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baenxietydad · 2 years ago

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Moon And Sand || Baes + Robbie

@justkeepdancing-nemo @robbie-ryeo

Date: Sometime early January

Marlin and Robbie have a very awkward interaction lol

MARLIN:

A couple days before Nemo moved back into the dorms, they had a couple errands to run so he thought they’d start at Hatter’s with tea, a snack, and the to-do list. Mu-yeol clicked his pen a couple times before finally getting ready to write.

“Okay, so.” Mu-yeol began. “What did we come to town for? I forget. I know we had to go to the market but for what? I’m getting old.”

He wasn’t, not for a fairy anyway. But he was always tired.

And maybe he did forget, or maybe he was hoping to kill another five minutes in Hatter’s for no reason at all.

NEMO:

Nemo had dreaded coming out. Errands meant that he was going back to school soon. School meant– well, Nemo didn’t know. His head hurt thinking about it, even if he knew he needed to get used to it and not be a coward this time.

So he very much was fine with stalling in Hatter’s for now, blowing a little on his hot cocoa. “Uh, you wanted to go by the market for tupperware…” Nemo mentioned. Appa was determined to send Nemo to school with a tonne of extra meals, convinced that his diet had been one of many factors that contributed to his embarrassing meltdown.

His eyes flicked up at that moment and spotted someone coming through the door. “Robbie!” he blurted, without even thinking about it. It was instinct. Like a sneeze.

MARLIN:

The neutral facial expression was expected from Mu-yeol. So was calmly sipping his tea. There were also lots of other things that maybe could be expected.

An eye roll, a scoff, a ‘Nam-min, what are you doing?’ among other things, none of which happened.

Instead, he set his tea down and very casually said, “Oh, that’s fortunate actually.”

He turned around in his seat, following Nemo’s eyes, and said while beckoning Robbie over with his palm facing down, “야 Robbie, 이리와, 빨리.” (Ya i-ri-wa, ppal-li.)

NEMO:

His eyes widened. What?! What was Appa doing?! Nemo had been a blink away for apologizing but now–?!

“Appa–” Nemo hissed. He glanced at Robbie and actually tried to shoo him away, even as Marlin beckoned him forward.

ROBBIE:

Um.

Robbie hadn’t actually expected to see Nemo in Hatters today, which normally would be a very pleasant surprise. Robbie obviously loved seeing Nemo and he smiled big and bright at first when Nemo called his name. Then Robbie realized that Nemo wasn’t alone and Marlin was with him.

Marlin, who was calling out to him and telling him to come quickly. Cue Robbie’s nervous laughter as he raised his hand in greeting and made his way over to the table. The whole Marlin situation was…delicate to say the least, and Robbie didn’t want to make anything worse by ignoring him or being rude! That’s why, despite Nemo’s shooing, he still sat down at the table.

“안녕하세요,” Robbie said respectfully, dipping his head in a tiny little bow.

MARLIN:

“안녕,” Marlin returned the greeting, ever so slightly nodding his head to him.

There was a brief silence, no longer than four or five seconds, as Robbie settled into his seat. Mu-yeol ignored Nemo’s slightly agape jaw and looked directly at Robbie.

“I realize I neglected to thank you the other day for helping with Nam-min. I intended to but you can imagine I had a one-track dad mind.” He began in Korean. “So, thank you very much for telling me and everything. 고마워, and I apologize for not thanking you that day.”

NEMO:

What was about to happen?!

It could be anything. For a long time Appa and Robbie existed in separate spheres of Nemo's life, which maybe wouldn't be all that weird if they also didn't pretend the other didn't exist. Robbie wasn't as bad as Appa. Robbie did ask about Marlin sometimes, or well, sometimes Nemo talked to Robbie about his abeoji… because how could he not? But with Appa, the rule didn't need to be spoken: don't talk about Robbie. Don't expect Appa to talk about him either. Nemo thought this was stupid and Appa too stubborn, but it was better than being at war. So he followed the rule.

Now Appa broke the rule.

Terrible visions of an all-out screaming match passed through Nemo's mind. He sat rigid, terrified. If this went bad, what would he do? Defend Robbie? Usher Appa out? Create a diversion?

He definitely didn't expect Appa to thank him.

Nemo blinked several times, but was too shocked to do anything more than that. His eyes darted from father to boyfriend in a dizzying mental game of ping pong.

ROBBIE:

Robbie wasn't really sure what he was supposed to do or say. This seemed like a normal interaction, one that could happen to anyone, but there were layers. So many layers and those layers weighed on him.

Marlin hated Robbie. That was the first layer and also the hardest one to forget because, in a lot of ways, it was the exact reason they were here in the first place. Marlin hating Robbie had affected his and Nemo’s relationship–they were driven closer together, loved harder, felt things more fiercely in the face of his father's disapproval. Marlin's hatred was a fact.

But then there was the second layer: Robbie wasn't a vampire anymore, the thing that Marlin hated the most, so he wasn't sure where that left them. He knew Marlin still didn't like him, didn't think he was good for Nemo, but Robbie felt that way about Marlin too.

A thing that should be simple, Marlin thanking Robbie, was buried underneath so many hard feelings that the moment was hard to extricate.

But Robbie had to try.

For Nemo.

"You're welcome," Robbie said. "Anything to help Nemo, of course." ”

MARLIN:

Mu-yeol shook his head ever so slightly, a silent signal that, no no, that wasn’t entirely it. It was most of the reason Robbie did what he did, but not all of it. Robbie was mature in ways that Tae and Nemo simply weren’t yet and it made him think harder about things.

“I know being responsible and looking out for someone isn’t always easy, because sometimes you have to do something that might upset them for a moment to ultimately do what’s best.” He sympathized. “I really appreciate you making the choice that was about looking out for him, even if narcing on him to his dad might not have felt right.”

ROBBIE:

Robbie was maybe a little bit tempted to remind Marlin that he probably knew a little bit more about protecting people and doing things others might not like simply because he'd been alive a lot longer than Marlin, but he knew Marlin really was just a grateful father and it was easy to forget that Robbie was actually over 300 years old.

"It was the right thing to do," he said and then looked at Nemo. "I'm sorry I upset you, Nemo, but I'm really glad you're okay." He reached over and squeezed his boyfriend's hand.

MARLIN:

Mu-yeol sipped his tea and snorted, rolling his eyes in that way he does when Nemo roasts him accurately or something.

“He was over being mad in five minutes, I promise.” He said, glancing at Nemo. “We were able to work out a plan in time to keep him in school, which is what he wanted, thanks to you.”

He nodded in Robbie’s direction. “And I’m very grateful, again.”

NEMO:

What was worse? Appa and Robbie hating each other?? Or uh– whatever this was?

Nemo couldn’t decide. Whatever this was, though, was a very specific type of humiliating. They were basically talking like he wasn’t even there! Nemo shrank in his seat a little as his ears went red. This was just so weird and embarrassing. Yah, Appa should have just– well- called Robbie or something! Why did they have to do this in front of him?

But he didn’t dare complain either. He’d wanted something like this for a long time. Just, y’know – a civil conversation.

Once again, his eyes darted between Robbie and Marlin. Appa’s final comment, though, irritated him too much to stay quiet (wasn’t that just the way with fathers?) “Um, I’m here too y’know, I can talk for myself,” Nemo broke in. “Robbie knows I’m not mad at him anymore.”

MARLIN:

“I’m just assuring him you weren’t too upset about it,” Mu-yeol said, patting Nemo’s hand. “But you’re right, sorry.”

He…didn’t think about this interaction past thanking Robbie actually. And telling him ‘go away now’ would just be rude, though he very much did not want to continue this interaction since he’d just unintentionally pissed Nemo off in front of Robbie, who surely hated him and thought he was a terrible father.

I can speak for myself Aiya Nemo why did you say it like that? As if he was actively not letting you speak and hadn’t just misstepped in reassuring your boyfriend that he hadn’t committed a grave offense.

Anyway. He smiled politely and, in an attempt to escape this situation that he was very aware he had started by calling Robbie over, pushed his tea aside.

“I’ll get out of here.” He sighed, lightly slapping the table. “You don’t need to run errands with me Nam-min if you don’t want.”

NEMO:

What? Now Appa was leaving?? What?

Well, Nemo didn’t really know what was going on, but he did think that was bad. Agh, he should’ve just shut up! Who cared about his pride? What if this never happened again?!

“No!” Nemo blurted quickly. “I mean! Finish your tea, Appa. Robbie, you can, um, you can join us, right? If you want, I mean, just for a little.”

MARLIN:

Daebak. He was turning Nemo loose to hangout with his boyfriend and he was rejecting it? Wild stuff. Okay then…

“Ah, I suppose you’re right, I did pay for this one.” Not that Mr. Hatter was unreasonable, but you know, you shouldn't waste something you pay for.

Sooooo…what now?

ROBBIE:

Robbie didn’t really want to stay, if he was being honest, although it was a complicated situation and spending time with Nemo was always usually a wonderful way to spend his time. It was just that Marlin made him exceedingly uncomfortable. Especially this new, “Pro-Robbie” Marlin. He couldn’t help but wonder if there were some sort of ulterior motives behind Marlin’s actions, although that was probably a little more the distrusting 300-year-old vampire in him that felt that way.

He wasn’t exactly that person anymore, so he hesitated and then nodded.

“Ah, yes, I’d um–I’d love to stay,” he said with a smile. “Just for a bit, though, like you said. I don’t want to derail father-son time.”

NEMO:

Nemo also wasn’t sure if this was a good idea, but it was the only chance he might ever have to, hopefully, smooth things over with Appa and Robbie. He didn’t think they’d be friends. There was too much bad stuff between them. But if they could just get to the point of… having a conversation? If Nemo could mention Robbie to Appa without Appa acting like Nemo was committing some great, terrible sin by staying with him? He’d consider it a win.

It was all up to Nemo though. The pressure fell on his shoulders, heavy as rocks. He swallowed and searched his brain for something for both Robbie and Appa to talk about.

“Um, great! So ah, you um, come in here to study or something?” Nemo started here. “Appa, Robbie wants to be a veterinarian. Isn’t that nice?”

MARLIN:

“Ah, it’s not really— we’re not — errands aren’t anything special. I’m sure he’d rather be still asleep.”

Marlin bit back the knee-jerk instinct to say ‘no money in that,’ even if it was true. There wasn’t much money in professional dance either, not unless you got to star choreographer level, and yet he was financing his son’s dream of that.

“That’ll be nice.” Mu-yeol said. What was he supposed to say? He wanted out of this situation. “If he came to study, why don’t you help him?”

The let me get out of here was tacitly encouraged, though his expression and mannerisms remained calm. Cool. A little too chill.

He sipped at his tea and, reluctantly, said something else. “How many years of school left?” There. Fine. He did Nemo, he asked a question.

ROBBIE:

Robbie frowned, just a bit, at Marlin’s attempt to get out of spending time with his son. It was clear Nemo still wanted to spend time with him and here Marlin was trying to get Nemo to stay in the coffee shop with Robbie. Either that or it was a dig at Nemo not studying, in which case Robbie wanted to tear his head off, but he suppressed that particular thought. Ha.

The question Marlin asked caught Robbie off-guard and he blinked. He’d been so lost in his thoughts. “Oh, um, like four still. Probably. I mean, I want to do it the right way, actually go through all of the courses even if I know a lot of it. Plus there really is so much I don’t know yet. Animals were never something that I studied much, even though I’ve always loved them.”

NEMO:

“He’s good with them too,” Nemo chimed in.

Maybe that hadn’t always been true. As a vampire, Robbie naturally frightened off many animals who could sense that he was a powerful predator. But even then, he’d been gentle with Lovely, and Lovely had quickly trusted Robbie. Now, he was quite the happy little hamster and always squeaked and purred. And Robbie also got on well with all the animals at Ruff to Fluff–

Daebak. Did Marlin know Robbie worked there now? Nemo had no idea. Probably not, considering the unspoken don’t-talk-about-Robbie rule.

“He um, he even started working at Ruff to Fluff. So he’s getting lots of practice with animals. I’m sure he’ll be great.” Nemo flashed a smile at Robbie and squeezed his hand again– under the table.

MARLIN:

“I’d hope you’re good with them. You’ll probably get bitten at least thirty percent less if you’ve actually got a way with animals.” Mu-yeol said, sticking with easy, inoffensive small talk.

He didn’t comment on him working with Nemo which was a tacit approval.

“Does pride u have a vet program? Or do you have to look at other vet schools?”

ROBBIE:

"Pride U has a vet program which is great because I was already an established student. I also really like Pride U and Swynlake and I'm glad I don't have to go anywhere else."

Robbie looked at Marlin and then back at Nemo, fidgeting. He hoped he was doing okay. Was he passing the dad test? He hated this.

NEMO:

This was awkward. This was uncomfortable. He knew that Robbie and Appa both didn’t want to be having this conversation and Nemo forced it on them.

Despite all of this, Nemo thought it was going well. Sure, it was stilted! But it was better than ignoring the other’s existence!

So Nemo smiled. “Yeah, and there’s even the special clinic for magical creatures! I dunno if Robbie will do anything with that but– it’s pretty cool. I bet Pride U’s the only school in England with something like that.”

MARLIN:

He was not even administering the dad test yet, actually. Thanking him was an olive branch and this conversation stood in place of a proper introduction. The dad test was something for later, closer to if and when he actually decided Robbie was, say, welcome to celebrate Chuseok with them. This tense conversation was simply a knee-deep wade in the water for Nemo’s benefit.

Mu-yeol wasn’t sure if Nemo so blatantly selling him made this more or less awkward.

“Can’t imagine one anywhere else,” Mu-yeol said. “Have you thought about where you might want to start practicing, if not here? Years away, but. Always smart to look into areas where vet practitioners are needed.”

ROBBIE:

“With the forest being so close to here, I always sort of assumed I’d stay in Swynlake, or somewhere near here. The Inn is my home–has been my home for awhile and leaving it isn’t really something I’d want to do. There are plenty of opportunities around here, which is nice. So many animals I can help. I think it’s that way everywhere, though, so really if I changed my mind it wouldn’t be too hard to find somewhere that needed a vet.

Robbie looked down at his hands and then back up at Marlin. “My goal is to help as many animals as possible. I guess it doesn’t really matter where I go.”

MARLIN:

Perhaps as a fairy he should find this endearing. ‘I just want to help animals’ should strike all sorts of chords with him. It was sweet, and admirable, but nothing more than ‘that’s nice’ came to his mind. He had to admit it was a lovely goal to have, and knew he should, as a fairy, be impressed.

Mu-yeol recognized this as coming not from a place of distaste for Robbie’s ambitions — they were perfectly fine — but from the same place as his own father’s ambivalence to So-yeon’s goals, and Bae Tae-il had adored his daughter-in-law. Mu-yeol was hardened the way his father was, where lofty, sugar-sweet dreams like ‘I want to save the environment’ and ‘I just want to take care of animals’ came across as idealistic and trite.

He supposed it was better than Robbie having no direction at all; no, he knew it was much better. And to his credit, it was achievable. Unlike the ambitions So-yeon had that he fell in love with. Animals wanted to be helped. Humans did not want to take care of their planet.

“That’s nice,” was still all he said. He didn’t know what else to say to that. But he did smile.

