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talesofsonicasura · 3 years

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Stone Novas

Ch 4: Exposition

Astra's secret is revealed to Team Monkie Kid much to her dismay! A challenge is wagered, plots are formed and soon wills shall be tested. CH3 CH5

Megapolis' Docks, Secret Base

To say Astra was upset would be an understatement. She was thoroughly pissed off for one good reason. Sun Wukong, Monkey King and 'Great Sage Equal To Heaven' didn't know how to keep his mouth shut. And the feeling to flay him grew as Mei poked at the Frontier Brain.

All of them had hustled back to the Secret Base after MK had blurted out her otherworldly origins. Luckily, no one else was there to hear it. When the young man had accidentally sent himself flying out of the Weather Station, not only did Wukong appear to take away his invulnerability but also told him about her Battle Observatory.

He didn't mention Macaque oddly enough or her taking his clothes, no doubt to keep some of his pride. The reactions from Sandy, Pigsy, Tang and Mei were expected once they got back into the base after a silent ride. Dumbfounded disbelief from MK's boss, curiosity from Tang, awe and wonderment from Sandy, as for Mei…

"Are you human or is this a disguise?! Wouldn't that make Bao Chang, Lupe, Mars, and that giant bird Siegfried alien animals?! Are there any dragon Pokemon where you're from?" A thousand questions alongside her wild poking and prodding. Astra didn't mind someone being curious but this was aggravating.

Having enough with the mildly rude treatment, the redhead grabbed Mei's hand tightly. "I would love to talk if you stop scrutinizing me like a Noctowl pellet." Astra let the raven quickly scoot away, slightly embarrassed but still had that same vigor. The Frontier Brain massaged her head, carefully picking her next words before speaking.

"I am human but from an alternate Earth. Instead of demons, we have Pokemon that can be found everywhere whether it be land, sea, sky and even space itself. During my free time, I usually explore various worlds by traveling through Ultra Space but I am actually the Frontier Brain for the Battle Observatory."

Mk had heard about the facility Astra owned from the Monkey King although neither of them knew what it really meant. Picking up on the young man's confusion, the ginger continued her explanation. "Where I'm from we have something called Pokemon Battles."

Mars connected his tail into the base's computer, the screen switching to display a battle between two trainers and their respective Pokemon: a bipedal rhinoceros covered in orange stone plates and a smaller bipedal chinchilla with large white fur that curled like locks of hair.

"Trainers bring out their Pokemon to battle and give them instructions. When all Pokemon on the opponent's team is unable to battle, the Trainer whose team is left standing wins. No Pokemon are forced to battle without their consent and no killing is allowed." The chinchilla-like Pokemon took down the much larger opponent with a strong blow to the head, spirals appearing on the eyes of the knocked out rhinoceros Pokemon.

Mars then changed the screen to display six different buildings, one of them being the Battle Observatory. A picture of Astra stood in front of the observatory as a shadow silhouette stood at the other 5 facilities. "There are tournaments that test the mettle of both Trainers and their Pokemon, the Pokemon League but we'll be discussing my domain, the Battle Frontier."

Battle Frontier, just two words that sent a shiver down the spines of everyone in the room. MK, unlike the rest of his companions, had a look of determination but also hope in his eyes. Something that made the redhead smile brightly.

"Trainers have to face the Frontier Brains, powerful trainers and their Pokemon that can rival the strength of the Champion for each respective region. Those who defeat a Frontier Brain, earn a symbol of their success, a badge for that gym. If someone manages to collect 5 of these badges, then they can become a Frontier Brain for their own facility. This is my badge, the Nova Badge!"

Astra then took something out of her pocket. It was a metal badge that resembled a fiery meteor from the red flame locale surrounding the yellow star shape and the center was a gray X bearing sharpened edges similar to a stake.

"Only those with conviction to face the burning flames of tribulation and strife can earn this badge. One of the reasons many trainers call me the Battle Frontier's Shooting Star." The redhead didn't even flinch when MK and his companions had suddenly gotten into personal space.

"Woah! That is the coolest thing I have ever seen. It looks really well made too! I wish I had my own badge but I really don't like fighting." Sandy stated with mild disappointment. Astra patted the big aquatic demon on the side and gave him a kind grin. "I can make you a custom badge if you want, Sandy. Send me a design and I'll have it ready in a few days."

The redhead chuckled at the sudden bone crushing hug she had gotten from a very happy Sandy. Pigsy was a bit indifferent to the whole otherworld thing. "As long as you come in peace then I don't really care about your origins. Plus you have a good head on your shoulders considering what happened back at the Weather Station."

Every member of the Monkie Kid team knew where the restaurant owner was getting at. All of them would've been captured by Red Son after MK got taken out of the fight. They couldn't forget about the people that might have been hurt or worse without Astra's intervention.

Something that raised a question for a certain bandana wearing young man. "Hey Astra, can I talk with you outside for a moment?" The Frontier Brain gave MK a confused look before nodding. Mars could fill in any questions the rest of the group had anyway. Neither of them said a word until the two adults were back on the boat.

It was here that Astra saw the brunette's carefree attitude dissolve into disappointment and shame. She had a bad feeling about this. "Do you think I'm worthy enough to be the Monkie Kid?" Now the Frontier Brain really hated where this was going.

"Back at the Weather Station, I was practically useless during the whole thing. I hurt Sandy with the staff and nearly got everyone captured because of my invulnerability ego. I even flung myself out of the building with my own weapon! Sometimes I feel like being able to pick up the Monkey King's Staff was a huge fluke. I…"

MK didn't get to finish when Astra gently caressed his cheek, a warm motherly expression on her face. "It's ok to feel like this, MK. You are new to this whole experience but I know for damn sure that your achievements aren't fake! I read about you saving the city from that huge Demon Bull King fiasco some time ago."

She pulled him into a side hug and turned to the open ocean. "When I first started out as a trainer, sometimes I doubted if I could even become a Frontier Brain. There were times that I wanted to give up but my friends and my Pokemon gave me the courage to keep trying. Look at me now, I achieved my goal alongside my faithful partners. Remember that 'the strongest mountain started as a stone.'"

MK then felt something metallic in his hand and stared down in shock to see a colorless Nova Badge sitting on his open palm. "I want you to hold onto this badge, little Kubfu. When you have found and mastered your full potential, face my team to fully complete that badge. If the Monkey King's training isn't sufficient, I won't mind stepping in for some proper training."

Astra's grin sharpened, the sun making her apple green eyes glow like emeralds and her flaming red hair burn like fire. "I might not have magical powers but I definitely can teach you how to wield a staff. A lot of my Pokemon would also love to help you master your newfound magic. What do you say MK? Want to take your training to the next level?"

The young man looked at the Frontier Brain. His uncertainty became hardened determination. "Please teach me how to become stronger!" MK bowed his head in respect, a sign of a student ready to learn under their master. Astra's smile grew from the young man's response. Now she had a few things to do before she started training MK.

Flower Fruit Mountain, Water Curtain Cave

Siegfried let out a mighty caw as he soared through the air. The Frontier Brain was currently seated on the Raven's Pokemon back with her goggles keeping any volcanic ash away from her eyes. All of the monkeys who saw the large Steel/Flying Type quickly scattered or watched Siegfried fly through the curtain of a waterfall.

This particular waterfall was shielding a cavern that held a small wooden shack within its stone walls, Sun Wukong's home. Once Siegfried landed and was recalled to his Pokeball, Astra went over to the house. She had spotted a large ancient mural to the side depicting Wukong alongside three other people.

A pig demon, fish demon, and a human monk riding on the back of a horse as Wukong sat on top of his cloud with a fillet on his head. It was quite eerie but not for the soft golden glow that lined the characters. No, it was the fact that they looked too much like Pigsy, Sandy and Tang that unnerved the redhead.

Astra walked up to the door of the small home and gave it a hard knock. The door opened to show a disgruntled looking Monkey King who was probably asleep earlier from the yellow pjs decorated in peaches. The demon quickly straightened himself upon seeing those apple green eyes glare into his own ambers. "Fancy seeing you here, Astra. Want to come in?" Wukong nervously laughed, he knew he was in hot water.

"You told MK about my origins WITHOUT my permission, jackass! What in the absolute Distortion World were you thinking?!" The redhead harshly poked the monkey's chest, every word burning with rage. The Monkey King raised his hands innocently despite Astra looking ready to skin his hide.

"I can't keep such information from my successor! MK had the right to know and I trust the kid to keep a secret." Wukong took a step back when the Frontier Brain snarled and dragged him down by his pajama shirt so they were at eye level.

"You are an idiot of the highest caliber and a poor teacher! I read the story about MK fighting that giant bull demon and saw him recklessly using your staff back at the Weather Station. Have you even given him proper training at all?!" Astra hissed, glaring daggers into the demon's fiery amber eyes.

Wukong nervously smiled at the accusation which didn't help with what he said next. "The kid did defeat Demon Bull King and came out of both fights completely fine. We've been practicing some hand to hand combat too. MK just needs to believe in himself, even just a tiny smidge." The Monkey King's world turned upside down in seconds as he hit the ground.

Astra sat on top of him, her legs straddled between his so he couldn't move while she held him up to her face with an iron grip. "You are an incompetent fool that clearly doesn't know what he's doing! Did you know MK asked me if he was even worthy of being your successor? That he thought of his achievements as a mere fluke, you insufferable Stunfisk?!"

Wukong's smile dissolved into a shameful frown. Did he really make his student believe that he was a failure? The mere thought made his heart sink. "I'll be taking over MK's training from now on since it's clear you are ill suited for the task." He instantly froze. Did she really just…?

"What do you mean you're taking over?" A look of anger and shock crossed Sun Wukong from the Frontier Brain's words. Astra didn't seem to care about the Monkey King's growing temper. "You heard me. Unless you start taking MK's training seriously, then my Pokemon and I will do it instead. I may not have powers but I can teach him to wield a staff. My team can handle the magic part since you're shit for this job."

Rage boiled underneath the demon's skin. What gave this human the right to say he was an unsuitable teacher? It's his powers and his staff! Who did she think she was to say that to the Monkey King, Great Sage Equal To Heaven, Sun Wukong?!! He'd- The monkey demon immediately stamped that thought before it could continue and instead turned his head away.

This wasn't about him. It was about his student MK. Astra had a point, the young man wasn't ready at all and if a tougher opponent came along… The look of remorse on Wukong's face was enough for the redhead's rage to slowly simmer down.

"How about a compromise? If you are that serious about helping MK, then battle Bao Chang." Sun Wukong immediately looked at the human woman in surprise. "It is said that someone's true intentions can be revealed in the heat of battle. Clash with my darling Monferno at the Battle Observatory on the morning of next week and show me how far you will truly go for your disciple."

The redhead got off the Monkey King so he could get back onto his feet. He could see in those apple green eyes that Astra wasn't fooling around. His only chance. "Alright. I'll accept your challenge. Where do we meet up since we're going back to your world?" Wukong's question only got him a chuckle from the Frontier Brain.

"Ask your apprentice, he'll tell you." With that said, Astra walked away from his home leaving the Monkey King to his thoughts.

Megapolis, Astra's House

The sound of a hammer hitting steel echoed across the small forest. It was from Bao Chang who was fastening a brand new windowsill to the upper floor of the old house, a paintbrush wrapped around his tail too. Astra and some of her Pokemon decided to fix up their brand new home after returning from Flower Fruit Mountain.

