#thank you to jose he's an angel

[toasttt11]

hoodie

March 1, 2020

The New Jersey Devils are out in the west coast for the their road games playing the san jose sharks, los angeles kings, anaheim ducks and the vegas knights.

They have played the sharks, kings and ducks already, having lost the first two games and won against the ducks earlier today.

Oscar and Jack were rooming for the first time ever as the roommates got shuffled around for a few games.

Jack went with Trevor after the game and lucky for the two best friends it was an early Sunday game and it was over by three so they had the rest of the evening to hang out together.

Oscar was sitting on his bed scrolling through his phone and texting his siblings when the hotel door opened and Jack hurried in to the room.

Oscar looked up and saw Jack soaking wet and shivering, Oscar frowned in worry and clicked his phone off and sat up.

“What happened?” Oscar asked in convene getting up and grabbing some of the towels in the bathroom and draping them over Jack.

“Z thought it was a good idea to go in the ocean.” Jack teeth chattered as he spoke, looking up at Oscar with his puppy eyes.

“In your full clothes.” Oscar deadpanned looking at Jacks soaking wet pair of jeans and hoodie.

“He’s had worse ideas.” Jack snickered softly still shivering completely.

“I’m sure he had.” Oscar quipped back, rubbing Jack’s arms trying to warm him up, “Why don’t you get some clothes and i’ll start a hot shower?” Oscar softly asked.

“Are you sure?” Jack looked hopeful but didn’t want to make Oscar do anything he didn’t want to.

“I wouldn’t have offered if i wasn’t.” Oscar quipped with a small smirk, and snickered at Jack’s fond eye roll.

Oscar headed to the bathroom and turned the shower on and turning it pretty hot as Jack walked into the bathroom with a pile of dry clothes.

Oscar nodded and headed out of the bathroom closing the door behind him, he headed over to the thermostat and turned the heater on making sure the room would be a little warmer for Jack.

Oscar wasn’t sure why Trevor and Jack decided to go in the ocean that is barely 60 degrees especially with it being very cold outside.

California got an out of nowhere temperature drop which surprised the Devils especially as there first day in California it was pretty warm and the next it was raining and cold so many did not pack for that weather.

Oscar sat on his bed on his phone until Jack walked out of the bathroom with a pair of shorts and t-shirt on and Oscar looked at him puzzled.

“No warmer clothes?” Oscar questioned seeing Jack still shivering and Oscar had a feeling Jack packed for all warm weather.

Jack teeth were still chattering as he shook his no.

Oscar stood up and went to his suitcase and dug out a hoodie, it is one of his favorites a light grey hoodie with a small orange logo.

Oscar tossed his hoodie across the room at Jack.

Jack caught the hoodie and looked at Oscar confused.

“Put it on you’re cold.” Oscar deadpanned with a small fond eye roll.

Jack’s eyes widen in shock as he realized the guy he’s been crushing on for a few years now is giving him his sweatshirt.

Jack quickly slipped the hoodie on and let out a sigh of relief because of the warmth from the hoodie but the very lingering scent of Oscar on the hoodie.

“Thank you.” Jack softly mumbled as he played with the sleeves of the hoodie, the sleeves that fell past his hands and gave him sweater paws.

Oscar titled his head trying to figure out why his heart started beating so incredibly fast seeing Jack in his hoodie but decided he would figure it out another day and shook it off.

“No problem.” Oscar smiled slightly, “Now get in your bed and warm up more.” Oscar playfully ordered making Jack laugh but get into his very warm bed.

Oscar didn’t see that hoodie again for along time as within a few days hockey stopped playing and Oscar went home and Jack went home with the hoodie.

[thatlovinfeelin]

Flightless Bird | eighteen | Bradley Rooster Bradshaw

Synopsis: Josephine Wilson Miller is alone for the first time in her life. She got married after her first year of college and became a housewife, but that life is gone now. So she runs to San Diego, to her childhood best friend Jake, where she meets the man who could very well be her salvation.

series warnings: unplanned pregnancy, just pregnancy in general, talks of infertility. past mental and emotional abuse. anxiety. talks of women's reproductive systems (idk)

“Mommy! Hurry up!” Wren said, dragging Jose behind her, “Auntie Nat twell her!” 

Natasha only laughed and walked next to Jose. They were on their way from the parking lot to the tarmac for the airshow. Jake was set to be flying and Wren was begging to go see it. Although, Jose tried to normally stay away from Airshows in general just in case someone certain was there. 

“So, I have some news,” Nat whispered to Jose. 

“Oh?”

Natasha just smiled and twisted her wedding ring, something Jose noticed the female pilot did when she was a little anxious. Her and Jake got married two years prior in a small ceremony on the beach. Not to big and fussy, as both of them wanted simple friends and family. A certain Blue Angels pilot was not able to attend, so Coyote was Jake’s best man while Jose was the maid of honor, with little baby Wren as a little flower girl. It was beautiful and simple and perfect. 

“You can’t tell anyone yet,” Phoenix stated, “But I’m pregnant.”

Jose stopped in her tracks, much to Wren’s dismay who let out a little wail and tried with all of her might to pull her mom forward. 

“Oh my god, Nat!”

“Are you mad? I know you-”

“Mad? Oh my god no, I’m so happy for you!” Jose exclaimed, hugging the other woman, “Does Jake know yet?”

Natasha shook her head, “No I haven’t found the time to tell him yet.”

“How far along?”

“Six weeks? I think? I have a doctors appointment next week to confirm,” She explained, “But I’m so scared to tell Jake. We’ve talked about kids, but not yet.”

“Well, I’m assuming you weren’t using anything?” Jose asked carefully. 

“We weren’t trying,” Nat swore, “But we weren’t not trying.”

Jose couldn’t help but laugh. That sounded like the most Jake and Natasha thing. 

“I want Gampa Mav and Nenny,” Wren whined, snapping the two women out of their hug. 

“Okay, let’s go munchkin.”

Wren was dressed in little combat boots, one of the flight jackets that Jose bought for her before she was born, and a pink tutu. She looked like a little combat princess as she strutted in front of Jose and Nat. 

For a nearly four year old, she had a lot of personality. Maybe too much for her own good. But Jose loved her daughter with all of her heart. There wasn’t a thing in this world that she wouldn’t do for her.  

“Thank you for coming today,” Nat nudged Jose with her shoulder, “I know it means a lot to Jake to have you guys here for this.”

Jake was set to be a part of a super important Legacy flight, one of the only f-18 pilots chosen. He couldn’t stop talking about it for weeks prior. Jose wasn’t sure if she’d ever seen him so excited for something related to work before. 

“We couldn’t miss it,” Jose shrugged, “Wren wouldn’t let me.”

“Mama we see Unca Yake?” Wren asked. 

Jose couldn’t help but smile at the way that Wren said Uncle Jake. They were still working on her speech, but the little munchkin was getting better and better every day. 

“Yeah sweetheart, we’ll see him soon, I promise,” Jose replied, “But let’s find Gampa Mav and Nenny first, okay?” 

She nodded enthusiastically and wiggled a little in Jose’s arms. Little Florence loved Maverick and Penny, now lovingly known and Gampa Mav and Nenny. They stepped right into the role of grandparents to Wren without a second thought. They were there to support Wren and Jose with no questions asked, even after Jose forced Braldey to leave. 

They never once asked what happened between the two of them. Instead they just loved Jose and her little daughter with all of their hearts. 

“Gampa Mav!” Wren wiggled out of Jose’s arms and took off running towards the older pilot, “Nenny! Auntie ‘Melia!”

“Shit,” Jose cursed, chasing after her little girl. 

Wren jumped into Mav’s arms, hugging the older man as tightly as she could. Mav laughed and hugged her back, not seeming to notice the fact that the little girl ran off without her mother. Penny was a little more attentive and scowled at the little girl as best as she could. 

“Wren, what have I told you?” Jose was out of breath as soon as she reached them, “You need to stay with me!” 

“But I saw Gampa Mav and Nenny.” The little girl blinked up at her mother, not seeming to understand. 

“You can’t run off-”

“Mav! There you are!” 

Jose froze. She didn’t dare turn to look at the source of the voice. A noise escaped her, sounding like a small wounded animal. She didn’t even check to see if they were going to be here today. Normally she checked every air show, but Jake was so excited that she was going to come and bring Wren.

“Bradley,” Mav said, handing Wren over to Phoenix who finally caught up, “Didn’t expect to see you until later.”

“I had a second and saw you guys over here.”

Wren looked at Bradley with wide eyes. He was in his blue and gold flight suit, looking like a hero in his own way. Wren was mesmerized by any pilots. She loved planes, and the people that flew them. 

“You fwy pwanes?” 

Bradley was stunned for a second. He finally realized who was standing next to Mav and Penny. She looked so different, and yet exactly the same. Her hair was longer, and she was thinner than he’d ever seen her. So much so it made him wonder if she was eating enough. But he didn’t have the right to worry about Josephine Wilson anymore, not when she kicked him out of her life. 

“I uh-” He cleared his throat and directed his attention to the little girl in Phoenix’s arms. 

Somehow it hadn’t occurred to him that this was the little baby he once loved with all of his heart. She was so much bigger, with wide eyes that mirrored her mother’s. She looked just like Jose. There’s no way that wasn’t her daughter. It made him want to cry. He loved her like a daughter and he missed out on so much of her life. 

“Yeah, I do,” Bradley smiled at the little girl, forcing down the emotions. He leaned down so he was eye level with her, “See that blue and yellow plane over there?” he pointed down the way a little to where all of the Blue Angels were lined up, “That one is mine.”

“Woah,” She replied, “Auntie Nat can we go see?”

Nat carefully looked over at Jose, who still hadn’t allowed herself to look over at Bradley. Jose nodded quickly, watching as Nat along with Mav, Penny, and Amelia made their way towards the row of planes. 

Jose swallowed the thick lump in her throat. She felt like she could cry. She always did her best to avoid Bradley at any event that the Blue Angels could be at. Jake always understood. He hated it, but he understood. She wanted to be mad at him for not warning her that he would be here today. She felt tricked and like her heart was going to explode.

“Jose.”

She closed her eyes and licked her dry lips before opening her eyes and turning to face him, “Hi Bradley.”

“It’s good to see you,” He said slowly, carefully even. 

“Yeah, um, you too,” She replied, “You look good.”

“I am. Pensacola has been good for me,” He replied, voice sounding like gravel. 

She nodded. She wasn’t sure what she expected him to say. What do you even say in a situation like this? How is she supposed to do this? How was she supposed to face Bradley, when all she wanted to do was be held by him again? She wanted to feel his lips on hers again. She wanted him more than she could dare to put into words. 

“You look…nice,” Bradley had to force the words out. He wanted nothing more than to hold her. 

“Try keeping up with a three year old, see how you look,” She responded quickly. 

“No, I didn’t mean it like that. I genuinely meant you look nice.”

She looked down at her little sundress and sighed. She hated this feeling between them. This rift, the distance…whatever it was. She wanted to feel close to him again. But she didn’t know how she could ever feel close like she used to. 

“She’s gotten so big,” Bradley was looking over his shoulder now, looking towards Wren, “She was so tiny when I left.”

“Bradley about what I-”

“Bradshaw! Time to get ready.”

His eyes closed as he took a deep breath. His shoulders squared before his eyes opened again and he was back to being Rooster. He forced a smile and held out his hand for Jose to shake. How do you even shake hands with the man you’re still madly in love with?

“Nice to see you again, Josephine. Look for me in the skies.”

She wanted to say more. Wanted to beg for his forgiveness. Wanted to beg for him…just for him to give her a second chance. But he was gone before she had the chance. He disappeared into the crowd of people like a leaf disappears in the wind. 

Jose was still holding her breath when Natasha came back to stand next to her, “Mav has Wren. Are you okay?”

Jose’s eyes started to water, “I didn’t realize how much I missed him. And then he’s right here and I can’t say any of the things that I want.”

“You’ll get your chance,” Natasha assured her, “Now c’mon, Jake is up next. Don’t want to miss him.”

Later that night, Jose was sitting in her bed alone. Wren was staying with Jake and Natasha tonight, so the house was silent. Jose didn’t quite know what to do with herself. So she poured a big glass of wine and settled in. What she didn’t expect was her phone pinging at eleven, with a text from a number she never expected to see again. 

She found herself scurrying out of the bed and fumbling her way to the front door. Her breath was ragged as she threw the door open to reveal Bradley standing there. He looked too good to be true. 

“Hey,” She said stupidly. 

Bradley was on her in an instant, hands cradling her face, “Tell me you don’t want this.”

“I-” She took a second, “I want you. I always have.”

Then he was kissing her like she was the only thing that mattered in the whole world.

[constellaj]

hey do u have some kind of list of the major variants in your multiverse au? It’s super cool and I really like it :3 (btw I am the original anon who asked you about it and the anon who was praising your Gwen, Courtney and heather art lol. just call me spiral anon)

also do u have any like, horror variants. Not horror necessarily, more so just tragic ones (the sillies have been through the trenches). Thanks :D

-🌀

OOH I've been meaning to get a list of my favorite multiverse guys together and this is the perfect excuse!! thank you spiranon!! I tried to trim this wall of text down best I could but it's SO LONG. buckle up!! as always mega thanks to @crystalfloe for developing and brainworming these fellas with me!!

I'll divide them up by the original character, and clarify their pseudonym; because the 'verse is populated with the same characters over and over, many end up choosing pseudos for themselves that they go by! I'll also elaborate on the ones that have some particularly horrifying aspects, but off the top of my head some who have really been through the ringer are ZombieMike (haven't given him a pseudo yet), Two-Inches-Taller Trent, Indigo (Jose), Mortal Bat Heather and Sea Bridgette. please note that I loooove duncan (and also dunhar) so a lot of these fellas are, well... dunhar :)

LOTS of Duncans! Let's get started! (duncans pictured above are not any real multiverse duncans) Zero rules the Duncan Underground with an iron fist. He has the power to up the "asshole levels" of any Duncan, spreading it like a zombie virus.

Declan comes from an Actor AU dimension, and has to rapidly adjust to a world where all his coworkers' fictional characters are real. He manages to settle down with a very stereotypical Courtney, and they're so mushy-in-love it's like a Hallmark movie.

Concorde is also known as "Normal Duncan". He's so abnormal that he actually spends most of his time hiding out at Club Vaquero, an underground nightclub exclusive to the multiverse's "weirdos". (more about club vaq later!)

Helix or Badger is also known as "Cop Duncan". He works with some powerful multiversal agencies to lock up and detain dangerous immortals. He has the ability to generate handcuffs and chains out of nowhere. He's an asshole and nobody likes him.

Fox is our newest addition to the multiverse! He's your standard Duncan, except he's accepted his soft side and lets it play out alongside his more punk-rock edgy end. He's got a huge multiversal network, with Bridgettes and DJs bringing him orphaned baby bunnies every other day to look after.

Harolds: Harlow Princeton Orange is the other side of our newest multiverse addition. An actor on Camp TV before he was thrown out into the multiverse, he thinks of everyone as an annoying coworker who won't ever break character.

Samurai Bloodshed is the platonic ideal of a Harold. He ran the Harold Hub-City with his epic anime powers, until he was cursed by a Justin to be... a jock. Stripped of his nerd swag, he's now doomed to wander the multiverse as a mere shell of his former self. (or IS HE???)

Matrix, aka "Punk Harold", is another frequent patron of Club Vaquero. He hangs out in the dirty punk scenes, plays awful music, and causes problems everywhere he goes. The only person who might be able to stand up to him is... Concorde?

Invisible Harold is Harold, but invisible. That's it I just think he's neat.

