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iamnot-crazy · 2 months

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Stowaway Chapter 11

Trafalgar Law x Fem!Reader

Summary:

The reader is a slave to a nobleman due to her devil's fruit ability which allows her to control the emotions of the people around her. She flees to bump into Trafalgar Law and boards his ship.

Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Chapter 7 Chapter 8 Chapter 9 Chapter 10

A/N: Same topics as the previous chapter but if I were to title this Chapter I would call it Robin's and Sanji's therapy session.

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As you sit in your thoughts a new figure joins. Sanji announced his presence by offering tea to the two beautiful ladies. Robin smiled taking the cup off the tray and grabbing the other to hand to you. You curl out of your ball and nervously take the cup.

Sanji lowers himself opposite to you and Robin leaning on the railing. You sighed, the sound heavy with the weight of the impending interrogation. You didn't try to leave this time excepting your faith. Sanji pulled out his cigarette blowing out a puff of smoke, "So how are you doing now?" He asked with concern laced in his voice.

"Why are you two so concerned for me?" You finally asked as you watched the two exchange glances.

Sanji sighed, "Let's just say we both can't help but feel a tinge of familiarity." seeing him act so seriously in front of women was unusual but something about this topic brought out a rarely seen side of him.

You look down at the warm tea in front of you understanding his words. "I don't want to die… At least I don't think I do." you spoke, "I don't know what came over me. I just want to protect what I do have now."

"Regaining all your memories at once is probably not helping," Robin stated, "You have a lot to sort through."

You nod in agreeance, "Why don't you tell us what you remember to sort it out." Sanji spoke up.

You sigh, "I never lost my memories of my time before the heart pirates. My mother's death… then being sold by my stepmother into the cruel world of the auction… the time with my first master. I was forced to forget escaping and running into Law and the warmth I found with Law and the Heart Pirates. Their acceptance, their love… it helped me heal, piece by shattered piece. I miss them." You pause as you think about your crew.

"My escaped gnawed at my master, his possessiveness refusing to let me go. He eventually tracked me down connecting me with the Heart Pirates. When I revealed to Law that my master was connected to Doflamingo he was covered with fear. Law never spoke of his past with Doflamingo just that he had one and my powers told me that he was filled with an unspoken terror. To protect Law from facing the man before he was ready, I fled to Amazon Lily, the island where we took your captain after Marineford."

"Amazon Lily?!" Sanji growled, "That bastard was on the Amazon Lily!" His glare shoots towards his captain full of jealousy and envy.

"Sanji," Robin warned causing the chef to refocus on your story.

You continued your story as your mind flashed to your capture.

---

Panic pulsed through the air as the island buzzed with desperate energy and Amazonian warriors prepared for battle. A rumor that a foreign ship has been spotted outside the island struck your attention. You wanted to run toward the forming battlefield but the pirate empress herself stopped you, "No," She commanded, "Go to your room. I have a bad feeling about this battle."

You disappeared to your room as told before the foreigners forced their way onto the island. You listen closely as the foreigners force their way into the throne room of the palace where Hancock waited.

"Hello, Hancock!" The intruder greeted.

"Men are not allowed on my island Doflamingo," Hancock spoke aggressively.

"Oh, Hancock let's skip that part and make a deal warlord to warlord," Doflamingo spoke sending chills down your spine. Hancock did not give the man a response that you can sense had upset him. "I know that after the battle of Marine Fort, you aided and harbored a particular pirate a Monkey. D Luffy"

You sensed Hancock's stress grow at the mention of Luffy's name but knowing her she is hiding it well. "I don't know what you are referring to."

The man laughed, "I personally don't care about your reasoning but I think the government might. No, what I care about is the fact that Trafalgar Law was with the straw hat pirate at the time."

Your heart dropped at the mention of Law's name.

"I learned that a crew member of his has taken refuge here."

"Get off my island Doflamingo!" Hancock shouted standing her ground.

"Ah, so she is here." Doflamingo laughed, "I'll make a deal with you. I will keep your secret from the Marines if you give me the girl."

Boa did not respond and instead, you start hearing the start of a fight. You sense 5 other people enter the palace. You begin to hear the starting of a battle as the Amazons fend off the intruders. As you focus on the intruders with your Haki you almost miss your door slamming open revealing Marguerite. "Y/N we need to get you out of here!" She shouted and you nodded.

Unfortunately, her shout drew the attention of one of the intruders you sense the intruder's path changing to your room and you pull Marguerite to the ground before a cannon is shot through the door, flying over your head and destroying the wall to the outside.

You turn around to see a young woman with long black hair and a cannon for an arm. You jumped up and pulled Marguerite out of the new hole in the wall. Instead of falling down to the ground with Marguerite, you cling to the wall. "What are you doing?" She hissed from the ground behind a bush.

"keep running I'll be there in a second." You hissed back and she nodded running off making the bushes shift. The woman who attacked you walked up to the hole watching the Amazon run away. She holds her arm out to aim and you take your chance. You grabbed onto her arm and forced her to feel an intense fear. She screams and holds her head seemingly going through a mental break.

You jumped off the wall and to the ground to catch up with Marguerite. The two of you took off through the forest a more familiar land for you to hide and defend. You met up with a few more Amazons who were ready to help defend you from the intruders.

You all took to the trees shooting down any intruder with Haki-filled arrows. You also got the opportunity to use your new use for your power by coating your arrows with a mist of emotions that will cause your targets to fall to whichever emotion you filled them with. You all held your own quite well not allowing any intruders to make it far into the forest or to leave to inform their leaders of your location.

A loud boom echoed through the forest changing the tides of your fight. Above you, strings began to stretch down surrounding the island. Arrows made of string began to fall from the sky striking down the Amazons that surrounded you. They fell from the trees when they were hit and you rushed to the ground after them.

As you tended to one of the Amazon Marguerite came up behind you aiming her arrow at you. Her scream gave you enough time to dodge her attack rolling to the side. You looked at the haki-filled arrow nailed deep into the ground where you once were.

"Marguerite what's happening?!" You shout at her as she starts to cry while aiming another arrow at you.

"Get out of here!" She shouted as you shuffled to your feet you felt her fear and knew you needed to follow her words. Before you got a chance to run a hand wrapped around your ankle. You looked down to see the Amazon you were just tending to hold you in place.

The feeling of fear and confusion filled the air as all the Amazons started to stand up. They all drew their bows at you. They all shouted at you to run away before firing at you.

You shook off the hand on your ankle before you ran. Arrows flew past you not in the way that has when training but with aggression and thirst for blood.

You sent a mist of red fear in an attempt to steer the amazons away but when they ran through the mist they never stopped their chase but now showed more fear on their faces. You freeze in confusion as you watch the people you considered family for the past 8 months run at you with tears in their eyes.

In a moment of realization, you create a mist of calmness for the Amazons to run through. Their tears dried up and they looked at you in confusion as you stood in front of them no longer running from them.

You were immediately tackled to the ground and the snakes the Amazons held and boes turned into bondage. "Y/N! Why!" Marguerite cried running up behind the other Amazons not running through the mist you used to calm the other Amazons.

"I can't fight you." You sob on the ground, "You all helped me so much and I don't want you to feel guilty that something is forcing you to do this."

Marguerite cried as she was forced to punch you to knock you out.

When you woke up you were being dragged through the door of the palace with blood dripping down your chin. Marguerite was the one leading the way as the Amazons brought their prize to the Doflamingo all with stone-calmed faces except for Marguerite who had tears still falling down her face.

A chilling laugh echoed through the room as Doflamingo sprawled himself on Hancock's throne, her unconscious form lying beside him like a discarded doll. You scowl at the man when you are pushed to his feet. He reached down grabbed you by your neck and pulled you toward his face, "All of this fighting just for you." He spat in your face, "Pathetic."

You gather the blood in your mouth and spit it into his face. a vein throbbed on his forehead but he simply wiped the blood off his face with his hand and licked it off. "Oh, I will enjoy breaking you." He threw you off to the side.

He lifted his hand up and all the amazons fell uncautious being released from his control. The woman who attacked you earlier approached you holding chains which she placed on you removing the snake that was bounding you. As soon as the chains were placed on your hands you knew they were Sea Stone as you felt your energy sapping.

The man approached you grabbing you by the neck again pulling you off the floor. His eyes dart to your hip and you feel uncomfortable for the first time in the revealing outfits of the Amazon. He smiled seeing your tattoo that represented your freedom and place within the heart pirates but now felt like a target. "I see Law has placed his mark on you." he taunted.

He continued to hold you by your neck but lowered you to his ground as he dragged you out of the palace.

---

tears streamed down your face as you recalled the attack on Amazon Lily and your capture to Sanji and Robin, "At that point, I felt like I was just destined to be a tool."

Your sentence hit a cord with Sanji and Robin now understand why they both feel so similar to you.

The two waited patiently for you to continue your story. "He brought me back to Dressrosa and locked me in a cellar deep within the castle. The hardest part was when my old Master came to visit."

---

You sat in the cold cellar chained to the wall by a Sea Stone chain that locked to your neck; a full plate of food that you refused to touch hoping that at the very least you could starve yourself to death. The door creaked open and you looked up to see the figure of your old Master and his friend who had found you in a town and was your past abuser.

Fear grew within you as they approached you knowing you were stuck. You pushed yourself as far as you could into the wall in an attempt to create as much space between you as you could. Your master walked up to you with pretend worry in his eyes as he gently rubbed your cheek which was still swollen.

"What did they do to you." He complained as his eyes and fingers wandered over your figure still wearing the revealing clothing of the Amazons. When his eyes landed on your hip where his mark once sat now replaced with a heart tattoo. "What the hell is this!" He grabbed the skin of your hip causing you to yipe. He growled as he grabbed onto your cheeks, "You have no idea how kind I have been! I didn't destroy your body with a banding as everyone insisted instead I gave you a beautiful tattoo and this is what you do!" He tossed you to the side. You spit the dirt out of your mouth as you sit back up only to be kicked back down.

Your old master spits on you before whispering to his friend and leaving the room. His friend stepped forward punching his fist into his hand seeking his revenge for what Law had done to him. You noticed some features on his face were still not in the right place, his eyebrows were switched, and his thumbs were backward he looked like a Picasso piece. You couldn't help but snicker at the sight.

Smack…

You were kicked back into the wall as a punishment for your snicker.

---

Your voice cracked as you told your story and Robin pulled your head gently onto her shoulder for comfort. You sniffed away your tears, "Doflamingo would then come in and nurse me to health, he would tell me a story about how he could save me from my abusive master all I had to do was become a part of his family. At the same time, he was doing something to my memories." You instinctively rubbed the back of your neck where the strings were pulled out of your brain.

"After a week I agreed and I was made into the perfect servant for him." You hold your head blocking the expressions of the two pirates as you tear up. "One day he told me I was going on an important mission, to spy on Law."

You pull out the Vivre card that you kept in your pocket with the transponder snail you were too afraid to toss "He gave me a snail and told me he made me a Vivre card so he can come in a rescue me after my mission. and then… he gave me… his vivre card." You froze staring at the card. You thought it was a piece of your own card to give to Ceaser but it wasn't it was his card.

Sanji reached out for the piece of paper. "So this card is pointing to Doflamingo." He investigated it laying it flat on his palm and watching it point behind them.

Robin's concern deepened. "That might be helpful," she said, her voice laced with urgency. "Let's go tell the rest."

As you walk down the stairs with Robin, Law jumps up with concern upon seeing your face and runs up to you. You wipe your tears and grab his hand, "Law" your voice cracked, "I have some important information."

You pull out the snail and the Vivre card which sends Usopp and Nami into a panic as you tell Law that the snail is how you have been communicating with Flamingo and how he had made a Vivre card for you. You then tell him how this Vivre card isn't a piece of yours like you thought. It was his.

Law takes the card and looks at it carefully as it points in the direction of punk Hazard the island they just left. Law looks up to the skies and sighs with relief, "The skies are clear so he can't follow us. We should be careful from now on keeping y/n away from anything we don't him to find."

Your face turns to guilt which Luffy caught onto. "Don't worry, Y/N," His voice cutting through the tension, "by the end of tomorrow, he'll have no control over you." His words offered a sliver of hope, a promise that chased away some of the shadows clinging to your heart.

Sanji then announced himself in front of the kitchen door where he disappeared to, "Dinner is up!" The crew jumped up in excitement running to the kitchen. After the crew dispersed, you lingered behind with Law, your heart pounding in your chest.

He pulled you into a tight embrace, his warmth offering a comforting haven. Tears streamed down your face as you confessed, "I'm so sorry." Your voice trembled, filled with guilt and regret. "I should have told you sooner."

Law held you close, his touch calming the storm within you. You pulled back, your eyes searching his. "I tried to kill myself last night," you confessed, the words tumbling out in a rush. "I didn't want him to find us. I didn't want to ruin your plans any more than I already have…" Your voice broke, the pain threatening to consume you.

"I… I didn't want to be the reason you die," you choked out, burying your face in his chest. "The whole reason Doflamingo captured me, manipulated me, was to get to you. And I… I don't want that to happen. I… I love you."

Silence descended, thick and heavy. Then, Law gently lifted your chin, his gaze meeting yours. His eyes, usually stoic and unreadable, held a depth of emotion you had never seen before.

