#it's basically tom being one of the kindest humans in this world

[lokidanthea]

Can we please take a minute to thank mother nature/God/whatever you believe in anyway for giving us Tom Hiddleston?

#i mean tom hiddleston is a blessing to this world #we would be lost without our tall shakespeare geek #and it's not just the role of loki #it's basically tom being one of the kindest humans in this world #tom hiddleston is the reason i read shakespeare #and I liked it bc i'm a drama queen #i would have lost all this literal drama if it wasn't for tom hiddleston #i'm eternally grateful #tom hiddleston #hiddleston #thomas william hiddleston #hiddlestoners #dammit hiddleston #hiddles #baby hiddles #loki #loki odinson #loki friggason #loki laufeyson #thomas sharpe #crimson peak #jonathan pine #the night manager

[alison-anonymous]

flawsome bandits pt. 3 ♡ sonic

Flawsome Hotel-Bound Feelings

Warnings: some sad feelings, but mostly a lot of bonding fluff 

Welcome to part 3!!! I've been so excited about this fic that I've been writing every night so if you're reading, please let me know if you think I should keep uploading parts! I love hearing from you guys!! Love you all, darlings, enjoy😘💙

♡♡♡

“Did you see how much toilet paper I used?” Sonic gushed as he jumped up and down on the bright red motel bedsheet. “The next time someone goes in there, they’re going to have to use their hands!”

Y/n giggled, standing up on her knees and turning her hands into a finger gun, pointing it at the lampshade while Tom scooped up some homemade ice packs. “The brawl was intense, hands being thrown in every corner of the bar. The odds were against us…”

“But no one could best the Blue Blur, Star Chaser, and Donut Lord!” Sonic finished for her. “Scratching another one off my bucket list!” He flopped down to the nightstand and scratched off the one labeled “start a bar fight.”

“Very ambitious of you,” Y/n joked, flopping onto her back and letting her hair dangle off the side of the bed. Tom made his way over to the other bed and sat down on it, handing Sonic and Y/n each an ice pack while pressing his own against his face.

“You are one weird little dude. You’ve got a lot in common with Y/n,” Tom sent her a smug smile. She brushed some loose strands of h/c hair back and pressed the ice pack against her throbbing temples. Y/n had been one of the lucky few to have not gotten punched in the face, but she did get hit in the head by some airborne nachos. Sonic watched the two for a little bit and mimicked Y/n, pressing it against his cheek. 

“So what are we going to do now?” He asked excitedly, his ever constant adrenaline still pumping and ready to jump at whatever was next. Tom began taking off his shoes and plopping them on the floor as he glanced over at the TV set.

“I’m going to pass out watching TV, and the two of you should, too.” 

“But it’s my last day on earth!” Sonic protested, leaning against Y/n’s stomach. She slowly pushed herself up to sitting position and glanced over her shoulder at her dad. 

“I mean, he has a point,” she nodded. He sighed.

“Alright, well, anything the two of you can find in this room that might be noteworthy, have at it.” He plopped down onto the bed and in a couple of minutes, Y/n and Sonic could already hear the soft snores coming from his mouth. And he didn’t even have to turn the TV on. Sonic took this as his opportunity and flew around the room, tossing toilet paper like confetti, screwing with the TV guide, and doing… something in the bathroom. In a matter of seconds, he was already back on the bed next to Y/n, wearing a towel on his head and no shoes.

“Good times,” he smiled. The girl couldn’t help but giggle, leaning back against the headrest of the bed and staring at the TV. Sonic had left it on the news, and just as she concentrated on it, she suddenly saw two photos float across the screen.

Her stomach dropped.

“Y/n and Tom Wachowski have been accused of committing acts of domestic terrorism. They are to be considered armed and dangerous. Any information of their whereabouts must be-” She quickly shut off the TV before she could hear any more. Her breath caught in her throat as she stared blankly at the spot where she had seen her mugshot. 

“Hey, N/n, you okay?” Sonic’s voice snapped her back into reality. She glanced down at the hedgehog sitting cross legged in front of her, looking into her e/c eyes with pure concern. 

“I’m fine,” she offered him a half-hearted smile, running a shaky hand through her hair. “Just a little nervous… hey, what is this new planet you’re heading to like?” Sonic’s expression grew solemn as he began messing with the fabric of his gloves.

“It’s pretty horrible really… it’s a world full of nothing but mushrooms and breathable air, no humans. No friends. No Donut Lords or Star Chasers…” He drew off. Y/n felt her heart ache for him. She felt horrible knowing that her one new friend was now being forced to live on some planet with no other humans on it, and all because of what? Because he was different? When it came down to it, Sonic was probably one of the greatest, funniest, kindest people she had ever met.

“I’m really going to miss it here… I know I have to leave earth to keep everyone here safe, but what if Longclaw was wrong? What if I could have a life here on earth?” He closed his eyes for a moment and sighed. Y/n felt her heart deflating in her chest. It was so sad, so heart wrenching to watch this little blue ball of excitement become so dejected. All that he wanted was a home, someone to hang out with and love. People who wanted him to be around. 

“I don’t want you to leave either,” she spoke slowly, almost as if she were afraid to say the words. "It isn't just because of the deja vu, I swear. You just… you're the only true friend I've ever had. And I hate seeing you unhappy…" His emerald eyes widened to the size of saucers as he stared at the girl before him in shock. The whole time he was on earth, he had to stay a secret. The only friends he had ever truly had were himself, no one even knew he existed until now. So the fact that this beautiful girl was sitting her in front of him, telling him that she didn’t want him to leave and that she hated to see him so unhappy? Well…

"That's the sweetest thing anyone has ever said to me,” Sonic breathed. His heart pounded against his chest so loud he was scared that she would be able to hear it. Luckily, his fur was able to hide the blush that was rising on his cheeks. What was happening? Why did he feel like throwing up rainbows? 

Y/n smiled warmly at him, her eyes glittering from the faded light of the lamp. “You’re the only friend I’ve ever had, or that I can remember having anyway. That’s what friends are for.” Sonic leaned back on his hands, eyes scanning Y/n’s thoughtfully.

“Has anyone ever told you that you are insanely easy to talk to? I don’t know, I just feel like I’ve known you all my life,” he chuckled softly, being serious for a rare moment. Usually he was all hyped up and sarcastic, but right now was one of the times where he was completely and utterly serious. Y/n pulled her legs up to her chest and hugged them, resting her chin on her knees.

“I mean, maybe we did at one point. Who knows? I don’t remember a thing of my life up until I was twelve and got found in the woods.” Sonic went quiet for a moment, debating whether or not the question he wanted to ask would come off as offensive. But finally, he decided to put on some big boy pants and ask.

“...What is it like?”

“What’s what like?”

“Not remembering who you are,” Sonic spoke softly, terrified to hurt her feelings. But luckily, Y/n simply gave him a small smile and looked down at the rough bed sheets, collecting her thoughts in her head. She grew silent for a moment before she finally lifted her head up once again.

“It’s… complicated. Every morning I wake up. I can hear the sound of my mom cooking breakfast downstairs. It’s gotten to the point where I can guess what she’s making by the sound of the utensil she’s using. I get up out of my bed, and leave my room, and walk down the stairs and give my dad a hug just before he leaves for work. And then I have breakfast with my mom and we talk about anything and everything. And… for a little while, I feel like I actually belong there. I feel like they are my actual family. But then I go outside, and things… are different,” she sucked in a shaky breath though her lips. “Everyone else knows exactly who they are. They know what weed killer works the best for their plants, they know where they were born, who their parents were, what they looked like when they were babies, what their favorite midnight snack is… what their last name is…

“And then I’m just standing there, not knowing any of that. There aren’t any records of me in any of the hospitals or law agencies. It’s like I didn’t even exist on this planet. And while some people can be patient and loving with me, others… can’t. My heart is still beating, and I’m breathing and I’m here. But for what? What purpose could I possibly have when I can’t even answer basic questions about myself? Tom and Maddie have been the only people to make me truly feel welcome… and then you came along.” The smile slowly returned to her lips at the mention of him. He waited patiently for her to continue, hooked onto every word she was saying. “I’ve never met anyone like you before, and not just because you’re a hedgehog. It’s just… you. You make me feel like I belong somewhere, and, god, I’ve never laughed harder or had as much fun as I have with you with anyone else. You make me feel like I’ve known you my whole life and yet I’ve only known you for a day. It’s insane,” she chuckled, shaking her h/c locks. 

Her laugh was contagious as Sonic found himself chuckling before long too. 

“Well, I still made a promise to you that I plan to keep,” he began. “I will find a way to help you remember. Everything will be okay in the end.”

“How do you know?” Y/n asked curiously. Sonic simply shrugged, smiling.

“I just have a feeling.” A moment of comfortable silence floated between the two as they stared at one another. Y/n felt her stomach become full of butterflies, then finally giving up their hesitance to fly around freely in joy. The feeling of nostalgia had become something that she enjoyed experiencing as it helped her feel like she had a closer connection with the bright blue hedgehog. Maybe they did meet sometime in her life and she just forgot about it for whatever reason. Perhaps Sonic could help her find a way to remember, though she had no clue how he planned to try and accomplish it. Sonic hadn’t the slightest clue either, but he did know that he would be willing to run to the ends of the earth in order to make her happy. 

No, it couldn’t be. It wouldn’t make any sense! Were they… falling in love? 

“Um,” Y/n cleared her throat, the time suddenly becoming very apparent to her as she glanced down at her snoring father. “We should probably get to bed. He wants to leave by eight.”

Sonic nodded rapidly, tossing the towel off of his head and onto the floor. Y/n chuckled, not having even realized he was still wearing it. “Right, I can take the floor.”