Alejandros: Siren is, well, a siren. With the help of Sea Bridgette, he flooded the entire Alejandro Resort, and turned it into an underwater, mermaid-filled utopia we're calling Alelantis. Unfortunately, he forgot to return a favor to Sea Bridge, so she turned her curse on him next. Transmuted into a scaly sea monster to match his powers, he ran (swam) away to hide in shame. Fortunately, this didn't perturb Marathon Tyler, who offered him a place to stay...

When most Alejandros were forced out of the resort, Silk fell into an open dimension (Angel Lindsay's dimension). Stranded in the empty wastelands below the angellic clouds, he's resorted to manipulating any other immortal who falls in on accident.

Naturo (yes we know that's not a real spanish word, we just think it sounds cool) controlled nature itself, using that power to enslave dimensions and threaten a total overtake of the multiverse. At least, he used to! His incarnation was killed, and he reset into someone we affectionately call Autistic Alejandro. This incarnation of Ale was carefully monitored since birth to prevent another Naturo situation; monitored by someone who he thought was his brother... (more on Indigo later!)

There's one more important Alejandro to mention! That's the Alejandro who's one half of Vaquero, the owner of Club Vaquero. Vaquero himself is a living fusion between an Alejandro (he's a pairhunter, more on them later!) and a Geoff. Yes this is the alegeoff fusion I've been drawing all along!!!!!! I fucking love Vaq!!!!!

McLeans: Gold lives in a massive penthouse in the bougiest part of the multiverse, living his ideal celebrity life, with his fake and real Gemmys so thoroughly intermixed you can't tell which is which. He's not a bad person per se, but he doesn't quite understand what's wrong with doing whatever he wants, whenever he wants.

Silver (no relation), on the other hand, lives on a cursed island and is a classic whistle-blowing camp counselor. He spends his time recruiting multiversal campers onto his island, to compete in death-defying challenges. Seems nasty, but if you win, you get the ultimate prize; he has the ability to grant wishes.

Meanwhile, out on True Wawanakwa, something very bizarre is happening. Chrises coalesce on this island, all fighting for dominance over a place they're convinced is "theirs". Every week, each Chris's team competes- and the losing Chris has to lose one of his carefully cultivated cast members. One of these Chrises is Lake, a granola-crunching, ADHD-ridden, dadbod-having hippie. Lake never executes members of his team, and instead hides everyone in a mystical glade; everyone on his team actually treats him like a genuine team dad. Just, y'know, be careful when dealing with him on the full moon-- he is a vengeful lake spirit, after all, and sometimes he loses control. I mean, how do you think Geoff turned into that tree? (Don't worry, Bridgette pours a cold one onto the roots once a month to keep him healthy.)

Everyone else! These are characters that we really only have one or two instances of.

Mildred (Blaineley) is a bit of a horror villain shut-in. She keeps pocket dimensions full of contestants and harvests their essence, essentially selling it on the black market.

Carmine (Blaineley) is another horror villain, but more composed and some would argue more sinister. Her facility allegedly works to rehabilitate former dangerous immortals, but what she actually does is manipulate (and if she has to, mind-control via magical contract) them into working for her. Indigo (Jose) had this unfortunate realization after he took her up on her blackmailed job offer. Autistic Ale's original Jose was removed from the dimension and locked in a cryo chamber, while Indigo encouraged Ale to avoid nature, making his own decisions, and saying no. Unfortunately, this turned out to be the exact right mix of traits to allow Carmine access to the nearly omnipotent Naturo...

Rehab Hatchet runs a small island full of lost and confused McLeans. He wields a magical machete that can cut open your mind; it helps him perform reconstructive brain surgery, but it's fucking terrifying.

Shadow Gwen is a loner with a sentient shadow. Well, she used to be a loner, until a mermaid Lindsay and an annoyed Noah show up explaining how she might be the only person who can save Alelantis from crumbling away forever. Will she accept the hero's call??

Sea Bridgette, unfortunately, is paired with an Aftermath Geoff. Pairing is an obscure but dangerous concept. Two magical beings with their auras intertwined; this makes them both more powerful, but also more vulnerable. She's a mutant fish person, and he's at the peak of his asshole arc and only cares about appearances. Siren offered to humiliate her pair on international TV, and she was thrilled-- but then he was a no-show.

Angel Lindsay and Bat Heather are two halves of a coin. Lindsay reincarnated as the only magical immortal in a dimension full of mortals. When Heather betrayed her on the island, Lindsay let out a burst of magic that split the world in two. Above the clouds, in a polished city, all of the "nice people" with beautiful fluffy angel wings. Below, in a wasteland without food or water, all of the "mean people" with dragging, scraggly bat wings. While Lindsay lives her life as Her Hotness Admiral Princess Angel Lindsay, Heather is left to scrape together a band of post-apocalyptic survivors, and try not to think about the friend she lost.

Two-Inches-Taller Trent is a Trent who is slightly taller than the average Trent. He lived a happy mortal life being best friends with Mike-- until he was ejected out into the multiverse, sucked through a rift in spacetime that traumatized both him and Mike. Separated from someone he had nearly paired with, Trent became what's known as a pairhunter; an amorphous, unstable ball of energy that can't survive without their pair.

ZombieMike is the collective term for a set of alters who, at one point, hated each other so much that they physically split apart from each other to form their own dimensions. Mike, Vito, Mal, Manitoba and Svetlana each led their own individual lives (as different supernatural creatures)-- until they were pulled back out into the multiverse, and slammed together into the same body.

Contract Titan Courtney is desperately pretending she's not a pairhunter. So desperately, in fact, that she lures Duncans into signing autonomy-overriding contracts, pretending that her pair never left. If the contract breaks, though, she snaps and enters titan mode...

Mirror (Dawn) works for a containment agency, and has a very skewed view of how to treat people. She genuinely thinks she's doing you a favor, molding you into your ideal self, but in actuality she's warping you and shaving off anything that makes you unique.

Evil Zoey is, well, Evil Zoey. Sent to an immortal jail alongside a Mal who didn't know why he was there, she tried to manipulate him into being even worse... and then the two ended up breaking out together.

Punk Courtney sings lead for the cover band Court's in Session, and she mostly sings about how much she hates everyone. She has a massive following of Gwens... I wonder why?

Marathon Tyler is a recurring Tyler who is just, always out on a jog throughout the multiverse. His jogging route encompasses every location you could possibly imagine. I'm not sure he's ever completed a run.

CONCLUSION: This isn't even a fraction of the guys we have LMAO so sorry for the long list and the long paragraphs. I've cut it down as much as I can so if you have any questions about anyone, please ask-- I probably left something out!

Also feel free to ask if there's any variants of [character] I left off-- I'd be more than happy to ramble some more!!

[acosmicblizzard]

hello I am here for your writing skills!?!!??! can I request romantic headcanons for hanging out with Jose, Murro or Kevin on a snow day ❤️

thank u for ur time🐠

Thank you for the compliment heheh! Of course you can, hope you enjoy little fishy anon!

Hanging out on a snowy day headcanons with Kevin

Warnings: Possible ooc

Story type: Fluff

Pairings/Characters: Kevin Ayuso.

If you're looking for a endless day of fun and goofing off Kevin is definitely the best choice. Kevin will do all the classic snowy day activities such as building snow forts, having snowball fights, making snowmen and snow angels, and other activities most people normally do in the snow.

Also sledding, definitely sledding. Kevin will always challenge you too sledding races and he gets wayyy to hyped about them. There's 0 holding back and even if you're his partner he's gonna win this, sorry darling.

If you ever get too cold or a blizzard starts picking up Kevin will grab your hand and say it would be good to go back inside. Once back inside the manor he'll make hot chocolate for you and then personally bridal style carry you too the fireplace and lay you infront of it, flirting with you as he does so.

Though he doesn't know what skiing or snowboarding is if you introduced it too Kevin he'd be hyped as hell. Excited to learn and try new things out. No matter if you're both novices or you're god at it and he's new to it Kevins gonna enjoy it no matter what.

A habit kevins picked up on due to his wild spirit is looking for animal tracks in the snow and tracking down the animal to look at it. Obviously he knows the difference between different animal tracks so he wouldn't trail a bear but if it's something harmless like a dear then he'll ask you if you'd like to find it with him. if you say yes, he'll grab your hand and start to walk into the forest.

Speaking about walks in the forest, walking through the snowy landscape on a trail with kevin while holding hands is very common. Talking and admiring your surroundings as you walk around the beautiful white landscape. Walking as the few birds that don't migrate during the winter chirp in the tree's.

[darklydeliciousdesires]

Runaway - Chapter Eight.

Huge thanks to everyone for your continued engagement with this little story of mine. 30 notes on the next, as usual, as I have noticed it seems to be working over on this one in drawing out a few shyer people to comment/reblog, and you all seem to be enjoying the pace of posts as well. Well, now you’re over the initial shock of the revelation, it’s time for Hannah to explain herself!

Previous chapters - Prologue  One  Two  Three  Four  Five  Six  Seven

Taglist - In the comments, please DM to be added/removed

Words - 2,064

Warnings - 18+ content throughout, minors DNI!

The shock seemed to keep on hitting him, standing there speechless, his eyebrows risen so high, they threatened to escape his forehead altogether. “I know I have a lot of explaining to do, like why I didn’t call you, or how I’m so sure she’s yours, but you only have to look at her to know that. I’m sorry, to come and land this on you, but you needed to know.”

He took a breath, holding it, his feet travelling down the steps as he bridged the gap between them, looking down at the tiny baby in her arms. As soon as he saw her up close, he knew. “Oh shit, yep. She’s definitely mine.” There she was, his tiny, grey eyed little clone. No wonder Hannah was sure. She was the double of him. “Shit, Hannah. Why’d you... why... aw, hell! Gimmie a minute.” He moved at speed back up the steps and into the clubhouse, pointing behind the bar as the prospect looked at him questioningly. “Tequilla, now.”

“Shot?” Jose asked.

“Bottle.”

“What’s going down, Manuel?” EZ asked, entertained at the look on his face.  

“Remember runaway bride?”

He and Angel both snorted with laughter. “A story no one will forget in a hurry, but yeah, go on.” Everyone had been in hysterics, when he’d revealed his antics to them the following day.  

“She just turned up.” Lifting the bottle to his lips, he glugged back a mouthful before continuing. “With my baby.”  

EZ and Angel’s heads spun to look at one another. “Oh shit.”

“Woah!”

“Yeah, all of that.” He took another swig, blowing out a long breath before turning and heading outside again, Hannah still in the same place she was when he’d bolted. “Sorry, it’s just... fuck.”

“I know, I know I smacked you with it. Can we go someplace and talk?” He gestured to the couches out front, Hannah nodding, thinking it actually better than her idea to go to a diner or somewhere similar and having to fiddle to get Lola back into her car seat. As they headed up, she noticed that Manny couldn’t take his eyes off her, her insides breathing a huge sigh of relief that so far, he hadn’t acted poorly to the news that he’d fathered a child with her.  

“So, to explain it all, then. No, wait. I’m sorry, I’m getting ahead of myself. Are you okay? I need to ask that, because you look stunned still. I’m mindful of what I just dropped on you, and it matters to me, that you’re alright with it.”

“I am stunned,” he spluttered, “but I’m good.” He paused, taking a deep breath and letting it out slowly, feeling better for it. “Before you do, can I hold her?” She smiled, nodding as she carefully passed Lola into his arms, Manny looking down on her with amazement. “She’s so pretty.” His words were delivered on barely more than a whisper, her tiny baby, their tiny baby, looking even smaller there in her father’s embrace.

“Right, let me explain, then. I didn’t actually know I was pregnant until I was eighteen weeks. I was still having periods, which is rare, but it can happen, according to my doctor. The only reason I visited was because I was beginning to gain weight, and nothing could account for it as everything was just the same, still eating the same, still exercising the same, so the doctor did a pregnancy test. I’ve never been so shocked, when he told me it was positive. I didn’t even have morning sickness!

“Of course, I knew that in truth, I didn’t have a clue who the father was. She could very easily have been Michael’s, but there was no way I wanted to communicate that with him, and I didn’t with you because I wanted to know for sure. I knew I’d be able to tell instantly, because the baby would of course not be white if you were the father, and as you can see from her lovely caramel skin and her black hair, she’s definitely not Michael’s child.  

“But until I knew for sure, I didn’t want to involve you in the mess, because by then it was a mess. I thought I was rid of him, until about six weeks after I ran out on our wedding, when he began pestering me. Currently, I have a restraining order on him, because he continued to harass me, and as soon as he found out I was pregnant, it upped triple fold. He began stalking me, and it was scary. I had his family on me, threatening me, telling me they’d take me to court for full custody of her, so I had him do a DNA test as soon as she was born, which is how I know for sure that she’s yours, because Michael submitted a swab and it showed that he wasn’t her father.  

“Anyway, I’ve had a lot of back and forth to court and the like, getting the restraining order filed, it was a really stressful pregnancy. I knew, though, that in time I had to tell you, and that time is now.”

He couldn’t help it, securing Lola in one arm to put his other around Hannah. God, what she’d gone through. Michael was a piece of shit, for stalking a pregnant woman, putting her under that kind of emotional duress when all she needed was a calm environment to welcome her baby into. “I wish you’d told me the second she was born, so I could have been there for you both. I mean, I know we barely know each other, it ain’t like that, but I could have made the last three months a lot easier for you, at least.”  

To hear those words, Hannah was filled with a sense of relief she’d needed all the way through her ordeal with Michael, the worry of not knowing who her child’s father was, the stress, the nights alone where she wished with everything she had that it was Manny who had fathered Lola, but then of course not knowing how he would react, being he was a one-night stand whom she barely knew. Anything, she thought, was preferrable to the haranguing she’d received from the Hansen’s. Even if he’d said he didn’t want to be a part of their lives, she could have dealt with it and raised her alone.  

“You don’t got nothing to worry about, mamas. I ain’t no deadbeat. Imma be here for her, time, money, all of that. Shit, now I’ve gotten over the shock, I swear, I’m so happy,” he spoke, laughing a little as he smiled down at Lola. “Hey, tiny girl. I’m your dad, yeah, I am. I can’t wait to get to know you, help your mama out and all that, because I bet you’ve been keeping her up squealing, ain’t you? If you’ve inherited my smart yap, then I can more or less guarantee that!”

Hannah couldn’t help the tears she burst into, tears of relief, of tiredness, of residual hormonal duress, all the long months of stress, everything, suddenly pouring out of her in waves as she put her head down in her hands, huge sobs wracking her throat as she shook from the force of them. Manny, as ever, was coolly efficient, standing and walking to the clubhouse door. “Hey, Lily? Little help, darlin’.”  

“Oh my god, Manny! She’s gorgeous!” she cooed upon arriving with him, looking at the baby before glancing over at a hysterical Hannah with concern.  

“Can you hold her while I go and...” he trailed off, carefully passing Lola into her arms, Lily looking down at her with soft eyes before she looked up to see him move swiftly back to the couch, crouching before her and bundling Hannah up in a hug as he began to soothe her. She had no idea what the deal was there, so dutifully held her friend’s child while he comforted her near hysterical mother.  

“Come on, you’re alright now, I gotchu. It’s all fine, Hannah,” he soothed her with, Hannah breathing deep through each sob against the soft leather of his kutte, all of the tension she’d carried for the last eleven months pouring out of her, and god, she was so embarrassed.  

“It isn’t, though! Because I should have told you sooner, and it was all such a big mess! And I... I...”

“You had your reasons for not doing so, and shit, they were valid. It’s alright, I ain’t gonna hold it against you. I just wish I could have been there for you sooner is all. I’m here now, though.” He rubbed her back while hugging her, letting her cry it out until she emerged from his arms, looking up to see a tissue being passed to her.

“Oh, Christ! Just my luck to have an emotional episode right in front of my sporting idol!” she wailed in joke, Lily smiling softly as Hannah took the tissue from her outstretched hand, taking a seat on the adjacent chair.