Bao Chang worked on replacing the windows, Lupe disposed of any garbage he found, Mars scanned for any issues with the infrastructure and Siegfried helped transport any of the heavy goods such as furniture or any stuff that can be exchanged for extra cash. Aniani kept watch in case of an accident or intruder, as for Astra…

"Sticky Web, Arachne!" A large blob of webbing struck the worn pillar. The substance slipped it into the cracks with the wood, Astra then placed a large metal sheet onto the sticky goo. "El Dorado, melt that metal a bit with Incinerate!" Quickly stepping back as a stream of fire hit the steel plate.

The intense flame caused the alloy to slowly curl around the pillar's surface until it was fully enveloped. Another stream of fire went down where the two ends to the sheet metal converged, sealing it together. With a short inspection of the plating, Astra gave a thumbs up to the two Pokemon responsible.

One Pokemon was a shockingly large black spider around 12'3 in size, six long yellow legs with the bottom half black that had medium sized water bubbles on each joint, a big water bubble that encased their head, two large blue eyes bearing light blue horizontal wave shaped pupils with three smaller triangle blue eyes on the forehead, four large fangs at the bottom of the head, a vertical tannish brown streak with two horizontal ones on the top of the abdomen and a small yellow stinger on their rear.

The other one was a 1'3 dark gold gremlin, eyes were light gold diamonds cut in an hexagon shape, two fin like ears bearing two points on each side of their head, a small emerald on their chest alongside a small jade and light gold crystals on the back, three fingered claws, three fur like spikes on the elbows and three toed bearing sharp claws. On their left arm was a dark violet wristband that held a black, red and violet jewel inside.

"Looks pretty stable. Got a few more support pillars to go, think you can handle it Arachne and El Dorado?" Astra first looked at the large spider then to the small gremlin Pokemon. The large spider Pokemon named Arachne did a small nod while the little gremlin El Dorado gave a thumbs up.

The Frontier Brain shortly paused as a serious expression overtook her face. Her focus was on the corner of the room that was unnaturally darker than the others. "Arachne, Bubblebeam over there!" The large spider took a deep breath before letting loose a rapid stream of dark blue bubbles.

In seconds, a purple outlined shadow cudgel emerges and promptly bursts every single bubble with a single swing. Macaque took a step out of the shadows, clearly impressed from the fang filled grin on his face. Astra only sighed at the sight of the shadow demon.

"I guess you do have some decent senses to detect me. Nice improvement on this dumpster pile by the way." The Frontier Brain rolled her eyes at the intruding monkey, both Pokemon beside her had their guard up. A sight that made Macaque chuckle.

"Usually I am not that defensive unless near a potential threat. I just didn't know that you used to eat humans before we met." Astra spoke, her arms crossed and an offensive edge to her voice. Dismissing the shadow cudgel from his hands, the demon gave the redhead a mischievous look.

"I knew you overheard me and Sun Wukong the other night instead of going to your room. Had me surprised when you still treated my wounds while keeping calm from your steady heartbeat. Pretty brave and bold, Apple." Macaque walked closer until he was standing in front of the Frontier Brain.

The demon could still hear her heart remain steady despite their close proximity, a thought that made his tail wag happily. "What do you want, Macaque? Because I'm pretty sure spying on someone isn't a proper visit." Astra didn't feel like playing around at the moment. One demon had already gotten on her nerves, she didn't need two.

"Straight to the point I see! What I want is to train under your tutelage." Astra looked at the shadow demon like he was crazy. She let Macaque continue with his explanation. "My clash with the Monkey King proved my training methods are ineffective, training dummies can only do so much. What's a better sparring partner other than a Frontier Brain?"

The redhead kept her eyes on the monkey as he circled around her, Arachne and El Dorado stayed silent. Both Pokemon were waiting for any sign of a threat. "So how about a deal? I help around your observatory and you let me battle your Pokemon in exchange. I can even help fix up this rusty junk heap as a bonus." Macaque offered, a calm yet manic grin etched on his face.

Astra mulled over the proposition in her head. She wasn't stupid or naive. Macaque and Wukong had a nasty history paired with a mile wide grudge. There was also the chance of manipulation for the Frontier Brain since the monkey demon might have abandonment issues, inferiority complex and probably low esteem.

Taking his offer could lead to two scenarios. He'll end up taking revenge on Sun Wukong, possibly dragging anyone associated with the Monkey King into it. Or two, she could learn their history and might be able to help both demons before their sour relationship leads to a much bigger problem down the road.

Whatever the case, these two needed help. "Fine but you must listen to what I say and respect any rules that I make. By the way, if you try to use whatever you learn against some innocent soul…" Astra's eyes sharpened, her teeth on full display from the huge snarl and a dark aura came off the redhead in waves.

The sudden malice was enough for Macaque to take a step back in instinctual fright. "I won't hesitate to show you why I'm the most feared amongst my peers in the Battle Frontier. Angels, demons or gods, nothing will save you from my wrath. Got it, little Alolan Rattata?" The shadow demon quickly nodded at the Frontier Brain's threat.

In seconds the frightening aura quickly vanished as Astra clapped her hands happily. "Splendid. For now, you'll be helping El Dorado and Arachne with enforcing the support beams. Arachne is my dear Araquanid while El Dorado is my sweet Sableye." Both Pokemon waved a hand or leg in Arachne's case in greeting to the demon monkey.

Macaque was about to say something when the redhead threw two small cards at him. Quickly catching them, dark amber slightly widened to see they were Pokedex Entries for the two Pokemon before him. Although the one for El Dorado looked different since the Sableye in that picture was violet instead of gold.

"'Araquanid, the Water Bubble Pokemon. Bug/Water Type. The water bubble around Araquanid's head can be used to carry Pokemon they consider as friends to safety or drown potential prey. It has a habit of storing things it likes in its water bubble so their trainers have to be extra careful to not get dragged in. This Pokemon likes to savor its meal and can also launch the bubbles from its legs as another way to capture live prey.'" Macaque looked warily at the giant spider before reading the other card.

"'Sableye, the Darkness Pokemon. A Ghost/Dark Type-'" The demon monkey went silent for a few seconds. 'What in the absolute hell?' Macaque shoved the thought in the back of his head before continuing his low mutters.

"'-It digs up gems with its sharp claws then uses its sharp teeth to devour them in the deep darkness of caverns. This diet caused Sableye's eyes to become gemstones and some of that material to float to the surface of their bodies. It's feared for the misconception that these Pokemon can steal the souls of people when their eyes glow a sinister color in the dark.'"

The shadow demon paused to look at the card then the small Darkness Pokemon. He blinked a few times before pocketing the Pokedex entries into his jeans. Macaque had a feeling this won't be the only time Astra decides to make him feel uneasy. Shrugging his shoulders, the monkey resigned himself to his fate and got to work with the repairs.

Megapolis, Flaming Foundry

Deep underneath Megapolis, there laid a massive factory unknown to others. This facility was the Flaming Foundry, where every mechanical creation was manufactured to assist the Demon Bull Family. A family of three who seeked to rule the world in an age of darkness and fire: Princess Iron Fan, her husband Demon Bull King and their child Red Son.

Standing in front of a large screen was Red Son alongside two others. One was a huge minotaur type bull demon around 15 in size, powerful bulging muscles to red violet fur that seemed to almost synthetic, bottom jaw covered in a heavy steel plate with similar steel under burning yellow eyes, a gold bull nose ring, gear similar to that of a barbarian: steel pauldrons, multiple straps on the chest that held a gold furnace like slot at the center, dark grey pelt around the waist similar to a barbarian's, slightly long tail, sharp clawed fingers, large fangs and strong gray hooved feet.

The other was a woman about a ft taller than Red Son, soft tan complexion, two large black horns on both sides of her head, long raven hair, red lipstick on full lips, thin but buxom form hidden under a beautiful red traditional Chinese dress, and heeled sandals. They were Red Son's parents, Princess Iron Fan and Demon Bull King. Red Son seemed mostly healed from his encounter with Team Monkie Kid minus a few bandages.

All three of them were watching the large monitor, it was on the news which covered the Weather Station. The broadcast was about none other than two of Astra's Pokemon rescuing civilians who were trapped inside. "-No one knows what these strange creatures were but the families of those who were trapped inside are truly grateful for their assistance."

Red Son then changed the feed to camera footage from the Weather Station, most of the audio was fried courtesy of Mars' hacking the mainframe earlier. "I can see why your plan went asunder, my dear son. You said this woman's name was Astra?" PIF questioned, looking at her only child.

The red haired demon did a short nod before answering. "Yes from what Noodle Boy called her during our battle. All those creatures appear to follow her command; unlike Noodle Boy's group, she's very competent in both strategy and execution. The marks of a tactician."

DBK looked inquisitively at the footage. His attention darted from Bao Chang tearing apart their soldiers using various elements, to Lupe destroying his troops with powerful acid then blasting his son away in a giant laser, Mars stealthily hack into the Weather Station's mainframe and finally Astra's conversion of a broom handle into a weapon that melted through titanium steel. He's seen that type of cleverness before, it got him trapped underneath a mountain for 500 years.

"It appears the little thief has made a powerful and dangerous ally. Get as much information on this 'Shooting Star Astra' and 'Battle Frontier'. Even better if you somehow manage to capture her." DBK glared at the Frontier Brain's picture, a dark grimace on his face.

"This human woman could change everything."

And that's it! Sun Wukong has been challenged by Astra while Macaque and MK are accepted for training as things slowly begin to change in the background with some of the LMK villains.

Astra isn't someone who would beat around the bush when seeing a possible problem. Especially considering her status as a Frontier Brain and just how dangerous this new world is proving to be.

She is the type who wants to be prepared for the worst. To her, Sun Wukong and Macaque's 'relationship' is an issue just as bad as MK's current training routine.

Moving onto Astra's Pokemon, her team is the Pokemon she had caught during her journey to become a Frontier Brain, not exclusively just six Pokemon. Her Pokemon has two different movesets which is reserved for either exploration or gym battles. I'm bringing this up now to not only clear up any confusion but especially for upcoming chapters.

And for anyone questioning why Astra didn't do anything to Sandy for hugging her, it's because only touches with any romantic sort of sense are a trigger. Stuff like hugs don't bother Astra.

Next chapter is the battle with Sun Wukong! Before I go, I am currently working on a story for my Broken Toys AU! Someone asked if I was going to release all the information first before writing it.

The answer is actually no. I will be posting some stuff for the au like the monsters MK has and his relationship to them but the really juicy ones will be coming once a few chapters are posted.

Until next time folks, see you back in Megapolis.

New Pokemon added! El Dorado the Sableye and Arachne the Araquanid

Astra's team: Bao Chang (Monferno), Siegfried (Corviknight), Lupe (Garbodor), Aniani (Necrozma), Arachne (Araquanid), Mukasa (Zarude), El Dorado (Shiny!Sableye).

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captainjimothycarter · 4 years

Note

How about that AU where single parents Steggy meet because their kids meet each other in Pre-school and seem to recognize each other, and you get Steggy dismantling some horrible institution realizing their adopted from overseas toddlers were twins intentionally split up for 'reasons' and obviously you just gotta live together now man, twins can't be split again, guess we're together. Cause Maximoffs in New York, and Steve vs the hellion that is 4 year old Pietro.