Law wiped away your tears and placed his forehead onto yours, "I know," he said simply.

---

A/N: Wanna read more of my work check out my MasterList

#one piece #one piece x reader #trafalgar d law x reader #trafalgar d water law #trafalgar law #fem!reader #writing #one piece oc #trafalgar one piece #one peice #trafalgar op #one piece nico robin #straw hat pirates #strawhats #one piece sanji

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wordycheeseblob · 11 months

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Ok but why do we get to have a mermaid AU and no sailor AU like I want to see Silvio doing actual sailing and shit

PIRATE AU

FOREIGN FACTION

privateers. In short, pirates working for the government to carry out quasi-military activities... a pirate with papers if you will

With their solemn and equally terrifying captain, Chevalier who oversees his bunch of lawless brigands abide by the contract or else don't get caught. Don't ever engage in direct combat with his fleet.

Clavis is the quartermaster, during the Golden Age of Piracy this was the highest ranking pirate on a ship under the captain, usually elected by the crew. The quartermaster was the only officer on a ship who could veto a captain’s decision, but only when the ship was not engaged in battle or on a mission. This rapscallion is a wild card, difficult to control, has to be strictly supervised to deter from causing all manner of nautical misbehavior but he's always onto something. All the captives are under his supervision... Some destinies are worse than death.

Nokto appraises the goods values and is the one in charge of dealings, negotiations, pricing and reselling. Also paperwork.

Luke is the errand boy whenever they are at port. He is also the cleaning lad but don't be surprised to find he has enormous strength from doing all that sea man work.

DOMESTIC FACTION

Sailors. Honest to goodness sailors. The Royal Navy.

Leon, this charismatic swashbuckler is the captain of the Crown Fleet. He is easy-going but takes his job very seriously. If they ever happen to pass Chevaliers ship they'll definitely exchange annoyed glances.

Jin is the second in command, this shameless carouser enjoys festivity and especially the riotous drinking once on land. He knows his bitches in every port.

Licht is the lookout. He knows how to read the weather and sea and has very good eyesight. Being up there also gives him some much needed alone time from all the noise Jin is steering with the crew.

Yves is the cook. The first time he was introduced someone in the crew was reluctant to accept him on board saying women on ships bring bad luck. Yves was definitely outraged at that remark but rest assured he became an absolute essential to the crew, anytime he's absent Licht is left to cook and we know how that turns out, pray to the gods someone is there to save the ship from burning.

Sariel is the king's emissary, he communicates his majesty's wishes to the captain and anything paperwork related is to him. His inspections aren't without scrutiny, usually Jin is the one getting a scolding word.

PIRATES

Lawless brigands whose name is feared far and wide. Ruthless and unforgiving like the tempest seas, they bow to no man.

Silvio or as some call him Silver, he's... Well actually, I lied. Silvio is not a pirate but a merchant growing his empire of trade and influence. Let's just say that to do that he has the morals of a large corporation, that is, he has the human rights violations as a checklist.

"The capitalist machine must be oiled with the blood of pirates"

-this guy at some point

Keith is a savage pirate you wouldn't want to cross paths with. He committed all manner of atrocities without batting an eye. His ship mostly sails tropical seas and is very difficult to track as it hides in the mist and uses the weather to sail unnoticed. He's very good in dealing with poisons and has a pet bird on his shoulder, Dill.

Gilbert's face is the universal symbol of death and destruction :D scourge of the seven seas, World's Calamity, and prominent glutton, this pirate sails an Obsidian black ship, incredibly military advanced and commands a ruthless crew. Despite the considerable size of his ship it's difficult to predict what route he's going to intercept (making him a constant nuisance to Silvio). Maaaaybe tried to kidnap Emma... more than once. You're not safe. Not even on land.

That said, you never know from where or when he's coming but when you see the dark flag, it's already too late.

Possibly uses pirate slang unironically

#ikepri #ikemen prince pirate au #ikepri pirate au #ikemen prince #ikemen ouji #Rio is a law-abiding citizen now #bet he goes boating or smt #but Silvio knows the truth #that's why he can't stand him #the fleets either dislike eachother or dislike but with respect or just guttorally hate #my god i have so many hc already #I strongly encourage you to share yours #sailor au #ikemen prince sailor au #cybird otome

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zoeysdamn · 1 year

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Bark, Bite and Break Bones - Tyler Galpin x Van Helsing!reader | Part.8

Summary: It’s time for you to face the decision of the school board – what will this change for Tyler and you? There’s also a conversation the both of you can’t dodge anymore. The walls of the infirmary will definitely witness a turning moment.

Warnings: swearing, angst, smut (characters are between 17 and 18), mention of child neglect (minor)

A/N: Okay I’m sO sorry this chapter came out so late, it’s been a chaotic few weeks (apartement hunting, beginning a new job, moving to another town etc etc. And everything’s not completely settled yet!). Anyway I hope you’ll enjoy this part!

[Masterlist] [Prologue] [Part.1] [Part.2] [Part.3] [Part.4] [Part.5] [Part.6] [Part.7]

The following morning, you woke up feeling like you had been hit by a truck. The mere action of opening your eyes ripped a groan out of you. If only the mattress could swallow you all instead of getting up, it would be easier. However, school had no tolerance for your sorry little feelings and you got up very reluctantly. And to think you just stopped an armed attack the day before, you could at least have a day off.

The tiredness weighting in your limbs was so numbing you didn’t even pester against the horrendous Nevermore uniform. After you got dressed you went to the dining hall without a word for breakfast. A whole barrel of coffee, that’s what you needed.

Not completely awake yet, you didn’t notice the whispers in your trail as you entered the dining hall. Force of habit, you guessed. If you had listened to them, you’d notice all of the students whispering among themselves about yesterday's attack. It was only when you were halfway through your first coffee cup and a blonde tornado tackled you, that reality literally crashed into you.

“Y/N!!” screamed Enid, “Oh my god, are you okay?! We heard about what happened yesterday, how are you holding up?”

You blinked slowly at the blonde werewolf, registering slowly all of her anxious rambling. “I’m…fine,” you articulated, noticing equally anxious Ajax, Xavier and even Wednesday standing behind her – the “we” she mentioned, surely. “I’m fine,” you repeated, “I got out of it without too much damage. But uh,” you cleared your throat dryly, “why are you asking?”

The bluntness of your question took them off guard. Xavier and Ajax exchanged surprised glances, a hurtful expression draped over Enid’s features, and even Wednesday frowned in disbelief. None of them had expected you to react that coldly to their worries. Sure, you weren’t the best friends in the universe but…your harshness still surprised them.

“Because…because we’re worried, that’s why,” tried Ajax nervously, looking at his comrades who nodded their heads.

“But why?” you frowned, a bit lost.

It wasn’t something you controlled or even understood, really. Tyler had been an isolated case, the only person it had felt natural to open up to. Maybe Enid and the others were sincere, but the habit of having every outcast being wary of you was hard to break. The defensive position would always sprung up first. It was a foreign concept to you that was one of their concerns.

“Well, because we’re kind of friends,” said Enid shyly, a glint of hope in her eyes, “right?”

The way you blinked silently only deepened the awkwardness of the moment. Wednesday scoffed, “As far as my knowledge about human interactions goes, I was under the impression that the return of friendly feelings after such a statement was a socially acceptable answer.”

All of the others nodded discreetly in agreement. And you nervously fidgeted with your cup of coffee at the realization of how hurt they were, casting your eyes down. “I’m a bit awkward about all of this I think.”

Ajax was the first to chuckle, “Yeah…yeah you are. I’m sorry,” he said defensively to his friends who all looked at him with wide eyes, “but it’s so weird to see Y/N Van Helsing being actually cringy about something.”

A light laugh slipped from your lips at his words, “Cringy, that’s right. I’m socially awkward, can’t help that.” You licked your lips nervously and looked up to the group, “I’m sorry for being such a bitch sometimes.”

“No, no it’s nothing!” assured Enid quickly.

“The venom is pleasant,” said Wednesday at the same time.

Everyone looked at the brunette, and then burst into laughter one by one. It effectively eased the tension a little. Except for Ajax with whom you were getting along just fine, you had never expected to be friends with any of those students. At your arrival in Nevermore, you had thought it would be a harsh year, that you would go through with gritted teeth and defensive sarcasm. The harsh part wasn’t untrue; but deep down, seeing this small group laughing and being genuinely concerned about you, just proved to you how wrong you had been about the second part.

“What even happened?” asked Enid again after a moment, sitting next to you and taking your hands in hers – and you didn’t even protest. “We heard there had been armed guys and- and that many people were there too. And we heard Tyler got shot??”

“Did they aim for his head,” asked Wednesday.

“Only sedated, don’t worry,” you reassured Enid, giving her a small smile in reassurance but you could see all of them frown – Wednesday in deception, no doubt. That made you shift uncomfortably and you lowered your voice, “He transformed under the pressure,” you whispered, “but no one had been hurt by his fault, I swear.”

“But…I thought all the mercenaries were dead?” quipped Xavier. As an answer, you only held his gaze; and you could gradually see the cogs turn in his head and he rapidly did the math. The way his face paled was unmistakable.

Ajax and Enid’s eyes switched between the two of you, and quickly they understood too. “I did what I had to do,” you mumbled defensively, looking away. Just because it had been self defense didn’t mean you were overly proud of killing those men. Thankfully and much to your surprise, that didn’t seem to bother them for very long.

Wednesday’s lips twitched slightly. “Nice,” she simply noted.

“You’re both fine, that’s all that matters,” Enid said, sending a small glare to her slightly-too-much-pleased-looking girlfriend.

The two boys nodded in agreement. Their genuine relief was heartwarming; maybe you could let them in too, just like you had let Tyler. Well, not that far of course. But it was still something.

Clearing your throat, you tried to temper their excitement, “There’s still the school board to deal with, thought. Weems is willing to back us up, but the board, well it’s something else.”

Ajax frowned in disbelief, “What do you mean? It didn’t happen in Nevermore, why should they care?”

Wednesday was quicker to understand and answered for you, “It’s a menace for them if a normie press charges,” she explained flatly. “And I suppose the board isn’t the biggest fan of either Y/N or Tyler, am I right?”

You nodded, “If no one press charges against us, the board might get off our backs, but nothing’s so sure.”

That made them – your friends now – look at each other in worry. All you could do now was to wait for Weems and the board to debate about the whole situation.

Apparently, the negotiations were short; at least that’s what you supposed when you saw one of the board members gesturing you through the window to come and meet them; it was the middle of your last session before lunch. Excusing yourself to the teacher, you gathered your belongings and exited the room. Once in the hallway you gave a polite nod to the pale ginger witch who had requested your presence.

“Good morning Miss Van Helsing,” she greeted politely.

“I assume the board has reached a decision?” you asked, shifting uneasily from one leg to another. Better finish this quickly, even if there was only one member you never particularly enjoyed your discussions with the board.

The witch nodded, “We have indeed. I came to inform you of our decision regarding yours and mister Galpin’s status for the rest of the year.”

Swallowing thickly, you tried to look anywhere but at her, “And?”

“You’re both staying at Nevermore.”

Not expecting such an answer you whipped your head to her, eyes wide in shock.

“What?” you blurted in disbelief, to which the witch only shrugged.

“No official complaint had been filed on the normies’ side, some members of the board didn’t assess wise to frame either of you for what happened. You did save lives after all.”

You nodded slowly, registering that the board was letting you go. “Well…thank you I guess. It must’ve been quite the debate, uh? I wonder how much it has cost your pride.”

The witch chuckled at the return of your usual sarcasm. “Believe it or not, but personally I pleaded in your favor. Some members of the board aren’t trying to put your head on a spike.”

“Mmh, who could have guessed,” you grumbled, “none of you had been really friendly so far.”

Maybe playing witty wasn’t the best strategy. But even if the woman was honest you couldn’t help yourself. The board member glanced around and lowered her voice. “Some of us are more than concerned about this attack, Miss Van Helsing,” she confided in a whisper. “Those men clearly weren’t simple muggers, their presence in Jericho raises many questions.”

“For once we agree,” you nodded with the same low voice. “Is there anything new about them?”

The ginger witch shook her head, “Not yet. The possibility of this attack being directed toward outcasts isn’t to be discarded.”

That made you gulp slowly. Of course, you knew this was a legit thought but this still made you uneasy. At least knowing that some members of the board were suspicious too comforted you a bit.

With one last polite nod the witch left, disappearing in the corridors like she had never been here in the first place. Instead of returning to class, you turned away and hurried the other way.

A couple of minutes later you pushed the infirmary’s door. Glancing around you noticed the absence of the school nurse – probably on lunch break, it was close to noon anyway. There was no one there and you got to the room where Tyler was. He laid in his bed, sleeping peacefully, looking less pale than before. The anesthetic had worn off, his body should’ve healed since then.

Sitting next to him on the bed you brushed the curls off his forehead mind-absently. Tyler winced softly at the contact, eyes fluttering open gradually. Brown orbs seemed lost, unable to settle for a few seconds before finding your eyes. He mumbled your name weakly, grasping onto consciousness.

“Hey tiger,” you whispered with a smile, “glad to see you back to us.”