“It’s okay, honey. I get it, the first few months are tough, and you’re tired all the time and emotional at the slightest of things. I’ve been there. Hell, I’m still there sometimes and my baby is almost two!” she shared, Hannah feeling a lot better for hearing that from another mother, someone who understood how it was.  

“Thank you. I’m Hannah, by the way,” she offered, drying her eyes.

“Lily, but I guess you know that already!” Her nice demeanour set Hannah at ease, watching her begin to rock Lola when she started to fuss. “It’s okay, little one, yeah, shhhh.” Lola wasn’t quite so easily pacified, though, Hannah knowing she was hungry, so taking her back, Lily returning inside and leaving them to it while Hannah arranged her beneath her top and gave her a feed, sighing as Manny seated himself next to her again.

“So, you mentioned on the phone you were with someone earlier. How long has that been for?”

“About ten months now,” he revealed. “We just got engaged, actually.” Her face was bright, but for some odd reason, she felt her heart sink to know that, how permanently he was off the market. She had no idea why either, since she hadn’t expected to just roll up there, deliver her news, and have them all go off into the sunset together as a happy little family.  

Hell, she barely knew the man. That comfort she felt around him a year ago had returned, though. She was reminded of something very prominent in him, that beneath the outlaw, there was a really good guy, a guy who did the right thing.  

“Oh wow, congratulations! Just don’t do what I did if you end up having second thoughts, alright? I can’t ride a motorcycle, so I can’t come save you on one.” Her joke landed well with him, Manny tipping his head back and laughing that same dirty chuckle that made her insides bounce pleasantly.  

“Nah, not much danger of that,” he replied. “Although I am kinda dreading telling her about Lola. Carmen, she ah, she got a hella bad temper, dude.”  

Hannah winced, cringing a tad. “Sorry if my turning up has just made life difficult for you there.”

He waved his hand dismissively, reaching to gently grasp Lola’s foot, stroking her tiny toes. “Ahh, it’ll be alright. I hope. I mean, she should be cool with it. I’d like to think that she would be.” There was something in his tone that alluded to the fact that he was more preparing himself for the fact that she wouldn’t be very understanding over the news that he’d fathered a child prior to them getting together, but Hannah didn’t press him. “So, you busy this Friday? Thought I could come hang with you and bubs.”

They made an arrangement to for him to be at her place for 4pm, so he had a couple of hours with her before she went to sleep, Manny saying he’d stay longer if she wanted to go take an undisturbed bath, or meet with friends, anything like that. God, she was so fortunate. It was only the very start of seeing how wonderful he’d become, too.  

It was a pity that Carmen didn’t quite see things in the same way, though.

[keyshui]

i present to you, a very unserious post in which i insult every NHL team!

(this is all exaggerated so don’t get mad at me)

anaheim ducks - why is it that 1/3 of the way through the season you remember how to play hockey? like at this point it’s useless since you’re not making the playoffs and if you keep up like this you sure aren’t getting bedard

arizona coyotes - i do not like your jerseys. you would be forgettable but you suck too much for it

boston bruins - the only thing your team has going for you are your goalies and i hope next season you end up where the ducks are rn: not good enough for the playoffs and not bad enough for the draft lottery. sorry garnet hathaway (please come back)

buffalo sabres - i can define your entire team in one word: disappointment

calgary flames - anything good about you died when matthew tkachuk decided to go to florida. sorry!

carolina hurricanes - something about the “canes” nickname annoys the shit out of me. i hope you get a first round exit purely so the fans enjoying their team being good for once can be upset about it

chicago blackhawks - do i even have to say anything? because ew

colorado avalanche - literally how did you win the cup last year? thanks for the cup winning goalie btw <3 kuemper is better as a cap

columbus blue jackets - you don’t deserve bedard and i hope you lose the lottery since you’re clearly not pulling yourself out of the tank like the ducks

dallas stars - your jerseys are fucking ugly and the only stars player i can think of is tyler seguin (seriously… why that green…)

detroit red wings - you have the most obnoxious fan base i have ever had the displeasure of being in the same stadium with. LET GO OF THE 90s!!! PLEASE

edmonton oilers - how do you have two of the best players in the league and still manage to fail to get a cup every single playoffs

florida panthers - honestly if it weren’t for matthew tkachuk trade and the all stars game you’d be a dying, forgettable team

los angeles kings - i literally cant think of anything to put here. that’s how little you matter.

minnesota wild - one time in like 2019 the wild squished the caps at a game i was at so i decided that the wild suck. other than that y’all are so forgettable that i don’t have anything else to say

montreal canadiens - how is it that you keep managing to get beaten so so badly by teams that suck?

nashville predators - uuuugly ass jerseys and stuuuupid ass name

new jersey devils - jack hughes isn’t as hot as y’all think he is both in terms of attraction and skill

new york islanders - i hold a deep seated hatred for all new york city teams. you and your fanbases are so goddamn annoying

new york rangers - same with the islanders except 10x worse purely because of the little rivalry the caps hage with you (hope tom wilson squishes you tonight <3)

ottawa senators - really says something about your team that you had to name brady tkachuk of all people captain

philadelphia flyers - literally what is your logo i hate it. the only thing you have going for you is gritty and even that gets tiring REAL fast

pittsburgh penguins - i don’t care if the caps/pens rivalry doesn’t exist anymore it’s ingrained into me i hate you all and especially sidney crosby. you’re an aging team. retire already. ovechkin is better and malkin is overhyped

san jose sharks - wasted a sick ass team name on a depressing team

seattle kraken - y’all were doing so good at the start of the season what the hell happened. now it’s just disappointment…

st. louis blues - you’re one of those teams that i forget isn’t fake sometimes. like you’re not forgettable you’re just not… real

tampa bay lightning - i don’t get the hype the fanbase has for vasilevsky and your gray/yellow jerseys are way better than the normal ones

toronto maple leafs - auston matthews is not hot even slightly y’all just have competency kinks and it’s sad

vancouver canucks - quinn hughes looks so haunted and depressed all the time for a reason

vegas golden knights - did y’all think you were being funny when you decided to match with the kings?

washington capitals - jesus fuck just retire the entire goddamn team at this point. stop sending your prospects to the ahl and fucking play them if you want to give your roster some “youth” (i’m looking at you gmbm & laviolette)

winnipeg jets - if it weren’t for the fact that i used a website to make this list alphabetical order i would’ve forgotten you

[nyxwordsmithwrites]

Chemically Imbalanced Chapter 40

Trigger warnings: violence, unplanned pregnancy, immigration problems, abuse, spousal abuse,

Jose couldn't believe that his son was sitting in front of him. Years had passed since he last saw him and he'd all but lost hope for a reunion. But here they were. Roman, his son, had become an adult in the time that passed. The reunion was bittersweet to Jose as it reminded him of just how much of his son's life he missed. Remus and Roman chatted as though no time had passed which only made the guilt he felt sting more. 

Virgil shifted in his seat and moved a cup of tea towards Jose, "You look like you might need it just as much as me." He offered, trying to lighten the mood when he'd noticed that Jose held his tension in the same places as Roman. 

The older gentleman sighed and rolled his shoulders attempting to release some of the tension, "I--thanks." He replied, taking the hot ceramic cup and letting the heat ground him. The next time he looked up he saw Roman looking at him, "Roman." He offered quietly, "I don't even know where to start or how to explain." He said quietly, looking back down at his tea not daring to look at Roman for fear of seeing resentment or hate. 

"Just like in the Sound of Music, the beginning is a very good place to start. " Roman offered with a smile, watching his dad and taking him in. Even though it had been years there was something so familiar about him, that familiarity brought safety.

Jose let out a wet chuckle, "Alright then. The beginning it is." 

There was no denying that it had been love at first sight. Jose had been studying abroad for a semester when he met Natalie. The whirlwind romance was one for the ages. They quickly went from strangers to never seeing one without the other. 

Their friends had said something about how they were too dependent on each other however both of them brushed it off. Those comments only made the two of them seek each other out even more. 

When the semester came to an end Jose tried to convince Natalie to come back home with him but was met with resistance. 

"I don't want to move. What if it upsets the baby?" Natalie worried, resting her hand over her nonexistent bump. 

Jose nearly fainted right there as he took in his beautiful Natalie, she stood near the window with the setting sun behind her casting a bright halo around her making her look angelic,  "You're pregnant?" He asked, leaning heavily against the bench for support. 

Natalie turned towards her boyfriend with a bright smile and nodded, "I am." 

With those two words, Jose's fate was sealed. He would do anything to be there for his child. Natalie had never looked as beautiful as she did at that moment. He quickly moved towards her and spun her in circles, quietly whispering near her ear in his native language about how happy he was and how he couldn't wait to be a father. 

_____________________

Jose did his best to provide for them but unfortunately, immigration policies that had been put in place did not work in his favor. Eventually, Natalie stated that the visa process and the money were a waste of time when they could just get married. With their marriage came the ability to earn more money with better-paying jobs due to his visa.  

But the marriage had been more out of necessity or obligation than love. For years Jose had tried to get a visa through the legal channels and had poured so much money into the process. He had his second thoughts about the marriage especially when they were really struggling and he'd picked up any overtime that was offered. The reason for the overtime was two-fold. One was because they needed the money as Natalie insisted on being a stay-at-home mom. Two he dreaded going home every night. If he didn't work overtime Natalie yelled that he was good for nothing and tried to starve their son to death. On the other hand, if he worked overtime Natalie became suspicious and accused him of cheating on her. Of course, neither of these were true but after hearing them so often it felt like maybe she was right.  

With a better-paying job and more manageable hours, Jose finally felt like he was able to see the light at the end of the tunnel. All that changed after Remus was born. 

____________________

There was something different about Natalie after Remus. She looked at the child like she feared he might spontaneously combust or perhaps she was wishing he would. She had never looked at Roman that way. Jose thought maybe he was just seeing things since her behavior towards Roman hadn't changed. 

After a long shift, Jose came home and found Natalie barricading herself in the kitchen with a knife pointed at Remus. She was shrieking and crying as she watched her son. It was impossible to understand what she was saying and honestly, Jose wasn't sure he wanted to know. 

His eyes went to Remus who was sitting up and looking at his mom, reaching his hands out for her but by the look in Natalie's eyes she didn't even recognize the child as her. The first thing he noticed about Remus was the blood around him that was coming from his hand. 

Jose picked up Remus and took him and Roman to the bathroom so he could patch up his son. He would likely never know how Remus got injured as that day Remus stopped talking to anyone but Roman. 

This was the first time Jose considered that maybe Natalie needed help. He did his best to keep Remus away from her and ensure that he had everything he needed. Jose also tried to urge Natalie to seek professional help but if anything that only made things worse. Even when he suggested Roman and Remus go to therapy he was met with resistance by Natalie. 

When Jose had brought up seeking help Natalie had screamed and cried for hours about how she was trying her best and maybe if he did more this wouldn't be happening

Without Natalie's knowledge, he did manage to take both of his sons to therapy. Jose couldn't care less what Natalie's reaction would be if she ever found out. This was in the best interest of his children.  

At this point, Jose was half convinced that this was normal behavior. There were times after the fact that Jose went over all of the days leading up to the end that he tried to pinpoint if he'd missed a sign but everything seemed normal. 

One day he came home from work with Remus on his hip to find the house trashed. There was a letter amongst the wreck from Natalie that said she was taking Roman and leaving. That Jose was no longer the man she married and she couldn't take it anymore. Upon reading that letter Jose knew he should've felt sad or ashamed but he couldn't help but feel relief. That Remus was safe, he was safe. The only thing he was worried about was Roman. How he'd ever find his son or ensure that he was okay. There was no telling what Natalie would be capable of. Thankfully, she hadn't shown any aggression towards Roman but Jose knew that it wasn't safe for Natalie to have him. 

After Natalie left Jose never stopped looking for Roman. However, there were very few people who wanted to assist an immigrant in finding his child. He'd told his story many times and found that most people just stared at him and came to the conclusion that his wife was abused and running for a reason. During his search child protective services had been called on him multiple times as anyone who listened to his story assumed that Remus was also in danger. Thankfully these assumptions were unfounded and he was able to take care of Remus on his own. 

_______________________

Years had passed and Jose had stopped telling people his story. This didn't mean he'd stopped looking for Roman but he mostly used the internet or prayed that somehow they would make it back to each other. 

The day has been like any other day when he received a text from an unknown number claiming to be Roman. Jose was hesitant to believe it at first as it seemed so impossible but upon further investigation he realized it was actually Roman. 

It took everything in him to be patient to schedule a meet up. This was his son they were talking about. A son he never thought he would be allowed to see again. With the reconnection came the hard part of trying to explain to his grown son what had happened. But it felt like all he had were excuses. That he hadn't tried hard enough or been a good enough father. 

______________

Once he'd said his part Jose hazard a glance at Roman and saw that his son had tears streaming down his face, "I'm so sorry." He pleaded, needing his son to understand.

Roman shook his head, "Dad no." He whispered, wiping at his face and feeling Virgil's hand on his thigh rubbing small circles, "you did so much for both of us." He added, "She--she always told me you left."

"I promise you I didn't. I have spent all of my free time looking for you." Jose assured, setting his hand on the table near Roman and instantly relaxing when he grasped his hand. 

The teen choked on a sob, "I believe you." He whispered, squeezing his hand. 

Those three words broke all of Jose's resolve. Roman believed him. His son didn't blame him. He didn't hate him. Jose swallowed hard, "Roman. Can I have another hug?" He asked gently, trying to let his son set the pace. 

Roman immediately got up and wrapped his arms around his father, not even allowing him to get out of his seat, "please stay." 

Jose whimpered and leaned into Roman any attempt at trying to pull himself together shattered by his son's request to have him stay. 

[maturemenoftvandfilms]

Darryl Sutter Born: August 19, 1958, Viking, Alberta, Canada Physique: Average Build Height: 5'11" (180 cm)

Darryl John Sutter is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player and current head coach of the Calgary Flames. He is one of seven Sutter brothers, six of whom made the NHL; all but two worked alongside Darryl in some capacity during his first tenure with the Flames. In addition to the Flames, Sutter has served as the head coach of the Chicago Blackhawks, San Jose Sharks, and Los Angeles Kings. He coached the Kings to Stanley Cup championships in 2012 and 2014.

Handsome with a nice stern look to him, Sutter is married with three children and lives on a farm outside of Viking where he raises cattle. Now I'm imagining him boning on top of a bale hay in a barn. 

What? You can thank Jon Tester and Cody Archie for that fantasy.

[lonelyfanboy48]

Steven Universe Of The Creek Chapter 21 Jam Buds In Creek Daycare

The group arrived at the Creek Daycare, where Jessica was playing on her own without the other kids. Angel Jose had been keeping an eye on the kids since they’d arrived at the daycare this morning. He heard everything from Jessica’s point of view of what happened to her brothers, even if she didn’t go out into the storm last night. When the owner of Creek Daycare took notice of Craig and his friends, he immediately took notice of the pink lion by their side. He rushed up to the group in a microsecond which took them by surprise.

“Craig.” Angel Jose walked up to Craig. “No pets allowed in the Creek Daycare.”

“Thanks for informing us but…he’s not my pet.” Craig pointed at Lion.

“He’s my pet.” Steven filling in. “But sure, we'll keep him away from the daycare.”

“You must be Steven Universe.” Angel Jose smiled. “Jessica told me about you along with the spread of information going around in the creek.”

“If you’re worrying about him turning pink, don’t worry, it won’t happen here.” Connie added.

“We’re only here to check up on Craig's sister.” Sparkle Cadet said.

“Today was a wild turn of events.” Kelsey replied.

“Seems you had a marathon of episodes today.” Angel Jose placed his hands on his hips. “I’m sure there won’t be an episode of chaos here.”

