#Like all of our adventures have been echoes of this moment displaced in time

[completeoveranalysis]

[4]

I just have to say I LOVE the Instant Synchronised Murder Faces that Fai and Kurogane are whipping out any time anything even slightly unusual happens. It’s EXTREMELY warranted for where they are, and also just slightly hilarious whenever it’s like… a door opening. 

BUT INSTANT SYNCHRONISED MURDER FACES I SHALL HAVE!

I suppose you could say the giant doors they had to open in Koryo were the tiniest bit foreshadowing this moment. Oh it’s even the same battle party too! Sakura didn’t come with them that time either, so it was just the four of them storming a giant forbidding castle controlled by an evil wizard who was watching them magically from a distance.

If there is acid anywhere inside the ruinsI’m allowed to start yelling. 

Oh! Also! In Koryo the inside corridor of the castle had a repeating hallway - kind of like a time loop, but a far simpler one. And when they visited the Memory version of the Clow Ruins in Recourt the hallways also randomly changed in size and shape, as if time and space were unstable - which is far more relevant now than it ever was before.

I can't believe they've done this.

#We’ve never been here after all #But by giving us visibly similar images and scenarios #It FEELS like we have #Like we are ALSO in a time loop #Like all of our adventures have been echoes of this moment displaced in time #Liveblogging the Reservoir Chronicle #Vol 188 #Tsubasa #Lava Lamp Guy #Mokona #Kurogane #Fai #The only downside is that #We are not given the opportunity to see Kurogane punch down a wall #WHICH I AM SURE I WILL RECOVER FROM EVENTUALLY

[voltage-vixen]

A Nighttime Tryst (NSFW)

Summer of Smut Writing Challenge Day 6

Prompt: Nighttime Skinny Dipping

Fandom: Ikemen Sengoku

Pairing: Nobunaga Oda x MC

Crickets chirping echoed into the air of the night, and the blow of the gentle breeze formed small ripples in the calamity of the lake. Nobunaga was lying on his back with MC’s head resting on his chest as they admired the beauty of the bright stars in the nighttime sky. Despite the sun’s long descent of setting, the temperature was nevertheless hot and humid. A trickle of sweat dripped from MC’s head onto Nobunaga’s robes, eliciting a round of subdued laughter from the warlord when her usual pale complexion was tinted a faint pink due to her flustered state of embarrassment. Her innocent reaction was one he found precious, but he pushed those thoughts aside to check MC’s current condition.

“It would appear that even when we’re alone together, my Fireball’s reputation continues to proceed her,” Nobunaga established, frowning as the back of his hand skimming across her forehead radiated with a flush of her heat. “You’re burning up. Why didn’t you inform me of your discomfort?”

“It’s only a little sweat, Nobunaga,” MC ensured, resting her palm on the side of his clammy cheek. “You’re pretty warm yourself, and besides, this is hardly the first time we’ve both been ‘glowing’ like this before.”

Smirking at MC’s recollections of their past rendezvous, Nobunaga heaved his body upwards, and glanced over at the body of water before them. The Devil King’s eyes darted back and forth between MC and the lake, finally suggestively resting his gaze on her kimono.

“Tonight, we shall journey forward onto a new type of adventure,” he said while his fingers aptly unfastened the tie of her obi. “Strip for me.”

“Here? But anyone can come strolling by at any given moment!”

Nobunaga gave a swift tug, causing her strap to flutter down onto the ground. MC’s robe parted open, and she hesitantly fiddled around discarding her garments, while Nobunaga hastily peeled away at his own clothing. It wasn’t long before the canvas of his powerful frame was basked in the light of the moon, accentuating the cut of the muscles on his body. Now completely naked, Nobunaga leisurely strolled into the lake, and gestured his hand towards MC still partially clothed on the land.

“Then come hither in the water, and allow my body to be your shield,” Nobunaga hummed, brushing his thumb across the crease of his lips. His other hand disappeared below the surface and reached down to pump at his newfound hardened cock.

There was something erotic about the way he was touching himself. MC found her eyes were glued to him while the clothing slid down from her body. The glint of his carnelian seemed to put the chatelaine under an amenable trance, because she was soon at the mercy of his sultry gaze, as her hips swayed in step to her straggling down into the water.

Captivated by the way her naked body glistened with droplets of the lake, Nobunaga released his erection from his clasp, and enveloped his arms around MC’s back, pressing her bare thigh against the heat of his arousal. Nobunaga’s hand traveled to stroke the side of her soft cheek, their gazes intensely locked feigning out the world around them. Her head tilted against the tenderness of the touch his curled fingers left blazing on the flush of her skin. As the warlord leaned in to close the distance, MC’s heart fluttered, and blissful waves of a joyful anticipation rose from her stomach into her chest. All her previous inhibitions melted away, as the desire to be touched by the man she loved heightened.

Their limbs tingled when their lips joined them as one, and MC’s knees buckled when Nobunaga’s tongue danced through the part of her mouth. Senses unfurled by his taste, the woman’s fingers slipped underneath the water and enfolded around the girth of his manhood. A hard jerk of her hand, and Nobunaga growled, his lips changing angles to deepen their kiss as if they had a mind of their own. Pump after pump, MC mercilessly kept fondling away on his cock, savoring the melodious sounds of his throaty breaths uttered in the throes of their wistful lip-locking session.

Words were not a necessity, for the sincerity of their feelings amplified more with each passing caress. Nobunaga’s hands graced her face, while MC’s spare hand trailed around to acknowledge her appreciation for the tightness of his ass. The sudden groping of his backside infused with the pleasureful attention MC’s hand was paying to his length, caused his hips to jerk violently, uttering a low groan as he rode out the waves of his release.

“It’s not very often I’m granted with the privilege of seeing you in an unhinged state,” MC huffed, toppling against the nook of his shoulder, subdued breathless from the sensuous barter of their lush pecks. Nobunaga glanced down at MC, tightening his grasp around her.

“Such fighting words from my lucky charm,” he muttered, his tone strapped with husk. “Now the time has come for me to spoil you.” MC shuddered when his teeth found the side of her neck, her toes curling in tune with each tame nibble. Her flesh grew hotter, and MC was clawing at Nobunaga’s chest desperate for more until-

“My lord? My lord, are you out here? Damn it, where could Lord Nobunaga be? His horse is nearby, so he can’t have gone too far.”

“Perhaps he’s found himself occupied at the moment.”

The blood drained from MC’s face as the recognizable voices of Hideyoshi and Mitsuhide were heard from not too far a distance, and Nobunaga swiftly swiped her behind his back.

“Shouldn’t we try to make a run back for our clothes?” MC hissed, anxiously fiddling her hands, and shuffling her weight from foot to foot. Nobunaga scooped her up and waded through the water until they were back on the shore. Dashing to the pile of their clothing, he gathered the garments and raced to take shelter into the nearby woods.

“Shh,” he whispered, placing his index finger over her lips. “It would be an inconvenience for me to have to deal with them now.”

The pounding of the horse’s hooves was closing in, and the couple could hear one of the horse’s whinnies. Hideyoshi settled his horse with gentle words, and then did a quick survey of the land. There was a spare piece of what looked to be a cloth of some sort on the ground, and when Hideyoshi dismounted the horse to examine it, he immediately gulped and jumped back on.

“Mitsuhide, we’re taking our leave for now,” the mother hen ordered before kicking his horse off into a gallop. Mitsuhide who was confused by the abrupt change in attitude of his comrade, when his horse strutted in the direction of the colorful item on the ground. Gazing down from the horse, Mitsuhide faintly blushed when he noticed they were a pair of a woman’s unmentionables. Chuckling in knowing, Mitsuhide guided his horse back into the direction Hideyoshi rode off in.

“They’re gone already?” MC whispered from their hiding spot behind the bushes. “I can’t believe Hideyoshi would give up on finding you that easily.” She hadn’t yet noticed that her underwear had been dropped during the hustle, and Nobunaga concluded that now wouldn’t be the most appropriate time to reveal that tidbit of information.

“We’ve been blessed then,” Nobunaga quipped, tugging on her earlobe. “It would be a shame to waste a rare opportunity for some more private time together.” Tugging at his robe he had thrown over MC to cover her amid the chaos, and she was once again stripped bare before him. Tossing the robe onto the ground, Nobunaga nudged her back onto it, and knelt on his knees to toss her legs over the broad of his shoulders.

“May I return the favor you so graciously delivered upon me earlier?”

Nobunaga was so close to her core, the warmth of his breath nearly poured into her. Goosebumps covered her legs, and MC wrapped her feet around her man’s neck, inching him closer to the spot she was longing to be touched in.

“No more talking,” she moaned, withering as Nobunaga’s tongue licked at the arousal on her folds before sinking far into her heat.

Shining in the light of the moon, their voices trailed long after the sun had risen. It wasn’t until that morning glow from the sky did MC eventually come to the realization her displaced underwear was the source for their uninterrupted nighttime tryst.

You can still join the Summer of Smut Writing Challenge, and find the schedule and event info HERE!

#summer of smut #summer of smut writing challenge #ikesen nobunaga #ikesen smut #ikesen fanfic #ikemen sengoku #nobunaga oda smut #yes i'm not only behind #i'm very behind #sorry!

[kiapet2]

Aperture Sides Facility, Chapter 12: I’m Fine, Even If You Think I’m Not. (I Am.)

Masterpost

Chapter Summary: In which absolutely nothing goes wrong, ever.

Chapter Warnings: Characters under a Negative Mental Influence, Betrayal

“Thomas. Would you care to explain to me what in Science’s name that was?”

You wince, resisting the urge to look away from the potato. This part, you were not looking forward to.

“I- we agreed that Patton would be the best suited to-”

“The best suited?” Janus practically shrieks. “Thomas, we had a deal! A deal that I was actually going to adhere to, for once in my life! And might I remind you that I ran this facility for decades?”

“We were worried about the Itch,” you say.

“The Itch?” Janus says, “Really? That’s why you’re doing this?”

“Look, Janus, I’m really sorry,” you say, “but you can still be an active participant in things here, even if you’re not directly in charge! We can figure out a way to get your body back- your Core body, that is- and then you’ll be free to do what you want. I know we’d value your input, if you chose to stay.”

Janus gives a little chuckle, bitter and harsh. “I’m sorry, I’m still caught up on the fact that you went behind my back after I helped you. And the one time I didn’t actually see it coming! Did you ever have any intention of actually going through with our deal?”

You open your mouth to respond that of course you did, then hesitate. Because the thought of going back on the deal entered your mind even while you were making it, didn’t it? That was the thing that made you comfortable enough to agree in the first place.

The thought must show on your face because Janus laughs, wild and bitter. “I must say, Thomas, I’m impressed! I never knew you had it in you!”

“I really am sorry, Janus,” you say desperately. “I didn’t want-”

“I don’t particularly care what you wanted,” Janus says, going from hysterical to ice cold in an instant. “You know Thomas, you may act the part of an innocent little lamb, but deep down you’re every bit as devious and cutthroat as I am.”

You flinch, the comment cutting to your core. You open your mouth to respond, but can’t think of anything to say, and are just left there, staring helplessly at him.

It’s then that Remus pops out of the ground. “Whew,” he says, rolling slightly, “that was fun while it lasted. What’s up next?”

“Remus,” Janus says, still in that cold, hard tone, “let’s get out of here.”

“Sweet!” Remus says. “Where are we going?”

“Far away from here,” Janus says. “Thomas, if you would kindly transfer me?”

“No, Janus, wait-”

“I’m sorry, was your promise to give me ‘freedom’ a lie too?”

You hesitate for just one more moment, before slumping in defeat. “Yeah, okay.”

Gingerly, you slide Janus off your portal gun’s tine and then onto Remus’ broken handle like a shishkebab. Then, at his direction, you pick up Remus and click him back into place on the nearest movement rail.

As Remus turns to leave, Janus calls out, “Oh, and Thomas?”

“Yeah?” you say, mentally bracing yourself.

“When you’re tired of that imbecile’s attempts to save this facility and are ready to return me to my rightful place, come to Remus’ old chamber. If it’s anything but that, don’t bother trying to find me.”

“My old chamber should have deadly lasers in it,” Remus says, and then he and Janus disappear into the wall and are gone.

“Well that wasn’t very nice,” Patton says, breaking the stunned silence the rest of you are in.

You sit down carefully on the floor, then put your face in your hands, trying desperately to hold back the tears threatening to come out.

“Oh, kiddo, are you alright?” Patton says sympathetically.

You nod, wiping at your face. “I knew it was going to be bad, I just- just didn’t expect it to be that bad.”

“For what it’s worth, I think you did the right thing,” Virgil says quietly.

You nod and go to respond, only to be interrupted by the world around you once again starting to shake.

Warning. Reactor core is at critical temperature, the voice says. Explosion imminent. Evacuate the facility immediately.

The shaking goes on long enough you’re worried the facility is going to explode right here and now, but thankfully it stops after what must objectively be a few seconds, though subjectively it felt much longer.

“What the hell was that?” Virgil yelps.

“Janus said that there are things in this facility that need to be maintained to keep it intact,” you say, fear twisting your stomach into knots. “Remus wasn’t maintaining those things- he didn’t seem to care what he did to the facility as long as he got to play around with the things he wanted.”

“Okay, so Pat just needs to fix the things he broke, then,” Roman says. “Easy-peasy, right Padre?”

“R-right,” Patton says. “Give me a moment, let me just-”

The world begins to shake again, this time violently enough to throw you off your feet. Your elbow connects with hard ground and explodes into pain, and you curl up into a ball, riding out the pain and tremors both until the shaking stops.

“Sorry, sorry,” Patton says, “I think that was the wrong button to press. It’s too bad we’re all pressed for time, right?”

“Patton,” Virgil says, “If this is something you can’t figure out, we can put someone else up there.”

“That may be our best option,” Logan says. “Perhaps if I-”

“NO!” Patton shouts, then shrinks back at your and the others’ stares.

“I- I mean, isn’t it a bit early to be trying that?” he says more meekly. “I just need some time to adjust, is all.”

“Yeah, sure,” you say, uncomfortable.

“You okay there, Padre?” Roman says nervously.

“Fine!” Patton insists. “Just a little stressed, but aren’t we all, amiright?”

“Really, I’m okay,” he says at the doubtful looks you all give him. “I told you I’d let you know if I couldn’t handle it, right? Don’t you trust me?”

“Of course, Pat!” you say. “I guess after Remus, I’m just… nervous.”

“Aww, I appreciate your concern, kiddo. But let your dear old dad handle things for now, okie dokie?”

“Yeah, sure,” you say again, not really knowing what else you can say. Because the truth is, you’re starting to distinctly feel like you may have just made a big mistake.

“There appears to be some milk over here!” Roman calls. “If you like milk, that is. Do you like milk?”