A lazy chuckle escaped Tyler, “You won’t get rid of me that easily, doll.”

You grinned softly, “How are you feeling?”

“ ‘m fine,” he mumbled, “ still feeling like I got hit by a truck.” His eyes shifted to the bruise on your jaw, faded but still visible.

“I’m fine,” you answered his silent question, “we had worse, you and I.”. This felt awfully similar to the scene the night before; but now Tyler’s mind was more clear.

He nodded but the worried look lingered on his face. Instead he tried to move to another subject, like remembering what you had talked about when he had woken up the day before. “The board?”

“They’re letting us walk away from all of this,” you smiled weakly, “no jail for us.”

Tyler’s eyes widened in surprise, mouth opened in a half-smile, half-bewilderment. “How did you manage to do that?”

“Why, with my charming personality of course. Did you ever doubt that?”

Tyler cracked a grin, his face illuminating at the news, “Nah never, sweetheart.”

Without really thinking about it, your hands had found each other, grasping tightly for support. It felt natural, like the gesture had been a mutual call from your needy bodies and souls. In a sudden rush of emotion, you felt your heart swell and you leaned forward to press your lips against Tyler’s. The softness of your mouth against his made him sigh, and Tyler’s other hand reached for the back of your neck, caressing it gently. The warmth blooming within your chest elicited a small whimper, stifling from where your lips locked with Tyler’s. It felt different, more passionate from the other times you had kissed him. More intense, and even more right. It felt that being right here, kissing Tyler with everything you had, was just the place you belonged.

Caught up in your make-out session, you soon ended up half laying on Tyler, chests pressed together as his tongue rolled around yours. A moan broke from your lips and you started to feel hot, the collar of your uniform shirt suddenly feeling too tight. Just when you were ready to rip the stupid mandatory tie away, Tyler suddenly broke the kiss.

“Wait,” he panted, “I have to ask you something first.” At your perplexed frown, Tyler only bore his gaze to yours in the most serious expression you ever saw on him. Then after a long handful of seconds he finally asked, “Why didn’t you shoot me at the Weathervane?”

Breath hitching, you felt your throat become dry. Part of you hadn’t expected Tyler to remember so much of the events during his transformation. Maybe you had hoped he wouldn’t, to avoid the sensitive question yourself; while fully knowing you’ll have to face it eventually.

Seeing your hesitation, Tyler pressed his question further. “You had ten times the opportunity to pull the trigger. Why didn’t you?”

Licking your lips, you hesitated a few more seconds. “I couldn’t,” you whispered.

“But why?” he insisted softly.

The silence that followed answered for you. This had been beyond your strength; for the first time in your life, you had been unable to do the job because you hesitated. And deep down, you knew why.

“I just couldn’t,” you repeated.

Instead of feeling hurt by your lack of a clear answer, Tyler gave you a tender smile. Grabbing your hand he brushed his thumb over your knuckles. “Does that mean that you like me a little, then?”

The lightness of the joke brought a smile to your face. “Don’t flatter yourself too much, pretty boy.”

“But you didn’t deny,” he grinned.

An amused huff left your lips; and then before you chickened out the words left your lips. “I didn’t shoot you because I couldn’t hurt you. I- I love you Tyler. I know,” you chuckled with a sob to his widening eyes, “quite the plot twist, uh?”

One of his hands came to brush your face, trembling fingers barely touching your cheek like fearing you’d vanish. “You love me?...” he repeated.

You nodded, tears brimming at the corner of your eyes. Tyler’s digits caressed your face and you leaned on his palm. “You really love me?”

The tremors in his voice made your heart squeeze, realizing that his stupefaction was only due to your switching behavior. Yesterday morning at the therapist’s office you told him you weren’t sure of what you felt, and now you were telling Tyler you loved him; you definitely hadn’t made things easy. “I know it might sound like coming out of nowhere,” you muttered, “guess I’m more a girl of action than words.”

He chuckled weakly through his overwhelming emotions, “No shit. Took you an hostage situation to realize you had fallen for me.”

“Yeah, I’m that much of a romantic,” you grinned, bubbly feeling inside of your chest trying to spill out under the intensity of the moment. It was the first time you ever said those words to anyone, after all. “I…after what you said at Fern’s office, and when I saw you as the Hyde I just…I couldn’t bring myself to shoot you,” you confessed softly, mirroring his gesture and caressing Tyler’s scarred cheek. “I realized that I couldn’t lose the person I love.”

Tyler suddenly brought your face down and crashed his lips against yours. A surprised gasp escaped your lips, quickly replaced by a breathy moan. The kiss overwhelmed you all at once, Tyler’s touch drowning your senses until numbness. Pressed against his chest you couldn’t repress a breathy whimper through the entanglement of your tongues. Tyler’s body reacted on its own with a growl and an involuntary grasp of his hand that had shot to your hip. The way he softened his touch ever so slightly just after the grip made you smile through the kiss. Parting slightly from his lips, you grinned at him.

“Does that mean you like me a little?” you asked teasingly, repeating his own words and Tyler grinned back at you.

“Took you this long to notice?” he sassed back, but the underlying softness in his voice was still here.

“My mind got a bit lost,” you admitted with a grin, “do you know how hard it can be to think around you, pretty boy? You’re kinda distracting.”

Sliding an arm around your waist so you could be even closer to him, Tyler smiled and dropped a teasing feather-like kiss against your lips. “This might be the strangest way I’ve been called hot.”

With a shrug you jabbed him on the rib, making him jolt with a laugh, “Told you, I’m a true romantic.”

The insolence and sarcastic unconventional answer made him smile even more. “That’s why I love you, doll,” he said softly, and you felt your heart soar and your throat tighten at the confession.

Even if you knew he did, for Tyler had hinted and mentioned it a few times before, it felt utterly different to hear it so clearly. It simply felt right.

Leaning closer you kissed Tyler again, lips instantly capturing his when he opened his mouth to welcome yours. The kiss quickly turned into a more heated make out session, Tyler’s hand returning to your hip and gripping it tightly. One of your legs slid over his and sooner than later you ended up straddling his lap, not once breaking away from his lips. Teeth clashing and tongues curling around the other, none of you seemed to care to remember where you were, or that someone could enter any moment. That being said, both of yours and Tyler’s reputations were already quite juicy at Nevermore, another scandal wouldn’t taint it much more. Plus, the school nurse must've caught teenagers making out more than once.

The tenderness of the previous moment evolved into a heated atmosphere, hands clinging and kneading on each other’s clothes. While he hungrily kissed your mouth, Tyler’s gripping hand traveled from your hip to the curve of your ass; the squeeze he gave elicited a breathy groan, from the depth of your throat. A hot feeling irradiated through your entire body and the need to tear off your own clothes became unbearable. Needy fingers – yours or his? – clinged on the tie of your uniform, but in the hurry of the moment it was messy and none of you managed to successfully untie it. Huffing in frustration you gave up the tie but didn’t stop ravishing Tyler’s mouth. As a reflex under the building frustration, your hips grinded down, trying to find some relief and the gesture was welcome with a long moan from Tyler. You couldn’t help the smirk that grew on your face at the feeling of the hardening swell against your clothed core. A surge of passion made you bolder, your hands let go of Tyler’s shirt and jaw to push down the already disheveled bed sheet. When he felt you fumble with the zipper of his pants, Tyler gasped, breaking away from the kiss. The shadow of a protest formed on his lips but it quickly vanished when another moan tore from his throat and his hips bucked needly against you.

“Eager lover boy?” you grinned down at him.

With a raise of his pelvis, Tyler helped you with the laborious tugging of his pants through ragged breaths. “Won’t complain for sure, babe,” he grinned playfully. At the new intimate nickname your heart dropped for a second; but then a rush of newfound passion flooded through you.

Impatient fingers found his hardened dick and wrapped around it, eliciting a heated moan from Tyler. Hair messy sprawled on the pillow, eyes half closed in pleasure, Tyler had the most delicious fucked out expression on his face. With his cheeks flushed and bruised lips slightly opened, it was hard to believe you barely touched him. And yet even you could feel yourself starting to get wet at the errotic vision of him sprawled under you. This wasn’t about teasing anymore, this was a messy and urgent need to have him inside you.

From under his long lashes, Tyler glanced at you in surprise when you rolled your skirt up your thighs. As an answer you winked at him playfully.

“Those ugly uniform skirts come useful after all.”

Tyler swore he had never heard anything sexier before. But it was the vision of your panties being pulled hurriedly down your thighs that definitely made his heart implode and his cock twitch in your hand. Flicking your thumb over the head leaking with precum you grinned, panting in expectancy. The contact of your glistening folds against his length made you both moan hotly.

“Fuck,” you swore under you breath, “I need you so bad Tyler.”

His breath hitched at the contact, but he still looked up with a questioning look. “Here?”

You grinned at how thin the last string of his self-control was, “If I’m not riding you in the next ten seconds I’m gonna kill someone, pretty boy.”

Just on cue you lowered yourself on him and he swore loudly, throwing his head back on the pillow. “Holy shi–”

The warmth of your slick walls around his length made him choke on his own breath. Even if the delicious feeling was more than familiar Tyler couldn’t hold back the shiver running down his spine. His previous worry was thrown out of the window in the blink of an eye. A hand immediately shot to grab your ass cheeks, pushing you down harder on his throbbing cock, eliciting a high pitched moan from you. Smirking at your reaction he thrusted his lips upward playfully, meeting yours with a groan.

“Better now, doll?”

With a grin you rolled your lips even harder on him, “Definitely.”

A familiar knot already started to build in the pit of your stomach and with no time you found yourself bouncing on Tyler’s cock mercilessly. Juices spilled all over his hardened length, making Tyler dig his fingers on the soft flesh of the curve of your ass. Instead of making you hiss in pain it elicited a deep moan from you. The hot feeling of his thickness inside your sensitive walls made you buck your hips even harder, riding Tyler at a passionate, harsh pace. It didn’t matter where the two of you were anymore or who could walk on you; for now the only thing that mattered was the pounding inside your dripping cunt and Tyler’s hands grabbing your flesh to ground himself through his own thrusts.

Mind clouded with lust, you didn’t notice the greedy fingers brushing upwards to your hip bones, trying to get a better hold of your hips to flip you. But caught up in his own pleasure, Tyler was too sloppy to switch your positions as swiftly as he would have wanted, and with a guttural moan at a particular strong squeeze of your walls around him, he completely gave up his plan – and gave himself away at the same time. Noticing what he wanted to do, you pinned him down the mattress, using his shoulder as leverage to ground yourself with the unforgiving pace your hips set.

Tyler’s questioning look was met with a bossy glint of amusement in your own eyes.

“What do you think you’re doing? You’re not the one in charge here, pretty boy.”

Like a proof of your words, you squeeze around him, grinding down harder and eliciting as expected a muffled moan from him. But a flash of cockiness also appeared on Tyler’s face. “D’you really think that, doll?” he teased with a feral grin.

The brush of his hand from your hip, and up your belly followed his smug question. The lust-clouded laziness of your brain registered, but oh so slowly, the sensual trail ghosting over your clothes, covering your heated skin like a plague. Despite knowing where it would lead, you couldn’t help the high pitched moan breaking from your lips when Tyler’s calloused fingers wrapped around your throat. A shiver of pleasure immediately ran down your spine.

Your reaction made his smirk stretch further.

“Let’s see who’s in charge now, sweetheart.”

The pressure on your windpipe made it impossible to articulate the singlest word, only a wanton cry escaped. That made Tyler’s cock twitch inside of you, and the pulsing veins throbbed against your pussy’s walls, making you moan again. Sensing how responsive you were by the way you cunt clenched around him like a vine and how impossibly wet you got at his gesture, Tyler grinned and increased the pressure around your throat. A loud gasp and a wild buck of hips was what he got immediately.

“Fuck,” you rasped in a breathy voice, short and edgy thanks to Tyler’s grip on your throat, “I’m close, I’m close don’t fucking st– ah!”

The sharp thrust of his hips combined with the choking had cut you mid sentence. “You wanna come, uh? Gonna cum all over my cock with that slutty pussy of yours?” asked Tyler, voice heavy and tainted in lust.

Unable to form a coherent answer like your mind had frozen, your body responded itself. The way you were bouncing, alternating with riding Tyler mercilessly was explicit enough.

How sensitive you were to both his chokehold and dirty talk made Tyler’s heart soar in pride. It was incredible to feel having such a dominative power when you were the one riding him. Tyler watched mesmerized how your thighs jiggled at every bounce on his cock, juices dripping on the soft inside of them from under your rolled up skirt. Your panties dandled on your left ankle, long forgotten, but the flash of the fabric barely hanging up with the force of your fucking looked so fucking hot to him. And the vision of your utterly fucked out expression and breasts bouncing despite the confinement of your bra and school shirt would definitely stick in his mind for a long time. What could he say, you wore his hand around your throat like the prettiest necklace of pearls.

Another hard thrust made you throw your head backward with a long moan. Shooting up in reflex, one of your hands clutched the one of Tyler’s wrist close to your neck, holding on it for some grounding. The orgasm built up within your insides and you squeezed your walls harder around Tyler. He groaned in pleasure, his free hand squeezing your hip until his knuckles turned white.

