?” I love Marco so much.

“Just tell them we’re Animorphs.” “Tell them we’re what?” “Idiot teenagers with a death wish.” ICONIC.

Aaaand we’re stopping there because I  gotta run. I don’t think these will usually be three-parters. Part one here.

[kc-meets-dc]

Okay, folks, you all knew this was coming...

WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!

SO GOOD!!! OH, MY GOD!!! THAT WAS SO GOOD!!!

*deep breath* Okay. Now that that’s out of my system, time for the usual recap. Also, since this post is extremely long, you may skip down to the very bottom to find a tl;dr version of my predictions for season four based on what we saw here.

These last three episodes were AMAZING!!! And boy did they keep me on my toes! Even though it wasn’t the first of the three, I’d like to start this recap with episode 25, aka Goddammit, Will You Stop Horsing Around, Grandon, And Finally Freaking Confirm Or Deny Whether Or Not My Son Is Dead?????

I’ll admit I have lost a little (A veeeeeery little) amount of hope that Wally’s still alive somewhere. Thank God for that ending, though! There is still hope. But also, did anyone else pick up on the serious gay vibe Zatanna was giving off in the last two episodes? I know a lot of people are going to say her “Artemis, you know I love you” line was out of friendship. But, then again, this is Tumblr. When it comes to people being in lesbians with each other, we all kinda hope for the best here. And I have spent many an hour, a day, a week, a month, 525,600 minutes (You get the point) of my life analyzing whether or not people have romantic intentions or attractions in TV shows and movies. And, folks, I can say without a doubt that that “I love you” really meant “I love you.” And combine that with the fact that Artemis seems to finally have closure over Wally...

I think Snaibsel has a real shot at becoming canon next season. It’s either that or Zatanna is really Rocket’s significant other who we still know NOTHING about. Seriously, why is that? Why can’t we get a serious confirm or deny out of Grandon about even something this small? I highly doubt answering the question of whether or not Rocket is married to a woman would really “spoil” anything. In fact, it would probably get MORE people to watch the show because of the representation. So, yeah. We may be able to add two, possibly three depending on how Artemis feels, people to the LGBT characters list in Young Justice. On another note, I like to think that Will has also finally moved on. While he may not be in love with Artemis (Thank God!!!), I believe that him blowing out the candle in that final scene means that he has finally moved on from Cheshire, given that the first candle going out seemed to symbolize Artemis moving on from Wally, and now Will will finally start looking for someone else.

Then there’s episode 24, which all I can say about is TAKE THAT, GRANNY, YOU OLD BAG!!! Oh, and the same goes to Lex Luthor in episode 26, btw. Also, yeah, I guarantee you that Bart and Ed are a couple. Int he X-Pit, Ed’s first instinct wasn’t to save Jaime who was clearly suffering the most. It was to save Bart! Add that to the animation sequence that I can only assume was supposed to be a cheek kiss that was edited out because the crew severely underestimated Tumblr’s ability to see and analyze everything that ever happens in a show even when it happens at superspeed and thought they wouldn’t need to waste extra animation money on adding it in *inhales after such a long spiel* plus the fact that he was so concerned over Bart’s safety in Elder Wisdom, and you’ve got yourselves one can of 100% certified canon Goldpulse (Or Zetaflash or Bartuardo. Seriously, when are we all going to agree on one single ship name for those two? Which should definitely be #goldpulse, btw).

Also, go Vic for finally accepting who he is! He even went back to school and befriended Cisco, who I guarantee we’ll be seeing next season as Vibe! Honestly, my only real complaint about that episode is that the rest of The Outsiders didn’t get too much screentime in that or any of the other episodes released today besides Cyborg and Beast Boy. Same goes to Batman Inc, which I’m hoping we’ll be seeing more of next season. i.e. the totally mishandled and underused Cass Cain, Stephanie Brown, Cissie King-Jones, and, for the second season in a row, (Goddammit, Grandon!) Tim Drake.

Actually, I’m kinda betting that the so-called “core group of characters” that next season is supposed to be centered around will actually consist of the ORIGINAL Young Justice characters from the comics. Namely, Superboy, Impulse (I know he’s named Kid Flash now, but you get it), Tim Drake’s Robin, Wonder Girl, and maaaaaaaaybe Arrowette. Still not really sure if she’ll be featured more, or if they’ll switch her out for Spoiler to add some relationship drama to Cassie and Tim who I guess are still a couple??? But yeah, I think that might be the direction the next season is going.

Finally, that brings us to episode 26, and I have four words for you that perfectly describe my feelings about it: LONG LIVE THE LEGION!!! Legion of Superheroes was one of my absolute favorite shows growing up, so I am SO HYPED that they’re doing them next season! My guess is that the story will be that The Outsiders were the precursors to the 31st century’s Legion of Superheroes. i.e. a public team of meta teens who fight for good and people like them. I wonder which Legion characters they’ll include. Most likely it’ll be Brainiac 5, Saturn Girl, and Lightning Lad for sure, but then they’ll probably also throw in Cosmic Boy and maybe a few others. I need to do some digging on which Legionnaires were most important in the comics. Plus, with the Legion here now, we’ll probably also get Supergirl since she plays a big role in their story, and she could also play a big role in The Light’s plans to serve as another, better Superman copy that they can use to destroy The Team,  The Outsiders, and the League.

Then you’ve got Fred Bugg openly revealing who he is to his classmates, which is AMAZING! And we’ve finally gotten a good twist on the Judas Contract storyline! Assuming she isn’t dead by the time it happens, I really hope we’ll be able to see more of Terra acting as a hero in season four! And I’m really excited to see what Brion will be like as a villain!

Which finally brings us to predictions. What will happen next in Young Justice? My guess is that the next season will be focused on the Legion of Superheroes coming to present day to fulfill a mission similar to Bart’s original mission in season two, but on a much larger scale. I’m guessing that they’re trying to prevent Vandal Savage, The Light, and/or Darkseid from taking over the galaxy in a way that could potentially alter time to change the future the Legion knows and comes from.

Secondly, I’m guessing that the next time jump will not be nearly as long as I originally anticipated. Actually, I’m guessing that there will be NO TIME JUMP AT ALL. Since the season didn’t end on the 4th of July or New Year’s, my guess is that the writers are throwing out the original formula for how they structure each season, meaning there’s a good chance this coming season will pick up right where season three left off.

Also most likely coming next season, we’ll have the Jason Todd storyline to deal with, we’ll have Artemis trying to discover new love (Possibly with Zatanna, or the other most likely option would be Icicle Jr since the two of them were actually married in the comics), and with the addition of characters from the 31st century to the series, we just might be seeing the Reverse Flash and Inertia, which could introduce us to the concept of the Speed Force, which will in turn finally lead to bringing Wally back from the dead. However, if Wally isn’t brought back by the end of next season, there’s pretty much a 100% chance we’ll never be getting him back at all.

So, to sum up my thoughts and theories: new characters we should be seeing next season include the Legion of Superheroes, Supergirl, and Reverse Flash, the season’s main focused characters will most likely be the original Young Justice team from the comics, and if we don’t get Wally back next season we won’t get him back at all. That’s all for now, folks. As always, stay whelmed, feel the aster, and have a very crash rest of your day!

[pcygoldenchild]

Catwoman

🕷summary: It was a halloween party. You were Catwoman. He was on a hunt for a specific pussycat to tame.

🕷warning: NSWF, cunnilingus, dirty talk, bondage

🕷A/N: Time for some filthy Jongdae. I love my boy to death; he’s my baby. But I’d be lying if I said he couldn’t destroy some pussy so here it goes. (sorry for the long length!)

Halloween wasn’t really a holiday you celebrated. You just liked dressing up in constumes and the thrill of being a character or thing. It was always fun to you. You’ve gone to a party almost every year. And you were now 20 still going to parties which meant you’ve had so many costumes done already. You were at a loss of ideas for what to go as this year. So you asked your best friend who had the other half of your excitement.

“Well last year you went all out as Lara Croft which was personally one of my favorites.” Cassie said. You were walking around the mall throwing around ideas.

“The only reason you liked that costume so much is because you made it.” you said rolling your eyes. But you had to be honest; it was amazing and fit you perfectly. You actually felt like Lara Croft and that was a dream come true because duh, it’s Lara Croft.

“Well duh. And the fact that Jongdae couldn’t keep his eyes off you. You’re welcome.” she said nudging you. You shoved her making her shuffle to the side and she laughed.

“Sure, he couldn’t keep his eyes off me but he sure didn’t say a word to me either. So just how great was it?” you replied. Jongdae was a sophomore at your university and one of the prettiest guys you’d ever seen. He wasn’t the cliche jock or mysterious hot guy. He was a bubbly personality and literally friends with everyone. But when it came to you, he was either shy or barely attentive to you. You don’t like to take it personal. Cassie says he’s like that with a lot of people but all you could see were the people he laughed obnoxiously loud with.

“I’ve told you this a million times before, he’s just shy. Everyone he’s super loud with are all extroverts. But you my dear friend, are an introvert. So what do two introverts do to become close? Nothing because they are too shy to interact.” she said. She had a point like always. But you were going to be stubborn and ignore her.

“Anyways, I don’t really have to go all out this year. I heard it’s a pretty chill party.” you said walking into a mask store. The store opened up to selling masks only around halloween.

“I heard the opposite. And I heard Jongdae will be there. Maybe this time, if you dress right, the cat man will pounce on his prey.” she joked pouncing on you. You laughed and pushed her off. Cat man was what you two called him. He always would just quietly creep around you like a cat approaching a mouse. And an idea came to your head. You looked at Cassie with a sudden exciting expression which only excited her.

“Oooo an idea!” she said rubbing her hands together.

“What if I’m the cat tonight?” you said. Cassie’s expression died.

“A cat? Seriously that’s the lamest costume ever.” she said turning away to one of the isles. You let out a sigh. She was right like always. All the years you’ve had to dress up, you’d never done something as simple as being a cat. You walked down one of the isles full of different masks. And then it caught your eye.

The perfect black shiny mask. It was a Catwoman mask. The real deal too. It would cover the entire top half of your face and head to the center of your head. It was perfect and looked so authentic. It called your name.

“Ok so what’s your approach?” Cassie said from behind you. You were so amazed by the mask in your hands you didn’t even know she was there.