“Don’t be silly, you can sleep in the bed too,” Y/n moved the comforters down and slid her legs underneath the sheets. “I’m not going to make you sleep on the floor and my dad tends to be a cover-hog.”

Sonic scrunched up his features in slight uncertainty, not wanting to make things awkward between him and his new friend. However, she had already made up her mind.

“Sonic. Get in bed.” She ordered. He quickly nodded and dove under the covers, snuggling up on to the pillow and letting out a surprised sigh. Back in his cave, he had only ever had a bean bag chair that he absolutely adored to sleep on. But a bed? It was like what he imagined sleeping on a cloud to be like. The pillow molded around his head and the blankets kept his body warm. It was like being wrapped up in a hug by a marshmallow. Y/n couldn’t help but giggle at his reaction.

“Never slept in a bed before?”

“It. Is. Amazing.” He slowly lowered his face under the covers until only his eyes could be seen, staring straight at Y/n. She laughed, getting comfortable in the bed as well after turning off the lamp next to the bed. As they settled in the darkness, staring at one another (hopefully without the other knowing), their breaths began to slow down as the drowsiness finally kicked in. But just before they nodded off, they were reminded of each other.

“Goodnight, Y/n.” Sonic whispered.

“Goodnight, Sonic.”

♡ a.a.

#sonic the hedgehog #sonic the hedgehog movie #sonic the hedgehog 2020 #sonic #sonic the hedgehog x reader #sonic the hedgehog imagines #sonic the hedgehog movie x reader #sonic the hedgehog movie imagines #sonic x reader #sonic imagines #sonic the hedgehog 2020 x reader #sonic the hedgehog 2020 imagines #donut lord #pretzel lady #flawsome bandits #doctor robotnik

[b0sscrew]

Pokemon au!

Another Ducktales AU! Shocker!

Welcome to the inevitable crossover! There are three versions of this (trainers, human trainers, and reverse gejinka) but we'll just focus on the human trainers first because I'm not comfortable with showing my Ducktales drawings yet! This is just for fun and not definitive. I'm going to be doing this like a real adventure! We'll be following the triplets as they travel the region of... Americaw... Sure, we'll go with that for now.

I want this to be a story in many parts. I also want all their adventures from the cannon to be here as well, except it's just the kids facing them most times. Like let's say all the battles are monsters and baddies they've actually fought in cannon. That would be fun!

Oh, let's bring characters into the mix. Let's say that Webby is the boys' rival and best friend. Violet is also their rival but on a slightly lesser scale(mostly to Huey). Boyd also becomes a rival of sort later on(mostly for Louie). So that only leaves Dewey, and to be honest, I'm not sure. I think Webby would be his biggest rival but he doesn't have a secondary rival. I might just make my own rival for him too be honest, but I wish I knew who to put that's around his age. (Also, I realize Boyd is Huey's best friend but Violet is literally his rival in an episode.) I already have an idea for Lena so I can't add her to the rival crew anyways.

Let's talk about the Duck family.

So I decided it would make the most sense if Della and Donald shared custody of the boys. Donald is still Uncle Donald, don't worry. But since Della is always busy with the league they decided it would be easier to just have them both raise the boys. Donald is basically a stay at home dad while Della is constantly working as one of the core members of the elite four. Della is a flying type expert and Scrooge's favorite relative.

Feathery is an amazing boy! He's constantly working with the elite four as the Regions main professor. He's so excited about all pokemon, but his favorite are water types, because they make him giggle like a little kid. He's Huey's favorite uncle and the only adult he can truly relate to. Feathery is still the biggest sweetheart but now everyone takes him seriously and hang on his every word, even if he doesn't realize it.

Gladstone is one of the sole reasons the champion is still the champion. Because of his luck no one has gotten past him and his grass types. If he didn't have his luck people wouldn't have this issue, but he's cursed with it so he literally can't lose. Of course every Pokemon he has ever caught has been a shiny because they seem to gravitate towards him. The only time he can't find one is when he wants to give one to his family. I guess that's just his luck.

Scrooge McDuck, the richest duck in the world. Despite being part of the elite four, he doesn't really have to do anything. Since he's challenged after Gladstone his battles are few and far between. So he began running his company's full time. Although he does have to leave his work to protect the region at least once every two week. He is the most loved of the elite four and also the most hated, with all his enemies. Good thing he's the best of the league.

Region time!

So, Americaw is based off the world of Ducktales and all the places they've been to by the time of the season three hiatus. I also decided you can find any pokemon in this region (even if characters share pokemon sO MaNY TIMES!), and some come earlier than we're used to. Most of the region is mostly forests with ruins but later on is more of the places we know and love, victory road and the league is even one of my favorite places in the entire series.

Gym leaders, baby.

Gym leaders are characters that are associated with the McDuck clan, mostly working for them in some way. I also tried to put a twist on everything and some of the gyms are ones you wouldn't expect for that character. Let's go over them real quick, shall we?

Owlson, the Normal type gym leader. I thought she was perfect for this because she does technically work for Scrooge now. There's nothing too special about her except that she really wants things to go right and she doesn't have room for silly things. I thought she would be fun as a first gym so the kids could get a taste of the adventure ahead of them. She uses a Hoothoot (to harken to her being an owl) named Natasha, and she has a Porygon (to harken to her being a buisness woman) named Charity.

Ludwig Von Drake, the Poison gym leader! As goofy as the man is he is very competitive. He works with Gyro and Fenton on many projects but has his own lab away from them. I think he works the best for poison because than he could be more of a chemist than the other two scientists. He's also the gym leader we see the least of. He's always in a rush to finish his project just to get on the next one thats probably even more dangerous. He uses a Grimmer (chemicals) named Paul, and a Toxel (science in general) named Corey. He also has a Rotom, named Walker, that just helps around the lab.

Fenton, the Steel gym leader. Since fenton is a superhero I thought he could take his typing from Gizmoduck. He's the main one out of the three scientists that makes weapons and items for the police force. The military forces also thank him very frequently. But since he has so many idea's there's no way for him to do them all. He usually overworks himself because of this and it's obvious to anyone who so much as looks at him. Even so he is the most optimistic of the gym leaders and goes nowhere without a smile. He uses a Pawniard (Gizmoduck) named Hero, an Aron (Robots) named named Titanium, and a Scizor (Gizmoduck strength) named Bromine.

Gyro, the electric gym leader. I thought Gyro fit best with electric because of presumably obvious reasons. Gyro is the wildcard of the three scientists and will do anything for science. He can't count how many times he's almost accidentally killed himself with an experiment. He might seem like he's the only one that slows down out of the three scientists, but you're dead wrong. He probably works the hardest and has the most unhealthy habits out of all of them. He's the best scientist in the region and refuses to give the spot up for anything. He's currently trying to find a way to turn his blood into coffee. He's as brutally honest as ever, and still full of himself, but will admit defeat. He uses a Magneton (robots) named Maggie, a Rotom (Lil' Bulb) named Tom, and a Vicavolt (robots) named Vic.

Duckworth, the ghost gym leader. He might be a ghost but that just makes him better at his job. He's extremely neat and gets annoyed if a picture is tilted. He doesn't hesitate to greet challengers with a smile and even give them tips during battle. When he looses he still acts like a gentleman. He loves his work and refuses to leave life without "good reason". He uses a Gengar (his demon form) named Káge, a Banette (being able to poses things) named Mary, a Polteageist (because he's fancy) named Green, and a Mismagius (just because he's a ghost) named Lady.

Lena, the psychic gym leader. I told you she had a job. But I also know this typing might not seem like it fits. But trust me, it does. Her magic is what I imagine when a pokemon is Psychic type, so I thought it was perfect. She's rough around the edges when you first meet her but she grows on you once you get to know her. She's loyal to her friend's and already knows the kids once they get to her gym. I believe she is the only one that doesn't work for Scrooge in the cannon. She's basically the same she was in the show. She uses a Hypno (dreams) named Dreamcatcher, a Hatterene (being trapped by magica) named Princess, an Espeon (her necklace) named Garnet, and a Lunatone (the eclipse) named Lunar.

Launchpad, the dragon gym leader. Plot twist! Let me explain before you start yelling at me. I wanted Della to be the flying type specialist, so I had to do something else for Launchpad. It took me forever to figure out what to give him, I even considered the option of repeating flying, before I finally remembered dragon. It hit me that it was perfect! The dragon type embodies everything he loves. Flying? Boom, dragons fly! Superheros? There's a dragon that looks like it was made for a superhero. Airplanes? There's plenty of those. Acting like a child? How about one that looks like a child's imaginary friend! The list goes on! The dragon type was perfect because it's so loose. Anyways, back on track. He uses an Altaria (clouds) named Fluff, a Salamance (superheros) named Comic, a Noivern (DW) named DW, a Flapple (childish) named Flapper, a Drakloak (Sunchaser/Cloudslayer) named Sunchaser, and a Duraludon (vehicals) named Crash.

Ms. Beakly, the dark gym leader. She's a freaking spy, of course she's dark type. She's the hardest gym to beat, even for final gyms. She's tactical and knows (almost) every trick in the book. She'll point out what you're doing wrong and still beat you if you do everything right. She doesn't go easy on anyone so you better be prepared. Despite all of this she is one of the kindest people you will ever meet. When you loose to her she has a plate of cookies for you to take with you when you leave, and if you beat her she gives you an item that'll help you the most with the league, plus cookies for your travels. She loves Webby so much, enough to teach her almost all of her tricks. She's a good woman. She uses a Tyranitar (strength) named Tyrone, a Pangoro (capabilities) named Gordy, a Grimmsnarl (I just thought it fit) named Grimm, a Malamar (that expression) named Mal, and a Honchkrow (spy) named Krow.

