#b+h is a hard watch - and a look at the legacy of a man questioning his whole purpose in the world - after his cultural touchstones | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

threadofdestiny · 3 years

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Magnolia (Bakugou x f!reader)

Feudal Japan AU

Shogun!Bakugou x Midoriya’s sister!reader

Summery: Her mother, lady Midoriya Inko, had once told her that the gods had predestined a path for every single person. All she had to do was follow the path and trust that it would lead her to happiness. But how could (Y/N) find happiness in a political formed marriage with her brother’s rival, a man known for being brutal and cold hearted?

Warnings: sexual content in later chapters / period-typical-sexism / strong language / violence / Drama / Angst / Fluff / Slow Burn/ political marriage / Reader is Izuku's sister / period-typical-discriptions like vague mentions of longer hair to form typical hairstyles or specific wardrobe / Bakugou is not good at feelings / Bakugou is a mean, explosive boi / third-person perspektive

Wattpad

AO3

If someone wants to be tagged, just let me know :)

Chapter 1, Chapter 3

Chapter 2

The Emperor's Order

"...So, to sum it up in a few words: The situation in the north is steadily worsening!", Aizawa finished his report in a monotone voice while rubbing one of his dry eyes. Dark circles around them adorned the man's tired face and testified the many sleepless nights he had endured.

With a suppressed groan, Toshinori settled into the ornate chair at the head of the table as he nodded to his dark-haired general, while he placed his hand over the badly healed injury he received a long time ago. His gaze wandered intently over the huge map of his kingdom as he considered the small figures carefully placed on the neat leather. "We will have to reinforce the borders there, there and there. Shigaraki is getting more and more brash every time, attacking small villages and troops regardless of losses.", the Emperor replied, equally exhausted, before turning to his youngest Shogun, who had taken a seat at his table:"Young Bakugou, you took over the late Shigaraki's lands after the attack against the throne was averted. His forces have been crushed, but there are enough signs that he is still moving within your and Aizawa's borders. I will order that you receive men from the other shogunates to better contain the danger. So prepare yourselves for the gathering of new samurai and soldiers." The young man who was addressed by Toshinori nodded somberly before scribbling something down on the paper that lay on the table in front of him.

"However, I have not called you together today mainly to discus matters of war.", once again sounded the clear voice of the frail emperor, who had once been the strongest of all samurai. However, this was before his time as the head of his empire. Back when his mentor had ruled over this country and he had been his loyal general, as the symbol of peace. But this had been in the past for what felt like an eternity. "We will have to talk about the fact that I have neither heirs nor living family members who could take my place should I loose my life early. My health is not what it once was. So it is urgently time, now that the situation is getting worse, to talk about my legacy if we are to prevent a war for the throne if I may pass away!", explained Toshinori as he looked each person firmly in their eyes. His bony hand wandered over his ribs massaging the old injury that had made him the man he was today. Despite the fact that his body was only a shadow of its former self after the tragic attack, his eyes and voice still showed the sharp mind that Toshinori possessed. No one dared to raise an objection as he steered the topic in that direction, knowing full well how urgent the matter was. "Now that my health is slowly declining, many have their eyes set on the throne and enough have already tried to seize it by force," he continued to speak as he saw his loyal men tense at his ominous words. Midoriya Izuku swallowed hard as he heard his mentor's insinuations. The thought that Shigaraki himself had almost succeeded in putting these plans into action sent a shiver down his spine. "Accordingly, after much thought, I have decided to declare Midoriya Izuku as my heir. With the young Todoroki Shoto, who will inherit the largest shogunate in the south in due course, and with Bakugou, who will guard the northern borders. I see this as a steadfast cornerstone for the coming future.", Toshinori finished his speech without further ado, while he looked into the now shocked faces of his former students. General Aizawa, on the other hand, did not seem surprised to hear the emperor's plans.

"Your H-Highness. I-I'm not sure if I'm up to this!" breathed Izuku in shock, while Bakugou on the other side of the table snorted derisively. The young shogun was one of the most loyal men of the crown, and yet he wasn't exactly known for having a friendly disposition. He and the green-haired samurai did not have the most loving relationship with each other. Since childhood, they had learned the way of the bushido together under the protective hands of Aizawa and Toshinori. Side by side they had grown into the men they were today, but their different personalities had always ensured that they could never completely let go of their rivalry, even if they had already proven in the past that they could work together if they had to. Bakugou detested Izuku's indulgent, soft traits. That a man of his disposition had managed to keep up with the proud and talented boy had put a damper on him over and over again. Bakugou was a goal-oriented and fierce young samurai who had worked his way to the top with only his own strength and steely will. He was stubborn, ruthless and temperamental, but he had proven many times, that he was a good leader and loyal comrade despite his personality. His reputation as a bloodthirsty warrior however, made even the most experienced swordsmen tremble, perfect for the role as the warden of the northern borders. Someone like the young shogun would only take orders from someone he truly respected. It was therefore completely inconceivable to Izuku that someone like Bakugou would ever accept him as his emperor.

Worried, the green-haired man looked briefly at his former fellow pupil who stared him down in surprising silence with his deadly red eyes. Actually, Izuku would have expected Bakugou to be enraged after the emperor said that his rival should become the next heir to the throne, but instead of freaking out, the man just clenched his jaw and watched him with an iron expression. "You are well trained, young Midoriya. I am certain, that you will grow into this role, with my guidance. Of course, I am equally aware that you and young Bakugou have a somewhat bumpy relationship. But neither of you is a fool, which is why you know full well that such an alliance is exactly what this country will need in the future. You will have to face many people in your life who will question you. However, with Bakugou by your side, you will be able to overcome them. You as my heir will become the new symbol of peace, while you should consider young Bakugou as your future general. He as your sword and shield should be able to secure the future we all strive for in the depths of our being, don't you think?" Toshinori confidently assured before turning to Bakugou, who was now glaring down at the table with his arms folded in front of his chest. He had averted his gaze with a snort after the emperor's last words, but to everyone's surprise, he had not voiced any objections.

"In fact, a desirable thought occurred to me yesterday during the introduction of the young debutantes, which is why I have come to the conclusion that I would like to solidify this alliance I envision for the future with a consolidating bond.", the emperor declared after a short break, while he pulled out a prewritten contract from one of his long sleeves. "W-What do you mean?", rang out Izuku's indignant voice, while he was giving Bakugou an anxious look out of the corner of his eyes. The young shogun also seemed to wonder in which direction the conversation seemed to lead, but he remained silent as he waited concertedly for his emperor to continue speaking:"Well, you and Bakugou have reached an age where it makes sense to marry and start a family. Bakugou my not have any siblings, but coincidentally, you possess a younger sister of marriageable age. What alliance is more solid than that of a family brought together?" "B-But isn't this a somewhat hasty decision! I haven't even had a chance to look around for other families who would be sufficient for her.", Izuku tried to object as he imagined in horror of having to give his sweet, loving (Y/N) to his ruthless, temperamental rival. "Are you saying I'm not good enough for your damn sister, Deku? Or were you not listening just now? We are on the brink of a fucking war!", the blond shogun growled angrily as he slammed his fist down on the table, while his patience was wearing thin. Bakugou's body tensed dangerously as he made a move to rise threateningly while staring down at his former fellow pupil in offense. Panicked, Izuku looked from the emperor to the shogun, only to shake his head hurriedly to placate the temperamental man.

"N-No, it's just... I... didn't think you would agree... a-and... well...", stammered the green-haired man, while he hurriedly waved off that he was not happy about the outcome of this conversation. Of course, Izuku saw that this would be a solid alliance when viewed from a political perspective, but it did not change the fact that he did not feel comfortable with the thought of having to give his sister to Bakugou. "I think this is an excellent opportunity to bury your hatchet. An official connection between your two families will strengthen the throne on which you will sit in due course, Midoriya. Fewer people will dare to go against you if it is clear that the two of you support each other.", General Aizawa interrupted his former students with a bored tone as he placed his hand on Bakugou's shoulder to stop him from jumping over the table and strangling his rival on the spot. "Then it is decided! Young Bakugou will marry Young Midoryia's sister.", the emperor declared with a confirming nod. Swallowing, the head of the Midoriya family dropped his objection when he realized he was outvoted. Tormented, he thought about how he should prepare his sister for a man like Bakugou, while said man was surprisingly cooperative and collected despite the fact, that he will have to marry the little sister of his childhood rival.

