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resowrites · 10 months

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Waterloo - oneshot.

Summary: Speculation abounds about his wife's pregnancy and Henry finally has enough…

Pairings: AU!Henry Cavill x Wife!OC

Warnings: fluff, angst, banter/British humour, language, dialogue heavy, hastily written/lightly proofread.

WC: 2034

A/N: This was supposed to go up last week but time got away from me. Please note: as I've tried to write this story as both standalone oneshots and an ongoing series, I now have to use more imagery to flesh out this arc and I'm aware this may disappoint some of you. But I want you all to know, whether you're a regular reader of mine or not, I will always adore and support you no matter who you are or what you look like. Please also note: this is pure fiction (as in completely made up), and not in any way meant to reflect reality. Love you guys ~ R x

My work must not be copied, reposted, or translated elsewhere. Likes, follows, reblogs and comments are thoroughly welcome and appreciated! Gifs/pics not my own. I hope you all enjoy and thanks for visiting!

Waterloo - oneshot.

Henry couldn't help but smile when he reentered the living room and saw her lying there. They'd walked the dogs only twenty minutes before and she was so exhausted she'd collapsed on the sofa the moment they got home. He watched as her chest rose steadily with every breath, with her legs tucked up and a hand cupping the base of her stomach. Luckily her morning sickness had lessened and the worst symptom her pregnancy was causing at that moment was bouts of extreme tiredness. He was loathe to wake her, especially as he had difficult news to share. Seeing her so soundly asleep reminded him of how vulnerable she was and his chest stirred with a mixture of anger and worst of all - guilt. "Ollie, it's dinnertime, can you wake up for me?" He rubbed her shoulder in an attempt to rouse her slowly. But her eyes burst open and she bolted upright.

"M-mmm what time is it?"

"Six o'clock darling, you fell asleep after our walk. I thought you'd like some dinner, you can join me in the kitchen if you're up to it?" She blinked at Henry several times, still trying to get her bearings.

"Yeah, okay, just help me up…" He smiled lovingly and took her by the hands. "What are we having? If you want I can drive to the deli and pick us up a couple of subs?" Henry vigorously shook his head.

"No, it's fine darling, I'm going to make something. Besides, you need to rest. There's… also something we need to discuss." As if on queue, his phone pinged for what felt like the hundredth time that hour. Henry tried to ignore it and offered her a reassuring smile. But her mouth set into a frown.

"What is it? Are your Mum and Dad okay?!"

"Yes sweetheart, it's nothing like that. Come on, let's have something to eat first." He attempted to lead her into the kitchen but she held fast.

"Henry, you're worrying me. What is it?" He gazed into her eyes for a few seconds and sighed.

"Look, I really didn't want to bring this up—"

"Bring up what?! Just tell me!"

"Okay, okay… you know we went shopping yesterday and you thought someone took a picture of us?" She nodded slowly. "Well, it turns out a picture was taken. And then posted on Twitter." She blinked at Henry several times.

"So? Sometimes people catch us and take photos…"

"Darling, I… things are different now." He reached for her stomach.

"Oh…"

"Look, my publicist's already called me. The picture's everywhere and she wants to know how we'd like to proceed—"

"What? Why?"

"Well, maybe if we're more upfront the speculation will die down and there'll be less interest…" Henry trailed off, unable to read the look on her face. Eventually, she cleared her throat.

"Henry, it really doesn't matter what we confirm and/or how. People are still going to take our pictures and gossip. It's why I didn't want to do anything in the first place - it's not going to make any difference." His head dropped to his chest.

"… I'm so sorry, darling." She cradled Henry's face and gave him a quizzical look.

"What for?"

"For all of it. I wanted to do my best to protect you and I've failed."

"Failed? It's not your fault someone saw us—"

"Yes, but if you were with someone else, you'd have none of this. You could just live your life without being talked about the whole world over." She chuckled.

"Aren't you exaggerating slightly? It's only a small group of people who really cares about this. Besides, we've been together nearly a decade—"

"I know, but that's not how they see it. I'm just scared that this will all escalate now that that picture's out there—"

"But darling that's beyond our control. Besides, it's not like anyone's made any threats… is it?"

"No, but what if they do? I mean I would never want to scare you but you know how unhinged people can be. If anything happens to you I'll never forgive myself." She couldn't help but laugh again.

"Well, for starters we're holed up here most of the time and security aside, we also have two Akita's who aren't exactly fond of strangers. I'm sure we'll be fine…" But he was in no mood for her teasing.

"Darling this isn't funny, I feel beyond awful. You should never have had these sorts of worries, pregnant or not."

"Don't be daft. I wouldn't trade our life for anything. Okay, so it can be a nuisance at times, but what others think isn't important. We have to live our lives, Henry. We were going to be spotted at some point. It's probably better people know now rather than when we're randomly seen pushing a pram."

"I know, I know. But I still feel helpless. It makes me fear for when the baby's actually here. How are they going to cope with being in the public eye? How the hell am I going to keep them safe as well?"

"Well, they won't even be able to find their feet for the first four months—" Henry's face hardened.

"Ollie, this isn't a bloody joke. Once our kid is out there, there's only so much we can do—"

"But that would be the case whether they were the child of someone famous or not. If there's one thing this pregnancy's taught me so far, it's that we can't have total control. Okay, so one day they'll have to learn why people want to meet their dad and take pictures of him, but that's not a bridge we'll have to cross for some time." He was silent for several moments. "Darling, talk to me…"

"It's nothing, it's just… none of it's worth it. Especially now."

"What are you saying?"

"I saying, I'm ready to—"

"Stop right there—"

"No, Ollie. I won't. Sooner or later it'll become the biggest stressor for us as a family. If the two of you aren't being photographed in the street, there'll be times when you're by yourselves - just the thought of what could happen makes me sick to my stomach."

"Darling, we were out in public and you're a public figure. Okay, so it's unfortunate. But it's not like they got a picture of them—"

"And what about when they do? As you said, we can't fully protect them—"

"Well, for starters, the law's on our side. But other than that you're going to have to learn to let this go. What will be, will be." Henry nearly blew his top.

"How can you be so bloody calm about this?! I'm scared that the more pregnant you look, the more invasive people will become. I don't even want people coming up to you, let alone anything else—"

"I've handled that okay in the past haven't I?" He smiled sadly and held her tight.

"Of course you have, and I'm not saying you're some delicate flower but this isn't just about us anymore. I want to do my best for you and the baby and it scares me how terrible people can be."

"Why? Just what exactly are they saying?" Henry didn't know how to respond. She sighed. "Oh sweetheart, it's not your fault."

"Of course it is! And what can I do about any of it? Nothing unless I give it up—"

"Don't be ridiculous, even that wouldn't be enough. Once you're famous, you're famous. We just have to rise above it."

"But I want to respond, let people know they can keep their disgusting opinions to themselves—"

"And has that ever worked in the past? Look, we really will be alright. You have nothing to apologise for or feel guilty about. We have a wonderful life, Henry. We have so many amazing adventures together and we're about to embark on our biggest one yet…" She rubbed his chest but his head hung low.

"I still want you both to have as little stress as possible."

"What will make me less stressed is you promising not to get any more upset by this, okay?” She bit her lip. “And if it makes any difference, I already knew about the picture." Henry’s eyes darted upwards.

"What?!"

"My sister messaged me when she saw it doing the rounds on Instagram. She's blocked the people trying to get more information." His nostrils flared.

"See?! They've already started harassing our family! We've got to nip this in the bud now—"

"Darling, we're damned if we do, damned if we don't. Luckily we have good people around us and they've promised to say nothing—"

"That's not what worries me. Why didn't you say anything?"

"… Because I knew you were already feeling bad and I didn't want to make it worse." Henry's heart ached.

"Oh, darling. You know you can always tell me anything. Just promise me you won't go reading comments—"

"I won't. But… can you be honest about something?"

"Of course."

"… Do I look big?"

"What? Why would you even think that?!"

"Are you sure?"

"Darling, that's the reason they're in a tizzy, they can't tell if you're pregnant or not—"

"Well… soon they'll know for sure."

"Oh Ollie, please promise me you're not worried about that of all things? All this pregnancy has done is make you even more beautiful—" she scoffed.

"Henry, look… we can work out our plans as a family when we need to. But you love what you do, it's who you are and what you've worked so hard for—"

"No, it's not. Finding you made me realise it never has been. Making you my wife, starting a family… that's who I am. What I've always wanted. I'd do anything now, just so long as you and our kid are always near me." She felt a lump in her throat. "Don't you get it ya numpty? I've never seen your eyes look so soft and warm. It's not about me missing out - I love doing nothing with you Ollie." She swallowed back her tears.