I love this idea and can't wait to expand apon it. I alread have so many ideas that it's hard to not spoil any plans I have. I just hope I don't overdue it. I want it to kinda be like a little more serious version of the pokemon anime. Not too serious, but I want it to be like what you'd find in ducktales (just maybe a tiny bit less kid friendly).

Well I hope you enjoy my idea and have fun with it. Well anyways, have a great day!

Also, here's a picture of the HDLW designs.

#louie duck #pokemon #sketch #dewey duck #huey duck #donald duck #uncle scrooge #scrooge mcduck #beakley #mrs beakley #bentina beakley #launchpad #webby vanderquack #della duck #gladstone gander #feathry duck #ducktales 2017 #ducktales #fenton crackshell #fenton cabrera #gyro gearloose #lena sabrewing #violet sabrewing #boyd #dt #dt17 #dt17 fanart #DTPokeLeague20

[honeypiehotchner]

Trust -- part thirty-eight

It’s Best Man Speech time! Also, I’m a liar. This chapter is not the last. The next one is. Oopsies! ;)

“Pray silence for the best man.”

           You squeeze Sherlock’s hand as he stands to his feet, buttoning his jacket and smoothing it down. He really is nervous.

           But to be fair, you’re a little nervous, too. He wouldn’t let you hear the speech—He wouldn’t let anyone hear it, actually. This is brand new to everyone. And while that should be exciting, since it’s Sherlock, it’s a little nerve-wracking.

           John is beaming, though, grinning from ear to ear – possibly a little buzzed. But he does really love Sherlock, and you know that, even when he doesn’t want to admit it. You know those two have a bond like no other. The Baker Street boys, as Mary calls them.

           “Ladies and gentlemen, family and friends. And, um…others.”

           Sherlock’s stuttering continues, prompting you reach up and thread your fingers through his. He glances down, smiling a little.

           “Telegrams,” you hear your brother mutter, and then Sherlock is back.

           “Right, um…” Sherlock picks up the cards. “First things first, telegrams. Well, they’re not actually telegrams, we just call them telegrams, I don’t know why. Wedding tradition. Because we don’t have enough of that already, apparently.”

           “Sherlock,” you whisper warningly.

           He settles again, nodding. “To Mr. and Mrs. Watson. So sorry I’m unable to be with you on your special day. Good luck, and best wishes, Mike Stamford.”

           Ah, Mike. You chuckle.

           “To John and Mary. All good wishes for your special day. With love and many big…big squishy cuddles from Stella and Ted.” Sherlock sighs. “Mary, lots of love—Oh.”

           John looks up at him. “Yeah?”

           “…poppet.”

           Mary snickers, leaning forward to catch you stifling your own laughter.

           “Oodles of love and heaps of good wishes from Cam. Wish your family could’ve seen this.”

           You lean forward at that, giving Mary a look of sympathy as John takes her hand in his, comfortingly.

           Sherlock carries on, not missing a beat. “Special day…Very special day…Love…Love…Love…Love…Love. Bit of a theme, you get the general gist. People are basically fond.”

           Here we go, you think, wanting to smack Sherlock in the arm, but you decide against it.

           “John Watson. My friend, John Watson. John. When John first broached the subject of being best man, I was confused. I confess at first, I didn’t realize he was asking me. When finally, I understood, I expressed to him that I was both flattered and surprised. I explained to him that I had never expected this request, and that I was a little daunted in the face of it. I nonetheless promised that I would do my very best to accomplish a task which was, for me, as demanding and difficult as any I had ever contemplated. Additionally, I thanked him for the trust he placed in me and indicated that I was, in some ways, very closed to being moved by it. It later transpired that I had said none of this out loud.”

           The room erupts with laughter, especially coming from John. You laughed loudly, too, because that definitely wasn’t the story you remembered John telling you.

           Sherlock begins rummaging in his coat for some cards. “So…done that. Done that. Done that bit. Done that bit.”

           He takes a deep breath. And continues.

           “I’m afraid John that I can’t congratulate you.”

           Your eyebrows furrow. Odd start. Maybe you should’ve forced him to practice the speech in front of you.

           “All emotions, and in particular love, stand opposed to the pure cold reason I hold above all things. A wedding is, in my considered opinion, nothing short of a celebration of all that is false and specious and irrational and sentimental in this ailing and morally compromised world. Today we honor the deathwatch beetle that is the doom of our society and in time, one feels certain, our entire species.”

           The room stills. You stare down at your hands, a little bit worried for the rest of this, and still regretting the fact that you never took a peek at his speech before today.

           “But anyway, let’s talk about John.”

           “Please,” you hear John clear his throat, shifting around in his seat.

           “If I burden myself with a little helpmate during my adventures, it is not out of sentiment or caprice, it is that he has many fine qualities of his own that he has overlooked in his obsession with me. Indeed, any reputation I have for mental acuity and sharpness comes in truth from the extraordinary contrast John so selflessly provides.”

           You tilt your head. That was an insult, wasn’t it?

           “It is a fact, I believe, that brides tend to favor exceptionally plain bridesmaids for their big day. There is a certain analogy there, I feel.”

           Is he…serious? He absolutely has to be kidding.

           “And contrast is, after all, God’s own plan to enhance the beauty of his creation. Or it would be if God were not a ludicrous fantasy designed to provide a career opportunity to the family idiot.”

           The room rustles again, and you clasp your hands together, willing yourself to keep listening.

           “The point I’m trying to make it that I am the most unpleasant, rude, ignorant, and all-round obnoxious arsehole that anyone could possibly have the misfortune to meet. I am dismissive of the virtuous,” Sherlock pauses to look down at you, nudging your arm so you’ll look at him. “I am unaware of the beautiful.” He smiles only softly, then turning to Mary and John. “And uncomprehending in the face of the happy.”

           You smile sadly.

           “So, if I didn’t understand that I was being asked to be best man, it is because I never expected to be anybody’s best friend. And certainly not the best friend of the bravest and kindest and wisest human being I have ever had the good fortune of knowing.

           “John, I am a ridiculous man. Redeemed only by the warmth and constancy of your friendship and the love from the woman sat to my left.”

           Your breath hitches. You weren’t expecting him to mention you at all.

           “But as I am, apparently, your best friend, I cannot congratulate you on your choice of companion.” Sherlock pauses, the corners of his mouth twitching. “Actually, now I can. Mary, when I say you deserve this man, it is the highest compliment of which I am capable. John, you have endured war, and injury, and tragic loss. So sorry again about that last one.”

           You chuckle softly. He’ll forever be apologizing for the time he was ‘dead.’

           “So know this. Today, you sit between the woman you have made your wife and the man and woman you have no doubt saved. In short, the three people who love you move in all this world. And I know I speak for Mary and Y/N as well when I say we will never let you down and we have a lifetime ahead to prove that.”

           You reach up and wipe a stray tear away from your cheek, chuckling a little when Sherlock doesn’t seem to notice he’s gotten the rest of the reception hall crying as well.

           “Ah, yes. Now on to some funny stories about John…” Sherlock frowns. “What’s wrong? What happened? Why are you all doing that? John? Y/N?”

           “Love…” You shake your head, smiling despite your own watery eyes.

           “Did I do it wrong?”

           “No, you didn’t,” John mutters, pushing his chair back. “Come here.”

           The room applauds while the two of them hug, Sherlock still not understanding anything at all as he tries to continue over the noise. John pats his shoulder and says something to make him stop, but you don’t hear.

           After John is settled back in his chair, Sherlock continues.

           “So, onto some funny stories about John. If you could all just cheer up a bit, that would…be better.” Everyone laughs. “On we go. So, for funny stories, one has to look no further than John’s blog. The record of our time together. Of course, he does tend to romanticize things a big, but then, you know, he’s a romantic.

           “We’ve tackled some strange cases. The Hollow Client. The Poisoned Giant. We’ve had some frustrating cases. Touching cases,” Sherlock rolls his eyes. “And of course, I have to mention, The Elephant in the Room. But we want something very particular for this special day. The Bloody Guardsman.”

           Ah, you remember. The unsolved one. From wedding planning weeks ago.

           “Private Steven Bainbridge had written to us with a concern about someone possibly stalking him. A bloke, no less. Private Bainbridge had just come off guard duty. He’d stood there for hours, plenty of people watching, nothing apparently wrong. He came off duty and within minutes was nearly dead from a wound in his stomach but there was no weapon. Where did it go?

           “Ladies and gentlemen, I invite you to consider this: A murderer who can walk through walls. A weapon that can vanish. But in all of this, there is only one element which can be said to be truly remarkable. Would anyone like to make a guess?”

           Good lord. You definitely should’ve looked at his speech.

           “Come on, come on. There is actually an element of Q&A to all of this.” Sherlock clears his throat. “Scotland Yard, have you got a theory?”

           “Don’t pick on Greg,” you mutter.

           “Yeah, you. You’re a detective, broadly speaking. Got a theory?”

           Lestrade crosses his arms over his chest, deciding to entertain Sherlock. “Er, um…If the uh, if the blade was propelled through the um…grating in the air vent… Maybe a ballista or a catapult, uh, somebody tiny could crawl in there. So yeah, we’re looking for a dwarf.”

           “Brilliant.”

           “Really?”

           “No.”

           You shake your head.

           “Hello, who was that? Tom.”

           Sure enough, Tom stands from his chair, Molly sending a frightened look your way. This is going to end badly, it always does when Sherlock gets in one of these moods.