NEMO:

“Yeah!” Nemo said, more enthusiastically which was in part for Robbie–well, mostly for him– but for Appa too.

After all, he noticed Appa’s smile. Even if it was just polite and forced, Nemo wanted to encourage it. If he was happy and bright, maybe Appa would finally see that Robbie was good for him. And he really was, on paper. He was smart, he was diligent, he got amazing grades and worked hard. He could teach Nemo good study habits! (Well, he could try. Nemo wasn’t sure there was anything Robbie could do for his windswept brain.)

“It’s really hard stuff, honestly, but Robbie’s smart so he can do it,” mentioned Nemo. He wasn’t sure what else to say now… he needed to transition into another topic, probably, since Appa and Robbie were so painfully awkward with each other…

“We um, still practice Hangul,” was what he came up with. Welp. Better than nothing.

ROBBIE:

That’s nice.

Robbie almost wanted to laugh. It was nice, wasn’t it? Him wanting to help animals. So why did it make his stomach churn just a little when Marlin said it? Probably because Marlin still didn’t like him, despite how hard he was trying to seem like maybe he did. Or maybe Robbie wasn’t being fair. Maybe it was Robbie who was seeing the worst in Marlin when it wasn’t really there. Either way, Robbie was trying very hard not to seem annoyed or offended so he smiled.

“We do,” Robbie said. “Nemo is doing great. Pretty soon he’ll be writing in Korean for everything.”

MARLIN:

“I’m glad someone eventually convinced him to learn Hangul.” Mu-yeol said, even if it had hurt a little that Nemo was never interested in it before Robbie. He tried so hard to give his son their language, culture, and history despite living abroad, but teaching Nemo to read and write in Korean was an uphill battle that he gave up on early on.

If he really fought Nemo on it, he could have made him. Just like he required Nemo to speak to him in Korean at home and tried to encourage it in public, he could have imposed mandatory hangul practice. But with how much Nemo protested he worried that Nemo would reject their language fully if he made too big a deal out of it.

He didn’t want Nemo to associate Korean with punishment or consider it a chore. He’d rather his son not be able to read in Korean but speak it well with his father, than struggle to communicate with his son fully because he refused to use a language imposed on him. No matter how fluent Mu-yeol was in English, it was much easier for him to talk about important topics in their native language, and the thought of losing that connection with Nam-min…yes, giving up on Hangul was worth it.

“Though, we don’t really use written language in pixie hollows, so I get why when he was six he was like ‘how about no.’ I’m very impressed with his progress in so little time, thank you, Robbie.” He turned to Nemo and smiled. “Your handwriting has gotten really nice, pretty much as neat as your English handwriting. And good with your double consonants now, Appa’s very proud.”

This…this was finally feeling bearable. Talking about Korean things, he could do this easily.

NEMO:

Hey, Nemo would take it. Even if there was what Nemo felt was a hint of passive-aggressiveness in Appa’s tone. At least that passive-aggressiveness was toward Nemo and not Robbie, and maybe Nemo even deserved it. He could look back at his childhood and regret his own reluctance to practice his Korean. All the reasons he had then had been selfish– worse, they’d been reasons rooted in shame. And Nemo wasn’t ashamed of being Korean or anything, it was just…well, he’d already been so different as a kid, since he wasn’t born in Enchantra and his whole wing thing and he didn’t even have two parents like most seedlings and and and…

Whatever. He squirmed, swallowed down his embarrassment, and took it. At least he was fixing things now.

“Thanks. Um, Robbie’s a real good teacher,” mentioned Nemo.

ROBBIE:

Robbie wasn’t sure it was his teaching so much as it was that he wasn’t Marlin. Sometimes it was easier to be interested in things if your peers were the ones talking about it than when it was your parents. So Robbie definitely had that on his side. Plus, “I try, but it helps that you’re interested and you put in the effort. It also helps that I have a lot of practice too,” he added.

Robbie wanted to say that when you do something for 300 plus years you end up rather proficient, but he figured maybe that kind of comment wouldn’t go over so well.

Still he really wanted to say it.

He didn’t.

MARLIN:

Mu-yeol didn’t know how to keep this conversation…safe. It was awkward. He was awkward. Robbie was awkward. Nemo was awkward.

Aish couldn’t he just thank Robbie and do interacting later? No. All right, ask something, come on Mu-yeol.

“Nam-min. If Robbie isn’t busy today I can go to the market myself. You can stay with him if you’d rather.” He said instead. His gaze only briefly landed on Robbie but it was disinterested at worst rather than poison. “But if you came to study Robbie I’ll —“ he clicked his tongue and mimed removing the Nemo distraction.

ROBBIE:

Robbie didn't want to interrupt Nemo and Marlin’s day any more than he already had. He actually hated it, to be honest, because Marlin made him feel so awkward and uncomfortable. That was definitely something he would need to work on in the future, but not today.

Plus, Marlin had already tried to leave once and Nemo had said not to go. He clearly didn't want to ditch his father for Robbie, nor should he, and really the only thing to do was bow out gracefully. Take the pressure off of Nemo instead of piling it on.

"Oh, you guys already had plans," Robbie said with a smile. "It was really nice having tea with you, but I really do have a few things I need to go do." He turned and looked at Nemo, "We should hang out later, though, if you want."

Then he looked at Marlin. "It was nice talking to you."

MARLIN:

Mu-yeol nodded and politely ever so slightly bowed his head at Robbie as he got ready to leave. Nice was a generous way of describing it, it had been painfully awkward, but it was…fine. And you know, ‘fine’ for them was the same as nice. It was practically rainbows and butterflies.

“어 (eo),” Mu-yeol said, figuring it was good to agree it was nice. “Thank you for having tea with us.”

There. He was nice, welcoming even, no matter how…cautious. Nemo would appreciate that, right?

He cast a furtive glance over at Nemo right before he finished off his tea.

NEMO:

Nemo was relieved that he didn’t have to choose – Robbie removed that pressure from him.

Because no matter what, he felt like there weren’t have been a right choice, right? If he stayed with Appa, Appa would insist he went with Robbie, and if he stayed with Robbie, Robbie might insist he go with Appa. It was dumb. There shouldn’t be all these unseen pressures, all these put-on manners. Wistfully, Nemo imagined what it might have been like if several years ago, Marlin hadn’t turned so quickly on Robbie. If they had started to heal earlier. Maybe running into each other would have been easy, even natural.

At least things were healing now though, right? Better late than never. Nemo should stay optimistic.

And so he just smiled and nodded. “Yeah, I’ll text you! C’mon Appa, the market calls,” he joked, also getting up.

And with a wave at Robbie, the Baes left Hatter’s.

#nemo #robbie #the baes

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abloomntime · 4 years ago

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A Bloom In Time Ch22 Cooking Cat Returns With Mustache Girl

(I headcannon Mustache Girl's actual name to be Muriel. )

You know. It feels a lot better sleeping on a bed than it was sleeping on a hard cold wooden floor. Also much better to wake up with having sore muscles for a second time. Slowly waking up, blue eyes peered out awake to the world, blinking away the blurry vision that came with it. Where was she again? The first thing she saw was the blue canopy of Hattie bed......And slowly she started to remember what happened last night. Groaning, the grown woman slowly sat up on the bed and reached a hand up to push the long messy hair out of her face. Vision slowly focusing and seeing the large pillow pile and diving board attached to the top of it, and the bookshelf with all those children books on it. Yawning, Poppy stretched out her back the Starella story book tumbling off her lap and onto the bed beside her, not that she noticed. She was a little busy smacking her lips and rubbing her face before standing up and sluggishly walking her way towards the tiny door. She was hungry and you know what, some apples in the morning didn't sound too bad anyways. As her ma would say, an apple a day keeps the doctor away. Right? Well not quite. As she tired crawled(dragged) herself into the control room, the sweet smell of fried eggs and cheese filled the air and when she sniffed, Poppy found herself turning in the direction of the kitchen. Her stomach rumbled at the smell of the food and she stood to her feet again. Mind blank as she tiredly trudged her way towards the ramp up to the kitchen area. Passing Rumbi who was happy to be back in the control room and not carried around room to room anymore cleaning. Up the ramp and past the big vault door, she could smell the food getting closer and closer until she pushed open the doors without a second thought.

"....Well, good morning to ya," a cheering slightly southern accent called out, "I was wondering when I would see you again."

The voice seemed to finally wake up Poppy as she blinked and turned her head in the direction of Cookie who smiled and was standing on a chair to reach the hot stove. Something was sizzling on the stove in front of her and that's what was making the delicious smell. The girls were there too, all dressed in the same outfits as yesterday but these ones were different colors. Same design and style, different color. Hattie was wearing a dark blue and white out fit and hat( dark blue being her shirt and pants, and white being anything else from her cape to hat), and Bow was wearing a similar dark blue and white attire(with her dress being dark blue and everything from her Bow to shoes were a white). The girls happily waved at her in between eating what looked like friend eggs into their mouths. A third short person was standing off in the corner of the room behind Cookie looking bored.

"Oh. Uh.....*YYYYAAAAWWNN* H-Hello again, Cookie." She proceeded to rub her face again. "W-What are you doing here?"

Cookie smiled turning back to the stove to flip the yellow almost cresent shaped egg. "Well, since the last episode of my cooking show for this season was finished, it means I get a few months to take a load off and prepare for the next season after the Annual Bird Movie Award Ceremony is over."

"Bird ....movie awards?"

Cookie nodded. "It happens once a year, but unfortunately since one of the three judges not awefully sick from bad bird seed they had to push it back a few months this year. Now the deadline is the week before Cupid's Day, that's why the theme for this year's contest was romance. Poor Mr. Grooves is having an awful time trying to find suitable actors for this fairytale romance theme he has going on. I would've volunteered myself, but I was really looking forward to some rest." She smiled shyly and pointed to herself. "And I wasn't exactly what he was looking for in the fair maiden role."

"I think you're beautiful Cookie!," Bow piped up, "The prettiest cat in the world!"

"And the best cook, too!," Hattie added.

Both making Cookie giggled and waving her paw, "Oh stop! Ya'll are making me blush worse than a kitten with a puppycrush."

"What are you cooking?," Poppy asked shuffling closer to them.

"Cheese omlets," Cookie replied happily. Reaching over and grabbing a plate laid next to her, she expertly flipped the omlet up and onto the plate in her paws with ease before turning to Poppy smiling and offering it out to her. "I hope ya'll don't mind me stoppin' by. I had nothing else today to really do, and I thought that I'd drop by and spend some more time visiting like I promised. And I wanted to see for myself if you were settling in today."

Poppy gladly took the plate from her stomach rumbling and mouth watering at the sight of it. "Uh. N-No. It's perfectly fine. In fact it's very kind of you to do so." Smiling she took the fork handed along with her and dug in......OH MY PECK!! Whatever a cheese omlet was it was SO delicious! Once again her cooking amazed her again. " SO GOOD!!"

Cookie ended up chuckling again turning off the stove. "I'm glad you think so, honestly it was only a few eggs and slicing a few pieces off that cheese wheel, the fridge is practically empty. Why didn't you go restock yet?"

Poppy stopped mid bite and looked at her for a moment staring. "Restocking?"

"Y'know. Shoppin'? All ladies like to shop, don't you?"

"Uh...Actually I don't think I could. I haven't exactly been paid by anyone yet so I don't really have much to buy any fancy things." She continued eating and eventually a movement to her right caught her attention, blue eyes looked down to meet gold ones as the two made eye contact and her brain quickly registered it to be another little girl in a red hood with her hair in two ponytails. Swallowing down some food, Poppy smiled at her. "Well hello there. I don't think I've met you yet. What's your name?"

"Mustache Girl!," the tiny girl proclaimed pointing a hand up, "Defeater of bad guys and savior of the world!"

"More like almost destroying it," Hattie shot back shooting her a dirty look witch this ...uh...'Mustache Girl' shot back with equal annoyance.

"Says the one who messed up by making it rain dangerous hourglasses everywhere!," the blonde yelled back pointing a finger, Hattie just stuck her tongue out at her.

The little girl continued to look slightly annoyed and Cookie reached behind her to pat the child's head. "This is Muriel. But we call her Mu for short." She gave a scary mom smile down to the children. "And we're not going to fight today are we?"

"No, Cookie!," all three girls agreed under the cat's gaze.

Poppy wasn't gonna lie, she was slightly scared and kinda impressed and this cat woman's skills to mother these three with ease within just a few seconds. And Mu huh? She giggled. It was pronounced the same way as 'Mew', like what a cat would say. And honestly it was kinda cute of her. Mu noticed the way Poppy was giggling and looking at her and frowned. Before shooting an accusing hand and face at her.

"And what are you laughing at?," she asked and Poppy noticed she also had some kind of accent. "Are you a bad guy too?!"

"MU!," Cookie scolded giving her a stern look and Mu instantly froze, eyes shooting sideways to the cat, "What did we talk about with minding your manners? Now you apologise to Ms. Bloomington this instant!" Her gaze turned apologetic to Poppy. "I am so sorry. It's hard for her to break old habits from Mafia Town, but I promise you she's a good girl."

"There's no need to apologize." Poppy smiled wider before kneeling down slowly to Mu's height. The little girl pulled her hand back to her and watched as Poppy stopped eye level smiling at her like Cookie would. "It sounds to me like you're a very brave little girl."

Mu paused for a moment. Looking Poppy up and down suspiciously as if trying to decide if she was serious or not about it, but took it as a compliment. Smiling proudly and puffing out her chest, pointing at herself. "Absolutely not wrong! I'm the bravest crime fighter in the world!"

Poppy chuckled again and sweetly nodded. "Well, I wouldn't be surprised if ya was. Such pretty eyes too. They look just like gold and honey."

"YEAH! That's exactly what I am!" She puffed up prouder at the strokes to her ego. "Gold and honey! The best gold and honey in the universe! Finally someone who gets it." Behind her Hattie rolled her eyes stuffing the last of her breakfast in her mouth, and Cookie seemed to be happy with the way the two stopped arguing finally.

Poppy chuckled again. "Well, it's really nice to meet you, Mu."

"Likewise, Bloom-in-Tons!"

"Call me,Poppy!" She smiled as she stood up to finish eating her food as she smiled. "Why don't you all go play?"

"Yes," Cookie agreed nudging Mu forward a little bit, "Why don't you all go and play with that pretty gold castle they showed us and be nice while the adults talk for a little bit?" The children were a little apprehensive at first but agreed to do so with Bow quickly stuffing the rest of her breakfast into her mouth and both her and Hattie tossing the dishes into the sink as one after another they ran to the doors with a few shouts of- 'I call being the Gold hero!' 'No you don't! I'm the best crime fighter!' "No you're not! I beat you remember!' 'Yes way!' 'No way!' 'Yes, Way!' and Bow following after the first two as they left. Cookie sighed shaking her head and grabbed the frying pan and spatula she had been cooking with hopping off the chair before looking up at Poppy. "I'm sorry for that. Those three may fight sometimes, but Hattie was quick to forgive everyone including her. They are friends I swear, but they argue worse than Conductor and Mr. Grooves at times....Mind being a dear and dragging over that chair there?"