Something tells me that if I apologize for this being long, no one will complain, but anyway: I’m sorry for what I’m about to do and how I butcher this. OP, I love these prompts so much.

“You’re serious?”

Steve is fully aware that he doesn’t even know Peggy and he’s never seen her look more serious. She’s staring at him over the rim of her steaming coffee mug with an expression that says, you’re an idiot. Laid before them are a few folders, binders, and files, the contents spread out. This marked their life together.

The start of their life together.

It was late at night, Wanda was asleep with Pietro, curled up in his bed. The kid insisted she slept in the same bed and wouldn’t be told no and fuck, Steve couldn’t tell Wanda no. Not when she made that cute, little face that knew she’d get whatever she wanted. Besides, they couldn’t tear them apart again. They were toddlers who barely understood the situation. It’s not like the adults were doing much better.

Rubbing at the bridge of his nose, Steve let out a loud sigh and tensed. He waited to hear Wanda’s whimpers or Pietro’s groans, but none came. His eyes fell to the stranger before him, wondering how did they miss each other.

“You do understand that this isn’t our fault?” Peggy asks him in a soft tone as if she’s trying to convince herself. She lays her hand on his wrist, the pad of her thumb rubbing over the inside of Steve’s wrist. “We had no way of knowing. None. Even though background checks, I didn’t find anything that said this.”

“Doesn’t mean I feel any less guilty here.” He downed the rest of his coffee like it was a shot and made a face at the coffee grounds sliding down his throat. Ugh. That’s what he gets for a shitty coffee maker. “We didn’t do this but now we have the consequences. How do we repair…four years of that?!”

“Steven.” The way she said his name made him frown at her. He looked like one more surprise news away from a breakdown. Poor guy. He really has been working himself to the ground. “I adopted Pietro when he was three months old. You adopted Wanda when she was two. They were separated for whatever goddamn reason. We both took the kids to give them a better life. How the hell we wounded up meeting is-is fate, is all it is. It’s fate.”

“Reverse Parent Trap.” He muttered under his breath and Peggy snorted, looking utterly embarrassed that she snorted. He deserved that slap to his shoulder. It was odd, how close they felt and barely knew one another. All he knew that she was from England, she now lived in America, and she adopted the twin brother of his daughter. “So what do we do now? We can’t keep them away from one another, that’s fucking torture! We’re lucky they remembered each other. Or had some weird twin connection, hell if I know.”

The man was clearly frustrated and Peggy wanted to soothe him, but she had to keep her head on here. She looked back at the paperwork. The second they’d realized something was odd when she picked up Pietro from pre-K, Steve had rushed home to go get every document he ever had of Wanda and brought it back to her place.

The twins had to have some connection, didn’t they? They recognized one another, had some draw to it. When Steve saw them together, she gasped out loud because they looked so similar and not in the manner little kids do when they’re young. It took a DNA swab test designed by Stark Industries to work in under an hour to confirm their suspicions.

Explaining that the kids were not so much easier. There were endless questions and Wanda’s assumptions they split them up before Peggy had to prove that no they didn’t. It was the people in the hospital. Then Pietro’s declaration that all hospital people were bad and Steve tried to gently explain no they weren’t because sometimes bad, bad mistakes happen. So far, that’s all they could do was chuck this up to mistakes. They weren’t exactly sure. Besides, his ma was a nurse and she wasn’t bad.

“What do we do now?” Peggy mused, taking their coffee mugs and setting them in the sink. She started to clean the table with Steve’s help, carefully organizing everything together. She stared at the photo of Wanda on Steve’s shoulders in front of some museum, then of hers with Pietro on a goddamn child leash because he loved to try to run off. “I think you know. We can be civil about it.”

“Or…” Steve stood up and gently took the binder from her arms. There was a glint in his eyes as he took her hands and gently pressed a few kisses along her fingertips. It’s the boldest he’s been since he arrived at her apartment. “We don’t go about it civil. The first thing you did when you saw me was check out my ass.” Peggy’s ears turning pink told Steve he was right. “We can go about this the right way or…our way.”

If Peggy had anything to say, Steve didn’t hear it. Her lips were on his, his arms around her waist and pulling her close.

“So when is their birthday?” Howard asked, frowning as he watched the toddlers play with the water guns in the kid’s play area of Stark Industries.

Steve hated this. It felt like an interrogation room with the mirrored glass. They weren’t criminals. They were kids. Confused kids. “We don’t know,” he replied, turning to look at Peggy where she was bending over to study some flight plans charted on the table. That was Peggy, alright, newly appointed aviator of Stark Industries, Steve’s girlfriend [God that made him giddy], and an old-fashion soul. She loved computers but loved everything else handheld and on paper, so the charts were easier. “Pegs? Peggy.”

Peggy jumped and turned around, her cheeks flushed. “Sorry. I was double checking my courses. I swear, I didn’t lose that shipment,” she mumbled, still hung up on the situation. “Anyway, yes? What is it?”

“Birthday, Pegs,” Howard rolled his eyes and slid in the rolling chair to the table she was at. He rolled up the chart much to her pouting. “When are their birthdays? If you want me to get their paperwork right and set up properly, I need to know.”

Steve wasn’t sure if he liked Howard Stark. The man was eccentric, a ball of energy. He didn’t know when to sit still and bounced from one side of the room to the next. He was balls to the wall when hyped up about something. But he was Peggy’s friend and boss, so he set his opinions aside to focus on the matter at hand. They couldn’t trust many people with this information, Peggy had asked Howard to design the twins paperwork to reflect that they were twins and family and Steve and Peggy both were their parents.

“We’re unsure. Steve’s paperwork for Wanda says April 19th. Mine says September 12th.” She pursed her lips in thought, her eyes on Steve. A silent conversation passed through them, leaving Howard confused. Her head just ever so slightly nodded. “October 1st.”

If Howard had a complaint, he said nothing. Or at least Steve didn’t hear him because at that point Pietro had cornered Wanda with the water gun. Howard turned back to Peggy with a fond smile. “The guy must really like you. He’s quiet. Thoughtful.” She rolled her eyes at him, causing the genius to smirk. “And no, you didn’t lose the shipment. It was stolen. I got guys working on it.”

“Peggy!” Steve’s voice betrayed the emergency of the situation, causing Peggy to abandon Howard and run straight to the playroom.

She gasped at the sight of Steve held in the air, a screaming Wanda in his arms, surrounded by red energy. The second she got close, Steve fell to the floor on his backside but held a terrified Wanda tightly to him.

“We have a situation,” he groaned to her.

As if their already situation wasn’t tricky enough.

So that’s it.

Steve was married to the wonderful Peggy Carter, aviator for Stark Industries. He was a stay at home father with a pair of twins. Twins separated shortly after their birth and now reunited. Twins with powers. Confusing powers that not even they understood.

Their relationship had changed in a matter of weeks. With the secrecy of everything that happened, they agreed it was best to get married ASAP. Bucky wasn’t too happy about them skipping a wedding and getting to embarrass Steve with a speech but even he agreed.

So that was it then, huh?

Not quite.

Wanda’s powers were difficult to understand and anytime Steve thought he could understand how she manipulated things or levitated them, or controlled minds, he was reminded he barely had control of the situation.

Pietro was almost just as worse with his speed.

They were kids, toddlers at that. Confusing toddlers were bad enough, but toddlers with superpowers? Now that was just a daily headache. They couldn’t control them. Once Pietro sneezed and jolted back all the way through the house and into his bed. He just thought it was fun and showed his mama as soon as she got home.

So what were they supposed to do? The only thing they could.

Move to a bigger home in the countryside. Steve took up being a comic artist, but more focused on stay at homework. Peggy continued her job at Stark Industries because part of her didn’t trust Stark. He knew about the powers but they worried through every test and blood sample that he might betray them. Now that Howard seemed to be that guy but Peggy couldn’t take her chances.

Thankfully Howard’s contacts had come through and they found a teacher, someone named Xavier who could help with the twin's powers. The only problem was, the guy was somewhere overseas and it would be after the new year before he could come to assess the problems. For now, Steve would send him daily updates and Xavier had started to couch Steve through working the twins through some testing or obstacle or stuff.

Their improvement showed and the father couldn’t have been more proud.

All Steve could say was, yes this situation was certainly an odd one. He never thought he’d adopt a child, much less a better half of a twin, a powered twin at that. Never did he thought he’d be with someone the likes of Peggy. A beautiful woman that took no shit and had no problem dishing it back out or putting Steve in his place when he needed it.

He never thought he’d have a successful career as a comic artist or even be a stay at home dad, but here he was.

Here he was in a loving, beautiful home that was chaotic at the best times, with two loving kids who just always wanted a family to belong to. And really, Steve and Peggy had done their both to give it to them.

Life was chaotic but it was good.

It was their life.

One Peggy and Steve had decided they’d carve it out together.

#Steggy #StevePeggy #Modern Steggy #Avaitor Peggy #wanda maximov #peitro maximoff #They're hell beasts but love their parents #Parent Trap Reverse #Steggy Prompt #Nonny Prompt #I hope this is what you wanted #It's 2k

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samtheflamingomain · 3 years

Text

25.21%

I've been sober for 3 months today. 92 days. 25.21% of 2021.

I could've posted more updates, more milestones (it took a LOT not to post on Day 69) but I wanted to kind of save it up for a Big Day. It was also a decent way to continue to incentivize my continued sobriety: a full pass to do a shameless, hardcore bragging sesh.

Anyway, this post comes in 2 parts: the TL;DR for those who only want the gist, then more in depth on my ability to stay sober, the lasting effects of rehab, etc.

I tried my damnedest to pare this absolute novel down, but it's long, so feel free to dip out if you just get bored. Onward!

TL;DR: I went to rehab the beginning of July for 3 weeks and haven't had a drop of alcohol since. I've lost weight, I'm more healthy, my daily anxiety level went from 8 to 2, I haven't had an anxiety attack in 3 months, and everything generally just seems... easier. My memory and concentration have improved. I've been productive and I've been meditating every day. I'm saving money, and while I sometimes fantasize about getting drunk, that's usually all it is.

Honestly, it's been much easier than I expected, but I think a lot of that is because for the first 3 weeks, the time in which I would usually break down and start drinking again when trying to get sober myself, was spent behind a locked door. So far I haven't had any days where I was close to giving in. I haven't had many days where I've been depressed about it, missing it or really tempted. Maybe 3-4. I've basically just gotten on with my life as if alcohol doesn't exist.

To wrap up the short version for those ready to peace out, I'll leave it with a bit of advice.

I don't feel qualified to give any specific advice, because my story feels very unique to me, and I honestly don't think what worked for me will work for MOST people. Sometimes people spend a year in rehab and still drive straight to the liquor store on their way home.

That said, there's one thing that I've found pretty universally true: you have to really want it. For a while, I floated about without much of a "reason" to stay sober. I don't have a spouse, kids or a job I've been fired from, so I didn't see the point.

It's taken me a while, but after not being "convinced" by a few superficial "reasons" like weight loss and saving money, I thought I needed something more... permanent? Consequential? I now realize that my "reason" for getting sober at a young age after only a few years of alcoholism is that I don't want it to get to a point where I'm hurting other people, drinking myself into multiple lasting health problems... I don't want it to become permanent or consequential.