The presentation of the debutantes at the imperial court had been a resounding success for the venerable Midoriya family. No other young lady had received such high praise like the daughter of this house. Not only her mother, but also her brother, Izuku, had beamed with pride and embraced his sister directly in his strong arms after they escaped the piercing eyes of society when they had finally arrived at their home after a long afternoon.

The young girl, however, would not have thought that the euphoria would be dampened just one day after the festivities, but when Izuku had returned from the audience with the emperor, he had looked exhausted and unhappy. Reddish spots from the stress he had experienced covered his cheekbones that was dotted with freckles. His green eyes shone with sorrow as he retreated unceremoniously to their late father's study, leaving her alone with their mother in the parlor, without much more than a tired greeting.

His little sister had made such a flawless performence, which even he had only been able to admire with bated breath. Jealousy had almost gripped him a little when he had observed how fearlessly and successfully she had been able to face up to this task at her tender age. Despite the fact that he was now one of the most powerful noble warriors of his generation, even nowadays he was still a rather reserved and shy man. When he was her age, he would not have been able to step so fearlessly towards the emperor of that time. But does that mean that his gentle sister would also be strong enough to be able to stand by the feared shogun's side? What if Bakugou turned his dislike of Izuku to (Y/N) just because she shared his blood? He couldn't bear the thought of the latter possibly suffering from their difficult relationship.

Izuku's hands had buried themselves desperately in his full, wavy hair as he had bent over the emperor's written order. The hours passed in the small stuffy room without the young lord truly registering it. Only the wandering of the sun, which constantly changed the incidence of light through the window, testified that time had not stopped, but no matter how long he sat there, the young lord would not think of a solution to this precarious situation.

How could he explain to his sister that she had been promised to a man just one day after her debut? Izuku had wanted to give her a say in the matter who she was going to marry in the future, but now his hands were tied, for even as the heir to the emperor, he did not have the right to ignore the crown's decision. The entire situation was an unbelievable catastrophe in the eyes of the young head of the family. He doubted that a simple wedding would allow him and Bakugou to put aside their differences. Even worse, the man now had something in his hands that Izuku loved with all his heart. The green-haired heir was a family man. He adored his mother and sister and wished only the best for them.

Bakugou, on the other hand, was a person who had forgotten how to feel tender feelings for someone else after he had buried his vulnerability under all the blood he had shed in the past. He was someone who had learned how to hate more than how to love. Izuku could not imagine that (Y/N) could be happy at this man's side. That was what bothered him the most. His childhood rival was not a bad person, although he had done some pretty bad things in the past. He trusted Bakugou to do the best for his country's security, but was a brute like him also able to protect the fragile heart of a sheltered girl? Bakugou hated Izuku. That much was certain. So would he hate his sister, as well? The thought that she might be stuck in an unloved marriage caused Izuku's heart to contract painfully.

Completely lost in his own thoughts, the young householder only noticed how much time had passed, when a servant had served him tea and food in the early evening. As if spellbound, he had been looking at the letter that sealed his sister's fate. With a deep sigh, the young man slumped down before lifting his head to rise his gaze at his servant:"Bring me my sister, please!" Izuku commanded before watching him bow and leave.

It had taken only a few moments for (Y/N) to enter the room with a look of concern. She had neither kneeled nor indicated a bow when she had entered the study, as such formalities were not expected in front of Izuku. He and his sister were very close, even if he hadn't spent much of his life growing up with her. "Is everything all right, brother?" she asked cautiously after approaching the table where Izuku had been huddled, unchanged, for several hours. "I have important news for you!" he sighed as he gestured with his scarred hand for her to sit across from him. "The emperor was very fond of you.", her brother began with a sad smile as his sister sat down. He watched as she placed her hands demurely in her lap and returned his expression gratefully. "... In fact, he was so excited that he had personally ordered a wedding between you and one of his closest followers.", he explained hesitantly as he watched sudden surprise appear on his sister's countenance. Completely perplexed, (Y/N) looked up at him as she absorbed the pronounced information. For a brief moment, her attention swung to the document bearing the Emperor's seal before she looked back at her brother, gulping. This turn of events had been completely unpredictable for her. The youngest Midoriya's heartbeat stopped for a moment when she realized that her fate was already sealed with this document, before different families could have come to them at all. The thought of not being able to control the further course of events made her truly afraid, even if she tried not to let it show. She didn't want her brother to feel even more agitated than he already was, because neither of them could do anything about the emperor's decision. "W-Who is it?", she asked accordingly without making any effort to speak out against the decision. However, the pained expression on her brother's face only caused more unease to spread through the pit of her stomach.

"... Bakugou Katsuki!", replied Izuku after a long hesitation. A shiver ran down (Y/N)'s spine when she heard the name of her future husband. Silence spread between the siblings for a moment, while (Y/N) tried to swallow the rising lump in her throat. Taking a deep breath, she closed her eyes before quietly clearing her throat: "Isn't he one of the other two lords who had studied together with you under the emperor?", (Y/N) asked silently, while she tried to hide the shaking within her voice. Unfortunately, her brother had not often mentioned Bakugou in his stories, so her information on him was exceedingly sparse. However, she knew enough rumors that circulated around this man, although of course it was impossible to tell which ones actually held a shred of truth. Nodding, Izuku cleared his throat as he reached for his teacup, which already felt rather cool in his scarred hands. "He is the youngest man to be elevated to the rank of shogun. He rules over a large part of the northernmost lands. He... is, in consideration of his status, an... excellent match...", he explained hesitantly, before covering part of his pained expression with the richly decorated porcelain. (Y/N) was thoughtfully silent as she weighed this detail internally. A man appointed to the rank of shogun by her current emperor could not be a bad person, could he? What kind of man was Bakugou Katsuki? Was he the bloodthirsty warrior like everybody whispered behind his back, or was he a loyal supporter of the crown, who was just misunderstood? Izuku did look unhappy, but maybe it was just because Bakugou was his rival. That much, after all, she was aware of. With clenched hands, (Y/N) tried to tell herself that this man didn't have to be her downfall, however, she could feel uncertainty raising in her stomach. No matter how she twisted or turned it, she would have to somehow come to terms with her situation without falling into a panic attack.

Clicking his tongue, Bakugou downed his tea before brashly taking his dinner, while he ignored his companion. "Tell me, why are you in such a bad mood tonight?", Kirishima persistently inquired for the third time, while he also helped himself to the food that the servants had provided for their master. One of the kitchen maids blushingly placed a bowl of rice in front of him and received a beaming smile from the charming, always good-humored samurai. Bakugou grunted meaninglessly and continued eating in silence without giving his companion a proper answer. "We could be at the Kaminari family's celebration right now. But you decided to throw our plans out the window.", the red-haired man sighed in dismay as he watched his best friend closely. "The festivities at the Kaminari family would certainly have been a good start to get to know the families of the young unmarried ladies. If you want to comply with your family's requests to finally find yourself a wife, you're going to have to start dealing with people.", he added testingly after a brief pause, receiving a contemptuous snort in response. "It's too late for that shit now anyway. So I might as well stay at home where I don't have talk with all those lickspittles.", the blond man hissed in annoyance, not looking up from his dinner.

Surprised, Kirishima began to sit up straighter after Bakugou had finally answered his questioning properly for the first time. Deciding not to give up, he leaned forward a bit to watch the blond man closely before continuing with his questions: "Why is that? Have you already found a suitable wife without my knowledge?"

The way the young shogun paused for a moment gave the curious samurai exactly the answer he was looking for. Interested, Kirishima watched as his counterpart's red eyes lost focus and Bakugou began to drift off in his thoughts. In the Shogun's mind's eye, the figure of his rival appeared, who's expression was filled with horror, when he began to understand that the Emperor had ordered his sister to be married to Bakugou in order to strengthen an alliance between them. With clenched teeth, he then imagined the young girl who had been presented to the emperor two days ago as a debutante. Soft and innocent, she had strode past the crowd and bowed in front of the crown with ragged breaths. She had seemed braver than Izuku could have been at her age, and yet Bakugou could not shake the image of her looking up at him in fear, much as her brother had done years ago. A tearful, frightened girl was not exactly the kind of woman he imagined at his side, but what could he do about the emperor's decision? He had come to the capital with the intention of finding a wife, but this was not how he had imagined it. Not with the little sister of damn Midoriya Izuku.