“If it’s out in the open like this, it’s probably bad,” you call over, sifting through your own pile of detritus. Patton had insisted that you go find food, water and other necessary supplies, and hadn’t relented even when you protested that there’s too much going on. You suppose he’s probably right; like Janus said before, you won’t do anyone any good if you pass out from dehydration.

“Right, of course I knew that!” Roman says, giving a forced chuckle. “I shall find other sustenance!”

He zooms away into another part of the room on his movement rail. Being in the official chambers again means that the Cores have access to the rails once more, something that Roman took advantage of in particular.

You follow Roman, finding him carefully inspecting a hidden corner. He starts when he sees you, then gives you an expansive bow.

“My good adventurer, what brings you-”

“What’s going on with you, Roman?” you say, too tired to dance around it any more.

Roman huffs, then scoffs, trying and failing to seem nonchalant. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“I’m talking about all… this,” you say, gesturing to him. “You’re being all jumpy, like you need to please me or something.”

Roman deflates from his regal posture, sighing. “I guess I just want to prove I can be helpful.”

You blink in shock. “What? You’re always helpful, Princey!”

“If only that were true!” Roman cries dramatically. “You once called me your hero, and I’ve striven deeply to live up to that title. But when your life was in danger, I couldn’t do anything. Patton saved you from the turrets, Virgil literally carried you out of the furnace, even Logan has been indispensable. But me? All I’ve been able to do is watch.”

Your heart clenches. Has Roman really been struggling with this, all along?

“Roman,” you start, then cut off as another tremor hits. You really don’t like how frequent those are becoming.

“Roman,” you say again, “if it weren’t for you and the others, I’d have been dead a long time ago. I’d have gone insane, or killed myself trying to pass the test chambers, or died of thirst before finding the rat holes. You’re my friends- you’ve always been there for me. And that means so much.”

“I… suppose you’re right,” Roman says reluctantly.

You pat the top of his round form. “We’ll talk more about this later, alright? You are my hero, Roman, don’t forget that.”

“Yes, of course!” Roman says more enthusiastically.

You’re about to suggest you both head in when another tremor hits. This one isn’t as bad as you’ve gotten, but what is bad is the sound of crashing that echoes from a few rooms over. You exchange a look with Roman, then rush through the next few rooms and come across a wall of flames.

“Patton!” you yell. “Patton, can you hear me?”

Yeah, kiddo, Patton’s voice says over the speakers. What’s the matter?

“There’s a fire in the room I’m in!” you yell. “Can you put it out?”

Oh, well I guess I can try. Does this system have a fire extinguisher?

“How should I know?” you say.

Okay, let me check.

You wait a few more moments but don’t hear back.

“Patton?” you call, “Patton, the fire’s spreading.”

You move back when a cloud of smoke comes out, making you cough and gag. You retreat to the corner and take some deep breaths of clean air.

Wait a minute. Clean air. Fires need air to burn.

You step forward and shoot portals repeatedly onto the ground where the fire is burning. Whatever these tiles are made of must be flammable, because it’s really going up, but whatever your portals cover is extinguished when you remove them, all the air (and flammable substances, for that matter) temporarily displaced.

You’re able to keep the fire under control enough that it doesn’t spread past its initial room, until Patton finally figures out how to work the sprinklers and douses both rooms in water.

When you come back to the Control Chamber, you are wet, smelling of smoke, and not at all happy.

“Okay, something has to change,” you say. “Otherwise, this place is going to burn down, blow up, or otherwise be destroyed, and I do not want to be in here when that happens!”

“I fixed it in the end, didn’t I?” Patton says. “It’s fine, we have nothing to worry abou-”

Warning: Core overheating, the automated voice says. Nuclear meltdown imminent.

“Okay, so definitely not fine,” Virgil says.

“We should have seen it from the start,” Logan says. “Morality is useful for many things, but knowing the details of running the facility isn’t one of them. If you would just let-”

“I’m not having anyone replace me,” Patton says firmly. “I’m not gonna risk the Itch getting hold of you and making things worse.”

You take a deep breath, steeling yourself. “I’m getting Janus, then.”

“WHAT?” Patton, Virgil and Logan yell all at once.

You shrug. “He said it himself; he knows this place better than anyone, right now. If Patton can’t figure out how to fix things on his own, and won’t let anyone else replace him, then Janus is our best bet of getting the knowledge we need to help Pat.”

Logan makes a wounded noise. Virgil says, “Or he just screws us over like he always does! We have all sorts of options that don’t include getting that snake involved.”

“I don’t know,” Roman says. “Hasn’t he already proven he knows what he’s doing? I think what Thomas is saying makes sense.”

“Roman, I’m disappointed in you,” Patton says. “How could you support a corrupted core over me?”

“No, that’s not it at all!” Roman protests. “I just- I- nevermind.”

“We’re done talking about it,” Patton says firmly. “I’ll figure out how to fix this, you’ll see! For now, just take a breather, alright? Everything is going to be just fine.”

“Hey, Virgil?” you say as soon as you can get him reasonably alone, “Can I ask you something?”

Virgil stiffens. “Sure?”

“What does ‘corrupted’ even mean? It’s not like you’ve ever tried to kill me.”

“Oof, that’s hard to say,” Virgil responds. “It’s different for everyone. Basically, we don’t act like we should.”

“Like you ‘should’?” you say, furrowing your brow.

Virgl shrugs. “Well, yeah. We weren’t just made for giggles, you know. We have jobs to do.”

“Janus says corruption just means you’re not behaving how the others want you to,” you say, “that it’s a lie to control you.”

Virgil gives a bitter little laugh. “Trust Janus to say something like that. Look, you can put it any pretty way you want, but the fact is that we’re messed up. You can’t trust any of us.”

“But why?” you press. “How exactly are you “messed up?” Because you seem fine to me. Even Janus is okay once you get to know him.”

“Do not trust that bastard,” Virgil snaps. “He’s, like, inherently untrustworthy. That’s what’s wrong with him, Thomas. He’s meant to forward the interests of the facility, not to deceive and use other people for his own purposes. And Remus is… well, Remus, I think that one’s self-explanatory.”

“And you?” you say.

Virgil sighs heavily. “I was meant to be the Threat Assessment Sphere, Thomas, not the Anxiety Sphere. I’m supposed to assess threats, tell you what’s acceptable risk and what’s a real danger to us. I’m not supposed to sound the alarm every time you so much as stub your toe! That’s, like, the exact opposite of my purpose.”

Your heart twinges. “Virge, you’re my friend. I’m not going to suddenly stop trusting you because some computer program says you’re corrupted.”

“Well, maybe you should,” Virgil mutters.

“I think I’ll decide that for myself,” you shoot back.

“Wait,” Virgil says, suspicious. “This isn’t just about me, is it. You can’t be thinking of actually finding that- that snake!”

“What other options do we have, Virgil?” you say.

“Anything, other than that!” Virgil yells.

“I just think you’re putting your personal biases over-”

“My personal biases?” Virgil snaps. “I’m not the one who decided to trust the liar after knowing him for a few days, tops!”

“Virgil-”

“No. This conversation is over, Thomas. We’ll figure something else out.”

And with that, Virgil disappears. You’re getting a bit tired of him ending conversations that way.

It’s not too long before it all comes to a head. You’re doing your best to nap when it happens, but what sleep you have gotten has been fitful, easily woken. Instead of merely waking you, however, this announcement has you bolting upright.

Aperture Science Safety Self-Destruct Measure activated. Time until detonation: 3 hours.

You scramble to your feet, grab your portal gun and sprint into the next chamber over- the Control Chamber.

“Patton, what happened?”

Patton looks at you nervously, the lights along his body blinking in a more frenetic pattern than usual. He gives an uneasy little laugh. “So, the good news is we don’t have to worry about the reactor blowing anymore.”

“Patton, what did you do?” Virgil says.

Patton’s long body shrinks down a little bit, as if trying to hide. “So, apparently there’s a system in place to destroy the facility if it ever posed too much of a threat to the surrounding areas? Like, for example, if the reactor was going to explode and irradiate everything in the next day or so? And I, uh, might have accidentally triggered that system?”

“You shrank our time frame down from days to hours?” Logan says incredulously. “Patton, how could you be so stupid?”

“Hey!” Patton says. “You’re the ones who wanted me here, not me! I wasn’t designed for this and I’m doing the best I can, okay?”

“I get that, Patton, I really do,” you say gently. “And that’s why I think you need to step down and let someone else handle this.”

“NO!” Patton yells.

“Why not?” you yell back.

“Look I know this looks bad, but I can still fix it,” Patton pleads. “Just give me even the next hour, and I’ll figure something out.”

You slowly shake your head. “Sorry, Pat, but this is just too much. I’m going to go find Janus; maybe he will know what to do.”

“No, you’re not,” Patton says, quietly, firmly.

“Yes, I-” you start, then stop in horror as grabby arms begin to rise up all around you, closing you in. The lights flashing on Patton’s body become brighter, more garish, spattering your vision with dark blotches.

“I’m gonna put you in your own room for a bit, kiddo,” Patton says, still that terrifying mix of gentle and firm. “You can rest there until I fix things here. Then we can talk about the future together, all right?”

“Patton, you’re not thinking right,” you say desperately, backing away from the hands as best you can. The sprinklers from before washed all the Conversion Gel off the room, so there are no portal surfaces; you are well and truly trapped. “You’ve been in the mainframe too long, it’s affecting you.”

“Or maybe you’ve been around that snake for too long,” Virgil growls.

“This is for your own good, kiddo,” Patton says.

Desperate, you turn to the others. “Logan, buddy, back me up here. He can’t just-”

“None of you have cared about what I had to say at any point in this operation,” Logan interrupts coldly. “So I’m hardly going to speak up when you’re merely looking to use me to buttress your own arguments. Resolve this conflict amongst yourselves.”

“I wasn’t-” you say desperately, but Logan just scowls and turns away.

You turn to the last Core remaining. “Roman, you get where I’m coming from here, don’t you?”

“I- I don’t know,” Roman says quietly, avoiding your eyes. “I think maybe we should just go with what Patton says. He’s always known what’s best.”

You frantically look between the three of them- Virgil’s hate, Logan’s anger, Roman’s lack of self-confidence- and the realization finally hits you that no one will support you on this. You’re on your own. You take another step back, only to stumble as your foot hits empty air. It’s the elevator shaft, you realize- the same one Remus threw you down what feels like years ago now, the one that seemed to have no bottom.

The world slows to a crawl as two paths open up before you. You can go with Patton. Be imprisoned, again. Have all choice taken from you, again, and this time by someone you considered a friend. Or, you can let yourself fall down the shaft. Fall, and maybe die.

Fall, and die if you land wrong. Stay, and die if Patton can’t stop the self-destruct in time. In the end, does it even really matter?

In that moment, you realize you’re not even afraid anymore. Just tired.

You’re so, so tired.

“Hey, Thomas?” Patton says nervously. “Step away from the ledge. We can work this out together, all right? Just come a bit more towards me, kiddo.”

“Sorry,” you say, feeling very far away. “Thanks for everything.”

“Thomas, wait-”

You close your eyes and, ignoring the others’ screams, let yourself fall backwards into the elevator shaft, plummeting down towards the darkness below.

#aperture sides facility #my writing #ts storytime

[doomedandstoned]

10,000 Years Take Us Into The "Gargantuan Forest"

~Doomed & Stoned Debuts~

Review by Billy Goate

Album Art by Francesco Bauso

Leaving the world For salvation yonder Quest for eternity To suns beyond

Gazing upon our past Out into forever To a future obscured What glory awaits?

To begin another week of awesome original content at Doomed & Stoned, we're getting you better acquainted with the Swedish juggernaut 10,000 YEARS.

Last summer, the band dropped their eponymous debut to welcome ears and in just a few short weeks 10,000 Years come roaring back with a follow-up. Y'all know I'm a sucker for a good concept album. The eight-track full-length record 'II' (2021) picks up the trail of the Albatross research vessel, which has been galavanting 'cross the nether reaches of the galaxy on a potent rocket fuel made of sludgy stoner rock and doom metal.

If that sounds epic, wait'll you get a load of what's next for our interstellar crew. It helps if you picture the following text as a Star Wars-style screen crawl, slowly working its way up the page against the backdrop of a starry night.

After narrowly escaping the confines of the strange planet and its surrounding dimension, the Albatross and its crew finally return home to Earth. The re-entry is rough and the ship crashlands in a forest. The earth that greets them is vastly different from the one that they left.

When the ship travelled back to earth through the wormhole, it created a rift in the space-time continuum which propelled them far into the future, as well as allowing the Green King and other ancient gods from the other dimension to cross over to our dimension. They have since taken control of not only the earth, but the entire solar system.

After various harrowing experiences and encounters, the truth finally dawns on the surviving members of the crew. They are indeed back on earth, but ten thousand years in the future from when they started their journey. And to make matters worse, they find evidence that the Green King has been known and worshipped by secret cults and societies on earth for millenia, since before humankind even existed.

The surviving members of the crew come to the conclusion that the only way to set things right again is to repair the Albatross and take it back through the rift again in order to close it.

Now that's a saga I'm ready to get invested in. George Lucas, eat your heart out!

The record revs to a start with "Descent," a track that can best be described as terrific panic. It had me thinking of KOOK's "Escape Velocity" from their recent second album, though that's an eight-and-a-half minute slow burn and this is a quick twenty-six second fall from the sky. I wish this little notion had a chance to develop into something longer, but regardless what a thrilling way to open an album!

With rapt attention, I'm waiting to hear what comes next. The ship seems to have crash landed deep inside a "Gargantuan Forest." As an aside, it would be a blast to smoke a bowl o' something (anything, really) with Erik Palm (guitar), Alex Risberg (bass, vox), and Espen Karlsen (drums) just to gab it up a bit about sci-fi lit and horror flicks. I mean, check out the trove of B-movie greats referenced in their preface to the new single (which Doomed & Stoned is debuting today):

In this ABSURD (1981) video, 10,000 Years enter a FOREST OF FEAR (1980) as they access THE BEYOND (1981) and enter a BLOODBATH (1971) with THE BOOGEY MAN (1980), otherwise known as the Espbeast. The Espbeast stalks and haunts the bodies and minds of the characters in this C-grade homage to the horror movies of yesteryear.

The characters FIGHT FOR YOUR LIFE (1976) through insane NIGHTMARES IN A DAMAGED BRAIN (1981). If they survive the AXE (1974) they may still end up in an INFERNO (1980) and risk being EATEN ALIVE (1976). All the same risks face the viewer, so don’t watch with the lights out, don’t watch by yourself and DON’T GO IN THE WOODS ALONE (1981). Because after all, isn’t there an Espbeast in all of us?