“Holy shit– doll I won’t last long–”

The edge in his tone matched the eagerness arising from the erratic thrusts of his dick in you. Another squeeze, and he let his head fall down the pillow with a deep lustful moan, releasing himself with a burst of pleasure. The feeling of Tyler’s cum painting your insides and the pressure around your throat made you come undone almost on the spot. A spasm ran through your entire body, shivering under the weight of the crashing orgasm. You felt your own juices spilling and mixing with his own, milking all over Tyler’s spamming cock.

The pace of your hips gradually become sloppier, just like Tyler’s grip around your throat softened as both of your orgasms sank in. Only lazy thrusts and heavy pants remained, for the two of you to recompose your spirits after the mind-blowing fuck you just had.

It took you every ounce of will to leverage yourself on your wobbly knees and slowly pull off of Tyler’s softening dick. He hissed slightly, but quickly grabbed a wipe on the nearby table, swiping the mess on your abused cunt carefully without a word. When he finished doing the same on his length, you helped him tuck himself inside of his pants and finally let yourself drop on top of him.

A breathy sigh left your lips. “Phew, this was…certainly something. Probably the best infirmary sex I’ve had.”

Tyler snorted, “Because you have fucked in an infirmary before?”

“I’m going ahead for the next time, lover boy,” you said playfully, nuzzling your head against his shoulder.

The usual flirting didn’t erase the feeling of warmth flooding through his heart, and Tyler slid his fingers in your hair tenderly. Then after a few seconds of peaceful silence, his own teasing nature resurfaced, “We need to talk about your choking kink thought, babe.”

Head shooting up, you frowned at him like he had wounded your pride. “I do not have a choking kink!”

This could have been menacing enough if it hadn’t been for your still blushing cheeks and the slight pout you gave him; Tyler let out a heart-warming laugh. “Sure you don’t,” he grinned, “and you never cum right away when either of us are getting choked. Good to know you’re into vanilla and denial, duly noted.”

You huffed, putting your chin on top of his chest and glaring at Tyler, “You’re such a dumb ass.”

The words may have been mean, but Tyler knew they were tainted with playfulness and stubborn embarrassment. So he smiled down at you and angled his face to press a loving kiss on your forehead. “Yes, but I’m your dumbass.”

You smiled too at his words and cuddled closer to him, your lips against his throat. “Yeah, you’re my dumbass,” you repeated fondly.

When the school nurse came back half an hour later, the bed was empty – and the sheets long dumped into the laundry pile.

The next few days become gradually calmer at Nevermore. The panic that had risen at the news of the attack downtown wore off as daily school life began again. If the police carried on the investigation on the mercenaries, nothing reached the ears of the Nevermore gossip; and thus the topic slowly disappeared in everyone’s mind. Even if the lack of news about the attack that had almost cost your lives weren’t to please either of you, Tyler and you were glad to have some peace at last. For two whole weeks the only thing in your mind was the newfound label on your relationship. Ever since you officially became a couple, both of you gave even more space to this “us”.

It had become incredibly rare to see you being apart, even during the nights – your room had basically become Tyler’s now, even if he had already spent a lot of time there before. Ajax had even called you in the middle of the night once, worried about the absence of his roommate for the fourth night in a row. The gruff voice tainted with sleep on the other side of the phone, asking who it was had been an enough answer, and the gorgon had let out a “oOOOOH” after a long second of silence, putting two and two together. On the other hand, Ajax was rather relieved at the prospect of Tyler now spending most of his time in your room. Not that he disliked his roommate, they were friends now; but the idea of not risking to lose his sight by walking on the two of you fucking – again – was deeply appreciated for the sake of his remaining sanity. And he was also genuinely happy for Tyler and you. Not that he hadn’t seen that coming but he had honestly not expected love to go through your thick headed behavior.

And honestly, you were kind of thinking the same. Not in a billion years would you have imagined you’d fall so hard for someone. The more time passed, the more you felt your love for Tyler grow deeper and stronger. Since you had come to the realization of your feelings and confessed to him, every single detail you had already noticed before became more and more attractive in your eyes. The way he always, always, let you walk in first or made sure you were okay and did so effortlessly. Or how his hand found its way around yours no matter where you were, at the slightest sign of discomfort from you. And no one got you started on the usual flirty and cocky comments, you would have never thought he could sound sexier than before.

This newfound coziness wasn’t only beneficial to you. Tyler found it even easier to talk about what he felt, sometimes about very serious topics way too dark to address in therapy. Maybe it was because both of you had definitely lowered down your defense walls around each other. Once or twice, while you were cuddling on your bed late at night, Tyler opened up about his mum. You had come to understand that the topic had been brought up during his sessions with his previous therapist; yet he had never told Dr.Fern about her once. But in the secure embrace of your arms and the soft thumping of your heart under his ear, he felt safe enough to talk about it. Having him talking about his late mother touched you deeply, and you had listened to him patiently every time, fingers running through his hair as he laid his head on your chest. For you who always had a highly complicated relationship with any member of your family, especially your parents, the affection and love Tyler had for his mom was both an amazement. Mrs.Galpin seemed to have been an incredible woman, and the more he talked to you about her, the more you wished you could meet her.

The feeling grew stronger as the parents’ weekend rolled by. It was perhaps out of nostalgia and longing for his mother’s presence, but Tyler had a melancholic expression the day before. Two weeks after the attack at the Weathervane, the upcoming event had taken place in everyone’s minds, including his. The prospect of ever other students getting to see their loved ones but him certainly did put a stain on his mood; but on the other hand, knowing you’d be here was enough to comfort him. That’s how you ended up plopped on the balcony of the passageway above the quad, observing the living yard in bewilderment.

“Who do you think will get on Weems’ back first? Vampires or Sirens?” you asked out loud.

Next to you, Tyler chuckled. Half-sitting on the edge of the stone balcony, your side was leaning on your boyfriend’s chest. Having preferred to stand Tyler could easily plop his chin on the top of your head – which you found annoying, but had to admit it was also cute. Although the way he could quickly press a kiss on your forehead made up for that.

“My bet’s on the Vampires,” he answered, enjoying the relative peace the high-perched spot allowed from the crowded quad. “Is Yoko’s coven coming?”

“Nah, didn’t see any of them. They’ll probably be avoiding Nevermore for a few years,” you shrugged. “What a waste, really.”

The freckled boy snickered and nudged you playfully, “C’mon babe, at least their absence is the only good thing today.”

“Not it’s not the only thing,” you corrected, eyes suddenly caught by the newly arrived family, “holy shit is that Wednesday’s mom?”

Both pairs of eyes immediately got glued to the tall, dark and elegant figure of Morticia Addams greeting her unfazed daughter. Anyone could have felt jealous of having their significant other ogling at someone else, but Tyler and you were equally too caught up in mesmerization to care.

“She’s really pretty,” whistled Tyler slowly, still not quite believing such a beautiful and sensual woman had given birth to the worst case of resting bitch face he knew.

“Bruh, she’s hella hot,” you corrected in a blurt, “is this too late to say I may have a mommy kink now?”

A chuckle escaped Tyler, throat dry at the sight of the goddess-like mother in the quad, “You know what, I’m not even concerned about that. Totally understandable.”

“Yup.”

“Do you have any idea on how to respectfully ask someone to step on you?”

That made you laugh and you tore your eyes from your newfound crush to raise an amused eyebrow at Tyler, “You’ll beg her to step on you, pretty boy.”

“Damn right I will,” he grinned smugly, to which you pressed a finger on his chest.

“Listen, I love you handsome, but I’ll push you under a bus to get this gorgeous and sexy mum to ever grace me with a smile okay?”

The scarred boy gave you a crooked smile and leaned closer to you. “At least we’re on the same page, doll,” he breathed against your face before kissing you softly.

You felt yourself grin against his lips, and you locked your arms behind his neck. Oh, how much you loved that dumbass, flirty man of yours. Despite all of your previous words, you knew that none of you would actually leave the other – not ever. Even if Wednesday’s insanely hot mother asked you to.

Breaking away from Tyler’s lips, you dropped one last feather-light kiss on his lips before turning toward the quad again. You were curious to see how the weird Addams bunch would react to everything – especially Wednesday’s bright and colorful girlfriend. But before you had the time to look for either of them, your face fell at the vision of two familiar figures entering the quad.

“Motherfucker,” you swore slowly under your breath, making Tyler turn to you at the sudden change of mood.

“Babe? What’s up?” he asked gently. But no matter how sweet he was, the anger rose up in you like a flood of lava inside of a volcano.

“You got to be fucking kidding me,” you growled, and without any more explanation turned sharply in the stairs’ direction.

Your very confused boyfriend followed you immediately, not quite understanding what put you suddenly in such a wrath. The last time he had seen you like that had been just after the assault at the Poe cup. Despite your furious pace through the crowd of students, he still managed to grab your hand and tug you close to him.

“What’s going on?” he whispered to you, trying to not bring any more attention that your sudden appearance to the quad had bought.

Fuming, you didn’t even look at him as you answered through gritted teeth, “My parents are here.”

Tyler’s eyebrows rose high in surprise at the news. He wouldn’t have expected any more Van Helsings in this school, but come to think of it your parents were maybe the less dangerous for the outcasts. For themselves however, it was a risky bet to come to see you, they would realize that sooner than later.

“Tell me this is a fucking joke,” you barked at them.

The sudden raise of your angry voice made the couple whip in your direction with wide eyes, stopping their nervous glancing around. They both had their mouths agape, taking in your angry posture a few feets away from them. You hadn’t seen them in years, but you'd be damned if you approached those people too much.

Being the first to recompose her spirits, your mother attempted a small beaming smile.

“Y/N it’s– it’s good to see you again,” she tried carefully, which encouraged your father to do the same.

“We’re glad to be here to meet you,” he added, to which you only snorted loudly. This definitely didn’t help either of them to feel more at ease, you could see your mother fidgeting nervously at your cold behavior and lack of answer.

"You look...well."

"You look like yourself," you snapped back bitterly, "that's how bad. And you'd look even better ten foot away from me, so take all your morals and go the fuck away."

The gasp your mother let out was so loud it made a few heads turn in your direction. Even Tyler sucked in a sharp breath next to you, eyes flickering back and forth between the three people. Of course, he knew you weren’t the biggest fan of your folks, and that your relationship was rather complicated with your whole family. But given you almost never brought up the subject he hadn’t imagined you being that bitter toward them. Although he understood why the anger, from what he had understood it was your parents’ change of mind regarding the family missions that had participated to put you where you were now.

Despite the clear animosity emanating from you, your father couldn’t help but insist a little more harshly.

“Watch your tone young lady,” he warned in a hard voice, “you’re still our daughter.”

“Ah!” you snickered, “Now I’m your daughter you’re worrying about? Sorry you’re about ten years too late.”

“Keith please,” your mother said softly, touching her husband’s arm to calm him down. Then she turned to you again, “We just wanted to see if you were feeling well here, that’s all.”

Her words made your blood boil in anger, and if it wasn’t for Tyler’s hand gripping yours you would have jumped on them to gauge their eyes out. “Except it’s not, isn’t it?” you snapped angrily; still, you squeezed lightly Tyler’s hand behind you, signaling that you wouldn’t lose control now. “You’re here because you want something from me, right? It’s always like that!”

The way they both looked away was enough proof. That angered you even more, but it also made a sharp sense of fury rise in Tyler at the same time. He had never thought much of your parents before, but now they were down right assholes.

Frowning at them, you started to understand their motives.

“You’re here to use me as a banner of your naive little non-violence ideology,” you spat venomously, “again. Now that I’m out of juvie I'm useful, uh?”

This time it was your mother’s turn to scoff, “Your time in prison was on you only.”

“You don’t know shit about that,” growled Tyler, speaking up for the first time.

The three Van Helsing whipped their heads in his direction; you, eyes wide in surprise that he stepped up to your defense, and your parents seeming just having noticed him. The way both of your parents’ eyes squinted at him, scanning the freckled outcast from head to toes, didn’t please you.

“You’re in no place to talk, boy,” sneered your father in disdain, and for the first time in years you thought you saw a glimpse of disgust in his eyes. So much for promoting peace betweens Van Helsings and outcasts.

The growl that rose in Tyler wasn’t announcing anything good. “Don’t call me boy,” he snapped. “And I have every right to talk about this since I know what really happened to Y/N.”

Your father scoffed again, while your mother’s eyes flickered between Tyler and you perplexedly, frowning in disbelief. Still, she couldn’t help but defend themselves, “We know what happened to our daughter, don’t interfere with this conversation.”

Snickering loudly, you let out a bitter laugh, “No you don’t. You didn’t even bother to bring your sorry asses to my trial, what kind of parents do that?”

“And he was there?” spat your mother. At this point none of you cared if curious students and parents witnessed your bitter exchange.

“No I wasn’t,” said Tyler passionately, still gripping your hand tightly, “but at least I’ve listened to her instead of throwing her under a bus like you did.”

“What an outcast like you can know about this?”

“God damn, here we are,” you said, throwing your hands in the air, “there’s the crack in your shell of hypocrisy. You really defend outcasts when it’s convenient for your image, uh? The infamous good Samaritans of the Van Helsing family, y’all!” you called louder, gesturing dramatically to the whole quad, making even more heads turn in your direction. Which didn’t please your father the slightest and just as he stepped closer to grab you, Tyler’s hand shot first. Gripping the older man’s wrist tightly, he glared at him darkly.