"Hm. Oh! Sure." Plate in one hand, Poppy used the other to drag the chair across the room right behind Cookie to the sink following. "And it's quite alright. Kids will be kids after all, I don't blame them at all. Hmhm." She scooted the chair over where Cookie silently pointed and watched as the plump cat impressively jump onto it and faced the sink with the already dirty dishes in it. Going back to eat the other half of her breakfast as she watched Cookie roll up her sleeves more and turning on the sink. "Thank you for the..omlet by the way. I really appreciate it. "

She nodded not looking at her and instead turning on the hot water to the said sink. "Well it wasn't trouble at all. I was a little surprised you hadn't gotten up yet. Aren't you supposed to be the little dumplins' new babysitter or somethin'?"

Poppy sighed through her nose swallowing again. "Uh, well. Yeah that's my new job I guess. Being a maid and nanny to 'em. But to be honest with ya, I don't know the first thing about where ta go or even start with whole thing."

Cookie paused for a moment in her movements to look over at her...Yellow eyes roaming up and down eyeing the tacky dress on her and the messy bed head she had. "Well, by the way you look now ya'll are having some trouble settling in."

Poppy groaned allowing the cat to take away her now empty plate. "Tell me about it. With all the darn crazy things that's happened in the past few days I'm about ready to burst. And even if I knew where ta shop, I couldn't exactly pay for anything being broke."

Cookie looked at her confused. "Broke? But I thought all those gold do-dads were supposed to be your payment? The children seemed awefully proud to have them and Hattie said something about buying a whole bunch of things with some of it."

........OH!! THE GOLD!! OF COURSE!! She had completely forgotten about all of that in favor of being hungry and getting herself some food, but now that she remembered that didn't sound like a half bad idea to use it for food and some clothes that weren't so tacky.

"That doesn't sound like a half bad idea ya got there!...But. I'm not really sure where to use it. Haven't visited many places around here."

"Hm...I got an idea!" Cookie's smile widened at her. "Mu and I were just going around to do some errends after visitin'. Why don't ya'll come along and we'll make a girls trip outta it? It'll be fun to show someone around my favorite places! And I know just the place in Express City where you can trade gold for pons."

Poppy blinked. "W-Wha- N-No! I-It's fine. You're too kind really. We'll be just fine just how we are right now-"

"Nonsense," Cookie cut her off giving her a look. "Staying here all the time isn't going to magically put food in your fridge or nice clothes on your back. I insist. Besides, some time stretching your legs will be good for you."

Well. That didn't sound too bad to be honest. She could definately get a change of scenery besides haunted woods or an alien space ship, plus some actual soil under her feet sounded nice instead of floating in outer space. But Cookie wasn't exactly about to let her just waltz out with a bed head like hers. Luckily there was three little girls who gladly got very excited when they were asked by the cat to play 'make over' with Poppy, and by that she meant tidy up her hair. To say it hurt quite a bit with all the tangled built up ever since she crash landed in the swamp was an understatement. IT PECKING HURT!! Didn't help her hair was very long so it would take quite a while, in the meantime Cookie was nice enough to gather some of the gold objects they definately could put to better use. Of course both Bow and Hattie were very reluctant to let any of the buried treasure they found go, and once seeing all the gold Mu certainly was not willing to let 'any potential evil doers get their hands on it'. But they all came to a understanding with the stern gaze of the cat thrown at them. They would the girls each keep one, leave one or two pieces of gold for back up just in case of any emergency where they needed money, and the rest was coming along with them. They agreed reluctantly. No surprise Hattie chose the golden Roach King. Bow chose the castle as she enjoyed having it while playing her games. And Mu chose the cookie. Why?....She pouted and said because it reminded her of someone before shoving it into her cape's pocket with a huff. It was decided the golden skull would be the thing to be left behind and was hidden under Hattie's bed for safe keeping. Which left the golden gear, trophy, potion, pencil, Mafia Man, Cheese pieces, and candle would be all the things to go. But they all wouldn't be easy to carry as solid gold was a sure heavy thing. Luckily Poppy was just what they needed, who else to carry them but the strongest gal here? So into the pockets of her trusty leather apron they went. The weight was a bit much but she'd manage, like the light pain in her head right after the girls got done with her hair finally, leaving it in that signiture long braid and pretty blue bow tied at the end by Bow. She was ready! But the trip all the way down to the planet was another thing in of itself.

She was NOT about to risk free falling from space again, and these two weren't exactly known for their iron grip the last time. Cookie, being the genius cat she was suggested she just come along with them to Moon City to catch the next chip taxi down to the planet with them. Poppy hesitated at first, but she agreed afraid of falling from the sky again. Bow and Hattie coming out with umbrella's in their hands presumably going on their own to follow them all. Making sure they were all comfortable the cat lifted her sleeve again to reveal the same watch like device she had used the last time she was there and instructed Poppy to hold onto her paw now, as it would be a really quick trip there. She wasn't sure what to expect when she nervously grabbed Cookie's paw, but she did slam her eyelids shut when Cookie pressed the button on there. Before quickly grabbing Mu's hand with her other paw.

.....

........

"Uh..Ya'll can open your eyes now," came Cookie's voice.

Were they there already? Poppy's hand was released by Cookie and the human slowly opened her eyes. ....And what she saw both surprised and calmed her. Looking up the starry sky of outer space shown down at her live the time she free falled, but without the falling to the ground this time. The pretty stars shown brightly before those blue eyes blinked around at everything else. It was a CITY alright. A BIG ONE!....Well, she guessed any city would be big to her, as she's never really been IN a city before, the only one she's known to be in the city was her distant cousin who had a Fruit Stand somewhere in the Subonette City Marketplace. He'd sometimes tell them all the tall buildings that were so close together and the giant skyscrapers the rich fatcats lived in and their fancy carriages being pulled by giant beautiful black stallions. He always said the place was always too big and crowded for his liking but he didn't leave because the market always brought the best customers to his food. But she'd didn't think any city would be this.....Flashy. The tall buildings were decorated in massive lights and music blasted from everywhere and all kinds too. Rock, jazz, blues, techno remixes. You name it. It was almost enough to hurt her ears and her eyes. And all around them were...There was....PENGUINS!! Moon Penguins. They all didn't seem to mind or care that they just showed up in the middle of the town square and didn't care. Beeping was heard as a car zipped by them all and Poppy jumped staring at the weird mechanical beast that just went by. Gigantic signs were everywhere decorated with lights. One said 'Hats', another had a picture of a fedora and said 'Nuthin' Cooler', one Said 'Hats and Buy'. She giggled at one that read 'Penguin Suits Clothes Store'. There was even a giant glowing sign of piano keys with the words "Feelin' Lucky? Casino Hall'. It was...AMAZING!! Even if her senses were being attacked right now. But then she stopped to stare at the fountain they were standing right next to. It was in a giant shape of a music note and like most everything else, was bedazzled in lights as water poured from it.

"Are you alright?" Mu was giving her a strange look as the grown woman gawked at everything. "You look like you've never seen a fountain before."

"I've never been in any city before! Let alone on the moon!" Poppy smiled excitedly at the two of them. "This is amazing!"

Cookie chuckled and grabbed Mu by the hand gesturing for them to cross the street to the right.....Then proceeded to grab Poppy's hand to drag her along behind them as she still stood and gawked at everything but jumped at the tiny cat pulling her along across the street to the sidewalk. Another red car driving by them. As they walked Poppy noticed there was tiny bush plants in pots everywhere also covered in lights as they passed. These pengiuns really loved lights huh? Speaking of them she saw a lot of them. Moon penguins wearing suits, fedoras, and black sunglasses, they were all listening to music or talking to one another, or driving those big machines they were riding in. At one point she saw a lady penguin dressed in a pink outfit similar to the others, waddling around with a baby stroller with an egg carefully placed inside of it. She giggled at the sight of a tiny fedora on the egg as they passed, how peculiar- BAM!! Bright yellow light! Suddenly hitting her straight in the face. Poppy had to slam her eyes shut again at the sudden bright yellow flashing on them, only being guided by Cookie still holding her hand but Poppy did blink her eyes open and look up to where the light was radiating from when she felt cookie tug her in a different direction before stopping. While she got her hand back, Poppy held it up above her as her eyes adjusted and she was finally able to make out the blinding light up above. There was three gigantic blinding signs on top of the biggest building she's ever seen. Two were saxophones and one in between them were bright yellow letters saying GROOVES.

"That's Mr. Grooves moon studio," Cookie explained noticing her staring up at the signs. "He built it right by the entrance to the metro so he can just waltz on in and start workin' if he decides to shoot on the moon for what ever reason." Her yellow eyes also squinted up at the sky above and pointed up to two little stars floating down from the sky. "And here come the little darlins' now. I told them to meet us as soon as possible at the metro here before we go down to Express Town."

"Express ....Town?"

"It's the first town before you get to Express Owl City. Millions of birds ...mostly owls, live there. But Express town is big enough to have everything we need, and to be honest I'm not a fan of cities. I've gotten used to a small town life as it was."

Poppy continued to gawk at the bright lights, slightly impressed by it all...but then slowly shifted over to two little things floating down from the sky towards them, it was hard at first to see them thanks to the blinding yellow light from the sign but eventually she was able to see the forms of Hattie and Bow floating down towards them. Hattie was holding onto her hat with one hand and smiled down at the three girls below when she noticed they were staring at the three of them.

"I'M MARY PENGUINS YA'LL!!," she called down from the floating umbrella waving her hat.

Mu huffed crossing her arms. "Show offs."

Poppy chuckled at it all and watched with a smile as the two girls gently floated down closer and closer, until they were right in front of them. Standing on the ground smiling and putting away those magic umbrellas into...Well magic thin air she guessed and smiled up at them all.

"Are we late?"

Cookie shook her head, and gestured to the stairs leading down into the ground, turning as she did and starting to walk down said stairs. "Not at all, Sugarplum. Come along now everyone. The evening train's 'bout ta leave any minute now. And we don't want to miss that now do we?"

Shaking her head no, Hattie followed right behind her with Bow and After rolling her eyes, so did Mu. Poppy slowly followed after them down the stairs, but surprisingly she wasn't greeted in darkness. Instead she was met with a secret underground tunnel of concrete under the city and ....HOLY COW!! A train! There was a train smack dab right in the middle of the room, a few penguins climbing onto it or off it as the many doors on the long thing was open. Thank goodness it wasn't as flashy as the city outside as she looked around in wonder. The place was still pretty big even for small penguins, about five or six houses wide and height if you asked her. There was one penguin who wore the same thing as the other penguins only had on a conductor's hat and a small mic in his flipper, Poppy watched from the bottom of the stairs as this penguin looked at a watch on his other flipper before bringing the mic back up to his mou- ...Uh...Beak.

"Attention passengers." His voice boomed through a speaker above them all. "The Evening Train to the planet below will leave in exactly thirty two seconds. Those boarding please have your luggage in hand and board immediately. Last call for the evening train. That is all."

"Oh, that's our ride. C'mon ya'll. Don't want to be late now."

Cookie hurried the three little girls in front of her towards the nearest open doors on the trains, Poppy trailing behind. Passing penguins going in or out of the tram Poppy gazed up at it as she stepped in. She had to lean other a bit to not hit her head on the ceiling. The weight of the gold in her heavy duty leather apron making her lean more from the weight of it. It had white painted walls with poles and handles on the ceiling to hang onto along with benches the perfect size for Poppy and the girls to sit in. Poppy being obviously taller ended up taking up a seat and a half next to them, but there wasn't many penguins on board so she had plenty of room to herself without having to worry about taking up space for anyone else.

"Last chance of boarding. I repeat last chance,'' the Conductor Penguin's voice sounded out. Poppy glanced over at the doors as they all closed with a loud click ceiling them as the girls and Cookie all sat on either side of her. But gave a small yelp when the train lurched wobbling everyone in it and slowly started to pull forward, Poppy glancing out the window behind them and seeing the station move as the train started taking off. "We are now leaving Moon City Metro. Please remain your seats and enjoy the ride. Thank you for choosing PenCo Express Services for your space travels."

As they picked up speed, Poppy kept staring out the window and her eyes widen seeing the out side of outer space and suddenly the sight of the moon after a few seconds, it was silver and round like a moon would look like but a good CHUNK (like half of it) was alive with lights bright enough to be seen from her spot on the running train. The lights making the buildings look shadowy, it was kinda pretty in a monochrome way. As she turned her head in the opposite direction to look forward, the planet from what she could see from it was getting closer and closer. Well.....Here she goes.

#ABloomInTime #a bloom in time #A Hat In Time #a hat in time snatcher #a hat in time florist #flowercrown #florist x snatcher #The Florist #A hat in time the florist #snatcher x florist #Snatcher x the florist #the florist x snatcher #A hat in time snatcher x florist #A hat in time florist x snatcher #A hat in time the florist x snatcher #a hat in time snatcher x the florist

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catsafarithewriter · 5 years ago

Note

“Listen, I didn’t do anything this time, I was just there when things started to fall apart.” with Muta, if you'd please, that just screams him haha. i love your writing!

A/N: The idea for this prompt was inspired by this post. It’s just a bit of fun, with harmless Muta and Haru hijinks and extreme prejudice against polka-dots :) Enjoy!

(No real bowties were harmed in the making of this ficlet)

Haru didn’t even mean to lose the first bowtie.

Even if it was fugly.

(“What,” she had demanded upon walking into the Bureau, “is that?”)

(”It’s a bowtie,” Baron had answered, as if he wasn’t wearing a blue polka-dotted monstrosity around his neck. He had righted it with some pride above the yellow waistcoat it empirically did not match. “It’s one of my old suits; I’ve decided to take it out for a spin. What do you think?”)

(And he had looked so proud of himself that Haru hadn’t had the heart to reply honestly, which had mostly comprised of the genuine question of whether Baron was colour-blind.)

And so Baron, fugly bowtie and all, had accompanied them on the case, and only Baron had returned.

Purely accidentally, naturally.

And it honestly had been. There had been a costume change (Baron’s decision, obviously) and then a hurried exit (as usual) and by the time they had all escaped with only a minor dent to their dignity, Haru realised she had forgotten to grab Baron’s bowtie when she had swept everything else up.

The second bowtie’s loss, however, might have been slightly intentional.

It had been a week after the previous case, and all thoughts of polka dots and fashion monstrosities had been replaced with things like groceries and laundry and trying not to get eaten by ogres. Regular things.

And then it reappeared.

Haru swung into the Bureau, already tying her hair back and securing her back over one shoulder when she stopped dead.

“I came as fast as I got your message - we really need to find a better communication system than Toto dropping envelopes from above - just about anyone could pick it up, and it’s hardly subtle, but then again I guess those kinds of dramatics are right up your -- oh my god, it’s back.”

Baron turned to her, straightening out the tie beneath his collar. “What was that, Miss Haru?”

“The polka dots,” Haru said. “They’re back.”

“Ah yes, Well, as they say, you can’t keep good fashion down.”

“However much they may try,” Haru muttered. Then, “And the waistcoat, I see, is back in full force.”

“I believe yellow is my colour.”

Haru raised an eyebrow, but declined to comment.

So when they needed something to tie the door-handles together to hinder their pursuers while they made a run for it with the giant’s golden goose, Haru suggested the bowtie with only the barest smidgen of guilt. It was either that or her belt, and she liked that belt. It had flowers decorated on it.

And so fugly bowtie number two kicked the bucket when the door was kicked in.

The third bowtie was when Haru began to get suspicious.