           “Got a theory?”

           “He attempted suicide with a blade made of compacted blood and bone. Broke after piercing his abdomen, like a meat…dagger.”

           “A meat dagger?”

           “Yes.”

           “No.”

           Tom sits back down, and Sherlock continues, clearly annoyed. “There was one feature and only one feature of interest in the whole of this baffling case and quite frankly, it was the usual. John Watson. Who while I was trying to solve the murder, instead saved a life.

           “There are mysteries worth solving and stories worth telling. The best and bravest man I know and on top of that he actually knows how to do that. Except wedding planning and serviettes, he’s rubbish at that.”

           Everyone chuckles at the slight joke.

           “The case itself remains the most ingenious and brilliantly planned murder or attempted murder I’ve ever had the pleasure to encounter. The most perfect locked-room mystery of which I am aware.

           “However, I’m not just here to praise John, I’m also here to embarrass him so let’s move onto some—”

           “No, wait. So how was it done?” Greg interrupts.

           “How was what done?”

           “The stabbing.”

           “He never solved it,” you chime.

           “Yes,” Sherlock nods. “I never solved that one. It can happen sometimes. It’s very…very disappointing. Embarrassment leads me on to the stag night.”

           Oh, dear Lord.

           This night was the night you, Mary, and Molly got together and had dinner before having essentially a big sleepover at John and Mary’s. Because John was out with Sherlock all night, apparently doing something along the lines of having a beer at every place they’ve solved a murder.

           It’s okay, you found the idea weird, too. But Molly said she calculated everything correctly, so they should be fine. Even if it was odd that Sherlock asked her to calculate anything in the first place.

           But anyway, while the three of you were drinking wine and sharing idiot stories of your significant others, John and Sherlock were getting absolutely pissed.

           “‘Course, there’s hours of material here, but I’ve cut it down to the really good bits.”

           Apparently, they were only out for two hours before returning to Baker Street. Mrs. Hudson said she nearly had a heart attack when she walked out with her trash to find them snoozing on the stairs, drunkenly mumbling to each other.

           And then they had a client. Of all things, they had a client that night.

           “The Mayfly Man.”

           They also got arrested, which Lestrade wasted no time calling you about and starting off with saying, “You’re not gonna believe this shit.” You thought it was going to be much worse than what it was, but at least Lestrade was able to get them bailed out with no problem. And thankfully, it never turned up in the papers.

           You still remember after that when Sherlock continued investigating. You were sat in his chair when he had probably six or seven laptops open, talking to all of these women who had encountered the Mayfly Man. John was here as well, helping with the case on his day off.

           Apparently, Sherlock had asked a question to the women and immediately every single one of them signed off. You had warned him to let you help, but he didn’t want you to. He didn’t want to come off as too knowing.

           “Why? Why would he date all of those women and not return their calls?” Sherlock slams the laptop closed, straightening up and buttoning his blazer.

           John snorts. “You’re missing the obvious, mate.”

           “Am I?”

           “You are,” you nod. “He’s a man.”

           Sherlock still doesn’t get it. “So? I’m a man.”

           “You’re a different breed,” you chuckle.

           “But why would he change his identity?” Sherlock asks the rhetorical question to the wedding guests, not noticing their lack of interest. “He was married. Obvious, really. Our Mayfly Man was trying to escape the suffocating chains of domesticity and instead of endless nights in watching telly or going to barbeques with the awful, dreadful, boring people he couldn’t stand, he used his wits, cleverness and powers of disguise to play the field. He was—” Sherlock stops, suddenly surveying the room and seeing their tired faces. He turns to you and you shake your head, motioning for him to stop the story.

           He nods. “On second thoughts, maybe I probably should’ve told you about The Elephant in the Room.

           “However, it does help to further illustrate how invaluable John is to me. I can read a crime scene the way he can understand a human being. I used to think that’s what made me special. Quite frankly, I still do. But a word to the wise: Should any of you require the services of either of us, I will solve your murder, but it will take John Watson to save your life. Trust me on that, I should know. He’s saved mine so many times and in so many ways.

           “This blog,” Sherlock gestures with his phone, “is the story of two men and their frankly ridiculous adventures. Of murder, mystery, and mayhem. But from now on, there’s a new story. A bigger adventure.”

           You watch with a smile as Sherlock glances to the happy couple, and then you watch in surprise as he looks to you.

           “Ladies and gentlemen pray charge your glasses and be upstanding.” You stand with your glass in hand. “Today begin the adventures of Mary Elizabeth Watson and John Hamish Watson. The two reasons why every single one of us is—”

           Sherlock freezes.

           His glass falls from his hands, but no matter about that. You know that look in his eyes. He’s gone. Albeit for a split second, but he’s gone.

           It’s almost like he’s gone to his mind palace.

           The glass shatters as it hits the floor, the noise startling Sherlock back into the real world. He blinks, looking down at the mess he made and tries to brush past it.

           “Oh, sorry, I—” He shakes his head, clearing his throat.

           “Another glass, sir?”

           “Thank you, yes. Thank you. Now, where were we?”

           “Sherlock…” You whisper.

           He looks to you briefly before continuing on. “Ah, yes, raising glasses and standing up. Very good, thank you… And down again.”

           You sit down quickly, casting a worried glance in John and Mary’s direction. The rest of the guests follow, confusion coating their faces.

           “Ladies and gentlemen, people tell you not to milk a good speech. Get off early, leave them laughing. Wise advice I’ll certainly try to bear in mind, but for now…”

           “Sherlock!” You hiss as he jumps over the table.

           “Part two!” He walks down the middle. “Part two is more action based, I’m gonna walk around, shake things up a bit.

           “Who’d go to a wedding? That’s the question? Who would bother to go to any lengths to get themselves to a wedding…? Well, everyone!” Sherlock turns around, clapping his hands. “Weddings are great. Love a wedding.”

           Mary leans forward to look at you. “What’s he doing?”

           “Something’s wrong,” you whisper back. “I don’t know what.”

           “And John’s great, too,” Sherlock points back to the front. “I haven’t said that enough, barely scratched the surface. I could go on all night about the depth and complexity of his jumpers. And he can cook, does a thing – A thing with peas, once. Might not be peas, might not be him, but he’s got a great singing voice – Or somebody does…

           “Too many, too many, too many, too many!” Sherlock screams. He stops himself, turning back around. “Sorry, too many jokes about John. Now, uh… Where was I? Ah, yes. Speech! Speech. Let’s talk about…murder.”

           “Christ, Sherlock,” you smack your forehead.

           “Sorry, did I say murder? I meant to say marriage. But, you know, they’re…quite similar procedures when you think about it, the participants tend to know each other and it’s over when one of them’s dead. In fairness, murder is a lot quicker, though.”

           You watch as Sherlock pulls out his phone and begins texting behind his back – something you hate when he does, but now it’s only worrying you further.

           “Jeff, the gents.” Sherlock looks at Lestrade.

           “It’s Greg!”

           “The loos, please.”

           “Why?”

           “Oh, I don’t know, maybe it’s your turn?” Sherlock nods toward the door as Lestrade’s phone beeps. So, Sherlock was texting him. You wish he’d text you to let you know what the hell is going on right now.

           Lestrade looks at his phone and his eyes widen. “Yeah, actually, now that you mention it.” And he disappears through the doors.

           “Sherlock,” John calls out. “Any chance of an end date to this speech? We’ve gotta cut the cake.”

           “Oh! Ladies and gentlemen, can’t stand it when I finally get the chance to speak for once – Vatican Cameos.”

           Your eyes widen. Shit. Shit, shit, shit, shit, shit.

           “What did he just say?”

           You scoot over to Sherlock’s seat next to John’ careful of the broken glass. “Vatican Cameos,” you murmur. “It means someone’s going to die.”

           “Not you, not you, you,” Sherlock points to John. “It’s always you. John Watson, you keep me right.”

           John stands to meet Sherlock. “What do I do?”

           “You’ve already done it,” Sherlock whispers, glancing to you. “Don’t solve the murder. Save the life.

           “Sorry,” Sherlock inhales sharply, turning back around. “Off-piste a bit, back now, phew! Let’s play a game. Let’s play murder. Imagine someone’s going to get murdered at a wedding. Who exactly would you pick?”

           “I think you’re a popular choice at the moment, dear,” you hear Mrs. Hudson say, bringing a small smile to your face.

           “If someone could move Mrs. Hudson’s glass just slightly out of reach, that would be lovely. More importantly, who could you only kill at a wedding?”

           Your eyes widen. They lock with Sherlock’s. There’s a brief moment where you wonder if it’s you. After all, this morning was the only time you traveled without Sherlock in a long time. But it doesn’t make sense, you don’t fit. He’s here with you now, and no one was close to you when he wasn’t.

           Sherlock shakes his head slightly. You’re safe.

           “Most people you can kill just any old place,” he continues. “As a mental exercise, I’ve often planned the murder of friends and colleagues. Now, John, I’d poison. Sloppy eater, dead easy. Y/N is a different story. To poison her would ultimately insure my own death sentence. Lestrade’s so easy to kill, it’s a miracle no one’s succumbed to the temptation. I’ve got a pair of keys to my brother’s house, I could easily break in there and asphyxiate him…if the whim arose.

           “So, once again, who could you only kill here?”

           Sherlock’s eyes lock with yours again and you mouth, “Isolated.”

           “Clearly, it’s a rare opportunity, so it’s someone who doesn’t get out much. Someone for whom a planned social encounter known about months in advance is an exception. Has to be a unique opportunity. And since killing someone in public difficult, killing them in private isn’t an option. Someone who lives in an inaccessible or unknown location, then. Someone private, perhaps, obsessed with personal security. Possibly someone under threat.”