“My approach?” you said turning to her. She took the mask out of your hand and held it up to your face thinking. Then she led you to the cash register.

“Well you could go Anne Hathaway Catwoman or Halle Berry. Utility belt or sexy latex?” She said. The conversation not seeming to phase the old cashier. But you still waited to leave the store to answer her.

“I have no clue. But I bet you’re going to tell me.” you said letting her guide you to whatever store was next.

🕷

You arrived at the party a little past 10pm. It was already in motion for it to still be fairly early. Everyone looked so good in their costumes. For the first time, you’d seen no repeats, everyone had their own costumes. Cassie, who couldn’t calm her excitement about how you looked, looked incredible herself. She was Poision Ivy to keep the DC comics theme with you.

“Dude, we’ve been here for 5 minutes and the entire basketball team has checked you out. They’re literally coming to find you just to stare.” Cassie said tugging your arm. You rolled your eyes and turned to her.

“Maybe it’s because I’m literally naked.” you said. After you got the mask, she made the decision herself for you to be in sexy latex but also include little accessories to spruce it up. The latex suit did little for imagination; the zipper in the front stopped right below your underboob so there was a lot of clevage. Other than that you were completely painted in latex and it hugged your body just right. A little too right. Your ass looked great and you prayed it wouldn’t be cold or your nipples would definitely show through. On your upper thigh, there was a holster for your expensive catwoman whip. And on your waist, Cassie sewed a cute utility belt. It was dainty enough to not take away from the sex appeal of the outfit but still added to it not just being a sexy constume. Your hair was down in loose natural curls to really add to the look and you wore black latex boots. Overall, you’d say you were best dressed. Just one thing...

“Oh come on and quit being dramatic. You’re not naked.” she said rolling her eyes at you as if you were being overdramatic.

“This suit covers me like milk. And underneath it I have nothing on. So I’m basically naked.” you said. She looked shocked. It was her idea to not wear anything underneath. She said it would bulk.

“Wait. You really didn’t wear anything under it?” she whispered excitedly. You shook your head and walked away to the drink table. You needed to get partying or else you were going to leave.

You got a drink of the infamous jungle juice and a turkey leg because you were quiet hungry. And you couldn’t pass up on the massive turkey legs you can only get at Disney World.

You walked over to a wall with a bar table and surveillanced the scene. You were looking for Jongdae of course. You hadn’t seen him since you got there. Maybe he was late.

“How’s the juice?” a voice said to your right. You knew that loud but smooth voice anywhere. But why was he talking to you now?

“It’s the same juice it is every year.” you laughed turning to him. He was dressed up as some incredibly handsome character. Or himself, to be honest you had no clue.

“I guess we should try a new recipe.” he replied. His eyes caught yours before he inspected your body.

“Catwoman. I like your take on it.” he said smirking his curvy lips.

“You mean the sheer fact that it’s sexy?” you said smirking back. He bit his lip. He bit his damn lip.

“A costume is only sexy if the host fits the description.” he said. You didn’t know he was so flirty. You also didn’t know why he was so bold to say more than two words to you.

“Cheesy flirt Jongdae. And who are you supposed to be?” you said trying to hide the redness of your cheeks partly covered by the mask.

“I’m a vampire. But most people are saying I came as a pussycat tamer.” he said doing a 360 for you to see. The constume looked like a vampire but he had no fangs and lack of blood. And his look was very poised. He just wore a lot of black and-wait. Did he say a pussycat tamer?

“Seriously?” you laughed. You wanted to make him believe the joke was bad but you were more effected by it than you thought you’d be. He stood a little closer to you and leaned on the bar.

“Very serious. I can really do wonders with a sweet pussycat. The feisty ones are fun too.” he said. Oh dear God.

You took the turkey leg and brought it up to your mouth. You needed something to distract you from him. But when he leaned in and bit the other side of the leg, you almost lost it. His face was right in front of yours. His lips only separated from yours by the turkey leg. His eyes fucking your brain.

“Well you’d better go and find one Jongdae.” you said after you removed your mouth from the turkey leg leaving it in his mouth. He took a large bite out if it and ate it slowly in front of you.

“I have found one.” he said placing the leg back down.

“And she seems like she’s curious of my powers.” he continued pointing to your super hard nipples. They could cut glass for fuck sakes.

“I’m moreso curious as to if you know who I am.” you said crossing your arms to cover your tattletale nipples. He laughed.

“Of course I do. I couldn’t miss that smile anywhere. And when word goes around of a fine feline prowling the premises, I know they’re most likely for me.” he said. Dude what the fuck?

“For you?” you laugh.

“I’m the Cat Man.” he said back smiling that insanely seductive smile.

“Ok Cat Man. Why now then? Why talk to me so much now? Are you drunk?” you ask incredulously. He just shook his head and stood up straight standing now right in front of you. You only came up to his shoulders so you had to look up at him or else your eyes would be trained on his lips. Not that you minded.

“I’m as sober as I can be. But you must know, I’ve waited and waited until you’d get my game. You were always the sweet little mouse. Quiet and shy. But I wanted the feisty pussycat I know you are. And here she is.” he said pushing strands off hair behind your shoulder.

“So what do you want with a pussycat like me? I’m not stuck in a tree or injured. What would I need you for Cat Man?” you asked playing into his game. He smirked, happy you obliged.

“Although I do want to make sure you’re in tip top shape, I’ve got other plans.” he said taking your arms and unfolding them. He grabbed your zipper and pulled it down a little more before stopping just before it would expose your breasts.

“I’m not an easy pussycat Jongdae. Catwoman doesn’t need your plans. Why should I let you carry out your plans?” you said expanding your shoulders so your boobs lifted, they looked incredible.

“Why? Well I’ve waited for a long time to get you. And once I’ve got you, you’re mine. Because from the way everyone has been looking at you tonight, I feel very possessive. What do you want me to say? I like you? That’s cheesy and not quite like me. But I’m making you mine.” he said and his hand slowly slid up the crevice between your boobs. And that’s all it took for him to win you over. So much for not being easy.

🕷

You were pushed against a wall in a red lit room. He wasn’t rough, just eager. His eyes never left you even when his hands did. He stepped back to admire you as your body stilled against the wall.

“You are really a masterpiece. Your body is like a marble sculpture in that suit. And your blue contacts under this red light make you look really enticing. I could stare at you like this for hours.” he said. His eyes were really surveilling your every curve intently. You pulled your mask off and let your hair fall on the sides of your face. He didn’t miss any of it.

“Do you like being such a tease?” he said coming closer to you. His gaze was a tease on its own and he had the nerve to call you a tease.

“Oh please. You’ve seen me a thousand times. I’ve felt you stare at me from across the room like in a teen movie. Tease? Not me.” you defended. You were only rambling on because he was now right in front of you. His gorgeous fucking lips were right there. He licked them.

“You’ve felt me stare at you and your body reacts doesn’t it? You straighten your back. Play with your hair. Smile to yourself. I can’t imagine what you’d be thinking about but I know it’s me. That’s why you’re a tease.” he said into your ear. When he pulled away his lips grazed your cheek. But you couldn’t just take that.

You grabbed his face and tasted his curvy lips. They melted into yours just like you knew they would. He was delectable in every sense. You couldn’t let his lips go. Every lick, every bite, every taste made your senses come undone. And you were sure you’d become the obsessed girl you didn’t think you were.

“Easy there pussycat.” he said into your lips. You released his lips with a pop and leaned against the wall to catch your breath.

“There is plenty more when that came from. I’d love to show you. Just let me taste you. Let me finally taste my kitten.” he said as he pulled the zipper down more. The latex contracting back to its tight form from being stretched on your body which reveals your very erect breast. His hands run up the sides of your stomach, tucked in the suit. They run back down your sides and rest on your hips where your underwear waistband would have been.

“You went incognito? For me? You shouldn’t have.” he smiled. You rolled your eyes and faked a laugh before his left hand came down to rest on your core. His hand was slightly above your clit but it still made you freeze. He cocked an eyebrow at you.

“That’s all it takes? Just one touch?” he asked. You never got the chance to reply because his fingers left your skin on fire with every millimeter he moved down. But he was stuck once his finger reached your clit. The suit wouldn’t allow him to move freely. So he pulled it off your upper body down to your knees.

“Fuck Jongdae!” you moaned once his mouth attacked your pussy. He didn’t even give you a warning. He just went it for the killing. And fuck was he killing you. Your hands found his soft hair as your head rested against the wall. Your eyes were shut tight and your bottom lip was crying between your teeth. The way he was licking and sucking your clit was sinful. He was going so hard and fast it was like he wanted to see how fast he could make you cum. Your body was involuntarily grinding against his mouth but that only made your orgasm more fast coming. His hands held your thighs tight so they wouldn’t close on him before he made you cum. Your hands in his hair did nothing to his tongue swirling over your clit. You’d never say you saw it coming. You lasted a solid 5 minutes of constantly being tongue fucked by him before your body gave out. Your legs shivered in his hold as your hands tried to push his head away from you. But his neck seemed to be incredibly strong and he only continued as your cum leaked from you. You didn’t open your eyes not once since his mouth found place on you. But the minute you did, once he completely stopped, you looked down at him. And he looked devine. His mouth glistened with you. His eyes taking in the way his tongue made it move. When he finally met your eyes, nothing much was needed to be said. You were his.

[elisaphoenix13]

Far From Home Ch.2

Peter had left his bracelet behind when he and Ned left to join their classmates to do more sightseeing, and immediately found himself alone when his best friend ditched him for Betty. MJ found him amidst his confusion and follows his gaze to the two getting their picture drawn.

"Did I miss something?" Peter asks.

"Oh yeah. Ned and Betty bonded on the plane while you were asleep."

Peter whips his head around to look at Michelle incredulously. "How long was I asleep?"

"Only about an hour. Ned didn't tell you they're dating now?" Michelle asks as if it were obvious.

"Wh-what? No!"

"Oh...well, they're dating." MJ says dryly. "I think he felt left out since you have Cassie."

Peter rolls his eyes. "That reminds me, I need to get her a souvenir."