10,000 Years have picked the ideal setting for the music video. The forests of Sweden stand tall and dark, the ground packed with snow. Screw you, Blair Witch Project -- this is where I want the next found footage flick filmed!

The song opens with a mysterious theme on solitary electric strings, surrounded by hazy reverberation. Drums and bass accent the motif as it's repeated several times over. Dazed by their graceless fall to earth, the crew wander about, checking one another for injuries, seeing if the faithful Albatross has even hope of another journey. As the shock begins to wear off, their hopeless plight reveals itself.

Screaming from the sky Blasting through the atmosphere

Come to rest On the forest floor Still alive What fresh new hell is this?

Surrounded by swamps A strange bleeding from the earth

Giant trees A dense horror taking root Same old sun Unfamiliar rays shine down

Is there something lurking about in the Gargantuan Forest? I'm sure no one wants to wait until nightfall to find out! The so-called "Espbeast" (which the band may actually have been first to name) is more than likely some strange amalgamation of guitar and creature, ripping through foes like a berserker of sound with scraps of High on Fire's "10,000 Years" echoing perversely through the treetops as it stalks and ultimately slays you. Nobody wants to be around when the Espbeast is on the prowl.

Now see, I'm letting my imagination get carried away! Then again, maybe that's what the band had planned all along -- for listeners to join in the fantastic adventures of these cosmonauts, to see through their eyes and feel through their body as they touch foot to strange soil. What will our adventurers find next?

The answer comes all too soon: "Spinosaurus!" This gruff beast charges angrily through the woods knocking things about, displacing rocks, snapping branches, royally pissed and ready to make somebody pay for the noise that snatched him away from a damned good nap. The repeated note riff, with its odd strumming pattern, does a nifty job of representing the crude movements of the Spinosaurus as it lumbers about the forest. Eric is a virtuosic mess of frantic tremeloes and wiry noodling against Espen's stampeding drums, as Alex narrates the scene with a terrifying shout:

Is this our earth? No time to dwell Dorsal sail cutting air Cretaceous ghost made flesh

Staring into Dead end eyes No place to hide Theropodic annihilation

Teeth into flesh!

What the crew is experiencing on their homeworld thus far seems foreign, almost ancient. Through some curse of Einstenian logic have we zipped through a wormhole only to return to the distant past? "The Mooseriders" are about to challenge our assumptions about what's possible on this Rock.

Thundering hooves crack the sky Dark robed wizards appear in the light Travellers in ether descending Protectors of the realm

These are the oath-bound eternals -- interdimensional templars, if you will -- who have arrived at this precise moment in time to take on the Green King. Complex rhythmic drumming with precisely stricken odd beats, is accompanied by a hyperactive bass and progressive metal riffmaking. Together, the band conjures the trot and hustle of the approaching entourage. A wilding guitar heralds a message from the great protectors:

The hour draws near The endgame is nigh Divine prophecy Even death may die

The mood now turns stately. A brave theme is introduced and developed with dashing prowess. This track would fit perfectly into a playlist with Mastodon, Ape Cave, and Zirakzigil. I found Alex's vocal approach especially appropriate for the frantic depiction of "antlers clashing with steel" in this battle to the finish. "Even death...may...DIE!"

"Angel Eyes" greet us on the B-side, and it's not a cover of the Jerry Cantrell song (though that would have been unexpectedly awesome). No, the hard-charging mood and raspy vocals are pointing to something far more apocalyptic.

Hooves of burning coal Let loose upon the world

Return of the warlord Eternal fire scorches the earth

Heavenly gaze Order through chaos

At times Alex seems exasperated, practically out of breath, as he gives these dire words his all. It's a style the 10,000 Years frontman owns as well as his counterpart, Simon Ohlsson of Vokonis, who has a comparable vocal attack. A bass-fortified guitar establishes a second theme that adds a Wagnarian touch of high drama, and this ushers in the song's curtain fall.

If 10,000 Years is to be compared with High On Fire at all, the rumbling riffstorm "March Of The Ancient Queen" surely merits it (to say nothing of their mutual love of alternative histories).

Her royal blood Once ruled these lands Generations Buried by time Dynasty of dust Rise from the sands Rise from the dead The Green King's servant

March!

March Of The Ancient Queen - Single by 10,000 Years

That last lyric is uttered with the most blood-curdling all-caps conviction that I was immediately drawn into its sentiment, miming "Maaaaarrrrrch!" with my ugliest war face on every time it came up in the song. The NWOBHM-style finish is so deftly executed that it comes across as orchestral. 10,000 Years paint with big, bold strokes here.

"Prehuman Walls" is a welcome shift down, with its chugging "Bury Me In Smoke" tempo. You sludge fiends will find moments of Zen here, with riffs that bend and twist and saw 'neath the summer sun. The crew have chanced upon a temple of sorts, though not one made with human hands. Nothing seems to make sense here at all. It's like Area X from the film Annihilation (2017), where everything is a contortion of reality. Then the "truth settles in." This alien monstrosity, we find, bears the mark of the sinister Green King. We thought we'd escaped him, only to find that he both followed us and was here millenia before.

Unholy worship Feed the Green King Eyes pried open Sanity stripped away

At last, we reach the final track in our journey: "Dark Side Of The Earth". So many revelations have been made in this second chapter, so many loose ends that need to be tied off. Naturally, a third chapter must be written. "We must go back, set it right," deliberates an exasperated Albatross crew. "We must go back, whence we came."

Dimension walls broken down The fabric ripped and torn apart Thread the needle once again A journey of ten thousand years

We must go back, set it right We must go back, through the tears

Insanity the only way The dark side of the earth

Following these words, the song develops instrumentally and the mood gets quite emotional. I found myself drawing parallels between this "bastard version of earth" and our own, wondering if we ever can go back and make it right. For us, perhaps it should be about moving forward, for there is no golden age or better time to which we can return. We make this world a heaven or hell tomorrow by the choices made today.

The album was recorded by Tomas Skogsberg at Studio Sunlight. Totally diggin the awesomely swamp landscape that Francesco Bauso of Negative Crypt Artwork created. It reminds the five-year old me of Luke's sopping wet landing on Dagobah, though guitarist Alex Risberg says the band's more inspired by Planet of the Apes than by Star Wars.

The album will be released on June 25th as a special vinyl "Green King Edition" by Interstellar Smoke Records pre-order here), a cassette tape "Forest Edition" from Ogo Rekords (pre-order here) and "Swamp Edition" from Olde Magick Records pre-order here), with the digital and compact disc formats handled by Death Valley Records (pre-order here).

10,0000 Years have in II their most accomplished album to date, with powerful moments that will stay with you long after the record's stopped spinning. Fans of High On Fire, Black Tusk, and The Sword listen up! You might just discover your next favorite band.

Give ear...

10,000 Years - Gargantuan Forest (Music Video)

Some Buzz

Having previously played together in the original lineup of Swedish underground heavyweights Pike, Erik Palm (Guitars) and Alex Risberg (Bass/vocals) found their way back to each other, musically, in early 2020. The creative fire reignited and stoked to a burning inferno and through a mutual love of heavy riffs and thundering stoner rock, doom, and sludge metal, 10,000 Years was born. Finding a drummer would prove to be an easy task and with Espen Karlsen the final piece lay firmly in place. The groove they fell into during the first rehearsal hasn’t stopped rumbling since.

After spending the first-half of 2020 writing and rehearsing, 10,000 Years recorded their self-titled debut EP during one weekend in June in the legendary Studio Sunlight with equally legendary producer Tomas Skogsberg. The self-titled EP was released on July 10th and immediately struck a chord with the heavy underground worldwide, and 10,000 Years garnered rave reviews and accolades.

10,000 Years by 10,000 Years

10,000 Years' musical and lyrical world revolves around the tale of the terran class III exploration vessel Albatross and its mission to explore the Milky Way and nearby galaxies in search for a possible new home for humanity. The EP tells the tale of its first foray into space and what happens when the crew accidentally travel through a wormhole and end up in an adjacent dimension populated by ancient gods and giant beings, ruled by the Green King. The EP ends with “From Suns Beyond,” where the crew make it off from the strange planet, back out into space in search of a way back home. The new album picks up the story as the Albatross blasts through the atmosphere of a seemingly unknown planet and crashlands headfirst into strange new adventures.

II by 10,000 Years

Now, less than a year after their first release, 10,000 Years are back with their first full-length effort, aptly titled 'II' (2021). Picking up right where the EP left off, II continues the story of the ill-fated Albatross mission and its exploration of time and space through a skull-crushing mixture of stoner rock, doom, and sludge metal. The album will no doubt continue to build on 10,000 Years' already golden reputation and prove to be an even bigger hit with the heavy masses.

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#D&S Debuts #10000 Years #Västerås #Sweden #doom metal #sludge #heavy metal #sci-fi #horror #music video #Interstellar Smoke Records #Death Valley Records #Ogo Rekords #Olde Magick Records #Doomed and Stoned

[letterboxd]

Chameleon.

For Japanuary, J-horror auteur Kiyoshi Kurosawa talks to Aaron Yap about upending genre expectations with his dreamy new travelogue To the Ends of the Earth, the unconscious connections between his films, and how it’s time for a proper evaluation of Robert Zemeckis.

Kiyoshi Kurosawa’s continued, uncontested position as a horror auteur isn’t unjustified. Emerging as a key voice in the J-horror boom of the late ’90s, Kurosawa hypnotized us with his chilly, haunting, atmospheric—and often apocalyptically tinged—visions of baffling serial killers, ghosts in machines, insidious doppelgangers and vengeful apparitions.

Bong Joon-ho once called Kurosawa’s 1997 mind-bender Cure one of the greatest films ever made. Pulse, his terrifyingly prophetic 2001 film, for my money—and many Letterboxd members’—might still be the creepiest of all contemporary horrors. “It is the only film I’ve ever seen in which every single shot feels genuinely haunted,” writes Connor.

Rarely behaving in a traditional scary-movie fashion, Kurosawa’s idiosyncratic horror films often test our expectations of genre, then deliver beyond those boundaries to probe his recurring themes: identity and isolation, humanity’s relationship to technology and nature, and deep-seated anxieties that nibble away at society’s crumbling fabric. Pulse, besides being an exercise in deftly crafted dread, is a great, telling, melancholy movie about the overwhelming loneliness of the digital age.

Yoko (Atsuko Maeda) and her travel show crew in ‘To the Ends of the Earth’.

However, the general focus on his horror “side” tends to eclipse a filmography that’s far richer and more versatile than he’s usually given credit for. Over the past two decades, we’ve seen him seem forge a thrillingly chameleonic, unpredictable path that’s included an ecological thriller (Charisma), an Ozu-esque family drama (Tokyo Sonata), a metaphysical romance (Journey to the Shore) and an alien invasion sci-fi (Before We Vanish). No one is really doing it like Kurosawa, and To the Ends of the Earth is arguably his most exciting and enigmatic left-turn yet.

To the Ends of the Earth is a commissioned piece to celebrate the diplomatic relations between Japan and the Central Asian republic of Uzbekistan, but that doesn’t diminish that it’s unmistakably a Kiyoshi Kurosawa film, not a tossed-off, exoticized, postcard-pretty travelogue. His signature languorous pacing, shrewdly slippery tonal calibration, and acute spatial sensitivity are at full bore, servicing a loosely plotted tale of TV travel show host Yoko (former J-pop singer Atsuko Maeda) and her crew attempting to complete shooting an episode in the Uzbekistan capital of Tashkent.

If anything, this movie should really confirm him as a filmmaker of bold, fictive playfulness in a comparable register to Jacques Rivette, Olivier Assayas and Christian Petzold—something that 2013’s hour-long, similarly fish-out-of-water head-rush Seventh Code, also starring Maeda, hinted at. In To the Ends of the Earth, gentleness, compassion and dream-like bursts of song and fantasy percolate through a disquieting maze of displacement—cultural, artistic, gendered—and the result is an adventurous, unpindownable, thoroughly humanistic work of curiosity and imagination.

Some years ago you did a “double feature”-themed interview with the Belfort Entrevues Film Festival where you revealed the sources of inspiration for some of your films. What film, if any, was a chief influence for To the Ends of the Earth, and can you tell us in what way? Kiyoshi Kurosawa: When I make my work, I often consciously refer to films from the past, but that’s usually the case with genre films. For example, Cure was greatly inspired by The Silence of the Lambs. However, To the Ends of the Earth is not a genre movie, so I wasn’t consciously thinking of any specific films. However, the composition of the story, that the main character appears in every scene, is based on films by the Dardenne brothers. Viewing their films The Child and Two Days, One Night, it’s clear to see how the depiction of just one person can turn trivial incidents into something serious and suspenseful.

Atsuko Maeda and Kiyoshi Kurosawa on the set of ‘To the Ends of the Earth’.

Watching Bright Future, To the Ends of the Earth and Creepy back-to-back recently, I noticed several parallels and motifs which may or may not be intentional. For example, a jellyfish makes an appearance in a scene on TV in Creepy, or there’s a TV report of a blaze in To the Ends of the Earth that momentarily hints at a bigger natural catastrophe that echoes the jellyfish swarm in Bright Future, or other apocalyptic moments in your films like Charisma and Before We Vanish. Do you find that some of these motifs work on a subconscious level for you, or were some of them intentionally threaded in? It’s a very interesting point. Some of them were intentional and some were not at all. It’s true about jellyfish, they appear in both Bright Future and Creepy. However, this is the first time I’ve noticed. The endings of Charisma and Before We Vanish were already written in the script by necessity, so of course, it’s intentional. The depiction of the blaze on TV in To the Ends of the Earth was introduced to show something happening in Japan while the main character is taking a small adventure in Uzbekistan. I wanted to show that her boyfriend was in some kind of crisis there. While the fire on the TV is merely an accident, it does appear apocalyptic. I may have overdone that a bit. Perhaps some kind of unconscious thinking was at work.

That amusement park ride scene in To the Ends of the Earth has stayed with me in the way it suggests terror out of something seemingly mundane. What are some scenes from other films that have stayed with you? The amusement park ride scene wasn’t introduced to express terror. What I wanted to show was how crazy the assignment is and Yuko’s professionalism. She takes on the assignment without fear. This may have been a bit overdone as well. However, I thought that Atsuko Maeda, who didn’t hesitate to actually ride it three times, was a real professional. Apart from that, if I think about the movies that force people to experience horror, what comes to me are Roger Corman’s Pit and the Pendulum. Tobe Hooper’s The Funhouse, George Miller’s Mad Max: Fury Road. I also remembered the episode in Freddie Francis’s Torture Garden, where a grand piano has a will to kill people, which was great.