           When Sherlock looks to Major James Sholto, you sigh, letting your eyes fall closed. You should’ve known from the minute your brain told you it had to be someone who is truly isolated. Major Sholto is the only one true fit to that statement.

           “Or, a recluse,” Sherlock speaks, now obviously filling the time as he writes something on a card. “Small, house hold staff. High turnover for additional security. Probably have all signed confidentiality agreements.

           “There is another question that remains, however, a rather big one. How would you do it? How do you kill someone in public? There has to be a way. This has been planned.”

           Your eyes widen. “The Bloody Guardsman,” you blurt. “The killer that can walk through walls. The weapon that vanishes.”

           Sherlock stares off when he hears you, Major Sholto standing and leaving in the meantime. Sherlock nods to you. “Not just planned, planned and rehearsed.”

           He slides back up to the front, grabbing a random glass. “Ladies and gentlemen, there will now be a short interlude. To the bride and groom!”

           Everyone stands for the toast, but Sherlock whirls around, leaning down to the table. “Major Sholto’s going to be murdered. I don’t know how or by whom but it’s going to happen.” Sherlock abruptly kisses you on the forehead before turning and moving his way through the crowd. “Excuse me, coming through, consulting.”

           John gives Mary a kiss before standing, looking to the both of you and saying, “Stay here.”

           As soon as he gets around the table, though, you and Mary look at each other and nod. You stand, linking arms and pushing your way through the crowd, careful not to trip on your dresses as you search for where Sherlock and John went.

           You round the corner just as your brother is laying into Sherlock for not remembering Major Sholto’s room number.

           You roll your eyes and say, “207,” as you and Mary push between them.

           The four of you bound up the stairs and to the left, Major Sholto’s door right at the end of the hall. Sherlock immediately begins banging on the door, trying the handle.

           “Major Sholto!” Sherlock yells, hitting the door with an open hand.

           The Major speaks from behind the door. “If someone’s about to make an attempt on my life, it won’t be the first time. I’m ready.”

           “Major,” John steps forward. “Let us in. Or I’ll kick this bloody door down.”

           “I really wouldn’t,” he calls out. “I have a gun in my hand and a lifetime of unfortunate reflexes.”

           “You’re not safe in there. Whoever’s after you, we know that a locked room doesn’t stop him.”

           “Yes, I know. The invisible man with the invisible knife.”

           “I don’t know how he does it, so I can’t stop him and that means he’ll do it again.”

           “Solve it, then.”

           “I’m sorry?”

           “You’re the famous Mr. Holmes. Solve the case, on you go. Tell me how he did it, and I’ll open the door.”

           Sherlock shakes his head, stepping away.

           “Please, this is no time for games. Just let us in, you’re in danger!” John’s voice cracks on a matter of urgency, and the knot is your stomach is twisting dangerously tight.

           “So are you, so long as you’re here,” the Major counters. “Please, leave me. Despite my reputation, I really do not approve of collateral damage.”

           “Solve it,” Mary blurts.

           “Sorry?”

           “Solve it and he’ll open the door, like he said.”

           “I couldn’t solve it before, how can I solve it now?”

           “Because it matters now!” Mary cries.

           “What are you talking about? What’s she talking about? Get your wife under control.”

           “She’s right,” John replies, deadly serious.

           “Oh, you’ve changed!”

           You smack Sherlock’s arm harshly, finally succumbing to the urge you’ve had all evening. “Shut up!” Sherlock looks back at you, dejected and holding his shoulder where you hit it. “She’s right. You are not a puzzle solver, you idiot, you never were. You’re a goddamned drama queen. Now, there is a man in there about to die, the game is fucking on, solve it.”

           Sherlock’s eyes widen, though you can’t tell if it’s in shock or realization, but then he turns to the door, and you hear he’s solved it. “Major Sholto, no one’s coming to kill you. I’m afraid you’ve already been killed several hours ago.”

           “What did you say?”

           “Don’t take off your belt.”

           “The belt,” you mutter. “Of course.”

           “Bainbridge was stabbed hours before we even saw him. But it was through his belt – tight belt, worn high on the waist. Very easy to push a small blade through the fabric and you wouldn’t even feel it.”

           “The belt would bind the flesh together when it was tight. And when you took it off…” John trails away.

           “Exactly. Delayed action stabbing.”

           “Neat,” you mutter, then realizing what you’ve said, you grimace. “Sorry.”

           “You’re supposed to open the door, Major, he solved the case.”

           Silence.

           “Whatever you’re doing in there James, stop it, right now, I will kick this door down!” John yells.

           “You and I are very similar Mr. Holmes,” the Major continues. “There’s a proper time to die, isn’t there?”

           “There is.”

           “And one should embrace it when it comes. Like a soldier.”

           “Of course, but not at John’s wedding!” Sherlock screams. “We wouldn’t do that, would we, you and me? We would never do that to John Watson.”

           Sherlock steps away from the door, and right as John is getting ready to ram his foot through the door, it opens.

           John and Mary disappear into the room, leaving you and Sherlock in the hallway. He suddenly picks you up by your waist and spins you around, setting you down to press a firm kiss to your lips.

           “You’re a drama queen, too,” he pouts.

           “Shut up,” you shake your head, pulling him back into you for another kiss.

#bbc sherlock #bbc sherlock fanfiction #bbc sherlock fanfic #Sherlock Holmes #Sherlock Holmes fanfiction #sherlock x reader #Sherlock Holmes x Reader #the sign of three #best man speech #female!reader #watson!reader #half-sibling!reader #soft #john watson #mary watson #wedding day

[where-the-wilds-things-are]

Wild Meets Wild Chapter Three

It was hard, saying goodbye to Silverpine City for Rusty. He could tell it was the same for Princess and Smudge. This place, even though they were leaving it behind, was their home for six months, basically their world. They could never see the sights, and inhabitants that lived here again. They would never sniff the same scents again. Rusty would always remember that he came from the City; even if he became a Warrior, he would never forget his origins as a cat that lived on Lucky Land Lane.

Penumbra was the first cat they saw, chilling by a black fountain birdbath. The Black and Gray Chimeria’s face shot up to greet them, four ears crowning her head. “Hello, Smudge, Rusty, and Princess! What brings you here today…” she trailed off when she saw their solemn faces. “Why do all of you have expressions like you are about to make a life-changing decision?” Penumbra meowed.

Rusty met her gaze, but before he could speak, Smudge beat him to it. “We are,” the black-and-white tom said, then seemed to hesitate.

Penumbra cocked her two-toned head. “What?”

The trio nodded. “We’re going to live with the Clans,” Rusty said, “So we came to say goodbye.”

Her nose wrinkled. “You can’t be serious,” she growled, sitting up. “Those snotty cats with their “blood-lines” and their “boundaries?” ” Her tail swished behind her, her long-furred tail catching dust.

“That’s right,” Princess said.

“You three might be crazy,” Penumbra began, her voice hard initially. But when she glanced at Smudge, her tone softened a little. “They will never accept you. Any of you.”

“We know that realistically,” Smudge said, “some cats won’t accept complete strangers into their home. But hopefully with time, our efforts can make some see otherwise, and they will call us clanmates.”

Her whiskers twitched. “Always an optimist, Smudge? That won’t protect you out there in the forest.”

“We’ll keep him safe, don’t worry,” Rusty purred. Princess nodded in agreement.

“Well,” Penumbra said. “You need to try to come to visit. And if I see one hair on your pelt is harmed, Smudge,” she glared at Rusty and Princess, “you’ll have me to answer to me.”

Rusty nodded. “Of course,” he said, blinking. She acted tough and had a soft spot for Smudge, but at the same time, she had a lot of faith in him. “He’ll be ok, Penumbra.”

One set of ears twitched on her head. “He’d better be,” she said.

“We’re going to say goodbye to Johnny and Sephiroth,” Princess said. “Do you want to tag along?”

The molly looked at Smudge, then at Rusty and Princess before sighing. “Okay, but if any Clan Cat tries to spout “pure-blood” rhetoric at me then I hope they have the cat version of medical insurance because I’m not dealing with any bullshit-nonsense. I already have to deal with that from Razoul, no need to get it from some Larpers.”

“Noted,” replied Rusty. He hoped that Lionheart didn’t piss Penumbra or the others off, but he didn’t see the golden tom to be the type to gloat about blood-lineage. Hopefully, they shouldn't have to deal with that once they got to the Clan.

Penumbra sneezed before getting up. “Come on, Sephiroth should be outside sunning his fur by now.” And with that, she took the lead. Blinking in surprise, the others looked at each other before following her.

They had to pass two gardens before they saw the large Nebelung, and sure enough, he was sunning on the patio table that was on the deck. Penumbra wasted no time calling his name. “Sephiroth, come down here, you have visitors. Smudge, Rusty, and Princess!”

The tom grumbled before opening his yellow eyes. “What?” Looking down, he spotted the quartet of cats amassed below him. “What’s going on here? Penumbra, your voice can wake up the dead,” he muttered.

“Rusty and the others have something to say...unless you think you’ll chip a claw and faint if you come down?” she sneered.

Princess shook her head, “Those two argue like old mates, I won’t be surprised if they have kits when we leave,” she said under her breath.

Sephiroth sprang down from his resting place and padded up to them. “Okay, I’m down here, what’s going on?” meowed the dark gray tom, his deep voice vibrating in Rusty’s ear fur.

“Smudge and the others are leaving to join some country hicks who think they're the shit,” Penumbra replied, blue and yellow eyes staring straight at the Nebelung’s face.