After all, she could have believed that the first time, he’d somehow retrieved it without mentioning it to Haru, but there was no way that was the same tie. She’d seen it tear in half beyond repair, get trampled on, and possibly get eaten by one of the giant’s goats, for goodness sake.

“Eh, maybe it’s a backup, Chicky,” Muta suggested when Haru brought it up mid-case. “Or maybe he grabbed it before it got damaged. You gotta admit, we weren’t exactly taking inventory while we were running for our lives last time.”

“We’ll see about that.”

So, to Haru’s shame - but not enough to reconsider her actions - she may have stolen the horrifying bowtie when (once again) they donned on disguises, and fed it to one of the pond koi.

A week later, it reappeared.

“It’s a conspiracy, I’m telling you,” Haru hissed to Muta at the Crossroads. She passed across a tuna sandwich to him. “Every time I think it’s been irreparably lost or damaged, there it is! One back-up tie I can believe - but two?”

“Maybe it’s a Creation thing,” Muta suggested around a mouthful of fish. “Like he can summon it back to him cause it’s something that was made alongside him.”

“Summon it?” Haru echoed. “Like in Harry Potter?” She had the fleeting, but no less amusing, image of bowties flying through the air like silken bats. She grinned, and then refocused on the mystery at hand. “We’ve got to get to the bottom of this.”

Muta yawn. “Have ya tried asking him?”

“Where’s the fun in that? Come on, this is a mystery, Muta.”

“You’ve already asked him, haven’t you?” he translated.

Haru deflated. “Yeah. He said that a gentleman never reveals his secrets.”

“Typical Baron.”

“Yeah.”

“So what do you need from me?”

Haru grinned. “We need to see how many lives that tie has.”

It was frankly, Haru considered, quite amazing how many different ways one could destroy a bowtie if one got inventive enough. And, given the variety of worlds they visited, they had plenty chance to get creative.

Bowtie number six bit the dust when it found its way - somehow - into the belly of an active volcano.

Bowtie number nine got eaten by a plant.

Bowtie thirteen grew wings and flapped off into the sunset after a wayward wizard’s spell went rogue.

And yet they kept reappearing.

“Do you think he knows?”

Muta looked up from the newspaper he was flicking through. “Who knows what?”

“Baron,” Haru said. “About the bowties?”

Muta considered this, then folded down his paper to fix Haru with a solid stare. “Do I think,” he asked, “that Baron knows we’re systematically destroying his terrible polka dot tie after the kraken incident?”

Haru winced. “Good point.”

“I mean, I ain’t gonna tell you how to scheme, but maybe tackling Baron in the middle of a sea monster attack and trying to fend it off with a tie.”

Haru nodded, lips pursed as she came to the inevitable conclusion. “So he’s toying with us.”

“Yep.”

She continued to nod. “That explains why he looks so smug whenever he reappears with it.”

“Oh. So you finally noticed.”

“Well we can be sure it’s not accio-ing its way back to him,” Haru said. “After all, it’d be incinerated after the chimera incident. He has to have multiple bowties.”

“Maybe he’s ordering them in,” Muta offered.

“Maybe, but...” Haru frowned. “That implies he has a tailor.”

“We’d have heard about that.”

“Yeah.” She considered. “He’d have strong-armed his tailor into making him a cape or cloak by now. Maybe he orders them wholesale from an online company.”

Muta snorted. “With his technology prowess?”

“...True.”

There was a long pause.

“Of course,” Muta said slowly, “there’s always the possibility that he has a whole wardrobe of them. Like you see in the movies. Just hundreds of polka-dot monstrosities carefully folded in a drawer.”

Haru and Muta exchanged glances.

“We really shouldn’t nosy...” Haru said, but without conviction.

“We shouldn’t...”

“But we’re gonna to, aren’t we?”

Muta grinned. “I knew there was a reason I got on with you, Chicky.”

Haru looked around the Bureau’s interior in despair, and then to Muta for help. “You know, I never thought about this, but there aren’t any wardrobes in here.”

“Where did he get the bowtie from in the first place?”

“He... You know, I don’t have the foggiest? He was already wearing it when I first saw it.”

“Eh.”

“Yeah, I know. Helpful.” Haru ran her hands through her hair. “I’ll look through the desk drawers, you check the books for... I don’t know, a hidden door or something.”

“Really?”

“Do you have any better ideas?”

“What about up there?” And Muta pointed to a series of boxes carefully stacked on the top of the bookshelves.

Haru looked up. And then up. And then some. “Pass me the ladder.”

“Are ya sure--”

“We’re getting to the bottom of this, Muta!”

He shrugged and collected up the ladder leaning against the corner, pulling it open and holding it in place. “Up yer go.”

“You know, this is all very weird,” Haru said as she scaled the steps. She glanced down at Muta. Or over at him, since the few steps granted her on eye-level with him. “I mean, there really aren’t any wardrobes in here, and Baron...”

“Face it, Chicky; how often have you seen him switch up his clothes?”

She wrinkled her nose. “No, I mean... no, he must change sometime...”

“Creations are weird, kid. You’ll get used to it.”

“I don’t want to get used to it. I want answers. I want -- I want...” She stuttered as she tried to pull the boxes loose, but they jammed. She tugged at them, and the shelf wobbled. “Come -- on -- out-- you -- stupid -- box --got it!” She gave a cry of triumph as she heaved one box away. “Hah! Oh.”

“What’s in the box?”

“Hm, well it’s not bowties.”

There was a creak, and before Muta could ask anything more, the bookshelf began to lean precariously away from the wall. Haru squeaked, Muta yowled, and both dropped everything to grab the shelves before gravity could take over.

The creaking stopped.

Haru exhaled. “Well, that was a close call--”

The next bookshelf over toppled forward.

And then the one on the other side went.

When the dust finally cleared, there was an audible sigh from both.

“Okay, so that was--”

“Not another word to tempt fate, Chicky.”

“I was only going to say--”

“No.”

“But--”

“Nada.”

Haru pouted. “You say that like you’ve never made a mess in your life.”

“What in the world is going on here?”

Haru and Muta both spun on their heels to see Baron standing in the doorway, and as their grip slipped, the middle bookcase finally gave way. Haru squealed and leapt out of the way before she could be squashed beneath it.

Muta raised his paws defensively. “Listen, I didn’t do anything this time, I was just there when things started to fall apart.”

“Baron. Baron, Baron, Baron.” Haru skidded over the chaos, stumbling against the desk that had narrowly avoided becoming a casualty, and reached Baron. “How do your bowties keep reappearing? I need to know!”

Baron gently set his top hat to one side, returning to old habits to deal with the fact that the Bureau had looked better when a tornado spirit had invaded the building. “That is what this is all about?”

“...Well, when you put it like that, it sounds so silly...”

“Just tell them, Baron,” Toto called from the internal balcony. He had arrived when Baron had, and the smile on his beak implied he had known the mystery that had plagued Muta and Haru and had taken great joy in watching the drama unfold. “Before they decide to blow up my column looking for your secret bowtie stash.”

Baron nodded. “Very well. Please watch.” He reclaimed his hat and carefully exhaled, sparks of magic flowing up and over him as he reverted to his inanimate form.

“Is this his way of running from the answer?” Muta stage-whispered.

“Keep watching, pudding-brain.”

Sparks flew up again as Baron returned to his flesh and blood form, but as he did so, subtle changes took place. The classy red waistcoat shifted colour, like someone dragging a swatch through a colour wheel until it rested on yellow, and the royal-blue bowtie became blotchy, making way for white polka dots that had drawn Haru’s attention so strongly in the first place.

By the time Baron was blinking the gemstone glaze from his eyes, Haru’s jaw had dropped.

“You can shapeshift?”

“Not exactly.” Baron righted his tie, as if it hadn’t been perfectly straight before. “All Creations have a default appearance that we can subtly alter as our personalities and style shift. I can not grow wings or a second tail, but I can nudge the set pattern of my waistcoat or - in this case - bowtie to fit my liking.”

Toto cackled. “You should have seen his experimental stage. He had grey fur for a decade before he went back to ginger.”

“Yes, thank you, Toto,” Baron said curtly. “We all go through phases.”

“Louise laughed until she cried,” Toto informed them. “She said that they looked like they were cosplaying as yin and yang if they stood together.”

“Thank you, Toto.”

“Please tell me there are photos somewhere,” Haru begged.

“There are,” Baron said. “In there.” And he pointed to the pile of books smothered beneath the toppled shelves. He raised an eyebrow at Muta and Haru.

“Oh.”

“Yeah, kinda forgot about that...”

Muta trundled over to the mess, but Haru lingered a moment longer with Baron. She leant in. “Just for the record, I think you look great, regardless of your fashion sense.”

He grinned knowingly. “Even with the polka dots?”

She kissed his cheek. “Don’t push your luck.”

#Anon #replies #cat writes #the cat returns #the cat queues #I finished this at like half midnight?#which may explain a few things XD #I do kinda have a headcanon that creations can change their default appearance over time #minor changes are just like this #but larger changes are slower and gradual and are linked to identity #so yeah you'll get creations that differ from the species or the #gender that they were originally created as #because the magic is tied to how they perceive themselves and their identity #basically #one more down!#many more to go

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synvamp · 5 years ago

Text

HAPPY PLACE 4

So apparently now I’ve found my happy place (Vol 7 Ep 5), I’m never going to leave.

Slow burn, lots of flirting and fluff - adorable Clover, birb Qrow. HEAL ME

(Part One HERE)

Title: Healing

Fair Game �� Part Four / 5? More?

Rating: M

---xxx---

Qrow lay in bed in the dark. It was nearly like sleeping.

He thought about the last few days. His missions with Clover. The looks Clover gave him, the reassuring hand that just found his shoulder, lifted his chin, clasped his waist…

He could tell Clover had been trying to take it slow… give him a little time after the kiss.

Hope he didn’t take that ‘intense’ comment too seriously. Why do I have to have such a smart mouth!? Qrow grinned in the dark. Ok, not going to regret being a smart ass. There has to be a line, right?

His mouth kept him safe. It kept people at a distance. No one really knew when he was serious so he could say what he was really thinking and they’d shrug it off. It was just another weapon in his personal arsenal – another way to keep people he cared about as far away as possible.

Two weeks.

There was no way Clover would survive. In the two days since that amazing kiss he’d been nearly buried in rubble twice, thrown off a building, caught in a grim stampede and nearly hit by lightning. Actual lightning.

Qrow turned over and buried his face in his pillow again. All he could think about was the feeling of Clover’s lips. The firm kiss still lingered, he could almost feel those calloused fingers stroke down his face and lift his chin…

Still sexually frustrated.

Would sleeping with him make it worse? If he follows me around like a love sick puppy (Qrow smiled a little too hard in the dark) then won’t he be doomed anyway? Would giving the both of them a tiny hint of relief really be such a bad thing?

I could certainly use some damn sleep, he thought, pressing his hard-on into the sheets and sighing.

In a fit of frustration he leapt off the bed, throwing the covers everywhere. That’s it. I’m getting up. This is bullshit.

He looked over at the clock. It was four-thirty. Must have drifted off for a little at least…

Only four hours until the briefing. Only four hours until I see him again.

It felt like a long time.

Qrow flicked a light switch and scowled into the bright light. He threw on some shoes and left his room. He wore sweats and a t-shirt to bed so he didn’t even have to get dressed. Just walk. Find a rhythm in your steps. Walk and keep walking.

It was a good way to keep the demons at bay. He just let the rhythm of his body take him. He went around the corridors, sometimes hearing a faint snoring from someone’s quarters. It was weirdly comforting after everything that had happened, the sound of other people, relaxed… fast asleep.

He found himself in the mess hall before long, empty metal tables gleaming in the moonlight which streamed through the window.

He turned his heels to go and a voice floated out of the darkness, “Can’t sleep?”

Clover.

Qrow hesitated on the threshold. He considered just walking away. Probably better to get as far away from the guy as possible before he spontaneously combusts…

But he didn’t. He just stood there. Clover walked out of a shadow beside the window, he approached slowly and sat on a table a few metres away.

Still giving me space. Why does he have to be so damn considerate?

“Didn’t think you were the skulking in the shadows type,” Qrow drawled, trying to make light of the situation. His chest felt like it was going to implode as the light hit Clover’s face just so…

“I have a dark streak,” Clover smiled.

“Oh yeah?” Qrow felt a smile tugging at his lips. Clover. Dark. What a heap.

“Yeah. I like horror movies and I dress up every year for Halloween,” he nodded like this was absolutely conclusive.

Qrow shook his head, “I can’t even tell if you’re serious.”

Clover opened his mouth in mock-offense, “I’m always serious! I’m super, super serious!”

Qrow just laughed. How can this guy make me feel so relaxed!? It’s five am!

But as soon as his heart began to lift he felt it all come crashing down. Clover’s face was so open, so welcoming, so GODDAMNED HAPPY.

I can’t do this to him. I can’t inflict this… me… on him. On his life.

“Well, enjoy the darkness then I guess…” he said, as he turned away.

He could hear Clover stand up behind him, “Qrow… wait…”

He hesitated, one foot over the threshold.

This is selfish. This is selfish. Don’t punish him for being so good.

He felt the hand on his shoulder.

Don’t do it to him, Qrow. You’re enough of an asshole already.

“Watch it,” he said, “I’m pretty sure if you touch me for long enough the whole of Atlas will fall out of the sky.”

“Hasn’t happened yet,” Clover’s voice was soft behind him.

“Yeah right,” Qrow turned, guilt and self-loathing making him surly, “you’ve survived two days of being near me. Lucky, lucky you. Hopefully next time there’s a storm you don’t stand a foot to the left, hey? Hopefully next time there’s some grim on the loose, you don’t lose your footing at the top of a high building, hey!? And we can only damn PRAY that ne..”

“Stop it!” Clover’s eyes burned with an intensity Qrow hadn’t seen before.

They both were startled into silence.

Finally, Clover let his hand drop from Qrow’s shoulder. “I’m not going anywhere,” he said.

Qrow looked at him and felt a flicker in his chest. Something more than sexual frustration, more than lust.

Oh no… I can’t do this.

Qrow pushed the feeling deep into his stomach. That’s it. I’m done.

He turned and Clover’s hand grabbed his elbow. Qrow looked down, a full on war raging in his chest. Don’t you want to live you cocky idiot!?

“You don’t get it! What do I have to do to get rid of you!?” his voice was raised but in his heart, he just felt empty.

Clover smiled down at him, his eyes bright and his cheeks kissed with the first hint of a blush. He didn’t let go.

“If you stop shouting, that might help.”

What do I do…!? Do I tear my arm away? Kiss him? Fall on his perfect muscled chest and just fucking cry!?

From somewhere inside his smart mouth came to his rescue, “You like me shouting?” it said.

Clover looked at him with those perfect turquoise eyes, “Yes. I really like you shouting.”

Qrow smiled in spite of himself, “You’re a weird guy.”

Clover finally let go of his elbow but his eyes still searched Qrow’s face with worrying intensity, “It’s been said.” He gave a wry smile in return.

Qrow hesitated, it would be so easy to just lean forwards… just put his head on Clover’s chest and let him kiss all the pain away. “Persistent fucker, aren’t you?” he said.

“Yeah…” Clover shook his head, looking suddenly embarrassed, “I know I come on a bit strong… I’m sorry. I want you to know that I’m here for you in… all the ways but I don’t actually want to hound you to the ends of the earth… so… if you don’t want to take it any further… you can just let me know. I’m a professional. I won’t make it a big deal.”

