#Flint went from point A to point B

[gavinette]

Loki finale being unsatisfactory to me isn't because Lokius (it's there, btw) but because when the whole thing is Loki learning he deserves to have somebody, he deserves to not be alone, to not push away people who cares for him, and the finale is Loki being alone even if he knows people would choose him

well. I think I can feel it is unsatisfactory because the whole thing is "and yet, he will be alone", "and yet, Loki always loses" or something.

#Black Sails has tragedy #Flint and Silver love is a whole fucking tragedy but I feel it's deserving #The finale is final. #Flint went from point A to point B #Loki is like “a point B exists for me how nice” *stays in point A with a major character development* #loki spoilers #loki s2 ep6 #loki #this isn't about loki and mobius getting or not together #i love drama #i love tragedy #i love sadness #i think MCU doesn't know how to end their stuff properly

[spiderversebigbang]

Spider-Verse Big Bang 2023 Masterpost

Valley of the Kings

Author: @rainbowtransform || ao3 Artists: @ovytia-art and @zylien

“So, Gym Leader Peter Parker of the Celadon Gym died a few months ago, if you’d recall.” Miles nods his head. He’d seen it all over his feed, and plus it was all over the news.

24-year-old Peter Parker dies by a heart attack, survived by a grieving widow, their pokémon, and the people of his city. Or: Miles is appointed to be a gym leader of Gym Leader Parker’s death. Unfortunately for him, nobody thinks he can do it least of all Miles himself. At least, until he finds a mysterious note saying that Gym Leader Parker’s death might not be an accident.

Wordcount: 14,356 || Rating: General Audiences

Archive Warning(s): No Archive Warnings Apply Character(s): Miles Morales, Gwen Stacy | Spider-Gwen, Peter Benjamin Parker | Spider-Man Noir, Peter B. Parker (Spider-Man: Into the Spider-verse), Peni Parker (Spider-Man: Into the Spider-verse), Peter Porker, Wilson Fisk Tags: Angst and Hurt/Comfort, Found Family, Team as Family, Alternate Universe - Pokemon Fusion, Animal Cruelty (mentioned), Miles Morales Needs a Hug, Spiderverse Big Bang, Fluff and Angst, Mystery, Peter Parker does still die in this guys sorry

Overture

Author: @the-real-pocket-egg || ao3 Artists: @jo-v-ie and @hootdraws

"In the realm of songs and symphonies, there exists such a thing as a climax, a crescendo; the striking of a match that burns its brightest the moment before being suddenly and unceremoniously snuffed out. It’s the point towards which the band has been clawing to reach, to see all of its hard work paid back in kind as the music swells and the audience’s hearts quicken in anticipation. When nothingness had fallen upon him, so with it went the music, and the Doctor had the sense that he had just been fully and thoroughly, suddenly and unceremoniously, snuffed out. Hypothesis? Not-his Peter had killed him. Great." The year? 1982. The location? Broadway. The lesson? That maybe Otto Octavius understands T.S. Elliot more than he let on.

Wordcount: 13,835 || Rating: Teen

Archive Warning(s): Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings, No Archive Warnings Apply Pairing(s): Otto Octavius/Rosalie Octavius Character(s): Otto Octavius, Rosalie Octavius, Norman Osborn, Curt Connors, Peter Parker, Aunt May Parker, Max Dillon, Flint Marko Tags: Fluff, Angst, First Dates, Slice of Life, Alternate Universe - College/University, Alternate Universe - 1980s, Musicals, Theatre, Romance, Memories, Memory Alteration, Headaches & Migraines, Redemption

Demons Within

Author: @loadyron || ao3 Artists: @noiter00123 and @zarthhearth

Peter and Wade's pasts are… complicated. The weight of their experiences brings out fear and sympathy from them both.

Spider-Man numbed his heart and promised to never be in a relationship again, but as he realizes his feelings for Deadpool he finds his past haunts him with agonizing pain. Deadpool while coming across his new love interest, finds himself opening up. But the torture and abuse, all the stuff he had been through would always haunt him.

Follow their love story and watch how both despite being tormented by their traumatic past, heal the wounds in their hearts. Finding comfort as they develop a strong emotional bond

Wordcount: 18453 || Rating: Mature

Archive Warning(s): No Archive Warnings Apply Pairing(s): Peter Parker/Wade Wilson Character(s): Peter Parker, Wade Wilson, Weasel Tags: Canon Compliant, Andrew Garfield (Peter Parker/Spider-man), Ryan Reynolds (Wade Wilson/Deadpool), Longfic, angst, introspection, miscommunication, humor, love story, falling in love, dating, first kiss, age gap, compassion heals wounds, emotion bound, emotional comfort, sexual tension, poor coping mechanism to trauma, happy ending, Post- Canon, Post-Spider-Man: No Way Home, Post-Movie: Deadpool 2 (2018) and bad language

Sirens (Just Wanna be Good Again)

Author: @sparkstar-trash || ao3 Artists: @mistical52, @kats0wo and Sehrli

When Miles inserts himself into a fight between two villains, the last thing he expects to happen is to lose his powers. With a Brooklyn-wide conspiracy, constant spider missions, and everyday life bearing down on him, Miles cannot handle it all without his spider powers -- especially when he refuses to ask for help from anyone except his Prowler counterpart. That is until he gains Venom Symbiote, and suddenly, his powers seem to be back. But are they really? How will Miles face all his responsibilities without giving in to the devil in disguise whispering on his shoulder?

Wordcount: 48,963 || Rating: Teen

Archive Warning(s): No Archive Warnings Apply Character(s): Miles Morales, Miles Morales | Prowler (Marvel Earth-42), Ganke Lee, Hobie Brown, Gwen Stacy | Spider-Gwen, Miguel O'Hara, Lyla | LYrate Lifeform Approximation (Earth-928), Peter B. Parker, Pavitr Prabhakar, Venom Symbiote (Marvel), Olivia Octavius, Max Dillion, Michael Morbius Tags: Angst with a Happy Ending, Miles Morales Needs a Hug, Miles Morales-centric, BAMF Miles Morales, Canon-Typical Violence, Implied/Referenced Character Death, Villain Character Death, Cancer, Possessive Venom Symbiote (Marvel), Loss of Powers, Post-Canon, Miles Morales has the Venom Symbiote

LYLA's Gambit

Author: @thesilentbard || ao3 Artists: @madbunnyarts and @maybetheworldwillburn

“Come on, Miguel. Miles traveled all the way to this dimension just to see you. I think you at least owe him a cup of coffee and some conversation.” Miguel pinched the bridge of his nose and sighed. “Fine.” He leveled a deadpan stare at Miles. His next words came out clipped and inhospitable. “A pleasure to see you, Miles.” He gestured woodenly towards the interior. “Won’t you come in? I’ll show you to the kitchen.”

After Spider Society disbands, LYLA decides it's time that Miguel get his life back together. The first step? Reconciling with Miles Morales. Everything after that? Well, LYLA has a plan.

Wordcount: 15,128 || Rating: General

Archive Warning(s): No Archive Warnings Apply Pairing(s): Miguel O'Hara/Original Female Character(s) Character(s): Lyla | LYrate Lifeform Approximation (Earth-928), Miguel O'Hara, Miles Morales, Peter B. Parker (Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse), Original Female Character(s) Tags: Slice of Life, Angst and Humor, LYLA-centric, Miguel O'Hara needs a life, Post-Canon, Identity Reveal, Mild Hurt/Comfort, mild romance, POV Third Person, Lyla POV, Speculative Post-BTSV, Spider Society is disbanded, Character Study, overcoming guilt, mending broken relationships, over-reaching AI, Comedy

Breakthrough

Author: Simbeline Artists: @uwuagenda and herefor_reasons

When Spot stepped into the collider, he changed. Miles... well, Miles changed, too. (Inspired by EEAAO, for the Spider Verse Big Bang 2023.)

Wordcount: 20,116 || Rating: Teen

Archive Warning(s): No Archive Warnings Apply Character(s): Miles Morales, Miles Morales | Prowler (Marvel Earth-42), Gwen Stacy | Spider-Gwen, Peter B. Parker (Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse), Miguel O'Hara, Spot (Spider-Man: Across the Universe), Hobie Brown, Pavitr Prabhakar, Rio Morales, Jefferson Morales (Earth-1610), Jessica Drew, Aaron Davis (Marvel Earth-42) Tags: Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Inspired by Everything Everywhere All at Once, (but you don't really need to know anything about EEAAO), Dimension Travel, Time Travel, Identity Reveal, Miles Morales-centric, Movie: Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (2023), Spiderverse Big Bang 2023, Powerful Miles Morales

Oh, the places you'll go!

Author: @graham-cracker-guillotine || ao3 Artists: @samaspic31 and @englandamericaitaly

Miles landed ungracefully in a heap, smacking into several trash cans and cardboard boxes on the way down. As he straightened up, he inhaled sharply. This wasn’t his New York. Where were the colors? The energy? It was as if someone threw away all the things that made New York what it was and left just the gross, dirty buildings behind. The rooftop access door slammed open, revealing an older man. Graying hair, lines in his face, though his pressed suit seemed to be out of place with the dingy-looking rooftop. Miles realized belatedly that he looked like a police officer - maybe the commissioner? The older man glanced around, taking a long drag of his cigarette. "Fuckin’ Bats,” he muttered, shaking his head. Miles watched, bewildered, as the man turned and simply walked back the way he came. What the hell? ~~ What if the spider that bit 1610-Miles Morales wasn’t actually from Dimension 42? What if it wasn’t from a Spiderverse dimension? What if the universe that the spider came from was less arachnid themed and more… bat themed?

Wordcount: 29,432 || Rating: Teen

Archive Warning(s): Graphic Depictions of Violence Pairing(s): Tim Drake/Miles Morales (preslash) Character(s): Miles Morales, Miguel O'Hara, Peter B. Parker (Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse), Gwen Stacy | Spider-Gwen, Jason Todd, Batfamily Members, Justice League (DCU), Spider society - Character, Harleen Quinzel Tags: Miguel O'Hara Bashing, (collective) Spider Society Bashing, Miles Morales Whump, Glitching (Spiderverse), Panic Attacks, Justice League as Family (DCU), Bruce Wayne is a Good Parent, Miles Morales Acts Like a Spider, no Gwen Stacy bashing, Miles is very much just rolling with the punches rn, his catchphrase is “yeah okay”, Protective Harleen Quinzel, Minor Pamela Isley/Harleen Quinzel, Fake Science, Pre-Movie: Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse (2024)

The Life We Wish We Had

Author: @tytach and @noiter00123 || ao3 Artist: @the-real-pocket-egg

We all want to live the life we wish we had. Believe me, I have tried. And the harder I tried, the more damage I did." - Miguel O’Hara Ever since having his DNA spliced with a spider’s, Miguel’s personal life has become a mess. A hidden identity, troublesome mutations, and increasingly frequent bouts of anger tear at his sanity daily. So when his ex-fiancée gets sucked into another dimension, well — that’s just one more act to the shit show, isn't it? ...or so he thought. As it turns out, getting stranded in a new world with her and the ever-annoying Peter B. Parker might be exactly what he needs to turn his life around. A story exploring the trauma behind Miguel’s behavior and convictions in Across the Spiderverse.

Wordcount: 33,365 || Rating: Mature

Archive Warning(s): Major Character Death Pairing(s): Miguel O'Hara/Dana D'Angelo, Peter B. Parker/Mary Jane Watson Character(s): Miguel O’Hara, Dana D’Angelo, Peter B. Parker, Lyla, Jordan Boone, Mary-Jane Watson, Doctor Octopus, Gabriel O’Hara Tags: Pre-Canon, Character Study, Emotional Hurt/Comfort, Tone shift, Pregnancy, Child Loss, Bridging the comics and movie lore gap, Identity Reveal, Mending relationship, No Smut, Multiple POVs, Unreliable Narrators, Brutal ending, Mention of blood and injuries

Germfree Adolescence

Author: @kubostrrrngs || ao3 Artist: khansarah

Gwen convinces Miles to join a band with the rest of their friends. Turns out it's a great choice. A small series on Miles' life with his bandmates.

Wordcount: 16,286 || Rating: Teen

Archive Warning(s): Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings, No Archive Warnings Apply Pairing(s): Miles Morales/Gwen Stacy, Pavitr Prabhakar/Gayatri Singh Character(s): Miles Morales, Gwen Stacy, Hobie Brown, Pavitr Prabhakar, Margo Kess, Gayatri Singh, Peter B Parker, Rio Morales, Jefferson Morales Tags: Alternate Universe - no powers, Alternate universe - rock band, Miles Morales-centric, No angst, Platonic relationships, Babysitting, Trans Gwen Stacy, Very minor though, Teenage dorks, First dates, Dorks in love, First relationship, Sweet Pavitr Prabhakar, Fluff and humour, Attempt at humour, No plot/plotless, Just vibes, McDonald's, Grocery store, Food as a metaphor for love, Concerts, Adorable Mayday Parker, Minor Peter B Parker/Mary Jane Watson, Hobie Brown is a little shit, Miles Morales is trying his best, Gwen Stacy is bad at feelings, She's doing better, Good friend Pavitr Prabhakar, Margo Kess is a good friend, This should already be a tag, Big bang challenge, Anthology, Artist Miles Morales, Drummer Gwen Stacy, Underage drinking

#spiderverse big bang #spiderverse big bang 2023 #svbb2023 #spiderverse

[donotexterminateupgradepudding]

Black Sails - Captain Flint’s reading list.

Books are a key point of the storytelling in the first two seasons of Black Sails.  They help to reveal various aspects of characters and their relationships.  Being the nerd that I am, I decided to create a reading list based on Captain James Flint’s key books.

Not only did I bother to compile this short list, but I’m actually reading the books in the list.

The list in sort of the order that they are introduced to the viewer.

De Jure Belli Ad Pace - tr. On the Law of War and Peace by Hugo Grotius.  Published in 1625.  This is the first book Silver sees in Flint’s cabin.  Grotius was a well rounded Dutch intellectual who contributed to many fields but this piece in particular laid down a clear framework for [western] international law.  It is pretty easy to find used copies of this but it is split it up into three books and annoyingly not all online booksellers label it well.

Leviathan by Thomas Hobbes.  Published in 1651.  One of the two books on Flint’s desk that are partially illuminated by the lantern.  Important modern philosopher, interesting spelling inconsistencies (dude, decide if you want to say ‘we’ or ‘wee’) and clearly doesn’t have a great opinion on humanity but has great random quotes.  Like ‘of accidents of bread in cheese’.  However, holy crap, if you think what James struggles with in regard to war/civilization/pardons/human nature.  Yeah - spot on for Flint’s excellent character.

Free as an ebook or easy to find used copies or new.

The Republic by Plato(n).  ~375 BC.  This is the book underneath Leviathan and took me way more time to figure out than I’d like to admit.  Mainly, I could only make out the letters of ‘ton - he - public’ for each line on the spine of the book with the crappy lighting and not enough time from the camera shot to get a better look.  I wondered if the public was part of something else but thrown off by the ton in the author name until I figured out that Plato went by Platon and then I knew it had to be a translation of The Republic.

Meditations by Marcus Aurelius. Published 167.  By one of the most famous Roman stoics and Emperors.  James’ most precious book due to who gave it to him and how it likely helped him try to take perspective in situations.

It is easy to find free ebooks, though I’m reading one of the older English language translations to be closer to 1715.  Overall, a very enjoyable read.  I may seek out one of the newer translations. La Galatea by Miguel de Cervantes. 1585 tr by Gordon Willoughby James Gyll in 1867.  This is the only English version I can find and describes it as a ‘pastoral romance’.  Miranda gave James the original version of Don Quixote to read and this book is his way to apologize to her when he left Nassau angry at her.  It takes some digging around to find the English version of this - Spanish copies are much more numerous and I couldn’t find an English ebook.

I’m not including Don Quixote b/c I just can’t seem to read that book.  All my previous attempts have failed so I’m not going to use it to understand Thomas Hamilton.  I also don’t know which Middleton play James gave to Miranda - he just said, “Middleton, I thought you’d like it.” and then smiled all proud of himself while bandaged drinking tea.

So there you have it.  Captain Flint’s season 1 and 2 reading list. 

#Black Sails #black sails meta #black sails captain flint #james flint #james mcgraw #black sails books #flint's books #hugo grotius #thomas hobbes #marcus aurelius #plato #miguel de cervantes

[secondsonaym]

The Vessel Project - Retreat [Shamura 2]

(read on Ao3 here)

-------

“Mind your step, dear.”