"No matter which lady you're thinking of, I think you should send her a bouquet of flowers, or better yet, pay your respects to her family right away! I bet they'll greet you with a kiss on the hand if you've already made up your mind.", the red-haired gentleman interrupted the silence. Immediately, Bakugou turned his scowl on his best friend and gave another disdainful snort before replying:"No way!", he barked angrily as he clutched his chopsticks so tightly that they began to crack dangerously. "Well... You'll have to know in the end. But nothing comes from nothing. If you want that girl to like you, you're going to have to be benevolent towards her.", Kirishima replied with a grin, as he folded his arms behind his head. "So if I were you, I would start courting her before someone else does. Or perhaps the family has already rejected you because your reputation doesn't appeal to them?"

That comment was the last straw that broke the camel's back for Bakugou. Bursting, the chopsticks broke in the temperamental shogun's hand. What did he care if others were interested in the girl? Even if the emperor had not ordered a marriage between them, his rival could not have refused the courtship of a shogun. Even without his title, no one could have refused Bakugou if he wanted something. Especially not such an effeminate person as Midoriya Izuku. Not that he cares anyway. He couldn't care less who was going to be his wife, as long as she was able to fulfill her damn duty's.

However, it was a complete waste of time to worry about such things. In the end, the current emperor had taken the decision of what would happen from them either way. She would become his wife whether he sent her flowers or not. Bakugou hated it when people tried to force something on him. If the order had not come from the emperor himself, the person who would have dared to do such a thing would have had a tongue for the longest time. He would have ripped it out without hesitations. But Toshinori was damn right that Bakugou was no fool. The ash-blond man had seen the extent of the rebellion in the north with his own eyes. The opponents of the crown grew bolder now that they thought the throne stood on sawn, wobbly legs. Despite Deku's effeminate personality, he was a good candidate for the crown. The young shogun would never admit it openly, but Midoriya's self-sacrificing and solution-oriented nature would make him a good emperor if Bakugou stood by his side to strike down those who would take advantage of his good nature. A marriage union between Bakugou Katsuki and the future emperor's sister would make a powerful statement. It would change conditions on the border as well as in the capital for the better, but did he have to spend more time than necessary with Deku because of it? Hell, fucking no!

"No ten horses will make me seek out Deku if not necessary!", Bakugou stated icily, before realizing that he had now given the unknown girl an identity. Realization flashed in Kirishima's eyes as he heard who the young shogun was thinking about. "The girl in question is little Miss Midoriya? I didn't think it would be her who would steal your attention. Even though I'm sure she left a lasting impression on many the day before yesterday. I heard that the matchmakers also spoke highly of her. A true gem, I've heard." Gritting his teeth, Bakugou turned away from his friend as he heard all the compliments about his future wife. He had no interest in talking about her, but the latter still seemed reluctant to drop the subject.

"Well, probably you should actually leave her alone...", Kirishima finally relented. He paused briefly for the dramatic impact, gleefully eating some vegetables, watching as the young householder slowly taxed him again with a piercing gaze:"What are you trying to say?" "Well... I guess the tension that exists between you and Midoriya-san certainly wouldn't be beneficial to such a connection. After all, you've never quite been able to put aside your youthful rivalry. I am sure that he would not be very enthusiastic if you tried to court his little sister all of a sudden. Actually, I'm sure he'll reject you outright.", Kirishima replied innocently as he inwardly counted to three.

"WHAT, like that damn Deku is going to be able to stop me from courting his little sister. Nobody rejects a damn shogun out of anything! Not even the Emperor's fucking favorite, you hear me?", he snarled at his friend before turning angrily to one of the servants. "You! Go buy the most expensive flowers you can find and send them to the fucking Midoriya household! Make sure Deku sees exactly who sent her that stupid bouquet. Let that weak little good-for-nothing die at the thought that he can't do anything about the fact that I'm going to marry his damn sister.", Bakugou ordered, cursing, before rising angrily to stomp out of the room. Arriving at the door, the young shogun turned once more to Kirishima, who looked after him in perplexity at his choice of words. "And just so we're clear. The damn emperor ordered the wedding. Like I'm going to deign to marry Deku's sister on my own otherwise, you understand?"

#bakugou x reader #Bakugou x female reader #bakugou x yn #Bakugou #Bakugou Katsuki #bnha #mha #boku no hero academia #my hero academia

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just-dreaming-marvel · 4 years

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ONE HUNDRED SIXTY TWO - SECRETS (3)

LEGACY: A Tony Stark Daughter Story

FULL STORY MASTERLIST

ENDING THREE MASTERLIST

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Word Count: 1,575ish

Summary: Ross and Bailey interact.

“Miss Stark,” Ross greeted holding out his hand.

I gave him a tight lipped, fake smile as I shook his hand. “Secretary Ross. Thank you for joining us tonight.”

“I wouldn’t have missed superheroes failing to create world peace for anything.”

I could feel my superhero family tense up. Because we were all still a little on edge after everything, we all agreed to wear comms devices. Shuri designed special ones for the occasion, they connected from behind the ear and blended in with the skin.

“Who does this a-hole think he is?” Quill questioned.

“Thaddeus Ross,” Rhodey responded. “He was the U.S. Secretary of State before the first snap happened.”

“He’s always wanted those with powers under his control,” Bruce added.

“He’s the one who pushed the Accords on us,” Sam stated.

“Does he know about her powers?” Valkyrie asked.

“We’ll see,” Rhodey replied.

“Bay?” Bucky’s worried voice rang over the comms. “Do you need a way out?”

Before I could answer, Ross held out his hand once again, bowing as he did. “May I have this dance?”

I readied myself for the arguing that was bound to come. “Sure,” I answered, placing my hand in his. “I’m good, Buck,” I told him through his thoughts. “Tell the others and just keep an eye. I have a feeling something fishy is going on.”

“Understood,” Bucky replied with his thoughts. “I love you.”

“Love you too.”

Bucky then informed everyone of what I had said as Ross guided me to the dance floor. He guided us to the middle before resting a hand on my waist and taking my other in his. My free hand found his shoulder and he led us waltzing in a circle. I could see a few couples around us, trying to watch carefully; T’Challa and Nakia, Peter and MJ, Sam and Wanda, and Hope and Scott.

“You are full of many secrets, Miss Stark,” Ross stated, being the one to break the awkward silence. “Very much like those you choose to associate with.”

“I don’t understand,” I looked at him quizzically. “What are you talking about?”

“Oh, don’t play dumb with me. You know what I’m talking about. Nick Fury and your father may have deleted all your files from public record when SHIELD was taken down, but that doesn’t mean that the government didn’t have time to steal a copy. And it doesn’t mean that I don’t know the real reason why Tony seeked my permission to take down a HYDRA base in 2017.”

“Where are you going with this?”

“Bailey Richards.”

“What?” I quietly questioned as I teased up. It had been a long time since I’d heard that name. Since I had been called that name.

“Bailey Richards. That’s your real name, correct?” He stared down at me trying to gauge my reaction.

“Don’t respond Bailey,” Rhodey advised. “Don’t give him what he wants.”

“And what exactly does he want?” Sam asked.

“I’ve tried but something is stopping me from entering his head,” Wanda informed. “Bailey’s right though. Something fishy is going on here.”

“Richards was my birth name yes,” I responded to Ross. “But I don’t see why you would bring that up. Especially now, after all these years.”

“Why I would bring up the real name of Iron Man’s adoptive daughter? The girl in the room with the most secrets?”

“What game is he trying to play?” Bucky growled.

“Would it interest you if I told you that your parents are alive?” I gasped. “And that they want to talk?”

“I’m stepping in,” Bucky started hurrying is way over.

“Don’t Barnes!” Sam insisted. “We need to figure out why he’s bringing this up now.”

“What are you talking about?” I was really questioning why he was bringing this up. Especially now, of all times and places.

“Your parents are here.” I froze, stopping us in the middle of the dance floor. “They came as my plus ones.”

“Someone needs to get her out of that situation,” Nebula demanded. “Now!”

“They really want to talk to you.” He leaned into the ear that my comms device wasn’t connected to while putting a device to my other ear, somehow deactivating the comms device. “If you come, they’ll leave and never bother you again. And I won’t tell the world that you’ve been hiding your telepathic abilities, that you’ve been using them to control others.”

“I haven’t been hiding them. And I don’t use them to control others.”

“That’s not what the footage I have says. I have you doing gruesome, awful things. To children even… It’s really hard to get through. Very... tear jerking. If you don’t want that out to the world, meet in the hanger in 15.”