Your films tend to be very location-based; environments and spaces appear to play a significant part. The pandemic has been the ultimate test of our relationship with spaces and each other. How has the pandemic impacted you as a filmmaker, and are there themes and ideas that you are interested in exploring further as a result of Covid? As you pointed out, when I make a movie, I pay great attention to the location. The moment I find a good location, I feel that the script will be transformed into a movie. It is the moment when fiction and reality are fused. It’s hard to say anything though, I haven’t made a movie since the pandemic started. What I can say, at least, is that sitting in front of the computer at home is not cinematic at all. So far, I don’t feel that something new will be born from it. What should I do? After all, I feel that a movie can only be made by going out in the city with a camera after utilizing the best epidemic prevention system possible.

If you had to pick a film that’s a personal favorite, which would you pick, and why? It's too difficult a question. Japanese movies and foreign movies have different viewpoints. Also, there are completely different categories of movies [that] greatly influence me when I make films and the movies I saw when I was young that make me nostalgic. It’s impossible to choose just one. But, well, the one that comes to mind is Sam Peckinpah’s The Ballad of Cable Hogue, which is both nostalgic and heavily influential for me.

You’ve spoken about your fondness for American filmmakers like Tobe Hooper, Robert Aldrich, Steven Spielberg et al. Are there new, or more recent American filmmakers and films that have caught your attention or that you’re particularly excited by? I don’t know much about young American directors, but what I always care about is Alfonso Cuarón. Of course he is not a new, young filmmaker, but an auteur. Also, since this is a good opportunity, I’d like to mention Robert Zemeckis. He made such masterpieces as Cast Away and What Lies Beneath around 2000. For some reason, he has never been properly evaluated at all. For a time he was devoted to animation. However, he made a spectacular return to live-action films with Flight and continues to shoot unique masterpieces like Allied and Welcome to Marwen. Of course, not many people appreciate these works. However, he does not seem to care about public opinion at all and continues to boldly shoot new works. Perhaps Zemeckis is the American film director who makes the most authentic films today.

What are your movie-watching habits like? Do you continue to watch movies on physical media or prefer streaming these days? What was the last movie you saw in a theater? Basically, I like to watch movies at an ordinary movie theater in the city the most. When I can’t go to the movie theater, or even though I know the film is going to be boring but I have to watch a movie for business, I have no choice but to watch it on DVD or Blu-ray. Of course, I also use VOD once in a while. The last movie I saw in the theater, as of today, was the Japanese film The Voice in the Crime. I saw that just yesterday. I saw it with my wife at a cinema complex in Shinjuku, Tokyo. It was the latest work by the director who made the previous masterpiece Flying Colors, and I expected much from it. It was speedy and quite well done until the middle of the film, but by the ending, it was too boring. Unfortunately, it wasn’t a good movie.

What’s a memorable film-related moment from your childhood, perhaps something you experienced with family or friends, or a film that scared you or made you cry? The movies that my generation often watched growing up were mainly monster movies. The most unforgettable one was Matango. Like Godzilla and Mothra, it was directed by Ishirō Honda. I went to see this movie with my friends. It had a rather cute touch in the promotional materials depicting a mushroom with a monstrous appearance. However, the content was completely different from a normal monster movie. Shipwrecked survivors on an uninhabited island encounter monstrous mushroom creatures washed up on the shore. These are not unknown creatures such as Godzilla or Mothra, but the horrifying ending of a human being. The characters are being infected, changing one another into mushroom humans. All of us children trembled from the bottom of our hearts. In retrospect, the work is an extreme horror aiming along the same line as [Howard Hawks and] Christian Nyby’s The Thing from Another World. It was probably the first time I encountered horror which was not “to escape from destruction” but “when a human being becomes something not human”.

Is there a filmmaker or film you think about a lot that you don’t get to talk about much and would like to show some appreciation? I haven’t talked much about the Battles Without Honor and Humanity series directed by Kinji Fukasaku. I don’t know how well this series of Japanese movies is known abroad, but when I was a high-school student I saw this and quickly became a big fan. I’ve watched a variety of yakuza movies since then, and it’s safe to say that nothing beats this series. As the title suggests, the films depict a yakuza world without “Jingi” (yakuza’s moral code), and it was really humorous and exciting to see the betrayals and the destruction. After I saw this, all those traditional yakuza movies dominated by the strange ideology of “Jingi” looked like a childish fantasy.

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Explore more J-horror, ’80s J-horror and ’90s J-horror

Follow Aaron on Letterboxd

‘To the Ends of the Earth’ is available for rental in the US via distributor KimStim. From February 5-25, Japan Society’s virtual cinema hosts ‘21st Century Japan: Films from 2001-2020’, featuring films from Hirokazu Kore-eda, Naomi Kawase and Takashi Miike, the online US premieres of Sion Sono’s ‘Red Post on Escher Street’ and Yukiko Mishima’s ‘Shape of Red’, plus a special focus on Kiyoshi Kurosawa (‘Bright Future’, ‘Journey to the Shore’, ‘Real’).

#Kiyoshi kurosawa #to the ends of the earth #j-horror #j-horror films #japanese films #japanese cinema #japanese horror #japan society #japanuary #letterboxd #sion sono #tokyo sonata #robert zemeckis #aaron yap

[feywildatheart]

Nenîth,

It looks like your days of not having to worry about me doing anything more dangerous than going on terrifying dates with very charming women are coming to a close, because Elyn has finished her gloves, I think we're all going a little stir crazy, and so we've taken a new job.

First, though, while I was with Marsa apparently got Elyn got a letter from her former captain, letting her know that he'd found the captain of a gnomish ship she'd asked him about, that had passed through Mir some while back, and offering to arrange a conversation between them. She seemed rather shaken by the prospect, and said that she was grateful to have had Squirt with her when she received the letter, and that he'd been very helpful, which I'm glad for.

I asked her if she wanted to drink about it, and she demurred, and I asked her if she wanted company or distraction, which she declined but seemed a little less certain about, so I left Squirt with her so she could work on finishing up her gloves without me distracting her, but without being left entirely alone with her thoughts, and I gave Squirt firm instructions to take care of her -- not that he really needed them, because he's the very best dog ever, but even so.

We spent perhaps another week on Gletta-86, all told, while Elyn finished up her gloves (they're incredible, nenîth, and she says she thinks she might even be able to get them to store magic now, and I can't believe she's been making something like that while I've been spending my time here just shooting at tiny things, and trying to be slightly less terrible at throwing punches), and had her conversation with the captain of the Thricursi's Horn, which it turns out is a generation ship that left looking for a new home for its passengers but turned back some while ago when their search proved to be in vain. The captain passed on some data to her that they think might be helpful in finding more information about her own family, some fifteen hundred years of it, which she passed on to Athan and Kian to try to get a start on making sense of, and they're going to take a look at that star map I mentioned to you back on Rugira Prime, and see if they can decompress it. And I wrote to the enchanter I'd sent my displacer beast hides off to all those months ago, to ask about the progress and see if there might be any way of getting the cloak finished and to me before we left the station and started running about again, making mail delivery complicated. It took a little extra gold for the rush shipping, which was only fair, but it got to me just in time, and oh nenîth, it's lovely, and it works a treat. I ran over to Elyn's room right away to show it off to her, and to try it out, and when I activated it, it was like there was a second me standing just to the side of me, echoing my every movement, which was more than a little strange for me, let me tell you. But Elyn tried to poke me and missed, and if she can't tell which one is the real me, when she knows me so well, then I can't imagine most anyone else is going to fare any better.

Squirt's none too pleased by it, which I knew was a risk, but I spoke with him and told him it was to protect me, to help keep me safe, but that I didn't want him to be unhappy so we should give it some time, to let us both get used to it, but if after that it still upset him, then I wouldn't wear it. He said he wanted me to be safe, because he's the very best, and I'm hoping that time really will make it easier, but I don't want him to just suffer silently on my account. So we'll see how it goes.

But in the meantime, with Elyn's gloves done and my cloak arrived, we were all of us, I think, starting to look towards what to do with ourselves next. I think we all found it a little strange, the prospect of going out looking for work ourselves, when so far everything we've done has sort of fallen into our laps, to help each other or people we knew. We ended up going back to the Horns, since we figured with so many captains in one place, somebody was bound to know of someone looking to hire a group of adventurers, and I noticed a gnomish woman who'd played darts with us sometimes, Reha bint Marjan kin-Elssay, who captains of The Archivist of Auyah, and who, when I asked if she knew of anyone with work for adventurers, said she had a friend back on her home planet of Hangi Syr, an archaeologist who's trying to study some local ruins but who's found them overrun by various creatures that they'd like cleared out, before she and her fellow archaeologists continue risking their lives to investigate these ruins.

It seemed like a good match to us and our abilities, and honestly just the prospect of being on a planet again was enough to make me agree. But Elyn and Cloudleaper did too, and so we got passage on the Archivist of Auyah to Hangi Syr.

Elyn did some research for us on the trip, because it sounds like we'll have some aggressive stone giants to contend with, along with whatever else has taken up residence in the ruins, which frankly Cloudleaper seems entirely too excited by. I guess that's the prerogative of tall folk, when you're facing something only four times as big as you are, instead of eight. In any case, with Elyn's help, we learned what we could about them, and I-- well, I couldn't help thinking about Nosirion-1, and how unhappy we'd all been with how things had turned out with the crocodiles and the hydra, and so I asked how we all felt about the idea of killing creatures who might only be defending their territory from a perceived threat, and to my relief, we all agreed that if we got to the ruins and it looked like that was indeed the situation, that we wouldn't take the job. We've since gotten some more information from Erel Dhuna, Reha's archaeologist friend, and it doesn't sound like that's quite the case, though I'm still a little bit uncertain. It sounds like the stone giants are attacking people just for the entertainment of it, and I'm not against fighting them to protect these people and the village nearby, but it also sounds like this all started just a few years ago, and it makes me wonder why, what might have happened to make things change, same as I'd hoped to find out with the crocodiles on Nosirion-1, same as we never got the chance to figure out with the hydra.

It's not that I don't want to fight the stone giants -- though I'm not squealing about it the way Cloudleaper is, to be sure -- but I just want us to decide how we're going to face this beforehand, so we're not forced to make that call in the moment again, and end up making one that we're unhappy with.

We've gotten as much information as we can, I think, from Erel, and next we're going to try to meet with the local police, who she said might have some more information for us about what sorts of creatures they've been seeing, and we're going to try to stock up on supplies before we leave Haewood to go see to the ruins. Erel said she doubts, from the size of them, that it's something we're likely to be able to clear out in a day, or even two, unless we find ourselves outmatched and decide to retreat -- which, I should say, she was quick to assure us she'd understand, if it came to that -- so please don't be alarmed if you don't hear from me right away. I can't imagine we're going to find much in the way of LICD reception out in these two thousand year old ruins. But I'll let you know that I'm all right as soon as I have the signal to do so, I promise. And at least I've got this cloak now, to help keep me safe.

All my love,

Maliah

#episode 59 #in character #in character: letters

[wizardsnwookies]

TPR072318 - Rebuilding (Finale)

Zacharia marveled at what he saw before him, the strength of his people. Nearly all of them were farmers, and most had never seen any kind of hardship in their lives aside from a few dry seasons. Yet here they were, in the frigid cold with a dusting of snow already forming on the ground, working nonetheless to restore the house of Damu. It was backbreaking, dirty, work to be sure. The removal of shattered stone and jade, the dismantling of the maze, disposing of the horrific items of torture made for brows and bare chests glistening with sweat despite the bitter chill. He smiled. Yes, his people were strong.

“So many years with the Guardians, protecting the realm, I still am awed by all the things you miss by being among the people.”

Dorian smiled, looking up from the building plans spread out upon the makeshift table. “Yes, people never cease to surprise you with what they are capable of. The evil as well as the good.”

Zacharia nodded, looking up towards the sky. The clouds overhead were thick, making it difficult to find the sun, to tell how long they had been at it this morning. He wondered if he should call for a rest, or if they would even accept such a thing. The entire town had come determined to bring their temple back into order as quickly as possible. Before long, the planting season would be upon them.

“How much longer do you think it will be before we see our liberators?”

“Not long yet.” Lyliwillan dismissed the miller’s daughter to fetch the stable-master. The pile of debris had grown unmanageable and the time had come to cart it away for disposal. “Even giving them a day for complications, I would expect to see them quite soon.”

“You have done so much already brother Samaritans, I’m sure your presence is required elsewhere.” Zacharia was grateful for the assistance, but he was not about to impose upon his brothers past welcome. Although his confidence shaken at first, he now felt he had things well in hand. 

He could not be a protector to these people, a leader, not in the way he was used to. No, there was no tower for him to watch, no spear to hold, no border to maintain here. Watching them now, he felt that perhaps the answer lay instead with treating them as equals, brothers in arms. The Guardians all worked together to maintain their posts with little need for rank or positions of power over another. Working as a family, they achieved so much with so little. Perhaps that was the key to guiding Orlane into the future.

---

Killian carefully checked the wooden axle rods on the old cart. It could carry a load of hay bails just fine, some lumber for firewood sure, but a large load of stone and detrius? He hoped she would hold. Just to be on the safe side he would have likely have to make several trips. He looked towards the young man that looked a little too much like him at that age, gently adjusting the bridles of the workhorses.

“Marlene’s girl said were in need of another axe if we can spare it. Go fetch the one out back.”

“I heard her, it’s already in the cart. Figure I should grab my hatchet too?”

Killan leaned over and saw that indeed, the tool had been carefully laid in place. Lad’s got a set of ears on him, that’s for sure. “Couldn’t hurt I reckon.”

He watched as the boy leaped up the front steps and disappeared through the front door. Out of the corner of his eye he saw a familiar face making his way up the road. Galumak, strode up to the gate, leaning against the post and nodded in welcome.

“Told you I’d be back.”

“So you did. Man of your word you are. These your companions?”

Galumak motioned with the tilting of his head, pulling out a frosted bottle filled with a dark red liquid. A finer bottle than Killian had seen in quite some time. “Lash, and Raam.”

“Then I owe all three of you my thanks. You brought this town back to us all.” Killan extended a hand and firmly shook first the elf’s, than the strange tiefling’s. He did his best to compose himself, but he couldn’t help but let himself be overtaken by the relief and mirth he felt swelling within him.

“You have no idea...my children have a place to grow up again.”

“Say no more of it, it was an honor to serve my queen by helping her people.” The teifling, Raam let the faintest smile slip past the otherwise stoic demeanor. He had never met one of these creatures before, some say they were no more than devils who had fooled others into thinking otherwise. This one seemed a good a man as any.

“We just came from the Mayor’s...” Galumak let the comment hang in the air. He figured Killian didn’t have to be told what they found there.

“Aye, the town’s good to have that family. Mayor’s up there with the lot of them at the temple, and she and the youngun’s are tending to the displaced.”

“How long do you think it will take before things get back to normal?”