Anyway, that's my two cents. If you do have something like kids or trouble keeping a job, definitely use that as your reason. But for anyone who's a pretty "functional" alcoholic like I was, "not letting it go on long enough to become disfunctional" is a good enough reason.

This is going to get stupid long, so feel free to walk away now, just glad you read this much and it really does mean the world when people listen to what I have to say.

Now some more things in depth. I'll go in chronological order: what made me get sober, what I took from rehab (and what I left), and how it's been the past few months.

I started drinking when I got kicked out, manic out of my mind and homeless unable to sleep. It took a while until I was able to sleep without alcohol, but by then the addict brain had taken over. I'd tried a few times to get sober myself, but I never made it more than a week without, and always got back to daily drinking after a few months maximum.

Some people need a "wake up call", a "last straw" or a "rock bottom". Something external to make them realize they can't go on as they are. For me, the catalyst was my health, which is more of an internal reason I suppose. I didn't have a heart attack or liver failure, but my anxiety was getting uncontrollable and I knew it was directly tied to my drinking.

My life had been starting to feel tolerable, and I was more financially secure than ever before. Things were looking up... except for the alcoholism. This is a weird analogy but the only one that makes sense to express why, if I was doing so well on paper, I decided to go to rehab: you have to sweep before you mop. If I hadn't been in the place I was, I don't think I would've been successful at rehab. I had to sweep up the cat turds from the floor of my life before I was able to mop up the shit stains with sobriety. I know, I'm a true wordsmith.

When I finally called the hotline that hooked me up with a bunch of different rehabs, I knew I was in for a wait. It was about 5 months from that call to checking in, which isn't too bad considering I've been on the waitlist for a neuropsychiatrist in ALL OF CANADA for 4 years.

That brings us to July 12th, Rehab Day One. I've gone in depth in multiple other posts but to touch on it briefly, if I had to describe my experience in a sentence I'd say "the place I went to got very lucky with me".

What this means is that, of the 5 people in my group, I think this exact program was only ever going to help me. At the same time, I didn't even know what I would need, but this exact program was 90% of it. I didn't think 3 weeks would be long enough, but for me it was. The hours-long, repetitive, basic-ass CBT groups held 5 times a day 7 days a week was absolute torture for everyone but myself. While it was a drag to spend an hour on defining what a cognitive distortion is, the routine and repetition, something I've never gotten out of any outpatient program, helped me to really absorb the information and let it rewire my brain.

I've always said that I'm someone who should be spending an hour a day with a therapist for the rest of my life, and while that's not even remotely feasible, this was as close as it's ever gotten, and it proved me right, because it worked. I've done biweekly therapy for a short time but even that didn't come close to the way my brain changed in those 3 short weeks.

This program required absolute commitment and open-mindedness. This isn't because it was hard work or difficult concepts, but quite the opposite. While I hate the entire concept of art therapy being used as a cure-all for mental illness, I willingly got out of my bed, went downstairs and tried doing a dot mandala for an hour because I'm willing to try anything to get better. A lot of people might think they are, but really aren't. To use the mandala as an example, one guy was really into it, I wasn't, but we both finished. The other 3 tried, messed up a few times, and then scrolled through their phones. When I say this program necessitates complete engagement, that's not a compliment. It shouldn't be a chore to engage with the program. It shouldn't take me actively saying "I know I've known this basic concept since 4th grade, but maybe hearing it again will help" to get something out of a rehab program. So again, in every way, I got lucky, and so did they.

Before I finish with the rehab section, having had a few months to reflect on the whole thing, I now have an endless list of things wrong with it. I arrived, greeted by the most jaded and disillusioned of staff, and quickly became disturbed and at points concerned with just how negligent the staff are.

Maybe it's because I've been on the psych ward where they won't even let you have shoelaces and shine a flashlight on your face every half hour through the night, but it could've been so incredibly easy to sneak in alcohol. I brought 2 full water bottles, fully expecting to have to dump them out upon arrival, but they said "nah it's fine". Is it though?

Then there were actual counsellors there who were... okay. I recall one, the one I thought was the smartest, reading a handout aloud and coming across the word "delve" as in "let's delve into..." and stumbled, then said she doesn't know that word. The room was silent. As she pulled up Google on the screen I said, "it means to dive into it". She Googled it anyway. Synonyms include "dive in". If that was the only example I wouldn't mention it, but this was the first of at least 10 words she had do Google, none past a 10th grade level, from HER OWN MATERIAL. From that point on it became clear that they had no fucking idea what they were doing.

We had one last one-on-one counselling session before we left and the counsellor just filled in boxes to questions on her computer, rephrasing everything I said to fit into the buzzwords and "lessons" we'd "learned". Example. Me: I do think I'm better able to catch myself thinking 'oh I can just have one drink' and say 'no I can't'." Her: "Okay, so would you say that you can recognize negative cognitive distortions like permission-giving thoughts and counter them with a more rational and less emotional mind?" Like girl, blink twice if your boss is holding your family hostage. She gave me some papers, detailing all the online courses they were signing me up for and options for more treatment they'd be sending me, a phone number to call and a phone appointment for the next Monday. I never got that call, the phone number is a hotline, I never got a single email from them, and given how shitty they really are at their jobs, I didn't feel the inclination to try and get those resources. If they even exist in the first place.

In summation, it was a place where it was physically impossible to get alcohol. That's really all I can say in its favor. Oh, and they let you have your cell phone.

Now on our timeline I'm back home. I want to kind of analyze why it's been easy for me.

I often said that my main goal of going to rehab was to lock me away from alcohol long enough for it to reset my brain. Most people thought that was naïve, but that's exactly what happened. But I'm well aware that my experience of "instantly became sober and literally hasn't had a single hard day in 3 months" is absurdly unusual.

I put this down to a few things. Firstly, I'm on seven different meds for my mental health. Almost all of them have their effects dulled or even eliminated when you drink. So when I noticed my mood, fatigue, memory, concentration etc all getting better at once - right about as I left rehab, I don't think it would be a stretch to say that all those meds started working properly.

Secondly, I've been keeping myself busy, but that's something I've always been good at. Now I specifically choose to undertake projects that will eat up a lot my time and put me in a state of flow. I recently made an entire card game from scratch, and let me tell you, I didn't think of alcohol for a week.

Thirdly, my other goals now get in the way of alcohol. I'm getting old and my body is deteriorating. But I've always wanted to do just one last season of gymnastics. Well, I need to lose weight for that to happen. I've already lost 35 pounds, and after another 20 I'll be ready to go. Also, I used to spend more on alcohol per month than rent. Even though I've done a few shopping sprees lately, I haven't come remotely close to how much I was spending before.

I want it more than anything. I want to be sober more than I want one night of "fun" that will more likely than not lead me back to where I was a year ago. I never want to need anything as much as I needed alcohol.

Lastly, just a few more random thoughts.

A lot of people, myself included, worried about the fact that I work at a bar as a cook, but honestly the entire time I'm there I'm thinking about food, not alcohol. If I'm hanging out with some regulars before/after, I can watch them drink and be perfectly fine with my coffee, because the coffee is $2, and I used to spend $20 after every work shift.

I also decided in rehab to start taking better care of myself as best I could. This started with getting my second vax which I'd been putting off, then an eye appointment, then new glasses, then a dentist appointment where I was informed I need to do $3000 worth of work on my implant that's erroding my bone matter, so that sucks, but I caught it early. I've also been meditating every day. In just 3 months, I've made pretty big improvements to my self-care and my daily routine.

One of my fears about sobriety was "missing out" on "having fun". A few days ago, all my housemates got together to play Mario Party, and it was kind of my first night doing something social while sober. It was a breath of fresh air - I wasn't constantly running to piss, I didn't worry about running out of alcohol, I didn't get sloppy and obnoxious as I can sometimes do. I even came very very close to winning my first game of MP. When I reflected on the night, I realized that, if I'd been getting drunk the whole time, I would've sucked at the minigames, been a hindrance to anyone unfortunate enough to be teamed with me, and likely would've stopped caring about the game itself after the first few turns.

Yesterday I was making my 4th pot of coffee of the day when I realized there was a full glass of wine just sitting on the counter. I had absolutely no idea where the hell it came from - nobody in my house drinks wine. I shrugged and poured that sweet sweet bean juice. It was only when I sat down and took a sip of coffee did I find myself thinking automatically, "this tastes so much better than wine". I only realized then that it had been rose wine, the only kind I've ever been able to tolerate. It was the ultimate moment of possible temptation, and the thought of just chugging that glass - as I may've done in the past - didn't even cross my mind.

I'm so glad to be where I am. I'm about to undergo some serious financial changes - i.e. going absolutely broke - but drinking isn't gonna help that, so I'm cautiously optimistic.

Stay Greater, Flamingos.

#rehab #alcoholism #alcohol tw #sam #recovery #sobriety

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theangrypokemaniac · 4 years

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Ma and Pa James's Second Biggest Fan (we plough a lonely furrow) continues to find Ma Jess's appeal mystifying, since everything about her is negative:

1. Signing up for Team Rocket suggests someone of a morally dubious character to start with, but the truth lies in the clothing, and she's in black!

Black!

It's code for her personality:

• Jessie wears white:

Pure, beautiful, innocent, sweet-natured, not really bad, dealt a severe hand in life but a fighter.

• Cassidy wears black:

EVIL!!! EVIL, EVIL, EEEEEEVUL!!! FOUL SIRENIC TEMPTRESS!!! EVIL HEARTLESS BITCH STEALING JAMES'S NEVER-BEFORE-SEEN WEEPINBELL!!!

Speaking of which:

2. She was Madame Boss's best agent.

You don't get there being kind.

To reach that standing requires hundreds of successful heists, and we aren't talking nicking gold bars. It's living things.

How many Pokémon do you imagine she stole with merciless efficiency?

How many children did she set upon, pinching every animal they had?

How many innocent lives did she ruin by depriving kids of the pets they loved, never to see them again, eaten away with the not-knowing and the false hope?

The glory of her reign ran on the fuel of blood and tears.

What fate do you envision awaited those Pokémon? It's not exchanging one master for another, it's entering slavery.

Jessie and James aren't the epitome of Team Rocket. They are minnows on the outskirts, despised and mocked by most of their fellow members. The actual group isn't particularly famous for prioritizing Pokémon welfare.

The preferable outcome is being handed out to agents to help catch other victims. Otherwise it's transformation into a war machine, forced to fight on and on to the point of exhaustion and death, no doubt tortured and tested on to boot.

What happens if they don't come up to scratch or are pushed for years until too aged and broken to be of any use? Are Team Rocket ready to pension them off to animal sanctuary?

As if. It's euthanasia or on to the streets to waste away, if not fed to the strongest first.

Ma Jess knew this and worse occurred thanks to her, yet paid it no mind, and felt not a single twinge of guilt in that time of service, then met her end trying to draw another Pokémon into imprisonment.

Some might say it was a case of what goes around, comes around. As her behaviour led to God knows how many Pokémon dying alone, leaving their loved ones to wonder and grieve, so in turn did she die alone in the snow, and Jessie had to carry on without her.

