#carrie dempster

[classics-by-night]

OH, ok I know its old news at this point, but I will never get over Maisie Johnson in Mrs. Dalloway, because she is LITERALLY superfluous to everything but carries the meaning of the book on her shoulders. She rolls up for maybe two paragraphs, asks for directions, thinks about her future in London, and then another older woman looks at her and goes "Damn. My life sucks, wish I was young" and again, literally about two paragraphs to this entire interaction, but Its so emblematic of A. Clarrisa's struggle and acceptance with growing older and the nature of change, and B. How everyone has their own complex life going on, and how it's hard to appreciate or understand someone else's view. I think the fact that we do only see Maisie and Carrie (The old woman) for this brief snippet lends to that even more - Is this their story? No, Its Clarrisa's, but Clarrisa's is not complete without showing everyone else's story, even the people she doesn't even know!

#mrs. dalloway #maisie johnson #carrie dempster #classical literature

[blairstales]

Beast of the Charred Forests | Scottish Folklore

This one has many names. Sometimes, it is called the Beast of the Charred Forests, other times Dhu Guisch, or The Beast, or The Dragon. They all involve the same story, though, so I decided to join them.

In the stories, there is a great winged serpent that breaths a fire so hot, that whole forests are reduced to charred remains. In fact, some say that this creature burnt down every forest in Scotland.

“It lived in fire, and its breath burnt all the forests of the Highlands…” The Folk-lore Journal, Volume 6; Volume 21: The Folk-Lore Of Sutherlandshire (Pg232)  by Miss Dempster

In other stories, it was only the forests Southerland.

“In Sutherland the destruction of the ancient forests is laid to the charge of a fierce and powerful monster, which roamed over the north of Scotland, breathing fire wheresoever he went. As proof of this, the more elderly inhabitants point yet to the charred stumps of pine-trees embedded in the peat-mosses. The entire populace fled for safety whenever the monster was reported to be stalking the land. Lie came to be known among the folks of Sutherland as the Beast of the Charred Forests.” “The peat-fire flame : folk-tales and traditions of the Highlands & Islands” by Alasdair Alpin MacGregor (1937)

Eventually, the dragon flew to Dornoch and yelled down “Pity of you, Dornoch.”

A man named St. Gilbert took up a bow, yelled “Pity of you!” and killed the beast as it flew overhead with a single arrow.

“Pity of you, Dornoch!” roared the dragon.“ Pity of you, Dornoch!” said St. Gilbert; and taking with him five long and sharp arrows, and a little lad to carry then, he went out to meet the “Beast.” When he came over against it he said, “Pity of you!” and drew his bow. “ The Folk-lore Journal, Volume 6; Volume 21: The Folk-Lore Of Sutherlandshire (Pg169)  by Miss Dempster

The dragon is said to be buried under “the beasts stone” which is between Dornoch and Skibo. I have made a Scottish Folklore map with the suspected location here.

“Now, the towns-folk buried it under a large stone situated on the moor between Dornoch and Skibo, and known traditionally as the Beast’s Stone. And, until a few years ago, it was quite usual for the folks of this neighbourhood to compute local directions and distances in relation to their being in such and such a direction and so many yards or miles from the Beast’s Stone.” “The peat-fire flame : folk-tales and traditions of the Highlands & Islands” by Alasdair Alpin MacGregor (1937)

#dragon #scottishfolklore #scottish #scotland #folklore #scottish myths #scottish mythology #myths #mythology #dragons #FairyTypes #scottish folklore #the beasts stone #Dhu Guisch #Beast of the Charred Forests #ScottishDragonsAndSuch #MiscScottishFairies

[myheadsgonenumb]

Ch6: The Anti-Darkness League

Mable Murdered!

A Dark Day For the Daily Prophet!

The headlines screamed the next morning. The students stared down at the paper in disbelief, their porridge and kippers going uneaten. That month’s issue of Sabrina13 had been cast aside and was being left unread. 

Intrepid Daily Prophet reporter, Mable Grable, 38, was found murdered in her Kidderminster home late last night along with her young son and pet kneazle, Sookie. The bodies were discovered by the paper’s own Dempster Wiggleswade who believes he must have apparated into Ms. Grable’s street mere minutes after the brutal attack was carried out. 

Once again, the strange symbol of the skull, this darkest of marks, was found hanging in the air above the small family home - and beneath its ill lit stars lay the bodies of our fallen colleague and her child.

Mr. Wiggleswade, who also works for the Department for Law Enforcement, is said to be helping his own colleagues out with their investigations - however the Ministry proves itself to be as mendacious as ever, when the official interpretation of events varies depending on which official is spoken to.     

‘Clearly this was a carefully orchestrated attack,’ claims Endeavour Enderby, the undersecretary to Harold Minchum, the Head of the Department for Law Enforcement. ‘And the repetitious use of this symbol - this mark in the sky - tells me it was perpetrated by the same group responsible for the Night of the Glass Shards and the murders of those musicians back in April. This was a premeditated act of terrorism and we are dealing with a terrorist organisation.’

The Minister for Magic, herself, Eugenia Jenkins, has dismissed these claims, however (and see page 12 for my exclusive piece on her: “Jaded Jenkins - Does the Minister Still Have What It Takes to Govern?”). ‘It was rash and irresponsible for Enderby to say that,’ was her rather snappish response when she was approached for comment by your humble reporter (Rita Skeeter, high heeled shoes and a nose for the news). The beleaguered Minister continued: ‘He may be responsible for a mass panic which was totally avoidable, if people think there are terrorists rampaging through the country. Yes - I grant the reuse of that damn mark suggests a pattern to these incidents, however my intelligence wizards assure me that this could all simply be copycat attacks - it’s not as if you don’t publish a picture of the gruesome thing every time it gets fired into the sky. I think we are seeing an element of social contagion here, rather than one group orchestrating every event - and I assure your readers that we are fully able to crack down on the individuals responsible and will do so just as soon as we find them.’

When asked how her theory on copycat killings fit in with her belief that seditious groups are funding their activities via Gringotts, the Minister declined to respond. 

Let us hope she is capable of more joined up thinking when it comes to her other responsibilities. 

In the meantime, The Daily Prophet would like to extend our deepest sympathy to Mable’s family during these terrible times - and we raise a toast: to Mable Grable - the Hound Dog of Truth! The dead will know no rest now she is on their case.               

⚡

Ch 6 of my fourth year marauders' era fic "The Wolf's Tail" is now posted.

#marauders era #fanfic #wolfstar #jily #remus lupin #sirius black #james potter #peter pettigrew #lily evans #severus snape #canon compliant marauders' fic #marauders fourth year #the wolf's tail

[wikiuntamed]

On this day in Wikipedia: Wednesday, 14th February

Welcome, ようこそ (yōkoso), добродошли (dobrodošli), hoş geldiniz 🤗 What does @Wikipedia say about 14th February through the years 🏛️📜🗓️?

14th February 2021 🗓️ : Death - Carlos Menem Carlos Menem, Argentine former president, lawyer, and statesman (b. 1930) "Carlos Saúl Menem (Spanish pronunciation: [ˈkaɾlos ˈmenen] ; 2 July 1930 – 14 February 2021) was an Argentine lawyer and politician who served as the president of Argentina from 1989 to 1999. Ideologically, he identified as a Peronist and supported economically liberal policies. He led Argentina as..."

Image by Unknown photographer

14th February 2019 🗓️ : Event - 2019 Pulwama attack Pulwama attack takes place in Lethpora in Pulwama district, Jammu and Kashmir, India in which 40 Central Reserve Police Force personnel and a suicide bomber were killed and 35 were injured. "The 2019 Pulwama attack occurred on 14 February 2019, when a convoy of vehicles carrying Indian security personnel on the Jammu–Srinagar National Highway was attacked by a vehicle-borne suicide bomber at Lethapora in the Pulwama district of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir. The attack killed..."

14th February 2014 🗓️ : Death - Chris Pearson (politician) Chris Pearson, Canadian lawyer and politician, 1st Premier of Yukon (b. 1931) "Christopher "Chris" William Pearson (April 29, 1931 – February 14, 2014) was the second leader of the Yukon Progressive Conservative Party and the first premier of the Yukon in the Yukon.Born in Lethbridge, Alberta, Pearson moved to the Yukon in 1957 and worked for the government from 1960 until..."

14th February 1974 🗓️ : Death - Stewie Dempster Stewie Dempster, New Zealand cricketer and coach (b. 1903) "Charles Stewart Dempster (15 November 1903 – 14 February 1974) was a New Zealand Test cricketer and coach. As well as representing New Zealand, he also played for Wellington, Scotland, Leicestershire and Warwickshire...."

Image by Unknown authorUnknown author

14th February 1924 🗓️ : Event - Computing-Tabulating-Recording Company The Computing-Tabulating-Recording Company was renamed as International Business Machines (IBM), later growing into one of the world's largest companies by market capitalization. "The Computing-Tabulating-Recording Company (CTR) was a holding company of manufacturers of record-keeping and measuring systems subsequently known as IBM. In 1911, financier and noted trust organizer, "Father of Trusts", Charles R. Flint amalgamated (via stock acquisition) four companies: Bundy..."

Image by IBM

14th February 1824 🗓️ : Birth - Winfield Scott Hancock Winfield Scott Hancock, American general and politician (d. 1886) "Winfield Scott Hancock (February 14, 1824 – February 9, 1886) was a United States Army officer and the Democratic nominee for President of the United States in 1880. He served with distinction in the Army for four decades, including service in the Mexican–American War and as a Union general in the..."

Image by

Unknown authorUnknown author or not provided

14th February 🗓️ : Holiday - Christian feast day: Cyril and Methodius, patron saints of Europe (Roman Catholic Church) "Cyril (born Constantine, 826–869) and Methodius (815–885) were brothers, Byzantine Christian theologians and missionaries. For their work evangelizing the Slavs, they are known as the "Apostles to the Slavs".They are credited with devising the Glagolitic alphabet, the first alphabet used to..."

Image by

painted by Zahari Zograf (Захарий Христович Димитров)

#OnThisDayInWikiHistory #WikiUntamed #WikiExplorer #WhatDoesWikiSay

[iilssnet]

About Beaufort Sea, facts and maps

Beaufort Sea, outlying sea of the Arctic Ocean situated north of Canada and Alaska. It extends northeastward from Point Barrow, Alaska, toward Lands End on Prince Patrick Island, and westward from Banks Island to the Chukchi Sea. Its surface area is about 184,000 sq mi (476,000 sq km).. The Beaufort Sea is home to migratory birds, bowhead whales, other marine mammals. The Beaufort Sea, part of the Arctic Ocean off Alaska's northern coast east of Point Barrow, is a rich marine environment that supports many migratory shorebirds, seabirds, and marine mammals. What country is the Beaufort Sea in? Canada. The Mackenzie River, the longest in Canada, empties into the Canadian part of the Beaufort Sea west of Tuktoyaktuk, which is one of the few permanent settlements on the sea's shores. The entire surface of Beaufort Sea is completely frozen during much of the year, and permanent ice-pack covers the northern edge of the Beaufort Sea year-round.