He leaned back, bowed a bit, and walked away. I was left there, in the middle of the dance floor, speechless. Why could he possibly want me to meet my parents so bad? Why would they want to meet me? What was going on? A metal hand found its way to the small of my back, but I barely noticed. Bucky guided me to a side room where Thor, Rhodey, Shuri, T’Challa, Peter, Wanda, Nebula, and Rocket were waiting. The rest of the heroes were still out there making their rounds and distracting the guests, the comms were still connected though. I was still in shock, not saying anything. I had unintentionally put up mind blocks, so Wanda couldn’t see what was wrong. Bucky guided me to a seat at the front of the room and helped me sit. The world was around me was unfocused.

“She’s blocked me,” Wanda stated. Everyone was staring at me as I seemingly stared at nothing.

“How did he even get a device that could disable the comms?” Shuri wondered.

Bucky knelt down in front of me, setting one hand on my knee and another one my face. “Sweetheart,” Bucky tried to get me to focus on him. “Bailey, look at me.”

“I’m going to go get Pepper,” Peter stated, making his way out.

“And Steve,” Bucky added, turning to Peter. “I have a feeling he’s going to need to be here too.”

Peter nodded before leaving. No one said anything or moved until Peter returned with Steve and Pepper. The two rushed over to my side.

“I overheard the interactions on the comms,” Steve said. “I was worried when hers cut out.”

“You guys are wearing comms?” Pepper asked.

“Just for safety precautions, Pep,” Rhodey reassured. “And I’m glad we did.”

“B,” Pepper set her hand on my cheek. I finally was brought back to reality and met her worried eyes. “What happened?”

“My birth parents,” I whispered.

“What about them?” Bucky asked.

“They’re here. Ross brought them.”

“What?” Steve and Bucky questioned in unison as gasps were heard from the others.

“He said to meet him in the hanger in 15 minutes or else he would tell the world about my abilities and that I’m using them to control everyone. That I kept my powers secret to impose my will on the world… he also has footage of me… when I was with HYDRA… He’s going to show everyone all the awful things I did.”

“Why would he do that?” Pepper asked.

“What use would threatening you to see your birth parents do?” Rhodey wondered.

“I don’t know,” I shook my head, a few tears trailing down my face. I looked at Pepper. “Mom,” I cried.

“Sshh..” She cooed, wrapping me up in the safety of her arms. “It’s all going to be okay. No one here is going to let anything happen to you.”

Bucky and Steve straightened up, turning towards the group. The two glanced at each other, giving one another a slight nod at the plan they had both started forming. No matter how long, for Steve, they were apart, they would always be able to read each other’s thoughts.

“We can’t let her go alone,” Nebula said.

“And we won’t,” Bucky stated.

“I’m going to be in there with her,” Steve added.

“What?” A choruses of voiced asked astonishly in the room and through the comms.

Thor began chuckling. “I’m sorry, but, Cap, you are not in the same shape that you once were.”

“We’ll all be outside the hanger ready to help,” Bucky instructed. “But Steve can get inside as a janitor. He’s not as recognizable anymore.”

“I can go through the vents,” Rocket suggested as he hopped onto the table. “Just so that she has more people closer to her.”

“And Hope and I can shrink down and get in there too,” Scott offered through the comms.

“That works,” Bucky said.

I breathing began to quicken. Pepper quickly took notice and moved so that she was stand in front of me. She put her hands on my tear stained cheeks and forced me to look at her.

“Breathe with me, honey,” she instructed.

“W-why… are they… h-here?” I sobbed. “Why n-now?”

“I don’t know,” Pepper shook her head. “But we’re going to find out.”

“They didn’t w-want me... They got rid of me...” I cried. “I want D-dad…”

“I know, B, I know.”

“I’m going to go get changed,” Steve said. He went over to me and rested a hand on my shoulder. “I’m going to be there the whole time, B. Okay?” I simply nodded. “We’ll figure it out.” Then he walked out.

“We need to get going, before he suspects anything,” Rhodey instructed.

“You good, doll?” Bucky worried.

I nodded. “I just want Dad… My Dad. These people aren’t my parents.” I answered through his thoughts. “And they’ll never be.”

“We’ll get this over with and you can go visit him. Deal?” Bucky gave my hand a gentle squeeze. I nodded once again before Bucky helped me up and pulled me into a gentle kiss. “We’ll be watching the whole time.”

“Okay.”

next >

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pastelgrungewrecker · 4 years

Text

Fledgling

You float in the pool where the soundtrack is canned You go ask your questions, like “What makes a man?”

Expectations are a motherfucker.

Quickdraw hugged his knees, leaning against Mimi as she rubbed his back and soothed the hiccuping noises coming from his narrow chest. His black eye hidden by his arms and his torn shirt hanging loosely on his frame he whimpered his faults between the soft “Sssshshshsh” coming from his big sister.

“You know our dads love you no matter what, Qd. And no one knows ‘em like we do.”

“You’re just fine the way you are, I promise.”

Day in and day out- he stared at his reflection. Flicking the side of his front teeth with a thumbnail and hating the gap between them, the way they didn’t seem to fit in with his widened double canines. His cupid’s bow and the softness of his lips, the sharpness showing in his cheekbones and the thick waves in his hair that ate through brushes and combs alike.

He tugged at the chopped shirt he wore- the edge hanging well above his navel and showing the lanky skinniness and isolated roundness of his stomach in the center of a birdlike torso.

He was broken stone and vines, he was a battered shrine to his parent’s legacies that he felt like he was failing with every displeased look and every disappointed P.E. teacher.

He flexed his arms, sighing at the uneven muscle blooming under skin and over bone and felt tears bubbling up in gold eyes before he hugged himself around his narrow chest and bit his lip until the skin tore again and leaked violent red over cashmere skin until the door creaked open and he nearly screamed.

Whirl stood behind him, face worried and patch absent to show the wild scarring around a milk-white and dead eye.

“...Kiddo, c’mon. Talk to me sweetheart.”

“D-Dad I-I-I- It’s nothing I-I’m f-fine-”

His stammer rising in time with his anxiety and a gurgle in his stomach as he clapped a hand over his mouth and hiccuped burning. A nod of Whirl’s head and Quickdraw leaned over the toilet and let his stomach expel nothing but his worries and retched his mourning- tears bubbling up over his cheeks as he heard Brainstorm and Drift’s worried calls from the living room.

“I’s alright, his stomach’s just upset!”

An answering murmur, the sound of Drift fumbling with the phone to contact Ratchet or First Aid or who knew who else as Quickdraw’s long fingers curled into fists and his tears came faster and thicker and he swore they were viscous and sticking to him like shoplifting ink.

He cried in cornstarch as he mourned the falsehood calling Whirl his father felt like.

Whirl rubbed Quickdraw’s back, softly hushing the muted whimpers that escaped nervous nausea as the adolescent’s heaves finally calmed and quieted and he returned to his forlorn vigil in front of the mirror- brushing the teeth he wouldn’t look at and dodging the teary eyes he hated recognizing as his own.

He rinsed his mouth of the final traces of terror and Whirl put a hand on his shoulder.

“Mimi told me you had trouble with your P.E. teacher again; do I gotta go down to the school and give him a fuckin’ piece of my mind?”

“He gave me trouble BECAUSE you did that.”, rasped Quickdraw- before the dam broke. Wiry shoulders shook and his arms held against his chest as those sugarsyrup tears came back like cast resin and his breathing shuddered, “B-Bec-vause I’m n-no Wrecker’s SON!”

Whirl froze, something vicious flickering in his good eye before it was blinked away and he turned Quickdraw to face him, “What did you just say.”

“N-No one b-believes I-I’m your b-boy!”, he sobbed, “B-Because I-I’m so s-soft!”

“Who in the hell-”

“B-Because I l-look girly and g-g-g-g-”

“Deep breaths, young’n. Deep breaths, and speak slow okay?”

“Th-They say I l-look gay a-and I can’t b-be Whirl’s son-n.”, he hiccuped, coughing bitterly once, “A-And they j-joke I’m ado-dopted since Whirl wouldn’t h-have such a stupid soft kid like m-me!”

He leaned his head forward, sobbing hoarsely again as his lanky jackdaw limbs uncurled and wrapped around his father’s waist in a desperate bid to stay on Earth instead of flying away on his own wheezed crying, “A-And it’s f-fucking HARD dad I’m trying so HARD to make you and p-papa and everyone proud but e-every DAY I hear this-”

Whirl hugged his son tightly, trying desperately to calm him, to soothe his worries and fears and flaws and perfections as the boy broke into little glass shards all over the floor- weeping his morningdew and carnation petals and wisteria all over the tile floor.