The teen points in the direction of a shop he caught sight of earlier before walking and Michelle falls into step beside him while telling him about the new Italian lingo she had learned. To Peter's surprise, it was new to him too. Either Tony and Stephen didn't know about it or it was bad enough that they refused to use it. If it was the latter, then it was probably worse than what MJ was making it out to be. It wouldn't be the first time.

The two teens step into the shop and look around, and it took a few minutes for Peter to realize he had no idea what to get Cassie. Ok, more like he didn't know what he could get away with without announcing their relationship to their parents or the team. Worst case scenario? Get her something she likes and she could pretend that she went with Stephen somewhere and got it for herself.

That was totally pathetic. It kind of sucked having to stay under the Avengers radar and that was hard. They couldn't do anything that would even hint to a relationship while in the tower because Tony would find it immediately, so a lot of the time they spent together was out in the city.

So he picked up a simple necklace with a small jewel (her birthstone) in the shape of a tear drop, and paid in cash. He had made sure to have some cash on him for this exact reason in case Tony happened to look up his purchases. Otherwise he used his debit card for everything else. It didn't matter how much money he spent on his trip, it wouldn't put a dent into the allowance his parents were giving him. Something he gave up arguing with them about when Tony put his foot down and said that Peter was his kid (a good one at that) and if he wanted to spoil the teen, he damn well would. Stephen had agreed and that was that.

"Come on loser. You got your gift for your secret girlfriend."

Peter blushes and follows Michelle out of the shop and back out to the canal where they can see Ned and Betty in a gondola. As the girl kneels next to the water, the hairs on the back of his neck stand up and he looks toward the sound of gurgling, water draining into a small manhole. Peter tilts his head in curiosity and then jumps when the water in the canal shoots up into the air and takes on a monstrous form. The water pushes the gondola containing Ned and Betty back toward Peter and Michelle and they both help them out of the boat.

"We need to run!" Peter shouts over the roar of the water. Except he meant they but Betty didn't know about his alter ego. Once his friends run for safety, he engages his emergency web shooters and shoots a web at the monster, only for them to be sucked into the water harmlessly and rendered ineffective. "Seriously?!" Peter follows the monster's gaze to the screaming people on a nearby bridge. "Oh no you don't!"

The teen rushes toward the bridge, jumping across poles as a shortcut and ricochets himself up to the bridge with a smaller one. Peter briefly thought of how proud Natasha would be if she had seen that, but it was short-lived once he got people out of the way. The water monster punched him, sending him against the opposite stone railing and soaking his clothes thoroughly.

"Note to self, water is apparently a Stark-Strange curse. Tell Mom and Dad." As he gets back to his feet, green mist hits the monster and he looks back as someone flies in to fight whatever this thing was. Peter's first thoughts were that this guy ripped off his parents suits and combined them, minus the fishbowl helmet. He had no idea what that was about. The second thing he noticed was that the stranger seemed to be using some sort if magic, and it looked nothing like what Stephen used. The mask on the ground next to him was the third...and he felt ridiculous putting it on.

But he did and got as close to the stranger as possible while clinging to the top of a bridge overhang, and offered his help. "I'm really strong! And...sticky!"

The stranger turns to look at him. "Lead it away from the canal!"

That's what they did. Although the guy wearing the fishbowl did most of the leading and fighting, and Peter did the following up until the monster cracked a bell tower. So he jumps over to it and webs nearby buildings as leverage to keep it from falling.

Then the tower gets hit again, sending Peter into the bell and knocking him on his back. "Son of a--" One of his webs snap and the other starts dragging him and he plants his feet, the momentum bringing him up...and smacking into the bell again. He falls back again, losing his grip on his webs as he blinks the stars out of his eyes. "I officially hate bells."

The rest of the battle consisted of Peter trying to bring the bell tower down and away from possible casualties while the stranger took care of the water monster. Once everything settles and the man flies off, Peter returns to the hotel, changes into some dry clothes, and joins his classmates back in the hotel lobby. Of course, that was when he got a call from Tony.

"Kid, I saw what happened there. Do I need to send Mom?"

"No no no. I'm fine. It's taken care of. Some weird guy fought him off. By the way, can you ask him if there's some kind of green magic?" Peter asks.

"Green magic?" The engineer says on the other end. "Babe? Is there--geez, just ask Stephanie."

Peter sighs when he hears the phone being taken away from Tony. "Before you ask, I'm fine. So green magic?"

Stephen sighs. "Not that I'm aware of. Are you sure it was magic?"

Peter rubs his forehead. The bruise that had previously been there from hitting that bell twice was gone, but he still felt the phantom pain. "No? But there were weird symbols and it was kind of like mist."

"Aren't you glad I snuck your suit into your bag?"

Peter laughs nervously. "Oh...uh...it was in the hotel when this happened."

"Peter Benjamin St--" Stephen starts.

"Oh! Uh! Ned's calling for me! Gotta go! Love you guys!" The teen says hastily before hanging up and MJ snickers from her spot on the staircase.

"Hey dickwad!" Flash calls. "Your parents know anything about this Mysterio guy?"

"Mysterio? Uh...no. He lives up to his name I guess." Peter mumbles as he folds his arms.

"Mysterio." Ned says. "Cool name." He and Betty say simultaneously. "Babe!" Again.

Peter looks over at MJ. "If you ever catch me and Cassie doing that, please shoot me."

Michelle laughs and Peter follows Ned up to their room when their teachers call for the students to head to bed. Once their bedroom door closes, his best friend turns to him and follows Peter after the vigilante pulls out his toothbrush and toothpaste.

"What are you going to do about the water monster?" He asks.

"Nothing? It's gone and that Mysterio guy has things under control. I'm here on vacation man. You know, sightseeing and making memories about pigeons taking a crap on Flash."

Ned blinks. "Did that really happen?"

Peter laughs. "No, but it would be funny." He walks over to the sink. "So what's this about you and Betty? What happened to Europeans liking Americans?" He sticks his toothbrush in his mouth.

"Oh! So, I was finishing this fruit cobbler--"

Peter's enhanced hearing picks up a near silent thwack and the teen turns when Ned collapses onto a mattress, completely knocked out. He turns even more and finds none other than Nick Fury sitting in a chair in a dark corner of the room. His first thoughts?

What the hell was Nick Fury doing in his room in Europe?

"You're surprisingly difficult to get a hold of Mr. Parker, considering you live with Tony Stark." Fury says as he places the tranquilizer gun he had used on Ned in his lap.

Peter removes his toothbrush from his mouth. "It's Stark actually. Or Stark-Strange if you want to get--" Fury gives him a look. "Why are you here?"

"You keep ghosting me. I had to come in person."

"Ghosting? I never..." Peter trails off as he thinks about whenever that might of happened and vaguely remembers the calls he got from an unknown number a couple weeks back. "Those unknown caller ID's were you? I don't answer those."

Fury slams a small device down on the table in front of him and a hologram of the earth pops up. He tells Peter of recent attacks similar to the one in the canals earlier that day, and when Ned starts snoring in the middle of it, the older man sends a glare in his direction before looking back at Peter. The disruptions were constant after that and the teen secretly found it kind of funny. First it was their teacher to check on them, then Betty because Ned wasn't responding to her texts, and the last being another one of his classmates. Fury eventually got annoyed and told Peter to suit up, and took him to where he and Maria Hill were based.

That was where he met Mysterio, a.k.a Quentin Beck. Beck told him about his world being destroyed when Fury mentioned he was from Earth, but a different one, and Peter yawns when they mention the Multiverse.

"Are we boring you Stark?" Nick snaps and Peter jumps to attention.

"Uh...sort of? I know about the multiverse. So why am I here?"

"There's still the Fire Elemental and that's the one that destroyed my world. I could use some help bringing it down before the same thing happens to this world." Mysterio says.

Peter raises an eyebrow before looking at Fury. "Why didn't you just call my parents?"

"Your father is still recovering from the battle with Thanos and Dr. Strange is a bigger pain in the ass to contact than you. He also has his own responsibilities." Fury grouses.

"I can literally call my mom right now and he can help so I can enjoy my vacation." The teen points out as he takes out his phone.

"You really call him your...? Nevermind. I'm not getting into your psychotic family habits. Do you really want to put this on his shoulders as well when I know for a fact that he's sometimes gone days at a time and gets home exhausted?" Fury asks and Peter's thumb freezes over the call button under Stephen's contact photo.

Nick Fury had a point. Both of his parents were tired, and he didn't want to burden them with anything if he didn't have to. Peter still had to turn down the ex-director though for personal reasons.

"I can't risk my friends' lives or risk revealing my identity. If anyone finds out I'm Spiderman, it's game over for me."

Fury levels him with a glare. "Fine. Dimitri, take him back to the hotel."

Good. That was that. Peter could go back to enjoying his vacation like he should.

Except, Fury had other things in mind, because the next morning, their itenerary was changed and Peter discovered that the man had hijacked their summer vacation.

Great.

[emjenenla]

Why I think that Thule Jace could be an absolutely be a villain in TWP

I’ve seen some posts where people say that they hope Cassandra Clare has other plans for villains in TWP because it would be really hard to take Jace seriously as a villain. I’ve been thinking about it and I disagree. I think that Thule Jace as a serious villain is possible, because he totally has the motive.

NOTE: When necessary for clarification, I will be referring to the characters from Thule with the word “Thule” in front of their names (ex: Thule Jace, Thule Livvy) and the characters from the mainstream world with the word “Our” in front of their names (ex: Our Jace, Our Livvy). Jace under Sebastian’s control in CoLS is referred to as Not-Jace.

Here’s a fragment of a Clace conversation in CoHF:

“I liked it,” [Jace] said [...] “He’s brilliant, Sebastian, but there are holes in his thinking, places where he doesn’t know--I helped him with that. We would sit there and we would talk about how to burn the world down, and it was exciting. I wanted it. Wipe it all clean, start again, a holocaust of fire and blood, and afterward, a shining city on a hill.”

“He made you think you wanted those things,” Clary said, but her voice shook slightly. [...] “He made you give him what he wanted.” (City of Heavenly Fire, second edition paperback pp. 157)

In the quote above, Clary points out that Sebastian is forcing Jace to want the things he wants, and that’s important to understand their Thule versions. Thule Jace has spent seven years with all his thoughts, feelings and beliefs being literally subordinate to Sebastian’s. For seven years he has no free will or freedom to truly think his own thoughts. Our Jace escapes that relatively unscathed, but after so long it’s unlikely that Thule Jace would be the same. In my opinion, that’s what Ash means when he tells Emma and Julian that, “he’s not like he was” (this is my memory, not a direct quote). After so long, Thule Jace isn’t the same person that he was. Who knows how much of Sebastian’s very personhood he’s internalized over the years. Hey, given everything how do we know he’s even sane?