Clover looked at the ground like it was the most interesting thing he’d ever seen. Yes, here is my heart, please, step on it.

“Further?” Qrow squeaked, regretting it instantly.

“Yes,” Clover told the floor.

“Like…?” Qrow said. No, stop this! I’m leaving, remember!?

Clover looked up, his eyes twinkling, “Like when a man and a man like each other very mu..”

Qrow spluttered, trying to cough and laugh at the same time, “Ok. Yes. Thanks. I am a little bit old for the birds and the bees if you don’t mind.”

They looked at each other for a minute, Qrow memorising this moment. Memorising his face. It never did to let these moments pass when joy was fleeting and always, always gone too soon.

Finally, he spoke, “And what’s with all the sass recently? I thought that was my schtick.”

Clover grinned, sheepish, “I thought you might like it. You seem to get sick of the tin soldier trope.”

“I… do like it,” Qrow breathed, leaning in almost imperceptibly. He could feel the warmth of Clover’s chest. Feel where his hand had rested on his shoulder… all the delicious thoughts that had swirled around in his mind for hours just came pouring out… he looked into Clover’s eyes.

Now or never, asshole.

“What about you?” Qrow asked, his voice breathy, barely a whisper.

“What about me?” Clover asked, his eyes fixed on Qrow’s lips.

“Are you the dinner and a movie type?” Qrow asked. He stopped breathing.

“You paying?” Clover sassed.

“Just stop ok. It’s weirding me out.”

Clover laughed, “I don’t know, I’m starting to like it.”

“Ok, I’ll pay! You really know how to make a guy feel special, you know that?” Qrow scowled, faking mad.

Clover looked at his dark, brooding face with a look that bordered on catatonic.

“You are so hopeless,” Qrow laughed.

“Only with you,” Clover breathed.

Fuck it.

Qrow lifted his hands around Clover’s neck and pulled him into a kiss. He felt those rough hands close around his waist and pull them together. After that there was just lips, then strong arms picking him up and carrying him down the corridor.

“Put me down!”

“No,” Clover said as he marched back to his quarters with his prize.

Oh well, I tried, Qrow thought as he melted into the warm chest and tried not to think about what he was going to do to the arrogant asshole as soon as the door had closed.

---xxx---

“So…” Yang asked, keeping it casual, “Where are you going?”

“Dinner. It’s dinner time. I’m going to dinner,” Qrow said, not meeting her eyes.

“With… Clover?”

Qrow turned sharply, glowering into her cool violet gaze, “Yes. He bet me that my misfortune couldn’t ruin everything if he was around.”

“And the best way to test that is dinner?”

“Yesssss.”

“And that’s why you spent 2 hours getting ready…”

“Haven’t you got someone else to annoy?” Qrow asked, hoping his hair was still ok.

“Not really…” she grinned. “OK WELL I have to go,” Qrow said, scuttling out of that hell hole as fast as he could move.

---xxx---

Clover sat at the table, gazing out into the cold winter sky. Qrow was late but only a little. And for the first time, Clover wasn’t worried. Last night was… OH GODS IT WAS AMAZING HOW DO YOU EVEN MOVE YOUR BODY LIKE THAT UGH…

Yeah ok. It was good, he laughed at himself nervously and covered his hard-on with a serviette. What a man.

The window was open just a crack to balance the heat from the blazing fire. As Clover gazed out across the swirling snowflakes, thinking about ass, a little black bird hopped through the window and onto the table.

“Awww look at you,” Clover said softly, “Hey there little guy…” he laughed as he realised what type of bird it was. “Oh no! I think we’ve got our wires crossed; I’ve just fallen in love with a totally different crow! And if he sees us like this, who knows what might happen,” he smiled and broke a bread roll in half, putting half on the table in front of the little bird, “but here… aww I can’t be mad at you. Maybe we can have a little thing on the side… my Qrow can be a bit snarky and you are just SO CUTE!”

The little bird hopped onto the other seat and looked at him, head slightly tilted and little red eyes glittering.

In an instant Clover was looking into a completely different pair of glittering red eyes as the blush to end all blushes surged onto his face.

“I’m not cute,” Qrow said pointedly, “but thanks for the roll.”

Clover blinked. The blush deepened, “SO CUTE,” he squeaked.

“Oh my god, stop it now,” Qrow grinned.

After a little time, Clover regained the power of speech, “Well, I see that my humiliation is finally complete.”

“It has been for quite a while, I’m afraid.”

“Why must I fall for gorgeous, mouthy bad boys!? I’m a smooth guy!”

“I don’t know,” Qrow shrugged, just enjoying the moment.

“Well…. Uh…” Clover buried his head in the menu.

Qrow mulled over what he’d just heard. I mean, it wasn’t a heart to heart… Clover was just dribbling crap at what he thought was a cute bird. It didn’t mean anything.

…I’ve just fallen in love with a totally different crow…

His heart surged in his chest as he looked across the table at this, sexy confident guy… his ears were still bright pink.

He’s fucking adorable.

This is not ok.

As he stared, Clover’s eyes flicked up. He grinned like a total idiot then looked away.

UGH, Qrow’s whole body groaned.

DOOMED.

---xxx---

Part Five

#qrow branwen #clover ebi #fair game #rwby spoilers #rwby 7 #fanfiction

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dragon-kazansky · 6 years ago

Note

can you please write a fic with 13 x reader and 13 knows reader is recovering from self harm but one day reader has really bad thoughts and the doctor tries to help

Here you go!

Warning! Mentions of self harm!

Things had never been easy for you. You’ve suffered in your life, but you’ve pulled through despite the lengths you had taken. Life had got better for you, maybe not perfect, but better.

The best thing to ever happen to you was a mad woman with a blue box. It was as if someone out there knew you had needed an escape after all the scars you had inflicted, and in response they had sent her. The Doctor came to you offering all of time and space. How could you ever say no to an offer like that?

Life was fun. You had seen things you had never thought you would and made friends with beings you didn’t know existed before.

The Doctor wanted to show you it all.

Now, despite how wonderful life had become, it didn’t mean you didn’t have your bad days. Sometimes the thoughts were too bad to push away and everything came rushing back. On these days you would always subconsciously grab at your healing wrists and have to close your eyes tightly, trying to push those thoughts away. Easier said than done.

You were honestly surprised the Doctor hadn’t noticed. You thought that sometimes you were quite obvious about the depressing thoughts.

It had been a long time since you had last inflicted pain on yourself. If anyone saw the scars they would see how well you had been doing. Each one was healing.

Yet, the urge to add one more was becoming more unbeatable.

It bothered you that after so much time you had reverted back to those dark moments. The Doctor wasn’t looking and you were grateful. You don’t think you’d be able to tell her. What would she think?

Currently, the Doctor was focusing on something on the screen of the console. She wouldn’t notice if you just slipped away to find some relief from the tension building up. It was almost unbearable.

However, the Doctor did notice you leave. She always noticed.

Concern had long since settled in her hearts when she first notice you beginning to drift away from her. At first it was just small things like forcing smiles, shaking your head rather than being verbal, then of course the literal drifting away.

Her eyes remained focused on the spot you had just been in. She gave you a 30 second head start before pushing away from the console and following you quietly down the halls of the TARDIS.

Your room seemed much further away than you remembered. The TARDIS must be doing this on purpose.

“Y/N?”

Of course she had noticed. You knew deep down that you wouldn’t get away with these thoughts, you knew she would talk to you about it. In a way you were thankful she noticed. She’s the most important person to you, your dearest friend. You should be able to tell her anything.

You slowed to a stop and listened to her footsteps that weren’t too far behind you. They soon slowed and also came to a stop.

You turned slowly and looked at her without saying anything.

“You know you can tell me when something is bothering you, don’t you? I won’t tell anyone you don’t want to know, or do anything that will make you uncomfortable.” She looked so concerned, it made your heart hurt. “At least ell me what’s wrong. I’m worried.” She took a hesitant step forwards.

You sighed and took a step closer to her.

“Please don’t hate me for telling you sooner…” You asked quietly.

The Doctor waited patiently.

You held up your arm and took a deep breath. You hadn’t shown any other person your scars before. You were just glad she was seeing them now and not later when you, may have possibly, added to them.

“Take your time.” She said softly.

You peeled back your sleeve slowly and looked away, unable to look her in the eye as you exposed your arm to her.

The Doctor reached out slowly and held your arm gently in her warm hands, her fingers lightly brushing along the marks that were barely visible any more. You could only hear her light breathing as you lost yourself in the touch of her soft fingers.

“These look old.” She said after a long bounce of silence.

“Yeah, they are… but I was very close to adding to them.” You admitted.

Her eyes found yours as you decided to look at her again. There was no pity in her expression, if anything she looked proud. You inclined your head to the side in confusion as she smiled at you.

“Why are you smiling?”

“Because you haven’t hurt yourself again. You’ve managed to move past that.”

“Doesn’t mean I don’t still think about it, even now mu fingers are itching to find something…” You looked down at your hands.

The Doctor’s hands lowered to your hands and grasped them softly.

“Is there anything I can do?”

“I don’t think so. I don’t know how to stop…”

“Maybe it’s one of those things that takes time, which we have plenty of.” Her smile was helping you settle down. “Whatever you need, just say the word and I’ll be there to help you. No matter what it is.”

“Doctor…”

She leaned forwards and gave you a kiss on the cheek. She was being so sweet and affectionate with you.

“I’m going to help you, Y/N. Those thoughts will only ever be thoughts. If you’re having a bad day, come to me and I’ll make it a good one. I want to be the solution to your problems.”

You felt tears start to well up.

In an instant you lunged at her and pulled her into a big hug. She returned the gesture right away and chuckled.

“Thank you, that’s all I wanted… a solution. One that doesn’t hurt.” You smiled slightly.

“Whatever you need.”

You made a silent promise to yourself that no matter how bad it got, you would turn to your Doctor and seek her help. You never really had anyone to fall back onto before, and she was so willing and happy to help you. It’s just one of the reasons you loved her so much.

Maybe one day, when you were sure you were doing better, you would tell her that.

For now, you were just happy to have her support.

#13th doctor x reader #13th Doctor #thirteenth doctor x reader #thirteen x reader #Thirteenth Doctor #doctor who

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i-have-a-wonky-eye-too · 7 years ago

Text

Young and Sweet - Part 8

@lilyrosebae - I love! Are you still taking requests ? Can you make a Tony Stark x female reader where she is way younger than him ? And at first he tries to hold back his feeling for her but she is way too attractive, hot, brillant basically as everything. Smut. I love your work 😘

Warnings: swearing

Tony hadn’t been listening to a word either Rhodey or Steve had spoke to him. He sat there with his hand in his pocket, clutching to your still soaked panties. God, if either of them found out what had just happened in there he wouldn’t here the end of it. It’d be all ‘she’s too young, Tony’ and ‘are you out of your damn mind’. He knew you were too young, God knows he knew but he just couldn’t stop feeling what he did. From the moment he burst into that interrogation room and saw you sat there for the first time, the air was knocked out of his lungs and he knew he was in trouble. Plus, you didn’t help things being so damn beautiful and smart. Then there was the whole reprisicating his feelings too, what were you doing to him! Tony sighed deeply as he fell forwards in his seat and smacked his forehead onto his desk. Well, fuck!

Steve and Rhodey looked at each other before turning their attention back to Tony. “Hmm, Tony? You good?” Steve asked, genuinely concerned for his friends sudden strange behaviour.

“Fine.” he grumbled.

Rhodey raised his eyebrow noticing a couple of red patches on Tony’s neck under his collar, then he noticed his hair wasn’t in it’s usual style and his t-shirt was on in inside out. He sighed deeply shaking his head. “Tell me, you didn’t?”

Tony sat up sighing deeply. “What?”

“You know what I mean.” Rhodey frowned stepping closer to Tony. “Why was the door locked?” Rhodey asked being met with silence from Tony. “You said you wouldn’t, Tony.”

Tony scoffed dramatically as he stood to his feet. “I didn’t say I wouldn’t, okay.” he smirked a little as he turned round at the thought of what had happened moments earlier between the two of you.

“What? You wouldn’t do what? Someone, tell me what’s going on.” Steve snapped at the pair of them, drawing their attention. “Now!”

Rhodey and Tony gave each other a quick look before Rhodey turned to Steve. “I, don’t think you want to know, Cap. Trust me.” he placed his hand on Steve’s shoulder. “Please, just let me handle this, Steve.” Rhodey begged.

“Handle it? God, you’re making it sound like I’m your kid that you just caught having it off with some girl.” Tony laughed, his head falling back as he did.

“Yeah, well, sometimes you behave like you bloody are. I mean, c’mon man, she’s just a kid.”

“She’s practically 26!” Tony snapped.

“Half your age!”

“ENOUGH!” Steve stood in between the two men, pushing Tony back. “Now, tell me what the hell is going on?”

You sat in the kitchen with a single light illuminating the space at three in the morning unable to sleep. You’d ended up going straight to bed as soon as you’d returned work after in hopes of sleeping your heartache away after being rejected by Tony. You'd wanted to talk to him after being interrupted by Steve and Rhode but he'd just dismissed you with the excuse of being far too busy for small talk. The thoughts of what had happened between you and Tony were running over and over in your head.

Tears trickled down your face as you watched the roses in front of you slowly wilt like your heart broke. You were an idiot to think anything could happen, to let yourself be drawn in and used, to fall in love with a man that was incapable of it.

“Why are you letting them die?” Tony stood in the doorway looking at you with a sad expression.

You rolled your eyes turning your back on him, grabbing a hold of the vase as you stood up. “Everything has to come to an end, Tony.” you dropped the flowers into the trash before turning and putting the vase in the sink.

“But, you usually do that hand thing and bring them back to their best.” Tony walked into the kitchen towards you.

You shrugged walking to the other side of the room to where the teas were kept. Maybe if you made yourself a herbal tea it would help send you asleep.

“I like it when you do that.” he tried again, still being met with silence from you. He sighed as he placed his hands on the countertop next to the sink staring at the empty vase. “Please, talk to me-”

“Oh, so you're ready to talk to me now.” you scoffed.

“Y/N, please, you're making me sound lik-”

You cut Tony off as you spun round and stormed towards him, closing the gap between you. “You don't care? To me that's what it seems like. You couldn't get rid of me quick enough after you fucked me, then you just dismissed me like I was nothing when I came to talk to you and you still expect me to be all friendly with you. I'm sorry but that's not how it works. If it was just fuck then just tell me now. I'm a big girl, I don't need to fake bullshit from you, Mr Stark.”

Tony sighed deeply. You couldn't be sure but you thought you could see tears forming in his eyes. “I didn't mean for it to sound like that, honest. I wanted to talk to you, just, not whilst everyone was watching us…” Tony ran his hand down his face as he let out a loud groan. “Rhodey, worked out what had happened and we ended up arguing over you and then I had to tell Steve who went bat shit crazy and tried to kill me-” he rolled his eyes dramatically. “-and of course FRIDAY alerted the others of the situation, so then they all found out and everyone began screaming at me for being selfish and taking advantage of you because you're just a kid and you're too young for me and--fuck! They think I'm just gonna use you, but I'm not. I know you're young but God you're so beautiful and smart and funny… And you, for some damn reason actually like me and don't take any of my shit and it turns me on so much and FUCK! I love you, so, fucking mu-”

He what?