Whirl gently loosened Quickdraw’s hold, getting down onto a creaking knee and holding his boy’s sharp face in his warmed steel hands. His thumbs stroked over sharp cheekbones and the beginning of Brainstorm’s keen smirk and sharp frown and pouty lips and feels his heart break that his boy can’t see the beauty waiting to bloom in softness.

“Don’t you EVER listen to pieces of shit like that, Quickdraw- you hear me?”, he said, his voice a paternal growl even as stardust leaked from Quickdraw’s eyes in rivers, “You are MY BOY, and I have NEVER been prouder of you, you understand me?! Those pieces of shit don’t have a damn clue about me, and they never will- hell, they’re probably the same fucking dumbasses who gave me shit about my hair. I got long hair and steal Papa Bee’s shirts all the time, who gives a shit. So you wear half shirts, baby boy you got too much torso like me and that gets sweaty and fuckin’ itchy when you run! And boy you run everywhere! Not your fault those pieces of shit look like the corpses of Barbies used as Chrona’s chewies when she was a li’l pocket potato.”

Quickdraw hiccuped a giggle.

“Anyone who’s gotta problem with you can fuckin’ take it up with me. What they think don’t matter. They give you shit? Call me. Right then and there- ah, ah, ah; I don’t CARE if phones ain’t allowed! I’ll punt a teenager, I’ll clock a principal! Papa Whirl gives ZERO fucks if his baby bird is bein’ harassed, you got it? And if they really piss me off, I’ll hand ‘em over to Brainstorm and Percy and really watch the fur and feathers fly.”

Whirl huffed, smoothing Quickdraw’s hair out of his face as the boy blinked owlishly. The tears had slowed at least, and his breathing only shivered a little behind his birdcage ribs.

“You are my li’l canary-boy; you’re my dino-baby and you’re Quickdraw and that’s fuckin’ aces to me, got it? You don’t dissapoint me, you ain’t ‘failing the legacy’ or what the fuck ever just cause you like makeup or doin’ your nails or wearin’ skinny jeans or someshit. Hell, ask Papa Percy some of the ridiculous shit I got up to with my appearance; he still hates half my tattoos and don’t get ‘im STARTED on the piercings I got.”

“S-So I’m n-not a bad kid f-for not being strong and tough like y-you?”

It hit Whirl like a lightning bolt, and his eye widened until it watered.

“...Quickdraw, Qd- Nothin’ makes me happier than knowin’ you got a gentle soul.”, he said softly, pulling his son back into a hug, “Nothin’ brings me as much joy as knowin’ you and your sister got so much love in your li’l bodies, are you kiddin’ me? Qd, I spent so many damn years runnin’ on hellfire and hatred that I was SCARED of havin’ kids... I was so scared they’d be like I was, cold and cruel and sharp and angry. Seein’ you and your sisters in your little blanket forts and watchin’ sappy movies? Seein’ you bring home puppies and kits you found walkin’ home cause you were scared they’d be hurt? I knew right then you weren’t gonna carry my scars and rage and that brought me more peace than I ever thought possible.”

Whirl got to his feet, lifting his son easily and feeling spindly limbs coil and cling as he reached behind him and opened the door fully.

“You and your sibs taught me I still got love in me, cause you all have so much in you and ANYONE who tells you bein’ ‘soft’ in a world like this is wrong? I’m gonna make ‘em learn why they called me a Polyhexian Devil. My fists are reinforced now, and they’re just ASKIN’ to find out how much.”

Brainstorm stood outside the door, face livid and high in color as Quickdraw buried his face into Whirl’s shoulder and hiccuped softly again. He followed Whirl and their son back out to the couch, curled up next to them and gently brushed lab-scuffed knuckles against his boys teardamp face until he opened watery sunrise eyes.

“Quickdraw.”, said Brainstorm firmly.

“Y-Yeah?”

“Your fathers, your family, says you are perfect the way you are.”, said Brainstorm firmly, “At the end of the day, nothing else matters- all you need to worry about is us... and You. Are you happy, with who you are?”

“I-I think I’m p-pretty cool.”

“Then fuck everyone else. If you like yourself, no one else’s opinions matter; and when you get a little older? Not even your dads’s opinions matter anymore. If you love yourself, everyone else can either fall in step or fuck right off out the door.”

A kiss to Quickdraw’s forehead.

“And if that means, my li’l munchkin wants to wear pretty things? Then rock it. If anyone complains, we’ll take care of ‘em.”

“And yeah, I’m goin’ to your school next week Qd.”, growled Whirl, “Me an’ your P.E. teacher are gonna have a nice long talk in the parking lot.”

“Give him a busted eye socket from me, babe.”

Quickdraw giggled thickly at Brainstorm’s request, complete with fluttering eyelashes.

Whirl squeezed his son once more for good measure before loosening his hold and letting Quickdraw shift down to fit perfectly between his parents as Brainstorm hugged him around bony shoulders.

“Become whoever you want, whoever you feel like being, baby boy.”, said Brainstorm softly as he planted a kiss against Quickdraw’s wavy mop of hair, “We’re ALL proud of you, as long as you’re being true to yourself.”

“Ok-kay.”, he said, a hiccup breaking the word in half like a cracking lock on a door he hadn’t realized he hid behind, a wardrobe made of barbed words and stuffed full of all the things he dreamed of being.

#pastelwrites #whirl #brainstorm #fankids #quickdraw #crim is gonna Fucking Shiv Me with a BAGUETTE

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vmheadquarters · 5 years

Link

By Alexis Soloski

When we last saw Veronica Mars, the greatest private investigator Southern California has ever birthed and tanned — shut it, Philip Marlowe — she had ducked a corporate law job and returned to Neptune, her beachside hometown, resolved to defend the weak, defy the powerful, wisecrack with the best of them. Happily ever after, on her terms.

But why be happy when you can be hard-boiled? As Veronica’s inventor Rob Thomas said, “Happy and noir don’t go well together.”

“Veronica Mars,” a snappy, sophisticated crime drama about a high school P.I., debuted in 2004 and ran for three critically celebrated but lightly watched seasons, first on UPN and then on CW, returning in 2014 for a fan-funded movie.

That seemed to be the end of it. Its star, Kristen Bell, continued a successful film and TV career. Thomas went on to create and run “iZOMBIE.” But you know the noir trope where a character thinks she has outrun her past and then the past comes on at a sprint? It applies.

In a genre-appropriate twist, the show is back, revamped for the streaming age. An eight-episode fourth season will drop on July 26 at Hulu, where the first three seasons are already available.

Reboots and revivals are as thick on the ground as Neptune beachgoers. A long-gone show that returns after so many years with its original cast, led by Bell’s Veronica, and its distinguishing style (think Dashiell Hammett after a few blender drinks) mostly intact? That’s rarer, and not without its dangers.

Continuing a beloved series after so many years risks tarnishing its legacy. (If we’re being honest, the uneven third season was risk enough.) Besides, how do you make a show about a child prodigy when that child prodigy can apply for a fixed-rate mortgage?

The season’s big mystery, according to Thomas: Is a 30-something Veronica Mars “an interesting enough character on her own to continue to attract fans?”

A few weeks ago, I met Bell on a gloomy June afternoon in her trailer on the Universal lot, an overheated box befrilled in demoralizing beige. She was in the middle of a shoot for her other show, “The Good Place,” and had two caffeinated drinks going, which partly explained the pep. (The messianic zeal she feels for Veronica explained the rest.) In her costume, a lilac sweater over an embroidered blouse and green chinos, she looked about as noir as an Easter basket.

And yet “Veronica Mars,” she said, is the show that launched her, that shaped her, that taught her comedy and responsibility and a commitment to social justice. She will quit it, she said, when everyone in Neptune is dead.

“That’s when I’ll do it,” she said, pushing her cane-sugar soprano into a lower register. “That’s when I will let her go: When the last body is buried.”

“Veronica Mars,” which The Times described, on a list of the 20 best TV dramas since “The Sopranos,” as “a peerless blend of neo-noir mystery and teenage romantic drama,” was always a show ahead of its time. Its heroine, 17 when the show began, looked like a Barbie and scrapped like a G.I. Joe. She was as quick with a comeback as with the Taser she called Mr. Sparky, but still vulnerable to problems personal and systemic.

More politically minded than your average teen soap, “Veronica Mars” had love triangles and cliffhangers and, from its first episode, a sustained interest in wealth inequality. In its depiction of gendered violence, it anticipated much of the #MeToo conversation.

“It continually kept questions about gender inequality in view,” said Susan Berridge, a lecturer in media at the University of Stirling who has written about the series. “There were so many story lines involving sexual violence and other forms of gendered abuse that it became impossible to see these issues as one-off aberrations.”