“We'll make sure of that.” Steven replied as Angel allowed the group inside the daycare.

“Jessica.” Craig called as he witnessed his sister playing with her stuffed animal, Small Uncle.

“Craig?” She turned her attention, while noticing Steven and his girlfriend by his side.

“You’ve been playing with your stuffed animal alone?” Steven wondered.

“Yes…” She lowered her head. “Though I knew you were staying. Bernard told me when I woke up.”

Steven wishes he would try to patch things up with Bernard later, but he’s unsure if he’s gonna handle being around him if he’s willing to spend a day with him. Especially since he has a big pink lion which could scare him by chance. “Do you want me to play with you?” He offered.

“I would, but it feels awkward that you’re here instead of being a hundred miles away.”

Connie then walked up to Jessica which took her by notice. After listening to Steven’s story upon arrival with Lion, the only option she has is to give comfort to the ones who are involved in the situation. She leaned down to Jessica’s level, placing her hand on her face.

“It’s never a bad thing though.” She smiled. “I’m Connie. I was Steven’s Jam Bud when we were children, stopping corrupted gems.”

This caused Jessica to smile a bit. “I guess it’s not really a bad thing to have company from him.”

Connie then took notice of Jessica’s stuffed animal. “I didn't really have company before I met Steven. Your stuffed animal’s good.”

“Thanks. He's my favorite stuffed animal.” She handed Small Uncle to Connie as she got back up on her feet.

“Do you always play with it?”

“Yes, I always take it with me almost all the time.”

“I had stuffed animals when I was young, mainly when Garnet, Amethyst, and Pearl weren't around.” Steven added. “Believe me, I never knew I was that lonely back then.”

“You were also lonely?” Craig asked.

“Them being the protectors were more important than taking care of me unfortunately.”

“Seems you being alone is almost how I’m feeling right now.” Jessica replied. “Minus my family stopping corrupted gems. If I knew what a corrupted gem is.”

“Don’t worry Jessica.” Craig smiled. “If there were a corrupted gem here, the creek wouldn’t be safe for any of us.” He then placed his hand on her shoulder. “Then again on the plus side, you would’ve seen what Steven’s really capable of. Including Connie.”

As Connie gave back Jessica’s stuffed animal, Kelsey continued to eye Connie's scabbard on her back. She really wants to see her in action with her sword, but in a time like this, very unlikely.

“You know that shield that he showed you yesterday?”

“Yes?” His sister nodded.

“He actually teleports it out of thin air!” J.P. smiled as Steven used his powers, revealing his shield, catching the attention of not only Jessica, but also the other kids, including the owner who reacted the moment he saw the shield.

“Oh no! No! No!” Angel Jose jumped into the daycare. “No weapons allowed!” Just when he took the shield from Steven, it disappeared in a flash. “What the?”

“Sorry, it was part of my powers but I wasn’t gonna harm anyone.” Steven replied.

“Just because I agree with others that you’re less harmful, doesn’t mean you’re allowed to show kids weapons.”

“He’s right.” Sparkle Cadet said. “Not really a great idea to do that here.”

“Hey, is that a sword?” He pointed at Connie’s sword. “I draw the line of that, give me that sword!”

“NO!” Kelsey jumped in front of Connie which took her and others by surprise. “She won’t use it here at all, don’t take it away!”

“Kelsey, the kids would see that. They never ignore curiosity.”

“Please, her sword’s a one of a kind!”

“She didn’t even show it to us.” Omar replied.

“It’s still one of a kind!”

“She’s right but don’t worry, I’m not gonna use my sword here.” Connie replied.

“No weapons involved.” Steven filling in.

“We’re keeping the kids safe.” Craig added.

Angel Jose took a deep breath while being as nice as possible, despite the rules he made at the Creek Daycare. “Okay, just make sure you don’t say anything when they ask you about it.”

He went back outside of the daycare as Connie looked down at Kelsey. “Thanks for helping me out but…you’re getting a little too excited.”

“She’s that into you being a sword fighter.” Craig replied.

“Maybe after we’re done here, can you give me sword fighting lessons?” Kelsey asked. “I would really appreciate it.”

Connie bites her lip, remembering she didn’t come over for sword fighting lessons. “I don’t know about that.”

“Connie, we didn’t know you would be coming but, it’s probably gonna be the only time you’re ever gonna be here.”

“Craig, even if I’m willing to stay longer, it’s only for an emergency for Steven. With you having pink eyes, I don’t know what’s gonna happen next.” She then leaned down to Craig’s level. “Also, giving a kid sword fighting lessons won’t make a difference. I may know how to fight with a sword, but I’m still in college studying.”

“I would probably stay in college rather than being a sword fighter.” Jessica replied.

“True, but the point I’m trying to make is there was always a serious situation which always involved a battle.” She then turned to Kelsey. “If we had our enemies that involved the gem war itself, maybe I would train you.”

Kelsey looked down on the ground. She didn’t want to be greedy, but on the other hand, she may never get another chance to be trained with an actual sword fighter. Craig saw the disappointment in his friend, but with everything he went through over the last night, she wouldn’t resist if it was Connie out there fighting.

“Steven will be around for the next few days.” He turned to Connie which she turned back. “The thing with that is, we don’t even know if he’s ever leaving due to…what you said about pink eyes.”

“Obviously.” J.P. commented.

“But my friends had fun hanging out with him and Kelsey didn’t get a chance to do an activity with him.”

“I’ve been thinking about what place I wanted to go since we’ve been doing that today but since you’re here, I couldn’t help myself.” Kelsey replied.

Connie admitted she grew a liking to Craig’s friends, which is always the price of checking up on Steven. “If you can find a place that feels like we’re practicing, I might reconsider.”

“Thanks.” Kelsey smiled. “I would show you my Super Secret Book Club but-”

“We have a few hours left Kelsey.” Craig replied. “I might want to take Steven to at least one more place before we head home.”

“How about I pick the next location?” Omar offered. “Or at the very least, have Steven met one person I’m aware of?”

“Okay then.”

“I was gonna say if she was interested…and willing to come over tomorrow.” Kelsey lowered her head.

“I saw her doing a book cover at the library days ago.” Steven smiled. “But that’s up to you.”

“If I have the time tomorrow night, I’ll come over.” Connie smiled. “Then again, I missed what it’s like being in a book club before I headed to college. Been working on my studies triple time, and I haven’t read a book since.”

“You will like my book, Fire & Ice. I just finished the cover yesterday.”

“I would think of something to take you but, let’s just say Small Uncle doesn’t want to come back to the specifics of the Creek.” Jessica said.

“Big time.” Craig agreed. “Is there anything else going on with Benard when you last saw him?”

“Her girlfriend took him to her place along with friends to calm him down. He might be back home at sunset.”

“We still need to inform the parents…who didn’t notice me staying there overnight.” Steven remembered. “As if it wasn’t enough for me, making sure everyone’s okay with me around.”

“Hey, at least there’s no negativity here.” Sparkle Cadet smiled.

“But I can’t avoid it tonight.”

“I’ll make sure they won’t take it hard.” Craig replied. “We should probably go now to where Kelsey wants to go.”

“And after that, we should do my thing.” Omar added.

“Yeah, I’m gonna go out spreading more positivity. It was nice knowing you.” Sparkle Cadet said, lifting her hand up.

“Make sure you check on anything suspicious. That’s the least amount of positivity we need.” Connie said.

“As in, preventing negativity.” Steven shook Sparkle Cadet’s hand. She left the Daycare as the group’s ready to leave with Kelsey taking the lead.

“I’ll also help tonight if you need it!” Jessica called.

“Thanks!” Steven called back.

“You’re not gonna help out?” Craig turned to Connie.

“I would, but I really need to sleep on time to get ready for tomorrow. Plus.” She pointed at Lion. “They won’t allow him inside.”

“And I’m sure Bernard would have a panic attack if he saw him.” Steven added.

“Okay, just me, you, Jessica, and my parents in my house tonight.” Craig replied. “We need to have you stay for at least a week.”

“You think that’s enough?” J.P. asked.

“I don’t want to go too far, he may have to find another apartment.”

“Let’s not focus on tonight, let’s just enjoy what’s left of the day.” Steven said. “Is the place we’re going to feel more wisdomic?”

“It’s what I need when it comes to swordsmanship.” Connie added.

This gave Kelsey an idea for what location she and Connie can go to. “Maybe there is a place full of wisdom.”

[sirensorisons]

"He tells of the history of Panem, the country that rose up out of the ashes of a place that was once called North America."

(THG chapter 1)

"In school, they tell us the Capitol was built in a place once called the Rockies. District 12 was in a region known as Appalachia."

(THG chapter 3)

Where do you think location of Capitol and Panem's districts exactly?

The Appalachian’s span multiple states. Where do you picture District 12?

How long between this time and Panem rise? 200 hundred years? More?

Thank you so much

@curiousnonny

the capitol - i subscribe to it being in salt lake city, utah.

district 1 - i've always imagined it as being in southern california, just because that's where hollywood and beverly hills are. luxury district, land of celebrity... los angeles makes sense to me. i could also see it encompassing las vegas, to bring it closer to where the capitol is located.

district 2 - it's a mountainous area near the capitol, so i've always pictured it in denver, colorado.

district 3 - it only makes sense to me for it to be in san jose, california, the home of silicon valley.

district 4 - i picture it as being in northern california. in thg, katniss sees the lights of another district and wonders if it's 7 or 4, so they might be near each other. katniss also suggests in catching fire that part of the reason she has trouble understanding mags is because of her accent making words indistinct, which seems consistent with norcal. then in mockingjay, finnick tells a story about a sea turtle, so district 4 must be somewhere warm. cali checks out.

district 5 - i imagine it being a very urban district (explained more thoroughly in my foxface meta), so i think it might be somewhere that was already very urban in the beforetimes. possibly chicago?

district 6 - i could either see it being in detroit, michigan, where the automotive industry lived and died, or more centrally located at the intersection of various railways, like st louis, missouri.

district 7 - in as long as i'm burning (shameless self-promo), i've placed it in eugene, oregon.

district 8 - i imagine it being close to district 12, since bonnie and twill were able to make it there in catching fire. since they pass through there on their way north to district 13, i think it's somewhere in the midwest. maybe ohio.

district 9 - it's the grain district, and most of the usa's wheat comes from kansas, so it's probably right in there.

district 10 - as the livestock district, it's probably in texas and oklahoma.

district 11 - probably takes up a broad swath of the south so they can work the land, but i've always pictured the largest settlement as being in georgia.

district 12 - i always pictured it in west virginia, but the first movie was filmed in north carolina, and based on the accent suzanne collins used for lucy gray here (contains tbosas spoilers), i think it could go either way. west virginia works better imo because it's closer to where i think district 8 is.

district 13 - since the cover story for their industry was graphite, i could see it being in upstate new york. there used to be some graphite mines up there.

as for the time period... the original script for thg says that the series takes place 300 years from the present day, but personally i think it's more like 300 to 400 years. i could see the technological advances described in the series could probably happen on a timeline of only 100-200 years, and the natural disasters described in chapter 1 could happen even sooner than that.

but based on the changes in dialect and naming conventions between now and the time of panem, i think 300-400 years makes sense. that's analogous to the time between now and 1600 - so their english would be intelligible to us, but still markedly different. (of course, given that amount of time, accents could be very different to what we recognize, rendering my points about mags and lucy gray obsolete... but since the books are written in present-day english and not some projected future dialect, i think we can assume those accents are tied to what we would recognize.)

[taleofteal]

"It was not the sunset, It was you."

Pairing: Lee Juyeon x Q (Ji Changmin)

Group: The Boyz

Inspired by:

— Jukyu's Instagram Post

— Quotes: "If it doesn't move my heart, if it doesn't make my heart flutter, I won't post it" — Lee Juyeon

— Quotes: U.S. tour..... they went to various cities, met so many people, and did so many things, but to juyeon, this was the highlight of it all (twt @cinnamojju)

—

It was the night after their performance in the city. The euphoria had not even left them, but they could feel how they needed their rest time quickly. And they were at the hotel at the moment.

The city of San Jose, where it was quite hot during the day, now they were wrapped in a cool embrace of the low temperature of the city. But it was not one that they couldn't handle. As winter in Seoul is much harsher than this.

That was the first U.S. tour they held with all the 11 members together. Starting from New York, Atlanta, Dallas, the city of angel L.A., and now, they had just finished their last stop. The Capital of Sillicon Valley, San Jose.

Each member went to their own designated room to get some rest. The order was decided much earlier, and him, Ji Changmin, got into the same room with his best friend yet again for God knows how many times ever since the first time they became roommates.

The first thing they did after reaching their room was do the silly game of rock, paper, and scissors to decide who got to use the shower room first. And between these two losers trapped in their hot boddies, luckily enough, Ji Changmin won and got to use the shower first before Chanhee.

During his shower time, that best friend of his in the room just couldn't keep quiet and asked him about their schedule tomorrow. Because Chanhee knows, Changmin would go straight to bed and cover himself with a blanket to send himself to the dreamland after he's done with all the care routine.

They promised to explore the city, or so to say, to walk around the city while sharing some meals together on their break time after their concert. As they thought it would be such a shame to just stay at the hotel and not explore the area when they had the chance to do so. So, better grab the opportunity and do it before they regret it.

After a long discussion, with some banter here and there, they decided to do their promise around noon to evening because they treasured their sleeping time the most and wanted to sleep till noon to catch some sleep.

And that was exactly what they did after finishing their own showers and skincare routin, just as what Chanhee predicted; going right to their bed and closing their eyes to sleep.

—

When the next day greeted them, it was Chanhee's alarm that woke them up. The sunlight had already been trying to peek into their room for a while now from the gap of their closed curtain.

Chanhee woke up first, as he was the one who's trying to turn off his alarm. It took him a few minutes to collect his soul before he got up and tried to call out for Changmin. In which Changmin answered with a muffled, still-sound-sleepy-and-too-lazy-to-wake-up voice.

"New-ssi. Please use the bathroom first, and let me collect my soul while you were there. Thank you," said Changmin after rubbing his eye and going back on hugging one of his pillows.

After a few minutes, Chanhee got out from the shower, and Changmin was already sitting at the edge of his bed, his feet on the floor, his head was looking down at his feet and he bet that his eyes must be closed too.

And he's right.

"Kyu-ssi. Please use the shower now and get ready quickly because I am already hungry, Kyu-ssi."

Chanhee nudged Changmin's shoulder to wake him up once again. Thanks to that nudge, Ji Changmin was dragged back to reality and was able to finish his own shower quickly before his best friend nag him about how much hungry he was.

After checking their outfit, their phone, and their wallet. The two best friends who were said to be bestest friend ever for 75 more years to come started their own journey to walk around the area. But their first priority was to get themselves some food first.

Luckily, they were able to save themselves two seats at a nearby restaurant that served some real good food approved by their stomach.

The sun shone so brightly you could feel the heat from the reflection of the glass from inside the restaurant. The two best friends took their time to enjoy their food while chatting about what they should do, what they should buy, where they should visit next, and many more.

They finished their brunch and were just about to leave the neighborhood when they met a fan of their group. Changmin was zoning off for a while, looking like he was having an eye staring competition with the fan before he snapped out of it and gave their autograph to the fan.

Meeting one of our fans the day after the concert, in public, felt nice actually, thought Changmin.

After that, they fully spent their day together exploring the city together and came back to the meeting spot to take their bus to their next destination. The airport.

It's already the last day of their US tour of them being in the U.S.A. together.

Finding their own comfort zone, their favorite spot, all of THE BOYZ's members were starting to get busy on their own things. Because it was really going to take a while until they reached the airport, each of them is trying to make themselves comfortable.

Changmin chose to sit near the window. It's so he could look at the scenery through the window while listening to his favorite song and getting his own "space". Coincidentally enough, the sit across from him was occupied by Juyeon.