Sephiroth’s eyes grew comically large. “Country hic—you mean the Clans? Why would you want to join them? All they do act that they are Gods’ Gift to the world, and then get mad when you even step over the fence. Last time I checked they don’t own the damn city, so why get so torn at that?”

Rusty cleared his throat before talking. “Me and Princess want to join because our owners want us to enter a very high Show-Cat Circuit, and we refuse to put up with all of the drama that goes with it. As for Smudge, one word: Donovan.”

Penumbra’s head turned so fast Rusty was surprised it didn’t break. “Donovan? That little ba- that guy with the dead fish-eyed look? Why didn’t you mention that?” she hissed in anger. “This makes more sense now,” a sympathetic look came into her eyes. “Smudge, you feared for your life, didn’t you?”

Smudge nodded his head. “Donovan is unpredictable, and Charlie and his sister can’t keep an eye on him at all times. Better play it safe. Besides, I want to become a Medicine Cat, apparently, the Clans have some knowledge of herbs, which makes sense since they didn’t all die from some sickness or infections. I can contribute so much Penumbra, I know I can!”

The she-cat stared long at Smudge before she spoke. “I truly hope that you find meaning in this Clan Smudge. Same goes for you Rusty, Princess. Don’t let some glorified Backyardigans tell you can’t strive to do things, show the Clan and everyone in it what cats from Lucky Land Lane can do.”

“Penumbra is right, don’t let them shame you for being born somewhere else. They might not like you since you were born over the fence, but don’t let them say you will never amount to anything just because you don’t have Clan blood, whatever that means.” Sephiroth then looked pensive. “Are you taking anything with you by the way? Maybe if you bring some gifts like a blanket, some will be more accepting of all of you. Winter nights in this country can get harsh, taking one can help.”

Princess’s head shot up. “We did consider that! It was Smudge's idea, so this morning we took three blankets along with some toys for any kittens.” She didn’t bring up Bonnie or PK, much to Rusty’s relief. He didn’t need Penumbra to find out about his plush, or she’ll bring it up that he still needs a stuffed toy to go to bed.

Sepiroth cocked his head, “How do you plan to carry all of that by the three of you? You know what, I’ll help, I'm sure Penumbra would be thrilled to help Smudge.”

Penumbra glared, but Smudge cut her off before the two can argue even more. “We still need to talk to Johnny, Winry, and Seng. Can we please hurry?”

Sephiroth grunted and went to Princess’s side. “Lead the way then.”

Johnny’s backyard always made Rusty envious. Various garden statues from fantasy games littered the lawn, and he even had a koi pond that his owners defended like it was their newborn child, along with catnip plants in colorful pots.

Johnny was located by a garden statue, a red flower with black eyes from games that have some human with a mustache jumping down some green pipes.

The orange tabby seemed to notice that he had company since he started to wheel himself towards them. Today, he wore a white bandana with blue stars on it. “Is anyone going to explain why they are five cats in my backyard? I mean, I’m grateful that I have visitors, but I have a hunch that I’m not going to like what I’m going to hear.

He was right.

After getting a quick rundown from Rusty, Johnny shook his head. “Well, if that is what you want to choose, then I hope that everything turns out well for the three of you. I can’t blame you either, with you and Princess becoming a bunch of fashion divas and Smudge wanting to leave his home so he won’t be hurt. Trust me, I wouldn’t wish to stay in homes like that on my worst enemy. Granted, if they got hit by a fully loaded speeding semi-truck, then I'm fine with that.”

Rusty pointedly ignored the two bullet-shaped scars on the tom’s back, the reason why Johnny had to be in that wheelchair. The tom refused to talk about his past, and only said he came from a rescue center and is now happy with his new owners, especially their daughter, Erina. He also hated to be seen as a liability and would grow cold to anyone who tried to baby him.

“It’s nearly time, how about we stop by Winry and Seng before we get the things and leave?” meowed Rusty.

Johnny snorted. “I’m coming along. I want to be there to see these “wild cats” that I keep hearing about. Too bad I missed Henry fight that tom, I was at the vet getting shampooed.”

Johnny then noticed the looks he was getting. “There’s a hole in the fence that some humans can’t be bothered to fix, I can just go right through it. I’m not stupid, I know I can’t climb the fence,” he said, voice full of irritation.  

The others had the decency to look embarrassed, and the group of five became six.

To Rusty and the other’s disappointment, Winry and Seng didn’t seem to be out at all. “That’s right, they should be at HeartGold Park at this time. I guess in all of the excitement, it left our minds,” glumly replied Princess.

“We can tell them what happened,” mewed Penumbra reassuringly. Softly headbutting her in the shoulder, she went on, “They’ll understand, knowing Seng, she’ll be happy that you are happy.”

Princess’s eyes glittered with emotions. “That’s the kindest thing you’ve ever said to me. I’ll never forget that.”

“Good. Don’t get used to it,” She said in a light voice.

“Hey, what about me?” asked Rusty. He didn’t get any encouraging words!

“You two are littermates, you two can share it,”

While Johnny went through the hole he talked about, the others raced back to the garden that Rusty and Princess used to call home. Grabbing PK in his mouth, he carried the autumn blanket carefully as he could on his back so it won’t unfold. Princess carried the Starry blanket and Bonnie, and Sephiroth and Penumbra carried the Jack o Lantern between them since it was the largest. Smudge held his lunchbox in his jaws.

Once over the fence, they saw Johnny was already on the other side. “Finally! I thought humans would have created flying cars by the time you five came here!”

Sephiroth surprisingly rose to his bait. “Okay, oh Sultan of Speed, how about you carry this with Penumbra then? You the only one that doesn’t have any cargo. How’s that fair?”

Johnny puffed out his chest. “It’s because I never volunteered to, I just wanted to see Clan cats and say goodbye to the others. Penumbra is right, you don’t deserve that name. The real Sephiroth wouldn't have whined about holding some fluffy blanket, do you need your beauty rest so you won’t pass out from this grueling labor?!" taunted the orange and white tom.

“Time to go,” hissed Smudge. He was getting antsy, and quite frankly so was Rusty and Princess. Honestly, he loved these cats but they can’t argue right now when Lionheart should be on his way

“Alright, alright,'' said Johnny. “Lead the way."

As they approached the spot where they met the Clan Cats yesterday, Johnny looked around with interest. “Huh, who would have thought that this is behind the fence after all this time. Just how far does this place go anyway?” he wondered out loud.

Penumbra saw a squirrel’s bushy tail darted up a tree with abundant speed. "This makes me want to catch a squirrel or even a bird back home,” she replied. “It feels peaceful here too, I’ll give those forest cats that."

“Okay, we're here, right on time,” muffled Rusty behind the toy.  Dropping his cargo, Rusty sat on the grassy floor with a sigh. The others copied his actions, with them carefully placing the items on the soft grass. “These cats better appreciate this, I swear if someone spits on our faces for “bringing frivolous things" than they can catch these paws with their face,” said Penumbra, whiskers twitching.others

Rusty, Princess, and Smudge shook their heads. With Penumbra’s owner being an MMA fighter, that sounded less of a threat and more of a promise.

Rusty turned his head to take in their surroundings. Tall trees shielded the ground from the midday sunshine, making it comfortably cool. Here and there a patch of sunlight shone through a gap in the leaves and lit up the forest floor. Rusty could smell the same cat-scent as last night, and as a matter of fact, he picked up Lionheart’s scent, along with two unknown ones nearby.

“Lionheart! Is that you? You can come out with your friends!” meowed Rusty, which caught the attention of others.

“Someone is here?” replied Johnny, looking around in surprise.

The bramble bush in front of them shook before Lionheart walked out of the undergrowth.

“So you scented me, that’s a good sign that you are aware of your surroundings." His gaze never left the unknown cats as he came to a halt. “Whitestorm, Stonefoot, you can come out now too," he meowed.

‘Who’s Whitestorm and Stonefoot?’ was the thought that was on everyone’s minds.

The city cats watched as two new cats strolled into the clearing. One was a long furred white tom that had a hint of grey on his ears, tail, and face, while the other one had Russian Blue ancestry, and had very faint traces of stripes on his tail and legs.

“Lionheart? Who are these cats? I thought you said there would be three of them? And what are those things beside them? They smell like it came from two-leg place," said the greyish tom, who must be Stonefoot.

Rusty stared at the tom, he resembled Bluestar greatly. ‘Is he related to her by chance?’

Smudge picked up on this and cocked his head to the side as he glanced at the grey cat. “Excuse me Sir, are you related to Bluestar by any chance?”

Stonefoot inclined his head. “Yes, I am. I’m her son, and she was made Deputy when my siblings and I were still kits by her side.” His voice was filled with pride when he mentioned this, and he turned to face the white tom next to him.

Whitestorm, who was probably named for his fur, spoke up. “I have to say, when Bluestar said that they were kitty pets that resembled Leopardshine and was nearly the size of our biggest Warrior, I had a hard time picturing it. But now, I can see why she extended an offer to join the Clan."

“But to answer Stonefoot’s question, who are these cats Rusty?” mewed Lionheart, his voice having the slightest edge to it. Rusty wondered why until it hit him. He might think it is some trap since he had only expected the three of us. He doesn’t know about Pen, Sephiroth, or Johnny.

"I guess it is fair we introduce them." Using his tail, Rusty pointed at his friends. “This is Penumbra, Sephiroth, and Johnny. They decided to send us off when we told them we were leaving and offered to carry gifts for your Clan."

Meeting the Clan Cats gazes, he continued. “As for those items over there; we figured since you said nights can get cold, we brought blankets, something that can keep you warm. We also brought some toys for any kittens for entertainment.”