“Hard to tell.” Killian leaned against the cart looking up into the sky, letting the light snow fall on his face. “People feel betrayed by their own blood, their neighbors. Magic or not, that kind of thing isn’t easy to get over. It’ll take some time, but we’ll get back on our feet I reckon.”

That was good enough for Galumak, without saying a word of farewell, he righted himself and turned town the street.

“Before you leave, come back and see me yeah?”

The half-orc smiled and nodded.

---

“Well, speak of the King and he shall appear.” Dorian’s grin was wide despite himself and soon he found he was quickly making his way to intercept the small group of adventurers as they made their way into the temple gates.

“Well met Brother, well met and well done indeed!” He offered Raam a hearty slap on the back before extending a hand to the other two. “I eagerly await your stories, as I am sure it is something deserving to be sung about.”

“I shall provide the wine this evening, Dorian and I have been saving  it for something special.” Lyliwillan offered a wink, still leaning over the plans on the table, beside him one of the villagers patiently waited for his next orders.

“We won’t say ‘no’ to that, but we were just doing our duty.” Raam did his best to keep his composure, he wasn’t used to recieving such praise for his actions. Thus was the life of a Samaritan. It was a thankless job much of the time, but one did not do it for the thanks. He then turned to the Mayor.

“We left the returned with your wife and children, from what she tells us there will be an adjustment period ahead of them.”

“Yes, it is unfortunate but at the very least their minds are once again their own.”

“Looks like you wasted no time getting things back to normal?” Lash looked around them, the courtyard was bustling with activity. A large pile of detrius was ready and waiting for Killian’s cart that was just now making its way up the hill. The lesser priests, free of the charm, wandered the grounds with burning bundles of sage. Murmurs of prayer drifted from their lips as the pushed away the taint that had fallen over the sacred grounds. Inside, the sounds of tools prying away more and more boards from the basement can just faintly be heard over the low drone.

“That was all their doing.” Zacharia smiled, motioning his head towards the common folk running about. “As soon as the veil lifted, they wanted return the house of Damu back into proper order. They still pray to the Queen of course but...given the circumstances.”

“Whatever helps them through this.” Raam understood, his faith had not faltered any in the past several months. He remained devoted to his Queen. He still kept her pendent around his neck, said his prayers, and made tithing to her church when he was in the larger cities. However, the feeling of her absence could not be ignored. It was as if a hole had been left in all their lives, gaping wide, all prayers echoed back to them from the depths of the void.

“This town cannot thank you enough for what you have done. I cannot thank you enough.”

“Think nothing of it.” Raam and Zacharia clasped forearms for a hearty shake that was then passed around to Lash and Raam. Each felt the warmth and strength of the man in his shake, and a deep sense of gratitude he couldn’t possibly express.

“So, where do you go from here I wonder?” Dorian asked, crossing his arms across his chest. “I imagine few things will match up to tussling with a Naga.”

“I can only hope so.” Raam laughed.

---

“I’m serious, we’ve got a significant haul here.” Lash sinched their magical bag of holding found in the hoard of the serpent God. This was the third time this morning they had opened it to marvel at the contents. Gold, silver, gems, all piled deeper than the bag should physically be able to hold. Not even with the thieve’s guild had they seen so much money.

“We should go to Hookhill.”

“’We?’“ Galumak crooked an eye.

“Why not? We make a good team I think.” They turned a head back to Raam.

“I have no orders at the moment.” Raam shrugged with indifference. Samaritans were normally a solitary lot, but if pushed, he would have to say he didn’t mind the company of these two.

“See? Raam’s on board. We can get some serious equipment in the city, stock up on supplies, maybe even have a little fun while we’re at it.”

“I’m curious to find out what you would consider ‘fun.’“ The stable master’s house was approaching quickly. Galumak had promised to return before they had left. They had stayed on for a few days to help with repairs, rest, and enjoy the company of the newly freed people of the town, but the time had come for them to move on. Where he would go next, he still had yet to decide, and Lash had yet to sell him on the idea of Hookhill.

“What most people consider fun. Inns. Inns, taverns, pubs...in other words, fresh ale and full bellies to the songs of minstrels and the jokes of jesters.”

“...how many Inns?”

“Trust me, you’ll be practically swimming in ale and wine. What we need first though is transportation if we’re going to get all that loot to the city.”

“We are going to see the stable master,” Raam offered. “Perhaps he has a horse he can sell us.”

“Not to mention a real cart.” Lash was reminded of the makeshift monstrocity they had constructed in the Naga’s lair. Really, it was nothing more than a few empty barrels spooled with a pole arm and several planks laid on top. It did the job well enough getting things back to town, but no way would it suffice for the long journey to the city.

Killian heard the murmuring of familiar voices heading down the main thoroughfare towards the front gate. Turning back from a particularly stubborn stone in the stable he smiled to see his two daughters in the front yard. As the three adventurer’s passed, once strangers, always people of races that neither of them had seen much of, they both smiled and waved. What difference a few days make. Far from the mousy young girls who fled into the house not that long ago.

“Morning, need a hand?” Galumak noticed the sweat on the man’s brow, the flush in his face. He leaned heavily on the shovel in his hands, clearly worn out from the exertion of trying to dig out the troublesome rock half buried behind him.

“Naw, just a matter of leverage. Appreciate the offer.” The man nodded his thanks, noticing the traveling cloaks resting on the shoulders of all three. “I take it you’re heading out?”

“It’s time. Orlane is back in it’s own hands.”

“Thanks to you three. Where you headed?”

Galumak looked over to Lash beside him, an almost pleading look upon their face. He heaved a sigh of resignation. “I suppose we’ll be headed to Hookhill.”

“Yes!” Lash almost exploded in excitement. “We have a significant amount of...luggage...to cart with us. We were wondering if you had a horse and carriage you can sell us?”

“Well, now.” The man smiled to the ground, plunging the shovel into the earth so it might stand upright without him. “We can certainly talk about the carriage, as for the horse...” Trailing off there, he opened the gate to the stables and ushered them in, leading the three back to where several horses were in their pens, each with a feedbag gently strapped to their head.

“Funny you mention it, remember I told you to come see me before you left?” Killian stopped at a chestnut mare with a dusty black mane. A milky white spot sat on her flank and two more on her fore legs that looked almost like stockings. “She’s not too fast, but she’s got a strong back.”

A flood of emotions welled up within Galumak he found hard to keep in check. In his years he had seen scorn, hatred, fear, and social indifference turned his way because of his blood. He found that prejudice wasn’t picky, it was found in all kinds. Rich and pore. The educated and the illiterate. Human, Elf, Gnome, and Halfling alike. Yet here in this small town in the small, old fashioned region of Sylvin, he found compassion in this man, even kindness.

He clapped the man squarely on the shoulder, unable to keep the tears welling in his eyes from trailing down his cheeks. “Thank you, Killian.”

“Galumak, you old softie.” Lash smiled, playfully offering a punch to the shoulder. The moment passed, Galumak ground his knuckles into the top of their head in return. To his surprise, Raam found himself laughing.

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#Dungeons and Dragons #against the cult of the reptile god #the protected realm #role playing games #campaign diary

[craniodad]

The tale of the CT scan

Many of us know, all too well, that Cranio makes our lives forever different. This week we had a reminder of this. On Monday Zoey was playing with David on the couch. In a typical sibling outcome, she ended up getting pushed off the couch. Her arms failed to catch her, and with a sickening crack, she landed face first on the carpet. While in the middle of a meeting I received a text message from my beloved letting everyone know about this, and that she believed Zoey broke her nose. A flurry of fear filled me, and my heart was pounding. I tried to focus on what must happen, as I was methodically tracing my next steps. I was shocked with the thoughts flying through my mind. As an adventurous boy, and adult, my nose has ended broken 20+ times. I know the game. Ice, time, black eyes for a bit, and move on. But not for Zoey. For her, 'normal' has a new definition. Anything involving the face or head is not a small deal. So much time, so many surgeries, and more to come, all mean that things are different. We debated on rising her to the ER. Spending the countless hours waiting to be seen, all for an x-ray. Instead, we reached out to her Craniofacial team. We sent pictures, a narrative, and our fears. Then we waited. We waited for an email or a call. Something to tell us we were crazy, or what our next step was.   [gallery type="slideshow" ids="12054,12055,12057,12056" orderby="rand"] It came, a CT scan was needed. I knew what this meant. Surgery, either to fix or the next one we have been discussing was rushing back to the table. My fears were only lit aflame by the bruising that Zoey had the next day. It was telltale and bad. But every time I looked at Zoey, I could see the braveness forcing itself through. I saw my sweet little girl smiling, but I saw the pain. So, today we loaded up the family and made our trek to the hospital. Zoey was in high spirits. We told her what was going to happen. As our silver van sailed the laughter wafted from the back while Zoey and David joked. My heart was still. Check in was fast, and our wait was short. When it came to be our time, Zoey took my hand, and we walked. The long hallway caused our footsteps to echo, click, click, click. We almost made it past a beautiful mural filled with butterflies. As I feigned exuberant excitement to point them out to her, I looked at her. And my heart fell a little out of my chest. For the first time, in a very long time, I could see a little fear poking through her eyes. We walked into a room that, to be fair, I wanted in my home. Freshwater fish scenery adorned the walls and hid the machines. Bass, trout, otters, even a carp with moss covered rocks and flowing plants. There was a light show on the ceiling giving the appearance of rippling water on a lavender and rose summer evening. I bent down to look at Zoey. Her eyes missed all of this, and we're locked in the machine in terror. Her little hand quickly tightened around my finger. For the next few minutes, we had to fight her. Her strength and agility were providing a great deal of surprise to the experienced technician. Every breath from Zoey was a scream of “No!”, “Mommy!”,”Stop”, and “Daddy.” That last one ripped shreds off my heart. It was full of fear, anxiety, and hurt. I fought tears as I kept reminding her that I was not going to leave her, that I was there, that I would never let anything bad happen to her. But I know they were falling on deaf ears. Undaunted by this, I kept talking to her. Holding her, and taking my place right next to her. The fretted bindings that were holding my heart together wholly unraveled as she fought through those that were holding her down. The technician looked at me and asked if I wanted to call it off. My heart was screaming “Yes, please stop this!”, but my mind knew better. It's a tough row to hoe being a dad. Our entire job is, or at least it should be, vying for the welfare of our children. Protecting them from any harm that comes our way. And as my daughter lace screaming for this to stop, writing on the table, fighting against the straps, and the hands, I knew that this needed to happen. So, we fought on. Finally, I found a way to hold her. Though it was not soothing her in any way, I was able to contain her. In a matter of moments, the X-ray and ct-scan were over. As they pulled her bed out of the machine, I can see the streams of Tears along her cheeks. Like Jewel filled streams of water against the blackened eyes from a broken nose. I Let Go. I stepped back just take a photo of this moment, preserving it and posterity and something else that she has yet again had to fight through. Something that her adult self may look back upon as she wonders about the journey her life has been. The time that she can look back and see her little 6-year-old body strapped to a table and remember that she overcame it. The moment that the straps were freed she bolted upright. She left into my arms and held me tight as I could quickly feel her tears soaking my shirt. I held her so damn close. Whispering to her that this was over, that she did it, and telling her how proud of her I was. It was at that moment that she finally saw the fish, the Otters, the plants, the light show on the ceiling. “Like daddy's fish tank” for nearly hoarse voice proclaimed in my ear. With a shuttering thump, I felt my heart begin to beat. My smile matched hers as I looked deep into her eyes. That brilliant sparkle of wonder was finally returning. A few hours later, after copious amounts of cookies and regaling of her day, who received the long-awaited email. Her nose is fractured but not displaced. No worries about surgery at this time. Reading these words brought great elation to me after a long day. It's my job as her dad to protect her. I do not, and will not ever, take this aspect of my life lightly. But it is also my job to remember these moments period to capture them for her and her brothers. So that some dark day, when I'm no longer here to do my job, she will remember these hard days when I did my best. Leading up to these events I was amazed private care an outpouring of affection that we received from so many others. Before the moment when we walked in that room, crossing the threshold, I was confident that this would have been easy for Zoey. "It's just a CT scan," I told myself over and over again. I had failed to remember the fact that nothing is as it should be. That many of the things that many other parents take for granted are entirely different for us. I'd also done the disservice I forgetting that my daughter can be scared. By failing to remember that countless things can disrupt the brave face that she puts on every single day. But for now, and I listen to her sleep in the room next to mine, I find peace. This was only helped by finishing some fine scotch and getting these words out. Live big, love bigger, and be kind, always. You can always read more here: http://bit.ly/2JUCq41

[echoeducation]

As an ESL teacher you’re more than likely have been given advice, both well-meaning and strident, about adapting to life in China. In fact, here at Echo, it’s been one of our main responsibilities. We take it upon ourselves very early on in the application process to introduce teachers to cultural differences abroad, forewarn about the realities on the ground and best prepare our candidates for a new adventure. Many teachers have written blogs or published well-edited vlogs. There are plenty of ESL online teaching groups and expat forums where advice is always plentiful and forthcoming. However, one thing which is rarely spoken about is what happens when the party is over? When you intend to repatriate your newly acquired skills or simply visit home for an extended period of time? Is it all plain-sailing and ticker-tape-parades? Well actually, many experienced expats and teachers who have lived abroad for some time will tell you otherwise. Reverse culture shock is very real and comparable to travel burn-out. So how can we resolve these two realities? How can an ESL teacher adapt to life back home or make the most of a planned visit without shrinking into a thousand-yard-stare or ponder an existential breakdown?

Let’s talk about the good things first. A planned visit back home or a longterm relocation tends to be accompanied by visions of hugging relatives and close friends at airport arrivals, unearthing exotic gifts from your suitcase and enjoying some sorely-missed tasty treats. You’re going to be the toast-of-the-town. Friends will gather round and eagerly hang on your every word when you recount your wild adventures. It’s going to be fantastic, you’ll be a minor celebrity and the envy of your peers. You’ll never have to pay for another drink in your hometown again…. right? Possibly. Certainly in more diluted and short-spanned moments this maybe the case. BUT, more often than not, these moments never quite reach the explosive heights we envisage when we’re packing our bags to venture home. The reality tends to be a lot more different. Your friends have gotten  older and become more distant. They try very hard to feign interest in your stories but they have their own lives, their own problems and their own success stories. They don't want a question-mark hanging over their choices in life. Buying the house, having children, yearning for that promotion were the right choices for them, maybe not for you, but for them, it’s what they wanted. Displays of posturing and tale-telling won’t always be welcomed. Yes, you may have lived on the other side of the world, trekked up mountains and eaten raw octopus but you don't know what’s happened in Eastenders nor know the winner of America’s Got Talent. In fact, you're in danger of having no common ground. The stories you once shared are now redundant and carry less weight. That holiday you had together in Magaluf ten years ago doesn’t carry as much kudos as backpacking around the Philippines for a month.