“You what?”

The once wilting flowers suddenly burst out the top of the bin looking more alive than ever, startling the pair of you.

Tony pointed at the trash slightly scared by their sudden appearance. “Why the hell did that happen?”

You shook your head slowly. “I'm surprised? Shocked?” you looked back to him. “Did you, did you really mean-”

Tony nodded, reaching out to brush a strand of your hair back. “Yes. All I could think about since that night we kissed was the way felt in my arms and how I wished it was just the two of us… then I saw that necklace and I smiled thinking about you… Then you came to me today and-” he stepped closer. “I love you, Y/N.”

Tears slowly fell from your eyes as the flowers grew even more at his words. “Tony-” you gulped shaking your head. “-promise your not just saying it to make me feel better. I might be young but I can still handle rejection.”

Tony gave you gently smile.as he cupped your face. “I, love, you.” he whispered leaning in slowly, smirking as he did. “I've said like four times, you gonna say it or what?”

You began laughing as you nodded. “I love you, too… old man.”

“Less of the old.” he winked before pressing his lips against yours in gently, loving kiss.

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sassycassie-s-writing · 7 years ago

Text

Mutate

By: SassyShoulderAngel319

Fandom/Character(s): Avengers + X-Men - Peter Parker/Spider-Man, Tony Stark/Iron Man + Charles Xavier/Professor X

Rating: PG

Original Idea: I was cleaning my grampa’s house while my imagination was off in La La Land (not the movie, I mean daydreaming) and this just kind of appeared.

Notes: (Masterlist)(By Character)(About Me) HUGE thanks to the NerdSync YouTube channel for informing me on the difference (in the Marvel world) between a mutant and a mutate. (Also this one is LOOOONG!)

^^^^^

“Knock-knock,” a British voice piped up from the doorway. I turned around, setting the duster down. I’d been dusting under the gazillion knick-knacks in the X-Mansion as one of my chores.

“Hey Professor,” I greeted.

“Good morning Miss Marble. May I have a word with you?”

“Of course.”

There was a brief pause. “Alone?” Professor Xavier pressed.

I glanced around at the empty parlor. “… We are alone,” I pointed out, confused.

“Yes. But I mean, downstairs.”

Realization dawned. My face went slack. “Oh. Oh!”

Downstairs. Under the mansion—in the X-Men base. While I’d been attending the Academy as a student, rather than a part-time teacher, Professor X asking the teachers to meet him downstairs ASAP meant that official X-Men business was happening.

I followed him down into the rounded corridors, looking around in awe. I’d been teaching since I was eighteen—so three years ago—and yet had only been downstairs once before. And I’d been unconscious in the infirmary for most of it so I didn’t really remember it well.

“So what’s going on? I assume I’m not graduating the Academy again and not becoming an official X-Man—or Woman, whatever,” I asked.

Professor Xavier’s wheelchair stopped. “Do you remember the saliva sample you gave me and Hank the other week?”

“Yeah.”

“We ran your genetic code,” he informed me. “And the results might… improve your life.”

“How so?”

“Well, with no sugarcoating: you’re not a mutant.”

I blinked in surprise. “Wh-what?” I stammered. “Not—not a mutant? How?”

“There is no trace of the X-gene in your DNA. You were not born with your powers. You are what’s known as a mutate, not a mutant,” Professor Xavier explained. “Now the outside world has no reason to hate you as they do most mutants. I don’t know how you got your powers, young one, but you weren’t born with them. Your powers lie somewhere else in your DNA and that’s what makes you different and special.”

As he spoke, I backed up, my hand feeling behind me. There was no chair in the corridors to sit in so I hit the wall with my back and slid down it, landing heavily on the floor. I stared into the middle distance blankly. “Not a mutant,” I whispered.

“No. Some other part of your genetic code was mutated to give you your powers. We’re not sure what, but it’s not the mutant gene.”

“What do I—what do I—what do I do?” I stammered again, trying to gain my thoughts. “I can’t stay here. I don’t belong. Once the kids find out I’m not actually one of them there’s no way they’ll accept me. I… I have to leave. But I have nowhere else to go. I’ve known nothing but this school since I was ten-years-old.” I was rambling, thinking out loud with no direction.

“You don’t have to go,” Professor Xavier remarked. “You’re always welcome here.”

“No. No. This isn’t the place for me. This is a safe zone for mutants. And I’m not one. I need to leave. I’ll finish out the semester but once summer hits I need to find something else. I can’t… I can’t be here. The kids despise mutates—they’re celebrated for the same powers mutants are hated for.”

“That’s not true. They don’t despise mutates.”

“You don’t hear them talk after-hours.”

“No, but I do hear them think. People’s minds are a lot more honest than their mouths.” He sighed. “I knew you’d react like this, young lady. So I’ve already placed a call to a facility upstate. The manager is a friend of mine. I told him about the situation and he said he’d be happy to accept you into his operation. You’d be safe to stay there.”

“A facility upstate? What random manager would let a random, superpowered twenty-one-year-old into whatever it is they do there? Who is he?”

Professor X smiled. “His name is Tony Stark,” he replied.

My mouth dropped open. “Iron Man?” I breathed in awe.

“Yes. He agreed to take you in and let you train as an Avenger. He expects you at the semester’s end.”

I slouched against the rounded wall with a sigh. “An Avenger… wow. Uh… okay. Thank you, Professor.”

^^^^^

I rang the gate’s intercom. There was a twenty-foot wall around the entire compound.

There was a loud buzz—that made me jump—and the gates opened.

Chewing the inside of my cheek, I scooped up my suitcase and strolled up the path. Logan honked the horn of the car and waved at me before driving away. I waved back as the gate closed, shutting me in and the world out.

When I made it to the front door, I pressed the doorbell. The front door was glass—in fact, almost everything was glass. I’d never seen an exterior with so many windows before—except that one time I went to New York City with Ororo when I was like seventeen as something of a field trip with a couple other students.

A young man about my age was strolling by with a half-eaten donut in one hand. He came over and opened the door. His hair was curly and brown, as were his eyes—without the curly bit.

The young man looked me up and down, taking a bite out of his donut. I returned the gesture, sweeping him with my eyes. He had on a T-shirt that had the Periodic Table of the Elements on it and a font that looked like handwriting across the chest reading, How often do I wear this shirt? Periodically. I couldn’t help but snort slightly.

He looked over his shoulder to shout into the building with his mouth full, “Tony! There’s a really cute girl at the door. Are we expecting her or do I need to kick her out?!” His tone was joking but also curious.

I turned bright red. A really cute girl? How flattering.

Another figure appeared in the doorway. A bit taller than the first and a lot older. He gave me a wide smile. “You must be Miss Marble—the mutate who didn’t belong,” he greeted, extending a hand. I took it and shook it.

“That’s me,” I replied.

“I’m Tony. This is Peter. Excuse his social skills,” Tony remarked, sort of kidding.

I shook Peter’s hand when Tony passed my hand to Peter’s. “Charmed,” I offered.

“Mutual,” Peter agreed.

Tony clapped his hands once and rubbed them together. “Well, kids, normally I’d give the newbie the grand tour, but Peter, I think you’re her age so I’m going to let you do it instead.” He gave me a toothy smile and strolled into the building. I watched him disappear with arched eyebrows. Peter’s cheeks were slightly pink when he looked back at me.

He cleared his throat. “He’s, uh… a bit eccentric,” he commented.

“Really? I couldn’t tell,” I retorted sarcastically.

“Here. Let me get your bag. I’ll, uh, show you to your room.”

“I can get it. I’m a strong girl.”

“Well I understand that, but see, I’m trying to be a gentleman and make a good first impression. It’s not every day a pretty girl turns up at the door.” He smiled cheekily. “How old are you, anyway? Tony’s not the best judge of age.”

“I’m twenty-one.”

Peter arched his eyebrows. “Really? Wow. We are the same age. Okay then.” He took my bag handle from my grip and gestured for me to come into the facility. I crossed the threshold.

Nothing would ever be the same again. I wasn’t a mutant. I could become an Avenger.

The facility was high-tech, with the Avengers logo emblazoned on everything. Well, almost. It felt like it was. I followed Peter up some stairs and down a couple corridors to a long hallway with lots of doors. “This is the main living area with all the rooms. At the end of the hall is the huge common area—there are about a dozen couches with various activities and stuff and a kitchen nearby. Downstairs is the lap pool, the screening room—which is Tony’s phrase for ‘home theater’—also the gym and a couple other things. I’ll show you those when we get there. But for now… your room. Pretty sure it’s the one next to mine since Tony recently had it renovated,” he explained.

“Oooookay,” I agreed, not entirely following everything he said.

“But it’s the one on the opposite side of mine from Vision’s. Be careful with him—he’s not too big on doors or walls. He can and will probably walk in on you straight through the wall in any kind of awkward situation. Like, I ended up upside down in a tangle of webs after trying to fix a malfunction in my web-shooter and he strolled right in, not even realizing anything was abnormal. Though, to be fair to him, when you live in a building full of superpowered people, nothing really is abnormal. The crazy is the usual.”

“So, then, you’re Spider-Man,” I stated.

He swore under his breath and then sighed. “Welp. Guess you would’ve found out sooner or later… Yeah. Yeah I am,” he admitted. He took me down the hallway and into a room.

The bedroom was, if possible, even nicer than the one I occupied as a teacher at the X-Mansion. It was more modern, to be sure, but it was bigger and the bed looked so comfortable it made me sleepy just to look at it.

I smiled at Peter as he set my bag down in front of the closet. “This is really nice,” I decided.

“Glad you think so, Miss Marble,” a disembodied Irish lady’s voice agreed from nowhere. I jumped and looked around frantically.

Peter chuckled. “That’s just FRIDAY. She’s Tony’s natural-language-user-interface. A voice-command computer program. Kinda like Siri—if Siri ever actually functioned properly. She runs through the whole facility. Makes everything a lot easier—though, sometimes a little scary when you’re not expecting her,” he explained.

I nodded. “Okay,” I muttered. I lifted my voice. “Hi there, FRIDAY.”

“Hello Miss Marble. A pleasure to have you with us. I look forward to working with you.”

“Uh… thanks.”

“You’re very welcome.”

Peter smiled. “Well, I guess I’ll let you get settled in. If you need anything, feel free to let me know. FRIDAY can send me a message or find me so you can talk face-to-face. Whatever’s comfortable for you. It’s nice to have someone my age around here. Won’t make me feel like the others baby me.”

I snickered. “Well, I look forward to getting to know you better,” I offered.

Peter blushed. “You too.” He slipped out my door—and then quickly returned. “Hey, so, when you’re done unpacking, let me know and I’ll come get you and take you on a tour.”

“Sounds good.”

“And, uh, maybe I could take you out to lunch somewhere? There’s a nice local diner in the nearby town that we all like. I’m sure you’re tired from travelling but food lifts everyone’s spirits. If you don’t want to, it’s okay. I know we just met but I’d really like to get to know you if you’re going to be here for a while and it doesn’t have to be a date—” He spoke so quickly I almost didn’t understand what he was saying, but I laughed and cut him off.

“Peter. It’s fine. I’d love to join you. Best to get to know people right off the bat, right?”

He flushed red. “A-absolutely!” he exclaimed with a bit of a stutter of nerves. “Um… right. Call me when you want the tour.”

I grinned. “I will.”

He ducked out of my room again. I chuckled and fell onto the bed. He was right about many things, but in particular, that I was tired from travelling. Even just the drive upstate made me want to take a nap.

But I had work to do. I had to become an Avenger. And I couldn’t do that if I didn’t unpack and meet the other Avengers.

I got off the bed, set my hands on my hips, and set to work.

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bookofjin · 8 years ago

Text

Biography of Zhou Chu

[From JS058. Zhou Chu was the son of the Wu general Zhou Fang. In youth he was a menace to society, but after killing a tiger and a dragon, he reformed himself and became successfull official. He fell in battle against Qi Wannian in 297.]

Zhou Chu [d. 297], courtesy name Ziyin, was a native of Yangxian in Yixing. His father Fang was Wu's Grand Warden of Poyang. Chu was orphaned young, not yet a capped youth. His bodily strength and potency surpassed other people, he excelled at swift gallops on the chase and hunt, did not study minor actions and indulged in feelings for excess and desires. The province thoroughly suffered from him.

Chu himself knew he was detested by people, and therefore with sighs had the determination to change and strive [?]. He spoke to a village elder, saying: “Now the season is harmonious and the year bountiful, why are you bitter and not happy?”

The elder sighed and said: “The three misfortunes are not yet eliminated, how can I have happiness?”

Chu said: “What do you speak of?”

He replied, saying: “In the southern mountain a white-fore-headed violent beast, below the long bridge a scaly dragon, together with Sir that makes three!”

[The first misfortune is a tiger, it is called a “violent beast” měngshòu 猛獸 here to avoid the Tang taboo on hǔ 虎]

Chu said: “If you are suffering from these, I can eliminate them.”

The elder said: “If Sir eliminates them, then [we] bring together the commandery in a great celebration, not simply flee misfortune and that is all.” [?]

Chu therefore entered the mountains and shot and killed the violent beast. By jumping into the water he grabbed the dragon. The dragon sometimes sunk, sometimes floated. They travelled for several tens of li, and yet Chu and [the dragon] [were still] together, passing through three days and three nights. People said [they were] dead. All congratulated each other.

Chu in the end killed the dragon and returned. He heard the district and village celebrating each other. Only then he understood people suffered considerably from him and therefore entered Wu to seek out the Two Lu [Lu Ji and Lu Yun; JS054].

At the time Ji was not there. He saw Yun and wrote to tell his feelings, saying: “[I] desire self-cultivation and yet in past years [I have] slipped and stumbled. [I] fear [I] will never attain it.”

Yun said: “The ancients valued erring in the morning and changing in the evening. Sir's road forward is still possible. Moreover [if you] worry about not achieving your purpose, why be sad for your lack of fame?”

[Note that Lu Ji was only born in 261 and Lu Yun in 262, so this part of the story is about as likely as the dragon.]

Chu thereupon with encouraged determination to excel at studying, had cultured thoughts [?], determined to live righteous and zealous, said surely loyalty to really overcome oneself. [?] Next year, the province office intersected the law. [?] He served Wu as Assistant of the Left of the Eastern Watchtower. At the end of Sun Hao, he was Controller of Wunan.

When Wu was pacified, Wang Hun [JS042] climbed the Jianye palace to filter wine. He was already tipsy when he spoke to the people of Wu, saying: “Sirs are the remnants of a perished state, how are you able to not grieve?”

Chu replied,saying: “At the end of Han divided the collapsed, the Three States' tripods were established. Wei was wiped out first, Wu perished last. Grieving for a perished state, why only a single person? [?]” Hun had a shameful face.

He entered Luo and a little later moved to Grand Warden of Xinping. He consoled and calmed the Rong Di¤, and the rebellious Qiang returned to adherence. The land of Yong were pleased with him.

[Note that Rong戎 and Di¤狄 were archaic names for foreign peoples, especially those located in the north and west. The Di氐 encountered below were a people actually contemporary with Jin.]