I'm not against Ma Jess, I neither feel like or dislike, but I don't understand how so many fans can happily overlook her murky past of inflicting pain, instead elevating her to a semi-divine tragic heroine, yet apparently Ma and Pa's heinous offences of not stealing and treating Pokémon well are beyond forgiveness.

3. It's the Red Ribbon Army! Save yourselves!

Jessie joined Team Rocket to follow in Ma's footsteps. James went with her. Both moved (upwardly in scale, downwardly in morals) from Sunny Town's gang of petty thief kids to a complex Mafia organisation stretching its wriggling tentacles around the world to crush the air from its lungs.

Why? Ma Jess's baleful influence led the two down that path.

Of course Jessie wants to copy Ma, how and where else can she feel close to her?

There's not even a grave to visit!

Rising in the ranks and Giovanni's favour is both to strike it rich and take her place, becoming Ma in essence. That would make her proud, which is all Jessie ever wanted.

What alternative is there? Stay with Chopper and Tyra forever, ekeing an existence pickpocketing and shoplifting, until mortality comes calling sooner than is welcome, or get loaded quickly and retire early?

James theoretically could've gone home at this point, but when it came to which angry redhead he preferred to beat him up, he chose Jessie.

He was henceforth obliged to go whenever she led, even if it meant following the ghost of her mother into the jaws of evil.

They have an excuse, but what was Ma's for getting involved?

However much they boast and revel in their wickedness, the motto proves the couple still believe themselves on a noble quest, despite everything to the contrary, and why?

Jessie isn't about to accept that Ma Jess, whom she's probably idolized as one of few people to love her and a role model of how a woman should be, was nasty or unpleasant. If she was in Team Rocket, it must be good, whatever the outer appearance.

Except Jessie and James are bad at being bad. They are not master criminals. All their plans fail, rendering them poor and starving in consequence. The inner circle of Team Rocket will always be barred to them because they lack the inner darkness it requires.

The joke is they flourish in any other occupation, whether that be Salon Rocquet, reporters, or flogging merchandise and food at the League. If employed elsewhere they'd be better off, but they have to stay because Jessie can't let go, or bear the thought she might be a disappointment to her mother's name. A different career looks unworthy by comparison.

What, so Ma and Pa have got no son because of Ma Jess? They just wanted him to be a gentleman!

If she hadn't set such a terrible example to her daughter she might have an increased quality of life, but then had she done so Ma wouldn't be dead in the first place.

4. Can't pick 'em can she?

What was it that first attracted Ma to Windy Miller? Does she go for the rustic charm, or the promise of a lifetime's supply of bread to feed the abundance of babies planned?

Don't do it, Ma! He's an alky!

Some birds are like that you see. It's the maternal instinct gone haywire. They find a local reprobate and somehow decide he's really a damaged soul crying out for love, the scapegoat of a cruel society.

He's not evil, he's just misunderstood!

This is why you get nutters wanting to marry the Yorkshire Ripper: they put his 'mischief' down to bad women mistreating his gentle heart, but they of course are devoted to his happiness. They can change him.

You don't know him like I do!

In their fantasy, under the influence of a 'proper' woman he'll transform in to a flower-picking hippie, but not too much, they still like him to be dangerously 'manly' (keeps 'em on their toes), then they can feel smugly superior and more truly female than the 'lesser' breed who failed to tame his sexy pashuns.

And if there's one thing Windy has in abundance, it's raw animal magnetism.

Stop it, Ma! You can't help those who don't want helping!

She put up with the boozing, the flour dust and his somewhat limited communication skills, but what really let him down was the company he kept.

Ever after she would insist Pugh, Pugh, Barney McGrew, Cuthbert, Dibble and Grub led him astray. That's firemen for yer.

Cuthbert? That name's died out.

Sure enough, some point after Ma Jess was stuffed up the spout, old Windy legged it back to Camberwick Green, like the rascal he is, and not a sweet penny piece did she receive in maintenance, the bastard.

At least Ma James got pregnant by a man who stood by her.

She wasn't married to Windy Miller!

Oh, you mean they were living over the brush? I see.

It's all in your head!

Do it my way, and we have Pa Jess. Do it yours, and we're back to a cavernous emptiness. Unless you can supply a picture of the 'real' (pffft) Pa Jess, this is the best available.

Anyway, 'Jessie Miller' just sounds right.

Coincidence? I think not.

5. She went to look for Mew dressed like this.

I could forgive it had she gone in her normal uniform, that's just whimsy, but to have made some effort emphasises that it's not enough!

Some part of her understood a mountain might be a bit parky out, but this was deemed sufficient coverage!

What happened?

She bloody died didn't she?!

6. Ma Boss points the way to doom.

Ma Jess was at least loyal to the mistress she served, but it was a wasted dedication. She squandered her life obeying a heartless virago who could cast aside apparently valued staff without a qualm, whatever thanks she owed them.

The millions Ma Jess accumulated for Madame are probably uncountable, yet she was so worthless that, when dispatched to the mountain, on her own, expected to catch a Legendary Pokémon, by herself, which many doubted even existed, and wasn't likely to come quietly, or put up with orders, but then didn't come back, Madame Boss allowed her only child to sink into poverty and the infamous 'care' of the State.

Everyone knows what goes on there. Entering a home has replaced the workhouse as the place of dread.

Jessie might have been killed or attacked and it didn't remotely concern Madame Boss, unwilling to spare a meagre fraction of her massive fortune to give the girl she made an orphan any comfort or security.

What did she matter? Her mother failed. Why reward that?

In her turn, Jessie became just as obsequious to an undeserving master, who went further than his mama and actively tried to murder her, and still she suffers to please him.

Team Rocket devoured her mother, and now it's swallowed her.

Oh, and Madame Boss got her way upon discovering Mew's fossil, so Ma Jess died for nothing.

7. This.

I'm not surprised Mew wouldn't go with Ma. She probably sensed the vivisection awaiting, and didn't give a toss about the avalanche in revenge.

Mew hasn't got where she is today falling for any old shallow promises from a stranger, thank you.

Suppose the mission had worked, with Mew caught and gift wrapped for Madame's delectation: what then?

Perhaps Mew's power, proving so impressive, would've pushed any cloning scheme aside, leaving Mewtwo unborn and Mew as the mightiest weapon. Or in greed Madame Boss demands more, and in arrogance the scientists promise the earth, the seas and the heavens.

Mew I could see subjected to some non-lethal form of dissection, just to understand how she ticked, that is if they could build the cage to hold her.

As they couldn't, and catching Mew was never a possibility, then Ma Jess's sacrificed herself on a fool's errand, which was obviously one from the outset. If Mew was easy to handle she'd have been captured long before now.

Either Ma dies, Mew's safe, but Madame Boss starts the cloning scheme anyway, or Ma's victorious, Mew is a tool of Team Rocket and the scientists have more sample to experiment upon. Mewtwo is still made, alongside short-lived creations and dozens of unseen freakish abominations preceding.

Now Mewtwo isn't what you call at peace with himself, nor has he received a particularly wholesome experience. One could think Ma indirectly caused that. Her branch of the project may have fizzled to cinders but she still played her role.

What would her legacy have been but to help bring forth the being that wiped out mankind? Where's the future for Jessie when there isn't one?

It's not her fault, but she died in the name of cloning a biological disaster, the creation of synthetic life leading to the destruction of it all.

8. Let's have a gander at Ma in the anime:

• Can afford rent.

• Can afford a tray.

• Can afford crockery.

• Can afford condiments to add flavour to food.

• Can't afford any actual food.

Something's wrong there.

I intended to include affording clothes too, but now I'm not so sure.

I never took Ma to be a brown-all-over kind of woman. At least she gave the fancy stuff to Jessie.

For years I've assumed she wore a brightly coloured jacket, but now I suspect it's a red one heavily patched up, because buying a replacement isn't an option.

Really old clothes are being mended with whatever can be salvaged from even more worn-out clobber.

Best agent Madame Boss has and she's practically living in her own filth.

Team Rocket takes care of its own, eh?

Oh no, let's not get a proper job, one that allows me to provide for my daughter and doesn't ask for my life. Let's stay in this one!

9. Look at Jessie's face!

By her own admission, being tricked into eating snow is the best thing that ever happened to her during an 'otherwise wretched childhood', to the extent she doesn't know it was wrong!

I don't hear Ma and Pa doing that. The only ice James got was an ice-cream sandwich.

What kind of infancy did Ma Jess give the girl for her to be nostalgic about almost dying of malnutrition?

If we say that's a foster mother as in the sub, it means Jessie's fondest memory is after Ma died, which is too brutal for me.

Yeah, thank goodness she's snuffed it.

You think Ma might have taught her not to eat snow! She left her so ill-prepared!

Consequently the sub version makes Ma Jess an awful creature, although I don't see why that Jessie would so desire to mimic a mom she apparently doesn't care about.

10. She's not even bloody here!

I have no picture to signify absence, therefore I must show whom she left behind.

Ma Jess is Pokémon's answer to Bobba Fett: background figure, barely involved, no information, dies early, yet became a fan favourite nevertheless.

If nothing really exists, what is there to like? Why are you contented weaving smoke?

When Rocketshippers put forward the manga as proof, the Anti-Ships used to insist that it 'didn't count' for being set in a 'separate universe'.

If that still goes, and only the contents of the anime apply to the anime, well then it's bye-bye to Ma Jess and Madame Boss, because they aren't real either.

I sometimes think that's true. However traumatic, would Jessie not have acknowledged her mother by now otherwise?

We grasp the characters all had two parents in a nebulous fashion, although not being real people means they don't 'technically' need them, but Ma Jess is the only one who vanished to be granted a face. Why is she then ignored?

She's briefly glimpsed in a passing scene of a single episode of the first series and is never seen or referenced again. The sub doesn't even have that. Where was the use in creating her if only to leave that thread of the tale billowing in the breeze?

We may decide her actions affect Jessie's but we're only imprinting assumptions. She might as well have remained unwritten for all that's made of her.

What we can glean doesn't bode well, irrespective of things left unmentioned.

Her one redeeming deed was dying, thus at least she didn't choose to abandon Jessie. We may presume she'd have stayed with her girl given the chance.

By my reckoning that puts her as Fifth-Best Mother Of Pokémon, behind Ma Brock, Ma James, Dame Ketchum and Ma Boss, in that order.

Then they're those who claim she never died, so she just pissed off like everyone else, rendering her devoid of a single positive quality.

This is the woman you sigh and agonise over for decades.

Ma and Pa are right there, man! Show 'em some love!

#team rocket #ma jessie #jessie's mom #jessie #jessie's dad #madame boss #mewtwo #kanto #snow way out!#the birth of mewtwo

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batgirl-87 · 5 years

Note

Get to know MC/Jacob (I can't remember which you've answered apparently, so hopefully these are new): 4, 6, and 21

If these are for the Talk About Your MC and Jacob Asks by @cokebottlesanddenim then no I have not answered those ones! (Even if I had I appreciate the ask regardless; and if they’re for my MC and Jacob Asks umm… I’d suggest checking my Masterlist where I have an Ask section)

Thank you for asking! =)

4. Is Jacob physically and/or mentally different after he is released from the Vaults? How does he change?

So I am about halfway through Year 5 I think? I know I’m still way behind everyone else but I haven’t heard of any confirmation that Jacob is actually in the last Vault??? But I could be wrong and missed it…

I’ve always had the idea that I prefer for my version of Jacob where he agrees to join the Cabal with a plan to take them out from the inside and do his best to stop them from hurting more people, primarily his family, and gaining more power while acting as a loyal member. (Plus I don’t know if I believe the voice MC hears is really Jacob and not the Cabal manipulating her to open the last Vault for them) I won’t go into my whole idea for it right now because I’m going to try my best to not make this too long, but - while it’s not the same as being trapped in a Vault, I do believe going undercover would affect him. Especially what he might of had to go through to prove he’s loyal to them and be accepted into their cult.