Thule Jace says that, “I am not the Jace Herondale you know or have ever met. I am his dark mirror” (this is off his wiki page, I’m pretty sure it’s from the epilogue of QoAaD, but I’m not sure). I think that when people say it would be hard to take Jace seriously as a villain they’re trying to think of Our Jace as a villain. The simple fact is that Thule Jace is not the same person as Our Jace, in fact he’s a person a lot more similar to Sebastian than anyone realizes.

In light of this, I am going to present this Clary quote from CoHF as not only an explanation of Sebastian’s motives, but also, Thule Jace’s:

“Imagine if you were the last Shadowhunter left on earth, imagine if all your family and friends were dead, imagine if there were no one left who even believed in what you were. Imagine if you were on the earth in a billion, billion years, after the sun had scorched away all the life, and you were crying out from inside yourself for just one single living creature to still draw breath alongside you, but there was nothing, only rivers of fire and ashes. Imagine being that lonely, and then imagine there was only one way you could think of to fix it. Then imagine what you would do to make that thing happen.” (City of Heavenly Fire, second edition paperback pp 312-313)

Clary’s death is where Thule went wrong. There she’s gone and has been for a long time. When talking about alternate realities Cassandra Clare says that, “Ty and Livvy seem destined to lose one another; the world is destined for destruction if Clary doesn’t save it; Emma and Julian are fated to be in love in both worlds, etc.” (Cassie Clare’s Tumblr, “On alternate worlds.”) I would argue that another constant is that Jace Herondale loves Clary Fairchild. Thule Jace still loves Clary “until I die, and if there is life after that, I'll love you then” (City of Glass), but the difference is that Thule Jace’s love is now the same kind of twisted, corrupted love that Valentine had for Jocelyn or Malcom had for Annabel. It is the kind of love that gives no thought for the other person’s feelings or wants. It is the kind of love that destroys.

Thule Jace has spent seven years in a world with no Clary, but his feelings for her haven’t dimmed, they’ve only warped with him. Now he’s in a world where Clary still exists and to him that probably seems like salvation. Finally, he can have Clary back. They can be together again just like they were always meant to be before she was stolen from him. He doesn’t care that Our Clary is not his Clary, any Clary is good enough for him and he will stop at nothing to get her back because she is his “one way you could think of to fix it.”

That, my friends, is a villain’s motivation, and not a lame one that’s difficult to take seriously.

[cherrymoonvol6]

some avengers endgame Thoughts cause i saw the movie yesterday and can't stop thinking about it

of course..... spoilers ahead

nebula and tony playing!!!! i just love how nebula's personality comes through without it being ooc

also... nebula carefully sitting tony up. she Cares so much :(

steve immediately going to tony :( like im a stucky kind of gal but holy shit i love them

which was completely erased in the next scene where tony drags steve up and down and after that passes out, which is a confrontation Mood

i wonder how they made tony look so skinny and sick. if it was cgi then i applaud them cause it looked so good

the way they killed thanos so fucking quickly here... i don't know how to feel lmao. like cutting the gauntlet arm and then slicing his neck... that's what we were all screaming at them during infinity war. it's good to see them learn from their mistakes, i guess ?

(can't remember the order in which things happen from now so forgive me if i make a mistake)

i told my sister "that's one of the russos!!!!!" so it took me ten seconds to realize that the russo was the gay character everyone was talking about (i thought it would be fury for no other reason than it being shocking and fury having very little to do with the plot, but)

and steve being supportive of that :( man out of time said gay rights!

carol's new hair!! holy shit!!!!!

rocket insinuating carol has been experimenting with more hairstyles... i would like to see it

don't think i missed that carol x rhodey nod. i support it.

don't wanna say it now... for now ill just state: i love what they're doing with natasha in the movie. she truly feels like a friend to steve. like that small gesture of her sliding the plate towards steve is just so domestic and beautiful! it really makes her feel so human and complex at the end. i was so worried about her being wasted but i loved her throughout the film

it was a fucking rat who got scott out. i have to laugh.

also is that the guy from that old "gayyyyy" meme????

cassie is all grown up!!!!!! i can't even imagine how hard it had been for her

also what happened to her mom? and the stepdad??? are they fine????? i hope so

i was hoping we would get more tony as a dad in this movie and it delivered!! tony is so fucking good with kids. the bond between him and morgan was so well portrayed

also the place they live in is so cozy and that's what he deserves

when steve stepped down the car in that black outfit with the leather jacket on i gasped... he's fucking gorgeous

i kept wanting him and tony to kiss lmao tf is wrong with me

OKAY my hawkeye rights. i missed him so much

the stylish subtitles on the middle of the screen felt like too much. this isn't a tumblr gifset honey, just write them down!

thinking about the whole clintasha conversation really foreshadows the whole thing. natasha cares so deeply about clint and really puts his needs before hers. it's so beautiful to see

honestly... my clintasha rights!

i think the hulk/bruce scene was kinda endearing but then the ant man banter dragged on for toooo long

the dab i YELLED. these poor kids have to stand this man on 2023 pulling out 2016 trends to appear Hip and Cool

fat thor...... i hate how it was handled. hate it so fucking much.

new asgard! that's so cute. i hope that's on norway

miek and korg are alive!!!!

the thought of thor insulting a possibly 14 year old on fortnight is too much for me. it sounds like bad fanon talk. i still laughed (bc noobmaster69??? that's fucking hilarious)

tonys reaction to i love you 3000 is so beautiful. like the way he looks taken aback and so happy. i love irondad

steve in a white shirt and jeans!!!! i gasped again. he's delivering, the fucking model

i know they were like, barely being decent to each other again, but i still wanted my stony hug:(

when they're discussing their infinity stones memories and natasha and tony are laying down together on a table???? adorable. amazing.

also why tf didn't nebula said the soul stone required a sacrifice??? i thought that's what she got from gamora dying in volmir

as soon as natasha and clint arrived to volmir i began chanting "nonononononononono"

fuckkdjdksndk fucking nebula. cue to more nononono chanting

rhodey knocking out quill with a single hit is the funniest scene in the movie

clintasha calling on bullshit on the sacrifice thing was also quite funny

the forehead touch :((( im so weak! so sad!

clintasha literally fighting each other to be each other's sacrifice!!!! kill me now!!!!

jeez now i can finally say it: scarjo shined so fucking much on this movie!!!! her delivery was amazing, i really felt a connection between her and the avengers, it really showed her growth during the five year time jump. she fucking killed it. she did her best and she's the best black widow we could've ever gotten.

clint mourning her :((((( probably the third time i cried during the movie

thor's panic attack being used for cheap laughs was the most uncomfortable moment for me... or any scene where people only saw thor as Fat and Lazy (basically, two thirds of the movie)

the freya + thor reunion was so sweet though!

okay. okay. hear me out. tony was on a very serious mission to regain an infinity stone. and the first thing he does is check out steve's ass. and aknowledge how glorious it is. i couldn't believe what i was watching!!!!!! like that actually fucking happened. consider me a fully formed stony bitch.

and scott joining in to say it was "america's ass" ???? poetic cinema

so it's canon that everyone checks out steve's ass and appreciates it as a national treasure. that's all i never thought id needed.

steve saying "hail hydra" i YELLED. it was a nice nod to the whole "cap is a nazi" mess

and steve fighting himself... hot

using his bucky trauma to shock himself is :/// but also :((((

i loved that for one moment i knew everyone on the theatre was staring at steve's ass

and steve being appreciative of his own butt!!!! ok that's all i have to say about steve's ass

i loved the reminder that thor was still kinda goofy back in avengers 1, for everyone who says taika completely changed his character. and the little tony + thor moment was adorable

"howard..... potts" i can understand tony being a mess but how did howard not suspect of anything??? elevator lady took one look of steve's face and all of her alarms started ringing

peggy carter... ive missed my wife so much

did peggy marry souza. i hope she did. steve tf are you doing staring at a married woman (jk)

clint kicking the stones away as soon as bruce is done with the snap is the biggest mood

also... the hell was scott looking at that made him think it had worked? just... more birds outside? i was really curious

the irony of the only avenger without superpowers being left with the stones

"i know you" *hands out stones* how can you not love clint, he's so pure

nebula killing his 2014 self is a power move. that would be me if i met my 2014 self

thor with a braided beard!!!!! beautiful

thanos is like, a real threat and i love that

okay. i kinda saw it coming. i saw thor leave mjolnir behind and i thought "oh????". and then the shock of thanos being able to wield stormbreaker. and then fucking mjolnir moving!!!!! i was the only person in the theatre who yelled

but seriously!!!! steve wielding AND fighting with mjolnir!!!!! couldn't stop thinking about it all day!!!!!!!!! STEVE IS WORTHY!!!!!!!

parallels to thor going for the chest. it never works babies!

and just.... this was steve's moment. steve i-can-do-this-all-day rogers really fighting with every ounce of his body and soul against the most powerful being on earth. justice for him getting knocked after touching thanos for one second in iw!

and steve getting up again! all dirty and wounded!! trembling with exhaustuation and resolution!!! with his broken shield on his arm!!!! just him facing the biggest army of the universe!!!!! so powerful

sorry to destroy this epic moment, but like, okay. people had been reintegrated to life like, twenty minutes before. and i understand that they were all confused and out of place. but sam really needed ALL that time to just... try to communicate with steve????? ok

the "avengers..." *brings mjolnir with one hand while bracing his shield with the other* "assemble" moment was... oh my God. chills all over my body.

that One Moment where steve has stormbreaker on his hand... so fucking hot

the tony and peter reunion holy shit. the hug was everything i needed! like please just hug tony stark for ages

and tony and pepper fighting together!!! that's a power couple right there

i felt it when quill looked at gamora and just... stopped. im so sad his moment was played for laughs when it was obviously such an important moment for his character

thanos was so fucking scared of wanda that he put his own troops at risk to stop her for a little while. strongest avenger right there!