"Well, let's just wait until they're here, okay? Then we can go from there. But I promise you, I'm not worried about that picture, and neither should you be." His head sunk again.

"… They had no right to even take it." She then shot him a mischievous look.

"Well, was it at least enough to distract from the size of my arse?" Henry softened and quickly turned her around.

"Hang on, lemme take a look—" she spun back and thumped him on the arm.

"Don't you start now, mister - I only have so much bloody patience!" Henry's eyes quickly lost their playful spark. "Well, if things get that bad… you could always do a naked calendar. That'd give them something else to talk about—"

"A naked calendar?! You do realise I'm far too hung to appear in-frame?" She clucked her tongue.

"Oh please, the photographer would need more Vaseline for the lens than what's currently in production…" His eyebrows hit the ceiling.

"What are you trying to say?! You're no bloody prize either!" She thwacked Henry on the arm.

"At least they wouldn't be swapping out the lens every thirty seconds—" He gasped.

"Well, I'm surprised that person's phone didn't explode when they took that picture!" Her mouth fell open.

"Oh yeah?! Cos I'm shocked anyone even bothers to take their camera out to snap you—" Henry couldn't stand it any longer and pulled her in for a kiss.

"… Then let me take my shirt off and we'll see just how well I photograph—"

"No fucking thank you! I don't want to be put off that dinner you said you were going to make. In fact, you can now take me out for it—"

"Will a drive-thru be alright?"

"No, it bloody well won't you little bollocks! You know, just for that, you can take me to the new Italian on Harpin Lane—"

"But they won't even do spaghetti there!"

"Tough shit. You should have thought about that before you opened your mouth—"

"Well, from now on I definitely won't be!"

"Good! More breadsticks for me!"

To be updated on when I post please follow @resowrites and turn on post notifications.

@elizabetharegina @fanfictionaddiction99 @luclittlepond @caffeinatedfestivalsheep @summersong69 @ushijimbo @livesinfantasyland @jackjanira

#henry cavill #henry cavill fandom #henry cavill fanfiction #henry cavill x reader #henry cavill imagine

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decadentjellojaloppy29 · 10 months

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What happens in Tijuana...

Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5

Miguel brings you and Miles into his office to recruit you for a job. Your interest is piqued at the chance to get to know Miguel better, and of course to get the mission done. Of course.

Short first part for this story just to set up the plot. There'll be multiple parts to this series. Sorta a slow burn situation with Miguel, but impatience will make it so it's not THAT slow of a burn. Enjoy!

🏝🏝🏝🏝🏝🏝🏝🏝🏝🏝🏝🏝🏝🏝🏝🏝🏝🏝

You sit in front of four glowing screens...watching. for what you weren't exactly sure, a couple of minutes ago Miguel called you into his office only to sit you down in his chair and tell you to watch the monitors.

"Sit. Watch." He said, pointing at the monitors, clawed hand on the back of the rolling chair, pushing you closer.

So you did.

You rubbed at your eyes, trying to refocus. Everything starting to look blurry after a while. You rubbed your eyes and leaned back in the seat, sighing. Your feet propped up onto the desk, biting on the end of a pen.

After another good 20 minutes your heard someone walk in.

You spun around in the seat to see Miguel and Miles walking in.

Oh boy, you thought to yourself.

"I don't know how you look at these things for hours on end. We got matching blood shot eyes now so, thats fun."

You tried to joke earning an eye roll from Miguel, Miles covered his mouth with the back of his hand, trying to conceal a smile.

"I called you two in here because..." Miguel sighs looking off to the side as if he'd rather choke than say his next words, "I need you two to go on a mission with me."

He said quietly, avoiding pronunciation.

You and Miles exchanged looks of confusion and subdued grins.

Suddenly Lyla pops up next to Miguel.

"How bout a little louder for the people in the back?"

She teased, causing Miguel to growl, his hand coming to waft her away like unwanted smoke from a cigarette.

"As much as I would like anyone else to go with me, you two are the best people for the job I could think of."

Miguel groans, looking up at the two of you, almost cringing.

You and Miles froze in your spot, looking to one another, then back at him.

"Was that...you admitting you need us? Miles did you hear that?"

You grinned adjusting to sit up straighter in your seat.

"I did, he said we were the best people for the job, or am I hearing things?

Miles played along, his grin as big as yours.

"No, no, I heard it too."

You reassured him jokingly, nodding with vigor.

At this point Miguel's hands were dragging down his face, regretting this decision already.

"Alright, alright, basta. Enough of that."

He points at the two of you, making you purse your lips, hiding a smile.

"What's the job?" You ask sitting comfortably in the chair once again.

"Lyla pull up the plan."

Miguel orders.

"The plan? Forrrrr what? What was it called again?" Lyla said tapping her chin in thought.

"Lyla..." Miguel warned, earning a laugh from her.

Suddenly the room was lit up with the huge screen that displayed Miguel's plan. You and Miles looked up at it. Butterflies set in your stomach already excited to get out of the office and onto a real mission.

"We gotta to to Tijuana, in Miles universe, there are some pretty bad guys there and I'm thinking that univereses Spiderman can't exactly handle it alone." Miguel's red eyes shift to look at Miles

Miles's arms go up in a confused shrug, looking around.

"Uh no offense taken...I guess." Miles said.

"Didn't ask." Miguel quickly shoots back, pulling up another slide. You huff out a laugh at that, eyes looking up at the next slide.

"Plan is we show up to the Hotel a night before the event these guys plan to get there. Somehow they got one of our watches and we've gotta retrieve it. This'll be a stealth mission. We're aiming to avoid confrontation and get as much information on these guys as possible, as well get the watch back to headquarters."

Miguel looks at you and Miles seeing if the two of you were following. You nod along biting the thumb of your glove.

"Question, just out of morbid curiosity, why were we the best ones for the job?"

You ask raising a brow, not really getting it yet. Miguel grabs the bridge of his nose. Guess he didn't want you to ask.

"A man a woman and a child is pretty inconspicuous, doesn't draw attention. Could be a duo mission but it's Miles's universe so he's gonna know his way around more than you or me."

Miguel explains, hands on his hips. You look at Miles, who slowly looks back at you. The two of your eyes lighting up.

"So...this is basically a high stakes game of house?"

You ask, unable to keep the grin of your face. At that Miles explodes in laughter. The two of you giggling at your observation.

"Dios mio..." Miguel shakes his head, he starts to walk out the door. But before he can get too far you swing over to him, stopping him in his tracks. You put a hand on his shoulder to aid you.

"Relajarse. We're all over it." You reassure him. You may tease him but he seemed stressed enough as it is and the least you could do is throw him a bone.

His red eyes looked into yours, they looked tired. His eyebrow cocked. Seemingly still unsure of his choice. Squeezing his shoulder a little tighter you nodded.

"Really." You said.

After a moment of hesitation Miguel huffs "Just be ready by 4 am tomorrow. And I could do without the jokes." Miguel tells you, walking out the door.

You watch him leave and sigh, maybe you should've taken it a tad bit more serious. He could stand to lighten up some, you also thought. You turn back to Miles who's standing there awkwardly.

"I thought it was funny." He shrugged.

You smiled back at him, flicking his ear as you walk past. "Go and pack, goofy."

Miles rubs his ear laughing a swings off to go to just that. You sit back in the chair and continue to watch the monitors. 'This should be fun.'

You think to yourself.