This can leave the returning adventurer in somewhat of a dilemma. You can’t simply forget or put away your experiences. They need to be processed, actually, you need to talk about the time you’ve spent away. Otherwise it’s not uncommon to experience displacement anxiety, feelings of emptiness and loss. It’s important to remember that there is genuine upheaval involved, and upheaval can manifest itself traumatically. Unless you’ve put the groundwork in, mentally prepared, planned your reacclimatisation, you can leave yourself vulnerable.  It’s near impossible to fully articulate your experiences to friends and family, you should choose your council wisely. Don't alienate yourself by demanding ear-time from the hard-of-hearing or preaching to the unconvertible.

 So your mental well-being can be a little delicate for quite some time on returning. Short visits back home normally don't incur as much mental processing, it’s all quite jovial. Pleasantries and gifts are exchanged with a sincere “see you next year”, “take care”. It’s also the habits formed abroad which can be a major part of reverse culture shock. We develop dispositions to behaviour in China which might be considered social faux pas back home. Eating, smoking, drinking  beckoning waiters, driving, paying, are all considerably different in China. You don't want to find yourself in the local Pizza Hut in Birmingham loudly beckoning the waiter over as in China, you’ll invoke some curious stares from fellow patrons. You can’t drink alcohol on the streets anymore or hail a taxi down in the middle of a junction. The volume of everything back home can seem quieter and leave you with a vague tinnitus in your ears after years spent in China. Staring at fellow commuters can lead to confrontations in London but excessive glancing is part of the course in China. Your home country can all seem very very… foreign. You're now a stranger to the familiar. You’ve changed so much, but your family and friends can’t see it. What can you do about it?

 Well, there’s nothing you can do to change other people and why would you want to? You were the one who left and underwent transformations… no-one else asked for it. Therefore, it is you alone who must shoulder the burden of adaptation AGAIN. Are there any preventative measures you can take? Is there a way of voicing your experiences without sounding self-congratulatory? Is there something you can do to let people into your world-perception and join the realities together?

 Firstly, keep busy. have plans, objectives and engagements arranged BEFORE you arrive back.  “Stopping everything” can be disorienting and leave you thinking, reminiscing and dwelling too long. Get a plan together for the first 6 weeks of your return. Include people you need to visit, items which need to be purchased and appointments which need to be made. Secondly, set boundaries to your conservations. Limit the amount of waffling and “Well , this one time i was in…”. statements.  If your friends are genuinely curious they will probe further, let them control the dialogue.

 It’s a good idea to stay in touch with other expats you met abroad. Meeting up for regular coffees or meals is a good way to validate your experiences together and reduce the feelings of unreality and isolation. If you’re in a fortunate position whilst in China, invite your friends and family to visit you. This will give you some common ground on return and your loved ones will gain an important insight into your ‘other life’. When it comes to employment, it’s a good idea to start early. Start looking while you’re in China. Be proactive. Feelings of being at a ‘loose-end’ or ‘treading water’ will only exacerbate uncertainties.

 Finally, medical check-ups can fine-tune your well-being. If you are having anxieties combined with feelings of dread and loss, it’s perfectly reasonable to consult a medical professional. You may not have been on service deployment in Afghanistan but you’ve challenged your perceptions of the world to their limits, it’s ok to ask for help. Your world will calibrate eventually.

From echoteachers.com

#echoteachers.com #esl

[goldfishlover73]

KakaSakumonth Day 2: Mission Report

Title: Failure?

Rated T?

I hope this makes sense. It didn’t turn out quite the way that I wanted, but it’s late and I need to go to bed.

III

“Your mission was an epic failure.”

Sakura cringed as Tsunade-shishou’s steely eyes shifted between her and Kakashi. She was leaning forward in her chair, her fingers steepled in front of her.

Sakura bit her lip before looking down at her shoes. Sticky shoes.

“You had one job, Hatake. An easy one. And you fucked it up.” Her voice icy.

Kakashi dropped his usual nonchalance. “I...disagree.” Sakura peeked to her right. His back was straight, shoulders pulled back in an almost painful angle. His hair was slightly more wild than normal, his flak jacket torn and his gloves ripped. His mask was hanging on by the inch of his nose.

“Mission report!” Tsunade barked, leaning back in her chair, her fingers strumming loudly against the armrest.

“The mission was to infiltrate the Shinzuka crime lord headquarters located 25 leagues from the west border of the Fire Country.” Kakashi was staring straight ahead, reading from an invisible cue card above Tsunade-shishou’s head. “We entered one of the local bars, disguised as tourist on their way to Suna to enjoy the desert.”

Sakura, her hair dyed red, remembers ordering a fruity drink, telling the bartender loudly that she knew the key to a desert vacation was to wear long sleeves. Kakashi in his usual form, sitting to her left, though with dark brown hair and blue eyes, humming in agreement next to her as he put his safari hat down next to him. It was supposed to be a simple enough job.Infiltrated, collect information and bring it back to Konoha. The key was to not be noticed. Sakura would babble on to whoever would listen as she told them of the exploits of their adventure (a script from a travel blog she’d read in a magazine at the grocery store), and Kakashi would ignore her and listen to the men seated directly behind them.

Tsunade sighed loudly, irritation oozing off her. “I know the mission, Hatake, I gave it to you.” Sakura bent her head farther. “I’m far more interested to know when you decided to punch a war lord, almost causing, albeit small, another war!” The sounds of wood splintering was like thunder echoing through the room.

“It took three hours for the right information to leak. They were smuggling drugs through Fire to the oceans in the east.” Sakura bit her lip. Her purpose on the mission was to distract any that would have been focusing on Kakashi. She spoke to the bartender who kept their drinks fresh, the lady and her wife next to her and the husband and wife on the other side of Kakashi. Kakashi slowly drained one beer after another, making small comments as she reached across to pat the arm of the man who had to give up fishing when his wife had twins. He answered every question that anyone asked, but it was clear that Sakura was the talker in the relationship (the whole plan really). It was in one of these moments, when the man to Kakashi’s immediate left bought the three couples a round of shots that Sakura felt Kakashi’s right hand slip down to her thigh. She didn’t think too much of it since they were supposed to be a married couple. When she curled her arm around his arm, she placed a hand over his lacing her fingers through his. She could see in his eyes that he wasn’t paying any attention to her, his eyes slightly unfocused as he strained his ears. She remembered waving goodbye to the couple on her right  as he leaned into her slightly. She remembers sharply how warmth spread across her like a wildfire as his hand, still laced in hers, moved farther into her leg. His breathing was even as it rose in his chest, his eyes closed. To the bartender and the couple to Kakashi’s left, it seemed that perhaps he’d had too much to drink. Sakura couldn’t help but focus on the lazy circles this thumb was creating in her thigh.

Sakura began to absentmindedly draw circles on his forearm, leaning her head on his shoulders. She’d taken a dozen or so missions like this in the past, almost always ending up with limbs tangled like spaghetti in a public place, but this was...so different.

It was around 10:30 at night when Kakashi finally started to move. His hand gripping her tightly. “Let’s get out of here.” His lips brushed her neck, sending chills down her spine. “We’ve got what we need.”

He stood up shakily, gripping the bar for support. Sakura leaned heavily on him, almost actually losing her balance as she stretched her legs. She noticed how he never let go of her hand.

“Obtaining the information was easy, getting out caused some difficulties.”

Tsunade’s snort covered her own.

“What’s the rush?!” The couple next to them said as they went to pass. “We were having such a good time!” Sakura took a swift look around the bar to noticed that the most sober looking people in the room were the people they had been pounding shots with all night. She had been metabolizing her alcohol all night and the rumors around Konoha was only Tsunade could hold their liquor more than Kakashi. The man stood up next to Kakashi standing three inches taller than him, grinning maniacally. “I really hate to do this to you nice, super sweet folks, but…” the man looked around the bar, which went suddenly quiet. “You’ve seem to lost your way on your little vacation.” The man pulled out a long blade from under the bar. “I’m not as stupid as you think, ninja”

“I did what had to be done.”

He punched him in the face.

“You fractured the man’s jaw.”

“My partner had been compromised.”

His blade grazed the hem of the knee length skirt Sakura’s was wearing.

“Your partner is more than capable of taking care of herself.”

Kakashi nodded in agreement.

Because the man wasn’t to the floor before the men directly behind Sakura had reached for her, one grabbing her waist, one grabbing her wrist. They positioned themselves, one in front, one in back. Sakura easily broke free of the grip on her wrist, driving chakra laden elbows into the man behind hers ribs. She lifted a leg expertly before driving her booted heel into the shin of the man in front of her. As the man went down in a screaming howl he grabbed her shoulder, jerking her sharply. Kakashi had her by the waist but the jolt was enough to knock her wig off. (Less chakra the better on a mission like this). A slight miscalculation on her part.

There was an audible gasp that filled the room as Sakura war’s new Slug Queen stood up straight.

“We escaped as efficiently as we could.”

“You killed four people and maimed twenty three.” Tsunade’s eyes were on fire.

Kakashi shrugged nonchalantly. “I counted twenty two.”

Tsunade pinched the bridge of her nose.

“We didn’t burn the houses though.” Sakura said in a small voice.

Kakashi again nodded in agreement.

“And the sounds of lightning crackling? Or was it just birds?”

Kakashi frowned. “Purely coincidental.”

The boss fight was cataclysmic, but nothing Kakashi couldn’t handle easily. Turns out you don’t need a jaw to fight decently.

“And you think that this infiltration mission was a success? Covert mission?”

“I readily handed you all the information that is necessary to capture the second leg in the drug smuggling. We stopped a large ring of evil doers and no one found out who we were.” Kakashi paused. “Who I was anyway. Eh...how about a 50/50.”

Tsunade leaned forward again, fingers steepling once more. “Hatake, this was a 24 hour mission, correct?”

Sakura held her breath.

Kakashi’s back straightened. “Your incompetence caused it to end a little sooner than that.” She stopped.

“Sakura!” She barked. Sakura almost jumped out of her shoes.”Why is it that it has taken you two days to return from a place 12 hours away?” It was Kakashi’s turn to watch her. “And do not lie to me girl. You know that you can’t do that anyway.”

Sakura’s mind flashed to the end of their mission, the smoke clearing around Kakashi, the wind blowing just right as he stood straight up and looked at her.

The feeling of his fingers on her ghost across her skin as his henge fell as he took long, purposeful steps towards her.

Sakura opened her mouth to speak, but nothing came out for a few moments. “Weather?” It had rained at one point...this week. And they had taken shelter.

Sakura shivered.

Tsunade groaned. “I’m not sending you two on a mission together again. You’ve caused damages to a Fire Country settlement, displaced forty innocent people and have almost cause another war to start in our borders.A drug war. A much messier war.”

Awkward silence settled in the small office. “It would be a much easier war.” Kakashi mused.

“Get the hell out!” Tsunade grabbed a bookend and hurled it. Kakashi bowed deep enough to dodge the attack. Kakashi disappeared in a poof of smoke, leaving Sakura and a red faced Tsunade.

Sakura opened her mouth, but her shishou cut her off. “Get out of my office before I hunt him down and castrate him.”

Sakura bowed deeply before scuttling out of the office.

“Sakura!” Sakura stopped, her hand centimeters from the door. “If I feel another ounce of tension between you two.” Tsunade pinched her nose.

“Ye-yes...Tsunade-shishou.” Sakura bowed and quickly exited, closing the door behind her.

The smell of Kakashi’s smoke enveloped her before he did, pressing his lips against hers.

#kakasakumonth #kakasaku #fanfiction #fanfic #why does italics no longer keep?! #zzzzz

[oreasa]

Rip took a deep breath as nearly everyone on the bridge started asking questions at once. “Alright!” He raises his hands for a moment to quiet his team. “Now, obviously we each have our own explanations to give. First and foremost, we need to figure out where we are in each other's timelines. River, have you been to Manhattan yet?”

River shakes her head slightly, “No, what's in Manhattan?”

“Something traumatic, to say the least. Now, that I think about it you seemed to know what was coming that day, and now I know why. I'll give you some hints later.”

“Alright,” River nods firmly before turning to Sara. “Honey, what year did he pull you from for this little expedition?”

“January 2016,” Sara answers as she takes a seat beside Snart, “And mini-me in the cargo bay is from that criminal justice project I had in 2007.”

“Criminal justice? I didn’t have you pegged for the good girl type, Assassin,” Snart interrupts.

Sara shoots him a look over her shoulder, “That was another life, Crook. Things change.” She focuses her gaze back to her mother. “Speaking of another life, Mom . Why did these two have to break you out of a prison?”

“First of all, they didn’t have to break me out. I was already mostly out on my own. They were just the getaway drivers.” River waves a hand at the rogues to silence them as they begin to protest. “Very capable getaway drivers. I’m sure your plan was brilliant, but not needed.  I break out all the time.  It’s quite fun.”

Rip sighs at this point, “River, please tell me you weren’t breaking out for a date.”

“No, I was actually on my way to Central for a nice bit of downtime to check in on everybody.  Do you need me to call him?”

“No. He is absolutely our last resort. If he finds out about this, he will only go crazy trying to stop the events in Manhattan from ever happening, which will very likely prevent Jonas from ever existing, and I won’t let that happen. Besides, you know how he gets when he’s up against fixed points in time.”

“Yes, it’s not the prettiest of sites.”

“As fascinating as this conversation is, it’s merely generating more questions than answers,” Stein interrupts. “I’m sure there’s a reasonable explanation for why your daughter looks to be as old as you are, and why Miss Lance didn’t know this fact about her own mother.”

“Thank you, Martin.” Sara nods as Mick hands her and Snart one of the beers he acquired during River and Rip’s exchange. “The two of you,” she motions towards Rip and River with her bottle, “Need to get back on track and explain yourselves.”

“Yes, well, for starters,” Rip begins clearing his throat, “My real name isn’t Rip Hunter. It’s Rory Williams. Miranda’s real name is Amelia Pond, and this is our daughter Melody Pond. We’re time travelers, and my experience extends far beyond my time here on the Waverider.  Amy and I traveled through time with an alien friend of ours for quite some time. During that time we had Melody,” Rip begins as River picks the story back up.

“Then, I was kidnapped as a baby. The three of them tried to rescue me, and eventually I ended up growing up beside them. We’ve had quite a few adventures across time. On one of them I end up murdering their best friend, and that’s how I ended up in Stormgate where you found me. During my own travels, I stopped in Star City to get my degree and met your father there.  You know that part of the story, baby. You lived it.”

Sara nods slowly as Rip picks back up. “At the end our travels with our friend, Amy and I encountered these creatures called the Weeping Angels. They have the power to displace their victims in time and feed off of the potential time energy their victims had.  We were two of their victims.  We were dropped in old time New York.  The Time Masters,” River snorts at hearing their names, and Rip smirks. “Yes, I know. Your mother had the same reaction.  Just think of where they got their inspiration.