The passageway had descended deep into the ground, far past what I assumed was the ground floor of the temple. Much like the chamber above it, there were no lights to guide the way, though that at least made sense--There was little point in burning torches for areas that had hardly any foot traffic.

But once we reached the bottom, Hecate made her way along the wall, picking up something from the vague shape I could just barely make out as a console. She raised her hands to the brazier above it, and with a few scrapes, set it alight with the flint she had picked up.

This lit up the room with a warm orange glow, and as she made her way to a few other braziers, I took the opportunity to look around. It wasn’t a particularly large space, perhaps no bigger than Lady Raziel’s office, but every inch of it seemed to have been made use of.

Various yellowing papers had been fixed to the walls, cabinets on the far end of the room were filled to the brim with all manner of things, and even the large table in the center was cluttered with papers, dried plants and vegetables, cooking utensils, and… weapons? There was also a sizeable cauldron standing in the center of the surface, embellished with the same swirly decoration that signified its relation to Lady Raziel’s sect.

“There, that should do us for now.” Hecate hummed as she lit the last light. “Come have a seat, Mury.”

I sat down on one of the stools, and my mother took the one opposite to me, folding her arms on the table. I could tell, just by looking, that she was conflicted about something. She wanted to be casual and calm, as she always was when we were alone, but something in Lady Raziel’s letter must have prevented her from doing so.

“Where to begin…” She sighed, habitually tapping her fingers on the table’s surface. I had always found the rhythm to be a soothing sound--an audible indication of thought, as it were.

“Perhaps you can tell me what the ‘Venom of the Moon’ is?” I prompted. Sometimes when she was having trouble, I would toss her a question or two to get her reoriented. 

“Ah, but that in itself isn’t clear-cut.” She admitted, though smiled all the same. “For it is technically… Multiple things. It is a group, and it can be any individual from that group… And, of course, it is an actual venom as well.”

Well, that at least got the ball rolling. Hecate was not like Lady Raziel--she wasn’t an avid secret-keeper. That isn’t to say she never had secrets, but her main philosophy was that no knowledge should be kept hidden, especially if it was asked for directly. 

Whenever I asked her something, she had always given me an answer, be it the actual truth or her best guess about it, and usually prompted me to do my own research after explaining the latter. 

“Let’s start with the group.” She then said, tenting her upper arms. “As you know, the sects of the Old Faith don’t exactly mesh together very well, and in fact see each other as enemies. Well, Lady Raziel prefers to strike directly, should the other sects become a threat to Her own.”

That definitely made sense. Not far from the temple was a place where warriors trained in Her name, to fight for Her when She needed them to. There had never been any full-blown wars, but hardly a month went by without some new territorial dispute.

“Well, at times there are individuals that Lady Raziel wishes to target specifically, and take care of… covertly.” Hecate continued. “Thus, a few centuries ago, She founded what became known as the Venom of the Moon, a group of assassins hand-picked by Her.”

I felt my jaw drop a little bit, dumbfounded at this reveal. Though I could see the logic behind Lady Raziel’s actions, the idea of a secret group of assassins seemed… Well, downright fantastical. It didn’t exactly line up with the teachings of her sect, either. 

War is loud with drum beats,

Screams, the clashing of blades,

Silence only falls when the last blow echoes,

And the fields grow still with the bodies they claim.

A passage from Her scripture. Silence implies peace, which is not to be trusted. To approach matters through the likes of assassins, felt too… cowardly.

But even though this detail bothered me, my young mind instead focused on something else. The only way my mother could have possibly know this was--

“Do you mean to say you’re part of the Venom of the Moon?” I asked.

Hecate smiled again, though it was tired and heavy. 

“One of its last members, in fact. Desiree, Theodore, and Gerard were also part of it. Your parent was, too, but after they were killed on a mission, it sort of… Destabilized us. I believe the death of Gerard reminded Lady Raziel that we are not as long-lived as Her, so She wishes to start it again with new blood.”

“She’s quite set on putting a weapon in my hands.” I mumbled, more to myself than anything.

“Hm? Something the matter, Mury?”

“N-No, just thinking out loud.”

She stared at me for a moment, as if debating whether or not to press me, but then decided not to, and resumed her explanation.

“I’ve no idea if Lady Raziel wishes to include the other disciples, though it would not be an unfair assumption. I’m sure Theodore and Desiree will convene with me at some later point if this is to be the case, but for now, we will follow Lady Raziel’s instruction and hone your skills separately.” 

It was then that she rose from the table, moving to one of the jam-packed shelves and looking over the books that rested on it. Only a moment later did she pick up a slim book bound in red cloth, turning back and flipping through the pages.

“As for the actual venom of the Venom of the Moon, that is the specific aspect of your training Lady Raziel has asked me to focus on.”

She stepped back and tapped the rim of the cauldron, the metal ringing out at just the faintest touch. “It’s been my understanding that the group has always had at least one spider in it at all times, due to our natural abilities. Other species can make venom, sure, but spiders seem to have a natural proclivity for the customization of their own.”

“But I haven’t started developing my venom yet.” I said, sitting up a bit. My eyes were wide with interest all the same, and I tapped at one of my fangs for a moment. 

“Never to early to learn the fundamentals, I always say.” Hecate laughed, now sitting back down. “You’ll know what to expect, and can perhaps get a head start on honing your abilities.”

She slid the book in my direction, and I could now see up close just how old and worn it was. Most of the front pages were wrinkled, the ink close to fading into illegibility, while further into the volume, more recent writings were visible. With my quick skimming, I figured this was a collection of notes on the various aspects of spider venom, using the writers’ own samples for reference.

“Viscosity, acidity, potency, soporific quality… Even taste?” I listed out, seeing the various ratios between venom samples carefully plotted out. Whoever had started the standard for these records certainly knew what they were talking about.

“In time, you’ll be able to personally adjust these aspects of your venom at will.” Hecate offered, beaming. “Everyone has their personal default, but with practice, you can fine-tune and make venom to better suit your needs.”

“So what’s yours like, normally?” I asked, peeking over the pages.

“You’ll find it in there somewhere.” She assured me, gesturing to the book. “Everyone who contributes to the actual venom of the group is required to write the details of their personal strain down--you’re only allowed to use your default, after all.”

I was tempted to flip through to the end of the book to try and find her entry, but restrained myself. I assumed that I would be expected to study this over time, so it was important I took my time with its contents.

“And what are the specifics of… The venom of the Venom of the Moon?” 

“It is a cache of the combined venom of every spider that has been in the group.” She said simply. “New venom is added every now and then to keep up its potency, and the mixing of the various strains creates something strong and unique. It has been kept up since the founding of the group, so what we have now is certainly strong on its own… But, well, tradition and all that.”

She took hold of the top of the book and gently pushed it down, before taking hold of one of my hands. The mood then shifted, and her patient smile showed so much more of the weariness she had been hiding.

“Mury, I think I should be upfront and tell you… I am not without my own mixed feelings about this. It’s this group that, in essence, led to the death of your parent. It’s to be expected, one could say, and I will not deny, but… You’re taking your first steps into the unpredictability of life. I could not be more proud of you, and yet… I could also not be more scared.”

All I could do was stare at her, this candid expression making me pause. My mother had always been honest to me about things--Honesty is an inherent facet of knowledge, after all--but for the first time, I could sense some sort of weight behind her words.

Was she worried that I would end up the same as my parent? Though I personally felt no pain from their loss, I knew she carried her own pain, and did her best to keep it from slipping through the cracks. 

She then cupped my cheek in one of her hands, looking into my eyes with a gaze that was… Heavy. Heavy, sad, and tired, all at once.

“Promise me something, Mury. Should you ever feel torn between what’s best for others, and what’s best for yourself… Please, be selfish. Do not let obligation stagnate you.”

I stared back at her for a long time, fur slowly starting to stand on end. Why would I ever be put in such a position? And the way she said ‘others’ made it seem like she spoke of the rest of Lady Raziel’s order… But why would I ever choose to go against them?

But, for once in my life, I swallowed these questions, and simply gave my response.

“Yes, mom.”

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

Hecate and I spent a couple of hours going over the basics of spider venom, and what I could expect as the first signs that my own would be developing soon.

“Usually, the first sign is a numb tongue.” She had said, gesturing to her own. “Perhaps even a bit of queasiness. The body isn’t inherently immune to its own venom, and needs a bit of time to get used to it. This adjustment period typically isn’t more than a week or so.”

Eventually, however, she had imparted all she wished to for our first lesson, and released me to go do as I pleased.

As much as I would have liked to look over the record book that I was now granted custody of, I refrained from returning to my room for some reason. I believe at that time, my thoughts had returned to Polly, and I had been curious to see if Theodore had indeed freed himself up fairly quickly.

But as I stepped out into the main chamber of the temple, my attention was drawn to the sound of voices, and when I reached the center of the room, the owners of said voices came as no real surprise to me.

Standing on the mosaic that just earlier that evening had been slick with blood, were Ian, Cindy, and high priestess Desiree.

Desiree was a serene-looking mantis, who also happened to be Ian’s mother. She usually busied herself with organizing sermons and serving as an assistant to both Lady Raziel and my mother, though I had also heard she had some experience in the magical arts.

She was of a non-committal nature, as even when the two younger individuals in front of her continued to shout, she merely stared at them, as if waiting for them to tired themselves out.

“Is something the matter?” I found myself asking, approaching the group.

It is only then that Ian and Cindy paused in their argument, shooting me looks as venomous as the entries in the book I held. 

“None of your business.” Ian scoffed, before looking to his mother. “Mom--High Priestess, please explain to Cindy that I take priority, being both older than her and more important.”

“OH, SO YOU’RE JUST OUTRIGHT STATING YOU THINK YOU’RE BETTER NOW, HUH?” Cindy screeched, her bat vocal cords creating a pitch that made everyone else reflexively wince. “I’ve had SHIT all to do since Gerard died, now you’re telling me that the second I have something fall into my lap, I’ve gotta sit to the side for even LONGER?”

“Patience is a virtue, Cindy.” Ian said, in a tone that oozed mockery. “Anyone who expects a war to be won in a day is a fool, remember?”

“SHUT UP!”

“Hello, Shamura.” Desiree said calmly, ignoring the other two as they went back to their fight. “How was your lesson with Hecate? From the looks of it, she’s given you homework.”

She let out a gentle laugh as she gestured to the book in my hands, which I instinctively hugged closer to my chest.

“Something like that, yeah.” I said with a nod. “But, um, what are these two arguing about?”

Desiree sighed, before extending her arms and setting a hand on their heads, making both of them stop speaking in their confusion and look to her.

“I had been in the middle of something when they had initially approached me, but now that I am free, a predicament has arisen.” She explained. “Lord Raziel has requested I handle their training separately for now, and there’s only so much time left in the night, so I was trying to decide who to address first. Do I give priority to my own son, the eldest, or do I allow Cindy some attention, due to her recent loss…”

“High Priestess, please.” Cindy urged. “I’ve had nothing to do since Gerard’s passing, and just being forced to sit around is unbearable.”

“Don’t you need time to mourn?” Ian probed, squinting. 

Desiree sighed once again, closing her eyes. 

As the three of them stood there, I thought back to Lady Raziel, and what She had requested of me.

“Should any of those three begin to show… That they cannot keep themselves in check…”

I swallowed these thoughts, ignoring the faint shudder up my spine. The fact that I was already thinking on if I should have to consider such actions… In hindsight, it most certainly disturbed me, but in the moment, I thought nothing of it--Or, at least, tried to.

“Ian, dear…” Desiree gently began. “You already have quite a bit of experience in combat, I think you can wait a little longer for what I have to teach you. Cindy, meanwhile, hadn’t been a student of Gerard’s for very long. Allow me a little bit of time with her first, dear. Please?”

Ian’s fur bristled, and I briefly feared he was going to snap at his own mother. But after giving a withering look to Cindy, he calmed down, stepping out of his mother’s reach.

“Fine.” He scoffed, beginning to walk away.

Desiree reached after him, but after a moment withdrew her hand, directing her attention back to Cindy. She placed her hand on Cindy’s shoulders and began to guide her to another section of the temple.

With the conflict seemingly settled, my attention was once again diverted. I found myself trailing after Ian as he approached the temple doors. While common sense told me it probably wasn’t a good idea to approach him while he was in such a foul mood, I couldn’t help it. I was curious about something.

“Where are you going?” I asked.

“On a patrol.” He answered simply.

“You’ve been going on a lot of patrols lately.” I commented, making him pause as he looked through his supplies.

“And you care because… ?” He asked, looking back to me. “Shouldn’t you be shoving your face in that book--Somewhere away from me?” 

“Well, it’s just, you even do them when you’re not assigned.”

“Vigilance is important.”

“As is order. What if you’re needed, but you were out on some unscheduled patrol?”

Ian heaved a frustrated sigh, once again stopping his work. This time, he turned around to fully face me, irritation clear as day.

“Just because you’re Hecate’s brat doesn’t mean you can boss me around. You’re still just a kid. Now, will you kindly leave me to my business?”

“Well, I should at least tell somebody where you’re going.” I said with a shrug. “Since you’re not going to be telling anyone else.”

At this, Ian stiffened, and I could see a flash of fear on his face. Why was he so startled by that? 

His antennae twitched as he glanced around, as if making absolutely sure I was the only one around. When that was confirmed to be the case, he stepped towards me, leaning in.

“I’m giving you one chance to rethink your options, and not do that.”

I swallowed hard, finding myself overtaken by an acute sense of fear, which was a rarity, admittedly. I had never had any reason to fear Ian in particular, but this harsh reaction to my suggestion definitely indicated that something wasn’t right with this scenario, and I definitely needed to be careful.

“Why?” I probed after a long silence.

“Because what I’m doing isn’t important, and you don’t need to go sticking your nose into it!”

“I don’t have a--”

“YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN, KID!” He hissed.

He straightened himself, leering down at me, as if daring me to say anything more.

And, well… Much to my detriment, I did.

“I’m… Going to report this behavior to Lady Raziel.” I finally managed, taking a slow step back. “This… Is very suspicious.”

And it was. It was important that we be observant of our peers, and make sure their convictions did not waver. Any sign of suspicious behavior was to be dealt with, and Ian was a bright, red, flag.

But I didn’t get very far. Almost as fast as I could blink, Ian was upon me, grabbing at one of the legs on my head as well as one of my arms. With one of his free hands, he produced a dagger from his belt, and held it to my throat.

Time seemed to freeze. Death threats weren’t exactly… uncommon, in the sect of War, but it was generally an unspoken rule that an adult threatening a child was unacceptable. It was obvious that Ian didn’t care, however, so I forced myself to be very still, the blood steadily draining from my face.

Why was he doing this? All I had done was suggest going to Lady Raziel, what part of that prompted him to turn a weapon on me?

“You… Will do no such thing.” He said slowly, and I saw his eyes flick around, looking out for anyone who might stumble across this situation. 

“Ian…” I said, in a small voice. Somehow, I couldn’t find any strength in me to stay confident. Here I was, mere inches from death, and I was no different than any other kid would have been in this scenario.

It shouldn’t have been the case, I would have insisted. I was one of Lady Raziel’s disciples, there was no way I should be tripped up by this! 

But fear was a paralyzing thing. 

“Here’s what’s going to happen, kid.” Ian growled, looking me dead in the eyes. “I’m going to let you go. And you’re going to let me leave. And if I come back, and find out you’ve told anyone about this… Well, I think this speaks for itself.” He shifted the dagger a bit, making me stiffen even more.

I needed to be careful about this. I needed to get out of this situation--And maybe stop Ian? That was… Rather optimistic, admittedly, considering he was older, stronger, and actually had weapons on him. 

So what else could I do?

A step backwards is not always a loss.

Part of the scripture of War flashed in my head--Right, sometimes tactical retreats were necessary. In fact, sometimes it was advantageous to make your enemy think you were retreating. So perhaps, for my own safety…

“O-Okay.” I stammered, unsure if the tremble in my voice was natural, or I had managed to slip it in convincingly. “I-I won’t say a-anything!”

Ian stared at me for a long time, antennae still twitching as they continued to pick up anyone else’s presence. 

I was almost convinced he wasn’t going to take my word for it, but then--

He dropped me, and I fell onto the cold floor with a soft thunk. The old book slid a few feet away, and I worriedly glanced to it, but it was more important that I keep my attention on Ian.

“I don’t have time for this.” He growled, turning back to the door. “You better keep your damn word, you little mite.”