So like most version’s of Jacob he’d need some time to recover and recuperate. He could have gone through physical torture and been forced to do some terrible things, such as harm others, to prove himself to the Cabal, as well as endure emotional manipulation. And for my Jacob who tries to protect others, having to hurt others would really cause him a lot of internal conflict. Even if he’s not the one doing the harm, just sitting back and allowing other members of the Cabal to hurt and possibly kill others would not sit well with him - that’s not the type of person he is! While he’s trying to do something good and save others, particularly his family, to do that he has to do some bad things and hurt others which can make him concerned that he is becoming this bad person like the other Cabal members and losing himself. There would be a lot of internalized guilt, which he already had plenty of because of Duncan, and now this.

Physical torture he can handle (Quidditch is a tough sport and it’s on him and not happening to anyone else where he would feel he needs to help them and stop it, and he can heal from the physical damage) but having to hurt others or constantly have his family threatened, questioning his own morals and values and what type of person he is and wants to be and who he’s possibly becoming, would be what really affects him and sticks with him and would be something he’d have to deal with probably for the rest of his life. Over time it may not affect him daily but I think there would be moments and situations that would trigger that trauma for him and cause him to question again what type of person he really is based on how he reacted or thought about reacting or reminded him of what he had done.

I feel like there would also be a constant fear in the back of his mind that there would still be a member or some members of the Cabal left after everything who would find him and hurt his family to get back at him for what he did to them. So the normally super chill Jacob would have a lot more anxiety, though he’d still hide it well, and the already protective Jacob would become even more protective and even paranoid at times.

And if he is in the Vault I feel like a lot of this will still stand because he did have to do some things he’s not proud of to find the Vaults and dealt with the Cabal. (I hope that all makes sense, I wrote this late last night =p)

6. What’s Jacob’s opinions of Prefects, especially the ones 4 years older than MC?

I don’t think Jacob thinks much of Prefects… Not like he thinks little of them, but like he doesn’t really think of them…ever… =p Listen, he’s going to do what he wants to do, when he wants to, and some kid who’s a few years older than him isn’t going to boss him around or punish him. Seriously, a kid like three years older than him has all this authority over him? No. He probably views Prefects like Percy the Prefect. Annoying, false sense of great authority, and he’ll just rolls his eyes, ignore them, and if they continue to nag he’ll shove them aside. Or down the stairs. He probably told them to shut up too. And if the Prefect went to the Head of House or some Professor to get him in trouble they would receive a terrifying death glare from him and most likely quickly learn to never do that again or else face his wrath. But as long as they didn’t let the power of being a Prefect go to their heads and treat him poorly and disrespectfully, he’d be fine with them.

Clearly Jacob also was not on track to become a Prefect, nor would he want to be one anyway. He doesn’t want to be bossed around but he also doesn’t want to boss others around and punish them for doing… whatever (if he ever did become Prefect he’d be the most chill Prefect ever! - Literally does not care =p) Also he clearly was not Quidditch Captain but there are other reasons for that =p

As for what he thinks about the Prefects we all know and love…

Chester needs sleep (obviously); Felix seems cool; Angelica and Jacob never had any issues and she seemed to understand and respect his wishes to not be bossed around and treated lesser than because she had a badge and he didn’t (and she apparently had a crush on him?!?!) so he respected her back and tried not to cause her too much grief - it’s all about mutual respect; And Jane… that’s probably the only one he actually feared (although who knows if he’d admit that or not) and would do his best to avoid at all costs and would never want to cross her because she’s the only one who would be immune to his death glare! =p

(I know Jacob in the game is in the same house as you but my version of Jacob is a Gryffindor while my MC is a Slytherin)

21. Would MC/Jacob prefer to live in the lively, populated city or the quiet, sparse countryside?

Jacob would prefer the quiet countryside, but he knows if he wants to play Quidditch professionally he’ll have to live in a populated city to do so since that’s where the teams are! However, after he makes enough money (I assume professional Quidditch players would make a lot like professional athletes do…) he’d buy a second house in the quieter countryside, next to or in some woods, but also nearby to a town where he could get food, go out to eat and get a drink, and such of course, where he’d live during the offseason.

As for my MC, she would prefer the livelier city. She needs things to do, she needs places to go that are open late =p While she does love to escape to a quieter place like Jacob’s second home or Charlie’s place in Romania, she couldn’t live there full time. She’d get restless and bored and need action - she needs action! (This probably all stems from her needing to keep busy so she can never have a moment to sit and allow all the stress and emotions over her situation with the Vaults and Jacob and Beatrice and the Cabal and her O.W.L.s etc. to overwhelm her, so if she doesn’t keep busy then overwhelming emotions come flooding in and she can’t handle it! And now she probably has no idea how to relax =p)

After she graduates Hogwarts she would become a Curse-Breaker with Bill in Egypt and live there with him but also visit Charlie in Romania, and London, and her brother and family in Canada, and the Burrow, and other friends as often as she can, and even after Bill retires as a Curse-Breaker she would still bounce around from his house, 12 Grimmauld Place, Charlie’s place, and Jacob’s so instead of having one place of residence she’d always have at least 3-4.

I always thought the Dragon Sanctuary in Romania had a quaint little town nearby with a pub and market and as cute as it probably is (in my mind it is anyway =p) and as peaceful as Charlie’s place is, while it’s a great place for her to recover and relax because constantly breaking curses or doing other dangerous jobs clearly requires some down time, she would go stir crazy if she had to be there all the time and may try to start a pub fight for some excitement (plus as mentioned she has some issues and maladaptive coping techniques). But it seems like a great, perfect place for Charlie! And it’s sort of like a special serene retreat for her when she visits and may even be viewed as a peaceful, calm future for her and a life she could have, but for now she needs more action and liveliness (plus getting to share a home with Charlie is a huge bonus =p)

I also think with just her own personal issues she has, she feels like she doesn’t really deserve to relax or be happy all the time so she wouldn’t live with Charlie all the time. She’d start to get too comfortable then worry that something bad was going to happen, she’s going to do something to ruin it, or she doesn’t deserve to be this relaxed and happy! So she has to go now. Love you, bye! =p So it really is like a special reward, like after doing a job and now she deserves to relax and be happy for awhile but then she’ll have to go do something else to deserve going back - does that make sense? Plus, like Jacob, she wants to help others and she wants to make a difference so she can’t just sit back and not get involved! She can’t be kicking back in Romania with Charlie and the dragons when shit is going down! She has to help and protect them (and then Sirius, Tonks, Remus, and Fred would live because she would save them! But even other times not involved with the war she would feel the same way).

Whoops, this kind of went off on a tangent so to simplify, Jacob - quiet countryside, Keira - lively city (with relaxing vacation in the quiet countryside =p).

#emberkyrlee #hphm #hogwarts mystery #hphm jacob #hphm mc #my mc #thank you for the ask!#asks

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thatsjustsupergirl · 7 years

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Random but I'm still peeved about the Alex/Kara argument in 2.02. Especially the part where Alex claims to have given up a career in medicine to protect Kara. I mean, I'm not sure if that's bad writing or Alex IC blatantly ignoring reality because Alex was not gonna graduate due to academic probation plus she was in jail for at least public intoxication if not a DUI (I can't remember if she got arrested before putting the keys in the ignition or not). 1/

She wasn’t exactly ‘days away’ from graduating med school or anything. Now Alex may have taken the job with J'onn to protect Kara but I’m pretty sure J'onn made the offer to throw a lifeline to a drowning Alex not to protect Kara. But the whole protect-Kara angle really doesn’t hold water since Alex didn’t give Kara even an ounce of potentially life-saving information that she learned at the DEO. Nothing about Kryptonite or secret anti-alien agencies who could blackbag her. 2/

It feels more like Alex enjoyed the leverage of knowledge even while Kara expressed dissatisfaction with her own life. (Did she like lying to her sister? Probably not. Was there a selfish satisfaction to knowing more the Kara, to being part of something bigger? Yeah, I think there was a bit.) 3/

But outside of the influences of redK Kara would never pick apart an argument like that IC but IDK it seems like a very significant character flaw that fandom tends to ignore which is disappointing because the selfishness plays so well off Alex’s deepseated guilt and sense of duty. Alex!Discourse usually focuses on her relationship with Eliza or making her a martyr for her sister which does as much disservice to the nuance of her character as it does to write Kara only as a space puppy. 4/4

This ask made me so happy.

I just finished my S2 talk time project a few days ago and then went back and rewatched the pilot, and let me tell you it is very easy to forget just how much progress Alex and Kara have made, because wow is it jarring to see them at the start of S1 where Alex is so much worse at emotional vulnerability and amped up on passive-aggressive snark.

I really loved that scene in 2x02, which I have written about before, because it highlights all of those flaws without taking away from the fact that Alex still makes a valid point that Kara needed to hear.

Nobody is perfectly consistent in how they express themselves. Ever. People are chaotic and messy and complicated, and they find ways to rationalize bad choices to themselves. They find ways to rationalize good choices, too. They forget about the emotions that motivated a decision over time, or their relationships change and suddenly a memory is recolored into something that isn’t quite reality anymore. A person’s internal logic or truth is not always *the* truth. But none of that means they are “out of character” the second there is a mismatch.

It just means they’re human.

And you hit the nail on the head: Alex was not telling the objective truth in 2x02, but she might well have been telling a truth she believed. Alex has spent years inventing excuses to justify her life choices and coming up with lies to tell her sister and her mother to keep them off her back. At some point the truth and the fiction are going to start blurring in her mind, at least a little. That’s just how our brains work.

Plus, we’re talking about a woman who was so confident she could beat a polygraph that she didn’t even break a sweat about having no time to prepare. The mental self-trickery that requires is insane. Alex Danvers is good at lying to others, but she’s even better at lying to herself.

So, when it comes to Kara and the complicated relationship they have as siblings? Alex can absolutely be petty, and mean, and hurttful. That doesn’t mean she loves Kara any less. It doesn’t negate all the things she does that are generous or compassionate or selfless.

What it does is make her a well-rounded character. Just like how Kara is more well-rounded for being impulsive and self-centered and stubborn in addition to all of her good qualities.

To return to your point about that period in Alex’s life where she was struggling and J’onn pulled her out: yes, she was absolutely giving Kara a revised interpretation of events. Alex’s memories from 1x17 were not actually things she spoke out loud during that interrogation. (At least, I am 99% confident she was not sharing all of her personal failings in explicit detail, especially since long-winded rambling is not part of a polygraph.) So Kara, as far as we know, still remains in the dark about the exact depth of her sister’s issues. And Alex clearly doesn’t ever want her to find out, because that would be damaging on a wayyyyy worse level than her occasionally being an asshole when they fight.