Who owns Beaufort Sea?

As two of the five littoral Arctic states, both Canada and the U.S. may legally lay claim to portions of the Arctic Ocean, including control over shipping access and natural resource extraction in the Beaufort Sea. What lives in the Beaufort Sea? Five species of marine mammals occur regularly in the Beaufort Sea: the bowhead whale, beluga whale, ringed seal, bearded seal, and polar bear. The recurrent polynya and ice-‐edge habitat make the Cape Bathurst Polynya an important beluga, bowhead whale, polar bear, and ringed seal feeding ground. Why is it called Beaufort? Beaufort was later named for Henry Somerset, Duke of Beaufort. Originally a fishing village and port of safety dating from the late 1600s, Beaufort has been visited by patriots, privateers, merchants, and skilled craftsmen who built Bahamian and West Indian-style homes and public buildings. What 2 countries does the Beaufort Sea border? IN CANADA AND THE UNITED STATES Canada and the United States are involved in a long-standing dispute concerning the maritime boundary of the Beaufort Sea, located north of Canada and the State of Alaska. Can you drive to the Beaufort Sea? For almost its entire existence, it has only been accessible by boat or airplane, or an ice road in the winter—but in 2017 an 187 km all-weather road was completed connecting it to Inuvik and the Dempster Highway. How deep is Beaufort Sea? 4,683 m Beaufort Sea / Max depth Is the Beaufort Sea freshwater?

The Beaufort Sea, which is the largest Arctic Ocean freshwater reservoir, has increased its freshwater content by 40% over the past two decades. How and where this water will flow into the Atlantic Ocean is important for local and global ocean conditions.

Is there oil in the Beaufort Sea? The Beaufort Sea, on Yukon's north coast, has immense oil and gas resources. It's estimated there are: 67 trillion cubic feet of natural gas; and. 7 billion barrels of oil. How much oil is in the Beaufort Sea? Beaufort Sea discoveries are estimated to have 178.0 billion m³ (6.2 Tcf) of natural gas, 106.1 million m³ (667.4 million barrels) of crude oil and 0.2 million m³ (1.2 million barrels) of NGLs. Are there oil rigs in the Beaufort Sea? Canada's Beaufort Sea contains major gas and petroleum reserves beneath the seabed, a continuation of proven reserves in the nearby Mackenzie River. Offshore drilling began in 1972 carried out by companies as Panarctic Oils Ltd., Petro Canada and Dome Petroleum and 176 wells were drilled.

Is Beaufort A sea Island? Beaufort is located on Port Royal Island, one of the largest Sea Islands along the southeast Atlantic coast of the United States. How long is Beaufort Sea? The Beaufort Sea Coast of northern Alaska extends from Pt. Barrow eastward to the Canadian border, a straight-line distance of 610 km, and has 1,957 km of mainland coast. Are there alligators in Beaufort?

American alligators can be found throughout South Carolina's coastal plain, and they certainly love Beaufort County's natural spaces and mild winters. Can you swim in Lake Beaufort? Cool off during the summer months and explore Beaufort Lake. Located just 30 minutes from Ballarat, in the township of Beaufort, this man made lake is great for fishing, water skiing, canoeing and swimming. Pack a picnic and make the most of the great picnic and barbecue facilities. Why is Beaufort called Lowcountry? The Lowcountry derives its name from its low-lying topography. Located at the southernmost tip of the state, a large part of the Lowcountry sits at or below sea level. Is Beaufort a military town? The city is also known for its military establishments, being located in close proximity to Parris Island and a U.S. Naval Hospital, in addition to being home of the Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort. Beaufort is a romantic and popular tourist destination known for its history. Welcome to Beaufort, South Carolina! Read the full article

#AretherealligatorsinBeaufort? #ArethereoilrigsintheBeaufortSea? #CanyoudrivetotheBeaufortSea? #CanyouswiminLakeBeaufort? #CanyouswimintheBeaufortSea? #DoestheBeaufortSeagettsunamis? #HowbigistheBeaufortSea? #HowdeepisBeaufortSea? #HowdeepistheBeaufortSea? #HowlongisBeaufortSea? #HowmuchoilisintheBeaufortSea? #IsBeaufortamilitarytown? #IsBeaufortAseaIsland? #IsBeaufortSeainCanada? #IsitBeaufortSea? #IstheBeaufortSeaalwaysfrozen? #IstheBeaufortSeacold? #IstheBeaufortSeafreshwater? #IstheBeaufortSeawarm? #IsthereoilintheBeaufortSea? #What2countriesdoestheBeaufortSeaborder? #WhatcountriesdoestheBeaufortSeaTouch? #WhatcountryistheBeaufortSeain? #WhatdoesBeaufortmeaninFrench? #WhatishappeningintheBeaufortSea? #WhatisspecialaboutBeaufortSea? #WhatisspecialabouttheBeaufortSea? #WhatistheBeaufortSeacalled? #WhatistheBeaufortSeaknownfor? #WhatisthedifferencebetweenBeaufortandBeaufort?

[temerchanshirt]

Deadpool 3 Marvel Studios signatures he’s not coming alone shirt

 Super but how about a younger age group going first for a change around. They havent yet had their first one. Under 40s still waiting and they are carrying families on their shoulders and need to go to work. The elderly have their pensions to sustain them. The elderly can continue to shield whilst 50s and under barrier them with their new jabs. Kelly Dempster what if 1 is not a diabetic and doesn't need any shots to keep them healthy? Are you saying people should feign illness and keep getting drugs? I thought there is a name for that. 

Buy it here: Deadpool 3 Marvel Studios signatures he’s not coming alone shirt

[greyslogo]

Iohan gueorguiev bike wanderer

#Iohan gueorguiev bike wanderer portable

€œI’ve lived vicariously through Iohan for years,” one reader commented below an article about Mr. €œHis curiosity just carried him over and over the next mountain,” said Joe Stiller, whose biking gear company, BarYak, sponsored Mr. He called the remote Dempster Highway in Canada’s far northwest “a world of blue ice and white sky.” “There is snow here nine months of the year, and I wanted to see the North as it truly was,” he said of his winter journey through the Arctic. Gueorguiev found wonder in the harshness of the wilderness. When he was running out of food on a particularly arduous journey, he nevertheless fed tortilla-and-peanut-butter sandwiches to stray dogs. When a tanker truck passing him on the road kicked up a storm of dust, he waved cheerfully in response. “Hey, beautiful!” he called out to a large bear staring at him. He would go as long as 30 days without seeing a fellow cyclist and, when biking was not feasible, could wait two days on the road to get picked up as a hitchhiker.Ī spirit of generosity helped him get by. Headwinds on desert plains required him to take long breaks sheltered behind rocks and make a campsite in a stray shipping container, which itself shook from powerful gusts. Gueorguiev tried to cast the obstacles he encountered as part of a grand adventure, his videos showed genuine hardships. He earned about $3,000 a month through the funding website Patreon and received bikepacking sponsorships, enabling him to exchange the basic touring bike he started with for one with fat tires designed for riding off-road. He would sometimes position the camera at a distance, making it appear as if he traveled with a cinematographer.

#Iohan gueorguiev bike wanderer portable

He shot his videos with a simple GoPro camera charged by a portable solar panel. While biking, he would get sidetracked by serendipitous encounters and eccentric trails. Gueorguiev occasionally flew back to Canada to earn money planting trees, he said. Gueorguiev’s exact movements could be hard to pin down, it seems clear he spent from April 2014 to March 2020 biking from the Canadian Arctic Circle to its South American antipode, the icy mountains and valleys of Patagonia. Calling himself the Bike Wanderer, he stood out for his Beatnik-like romanticism about the open road, in contrast to the competitiveness of many bike jocks and gear heads. He was a star in the world of “bikepacking,” long-distance bike travel conducted off main roads. Gueorguiev made his name overcoming challenges hurled at his body and spirit. His death was announced on biking websites late last month. The cause was suicide, said Matthew Bardeen, a friend who was helping to oversee Mr. 19 in Cranbrook, British Columbia, where he had been using the home of friends as a base for travel during the pandemic. Gueorguiev (generally pronounced gyor-ghee-ev) died on Aug.

#Iohan gueorguiev bike wanderer

[usafphantom2]

McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II Wild Weasel

1980s - Air to air left side view of three United States Air Force Europe (USAFE) McDonnell Douglas Phantom Wild Weasels in a right turn. In the foreground is an F-4E carrying six MK-82 bombs, four AIM-9 Sidewinder air to air missiles, three AIM-7 Sparrow missiles and an ECM pod. The F-4G in the lead is carrying a drop tank, an AGM-45 Shrike and AGM-78 anti-radiation missiles, two AIM-7 Sparrows and an ECM-pod. In the background another F-4E carries two AGM-45 Shrike, three AIM 7 Sparrow missiles and ECM pod. The aircraft, flying over German countryside, were assigned to the 52nd Tactical Fighter Wing, Spangdalhem Air Base, Rheinland-Pfalz (Germany).

Note, Wild Weasel is a code name given by the United States Armed Forces, specifically the US Air Force, to an aircraft, of any type, equipped with radar-seeking missiles and tasked with the Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses: destroying the radar and Surface-to-Air Missile installations of enemy air defense systems. "The first Wild Weasel success came soon after the first Wild Weasel mission 20 December 1965 when Captains Al Lamb and Jack Donovan took out a site during a Rolling Thunder strike on the railyard at Yen Bai, some 75 miles northwest of Hanoi."

The Wild Weasel concept was developed by the United States Air Force in 1965, after the introduction of Soviet SAMs and their downing of U.S. strike aircraft over the skies of North Vietnam. The program was headed by General Kenneth Dempster.

Wild Weasel tactics and techniques began their development in 1965 following the commencement of Operation Rolling Thunder during the Vietnam War, and were later adapted by other nations during following conflicts, as well as being integrated into the Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses (SEAD)

[celticnoise]

Neil Lennon has had very little support from the Scottish media in any of his roles in Scottish football including his time at Hibs.

In fact, the relentlessness of the attacks on him is frankly poor and downright disrespectful and they are continuing to undermine the Celtic manager.