If you don’t identify as a Marshmallow, the name ride-or-die “Veronica Mars” fans adopted, here’s the back story: A onetime popular girl, Veronica became an outcast when her best friend Lilly was murdered and Veronica’s father, Keith (Enrico Colantoni), then Neptune’s sheriff, mistakenly accused the town’s most powerful man. Keith lost his job and his home. Veronica’s mother deserted the family. Her former friends ostracized her. During a party, she was drugged and raped by persons unknown. At some point she gave herself a terrible haircut.

“It was an adult show about a teenage girl,” Mr. Colantoni said, speaking by telephone. “This wasn’t ‘Saved by the Bell.’”

During the first two seasons, Veronica would solve episodic mysteries while also seeking justice for Lilly and for herself. The third season, which brought Veronica to college, dispensed with the case-of-the-week in favor of longer arcs. It also assigned Veronica a nice-guy boyfriend, Stosh “Piz” Piznarski (Chris Lowell), though most fans shipped her and the poor-little-rich-boy Logan Echolls (Jason Dohring).

Facing cancellation, Thomas tried to interest networks in a revival that saw Veronica working for the F.B.I. No one bought it. Presumed dead, “Veronica Mars” was briefly resurrected when Thomas decided to try crowdfunding a movie. He raised $2 million in less than five hours, drawing the highest number of donors for any film or video project in Kickstarter history.

“Veronica Mars” the movie may not have been a masterpiece — The Times called it “a likable, unmemorable, feature-length footnote” — but it melted the gooey hearts of most Marshmallows. Thomas and Bell could have let their gumshoe-made-good ride into the sunset in her secondhand car, placating the fans with the occasional tie-in novels Thomas co-writes. (“‘Co-writer’ is being generous to me,” he clarified.)

But last year, Thomas called Bell and asked her if she would consider playing Veronica again. It was a big ask: Bell had already committed to a final season of “The Good Place” and a “Frozen” sequel. Also, noir involves night shoots and Bell has two young daughters, which means a lot of missed bedtime.

Weighing the commitment, Bell recalled asking herself, “Do I want a world where my daughters know she exists? Or do I think there’s enough out there for them to look to?”

“I didn’t,” she said. “And I thought, yeah, I have to do it.”

And — “this is going to sound so corny,” Bell added — she still needs “Veronica Mars” in her life, even after all this time and all her success. The show gives her a place to put both her anger at a world that is still unequal and unjust, and her faith that individuals and communities can make it better.

“Just knowing Veronica exists has allowed me to pull strength in certain situations,” she said.

This installment picks up five years after the film ended, with Veronica sleuthing alongside her dad at Mars Investigations and living, reward check to reward check, in the oceanside apartment she sometimes shares with Logan, now an active-duty naval intelligence officer. There are a few B- and C-plots, but mostly Veronica works just one case involving a series of bombings threatening Neptune’s spring breakers.

Thomas and Bell, an executive producer, chose the eight-episode format partly because that’s all Bell’s “Good Place” schedule allowed, but also because they were impressed by what shows like “Fargo” and “Sherlock” were able to do in short seasons. They sold the show to Hulu, which was also able to acquire the past seasons. Craig Erwich, Hulu’s senior vice president of originals, described the revival as “an opportunity to see a beloved character grow up.”

Unlike the movie, this new season doesn’t pander — a few Marshmallows may feel scorched. The emphasis on wealth inequality and structural bias is, if anything, starker. The moral palette is grayscale, and the tone (Thomas described it on Twitteras “Hardcore So-Cal noir”) is dark, though maybe not that dark. “There are a lot of jokes,” Thomas said. “I don’t think we can go full ‘Handmaid’s Tale.’”

Though the earlier seasons of “Veronica Mars” shot in San Diego, the show relocated its exteriors to Huntington Beach, nearer to Los Angeles, where Bell lives. Certain sets, like the Mars Investigations office, have been faithfully re-created and shouldn’t upset continuity hard-liners, though Thomas is wary of checking his Twitter feed once the episodes drop.

The dialogue has stayed slangy. “What’s with the fakeloo, our mark’s no Jasper,” Keith scolds Veronica in the fourth episode. (Among this season’s writers: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. “It never got normal,” Thomas, a basketball fan, said worshipfully.) And Veronica can swear now, though not much. The sex scenes are a little more explicit, the relationships a little more complicated and the emotions real, just like they used to be. “Even when we were teenagers, we all meant it,” Dohring said.

Here’s the big change: A former child prodigy who could out detect men decades older, Veronica has become age appropriate, maybe even immature when it comes to her personal life. (If the series followed real time, Veronica would now be about 32, but these episodes edge her into her mid-30s, closer to Bell’s age.) Thomas wondered if her superpowers — her bravery, her righteous anger, her lack of interest in what others think of her — would seem as impressive on an adult woman. (Speaking as an adult woman: Yes.)

I spoke to Thomas on the telephone a few hours before I met with Bell. Before we hung up, I asked him what he thought I should ask her.

“Ask for her window of availability in 2020,” he said. “That’s what I want to know.”

So I did. Bell told me she had set aside a few months next spring to shoot a follow-up. “As long as people want to watch it, I will do it,” she said. (Hulu is “definitely open to the discussion” about making more of the show, Erwich said.)

But here is what I wanted to know. As a viewer, I’d grown up with Veronica, too. And I’d looked to her as a character who had survived trauma and had accepted how that trauma had changed her, without ever having to sacrifice her humor or her mean-street smarts or her self-confidence. “Veronica Mars was this girl that other girls and boys could look to as an option of what to do with pain, and how not to let it sink you,” Bell said.

So would she ever get that pony? Would we ever see her happy?

“I don’t think we want to,” she said, speaking as Marshmallow in chief. “We want to see her match lit. We want to keep her fight in her. When she’s truly content, the story will be over.”

#veronica mars #NYT full article #veronica mars revival #vm spoilers

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balmerancrystalance · 5 years

Text

galra bom lance and altean prince keith hc

inspired by (x)

autor’s note: i decided to use “akira” instead of “keith” because it sounds more altean

ulaz gives lance the mission to return shiro back to earth safe and sound to make sure he warns the earthlings that the galra are coming

lance knows he has failed the blade so many times and the only reason he was still inside the society and probably still alive in genereal was thace, a blade who took him under his wing when lance’s mother the real haggar mysteriously disappeared before war started, so he has to do this right no matter what

lance [looking over his shoulder at shiro]: stay with me, champion

they make it to the ground and immediately bright lights shine and alarms ring loud, the galaxy garrison aware of their landing

lance watches from distance as the garrison takes him in following them close behind so he could make sure the message was received

lance is about to return to the base as soon as he hears shiro saying they’re coming, like, yeah that would do, stopping dead on his tracks when they decide they’re gonna put him under

did they just not hear the man? who do they think they are to dismiss information like that? do they have any idea what are they facing?

lance, willing to do anything to save his mission, and sure why not by extent an entire planet, breaks into the tent where the garrison was holding shiro hostage, knocking down every guard and making sure no one else touches him

lance, [violently shaking a slightly sedated shiro]: i need you to take me to your superior

what they didn’t knew was that pidge and hunk hacked into the garrison cameras to see if sam and matt returned with shiro, freaking out and deciding to take matter in their own hands when a literal a l i e n walked into the scene

pidge [breaking into the tent]: get away from him!

hunk: please don’t hurt us! [whispering pointing pidge] he’s kinda in the middle of a breakdown right now

pidge: hunk!

lance: me hurting you? no, i wouldn’t-we have no time, war is coming

pidge [looking at shiro]: where is the rest of his tripulation?

lance: i can give you all the answers you wish for but we need to get him out of here

more alarms start to go off as they hear more troops coming their way so hunk frees shiro and throws him over his shoulder as lance takes down all the other guards and steals one of their vehicles

lance: they’re gaining on us, go!

pidge: i can’t even reach the pedals!

lance: go!

as result of pidge’s horrible and not to mention non existing driving skills combined their desperation to get rid of the garrison they end in a cave

while trying to catch his breath after the persecution lance presses his hand against the wall, the ancient markings painted all over them glowing in the dark and the ground crumbling underneath their feet

once he’s able to move his legs and open his eyes once again, lance thinks he might not just aced his mission but hit the jackpot because in front of his very own eyes there’s a voltron lion

ha, the disappointment of the blade whomst, kolivan?