and carol coming back!!!! i was like

i felt so relieved at that point. i was like "yeah thanos is fucking over what's next"

no need to talk about all the women coming together to defend peter :')

thanos getting the gauntlet again... the nonono chanting came back

fucking CAROL trying to stop him. looking at him with such a determined face, like "you can't stop me from stopping you". it was so powerful he had to snatch one stone to stop her

and strange giving him the one finger to tony.... i knew what was coming holy shit. i knew it. they knew it.

tony really proved himself there. it was his best scene on the entire mcu, don't argue with me!!!!!! the way he stood there and took all the power of the stones, unmasked, unaffected, powerful and almighty

"i am... iron man" cue to ugly sobbing

tony knew there was no other way. pepper did, too... she knew exactly what she had to tell him. she was right. tony spent all of these years moved by selfishness first, then fear, then guilt. an endless battle since thanos was on his head. but the war was over. what mattered was that he saved everyone, and he sacrificed himself for everyone. a complete 180° from last movie's ending.... wow

gotta said... peter there felt a little bit out of place for me. i think it would've been more powerful if he didn't say anything, though peter is a teenager, i can get it

his arc with steve felt unfinished, too. i would've liked to see steve's reaction as well, since tony had told him he wanted everyone back and also for his family so survive. but whatever

im not against tony killing thanos instead of gamora and nebula but i would've liked if we saw them react to his death, at least:/ like a little parallel between nebula's reaction at the beginning and the end of endgame

the One stucky interaction here was pulled from cap1 and iw. i feel betrayed

bucky Knew what steve was going to do. i wonder if steve told him before or bucky just sensed it

you can't convince me steve would go back and carelessly dance with peggy knowing his friend is being used like a weapon by hydra and bound to kill tonys parents. nah nah. it all felt wrong

my steggy rights!!!

love that the russos foreshadowed cap!bucky on tws just to give the shield to sam at the end

anyways what the fuck bucky was all steve had but he lived the happiest life without it and left him alone on the 21st century? okay fuck y'all

[mightylauren]

Avengers Endgame SPOILER FILLED Thoughtstream

Pretty much a blow by blow reaction stream straight from my mind in list form of the entire movie from beginning to end. Clearly full of spoilers so it’s below the cut and tagged to death. There’s some all caps screaming. A few keyboard smashes. A fair amount of cussing. Probably a fair amount of typos as I typed this while totally not rewatching it in the comfort of my home. 

Totally not.

I don’t really expect anyone to read all of this but it was all festering in my mind and now it’s out. 

SERIOUSLY I SPOIL LIKE EVERYTHING BELOW THE CUT DON’T CLICK IT UNLESS YOU’RE SURE YOU WANT TO SEE IT.

Who put’s mayo on a hotdog?

Oh man hawks didn’t even see it happen nooo. I knew we were opening with Barton family dusting but ouch.

Tony calling Nebula the blue meanie!

Nebula refusing the last of the food and making Tony eat it makes me love her even more. 

Tony somehow keeps his sense of humor even in the face of death. God I love him. I know he’s gonna make it off this ship.

HA, that Internet joke about Carol showing up right after the trailer scene is true. That’s hilarious.

They never explain how Carol knew to look for them, but I’m going to guess she came to earth ala the scene after Captain Marvel and then went back out to see if she could find him.

Or she got REALLY lucky

I’m unclear does Nebula need oxygen and food? Or just significantly less than a full on human? She seems much better off than him.

Steve shaving did we miss seeing the beard one last time by like seconds? rude.

OMG Rocket sitting down and taking Nebula’s hand. The last of their family. Everyone else gone. My heart is aching.

23 days so we’re less than a month past Vanishing Day

Ha Tony calling Rocket Build a Bear is my first genuine laugh this movie.

I honestly was dying on the inside the whole time Tony is losing his shit on Cap. I mean he needed to say it all but seeing how sick he is and falling apart. He rips off his reactor and hands it over then collapses.

My heart.

Rhodey man. “That’s cute, Thanos has a retirement plan.”

Man this is the least planning they’ve ever done before a mission. They’re just gonna pack up, hop in a space ship and go kill Thanos? Cool. Coolcoolcool.

Okay it’s pretty good to see a lot of that trailer stuff is from very early on in the movie.

“Who here hasn’t been to space? You better not throw up on my ship.” XD

How does this big ass planet that can clearly sustain life have no life on it? Just Thanos some birds and some Meiloorun fruit?

That’s a Star Wars reference for those of you who don’t cross fandom lines.

So his snapping arm looks completely borked.

OH SHIT THEY CAME IN SWINGING

FUCK THOR CHOPPED OFF HIS ARM DAMN

ASDFKSAJDOFIUA THE STONES ARE GONE

Wait why is Banner still not Hulking out? How is that suit still running?

Damn he destroyed the stones. He knew they’d come.

DAMN THOR WENT IN HARD.

We are like twenty minutes in and Thanos is dead? I… what?

*crumples up and throws away all predictions she had before going into the movie

FIVE YEARS LATER?!?

FIVE

FIVE YEARS

I should have brought a paper bag to breath into.

Okay there’s the support group. Yup a lot of the footage from trailers and stuff is front loaded at the beginning of this. Which is good, because no clue where this is genuinely going.

Did… did a rat just bring Ant-Man back? A rat?

Shit how long has it been for him?

Oh wait, he’s looking for his people maybe not that long.

P-professor Chang?

Can you imagine how disorienting this all is for Scott? Pops out five years after a tragedy like the snap with no idea what the hell is happening.

My sister literally turned to me and said “no trash service but they built a monument?”

Valid question. Very valid. 

OMG CASSIE IS ALL GROWN UP I CAN’T.

I don’t think he fully realized how much time had passed until he saw his daughter.

“You’re so big” just made me tear up a little.

I just had a baby daughter four months ago. So I’m trying not to imagine what it would be like to vanish along with a bunch of other people and then turn back up five years later.

CAROL’S HAIR.

I’m sorry some of this is probably going to be completely incomprehensible unless you’ve seen the movie it just needs venting.

I am liking that they’re all reporting to Nat. That Rocket and Nebula are clearly teamed up.

OMG rocket made a joke about the haircut and Carol called him Fur Face

In case you didn’t know I have a ridiculous love for Rocket so I’m just glad he’s got a support system right now with almost the entirety of his found family dusted.

Capt. Marvel is basically saying she’s out for most of this movie isn’t she? I guess that makes sense she’s OP as hell.

Rhodey is tracking Clint but reluctantly. Clint’s clearly gone off the deepens a bit. Vigilante. Nat isn’t taking it well. Oh no she’s crying. 

This movie is gonna kill me.

I’m trying to imagine seeing a pod of whales in the Hudson River and I can’t imagine it. 

Okay so I’m guessing Scott’s about to turn up covering another major point from the early trailers. Yes yes yes. This is good.

Nat explaining that the Avengers gave her a family and a life and made her feel like she was a better person. Oh girl. You’ve done enough. It’s okay.

HA THE LOOKS ON THEIR FACES ARE PRICELESS

Scott doesn’t know science. He’s trying so hard. We need the Science Bros. Where are they?

FIVE HOURS

FIVE FUCKING HOURS?

HE WAS IN FOR FIVE HOURS AND LOST FIVE YEARS????

“Scott, I get e-mails from a raccoon so nothing seems crazy anymore.” LFAO

Tony has a daughter I’m dying. It had to be a little girl. 

Wait is he serious about eating crickets on lettuce? He might be this is semi post-apocalyptic.

Tony does not look happy to see them.

YES LET’S PULL A TIME HEIST. Tony isn’t feeling this but I am.

Oh, Scott, honey. Back to the Future? 

Though Tony your protege Peter used movies to make plans all the time. Maybe it’s not that laughable.

Okay I would die for his daughter. “Mommy sent me out here to save you.” Don’t think you were supposed to just say that outloud kiddo but props on a successful mission.

I know Tony too well for this. He’s saying no, because he loves his family. He needs his family. He’s scared to lose his family.

But now this idea is going to itch at the back of his brain aching to be solved.

Come on Tony lets go back to the future and pull off a time heist.

Hulk in glasses and a sweater is was not even on my theory bingo card what is happening. Is this his diner? They had to find him so he’s clearly not working for Nat right now. I have so many questions.

This whole thing with the kids is awkward. 

Come to think of it I have questions about how the infrastructure that is supporting things like cell phone networks is still functioning after the vanishing. Maybe because it’s been five years.

Is Nat flirting with Banner to get him to help?

Tony looking at a picture of Peter he’s got to try.

OH MY GOD HE GOT IT IN ONE EVENING.

EVEN HE LOOKS SURPRISED.

SHIT! 

I’m glad there is laughter in this movie and it’s not entirely heavy. I mean it’s Marvel I should have known.

He calls his daughter Little Miss. And she just extorted a juice pop out of him. I love Dad Tony. 

This is gonna hurt later I just know it. I can feel it in my gut.

“I love you 3000” My heart.

I’m glad that Tony is just going to have a straight up honest conversation with his wife about this.

He’s grown so much.

Oh Pepper, she’s telling him to do it. There’s some unsaid deep communication happening in this conversation. Bless this pair so much. She’s going to let him go and he’s going to go even though his gut his telling him that the road is not going to end well for him.

That’s why he wants to put it in a lock box and drop it to the bottom of a lake.

This is just so damn good so far. No complaints yet.

I kind of love this Hulk. He has no idea what he’s doing here but I love him. He’s like only half taking this seriously.

BAHAHAHA THIS TEST. HE comes back as a baby and Hulk is like “He’ll grow” I mean he’s not wrong but not the right answer buddy.

Another genuinely funny scene. 

“TIME TRAVEL!” With his hulk arms held wide.

Tony is literally speeding in his car there. Cap doesn’t even look that surprised.

Oh this is the Tony and Steve getting back on the same page moment I’ve been waiting for. I love it. I really love it.

HE BROUGHT THE SHIELD.

I love that it was in the trunk buried under kids stuff.

Tony is back and I love it even if I’m scared it’s gonna mean his end.

“Rhodey, careful on reentry theres an idiot in the landing zone.” As if I couldn’t love Nebula more in this movie.

Wait “New Asgard Please Drive Slowly” just threw me for a total loop. Good to know all the Asgardians didn’t actually die in that ship.