We’ve had the mantra of “he brings it on himself” foisted upon us from day dot which is bizarre and in the main, unfounded.

The slating of his ability as a manager has, of late, been ferocious yet he’s won 5 League Titles, 2 Scottish Cups and a League Cup to secure the Treble Treble.

He stepped in when Brendan Rodgers abandoned and secured the feat of three domestic trebles on the trot. He is now 90 minutes from a fourth treble.

He’s suffered tremendous abuse from several outlets and has also been physically assaulted whilst carrying out his job.

He’s done so under immense added pressure.

The media never gives the guy a bye.

Celtic, this season has been wayward and he’s yet to find his settled eleven. We’ve had problems with the virus, including the Bolingoli incident and with players contracting or having to self-isolate. It’s been far from ideal and I agree that Thursday’s result was shambles.

There’s no excusing the manager, or the players for that matter, and I was as disappointed as everyone but the gnashing of teeth and vitriol from our own fans has been over the top.

There is a section of our fans are buying into all this crisis talk and are giving him it tight. I fully understand the frustrations given the importance of this season, who wouldn’t?

Yet trophy less Gerrard has been lauded since his arrival two and a half years ago. Gerrard now deserves credit as frankly his team are a polar opposite from when he took over. He’s been given massive financial support by his board, but the Blue Room is still bare.

There were signs in yesterday’s win over Motherwell that this group of players still possess tremendous ability but the media are portraying it as papering over the cracks.

Celtic has lost seven points this season while Rangers have dropped four so it’s relatively marginal.

We’re behind in games due to the Scottish Government’s decision to punish the club for Bolingoli’s stupidity. We need a little perspective on this. I genuinely believe the best is yet to come but Christ we need to start doing it.

People are making claims about Celtic’s fitness and have accused Lennon of having a laissez-faire approach to it but he’s dropped Griffiths due to this.

Lennon continually protects his players from criticism and some would suggest that it’s to his own detriment. Lennon was part of a Celtic team that was renowned for their fitness so are we to believe that as a manager he’s blatantly disregarded this mantra?

What is this based on? Internet hearsay, bullshit rumours topped with a sprinkle of conjecture. Motherwell had a spell of about 20 minutes which caused us some problems but Celtic upped the ante after their goal – unfit teams don’t do that.

I read the weekend’s The CelticBlog’s piece by Tony Begley and I have to take issue with the opening gambit stating that some of our fans see him as some sort of Provisional IRA icon. Lennon is not bedecked in Beret, Commando Jacket and AK47.

I literally don’t know fellow Hoops fans who portray Neil in such a light.

This is the preserve of fans of other clubs.

Lennon distances himself from this kind of thing. And frankly the line on “cerebrally challenged” and “faith through and through” is just daft.

The CelticBlog is an open forum for writers like Tony and I. I’ve been here since the inception of the blog but have become somewhat lapsed. James, to his credit gives us free reign unless anything we write is defamatory or breaches copyright – that’s what editors do.

Tony is entitled to his opinion but to demean your fellow fans publicly does not sit right with me. Simply because they may have blind faith to Celtic, its players and manager doesn’t mean they are fair game, and to bring the IRA into it is wrong on so many levels. If that how Tony sees it, then fine. As a Celtic fan I have the right to reply. It was extremely patronising.

The suggestion that Lennon will not have a “Mowbray style ending” is inexplicable – he’s actually won something. Mowbray offered very little to the club and had to go.

Typically, Neil’s detractors use his time at Hibs to point out his failings, while conveniently forgetting that he won them the Championship meaning promotion to the top flight then took them into Europe the following year. This would not suggest disharmony, surely?

Tony also points to rumours at Hibs and Bolton about his man-management.

Whispers of player fallouts arose but it seemed to me many of their egos got in the way.

The stark reality was that Lennon took players to task on poor performance and they didn’t like being shouted at. Yet, Sir Alex Ferguson is held in high esteem for his hair-dryer treatment? Kamberi was said to be the player at Hibs who took issue, but he illustrated his loyalty when he went to Ibrox on loan – where is he now? A bad apple perhaps?

Lennon was suspended but somehow it ended up with Leanne Dempster doing a huge climb down. Club secretaries ought to know not to interfere with dressing room matters.

I’ll be honest, I am unsure of where I sit with the current manager.

I’m not here to cheerlead on his behalf especially after Sparta. What he needs to do is get the team to the levels we know and recognise. We’re giving away meaningless fouls which invites pressure and the defence is at sixes and sevens. Barkas has come under intense scrutiny and rightly so but has yet to play in front of the same back three/four.

That tells a story, and it makes a big difference.

On a positive note, Rogic is in fantastic form, Brown had a great game and Elyounoussi scored a hat-trick. Brown looked like a player hungry to save his manager’s skin. But sometimes there is no pleasing some of our fans.

Some still want Lennon gone and I get it. But even if you do, treat the man with the respect he deserves. He’s led Celtic to unbridled success and has been at the end of some shocking stuff and we should celebrate not denigrate his achievements.

Leave the public sniping to the SMSM, it’s something they excel at.

Gavin McCann is a long time CelticBlog contributor, and was one of the editors of On Fields Of Green. 

Join us on Facebook by Liking and Following our page … don’t miss another article.

The post It's Not Over For Neil Lennon Yet! A Rousing Defence Of The Manager. first appeared on The Celtic Blog.

https://ift.tt/2IjuGwo

#CelticNoise #Celtic #CelticFC #TheCelticBlog #News

[entirebodyexercise]

Demystifying massage

Swedish, deep cells, shiatsu or Thai? The numerous massage therapy options on a medspa menu are about more compared to individual preference - they help relieve a various concerns. "There are loads of forms of massage therapy, and also each one has its very own unique methods," claims Toronto massage therapy therapist Trinity Dempster. Here's all you require to know to pick the massage that is right for you.

Swedish Massage What is it? This is one of the most common kind of massage therapy. Massage therapy oil permits the therapist's hands to move over your muscle mass as you lie undressed on a massage table. A sheet covers locations not receiving treatment.

How it feels Long, smooth strokes as well as working actions concentrate on extending the muscles and tendons.

What it does " The primary goal of all types of massage is a sensation of leisure and boosted stance," states Dempster. Massage likewise improves blood circulation and lowers muscle stiffness.

Shiatsu Massage What is it? Shiatsu was starts on the same principles as acupuncture, although no needles are utilized. Therapies are executed on a low massage table or on the floor. You remain completely dressed, as well as no oil is applied.

How it feels The stress feels much more local due to the fact that specialists use their fingers, thumbs and also palms.

What it does Treatments assist with muscular tissue tension, pain, migraines, anxiety, sleeping disorders and other wellness conditions.

Deep Tissue Massage What is it? This restorative design of massage is perfect for chronic injuries like pain in the back, tendonitis as well as scoliosis. The specialist uses deep pressure to target the deep layers of muscle.

How it feels The treatments can be uncomfortable, so allow your specialist know regarding your resistance degree. You might be sore for a couple of days afterward.

What it does It launches as well as lengthens muscle mass to realign the muscle mass as well as spine.

Thai Massage What is it? The specialist moves and also stretches you through a series of yoga-like positions. It is generally carried out on a cushioned mat as well as makes use of no oils. Comfortable loose clothes is recommended.

How it feels It resembles practicing yoga, however without the exertion.

What it does You will certainly leave sensation extended as well as energized, similar to after a yoga class.

#get fit #wellness

[lovenesttravels]

7 More Sleeps

The assembling begins. There are piles appearing all over the house. Piles of books, art supplies, fishing equipment, boots, winter clothes. We have bought 2 extra spare tires for the trip - the Dempster “Highway” is notorious for flat tires. We’ll also be carrying extra gas and water on the most remote sections of the trip. Our solar panel is not charging the way it should so we are awaiting a replacement that is reported to be coming by Fedex. Hopefully it will arrive in time for installation and testing.

Now back to my checklist...

[spacetimewithstuartgary]

Exploring mining water on the moon A team of UNSW Sydney engineers has an ambitious plan to prove the commercial viability of mining water from the moon to produce rocket fuel. In an announcement yesterday at the SIAA Space Industry Forum discussing Australia’s role in the Moon Treaty at UNSW, the group outlined steps to put together a multi-university, agency and industry project team to investigate the possibilities of mining on the moon. They also intend to address how that would work under the United Nations’ Moon Treaty. Professor Andrew Dempster, Director of the Australian Centre for Space Engineering Research at UNSW, believes that Australia is uniquely placed to carve itself a niche in the global space industry by exploiting its position of strength in mining expertise. “Australia has a natural advantage for off-Earth mining – we have some of the very best mining research, technology and automation tools in the world, and the largest mining companies,” he said. “While overseas teams have been looking at solving some of the problems behind space mining, our project wants to examine how we could actually get this done, firstly from a practical engineering point of view, but also closing a viable business case.” The global space industry is expected to grow to A$1 trillion over the next 20 years and Professor Dempster says Australia needs to engage with the space agenda now to secure its ability to compete in this market in the future. “What we need to do is reduce the perceived risk to potential investors, including large mining companies, in a space mining venture,” he said. The major deterrent for industry involvement is a lack of understanding of the economics associated with this type of project and the perceived investment risk profile of mining in space. Professor Dempster, who is working with UNSW mining expert Professor Serkan Saydam, has a goal of reducing the perceived risk of off-Earth mining and offering credible evidence that mining water from the moon can be commercially viable. The hope is to be able to show that it is possible to create the machinery, mining methods, energy resources and communications required to do it. To that end, they will only consider those options that are most likely to produce positive investment returns. The best-known commercial application of extracting lunar water is in making rocket fuel. The components of water are hydrogen and oxygen and these can be used to power rockets. Making rocket fuel out of the water on the moon could significantly cut down on the cost of carrying out space missions. Now, rockets leaving Earth must carry all the fuel they need, which comes at an enormous cost. If rockets could potentially refuel once in space, they could reach distant locations for a lot less money. Speaking about the project, UNSW Dean of Engineering Mark Hoffman said: “Australia needs to invest in disruptive, innovative technologies to tackle some of our planet’s big challenges and to create new and exciting opportunities for economic growth. “Projects such as this one will help deepen Australia’s expertise in off-Earth mining and facilitate the growth of the space industry in Australia.” Professor Dempster said that given sufficient funding, he and his team may be just five to 10 years away from piloting a water mining “proof of concept” operation on the moon. “Once we prove that the technology exists and major risks can be mitigated, I expect that mining companies will see the commercial potential for this sort of venture and put some dollars towards making it a reality,” he said. Professor Dempster says that it is likely that we are still decades away from commercial mining operations being established on the moon.