“Anyway, the Time Masters recruit their officers from two types of people.  The most common is orphans.  The second is anyone they can tell has been displaced by the angels.  When they approached us, Amy and I couldn’t resist the temptation of time traveling again in hopes we would run into the Doctor again.  So, we gave them false names, and here we are today.”

“So, you’re a family of time travelers who meet whenever your respective adventures cross paths?” Ray inquires with bright eyes. “That sounds like a sci-fi series waiting to be written.”

“Yes, I’m sure we could provide seasons of entertainment, Dr. Palmer. What’s more important right now, is to continue safeguarding our past selves from the Pilgrim.  You will be accompanying Professor Stein to collect Mr. Jefferson’s infant self while Mr. Snart and Mr. Rory stop by 1950 to collect the newborn Professor Stein. I will remain here to bring River up to speed on our current situation.” Rip explains as he programs coordinates for the jumpship.  

The jumpship leaves with the resident criminals for Ivy Town in 1950 after the Waverider lands in Central City in 1993.  Jax and Kendra decide to check on the passengers in the cargo hold leaving only Sara, Rip, and River on the bridge while Rip recants his time on the Waverider to River. “The one time I leave without them and the immortal psychopath launches his attack.  I went to the Time Council to convince them to let me stop him, and they refused.  I stole the Waverider, and after several failed rescue attempts, here we are today.”

“You stole a time machine.  Sounds a lot like someone else we know.” River smiles.

“Yes, he’ll never let me hear the end of it when he finds out. I know.  Now, you understand why he can’t find out about this until after it’s over.”

“Yes, now why are you risking paradoxes by gathering multiple versions of yourselves in the same place?”

“The Time Masters have an Omega Protocol which constitutes killing a criminal’s past self when all other attempts to apprehend them have failed.  The Pilgrim is their best agent when it comes to his tactic.”

“And she’s already tried to kill Mick, Ray, and myself,” Sara chimes in. “She almost killed Dad in the process.  I think I know the answer, but I have to ask.  Why didn’t you ever tell us about this other life, Mom.”

“Sara, honey, you were safer not knowing.  I was enjoying a bit of the quiet life.” River brushes Sara’s hair behind her ear.  “Besides, would you have believed me if I had told you before now?”

“Yeah, we would have thought you were crazy.” Sara nods, turning to Rip. “So, you’re my grandfather, huh? How did you miss that when you picked me up?”

Rip runs a hand over his beard, slightly embarrassed. “In my haste to save Amy, I foolishly only looked into your futures and not your pasts.  Though, I’m not sure I would have made the connection with as good as your mother is at covering her tracks.  The only way solid way to know when and where she is is to go by her escape records from Stormgate.”

“Now, all those academic conference make a hell of a lot more sense.” Sara asks, “Does Dad know about any of this?”

“From your standpoint, he will soon.  From mine, he already knows all he needs to know.”

“As much as I enjoy spoiling the future for everyone,” Rip draws their attention back to him. “We need to figure out where we can leave everyone’s past selves while we handle the Pilgrim.  It won’t do for her to be able to just show up and kill them under our noses.”

“I know exactly who can watch them,” River answers.  “She owes me a favor still.”

“Wonderful.”

“We’re here.” Rip declares as they land in 19th century London.

“Where’s here?” Comes Snart’s reply as Rip and River hop out of their seats.

“Come. I’ll show you, Snowflake.” River smiles, leading the way off the ship.

“Again, where is here?” Snart echos his previous question as the group makes their way to the large estate.

“We needed a place to hide your younger selves from the Time Masters.  They won’t think to look for us here.” Rip explains as a young woman in what can only be described as a maid’s uniform steps out to greet them.

“Ma’am’s been expecting you.  The tea is ready in the parlor.  This way.” The maid leads them inside where a woman dressed completely in black with a matching veil is waiting for them.  “Mr. Williams and Miss Song are here with their friends Ma’am.”

“Thank you, Jenny.” The woman smiles pulling back her veil revealing green reptilian skin. Ray and Kendra’s eyes widen at the reveal as Stein utters a hushed “Astonishing,” while Mick chuckles at their reactions.  “Rory, I see a lot has happened for both of us since Demon’s Run.”

“That it has, Vastra.  We could sorely use your help again.” Rip begins over his team’s reactions.  “The Time Masters aren’t fond of interacting with anyone outside of the human race.  So, I highly doubt they will bother you, but if they do I’m sure the three of you can handle yourselves.”

“Where is Strax by the way?” River questions, sipping her tea.

“He’s preparing one of the guest rooms.” Jenny answers, “You said there were babies to look after.  He wanted to make sure everything was ready for them.”

“Right.  Shall we bring them all down, then.”

The team escorts their past selves into the estate as Vastra pulls Rip aside.  “This is quite the group of friends you have here, Rory.”

“My friends. They’re the people whose relationships with their friends and family I’ve put at risk to save my family.”

“You think you’ve been selfish?”

“I do, yes.”

“What a load of old codswallop. You have always risked everything for your family. We faced down an army together to save your daughter.  Now, you’re doing the same to save your wife and son, but you won’t accomplish anything by wallowing.  So for goodness’ sake, pull yourself out of it and get the job done.”

“And what about you?  I’ve put you in terrible danger.”

“You don’t honestly think I’d agree to protect all these delicious looking children if I didn’t think I’d see you again, do you? We managed quite well against an army.  I’m sure we can handle whatever comes our way if it’s anything at all. So, go on! Save your wife.”

“Yes, yes. I will.” Rip smiles, “And, Vastra, please don’t eat any of them. One of them is my granddaughter after all.”

“More reason for you take care of this quickly and hurry back,” Vastra smiles and Rip chuckles heading back to the Waverider.

“Are you sure we can trust an overgrown potato with our baby selves?” Snart asks when they reach the temporal zone.

“Mr. Snart, I assure you, Strax is no threat to any of your younger selves. I’d be more worried about the discipline Vastra will dole out if any of you cross her.”

“If you say so.” Snart drawls as the team disperses while Gideon begins calculating a new way to track the Pilgrim. Not long after Rip calls them back to the main deck after receiving a message from the Pilgrim herself.  The message tells them she has collected a family member of each of the crew, and is offering to spare them in exchange for the Legends’ past selves. Rip’s counter-offer of his past self is accepted skeptically.

“Wait, how are you going to deliver your past self without the Doctor noticing?” River asks curiously.

Rip smirks heading for the captain’s chair, “There’s an alternate timeline where he left me alone with a box for two thousand years.  We just have to convince myself to leave for an hour or so.”

“Oh, that’s brilliant,” River grins, heading for a chair of her own.  The rest of the team follows suit heading for their respective seats.

“Two thousand years? Just how old are you?” Stein implores as he pulls down his restraints.

“That is a long story that I’m afraid we do not have time for today. Maybe another time.” Rip swivels in his chair, pushing the lever forward to begin their jump. They land in an isolated area with a large stone cube in the distance. “You all will want to wait here.  This is best handled by River and myself.  If know my past self, which I do, I won’t be trusting of a large group.”

The team stays behind as the father and daughter team make their way towards the large box.  They watch from the window as the two talk to what looks to be a younger version of Rip in Roman armor. “So that’s what Rip meant by ‘The Last Centurion’,” Snart quips as they watch the exchange go down.  The Roman looks hesitant until River says something that seems to change his mind.  River then goes to stand where the Roman once was as he accompanies Rip back to the Waverider.

“Strap yourselves in everyone, we’re about to face the Pilgrim.” Rip announces as they reach the main deck.

“We’re just leaving Curly behind?  I don’t like this.” Mick scowls, directing his suspicion towards Rip.

The answer comes from the young Rory, “I wasn’t leaving the Pandorica unprotected.  She volunteered to stay behind until I came back. It was the only way.”

Rip looks to his past self, “You’ll want to hold on.  This isn’t what you’re used to with the TARDIS.”

“TARDIS. That sounds interesting. What’s that?” Ray inquires as Rip programs in coordinates.

“Time and relative dimension in space. A Gallifreyan time traveling vessel,” Gideon answers as they make the jump to abandoned Time Master outpost where the Pilgrim is waiting for them.

“What is this place?” Jax asks.

“Neutral ground.” Rip answers as they make their way inside with Stein, Mick, and Rory. “It’s a defunct Time Master Outpost.”

Once in the warehouse the Pilgrim struts inside with confidence. Jax immediately notices she’s alone, “Where’s my dad?”

“On board my ship, along with the rest. All in perfect condition as long as your captain honors his end of the bargain.”

“You’d murder a fellow Time Master” Stein implores, stalling for time.

“I’d murder as many as is necessary to accomplish my mission.”

“Do you know what this will do to the timeline, killing a Time Master?”

“In case you’ve forgotten, I am sanctioned by the Time Masters to do what my former colleague Chronos here failed to do.”

“Enough of that,” Rip interrupts as Mick scowls at the Pilgrim. “Let’s get down to business.”

“Where’s the rest of your group.”

“They’re around.”

“I’ll be taking the Roman.”

“Before you do that,” Mick moves to the side. “We don’t believe for a second their loved ones are on your ship.”

“A show of good faith, then. A prisoner exchange. Send the roman, and I’ll send the father. Once I have the future Captain Hunter in my possession, then I’ll release the rest.” She lifts a device out of her pocket and presses a button.  Jax’s father materializes in front of her looking confused.

“What the hell’s going on?”

“You don’t need to understand. Only walk.” She shoves the soldier forward as Rip looks to his past self.

“You know what needs to be done.” Rory nods solemnly, walking towards the Pilgrim.   Jax nudges Stein as Sara and Snart wait in the wings for their signal to move. Ray follows behind the centurion shrunken down in his ATOM suit.

“You wanted to see me?” Rory asks as he draws near their target. “I’m afraid I don’t know what I’ve done to deserve this.”

“Nothing yet.”

“Now!” Ray shouts over his com. He shoots up enlarging himself and firing his blaster at her.

“Fool me once,” the Pilgrim growls as she stops Ray’s motions literally in time.

Sara and Snart rush out from their hiding places as Snart and Mick fire their guys simultaneously.  The Pilgrim is able to freeze their attack and push them backwards. Firestorm takes to the sky, distracting the Pilgrim with their own fiery blast.  Rip calls for Kendra and she leaps from the rafters ready to strike.  The Pilgrim barely freezes Kendra in mid-flight in time. It takes all of her effort the keep the Legends frozen in time. Her attention strays from the roman beside her for too long. “I was willing to proceed in good faith. Now you’ll watch those closest to you die.” One final shot can be heard as she looks down to see Rory’s hand has has split in half to reveal a the barrel of a gun underneath.

“You won’t be hurting anyone’s loved ones anymore.” Rory declares before ducking out of the way of the blasts the reduce the Pilgrim to ash.

“I survived over two thousands years of solitude guarding the Pandorica because I wasn’t entirely human at the time.  They had no way of knowing what I was capable of,” Rip explains.

“It’s lucky for us, you didn’t forget your roots,” Snart quips holstering his weapon.

“Believe me, Mr. Snart, I will never forget everything I went through for Amy.” Rip looks to his younger self. “Now let’s get you back to her.  She’ll be glad to see you when she wakes up.”

“Right, mind explaining what that was all about?” Rory asks following him.

“Oh, believe me, it’s better if you don’t see it coming.”

They waste no time after that collecting their loved ones from the Pilgrim’s ship.  They make a stop at Jenny and Vastra’s after exchanging Rory for Rip. It takes a bit of convincing to get each of their loved ones to agree to take the amnesia pills before returning them to their proper time periods.

“Time, the history from which your younger selves were removed, is beginning to set, as is evidenced by the changes in Clarissa’s memory,” Rip begins after Snarts comment about being pressed for time.

“So how long do we have till these changes stick?” asks Jax, looking concerned.

“No one knows,” Mick answers.

“Which is why we need to move swiftly to locate Vandal Savage if any of your lives are to be restored to normal,” Rip continues.

“So how long will it take to determine a new location for Savage?” Kendra crosses her arms.

“Longer than we have. Fortunately, there is one place in time that we know Savage to be.”

“You said he conquered the world in 2166,” Mick points out.

“You also said it was too dangerous to strike at Savage while he was at the height of his powers,” Stein adds.

“That it is. But with your younger selves removed from history, we have quite literally run out of time.”

#Legends of Who #Chapter 2 #Fanfic #legends of tomorrow #Doctor Who #This was not beta-read #River Song #Last Refuge

[ecotone99]

[SF] Nadiesco and the Cats of Ülthar (1,800 words)

Nadiesco careened through the endless vastness of space wearing a grin fit only for a king. The thick (though soft and forgiving) hairs of his immaculate beard caressed his face like a pouch hiding a newborn kangaroo. It helped to protect his exquisite visage from the harsh vacuum of Infinity. But unlike the metaphorical furless marsupial in question, our hero was not pink and raw and blind to the horrors of creation amidst him. Far from it. Nadiesco was an unshakable pillar of virility, an aimless and soaring testament to unshakable godless bravado.

He was a man amongst men.

His eyes snapped open with audible, rapturous delight. A planet-sized red orb had appeared in his field of vision, and it was rapidly growing nearer. From his all-encompassing perspective, it was an unknown world, ripe for exploration and raucous adventure. His rump tingled with the sheer breadth of possibilities.

And with the power of the West Winds under my command, I should be able to bridge the gap between myself and this brave new world in seconds!

His enormous grin somehow grew larger as he tensed his virtually indestructible muscles, bracing for impact. While the mysterious terrestrial body loomed ever closer, his luscious magic carpet-like arm hairs spread out and combed the breached atmosphere for the energy necessary to displace friction and survive the crash landing.

Eyes wide with insane glee, Nadiesco crouched in midair as the ground welcomed him with open arms. An organic updraft of crimson liquid exploded all around him, preceded only by the most abrupt of protests. As the smoke cleared and the geyser of gore settled, Nadiesco straightened his posture and brushed himself off. He came to realize what was now a miles-wide crater surrounding him had moments before been a settlement consisting of upwards of a few hundred native alien beings. He responded to this discovery by nonchalantly wringing a perfectly-measured quart of foreign blood from his beard.

“Well, I have arrived!” he bellowed to no one in particular. No one still desperately clinging to the back of the mechanical bull that was life’s mortal coil, in any case.

As he scanned the environment with his vibrant amber eyes, he noticed the scenery looked very much akin to that of a similar planet he visited in a distant star system long ago. That was back when its resident red dwarf wasn’t doing the solar equivalent of putting out cigarettes on its abused stepson’s neck. Hazy pink skies, vast mountain ranges, rust-colored sand which blanketed the landscape in every direction…all of it was just splendid. What was the old planet called? Mors? He couldn’t remember, which wasn’t much of a surprise; he visited so many strange and unique worlds on such a constant basis, it was difficult to keep track.