VALKYRIE!!!!

She’s like not acknowledging the Raccoon LMFAO

Holy hell what is happening here. Oh man Thor what have you done to yourself.

Actually, I get it. 

Are they playing Fortnite? 

This whole scene is super surreal right now. 

I actually kinda dig it but I did NOT see it coming. This movie has gone places I never would have predicted.

Thor kept strong for so long. He lost so much. He got all the way to the point where he’d done all he could think. He killed Thanos and there was no way to undo all that could be done so he just settled and existed. He drank and played video games with his buddies.

I get it.

Rocket just lured him onto the ship with beer. 

Was good to see Korg and Miek are alive. And there for them in their own ways.

RONIN ALERT.

Oh dude he’s just fucking people up does he even have a bow with him?

Nat waited until there was some way to undo the snap before reaching out to him. She’s just been silently tracking him waiting for a good reason to bring him in. 

In a matter of seconds Tony calls Thor “Lebowski” and Rocket “Ratchet” and I have always lived for his dumbass nicknames. 

Lebowski Thor is officially what I’m referring to this iteration of Thor.

Oh look a classic time travel trope a limit in the number of trips they can make. Makes sense though, Hank Pym was always very protective of how to make the particles so they only have what was made before the Vanishing.

I love the team debating how time travel really works. Listing all the time travel movies. Bill and Ted even snuck into the list. 

Not sure sending Clint back for the test was the best choice this is gonna be rough.

Okay he started to lose it at the end but he made it.

YES brainstorming session this’ll be fun.

Tony’s gentle handling of Thor says a lot. Tony’s been to rock bottom and recognizes the symptoms. At the same time I laughed when he offered breakfast and Thor said no he wanted a Bloody Mary.

ROCKET CALLING SCOTT AN EXCITED PUPPY BAHAHAHA

Nebula is so dramatic I’m here for it. 

Laying all over the desk brainstorming for Nat to finally figure out that there are three stones in one place at one time. This is the content I came for.

TIME HEIST LETS GO.

And just like that its 2012 this is surreal.

LMFAO HULK DOESN’T WANT TO SMASH.

Interesting seeing what the Ancient One was doing during the battle of New York. On a roof defending the sanctum from Chitauri.

OH SHIT SHE JUST PUSHED BANNER’S SOUL OUTA HIS HULK BODY

I didn’t see that coming.

Just a glimpse of Loki. :-(

It was almost cruel to send Thor to Asgard to do this. I mean someone had to go with Rocket, but damn this is tough to watch.

DAMN Rocket smacked him. And also just called Mantis “the chick with the antenna”. Pep talk’s not bad but Thor is crying I don’t think he can do this.

I don’t know why they want to do it that way anyway, Jane would have taken one look at him and known it was the wrong Thor.

Wait… they’re sending Nat and Clint to Vormir… oh God… oh no…

Okay so that’s going to suck in a few minutes lets just put a pin in that.

Nebula you waited a bit to tell Rhodey that there’s another you out there looking for the same infinity stone you’re there to fetch. 

Oh look its like just barely pre-Guardians Gamora, Nebula, and unfortunately Thanos.

I have a bad feeling about this.

OH SHIT I HAVE A VERY BAD FEELING ABOUT THIS.

Turns out two Nebula’s in one place is bad voodoo. She’s seeing video from the other Nebula which means THANOS can see video from the other….

Yeah this is all gonna go bad.

HAHAHA Tony just checked out Steve’s ass. 

AMERICA’S ASS!!!

It’s hard to remember that this shit is going to fall apart when I’m laughing.

Tony just flicked Ant-Man to his target and all I can think about is Gimli an “toss me” from LOTR.

Is Cap about to fuck up a bunch of people in the elevator again?

STEVE YOU SNEAKY BASTARD YOU JUST HAIL HYDRA’D AND STOLE THE SCEPTER.

2012 Time heist is about to hit a hiccup isn’t it. OH MAN they just gave Tony a heart attack.

LOKI NO

I mean yes but no. Loki just nicked the Tesseract and dipped with it. 2012 Loki is just gone.

There’s like timeline repercussions there. Not entirely sure what they are but there will be repercussions.

Cap fighting himself! CAP CHECKING OUT HIS OWN ASS!

Man the Time Heist is so rapid fire there’s too much to absorb.

“I’m totally from the future.” - Lebowski Thor breaking a law of time travel

Thor’s heart to heart with his mom is giving me feels. He needed this.

YES MJOLNIR IS COMING WITH HIM!

Ok it’s never occurred to me how ridiculous Quill would look dancing around without the music. That’s hilarious.

AH SHIT THANOS KNOWS AND HE’S THERE AND THIS IS WHERE IT GOES TO SHIT.

NEBULA </3

It’s so good seeing Steve and Tony back on the same page trusting each other. And clearly completely throwing Scott “Piss-Ant” Lang for a loop. 

I didn’t expect a detour to the 70’s. AAAND that’s his Dad. Tony’s just run into his own father. 

This movie is a roller coaster I’ll tell ya.

This is all mush if you’ve read this far you deserve an award. Or a sticker. One of those.

What a weird decision to have Tony have this whole meet up with his father here. And now Steve is taking refuge in Peggy’s office. Like this is almost mean to do this to these two. 

Why is it the Russo’s never could decide if Steve had gotten over Peggy or not gotten over Peggy. Back and forth and back again. I take it we aren’t going to see the niece at all in this one?

Alright boys lets get the hell out of the 70s this felt like a weird trip without the drugs.

Damn Nebula why is past you such a bitch when I love present you so much. I know I know that’s because you grew and what not but shit I don’t know what you and Thanos are about to do but it’s about to suck.

FUCK I FORGOT ABOUT VORMIR BECAUSE THERE WAS SO MUCH GOING ON

I’m not ready for this. I’m not ready for this. I don’t want either of them to die. This sucks. No No no no onoanfnaondaksldfj;lasdkja;

God we’re going to have to literally watch them fight over which one is going to sacrifice themself.

Here it is, I’m crying now. Me and Barton are just going to cry here in this puddle if you need us. 

They’re all back, except Nat. Which means that’s the wrong damn Nebula and no one notices because NO NAT. Shit. Shit shit.

This movie is going to give me a heart attack.

“Did she have any family?” “Yeah. Us.” :’-(

Okay Thanos like fucked up a whole mining community and shut down a star afterwards to forge a gauntlet to put the stones in and here’s Tony Stark plopping them into like an Iron Man armor piece like its nothing.

Looks sleek too. I dig it.

And they’re all too busy with the glove to notice fucking Nebula. SHIT. 

Man it’s hurting Hulk just to WEAR the damn thing. Thanos was just strolling around wearing it, which doesn’t bode well considering I see Nebula is bringing Thanos here. 

Cool. That’s cool. This is fine. 

How long of a moment of joy are they going to get. Clint’s wife is calling. Birds are singing. Shit is inches from a fan.

THERE’S THE SHIT. HOLY SHIT HE’S BLOWING AVENGERS HQ COMPLETELY OFF THE MAP NOOOOOOO

There’s like a whole hour left. Tell me they all survived that. I was not ready. I WAS NOT READY.

Oh here’s that shot of Hawkeye in the tunnel. Much later in the movie than a lot of those trailer shots. Fascinating. 

So 2014 Thanos is here with his whole crew and there’s a complete gauntlet here. Shit.

Well, they’re all alive. They’re not together entirely but they’re all alive.

Double wielding dad bod Thor just braided his beard with lightning and I’m here for it.

The stakes are at maximum. Now Thanos wants to destroy it all not just half. So failure here can never be undone there won’t be anyone to Avenge anything if he gets the gauntlet this time. That’s not terrifying at all.

Fuck that’s the wrong Nebula. BUT THERE’S THE RIGHT NEBULA WITH GAMORA.

Clint is like in the middle of this stand off like “wtf is happening I should have kept my hands on the glove”

Nebula just killed her own past self. And she didn’t vanish so no Back to the Future rules here for sure.

Damn Thanos is giving the boys a run for their money even without a single stone. 

Shit is Thor gonna die?

HOLY SHIT CAP HAS THE HAMMER AND THE THEATER JUST MIGHT EXPLODE FROM THE SOUNDS OF THE AUDIENCE SCREAMING ABOUT THIS.

Damnit Thanos is calling in the whole army. Cap is like the last one standing on the front line and he’s not backing down because he’s Captain “America’s Ass” America. Thor is down Iron Man is down. The others are trying not to drown. Shit.

OMG ON YOUR LEFT I JUST MIGHT CRY.

HOLY SHIT ITS EVERYONE I’M CRYING. 

PEPPER FUCKING POTTS IS HERE AS RESCUE HOLY SHIT.

TALK ABOUT THE CALVARY RIDING IN AT THE LAST POSSIBLE SECOND HOLY HELL.

HE’S GONNA FUCKING SAY IT

AVENGERS ASSEMBLE!

It’s a good thing they sound proof these theaters now or you’d hear this across town the audience is going fucking nuts.

There’s too much to touch on all this chaos I’ll hit the highlights because it’s so much.

Pepper and Tony fighting back to back.

Thor and Steve switching weapons, Thor telling him to keep “the little one” aka Mjolnir.

Tony and Peter reuniting and the hug.

Quill seeing Gamora and it’s the wrong Gamora and actually that broke my heart a little bit because his Gamora is gone forever.

Playing hot potato with the gauntlet.

Scarlet Witch fucking Thanos up to the point he panics and starts firing on his own troops to get her off of him.

Spider getting the gauntlet and for the first time ever activating instant kill on purpose.

Peter becoming the hot potato along with the Gauntlet.

OMG ROCKET FOUND GROOT AND HE’S BODILY BLOCKING HIM FROM FIRE MY HEART.

When the ships started firing up my sister elbowed me and legit was like “She’s here.” 

All the women assembling around Captain Marvel!! Even Gamora is with them holy shit!

Damn it the glove is back within his reach and I can’t with this. 

GET HIM CAROL DON’T LET HIM DO IT AGAIN.

She took a headbutt to the face like it was nothing and he panicked like a bitch pulled the power stone and punched her with it. 

OH MY GOD TONY

My sister silently handed me a tissue and I fell the fuck apart.