#space #science #Astronomy #physics

[esperancechaletvillage]

What are Hotels in Esperance known for?

Motivations TO CONSIDER VISITING Hotels in Esperance During AUTUMN, WINTER, OR SPRING.

While a considerable number of guests rush hotels in  Esperance over the late Spring months, holidaying in the pleasant waterfront town can be similarly agreeable in pre-winter, winter, or spring. Esperance Chalet Village is the best hotel in Esperance spot to remain all year. The Esperance convenience is ideal for a break any season, whether it’s a heartfelt escape or a family occasion with the children. Esperance may be known for its endless stretches of coastline, perfect blue water, and pure white sand. However, that doesn’t mean it’s just an objective for the hotter months. Regardless of the period, there is such a vast amount to see and do in Esperance, and Esperance Chalet Village is the ideal convenience close to Esperance to use as a take off-platform. Here are our number one activities in the harvest time, winter, and spring

Harvest time: EXPLORE CAPE LE GRAND NATIONAL PARK

Harvest time carries warm, bright, and windless days, while the evenings are twilight, calm, and fresh. There could be no more excellent season to visit the incredibly famous Cape Le Grand National Park, an easy 40-minute drive from your Esperance convenience occasion house at Esperance Chalet Village. There is much more to Cape Le Grand National Park than only a couple of kangaroos lazing about at Lucky Bay. There are 20 kilometers of coastal walk trails through the public park, differing from a simple walk around a challenging climb. If you’re feeling courageous (and you’re both experienced and arranged enough), walk the entire way from Rossiter Beach to Le Grand Beach. You’ll require a post-climb to absorb the bath at your Esperance convenience on the off chance you make this choice! If you’re after unique perspectives with your exercise, climb Frenchman Peak and receive the benefits at the top.

WHALE WATCHING

May and the year’s end, humpback, southern right, and blue whales pass by Esperance. They’re regularly so near the shore that you don’t require optics to see them! Whales are regularly seen around the town seashores, including Castletown Quays, only a short way from the town’s focal point. They likewise love to advance along the Great Ocean Drive, a grand beachfront street extending 40-kilometers. To get as near the activity as could be expected, try to book convenience close to Esperance, for example, Esperance convenience Esperance Chalet Village. At the point when you’re entirely whaled out, return to Esperance Chalet Village to heat up by the fire. Sitting under the stars while you broil marshmallows on an open fire is an encounter not many individuals have living in the city. At Hotels in Esperance Chalet Village, it’s essential for day-by-day life! All through winter, the free open fire pits are going every day, so present yourself with a glass of wine, get out of your Esperance convenience occasion house, and get comfortable for an evening of cuddling up close to your loved one or stargazing with your children.

SPRING: PICNIC WITH THE WILDFLOWERS

Simply a 15-minute drive from your hotels in Esperance convenience occasion house at Esperance Chalet Village is Helms Arboretum. This is probably the best spot to get a brief look at only a portion of the 2500 wildflowers local to the Esperance district. Before you drive out to the just about 100-year-old arboretum, stop by Bob and Jim’s, an absolute necessity to visit the supermarket on Dempster Street. Stock up on connoisseur treats, similar to neighborhood sourdough bread, Western Australian cheeses, and a variety of European produce, just as new foods are grown from the ground. Even better, have the group at Bob and Jim’s pack an excursion hamper for you, which means less time scrutinizing the walkways and additional time in nature! Rudders Arboretum is additionally near the Gibson Soak Hotel, a fab little bar for lunch or supper by the fire. To the extent of convenience close to hotels in Esperance.

Source:  What are Hotels in Esperance known for?

#Hotels in Esperance

[pnkdirectimage]

Researching on plastic and cigarettes

https://theaseanpost.com/article/death-plastic-waste

Example of the endangered Coelacanth of marine animal such as turtle in this case. Due to the increasing number of plastic littering in the ocean. In this article said “In Southeast Asia, a number of endangered marine animals killed with large amounts of plastic in their stomachs have been reported by the media. In June, a Pilot whale was found beached in Songkhla, Southern Thailand, choked to death by 80 pieces of plastic rubbish weighing eight kilograms in its stomach. In the same month, a Green turtle was found dead in Chanthaburi, Thailand, with plastic shreds from fishing gear, rubber bands and other marine debris in its stomach. In 2016, a Sei whale and a Baleen whale were found beached in the southern Malaysian state of Johor. Although it was not a conclusive cause for their deaths, plastic debris was found in their stomachs.”

2. https://www.naturalhomebrands.com/blogs/news/why-cigarette-butts-are-a-big-threat-to-marine-life

“The toxins in the butts and filters leak out, threatening water quality as well as marine life. Not to mention animals mistaking these for food, or even curious children.  Over 4.5 TRILLION cigarettes are littered worldwide each year – they are the most littered item in the world” In this article they mentioned that the butts is one of the most harmful to the creature and marine animal.  A study in San diego shows that only one butts liter in the water can increased and resulted a highly toxicity level , and it kills half of the fish in waters

“It’s important to realize that plastics are overwhelmingly being ingested by marine life. Plastic pieces are being found in the stomachs of birds, fish, whales and other marine creatures because they are being mistaken for food. People who eat an average amount of seafood are estimated to ingest up to 11,000 tiny pieces of plastic per year according to a study from theUniversity of Ghent.”

3. https://tobaccocontrol.bmj.com/content/20/Suppl_1/i17.full

Nicotine found in cigarette butts may cause vomiting and neurological toxicity; leachates of cigarette butts in aquatic environments may cause exposure to additional toxic chemicals including heavy metals, ethyl phenol and pesticide residues. Although reports of human and animal exposures number in the tens of thousands, severe toxic outcomes due to butt consumption are rare. Nonetheless, the ubiquity of cigarette butt waste and its potential for adverse effects on human and animal health warrants additional research and policy interventions to reduce the stream of these pollutants in the environment.When carelessly discarded by smokers, they are carried from storm sewers and beaches to streams and waterways leading directly to the aquatic environment.ingested plastic trash, including cigarette butts, can choke an animal or poison it with toxinsHowever, canines often self-decontaminate through vomiting.

Title: Over 10 billion cigarette butts pollute country's ecosystem

This article talked about New Zealand's first national litter audit has found there are more than 2000 cigarettes for every person polluting the environment.

Ms Saunderson said. "I think on the scale of environmental issues, litter seems to be for most people a very small issue. But this research clearly shows it's a large scale issue," You can easily change that behaviour and that's our focus, trying to educate the 'littlies', and reinvigorate that be a tidy kiwi mantra of yesteryear."   

Content: They tell us of how people look at this as a small problem , less awareness on how they littering or consume unfriendly environment material. We need to create something to let people know and be aware of their incorrect behaviour. 

Content2: In the different point of view, Ms Dempster said this wasn’t all about personal responsibility but also the government and producer of waste. 

Question : How do government limit the amount of waste producing. ? Did it work?

Analysis - I like how they mention the main problem and who cause and get involve in this. Who can actually start to make a better way to fix this littering issues. Should we include these stuff into one of the school subject? So kids start to learn and understand the bad effect if they behave like that? Show adults that there behaviour caused so much effect to the environment, and these only going to change if they start to change themselves. Creating a video that is easy to understand and all age accessible will be one of the best choice to spread this problem around easier and understandable. 

Context : An online RNZ’s Daily Newsletter 

Making Video for public good:

My collaborative pair and I are inspired on making Stop motion video.

we chose cigarette butts as our main character in this whole story. As it is another human figure. It will lead the whole story showing you how it effect to the environment and animal. We discuss and experienced making some short video and the result tells us that keep it simple and easy to understand will be the key point of making this. “understandable and accessible to all ages” keep these in mind. 

We planned to create at least 3 episodes -> Cigarettes and fish, Cigarettes and Turtles and cigarette and birds. These three episodes will be displaying in different form of bad effect from cigarettes. 

https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/business/398033/over-10-billion-cigarette-butts-pollute-country-s-ecosystem

Title: Litter by little : Cigatte butts are toxic trash

Content : The cigarette butts are all over New Zealand streets- but most of us would not even realise it .People flick them on the ground and ending up washing to the sea. This toxic trash is not only create a bad effect to environment and marine life but us, human.  A funny circle, Human smoke -> flick it on the ground -> The wind , rain wash it to the sea or even stay at the place they had been thrown, -> the toxins  in cigarettes will harm the water / the grass/ the air. -> Marine animal consume it -> We, human eat fish. 

Content 2 : The way to fix it by government or a community 

-Install more rubbish bins to the city so it might be easier for people littering in the right place but this is at the fish of just adding extra clutter. 

-Inner Wellington resident suggested beggars and beneficiaries to pick up butts as a form of public service.

Context: Online Newspaper Stuff nz

Analysis: The photo they are showing us in the context tells that this Is just a little part of all cigarette filters trash on the street or in the water. Basically, in one cigarette contains a harmful toxins that could make a big effect to the environment such as water and marine lives, it is sufficient to kill fish. They mentioned about the way to make a change on this issue. I don't agree with how they think because of thats the secondary problem but the primary problem is people’s behaviour. There are no way to fix it even you add lots more rubbish bin or let people pick them up everyday but those smoker still being unaware of their behaviour and take no responsibility to the country. 

https://www.stuff.co.nz/environment/107389846/litter-by-little-cigarette-butts-are-toxic-trash-but-few-people-call-it-litter

[solarbird]

And just like that, she was down, Chapter 5: LENA WHAT THE HELL

[AO3 link]

D.va > LENA WHAT THE HELL?! Σ(ﾟДﾟ；≡；ﾟдﾟ) D.va > LENA D.va > LENA WHAT IS GOING ON TALKT O ME щ（ﾟДﾟщ） D.va > LENA D.va > LENA D.va > LENA DO NOT MAKE ME (ง'̀-‘́)ง YOU D.va > LENA D.va > LENA D.va > LENA D.va > LENA TALK TO MEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE D.va > LENA D.va > LENA LENA D.va > LENA LENA LENA LENAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

Tracer looked at the chat log - hundreds of lines of it, all more or less the same - from their Yukon safehouse, a room behind a little supplies store on the side of the Dempster Highway in the Yukon tundra, halfway between Dawson and nowhere. 23 hours a day of sunlight would make her even more hyperactive than usual, but it still paled before the unlimited energy force which was Hana Song.

She checked the time. Well, it'll depend on where she is right now, I suppose... And then the text scrolled again, on its own.