“Don’t touch her.”

“Let go of me this instant or you’ll regret it, boy,” seethed your dad. In the corner of your eye, you could see that even with her worried look, your mother was ready to attack any moment.

“Then do it,” Tyler sassed, “go on, attack me. At least you won’t be looking down on your daughter after that. No more good and righteous Van Helsings.”

This may have been the hottest way someone had come to your defense. You’ll have to properly thank him later. Plus his witty dare seemed to work because after a few seconds of tension-filled silence, your father tore his wrist from him, glaring at the both of you. Turning on his heels he stormed out of the quad without a word, no matter how pleading your mother’s eyes were. She turned to you, tears brimming in the corner of her eyes.

“What have Ephraïm and Irina done to you,” she muttered in a wavering voice.

You scoffed again at the mention of your despicable grandparents. “Nothing more that you and dad did. Until you admit you’re as responsible as them for ruining my life, don’t even bother trying speaking to me again.”

With that you grabbed Tyler’s hand and turned away from your dumbfounded mother, not gracing her with another look as you walked away. Crowd of students and their parents parted on your way, heads turning as you held yours high. The anger that had risen in the blink of an eye had died down as quickly, leaving you with nothing but a content feeling. Tyler however was still worried and as soon as you both reached a more scheduled area, tugged you gently to face him. You met his rich brown eyes filled with concern, a crease between his brows showing how deep he worried.

“You’re okay?” he whispered, to which you only raised your eyebrows in surprise.

“Mmh? Yeah I’m fine, I’m okay. They’re dicks but that’s fine,” you shrugged.

A calloused hand cupped your cheek, “You’re sure?”

The mere gesture made your heart melt, and you gently put your hands around his, “I’m fine,” you repeated in a soft voice, “truly I am, don’t worry. I haven’t been taking seriously anything my family has to say to me for years now, it’s not a big deal anymore.”

Tyler still did not look completely reassured so you pressed a soft kiss to his lips, feeling him relax instantly. “I’m okay babe,” you said with an unusually gentle smile, “their arrival just upset me that’s all. They’re already forgotten.”

The worried expression on Tyler’s face turned into a pout and you couldn’t help but laugh at that. Hearing you laugh made him relax immediately and he smiled softly at you. Tyler slid his arms around your waist, tugging you close to his chest.

“I love you, you know that?” he grinned softly, nuzzling his nose against yours.

“I love you too, tiger,” you whispered back, before his lips found yours again.

The rest of the day went rather smoothly. Most of the students’ families went on to discover the academy, or spend the day either in the quad or in Jericho to catch up. Even if you’d rather have spent the day in your room, you and Tyler actually stayed with most of the guests. Of course you never really mingled – except when you somehow ended up talking with Ajax’s mom, who didn’t seem to care the slightest of your last name – and always stayed at a good distance; but at least you showed that you were invested in the school life. Given the recent events, it was probably better for the two of you to show signs of good faith.

It was almost dinner time when the new bomb dropped. Hand in hand, Tyler and you debated whether or not you should take the opportunity of the parents’ week-end to sneak outside of the academy and grab a bite somewhere, when an unexpected voice called from behind.

“Tyler?”

Your boyfriend froze before even turning to them. He knew that voice only too well. Whipping your head around your eyes widened at the sight of none other than the sheriff himself. Even if there were less people than earlier, Tyler’s dad didn’t seem comfortable in the middle of the outcast families.

“You came…” muttered Tyler in disbelief, still not quite believing his father had actually shown up; better late than never.

But instead, the gruff man only shrugged uncomfortably, “Yeah it’s kind of…a late minute decision.”

Fighting the urge to scoff at him, you put a calming hand on Tyler’s arm. He was trembling under your touch, but it wasn’t clear if it was of emotion or of anger.

Tyler snorted bitterly at his father’s words; definitely anger then. “What are you doing here, if you didn’t want to come?”

The attack seemed to hurt the sheriff in his pride, because he immediately switched to a defensive attitude. “I’m here to help you, son.”

This time it was your turn to snort, “Woaw, big fucking deal. Someone gives me tissues, I’m gonna cry.”

The sheriff immediately glared at you. There was kind of a déjà vu impression with the earlier confrontation.

“Who the hell are you?”

“Aww, you don’t remember me sheriff, I’m hurt,” you cooed in a mocking tone. “I thought purposefully ignoring your son had given you a better memory.”

He narrowed his eyes at you, nostrils flaring. After a few seconds he frowned. “You’re the Van Helsing kid. Should’ve lock you down for 20 years, you fucking psycho.”

You gave him a mocking salute, while you could feel Tyler tense next to you. “Ah, that would be me, yes. But a psycho who saved some of your civilians sheriff, so I’d say we’re even.”

Trying to ignore your provocative attitude, the sheriff turned to his son.

“That’s who you’re hanging with, uh? Do you even realize what she did?”

“You don’t get to say anything about this,” growled Tyler; but under the provocative words, you could still sense how febrile this encounter was making him.

His dad, of course, didn’t notice that and chose instead to frown in disgust at your intertwined hands. “She’s not good for you, not good for anybody. You won’t change with people like that around you, son.”

The insults almost made Tyler snap, but before he barked back at his dad, you let out a loud, exaggerated laugh.

“Ah! Excuse me, but who the fuck are you again? The dad who never bothered to listen to him, or god forbid talk to him? The one who buried his head in the sand at every minor inconvenience? You’re damn right, Tyler won’t heal with someone like that around him!”

The sheriff’s face turned into a bright shade of red. Stuck by your sudden outburst, Tyler tried to tug on your hand to calm you, to try to not let the situation escalate, but boy he was too late. You were fully launched now, and you would not stop until the roasting was over.

“You want Tyler to change, but to what? Do you have any idea of who he is now? Oh that’s right, you don’t! You were too busy being the crappiest, most ignoring, gaslighting fucking dad in the whole universe, and believe me I had my fair share of shitty family.”

“I won’t allow you to–”

“Shut up!” you cut him with a bark, making both of the men jump. “I’m so fucking sick of hearing you moralize Tyler instead of being an actual human being, and for once in your sorry life listen to him! God fucking damnit, the world doesn’t turn around you and this shitty attitude of yours!”

Through all of your speech, Tyler looked at you with wide eyes. All the things he never dared to say to his dad just magically flew out of your mouth. It felt almost too good to be true.

“If you really did want a son, you would have listened to him instead of trying to change him,” you spat angrily. “And guess what? He’s absolutely perfect the way he is and if you think otherwise as his dad, you should be the one taking some fucking therapy sessions instead.”

And just like this morning, you stormed away from the bewildered parent with Tyler by your side. The confrontation with your parents had upset you, but the arrival of Tyler’s dad and his life lessons had brought up unbelievable anger. But just like before, the more you walked away from him the more the anger died down.

Suddenly becoming aware of Tyler’s silence for the past minute, you stopped and turned your face to him.

“You’re okay?” you asked him.

Eyes and mouth wide open, Tyler stared at you for long seconds. It was hard to tell if his expression and the slight blush on his cheeks were due to intense emotion or excitement. Little did you know, seeing you roasting his dad had brought in him a level of amazement and attraction beyond compare.

“Please have my babies,” he blurted out of nowhere.

A laugh escaped you, resonating through the corridor. Sliding your arm around his waist, you tilted your head to kiss him briefly.

“That sounds like a plan, pretty boy,” you smirked before tugging him to the dorms’ direction.

A few minutes later the upsetting encounters of the day were long forgotten. Blessedly unaware of the real reason behind the arrival of the sheriff at Nevermore, unfolding at the same time in Weems’ office, Tyler and you found comfort in each other’s arms like always. Whatever dreading news had been bought by sheriff Galpin would wait.

[Part.9]

A/N: yes I’ll make every single character simp over Morticia “step on me mommy plz” Addams, because I can

Thanks everyone for reading, I hope you enjoyed this part ♥ Hope you’re all doing okay, take care of you ♥

Taglist:

@igotanidea @officerrrfriendly @beggingforxavierthorpe @aliciahlewis @stresseyzesty @katiemrty @leightonsteele @black-swan-blog27 @mooniesthings @nightfurya @steadypoetrydinosaur @hellokittysblog0 @thecraftoflove @yasmine302

Usernames unfound by Tumblr:

@spiceyhotsherbet

Plz tell me if I’ve forgotten you in the taglist (or if you wanna join!) Do not hesitate to mention it, it’s been quite a while I’ve check the taglist, I might have forgotten some newcomers (and if so, I deeply apologize)

#tyler galpin #tyler galpin imagine #tyler galpin x you #tyler galpin fanfic #tyler galpin x reader #tyler galpin x y/n #tyler galpin angst #tyler galpin smut #Wednesday #wednesday series #wednesday netflix #Van Helsing! Reader #no beta we die like men

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happyinjection · 1 year

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HC Novel ♦️7 Never No Dollars “Pre flop ~Prologue~”

People sometimes ask me about the appeal of collecting antiques. Personally, I believe it is merely a hobby, but at the same time it’s also my life’s work that I can’t stop doing.

It is difficult to put it into words, but the greatest value of an item lies in the spirit, or perhaps we can also call it the energy, of said item’s creator or successive owners which resides in it. In a way, it contained condensed history. The concept is not plausible by those with lower education or class.

Antique collectors are countless in number. Most of them are those who are considered to be rich.

On the surface, I’m the headmaster of Rummy College, a prestigious private boarding school for boys in Fourland Kingdom. However, in the end, I work under the board of directors. So I don’t get paid that much.

Antiques are made to be unique. If you miss the chance to acquire an item once, the next opportunity will only come when the wealthy owner dies and their family sorts out their belongings, or when they lose their mind and give it away for charity, or when they go bankrupt. When such an opportunity comes, usually the price has soared high.

Therefore, in order to compete with other antique collectors from around the world, it is necessary for me to form a few underworld connections. Even so, I’m first and foremost a teacher, hence I won’t take part in their terrible deeds. That said, I have no control over the happenings without my knowledge. I simply use money or some other convenience in exchange for antiques I want to get my hands on.

I’m talking about “the cards”.

At a glance, they seem to be no more than trump cards of somewhat good quality. However, the truth is there is no antique more valuable than these cards in the entire Fourland Kingdom. Their rarity, lore, and even purpose—they are all surpassed by none. I paid a fair price for the risk, thankfully the broker was an idiot and agreed to seal the deal.

In this Kingdom of Fourland, we have a folklore—or perhaps a myth is a better word. Every citizen must have heard of it from their parents or grandparents in their bed when they were children, and listening to it they would fall asleep peacefully.

In other words, everyone knows about the cards, yet only a few are aware that they actually exist. Isn’t that romantic?

—Fourland Kingdom as we know it is a nation made up of four states. In the past, when this place had not yet earned its name but was instead called Trapla Island, the four states were separate countries and were repeatedly in conflict with each other. Combined with the invasion of foreign enemies, the four states were at the edge of destruction.

During such a time, a figure stood to prominence, a boy who would eventually become the first king of Fourland and his 52 knights.

The boy alongside the 52 knights fought with all their might to unite the four nations. Unfortunately, the knights lost their lives in the midst of their battle.

It was then Lala Waldenklein[*] demonstrated her powers. Lala is a mage who accompanied and led the boy to become the first king. She magically transformed the souls of the fallen knights into cards and gave them to the boy who survived. With the cards and supernatural powers at his disposal, he splendidly defeated his enemies.

—Such is the folklore in essence. It gave rise to the publication of a lot of thick fantasy novels, but not many were interested in reading them.

The number of cards is equal to the number of knights, as there is one for each. Since the number of cards matches, those cards are said to be the origin of trump card games in the Fourland Kingdom.

Although they appear to be nothing more than ordinary trump cards, the cards grant supernatural abilities to those whom they have chosen to be their holders, rumors say.

It seems that some people have started calling these cards the “X-Playing Cards”.

The existence of X-Playing Cards would confirm the existence of the supernatural powers they hold. If possible I want to see it with my own eyes.

Long story short—I’ve managed to acquire two cards.

Still, to prove whether or not they are the real deal is easier said than done. The day after I got my hands on them, I put the two cards on the large table in the headmaster’s office, and while leaning back into my leather chair I stared at them in utmost admiration.

The cards would never get damaged. I’ve tried to fold them and set them on fire, but in the end they continue to reflect the light like a mirror.

I left the windows open. The grids of anti-intruder bars were decorated with a pattern of lions which can also be found on the grassy fields of Rummy College. After I was appointed to be the headmaster, I had started displaying my collections here, so the bars were only recently installed. Through the gaps, a cool breeze was blowing.

Someone knocked on the door. It’s true that I had scheduled a meeting with the vice headmaster.

“Come in,” I responded, and the door flew open.

I felt a particularly strong gust of wind. Had the cards not been right in front of me, I wouldn’t have minded the wind at all, because nothing would get blown away.

—Before I knew it, there was only one card remaining on the table, while the other had vanished without a trace.

For a split second, when he caught my distraught expression, the incompetent vice headmaster whose only talent was to lick my shoes appeared to be very afraid for his life.