The two people silently agreed to each other's seatmate. Changmin honestly thought he enjoys every time and every moment he has with Juyeon because being with that man comforts him so much that even he feels like his soul is being cleansed.

That without him realizing it, that man has a special spot inside him. A very comfortable and nice spot owned by him only.

While Juyeon thought he is very compatible with Changmin. He doesn't understand what exactly, but something about Changmin always draws him closer and closer it pulls a heart string inside of him.

Both of them sat silently on their sit as the bus started to drive through the highway road.

It was near the time for sunset when the inside of the bus started to get dark, and the orange hue started to paint the interior of the bus through the light reflected from the window.

Juyeon was closing his eyes at first, but then he heard the camera sound from his right side. It came from Changmin.

Juyeon opened his eyes slowly, and what came into his sight was a scene so beautiful that his heart skipped a beat and his breath was taken away from him.

The reflection on his eyes at that time was Changmin leaning his head on the window while staring at the outside scenery, the dark sunset light as his background, some part of him couldn't be seen due to the darkness, but his silhouette itself just added more aesthetic into the scene captured through Juyeon's lense.

By the time he woke up from his 'daydream', there was already another camera sound coming from his palm where he held his phone.

He took it.

He took a picture of it.

The beautiful scenery.

And the beauty in front of him.

Juyeon checked the picture he took, and he stared at it while his thumb couldn't help but caress his phone screen.

He suddenly remembered that day when he talked about his Instagram feed meaning.

He said,

"If it doesn't move my heart, if it doesn't make my heart flutter, I won't post it."

At this time, he could feel his heart moved at the sight of this picture. It still is. Right now. While looking at how the man's silhouette was embraced by the dark shadow and the sunset hue as if those two exist just for the man only.

And on this journey, on their US tour, the boys went to various cities, met so many people, and did so many things, but to Lee Juyeon, that moment was the highlight of it all.

It's not the sunset. It's him.

Ji Changmin is the highlight of it all.

With that, the picture of Changmin with the sunset is now successfully framed on Juyeon's feed.

And will forever be there.

[joemuggs]

Albums of 2023 part 3

And - continued from part 2 - some more! This one does what it says on the tin. Levon Vincent knows the old chestnut "dancing about architecture" is accidentally profound: this is 11 pieces of holy four dimensional architecture exquisitely designed for your body to move through.

It's been a great year for old school BRAINDANCE, in no small part thanks to Mighty Force records releasing thick and fast, and this from Kams, straight out of Beckenham, is the best - just warm-hearted, melodic, acidic, danceable, classic electronica.

My old mucker Culshaw is a scholar, a gent, an adventurer, and on the sly a great musician. This comeback to the studio is MAGIC - global and spiritual and incidentally Balearic in a Jose Padilla sense - but its connections are based on highest common factors, never dully fusioneering.

Just fries my mind that Boris seem to get creatively hungrier and angrier with every passing year. This collab brings in all sorts - goth, thrash, synthwave - but what I really love is the unironic POWER METAL energy. Music to be struck by lightning to.

It's been an incredible year for electropop - and this album from producer turned singer songwriter Avalon Emerson is the *sweetest* of the crop, lighter than air, a gentle digital dream, but with surreptitious emotional heft. Reminds me a little bit of millennium era Morr Music, Tarwater etc? Must listen as a whole: it draws you in and in....

Even heavier than the Boris, and the record that made me fall in love with grindcore all over again - had to order the vinyl even given transatlantic premium. Nepalese band in New York Chepang TAKE. NO. PRISONERS. HUURUUUURURRGGHGHHH.

I was NOT expecting this from Anhoni - but I'm a sucker for Muscle Shoals style country-soul grooves, and though they risk getting "a bit Jools Holland", here they're delivered with total assurance plus the bleakness of the lyrics, fierceness of delivery and a few noises moments all adds some serious edge.

More electropop - this one from Jessy Lanza is not a million miles from the Avalon Emerson in its pristine futurist sound, but it's a bit spikier, eerier, like she is setting puzzles for you.

My most played record of the year. Like the Culshaw, a bit Cafe Del Mar in the most urbane possible sense - Sissoko & co's blend of jazz, classical, W African & European folk is done with unbelievable poise and emotion and is completely addictive.

This has been all-conquering this year and rightly so. It's not just the fearsome doom bits, it's the straightforward folk that's great: Lankum remind us of dreadful, beautiful paradoxes of being human that don't really change through the centuries.

Paul Simon says this was written in dreams, and it really sounds like it. Genuinely transporting, surreal, gorgeous and - I have to say it - roughly 10,000,000 times more interesting than anything Bob Dylan has done this century.

Completely UN-deconstructed trance... the way Romy taps into the melancholy of the most globe-conquering of 90s pop dance is something quite special and will serve as a real cynicism test... go on, let it twang your heartstrings!

I've kind of idly admired King Krule's music from a distance previously but that changed last year - he really is something special eh? Way more than the sum of influences, and a proper world-builder.

One of many where I missed the promo at the time (sorry PRs) but then discovered it via my sp****y recommends. Just beautiful post-classical, post-ambient musing music from Audrey Carmes that sounds like austere but lovely perfumes and crisp clean cotton.

Of course death is at the heart of Depeche Mode's music so how tragic but appropriate that it took Fletch's death to turbocharge them creatively. This is like a telescoping together of their whole history - but also still in love with new sounds...

More death, more darkness, with Amy Winehouse serving as a dark angel muse drawing together and crystallising the ambient, abstract and dream cabaret influences Kevin Martin has been incubating in his solo KRM albums since 2019. Crushingly sad and great.

Espec after seeing him rock it in the morning at We Out Here, I do feel like Joshua Idehen is in danger of becoming a late-blooming star, you know. Explicitly connecting David Byrne, Mike Skinner, Maxi Jazz and a finger-jabbing Nigerian preacher, he ROCKS.

Yes, Yussef Dayes really is all that and a packed of Pickled Onion Space Raiders. Brit jazz just seems to have been in a consistent triumphant state these last five years or so and there's no sign of it stopping being that way with albums like this still coming.

Ben Howard is an artist who'd completely passed me by despite being really quite big - but again the sp****y algorithm brought me this and it's really amazing, thought provoking, grown up pop. I *instantly* guessed it was Bullion on production too, no lie. ❤️

I've said for a long time that "mumble rap" has deep atavistic echoes of the blues and psychedelia - and here's the mumbler in chief Lil Yachty joining the dots back through the decades. Funkadelic, Hendrix, Beck, Outkast, BUTTHOLE SURFERS? Yeah it's all here. Not saying it's one those levels, but it's great and

Holy shit is Dot Allison on a roll or what? This is effectively 2021's Heart Shaped Scars growing in all directions: bigger, grander, more cosmic, even more beautiful. The partnership with Hannah Peel as arranger is front and centre and works incredibly.

Alright it's not as unique as Bad Bunny's 2022 masterpiece Un Verano Sin Ti - this is more trap, less overtly "Latin" - but it's really, really good. Sometimes not knowing the language can emphasise the emotion in the sound: the blues in the trap, the Spanish derived "tristeza"...

My fave Villalobos moments are often him working his wonky magic on "real" instruments and songs (see his Tony Allen / ECM reworks) so a whole album of him tweaking A Mountain Of One's Balearic soft rock is a real treat. Gets progressively "more Ricardo" as it goes on.

I love how Young Fathers have become such a beacon of what a "big festival band" CAN be when it broadens its influences out and grooves a bit. This album is such a big step up for them, and I really hope they keep this momentum because it's BIG FUN.

And talking of Scots "big festival bands" with diverse influences pushing the envelope and having fun with loading in more pop, dance, rap etc, The Djangos really went to town on this one and I was surprised not to see it getting more hype. A proper weird and wonderful party of an album.

Okayyyyyyyy last part is here, get stuck in!

[justforbooks]

The rapper Coolio has died at the age of 59 in Los Angeles, his manager has confirmed.

The artist, whose real name is Artis Leon Ivey Jr, passed away at a friend’s house, his longtime manager, Jarez Posey, told the Associated Press and other outlets including TMZ, Rolling Stone and Variety.

Coolio is best known for his 1995 single Gangsta’s Paradise, for which he won a Grammy for best solo rap performance. The runaway hit came from the soundtrack of the Michelle Pfeiffer film Dangerous Minds and sampled Stevie Wonder’s 1976 song Pastime Paradise.

He was nominated for five other Grammys during a career that began in the late 1980s.

His career took off with the 1994 release of his debut album, It Takes a Thief, on Tommy Boy Records. Its opening track, Fantastic Voyage, would reach No 3 on the Billboard Hot 100.

A year later, Gangsta’s Paradise would become a No 1 single, with its haunting opening lyrics: “As I walk through the valley of the shadow of death / I take a look at my life and realize there’s nothin’ left / ’cause I’ve been blastin’ and laughin’ so long that / even my mama thinks that my mind is gone.”

Earlier this year, the song hit 1bn views on YouTube. “I want to thank everybody for all the years of love and being there for me,” Coolio said in a video marking the milestone, Billboard reported. “I hope I got you through some good times and got you through some bad times.”

Pfeiffer was among those to pay tribute to the rapper. In a post on Instagram, the actress said: “Heartbroken to hear of the passing of the gifted artist @coolio. A life cut entirely too short … I remember him being nothing but gracious. 30 years later I still get chills when I hear (Gangsta’s Paradise).”

Rapper Ice Cube wrote on Twitter: “This is sad news. I witness first hand this man’s grind to the top of the industry. Rest In Peace.”

Born in Monessen, Pennsylvania, south of Pittsburgh, Coolio moved to Compton, California, where he went to community college. He worked as a volunteer firefighter and in airport security before devoting himself full-time to hip-hop.

His early work for firefighting crews in the San Jose area was “a way to clean up”, he told the Los Angeles Times in 1994. “In firefighting training was discipline I needed. We ran every day. I wasn’t drinking or smoking or doing the stuff I usually did.”

Coolio would go on to become an actor as well as an award-winning musician, appearing in dozens of films and TV shows throughout his career. Starting with a guest spot as himself on “Martin” (1995), Coolio’s credits include the “Dangerous Minds” TV spinoff (1996), “Sabrina the Teenage Witch” (1996), “Batman & Robin” (1997), “The Nanny” (1998), “Tyrone” (1999), “Midnight Mass” (1999), “Charmed” (2002), “Star-ving” (2009), “Futurama” (2001, 2010) and “Gravity Falls” (2012).

In recent years, Coolio had appeared on the reality show Big Brother and developed a cooking series, which grew an online following. He made headlines in 2013 for a planned auction of his music rights, including to Gangsta’s Paradise, in order to fund his career as a chef. He also wrote a cookbook and appeared on celebrity cooking shows.

Tributes have been paid to the Grammy award-winning musician. The death of the rapper was confirmed by Sheila Finegan, who represented him at Trinity Artists International, and said in a statement: “We are saddened by the loss of our dear friend and client, Coolio, who passed away this afternoon.

“Thank you to everyone worldwide who has listened to his music and to everyone who has been reaching out regarding his passing. Please have Coolio’s loved ones in your thoughts and prayers.”

The actor Michelle Pfeiffer, who starred in the 1995 film Dangerous Minds, for which Coolio recorded the multi-award winning hit single Gangsta’s Paradise, said she was “heartbroken” to hear of his death.

Writing on an Instagram post, Pfeiffer said: “Heartbroken to hear of the passing of the gifted artist @coolio. A life cut entirely too short.”

She added: “30 years later I still get chills when I hear the song. Sending love and light to his family.”

Ice Cube, a former member of the hip-hop group NWA, said Coolio’s death was “sad news”.

Writing on Twitter, the rapper and actor said: “This is sad news. I witness first hand this man’s grind to the top of the industry. Rest In Peace @Coolio”.

MC Hammer, best known for his hit single U Can’t Touch This, paid tribute by posting a picture of Coolio, describing him as “one of the nicest dudes I’ve known”.

American rapper Snoop Dogg also paid tribute, writing “Gangstas paradise. R I P”, while singer Bret Michaels said: “My deepest condolences go out to the family, friends, and fans on the loss of @Coolio. Awesome guy who will be missed.”

The cause of Coolio’s death has not been confirmed, although it is understood that he was found unresponsive on the bathroom floor of a friend’s house in Los Angeles.

Daily inspiration. Discover more photos at http://justforbooks.tumblr.com

[vgckwb]

P5R: Rebel Girl (A FeMC Story/P5R Rework) Chapter 133: 7 Targets (And Some Surprises)

The next day, Makoto messaged the group before school started.

Makoto: I got the data.

Ren: Perfect!

Sumire: Way to go!

Makoto: I’ll come over to hand it off this afternoon.

Futaba: Heh heh, can’t wait.

Ren: Remember, we’re all meeting up to get some Mementos missions done as well.

Ren: Make sure to keep your schedules cleared.

Ann: I should be fine. My agency knows I have a field trip coming up, so they’re giving me some breathing room.

Sumire: Likewise, I leave for my trip tomorrow, so Coach isn’t hosting any classes today.

Ryuji: I think the rest of us are good to go as well.

Yusuke: Agreed.

Jose: Can’t wait!

Lena: See you then!

They put their phones away and got ready for class.

During the day, Kobayakawa was on the phone. “Please sir…when will this investigation let up?”

“You know when,” the voice on the other end spoke. “Just tell me who the Phantom Thieves are, and this will all go away.”

“But sir!” Kobayakawa protested. “I will! I just need more time!”

“I’ve given you more than enough time,” the voice responded. “Give me names! Or else! You have until the end of the week.” They hung up.

Kobayakawa tembled for a minute before hanging up himself and flopping back into his chair. “What am I going to do?” he wondered. He opened one of his drawers. “Perhaps this is the only way.”

After school, the Phantom Thieves met up in Futaba’s room. “So, do ya have the goods?” Futaba asked.

Makoto took out the drive. “Here,” she said, giving it to Futaba.

“Thanks,” Futaba replied. “I should have all of this processed by the time you get back.”

“Man, it sucks we can’t do anything about this right away,” Ryuji bemoaned.

“I feel your pain,” Yusuke said. “But we shouldn’t be so hasty. I, for one, am looking forward to my trip.”

“Where are you going anyway, Yusuke?” Lena asked.

“Los Angeles,” Yusuke answered.

“Heh,” Ann laughed. “I bet if it were up to you, you’d got to like Nikko or Nara.”

“Well, I would wish to visit those places as well,” Yusuke explained. “However, a good artist goes to many places to broaden their horizons.”

“I guess that’s true,” Lena said.

“I kind of wish we were going to Los Angeles,” Ryuji said. “I mean, I’d fit right in, don’t ya think? Strollin’ around, actin’ like a real LA gangsta. It’s perfect!”

“I’m not too sure about that…” Morgana retorted.

“You’d probably run at the first sign of real LA ‘gangstas’,” Makoto added.

“RIP Ryuji,” Futaba said.

“H-Hey…” Ryuji said. “C’mon. You have more faith in me than that, right?”

Ann giggled. “Well, I’m sure we’ll go at some point.” She grabbed onto Ryuji's arm. “And I bet if we do run into any gangsters, you’ll protect me, won’t you?” She gave him some doe eyes.

Ryuji blushed. “Ah hah, of course!”

Ann giggled again. “Yay.”

Jose observed this and remarked. “That’s impressive.”

“Indeed,” Yusuke said. “The way Ann has Ryuji wrapped around her finger is almost an art form in it of itself.” Both Ryuji and Ann were slightly embarrassed.

“You two need some tact,” Futaba said.

“Hm hm.I think it’s cute,” Sumire said.

“I agree,” Ren responded.

“Same,” Lena added. Ann let go of Ryuji and the two laughed nervously.