He moved to Grand Warden of Guanghan. The commandery had many blocked up litigations that had passed through 30 years without judgement. Chu thoroughly straightened their bends, and in one morning determined and sent them off. Due to his mother's old age he resigned and returned.

He was appointed to Interior Clerk of Chu. He had not yet gone to his post when he was summoned and designated Cavalier in Regular Attendance. Chu said: “The ancients refused the great and did not refuse the small.” [?] He therefore first went to Chu. And yet the commandery was already passing through mourning confusion [?], new and old were mixed together, the manners and customs were not yet united. Chu firmly therefore taught right conduct, and also examined the corpses and bones without owners and the white bones in the fields, and buried them. He then started to approach the summon. Distant and near spoke in admiration.

When he resided in intimate attendance, he many times recited the regulations [?]. He was moved to Imperial Clerk and Assistant of the Left, in all investigations and impeachments, he did not turn aside the favoured and related. The King of Liang, Rong [JS038], disobeyed the law. Chi wrote strictly to notify about it. [?]

When Qi Wannian of the Di rebelled, court officials despised Chu as stubborn and straight. All said: “Chu is the son of Wu's famous general. [His] loyalty and zeal will result in resoluteness.” He was therefore sent as subordinate of Xiahou Jun on the western conquest.

The General who Prostrates the Waves, Sun Xiu, understood they wanted him dead. He spoke to him, saying: “Sir has an aged mother, [you] can use this to refuse.”

Chu said: “the Way of the loyal and filial, how can the two be maintained? [I have] already refused the lord for personal affairs [?], how can I father and mother again and son? [?] Today this is how I die.”

Wannian heard it and said: “Office Lord [?] Zhou formerly presided over Xinping, I know what kind of man he is, talented in both the civil and martial. If [he?] acts arbitrarily and comes, it can not be done. [?] Suppose accept to regulate people, this is to completely capture and that is all.” [?]

Then the King of Liang, Rong, became Great General who Conquers the West and Commander-in-Chief of All Army Affairs of Guanzhong. Chu knew Rong was not at peace and would surely attempt to destroy him [Chu]. Since, due to people and officials exhausting [?] authority, he ought not refuse in fear. He therefore with sad regrets then travelled, with determination not to return alive.

The Prefect of the Palace Writers, Chen Zhun, knew Rong wanted to indulge in old resentments, therefore spoke to the court, saying: “Jun and the King of Liang are both worthy relatives and not talented in commanding and leading. [They will] advance without seeking fame and withdraw without worrying about mistakes. Zhou Chu is a native of Chu, his loyalty and bravery resulting in uprightness, he is hated and not aided, [?] and wants surely to lose his life. [We] ought to decree Meng Guan [JS060] to use ten thousand spirited troops and be Chu's vanguard, [then they will] surely be able to wipe out the bandits. If not, Rong will send out Chu as the first patrol, and his defeat is certain.” The imperial court did not follow.

At the time the traitors garrisoned Mount Liang, and had a multitude of 70 000. And yet Jun pressured Chu to use 5 000 troops to strike them. Chu said: “The army is without rearguard and will surely come to defeat. Even though I perish myself, it will be the state that gets the shame.”

Rong again instructed Chu to advance and punish. Therefore he together with the General who Raises Power, Lu Bo, and the Inspector of Yong province, Jie Xi [JS060], attacked Wannian at Liumo. When they were about to fight, the men in Chu's army had not yet eaten. Rong urged and ordered quick advance, and yet cut off his rearguard. Chu knew he would surely be defeated, and composed a poem which said:

Departing and leaving the generation's affairs. Whipping the horse to look at the Western Rong. Goosefoot, bean leaves, tasty foxtail and broomcorn millet. The time that was agreed on causing the end.

He finished speaking and fought, from dawn to dusk, the beheaded tallied ten thousand.

Bowstrings snapped and arrows depleted, [but] Bo and Xi did not aid. Left and right recommended withdrawal. Chu put his hand on his sword and said: “This here is my presented tally day of instruction, how will withdrawing be [?] Moreover in ancient times when the good wanted to accept instructions, piercing the malefic gates to accordingly set out, hiding had [?] advancing without withdrawal. Now the various armies count on and trust [?], their power will surely not be raised. I am a great subject, using myself to tour the state, can this not be done?” Thereupon he fought hard and fell.

He was posthumously conferred General who Pacifies the West, bestowed 1 000 000 cash, burial ground of 1 qing, ground of 50 mu in the capital city for a mansion, and also bestowed fields of 5 qing in the vicinity of the royal house. A decree said: “Mu's mother is of advanced age, add accordingly remote people [?]. We always pity and think of [her], bestow accordingly for forever.”

[According to JS004, Qi Wannian rebelled and declared himself emperor in Autumn 297. On 6 January 297, Xiahou Jun and Zhou Jun were sent against him. On 12 February 297 Zhou Chu was killed in battle at Liumo. Qi Wannian was eventually defeated by Meng Guan in 299, 1st Month.]

Chu authored Silent Sayings in 30 chapters and the Records of Wind and Earth, together compiled and assembled in the Book of Wu.

At the time Pan Yue [JS055] receiving a decree to write the Poem of Guanzhong, said:

Zhou toured the troop orders [?], himself greasing evenly the axe. [?] Men going are said to perish, [?] virtuous authority carrying and lifting [?]

Also the Colonel of the Western Rong, Yan Zuan [JS048], likewise sent up a poem saying:

Zhou kept whole his tally, ordering and inquiring without end. Himself although said to be lost in books [is among?] the famous and virtuous in history. [?]

When Emperor Yuan was King of Jin, he wanted to add to Chu a deed of posthumous title. The Grand Master of Ceremonies, He Xun [JS068], discussed it and said: “Chu's behaviour was moral, pure and square, his talents and capacity was lofty and productive. He successively warded four commanderies, calmed the people and established government. He entered to direct the hundred companions, with virtuous authority he did not submit. Being the Rong present themselves [?], seeing danger he gave his life. Thus all a lush wealth of loyalty and worthiness [?], the distant authority of a zealous solider. [?] According to the rules of conferring posthumous titles, holding on to morality and not deviating is called Filial [xiao].” Thereupon used that as his posthumous title.

He had three sons: Ji, Jing and Zha. Jing passed on early. Ji and Zha both knew fame.

#js058

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jonathanbelloblog · 7 years ago

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Michigan Winter and the Holidays in Our 2017 Land Rover Discovery

Tip for 2017 Land Rover Discovery owners: Don’t try to install your own roof rack crossbars. Let your dealership’s service department do it, whether or not they charge you. Of course, if you’re a typical Disco driver, you’re probably not calling upon the utility component of the sport/utility vehicle as much as we are.

Your humble servant spent late fall after the run to Tire Rack’s Street Survival School for young drivers, and the first half of winter, piling on the miles. This included a couple of quick weekend runs up to a cottage in the mid-north woods. Last November, I drove the 180 miles north-by-northwest with one of my dogs, Django, along for company so I could empty the water heater and close the place up. Though there was light, slippery snow, and though there are some deep-dirt roads in the neighborhood, this was no off-road expedition of the sort that established this brand’s reputation in the mid-20th Century.

By now, I was lowering the air suspension without thinking about it every time I parked the Disco. At 73.5-inches normal ride height, this makes getting out and getting back in again as easy as climbing aboard a more car-like crossover vehicle.

I’ve grown used to (though I’m still not happy about it) the radio sometimes needing 10 or 20 seconds or more to start up, as if it was a pre-transistor AM tube radio. I haven’t grown used to touchscreen audio, HVAC, and seat-heater controls that require too much diversion of my eyes from the road. I had become used to the turbo lag at tip-in. No more trying to beat cross-traffic if it’s traveling at 40 mph or more.

The air suspension’s generous travel makes the Disco a supremely comfortable ride even on long trips, though of course this comes at the expense of cornering prowess, and while squat and dive are nicely controlled, physics inevitably rules when you’re forced to brake hard. A bit of high center-of-gravity tippiness is part of Land Rover’s DNA, even though engineers have reduced this to a minimum for the modern age.

Fuel economy ranged from as low as 18.6 mpg in early January to 23.4 mpg of mostly freeway driving. There was much idling in cold December and January Michigan weather.

In short, the 2017 Land Rover Discovery HSE Td6 Luxury, especially with that Ford-built and developed turbodiesel V-6 has just about all the luxury and comfort of one of its near-perfect Mercedes-Benz or Lexus rivals, but still with its own character. One doesn’t need to leak oil or dim the headlamps to betray one’s British quirkiness.

Snow came early to Metro Detroit, before the Thanksgiving weekend, and again afterward, into early December. About time for Thanksgiving weekend, the Discovery topped 14,000 miles and the dashboard message center indicated it was time to replace the diesel emissions aftertreatment. It wasn’t yet time for an oil change though, our local dealership service department said.

Meanwhile, “The Disco needs winter tires,” Eric Schwab, AUTOMOBILE’s chief commercial officer declared. He’d been driving the Land Rover as most owners would, with the second-row and sometimes the third-row raised, for local trips with his family or sometimes for a night out with another couple. (With collies for our kids, we usually keep the second and third rows folded.) Four-wheel-drive, Eric knows, will help you get going in deep snow or slippery snow and ice, but it will not help you turn or stop. Eric offered to have Tire Rack’s boffins change out the LR’s Goodyear Eagle F1s for a set of Pirelli Scorpion Winter tires while he visited company HQ in South Bend, Indiana. Total cost for the four Scorpions, size 225/55R-20 on the Discovery’s stock wheels is $918.92 plus tax, mounting and balancing, and includes Tire Rack’s free road hazard protection. With a large fuel tank full of diesel, Eric made the round-trip to South Bend, which is 215 miles each way, without having to refuel until his return.

Meanwhile, the Discovery’s message board continued its countdown to “limp” mode, with 494 miles to go after the Tire Rack trip. Cost to refresh the diesel exhaust fluid would make all but the owners of $80,000 SUVs flinch. It’s was a cool $263.44 plus tax. If you’re the type of armchair economist who compares the fuel economy savings per mile to the higher cost of a diesel option, don’t forget to figure in this aftertreatment, once every 15k.

It may be costlier for buyers of the new 3.0-liter PowerStroke diesel Ford F-150. Based on the same architecture as the 3.0 in our LR Disco, but beefed up to meet the demands of pickup truck owners, the new F-150 turbodiesel needs aftertreatment refills every 10,000 miles, Ford told auto journalists in a December briefing.

You’d maybe have to be the owner/lessee of an $80,000 SUV to not order the accessory crossbars ($389.67), but my wife and I take our dogs along to Wisconsin for the Christmas holidays, and no, we don’t charter a private jet for this purpose. Gifts and luggage go in a Thule rooftop carrier and the collies ride in the back (cue the photo of our annual December 27 visit to Leon’s Frozen Custard). Land Rover kindly shipped me the requisite roof rack crossbars well ahead of the holidays, but because of all its miles on the road, driven by executive editor Mac Morrison over Thanksgiving as well as by Eric Schwab and myself, I didn’t get the Land Rover into our handy Detroit Bureau garage until December 21st. By now, our 4Seasons 2017 Land Rover Discovery had a healthy 15,000 miles on the clock, after six-and-a-half months in service.

Long story short, I spent most of the night in the garage attaching the “clamp on” crossbars—and even then, they weren’t on quite right, though they were on solidly. But then, the next night, after work, I found–cue the wah wah trombones–that I had spaced the two crossbars too far apart for the Thule carrier. Unclamping the rear crossbar and sliding it forward should have been a 20-minute job, but again, it took all night. I was able to clamp them down, but not if I wanted the mechanism to click into place so that I could lock the covers on with the keys. I left them in the clamped/uncovered position, and the next morning hurried over to the local dealer to see if anyone in the service department was working the day before Christmas Eve.

There was, but the service manager said he had never seen a set of crossbars applied to the latest Land Rover Discovery. I drove the Disco to Milwaukee that afternoon, with my wife and our three collies inside, and the rooftop carrier securely on the half-locked crossbars—I checked them constantly—with no issues.

We returned to Metro Detroit on the 28th, and the next day my sister-in-law and her 14-year-old son, Landon, visited for New Years’ weekend. This led to a self-inflicted wound on the Disco. On New Year’s Eve, we prepared to leave for a 10-minute drive to a restaurant for 8 p.m. dinner. Because of our visitors, the second row was, uncharacteristically, up. I began to back out of the driveway, thinking all the doors were closed, but Landon still had the right-rear door open, and I hit a tree stump in our front yard next to the curb. I needed to close the door from outside – it was misaligned.

The day after New Year’s, I Disco’d over to Suburban Jaguar Land Rover, which sent me directly to its contractor body shop nearby, and where I had the best body shop experience, ever. The shop realigned the door for me, no charge, and it opens and closes just like new. I returned to the Suburban JLR service department to have a slow leak in the right rear Pirelli Scorpion patched (nail, $39.99), and the service department finished properly installing the rear roof rack crossbar, for free.

Said service department told me they had a new guy in from California, who is more accustomed to working with these things. I guess it’s true—Californians are more active. Or, they don’t rely on private jets to take their dogs along on vacation. But the service manager admitted the crossbars were hard to install, and even the California expert worked on the rear bar for 40 minutes.

Having thoroughly bonded with the luxurious British off-roader, I reluctantly handed its keys over to Nelson Ireson, who drove it back from the 2018 North American International Auto Show with the all-season tires taking up space in the back. As compensation, I flew out to L.A. in early February to drive back the Four Seasons Mazda CX-5. It’s a nice, actually fun-to-drive two-row SUV, but this one doesn’t even have a roof rack.

OUR 2017 LAND ROVER DISCOVERY HSE Td6 LUXURY

MILES TO DATE 17,011 GALLONS OF FUEL 672 OBSERVED MPG 23.2 FUEL COST TO DATE $1,902.53 AVERAGE COST/GALLON $2.83

MAINTENANCE

DEF refill $269.65

RECALLS and TSBs

Exterior A-pillar molding N042 Deployable luggage compartment floor operating arm N060 Air suspension and adaptive dynamics warning N135

OUT OF POCKET

Winter tires $918.92 Tire patch $39.99

SPECIFICATIONS

AS-TESTED PRICE $79,950 ENGINE 3.0L DOHC 24-valve turbodiesel V-6, 254 hp @ 3,750 rpm/443 lb-ft @ 1,750-2,250 rpm TRANSMISSION 9-speed automatic LAYOUT 4-door, 7-passenger, front-engine 4WD SUV EPA MILEAGE 21/26/23 mpg (city/highway/combined) L x W x H 195.6 x 87.4 x 73.5 in WHEELBASE 115 in WEIGHT 4,916 lb 0-60 MPH 6.9 sec TOP SPEED 133 mph

OUR OPTIONS

360-degree parking aid $275 Activity key $400 Autonomous emergency braking $125 Capability Plus package $1,250 Drive Pro package $2,350 Front center console cooler compartment $350 Full-length black roof rails $400 Full-size spare wheel and tire $440 Head-up display $950 Loadspace cover $150 Loadspace partiton net $100 Namib Orange paint $1,495 Park Assist $800 Rear-seat entertainment $2,270 Rover Tow package $650 Vision Assist package $1,000

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eddiejpoplar · 7 years ago

Text

Michigan Winter and the Holidays in Our 2017 Land Rover Discovery

Fuel economy ranged from as low as 18.6 mpg in early January to 23.4 mpg of mostly freeway driving. There was much idling in cold December and January Michigan weather.