I burst out laughing. But it wasn’t because I saw the hilarious reaction of the vice headmaster.

The cards were created from the souls of the 52 fallen knights. They were made using the mage Lala’s supernatural abilities. So if the cards can also magically disappear, isn’t that just one wonder among many others?

I still had one card in my possession, so there was nothing to be down about.

The cards are by no doubt real. That knowledge alone had brought me immeasurable happiness.

♠️♥️♦️♣️

TL notes: I’m not a professional translator so feel free to tell me if you spot any errors! Please do not repost this translation anywhere. In the case of any problem occuring in the future, I may take down this post. Also bear in mind that I’ll be updating at a suuuper slow pace. [*] I might not spell her surname right, will fix it once the official comes out.

#hc novel never no dollars #translation #high card

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cindydahlwrites · 2 years

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The Crows as airline employees

(just bear with me okay?)

Kaz - Air traffic controller. Kaz is incredibly in control (HAHA) of his mind, and therefore can keep calm in any situation. In one of the most stressful jobs to exist that is a huge advantage. He also has amazing memory, and can keep track of all aircrafts he is in charge of with zero issues. Kaz is able to work at the most frequented airports without breaking a sweat - in fact, he needs to be crowded with work and constantly have something to worry about if he is to perform well. He can multi-task well, watch his radars, update his cards and communicate with pilots quickly and efficiently without once mixing up call signs. If there is a crisis, he can keep calm and help the pilots resolve it, all the while keeping an eye on the rest of his planes. He is always moderately polite and very straightforward, makes sure to be understood well and to give clear information. He doesn't need many breaks and those he does take are short, so he's always ready to take over. An emergency situation? Crash? Bad weather? Closed runway? Short staffed tower? No matter. Kaz Brekker has it all under control.

Inej - Pilot in charge. Captain Ghafa, need I say more? Actually, yes, I am going to say more. Inej is a very responsible person, well aware of the fact that every time she steps into the cockpit, she has tens if not hundreds of lives on her hands. She is in tune with whichever aircraft she is flying, controlling it as if by will. Her calm nature allows her to handle the responsibility for lives on board without panic, but she still makes sure to be prepared for any kind of situation. She always makes sure she's had an appropriate amount of sleep, that her plane is in top condition and that she had checked off every last line of any list. She is never unprofessional, she sticks to the rules and is very honest and communicates well with her copilots and ATC. Inej makes sure to practice for emergencies and constantly stays informed about the newest inventions in aircrafts, and if an emergency happens, she is always able to react accordingly and calmly within seconds. Passengers report that Captain Ghafa has the smoothest landings they've ever experienced.

Nina - Flight attendant. Nina has the perfect combination of charming while also taking no one's shit. She is able to exchange jokes and pleasant talk with the passengers and the rest of the crew and always does her best to make the flight enjoyable for everyone. She never loses her patience with high demand passengers or with babies that just can't stop crying. In fact, she is more likely to take the baby from you and somehow lull it to sleep to let you rest. The fact that she knows many languages and has an amazing ability to learn more quickly, makes her communicate with all the more people better, and helps her put passengers whose language skills in foreign languages are not good at ease. However, once you cross a line, the sweet, funny Nina is gone and she lets you know, in a strong voice filled with no doubts, exactly what she thinks and what she needs you to do. She will not let anyone get away with breaking rules, puts rude passengers in their place and never jokes around or slacks off during demonstrations. If there is an emergency, there is no panic in her voice or face - her confidence makes you listen to her and automatically do what she says. She is fearless, capable and, even though many times her jokes and pleasant demeanor do not betray it, always alert and ready to jump to action.

Matthias - Baggage handler. Precise. Serious. Careful. Matthias is never late to his shift, never loses time talking to his colleagues and is very gentle. Where others throw luggage to have their job done as quickly as possible, Matthias actually focuses on making his each move count and is as fast as them without ever damaging a single suitcase. He never complains about a badly closed or wrapped baggage, and just fixes the mistake if he can and moves on. Overall, he is just very patient with customers that mess something up - he can always say it was their first time flying, or that they were in a hurry, or that they had no way of knowing that a suitcase of that particular material would get caught on the belt inside the plane and would require a little more manipulation from him. When transporting luggage across the airport, Matthias is very careful, but makes sure to lose no time that he could use for loading the baggage in or unloading it. He can expertly calculate the layout of the cargo and has a knack for fitting the luggage together in the limited space - it is like a huge game of Tetris, and Matthias always wins. In the company, he is famous for never having lost a single piece of baggage, and, when seeing a suitcase belonging to a child, always making sure not to scratch it or get it dirty, because he knows how much that would upset his little sister.

Wylan - Meteorologist. Countless radars and screens and alarms of different kind - Wylan understands them all. He is an expert when it comes to telling exactly how a certain type of weather can influence an aircraft, and issues many a message to pilots that other people would not be clever enough to notice. He can predict what is going to happen the next day, and those predictions are nearly always right. He watches weather patterns and is many times able to save the company money and worry by advising a plane against flying in a weather that seems normal, but would in minutes prove to be deadly. Not only that, Wylan also invents and constructs a great amount of machines and improvements to already existing radars. (Yes, it is a bit illegal, but the airline tries to ignore it since it is helpful.) He is an expert concerning microbursts and hailstorms, icing and deicing and is a great contributor to aviation safety concerning meteorology.

Jesper - Technician. Whether it is maintenance or repairs, Jesper always knows what to do. It is almost like he shares a connection with the airplane, feeling all its weak points and problems. Sometimes, even experts with years of experience can't figure out what exactly is damaged, and then Jesper comes along and analyzes it perfectly in mere minutes. He is attuned to the aircrafts, almost like a vet would be to animals. He never makes a mistake, and checking the manual for the correct way of doing something or the right size of spare parts is more of an afterthought. He is also super fast - so fast, in fact, that many people say he has magical hands when it comes to aircrafts. If there is overnight maintenance to be done, which would take a crew of men two tries to complete as not to stall the air traffic, Jesper would handle it alone, in one night only. It has happened a few times that he happened to be near an airplane that had a hidden fault, a fault that could potentially endanger the passengers and crew, and he somehow detected it and fixed it up. Best of all, he loves his job. Jesper is excited every single day, to come to work and spend hours upon hours with only planes for company. The huge engines, snapping thrust reversers, wide wings and countless lights and buttons in the cockpit that hide a fault, smaller or bigger, have never scared him at all.

#six of crows #kaz brekker #inej ghafa #soc #crooked kingdom #jesper fahey #wylan van eck #nina zenik #matthias helvar #six of crows headcanons #I am tempted to write a fic about this but then again when am I not #aviation #planes #flying

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mariacallous · 8 months

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Former U.S. President Donald Trump chose not to attend the Republican Party’s first 2024 presidential primary debate in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. But just like when Trump first ran for president, it was the insurgent candidate among the contenders onstage Wednesday night who became a foreign-policy punching bag.

Even though Trump’s absence took center stage, with the Fox News moderators quizzing the candidates on whether they would support the former president as the GOP nominee if he were to be convicted in any of the handful of legal probes he’s facing, the tone for the evening was set by differences on foreign policy. And the fighting over U.S. support for Ukraine in its war against Russia was particularly vicious.

Entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, a political newcomer who has risen from the back of the field to a near-consistent third place in the polls, got the first major audience round of applause of the evening for saying the United States should stop aiding Ukraine.

“We are driving Russia further into China’s hands,” he said. Prior to the debate, Ramaswamy had called for the United States to allow Russia to retain control of some of the parts of Ukraine it has occupied militarily, in exchange for Moscow cutting ties with China.

With Ukraine’s counteroffensive flagging, support for Kyiv has become a major wedge issue inside the GOP. Last week, the top defense expert at the influential conservative Heritage Foundation think tank left the organization after being blindsided by an op-ed written by the organization’s president, Kevin Roberts. In the piece, Roberts blasted members of Congress for prioritizing Ukraine aid over the hurricane disaster relief (the article earned the indignation of a public fact check from X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter).

But more mainstream conservative voices believe the framing that Ramaswamy, Roberts, and others are posing is all wrong. “My opinion is you can’t treat assistance to Ukraine like it’s a gift or charity,” said Mark Montgomery, a senior fellow at the Foundation for Defense for Democracies. “This is about U.S. national interests. We have to meet aggressive authoritarian behavior against beleaguered democracies at the point of friction, not step back and say, ‘at the next line, we’ll do something.’”

Ramaswamy’s position also put him in hot water with the rest of the GOP field onstage Wednesday, most of whom believe that the United States is getting a good bang for its buck by giving U.S. guns to the Ukrainians and thereby degrading the Russian military.

“We will be next,” said former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, who recently traveled to Kyiv to meet with Ukrainian officials. Former Vice President Mike Pence tried to channel Ronald Reagan’s “peace through strength” mantra as the attacks on Ramaswamy continued, calling out Ramaswamy for having a “pretty small view of the greatest nation on earth.”

Under fire from former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, who accused the political newcomer of trying to side with a murderer in Putin, Ramaswamy tried to tar the rest of the stage as George W. Bush-era neoconservatives beholden to the defense industry. “I wish you luck in your future career on the board of Lockheed or Raytheon,” Ramaswamy told Haley.

But Haley, who served as the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations under Trump, fired back quickly. “You have no foreign-policy experience and it shows,” Haley told Ramaswamy in one of the biggest applause lines of the night.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who has tried to frame himself as a China hawk, mostly stayed silent during the back-and-forth on Ukraine, though he did say U.S. aid to Ukraine should be conditioned on European countries doing more to help. He previously called Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine a “territorial dispute.”

After Tim Scott bemoaned the deadly spread of fentanyl, DeSantis pushed to designate Mexican drug cartels as foreign terrorist organization, a label that carries the weight of U.S. sanctions, and promised to leave traffickers funneling drugs across the border “stone cold dead.” Pence pushed for the Pentagon to partner with the Mexican military to hunt cartels.

But agreement on border issues, and perhaps China, mask the major split on Ukraine. The problem, as Pence and other establishment Republicans saw it, was not that the nearly $50 billion tab for U.S. military aid to Ukraine was too much, but that it was too little.

“This makes it clear that we have to have a debate over this,” Montgomery said. “But my point is the debate should be won by those who believe in continued support to Ukraine.”

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usafphantom2 · 1 year

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France qualifies Rafale for the F4.1 standard

Fernando Valduga By Fernando Valduga 27/03/2023 - 18:30em Military

The General Directorate of Armaments (DGA) of France pronounced the qualification of the F4.1 standard of the Rafale combat aircraft on March 13, 2023, allowing its entry into the era of collaborative air combat.

The F4.1 standard includes notably collaborative air combat capabilities, the integration of 1,000 kg AASM weaponry and a strengthening of the aircraft against cyber threats.

This new standard brings great developments in capacity in the field of air combat: integration of the sight on the Scorpion helmet, improvements in fire control for the use of the Meteor missile (missile managed by an aircraft other than the firing aircraft), evolution of passive threat detection algorithms, as well as greater data exchange capabilities between Rafale jets.

The F4.1 standard also allows you to benefit from the integration of the 1,000 kg AASM weapon with GPS/laser guidance, greater protection against cyber threats, new functions for Talios, OSF and RBE2 sensors and first developments in the field of connectivity.

Work carried out jointly by the DGA, the army staffs and the Department of Aeronautical Maintenance (DMAé) in collaboration with the industry

The qualification of this standard mobilized several DGA expertise and testing centers, in connection with the test teams of the French Navy, the Air and Space Force and Dassault Aviation. The first Rafale testing campaign to the F4.1 standard, in charge of the DGA Flight Test Center, took place in April 2021 in Istres. Numerous tests in the field of electronic warfare, resistance to aeronautical environments and armaments have also been carried out in the last two years in the DGA Information Management centers, DGA Aeronautical Techniques and DGA Missile Tests.

All Rafales of the Air and Space Force and the French Navy will be gradually adapted to this new standard.

The operational experimentation of the Air and Space Force and the French Navy began on March 3, 2023 and a first boarding aboard the aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle is planned in this context during the spring.

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Fernando Valduga

Aviation photographer and pilot since 1992, he has participated in several events and air operations, such as Cruzex, AirVenture, Dayton Airshow and FIDAE. He has works published in specialized aviation magazines in Brazil and abroad. Uses Canon equipment during his photographic work throughout the world of aviation.

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techninja · 2 days

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Exploring the Dynamics of the X-ray Inspection System Market: Trends, Innovations, and Future Prospects

In today's rapidly evolving industrial landscape, quality control and assurance have become paramount. Manufacturers across various sectors are constantly seeking advanced solutions to ensure the integrity and safety of their products. Among these solutions, X-ray inspection systems have emerged as indispensable tools for non-destructive testing and quality assessment. The X-ray inspection system market is witnessing significant growth, driven by technological advancements, stringent regulatory requirements, and the increasing demand for high-quality products.

One of the key drivers propelling the growth of the X-ray inspection system market is the rising emphasis on product quality and safety. In industries such as automotive, electronics, aerospace, and food processing, the need to detect defects, contaminants, and irregularities in products has never been greater. X-ray inspection systems offer a non-invasive method of inspecting internal structures, ensuring that even the smallest defects are identified with precision. As a result, manufacturers can maintain compliance with industry standards and regulations while safeguarding their reputation and brand integrity.