I never thought in a million years they would have it go this way. Tony snapping. Dusting Thanos and his army. 

I can’t even comment more on this scene I’m too sad. Everything after is too sad. The funeral.

There are infinity stone colored stones in the “proof that Tony Stark has a heart” setting. 

I love you 3000 Tony Stark.

Thor leaving Valkyrie in charge and heading off with the Guardians.

Quill clearly looking for new old Gamora. I doubt she was dusted so she must have just faded away after the battle to do her own thing.

Glad that Nebula is with them though.

I feel a loose beginning set up for the actual Asgardians of the Galaxy.

Bucky said goodbye to Cap like he knew Cap wasn’t going to be back with them in five seconds. He knew.

We’re lucky he didn’t come back as a baby though. ;-)

I mean I’m surprised they went this route with Cap but I’m happy for him.

I’m happy for Sam too. We knew at the end of this the mantel had to get passed and here it is, old man Steve passing the shield to Sam.

I bet that show about “Falcon” and Bucky is really about the new Captain America and Bucky. Just saying.

Steggy shippers rejoice and the cries of a million Stony and Stucky shippers can be heard round the world.

Is that a sentence I just wrote? I never got into MCU shipping stuff personally.

And then all there is at the end is the distant sound of Tony forging that first armor.

A reminder that Tony Stark built all this in a cave.

From a box of scraps.

TONY….

I’ll be mourning Tony for a long while. I was always team Tony.

They did him right tough. His arc was satisfying and RDJ performed beautifully in this one.

My heart aches. They had to give him a daughter. I’m watching my daughter sleep totally not thinking what it would be like for her to lose her father. 

I’m gonna go hug my partner when I’m done with this.

Over all I am happy with Endgame. I mean with time travel they obviously left loose ends all over.

They say they can’t change time and the whole present becoming your past when you go back while the past is your future blah blah blah

But like clearly things are changed. 2012 Loki got the tesseract and escaped

2014 Thanos is no longer in 2014. So the Guardians movies happened but also couldn’t have happened? I dunno it’s confusing.

So basically the MCU has finally caught up with it’s comic book roots of being a confusing jumble timelines. How poetic.

Anyway if you read this you are amazing and feel free to private message me if you want to scream about Avengers Endgame and have no one else to do it with.

I feel better having vented this all out.

[oc-character-development]

Alright I saw Avengers Endgame last night and I loved it! Here’s my favourite bits/ bits I really really want to talk about!

Warning: THIS POST IS NOT SPOILER FREE! THERE ARE SPOILERS AHEAD! DO NOT READ UNLESS YOU HAVE SEEN AVENGERS ENDGAME SERIOUSLY YOU REALLY DO NOT WANT THIS SPOILED AT ALL! SERIOUSLY!

Opening scene: turns out Clint was just chilling with his family during Infinity War. Makes sense!

After Tony gets back to Earth and has a minor disagreement with cap and they go to space to find out Thanos destroyed the stones and then kill Thanos. it Jump to five years later:

Steve, doing what Sam used to do; support group for the snap!

Scott gets out of the quantum realm thanks to a goddamn rat! Cassie is alive and around the age of 15! Great! Scott’s happy! But also not because he lost Hope, Hank and Janet

Nat is still doing the avengers to some degree!

Bruce is Professor Hulk! (Please give him a solo film now, please!!!)

Thor is fat, drinking beer, and hanging out with Korg and Meek!

Tony and Pepper Have a Kid, Morgan, who is the cutest and Tony Stark is the best dad! Pepperony are the best parents and ONE OF MY TWO MCU OTPS HAVE A KID! 💕💕❤️

“Shit”- Morgan Stark after hearing her dad say it

“No, no mommy invented that word so we can’t use it”- Tony Stark being the best dad after swearing in front of his daughter 😂😂

“That really is America’s ass’- Tony, Scott and then Steve Rogers himself 🤣😂

“Hail Hydra”- hell yes Steve! (Also call back to the awful storyline in the comics where cap was Hydra all along)

Come and get your love starts playing and me and my little sister are immediately like yes! Yes! Yes! Peter Quill demonstrating that with headphones on you’re just tone deaf when singing 😂

Nat dies instead of Clint in the same way Gamora did. I cried. Steve Cried. Clint cried. Hulk/Bruce threw a bench into the lake. Sad times. 😭

“I predicted Nat’s death! My death prediction was correct! Goddamn let’s just hope my other prediction isn’t correct! I don’t want it to be!”- me through my tears

Bruce snaps fingers! The snap reversed everyone’s happy! Oh wait! Here comes 2014 Thanos, Gamora and Nebula! Avengers HQ is destroyed! Tony, Steve and Thor show down with Thanos! Thor gets disarmed when. Mjölnir shakes then wizzes past Thor and Thanos! STEVE ROGERS IS WORTHY! HE WAS FAKING IT! WE ALL KNEW IT! BEST PART OF THE MOVIE!

“Hey Captain, on your left!”- HELL YES SAM SAID ON YOUR LEFT! CALL BACK TO WINTER SOLDIER!

The ENTIRETY OF THE MCU come in for the showdown! HELLS YEAH!

“Avengers... Assemble!”- Steve Rogers being a legend!

Me: AHHHHHHH! YES! STEVE SAID IT! YOU HAVE NO IDEA HOW EXCITED AND HAPPY I AM!

“If I told you then it wouldn’t happen”- Strange to Tony about the one reality where they win. Me: something bad’s going to happen isn’t it.

Peter and Tony’s reunion! TONY STARK HUGGED PETER PARKER! IRONDAD IS THE BEST!

Peter being saved by Captain Marvel and Then the entirety of the women of the MCU have her back! It. Is. Amazing.

Showdown between Carol, Steve, Tony, and Thanos is amazing.

Tony wielding the stones!

Me: yes! *remembers how Hulk is the only one strong enough to survive since it emits gamma radiation* Me: TONY! NO! NO! NO!

Thanos is wiped out by the snap! Karma is a bitch!

Peter saying “Tony”- the moment I bawled my eyes out in the middle of the cinema realising that Tony Stark isn’t coming back from this and won’t get to see Morgan grow up. In fact I cried for the rest of the funeral scene and the scene between Happy and Morgan! Saddest death of the MCU full stop! 😭😭😭😭😭😭

“I love you 3000”- Tony Stark’s hologram message looking directly at Morgan Stark still being the best dad ever and making sure she knew he loved her!

Me: “I have been emotionally compromised! this is not okay!” 😭😭

It hit me that my death predictions post for the movie was correct and I’m not happy about it! 😭

Me currently in denial about Tony’s death:

Steve going to return the stones. Then staying in 1940s to be with Peggy Carter! YES! YES! YES!

In defence of Steve Rogers; I’ve seen quite a few posts about Steve’s decision and how they now dislike Steve and that it’s uncharacteristic. So here’s my defence of Steve’s actions:

Steve didn’t know he would stay in the past when he went in. It was not part of the plan. He must have decided it whilst he was in there which is why he didn’t offer going back to Bucky.

It was never stated who Peggy married because Agent Carter was cancelled before the reveal. If it wasn’t cancelled then maybe Steve’s story would have ended differently.

The script would have been okayed by the higher ups of marvel and quite possibly Stan Lee himself! SO IT WAS OKAY TO DO IT!

The kiss in Civil war is still not okay! But it’s not Steve’s fault that he committed incest (well they weren’t related but still) he DID NOT KNOW! If anything SHARON should have stopped him but she didn’t!

STEVEN GRANT ROGERS DESERVED THIS ENDING AND YOU CAN’T TELL ME OTHERWISE!

Steve. Is. Still. Alive. In. 2023! Sam is now Captain America! LIKE IN THE COMICS! YES!

“I’m a little upset that we have to live in a world without captain America”- Me too Sam! Me too!

“You wanna tell me about her?”

“No I don’t think I will”

Me: please give us a Steggy scene! Please give us a Steggy scene!

Cut to: Steve and Peggy dancing in a house! Hell yes! They got their dance! my other MCU OTP got their happy ending together! 💕💙

Close up on Peggy and Steve looking into each other’s eyes and fade to black!

Me: 😭😭😭

After the film:

Twin sister: I was a bit disappointed by it actually. It didn’t have enough Loki in it.

Me: not every avengers film has to have Loki in it!

Also me: I’m going to have to live in a world without Steve and Tony! 😭 at least I still have Peter Parker still around 😭😭 but I’m never going to see the original six avengers together again 😭 I’m never going to see my favourite superhero (Captain America) in a new film again 😭 but he’s happy with Peggy 😭

Me two hours later as I’m about to drift of to sleep:, where the hell was old man Steve during Peggy’s funeral? Did he attend? And those kids in the photo with Peggy that Steve looks at in Winter Soldier- those were his kids and he didn’t know it! So was Steve just in the background making sure things went the way they did in agent Carter? Did he tell her to say that he saved her husband’s life in ww2 knowing full well it was actually him? To cover up what happens in the future? I have a lot of questions!

Movie rating: 3000/10 (it might be my favourite mcu film now)

[scottishhellhound]

Reading @incandescent-creativity worldbuilding for LiaHT, reminded me of THIS thing I wrote....5 years ago. It was an idea I had built off of a vague recollection of a dream I had.

It is a mess and unedited, but reading it again, I find I'm rather proud of it.

It's rather long, so I'm gonna put most of it under a cut :)

There were feathers everywhere. Beautiful, soft feathers of the brightest blue I’d ever seen. The colour reminded me of the vacation my family had gone on a few years ago to Jamaica. They were the exact same shade as the water of Negril Beach. Now if I could figure out how and why I had suddenly sprouted blue-feathered wings, I could get on with my day.

I pinched myself hard on my arm, twisting the skin harshly trying to wake myself from the weird ass dream I was obviously having. I bit my lip to keep from yelping and glanced over my shoulder again.

Nope. Still there.

I reach the hand I had used to pinch myself with over my shoulder and ran my fingers over the top of the right wing. Solid, not illusionary. I even go as far as reaching into the wing itself and grabbing one of the large primary feathers, and pull.

“Ow! Dammit!”

‘Okay. This has got to be the most real dream I have ever had in my life. Why would I dream of wings, though? Maybe I shouldn’t have had all that chicken before bed.’