OUR 2017 LAND ROVER DISCOVERY HSE Td6 LUXURY

MILES TO DATE 17,011 GALLONS OF FUEL 672 OBSERVED MPG 23.2 FUEL COST TO DATE $1,902.53 AVERAGE COST/GALLON $2.83

MAINTENANCE

DEF refill $269.65

RECALLS and TSBs

Exterior A-pillar molding N042 Deployable luggage compartment floor operating arm N060 Air suspension and adaptive dynamics warning N135

OUT OF POCKET

Winter tires $918.92 Tire patch $39.99

SPECIFICATIONS

OUR OPTIONS

IFTTT

#IFTTT #Performance Junk Blogger 6

0 notes

jesusvasser · 7 years ago

Text

Michigan Winter and the Holidays in Our 2017 Land Rover Discovery

Fuel economy ranged from as low as 18.6 mpg in early January to 23.4 mpg of mostly freeway driving. There was much idling in cold December and January Michigan weather.

OUR 2017 LAND ROVER DISCOVERY HSE Td6 LUXURY

MILES TO DATE 17,011 GALLONS OF FUEL 672 OBSERVED MPG 23.2 FUEL COST TO DATE $1,902.53 AVERAGE COST/GALLON $2.83

MAINTENANCE

DEF refill $269.65

RECALLS and TSBs

Exterior A-pillar molding N042 Deployable luggage compartment floor operating arm N060 Air suspension and adaptive dynamics warning N135

OUT OF POCKET

Winter tires $918.92 Tire patch $39.99

SPECIFICATIONS

OUR OPTIONS

IFTTT

#IFTTT #Performance Junk WP Feed 4

0 notes

mille-at-home · 8 years ago

Text

Moshiuke hai!

I just need to go with the mothering instincts a little more, Cory came home last week with a pair of school shoes as he put it ‘totally wrecked’ he wasn’t wrong and a quick fix by Dad to last just one more day was suffice. The toes had pulled apart and the metal plates were poking through. Husband offers to take him into town whilst I am at work and purchase new shoes (fabulous, I don’t have to do this job) I tell husband he has obviously gone up a size although I don’t think he wanted to accept his son now had the same size feet as him! Anyway the boy’s return with a lovely new pair of shoes and assure me he hadn’t gone up a size and all was well. Ok I accepted I was wrong.

Monday morning and husband has gone back to base, I am getting sorted for work and Cory is having a meltdown at 7.30am because he can’t get the new shoes on! I try every which way of loosening the laces, stretching the backs, bending the middles but to no avail. “Wear your black high top ones for today and I will send you in with a note” a stern “No way, I will still get a DT” is the reply. I can help no more with this early morning monster who is not even listening to any verbal reasoning and so he goes, off to school with his feet utterly squashed into a pair of shoes too small! I go to work and collect a similar pair in a larger size on the way home. He is happy with the new shoes and breathes a sigh of relief that the new ones do not rub, could be something to do with the big blisters he is now sporting on his heels mind, but Husband insists the shoes fitted fine on Saturday and ‘Cory said they were fine’, I suspect dads don’t do the whole walk around and let me check where your toes are bit? so unless he has grown those feet in two nights (quite possible) Mum thinks she should really have just done this job herself.

It’s got a little weird on our MU page I have to say with an awful lot of wives returning to MQ’s arghh! We have never been to MQs so I don’t really understand the difference but there are a few struggling with the separation. It’s certainly not easy that’s for sure but sometimes (a lot of times really) I doubt my choice. Everything just seems such a struggle - many buy places to settle before a partner leaves and that seems to have a goal in sight but….damn!

If I had met Richie in my early twenties whilst I was renting my cruddy damp bedsit’s for winter/summer lets and working days and nights in a care home on poor pay, just to pay the rent on my damp basement bedsits then just maybe, I would be that women wanting to go to MQ but as it stood, I had done this bit and when we met I was earning a good wage with adult provision and at 29 years old was renovating my second flat. (He really did know what he was getting). So perhaps it is just pure circumstances that keep us apart, or property? Maybe it’s just the bricks and mortar? Believe me, he would be a happy man if we went to MQ with him, it is really what he wants more than anything but….well the rest has been explained. I might just have to step away from the page until people move! (Doesn’t help the Catholic guilt syndrome).

Onto bricks and mortar and the house is looking pretty good in my eyes, I have completed the hall this week and have a few accessories only to add but the next room to sort out will be the 'spare’ room, it is currently unrecognisable as Erin’s old room as it is stacked to the ceiling with boxes! Easter leave will require a good bonfire at the back we think!

Erin is far more comfortable now she is in a cast and is starting to be able to use her fingers without pain now so all is healing well, she is disappointed though as she can’t do karate and/or football (as instructed by hospital) so she has to sit out and watch, although everyone in class last night was telling me others train in casts 'I did it’ 'so and so did it’ so maybe some gentle excercise next week will be a good starting place. Today there was a football tournament day for the girls and boys football team at another school and she was very upset that she wasn’t part of that but as timings go, there is little we can do for it. (Insert sad face emoji).

The next very sad face emoji award goes to me - the 'next is brown’ training is on Mothering Sunday at 9am in Exeter? It is also our anniversary weekend where we cancelled our planned child free night due to me wanting to be at home with both of my children. (FFS timings?!) So I have a whinge (as you do) about 1) The day 2) The cost of additional day and travel (how the heck to I drive past Newton abbot in my tin can) and 3) Erin and I made a pact we do it together but we have to get to the next 3 additional Saturday or Sunday extra training sessions to be put forward! This really gets me in a pissy! I am politely told that 'so and so can get there’ 'I will be there’ 'she will be there’ 'Perfect Petra will be there and she has 20 kids and is single’ well…with my calculations it’s back to the never, never for that next grade or maybe by November/December after watching everyone else pass us by again! I except that I need to know my Japenese language better, combinations and all the rest but I struggle with cramming additional stuff into an already tight weekend schedule, Its a hobby! A great Hobby at that, to which I am wholly committed and willing to learn but; I have a little weekend life that is very important to spend as a family plus all the other bits and its damn expensive!

I came back from a fantastic training session, deflated, unmotivated and a bit pissy, (sorry Dana) not a great combination and I really hate being that whinge bitch but….#passthebloodywine&Iwillshutthefookup *facepalm

#marriedunaccompanied #mq #armywife #karate

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hemcountry · 8 years ago

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INTERVIEW WITH RISING FOLK/COUNTRY MUSIC STAR COURTNEY MARIE ANDREWS

Courtney Marie Andrews took time our her busy schedule to talk about hedgehogs, intuition and ‘Car Wheels on a Gravel Road’.

It’s lovely to ‘meet’ you! : ) And thanks a million for taking some time out of your schedule to answer these questions for me. I, and indeed HEM Country, really appreciate it : )

Before we begin, let me first say congratulations on all of the brilliant reviews that ‘Honest Life’ has been getting, it’s fantastic! And good luck with your forthcoming tour, too : )

Courtney Marie Andrews ‘Honest Life’

Q. So, Courtney Marie, you’ve been on the road as a travelling and working musician since you were only 16, I believe. And in most of that time you’ve been writing consistently, too. So would it be fair to say that you’ve somewhat mastered the craft of working on a song rather than waiting for inspiration to come and find you? Or at the very least, you’ve developed a method that lets you return to ‘the well’ as often as you need to or want to?

So many songwriters who also perform say they find it hard, if not impossible sometimes, to actually write while on the road. So I’m intrigued to find out how you’ve been able to travel so much, but keep writing, too.

A. It’s a lot easier to find time to write on the road when you are a session singer, or player. There’s more downtime, and hotel time. Generally there’s a tour bus that gets you to a place overnight, where you can spend the whole day writing if you’d like. It’s been a little trickier with my own music, because I do most of the driving, and planning. But, when I tour by myself, I get in such big fit of inspiration. I use the drive times to think of songs and melody ideas. My last solo tour, I even pulled over to a Love’s truck stop and wrote a song in the front seat of my small rental car. I guess, all I need is some alone time to write.When it comes to songs I have to admit I’m a titles man. Anytime I pick up an album the first thing I do is check out the song titles to see what strikes me. And your titles on ‘Honest Life’ really made me what to listen to the songs. I especially loved ‘How Quickly Your Heart Mends’ and ‘Rookie Dreaming.’

Q. When you write, Courtney Marie, do your titles tend to come first and the rest of the songs follow on from there? Or do you discover the title from within the song as it begins to take shape?

A. That’s interesting. I guess some people judge an album by the cover, and others judge them by the song titles. Ha! I rarely come up with the title first though. For me, songs usually start with a big picture idea, which leads to writing a chorus first. Most of the time I don’t name the songs until the master engineer is asking for them.

Courtney Marie Andrews

Q. A lot of people, myself included, I must admit, are only just discovering you now, with ‘Honest Life.‘ But this isn’t your first album, it’s your sixth! : )

With such a body of work already behind you, and all of the experiences and lessons that would have come with those albums, does it feel a little strange to be thought of, or spoken of, as being a ‘new’ artist now?

A: No, that seems the like the nature of the game. My good friend Damien Jurado has a great joke about this. He says that he’s been up and coming since 1994. I think you’d find a lot of artists went at it for years before getting recognition. I’m grateful either way. This is my life’s work, so I’ll be doing it no matter who’s listening.

Q. I’ve noticed that names like Emmylou Harris, Rosanne Cash, Neko Case, and P.J. Harvey tend to come up quite a lot whenever anyone tries to describe you or your sound. For me, though, the first artist that came to mind (and within the first few lines of ‘Rookie Dreaming’) was Jewel, whom I love!

But who were your first important musical influences? Can you look back on a certain moment when you heard someone for the first time and it literally helped to change the course of your life?

A. I’ll never forget the first time I heard ‘Car Wheels on a Gravel Road’, by Lucinda Williams. Empathetic, rough, real, raw, and sweet. Those are all traits I admire in songs.

Q. Just to go a little off-point for a moment, but hopefully to reveal another side of you…..can I ask, do you have a hedgehog tattoo?? : ) I saw what looked like one in one of your Twitter photos. A hedgehog tattoo would, I imagine, have to have a pretty good story behind it? : )

I saw what looked like one in one of your Twitter photos. A hedgehog tattoo would, I imagine, have to have a pretty good story behind it? : )

A. Ha. Yes, I do have a hedgehog tattoo. I got it on my 18th birthday. I fell in love with this Russian folktale, ‘Hedgehog in the Fog.’ There was a short animation made to follow the story in the 70’s. It’s about a hedgehog who gets lost in the fog while making his way to see his friend, Bear. After some frightening encounters through the fog, he finally navigates out of the fog, and makes it to bear. Even after all the scar, but curious circumstances, he finds comfort in being with his friend, and perhaps finds appreciation in the things he once took for granted. There are a ton of speculations about the story, and its meaning. For me, the story appropriates, the there is no light without the dark philosophy. You can’t appreciate counting the stars with your friend bear, if you don’t endure the hard, scary, and curious obstacles of life.

Courtney Marie Andrews

Q. If you don’t mind, I’d like to quickly jump right back to the beginning of your story for a moment, and how you set out on this amazing adventure at just sixteen. I was wondering, Courtney Marie, what was the driving force behind that decision for you, what urge pushed you to strike out into the world at that age? Was it a longing for adventure? A need to explore? Boredom, perhaps?

I think back to myself and most of my friends and what we were like at that age, and I’m in awe of how confident and self-assured you must have been!

Were your family worried about seeing you leave?

A. Ever since I was a little girl, I was looking for the next adventure. I’ve always been curious, and travelling and exploring are perfect for a curious mind. Since I grew up as an only child to a single mom, who was working all the time to make ends meet, I cultivated my own world. It made it easy to carve my own path, and plow forward.

Q. You wrote ‘Honest Life’ from a point in time where you felt you’d been away too long and needed to come back home again. And among the reasons you’d been away, I would think, was a need to find or to create yourself. Then, going back home, you ended up working in a bar and paying attention to the details of so many people who were, in different ways, lost in their own lives. And being in that environment also helped you bring ‘Honest Life’ to life.

Looking back over how it’s all happened, do you ever think (or maybe it’s something you believe anyway?) that everything kind of happens for a reason, and at the right time?

A. I still haven’t decided if everything happens for a reason. That’s a very existential question for me. So far, I’ve learned that your intuition is a very powerful tool. When you don’t feel ready, it’s because you’re not. The music world can be one filled with magic and wonder, for sure, but the business side of things can make it an unforgiving and often cruel arena to survive in. When it comes to your career, and success, what defines ‘successful’ for you personally?

Q. Do you judge yourself against others? Or just yourself?

A. I played a show in Vancouver, Canada recently. During the show, I noticed a girl with tears in eyes during my set. She was also singing along to a lot of the songs. After my performance, she approached me and proceeded to tell me how much Honest Life meant to her. Those small moments of human connection are the ones that make it for me. Those moments are when I remember why I first picked up a guitar and wrote songs when I was 14.

Q. Jumping away from the music aspect of your life again for a moment, to try and find out a little bit more about the Courtney Marie Andrews who is the woman behind Courtney Marie Andrews the artist. Is there anything in your life that you’ve changed your mind about over the last few years?

Something that, until a certain moment, you believed to be so. But now, your view or opinion on the same thing is the exact opposite to what it used to be?

A. Life is full of those little realizations. I think it’s crucial as a human to constantly put your ego in check, and ask yourself some big personal questions. I’m very independent in a hard-headed way. I’ve been trying to let myself be okay with accepting help. That’s a big personal hurdle for me!

Q. O.k, Courtney Marie, THANK-YOU for sticking with me! : ) This is the LAST question : )

When you have a day off, or some down-time, and you can do ANYTHING that you want for a day, how do you relax or fill your time?

A. I love to aimlessly walk places. On days off, I can walk for hours and hours to nowhere. It helps me process my thoughts.

You can catch Courtney Marie live across the UK with The Handsome Family and some solo shows, here are the tour dates:

21 Feb – NORWICH, Arts Centre (supporting The Handsome Family)

22 Feb – MANCHESTER, RNCM (supporting The Handsome Family)

23 Feb – GLASGOW, St Luke’s (supporting The Handsome Family)

24 Feb – EDINBURGH, The Caves (supporting The Handsome Family)

25 Feb – GATESHEAD, Sage 2 (supporting The Handsome Family)

26 Feb – DURHAM, Old Cinema Launderette – CMA Headline show

27 Feb – LEEDS, Brudenell Social Club (supporting The Handsome Family)

28 Feb – CARDIFF, Clwb Ifor Bach – CMA Headline show

1 Mar – COVENTRY- The Tin – CCMA Headline show

2 Mar – LONDON, Union Chapel (supporting The Handsome Family)

3 Mar – BRIGHTON, Concorde 2 (supporting The Handsome Family)

4 Mar – GUILDFORD, The Keep – CMA Headline show

6 Mar – LONDON, The Social – CMA Headline show

INTERVIEW WITH RISING FOLK/COUNTRY MUSIC STAR COURTNEY MARIE ANDREWS was originally published on HEM COUNTRY

#2017 Tour #Country Music #Courtney Marie Andrews #Honest Life #Interview #countrymusic #countrynews. IrishCountry #UKCountry

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