Makoto sighed. “Well, as cute as it is, I think that might be more suited to a private affair.”

“Somebody’s jealous,” Futaba remarked.

“And you say I need tact,” Yusuke retorted.

Makoto got embarrassed. “I’m… I’m not jealous…”

“Oh ho, what’s this?” Ryuji said, jumping on to shift the embarrassment off of him. “It sounds like you are.”

“I’m really not,” Makoto protested.

“Oh?” Morgana said. “Is our Queen eyeing up a potential King?”

“No! Of course not!” Makoto answered. Ren chuckled. “What are you laughing at?”

“Nothing,” Ren said.

Makoto got a little frustrated. “I’m fine.”

“You know, we can talk about this later, if you want,” Ann suggested.

“Yeah!” said Lena. “I bet Akechi might know someone you may be interested in.”

“I said I’m fine!” Makoto shouted.

“O…K then…” Ann said.

Makoto sighed. “Sorry.”

“It’s fine,” Ren said. “We’re just teasing ya. But getting back on track, we’re also here to do some Mementos missions. I have some of my own, and Mishima found some as well.”

“Oh right, you were going to talk to him,” Ann said.

“How did it go?” Makoto asked.

“It went really well,” Ren said. “Mishima should be less prone to getting ahead of himself. Although it is a learning experience.”

“Well, it’s good that he’s starting to learn,” Sumire said.

“Right,” Ren agreed. “Anyway, there’s a good amount of requests, so let’s go over them as fast as possible and then head into Mementos.” The team nodded. “First up, we have a man named Yasuo Jochi. He’s a sleazy businessman who’s pressuring the old couple who own the theater here in Yongen to sell it so he can tear it down.”

“Wait, the theater we went to when your family came?” Sumire asked.

“The very same,” Ren said. “I thought I noticed something was going on, but I didn’t know what.”

“Good thing Mishima has his ears toward the pavement,” Morgana said.

“True,” Ren replied. “Next up, we have a man who’s been going around, racking up debts, and then before he can pay them he gets plastic surgery and changes his name.”

“How awful,” Yusuke remarked.

“I agree,” Makoto said. “Truly disgusting.”

“According to Mishima, he’s going by the name Fumio Akitsu.”

“We should catch this guy ASAP,’ Futaba said. “He might change his name again if he knows the Phantom Thieves are on his tail.”

“Quite right,” Morgana agreed.

Ren nodded. “Next up, we have Yoshikuni Nejima. He’s another businessman, but his crimes aren’t business-related. He’s cheating at an arcade game and acting like he owns the place.”

“Man what kind of jerk do ya have to be to cheat at an arcade game?” Ryuji said. “Especially if you’re a businessman. I imagine you’d have bigger things to worry about.”

Futaba nodded. “I won’t say I haven’t cheated, but he’s acting like he won it fair and square.”

“Very well,” Ren said. “Next up, we have Shoichi Oyamada. He’s a corrupt medical professional who’s the head of his own facility. He’s been shifting all of his mistakes onto Dr. Takemi, including the possible death of a patient, and now is threatening to shut her facility down.”

“Another person abusing their position,” Yusuke said. “Count me in.”

“Yeah! We gotta save Dr. Takemi! And fast!” Morgana said.

“That we must,” Ren said. “Moving on, we have Akimitsu Tsuda. Iwai’s former mafia buddy who’s recently gone off the deep end. He’s threatened Iwai to help him with a scheme of his, and it probably won’t stop there either.”

“Man, this sucks,” Ryuji remarked. “That place is cool. I’m not gonna let some madman destroy its heart and soul.”

“Are you going to be OK?” Sumire asked.

Ren nodded. “It’ll be all of us, and we’ll be going through Mementos. But thanks for asking.”

“Right,” Sumire said.

“Let’s move on,” Ren said. “We have Toshio and Hiromi Takase. They’re extorting money out of Miss Kawakami because their son was killed in an accident, and they’re pushing the blame onto her.”

“WHAT?!” Makoto said. “That’s outrageous!”

“Yeah!” Ann said. “Why is she getting blamed for something that wasn’t her fault!”

“I could agree more,” Ren said. “And lastly, there’s Katashi Hirai. He’s the father of a student who goes to Kosei who is upset that his daughter is dating a member of a rival family. He’s even gone so far as to keep her locked in her room.”

“How awful!” Lena said. “We HAVE to change his heart! Nothing should come in between someone and the person they love!”

“I agree,” Jose said. “We HAVE to do this!”

“Well, it seems like we’re all in agreement here,” Ren said. “Let’s roll.”

Once they got to Mementos, Futaba was stunned. “Woah! This place is HUGE!”

“And a little eerie,” Lena added.

“Right. Neither of you have been down here before,” Makoto said.

“This is essentially the heart of everyone,” Morgana said. “It’s only natural for it to be big. And a little imposing.”

“Hey Oracle,” Ren asked, “can you tell how many floors there are?”

“Hmmmm,” Futaba responded. She did a quick scan. “82.”

“That’s a lot!” Ann exclaimed.

“Maybe,” Yusuke replied. “But it’s not like we’re doing them all at once.”

“We couldn’t, even if we wanted to,” Jose pointed out.

“Still, it’s nice to have an actual number,” Ryuji said. “That way, we know what we’re aiming for.”

“Like you could keep track anyway,” Morgana remarked.

“Hey! I can!” Ryuji protested. “Besides, I don’t need to, now that we have someone reliable guiding us.”

“What did you say?!” Morgana said, ticked off.

“OK, let’s calm down,” Ann said.

“Panther’s right,” Makoto said. “We’re not going to get anywhere with you two fighting like that.”

“Queen’s right,” Ren said. “We have a lot of ground to cover today. The sooner we get to it, the better.”

“Ugh,” Ryuji sighed. “When you’re right, you’re right. Now let’s kick some ass and steal some hearts!”

“Now THAT’S something we can agree upon,” Morgana cheered.

“How long will it take though?” Lena asked. “I mean, this place is big. Going by foot will take forever.”

“Well, we have a little surprise,” Sumire said.

“You do?” Lena wondered.

“Nya ha,” Morgana chuckled. “Transform!” He transformed into his car form. “This way we can travel around in speed and style!”

“Oh my!” Lena reacted, surprised. “How wonderful!”

“Well, “I’m not 100% sure about the style…” Futaba said.

“WHAT?!” Morgana yelped.

“Ooo! Maybe if we decorate you!” Futaba said, excitedly.

“Pass!” Morgana said. “My style is minimalist. Adding stuff will just distract from my sleekness.”

“This again?” Ryuji said.

“I mean, he has a point,” Yusuke said. “His own personal style, be it cat, car, or Phantom Thief, does not have a lot of detail. And yet, it works for him. The simplicity of it brings a certain elegance, and it allows him to roam around without getting noticed. He’s stylish and functional.”

“I totally agree!” Ann exclaimed. “His simplicity makes him alluring, but also mysterious.”

“Thank you Fox. Panther,” Morgana replied. “See Skull? They get it.”

“Um, I guess?” Ryuji responded. “I mean, fashion has never been my thing. I just kind of wear what I like.”

“But it works for you, sweetie,” Ann said. “It reflects your honest personality.”

Ryuji was a little embarrassed. “Th…Thanks…”

Ann giggled. “Anytime.”

Ren nodded. “Well, with all of that said, let’s get this show on the road!” The Phantom Thieves cheered. They got into Morgana, and started their venture downward.

Meanwhile, Principal Kobayakawa was standing in what looked to be a high class party. He was holding an Old-Fashioned glass, and was wearing a bejeweled purple domino mask with purple and green feathers coming out of it. Despite the festivity, he appeared to be miserable. He sighed deeply.

Suddenly, his eyes widened and he shook briefly. He looked at his reflection in the drink. He quickly downed it, and placed the now empty glass on the tray of a waiter passing by. With the liquid courage and a new found sense of determination in him, he rushed through the party to one of the back rooms.

Once inside, he looked around and found what he was looking for. “Excuse me?” one of the workers asked. “Can I help you?”

Kobayakawa pointed to what he had found. “I’d like to borrow one of these.”

“And why would you be doing that?” the worker asked.

“I’m going to take out the Phantom Thieves!” Kobayakawa answered.

Back down in Mementos, the Phantom Thieves were delving down into the depths on the hunt for their targets. Soon enough, they found a portal and headed in. “That guy’s Oyamada!” Morgana called out. “He’s the bastard threatening Dr. Takemi.”

“Heh, well let’s give him a taste of his own medicine!” Ryuji shouted.

“Really?” Makoto said.

“I kind of liked it,” Futaba said.

“Either way, let’s teach this guy a lesson,” Ren said. They walked up to his shadow. Ren called out “Eh. What’s up, doc?” Some of the other thieves snickered, while others were a little tired.

“Hmph. Very funny,” Oyamada said. “But I will tell you, the only thing that’ll be going up is my fame.”

“Not if we can help it!” Sumire said.

“Yeah! What kind of doctor thinks about fame before their patients?” Ann asked.

“Are you not chasing fame yourselves, you little cretins?” Oyamada replied. “It’s why anyone does anything.”

“How cruel can you be?” Yusuke asked.

Ren got serious. “Dr. Takemi isn’t in it for the fame!”

“BAH!” Oyamada yelled. “That BITCH doesn’t know the first thing about how to be successful!”

“Well she knows the first thing about being a doctor!” Ren countered. “And it seems like she knows more than you!”

“GAAAAAH!” Oyamada screeched. He morphed into Thoth. “It appears that you’re infecting my presence. I need to remove you from my system at ONCE!”

“We’ll see who the real white blood cells are,” Ren challenged. The thieves battled Oyamada. Oyamada fought hard, but the Phantom Thieves won.

Oyamada was breathing heavily. “I…I’m a complete failure as a doctor. I originally became a doctor to help people. But sooner or later, I ended up getting lost in the fame and adoration. I thought I could cement my legacy by doing something big.

Then Takemi came along. She was much smarter than I could hope to be. She was working on a cure. I got jealous of her raw talent, not to mention her rapport with the patients. So…I stole her research, tried to use a half-assed version of her medicine, and then forced her out.

…Miwa is still alive. And I pushed away the person trying to help her the most. The only person who can save her is Takemi. If you see her, tell her there’s still a chance.” Oyamada faded away, and Ren took the treasure.

“Don’t worry,” Ren said. “I will.” They turned around and headed further into Mementos.

They found another portal and hopped in immediately. They saw the shadows of a man and a woman. “I take it those are the Takases,” Makoto surmised.

Ren nodded. “They’re the ones exploiting Miss Kawakami.”

“What horrible people!” Ann yelled. “Using the death of a child for their own selfish gains. Punishing someone who’s not even responsible.”

“I couldn’t agree more,” Morgana chimed in. “And that’s why it comes to an end today.”

The thieves approached the couple. “He he he he he,” Hiromi giggled creepily. “Money. Money money money. You can never have too much money.”

“Hmph. If that teacher really cared about our son, she’d have died with him,” Toshio said. “And given everything she had to us.”

“How awful can you be?!” Lena yelled out.

“How rude!” Hiromi yelled back. “Don’t act like you could know what we’re going through. We lost our child to that…HARLOT!”

“Yeah, you’re just a bunch of teens,” Toshio continued. “You could never understand our pain.”

“We know grief!” Futaba shouted.

“And it sounds like you aren’t grieving him!” Sumire added.

“She’s right!” Makoto added. “It sounds like you’re using your son's memory to get what you want.”

“Meanwhile, Kawakami is trying to honor his memory,” Ren snarked. “I suggest you start following her lead.”

“HER lead?” Hiromi replied. “HA! Don’t make me laugh!”

“Maybe YOU need to follow her lead,” Toshio said. “She has the decency to bow to us so we don’t tear her limb from limb!” They turned into Oberon and Titania.

“Let’s get ‘em!” Ren called out. They proceeded to fight the Takases in a hard-fought battle. Despite the furiosity, the Phantom Thieves won.

“We…we had nothing,” Hiromi explained.

“We were friends with Taiki’s birth parents,” Toshio continued. “They had everything. When they died and gave Taiki, we thought we’d teach him what it meant to live in the real world.”

“We were pushing our own jealousy on him,” Hiromi said. “We delighted to see him suffer.”

“And when that teacher was helping him, we got angry,” Toshio said. “No one ever helped us.”

Hiromi had a tear in her eye. “But we didn’t want him to…”

“You guys are horrible,” Ryuji told them. “Treating a child like that! Even if you had your own issues, you shouldn’t have to take them out on a child!”

“We know…” Toshio said. “I doubt we will ever truly fix things. But we will make an effort to start.”

“Just be glad we’re giving you the opportunity to do so,” Ren said. “If you recall, you didn’t afford us the same option.”

“Heh,” Toshio laughed. “Too true. Don’t worry. We’ll set things straight with that teacher.”

“We promise,” Hiromi said. The couple faded away, and Ren stole the treasure.

She sighed. “Two down. Five to go.”

“If they’re anything like the last two, I’m more ready than ever to change their hearts,” Ryuji said.

“Yeah, I feel you,” Ann said. The group continued on through Mementos, going deeper and deeper to find their next target.

Once they found them, they jumped through the portal to confront them. “Watch out!” Ren instructed. “That’s Tsuda’s shadow. He’s very dangerous.”

“Is he…?” Sumire wondered. She grew angry and stomped over. The others followed. “HEY!” Sumire yelled. “Apologize!”

Tsuda was confused. “For what?”

Before Sumire could answer, Ren signaled her to hold up. “For trying to drag Iwai into your mess,” she answered.

“Hm. Lookie here,” Tsuda said. “More kids trying to boss me around.. I have the experience! I have the rank! And yet THEY are the one calling the shots! Treating me like I don’t belong. Well, I’ll show them! I’LL SHOW EVERYONE I BELONG!” He transformed into Belphegor.

“Let’s go!” Ren called out. They engaged with Tsuda. Despite Tsuda being a tough fighter, the Phantom Thieves won out in the end.

“It’s not fair…” Tsuda said. “Ever since Iwai left, I’ve felt so lost. If he was still in, those Hong Kong bastards wouldn’t have taken us for a ride.” He sighed. “I don’t know what to do.”

Ren approached him. “Iwai still cares about you. I’m sure if you were to talk to him, he’ll have an idea.”

“Heh,” Tsuda laughed. “Looks like the kids are right again. I guess I will. Thanks.” He faded away and Ren snagged the treasure.

“Alright, now let’s head out,” Ren instructed. They went back into Mementos proper.

“By the way,” Jose said, once they got back into Morgana, “what got into you earlier, Violet?”

Sumire was a little shocked. “Oh, um, well…”

“It’s OK,” Ren said. “Tsuda pointed a gun at me once.”

“WHAT?!” everyone said collectively.

“Are you alright?” Lena asked. “I mean, you have to be alright, otherwise you wouldn’t be here, but…”

Ren sighed. “It’s fine. Iwai was there to make sure nothing bad happened. But it was still harrowing.”

“She called me after it happened,” Sumire said. “I just got so mad when I saw him. If he had done anything to you…”

“I know,” Ren said. “I was worried too. But thanks for being there for me.”

Sumire smiled. “Always.” They continued to venture down.

At the next doorway, they spotted their next target. “This has to be Jochi!” Morgana exclaimed. “They guy that wants to tear down the theater!”

“Well we can’t let that happen!” Sumire called out.

“I couldn’t agree more!” Ren said. “Let’s roll!” They rushed up to him.

“Ba ha ha!” Jochi laughed. “The Phantom Thieves? What are you doing here?”

“We’re here to stop you from tearing down the theater!” Sumire protested.

“Heh. I didn’t know anyone still cared about that stupid old thing,” Jochi said.

“The owners do!” Morgana countered.

“And I didn’t know anyone cared about them,” Jochi said. “Out with the old, in with the new. It’s just the cost of doing business.”