He was gone by the time I picked myself up, the temple doors closing with an echo that spread across the chamber. Once I had dusted myself off, I stared at the door, briefly considering if I should follow him--I would need to know what he was doing, after all, if I were to eventually report his behavior. 

But I decided against it. It would be too soon, to jump right into pursuit. I would have to wait a while, if I wanted to do anything without raising suspicion.

I then turned to retrieve the book, but stopped in my tracks when I saw that somebody else had picked it up.

It was Polly. Somehow, she had approached without being heard, and was holding the book I had dropped while looking at me with a worried expression. I also noticed that her eyes were wet with tears, and her antennae were twitching as if she was holding back sobs.

“Mury?” She asked. “Is everything alright?”

“How long have you been here?” Was the first thing I asked, narrowing my eyes slightly. I held out my hand, and she passed me the book with no resistance. 

“Well, I came in when you were saying you were gonna speak to Lord Raziel.” She began, not bothering to hide the gloomy tone in her voice. “I was going to approach and see what was going on, when Ian grabbed you, so I hid behind a bookcase…”

And neither of us had even noticed her… Interesting.

“It’s nothing for you to be concerned about.” I finally sighed after a moment, though more out of a desire to not have her worm her way into matters that didn’t concern her. “Besides, what about you? You’re crying.”

She flinched, almost as if she hadn’t realized this, and hastily grabbed the end of her scarf to wipe her face. 

“I-I’m fine, I promise. Just a bit of trouble when speaking to Theodore! It’s not a big deal.”

She was a terrible liar, but frankly, I wasn’t interested in pursuing the truth. Whatever she was keeping hidden couldn’t have been as serious as Ian’s behavior.

“I’m going to my room.” I said, starting to step past her. She watched me go for a moment, but when I was about halfway across the chamber, she called out.

“Mury, if there’s anything you need help with… Just tell me, okay? You’re my friend. And I want to be useful in any way I can.”

You’re not my friend, I thought, thankful my scowl wasn’t visible as I had my back to her. As if you’d be of any use to me.

Though… I couldn’t deny that her stealth had been quite surprising. I had taken her for the loud, excitable, idiot, unable to keep quiet in the mod serious of situations, yet in that instance, she had managed to avoid the detection of both me and Ian. 

At the very least, it was something to make a mental note of.

“I’ll think about it.” Was all I said as I passed through the door, leaving her alone in the chamber.

#usurper au #ch5 #shamura #hecate #polly #desiree #ian #cindy

[mile-minute]

So, I never really had a place to share this so here goes… Some background on where A Different Pace came from! (For those out of the loop, ADP is that long Flint/Graham novel up on AO3 HERE )

It all started with this Toon, Soggy Nell, who says this little tidbit in Flint’s taskline…

I thought it was just WILD! So, of course, my mind went to ‘what if she got away with it’. At the same time, as I still had just started playing really, I didn’t know too much about the lore, so I was playing with the idea of the Androids AU where some of the cogs had more human origins. At this point ADP was two stories, the ‘Flint finds Human!Graham’ story and then the ‘Captured Flint’ plot. Part of my creative process is to sketch out little moments, so the very first sketch became this comic integrating that NPC text…

Somewhere along the line Nell got turned into a mouse, but the sentiment remained. Obviously, that didn’t translate directly to the story, but if you’ve read it, you know exactly what scene this is from. And speaking of the taskline, at the time I was in YOTT and reached Winston… what a shock that was! It’s really the first time that the Toons pretty much commit a war crime in response to the Cogs… thus the plot was born. To what extreme can either side justify? How far can they go before a rift forms. The Wizards, in my opinion, crossed that line, and frankly the Suits crossed it a long time ago- something for our not quite so programmed Androids to mull about than act on. Thus, the two stories became one and I realized this thing was growing legs. Many, many legs~

It was almost too perfect… So of course I had to toss some gunk in the gears! The primary of which being a bit of a misunderstanding between Flint and Graham when one of them finally confessed their affection for the other. Of course, the feeling was mutual, but Graham has a way of jumping to conclusions, and Flint tripping over his own words… Cue that visual of Graham standing there, literally bearing it all for Flint, and being let down… He pulls his robe shut, you can see the exact moment his heart breaks, and Flint has NO IDEA how he’s going to fix this. Meanwhile, there might also be an entire Lighthouse in his way!

Art by JamiPurple for me of this moment, it was too good not to have illustrated!

Chip was another character I was immediately fascinated by. I thought he could be a great glimpse into ‘pure’ suit culture and just how self-destructive it was to the Suits, and maybe Flint could help him overcome that, even if just a little… At this point i don’t remember where it originated, but the idea that Chip and Flint are ex-lovers really just catalyzed this plot point, and made it fit in pretty seamlessly with Flint’s own journey of healing after his capture and escape!

Next, let’s talk about the superstar- Graham! I could only keep his ego down for so long, and know he needed some big event to really blossom and show off. Cue the Banquet! While important for the plot, this was also such a fun excuse to dress him up in something fancy!

But, amid all that glitz and glamor, I also wanted to make it PAINFULLY obvious how much of a toll all of this has taken on him, too. He’s a performer, for better or for worse, and he was just at his rock bottom. But, I had plans to make it worse. Plans from his past… The reason for the Android AU- the story of Graham’s rather sad human past, of a man past his prime and in a rough place, unsure of where to go from here…

No, even worse! Skin peeling off his face worse. First though, there needed to be a reason for this! Cue that B-plot with Tipps’ call center. The original outline had that shaking out much differently, but some last minute tweaks filled in a lot of plot holes, and let that little guy shine! Plus, it let me highlight a really unique aspect of this fandom- many of our Toons are Cog sympathizers to a point. Not full turncoats, but willing to work with the bad guys if it means peace.

So that takes us to the final battle, and the rescue squad!

I just thought this looked badass LOL! And am a sucker for a big fight. I really enjoyed writing what a ‘real time’ toon battle may look like, gags flying everywhere and the Suits able to really use their abilities.

Anyways, of course the ending was a bit of a reset of the status quo, it is a MMO after all, but I wanted to give both sides a bit of a ‘win’ so Flint got his safe haven, and the Toons operate a little more democratically now. Oh, and Winston finally got those repairs he needed <3

If you made it this far, thanks for sticking with me, I hope this was a fun bit of insight! More than happy to answer any questions you have about this story, feel free to comment them below if you want :)

#toontown corporate clash #pacesetter #firestarter #chainsaw consultant #fanfic #my artwork

[phoenixfire-thewizardgoddess]

Genuine questions about the Apocalyptic Genre

So, what is the shelf life of a bullet? Assuming that it was left in a box in a relatively dry, temperate room?

What would happen if it got humid / wet?

What about guns? Let's assume they're in a safe, how long can they go unoiled and ignored before they're useless?

A lot of the things Survivors in apocalypse and zombie movies find to save them just, don't seem practical to find and be able to use without any ongoing maintainence or care

And some things break down naturally (eg petrol has about 6mths of use if stored perfectly).

Fabric frays and can wear thin over time, but heat, rain, huidity and substances can increase the decay

Food is impermanent

Seeds do not last forever, unless stored Very Specifically, and your average shopping centre isn't going to.

Plastic gets brittle over time, and breaks.

A lot of stuff we use is straight up designed to fail after a certain period of time.

Medications? Forget it, you're already dead. Mobility aids? Anything that needs electricity?

Generators that aren't solar powered are likely going to be impacted after a period of time, esp fuel based.

Cars? There's a lot of little parts that can go tits up. Sure, maybe you luck out and you bunk down next to a nearby car superstore, still not going to have Everything for Every Model and Year. Headlights, wipers, etc. may sound small... but when you need them, you need them.

Tyres? Rubber wears down rapidly.

Clothes - do you know how to manufacture fabric? Sure you might run into a lincraft or spotlight in the early days and have fabric to spare in your panic hut but, at some point, someone's going buck wild. Fabric wears out.

Camping stuff? Assuming you have a tent and basic stuff? Not many are made to last forever (except some super expensive models, etc)

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

So, what could you reasonably expect to find say...

a) Day 1 of the apocalypse, zombie or otherwise? Probably most things.

b) Month 1 of the apocalypse? A lot of food and medications would have spoiled, industry went down even if only in certain fields, cars would be blocking the way, maybe some places have electricity and water. Depends on the area.

c) Two months? 6 months? A lot of things people assume they will find or have access to in an apocalyptic setting are gone, or not in useable condition.

d) 12 months to 2 years, even a lot of the canned stuff isn't safe. The main thing you need is common sense and a knowledge of dangerous food signs (botulism) like buldging cans.

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

What could we possibly think to have access to, scavenger wise?

Let's assume that that apocalypse was a devastation that did not involve aliens or zombies or being hunted. The rules would be different. Not a lot of humanity left.

+First things would be checking house to house in a radius out from your own to find people and animals that have been left. Free who you can. Livestock might need to have gates opened so they can move to somewhere with more grass or food... if you are not used to livestock, use your brain but also try to find someone who might have more of a clue how to move them safely.

+Take inventory of what you have on you and have access to, food, water, clothes, etc.

+One good zombie apocalypse podcast mentioned that day one they had everyone fill up all containers and bathtubs and buckets with water in case the power went out. Sounds good. If you have tanks, make sure you have a ladder somewhere, to do the old 'how much' test.

+Some way to make fire. The flick lighter you have now will work, until it runs dry... start thinking of other options from day 1, because that day will come. The wood sticks and friction works, but is slow, flint/steel not everyone has options, two stones can take ages to spark, etc.

+Probably cutlery and some cooking items. Worth collecting, esp if its more than just you and you lost your own home / were a brand new uni person with nothing in the apartment.

+If you have a cooler, but no access to ice, it might not be ideal. In the first days, though, you might have a chance to use it with ice for meat and other items. Ice boxes are brilliant and last DAYS if used right, without a change to ice. But not a forever option.

The question is if you then need to move somewhere cooler.

+If you raided a school you could get one of those big plastic drink containers to store water in. Or most bunnings type places have the 20L water containers, some with spouts. Bonus of getting a trolley thing to pull it about in. Its about a lot of water that can be ported as needed. They are uncomfy to lug hand-wise over distance, because of the way it dangles of your arm, but if you got creative with ties, you could backpack it.

+Bags. Different shapes and types, especially backpacks.

+Water bottles, or containers like thermos that would hold stuff for long treks, etc. Most camping stores could have the little pouches and the long straw but like... you get a bit of mildew in there and the whole thing is a pain to clean etc.

+Assuming you can settle somewhere, and are not 100% mobile the whole time, you'd be focused on being somewhere with access to wood for fire (food, heat, light) depending on the type of apocalypse.

+Cheap stores could be plundered in the early times for shitty items that might work a few times, and basic hygiene items. You don't need brand name if you're desperate to be clean. Soap, toothbrushes, toothpaste, a towel or two, etc. They won't last foreever, but when a towel starts to die out, it becomes other things like rags,, something to patch up a hole in the wall, fire starter material (most are polycotton)

Stuff that you need in the moment but can replace as life goes on.

+A basic toolkit, might last a while (live in a Bunnings, you might have a chance to rebuild society lmao, garden section, tools, even dog and cat foods there too if you manage to get out with your furry fam)

+In any school or ofice there should be at least one orange over full first aid kit. Grab it. The things in it will need a bit of updating over time, and discarded after a time.

+Pharmacy - you're gonna need meds and a local medicine wizard who can find solutions for the meds that run out and aren't replaced, if any.

+Paper and pens, something to help you leave notes for others to let them know where you are, or where to get help. Even just keep diary and inventory. You could try carving on rock but who has the time?

+Seeds and fertiliser. This'd need to happen earlier o, and if water is scarce you might need to get creative - is there a dam nearby or a creek they could plant near? Can you get soe of those Easy Planters that have a little wate tray under that kind of manages itself.

At least one shovel. If the rich try to raise prices on things... remember, a lot of fertiliser can be improved through the addition of blood and bone.

+I'd raid the library for things like a Big Book of First Aid, any book that told of native foods and poisonous plants, any How To Guides, and also some novels of different kinds to make sure no one was going to lose their minds. Maybe steal a whiteboard and some markers, so you can teach others these things, because hopefully there'd be a community starting up to replace what was lost.

Hopefully, the librarians wouldnt kill you.

+Cloth, pillows, bedding (possibly from stores or from abandoned homes of the gone), even scraps from the op shops and general clothes. Thread - try to find the cotton stuff, the plastic 2 dollar stuff from cheap stores tends to snap easy, esp with too much tension. fine for little stuff tho.

Coathangers too, you want this stuff up off the ground and not in a Pile. that's snake heaven and also a quick way for it to molder. Where possible, for a community, you'd want to find a way to get and store clothes of all ages and sizes because there'll be kids, and they grow so goddamn fast. Shoes... are negotiable.

+Lots of those Put 'em together Yourself furniture items will die if too old, wet or simply the stars are aligned wrong. Plan further out whn possible.

+Fuel - we know it doesn't last forever. Also a lot of chemicals will likely either be inert or super dangerous after a period of time, be careful handling bottles you find, etc.

+Food - finding in the initial, no wokkas. OVer time? Flour doesn't last forever. You can get eggs if you have food for chickens and the shelter for them. Maybe if you have a butcher you would be able to manage the acquisition of meat... or make do.

I have thought about Farming in the Apocalypse. The problem with the idea of a protagonist just Finding a farm and mangically getting food is that, that's not how it works.

Any farming family can tell you that there's so many different parts to a farm, turning crops, caring for cows and cattle, even just milking must be done regularly or the cows can have severe problems or die. Sheep need regular care and shearing, and also you have to manage them so they don't get flyblown, etc.

You can't turn the tractors on after a certain time, the harvesters, etc. You'd need to think about possible acres of fields needing to be managed by hand. Some crops get burned to stubble, how can that be safely managed? What do you, random possible city protagonist, know about rotating crops?

Do yuo understand what to do for animal husbandry? Hopefully someone from one of the families around would be there, and able to guide and manage it overall, train the survivors, but that never works out in movies.

You might have eggs, milk, meat, and some forms of food in this situation (depending on the farm, some are specifically one or two things), not much fruit

You would need to find a fruit solution, even if you have to raid a shopping centre for rotting fruit to see if you can salvage the seeds. IT would take time to cultivate, even if it did.

Could reach out to any horticulturists who survived, I guess.

+If you can learn to cure the skins, you'd have leather. It needs some human intervention, and piss, so someone would find joy in that...

You can use leather for clothes, shoes, bags, waterskeins (find yourself a medieval reenactor, most can do it themselves), tents, even (if done right) a makeshift pot on the fire. Absolutely fascinating what can be done with it, and it lasts.

----------

There's so much I think about when it comes to the apocalypse.

Maybe it wouldn't be the most exciting to read/listen to someone eeking out each day in the world left behind, but imagine the story.

Even several stories of people all over hte globe finding new ways to keep going. Some countries would barely be affected, given they alreay live between modern and traditional, and that duality is passed down to the following generations.

But in the industrialised world, where everything is from somewhere so removed from us that the public couldn't work out how to cook a roast on a fire without etting it aflame... like, ometimes I wonder.

The possibilities are endless.

The loss of what is known and the distress of realising that the loss isnt finished. It's going to keep going... again and again, as food runs out, clothes wear away, cars stop working, fuel goes inert, what was known corrodes and either you adapt, or let it drive you inwards.

It could be more fun if the only worry in the apocalyptic wastelands isn't 'need guns, and gun food (bullets)' - also sex.

Sure, that's a human desire but like, we can swing by the adult toy store and see if there's someone inflatable for you to chill with until we get basic needs going, because a baby would be the Worst Thing right now. Actually, what is the expiry date on most contraceptives?

I mean, you'd need weapons. Esp in a farming situation... sometimes births go wrong or an animal breaks their leg, or they're poisoned and suffering. Like, you have to manage that. Especially in a time without vets at the snap of a finger.

There's some practicalities, apart from just This Is Our Town Stranger as part of the dramatic climax, where they then have an Intense Head Nod during an ensuing fight, and now Stranger is One of Us.

I have no idea where this was going lmao, I have been thinking about how silly some of the Survival nonsense is in movies and books and podcasts.

And everything again changes if you are contending with being hunted by aliens, the infected/zombies, animals, etc...

But you can't eat bullets... except in one way. You can't quench thirst with a well oiled gun. Also, guns are loud, I know that gets brought up a lot but what is the fastest way to alert someone to your location? Firework boom boom. Get a damn axe. And a GRINDSTONE. Blunt ones won't split skulls or carapaces or whatevs.