#miguel o'hara #miguel o'hara x reader #across the spiderverse #across the spider verse fanfiction #atsv

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shai-manahan · 2 years

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OK OK OK CALM DOWN CALM DOWN THIS IS NOT AM EMERGENCY BUT I JUST WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW JUST HOW MUCH I LOVE YOUR WRITING AND IF LIKE- ????? THE WAY YOU DESCRIBE THINGS IS SO BEAUTIFUL AND OMG THAT NIGHTMARE SCENE IS GIVING ME NIGHTMARES THE MORE I THINK ABOUT IT SO I JUST WANTED TO LET YOU THAT I ABSOLUTELY LOVE YOUR WORK AND HOW GLAD IM THAT YOU DECIDED TO BRING IT TO LIFE- SO KEEP IT UP AND PLEASE TAKE CARE YOUR HEALTH AS WELL 👍👍👍👍👍👍

also i have a few theories about our MC if you don't mind-

1. so... as i played through the nightmare scene for the 9th time in a row to fully relish the horror and trauma, i realized that our dear (but unfortunate) MC must have gone through something MUCH MUCH worse than merely watching their father get oofed off by their mother 🤔🤔🤔 because i once read somewhere that if someone experiences like a really bad traumatic experience their brain will instinctively suppress their memories and lock them away to protect the person from getting anymore affected and also to give them a sense of normality? dunno about that our brains can be really mysterious sometimes, which brings me to my second theory

2. OK OK OK i know this may sound crazy and also scientifically inaccurate, but i think MC has some sort of Dissociative disorder? i mean- how do you explain their sudden black out from their home to their journey all the way to Bale's territory and the bar? or maybe im just overthinking it and perhaps its somehow related to the hallucinations and the syringes that have been emphasized over multiples times in the demo

3. why do i feel our MC is being drugged with something 🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔 or maybe something happened before or after the incident with their father otherwise why would Alex act so sus, Vincent too, YALL TOO SUS

and so ends my theory spree as i have exhausted my remaining two brain cells to make SOME kind of sense and connection through this whole theory thing

ALSO ALSO ALONZO WHY DO I HAVE A FEELING I WRONGED YOU SOMEHOW AND SOMEWHERE AND IF I DID IM SO SORRY -

which puts me to my next question, i wonder why our MC just offed 11 of their coworkers 🤔 corruption maybe? whatever the case Is, it still doesn't excuse bernard (or whatever his name is, he's a jerk) for acting like the lil piece of poop he is, to both us and finn cause oh boy imma bout to throw hands (you better sleep with one eye open you lil shit)

ALSO ALSO ALSO MORE WESLEY LORE YAY omg now i feel kinda conflicted rn like i still wanna sock that lil bastard for exposing us but i feel kinda pity for him too, also that wholesome moment between them was so cute if not for the current angsty situation, but i guess i'll them off with one good bish slap on the face for the whole expose before listening to their side of the story

and now finally, after going through your whole blog i realized that we have a hidden mental health stat- lol my mc is gonna be one helluva self sabotaging half depressed boi bu the end of this IF 😂

SORRY FOR THE EXTREMELY LONG RANT / ASK I WAS JUST TOO EXCITED AFTER PLAYING THE WHOLE DEMO AGAIN OVER 9 TIMES BEFORE FINALLY FEELING SATISFIED- IM SORRY 😭😅

Oh that is long, but don't be sorry! I love seeing long messages like this 😌And I’m so glad you love the story to this extent 😭

First of all, so there'll be no misunderstandings, I want to make it clear that what the MC is going through isn't exactly a dissociative disorder, although there is some degree of disassociation happening. I can't explain further because it's a very huge spoiler, but not everything they've been experiencing can be solely attributed to the level of trauma and other related occurrences that DID patients often went through before being diagnosed. It's a little... different.

This does not mean, however, that the MC has no repressed memories 😔 If you look carefully, there are actually some more hints spread throughout the demo, although some of them are hidden behind certain routes. A lot are in Chapter 2, though. Anyway, the revelations relating to it won’t be the focus of Book 1, but there will be a lot more clues in the future.

And yeah, I'm afraid Alex and Vincent will continue to be sus all the way.

YALL TOO SUS

ah but I wouldn’t have done my job right if they’re not sus :)))

why do i feel our MC is being drugged with something 🤔

🤔🤔🤔

ALSO ALSO ALONZO WHY DO I HAVE A FEELING I WRONGED YOU SOMEHOW AND SOMEWHERE AND IF I DID IM SO SORRY

Well, I suppose that depends on the perspective but Alonzo does believe the MC has wronged them haha which is tbh actually valid.

which puts me to my next question, i wonder why our MC just offed 11 of their coworkers 🤔 corruption maybe?

To be fair, I don't think arresting them counts as offing lmao but yeah there's a heavy corruption occurring within the police force and everybody knows it; it's just that most of the people in Gaile cannot do anything to stop it. And don't worry about Bertrand, he already sleeps with one eye open lmaoooo although he does have kind of a huge role (spoiler: he will always be an asshole).

Wesley's reuinion scene, though... if you all think the flashback scene is already conflicting you, well, the reunion might uh.... actually nevermind, I'm not gonna spoil it.

There are four types of mental health stats in the demo right now, but I'm arranging all the variables in a spreadsheet to see if I've missed anything. I kinda have a lot of them lmfao.

#I LOVE SEEING THEORIES NEVER HOLD BACK PLS #interactive fiction #hollowed minds series #hollowed minds book one #hollowed minds #theories #hollowed minds theories #writing #wip #interactive novel #interactive game #if game #choicescript #dashingdon #hosted games #cscript #cscript game #ask #taconextdoor

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wrestlingisfake · 1 month

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New Japan Cup final preview

Hirooki Goto vs. Yota Tsuji - This is the final match in the 28-man New Japan Cup tournament. There is no time limit; there must be a winner. Whoever wins the Cup earns the right to challenge the IWGP world heavyweight champion, Tetsuya Naito, on April 6. I personally don't expect Naito to lose that bout, but there'll be plenty of time to get into that later.

Goto is seeking his fourth Cup, having previously won the tournament in 2009, 2010, and 2012. He received byes in the first and third rounds, so he only had to win two matches to get here. At 44 years old, he's an unusual choice to headline this show and (potentially) the next big show. I can't help but wonder if David Finlay was supposed to beat Goto in the quarterfinals, before he was pulled out due to an illness.

This is Tsuji's first New Japan Cup since returning from excursion in May 2023, and he's had to win in every single round to get here. He's under a lot of pressure to live up to the hype, and I'd hate to see him get this close to the brass ring just to choke again, like he did in his world title shot last year. Losing to Goto here would be a letdown. Winning here and losing to Naito on April 6 would almost be worse--that would simply peg him at the level Goto's been stuck in for fifteen years. Tsuji needs to hit one out of the park, and I'm not at all confident that they're going to let him.

In any case, the match should be fun, since I can't recall these two ever facing off one on one before. But it's tough to think about the finish without looking past this match to April 6. Whoever wins here can't settle for the Cup without converting it to a world title victory, and I think they're both underdogs against the champ.

Tetsuya Naito & Shingo Takagi vs. EVIL & Dick Togo - Naito is waiting for the main event to determine his next challenger. Evil eliminated Takagi from the tournament, but then Evil himself was eliminated by LIJ's Yota Tusji. I think it's interesting that all the LIJ members in the building ran in to help Tsuji...except for Naito. That might not mean anything...unless? Anyway, this should be a pretty lopsided matchup, since you've got three top heavyweight champions and Dick Togo, who will almost certainly lose the fall.

SANADA & Taichi & Yuya Uemura & DOUKI & TAKA Michinoku vs. El Phantasmo & Hikuleo & Toru Yano & Jado & Boltin Oleg - Not much story to this match, so I assume the main talking points will be how Sanada was eliminated in the semifinals and it'll be a long road to get back into contention for the world title he lost in January. It might be neat to set up two of Sanada's group to challenge Phantasmo and Hiku for the STRONG tag title. But I wouldn't get my hopes up for that. Oleg or Jado should probably lose here.

YOH vs. Yoshinobu Kanemaru - These two have spent most of the tour fighting over the IWGP junior heavyweight title belt, even though neither of them is the titleholder. The real champion, SHO, has been faking severe injuries ever since he lost to Tetsuya Naito on March 6. Sho won the title from El Desperado in an extremely bullshit way El Desperado on February 23. I feel like this issue won't be settled until we get all these guys in a four-way or something. Which means it probably won't make much difference who wins this match.

Jack Perry & Ren Narita & Yujiro Takahashi vs. Shota Umino & El Desperado & Yuji Nagata - Umino is still trying to get a one-on-one rematch with Perry. Since this is the last night of the tour I assume he'll finally pin Perry to set it up. If Jack is sticking around Japan for a couple of weeks, they could do the match on April 6. But the feud started at a STRONG show in the US, so I could see them saving the match for Chicago on April 12. Regardless, I think Umino's team will win.

KENTA & Chase Owens & Gabe Kidd vs. YOSHI-HASHI & Hiroyoshi Tenzan & Togi Makabe - Kenta and Chase, the IWGP heavyweight tag champions, were eliminated from the New Japan Cup by Hirooki Goto and Yoshi-Hashi, the former champions. So that's clearly the direction for the tag title as soon as Goto is free. Yoshi's team should probably win so he can formally issue a challenge after the match.

Zack Sabre Jr. & Mikey Nicholls vs. Jeff Cobb & Callum Newman - Not much to this match. Sabre, as usual, keeps talking like he's moving up to bigger and better things, even when he doesn't win the matches that would get him there. Nicholls is in a holding pattern until the next time he tours with his regular partner, Shane Haste. Ever since Will Ospreay left for AEW, Cobb has gone on about how the United Empire doesn't need a new leader, and anyway he doesn't need to be called a leader to lead, but it doesn't make any difference because nothing is fucking happening with the United Empire anyway. Newman is here to remind us that he's like Ospreay's little brother, and to get pinned.