before he has the chance to contact anyone at the base, they hear the garrison coming from them, so instead of giving them an explanation which he knows will end up on him locked up and shiro put to sleep he decides he has no other choice

lance: everybody get to the lion!

lance immediately feels the lion talking to him and he doesn’t understands it but it feels just right

they flight way past the garrison troops and up into space

the lion tells them, trough lance kinda, there is somewhere where they have to be now

they pass the time getting to know each other a little bit, lance explaining shiro why ulaz set him free, shiro letting pidge know what happened after her letting him know she’s actually commander holt’s daughter and finally pidge telling them how she got into the garrison with hunk’s help

hunk: umm, guys? hate to interrupt our bonding session but there’s a castle up ahead

after getting down from the lion and walking through the castle they finally end up at what looks like the bridge of a ship with three pods humming into the silence

suddenly the pods open up and they get ready to fight, confused when they see a girl, a boy and an old man standing there as if they were deep in slumber, the earthlings rushing to catch them when they blinked their eyes open and started to lean forward with no signal of stopping

shiro and pidge making sure the old man was alright, hunk helping the girl stand on her feet and last but not least lance, kneeled down by the collision of their bodies together, holding the man into his arms

he was in a word, b e a u t i f u l

that was a word, right? lance couldn’t remember words now

luckily apparently the man couldn’t either as he looked up at him

snapping back into reality when the girl’s voice echoed all over the place

allura: a galra in my ship!?

lance, still bit dazed, not having time to react as the girl approached him was suddenly thrown against the ground

here we go again...

akira: allura, stop!

wait, was he standing up for lance?

the earthlings quick to explain her why and how they all were there, not understanding the gravity of the situation, and asking some questions themselves

they learn they are alteans

allura, daughter of king alfor and princess of altea

coran, king alfor’s royal advisor

and last but not least, akira, altea’s most talented swordsman and princess allura’s closeted fiance

record scratch, freeze frame

welp, you’re probably wondering how that happened

akira’s world has consisted on him and his mother krolia, one of king alfor’s bodyguards, as long as he could remember since his father passed away when he was little

with krolia spending most of her time at the castle, this meant so did keith, who quickly found the ship as his new h o m e

time passed by and he became friends with princess allura, coran and everyone else in the castle, even the mice but then as he got older, akira started a struggle with himself, since apparently all he could think about were m e n

deciding no one could ever find out about his horrible secret, he chose the sword in other to get rid of his daily thoughts or at least distract him from them, working hard every day and night, becoming in little to no time the greatest swordsman altea has ever seen

everything was fine till one fateful day a boy in his class decided to pick on him, declaring to the whole room akira was into men, his internalized homophobia getting the best of him as he spoke without thinking it twice

akira [without looking up]: will i be in order to marry the princess if i were into men?

it was that at this moment he knew he fucked up

the news spreading like wildfire all over altea

but then war came in and akira, on board with allura’s idea of forming voltron to attack, was left speechless when he saw king alfor putting both her and coran into what looked like a deep slumber, walking towards him next

akira: alfor, what are you doing? we must fight- we must stop zarkon before-

alfor [placing his crown on top of akira’s head]: you must continue the legacy i couldn’t fulfil, son. you’ll make a great king someday. promise me you’ll take care of allura

akira [already falling asleep]: promise...

cue to him waking up ten thousand years later somehow cradled into a beautiful stranger’s arms, which, speaking of

aaand press play

akira [turning to lance]: excuse me but, i don’t think i’ve heard your name

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iamconstantine · 5 years

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RWBY EPISODE 12: I’M GOING TO WATCH ANOTHER EPISODE TONIGHT WHY NOT

* Oooooooohh boy this teacher...Thisss teacher * So there’s been a Faunus revolution and a war for their rights, but I’m guessing they still don’t have every right they should. There were mentions of another civil rights protest in the first ep and the White Fang so it’s more like a step towards full equality than anything. * I would like to thank the teacher for asking if any of the Faunus kids have been discriminated against while stopping in front of the only visibly Faunus girl in class. /s * This is where the black silhouettes kind of become a problem. The joke of all the students turning their heads to follow the teacher only sort of worked because the silhouetted students weren’t doing it. The kid who raises his hand to the discrimination question is just a black shape, so I can’t even see his Faunus traits. * Also there was a girl sitting next to the bunny girl and she just vanished but whatever it’s not that big a deal * I like this guy’s VA. He has a lot of energy * Cardin’s face is just so punchable * Nora looks so cute in her uniform! * The line about repeating destiny gives me the feeling that Cardin is going to become a full-on villain eventually. * Also there is ridiculous irony in that the guy who hates Faunus is named after a bird * Pyrrha is having none of Cardin’s crap and I love it * Oooh the music is nice here * Have you ever been having such a rough time that your friend brings you up somewhere high so you can jump off the edge * Pfffffft Pyrrha pulls him away like he’s actually gonna do it * Pyrrha is officially best girl.

* I understand how Jaune’s a little hurt by this but he has to face reality. He’s just not as good as everyone else and that might get him killed one day. * There’s a new layer to this conversation since it’s between Pyrrha and Jaune. Pyrrha is pretty much the #1 Beacon student leveling with him. She’s not using her experience or skill to say “even *I* have trouble sometimes!” she’s keeping him equal with her and everyone else * The “I don’t belong here line.” Always sad. Usually true. * Man I really feel bad for Jaune...Like he can’t just give up and call it quits but Beacon’s not being easy on him. Every class, every fight is beating him further and further down * I--?! Okay Jaune really doesn’t belong here I guess?!? * Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh * Man...so this retracts a lot of stuff I’ve said about Jaune before. Boy literally has NO training, no experience. It’s like he’s been hired at a job he has no experience in * How, exactly, does one fake transcripts to this degree, though? If he’s been doing such a bad job, surely Ozpin or Glynda would have checked his records to make sure they were correct by now. Plus “I got my hands on them” seems seedy * On top of just wanting to be a Hunter, Jaune also has one of those family legacy problems. Again, another trope I see often, but it’s heavier here. This is a world full of monsters and only so many people are brave enough to fight them. I imagine it must be hard having a family line of world-known heroes and just not live up to them * On the oooother hand I can’t 100% what Jaune’s doing, because A) Beacon is a school that doesn’t pull any stops, so on top of just being unable to keep up with it, Jaune could get himself killed, and B) Jaune got admitted into Beacon by lying while everyone else genuinely tried and trained. For as much as he wants to be a Hunter, he hasn’t done too much of the work to deserve a place at Beacon, even if he’s trying now * “I don’t want to be the damsel in distress, I want to be the hero!” Jaune. My boy. My man. You aren’t. You just aren’t. * The line about being the lovable idiot is yet another expectation subversion. I’ve seen Jaune’s character before: character not nearly as skilled as everyone else, kind of a coward, more of a problem than a help, but still “lovable.” Most other works don’t really touch on this, but when the “lovable idiot” character is aware of their place, it’s really hard accepting that the kindness and support given by your friends/teammates is always layered on top of pity. * Jaune physically recoiling from Pyrrha actually hurt to watch * *Cardin crawls over onto roof* Me:

* SERIOUSLY CARDIN JUST GO AWAY NO ONE LIKES YOU. YOUR MOTHER DOESN’T LIKE YOU. * You mean to tell me Pyrrha and Jaune just had this super loud conversation on top of the DORMS?! * IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAATE CAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARDIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIN * I said last episode that I felt like it was only developing so much but this episode is probably my favorite so far. It gives more insight to Jaune, develops his relationship to Pyrrha, and sets up a new problem with Cardin. * I also cannot believe that of every show I have ever watched I have never before felt such an intense hatred for a character as I do with Cardin * I know this opinion isn’t universal, but I think Jaune is made sympathetic while not coming off as too pathetic. He shouldn’t have faked his transcripts, he shouldn’t have lied about everything, but he is well-meaning and really wants to succeed, even if he’s not willing to accept help yet * Miles Luna’s voice acting while Jaune was lashing out really threw me off. I really felt the anger coming out of Jaune * BTW these recaps/analyses/whatever are MILES LUNA/JAUNE ARC HATE FREE ZONES. One of them is a fictional character and the other is one of the writers of the show who just so happens to provide the voice. Like seriously I understand criticizing writing and not liking a certain character but some of you act like Jaune/Miles came into your home, shot your dog, and ate all your Doritos. C H I L L * Anyways this episode was really good bye

#rwby #my thoughts

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ucflibrary · 7 years

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It’s August already and the summer is almost over. I can’t believe how time has flown. I’m not sure where June and July went. It feels like just last week that spring classes were ending and summer classes beginning.