The cats gave their own greetings.

Penumbra nodded her head. “I always wondered what a Clan Cat would look like, so it’s nice to meet you three,” she said. Smudge gave her a quick glance, and Rusty assumed she was putting a friendly face so she won’t come off needlessly antagonizing.

“And no, I can’t hear out of the other pair of ears, apparently they are for show,” the molly answered.

“Yes, my back legs don’t work. This is called a wheelchair, and it helps me get around so I don’t have to drag myself whenever I want to move,” said Johnny. He wheeled himself in a tight circle to prove his point.

Lionheart, Whitestorm, and Stonefoot looked on with wide eyes.

“I never imagined that I’ll see a cat with Russian Blue ancestry in the forest. And one that somehow has ghost stripes as an adult! I know humans who would pay good money to have you as a pet!” Sephiroth told Stonefoot.

Stonefoot had a look of confusion in his bluish eyes. “...Thanks?”

Whitestorm went to the Jack o Lantern blanket and pressed down on it with his paw. Golden eyes took on a contemplative shine. “Lionheart, Stonefoot, I think they are right. The Elders and The Queens can make use of these.”

Rusty secretly did a fist pump in his head. They seemed okay with it so far!

The tom then looked at PK and Bonnie. “Are those for the kits? They sure are… colorful looking.”

“No, those two are very special and belong to us,” replied Princess. “The toys for the kits are in Smudge’s lunchbox.” She tossed her head to the Spidey themed tin box.

Rusty grimaced as Penumbra got a look in her eyes. “Rusty still needs a toy to go to bed? Oh man, why didn’t you tell me this before you decided to leave? I could have held this over him.”

The savannah tom sighed in resignation. At least she wouldn’t have the time to actually do it.

“Speaking of my lunchbox, can I please train to become a Medicine Cat? I’ll listen to every word my mentor says and my tin box can hold a lot of herbs!” said Smudge with hope in his golden eyes.

Stonefoot stared at Smudge in surprise. “You want to become a Medicine Cat? Hmmm, I’ll let Bluestar and Spottedleaf know that there is a potential apprentice that wants to join. If they say yes, then your odds are good.”

Smudge practically glowed with excitement.

“Can me and the others help carry this to the Clan? If that’s okay with all of you,” asked Penumbra.

Rusty looked at Lionheart with hopeful eyes. Princess and Smudge did the same.

Whitestorm and Stonefoot gazed at the golden tabby, who thought about this question.

“Only because your gifts seem like a pawful to carry.” Looking at Penumbra, Sephiroth, and Johnny, he went on. “It is an honor for outsiders to come to our camp, but don’t try to come back to our territories to catch prey, or you will be chased out.”

Smudge spoke before Penumbra could. “They know not to trespass, Lionheart. Right guys?”

Sephiroth nodded, though his eyes held a spark of irritation at the accusation that he’d hunt in foreign territory.

Johnny shrugged his shoulders. “The Valentines give me beef, poultry, and pork for my meals. So I’m good on that end.”

Penumbra bristled at Lionheart’s tone but nodded her head. “I’m fine with the prey back over the fence, you won’t find any squirrels missing from me.”

Lionheart nodded. “Good to hear. Stonefoot, you can…” he trailed off as the wind suddenly brought new scents into the clearing. Something familiar to the City cats.

Hissing, Lionheart’s fur fluffed up. “Dogs! Dogs are coming straight towards here! You five, hide over there and we sho—”

Out of the bushes shot out two large dogs. One was a brindle Greyhound, and the other was a fully grown black and tan Tibetan Mastiff.

The Clan cats jumped back, the scent of fear and alarm coming off of their fur in waves.

Rusty gaped at the sight, before yowling in joy. “Seng! Winry. You came!”

The dogs now known as Seng and Winry halted in front of the group of felines. The Greyhound huffed, before doing something that nearly gave the Clan cats a collective heart attack.

She spoke. Clearly.

“Why is it that when Seng and I came back from the Park, we find you,” she pointed her nose at Rusty, “Your sister, and the other’s scents near our houses that led all the way to the forest?”

Looking at Lionheart, Whitestorm, and Stonefoot, she then cocked her head. “Are you those Clan cats that think they are descendants from Wild Cats? Because I find that really funny when you live right next to a city, mate."

Whitestorm’s eyes bulged out of his skull. “T-t-talking dogs?!” The poor tom looked like he was going to faint from shock.

“That’s a nice Shaggy impression you got going on there,” replied Penumbra. She watched the spectacle with amusement.

Johnny shushed her, but he had the same expression.

Seng went ahead and licked Rusty’s face eagerly. Causing his fur to stick up. “Rusty! Why are you here? You could have gotten hurt, or worse! The animal catcher could have grabbed you!”

Rusty shook his head to fling off the remaining slobber. “The animal catcher won’t go after us since we have collars Seng, but thank you for your concern." He really meant it. Now they could say goodbye in person, and not by second hand.

Winry narrowed her eyes as she looked at the two Savannah cats and Turkish angora, then at the pile of blankets, before at the Clan cats, who seemed to be stuck in a flight or fight mode.

“Rusty." Her voice took on a knowing edge, which made him shuffle his paws. “Are you planning on joining the forest cats?” Seng shot up from furiously licking Smudge’s face with wide eyes.

“Huh? Winry what are you on about?” the Tibetan Mastiff got up and met Rusty’s green eyes. “Is Winry telling the truth?”

Rusty fought the gulp as he saw the confusion in her massive face. Winry and Seng were the only dogs that were their friends besides Oscar, and he was more of a friendly elder. Rusty didn’t want to break her heart, but he needed to tell her the truth.

But before he could, Princess answered both of their questions. “Winry is right. Me, my brother, and Smudge are leaving to join the Clan. Pen, Sephiroth, and Johnny came to help carry some things we’ll need for our new lives.”

Winry flicked her ears while Seng surprisingly growled low. “Are they making you do this against your will? If so I”ll—”

“No." Lionheart finally got over his shock, though his eyes were slitted and his tail was puffy. “They wanted to join our Clan with their by their own will. Bluestar won’t force them."

Whitestorm made a noise along with Stonefoot. “Rusty and his friends crossed the fence last night during our patrol, and it was our Leader who offered. She doesn’t make those on whims, which tells us that they have the potential to become something greater," rasped Whitestorm.

“It’s true Winry. Seng. Rusty and Princess wanted to join to escape becoming Show-Cats, while I had to leave because of Donovan," Smudge told them. He didn’t want them to think Lionheart and the others were trying to coerce them into something they didn’t want.

Rusty and Princess nodded in agreement. Penumbra lifted her head. “While I don’t like it, they do want to join, and I wish them the best in their endeavors.''

Winry showed teeth at the name Donovan. “Ouch. Sorry to hear about that Smudge. Heard that the guy is a real headcase."

Seng swung her head to Whitestorm, who stood his ground despite his whiskers vibrating. “You will protect them with all of your might. Right?" While her voice didn’t have any malice in it, the white tom felt the underline pressure in that sentence. The silent ‘Or Else’ was easily picked up by his Clanmates.

“We will protect them with our life, as they will protect ThunderClan," spoke Stonefoot. It seemed that he finally got over the shock, and he looked at the dogs with some kind of awe.

Rusty was confused. Sure, Seng was massive, but other than that, what confounded the Clan Cats so? They know what dogs were, so why act like that?

It seemed like he wasn’t the only one who thought of that. “So, why did you lot act like you just saw a funnel-web spider when we talked? Are dogs talking that big of a revelation to you?” spoke Winry. She had laid down on her side, since sitting down was a bit of a problem for her species.

Stonefoot and Lionheart took a step back. Leaving Whitestorm to speak for his Clan. The tom swung his head and hissed at this betrayal before reluctantly meeting the dogs faces.

“I mean no offense, but the Clans haven’t… had the best experience when it comes to dogs. Some attack us on sight with no provocation, and we never actually heard them talk. Just bark, with a splattering of words. Also, we see dogs with their two-legs on the trail, but I had never seen one big as you." He nodded to Seng, who stomped her paws. Small clouds of dust kicked up in the air.

“Well, dogs can speak, some just don’t try to learn to speak as you cats do." She then let out a series of barks that the city cats could make out as “My name is Sengdongma, and I like to chew on deer antlers."

Whitestorm and the others twitched at the sound but didn’t seem to pick on what she said. “See, that was me talking in the language of dogs. Some city cats know it, like those cats over there”.

A gold, white, and grey head turned to look at them in surprise. “You can understand dogs?!” sputtered Stonefoot. Rusty puffed his chest out with pride. “Yep! We can understand humans too. You have too if you live in the City”.

Winry then took over. “As for dogs attacking you, I really can’t hazard a guess as to why they do that. Unless they are arseholes and help to push the stereotype that dogs hate cats for no reason."

Whitestorm looked pensive before he cleared his throat. “Thank you for this conversation, Winry, Seng. But Bluestar is waiting for us back at camp, and we must make haste to return to it," he mewed.

“What about your collars?” asked Winry. She had gotten to her paws, and pointed at their collars and bandana with her nose.

Rusty had nearly forgotten about them. Their collars! Would the Clan accept them if they still had it on?

Seng had seemed to figure it out. “Hold still Rusty." Lowering her head to his neck, she bit the band and pulled. A quick pinch to his neck, and a loud snapping sound resounded in the clearing. Dangling from her jaws was his collar, snapped cleanly in half.

In total shock, Rusty took a deep breath and felt the hold of the thing that was around his neck as long he could remember disappear.  