Great-O-Khan & TJP & Francesco Akira vs. Tanga Loa & Tomohiro Ishii & Ryusuke Taguchi - Loa eliminated Khan from the New Japan Cup, and on March 18 he formally challenged Khan for the KOPW title. So I guess that match will be happening on April 6, probably. Khan's team is one heavyweight and two junior heavyweights, while Loa's team is two heavyweights and one junior, so this is a big of a mismatch. I know TJP is saying he's openweight, but that label won't do him much good against Ishii. I think Akira or Taguchi could lose the fall here.

Hiromu Takahashi & BUSHI vs. Shoma Kato & Katsuya Murashima - It's LIJ's two main junior heavyweights against two Young Lions who just started wrestling on TV. I haven't even figured out which one is Kato and which one is Murashima yet. I bet Hiromu and Bushi win before I can tell them apart.

#njpw #new japan cup #hirooki goto #yota tsuji

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tehuti88-art · 8 months

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9/1/23: r/SketchDaily theme, "Free Draw Friday." This week's character from my anthro WWII storyline is Agnes Klemper, hair up (top drawing) and hair down (bottom drawing). She's Georg's wife and Godfrey's mother. She and Georg are deceased by the time of the main story. They're a pretty poor farming family and while Agnes cares greatly for Georg and especially Godfrey, Georg eventually starts drinking and things go terribly downhill in ways I can't get into here. There'll be more about her later in my art Tumblr and Toyhou.se.

Regarding her design, she's meant to look rather thin and worn.

TUMBLR EDIT:

"Give me that gun, you little piss, or I'll make you regret it even more!"

Georg takes a threatening step forward and Godfrey's foot goes back--but aside from that he doesn't budge, and doesn't lower the gun. In a tiny shaking voice, eyes watering, he then says something that confuses the hell out of Georg: "Der Flaschendämon. Let--let him go. I want my Vater back."

Georg blinks again, wonders what that means, then immediately stops caring--"Give me that gun, you Schwuchtel, you can't even fire it like a man!"--and he makes a grab but Godfrey jerks back, the barrel swinging. Georg raises his fists and his voice in a fury--"WHEN I GET MY HANDS ON YOU--!!" and hears Agnes, her own voice raised--"Godfrey!"--and Godfrey's wailing voice--"I want my Vater back!"--and then the tiny sober part of his brain remembers, that's right, Godfrey does know how to use the rifle, he taught him, he wanted him to stand up for himself and be a man--right before a brilliant flash blinds him, fire blasts in his chest, and he stumbles backwards, toppling and slamming into the floor. He regains his vision just long enough to see the wide wet eyes of his wife and his son, the rifle barrel smoking, before everything flickers, the darkness rapidly crawls in--like looking down a tunnel again--and instead of red, everything goes black.

Agnes Klemper stands frozen in place, battered and bruised, eyes wide. She sees her husband let out one breath and then relax, blood starting to pool on the floor beneath him. His face is oddly surprised.

Her own eyes fill up with tears--"Georg--?" she nearly whispers--then another small sound draws her attention. Ten-year-old Godfrey is still standing beside her holding the family rifle--a huge gun about as long as he is tall--Agnes is amazed it didn't knock him over when he fired it. For a brief moment she almost forgot about the third party involved here, the reason they're all currently stuck in this tableau--she has no real idea what triggered this, just that her husband burst into the house with Godfrey in tow, yelling foul names at their son, grabbing the bottle of beer Agnes is accustomed to handing to him, dragging Godfrey up the stairs. Then, the screaming--awful screaming. She'd tried to make herself go up there, help Godfrey, but had been too paralyzed with fear. When Georg had reappeared, she'd finally tried to confront him, her concern for their son overriding her fear--and had ended up knocked down the stairs. A brief bout of kicks and blows followed--she'd never seen Georg so enraged--and then, there was Godfrey, the giant gun in his hands. And then the blast. And now...

The rifle jiggles in Godfrey's hands. Agnes notices how badly he's shaking, his eyes wide and wet, as well as his injuries--his eye is blackened and swelling, bruises on his arms, and he's bleeding--and he starts sucking in short sharp breaths. "Vater...?" he says in a small voice. Of course Georg says nothing. Godfrey slowly lowers his arms and his breathing gets more staccato, his eyes flooding. Agnes has seen that look before, on the faces of a few of the hired hands, those who fought in the war. She reaches out and grabs the rifle as Godfrey lets it go, shoving it out of reach, then hurries to wrap her arms around her son as tightly as she can. He doesn't hug her back.

"Don't look," she murmurs even though it's a ridiculous request, by now.

Godfrey's voice is barely a gasp. "I want...I wanted to get rid of der Flaschendämon. I want my Vater back."

He starts shaking like a leaf, small whimpering noises escaping him. Agnes does the only thing she can think of to do, and bustles him out of the room. She sits him in the corner out of view of Georg--very briefly feels him over for any broken bones, she doesn't detect any though the way he's bleeding fills her with dread and nausea--then has to leave him there while she reluctantly returns to her husband's body.

Georg's eyes are glazed by now; he's definitely gone. Agnes fights down her own tears--despite what he's done, he was still her husband, and Godfrey's father--and tries to figure out what to do. Normally...Georg would make the decisions. She takes a steadying breath, then heads upstairs. Pulls the sheets from her and Georg's bed, brings them downstairs, puts them on the floor beside him. Briefly breaks down crying and kisses his forehead before pushing on his arm and rolling him over. It's rough going, he's heavier than she is plus he's literal dead weight, yet her adrenaline is still pumping and she's used to hard work; she gets Georg wrapped up in the sheets and ties them around him, trying to ignore the bloodstains. Wipes her eyes, catches her breath, then returns to Godfrey.

"Godfrey...?" she says, kneeling in front of him, then grasps his arms firmly and looks in his own glassy eyes. "Götz," she says--her pet name for him, which she hasn't used since he was quite little, as Georg had insisted she needed to stop babying him, let him grow up. Godfrey blinks and his eyes focus on her. "Are you all right?" she asks, even though she knows it's a dumb question--obviously he's not all right. Godfrey swallows and says, "I hurt," then--"Is Vater all right?" Agnes bites her lip--he must be in shock, as she knows he's familiar with the concept of death, he knows what a gun does. And indeed, her lack of response seems to hit him; his eyes well up again and he starts whimpering. "I just want Vater back," he says, and she squeezes his arms again.

"I know, Liebe, but I need your help. You're a big boy, ja?--you're the man of the house now. I need you to be brave and strong. Can you do that for me...?"

Godfrey shakes and cries for another moment--he presses his hands to his eyes and whines--yet then lowers them and nods through his tears. "Good boy," Agnes says, swallowing her own tears, and adds, "Fetch the wheelbarrow and the shovels from the shed, bitte, and bring them to the door, then wait for me, ja--? Good Götz." Godfrey obeys, standing up with a grimace, then limping off outside. Agnes allows herself a moment to quietly sob before the soft call, "Mutter...?" draws her attention, and she calls Godfrey back in. He's still tearful, but lucid; she has him follow her back, and they stand for a moment staring down at the bloodstain on the floor and the still shape wrapped in the sheets. Everything's changed; everything will be different now.

Agnes and Godfrey struggle to carry Georg's body out to the wheelbarrow. They take the shovels and head into the woods, sometimes pushing, sometimes pulling; they clamber over rocks and roots for a while before Agnes pants, "Stop--here. Right here," and they halt the wheelbarrow beneath an especially large oak tree. Agnes knows this spot, knows Georg would occasionally come out here to be alone with a view of his fields; in the absence of a proper burial plot it seems suitable. She searches a bit more and locates an especially good area shielded by a big root, and she and Godfrey get out the shovels and begin digging. It's slow going, as she's a woman and he's a child and both of them are sore and battered; a few times she coaxes Godfrey into resting, and continues digging on her own while he sits and sniffles and rubs at his eyes. He always returns to digging, though--"You said I'm the man of the house now," he mumbles through his tears--and finally, between the two of them, they dig a hole deep enough. It's a physical and an emotional struggle getting Georg's body into it, and they both cry as they shovel the earth back in; Godfrey ends up sitting huddled atop the root, hugging his knees and weeping, while Agnes finishes the job, her own eyes streaming. She finds a few sticks and lashes them together in the rough shape of a Todesrune or death rune, planting it firmly in the soil; Georg believed in the old gods and spirits, so this symbol seems more fitting than a cross. Godfrey climbs down and she puts her arm around his shoulders as they stare mutely at the grave for a little while before slowly heading back home.