#random thoughts about the apocalypse genre #also what if you need glasses? #ya fucked #hearing aids? again the batteries are hard to come by

[howlerbat]

Re: Silver telling Billy you made me choose: On the one hand I think Silver actually wants Billy to be his friend so he actually wants to win Billy back honestly (and prevent that choice again). So of course that backfires. On the other... 4.04 and a large part of 4.03 & 4.05 all happen in one day. Which means Silver went: back from the dead, take Nassau back, have BF2 offers himself up as hostage against wishes, Bf1 asks to kill BF2, Girlfriend says to kill BF1, forced deal w/ all the problems of a the newly liberated Nassau alone for a week. & the thing is: I think the last one is fairly important. Up to this point, Silver has only "lead" either by opposing Flint or by working in parallel to him. Now he's suddenly dealing not only with the sense of responsibility he had before to take care of the men being expanded to all of Nassau but also being put into the position of the leader, on his own, for the first time. Even more so, after Madi goes to meet Flint. & He starts to make some really weird choices b/c he just isn't sure how to navigate having both those roles. For example: meeting w/ Julius on a throne, in full "King" mode. This only time really we see him do this. & its quite possibly the worst way to try to get Julius on sides w/ the pirates. And then there's Billy. He can't quite get himself to do what Flint would do (kill Billy) or what Madi want him to do (also kill Billy) or what he really wants (get Billy to be his friend again & please for the love of all that is good, take on some of the responsibility of leading w/o Silver having to constantly worry that he will kill to kill the other people Silver cares about, again) so he tries to compromise & it just... doesn't work on any level.

Oh yeah, he totally still genuinely wants Billy to be on his side, despite his loyalty to Flint, Billy’s reasoning for keeping the cache is more appealing and understandable to Silver and he is very conflicted. So he tries to keep his cake and eat it too by not killing Billy but setting him up and turning him over. But what he fails to do in that scene where he confronts him, what he usually does so well otherwise (see: a parallel scene in season 2) is to read the other person. He can’t, or won’t see this from Billy’s perspective because OF COURSE Billy is going to tell him to go fuck himself if the pitch is “I totally hijacked this whole resistance you were setting up here, but please get along with Flint cause I like him now”. He somehow makes this whole situation about himself and how hard the choice is on HIM (again as you fairly noted he does have a lot on his plate at this point) while Billy is mind boggled how this is a choice at all, since he still remembers them bonding over protecting the crew FROM Flint, and obviously he wasn’t present for their epic bonding moments, so for him this whole thing came outta nowhere. This dramatic miscommunication is further shown in the King Silver scene where he, again, makes the whole betrayal of Billy seem like a sacrifice on HIS part even though it’s not what Julius is getting at when he voices his concern over this alliance. So yeah the whole situation is pretty messy

#billy flint and silver should have just had a campfire barbecue night together and it would fix them #black sails #james flint #john silver #billy bones

[sfnewsvine]

Inman Wins 4 National Association of Real Estate Editors Awards

Be a part of trade visionaries Pete Flint, Spencer Rascoff, Ryan Serhant and extra at Inman Join New York, Jan. 24-26. Punch your ticket to the longer term by becoming a member of the neatest folks in actual property at this must-attend occasion. Register right here. Three Inman reporters took house 4 awards at The Nationwide Affiliation of Actual Property Editors annual journalism convention in Atlanta for his or her protection in 2021 of iBuyers, pocket listings, the U.S. Division of Justice’s actual property probe and the Nationwide Affiliation of Realtors’ polarizing hate speech coverage, it was introduced Thursday. Marian McPherson, Jim Dalrymple and Andrea Brambila had been among the many journalism commerce group’s 2022 actual property journalism award winners, the group introduced throughout the Nationwide Affiliation of Actual Property Editors’ 56th Annual Actual Property Journalism Convention, held this yr in Bunkhead. “We’re thrilled that NAREE has acknowledged the laborious work by our gifted reporters who’re devoted to protecting the evolving trade panorama and serving to readers develop their careers and companies,” Inman CEO Emily Paquette mentioned in an announcement on Friday. Andrea Brambila Inman Deputy Editor Andrea Brambila took house two awards, incomes bronze within the Greatest Business Actual Property or B-to-B Journal Story class for her protection of a case interpretation by the Nationwide Affiliation of Realtors formally declaring the show of the Accomplice flag a violation of its hate speech coverage. The case interpretation made it so {that a} Accomplice flag displayed in itemizing photographs might be “moderately construed as indicating a racial desire or unlawful discrimination primarily based on a protected class” on the a part of a list dealer. Brambila additionally took house a silver award within the Greatest Breaking Actual Property Information Story class for her protection of america Division of Justice pulling out of a proposed settlement with the Nationwide Affiliation of Realtors, which earned her a remark from the judges. “On the identical day the U.S. Division of Justice introduced it was pulling out of a settlement with the Nationwide Affiliation of Realtors, Brambila reported and wrote a narrative that went past a news-ticker headline,” the judges wrote. “Not solely did the story embrace the most recent developments within the saga, nevertheless it additionally outlined the historical past of the lawsuit, highlighted what the settlement would have required of NAR, and offered context for what this meant to patrons and sellers.” Jim Dalrymple The Greatest Business Actual Property or B-to-B Journal Story class additionally noticed Inman reporter Jim Dalrymple earn an honorable point out for his protection of the Chief Govt Officers of each Redfin and Zillow responding to an actual property agent and TikTokers principle that iBuyers may primarily repair housing costs. Redfin CEO Glenn Kelman argued that the agent’s description of iBuying was “unfaithful” and that  Redfin would “by no means deliberately underpay or overpay for a house.” Zillow referred to as the video an instance of “misinformation and falsehoods” in an announcement to Inman. Marian McPherson Within the Greatest Residential Actual Property Commerce or B-to-B Journal Story class, Inman reporter Marian McPherson earned a Bronze award for her protection of how pocket listings damage minority homebuyers. McPherson dove deep into the difficulty, talking with 5 consultants concerning the methods pocket listings contribute to a de facto segregation of the nation’s housing inventory by narrowing the market. The Greatest Total Particular person Actual Property Winner for 2022 was Troy McMullen, a contract author for the Washington Publish, who received for his protection of appraisal bias and its results on Black owners. Electronic mail Ben Verde Supply hyperlink Originally published at SF Newsvine

#SF Newsvine

[jadedxrealityw]

-Quiet- Oliver Wood x Female Reader

    ☼-☪-☼

   Summary: You have been the chaser for the Gryffindor quidditch team for about a year now and were what everyone would call a ‘quiet brute’ you were fast and silent. For the past year both you and Oliver grew feelings for each other, but Oliver didn’t think you had felt the same. Until one day when Slytherin cheats during a match and you reveal why you have been quiet for so long

   Kody: Let’s see if i can capture the Oliver Wood we know. i’m am also fully aware that the timing will not fit in well, but it’s fanfiction so like lmao. I watched every single quidditch scene for this bullshit lol and i still don’t get it so bare with me please. 

   House: Gryffindor

   Possible Triggers / Warnings: cursing, Marcus Flint, Slytherin slander, (jkjkjk) a smidge of angst

   ☼-☪-☼

   Tap!

   Tap!

   Tap!

   you open your eyes and snap your head towards the sound. Eyes stopping your window. An owl was tapping its beak against the glass pane. It was so early, who would send a letter this early? Sitting up from the bed and throwing your legs off, you walk towards the feathery companion. 

   reaching for the latch, you unhook and push it open. The owl stepped off of your windowsill and onto the desk right under the ledge. You plop down onto the seat and reach for the letter in its mouth. The owl drops the letter in your hand. You rip off the wax seal and grab the folded piece of paper in the envelope.

   unfolding it you see a familiar name written at the bottom ‘Oliver Wood’ the captain of your quidditch team. The wizard you had known for a year and had a small- well large infatuation with.  You cracked a small smile before reading the contents of the letter. 

   ‘Dear Y/n, since we are playing against Slytherin tomorrow and they are our biggest rivals i want add an early morning practice today, hence the letter now. This extra training will help, i promise. Once you receive this letter head to the Gryffindor common room. With l- Sincerely Oliver.’

   you sigh deeply. Not being a morning person meant you hated getting up early in general, but you couldn’t do much about it. So you go over to your dresser and grabbed some clothes suitable to practice in. It’s been cold outside recently so you needed to cover up. 

   you slip on your quidditch sweater that had your number and name on the back, your black quidditch pants, and your gloves as well. As you lace up your boots you sit on your bed so you wouldn’t fall over. Once you were finished you stand up straight, reaching for your wand on your nightstand.

   you slip it into your belt loop even though you plan on putting it in the locker that was in the changing rooms later anyway. Once your all set you open your dorm room door and make your way down the hall, passing a couple girls that unfortunately woke up as early as you. 

   as you reached the common room you saw your whole team sitting on the sofas or standing up. Angelina was the first to notice your presence “Y/n’s here. That’s all of us” she says, standing up from the couch. All eyes turn to look at you, making you advert your gaze to the fireplace. 

   lifting up your hand for a second, basically an introverted wave. “Not a morning person aye L/n?” Fred asks, pushing off the wall he was leaning on. You didn’t say anything and just shrug your shoulders in reply. “Alright, let’s head out” your captain, Oliver said, gesturing with his hand to the door. 

   the team replies with okays and such and you all begin to leave the common room. You let most of them walk out so you can be in the back, mostly so no one would try and talk to you. It was too early and you were too cranky for conversation right now- or ever really.

    ☼-☪-☼

   as you all walked the halls, you didn’t notice the certain scottish boy slowly falling behind until he was standing next to you. You only noticed when he suddenly spoke “Sleep well?” he asked. You turn your head to look at him for a split second before back the other direction “Fine”

   he nods once. You didn’t really give him much to go off of. Oliver made you more nervous than other people did, probably because of the crush you had on him. If only you knew he was exactly the same. “That’s good. Are you nervous about tomorrow's match? I sure know i am” 

   you shrug your shoulders once, not really knowing how to answer “A little.” you say, looking forward. You all were nearing the field now and everyone was going into the male and female locker rooms to get there brooms and such. Oliver was about to follow the other guys when you spoke again.

   “I wouldn’t worry much, your a skilled keeper” you say, E/c eyes focused on your fingerless gloves on your hands. Before he could get a word in you follow Katie Bell into the locker rooms, leaving Oliver dumbfounded by your words. “Aw look at the young love. If only you weren’t a nervous wreck right?”

   Oliver heard both twins snicker and laugh, causing him to become flustered “Both of you get your brooms” he snaps, before pushing pas the two of them. 

    ☼-☪-☼

    morning practice went well that day as well as afternoon practice. You were actually excited for the game tomorrow, which was a first. Maybe it’s because you wanted to see the look of despair as your team own the match. Either way, you couldn’t wait for the match to start

    “Welcome back everyone to another exciting day of quidditch! Today Gryffindor is going against Slytherin for this seasons quidditch cup! Both teams are currently tied, so this game will for sure see who is the superior team! Now, let’s welcome our teams. First Slytherin!”

   Lee Jordan’s voice boomed through the mic as the Slytherins roared for there team. You watched from the ground as the Slytherin team flew onto the field, throwing their hands in the air. You took a deep breath as they took positions “Alright we're up next guys. Mount your brooms!”

   Oliver shouts before mounting his own broom, all of you doing the same. “Let’s welcome our Gryffindors!” Lee shouts and all of you took off into the air, making your way up. You stopped in front of the Slytherin team and assumed correct positions as Madam Hooch stands on the ground below us

   “I want a clean match, ya hear me!? No magic and no wands, understood!?” she spoke, looking at both teams. Some of us nod while others just blink mindlessly. Madam Hooch kicks he box and the snitch and bludger are released. After a couple of seconds, she lifts up the quaffle from the box and holds it up.

   you tighten your grip on your broom, ready to launch at the quaffle once she throws it. Hooch smiles before tossing the quaffle in the air, causing Lee to shout once more “And let the games begin!” you and Angelina dove in to grab the quaffle while Katie drew back, just in case it was tossed outside the ‘kill circle’ that was happening at the moment. 

   a Slytherin chaser managed to get ahold of it, so Katie flew after her. Katie catches up to her and pushes the quaffle from under her arm, causing her to drop it. You could see it fall a few feet in front of you and took that chance to attempt to catch it. 

   you hold out your hand and grab the quaffle “Yes!” you say excitedly to yourself before beginning to make your way to the hoops where the slytherin keeper awaited for you, Miles Bletchley. You throw the quaffle towards the hoop and it completely misses miles and went straight in.

   “Y/n L/n scores ten points for Gryffindor!” Lee annonces, as the Gryffindors cheered your name while the Slytherin booed. Typical. You fly back as the quaffle lands in the middle again, this time Angelina goes after it.

    ☼-☪-☼

   after about an eternity of playing, both teams were tied with 140 points each. Harry and Draco have been unable to catch snitch. It was exhausting, but you seemed to be going strong. That was until you saw Marcus Flint with the quaffle. He was heading towards your goal.

   you see that Katie and Angelina are to busy being bombarded with bludger so you chased after Marcus. As you did so you watched as he uses his free hand to reach into his robe and grab his wand, he had most of it covered by his robe but you know what you saw. 

   Oliver, who was at the goal and ready to deflect Marcus’s throw was suddenly thrown back into the hoop and hit the metal bar. Marcus takes the opportunity to throw the quaffle into the hoop and scores “Another ten points for Slytherin and that’s 150 points. Slytherin wins!”

   you feel your heart drop as Slytherin erupts in victorious cheers. It was almost as if you were on autopilot as you flew down to meet your team. All of you watched as the Slytherin team high hived each other. What a bunch of bloody cheaters. 

   “I swore i had that. This is all my fault” Oliver spoke, his face dropped into a sad expression. You feel as if you had been punched in the gut, your fists balling in anger. You drop your broom and shrug off your robe “Hey Flint!” you shout, catching his attention as well as his teammates.

   “Well if it isn’t Gryffindor’s chaser. Came to congratulate us? How sweet” he holds his hand over his heart in mock sympathy and you swore you saw red. “Drop the act Flint. I know you cheated! I saw you pull out a wand! Which is against the rules!”

   the shouting seemed to draw in Madam Hooch as well as a couple or Professors that were leaving the stands “What’s this shouting all about!” she says, placing her hands on her hips “Marcus Flint used a jinx on Oliver to win! I saw it! He has his wand in his robe!”

   your teammates stood behind you, shocked by your outbursts. You only spoke about three words at a time and you were always so neutral. It was strange to say the least as you were fuming with anger. “I did not cheat! Your just being a sore loser and a bitch!” Marcus yelled back at you. 

   “What did he say!?”Oliver shouts, ready to knock Marcus out, but Fred and George hold him back. “Mr. Flint! There is no need for that language, now empty your pockets this instant!” Madam Hooch points to his robes as he turns a shade of white.

    “B-But i didn’t do anything! She’s spewing nonsense just because her captain is incompetent!” Marcus blurts out as a last attempt. Oh he did not. “Listen here you sack of shit! Oliver is the best captain and just person in general that i’ve ever met. So much so that you had to cheat just to win!”

   everyone is stunned into silence as you yelled, venom lacing each and everyone of your words. “Now Mr. Flint!” Madam Hooch repeats and you watch as Marcus pulls out his wand and hands it to her. She looks disappointed and shakes her head solemnly.

   “What a disgrace to quidditch. Marcus Flint, you are hereby removed from the quidditch team and will serve two months in detention. Also, Gryffindor wins!” she shouts and all the Gryffindor students who remained shouted in happiness now they had gotten their rightful win. 

     Marcus crosses his arms and mutters another insult towards you. You walk up to him and punch him straight in the nose, causing him to fall back. With that, you walk off the field. You needed to calm down and couldn’t do it with all those people around shouting and yelling.

    ☼-☪-☼

   you had avoided your team for the rest of the day, shameful of your outburst. You wondered if you would get in trouble for punching Marcus and the fact that you told half the school you thought Oliver Wood was the best person in the world, either way. You were fucked. 

   you were now making your way to your dorm so you could cram in some studying before bed. You wore a white t-shirt, a red and white flannel as well as baggy blue jeans. As you opened the door of your dorm a flash of light causes you to stumble abit as well as a bunch of colored paper? oh confetti. 