“Well, it’s our business to stop you,” Ren challenged.

“Psh,” Jochi brushed off. “You think you scare me? I’ll crush any and all competition!” He transformed into Ippon-Datara.

“Not if we crush you first!” Ren called out! They sprung into action, fighting Jochi. Jochi was very devious, but in the end he was no match for the Phantom Thieves.

“How? How did I lose?” Jochi wondered. “I did everything by the book.”

“Maybe your book is wrong,” Jose offered.

“You may have a point,” Jochi said.

“I’m aware business needs to get done,” Yusuke offered. “But you can’t bully others into doing what you want!”

“Hm. True,” Jochi said. “But even if I don’t do it now, something will happen in the future!”

“Well then, let the owners handle on their terms,” Sumire said. “There’s nothing more cruel than letting someone else dictate what happens to something you care about!”

Jochi sighed “Alright. You win. I’ll call the whole thing off. They can keep the theater.”

Ren nodded. “Thank you.” Jochi faded away, and Ren grabbed the treasure. “Let’s keep it rolling.” She opened the door, and the thieves proceeded downward.

They found another portal and entered it. They saw their next target standing there. “If I had to guess, that’s Akitsu’s shadow,” Makoto surmised.

“The guy that’s racking up debts and then changing his identity?” Ryuji asked.

“Yeah,” Makoto said.

“Hm,” Lena scoffed. “Well, he’s escaped for the last time! Let’s get him!” They approached him. “Your tyranny ends here!” Lena shouted.

“Heh. That’s rich, coming from the Phantom Thieves,” Akitsu said.

“I beg your pardon,” Makoto said.

“We’re one in the same,” Akitsu said. “We both hide behind masks to stick it to those in power. And yet, you’re treating me like the bad guy?”

“Well duh!” Futaba said. “You’re just being an asshole and causing others harm for no reason!”

“I told you,” Akitsu said. “I’m sticking it to those in power!”

“Even if that was your intent, you’re doing it in the wrong way!” Makoto said.

“Bah! I guess you just don’t understand,” Akitsu said. “Heh. I might need to change faces sooner than I thought. After all, Fumio Akitsu can’t be arrested for murder if he doesn’t exist!” He transformed into Legion.

“Be careful everyone!” Ren instructed. “Let’s go!” They proceeded to fight Akitsu. Despite his underhandedness, the Phantom Thieves won once again.

“I thought…” Akitsu began. “I thought I was sticking it to the greedy corporations and money-hungry businessmen. I thought I was like you.”

“While we understand your desire to call out corruption where you see it,” Ren replied, “you can’t let innocent people get caught in the crossfire.”

“Yeah,” Ryuji said. “When you buy stuff and don’t pay for it, the employees are stuck paying for it. And that ain’t me being nice to those greedy bastards. It’s just, those kinds of people are willing to blame anyone but themselves.”

“Much like how you change names and faces so you won’t get blamed,” Jose added.

Futaba. “You need to apologize and make things right!”

“Fine,” Akitsu said. “I will. Sorry.” He faded away, and Ren stole the treasure.

“Alright,” Ren said. “We’re doing pretty well so far. How’s everyone feeling?”

“A little tired but I could go on,” Yusuke said.

“Yeah,” Futaba agreed. “It’s a good thing we keep running into those rest areas.”

“That it is,” Ren said. “We just have a few more things to take care of, and then we’re home free. Now let’s move.” They continued on.

They found the next portal and hopped through. They saw their next target. They were wearing a purple kimono with a white headband, and had short, spiky, black hair. “That’s Mr. Hirai,” Jose said. “He’s keeping his daughter locked up in her room, away from her boyfriend.”

“How terrible,” Lena said. “We need to go and make things right!”

“Yeah!” Jose said. They walked forward.

Katashi looked at them. “What do you want?”

“We want you to free Cho!” Jose demanded.

“I will,” Katashi said. “Once she breaks up with that COCKROACH!”

“You can’t control how other people feel!” Lena screamed.

“Why are you so upset about this anyway?!” Jose asked

“Why should you care?!” Katashi replied. “He’s just another roadblock on her path to greatness! Much like you lot!” He transformed into Vasuki.

“Let’s get ‘em!” Ren commanded. They began their fight. Katashi was powerful, but again, the Phantom Thieves won out.

“The Inoue family… They ruined our chance at greatness…” Katashi explained. “How am I supposed to tolerate my daughter dating one?”

“Forgive me,” Yusuke interjected, “but wasn't that a while ago?”

Jose nodded. “What has Tama Inoue ever done to you? Apart from simply exist?”

Katashi sighed. “Nothing, I guess… Apart from dealing a blow to my pride as a Hirai.”

“Well, time heals all wounds,” Lena said. “But it sounds like you don’t want this wound to heal.”

“Bu Cho does,” Jose reminded him.

“...Fine,” Katashi relented. “I’ll bury the hatchet. Let’s see if the Inoues are ready to do the same.”

“And if they aren't, we'll be there to assist as well,” Jose said.

“Heh,” Katashi said. “I like you, kid.” He faded away, and Ren stole his treasure.

“One more, and then we’re good!” Ryuji cheered.

Ren nodded. “Well then, let’s hit the road.” They continued on through Mementos.

They found their last portal and jumped inside. “So this is Nejima,” Morgana surmised. “The businessman cheating at a video game.”

“Well, I guess it’s time we put a stop to it!” Ryuji said. They approached him. “Hey!” Nejima looked at them. “Quit cheating, ya asshole!”

“Hmph,” Nejima smirked. “I ain’t cheating! I just can’t be touched!” He transformed into Ose. “Come on! Try and stop me!”

“You heard the man!” Ren called out. They began their assault. However, something was different. Whenever they tried to attack, Nejima would avoid it.

“What’s going on?!” Ann panicked.

“I TOLD ya!” Nejima said. “I can’t be touched! No matter how hard you try, I’ll always win!”

“Let’s back off for now,” Ren said. The others nodded, and they retreated.

As they were continuing down, Ryuji spouted “MAN this sucks!”

“I know,” Ann said. “But what could we do?”

“Yeah,” Ryuji relented.

“Why couldn’t we hit him though?” Jose asked.

“He did say he was ‘untouchable’,” Yusuke said.

The Phantom Thieves thought about it. “Maybe,” Ren suggested, “it’s because he cheats. He’s untouchable here because he’s untouchable in the game.”

“That can happen?” Sumire asked.

“It’s the Metaverse,” Morgana said. “I’m not surprised.

“Is there really no way to stop him?” Makoto wondered.

“Well…” Futaba answered. “I’ve seen talk about this guy online. He’s pretty notorious. But I think people have beaten him before.”

“So, we just gotta learn how to beat him, and apply it here?” Lena wondered.

“Sounds like it,” Futaba answered.

“Great, more work,” Ryuji said.

“I’ll take care of finding someone who can beat him,” Futaba said.

“Sweet! Thanks Oracle!” Ryuji said.

“Provided you get me some yakisoba,” Futaba finished.

Ryuji hung his head. “Fine. Can you wait until tomorrow? These sessions wear us down a lot so I think I’m probably going to go home after this and just go to bed.”

“Sure thing,” Futaba said.

“Thanks,” Ryji replied. They continued on.

They soon found another door blocking their path. Ren walked up to it and put her hand on it. “Yup. Nothing.”

“Nothing?” Lena wondered.

“Nothing,” Ren answered.

“But, how were you able to open the other door?” Lena asked.

“These doors only open if we have enough notoriety,” Ren explained.

“I get it,” Futaba said. “So because we took down Medjed, we were able to open the previous door?”

“Basically,” Ren said.

“I see,” Lena said, impressed. “So now what?”

“Now we leave,” Ren said.

“Eh?” Lena wondered.

“Well, we can’t go down any further right now,” Ann said. “So we have to go back and wait until we get more notoriety.”

“I see,” Lena said.

“Well then, let’s head up,” Morgana instructed. They started heading back up Mementos.

“Well, we sure got a lot done today,” Makoto said.

“Yeah,” Lena replied. “It feels good helping people like this.”

“Well said Cupid!” Morgana said.

“Still, I’m a little tired,” Yusuke said.

“Well then, let’s hit it!” Ren said. She put the pedal to the metal, and they started going up faster.

They continued climbing up Mementos. However, on the floor below the exit, their path was blocked. The Phantom Thieves stepped out of Morgana, who then transformed back into his usual self. They looked at the thing blocking their path. It was a gray old-fashioned deep-sea diver’s suit with a big air hose coming out the helmet. “What is this?” Morgana asked.

The diver began to open the front hatch on their helmet, revealing themselves. The thieves were shocked. “P-Principal Kobayakawa?” Makoto shrieked.

“Hm,” Kobayakawa huffed. He was still wearing the domino mask. “So, YOU’RE the Phantom Thieves! You’ve meddled for the last time! Dead or alive, you’re coming with me!”

“Uh, what’s going on?” Ryuji asked.

“How should I know?” Morgana answered.

“You’re from here!” Ryuji snapped.

“So am I,” Jose interjected. “And I’ve never seen anything like this.”

“Hang on!” Futaba said. She began analyzing him. “Woah!”

“What is it, Oracle?” Yusuke asked.

“It’s…weird…” Futaba answered. “This is a shadow, but there’s a little more oomph to him!”

“‘More oomph’ how?” Ann asked.

“I…can’t quite say,” Futaba said. “It’s like he's getting powered up from a different source.”

“So, should we fight him?” Lena wondered.

“I don’t think we have much of a choice,” Sumire answered.

“Well then,” Ren stretched, “let’s get to it!”

Kobayakawa was seething. He transformed into Seth, but the air hose remained attached to him. “Bring it on!” They began sparring.

After a few exchanges, Lena remarked “This guy’s tough!”

“Yeah,” Ann said. “But it’ll be worth it! I can’t wait to take him down for letting Kamoshida run rampant for as long as he did!”

“Bah!” Kobayakawa scoffed. “Kamoshida did nothing wrong!”

“ARE YOU SHITTIN’ ME?!” Ryuji shrieked.

“Might makes right!” Kobayakawa countered. “He’s an Olympic Gold Medalist! He should have gotten everything he wanted, no questions asked! Then you scum came along and took away our most valuable teacher!”

“What a disgusting person,” Yusuke remarked.

“So, this is how you really feel,” Makoto said.

They continued their battle. After a few more rounds, Kobayakawa asked “Why are you trying to meddle in things anyway? Why can’t you accept things the way they are?”

“Hm,” Morgana scoffed. “We’re here to change the world!”

“Bah! Rubbish!” Kobayakawa replied. “Only a select few can change the world.”

“Are…you here on their behalf?” Jose wondered.

“Hmph. For a gang as stupid as the Phantom Thieves, you’re kind of smart,” Kobayakawa scoffed. “But yes. We do all sorts of things to change the word.”

“Things like stealing research, and killing innocent people?!” Futaba asked angrily.

“It’s for the greater good!” Kobayakawa answered. “You brats wouldn't understand.”

“You’re right,” Sumire said. “We don’t understand. Your logic is so incomprehensible that anyone with a heart couldn’t understand it.”

“Hm. Maybe if you talked to him, he’d explain it in a way you’d understand,” Kobayakawa retorted. Hell, if you hadn’t been so meddlesome, I’m sure he would have granted you a place among his ranks. But because you've interfered and pissed him off,  I doubt he’d give you a warm welcome.”

“Well,” Ren began, “if his reasoning is anything like yours, we wouldn’t want a place among his ranks; whoever he is.”

“You could have all the power you could ask for,” Kobayakawa said.

“I’d rather die,” Ren snapped back.

“Well then, I shall grant your wish!” Kobayakawa shouted. They continued fighting. It was really tough, but slowly but surely, the Phantom Thieves managed to get the upper hand. They wore him down, and Ren delivered the finishing blow.

Principal Kobayakawa turned back into himself wearing the diver’s suit. He was breathing heavily. “How…? How could I lose to such cretins?” he wondered.

“Hey!” Ryuji shouted. “The guy you were talking about. Who is he?!”

Kobayakawa looked at them. “He is the man that will make Japan the greatest country in the world.”

“WHAT?! FOR REAL?!” Skull yelped.

“Calm down Skull,” Yusuke said. “I know you hate him but we can’t get any information from him if we’re hostile.”

“Yeah, but!...” Ryuji sighed. “Fine.”

“So,” Ren said, “is that why you’re on his side?”

“Of course,” Kobayakawa answered. “He has the ambition of a thousand men, and the power to back it up.” He sighed. “However, after failing to capture you, I’m probably not long for this word once I get back. He’ll have me executed.”

The thieves were stunned. “Executed?!” Lena shrieked.

Kobayakawa nodded. “If you even cross him once, your head will be on a platter. He does not tolerate dissent. But who should?! If you have power, you should get what you want!”

“It doesn’t work like that!” Makoto countered. “You don’t reach the top and get everything you want!”

“Kamoshida had to learn that too!” Ann joined in.

Kobayakawa was faltering. “Hey!” Futaba called out. “We aren’t like them! If you switch sides, we’ll let you live.”

Kobayakawa smiled. “I think I might take you up on that. If I don’t go back, I won’t get killed,.”

“Kinda weak, but I guess that’s something,” Ryuji said.

Kobayakwa continued. “First thing’s first, I must atone for my sins. Let me start with this: He’s aiming to become the most powerful person in Japan. He won’t go down easily. You have to come at him with everything you got.”

Kobayakawa started to fade away. “WAIT!” Ren called out. It was too late. Kobayakawa faded. However, his diving suit did not. It fell over, leaving a golden Shujin seal. Ren grabbed it. After it was gone, the diving suit was pulled away from them.

“Follow that suit!” Futaba shouted. They followed it up to the top of Mementos, but when they got there it had disappeared. Futaba tried searching for it, but had no luck. “No way!”

Ann looked at the seal in Ren’s hands. “Is that…his treasure?”

Ren took some time to look at it. “Seems like it.”

“But why?” Makoto asked. “Why is his treasure like this? We’re in Mementos, not a palace, and certainly not his.”

“Hmm, that is tricky,” Morgana said.

“Maybe it has something to do with the weird reading he had,” Sumire suggested.

“It’s possible,” Futaba said.

“So now what?” Ryuji asked.

“I think we should continue this discussion at Leblanc,” Ren said.

“Good idea,” Makoto said. Ren put the seal away, and they left Mementos.

Once they arrived at Leblanc, Sojiro said “Woah! Are you kids alright?”

“Sort of,” Yusuke said.

“It’s complicated,” Makoto said.

“We need to discuss some things,” Sumire said.

“Say no more,” Sojiro replied. “I’ll fix you up some dinner.”

“Thanks Sojiro!” Futaba exclaimed. The thieves sat down.

“So, what are we doing about Principal Kobayakawa?” Ryuji asked.

“I’m not sure there’s anything we can do,” Makoto said.

“It sounds like he’s going to atone for his sins,” Lena said.

“But what does that mean?” Ryuji asked.

“Well, we have his treasure,” Morgana said. “I imagine it will be something similar to what’s been happening.”

“I guess,” Ryuji said. “I’ve just got this weird feeling, you know?”

“It is an odd bit of circumstance,” Yusuke said. “But one that we can use to our advantage.”

“So, when he said the person he was working for is aiming to be the most powerful person in Japan…?” Ann wondered.

“Do you think it has something to do with the election?” Sumire wondered.

“Maybe,” Makoto said. “But it’s still not enough to go off of.”

“Why not?” Jose asked.

“The ruling coalition is fracturing left and right,” Makoto explained. “Several new parties are forming, so it’ll be hard to determine who among them is the person Kobayakawa was talking about.”

Jose was still confused. “Basically, that doesn’t narrow it down in any meaningful way,” Ren explained.

“Gotcha,” Jose said.