Agnes pumps water from the well, heats it, carries it to the tub and pours it in, over and over, then has Godfrey undress and climb in. She gives him a bit of privacy, then returns with a small container of salve. She starts with alarm on seeing the color the water has gone in her absence; Godfrey hangs his head, seeming ashamed of the bloody shade. "Quick, out, wrap yourself up," Agnes urges, giving him a towel, and he obeys; she instructs him to take a moment to check himself over while she drains the tub, and "Let me know if...if the bleeding's stopped." She empties the tub, fetches a smaller basin, again fills it with water, crying softly to herself--"Why, why did you do this?--to your own son?--this isn't who you were, why?"--then calls Godfrey back; he shakes his head when she asks if he's still bleeding, and she lets out a breath and has him sit. He winces and whimpers a little as she applies salve to his cuts and abrasions; as she's tending to his swollen eye, he peers at her and says in a small voice, "I'm sorry."

Agnes: *furrowing brow* "What for?"

Godfrey: "I'm supposed to protect you. I'm sorry I didn't."

Agnes: *eyes fill with tears; takes a breath* "Oh...Götz." *wipes eyes* "I'm the one who should've protected you...I'm sorry." *voice cracks; wraps her arms around him, crying* "I'm so sorry, Götz. I'm so sorry."

After she tends to both their wounds, Agnes puts Godfrey to bed, but stays beside him through the night, gently stroking his head when he whimpers in his sleep. She dozes only fitfully; after this night she knows things are only going to be more difficult. Despite his abuse, Georg was still the breadwinner, the one who kept everything running, and now they need to learn how to make their way in the world without him. Agnes's head is full of thoughts and plans and worries. She's not sure if they'll be able to make it, but for her Götz, she has to try.

Early the next morning, before dawn, she murmurs for Godfrey to sleep in just a bit--a very rare treat, he deserves it--and goes downstairs. Makes him a meal for when he wakes, takes some money out of the small emergency stash Georg always kept, and heads out. She makes the long trek to the nearest neighboring farm. The woman of the house gasps a little on seeing her, but calls her husband when Agnes asks to speak with him. He, too, blinks at her battered appearance but says nothing as she asks if he can help them just a little on their farm, she'll pay him if he can. "Where's Herr Klemper...?" he asks, confused; Agnes swallows and says there was an accident with the family gun, and now she and Godfrey are on their own. It's not that big a lie. The looks on the other couple's faces make it clear they don't believe it was an "accident"--yet they don't argue. They've seen the bruises on her and Godfrey before. At first the husband says he has his own farm to see to, he's not sure how helpful he can be, but the way Agnes's eyes well up--plus a slight squeeze to his arm by his wife--make him pause, and he finally relents, muttering, "My men and I'll stop by a couple times a week...through the fall...help you get everything in for the winter. And hopefully back on your feet." He adds that she'll still need to hire some itinerant workers, and advises her how best to find them. He shakes his head and waves her away when she tries to offer him some money: "Nein, you'll need that for the Poles. Herr Klemper helped me out a few times...I'll return the favor."

Agnes returns home; she and Godfrey do what work they can, then wash, then eat, then retire to bed. The next day Agnes takes Godfrey with her as she walks along the treeline bordering the fields. They locate a group of traveling workers for hire; Agnes hails them, and they approach, though when she tries to offer them work on her farm she realizes none of them understand each other. She's at a loss for what to do until Godfrey tentatively speaks up--she doesn't understand a word of what he says either, though the lead worker starts responding, and they go back and forth a few times. Godfrey peers up at her and murmurs, "I told him we need workers...he says they can come a few times a week starting tomorrow, until they move on. He wants to know how much pay?" Surprised, Agnes names a price, and Godfrey translates. The lead worker whistles through his teeth in a disapproving manner and says something curt; Godfrey replies, the worker purses his lips in thought, then says, "Tak." "I told him we'll offer that money and also room and board," Godfrey says; then, meekly, in response to Agnes's befuddled look, "Did I do bad...?" Agnes gives him a quick hug and a kiss atop his head--"Nein, Liebe, that's just fine, tell them so"--and he does so. The lead worker holds out his hand; Agnes takes it and they shake, then the workers go on their way. Agnes grasps Godfrey's shoulders and looks him in the face.

Agnes: "Götz! You understand their language--? You speak it? How? When did this happen?"

Godfrey: "When...when I worked in the fields with Vater. He'd talk to them in their own tongue. I listened and I learned some of it. He said...he said it would be useful someday, when I take over the farm." *eyes well up* "Do I have to take over the farm now...? I thought...I thought I'd be a little older, first. I don't know what to do on my own."

Agnes: *hugs him* "Sweet Götz...we'll do it together, ja? Until you're old enough. We'll figure it out. Don't you worry. Good boy."

The following months are hard ones, even harder than the Klempers are used to...yet with the aid of the neighboring farmers and the itinerant workers, they manage to get the crops in before the snow falls, and make it through the long winter. By the next spring, they've gotten most of their new routine down, and have made or strengthened enough of their local connections to keep their farm running. Georg may have been a brutish insensitive a-hole when drunk, but he made himself useful to enough of the neighbors and workers that they're willing to assist as needed (with proper pay or barter, that is). They never exactly prosper--nobody on these dirt-poor farms way out on the frontier ever does--but they survive. Agnes is skilled at negotiating (her mild temperament goes over much better than Georg's abrasive one), and Godfrey is quite useful as an interpreter as well as a foot messenger between the farms. He hits his growth spurt--it isn't much of one, he never grows especially tall or muscular or even athletic, always keeping his rather slight, androgynous build--yet his persistence, and a stubborn streak inherited from his father, help make up for this. He's not particularly strong, yet he's good at carrying a multitude of things at once, earning the nickname "Packesel" (pack mule/packhorse). Then, Agnes's health takes a turn.

She's never been quite hardy; though accustomed to hardship and work, she was somewhat weakened by several unsuccessful pregnancies and by Godfrey's birth, and the past few years of grief, stress, and added labor have worn her down. She falls ill, and soon is bedridden. She feels extreme guilt over being unable to carry her weight any longer, and tries a few times to rally herself back to health, but even standing up and walking more than a few steps proves to be almost more than she can handle; although she tries to eat what Godfrey brings her, she starts wasting away. Despite her guilt, Godfrey insists on her resting, and vows he can do the necessary work without her: "You took care of me, now I take care of you." And he does the best he can. He works the fields and bargains with the workers during the day, and returns to tend to Agnes in the evening, washing and feeding her and murmuring encouragements about how things will be when she gets better. Both of them know this is unlikely to happen...Agnes gets thinner and weaker and more ill every day, yet neither mentions the likeliest outcome. Every night when he puts Agnes to bed he strokes her face and sings the old lullabies she once sang him. He sleeps on the floor at the side of the room in case she needs anything in the night, brings her warm broth and wipes her with a damp cloth in the morning, and kisses her forehead before heading out to the fields. "I wish you didn't have to do this," she murmurs weakly more than once. "I wish you'd had the chance to be a little boy." To which Godfrey always shushes her and strokes her hair and replies, "Don't worry about me. You always looked after me, and now I look after you. Rest now, ja...? And I love you."

Agnes always feels even guiltier at this--all she can think of is all the times Georg hit his son, and especially Georg's last awful night alive, what he inflicted on Godfrey then, while Agnes cowered on the stairs, unable to bring herself to stand up to him--yet Godfrey refuses to listen to her protests. He tells her to rest, to have good dreams, to get better, and they'll be fine. Agnes always complies. One morning Godfrey wakes, slips downstairs to fix her some broth, and brings it back up to her, only to notice how still she is. "Mutter...?" he says softly, then again, then touches her face. Her skin is cool. "Mutter...?" Godfrey says one more time, swallowing down a small whimper. He sits by Agnes's bedside for a while, clasping her frail hand, before finally standing and wiping his eyes. Godfrey is thirteen years old, and now he's alone.

He doesn't go out to the fields this day. Although he's not hungry, he drinks the broth he'd made, then gathers a few things--the old wheelbarrow, a shovel, twine and wood, a knife, the family rifle and ammunition, a waterskin, a loaf of bread for the long walk. He washes Agnes one last time, dresses her in her nicest dress, puts her little old rosary in her hand; he pulls the corners of the sheets loose from the bed and wraps them up around her, breaking down crying a little when only her head is left visible--gaunt and still, yet peaceful looking for the first time in years--and kisses her forehead, mumbling one last "Schlaf gut, Mutter," before pulling the sheets up over her and tying them tight.