   “Thank you Y/n!” you hear multiple people yell. You quickly decipher each one as one of your teammates. As your vision cleared you saw Fred and George holding up a banner that said ‘Y/n is the best’ Angelina and Katie were holding baskets that were filled to the top with sweets. 

   Harry was holding a case of butterbeer with a kind smile on his face. Last. but not least Oliver stood in the middle with a bouquet of flowers. you felt your heart race a little more when your eyes met “Um- Hi” you spoke shyly and began to fiddle with the sleeve of your flannel. 

   “You didn’t tell us you had that fire in you Y/n!” George shouts out of nowhere, his twin nodding in agreement “Wicked” Fred says in agreement. You just shrugged your shoulders “Uh- Thanks?” you said, unsure of what the both of them meant. 

   “yeah, you definitely put Marcus Flint in his place. Even Draco Malfoy apologized to us. It was insane, you should of been there!” Angelina exclaims, placing her basket of sweets on the ground of your room “You avoided us yesterday, why?” Katie asked, everyone's heads perking up.

   you sigh deeply and figured you owed them some sort of explanation “I’m just really socially awkward i guess. My uh- my parents died when i was like nine in some freak potions accident with Luna Lovegood’s mom. So Xenophilius Lovegood took me in. I was mute for awhile, so talking is just hard i suppose?”

   the girls faces drop as well as Olivers. Who knew your silence came with such a dark reason. “Sorry- did i ruin the mood?” you ask and they all immediately shake their heads “No, of course not! Anyway, we wanted to thank you for calling Marcus out and basically handing us the win.” Oliver spoke, taking a step towards you.

   “Also for sticking up for me. I appreciate it” He adds and you feel a familiar warmth invade your stomach harshly. Oliver hands you the bunch of poppies and you tilt your curiously “There fake?” you question and he nods once “I know your allergic to pollen” he says, which makes your heart skip a couple beats.

   you remember mentioning that you were allergic to pollen when you first met. He remembered after all this time? A cough interrupted the both of you and you look to see Fred double fisting butterbeers “Enough of that love shit, lets just hang out”

   your team burst out in laughter as both you and Oliver looked away from each other in embarrassment. Stupid Fred.  

       ☼-☪-☼

    a couple hours later Angelina was passed out on top of Katie on the floor, they had all brought sleeping bags apparently. This was very planned. Harry was laying on a beanbag chair with a blanket over him and marker on his face. George and Fred’s idea. 

   speaking of the twins they both were laying on the floor next to the trunk at the end of your bed, sweet wrappers surrounded them. You and Oliver had yet to fall asleep yet. You had actually opened up a bit and enjoyed talking to him. The more you talked, the more you fell for him really. 

   during the little ‘party’ your team had you all changed into different clothes (in their own dorms of course) so you were now wearing a black muggle t-shirt and grey sweatpants. Oliver was wearing his quidditch jersey and black sweatpants. He looked- well...hot.

   “You know Y/n. I can stop thinking about how you said i was the best person you knew” you inhale sharply and lean back onto your pillows, since you were both sitting on your bed “Yeah?” you question, afraid to say anything more. Oliver sits up straight, eyes boring into you. 

   “I think your the best person i know” he says confidently, reaching for your hand. He grabs it and runs the pad of his thumb over your skin. “Yeah?” you repeated once more. He snorts and looks down at the bedsheets for a moment before looking back at you “I’m trying to say i like you Y/n, like a lot”

   say what now? Oliver Wood. The guy who you thought barely noticed you just said he had feelings for you. Like earlier, your brain ran on autopilot “Yeah?...” you say a third time. Oliver rolls his eyes before leaning into kiss you gently, hands cupping your face and leaving room for you to push him away. 

   up close he smelt like fresh cut wood- like from a broomstick. That made sense actually. You snapped back to reality and hesitantly reach up to place your hand on the back of his neck, pulling him in for a deeper kiss. Oliver responds and places one hand on your waist.

   he lays you back against the bed and hovers over you, breaking the kiss. You look at him with a flushed expression “I like you too- you said it earlier so i felt like i should say it now...before anything else happens” you spoke quickly and quietly. 

   Oliver raises a brow in amusement “Anything else? Who knew you could think so dirty Y/n” he says in a teasing tone. You shake your head “What- no that’s not what i meant” your sentence trails off into a mumble. He chuckles quietly “I know” he said, going into kiss you again.

   “Can you guys not shag up, were right here” when did Fred wake up?

   “Yeah, be respectful to others around you” and there goes George.

   you watched as Oliver’s eye twitched in irritation “Both of shut up and go back to sleep. We are not shagging up” he says and they both mumble an okay. He lays back against the bed, turning on his side to face you “I think we should sleep as well, you don’t mind me sleeping here right?”

   you shake your head, not minding him there. He smiles lightly before reaching down to the grab the sheet. He pulled it over both of you. You go to scooch away to the other side when he wraps an arm around and pulls your back against his chest “You can’t get away that easily, lass” he whispered.

   you held back a small laugh before getting comfortable in the Captain's arms. “Night Y/n” he spoke quietly before placing a kiss to the back of your head. “Goodnight Oliver” you said back and used your wand to turn out the lights before closing your eyes.

   and with that. You fell asleep. 

    ☼-☪-☼

   Kody: I call these group of idiots the chaotic Gryffindor quidditch team. Anyways, peace. 

#oliver wood #oliver wood x y/n #oliver wood x reader #oliver wood x you #oliver wood x female!reader #oliver wood x fem reader #x reader #x y/n #x you #harry potter x reader #imagine #imagines #oneshot #one shot #one shots #harry potter #harry potter oneshot #harry potter imagine #harry potter fanfiction #oliver wood fanfiction #fanfic #fanfiction #oliver wood fic

[sapphirelycoris]

Ship: Wakatoshi Ushijima x fem!reader (she/her)

Warnings: Slaughter house, unsweetened tea drinking, one mention of horse abuse, lazy drabble

Author's note: I’m a sucker for a man in a cowboy hat. I have a black one and I wear it all the time. I HATE fanon Ushijima with a burning passion but these just go so well with him. So if this does well, I'll make more for other characters too. This is just crack, don't take anything seriously. Headcannons + Drabble at the end.

Country/cowboy Ushijima

Willingly drinks unsweetened tea.

Like straight up drinks that cardboard tasting shit so his grandmother makes a separate gallon of specifically unsweet tea just for him.

He still plays volleyball but that's just for fun. During high school, he was on the team but he quit once he graduated. He gets together with old teammates and plays now.

Works on his family's ranch for sure.

Grey appaloosa gelding that he got from an auction. That he named either Flint or Smokey.

Probably saved him from the slaughter house because I can see him helping rescue horses and giving them a chance at life.

He'd be the sweetest thing to them and be vigilant during their recovery. Checking up on them 24/7, making sure that they eat if they're underweight, grooming them and making sure that they're always clean.

The vet is on speed dial because he calls if he thinks anything is wrong. Nothing is too minor.

Horse anatomy is fucked up and he isn't taking any chances. No steed is getting hurt on his watch.

The weather suddenly changes? He watches the horses like a hawk for any signs of colic.

Ushijima would work mainly with the horses taking care of them for his parents who take care of the other livestock.

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news but they don't have a lot of cattle.

He probably has one and her name would 100% be Betsy or Bessie.

Hey, I don't make the rules.

This man has had her forever. Ever since his dad brought her home from the livestock auction, she's been his best friend.

Treats her like a pet. Grooms her, made a whole ass box stall just for her among the horses in his barn, big pasture for her to roam around in with her goat companion.

Now you met Ushijima at a bar downtown. He really didn't want to go because he spends 90% of his nights in the barn.

The only significant women in his life have been his mom, grandmother, and his cow.

But his mama raised him right and he knows how to treat a lady.

So eventually you end up with his number and go on a few dates with him.

Once you're officially together, he brings you to meet his family.

His mother is less welcoming than the rest of his family. Eventually she warmed up to you. You didn't meet his dad until the holidays because he lived somewhere else.

You can expect long romantic trail rides on his property.

Picnics with a really nice view.

His dad probably makes moonshine with his grandfather whenever he comes to visit so y'all try some together.

Barn chores. Y'all's quality time is doing barn chores together. He ultimately ends up re-doing them if you've never worked like this before.

You get to fill up water buckets, distribute hay, and organize the tack room. That's probably all he trusts anyone else to do. He's in charge of grain and giving medicine.

If you have worked in a barn before, then he'll allow you to do a bit more.

Long drives on back roads and dirt roads with country music competing against the air conditioning of his old truck. It's probably old and beat up as hell but he says, "It's reliable. It get's me from point A to point B without any complications."

And not that modern pop/country shit. I'm convinced he'd have almost 99% of Carrie Underwood's songs memorized he just doesn't sing them out loud.

Originally, Ushijima took you out to help him fix some broken fences. It was on one far out from any buildings so he drove you in his truck. With two people working, it didn't take too long.

You were done by noon but you didn't want to go back yet. He went to pick up horses from a home that neglected them and it was pretty far away. Ushijima’s grandfather had to hold him back when he caught sight of the owners.

"I think I should be rewarded for my hard work today." You claimed, sliding the tool box into the tiny backseat.

“I brought food.” Ushijima slapped the cooler with the lunch he had prepared for you.

The bed of the truck was emptied out and you sat across from him on the picnic blanket. There weren’t any people around and the horses were in the other corner of the pasture so everything was peaceful.

“Your grandpa should’ve let you at ‘em. I would’ve beat the shit out of them too.” Once you were done eating, you rested up against him.

“He said it wouldn’t be ‘appropriate’ and that karma would get them back.” He sighed.

“I suppose he didn’t want you to be charged with manslaughter. I’ve seen you angry and you nearly killed a man.”

“I was supposed to let him treat you that way?” Ushijima remarked.

“No but you didn’t have to send him to the hospital.” You laughed.

Ushijima laid his chin on your shoulder and tighten the hold he had around your chest. It was a nice afternoon that you got to enjoy with him.

#ushijima x reader #ushijima headcanons #haikyuu!! #wakatoshi ushijima #ushijima scenarios #ushijima x y/n #ushiwaka #ushijima imagine #hq wakatoshi #wakatoshi x you #wakatoshi x y/n #wakatoshi x reader

[meganshinsou-tm]

the best alpha’s. (f)

☙ pairing: bakugou x reader x kirishima

☙ theme: a/b/o, domestic dads

☙  cw/tw: profanity, a/b/o characteristics, scenting, slight self-doubt, baku needs a hug, cute alpha dads with their pup.

☙  a/n-request:  Baku and Kiri (separately but also maybe poly??? is 3 different scenarios too much?) being absolute fuckin badass units on the job kickin ass and sassin reporters (lookin at u Explodo 👀) but the SECOND they walk thru the door and see their lil omega and pup they melt into Soft Dad Mode ™ and just wanna scent their precious beans bc they love them so much and there is just a lot of “wow I’m happy to come home to you” 🥺🥺🥺

** so I just did them in a poly ship, hope you like it. ^-^

“Where the fuck is she?”

The moment you hear that gruff voice and smell not one but two annoyed alpha’s you freeze for only a second before smiling and poking your head out of the kitchen. Down the short hallway, Bakugou and Kirishima are both seen removing their shoes and duffels, using each other to lean against in the process. 

Kirishima is the first to pick up your happy and excited scent, his nose sniffing the air and face turning in your direction with one of those famous sharp toothed grins. He rumbles loudly and shoves Bakugou off so he can take massive strides in your direction. Soon there are large calloused hands cupping your face and you’re nuzzling each other’s cheeks. The scent of mountain rapids fills your nose and has you purring loudly along with Kirishima’s steady rumbling in his chest, sharp teeth softly nip at your cheek and cause you to chirp happily.

“Man I missed you.”

You chuckle and pet Kirishima's chest. “You saw me this morning.”

“It’s been a long day,” he breathes out after taking in a giant lungful of your honeysuckle scent.

Pulling away, you let the alpha hug you close while eyeing the other who was quickly approaching. You reach out a hand when Bakugou gets closer and his scent of flint and a sweet campfire mixes with Kirishima’s. Bakugou doesn’t waste a moment in pressing his cheek to the inside of your palm, his hand coming up to hold it there while he takes in numerous breaths of your scent in order to calm himself. 

“I saw.” 

Kirishima chuckles and pets the top of Bakugou’s head teasingly, earning a growl but no movement from the blonde alpha. 

“That reporter was asking stupid questions.”

You laughed and moved to hug Bakugou next when Kirishima finally released you, now nuzzling him instead. His arms wrapped around your waist and pulled you close, his inner alpha clawing inside of his head to get any sort of comfort from you. 

Like Kirishima said, it had been a long day. They went hard nonstop against multiple villains and at the end of it, reporters caught up to the alpha duo to pester them with pointless questions about their day. Most of the time Kirishima handled the on the spot interviews but today Bakugou was just at his limit. Maybe it was because he was hungry and tired, and maybe because his rut was going to start within the next two weeks and it was making him more antsy than usual.

So before Kirishima could calmly engage with the reporter, Bakugou snapped and may or may not have gone on a tirade about how fed up he was with reporters being stuck up his ass and many other profanities. All while Kirishima struggled to literally hold the blonde back from destroying the mics and cameras with his teeth. 

“He has to make a public apology in a few days, after some mandatory off time.” 

Kirishima spoke, trying to hide his grin while patting Bakugou’s back and kissing his cheek and yours. He decided to give you a couple more minutes and wandered into the kitchen to make himself and Bakugou some drinks. 

You shifted slightly and Bakugou whimpered, arms tightening around you. His scent suddenly turned distressed and you crooned against his cheek. 

“It’s okay alpha, I’m not going anywhere.”

Bakugou relaxed at that and buried his face into your neck, seeking out more of your calming pheromones as you tousled his hair and rubbed his back.

“I just … fuck, I thought I had gotten better and I then I fucked it up.”

“Katsuki, look at me,” you demanded in the softest way that only you could do.

Bakugou sighed and pulled away from the crook of your neck to look down at you with red eyes full of shame. If he had ears, you were sure they would be flat against his head. With a smile, you cupped his cheeks in your hands and leaned forward to kiss his lips. 

“You had one bad day, it’s not the end of the world. Your job is one of the most gruelling and stressful ones out there - you’re entitled to a blow-up here and there, shit happens. Maybe you could’ve handled this one differently but then again, maybe not. You can only take so much and I think a few days off will do you some good.”

Bakugou grumbled.

“You’re not a bad person for one bad day Katsuki. You’re a good alpha - the best alpha.”

The sound of Kirishima clearing his throat from the kitchen rang throughout the air, making you and Bakugou snicker. 

“You’re one out of two of the best alpha’s.”

Instantly loud purring could be heard from the redhead and you smiled before kissing Bakugou again. He rumbled and chirped while scenting you and being scented just a few seconds longer. 

“I’m the best alpha,” he breathed out against your scent gland, loud enough for only you to hear.

You smiled and nodded, nipping at his cheek then pulling away.

“I know someone who will be very happy that you’ll be home for the next few days.”

At that Bakugou perked up and his happy scent grew tenfold. A genuine smile stretched on his face and he rubbed the tip of his nose against yours, earning a giggle. Suddenly though, the sound of Kirishima bolting from the kitchen caught yours and Bakugou’s attention and soon enough Bakugou was growling with narrowed eyes. He quickly pecked your cheek before taking off after Kirishima towards the living room.

“No way Shitty Hair, me first!”

You rolled your eyes and started to walk after them. 

“It’s been seven months now you overgrown pups - fucking share!”

Kirishima barked out a laugh while Bakugou cackled, the two of them dropping to the plush rug on the living room floor the second their red eyes landed on their pup. Thankfully she was waking up from her nap, surrounded safely by soft barriers of a mini nest you made for her. The moment her own red eyes landed on the two alpha’s kneeling before her she squealed and made grabby hands in their direction while spouting out gibberish. 

Bakugou snarled when Kirishima went to scoop her up. The redhead sighed and sat back, letting Bakugou take her first with a pout.

“You’re not fair babe, you’re gonna get three whole days with her!”

“Shut up, I deserve it.”

You giggled and stood behind Kirishima, bending over him and giving him an upside down kiss in order to distract him from Bakugou, basically gloating.  He hummed and lifted a hand to pinch your cheek, kissing back. When you pulled away, you let the alpha’s be, going back to the kitchen after giving Bakugou and your pup a kiss.

Bakugou held the small pup close, scenting her chubby cheeks and tiny hands that grabbed at his face. She smelled like you, too young to have presented yet and have a scent of her own. But it wouldn’t be long before your scent was gone and completely masked with his and Kirishima’s. After getting his small fill, she was handed over to her other papa.