A lion’s roar echoed across the heavens. It was the sort of cacophony reminiscent of the inevitable bass drop in the celestial song of the gods that was a supernova. It was jarring enough to tear Nadiesco’s attention away from the lay of the land. He looked up to spot seven creatures bearing an uncanny resemblance to the mega lynxes of Perseus VIII. They flew—nay, galloped—through the air toward him at dizzying speeds. They possessed bright yellow eyes, neon purple fur, and impressive antlers reaching up and away from their craniums like trees swept out of the ground in a hurricane, soon to collide with a boisterous man attempting to hook up a satellite antenna on his roof, paying no mind to the storm seeking to undo him.

“Ho-ho, a convoy of indigenous life welcomes me!” Nadiesco proclaimed as his eyes took in a gluttonous, visual drink of the majestic fauna. He ooh’d and ahh’d, pumping a hairy fist into the air with unrestrained jubilation that most certainly should have been restrained.

The fabulous, decorated horned panthers touched down in the crater and began to cautiously circle our hero. In unison, they emitted a noise sounding as if a cat’s purr mated with an idling engine and gave birth to a complex monstrosity of feline and diesel. It was the song of a people, acting as both intimidation tactic as well as a type of funeral hymn for something of great importance lost on this day. Nadiesco couldn’t stymie his elation if he wanted to.

What appeared to be their leader tensed its abdomen and addressed the wandering man-warrior.

“We are the Cats of Ülthar. We protect the planet Ülthar from invaders and those who would do it harm, such as yourself. Your entry into our domain has cost the lives of countless innocents. We are here to exact retribution. We have failed those who entrusted their safety to us. Their deaths will not be in vain. Will you voice any defense of your crimes? It shall not save you, though it may elicit a quicker, more merciful end at our paws,” the cat growled. It unsheathed its claws and readied a pounce.

“Delightful! Talking cats prowling the reddened skies. Might I borrow one of you for a ride so I may better take in the views of your glorious home?” Nadiesco boomed, the purpose of the cats’ visit completely eluding him. The felines exchanged looks of incredulity and rage, commingled in a cocktail shaken and not stirred by the most skillful mixologist of emotional spirits the universe ever knew.

“Did you not comprehend we are here to kill you, sir!?” the lead cat stammered, unsure whether the intruder’s proclamations were indicative of ignorance or obliviousness. Either way, his blatant disregard for the sanctity of life made the cats’ fur stand on end, made their tails undulate with a thirst for vengeance incapable of being expressed with mere meows or widened pupils.

“I am Nadiesco of the West Winds, good cats! Though there have been unfortunate casualties of my arrival, I mean you no harm. I only wish to grace you with the most robust of ventures!” he projected, apparently less than concerned for the lives lost, as well as the cats’ unswayed intentions. In fact, their righteous bloodlust only deepened, like that of the conversation between two rednecks crossfaded on a wooden porch on a midsummer’s eve, lit only by the everlasting dance of fireflies and the requisite butane lighter—itself a prequel to an ambitious yet monetarily underperforming trilogy of bong rips, each sputter of smoke and spittle an offering. A sacrifice of Satan’s Salad in the name of their blazing pagan overlord.

A hush permeated the environment before the alpha cat decided to strike. It uttered a feral battle cry and leaped. Unfazed by the feline’s advances, Nadiesco twirled in place, dodged the cat’s attack, and in one fluid motion mounted the beast.

“And-we-are-OFF!” he shouted and kicked the cat in the ribs.

Shocked, slightly injured, the cat shrieked and took off into the sky like a fuzzy bullet. Nadiesco laughed uproariously as he blared into the stratus with wildcat in tow. His hair blew behind him, stretching out as his arms did. He hooted with rapturous delight, silently proclaiming himself the king of the world.

“Dear feline, this is wondrous! Despite my mastery of the West Winds, they do not permit me this heightened a sense of thrill or excitement,” the ridiculous man-beast claimed, beating his chest through the space lederhosen adorning it. The cat merely groaned in protest. Despite its myriad attempts at barrel rolling to shake the monkey on its back, Nadiesco would not budge, would not relent.

As they continued to float above the mountaintops, the remainder of the Ültharian cats emerged, flanking the duo on all sides. Nadiesco leaned forward and whispered sweet nothings into his steed’s antlers.

“Great cat, I do believe we are being pursued. Make haste, for a scuffle is near!”

Another crushing kick to the helpless cat’s ribs and they were blasting thirty yards ahead of the rest, outflying them masterfully. As they did, the cat shook harder, its panic rushing to the forefront of its consciousness.

“Terror from Beyond the Sphere, we are approaching the Cliffs of Blissful Agony. I seek no alliance with you, but if we are to survive, we must pull up NOW!” the cat screamed, trying desperately to make itself heard over the howling wind and the cackling buffoon atop it.

“What’s that you say, cat? I must pull up your antlers to fend off our attackers? Ingenious!”

Nadiesco gripped both the cat’s antlers, flexed his muscles, and leaned in for a final, sensual whisper session.

“I thank you for your sacrifice,” he breathed, then viciously tore out the antlers. The cat screamed and immediately plummeted from the sky like a stone. But Nadiesco did not drop. Quite the contrary, he remained afloat, realizing then the mystical antlers were what granted the Cats of Ülthar their gift of flight.

“Have at you!” the bearded golden-locked behemoth bellowed, taking on the remaining six cats with antlers at the ready, swinging them to and fro like forked batons of righteous space justice. Down each cat went as they were struck savagely across the skulls with the carriers of their own weight upon the airs. In the blink of an eye, it was all over, the carnage an affair made no less horrifying by its brevity.

Nadiesco touched down onto a mesa of the nearest hilltop and looked out over the horizon. The sunrise dissolved the clouds and cast harsh morning light on the destruction he had wrought across the Ültharian Planes. He placed his hands on his hips and took in a whiff of the cool air. It smelled of rum spiced with the cries of those taken before their time.

An imminent death rattle made its presence known several feet behind our “hero”. He turned to find the dying body of the cat he rode through the sky—the one now splayed antlerless and bleeding, dashed upon the rocks like so many unfulfilled dreams with a shattered spinal cord.

Nadiesco approached, kneeled, and cradled the cat’s face in his masculine (yet delicate) palm.

“Terror from…B-Beyond the…Sphere. You have mmmurdered my b-b-brethren. However, you are…ssstrong. You alone…have the power. To. Protect this…world.”

“What is your name, oh feral feline?” the clueless destroyer questioned.

“They call me…Tokliok,” it uttered before its last gurgling breath gave way, bringing an abrupt and unceremonious end to the Cats of Ülthar.

An entire town and a peaceful planet’s only defenses, all blotted out in a mere instant by a psychotically gleeful space dandy. Though this dandy paid his abhorrent tendencies no mind. He had won adventure and thus won the day.

“I. Am off!” Nadiesco hollered over the hills, dropping the dead cat’s head and taking off into the stratosphere, immediately forsaking the responsibility just passed on to him, soon parting from Ülthar with only the West Winds to guide his body along the path.

What path, you may ask?

The path to the next bold horizon.

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[onthegoinmco]

The 2017 Walt Disney Studios Motion Picture Slate has me giddy to say the least with familiar and favorite stories being re-told and continued, a chance to journey into nature, and to go on a colorful adventure.

I can’t wait any longer…let’s go!

New in 2017: Walt Disney Studios Motion Picture Slate

March 17, 2017 – Beauty and the Beast (Walt Disney Studios)

Every time I see the Beauty and the Beast trailer I have to catch my breath a little, because Belle is one of my top Disney Princesses and I cannot wait to watch Emma Watson as Belle live out the dream of dancing with Beast in the ballroom or to see/hate Luke Evans as Gaston.

Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast” is a live-action re-telling of the studio’s animated classic which refashions the classic characters from the tale as old as time for a contemporary audience, staying true to the original music while updating the score with several new songs.

Walt Disney Studios

“Beauty and the Beast” is the fantastic journey of Belle, a bright, beautiful and independent young woman who is taken prisoner by a beast in his castle. Despite her fears, she befriends the castle’s enchanted staff and learns to look beyond the Beast’s hideous exterior and realize the kind heart and soul of the true Prince within.

Seriously…is it May yet???

April 21, 2017 – Born In China (Disneynature)

Watching Born in China will be the perfect way to celebrate Earth Day this year! With stunning footage of never-before-seen imagery of China’s vast terrain, the movie’s adventure takes us through and above the frigid mountains to the heart of the bamboo forest while telling a compelling story.

Disneynature’s new True Life Adventure film “Born In China” takes an epic journey into the wilds of China where few people have ever ventured.

Walt Disney Studios

Following the stories of three animal families, the film transports audiences to some of the most extreme environments on Earth to witness some of the most intimate moments ever captured in a nature film. A doting panda bear mother guides her growing baby as she begins to explore and seek independence. A two-year-old golden monkey who feels displaced by his new baby sister joins up with a group of free-spirited outcasts. And a mother snow leopard—an elusive animal rarely caught on camera—faces the very real drama of raising her two cubs in one of the harshest and most unforgiving environments on the planet.

It’s been awesome to be able to share the next generation of ‘True Life Adventure’ films that I loved so much with my daughter, and Born in China looks to be an fantastic addition to the Disneynature films.

May 5, 2017 – Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (Marvel Studios)

The first Marvel Studios release in the 2017 Motion Picture Slate is going to set the bar pretty high for the summer, because I don’t know too many people who aren’t hyped for Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2!

Set to the all-new sonic backdrop of Awesome Mixtape #2, Marvel’s “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2” continues the team’s adventures as they traverse the outer reaches of the cosmos.

Walt Disney Studios

The Guardians must fight to keep their newfound family together as they unravel the mystery of Peter Quill’s true parentage. Old foes become new allies and fan-favorite characters from the classic comics will come to our heroes’ aid as the Marvel Cinematic Universe continues to expand.

I. Cannot. Wait. From the moment I saw the first teaser photo, I flipped! Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 seems to be a continuation of the adventures with a perfect combination of action, witty dialogue, & amazing music…and this time we get more Baby Groot!

May 26, 2017 – PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: DEAD MEN TELL NO TALES (Walt Disney Studios)

Fans of the Disney Parks can’t help but get excited to hear more familiar words that echo in the caverns of the attraction on the big screen! Dead Men Tell No Tales is a continuation of a story and ride that I have enjoyed most of my life!

Johnny Depp returns to the big screen as the iconic, swashbuckling anti-hero Jack Sparrow in the all-new “Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales.”

Walt Disney Studios

The rip-roaring adventure finds down-on-his-luck Captain Jack feeling the winds of ill-fortune blowing strongly his way when deadly ghost sailors, led by the terrifying Captain Salazar (Javier Bardem), escape from the Devil’s Triangle bent on killing every pirate at sea—notably Jack. Jack’s only hope of survival lies in the legendary Trident of Poseidon, but to find it he must forge an uneasy alliance with Carina Smyth (Kaya Scodelario), a brilliant and beautiful astronomer, and Henry (Brenton Thwaites), a headstrong young sailor in the Royal Navy. At the helm of the Dying Gull, his pitifully small and shabby ship, Captain Jack seeks not only to reverse his recent spate of ill fortune, but to save his very life from the most formidable and malicious foe he has ever faced.

What could be wrong about having more Captain Jack Sparrow in 2017???

June 16, 2017 – CARS 3 (Disney / Pixar)

The intensity of the Cars 3 teaser trailer made me realize how emotionally invested I was in Lightning McQueen…A sentence I never thought I would type.

Blindsided by a new generation of blazing-fast racers, the legendary Lightning McQueen (voice of Owen Wilson) is suddenly pushed out of the sport he loves.

Walt Disney Studios

To get back in the game, he will need the help of an eager young race technician, Cruz Ramirez (voice of Cristela Alonzo), with her own plan to win, plus inspiration from the late Fabulous Hudson Hornet and a few unexpected turns. Proving that #95 isn’t through yet will test the heart of a champion on Piston Cup Racing’s biggest stage!

When Zoe was younger we watched Cars on repeat and then when Cars 2 was released I watched as she enjoyed racing with her friends again, and now I can’t wait to experience Cars 3 with my favorite passenger!

November 3, 2017 – Thor: Ragnarok (Marvel Studios)

While Tony Stark is my main man, I can’t help but wait to see one of my other favorite Avengers back on the big screen.

In Marvel Studios’ “Thor: Ragnarok,” Thor is imprisoned on the other side of the universe without his mighty hammer and finds himself in a race against time to get back to Asgard to stop Ragnarok—the destruction of his homeworld and the end of Asgardian civilization—at the hands of an all-powerful new threat, the ruthless Hela. But first he must survive a deadly gladiatorial contest that pits him against his former ally and fellow Avenger—the Incredible Hulk!

Thor? Gladiatorial contest? The Incredible Hulk? Evil villain? I’m all in!

November 22, 2017 – COCO (Disney / Pixar)

At the 2015 D23 Expo in Anaheim, I was lucky (lucky = waited in the basement of the convention center for hours with great friends, even better conversation, and mediocre snacks) to snag a seat at the Walt Disney Studios presentation to hear about Coco.

Despite his family’s baffling generations-old ban on music, Miguel (voice of newcomer Anthony Gonzalez) dreams of becoming an accomplished musician like his idol, Ernesto de la Cruz (voice of Benjamin Bratt).

Walt Disney Studios

Desperate to prove his talent, Miguel finds himself in the stunning and colorful Land of the Dead following a mysterious chain of events. Along the way, he meets charming trickster Hector (voice of Gael García Bernal), and together, they set off on an extraordinary journey to unlock the real story behind Miguel’s family history.

I have always been intrigued by the Día de los Muertos celebrations, so you can only imagine what my excitement level is on a scale from 1 to 10…it’s an 11!

December 15, 2017 –  STAR WARS: EPISODE VIII (Lucasfilm)

2017 is going to end in a galaxy far, far away when Star Wars: Episode VIII hits the screen.

Now while we don’t know much about what adventures we will go on, we do know that this journey will push the boundaries of the saga even further.

Is there really a better way to end an amazing year of films?

If you aren’t pumped for the 2017 Walt Disney Studios Motion Picture Slate, then I don’t know if we can be friends! This is the stuff that movie dreams are made of, and I can’t wait to share more information and even some fun activities about them this year.

Also check out New in 2017: Walt Disney World Resort, New in 2017: Universal Orlando Resort, and New in 2017: SeaWorld Orlando!

Make sure you follow @onthegoinmco on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram to keep up with the latest news and trailers from the amazing Walt Disney Studios 2017 Motion Picture Slate!

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