D.VA > LENAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA TALK TO MEEEEEEEE Tracer > Hey, Deeves. D.va > LENA LENA LENA LE D.va > LENA!!!1 Tracer > Hiya D.va > ARE YOU OK? DOES /╲/\╭ºoꍘoº╮/\╱\ HAVE YOU?! ARE! U! OK! Tracer> I'm fine. Kestrel's fine. Widowmaker is... as fine as she ever is. D.va > WHAT THE HELL?! DID U RLY RIP THE WALLS OFF OF MEDBAY?

Lena laughed, quietly. "Hey, Em, you impressed Hana!"

Emily leaned over and looked at Lena's screen. "...you're on chat? They didn't block your account?"

"This is Hana's personal server. She gave me a login there for when she's in Korea. Thought I'd check it, since Winston hasn't answered any of my messages." She'd hoped he would. He might've voted for deprogramming, but - like Tracer and Kestrel - he'd also argued that Widowmaker should at least have a voice in it.

"They've closed ranks, at least 'till they see what happens. I was afraid of that." Emily put her hand on Lena's shoulder, gently. "I'm sorry. But I still think he'll come 'round eventually."

"I gotta hope so."

Tracer > Nah D.va > ???! Tracer > That was Kestrel. D.va > (╬ಠ益ಠ) WHY?! Tracer > Because we made a promise and we meant it. For better or for worse. D.va > A promise? To whom? Tracer > Widowmaker. Don't you know about this? D.va > /╲/\╭ºoꍘoº╮/\╱\ KIDNAPPED YOU?!

Widowmaker saw Lena's sudden smile, and looked over onto her screen. "How does she type those character graphics so quickly? I... like that one."

"She doesn't," replied the teleporter. "At least, I don't think she does. She keeps 'em all in big text files, hundreds of 'em."

Tracer > No. We... you don't know about this at all, do you. D.va > NO I DON'T BUT YOU BETTER TELL ME RIGHT NOW Tracer > Kestrel and I ... we promised Widowmaker, a couple of months ago, in London, if she wanted to get away from Talon, we'd help her. D.va > ...OKAY Tracer > Part of that was, nobody's changing her again, not against her will. That includes Overwatch. We swore that wouldn't happen. Capturing her, that's one thing, doing to her what Talon did to Amélie, that's another. 'Cause she's a person, too, even if the doc don't think so. D.va > Okay... Tracer > D'ya see what I'm saying? We swore we wouldn't do to her what Talon did to Amélie... or let anybody else do it either. D.va > ...okay... Tracer > And Angie... didn't agree. D.va > ...oh Tracer > She said Widowmaker wasn't really a person, couldn't really consent or not consent, that the only way t'fix that was "reversing her conditioning," and so it wasn't the same thing. D.va > ... Tracer > Like she was on some kind of hallucinogen or drunk or something like that D.va > ᕙ(⇀‸↼#)ᕗ Tracer > but I'll be snookered if I can see a difference D.va > ... Tracer > since either way the person we made a promise wouldn't exist anymore once she was done. D.va > （・Ａ・） Tracer > so we stopped it. We kept our promise. Tracer > sorry about the mess. D.va > ... Tracer > It was kinda spur-of-the-moment. D.va > ... Tracer > We kinda figured, we talk Widowmaker out of Talon, we might have to quit Overwatch Tracer > We didn't really think we'd have to break her out. Not really. Tracer > But ... we did what we had to. I don't regret it. D.va > ... D.va > So... you're saying Angela was going to ... undo spiderfication ... and turn her back into Amélie? Tracer > Try to, anywya. Tracer > anyway D.va > But Widowmaker didn't agree to it. Tracer > If you were her... would you? D.va > ... D.va > ... D.va > ...no Tracer > So there y'are. Tracer > That's why. D.va > ... D.va > (╯°□°）╯︵ ┻━┻ D.va > WIDOWMAKER IS A MONSTER BUT tHAT's STILL NOT OKAY Tracer > Not even sure she's a monster Tracer > A killer, sure, that's all she's ever known Tracer > But you and me, we're both military, we both have death counts D.va > ... D.va > it's different Tracer > it is Tracer > but i can fight in a war and still oppose the death penalty Tracer > cause that's different too D.va > ... D.va > ...but you're okay. Tracer > Yeh. D.va > Kestrel's okay. Tracer > Yeh. D.va > Talon doesn't have you. Tracer > Heh - no. Talon's after us too. Tracer > but they don't know where we are Tracer > and they're mostly after Widowmaker anyway, they've always been after us Tracer > what's one more kill-on-sight order between friends? D.va > ...they want to kill the spider now? Tracer > Yep. Tracer > Don't trust her anymore. Tracer > If our intel's good, it came down from the top. D.va > ... D.va > Where are you?

The three of them had left the Oregon desert safehouse after a round of showers, the chance to enjoy some food outside of a moving vehicle, and a day of proper sleep. Widowmaker had even complimented their choice of mattresses, proving again that the spider had some interest in creature comforts.

There'd been no Interpol notice - or anything similar - about any of them yet, the key word being "yet." Nothing on Lena "Tracer" Oxton, or Emily "Kestrel" Oxton, or even anything new about Amélie "Widowmaker" Lacroix, or any combination thereof. Emily's current consulting contract with BAE hadn't even been voided; she still had access to their network. But the plan was to keep moving anyway, until they felt a little more comfortable about what Lena hoped, desperately, was an olive branch from their old team.

Tracer > Sorry, luv. D.va > ... D.va > ...I gotta think. D.va > You're not in ROK. You close? Tracer > Sorry, again, luv. D.va > meet me in Incheon? Tracer > ... Tracer > ...maybe. In a week. If things stay settled down. Tracer > Talking of, we gotta go. D.va > okay D.va > stay in tuch D.va > touch D.va > I wanna see you in person. I need to know you're you. I need to be sure. Incheon. Next week. You and Kestrel. Alone. Noooooooooooo spiders. Tracer > If we can. I'll check in... when I check in. D.va > k. let me know. Tracer > Bye

Lena dropped her way back through several anonymous VPNs and re-routers, and shut down the encrypted chat client. Incheon, she thought. Port city, easy to get to... it could work.

"Hey, Kes, Wids - y'want t'go out for Korean next week?"

Widowmaker looked across the table where she had just been shutting down her own communications array, reaching out to various specialised, no-questions-asked chemical synthesis specialists. "...you like Korean food?"

"I can take it or leave it, luv. But Hana Song sure does."

Kestrel looked over at her wife with a curious look. "...oh, really?"

Tracer shrugged at her wife. "Maybe."

"Brilliant. We could use some allies. And while you've been doing that - I've got your old contacts alerted that we're back in business, as freelancers. We'll need the money."

Widowmaker threw Kestrel a look of caution. "You aren't telling them about my particular skillset, I presume."

"Course not," she said, taking the blue woman's hand and squeezing it. "Not 'till you want in. Until then - well. I think of you as our ace in the hole."

The blue assassin wasn't entirely sure what to think of that, but she did think she found it satisfactory, and, possibly, just the tiniest bit pleasing.

"That," she said, with the hint of a spidery smile...

"...will do, for now."

-----

"Winston," said Athena, a chime ringing behind the word. "Relevant activity detected."

Winston looked up from his console, where he had been re-reading Lena's messages, wanting so much to reply, but holding off until they knew where Tracer and Kestrel might be headed. The locations of several Talon weapons caches had been welcome, and gave some hints, but could just as easily be bait, and they couldn't take the wrong kinds of chances.

"Thank you, Athena. Throw it down here?"

It wasn't much, and it wasn't personal - but it was familiar. Lena Oxton had listed herself as available again for private security contracting work, under her old company name. Same terms as before he'd initiated the Overwatch recall, but higher rates, and the added services of an experienced flying operative - battlesuit included.

He carefully checked over each version of the notice Athena had found. None mentioned sniper capabilities, and all carried the same sets of legality and indemnification conditions as before. She'd always played the game well above-board - and, at least in these listings, that had not changed.

I ... I pray this is real, he thought, allowing himself a hint of relief. If it is, they won't be in Talon uniforms the next time we see them. An image, a vision, flashed into his mind, of Lena Oxton, golden-eyed, blue-skinned, half-grin a sneer, leaning against her wife, Emily, silver-eyed, pale violet skin and purple and violet hair, tall, cold, and cruel.

He shuddered, and put it out of his mind - it won't happen - as he forwarded Athena's findings to the rest of Overwatch. We won't let it.

#gingerspider #ginger spider #widowtracer #widowtracerly #tremily #widowmaker #tracer #emily kestrel oxton #also on ao3 #overwatch #overwatch au #d.va #winston

[ravenstyx]

A Spider’s Web

Rated: M/A for violence, drug and alcohol use and addiction, sexual content

Summary: A collection of inter-connected one-shots in the Cardinal Universe, for now, exploring the relationships in the aforementioned story. Jerza, Miraxus, Miraza, Gruvia, Nali, Gildarts x Eileen, Eileen x Acnologia. I reserve the right to add in others as I please. 

Also found HERE

Running narcotics in the city was never easy. Doing it for Tante Eileen while trying to get on her good side again was even worse. Juvia wasn't a runner. Not by trade. She was a singer. She was a server. She was a girl that did her best work on her back. She was Eileen's whipping girl because Tante Eileen wasn't sure if she was still loyal to Tante Kyouka and Juvia… she didn't know, either.

Unlike her mother, Tante Erza was nice enough. She didn't put Juvia down. She didn't swear. She didn't do much of anything, really, except scheme and lay with the bartender and escort Mirajane. Did Erza suspect that Juvia didn't know what they whispered about in the room next door when the lights got low and their clothes came off? Perhaps not. Tante Erza was good, sure, but she was new. Juvia collected her secrets and she kept them because that's what good whores did when they wanted to stay off the map long enough to figure out which route was the best route.

Today, Juvia took the shipment stamped with a brown recluse, the same spider that was tattooed on her neck, to the old automotive shop on Jesper Street. It wasn't the most inconspicuous meetups she could think of but Tante Eileen and thusly Tante Erza never cared much about what their runners faced. Let the dogs sniff out the holes for the coyotes, why not, while the wolves sat on their thrones.

She came out of the woods on foot in a pair of shin-high boots and tights, the mornings were cold now, and adjusted the backpack on her jacket-clad shoulders. It wasn't a very big shipment that she carried. Hardly worth the run at all, really, considering the kinds of deals Somnium usually made. There was a time when Juvia was more suspicious of the make work like this but it had been a long time between fixes. Tante Eileen was holding out on her and so was everyone else on her orders. Aside from that, though, Aria started school a few weeks ago and Juvia wanted to get her something nice. There had been a purple Sparkle My Little Pony backpack that had caught her eye the last time Juvia had dared to take her into Costco, brave only because Kyouka was by her side and Gray was in jail for a murder he hadn't committed but had confessed to, and she would give anything to have the thirty dollars it cost to buy Aria that bag. Anything.