Godfrey carries his mother--feather light--down the stairs that Georg had knocked her down a few years ago, out the door, and settles her carefully in the wheelbarrow that had carried Georg's body into the woods. He slings the rifle over his shoulder and starts pushing. He has to wipe his eyes repeatedly throughout the bumpy, twisty trip, finally arriving at the spot below the large root of the oak spreading massive overhead; beside the grave marked with the Todesrune he digs a second, kisses the sheet before gently lowering Agnes into it, then fills it back in. He uses the twine to reinforce the old Todesrune as well as lash together a marker for Agnes's grave--a cross--and with the knife he roughly carves GEORG KLEMPER on the rune and AGNES KLEMPER on the cross. Godfrey then sits for a while between the two markers, hugging his knees and weeping as the shadows start to grow long. As dusk falls he wipes his eyes dry, grasps the wheelbarrow handles, and heads back home.

He can smell the smoke long before he sees it. His skin prickles as his ears pick up crackling and creaking noises, and he spots brilliant orange flickers through the trees. He abandons the wheelbarrow and starts pacing briskly, then jogging, then running--he emerges in the clearing where his home is located to find the house engulfed in flames roaring toward the darkening sky. He stares up at the windows to the bedrooms where he and his parents slept, then gasps and steps back--a beam collapses, taking half the roof with it, and the room where Agnes had slept just the night before evaporates into smoke and embers and ashes. After staring mutely for another moment or so--he has no more tears left to cry--Godfrey retreats to the edge of the woods and sits the rest of the night and watches the fire burn itself out, taking his family home with it.

He rouses himself from a half-doze after dawn, rubbing the smoke from his bleary eyes. The fire is nothing more than a haze of smoke strands hanging in the ashy air; the big farmhouse is nothing more than a charred beam or two over a stone foundation full of rubble. Godfrey waits a bit longer before venturing gingerly into the ruins, poking here and there with the rifle. He manages to find the area where Georg once stashed away their family papers and the bit of money they owned; wonder of wonders, it's escaped mostly unscathed, and Godfrey takes the papers and bills that are still intact and tucks them in his coat. He searches a little more, picks out a few trinkets of personal rather than monetary value, and, unable to find anything else remaining of any worth, shoulders the gun again and heads back into the woods. He sees no point in contacting the neighbors...it'll just be awkward useless sympathy, and he has nothing left here anyway. Once they find the farm abandoned he's sure someone else will take ownership of the fields, since he and Agnes were the last of their family and there's no one to pass it on to; he's still too young to do it on his own. Rather than be a burden on anyone else, he decides to move on...to what, he doesn't know.

After a day of walking (he takes the papers and helmet off a wounded soldier who asks him to shoot him, to which Godfrey obliges) and a night of fitful sleep, Godfrey comes across a group of men listening to someone speak. The man in a helmet and army coat is extolling the virtues of serving the Fatherland in the Heer. Godfrey has no future left following the family tradition of being a farmer...he wonders if this, and his earlier run-in with the dying soldier, is a sign, if a life in the army is what he was meant for. He steps out of the woods and joins the group, listening to the recruiter speak.

Some of the details are out of date, but Godfrey Klemper's entry is HERE. Also somewhat outdated, more of Klemper's story is here: Frieder Dasch, Elias Baswitz.

[Agnes Klemper 2023 [‎Friday, ‎September ‎1, ‎2023, ‏‎2:00:06 AM]]

[Agnes Klemper 2023 2 [‎Friday, ‎September ‎1, ‎2023, ‏‎2:00:29 AM]]

#artists on tumblr #ibisPaint x #SketchDaily #original characters

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dealersofatlanta · 5 years

Text

Part 1: Chapter 4

2013: May 3rd

Ace: age 21

“Nah, make that shit happen. I don’t care how yall do it, just get it done. Yall playing I’ll take them niggas out myself if yall punk asses can’t do it!” I yelled on the phone with my homies Dom and Tyrel. Jade looked over at me. We was sitting at the dinning room, she was writting down shit in her journal. After I saved her from Davis, I took her in, made sure she had a car. Taught her how to drive, how to shoot, defend herself just in case anything happens to me. She went from being my fraile scared Jade to a bad bitch. I taught her what do if anybody came after us, and shit. She know how to kill and take anybody down. That’s my baby. “Sorry baby, business” She nodded. “What you writting?” I asked coming over to her. I kissed on her face. She giggled. “Another song about you” She said. I smiled. “Ah shit not another one” I said rolling my eyes playfully. My text tone went off on my iphone. It was this hoe named La-La. “Business again?” She asked. I quickly nodded. “Yeah, Ima be home late” I told her. She sighed. “This the 3rd time this week, I told you I needed you to come to my open mic night tonight” She stressed to me. “I got work to do, you don’t shit. I got to make sure we straight and protect our home J, shit stop trippin bruh” I said. She got up from the table, and flicked me off. “Fuck you Ace, I don’t do shit, cause you don’t want me to work nigga!” She stomped upstairs. I went into the basement to pick out what gun I wanted to carry today. I ain’t mean to snap at her. She knew I had a bad temper. I had a way with my words, she been knowing this. I went back upstairs. Jade was rushing downstairs with her purse, and keys. “Aye yo where you going?” I asked. She had on a beanie with some booty shorts an tank top, and timbs. “Out nigga” She snapped. “Nah not in them little bitty ass shorts” I snapped. She laughed at me. “J! Im serious” I said sternly. She stuck her middle finger up at me again. “Man, fuck her” I said to myself. I grabbed my keys, and headed out to, setting the alarm before I left.

I head over to the WestSide of Atlanta to see La-La. I had been knowing La-La for a minute. We was fucking around when I first got out of jail. She cool, and we fuck from time to time. She keep an eye out for me on the streets. She like my side bitch, but Jade always will come before her. I knocked on her door. “I ain’t think you would come, with wifey at home and shit” She said to me. I rolled my eyes. “I come over to fuck and to hear whats been going on that’s it keep My shawty out of this” I said. She nodded and started unbuckling my pants.

Afterwards, I laid in the bed smoking a blunt with La-La. “So whats been going on?” I asked her. “Rico, been running his mouth about killing off everybody in the Ace of Spades gang. He trying to take Omari spot anf Jackalls on the eastside” She said. I laughed. “They aint bout to do shit” I said. I passed her the blunt. “Thats all I know for now” She said. I nodded. “Thanks, you a real one” I kissed her. She smiled. “You want something to eat?” She asked. I nodded. “Yeah what you bout to cook? Noodles?” I asked. She smiled. “Shut up, you love me food” She said. I nodded. “True” I said. I went to get in the shower.

Jade: age 20

I sat watching my friend Mia reciting a poem by Mya Angelou. I was nervous, my leg was shaking. “Give it up for Mia Abrams” I stood up and clapped for her. She excitedly got off the stage. “Now give it up for an aspiring singer Jade Marie, singing a cover JoJo- Keep On Keepin On”. I drank some water from my water bottle, and walked up to the stage. I was nervous as hell. I closed my eyes as the song started.

https://youtu.be/EaYCAZuSpPM (Its also on playlist)

Ooooh-ooohh

hey-yeeeah

You got to keep on keepin on

You got to keep your head up high

You gotta work with what you've got

And someday you will flyyyyy

Poor kids pouring cold water in their cereal

Second hand clothes

Surviving is pivotal

Praying to God at night

That things'll get better soon

I remember when I was in your position

Tried to tell people my story

But no one would really listen

I know times are hard right now

Happiness is hard to find right now

You got to keep on keepin on

You got to keep your head up high

You gotta work with what you've got

And someday you will flyyyyy

You got to keep on keepin on

You got to keep your head up high

You gotta work with what you've got

And someday you will flyyyyy

Lookin out the window to a rose grows in concrete

Dreamin' of the day when you'll be standing on your own feet

Hard to find the good in such a scene so bad (so so sad)

Seein other kids with their Tims on

Fresh with Air Ones, wish I had one

Longin' for a day when you get your chance to shine

Don't worry, there'll come a tiiiiiiime

Young girl sittin' on the steps of her duplex (mmmm)