I try to turn around to get a better look at them, but being new to this whole wing thing, I neglect to remember that they are attached to my back. I end up not only knocking the lamp off my bedside table, but also all the pictures that were along the far wall. I take a deep breath, shoulders, and new appendages, shaking, trying to remain calm. That’s really difficult, by the way, when the only thought running through your mind is ‘Ohmygodohmygodohmygod, I have wings. I HAVE WINGS. Why do I have wings? WHY DO I HAVE WINGS!’ But I’ll give it the old college try.

College?

College!

I have class in 30 freaking minutes.

And there goes what ever semblance of calm I had managed to maintain. My Wings puff up and fan out. Instinctively trying to make me appear bigger to whatever is causing my heart to race, and my legs to feel like the jelly dessert I had yesterday for lunch; unsubstantial, wobbly, and green.

I sit down heavily on my bed.  The wings scrunching up uncomfortably behind me, as they try to fold themselves up against my back. Made difficult by the fact that there has to be at least a good 6½ ft of the things, EACH, on my just barely 5’5 frame. I tangle my fingers in my hair, tugging at the raven-black strands in frustration and an ever building need to scream…or laugh hysterically. I hadn’t really decided yet. I was still trying to puzzle out how I had wings, and how the hell I was supposed to get rid of them before my Philosophy class. Ironic, no?

“This cannot be happening. Why in the name of all gods would I sprout wings of all things? That just doesn’t make any sense. No one in my family has wings! Calm down Jessi, you have to be dreaming. The chicken you had last night must have been tainted. That has to be it. You’re having some sort of fever dream. That is the only thing that makes sense. Now wake up. Wake up!”

My attempts to wake myself up were interrupted by my roommate knocking on my closed door. My eyes zero in on the slowly turning handle.  Mind racing as I try to think of something intelligent to say to make her stay out. What comes out is decidedly not intelligent in the least.

“AHH!! Don’t come in here I’m naked!”

I jump off and over to the other side of the bed wrapping myself in my purple top sheet in an effort to make myself presentable. Again, forgetting about the two 6 plus feet of feathers, muscle, and bone, which I am now graced with. The resulting crash and whimpers of pain, embarrassment and hopelessness have my roommate bursting into the room. Door flying open and crashing into the wall, knocking even more pictures to the floor.

Part of me wants to peer over the edge of my bed to see the expression on her face at the state my usually immaculate room was in. There was glass from picture frames and the lamp everywhere. I’m pretty sure I had even landed on some in my haste to hide myself. My bed is in a shambles, blankets and pillows everywhere, and the feathers, have I mentioned the feathers yet? ‘Cause there was lots of them. It looked like an indecent pillow fight had taken place, minus the sexy naked times that seemed to follow those…at least according to the few guy friend’s I talked to about it, there were sexy naked times after pillow fights. Though the reason they think that could also explain why they don’t have girlfriends.

Anyways, enough about my friend’s love lives, or lack there of, and back to my problem, namely the wings. Have I mentioned that I have wings yet? I do, they’re huge, and blue.

“Jessica, are you…oh my good sweet lord. What happened in here? Are you okay? Where are you?”

I manage to wiggle my left hand out from my temporary sheet cocoon and flop it in a vague ‘I’m down here, I’m not dead, please leave me to my misery,’ sort of way. I have very expressive hand movements. I can have a whole conversation with a series of well used hand gestures and eyebrow wiggles. I’m very talented.

Unfortunately, Carrie is not as skilled in reading non-verbal communication as I am at having it.

I cringe inwardly, wings twitching against my back, and listen as Carrie walks further into the room, her shoes crunching on the glass of the lamp and photos that litter the floor closest to the door.

“What on earth happened in here?”

My muffled voice floats out from my purple Egyptian cotton refuge, “If I said it was a sexy pillow fight that got a little out of hand, would you believe me?”

She gives an inelegant snort as she crunches closer and closer to where I am seriously considering whether or not physics will allow me to wiggle under the bed.

“Not likely. One that’s not your style, and two the resulting mess would have you catatonic for hours before the rage set in.”

I sigh, “Didn’t think so.”

“Seriously though, Jessi, what happened and where’d all the feathers come from?”

I sigh again. It turns out I have to face the world after all, physics will not allow me to hide myself beneath my bed with the dust bunnies and last weeks Geology assignment. I really need to finish that, it’s due in three days.

“Okay but you have to promise not to freak out. Okay?” I wiggle and fight my way out of my sheet toga and into a sitting position, trying to keep my wings as hidden as possible, waiting for Carrie’s answer.

I obviously did not do a good enough job of hiding my wings, if the expression on her face was anything to go by. Mouth open, eyes wide and darting back and forth rapidly trying to take in every feather, every twitch. I can see her mind trying to make sense of what she’s seeing, and coming back with an error message.

I can sympathize; my brain was still out to lunch on the whole wing fiasco, leaving me to flop around like a landed fish trying to get back to water. I’m positive that this is some bad kung-pow chicken hallucination, and that I’m going to wake up any minute now, only to discover that I have slept through my philosophy class…again.

Although, the flopping could have been because the lower half of my body is still trapped in my sheet, or a combination of that and the landed fish analogy. I was going to go with that one. I finally manage to unwrap myself from the sheet completely and in response to my victory the wings extend themselves as much as they can in the confines of my 10x10 room, which is really not built for 18 plus feet of wing.

I wasn’t sure if it was at the sight of my impressive spread, or if it was the fact that, apparently, my hallucinatory wings had also destroyed the shirt I slept in, and I’m naked from the waist up. Carries eyes widen further than I thought possible and after sputtering a bit, making incomprehensible noises and making vague motions towards the still outstretched wings, she promptly feints.

Yeah, if I could wake up now, that would be awesome.

I came back into our small living room from the kitchen when I heard Carrie groan from her spot on the couch. Thankfully the slightly older girl was a tiny little thing, red hair, freckles, barely reached my chest, and had a size zero waist that I was not envious of in the least. Do you know how hard it is for that girl to find clothes?

I sit down backwards, chest to chair back in one of the kitchen chairs that I’ve dragged in. I had tried to sit in one of the stuffy chairs in the living room, I won’t bore you with the details, let's just say that it didn’t work and leave it at that, shall we?

Good.

I had also found a tube top that my much more gregarious younger sibling had bought for me as a gag gift one year for my birthday. It wasn’t my style, but it allowed me to be decent and at the same time not interfere with the things growing out of my shoulder blades.

I shuffle the chair forward so it was closer to the couch and peer down into Carrie’s hazel eyes with my own gray ones. I could feel the soft silkiness of the feathers as they tickled across my bare shoulders, twitching in nervousness. I really needed her help with this, I knew I wouldn’t be able to handle it on my own. Maybe she would have an idea on how I could wake myself up. She’s good at thinking outside the box like that.

As soon as her eyes opened fully and there was recognition in them again I started to babble. “I am so sorry, Cassie. I didn’t mean to, but they don’t do what I want, the just kind of hang there and twitch, and do whatever they please. You didn’t hit your head did you? Do you want some pain killers? Do you have a concussion? Can you have pain meds if you have a concussion? You have to help me wake up, I can’t miss another Philosophy class.”

“Whoa, whoa, whoa! Jess, slow down. One thing at a time.” Her eyes are on the madly twitching mass of feathers over my shoulders, her voice carrying a slight edge of hysteria. I really hope she didn’t pass out again.

I took a deep breath again, but I could still feel my panic, now made worse by my guilt, clawing at the back of my skull, threatening to overwhelm me with each passing second, each restless twitch of wings.

“I’m fine. I did not hit my head, so I don’t need any drugs. Now I have a question or two for you.”

“Okay.”

“First question, why do you have wings?”

Hearing the question voiced out loud by another person made it real, made me realize that this wasn’t all just some bizarre dream that I was having because of the chicken. I really had wings.

Son of a bitch.

Now that my mind has realized that my predicament is actually real, I start to laugh hysterically. I can hardly breathe around the chest tearing laughs I’m producing, but I continue to laugh and laugh until my laughter turns into tears. I’d fallen out of my chair in my fit of hysteria and was now huddled into myself, crying into my knees, shoulders heaving with the force of my sobs, wings folding around me, trying to protect me from an imaginary force.

I didn’t realize that Cassie had got up off the couch until she parts my wings and wraps her thin arms around my shaking shoulders. I react instinctively and dropping my knees I wrap my own arms around her instead and cry into her shoulder. She rubs a hand up and down my back, fingers trailing gently, but more firmly than the feathers, up and down my back, giving me something to focus on as she mutters words of comfort into my hair, assuring me that we will get to the bottom of whatever is going on.

We sat like that for what seemed like hours, but I know couldn’t have been more than ten minutes. Our respective cell phones had both gone off with missed calls and texts about a dozen times, worried friends wondering why we weren’t in class. I couldn’t bring myself to focus on anything other than the feeling of Cassie’s fingers on my back. Human contact, as solid and real as my own skin. Not the feathered monstrosities that had forced themselves into my neat and orderly world and onto my shoulders.

We sat for a bit longer, late morning sunlight now streaming in through the gaps in the drawn curtains, hiding my abnormality from the world. I nod and pull myself off Cassie’s shoulder, muttering an apology that she waves off as easy as dust off her sleeve and a quick, what are friend’s for.

We move the party to the kitchen, it’s much less cramped and I can spread my wings out a bit more.

Cassie walked back into the kitchen after visiting her room, a spiral bound notebook in hand.

“Are you going to take notes?”

“It’s for me okay. You know I suck at logic puzzles, this will help me keep everything straight and help us figure this mess out.”

“Fine, but you have to promise that as soon as we figure this out and get me less two wings, you’re going to burn those pages.”

“Yes fine I promise. Happy?”

“Ecstatic. Can we just get this over with please?”

It’s several hours later and our two-person kitchen table is riddled with coffee mugs and pastry crumbs, like fallen soldiers and mortar casings. Cassie is just penning a few final words, my recount of the last few days of my life when there’s a knock at our door and the sound of creaky hinges as the door is pushed open. There’s only one person who just knocks and walks into our home, no matter the time of day.

Rhys Campbell.

There isn’t enough time for me to get out of the kitchen and to go hide in the bathroom or try again to defy physics and hide under my bed, or maybe the top shelf of my tiny closet before Rhys enters the kitchen.