Tante Eileen promised that it would be purchased and delivered; she just had to do this job.

Juvia checked her surroundings before she stepped foot on the broken concrete driveway. There was nothing but highway and treeline for as far as the eye could see; northern forest that was good for blueberry growing, northern highway that carried transport trucks full of food and supplies bound for the northern territories. Nothing else. No conspicuous cars in the parking lot, no cars on the road. She hiked the bag high again and scampered across the lot, feeling like the criminal she pseudo-was. Prostitution was legal in Magnolia. Drug-running was not.

No one stopped her as she skidded to a halt beneath the Imperial Automotive awning. The white plaster building threw sunlight and blinded her. She held her breath and her backpack as a huge Dempster's Bread transport rumbled down the highway, trying to make herself one with the building. When it had passed, she let out all the air in her lungs and tried the man door for the ancient oil shop. It opened with a squeak and a groan. Dust fell from the ceiling and went into her hair. Juvia held off on brushing it out, focusing instead on surveying the building.

There were tired lift jacks, a tire or two, some dusty bottles of engine oil, grease stains on the floor, a grease gun, the tube descending from the ceiling in a coiled mess. To the right was another man door and beyond that was a desk that had, at one point, been made of plywood. Now it was sagging and rotted through, hard northern winters taking their toll on everything. She breathed in mildew and crisp autumn air. She breathed in aftershave. Juvia was tense even before turning but upon doing so and seeing his gnarled and exasperated expression, she thought her heart would explode. She backed away from him quickly even as Gray grabbed her wrist. It wasn't the first time he'd taken her hard enough to bruise.

"Ow!" she chirped and Gray loosened his hold on her immediately, as he hadn't last time when he wanted her attention and all she wanted to do was get away from him. It seemed he was ashamed of the handprint he left on her arm; Juvia took advantage of his contriteness and twisted out of his hold. She didn’t get far, turning into the chest of his partner. He pushed her back roughly; Gray was there to keep her from falling. Juvia felt all of the fight leave her system in a weak whoosh that could have been defeat. She would not cry. Would not. It was a close thing as Gray stripped her of the backpack she wore. He rooted through the contents right then and there in his black Narcotics uniform, moving methodically and professionally. She almost remembered why she loved him then. He was so detached. She almost remembered why she hated him, too.

"Where's the rest of it?"

"That's all," Juvia replied.

“This is a long run from the city for that’s all.”

“But it’s true.”

Gray scowled up at her, trying to see the lies in the truth. Juvia licked her dry lips and Gray thought he latched onto a nervous twitch. "Get the team to search the area," he told his partner. "Try to dig up her car and any associates she brought with her."

“On it.”

"It was just me," Juvia said. “And my car is empty.”

Gray ignored her like she thought he would. "I'll get her loaded and bring her down to the station."

"Yeah." His partner made to do his bidding and Juvia was strapped with a pair of handcuffs that were this side of tight. She bit back her complaints.

Imperial Automotive's door slammed and Gray got on his phone, a huge satellite contraption because there wasn't much signal so far north. He called in the bust to head office, then got on the phone to whoever had dropped him and his team off there likely hours and hours before. When he hung up, he grabbed Juvia by the elbow and corralled her toward the exit.

"You're a lot more cooperative than my last bust," Gray murmured when she hurried her steps to match his long ones.

"Should I fight?" Juvia returned.

"I don't want for things to get ugly."

Hilarious. "They are already."

He stepped out into the sunshine and the light was kind to him. There were a few crow’s feet by the corners of his eyes and his mouth had worry lines, there was the odd shot of grey in his hair that hadn't been there before Aria was born four years before, but he was handsome. Heartbreakingly so. Juvia turned her eyes out toward the highway where a black Yukon roared over the northern road to their position. It was safer that way. Not looking at him. When the truck stopped, Gray opened the back door and ushered her inside. She wished he'd waited for another vehicle but he climbed into the front seat. There was a cage separating them and he remained facing forward while one of his men drove but Juvia had a clear view of the back of his head. She looked at him shamelessly and wondered at all of the things she'd somehow lost.

The MPD was as monstrous as ever. A building made of old and new. Skylights kept it bright when the floors and walls were made from deep wood and black tile, the bustle of every day traffic kept it alive. Juvia counted the railings as she ascended the stairs to the interrogation room. Fifty-seven. Eyes were on her, some from the public, some from the police department, men and women that had seen plenty of criminals come and go. Not her, though. She'd bet she and Gray were the talk of the town. Narcotics frontman Gray Fullbuster and his renegade addict baby momma. She'd spent years sliding under the radar during Kyouka's rule at Somnium, or Dreaming Tree as it was colloquially known on the streets, a bordello and a front for one of the biggest cartels in Magnolia, second only to Acnologia's Prodigure, but here she was, tripping on her feet, and why? Someone had ratted over a small shipment of fentanyl.

At the top of the stairs, Captain Milkovich stopped their progress, her hand on Gray's arm just a little too intimate. Juvia had seen enough to know when two people were fucking but trying to keep it secret. Her voice was caramelized sugar; Gray leaned into her subconsciously. Juvia hated her immediately for the way she wrapped him up around her finger without doing a damn thing. She hated her further for the way that she had everything together. For the way that she saw Aria more than Juvia did. For the way that she was…

Better.

In every sense of the word. Just better. Ultear Milkovich didn't stare at the fentanyl patches on Tante Eileen’s desk for hours fighting the urge to stick one on her skin just so she could feel nothing at all. Just because she'd done it too many times before and couldn't seem to stop. It didn't chew at her. Ultear Milkovich didn't kneel at Eileen Belserion's feet, hoping that the Tante was feeling charitable that day and would not stick her downstairs with Tante Kyouka—not Tante, Juvia reminded herself, not anymore, just Kyouka. Disgraced Kyouka—and punish her as she did Kyouka for betraying them all to Acnologia.

"Do you want me to call in someone else?" Ultear whispered. Juvia bet that she imagined she was being secretive; there wasn't enough space between the three of them for that.

"It's fine," Gray said.

"This is a conflict of interest," Ultear maintained.

"I can do it, Ul. Doesn't mean anything to me," Gray said. He had perfected a blank face; Juvia knew he was a liar. It meant something. It had to. He didn't tighten her cuffs too much because it meant nothing. He didn't leave his handprint on her wrist months ago for nothing. "Trust me."

"Alright," Ultear said without as much fight as Juvia expected. Maybe they were in love? Or maybe it was a ploy to make Juvia feel comfortable. Did Ultear suspect that Gray could get information from her that someone else wouldn't be able to?

Whatever the reason, Ultear stepped aside and Gray took Juvia into an interrogation room that was all too familiar. The walls were dark but there were so many bright fluorescent lights hanging off chains that the room didn't seem dingy. She could perfectly see the concrete floor stained with old blood. She imagined that it belonged to one of the officers—beating prisoners was frowned upon these days. On the opposite side of the room was one-way glass. Juvia stared at it, trying to see through; of course she could not.

"Sit," Gray told her. Juvia took one of the chairs bolted to the floor and leaned back. Gray sat opposite her and did the same. "Here we are again." His voice was full of disappointment.

"This is the only way I get to see you," Juvia said offhandedly, half-sarcastic, half-genuine and was glad when he recoiled some. Good. He recovered, though.

"You know how this works." Those simple words cut deeply; Juvia scowled and Gray was careful to keep his triumphant expression under wraps. "I'll go over everything anyway—"

"Just go," Juvia said.

Gray looked like he was going to go into the details anyway. Then he sighed and the interrogation began. He was right, she'd been through all this before, for the same reasons. She'd spent a few weeks in jail for it, even, and had anticipated Gray's line of questioning. She hadn't anticipated the way he'd look over his notebook with something anguished in his eyes when she didn't tell him what he wanted to hear—where the drugs came from, where they were going. She didn't anticipate the way he sat back when he was done. The way he said, "You're free to go, Juvia."

"I'm…?"

"Good to get out of here. Go home. I don't want to look at you again."

She was wary, not ecstatic. "Why?"

"Because a few units of the patch aren't enough to justify clogging up the jail cells."

She chewed her cheek before speaking. "If you think I'm going to lead you to the supply—"

Gray stood so he could sit in front of her, one leg on the ground, the other on the table. "I know it comes from Somnium," he said. His eyes were on the spider tattooed on Juvia's neck. "I know something else, too, that I think you should know."

Her curiosity was strong. So was her wariness. "What's asking going to cost me?"

"Nothing," Gray retorted. "I'll tell you for free. The Spider sold you out."

"Pardon?"

"The Spider. Eileen Belserion. It was her that made the call. It was her that told me to set up at Imperial."

Juvia's response was immediate. "She just called you up and said Hey, Detective, this girl is running drugs up north, better catch her and her tiny supply. Few hundred bucks, it'll be worth the effort. Sounds legit."

"That's not exactly how it happened. She led me to believe that there was a larger shipment which makes me think that either you were a decoy, or she wants you out of the picture, Juvia."

His words sunk in. "If that's true and you let me go…"

Gray didn't fill in the blanks for her and Juvia was afraid to. She had to ask herself if she was more afraid of Eileen Belserion or jail. She had to believe that she was still useful to the Spider. If she bailed now, she'd be killed, but if she went back… maybe Eileen would appreciate her mettle and forgive her for her association with Kyouka.

Maybe.

She rose and held out her hands. Gray unlocked her handcuffs; the tips of his fingers were calloused on her forearms and palms, but gentle. Juvia felt his eyes on her back all the way out of the Constabulary.

This side of Magnolia was trapped in soft decay. There were flowers on rusty lampposts, there were murals on the sides of decrepit buildings, professionally painted ones. The old town train station, the Ojibwa chief in a time before industry gripped the city, the old post office's side painted with a road traveled by a horse pulling a buggy.

It was all surface gloss. There was unkemptness to it all; the beauty truly faded when one stepped out of the main road and into the alleys behind the buildings. Away from the light and into the shadow where the dumpsters were scrawled upon with graffiti, where the garbage gathered against soggy fence posts, where a knock on the right apartment door would get you almost anything you wanted, a rainbow of pills, bowls full of herb, everything from salvia to the tamer green of marijuana.