They redheaded alpha smiled and cooed, always the more talkative one with your pup.

“Hi there princess. Did you have a good nap?” He chimed, kissing the inside of tiny little hands.

She responded with a smile that flashed her singular sharp tooth that had started to grow so far and a giggle. Kirishima scented her as well, lifting her high in order to blow against her pudgy tummy and sides, earning more squeals and heart stopping giggles. 

Bakugou sat back and watched happily, already feeling more and more relaxed and content. His stresses from the day were quickly fading away the more he and Kirishima played with and scented the blonde little pup. All three of them rolled around on the floor, crawling and playing peek-a-boo. Then came the alpha’s favorite game which was Bakugou holding his pup by the hands to stand on excited bouncy legs, maneuvering her like a doll to beat up Kirishima. Bakugou would laugh and snort while making her kick and punch at his alpha mate, lifting her up to swan dive onto Kirishima’s rumbling chest. All while Kirishima played his part of the villain, pleading and faking hurt very dramatically.

You’d watch on from the kitchen, continuing dinner with a smile and purring happily. Once you got to a point where the food could be unattended, you set the timer for thirty-minutes and made your way into the now quiet living room. In the floor laid both alphas, snuggled up close on either side of your pup with their hands resting on her tummy and chubby thigh. All three of them were peacefully napping.

Soft rumbles came from Bakugou and Kirishima in their sleep while a tiny purr could be heard from your pup. You smiled and lowered onto the floor, moving to lay where Bakugou and Kirishima’s heads were, curling around them and alternating between petting their heads.

They really were the best alpha’s.

#bakugou x reader x kirishima #bakugou katsuki x reader #kirishima x reader #polyamory #poly relationship #a/b/o #krbk #kiribaku #bnha #mha #bnha x reader #mha x reader #my hero academia #boku no hero acadamia #fluff #domestic bakugou #domestic kirishima #dads #answered requests #meganshinsou tm requests

[srinjini-2022-ii]

Bludgers Can Do Good

A/N: This story is for Blackinnon Fest 2022. Any constructive criticism from the readers is welcome.

Disclaimer: I do not own the Wizarding World. JK Rowling does.

Warning: Mild swearing

Prompt no. 25- Healing injuries

*******************************************

"McKinnon's sent the to Meadows who sends quaffle through the hoop, Flint's gone tumblin' and the Gryffins are in favour by seventy-fifty"

Murphy McNully announced.

"Uh-oh, Dobbin's aimin' the blugder for her, CAREFUL MCKINNON! Oh, looks like Potter and Quigley've seen snitch and are on for it. An' Black brilliantly saves of the blugder and aims it for uhhh.... that-that Slytherin chaser whose name I forgot."

"Its Jonathan Sloper McNully."

Professor McGonagall's stern voice boomed through the megaphone.

"Uh yes professor, sorry professor. Anyway, Oh SHIT-

" McNully!"

"-McKinnon's got hit straight in the skull by Dobbin's blugder. BLOODY CHEATER, FILTHY SCUM, SON OF A B-

" MCNULLY!"

"And finally Potter's caught the snitch and Gryffindor wins against Slytherin with 220 points." McNully said all in one breath, fuming in rage at that slimy Slytherin, Dobbin, for hitting his fellow Gryffindor.

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

All Sirius Black saw while beating off blugders his fellow teammates was Marlene McKinnon's body slowly falling of her broom and her best friend, Dorcas Meadows, catching her dropping the quaffle. As soon he regained his composure he shoved his beaters' bat in James's hand and rushed to Marlene and Dorcas. He went along with a few other students to the Hospital Wing.

He heard McGonagall and Madame Pomfrey's voices.

"Poppy, how long will she be out?"

"I honestly don't know Minerva. But she should be awake by tomorrow."

"Hmm.. "

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

According to Madame Pomfrey, only 6 people were allowed in Hospital Wing at a time; which is why Sirius Black, James Potter, Remus Lupin, Peter Pettigrew, Lily Evans and Dorcas Meadows were sitting together surrounding Marlene's bed. James, for once, was not trying to ask Lily out while sitting in the same room with her and was talking in hushed whispers with Remus and Peter. Lily was doing the same with Dorcas. Sirius was looking, staring intently at Marlene. She was looking so pale, yet so beautiful. Ever since the end of their fifth year he had developed a crush on Marlene, over the summer the crush turned into love. Yes, he, Sirius Black, the badass bad boy marauder, who had slept with almost all girls in his year, a few from below and above as well, who wanted to be a bachelor forever, was in love. The only words coming into his mind seeing her lying on the hospital bed were, I love you.

"Out now, dinner time, out out. You can see her tomorrow. Go, get out!"

Madame Pomfrey's voice brought him out of his reverie. He walked out slowly along with the others.

-------------------------------------------------------------------Sirius Black usually had an appetite of twenty humans and ate like a pig. But today, no, not today. He moved his peas from left to right, right to left and his potatoes went cold from being left alone.

The other marauders had enough sense to leave him alone without pestering.

Dinner was finished like that.

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

Sirius tossed and turned continuously. The continuous rustling sound of blankets made sure no one slept.

Around 2 am, though, everyone had enough. James shoved his invisibility cloak in Sirius's hand, Remus led him out to the dorm door. Peter led him to the common room and Frank Longbottom, the only non-marauder boy in their dorm, went outside with him upto the Fat Lady's portrait and threatened her with a knife so that she lets Sirius Black come and go as he pleased for that week.

Finally, soft snores of four boys filled the sixth years boys dormitory.

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

Sirius smiled to himself as he walked through the hallways of Hogwarts to get to the Hospital Wing.

That was the day he decided he had the bestest best friends and bestest best dorm mate in the whole entire universe.

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

He quietly walked into the Hospital Wing and sat in the chair next to Marlene's bed. He saw the injuries and started quietly whispering healing spells that removed all the scars and healed all the injuries.

"S-siri..."

His eyes widened.

"Marlene" he breathed in relief.

She was muttering in her sleep.

"I-i love...."

"I-i love you...."

He took a little risk, after all what's life without risk? Right?

"Rennervate"

Marlene's eyes opened and she sat up slowly and looked around, and as if she looked past Sirius.

For a moment he was confused. Then he understood and pulled off the invisibility cloak. Marlene looked like as if she wanted to scream in fear. Sirius clamped his hand over her mouth and put his finger on his lips to tell her to be quiet.

As soon he felt her mouth close he released his hand.

"What are you doing here?" she asked. "What do you remember last?"

"Our Quidditch game, obviously. Did we win?

"Do you remember what happened after it? And yes we did win."

"Lovely. And, ummm.. I think I got hit by a bludger."

"Yes you did."

"You still didn't answer my question." Marlene pointed out.

"Well I came to see you. Is that a problem?"

"As much as I like your kind gesture it is after curfew." she replied looking at the clock.

"Yeah, so what? I break out after curfew a lot of times." he rolled his eyes.

"Anyway, you got to ask me a question, so, I'm asking you a question now."

"Fine, I guess."

"May I ask what you meant by, and I quote 'Siri I love you'?

"What!? How the hell did you hear that?!"

"I was healing you and you mumbled that."

"Healing? Isn't that Madame Pomfrey's job?"

"Yes but I know some healing spells better than her."

"Oh. I see."

"Weren't you you going to answer my question?

"I-well-I there is no reason to hide it from you now that you have heard it. Look I have been having these feelings for you since 4th year and over-over 5th year these feelings have developed into love." with each word her face turned more and more red. "So you see I really love you but I don't want that to affect our friendship with these feelings so-"

Sirius placed a chaste kiss on Marlene's lips.

"Siri... what..?"she looked speechless.

"Look, Marlene, I've had a crush on you since the end of our fifth year and over the summer I realised it was actually love. I was looking for a chance to tell you but I was so sure that you didn't feel the same way about me I started doubting. But now," he's smirked, "it looks like you've been having feelings for me for a longer time."

This time the kiss was initiated by Marlene.

--------------------------------------------------------------------"Black!" Madame Pomfrey's voice made them jump apart.

"What do you think you are doing? Didn't I tell you to come back tomorrow?"

"Madame Pomfrey," Sirius said putting up his most innocent expression," when you told that it was 8 pm and according to the rules after 12 pm is a new day. Now it being 2:30 a.m. technically it is the next day."

"I give up!" she sighed "They don't pay me enough for this." she added under her breath.

"Ms. McKinnon for Merlin's sake you got hit by a bludger in the skull you need rest!"she said to Marlene.

"I was getting rest madame. I was sleeping and woke up just now."

Madame Pomfrey closed her eyes and said after a while.

"Mr. Black go out from my Hospital Wing and I should not see you till after 7:00 a.m. in the morning. Understood?"

"Yes Madame Pomfrey."

"And Ms. McKinnon I am going to give you a sleeping draught and you are to sleep till after 7:00 a.m. in the morning. Do you understand?

"Yes Madame Pomfrey." Marlene said. "Madame, can I just ask her one last question before I go? Please..." Sirius said giving her his best puppy dog eyes.

"Oh fine Mr Black. But only one minute, mind you I'm giving only one minute."

Madame Pomfrey left the room

"Marlene, will you be my girlfriend?"

"Of course I will be. I'd be honoured." "Thanks," he smirked," I wouldn't have taken a no as an answer anyway."

Marlene rolled her eyes.

"Bye Siri."

"Bye Marls and Poppy."

"Black!"

But Siri didn't hear it because he was too busy thinking what he should do to please Marls on their first date.

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

"Wow! And all that happened because of a Blugder?"

"You know Wormtail, when you say it like that, I can't help but say that Bludgers can do some good. Right Prongs?"

"Too right Moony, too right."

" I think it happened because of Dobbin. Even though I am not a marauder I think you should thank him your 'marauder' way.

"Exactly Frank. For suggesting that, me, Prongs, Wormtail and Moony invite you join us in this prank."

"I'd be honored, mate."

*******************************************

~The End~

#blackinnonfest2022 #harry potter #marlene mckinnon #sirius black #marauders

[tiramisiyu]

【未定事件簿】  Tears of Themis: Xia Yan Personal Story 4-7 Translation

Translation Masterlist | Xia Yan Masterlist | Video

Chapter 4: 4-1 / 4-2 / 4-4 / 4-5 / 4-6 / 4-7 / 4-9 / 4-10 / 4-11 / 4-12 / 4-13 / 4-14 / 4-16

Xia Yan’s Home, Second Floor

The next day, the appraiser that Xia Yan knew appraised that two-million-dollar soccer ball very quickly.

That was not an authentic item; instead, it was an excellent counterfeit. We updated Sphinx with this information.

Sphinx: After bidding for this ball, Li Lihong gave it to the roadside children.

Sphinx: Which also means that he knew it was fake before he bid for it…

Xia Yan: One criminal activity involves using auction items as a means to accomplish an end.

MC: Are you talking about… money laundering?

MC: Using auctions to money launder by using the money in legal transactions.

Xia Yan: That’s right. If my speculation is correct, then that Wall Auction Hall probably also has to do with Hengda Financial – no, Song Heng.

Xia Yan: Trap loans are not the only criminal activities that Song Heng is involved in.

Xia Yan: He’s using this auction house to commit money laundering. It might even be possible that this isn’t the only location where he does so.

Xia Yan: Aside from that, I noticed that Li Lihong sent a message to an unknown number this morning, saying “Night, usual time, usual place”.

Xia Yan: The person Li Lihong is meeting tonight just might have to do with the money laundering.

--

Outside the Abandoned Factory Plant

That night, Xia Yan and I followed Li Lihong near an abandoned factory plant on the outskirts of Stellis.

Li Lihong looked around warily, then entered the plant.

Xia Yan: I’m heading in. Wait here for me.

MC: Okay… be careful.

Xia Yan: I will. Oh right, put this on.

Xia Yan handed me a concealed earbud, then stuffed the other in his ear.

Xia Yan: I can’t make any phone calls when following him, so I’ll use this to maintain contact with you.

Xia Yan nodded at me, then entered that abandoned building.

--

Inside the Abandoned Factory Plant

Xia Yan followed Li Lihong to the third floor. There were already seven or eight young men waiting there.

Young Man A: Bro Hong, we’ve been waiting for you for a while. You brought the stuff?

Li Lihong: Of course.

Li Lihong took out a storage disk in his pocket and handed it to the man in front of him.

Young Man: Can we start making our moves this time?

Li Lihong: Not yet, we’re still missing one thing, although I’ve already confirmed where it is.

Li Lihong: This is the most updated info. Hold onto it.

Li Lihong handed a storage disk to him.

Xia Yan hid himself as he observed, then took out a lighter from his pocket.

He took off the cover of the igniting torch first, then removed the flint steel wheel, flint, and spring.

Xia Yan wound the spring on the flint, then lit up the torch, heating the stone until it glowed red.

He stood and threw the burning stone towards that group of people—

Instantly, a dazzling white light burst, as if someone had thrown a stun grenade!

Xia Yan rushed in, knocking down several people within a single breath.

But Li Lihong had long been prepared. When he felt someone approaching, he drew a knife and slashed!

A wound ripped viciously over Xia Yan’s upper arm, and fresh blood dripped down. Xia Yan remained motionless, then snatched the storage disk in Li Lihong’s hand.

Xia Yan sprinted down the stairs on the other side, but a pitch-black gun muzzle suddenly appeared before him.

Young Man B: Even diarrhea’s got its benefits, huh? I caught you.

Young Man B: Bro Hong, I’ve made a huge contribution tonight.

Young Man B: Put the thing down, and squat down with your hands behind your head!

Xia Yan: …

Xia Yan held up both hands, then gradually let go of the storage disk in his hand.

When the disk clattered on the ground, the man released a relieved sigh.

Xia Yan twisted his body in an instant, turning out of shooting range as he grabbed the man’s hand and the body of the gun.

Bang! A bullet slammed into the wall!

Xia Yan seized the gun, then locked down on the man’s throat, switching positions with him.

The same moment, the people in the room had rushed up. They simultaneously raised their guns, pointing at Xia Yan.

Li Lihong: Put the weapon down!

Xia Yan looked at the several people in front of him. They were pointing guns at him from different angles and had cut off all directions of movement.

Xia Yan did not move. He kept one hand on the man’s throat, using him as a shield, and one hand on the gun, pointing it at the man’s temple.

Xia Yan: …

Bang! Li Lihong adjusted his firing angle, firing a warning shot at a pile of dirt in the corner.

Li Lihong: Put the weapon down!!!

--

I waited outside for Xia Yan.

I counted the minutes and seconds as they passed. One minute, two minutes… suddenly, the intense sounds of a fight sounded in the earbud!

Amid the chaos, it seemed like Xia Yan’s earbud had fallen. The sounds of the fight went from being beside the ear to being transmitted from far away.

Bang! A gunshot sounded in the abandoned building.

MC: Xia Yan—

I immediately called police. But, what do I do… what else can I do for Xia Yan…

Within my few seconds of hesitation, another gunshot sounded.

MC: What do I do!

⊳ Wait in place ⊳ Go in

Fearing that I would only bring trouble if I rushed in rashly, I held back my anxiety and didn’t go in after thinking things over.

…

……

Every second felt incomparably long.

Finally, my phone vibrated – Xia Yan was calling.

MC: Xia Yan!

Only when I shouted his name did I notice that my voice sounded like I’d been sobbing.

Xia Yan: I’m fine. Sorry… for scaring you.

Xia Yan: I’m on the third floor – you can head straight over.

--

In the Abandoned Factory Plant

I sprinted wildly towards the location Xia Yan mentioned.

I hadn’t even arrived at the staircase to the third floor when I saw Xia Yan, who was just about to descend the staircase to see me.

Xia Yan: Slow down, it’s dark here – careful—

When I saw his silhouette, my tears burst out all at once. Without a single care, I sprinted up to him and hugged him.

  ⊳ Wait in place ⊳ Go in

MC: I can’t just sit and wait. If I can scramble for a bit of time for Xia Yan before the police get here…

I took out the lipstick tranquilizer gun that Xia Yan had made for me before, my only weapon.

I carefully entered the abandoned plant.

--

Inside the Abandoned Factory Plant

One floor, two floors… when I stepped onto the third floor, I finally saw several silhouettes.

Due to my location, I could not see Xia Yan. I could only carefully observe those in front of me.

One person among them had a gun on his waist.