Moreover, technological advancements have led to the development of more sophisticated X-ray inspection systems with enhanced capabilities. Modern systems are equipped with advanced imaging techniques, such as computed tomography (CT), which provide three-dimensional insights into the internal structures of objects. This enables manufacturers to detect defects hidden within complex assemblies and materials, thereby improving the overall quality and reliability of their products. Additionally, the integration of artificial intelligence and machine learning algorithms has further enhanced the efficiency and accuracy of X-ray inspection systems, allowing for real-time defect detection and analysis.

The X-ray inspection system market is also benefiting from the growing adoption of Industry 4.0 principles in manufacturing processes. As industries embrace automation, connectivity, and data analytics, X-ray inspection systems are being seamlessly integrated into smart production lines. These systems can be networked with other manufacturing equipment, allowing for seamless data exchange and process optimization. Furthermore, the incorporation of IoT-enabled sensors enables remote monitoring and predictive maintenance of X-ray inspection systems, minimizing downtime and maximizing productivity.

In terms of application, the X-ray inspection system market spans a wide range of industries and sectors. In the automotive industry, these systems are used for inspecting welds, castings, and assemblies to ensure structural integrity and safety compliance. In electronics manufacturing, X-ray inspection systems are employed to detect defects such as voids, cracks, and solder joint irregularities in printed circuit boards (PCBs) and semiconductor devices. Similarly, in the food and pharmaceutical industries, these systems play a crucial role in detecting contaminants, foreign objects, and packaging defects, thereby ensuring product safety and regulatory compliance.

Looking ahead, the future of the X-ray inspection system market looks promising, driven by ongoing technological innovations and the increasing adoption of quality control measures across industries. With the continuous evolution of imaging techniques, software algorithms, and hardware components, X-ray inspection systems are expected to become more efficient, reliable, and versatile. Additionally, as industries continue to prioritize sustainability and environmental responsibility, there is a growing demand for X-ray inspection systems that are energy-efficient and eco-friendly.

In conclusion, the X-ray inspection system market is experiencing robust growth driven by the need for advanced quality control solutions across various industries. Technological advancements, regulatory requirements, and the shift towards Industry 4.0 are key factors shaping the market dynamics. As manufacturers strive to maintain high standards of quality and safety, X-ray inspection systems are poised to play a central role in ensuring product integrity and reliability in the years to come.

#X-ray inspection #inspection systems #industrial technology #quality control #non-destructive testing #manufacturing #market trends

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alishajoy059 · 17 days

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Understanding Advance Pricing Agreements (APAs) in India

In the realm of international business, transfer pricing—setting prices for transactions between entities of a multinational company—is a critical area of concern for tax authorities worldwide. To address the complexities and potential disputes arising from transfer pricing, many countries, including India, have introduced Advance Pricing Agreements (APAs). This article aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of APAs in the Indian context.

What are Advance Pricing Agreements? An Advance Pricing Agreement (APA) is a proactive mechanism designed to prevent transfer pricing disputes between taxpayers and tax authorities. It is essentially a contract between a taxpayer and the tax authority, establishing an agreed-upon transfer pricing methodology for future intercompany transactions.

Types of APAs: APAs can be unilateral, bilateral, or multilateral:

Unilateral APAs involve only the taxpayer and the tax administration of the country where the taxpayer is subject to taxation.

Bilateral APAs include taxpayers, the host country's tax administration, and the foreign tax administration.

Multilateral APAs extend to taxpayers, the host country's tax administration, and more than one foreign tax administration.

Eligibility and Scope: Any taxpayer engaged in international transactions can apply for an APA in India. However, domestic controlled transactions are not covered under the APA mechanism. The scope of transactions covered under an APA is broad and includes transfer of tangible and intangible properties, cost-sharing arrangements, provision and receipt of services, and more.

Phases of an APA: The APA process typically involves four phases:

Pre-filing phase: Initial consultation to determine scope and suitability.

Formal submission phase: Application submission with prescribed information and payment of filing fees.

Negotiation phase: Discussions and inquiries with the APA team to finalize terms.

Finalization phase: Exchange of comments, finalization of the APA, and implementation.

Compliance and Revision: Taxpayers are required to submit annual compliance reports and undergo compliance audits for each covered year. APAs can be revised by the board under certain circumstances, such as changes in critical assumptions or laws.

Roll-back Provisions: To reduce pending litigations, Indian tax law provides for roll-back provisions under the APA scheme. Taxpayers can opt for applying APA terms retrospectively for up to four years preceding the APA application year.

Conclusion: Advance Pricing Agreements offer a structured approach to managing transfer pricing risks, providing certainty and stability to taxpayers and tax authorities alike. By establishing agreed-upon transfer pricing methodologies in advance, APAs contribute to a smoother and more transparent international tax environment, fostering cross-border business activities and compliance.

In conclusion, APAs represent a valuable tool in the arsenal of tax authorities and taxpayers, promoting tax certainty, compliance, and effective dispute resolution in the realm of international taxation.

#TransferPricing #Taxation #InternationalBusiness #APAs #India #TaxCompliance #DisputeResolution #TaxCertainty #TransferPricingMethodologies

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proteeti11-blog · 27 days

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Forex Trading in India: A Comprehensive Guide

Introduction to Forex Trading

Forex trading, also known as foreign exchange trading, involves the buying and selling of currencies in the global market. In India, forex trading has gained significant popularity due to its potential for high returns and the ease of accessibility provided by online trading platforms.

Regulations and Legal Framework

Forex trading in India is regulated by the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) and the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA). These regulations ensure that forex trading activities comply with legal requirements and protect investors from fraudulent practices.

Popular Forex Trading Platforms in India

Several online platforms cater to forex traders in India, offering user-friendly interfaces and advanced trading tools. Some of the popular platforms include Zerodha Kite, Angel Broking, and Upstox Pro, among others.

Major Currency Pairs for Indian Traders

Indian traders commonly trade major currency pairs such as USD/INR, EUR/INR, GBP/INR, and JPY/INR. These pairs offer ample liquidity and trading opportunities for investors in the Indian forex market.

How to Start Forex Trading in India

To start forex trading in India, one must open a trading account with a registered broker and undergo a verification process. Additionally, beginners should focus on learning market analysis techniques and risk management strategies.

Risk Management in Forex Trading

Risk management is crucial in forex trading to protect capital and minimize losses. Traders can implement stop loss and take profit orders, as well as proper position sizing techniques to manage risk effectively.

Common Strategies for Forex Trading

Forex traders employ various strategies to profit from currency fluctuations, including trend following, range trading, and breakout trading. Each strategy requires a thorough understanding of market dynamics and risk tolerance.

Psychology of Forex Trading

The psychological aspect of forex trading plays a significant role in success. Traders must learn to control emotions such as greed and fear, while maintaining patience and discipline in executing trades.

Tax Implications of Forex Trading in India

Forex trading profits in India are subject to taxation under the Income Tax Act. Traders must report their gains and losses accurately and adhere to tax regulations to avoid legal complications.

Forex Trading Tips for Beginners

Beginners should start with a demo account to practice trading without risking real money. Additionally, continuous education and learning from experienced traders can help improve trading skills and profitability.

Forex Trading Myths in India

There are several myths surrounding forex trading in India, such as the belief that it is a get-rich-quick scheme or akin to gambling. In reality, successful forex trading requires education, discipline, and risk management.

Understanding Forex Trading Charts

Forex traders analyze price movements using various chart types, including candlestick charts, line charts, and bar charts. Each chart type provides unique insights into market trends and price action.

Forex Trading Signals and Indicators

Traders use technical indicators and signals to identify potential trading opportunities. Common indicators include moving averages, Relative Strength Index (RSI), and Bollinger Bands, among others.

Forex Trading and Economic Events in India

Economic events and announcements in India, such as Reserve Bank of India (RBI) decisions and inflation rates, can impact currency prices and market volatility. Traders must stay informed about such events to make informed trading decisions.

Conclusion

In conclusion, forex trading in India offers lucrative opportunities for investors to profit from currency movements. By understanding market dynamics, implementing risk management strategies, and staying disciplined, traders can navigate the forex market successfully.

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if-you-fan-a-fire · 2 years

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“Zakoors Face Charges Involving $100,000 in Exchange,” Windsor Star. October 9, 1942. Page 5. ---- Transactions Of Brothers To Be Aired ---- Foreign Exchange Board Names Two Chatham Fruit Dealers as Co-defendants --- Alleged illegal security transactions and alleged improper disposition of funds obtained through their Detroit broker have resulted in three separate charges being laid against Richard Zakoor and George Zakoor, bachelor brothers, both of Chatham, under the regulations of the Foreign Exchange Control Board, officials of the board announced yesterday.

The two brothers, said to be the biggest wholesale dealers in fruits and vegetables in Southwestern Ontario, face charges involving exchange approximating in the vicinity of $100,-000, officials of the board intimated.

DATED SINCE 1940 Foreign Exchange Control Board officials in Windsor said the case was one which had held the attention of control board men since Iast January, and that it was one of the biggest charges laid by the board in this district to date.

Specifically, each of the Zakoor brothers are charged with these offences:

Failure to declare foreign exchange at Chatham between the period December 16, 1940, and December 31 1941; and also, between the period September 16, 1939, and December 15 1940.

Unlawful borrowing of foreign exchange, between January 4. 1940, and December 15, 1940; and between December 16. 1940. and December 31 1941.

Unlawfully dealing in foreign exchange between September 16, 1939 and December 15, 1940; and December 16, 1940, and December 31, 1941.

HEARING WITHIN WEEK S. L. Springsteen. K.C.. Windsor, is counsel representing the Zakoor brothers in this, one of the biggest foreign exchange control board prosecutions yet registered in this territory.

J. A. McNevin. K.C., Chatham, has been appointed by the attorney-general's department as special prosecutor for the board in the hearing of the charges, which may take place within the next week.

#chatham #foreign exchange control board #illegal security exchange #security transactions #foreign exchange #failure to declare #defrauding the government #border crossings #u.s. dollar #u.s.-canada border #detroit #wholesale dealer #fruit sellers #syrian canadians #canada during world war 2 #crime and punishment in canada #history of crime and punishment in canada

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sohail786 · 1 month

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Unveiling the Secrets: Becoming a Great Trader

For those who are prepared to wade through the always changing seas of money, the skill of trading serves as a light of opportunity. However, what qualities does a great trader possess? Is it chance, gut feeling, or maybe a thorough comprehension of market dynamics? Even though every trader's journey is different, there are several guidelines and tactics that can put you on the right track to success. Let's explore the nuances of trading and learn the keys to profitability.

Understanding the Basics: Knowledge is Power

Establishing a strong knowledge base is crucial before plunging fully into the realm of trading. Learn about the various financial markets, including those for equities, foreign exchange, commodities, and cryptocurrencies. Recognize the risks associated with these markets, how they work, and the variables that affect price changes.

Mastering Technical Analysis: The Art of Charts

Trading performance is mostly dependent on technical analysis. It entails looking at past pricing data to find trends and patterns that may be used to forecast future price changes. To make wise trading decisions, learn to read charts, identify support and resistance levels, and utilize indicators like RSI, MACD, and moving averages.

Risk Management: Protecting Your Capital

Never take on more risk than you can afford to lose when it comes to trading. Putting into practice sensible risk management techniques is essential to protecting your investment and guaranteeing long-term success. To reduce possible losses, spread your investments among a variety of assets and refrain from placing all of your eggs in one basket, make sure your stop-loss orders are unambiguous.

To Becoming A Great Trader JOIN NOW

Emotional Discipline: Keeping Your Cool

Even the most experienced traders may find trading to be an emotional rollercoaster with highs and lows that challenge them. It's critical to develop self-control over your feelings and uphold discipline. Refrain from acting on impulse driven by greed or fear, follow your trading strategy, and acknowledge that losses are a necessary part of the game. Resilience and patience should be fostered, and consistency is essential.

Continuous Learning: Evolving with the Markets

Technological developments, geopolitical events, and economic trends all contribute to the continuous evolution of the financial markets. Make a lifetime learning commitment to remain ahead of the curve. Read books, go to seminars, stay up to date on market news and trends, and take lessons from your mistakes as well as your accomplishments. Being flexible is essential while trading, so be prepared to modify your plans as necessary.

Building a Trading Plan: Roadmap to Success

A clear and concise trading plan is your road map to market success. Describe your favorite trading strategy, risk tolerance, and trading goals. Establish precise criteria for entering and exiting your trades, as well as rules on the size of your positions and risk assessment. Regularly review and adjust your trading plan to account for shifting market circumstances as well as individual preferences.

Patience and Persistence: The Virtues of a Great Trader

Just as Rome wasn't created in a day, mastery of trading doesn't happen instantly. A excellent trader must have the qualities of perseverance and patience. Be willing to invest the time and energy necessary to improve your abilities, boost your self-assurance, and generate steady income. Remain committed to your long-term objectives and don't let obstacles in your path deter you.