Juvia felt a twitch in her muscles as she navigated the familiar area to a corner where the police didn't often patrol. Longing, that's what that feeling was. Hankering. She wanted her head to spin, she wanted her muscles loose, she wanted to feel nothing while she did this. So badly.

Breathe.

Because she needed to focus. Typically, she didn't partake in such a dangerous task—wandering around late at night, propositioning those that would rather risk paying a prostitute on the streets than go through the official channels, enjoying their experience at an official bordello under the rule of a registered Matriarch.

Juvia supposed she could go to Somnium and beg Tante Eileen and Tante Erza the use of one of the upstairs rooms. That would have been fine. Somnium would reap a percentage of her profits, as was the way, and she wouldn’t be taking her life into her hands, but Tante Eileen would never accept the money Juvia made in her establishment as payment for the money she lost when she didn't sell the fentanyl. It wouldn't matter that the drug was confiscated during an arrest, that profit was lost and it needed to be repaid.

She parted with the blue coat she wore, though mid-October was cold, and adjusted her dress so it sat low around her chest and high on her legs. She shed her tights, too, bundling those up with her coat and tucking them behind a blue recycling bin. When she was ready, she stepped out into the setting sun, trying to milk whatever warmth she could from the fading rays, and prepared for a long night.

She had men come and go, ones that wanted everything from a grope to the full package. Some tried to short change her, others tried to not pay at all, some overpaid with a smile and a wink.

The moon was high and Juvia's pockets were far from full when the headlights of a truck pulled down the alley. She wished there was warmth to be had in the light's bright glow but there was only October's bitter wind and the rustle of leaves hustling down the street, dekeing between the truck's tires.

The vehicle pulled up beside her and the window came down; hot air rushed out and made goosebumps rise on Juvia's arms. She rested her forearms on the windowsill and leaned in. The greeting she'd been harvesting dried up on her tongue when she realized she recognized the person sitting behind the wheel. She leaned away without a word. Gray's voice called her back.

"Get in, Juvia."

She almost listened but caught herself. "No, thanks."

He’d always been bossy. "Get in or I'm calling you in."

"What are you going to say? You saw me standing in the Stacks?"

"That you're trying to sell yourself on the street in the Stacks."

"That's a big assumption." She started walking away. Gray found his accelerator and followed her.

"That's the only reason girls like you come by here. Stop with the games and get in."

"Why?" she asked viciously.

"So I can drive you back to Somnium," he said immediately. When that didn't stop her, he said, "It's not safe out here."

"Looked safe enough to me until you showed up."

Gray didn’t let her words cut him. Pity. "It wasn't so long ago that the Cardinal killings stopped."

"That man is dead and his associates are behind bars," she said succinctly.

He huffed exasperatedly. "Juvia—"

She reeled on him. "I don't care, Gray. I'm more afraid of what's going to happen to me when I go back to Somnium then I am of the off chance of some client getting rough. Now, if you don't mind, I have a lot of work to do before I can even consider returning to Tante Eileen."

He didn't just recoil at her harsh tone, he slowed down. Juvia thought that was the end of it. He revved the engine and caught up to her again a moment later. "I can help you," he said, and he sounded much more sincere. “You won’t have to deal with the weirdos that can’t get what they want in the bordellos.”

"Oh, will you put me into protection for selling a few cheap secrets?" she asked sarcastically.

"If that's what you need."

"I'll be dead before the first day is done.” Tante Eileen’s reach was far. Maybe as far as the Black Dragon’s. “What I need is money, not protection. Unless you're handing it out, leave me alone."

Gray said again, "Get in."

"Fuck off."

His voice snapped against her like a whip. "Juvia. Just get the fuck in. I'll—"

Juvia snapped back. "You'll what?"

He looked up and down the back alley, into the windows of the apartments above. He got an all clear so he felt safe enough to open the console and pull out a wad of cash. "Give you this. To pay your debts." Juvia stopped in her tracks, and the Sierra stopped as well. She reached into the cab for the roll; he held it back. "Get in."

She'd gotten into stranger's vehicles for less. What was getting into Gray's? She climbed in and Gray, true to his word, passed it over. He put his foot down then and accelerated. Juvia didn't panic. She counted the bills. It was enough. She clutched the money, feeling like it was a lifeline, and chewed her cheek. "Where are we going?"

Gray stared at the road. "I don't know."

"You don't know?" There was a wobble in her voice. Sometimes, he scared her and she couldn't hide it. He was too intense. Unpredictable when he was under pressure.

"Away from here."

"You're just going to drive forever?"

"No. Of course not," Gray said.

"Then? Back to Somnium?"

He drummed his fingers on the steering wheel. “Somnium is poison.”

“It’s my home.”

“You should leave.”

“And go where?” she asked. “Maybe Daisy’s is hiring. Oh, wait, they don’t like girls with a runny nose.”

His jaw flexed. “You need to get off that shit.”

“And you need to mind your own business.”

“I would if Lyon didn’t tell me he got a call two weeks ago about a girl passed out in the bathroom of a fucking Starbucks, ODing on shitty powder cut with fentanyl. Sound familiar?”

She’d been doing fine until that moment but now all Juvia could think about was the burn down her nose, the drip in her throat. She took a deep breath into hollow-feeling lungs. That didn’t help. She dug her fingernails into her legs. Gray noticed. He reached across the console and took her hand away from her leg. She tore out of his grasp and tried to make herself small by the window.

“Juvia…”

“Stop the car and let me out.”

Maybe he had a hearing problem; he didn’t even feather the breaks. “I’m worried about you.”

“I’m fine. Everything is fine.”

“You will be. If you keep trying.” The silence that webbed between them lasted for all of ten seconds. "Aria said to me this morning that she wanted to see you."

It was a ploy to distract her and to make her feel better. It worked. Juvia lifted her head away from the window. "She did?" The last time she'd seen her daughter, Aria had been by her side in Somnium, seeing too much, hearing too much. Aria was all too excited to go back with Gray when he was cleared. It almost killed Juvia. She had to admit, though, that this was better. She loved her daughter enough for that.

"She loves you."

"She does?" The words were out before Juvia could stop them.

Gray didn't look at her; he squeezed the steering wheel until his knuckles were white. "Of course she does. Did you want to visit?”

“Yes.”

His shoulders dropped their tension as soon as he had something to focus on, a destination. “Then that’s where we’ll go.”

She felt the hot press of tears against her eyes. She choked them all back and watched the world go by. Buildings, bus stations, houses. The world opened up and the city fell away; trees took the place of skyscrapers. They traveled to the sound of Pink Floyd's Lunatic. Juvia mouthed the words; it was her song of choice when she was digging her nails into her arm hard enough to draw blood while in the grips of withdrawal. It helped her now, too. She didn't look Gray's way, she didn't sob into her hands, she didn't think how fucked up she was, in too deep and trying to keep her head above the water. She thought about her daughter.

The truck slowed. Juvia looked up and watched as the white brick bungalow came into view. She'd never lived there, it was bought long after she gave up and gave into Tante Kyouka, but looking at its siding, the yard her daughter romped in with the little fluffy dog that went everywhere with her, she wished that it could have been hers.

Those were wants for a different girl.

But hell. As soon as the truck door slammed behind Gray, the front door burst open and Aria came spinning out, Weiner the little spaniel at her heels, Juvia thought she'd give anything to have this.

"Daddy—" Aria's words died off as soon as she laid eyes on Juvia. Wiener had been barking in joy, now he barked because there was someone he didn't know on his property. Juvia held her breath. Aria squealed, "Mummy!" and started running again. When she hit Juvia's legs, Juvia thought she'd fall over, off balance physically and metaphorically.

"Hi, baby."

Aria peppered her with a thousand questions in a matter of seconds. Juvia could barely keep up and fell off the track completely upon seeing the babysitter in the doorway. She was young and stared at Juvia even while she talked to Gray, who was handing out money again. She disappeared into the house and reappeared a second later with her school bag and purse. She called goodbye to Aria, who waved enthusiastically, and then she was gone.

Gray said, "Come on, Aria. It's dinner time."

"But Mommy—"

"Is coming to eat with us," Gray replied without looking at Juvia for confirmation. They hadn't talked about dinner. Juvia thought she could use it, though, probably, because she couldn't remember the last time she ate or felt hungry for anything, really. She let Aria take her hand and bring her inside the modern bungalow. It was nice. Simple. Cleaned, though there was evidence of Aria's presence—a toy box in a play room off the foyer that had been left open because she had too many things. Juvia simultaneously felt stupid for wanting to get her the sparkle backpack and justified—everyone else had given her things but Juvia—she hadn't much to contribute.

"Let's go wash up," Gray told Aria. Aria released Juvia's hand and raced down the hall. Gray followed behind. Juvia lingered, migrating into the toy room where she gazed down at the toy box. Some items she recognized. My Little Pony's, Peppa Pig, and a Batman doll. There was a picture taped in the top left corner of the box lid—Aria, Gray, and Ultear Milkovich at an amusement park. Gray held Aria and didn't touch Ultear at all, but Juvia felt cold and bitter. This woman was living the life Juvia couldn't.

"Juvia?" Gray asked from the doorway.

"Hm?"

"Dinner is on the table. Laki set it out before she left."

Juvia left the box and hopefully, the bitter expression on her face, and found a smile somewhere in her repertoire. She did what she hadn't in years: sat down to a family meal in a kitchen that looked like it climbed out of the colonial era, all pale pine cupboards, burnt pine floorboards. Rustic. Nice. Gray did well with his salary, apparently.

Dinner was lasagne. Juvia took a small piece, afraid to eat too much just in case it didn't sit well with her. It didn't always happen, but sometimes when she went too long without a hit.

Aria sat next to Juvia and Juvia distracted herself by asking her about school. Junior Kindergarten. Aria spilled everything. There was a boy in her class that was her best friend. They played with a farmhouse just like Daddy's. Her teacher was nice. She tied Aria's shoes if they came undone. They got three recesses and in the play yard, there was a purple dinosaur that rocked back and forth when it was sat in. Her best friend got sick in it yesterday and the teacher needed to spray it out.

"Aria," Gray scolded.

"It's true."

"We're having dinner."

"I'm done," she informed him.

"There's still stuff on your plate," Gray said.

"This is Weiner's. See?" She climbed off the booster seat before Gray could get another word in and plopped the plate on the floor. Wiener scampered over.

"Aria."

"He's hungry." The food was already gone in the spaniel's belly; the plate was clean. "He says thank you and—" She grabbed Gray's arm and tugged him down for a wet and lasagna-filled kiss on his cheek. Juvia laughed, truly laughed. Aria joined her.