MC: …

MC: (With my skills, I’ll only be able to shoot one person…)

MC: (And then, these people will descend into chaos for a moment, and Xia Yan can use this opportunity to attack back.)

MC: (I’ll attack this person and shoot, then leave immediately, so I don’t get caught and end up causing Xia Yan trouble instead.)

I recalled the route with which I came in, confirming how I would escape.

Then, I carefully lifted my lipstick tranquillizer gun, pointing it at that person with the gun…

Got him in one shot!

I turned around to run, but I hadn’t even taken two steps when a black silhouette rushed up in front of me and seized my throat, applying severe pressure.

MC: Urgh!

But right after, I heard a familiar voice.

Xia Yan: MC? Why did you come in…

Thanks to the faint moonlight, I finally saw his face – it was Xia Yan.

Xia Yan let go of the hand grabbing my throat in a panic.

Xia Yan: Sorry, I was just planning to let you know that I was fine…

My tears burst out all at once, and I instinctively hugged Xia Yan.

----

MC: Xia Yan…

Xia Yan: !!!

Xia Yan’s body stiffened instantly.

A moment after, he gently circled his arm around me, patting my back comfortingly.

Xia Yan: I’m sorry for making you worry again.

Xia Yan: I’m fine, really…

Xia Yan held me gently as he tenderly comforted me.

A few minutes later, some awkward coughs sounded from not too far from us.

Li Lihong: Ahem ahem… Mr. Xia Yan, I don’t mean to interrupt you two.

Li Lihong: But this place isn’t the most suitable… also, could you explain to us what’s going on?

Li Lihong looked at us helplessly, while the young men around him had expressions full of mischief.

MC: !!!

I let go of Xia Yan in a panic.

MC: Xia Yan, what’s going on here? I heard gunshots before I came in…

MC: Wait, your arm?! What happened to your arm!

The moment I saw Xia Yan, my brain was too preoccupied to care about anything else. Only now did I notice a knife wound on his arm.

Xia Yan simply wrapped up the knife wound on the arm.

Xia Yan: Actually… everything was a misunderstanding.

Xia Yan turned around and looked at Li Lihong and the men around him.

Xia Yan: This Mr. Li Lihong, and the other guys… are all policemen.

MC: Policemen?!

Xia Yan nodded, then told me everything.

--

[Flashback]

Xia Yan looked at the several people in front of him. They were pointing guns at him from different angles and had cut off all directions of movement.

Xia Yan did not move. He kept one hand on the man’s throat, using him as a shield, and one hand on the gun, pointing it at the man’s temple.

Xia Yan: …

The few people faced off soundlessly for several seconds.

Li Lihong: Young man, I don’t know what benefits you get out of doing this, but I urge you to leave while you can.

Xia Yan: What benefits I get? That’s what you should be asking yourself.

Li Lihong: What did you say?

Xia Yan tightened his grip on the gun, coldly sweeping its point towards everyone across him.

Xia Yan: Glock 17… the gun that police around the world equip the most.

Li Lihong: …

Xia Yan: You are Song Heng’s “protective umbrella” in Stellis.

Xia Yan: Traitors are even more detestable than enemies.

Li Lihong: Hold up—

[Flashback end]

--

Xia Yan: That’s how it went…

Xia Yan: I thought they were turncoat police officers, so Sergeant Li was forced to tell me what was going on.

Xia Yan: Sergeant Li Lihong is an undercover agent from the Stellis Financial Crime Investigation Unit, sent to Hengda Financial. He came here today to talk about information with the other police officers in the task force.

Xia Yan lowered his body to whisper by my ear.

Xia Yan: I’ve already used my authorizations to confirm their police numbers and identities – they’re all clear.

Because he didn’t want others to overhear, Xia Yan was nearly pressed against my ear as he spoke. His warm breath and his voice spread over my ear, making it tingle.

MC: I got it!

I did my best to suppress my own panicked heartbeat and maintain my thoughts on the topic at hand.

I rushed to cancel my call to the police earlier, saying in a panic that I had heard wrong.

After, I looked at Li Lihong, still feeling somewhat doubtful.

MC: I never would’ve thought that police spies could get to a level like financial director…

Li Lihong: I was a spy at another company for a long time before. To make it easier to get information, I worked harder on the job and got promoted to director.

Li Lihong: So, it was rather easy to spy in Hengda Financial this time.

Li Lihong: Of course, I did use some other methods, but they’re not worth mentioning.

MC: Is that so? The Stellis police sure are hiding incredible talent…

So that’s what it was! Are there really this many interdisciplinary geniuses these days?!

I was just furiously complaining in my heart as Li Lihong looked towards Xia Yan.

Li Lihong: Speaking of surprising people, it’s this guy here that who really takes the cake.

Li Lihong: Are private detectives this skilled these days? Or… you’re a master among the people?

Xia Yan: …

Xia Yan: Can’t be helped. The detective profession is really competitive – if I want to earn more, I’ve got to have some more skills.

Li Lihong stared at Xia Yan for a few seconds without asking anymore.

Li Lihong: As members of the general populace, it’s not suitable for the two of you to continue getting into the Hengda Financial case.

Li Lihong: Leave the rest of the investigation to the police, and please trust us.

MC: That…

I glanced at “member of the general populace” Xia Yan, unsure of how he would respond.

Xia Yan: Of course we trust the police.

Xia Yan: But we also received a commission to investigate Song Heng and Hengda Financial. Due to some reasons, my employer needs to know about what’s happening inside them as soon as possible.

Xia Yan: Plus, Sergeant Li, you’ve been a spy for a year, yet you still haven’t reeled in the net. Which means that there must still be some issues, right?

Xia Yan: If it won’t hinder official business, please allow us to assist in investigation. After all, the police and the community are all in this together.

Xia Yan: Plus, there’s no reason needed to act righteously. As for safety, you just called me “a master among the people”.

Li Lihong: …

Seeing that Li Lihong wasn’t speaking, I rushed to provide backup.

MC: Sergeant Li, are there any places where we can help?

Li Lihong: About whether you can join in the investigations… I can’t agree to you right now. Protecting the people and ensuring that you remain out of danger is the police’s duty.

Li Lihong: In fact, you taking the initiative to give us the information you had was already a sort of help.

Xia Yan: Then we’ll tell you all the clues we currently have in detail.

--

Xia Yan and I told Li Lihong all about Ji Xiaoqing’s recording file as well as the Oedipus and corrupt detectives matter.

Li Lihong: So that’s what it was. A few days ago, we did receive this recording file from the criminal investigation unit.

Li Lihong: I didn’t think that you were the ones who found that evidence.

Li Lihong: As for Oedipus… according to the information you found, it might indeed be the president of Hengda Financial, Song Heng.

Li Lihong: I didn’t think that he’d also done these things…

Xia Yan: We’re currently working with Sphinx and trying to catch Oedipus – that is, Song Heng.

Xia Yan: Could this identity of ours assist your investigation somehow?

Li Lihong looked at Xia Yan I, falling into silent thought.

Li Lihong: Before Ji Xiaoyu accused Bedo Loan Company, we noticed indications that Hengda Financial was involved in gang activities, so we started conducting investigations in private.

Li Lihong: I thus applied for financial director and entered Hengda Financial as a spy.

Li Lihong: We noticed that Hengda Financial had worked with lots of trap loan companies and had helped with money laundering.

Xia Yan: But you still haven’t reeled in the net yet – are you still missing some essential evidence?

Li Lihong: That’s right.

Li Lihong: It’s the age of the legal system right now. If we want to catch Hengda Financial and their related gangs all at once, we must have a complete chain of evidence.

Li Lihong: Their legal team is extremely strong. If there is the slightest flaw in the evidence, those lawyers will use this to place doubts on the police’s entire investigation.

Li Lihong: If that happens… we can only watch as they use the name of the law to escape innocent or with mere misdemeanors.

Li Lihong’s voice had the slightest bit of repressed resentfulness in it.

The man who Xia Yan snatched the gun from earlier couldn’t resist jumping in angrily.

Young Man B: Those lawyers are always saying that we abuse public power and rambling about procedural justice this, procedural justice that!

Young Man B: I’m just a bystander, yet I can’t even bear it, so how miserable must the victims and their families be, huh? Can’t they see that?

Young Man B: Using the law to protect criminals! Any goodness in their hearts must have been gobbled up by dogs!

Young Man B: Bunch of pettifoggers. All their legal studies left them without the slightest bit of humanity in them!

MC: …

Xia Yan: …

Li Lihong: Enough. Don’t bother wasting time on complaining – this won’t help solve the case at all.

Li Lihong stopped the young policeman’s furious castigations.

MC: Sergeant Li, do you think we could help anywhere?

Xia Yan: Sergeant Li, I understand that it’s not convenient for the police to let us know details regarding the investigation progress.

Xia Yan: I do have a suggestion, though. Please listen to see if it’ll be useful.

Xia Yan: Song Heng, or “Oedipus”, believes that my partner “Sphinx” has certain important information on him.

Xia Yan: So he’s going to war over this, trying to find “Sphinx”.

Xia Yan: Could we start from this to create some setups and make Song Heng display weakness?

Li Lihong: Mhmm, this does work as a plan.

Li Lihong: You’re currently in the middle of detective investigations, which is quite a suitable identity. Plus… it would be great if you lent your skill to the police.

Xia Yan: Thanks for the praise.

Li Lihong: But as you said, it’s not easy for us to reveal our investigation actions and plans. So, right now, we can’t tell you about any ways to assist.

Li Lihong: Return from today, and wait for me to contact you.

MC: Okay.

Li Lihong: Also, Detective Xia Yan, I apologize for injuring you.

Li Lihong looked apologetically towards the injury on Xia Yan’s arm.

Li Lihong: You can come with me to the police station and apply for compensatory procedures, and deal with the wound in the meanwhile.

Xia Yan: No need, I can deal with this little wound myself.

Xia Yan: Plus, it was all a misunderstanding. We can call it even since you’re not going to charge me for assault of police.

After, we said our farewells to the policemen.

#Tears of Themis #tears of themis translations #xia yan #luke pearce #tot translation #raven!!! so badass aaa #the fluency with which he said glock seventeen #so hot

[adhonoremrp]

IT IS TIME FOR THE FINAL MATCH...

as the last two fighters approach the cage and prepare for this final bout, CORDELIA GREENGRASS and HAYDEN HUXLEY hold the FINAL MATCH signs in the middle of the cage and slowly circle the edge of fencing for the crowd before both are seen to the door. JACKSON FLINT locks the cage door closed behind them.

“ARE YOU READY TO DETERMINE THE WINNER OF FIGHT NIGHT?”

b a b y                     vs          t h e   c a r v e r

the match begins. the carver braces themself. baby rolls her head back and forth to stretch the neck muscles out. the carver lifts both fists defensively. baby pulls one arm in front of their chest followed methodically by the other. the carver steps forward with intimidating purpose. baby’s head snaps up and eyes focus on the carver. the carver pauses. baby hitch kicks him square in the cleft of his chin and lands both feet down one after the other on the mat. the carver’s head whips back at an angle. baby grabs the carver by the injured forearm and twists. in a forceful, hefted step, baby propels the carver around them and back first into the fence wall. the carver recovers quickly and swings a solid right hook into baby’s cheek followed by a left jab and a right cross then combined with a left elbow across the thick of baby’s skull. baby stumbles back. the carver sticks his foot out and hooks around baby’s ankle in an attempt to trip. baby falls back on their ass. baby rolls back onto their shoulders and leaps up to their feet again. baby steps a running step forward and-

every light in the basement of acid nightclub goes dark.

the entirety of FIGHT NIGHT is cast immediately into pitch blackness. there is a beat of shocked silence. there is a realization that this is not a planned part of the customary theatrics. then there are screams. some echoing in absolute fright, some seeking to reach out and find others in the crowd, some just pure adrenaline seeking a swift exit from the unexpectedly panicked bodies. while the darkness feels like it lasts an eternity, the black out could not possibly be more than three minutes at longest. the lights are thrown again. the over-crowded cement shoe box of a room is illuminated. inside the still-locked cage, there is one obvious flaw to the scene. the referee and the carver are standing precisely where they had been when the lights went out. baby is not. baby is nowhere.

___________________________________________

SERAPHINA PARKINSON IS MISSING.

FIGHT NIGHT IS OVER.

OOC NOTES:

with that, fight night has come to it’s conclusion. feel free from this point on to post any threads from the time the lights went out and forward freely again. in character, everyone will have been detained for a brief search of the premises then filed out to retrieve their belongings and sent home. fighters who needed more extensive healing magic will have been seen to. the department of law enforcement has refused to comment to the situation. the event is over! we hope you enjoyed!

#ahevent #ahevent005 #ahfightnight #tw: violence #tw: injury #tw: blood #tw: broken bones

[andnowanowl]

The Most Traumatic Event That Ever Happened to Me in School--And the Adults Are To Blame

Probably the most traumatic school experience I ever had was when I was in second grade and seven years old (I'm a summer baby, so my age was always weird compared to the other kids). Anyway, this experience was so traumatic and memorable after nearly twenty years because it wasn't done by kids...it was perpetrated by the adults around me.

We had a teacher's aide that year in the fall. I thought she was nice and funny. One day she brings in this children's book about fish that I really liked. I read it over and over again. A couple weeks later, my parents and I went to Barnes & Noble in one of the larger towns. While there, I saw a copy of the same book and asked my parents if I could have it. They bought it for me and being a seven year-old, I tossed away the receipt. The next school day, I brought the book with me to show it off to my friends.

The day after I showed up with the book, the teacher's aide wasn't there and my teacher (who I will call Mrs. Helltree because that's what her surname name translates to) pulled me aside into the teacher's lounge to speak to me. This woman didn't like me. For some reason she found me merely tolerable on good days and looked at me with contempt on the bad ones. So she pulled me aside and said that the aide had accused me of stealing the book from her. My teacher said that if I confessed that I took the book, she would give me a piece of candy. Being a confused undiagnosed autistic seven year-old with the mentality of a five year-old, I really didn't know what was happening. But I heard "you do this, you get candy", so I said that I had indeed stolen the book. My teacher took me back into the classroom, my classmates clapped for me (to my bewilderment), and I looked hopefully toward the jar in the classroom that had candy in it. Not only did I not get my candy, but the book was never demanded from me. I went home in a daze of confusion, thinking the incident over. Wrong.

The next day and then the one after that, I get called in to speak to the principal. That bitch of a teacher Mrs. Helltree was there, glaring at me. They both wanted to know where the book was, angry despite not asking me to give it to them the day prior--I would have given it up, confused, without a fuss, if they had just asked for it. My parents were apparently looking for it at home. At this point I was beyond tears because my parents had been there when I got the book. They bought it for me just a mere two or three days ago (we went to B&N on the weekend) and I couldn't understand why they weren't exonerating me. I mentally kicked myself over getting rid of the receipt. The book was in my backpack, and I just went and got it. I gave it to the principal, resigned to the fact that they--including my own parents--thought I was a thief and a liar. (This actually took place around class picture day and I'm sure I look absolutely miserable in the photo). The principal took the book and I thought I would never see it again. I went home that day feeling like the entire world was out to get me, hating my parents.

Then, the next day, I get called in to the principal again. At this point I just wanted to die because they had the book I had supposedly stolen, what the hell else did they want from me? To my surprise, the principal apologized to me, saying the aide had found her own copy of the book and that they knew I wasn't a thief after all. He asked why I had confessed in the first place and I glanced up at Bitchtree, who was looking at me all flint-eyed. I just looked down into my lap and said, "I dunno", knowing I was never getting that candy. They gave me my book back and apologized once again.

But it wasn't them I wanted an apology from. I wanted the aide, who I had not seen since the day I was first accused, to apologize to me. But I never saw her again. I don't know if they fired her or something, but it still pisses me off that I never got closure from this event, that I never heard "I'm sorry" from her lips. And the whole thing is fucking weird, right? The aide accuses me of taking something, but doesn't show up to work for three fucking days, and then the day immediately after I gave my own book up, she just magically finds her own copy? I think the bitch set me up; she wanted to cause trouble for some reason and I was just a pawn. And then my own parents don't even remember buying the goddamn book for me just days prior? I still haven't forgiven them for this and one of them is dead.

Anyway, my takeaway from this event was "don't fully trust adults, not even your own parents". That may be part of the reason I find children so trustworthy and my fellow adults just fallible as hell. What a hell of a life lesson at age seven, I'm telling you. I even started acting out in school for a couple years after this and no wonder.