But, within that scene from 2x02, do we know for sure that Alex is lying? We can’t see into her head, after all. Maybe she genuinely believes she would’ve clawed her way out of her funk eventually and gone into medicine if J’onn hadn’t intervened. Maybe she legitimately wanted to be a doctor even though she was a depressed, self-loathing mess and on the verge of failing out. Maybe she only said yes to the DEO because she was afraid Henshaw would blackmail her or her family, or get Kara carted off to some creepy government lab if she turned him down.

All of that, however, does not negate your point, which is that once she got to the DEO, that choice became about her. Not her family, not her sister. Just her.

For possibly the first time in her adult life.

That had to be powerfully liberating. And I agree, it probably gave Alex some immense satisfaction to know that while she might not have Kara’s superpowers, she could still be out there in the world kicking alien ass anyway. We also know she felt good about the fact that her coworkers and her boss recognized her efforts and her talents, and that she was happy to find a space where that was even possible. Those were not things she’d ever had before. And yeah, she guarded them rather selfishly.

I am iffy, however, on criticizing Alex for not telling Kara about Kryptonite and such, because it’s one of the very first things she and J’onn explain to Kara in the pilot ep. (I’m also iffy because Clark knew Kryptonite existed for way longer than Alex did, and he never told her about it either!) And I don’t think Kara would’ve needed a warning about “secret anti-alien agencies,” at least not prior to her decision to start superheroing. Given that strange men showed up at their house when she was a kid and her foster dad changed jobs almost immediately thereafter and her family was constantly afraid she’d be taken away, I have a feeling Kara was already aware of that risk, at least on some level. You’ll note that she never questions the motivation behind Alex’s “never do something like that again” in 1x01, even though Alex is extremely harsh and hurts Kara’s feelings.

tl;dr: Alex, like the rest of us, has her flaws. She has a nasty tendency toward repressing or hiding negativity at her own expense, in part because she’s afraid to disappoint her loved ones, but also because her sense of empathy runs deep and she doesn’t like seeing others suffer. She can be passive-aggressive. She loses her temper in immature, ugly ways.

None of this means she’s a bad person. She’s usually a very good person! But it also doesn’t mean that we get to handwave the ugliness away as “shitty writing” just because it presents a challenge as far as understanding her character.

#alex danvers #danvers sisters #long post #my meta #anonymous #asks

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punkscowardschampions · 5 years

Text

Rio & Indie

Bants, partying, discussing Drew’s antics, Buster and that camgirl life.

Rio: You drum safe, younger? or you been mashing all night wit rudeboy that was way too amp chirpsing at you? blates your type i thought 😉😂 Indie joined the chat 3 hours ago Indie: me and baggamanz 5-0! if you want amp its dem feds! 💀 They was finkin they all bad got me bennin but it's cotch now I can chirpse my way outta mad things 😂😝 Indie: rudeboy was crump tho yeah 😍 Rio: Is it? They always been inner wastemans but your old man the one that gotta cotch tbh wifey. Gotta be LONG still dealing with all their reh teh teh at his age, even if he's still buff n shit Rio: look at my galdem, finkin she mad bad now she got dem titties Rio: so proud 😍 Indie: innit 🙄 nah dem jakes wanted to roll with me ONLY but I got dem reckonin they slipped 😈 trouble in these endz? Couldn't say po i'm just a nextman 👼 Indie: all while my da out shottin Indie: Such jokes! So you link wit hubz when I was back in me yard? Rio: flatroofin n gassin way too extra on that bullshit babe got me creasin here 😂😘 Rio: peak Rio: fuck nah he got me vexed Rio: i ain't fucking wit him rn, bare dry wit his jealousy 'cos i linked with that bloke at the marker last nite Indie: 'llow it 🍼 he so extra it ain't like you bredding 👴 is he bait or what? 😕 ex hubz be out here like he ain't crutterz Indie: boi you dashed now. I'll give him air later Indie: you should roll w that dj from the other day Rio: init tho! he's gotta go tbh babe, or i have. making daily grind bare dred, getting lairy with punters when a bitch is just pulling pints n bein' polite for the $$$ Rio: might see if they lookin' for new blood in his club then Rio: tho, track record proves that ain't the best idea 😂 i could sugar baby full time at this point but i like the scene still, n i can keep an eye on you, lil miss jailbait gettin' rude😘 Rio: i've been looking into other shit but...i dunna...you might think its bare skanky, never mind it ain't something i can proudly tell the fam 🙊 Indie: He's peepin for bare gyaldem 😆 I threw my hat in but he's lookin for dem olders like. I acted proper vexed shouting like I'm bare legal but he dashed me out ⛔ Indie: Standard but you can seckle babe I don't need no watching Indie: is it? ah nam? What's the vibe u gonna bredd them for 💰💰 Rio: Baby girl... 😂 going from actin like u grown to having a straight up tantrum, only u 😘 u gotta act like u not bothered boo, too hype for your own good sometimes, listen to muvva 💋 Rio: alright but i like cotchin wit chu! u too grown for me now?! Rio: 😭 Rio: rahhhhhh ok Rio: basically, cam girling, but it ain't necessarily what u think Rio: u can do what you want, like u don't have to wank or even get naked or anything Rio: as long as u set out ur vibe n intentions, if the punters vibe with what you doin, u can earn like 100euros an hour, which ain't to be sniffed at when all i'd be doing is chillin Rio: like lots of girls just chat, blokes are bare lonely out here, or i could smoke a bowl, whatevs, like lbr, i'm probably gonna be in my good undies 'cos why not, obvs the more you do the more money, like the sugar baby shit... Rio: what u think, have i lost it? 😵 Indie: Skeen! Watch when I'm 18 I'll be out there earning 🎂 by eating it. I've spied that b4 it'd be sick bet that shit i'll be rinsed when i'm grown tho raah 😡 Indie: you still gonna smoke w you wifey innit? Indie: it got me wilding but only cos its bare boss get ur crust babe 🤑 Rio: i know what you mean, those asian girls eat mad cals, you'd be beast at that Rio: i'd be an actual beast tho, like heffer not hefner namean Rio: and duh! tho u can't come on stream, u really too lil for that and i ain't catching a charge for directing and distributing that kinda filth 😂 Rio: maybe ur dad will fund me 🤑😍 promo his merchandise for some good good 😈😇 hehehe Indie: allow it bitch u chung! dont be skippin no meals 2 draw in dem heads 😘 Indie: he'd love that hype shits getting militant in this endz way he's spittin when he rolls back to this drum Indie: the tourists reckon his gear aint off the hook 😩 Rio: 😘 u always know how to gas this bitch up, love chu Rio: imma start setting it up then, been thinkin' bout it for time but you know, thinkin what if chiefs give my youngers shit at school 😤 Rio: i don't want that, you know? i think most of the fam would be chill if they found out, or would just not step up to shout about how chill they ain't, keep it to themselves like but... always gonna be one cunt ain't there Rio: speaking of, have u seen buster mckenna about? 😂 Indie: I'll watch for them too standard. No chance of any getting owned then like Indie: nah I've seen his sister some ways but he don't venture to my ends in dem garms mandem get wiped the fuck out Indie: He vexing u? Rio: You're a 💎 Rio: Yeah Nance is chill, you probs got her shook wild child 😬😵 but she's solid Rio: Not even but lowkey, yeah! Rio: Idk where u was...I think your old man wanted a quiet one in for a change, chinese and old eps of only fools, I think ANYWAY Rio: I saw him out and was shook myself 'cos he never comes round these ends no more, too good or sum shit; so I was telling him off, but like jokes too, for not seeing his sister enough and he was such a prick, I can't even explain gurl Rio: Mans so in love with himself he thinks everyone else is too, including me like 'low it boy Indie: raah he's your fam and he wanna be bae 😵 allow it chief like you're peng but thats amp boi Indie: want me to merk him Rio: Bahaha that would be so jokes babe but not gon' help him think I'm not obsessed wit him if i set my wifey on him, like 🙄 Rio: he won't be here long anyway, then i won't see him 'til the next family function and so many of us no need to chat is there? Indie: Set him up with your stream link make him pay for being so hype 🤑 Rio: 🤢😂 you just as bad as him, gurl honestly! that's what i'm tryna avoid, imagine how much of a twat he'd be if he knew, he already thinks i'm a thot without knowing i'm hoeing lowkey 😎💋 Indie: what's that wasteman know cept how to drop 💰 on cardigans or some shit Rio: truuuuuu 😂 Rio: fuck him Indie: don't tho 😝 Rio: behave 😤🤢😂 Rio: he has grown bad like but not that bad Indie: hit me with a pic bitch I'll judge cos you're beefin & he blood like Rio: [sends Instagram link] Rio: he fucking knows it like he's never got clothes on but i can't chat shit there can i 🙊 Indie: bruv i'm gassed 💓 imma add him 🙈 peak Rio: indie! have u not been listening to me Rio: he's practically ur fam too u better not bitch Indie: not bothered 😍😈 Indie: Don't be moist like Indie: I can lips him he ain't nothing to me yet Rio: he remembers you when u was wettin in ur pampers in all the ways, babe, i don't think he's gonna go for it somehow Rio: and i ain't having it, militant like, fuck w me Indie: Law it Indie: I'm grown now and he proper is Rio: no means no lil thirsty ass Indie: You dry 😏 Rio: someone's gotta be 💦 Indie: 😂 Indie: You comin round 4 a bowl or you too hyped about mckenna like Rio: if u don't seckle imma block a bitch swear down 😤 Rio: course tho, see u in 5 💋 Indie: jam wifey you just get treckin its breakfast time no more mad bants 🤞

#what a wild ride lol

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doubleddenden · 6 years

Text

Good Lord I'm having a good time but I'm halfway tempted to lower the difficulty because I'm level 49 and I still get ko'd by swarms of level 20 monsters, and even after defeating 186 monsters and 2 unique monsters (read bosses), which the game counts mind you, and after repeatedly ko'ing some poor players to gain exp, I only gained a measly 4 levels at most. I'm STILL underleveled for the main plot after jumping a whole 10 levels, and mind you I kill everything on sight.

Anyway, for anyone curious about how guns and swords work... clunky. That's the best way to say it. With both separate you press the right trigger to attack, then the square button to reload the gun or another attack button for the sword. Combine the two and it's r2 to shoot, square to slice, and l2 plus square to reload. Not to mention you can't customize the pistol you use in this mode from what I've seen. It's a bit of a let down because I played through so much of the game with the sword and gun separate and was really looking forward to using them combined when I was finally able to. The fix, I think, would have been to assign the sword to r2, the pistol to l2, square to load out, and if you need to scope, swap to another gun.

Or you know, just allow me to dual wield light sabers. That would have been ideal and honestly so much cooler. At the very least the Star Flush and the sword "weapon art" look cool and do a SHIT ton of damage. If only they hit their targets most of the time.

I'll try and post a pic of my guy a and ArFa-Sys at some point. I'm still rather pleased with all the options provided and Rei (your ArFa-Sys's nickname) occasionally changes clothes and hairstyles so they feel a bit more alive and it never really gets too annoying for me unless Rei just picks a bad hairstyle.