“Besides, who says it has to be whoever becomes Prime Minister?” Yusuke asked. “So long as this person had the Prime Minister’s ear, they could do whatever they wanted through them.”

“That’s true too, huh,” Makoto said.

“There’s still the weird reading I got...” Futaba said.

“And the fact that the diving suit was still there after Kobayakawa’s heart changed,” Morgana added.

“I have no idea what that’s about,” Ren concluded.

“Ugh,” Ryuji sighed. “This is another one of those Hydra-thingies.”

“Well, I’m glad to see you’re paying attention,” Makoto remarked.

Ann looked over at Ren. “Oh hey, you still have Kobayakawa’s treasure, right?” Ren nodded. I want to see what it’s like now that it’s on this side.”

“Oh yeah,” Lena said. “They change forms.”

Ren nodded and took out the treasure. It was not a seal, but a series of photographs. “What the?” Ryuji wondered.

They took a closer look. The photos were of two men, neither of whom were Kobayakawa, in the process of kissing, taking their clothes off, and getting ready to go further. Makoto’s face was red. “Wh-Why does Principal Kobayakwa consider this his treasure?”

“I honestly have no clue,” Futaba said.

“It has to mean something,” Morgana said. “But what?”

“You think you can look into these?” Ren asked Futaba.

“Uh, maybe,” Futaba answered. “But I’m already looking through Makoto’s sis’s computer.”

“Right,” Makoto said. “I think that should take priority.”

“So, what do we do with these?” Ryuji asked.

“I’ll take them,” Makoto said. “I have an idea.”

“Are you sure?” Ren asked. Makoto nodded. “Then by all means.”

Makoto took them. “Bear in mind, we might not get the answer right away.”

“That’s fine,” Yusuke said. “Like you said, your sister’s information takes precedent.”

“Right,” Makoto said.

“Oh!” Lena said. “Do you need help searching for someone who can beat that cheater as well, Futaba?”

“Oh yeah,” Jose said. “I almost forgot about him.

“I don’t blame ya,” Ryuji said.

“Nah, I’m good on that front,” Futaba answered. “I can get that done in less than 30 minutes, or your yakisoba back.”

“Nah, you can keep it anyway,” Ryujji said. “Although again, I’ll haveta get it to ya tomorrow.”

“Yakisoba accepted,” Futaba said.

“Um,” Sumire interjected, “if you get the information tomorrow, you can go down there without me. I’m leaving during the middle of the school day.”

“Right,” Ann said.

“Well, we’re leaving the day after,” Ryuji said. “So it’s either that, or wait.”

“I think we can handle it,” Morgana said.

Ren nodded. “Thank you Sumire,.”

“You’re welcome,” Sumire replied.

‘Here you go,” Sojiro said, giving them their dinner. Everyone thanked him, and they dug in.

After they finished, they headed home for the night, with the last one to leave being Sumire. As she was just about out the door, she turned around and gave Ren a hug. “Just in case I don’t see you tomorrow morning.” Ren hugged her back. They shared a kiss. They let go, and Sumire was ready to go. “Bye!” she waved.

“Bye! Ren waved back. Sumire disappeared into the night. Ren smiled. She then went upstairs to get ready for bed.

[cherrydolyshirt]

Big Scary Travis Lee Travis Dykes Shirt

spend a few weeks in the north to pick up material for “copy,” but he has been born and bred in the country of which he writes, and he knows and understands the dialect as no one from outside could. I have had innumerable proofs of this from the vast amount of most valuable material he has contributed to the English Dialect Dictionary. There is a freshness and naturalness in his material which is not found in books written by people imperfectly acquainted with the people and the district.

Buy It Now:                      _Big Scary_ Travis Lee Travis Dykes Shirt

Roydell Williams College Player Name Shirt

Cat Lady Baseball Script Tiger Logo t shirt

Thank You Jose Martinez Forever Philly Signature 2024 Shirt

Los Angeles Dodgers Nike Local Nickname Shirt

Green Bay Packers The NFL ASL Collection by Love Sign American Sign Language T Shirt

It’s just after the first day of Hanukkah as I read this We Den Boys Sunday Football Dallas Cowboy shirt . I absolutely love this question. For background, I wasn’t raised in either traditions, nor associated religions, so both holidays are really foreign (yet oddly familiar) to me. I have known many who celebrate one or the other holidays with great enthusiasm. Yet in my entire life thus far, outside of my immediate family, I have only ever been invited to two different familys’ homes for a Christmas celebration that they were each hosting. And each party was a blast, full of fun, love, and food. And each of these different families who hosted fun Christmas parties in their homes, identified as Jewish.

Home Page : Limotees

[newstfionline]

Friday, August 30, 2024

Can Tech Executives Be Held Responsible for What Happens on Their Platforms? (NYT) This month, X closed its Brazil operations after one of its executives was threatened with arrest for not taking down certain content. Last year, Changpeng Zhao, the founder of Binance, pleaded guilty to federal money-laundering violations that took place on his cryptocurrency platform. In 2021, Twitter executives in India faced arrest over posts that the government wanted removed from the site. And on Saturday, Pavel Durov, who founded the online communications tool Telegram, was arrested in France as part of an investigation into the platform’s complicity in crimes including possession and distribution of child sexual abuse imagery. For years, internet company executives rarely faced personal liability in Western democracies for what took place on their platforms. But as law enforcement agencies, regulators and policymakers ramp up scrutiny of online platforms and exchanges, they are increasingly considering when to hold company leaders directly responsible. That shift was punctuated by Mr. Durov’s arrest over the weekend, raising questions over whether tech executives like Meta’s Mark Zuckerberg also risk being arrested when they next set foot on European soil.

California has become a new center of political corruption (NYT) Jose Huizar, a former Los Angeles City Council member, is scheduled to report to prison this week to begin a 13-year sentence for tax evasion and racketeering. “He was the King Kong of L.A. City Hall for many, many years,” Mack E. Jenkins, chief of the criminal division at the U.S. attorney’s office in Los Angeles, told the court. “And with his fall, a lot of devastation was left in his wake.” He is just one of 576 public officials in California who have been convicted over the past decade on federal corruption charges, outpacing states that are better known for influence-peddling like New York and Illinois.

Stealing to order (BBC) More than 430,000 shoplifting offences were recorded in England and Wales last year, the most since current police records began in 2003. And the British Retail Consortium reports a growing trend in "unscrupulous businesses taking on local product that has been stolen to order”. Ross, who has 15 convictions for shoplifting but has never been to prison, estimated he stole goods worth £300 ($395) every day, which he would then sell on to fund his crack cocaine and heroin addiction. He said perfume, cosmetics, alcohol and food were among the items he would regularly steal and sell on “as the cheapest wholesaler”. “If I had a bag full of stuff, I would know which shop to go to,” said Ross. “They’d take me into the back room, I’d lay it out on the floor and we would discuss a price.”

Surf before you worship at this church in Portugal (AP) Porto takes pride in its beaches, old churches covered in blue-and-white tiles and its famous port wine named after the city in northern Portugal. It’s also home to a different kind of church—located on its beachfront suburbs along the Atlantic coast near a fishing town known for some of the world’s largest waves. Parishioners attend in boardshorts, T-shirts, flip flops—even barefoot. They surf before they worship. Surf Church was established by a Brazilian-born Portuguese surfer and ordained Baptist pastor to spread the Gospel in a once-devoutly Catholic country—and top surfing destination—where about half of young people today say they have no religion. In less than a decade, it has grown from a few families to dozens of parishioners representing more than a dozen nationalities from across the world. Their motto: “ We love waves. We love Jesus.”

As the far right rises in Eastern Germany, companies struggle to attract skilled foreign workers (AP) Germany is facing a massive skilled labor shortage. Experts say that the country will need to hire about 400,000 skilled immigrants each year to maintain its economy, thanks to demographic decline and a shrinking workforce. Unfortunately, some parts of German society don’t care what the experts say. The far-right AfD party, which has focused on whipping up anti-immigrant sentiment to boost its support base, has garnered a massive amount of support, especially from rural Germans. “Even when there are no majorities so far, there are considerable minorities who vote for the AfD, either to express their protest or to openly express anti-immigration and anti-liberal positions,” said one German policy researcher. According to a recent poll of over 900 German firms, a majority of companies see the AfD as a risk to their workforces and garnering new investments in Germany. Recently, the International Monetary Fund rated Germany as the world’s worst-performing developed economy, adding to the economic worries in Berlin.

In Eastern Ukraine, Terrifying Bombardment and Near Total Destruction (NYT) In the darkness of the cellar in the eastern Ukrainian town of Toretsk, the soldiers did not know how close the Russian glide bombs were landing. But the sudden change in air pressure that accompanied bone-rattling booms testified to the bombs’ destructive force as they tore into nearby buildings. There are many ways to kill and be killed in Russia’s war with Ukraine, but Ukrainian soldiers say that glide bombs are perhaps the most terrifying. They are free-fall bombs, many left over from the Soviet era, but now outfitted with pop-out wings that feature satellite navigation, turning them into guided munitions. Referred to alternatively as “KABs” or “FABs,” they weigh between 500 and 6,000 pounds and are packed with hundreds of pounds of explosives. A single blast can reduce a high-rise apartment building to rubble and obliterate even concrete fortifications. In recent months, Russia has used the bombs to devastating effect, tilting the balance of fighting in eastern Ukraine in Moscow’s favor and allowing Russia to continue to make steady gains in Donetsk region. The bombs have also allowed Russian forces to raze whole towns and villages with ever greater speed.

Ukraine’s ‘flying furniture’ (BBC) Backed by Western tech and finance, Ukrainian firms are making hundreds of cheap one-way attack drones every month. Terminal Autonomy is producing more than 100 AQ400 Scythe long-range drones a month, with a range of 750km (465 miles). The company also makes hundreds of shorter range AQ100 Bayonet drones a month. It is one of at least three companies now producing drones in Ukraine at scale. The drones are made of wood and assembled in former furniture factories. Francisco Serra-Martins, a former Australian Army Royal Engineer, set up the company with his Ukrainian co-founder, backed by US finance. He describes his drones as "basically flying furniture—we assemble it like Ikea". The Bayonet drone costs a few thousand dollars. A Russian air defence missile used to shoot it down can cost more than $1m (£750,000). These drones have forced Russia to move aircraft to bases further away and reduce the frequency of their attacks.

Indian Doctors Lead Landmark Protests (Foreign Policy) For more than two weeks, doctors and medical workers have been protesting across India—the longest-running such movement in recent memory. The demonstrations were triggered by a horrific case of sexual violence at one of India’s oldest hospitals: On Aug. 9, a 31-year-old female trainee doctor was raped and killed at R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata. The doctor had just completed a 36-hour shift and was resting in a seminar room. Police have arrested a hospital volunteer; however, the victim’s family alleges that she was gang-raped. In response to the killing, thousands of Indian doctors went on strike, declining to provide nonemergency medical care. In Kolkata, as protests continued this week, police responded with tear gas and water cannons. Sexual violence is a long-standing problem in India, but the Kolkata case has prompted unusual outrage, which protesters attribute to the shocking circumstances of the crime: The victim, sworn to caring for others and exhausted after a long shift, was targeted in a space where safety should have been guaranteed. Some female doctors say the tragedy underscores the prevalence of abuse of women in India’s medical system.

At Least 10 Killed as Israeli Military Steps Up West Bank Raids (NYT) Hundreds of Israeli troops backed by drones and armored vehicles carried out raids in the occupied West Bank, Israeli and Palestinian officials said on Wednesday, a growing third front in conflicts that extend from the Egyptian border with the Gaza Strip to southern Lebanon. At least 10 Palestinians were killed, the Palestinian Health Ministry said, in what Israeli officials described as an ongoing operation targeting militants and concentrated in Jenin and Tulkarm, two West Bank cities that an Israeli military spokesman, Lt. Col. Nadav Shoshani, said have become militant strongholds. The Israeli military said it had killed nine militants. The operation followed months of escalating Israeli raids in the occupied territory, where nearly three million Palestinians live under Israeli military rule. More than 600 Palestinians have been killed in the West Bank since the Oct. 7 Hamas-led assault on Israel, according to the United Nations, in violence involving both the Israeli military and extremist Jewish settlers. Israel has also arrested thousands of Palestinians suspected of involvement in armed groups.

Israel agreed to pauses in the war for polio vaccinations (NYT) Starting this weekend, Israel will temporarily pause its military operations in specific areas of Gaza to allow health workers to give polio vaccinations to about 640,000 children under the age of 10, according to the U.N. Israeli officials emphasized that the move was not the first step to a cease-fire, but rather an effort to stem a potential outbreak of the virus.

Food insecurity crisis (Foreign Policy) Namibia authorized the killing of more than 700 animals this week to help feed its population, nearly half of whom are facing acute food insecurity, according to the United Nations. The Environment, Forestry, and Tourism Ministry announced that hunters will cull 300 zebras, 100 wildebeests, 100 eland antelopes, 83 elephants, 60 buffaloes, 50 impalas, and 30 hippos “sourced from national parks and communal area with sustainable game numbers.” Namibia is facing its worst drought in 100 years due to this year’s record-breaking El Niño, which flooded some African countries and left others with extreme temperatures and drought. In May, the southern African country declared a state of emergency for the more than 1 million people struggling to obtain food and water. The drought has also caused high inflation and rising unemployment rates in Namibia as most households depend on crop and livestock farming.

African farmers are using private satellite data to improve crop yields (MIT Technology Review) Farmers in Africa are using space imaging to check in on the status of their crops, tapping into imaging from California satellite provider EOS to monitor the state of fields. Last year the company launched EOS SAT-1, which is solely for agriculture and has fees on the order of $1.90 per hectare per year, which makes it ideal for smaller farms and priced reasonably well for developing countries. Over 242,000 people in Africa, Southeast Asia, Latin America, the U.S. and Europe use the crop monitoring platform, with 53,000 joining the service last year.

Subsea fiber-optic cables (CSIS) Subsea fiber-optic cables, a critical information and telecommunications technology (ICT) infrastructure carrying more than 95 percent of international data, are becoming a highly consequential theater of great power competition between the United States, China, and other state actors such as Russia. The roughly 600 cables planned or currently operational worldwide, spanning approximately 1.2 million kilometers, are the world’s information superhighways and provide the high-bandwidth connections necessary to support the rise of cloud computing and integrated 5G networks, transmitting everything from streaming videos and financial transactions to diplomatic communications and essential intelligence. The scale and exposure of undersea infrastructure make it an easy target for saboteurs operating in the gray zone of “deniable attacks short of war.” In 2023, Taiwanese authorities accused two Chinese vessels in the area of cutting the only two submarine cables that supply internet to Taiwan’s Matsu Islands, plunging its 14,000 residents into digital isolation for six weeks. And in October 2023, a Baltic Sea telecom cable connecting Sweden and Estonia sustained damage at the same time as a Finnish-Estonian gas pipeline and cable. An investigation focused on a Russian-flagged ship and a Chinese-owned vessel operating in the area as the likely sources of the alleged sabotage.

Accidental falls in the older adult population (Journalist’s Resource) Accidental falls are among the leading causes of injury and death among adults 65 years and older worldwide. Globally, some 684,000 people die from falls each year, and the death rates are highest among people aged 60 and older. About 37.3 million people each year require medical attention after a fall, according to the World Health Organization. In the United States, more than 1 in 4 adults aged 65 or older fall each year, according to the National Institute on Aging. In 2022, health care spending for nonfatal falls among older adults was $80 billion, according to a 2024 study published in the journal Injury Prevention. Several factors, including exercising, managing medication, checking vision and making homes safer can help prevent falls among older adults. Removing fall hazards in the home—such as increasing lighting in dark hallways or adding railways to stairwells—reduced the number of falls by 38% among older adults.