Seeking Mentorship: Learning from the Masters

Just as no individual is an island, so too are traders. Seek mentoring from seasoned traders who can provide insightful advice, encouragement, and support. Whether it's through online discussion boards, trading groups, or one-on-one mentoring schemes, surround yourself with people who share your enthusiasm for trading and are dedicated to your success.

Staying Grounded: Balancing Work and Life

Even though trading may be thrilling, it's crucial to have a good work-life balance. Remind yourself to take pauses, spend time with loved ones, and engage in interests outside of trading to prevent being overwhelmed by the markets. Maintaining a balanced lifestyle keeps your mind clear and concentrated, which improves trading performance in addition to fostering general well-being.

Conclusion: The Journey of a Thousand Trades

It takes study, development, and self-discovery to become a successful trader. It calls for commitment, self-control, and a readiness to welcome both the successes and setbacks encountered along the road. You may become financially independent and succeed in the trading industry by grasping the fundamentals, efficiently managing risk, and developing the correct mentality. So, one deal at a time, be ready, maintain concentration, and set out on your path to greatness.

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humanrightsupdates · 1 month

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(Johannesburg) – The authorities in Seychelles should ensure that the prosecution of a former presidential adviser and other defendants in a high-profile anticorruption case is free, fair, and impartial, Human Rights Watch said today.

The ongoing trial of five defendants for alleged illegal possession of firearms and conspiracy to commit terrorism started in July 2023. Allegations of procedural and other irregularities, which have persisted since the initial arrests of the defendants in November 2021, should be transparently and speedily investigated and addressed so they do not jeopardize the defendants’ right to a fair trial.

“The authorities should ensure that the judicial proceedings are conducted in line with the Seychelles constitution and international human rights laws,” said Ashwanee Budoo-Scholtz, deputy director of the Africa division at Human Rights Watch. “Abusive and partial application in the enforcement of anticorruption and arms control laws, risks undermining the very rule of law they seek to enthrone.”

In November 2021, law enforcement authorities, including officials of the Anti-Corruption Commission of Seychelles, searched the home of Mukesh Valabhji and his wife, Laura Valabhji, and arrested both in connection with an allegedly missing US$50 million. The funds, a foreign aid donation from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in 2002, was to help the Government of Seychelles address its foreign exchange shortfalls and debts, including for importing essential commodities, like fuel and food.

Mukesh, then chief executive officer of the Seychelles Marketing Board and economic adviser to then-President France Albert René, was authorized by the president to sign the documentation and deposit the allegedly missing funds into a Marketing Board bank account.

The arrests and prosecution of the defendants, which include the wife of former president René, was widely touted as key progress toward ending impunity for corruption in the country. Media reports quoted the Anti-Corruption Commission officials as saying they opened the case in 2017 on then-President Danny Faure’s instruction, and that “there is nothing sinister about it or any ulterior motives.” Lawyers for the Valabhjis said, however, that former governments had said they had found no evidence of theft of the UAE funds. Human Rights Watch was unable to verify this information. (Human Rights Watch)

#human rights #human rights watch #seychelles

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digestsbymarianpurpleink · 3 months

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Gokongwei, Jr. vs. SEC and San Miguel Corp., 89 SCRA 336 (1979)

Topic: RIGHT TO INSPECT AND COPY CORPORATE RECORDS

Doctrine:

The right of stockholder to inspect corporate books extends to a wholly-owned subsidiary.—In the case at bar, considering that the foreign subsidiary is wholly owned by respondent San Miguel Corporation and, therefore, under its control, it would be more in accord with equity, good faith and fair dealing to construe the statutory right of petitioner as stockholder to inspect the books and records of the corporation as extending to books and records of such wholly owned subsidiary which are in respondent corporation’s possession and control.

Otherwise stated, a stockholder has the power to inspect the corporate books of a controlled subsidiary of the mother corporation of which he is the stockholder.

A stockholder’s right of inspection of the corporation’s books and records is based upon their ownership of the assets and property of the corporation. Since this right is an incident of ownership of corporate property, its exercise must be related to one’s interest as a stockholder and not prejudicial to or against the interest of the corporation.

SUPER SUMMARY

Gokongwei, a shareholder of San Miguel Corp., filed a petition with the SEC to declare the invalidity of the company's bylaws against the majority members of the board and the company itself. Later, on October 28, 1976, Gokongwei requested the corporation's secretary to allow him to inspect certain documents, including the minutes of a 1961 shareholders' meeting, the management contract between San Miguel Corp. And A. Soriano Corp., the latest balance sheet of San Miguel International, Inc., and lists of salaries and compensation for two individuals. San Miguel Corp. Opposed the motion, arguing that it lacked legal basis, was not based on good faith, and sought privileged information. The SEC ordered the corporation to allow Gokongwei to inspect the 1961 meeting minutes but denied access to other documents as Gokongwei was not a shareholder of San Miguel International, Inc. Does Gokongwei has a right to inspect the records of San Miguel International, Inc., a fully owned subsidiary of San Miguel Corporation?

Held: Affirmative. In the case at bar, considering that the foreign subsidiary is wholly owned by respondent San Miguel Corporation and, therefore, under its control, it would be more in accord with equity, good faith and fair dealing to construe the statutory right of petitioner as stockholder to inspect the books and records of the corporation as extending to books and records of such wholly-owned subsidiary which are in respondent corporation's possession and control.

The Court voted unanimously to grant the petition insofar as it prays that petitioner be allowed to examine the books and records of San Miguel International, Inc., as specified by him.

FACTS:

Gokongwei, a stockholder of San Miguel Corp., filed a petition with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for the declaration of nullity of its by-laws against the majority members of the Board of Directors (BOD) and San Miguel Corp. as an unwilling petitioner.

[As I have mentioned, this digest will focus on the discussion on the right to inspect and photocopy corporate records; and so, we jump forward to October 28, 1976, incident.]

On October 28, 1976, Gokongwei filed with the SEC an “Urgent Motion for Production and Inspection of Documents”, alleging that the Secretary of respondent corportion refused to allow him to inspect its records despite request made by petitioner for production of certain documents enumerated in the request, and that respondent corporation had been attempting to suppress information from its stockholders despite a negative reply by the SEC to its query regarding their authority to do so. Among the documents requested to be copied were:

minutes of the stockholder’s meeting held on March 13, 1961;

copy of the management contract between San Miguel Corporation and A. Soriano Corporation (ANSCOR);

latest balance sheet of San Miguel International, Inc.;

authority of the stockholders to invest the funds of respondent corporation in San Miguel International, Inc.; and

lists of salaries, allowances, bonuses, and other compensation, if any, received by Andres M. Soriano, Jr. and/or its successor-ininterest.

The “Urgent Motion for Production and Inspection of Documents” was opposed by respondents, alleging, among others, that the motion has no legal basis; that the demand is not based on good faith; that the motion is premature since the materiality or relevance of the evidence sought cannot be determined until the issues are joined; that it fails to show good cause and constitutes continued harassment; and that some of the information sought are not part of the records of the corporation and, therefore, privileged.

On December 29, 1976, the Securities and Exchange Commission resolved the motion for production and inspection of documents by issuing Order No. 26, Series of 1977, stating, in part as follows:

“Considering the evidence submitted before the Commission by the petitioner and respondents in the above-entitled case, it is hereby ordered:

That respondents produce and permit the inspection, copying and photographing, by or on behalf of the petitioner-movant, John Gokongwei, Jr., of the minutes of the stockholders’ meeting of the respondent San Miguel Corporation held on March 13, 1961, which are in the possession, custody and control of the said corporation, it appearing that the same is material and relevant to the issues involved in the main case.

Accordingly, the respondents should allow petitioner-movant entry in the principal office of the respondent Corporation, San Miguel Corporation on January 14, 1977, at 9:30 o’clock in the morning for purposes of enforcing the rights herein granted; it being understood that the inspection, copying and photographing of the said documents shall be undertaken under the direct and strict supervision of this Commission. Provided, however, that other documents and/or papers not heretofore included are not covered by this Order and any inspection thereof shall require the prior permission of this Commission;

As to the Balance Sheet of San Miguel International, Inc. as well as the list of salaries, allowances, bonuses, compensation and/or remuneration received by respondent Jose M. Soriano, Jr. and Andres Soriano from San Miguel International, Inc. and/or its successors-in-interest, the Petition to produce and inspect the same is hereby DENIED, as petitioner-movant is not a stockholder of San Miguel International, Inc. and has, therefore, no inherent, right to inspect said documents;

In view of the Manifestation of petitioner-movant dated November 29, 1976, withdrawing his request to copy and inspect the management contract between San Miguel Corporation and A. Soriano Corporation and the renewal and amendments thereof for the reason that he had already obtained the same, the Commission takes note thereof; and

Finally, the Commission holds in abeyance the resolution on the matter of production and inspection of the authority of the stockholders of San Miguel Corporation to invest the funds of respondent corporation in San Miguel International, Inc., until after the hearing on the merits of the principal issues in the above-entitled case. This Order is immediately executory upon its approval.”

Dissatisfied with the foregoing Order, petitioner moved for its reconsideration.

ISSUE/S

Whether or not respondent SEC gravely abused its discretion in denying petitioner’s request for an examination of the records of San Miguel International, Inc., a fully owned subsidiary of San Miguel Corporation.

RULING

The Court ruled in the AFFIRMATIVE.

Pursuant to the second paragraph of section 51 [Under RCC, right to inspect is provided under Sections 45 and 73] of the Corporation Law, "(t)he record of all business transactions of the corporation and minutes of any meeting shall be open to the inspection of any director, member or stockholder of the corporation at reasonable hours."

The stockholder's right of inspection of the corporation's books and records is based upon their ownership of the assets and property of the corporation. It is, therefore, an incident of ownership of the corporate property, whether this ownership or interest be termed an equitable ownership, a beneficial ownership, or ownership. This right is predicated upon the necessity of self-protection. It is generally held by majority of the courts that where the right is granted by statute to the stockholder, it is given to him as such and must be exercised by him with respect to his interest as a stockholder and for some purpose germane thereto or in the interest of the corporation. In other words, the inspection has to be germane to the petitioner's interest as a stockholder, and has to be proper and lawful in character and not inimical to the interest of the corporation.

In Grey v. Insular Lumber, this Court held that "the right to examine the books of the corporation must be exercised in good faith, for specific and honest purpose, and not to gratify curiosity, or for specific and honest purpose, and not to gratify curiosity, or for speculative or vexatious purposes. The weight of judicial opinion appears to be, that on application for mandamus to enforce the right, it is proper for the court to inquire into and consider the stockholder's good faith and his purpose and motives in seeking inspection. Thus, it was held that "the right given by statute is not absolute and may be refused when the information is not sought in good faith or is used to the detriment of the corporation." But the "impropriety of purpose such as will defeat enforcement must be set up the corporation defensively if the Court is to take cognizance of it as a qualification. In other words, the specific provisions take from the stockholder the burden of showing propriety of purpose and place upon the corporation the burden of showing impropriety of purpose or motive. It appears to be the general rule that stockholders are entitled to full information as to the management of the corporation and the manner of expenditure of its funds, and to inspection to obtain such information, especially where it appears that the company is being mismanaged or that it is being managed for the personal benefit of officers or directors or certain of the stockholders to the exclusion of others."

While the right of a stockholder to examine the books and records of a corporation for a lawful purpose is a matter of law, the right of such stockholder to examine the books and records of a wholly-owned subsidiary of the corporation in which he is a stockholder is a different thing.

Some state courts recognize the right under certain conditions, while others do not. Thus, it has been held that where a corporation owns approximately no property except the shares of stock of subsidiary corporations which are merely agents or instrumentalities of the holding company, the legal fiction of distinct corporate entities may be disregarded and the books, papers and documents of all the corporations may be required to be produced for examination, and that a writ of mandamus, may be granted, as the records of the subsidiary were, to all intents and purposes, the records of the parent even though subsidiary was not named as a party. Mandamus was likewise held proper to inspect both the subsidiary's and the parent corporation's books upon proof of sufficient control or dominion by the parent showing the relation of principal or agent or something similar thereto.

On the other hand, mandamus at the suit of a stockholder was refused where the subsidiary corporation is a separate and distinct corporation domiciled and with its books and records in another jurisdiction, and is not legally subject to the control of the parent company, although it owned a vast majority of the stock of the subsidiary. Likewise, inspection of the books of an allied corporation by stockholder of the parent company which owns all the stock of the subsidiary has been refused on the ground that the stockholder was not within the class of "persons having an interest."

In the Nash case, the Supreme Court of New York held that the contractual right of former stockholders to inspect books and records of the corporation included the right to inspect corporation's subsidiaries' books and records which were in corporation's possession and control in its office in New York."

In the Bailey case, stockholders of a corporation were held entitled to inspect the records of a controlled subsidiary corporation which used the same offices and had identical officers and directors.

In the case at bar, considering that the foreign subsidiary is wholly owned by respondent San Miguel Corporation and, therefore, under its control, it would be more in accord with equity, good faith and fair dealing to construe the statutory right of petitioner as stockholder to inspect the books and records of the corporation as extending to books and records of such wholly-owned subsidiary which are in respondent corporation's possession and control.

The Court voted unanimously to grant the petition insofar as it prays that petitioner be allowed to examine the books and records of San Miguel International, Inc., as specified by him.

#commercial law #corporation and basic securities law

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