School will be starting up again in a few short weeks. We’ll have a full cohort of students back on campus. The lines for coffee will be never ending and parking will be nowhere to be found. Life will definitely get more exciting.

Here are the suggestions from UCF Libraries faculty and staff to help you get back in the mindset for learning. They range from academic subjects to serious fiction to a favorite comic. Welcome to the 2017-18 academic year!

Click on the Keep Reading link to see the full list of books along with their descriptions and catalog links.

Chronicle of a Last Summer by Yasmine El Rashidi A young Egyptian woman chronicles her personal and political coming of age in this debut novel. Cairo, 1984. A blisteringly hot summer. A young girl in a sprawling family house. Her days pass quietly: listening to a mother's phone conversations, looking at the Nile from a bedroom window, watching the three state-sanctioned TV stations with the volume off, daydreaming about other lives. Underlying this claustrophobic routine is mystery and loss. Relatives mutter darkly about the newly-appointed President Mubarak. Everyone talks with melancholy about the past. People disappear overnight. Her own father has left, too--why, or to where, no one will say. We meet her across three decades, from youth to adulthood. At once a mapping of a city in transformation and a story about the shifting realities and fates of a single Egyptian family, Yasmine El Rashidi's Chronicle of a Last Summer traces the fine line between survival and complicity, exploring the conscience of a generation raised in silence. Suggested by Sara Duff, Acquisitions & Collections

Deadly Outbreaks: How Medical Detectives Save Lives Threatened by Killer Pandemics, Exotic Viruses, and Drug-Resistant Parasites by Alexandra M. Levitt Despite advances in health care, infectious microbes continue to be a formidable adversary to scientists and doctors. Vaccines and antibiotics, the mainstays of modern medicine, have not been able to conquer infectious microbes because of their amazing ability to adapt, evolve, and spread to new places. Terrorism aside, one of the greatest dangers from infectious disease we face today is from a massive outbreak of drug-resistant microbes. Deadly Outbreaks recounts the scientific adventures of a special group of intrepid individuals who investigate these outbreaks around the world and figure out how to stop them. Part homicide detective, part physician, these medical investigators must view the problem from every angle, exhausting every possible source of contamination. Any data gathered in the field must be stripped of human sorrows and carefully analyzed into hard statistics. Suggested by Megan Haught, Teaching & Engagement/Research & Information Services

Do It Anyway: The Next Generation of Activists by Courtney E. Martin If you care about social change but hate feel-good platitudes, Do It Anyway is the book for you. Courtney Martin’s rich profiles of the new generation of activists dig deep, to ask the questions that really matter: How do you create a meaningful life? Can one person even begin to make a difference in our hugely complex, globalized world? Suggested by Sara Duff, Acquisitions & Collections

Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell Being consummate fans of the Simon Snow series helped Cath and her twin sister, Wren, cope as little girls whose mother left them, but now, as they start college but not as roommates, Cath fears she is unready to live without Wren holding her hand--and without her passion for Snow. Suggested by Megan Haught, Teaching & Engagement/Research & Information Services

Franny and Zooey by J.D. Salinger The short story, Franny, takes place in an unnamed college town and tells the tale of an undergraduate who is becoming disenchanted with the selfishness and inauthenticity she perceives all around her. The novella, Zooey, is named for Zooey Glass, the second-youngest member of the Glass family. As his younger sister, Franny, suffers a spiritual and existential breakdown in her parents' Manhattan living room -- leaving Bessie, her mother, deeply concerned -- Zooey comes to her aid, offering what he thinks is brotherly love, understanding, and words of sage advice. Suggested by Christina Wray, Digital Learning & Engagement Librarian

Freedom is a Constant Struggle: Ferguson, Palestine, and the Foundations of a Movement by Angela Y. Davis In these newly collected essays, interviews, and speeches, world-renowned activist and scholar Angela Y. Davis illuminates the connections between struggles against state violence and oppression throughout history and around the world. Reflecting on the importance of black feminism, intersectionality, and prison abolitionism for today's struggles, Davis discusses the legacies of previous liberation struggles, from the Black Freedom Movement to the South African anti-Apartheid movement. She highlights connections and analyzes today's struggles against state terror, from Ferguson to Palestine. Facing a world of outrageous injustice, Davis challenges us to imagine and build the movement for human liberation. Suggested by Megan Haught, Teaching & Engagement/Research & Information Services

From the Mixed Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by E.L. Kronisburg Claudia and Jamie, pampered suburban children, run away from their Connecticut home and go straight to New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art where their ingenuity enables them to live in luxury, even though on borrowed time. Suggested by Jamie LaMoreaux, Acquisitions & Collections

Life of Pi by Yann Martel Possessing encyclopedia-like intelligence, unusual zookeeper's son Pi Patel sets sail for America, but when the ship sinks, he escapes on a life boat and is lost at sea with a dwindling number of animals until only he and a hungry Bengal tiger remain. Suggested by Larry Cooperman, Research & Information Services

Lord of the Flies by William Golding The classical study of human nature depicts the degeneration of a group of schoolboys who are marooned on a tropical island after a plane crash. Suggested by Andrew Hackler, Circulation

Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave by Frederick Douglass The preeminent American slave narrative first published in 1845, Frederick Douglass’s Narrative powerfully details the life of the abolitionist from his birth into slavery in 1818 to his escape to the North in 1838, how he endured the daily physical and spiritual brutalities of his owners and driver, how he learned to read and write, and how he grew into a man who could only live free or die. Suggested by Cindy Dancel, Research & Information Services

Originals: How Non-conformists Move the World by Adam Grant How can we originate new ideas, policies, and practices without risking it all? Using surprising studies and stories spanning business, politics, sports, and entertainment, Grant explores how to recognize a good idea, speak up without getting silenced, build a coalition of allies, choose the right time to act, and manage fear and doubt; how parents and teachers can nurture originality in children; and how leaders can fight groupthink to build cultures that welcome dissent. Suggested by Carrie Moran, User Engagement Librarian

Siddhartha by Herman Hesse The title of this novel is a combination of two Sanskrit words, “siddha,” which is defined as “achieved,” and “artha” which is defined as “meaning” or “wealth.” The word serves as the name for the principal character, a man on a spiritual journey of self-discovery during the time of the first Buddha. Siddhartha is the son of a wealthy Brahmin family who decides to leave his home in the hopes of gaining spiritual illumination. Siddhartha is joined by his best friend Govinda. The two renounce their earthly possessions, engage in ritual fasting and intense meditation and ultimately seek out and speak with Gautama, the original Buddha. Here the two go their separate ways, Govinda joining the order of the Buddha, Siddhartha traveling on in search of spiritual enlightenment. In order to complete this novel Hesse immersed himself in the sacred teachings of both Hindu and Buddhist scriptures and lived a semi-reclusive life in order to achieve his own spiritual enlightenment. It is a work that deals with the quest that we all undertake in some way or another, to define our lives in an environment of conflicting dualities and ultimately find spiritual awareness. Suggested by Cindy Dancel, Research & Information Services

The Face on the Milk Carton by Caroline B. Cooney A photograph of a missing girl on a milk carton leads Janie on a search for her real identity. Suggested by Megan Haught, Teaching & Engagement/Research & Information Services

The Kindness of Enemies by Leila Aboulela History professor Natasha is researching the life of Imam Shamil, a 19th-century Muslim leader who led a resistance against Russia during the Caucasian War. She discovers that Oz, one of her students, is descended from the historical figure and also possesses his legendary sword. As their relationship intensifies, Natasha is forced to confront issues of her own Muslim heritage in the post-9/11 world. Suggested by Sara Duff, Acquisitions & Collections

The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl, Vol. 1, Squirrel Power by Ryan North Doctor Doom, Deadpool, even Thanos: There’s one hero who’s beaten them all — and now she’s starring in her own series! That’s right, it’s SQUIRREL GIRL! The nuttiest and most upbeat super hero in the world is starting college! And as if meeting her new roommate and getting to class on time isn’t hard enough, now she has to deal with Kraven the Hunter, too? At least her squirrel friend Tippy-Toe is on hand to help out. But what can one girl, and one squirrel, do when a hungry Galactus heads toward Earth? You’d be surprised! With time running out and Iron Man lending a helping hand (sort of), who will win in the battle between the Power Cosmic and the Power Chestnut? Plus: Squirrel Girl’s classic debut! Suggested by Sara Duff, Acquisitions & Collections

#back to school #ucf library #ucf libraries bookshelf #suggeste #booklr

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