Gray's protest fizzled. "You're a butt." Aria tried to run away. “Hang on.” Gray grabbed her up while she squealed and laughed and held her while he wiped her face with a damp cloth he had already at the table. This was a common occurrence, apparently. When he was done, she squirmed out of his hold and tore out of the kitchen with her shirt up around her belly button. Juvia raised her brow and laughed again.

"Don't let her energy fool you. She'll be asleep in thirty minutes," Gray said. "Guaranteed." He picked up the plate off the floor and shooed out the begging dog. He took Juvia's, too. She'd eaten it all. Juvia watched him go to the sink and do dishes. It was so domestic.

"Did you want a coffee?" Gray asked over the sound of the water.

"Yes," Juvia said just because. She wanted to linger there longer. Gray read her mind.

"I'll call you a cab when Aria's in bed, if you want to stick around until then.”

“Yeah?”

“Sure. You can put her down, too. She'd like that, I think."

“Okay.” Juvia fed off the scraps he gave her and pretended that she was unbothered by it. Why the generosity? Why think about it at all. She dragged her fingers over the lacquered wood counter. It was so, so nice. Nicer than almost anything she'd seen. Nicer than she was good for. Juvia made a fist. It gave her the courage to blurt, "I'm buying Aria a backpack."

Gray stopped filling up the kettle to look at her. The expression on his face tried to break her apart: hopeful but skeptical. Hadn't she promised before to buy things but it just never worked out, that look said. Yes. This was different, though. Kyouka wasn't here breathing over Juvia's shoulder. She wasn't feeding her long white lines. She wasn't controlling everything.

"It's purple," Juvia said. "And—sparkly. For Sparkle. It's a pony. One of the My Little Pony's. Aria's favourite. She’s okay. The pony, I mean. Aria is great."

He turned off the water and put the kettle back on its element. "I'm sure she'll love it."

"We found it. In the store, Aria and I." She was blathering. "I wanted it to be a surprise then so—I didn't get it." Gray saw through the lie dusted in white powder, she was sure. Juvia didn't care. "I thought she could put her lunch in it and maybe extra sweaters in the winter. Socks. I don’t know if it’s big enough for boots, too, but—"

Gray finally stopped her. "Juvia. Relax."

She was always running at high-speed and Gray was always telling her to relax. The routine was so familiar that Juvia had to stop for a whole new reason. It hurt. Gray, too, seemed to feel that ache. His face pinched and his knuckles turned white on the kettle and he stopped talking.

Aria came back into the kitchen. "Daddy, it's Thomas Time."

Relief broke across Gray's face. "Yeah, sweetie."

She looked at Juvia as she asked, "Can Mommy come, too?"

Gray answered for Juvia. "Yeah. Sure."

Aria looked at Juvia expectantly. Juvia got her stiff legs to move and took her daughter's out held hand. There were no calluses on Aria's skin. No telltale hardships she'd had to endure just yet. There was just the softness and the innocence of youth. Juvia was selfishly glad in that moment that Aria didn't seem to know what was going on during her short stay at Somnium. Innocence should be treasured.

The living room was like the kitchen, too, too nice. There were two large and comfortable looking couches, pushed together in an L shape; there was an ash coffee table, and a large screen TV. On the other side of the room was a huge window that looked out into the forest. Aria took her to one end of the couch. Juvia settled down, Aria got in beside her and held out her hand for a trailing behind Gray. He sat on Aria's other side and it almost felt nice. Like it could be right. Like Juvia could belong.

Thomas and Friends came on the TV with Gray's help. Juvia pulled Aria into her side and rested her head on top of Aria's. She smelled like blackberry shampoo. Juvia closed her eyes and breathed her in.

A blanket resting over her body pulled her gently from sleep. Juvia blinked. It was dark in the room. The TV was off now, so were the lights. Gray knelt beside the couch, illuminated by the light of the moon bleeding through the large window. He was like a ghost with at-odds hair, raven’s wing locks tousled out of the hold the pomade had it in. He’d been shoving his hands through it too many times. What was he thinking about when he did that? She used to know.

"Is it late?"

"Yeah," Gray whispered. "I didn't mean to wake you, sorry."

"Aria..."

"She's in bed. She fell asleep just after you did," Gray responded. "I watched the rest of Thomas by myself."

"Sorry."

He looked at her for a long time. "You were tired, I guess."

She hadn't been sleeping well lately. Juvia kept the tidbit to herself and propped herself up. Gray was there waiting, watching her as she pulled up the neckline of her slipping dress. "Thanks for spending some time with her."

"I miss her," she said.

A look came over him. Pained. He asked, "How long have you been clean for?"

She wanted to lie. She couldn't. "Days." And not necessarily by choice.

He gathered up her hands and squeezed them together in his own, eyes the colour of over-burdened storm clouds searching hers. She could feel his hot exhale and imagined that he was breathing life into her. If only he could stay that way, she might be okay. "That's good." She smiled weakly and Gray opened up a bit more, saying, "I miss this. I miss you."

Such a simple admission; it made her heart beat and bleed. Gray wasn't thinking about Ultear just then, he was thinking about her, Juvia. The Juvia that used to be. Juvia wanted to be that person again, very, very badly. This, right here, was the closest she'd come to the old, dead her. She leaned forward. His mouth was familiar and his kiss chaste. Only his breathing betrayed him; short. Juvia came back, trying to give him a chance to figure out if he wanted to continue. Gray followed her back into the couch. It almost hurt, that kiss. He was too rough; it had been too long since the last time they'd done this. Juvia didn't care. She took everything he gave out and more. His chest pushed against hers, rising and falling with harried breaths. Juvia grabbed his forearms and held him tightly. She could feel his pulse move in his veins, she could feel his desperation. It ached in time with her own.

Gray's mouth slowed and eventually stopped. Juvia waited, feigning patience as he touched her hair, smoothing it back from her face, hands continuing down over her shoulders. He started again, relearning her body and seeing something she never did when she looked in the mirror. His voice came out hoarse. "Juvia?"

"Yes?"

He hesitated. Thinking about his words, his actions. Not too deeply. "Did you want to go upstairs?"

There had been a nervousness building in Juvia's stomach, she'd been afraid he was about to tell her to go. It fled. "Okay."

Gray rose from his crouch and took her hand. She relied on him to lead her through his house, a little bit because she was afraid of tripping in the unfamiliar territory, a little because if he was going to crumble the foundations of what he built here, Juvia wanted him to be the one to swing the hammer, not her.

Every other stair creaked. Gray moved carefully; Juvia mimicked his steps. At the top of the stairs were three doors, the one to the right was the very last of the bunch, and the only one with the door open. Juvia searched for Aria's room and found it at the opposite end, a soft light coming from its bottom. A nightlight. Gray pulled her along into the darkness that was his room and closed the door, taking the sight away from her. Now there was only shadow, the smell of his sheets, and aftershave faint in the air.

Gray didn't bother with the lights so Juvia couldn't pick out the particulars of his room—pictures? Decorations? What kind of bedspread did he have? It all remained a mystery. Gray stepped into her and she thought it didn't matter. He still felt so strong wrapping his arms around her middle; he could almost envelop her twice; she was too skinny. He noticed; Juvia knew he noticed. He didn't lecture her. There were times when Juvia thought she was the only problem. Then he'd treat her like this—like she was the drug he couldn't stop thinking about—and she'd remember that they were both addicts.

Gray brought her to the bed and pushed her down by her shoulder. He joined her after undoing his pants and letting them sit loosely on his hips. His weight settled on her and she wrapped her arms around his back, holding him near. He kissed her on her neck over the spider tattoo and it was like a poor welding of old and new. Who she was meeting who she used to be. It left her almost crippled, his soft press of lips, his tongue sliding on her skin, his breath the gentlest of hammer strikes, slamming her into a place where she could barely breathe and only felt.

Juvia got her hands between them and pulled her dress down, needing to move forward from this place just to prove that she could. Her breasts came out and Gray occupied himself with those. Nothing changed, not really, those were still his favourite. Juvia worked around him and unbuttoned his shirt. She missed a button and had to come back. Once it was undone, Gray sat up so he could get the material off his shoulders. His pants could remain where they were; they weren't that much of an obstacle. Juvia bothered only to pull them down another few inches, making it easier to pull him out. He only let her jerk it without a condom, holding her back when she tried to slide down and put it in her mouth. She decided not to be too hurt by it.

"Here." He leaned back while she slid her hands up and down his length and searched blindly through his nightstand. He came back; Juvia listened to the sound of plastic rustling. He put the condom on in the dark. How many other girls had he had with the lights out? She knew he frequented Black Glove, another bordello in the city. She even knew his favourite girl there. A blonde with massive tits that demanded when she was in the thick of it that he call her Jenny, though that wasn't her real name. The tidbit of information was gathered solely for the purpose of torturing herself—Juvia didn't need to know, or even really want to know—which girl Gray loved to pay to fuck.

He edged into her and moved his hips slowly while he massaged her at the same time; Juvia's thoughts cleared. Gray liked to get into it right away but he would never leave her wanting. He knew how she liked it and did it flawlessly, too. Juvia bowed into him, holding in breaths and sighs as only his fingers increased speed, aware that it wasn't just them in the house. The bed creaked occasionally. Gray held the headboard in one hand, Juvia’s hip in the other. She wrapped her legs around his back and met each of his thrusts, thinking that would keep things quiet. Not really. He never stopped, though he did slow sometimes, coming all the way out just so he could get her closer and closer to orgasm, smacking his cock on her sensitive body.

He was a patient lover, squeezing out every bit of enjoyment he could. When it was time, Juvia came biting her lip. Gray didn't last too much longer after that and collapsed on top of her while still inside. He kissed her and she thought she could cry. He was too sweet after lovemaking. Always. She kept expecting him to get up and retreat into himself but he took his time before rising, kissing her chin, her neck, her mouth. When he was finally ready, she felt his absence like a hole in her heart.

He came back out, of course, and turned down the covers. "Come under," he told her.

Juvia hesitated. "Don't you want me to go?"

"It's late," he replied and again urged her beneath the blankets. Juvia let her apprehension go and did what he asked. He slung his arm around her body and put his head into her shoulder and she thought she could know peace like this.

Gray ruined everything. He usually did. "I know a doctor at Shoals."

Shoals. A rehab center.

"If you get in there... Aria would like to have you around more."

Tante Eileen would never allow for it. Juvia didn't tell him that. He'd get the hint when he woke in the morning and she was gone.

#Gruvia #gray fullbuster #juvia lockser #ft #fan fiction #fairy tail #my writing #this might be the prettiest thing I've written #killed me a little inside #cardinal universe