#true story #trauma story #school trauma #childhood trauma #my inner childish trust just shriveling up and dying inside of me

[bush-viper-cutie]

“Easter Holiday Break” || YEAR 3 – Ch.31 (HP au)

                              Chapter List

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Day posted: 11/10/2020

Word count: 3, 260

Relationship: EVENTUAL severus X oc (slow burn)

Rating: E for everyone

Warnings: none

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A/N: This is my first fan fic I’m writing mainly as a way to practice. This is a retelling of the hp books with an inserted character. Although most every character will be written about, this is mostly for the pro snape fandom. Please do not fear, although this is a severus x oc story, it is an incredibly slow burn as I do not intend for them to get together at all until after the final book events. Chapters will be posted twice a week.

This derivative work follows the events of the Harry Potter books by Jk Rowling and is intended as a fun way to practice my writing. Thank you for reading :D

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Heather was deep asleep early morning when her whole bed started shaking violently. Someone was banging on the girl’s dormitory door yelling her name. She sat up and groaned, remembering what Draco had said the night before. She leapt out of bed and dug in her trunk for her Quidditch uniform, hugging everything to her chest ready to run to the bathroom when she saw her stolen library books had become dislodged and fallen to the floor.

She picked them up quickly and shoved them in her trunk, locking it closed. No one else was awake, the violently shaking bed hardly made nose thumping around in its spot, and so she figured it was safe to continue getting dressed. Ten minutes later she was out in the common room with half the team waiting with Marcus as everyone else slowly came out.

“Hurry up! This is practice time you’re cutting into!” Marcus yelled into the boy’s dormitories and slammed the door.

Heather had never seen him so unraveled. He was pacing the common room, shoving furniture and pillows out of his way as his pacing circle widened. Finally, Draco and the Keeper, Miles Bletchley, came out with messy hair and half-lidded eyes, ready to leave.

They walked down to the Quidditch pitch and Heather and Draco broke off from the rest to get their brooms out of the shed. By the time they walked in, Marcus, the Keeper, and the two beaters were doing pull ups on their brooms which stayed suspended in the air, unmoving, as they raised themselves.

“What is this?” Draco motioned at the sweaty faces of Peregrine Derrick and Lucian Bole. “I’m a Seeker. I don’t need to do this, do I?”

Marcus jumped down from his perfect pull up and pointed at the empty spot next to him. “Both of you.”

“B-b-but – ”

Heather groaned and pulled a stuttering Draco along beside her. She placed her broom on the ground and held up her hand. “Up.” The broom lifted, following the motion of her hand and let her guide it up above her head until her outstretched arm could no longer guide it and it froze in place. She jumped and grabbed onto the broom, dangling from it and looked over at Draco who had done the same.

“One.” She nodded at Draco and together they heaved up. She closed her eyes and groaned, willing her tired arms to pull her up as high as they could. She felt the top of her head hit her broom and opened her eyes. “Just a bit more!” she whispered, trying to get her chin over the handle. Her arms shook and she glanced over at Draco, who was still dangling, arms fully extended, with a face as red as a tomato. She dropped down and covered her smile so Draco wouldn’t see in case he ever stopped squeezing his eyes so hard.

The cold blue morning turned warmer and pink as the sun started to rise just beyond the trees. Her arms were pounding and sore and her uniform was already soaked with sweat when Marcus started drills. They hopped on their brooms and practiced double the amounts they normally did. They went through play after play and every possible situation they could get into.

Heather was rolling, flipping, twirling, and diving all over the place until Marcus was assured she wouldn’t mess up any moves with the Quaffle under her arm. Peregrine and Lucian, whose drills normally consisted of aiming the Bludgers at apples and oranges that Marcus got from the kitchens, was now them aiming the Bludgers at each other and occasionally at Heather and Graham.

After Marcus blew the whistle, Heather touched down hard on the ground and fell off her broom landing on the wet grass like a dead fly swatted out of the sky. She couldn’t move, she couldn’t even feel her arms. At one point her braids had gone loose, probably during the diving roll where she dodged Lucian’s Bludger and almost lost her head and joined Nearly Headless nick.

“Careful!” She screamed as Draco fell down beside her and almost smacked her head with his broom.

“If it weren’t for your brother, we’d still be asleep!” He winced and groaned as he sat up. “You should have taken the broom and thrown it into the fire.” His hair dangled over his eyes as he glared at her. Whatever slicking gel he used for his hair had come off completely with his sweat.

“Practice tonight after Gryffindor’s. After dinner meet in the locker room and DON’T be late.” Marcus looked at everyone, making sure they all heard, and headed out.

Heather sat up now that she could feel her arms again and stretched as best she could. “So how’re you going to even up with Harry? The drills you were doing only help you fly steady and cut corners faster… You have to anticipate where he goes – ”

“Flint and I have it under control.” Draco pushed his hair back and looked up at Peregrine who had made his way over.

“I heard McGonagall suspended one of her Prefects from competing in the National Gobstone Championship last year for getting into a fight over what color the nose plugs should be.” Peregrine stared at Draco and raised his brow. “It’d be a shame if… Potter ended up not playing this match.”

“A real shame.” A wicked grin spread across Draco’s face. He turned to her and raised his brow. “Wouldn’t it, Potter?”

Heather looked at Peregrine to Draco and nodded reluctantly. She stood and left the Quidditch pitch, put away her broom and headed to breakfast. Her spoon shook, spilling half its contents of milk and granola oats before reaching her mouth. It took twice as long to eat and by the time she was done, Harry, Ron, and for a brief second Hermione, had arrived for breakfast.

“We’ll be at the Library,” Ron told her as she left the great hall.

She peeled off her uniform and threw it in her dorm room’s assigned hamper and took as fast a shower as possible, remembering all the essays they had been assigned over Easter break. She had one from Divination, one from Care of Magical creatures – about dragons even though all term they’d only been caring for Salamanders; two half ones from Herbology about two different sentient carnivorous plants, one long one from Transfigurations with tie-ins to Charms – Professor McGonagall and Professor Flitwick had decided to team up to ruin their break this time; three four-inch ones from History of Magic about the three most controversial laws the Ministry had threatened to pass should the Puddlemere United Quidditch team not change their colors from moss green to mud brown in the late eighteen-hundreds, and one from Potions. The only teacher who hadn’t assigned anything was Professor Lupin.

She should be glad that she didn’t have an essay on cursed socks or hexed pet collars to complete on top of all the other assignments, but now that she had decided Defense Against the Dark Arts was her favorite class and that Professor Lupin was her new favorite teacher, she really wished he’d give out more work than just ‘read the next chapter if you’d like’. How could she improve if all that was normally required was reading ahead and writing short essays on creatures they should be learning about in Care of Magical Creatures?

She picked up her bag and headed down the main corridor towards the library when Neville came running down at full speed towards her.

“It’s happening!” he yelled, his arms flailing behind him as he pointed and ran. “H-hurry!”

“Already? But it’s only been two months!” Heather stopped Neville in his tracks by bracing herself as best she could for Neville to knock into her. She caught his shoulders and steadied him.

“Thanks. I thought I’d keep running until I tripped or something.” Neville’s eyes brightened and he pulled out a green leaf that was slowly turning purple in his hands. “Professor Sprout says it must have been a good batch!”

“Let’s go!” Heather took Neville arm and forced him back into a run towards the third green house.

As they ran they were joined by five other students of different years who had all also heard the great news. Two months ago Professor Sprout had let several eager students help plant several chilled seeds of various living death plants from the same family. They didn’t know which seeds they had gotten to plant, but Heather guessed she had gotten the Freezing Shudder plant by the feint spidery grey veins it had. If she guessed correctly, she’d earn five more points for Slytherin, putting them one-hundred and sixty points in the lead above Gryffindors for the House Cup.

They arrived at the green house and entered to see ten different large plants ready to bloom all lined up against the windows. At the center, sitting at the tables, were twenty or so other students. She stopped Neville from sitting at the first table and pulled him along to the last where Fred and George sat whispering to themselves.

“Why are you two here?” Heather sat across from them, suspicious and amused.

Fred and George smiled at her and crossed their arms.

“We like Herbology like everyone else here.” Fred poked at the table with his finger several times, “and you can’t prove otherwise.”

George leaned in. “And we especially love that plant right there.”

Heather turned to see the one she had planted. “The Frozen Shudder?”

It had the shortest of all the stems but the thickest by a good one or two inches. The green was slowly draining from its leaves and trunk-y stem as it died, replaced by a dark velvety purple. The buds on the very top looked swollen and ready to explode with all the other buds, like a balloon stretched to the max.

“Yeah. And you’re not the only one with a charmed pot.” George wiggled his eyebrows. “Hermione told us.”

Neville turned to her surprised. “Oh! What d’you have growing! Which charms does it have? I tried making one myself with an old pot from home, but everything I plant in it catches fire or grows a single grape.”

“I haven’t grown anything yet,” she lied. “I’m waiting for something good. What’s the point in growing grass or squirting Astrophytum Asterias if it’d be just as easy in a normal pot?” She avoided looking at Fred and George who were holding back smiles as Neville nodded.

Fred mouthed ‘for shame’ at her. “What a marvelous point you have. Which is why we’re going to grow our very own Frozen Shudder.”

Heather tilted her head at them. She was curious as to why they wanted it. It isn’t deadly, it’s most common as a show plant for winning ribbons and medals, and it wasn’t used for any potions she knew of. In fact, to use it at all, a saw is needed to cut off any part of the stem which is completely frozen.

“Oh my! So many here. Alright, I have the list here of everyone’s guesses. I hope you’re all ready – and cover your eyes when it happens!” Professor Sprout shut the green house door and took her seat, taking out a ceramic plate from under her desk and held it up like a shield.

Almost on cue, a feint whistling noise started from all the buds. They harmonized for about a minute, and just as everyone eagerly looked around at the plants, the buds exploded thick juicy petals, pelting everyone in the face and back. Everyone cheered as the last petals fell off the plants and Fred and George dove under the table to collect as many Freezing Shudder petals as they could. Heather looked down at them as they stuffed them into their robe pockets and took a few extra petals at random.

“There’s nothing to be worried about technically, but I am.” Neville looked around the room again as if double checking that the only plants to have exploded were only the non-deadly ones. “I mean its Fred and George isn’t it?”

Heather laughed and shrugged.

“Well. That seems to be the last of them.” Professor Sprout went by checking the plants and awarded five points to Slytherin for Heather’s correct guess and almost forty to Hufflepuff for all of their correct guesses as well.

Professor Sprout made everyone leave so she could clean up and Heather walked back to the castle with Neville, Fred, and George. Neville guessed why they’d want to grow Frozen Shudders the whole way but he either never guessed correctly or they refused to let them in on it.

Heather yawned as she pulled the library door open and quickly found Harry and Ron at a table in the back talking to a large pile of books. She approached and sat down. “Hello Hermione, how’s the studying?”

“Will everyone PLEASE stop distracting me?”

Ron shook his head. “She’s been like this since we got here. Harry, help me make another pile of books over here, they might be friendlier than this one.”

Heather laughed and took out all her sheets of parchment and her potions book. She stared at it and frowned, shoving it back in her bag and took out her transfigurations and charms ones.

“Oh can we copy!” Ron shuffled his papers around and flattened out his started essay with one sentence on it. He had his quill ready to write as he leaned over to see what she’d already written.

“I HOPE you’re joking, Ron.”

Harry rolled his eyes and moved Heather’s started essay for him and Ron to read.

“I’m not hearing a yes.”

Ron groaned. “Oh quiet, ‘Ancient Runes Made Easy’. And tell ‘Home Life and Social Habits of British Muggles’ to mind her own business.”

“Humph.”

Heather wiped the smile off her face with the back of her wrist and turned to Harry. “You have practice today, don’t you? You should tell Wood that Derrick and Malfoy are planning to get you kicked off Quidditch.”

“Kicked off?”

“At least for just this match.”

Harry looked to Ron amused. “And how would they?”

“McGonagall would sooner set fire to her office than kick Harry off and lose the Quidditch Cup.” Ron leaned in. “I think she’ll lose her mind this year. Heard Snape mention it’d be seven years of winning and she almost hexed his pants off. He burst out of the staff room with singed robes.”

Heather snorted. “Well then, when we win I hope she does.” There was a pang of uneasiness in her chest but she ignored it. It was weird to hear that kind of talk come from her own lips and not Harry’s. It made it worse that Ron and Harry were looking at her slightly shocked. “Anyways. They think she’ll kick you out if they can get you in a fight. She let the Gobstone club lose their best player over a dumb fight.”

“Yeah but… That’s Gobstones…” Harry drummed his fingers and shrugged. “No one cares about Gobstones.”

Ron nodded. “Not even McGonagall. So you’ll be fine. I’ll be your second and there’s no way you’ll lose whatever fight – ”

Hermione stood over her stack of books and glared down at Ron. “Ronald! The point is for Harry NOT to get into a fight. Not to win it! Harry if you lose to Slytherin I’ll – I’ll – I don’t know WHAT I’ll do! I’ll get expelled for hexing Malfoy’s stupid face so DON’T get in a fight!”

“Alright!” Harry put up his hands. “I never said I would. Can we all go back to studying and not talk about how at any moment between now and the match I could get cornered by a pack of giant Slytherins?”

They all nodded and Hermione sat back down behind her books. They studied and wrote all day – although Ron and Harry left several times to use the ‘bathroom’ and they always came back half an hour later with smeared chocolate on their lips – and ate lunch in the courtyard on a stone bench just to breath in fresh air.

“How’s Hermione doing it? She hasn’t eaten all day since breakfast.” Harry motioned at the empty seat next to them. “I’d be starving but she says she’ll keep this up all break.”

“Maybe I should bring her a muffin or something. If she passes out and messes up her schedule, we’ll never hear the end of it.” Ron stood and left in the direction of the great hall.

Harry pinched off muffin crumbs and popped them into his mouth. “What would you do… If Sirius Black was knocked out on the ground in front of you? Wandless.”

What would she do? She’d tell a teacher of course… But that wasn’t really Harry’s question. “I wouldn’t kill him… If that’s what you’re wondering. He deserves to go back to prison. A more suitable prison for him. One that won’t lose their most dangerous prisoner.”

Harry nodded.

She looked at him, staring at his muffin, and wondered what Harry would do. He’d say he’d kill him… and she wasn’t so sure he wouldn’t.

“He betrayed them,” Harry whispered. “He took them from us. He took our lives from us. We could have lived as wizards. Already known… EVERYTHING. We wouldn’t be staring at our friends dumbly every time they say something we didn’t already know.”

She thought about what it would have been like to live in a village like Hogsmeade somewhere. Already immersed in wizard culture and learning about muggles from their mother… She felt a hole rip open in her heart and fill with sadness. She wasn’t hungry anymore, and yet she felt starved.

“I’d make him pay.” Harry finished his muffin and stood.

Heather nodded and stood with him, punching his shoulder lightly. “And like always, I’ll stop you from doing something stupid.”

They headed back into the library and after several more hours – and at least three finished essays later – Harry left for his Quidditch practice. Ron had copied several of Hermione’s essays that she kept stacking on top of her pile of books and Ron kept sneaking and by the time it was dinner, Ron had finished two more essays.

Heather sat with her team and ate a roasted chicken leg, mashed peas, a bowl of potato soup, and left early to nap in her dorm until it was time for Quidditch practice again. She met everyone by the lockers and noticed Draco whispering to Peregrine. Marcus didn’t make them do anymore pull ups but they had to sit for at least an hour and listen to Marcus go over strategies again – which revolved around brute strength for Peregrine, Lucian, and Graham, and borderline cheating-but-not-quite from Heather and Draco. Miles Bletchley’s younger brother was there too, who had agreed to help signal Draco if he spotted the Snitch since it wasn’t cheating for the crowd to yell if they saw it before the players.

After practice, Heather dragged her feet down to the girl’s bathrooms and got ready for bed, throwing her uniform in the hamper again and didn’t bother showering. In the common room she had seen Marcus get all of Slytherin’s attention about something but she didn’t have the energy to stay and listen. She fell into bed and closed her eyes, ready to open them up soon to start the day practically all over again until Easter break ended.

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@lokilover-39

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@krazykatkay456

@lady-of-black-roses

@writingmi

@joscelyn02 (welcome to the taglist :D !)

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#harry potter #heather potter #pro snape #severus snape x oc #severus x oc #snape x oc #severus snape x reader #severus x reader #snape x reader #snape fanfic #snape fan fiction #snape fanfiction #fanfic #fanfiction #fan fiction