Why did God choose to make my life so complex

Breathing to the beat of a slow, sad drum

Trouble is her only source of fun

I can almost guarantee you

It'll get better soooooon

After the song ended everyone started clapping. I opened my eyes smiling. “That was amazing Jade Marie everybody” I waved and quickly walked off stage. “See and you were nervous for nothing” Mia said. I laughed. “ I know”. She looked around. “Where’s your man?” She asked. I put on a smile. “He had to work” I told her. She nodded. “Hey my name is Marcus Gardener, I’m a producer in Atlanta, your performance was really good, you have a innocent star quality to you I would like to work with you... is that okay?” He asked. I nodded. “Yes! Yes I mean sure no problem, I will give you my number” I told him. He smiled and nodded. “Girl he was fine” Mia said. I rolled my eyes. “Yes but Im taken” She sucked her teeth in. “Shit then hook me up!” She said. We headed out and went to waffle house, then I headed home. Ace wasn’t home when I got home. It was 1:15 am. I sighed when I walked in. He was notorious for sometimes being gone being in the streets all night. I went upstairs and got settled in, before I could get in I called him to see where he was at. He answered the phone. “Ace where you at?” I asked. He didn’t answer I just heard moaning on the other end. “Ace!?” I yelled. I quickly hung up the phone. I was trying to keep my shit together. I took a shower and got out and I started crying. I couldn’t believe that someone I fully trusted had did this to me. I hesistated calling on if I should call Mia but I called someone else. “Hello?” I heard Omari say. “Hey O, um can I stay over there for awhile?” I asked. “Ace okay? It’s 2am suh you good?” He said. I started crying. “Can I please, I caught Ace cheating and I have no where to go” I cried. He sighed. “Aight I got you” He said. I packed some of my shit and quickly left the house. Omari had 3 houses. He luckly was at the one 15minutes from Ace crib. I pulled into his gates and drove up the drive way. I got out my G- Wagon. Omari was waiting for me at the door. “Hey J” He said hugging me. His girlfriend Naomi was sitting on the staircase. “Hey JJ” She said I softly smiled. They let me stay in the guest house. “Ima get the nigga Ace straight believe that aight. Here’s some xanax man hopefully you can sleep” He said before walking out.

When I woke up the next morning. I got up , and seen I had alot of messages from Ace.

I got up and washed my face before walking into the other house. I seen Ace car outside. I opened the back door into the house. “Man! I fucked up I know!” I heard Ace yelling. Naomi was sitting on the bar stool looking at me. “Well I was hoping you wasn’t going to walk into this” She said. “She been through alot! Why would you get with her to put her through more shit, you always fucking up Ace!” I heard Omari yell. “Oh yeah thats me Ace the fuck up! Man fuck that shit im out!” Ace yelled. “You always walk away Ace, come fix this shit” Omari yelled. Ace walked into the kitchen and looked at me. “J, come out with me real quick” He said. I looked away from him. “Im good Ace” I said to him. “J baby please” He stressed. I got up and went to the guest house door he followed me. “J, I was just fucking her thats it. I don’t love her, like I love you” He stressed. I looked at him and I walked back into the house and closed the door. He banged on the door for a minute. “Ima stay out here all day, all week all month J. I can’t live without you” He said outside the door. Jade don’t open that door I thought to myself. I put my hand on the handle, then took it off. He kept knocking on the door. I took another pill to knock me out. I took pride in listening to him bang and plead outside, I fell asleep listening to Trey Songs “Smartphones”. I woke up to hearing glass break. I got up quickly and seen Ace at the door with his hand bleeding. “Are you crazy!?” I yelled. He had blood leaking from his hand. “Don’t leave me! I need you!” He stressed. His face was red, I can tell he been crying. “Im soo sorry. I’ma come to your music shit, ima take you all over the world. Give me one more chance J baby” He said. I grabbed the first aid kit under the kitchen sink. I washed his hand off and wrapped it up, after putting peroxide on it. He grabbed my face and kissed me, I couldn’t resist him so I kissed him back. I pulled him back. “Ace, if you do this again. I will never forgive you” I said to him. He nodded. “I ain’t fucking up again”.

2months later: July 30th 2013

Omari: age 27

Naomi and I were doing a wedding registry in Neiman Marcus. We had been together for 2 years and I was certain she was it. After the 1st year, I introduced her to my lifestyle. I was scared she would run but she slowly accepted it. She begged me to quit, but then asked me to show her my world. Ace, X and I agreed the women in our lives needed to be protected. I had Naomi trained with Mackel, and X taught her the business, I showed her around. She learned pretty face, after that I wanted to make her my Queen fast. I know it was wrong for me to steal my homies girl but Teej was in jail, and they wasn’t even that serious. “Ooh baby, this is nice. Im adding this” She said. I nodded. “Whatever you want” I spoiled her like no other. I had her leave her job, finish school paying off her tuition. I got her 2 cars. She wanted a Range Rover, and A Merceedes. We was getting married soon, only 3 weeks away.

3 weeks later: August 13th 2013

Naomi: age 24

“You sure?” I asked Doctor O’hara. “Yeah, two heart beats” She said. I looked at the monitor again. “Thats not my heart beat and the baby’s?” I asked. She laughed, and shook her head. “No that’s definitely two babies in there” She said to me. I sighed. Omari is going to fucking flip his shit. “Can I get those to go?” I asked. She nodded. “Sure”. I had been knowing I was pregnant for a while, but wanted to keep it lowkey because of the wedding. I grabbed my evenlope from the doctors and left the building and got into my car. I took out the evenlope and looked at my ultrasound pictures. “Twins?, man what the fuck?” I said out loud. I put the pictures away, I started my car and drove to the venue. I was getting married in 24hours. “Naomi where have you been? We been looking all over for you!” My bestfriends Teddy and Keisha said. The grabbed me and brought me inside. I seen they had through me a mini party. “We bought to get fucked up!” Teddy screamed. My mom was throwing back shots with my aunt Kiki. “Come on drink Mimi!” Teddy yelled. I shook my head. “I dont want to be hungover at my wedding” I lied. Teddy sighed. “Take one shot” He said. I shook my head. He grabbed me into the bathroom in the hotel room of Chataue Elan. “Bitch are you knocked up?” He said. I sighed, and started crying. “Yesss, and Im having twins” I cried. Teddy was in shock. “Bitch what?” He said. I nodded. “I went to the doctors today, Im 13 weeks pregnant, and its 2 babies Teddy, 2 fucking kids at the same time, like what the fuck!” I cried. He snatched my shot out my hand and chugged it. “Honey, Congradulations I guess babies are a blessing. God ain’t giving you nothing you can’t handle” He said to me. I nodded slowly. Teddy didn’t understand. Im marrying Atlantas top organized drug dealer, who has hits on him at the moment then on top of that! Im pregnant with two babies! Twin babies. Like God I see what your doing, Im very blessed but now I’m overwhelmed. I groaned. “I need to see O” I stressed. Teddy shook his head. “He is having his bachelor party wait till tomorrow” He said. I nodded, he brought me back out to the party. “Ima fix you some food” He said. Keish came up to me. “You good?” I nodded. I didn’t want everyone knowing when my baby daddy/husband didn’t even know yet. Teddy passed me a plate of Rotel, and Fried Fish. I inhaled the fish and my stomach turned. I quickly put the plate down and ran to the bathroom to throw up. I heard a knock at the door and seen Jade. I opened the door for her. “You okay Naomi?” She asked. I started crying again. She got a towel and wet it, passing it to me while rubbing my back. “Is it like them wedding jitters or whatever?” She asked. I shook my head. “Im um Im having a baby” I said. She smiled widely. “Oh my gosh congrats girl” She said. I shook my head. “Im not happy about it” I told her. She shrugged. “Why not?” She asked. “Getting married is one thing but im marrying into the game, now you want me to put my babies at risk too?” I said. Her eyes widened. “Twins?” She asked. I nodded. “Well I been knowing Ace since I was 13, and I been around the game so much I got used to the ins and the outs, and you knew O was down when you fell for him, you knew the risk, the one thing you should know is them niggas aint going to ever let shit happen to us or the people they love, yall got this you good” She told me. I wiped my face. “You right” I said. Teddy busted into the bathroom with my mom. Teddy looked at me and sighed. “This is killing my high, I mean my buzz” He said. He walked out the bathroom. “Mimi you good?” She asked. I nodded.