#SAO Fatal Bullet

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anyway-i-love-vanderwood · 7 years

Note

I don't know if you got this or if Tumblr ated it but do you have any tips or something with writing fanfiction for Vanderwood I've been trying but I can't help feel it's slightly ooc,anyways thanks for your greatness in general!

✿ SORRY THIS TOOK AWHILE, I had a lot I wanted to say but wasn’t certain how to phrase it.

We really don’t know a lot about Vanderwood. We see them in a few circumstances, but there’s a lot of room for extrapolation regarding their personality. We mostly see them interacting with 707, so that’s where I started. How does Vanderwood treat 707, and why do they treat him that way?

1.) They take care of 707, often citing their obligations to the agency as the reason why.

You could take this at face-value and say “Vanderwood doesn’t care about Seven and is just trying to do their work for a very frightening organization as effectively as possible”, but the efforts Vanderwood goes to really don’t match that. They’ve clearly been cleaning his apartment for a long time, and during Seven’s route, they bring him coffee and are concerned about his inability to work. Again, they say it’s because it is in the agency’s best interests that he work and that, if he doesn’t work, everyone will get punished...

But if that’s the case, why doesn’t Vanderwood, in the interests of preserving their own wellbeing, tell Seven’s boss he’s being useless and punish the kid?

Because Vanderwood does care. That’s a pretty easy conclusion to make, but it’s important to establish that Vanderwood cares a lot about Seven and is unable to express their feelings about him. Vanderwood mentions that they haven’t told Seven’s boss about the RFA, meaning they’re willing to put their neck on the line for him, and the secret endings mention how Vanderwood and Seven have both saved each other’s lives. Vanderwood wants to get Seven medical attention when he’s shot, scolds him for making his injury worse, and visits him repeatedly in the hospital. Yet they don’t really have a close relationship, as exemplified by Seven verbally pushing them away, and Vanderwood being unable to overtly express emotion. Now, why is that?

One conclusion can be drawn is that Vanderwood, in general, has trouble talking about emotions. This is supported by how much of a little shit they are. Their sense of humor is more acerbic than Seven’s ‘wacky randomness’ (their infamous “I don’t understand what’s going on, is this some kind of couple’s fight?” line and their fake laughter in Seven’s route) but they deal with things in a pretty similar way to Seven. Instead of having real, emotional moments, they use mockery to conceal their ~*delicate emotional side*~ and they’d much rather push someone away than express real affection.

So, when I write Vanderwood, I write them as having difficulties expressing themselves, and feeling uncomfortable in emotional moments when they have to be “real”. They often say things that just sound terrible, or aren’t really... sensitive things to say, because they’re bad at being nice. Even when they’re trying, they just mess up.

2.) Vanderwood believes their status as a secret agent means they can’t form relationships,

In one of the VN modes, Vanderwood cautions Seven away from having a relationship with the MC, because they’re both secret agents. There’s also an implication that Vanderwood isn’t entirely happy with their choice of career, which also makes me think it’s something they did out of desperation.

(i mean. like. duh. it sounds like an awful place to work who would want to do that.)

This gives further proof that Vanderwood isn’t the sort of person who’s easy to get close to. They like shoving people away, and believes it’s in their best interests not to let anyone in. That probably contributes to the distance between them and Seven, and also why they’re so bad at dealing with emotions. It also means that they probably have some of Seven’s self-hate going on - but they’re also not the kind of person who gets really... sappy.

They’re embarrassed by sappy stuff. They don’t know how to deal with it. Their form of self-depreciation would be way more bitter, more “god I’m a piece of shit lmao” than “wahhhhh my life sucks and i’m awful”

3.) Even though Vanderwood likes Seven and wants to protect him, they put up relatively little fuss when they have to take Seven back to the agency.

This implies that, above all, Vanderwood is loyal to the agency, and will put their own emotions aside for their work. I personally interpret it also as Vanderwood thinking that Seven brought it on himself for being an idiot, and it’s not something that they can change. They just need to sit down, shut up, and do their job.

In my backstory for Vanderwood, they grew up in a filthy household where they had little agency (explaining their need to have things clean and their obedience) and they’re terrified that, if they disobey the agency, they’ll lose any of the “freedoms” that they’ve gained for themselves. You don’t have to go with that, but when writing Vanderwood, it’s good to at least think about why they are the way they are. Why aren’t they good with emotional stuff? Why are they with the agency? Why is their natural reaction to danger to sass everyone around them?

Vanderwood is interesting to me because they obey authority unquestioningly and care quite a bit about doing their job, and yet they’re incredibly sassy and snarky. So that’s a pretty important trait to keep in mind when writing them.

4.) They’re a total loser

Just listen to their scream when the robo-dog attacks them. Just look at them. Purple shirt? Leopard print lining on their jacket? THEY WEAR IT ON THEIR SHOULDERS. Vanderwood is not cool. They are, at the very least, somewhat embarrassing. (And they definitely are given the run-around by Seven.)

And that’s what makes them endearing, I think. They’re an emotionally repressed, snarky idiot who likes cleaning and is continually bullied by Seven but still likes the idiot.

I... hope that helps, at least a little bit! I have trouble writing long-form character essays like this without it coming out like incoherent babbling. Feel free to send another ask if you’d like me to go into more detail about stuff! A good place to start when learning to write a character is think of actions they make in the story, then ask yourself, ‘Why did this character say that/do that/feel that way”? Once you understand a character’s thought process, writing them gets way more natural.

#advice #vanderwood #Anonymous

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la-appel-du-vide · 3 years

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05•28•21 - Zion National Park

Back in February, we applied for permits to hike The Wave over Memorial Day weekend - a hike Brady has wanted to do for awhile - but we didn't get picked. BOO. We'll try again someday, but in the meantime, we still wanted to do a Memorial Day trip.

We settled on a Southern Utah road trip. We drove down to Hatch on Thursday night, and stayed at the cabin, so we could get up at 4:30 in the morning to make the drive to Zion National Park in order to hike Angel's Landing as early as possible (to avoid crowds and the heat of the day). I've always heard that Angel's Landing is a terrifying hike, that you have to hold on to chains to conquer. In my mind, I was prepared to have to sidle a cliff face while hanging on to a chain for dear life - but in reality, it wasn't a big deal at all. You can't park in Zion's near any of the hikes or sight-seeing spots, so we had to take a shuttle. Because it was Memorial Weekend, they were enforcing a line at the bottom of Angel's Landing to restrict how many people were hiking at a time. They'd let six people up every 10-15 minutes or so. We were FREEZING standing in this line when we first got there. It was so windy, and we were dressed for hiking in 90 degree weather. Not a good combination!

But once we started the hike, we were grateful to have the wind and to be hiking in the shade. It's really not a bad hike, other than the "wiggles" which are 21 quick-paced switchbacks. No one likes switchbacks. Once we got to the chain portion of the hike, it felt like more of an adventure than just a hike (which is great, because it's more fun and less of a chore). It was a long way down, for sure, but I never felt like I was in danger. This is where we really felt the congestion of the busy hiking weekend. It's narrow enough that traffic can only flow up or down, not both at once. So we were waiting a lot for our turn to keep going. We thought it would probably be a better idea for them to have the line at the chained portion of the hike, rather than at the bottom. People hike at different paces once they start, and you don't feel the congestion until the chained portion anyway. But we could be patient.

It was absolutely gorgeous, and getting to the top felt like such an accomplishment! Poor Beach hiked all the way up there and then was feeling so sick that she basically had to turn right around once we reached the top to hike down and find a bathroom. But the rest of us sat up there awhile and enjoyed the view. I was mad because I brought my old Nikon DSLR to take some pictures with once we got to the top (I don't trust bringing my nice one, plus it's nice to have a wider lens), but the memory card in it was jacked. It only let us take 12 photos. What a waste for poor Brayden who had it in his backpack the whole time. DUMB.

It was a much quicker hike down, and I was feeling bad for all the people waiting in line to start the hike, because it got hot quickly.

Once we got to the bottom, we tried to make a game plan for what to do next. We wanted to hit at least one of the Emerald Pools and the Narrows, and it made the most sense to start with the Emerald Pools since the trail was nearby. The Narrows required us to take a shuttle all the way back to the starting point, and then a different shuttle out to the trail head. And then we would have had to do the same thing to return to the Emerald Pools. So we thought it best to just start there.

We hiked to the first one, but it was so hot by that point, and everyone was already a little tired and hungry. The pool was nothing like what we expected, and it may be because we are in such a drought this year, but it wasn't really worth finding haha. The pool was so low, and not even green. It was pretty disappointing, especially when you consider the emerald pool we saw in Thailand. We could have continued on, hoping that the upper pools were more impressive, but we were running out of time quickly, so we called it good.

We hiked back down to the lodge and ate a quick lunch there. The food wasn't great by any means, but we needed it and were so happy it was an option. Then we took the shuttle back to the visitor's center, to prepare to go to the Narrows. We wanted to rent water boots and socks, since none of us had really great options, so when we got there, I set off to do that while everyone else scattered to change. It was about 2 PM, and the girl I first spoke to said the boots needed to be back by 8, or there would be late fees. I told her that wasn't a problem since our last shuttle left at 7 anyway. She went to get them when her boss came out and told me he wouldn't rent them to me because it was "too late" in the day. I told him we weren't planning to hike the whole 10 miles - just wanted to experience some of it - but he didn't care. He said it would take 45 minutes to drive to the trailhead, an hour to even get to the water, and six hours to do the actual hike. He said he knew we'd be late and would have to keep them overnight, so he wouldn't do it. Glen and Brayden showed up at some point and heard the guy's unwillingness to help us out. I protested a little, but it was no use. He was set on his decision.

We were frustrated by that, and Glen goes, "I know you don't care about my opinion, but I think we should just not do it. You know you only live a few hours from here - you can come do it some other time." We were worried about him acting like this after our experience hiking with him in Havasu, so we were quick to shut that down and tell him he was welcome to wait around, or go off on his own (luckily he had his own car), but that we were going to do as much as we could - that was the whole reason we were down there. Kena and Brady also agreed that we should just do our best, so we did.

That guy was such a liar too. We got on the shuttle, and I prepared myself for a 45-minute drive, but it took us literally 10 minutes to get to. We flew down the mile or so trail to get to the water, and then it was all fun and games! We didn't have the best shoes, and we only had a couple of walking sticks, but we made the most of it.

The water was so so refreshing after being in the hot sun the entire day. We could have done the whole 10 miles and not been miserable! The only issue was that it was SLOW going. Walking on unstable river rocks in knee deep water takes time, to ensure footing and make sure you plan the best routes in order to not fall.

Again, a new, beautiful experience. Maybe we'll go back one day and do the whole thing?!

Glen repeatedly wanted to turn back, but we kept telling him he was welcome to, but we were going to keep going as long as we could.

It ended up just fine. We made it back in plenty of time for the last shuttle, and were back to the visitor's center by 7. I wanted to go rub it in that rental guy's face that he was wrong, and lost out on like $100 by not renting to us... but I refrained.

We were more than ready for dinner by this point, but we had to drive to St. George first. Once we got there, we settled on eating at The Pizza Factory. It was such a great meal after a long strenuous day.

Our hotel turned out pretty great, despite having major troubles trying to book a place (turns out you shouldn't wait until the last second to book a place to stay over Memorial Day weekend), and we were all dead asleep in the blink of an eye.

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