After I threw up, I went to sleep in Jade’s room, since Ace was going to be with O all night. I didn’t want to ruin the mini bachelorette they through me so I just left them to party while I got some sleep. I woke up to my alarm, letting me know it was time to get dressed. My nerves were shot. I been throwing all morning, and crying. “Mimi fucking chill!” Keisha yelled annoyed. “Man fuck this” I got up with my hair pincurled and my make up done. I had on a robe and slippers. I left my make up stylist room and went down to Omaris floor. I heard Rich As Fuck by Lil Wayne blasting. I banged on the door. “Yooo wazzam sis” Ace said. His breath smelled like henny. “Um its bad luck Naomi” X said. I waved him off. “I need to talk to you” I said to O. He looked at me crazy and nodded. He grabbed my hand, and lead me to the balcony. “You look beautiful, but I aint supposed to see you right now, whats up baby, you bout to dip on a nigga?” He asked. I shook my head. “Uhhh I been scared to tell you this but I wanted to say something before the wedding” I said fiddling with my fingers. “What? Baby just say that shit” He said. “Im pregnant” I said. He stepped back a little. “Since when?” He asked. I rolled my eyes. “Since 13 weeks ago nigga! Im pregnant okay, 13 weeks to be exact” I said. He wiped his hand across his face. “Aight okay thats cool, its all good baby” He simply said. I shook my head, and handed him a picture. “Whats this the baby?” He asked analyzing the picture. “Babies and yes” I simply said. He looked at me then the picture, “Babies?” He asked. I nodded and put up the number 2. “Twins” I said. He quickly walked back in and snatched the henny bottle from Ace and started downing the liquor. “Twins!” He yelled. I sighed and nodded. “O please dont make a scene” I calmly stated. He walked back over to me. “So look, we going to figure this out just please get ready so I can marry your beautiful ass, my fucking baby mama” He said to me kissing me. I smiled at him. I nodded and left to go back up to my suite to get dressed. “OMG nigga! We thought you ran, you got 30minutes come on!” Keisha panicked.

X age 18:

“So you want this type of wedding one day or nah?” I asked Heiress. She smiled at me as we danced. “Something quiet, intimate” She simply said. “I can deal with that” I said smiling. She looked at me. “Are you insinuating that you want to marry me Xander Domonic Knight?” She asked. “Ehhhh maybe” I said. She laughed at me. “I love a man that knows what he wants” She simply said. We were dancing to “Must be nice” by Lyfe Jennings. “Okay man, let me go ahead and give this toast” Ace said clickling on Wine Glass. “First off I want to thank my baby J, for being there for me regardless, and to my big bruh, you my nigga man Im happy you found a bitch to hold you down” Ace said. Naomi awkwardly smiled, O shook his head and laughed. The older people shook they head at his speech. “Uh thanks bruh” O said. I tapped on my glass I grabbed off a table. “Uh thanks for that speech Ace., uh Naomi thank you for being down with O, and being a real one by his side, he’s a great dude. An amazing big brother and we love yall and wish yall nothing but love”. O and Naomi lifted their glasses. “Thank yall” Naomi said. O stood up. “I want to thank all yall coming to celebrate our union, I also want to let everyone know that Naomi and I will be welcoming our first kids, twins come 2014” He said. Everyone looked shocked but started clapping including me and Heiress. “Wow” I said. “Congrats nigga!” Ace yelled. He was drunk as fuck. “Congrats yall” We all said. The DJ went back to playing music.

6 months later: January 14th 2014

Over the pass 2 years, Heiress and I had graduated highschool, she went to Georgia State for nursing, and I went to Georgia Tech to major in business, then after that I was going to Cordon Bleu to be a chef, O had moved out to a house in Kennesaw with Naomi since they was starting a family, so I had the whole Mansion to myself. Heiress had wanted a college life before she decided to move in with me, plus her mom wasn’t feeling it. I had got a call from Omari while I was in school. He had left me like 4 missed calls. I pulled up at the spot, where we supplied our shit and did our deals. “What’s going on? I was in the middle of a test when you called” I told O. He had his gun out, along with K.C and was shushing me. He passed me a gun and a bullet proof vest. “Niggas in here robbing us”. He whispered. I heard a silent engine roaring. I looked and seen it was Ace in his Ashton Martin. His door lifted up and he got out the car clocking his gun with his vest already on. “Man the fuck yall out here standing for, niggas messing with our money” Ace walked pass us. K.C shook his head “Shit bout to be messy forreal now”. Ace walked in and I was behind him. We seen niggas in all black stuffing shit in they bags. Ace aint hesitate and started shooting. O was fighting a nigga, K.C and I went upstairs. The men started shooting at us. I shoot back. We had a big shoot out. Finally all the niggas was dead in the spot except one who O had held for questioning. “We need to get this shit out before police show up and set up another spot” I simply said. O nodded. Ace was sitting on the counter eating chips with blood splatter on his face. I shook my head. Homie was crazy. K.C laughed. “You always eating after a shoot out, weird ass” He said. Ace shrugged. “Shit had me hungry” He said. “Who sent you, Ima ask you one more time before I paint these walls with whats left of you?!” O yelled with a machete in his hand. “Jackall” He simply said. “Who is that?” I asked. “The king of East Atlanta” He simply said. “How you find our shit?” O asked. “Jackall said he has connections” O nodded. “We got a snitch in our crew?” He asked him. The nigga shrugged. “I know nothing else just what was told, I swear” He said. “Aight” O said. Before O could untie him, shots rang off killing the nigga. O looked over at Ace. “Nigga, Damn” O said. Ace simply looked at us. “My shawty cooking tonight, I got to be home before she start bitchin, and he was just going to run his mouth anyways. Cops 15 minutes away lets pack shit and head out” Ace said. K.C started laughing. “He’s such a Gemini” He said. I started laughing too, cause he wasn’t lying. We grabbed most of our shit, cleared the place out of any identity, and got the hell on to reload our shit into another safe house to reload. I headed out home, to get cleaned up.

When I got to my crib. I seen Heiress car in the drive way. I had gave her a key to my crib eventhough we don’t live together. I walked inside the house. “Heiri” I called out. “Im in here” She said from my dinning room. I walked in and seen her sitting there with my guns on the table. I sighed. “Why do you have 4 guns?” She asked. I actually had a gun in each room, bathroom and 5 in the kitchen. I shrugged. “Protection, my dad gave them to me” I lied. She slowly nodded. “But there not even normal guns X, what is this like an Ak-47? what about this a pistol? I dont know what you call these other two, are these even registered X. What if the police find these, and theres bodies on these you will go to jail!” She panicked. “Heiress, baby chill man please I been having these it’s okay” I said to her. She folded her arms. “You sure?” She asked. I nodded. “Baby its all good, Just protection” I stated. She slowly nodded her head. “I came over to surprise you by cleaning your big ass house and cooking dinner, Im sorry I got nosey” She told me. I grabbed her and kissed her forehead. “Mi casa su casa” I said to her. She smiled. “You already being a wife to yo man, I love it! I love you!” I said to her. She smirked. I took the guns off the table and took them down to the basement. The basement had a key pad entry. If it didn’t Heiress would have found the drugs that I had in the basement. My trap phone buzzed. “Wazzam?” I answered. “We got more problems X, that Jackall nigga hijacked our stash while we was shooting the niggas in the spot earlier today” K.C said. I sighed. “Shit! We got to put out a hit now, but we wait on O, what he say?” I asked. “Naomi went into early labor, O is busy. I just got to call Ace” He stated. I nodded. “Ace would handle that shit quick” I said. K.C laughed. “Aight, Ima get Ace” He hung up the phone. I heard knocking on the basement door. I ran up the steps. “What’s up?” I asked closing the door behind me. “When are you going to show me what’s down there?” Heiress said. I shrugged. “One day” I simply said. She pouted. “When is that?” She asked. I sighed. “What you cooking?” I asked her. She rolled her eyes. “Whats down there X just tell me!” She said. “My dads business stuff, that’s it” I said. She shrugged, “Well let me look?” She said. Someone knocked on the door. I quickly went to the door to see who it was. It was Ace. “What up bruh bruh?” Ace said dapping me up. He looked at Heiress. “What up Heiress?” He said. She put on a smile coming over to hug Ace. “Hey Ace” She said greeting him. “Lets talk” Ace said. Heiress went back to kitchen. We walked down stairs to the basement. “Whats up?” I asked. “My gang ready to roll, problem is my nigga said he seen TiTi hanging over at the eastside spot where Jackall hide out is” He told me. I looked up at him. “Tiana?” I asked he nodded. “Aint want to shoot up the whole spot killing your blood” He said. I nodded. “Ima handle Tiana” Ace nodded. “I got to get back to the east side and secure my shit on my turf” He simply said. We went back upstairs. “You leaving?” Heiress asked. I nodded. “Tiana shit again” I told her. She rolled her eyes. “Tiana is such a problem but okay go be a big brother, I will see you later” She said kissing me. Ace made a funny face. “Yuck” He said. “You don’t kiss you shawty?” I asked. He smirked. “We do alot but I don’t like seeing yall kiss, but I got to dip and go with Jade to check on MiMi yall coming?” He asked. I nodded remembering O was at the hospital with his wife. “Yeah Ima see yall there” He nodded and got in his car. I drove to Decatur to visit Tiana. She wasn’t answring her phone.

Character Pics:

La-La (Alexis Sky) age 19:

Heiress: age 18

Naomi:

Omari:

Jade:

Ace:

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