Princess’s blue eyes shone with realization. “Of course! You’re a genius, Seng. Can you do me next please." Said dog padded over to her, and a couple of seconds later, Princess’s collar met a fate similar to his.

“I feel so free!” she meowed. Turning her head this way and that, she turned to Seng. “Thank you so much, who knows how we could have gotten them off in the Clan?”

“No need to do mine Seng” Smudge simply sat on his haunches before he used his forepaws to play with the bandana around his neck. Soon, it became undone, and it fluttered to the ground.

“Thank you for helping out” replied Lionheart. “You three, take your collars, it will show Bluestar and the Clans that you mean what you say you want to join.” Stonefoot, show the others to our camp since they are holding things that require an easier path. Rusty, Princess, and Smudge are with me and Whitestorm."

“They’ll visit us right?” muttered Seng as she watched the cats get ready to leave. Stonefoot turned his head as he led Penumbra and the others to the side of the clearing.

“That is up to Bluestar, but I’ll make sure she considers it." And with that, they all disappeared into the thicket, Johnny’s ginger tail brushing the forest floor.

“Goodbye, Seng, Winry," Rusty said. They each passed their tongues over his face, then did the same to Princess and Smudge, their tails low but wagging faintly. They then lapped the cheek fur of Whirestorm and Lionheart, who blinked and fluffed out their fur a bit in surprise.

Seng looked at Rusty. "It's been fun," the mastiff said. "Be safe, you three."

"We will," Princess replied.

“We’ll show everyone just what Silverpine cats can do,” said Rusty.

Whitestorm and Lionheart nodded. Rusty collected his now broken collar along with his stuffed toy. With Princess and Smudge beside him as they followed the two warriors, Rusty took one last glance at the canines who befriended them.

“We will see each other again," woofed Seng. Then she, along with Winry, ran back to their homes.

#i speak #wild meets wild #rusty #princess #smudge #lionheart #whitestorm #stonefoot #cats from silverpine #penumbra #sephiroth #johnny #this chapter was supposed to be way longer but google docs became the fun police so I had to half it #otherwise this chapter would had been over twenty pages long #but it was really fun to write! #sepiroth is named after the famous villain from final fantasy vii #penumbra has four ears like yoda the cat #who is real look him up #johnny is based off a jojo character from part 7 #he's kinda like briarlight but he has a cat wheel chair with pouches on the sides #sengdongma #seng the mastiff #winry #winry the greyhound #whitestorm wore revenge for lionheart and stonefoot's stunt with the dogs #thunderclan #fun fact penumbra and sephiroth just just appeared in my head randomly #just like nightsong #i not complaining since i grown to like penumbra #you'll see in ch four

[kara-dolan]

All of it sis 💁🏻‍♀️

WELL OKAY THEN

0:Height

5′2 me and my short self


1:Virgin?

YUP

2:Shoe size

Um… Hold on gotta check (I don’t know cause I don’t get shoes often) Okay so I wear 3 sizes I wear 7 ½ in heels, 8 and 8 ½. My feet are apparently weird.


3:Do you smoke?

No, I have before tho when i was like 6 with my brother grosses shit ever. But I also use to smoke marijuana but like I havent done that since last year around May.


4:Do you drink?

Occasionally. But I don’t get drunk. Never have gotten drunk either. 


5:Do you take drugs?

No only thing that came close was weed and that was for my depression and anxiety. It just wasn’t prescribe. 


6:Age you get mistaken for

20 or older. Like I got to see a kids movie tho because of how short I am. So yay!


7:Have tattoos?

NO Sadly


8:Want any tattoos?

FUCK YES I HAVE LIKE 17 Tats drawn up and I know where I want them to go.


9:Got any piercings?

Ears.


10:Want any piercings?

Yes my nose. 


11:Best friend?

Evelin mi hermanita, but also VIVIANA aka @notanotherdolantwinsblog


12:Relationship status

Single until Grayson notices me or some shit


13:Biggest turn ons

FUCK THIS HAD TO BE ON HERE. Um… Jaw clenching, Grey sweatpants, “Babe”, “Baby”, Cute nicknames, Biting, hair pulling, choking, scratching, certain laughs, spanking, deep conversations, weird but like when someone picks me up and I don’t expect it, lip biting, eye rolling, cheesy jokes, puns, dirty jokes, someone being so focused on something like full on has their attention.


14:Biggest turn offs

Feet, anal (like shit comes out of there no thanks), Smells that would make me like revolt to Jupiter, douche bags like the I am better than everyone type of cocky douche. 


15:Favorite movie

Romeo + Juliet, Titanic, Nemo, Monsters Inc., Scream, It Follows, Little Mermaid (all of them), Austin Powers (all of them). Sucker Punch, Kick Ass, 5th Wave,Let Me In.


16:I’ll love you if

Oof okay ahhh um get to know me for me and we have a form of bond like that honestly I feel so bad if people give me things they pay for like I feel like I am just taking and I feel like shit so yeah become my friend and I grow to love you for you and you hopefully do the same.


17:Someone you miss

My Haybug. ( my cousins daughter who I call my niece who I helped basically raise) um Grayson and Ethan, my cousin Austin and my other cousin Pierce.


18:Most traumatic experience

Yeah this is great, um I have a couple one really fucked me up and the other one almost made me kill myself so I won’t be posting about it because it is not something I want in the world.


19:A fact about your personality

Uhhhhh….  it is still forming because I am trying to find who I am.


20:What I hate most about myself

My weight and teeth.


21:What I love most about myself

My eye color and laugh.


22:What I want to be when I get older

Financially stable lol but also a musician and actor


23:My relationship with my sibling(s)

Well I live with my little sister and we annoy the hell out of each other but we love each other too and then my brother is away in a different state with the national guard and trying to join the army, so complicated?


24:My relationship with my parent(s)

Well fuck. I… this is so complex no one is ready for it.


25:My idea of a perfect date

Surfing ( hopefully not dying from it) followed by a hike to a high place to over look everything followed by pizza and ice cream and a movie where we cuddle (after a shower of course)


26:My biggest pet peeves

EATING WITH MOUTH OPEN AND SMACKING IT LIKE NO STOPPPPP.


27:A description of the girl/boy I like

He is just so beautiful, the way his laugh lines crease when he smiles with or with out teeth is just incredible and the way his brown eyes that change color due to lighting and emotion shine through even when he isn’t at his best because he has the most amazing heart and puts everyone else before himself even though he knows he needs to take time and get to what makes him happy. His hair that goes through hell but it still maintains a soft poofy look and as of right now it is a light brown almost ash brown with bits of dirty blonde. His jawline is the kind you wouldn’t even see on a greek god because it is so unique to his face hell his bone structure is his own and yet in some ways completely different from his brothers. He has an athletic build that I barely pay attention to because his droopy eyes capture my attention with the intensity that he stare with. Not to mention he has the most creative beautiful mind I have ever seen with theories and words he has and things he acts out. His sense of humor is amazing he is such a goof ball and it’s a mix of stupid corny jokes and dirty jokes that he can’t fully say out loud because he is caught in the public eye all the time. He can’t be himself and it is the most painful thing to know because he has the biggest kindest heart ever and is human with insecurities beyond what I know. Plus his scars that add characteristic details to his face that tell a story of a young boy having fun without a care in the world is the most beautiful construct of his humanity. Whoa. 

He completely owns my ass…


28:A description of the person I dislike the most

Cheeto with a blonde toupee 


29:A reason I’ve lied to a friend

To protect them. Or myself.


30:What I hate the most about work/school

That I don’t do either


31:What your last text message says

I didn’t know I could describe someone like this


32:What words upset me the most

You aren’t wanted here.


33:What words make me feel the best about myself

When someone thanks me for helping them. I don’t help people for that reason but I like to know that I helped in some way. It makes me feel good that they feel good.


34:What I find attractive in women

Confidence for sure. LIKE YES BOO YOU LOOK BEAUTIFUL!!!! YES WORK THAT OUTFIT! YOU ARE GLOWING!!!!! 


35:What I find attractive in men

Honesty, pure real deep honesty. Like how they feel or asking them questions to where they give deep meaningful answers or even if its like “ I just wanna fuck” like Okay you hot but I aint down for that thank you for being honest but oof damn even hotter now but like I am good. (unless they are strangers then thats creepy)


36:Where I would like to live

Greece, Rome, Italy, California, New Jersey like the nature aspects of all these places oh my damn it’s so beautiful.


37:One of my insecurities

My smile


38:My childhood career choice

Musician, I have always wanted to be a musician in 4th grade I even started a band with no instruments and wrote songs but my dickwad of an ex said songs had to be at least 2 pages long and it kind of made me mad and I stopped writing them for a few months. FUCK YOU ETHAN ( not dolan my ex fucking douche side note I dated him in 2nd grade he dumped me for my friend who he dumped for our other friend who only went out with him to dump him)


39:My favorite ice cream flavor

Vanilla only cause you can add other flavors to it and make a delicious concoction.


40:Who wish I could be

A better version of me which I am working on currently.


41:Where I want to be right now

In a relationship with Grayson so I can cuddle in bed with him and watch scary movies so we both get scared and like grip onto each other for the rest of the night.


42:The last thing I ate

Dark Chocolate covered pistachios  I know it sounds weird but surprisingly good.


43:Sexiest person that comes to my mind immediately

Grayson Dolan


44:A random fact about anything

I am related to Abraham Lincoln and Tom Hanks on my Grandfathers side ( my moms, dad.)

#asks #mintdolans #THIS SHIT MADE ME CRY #ESPECIALLY 27

[thecorteztwins]

Mutant Empire: Salvation, Chapters 5 &6

Magneto isn't in these chapters either but we get some Juggernaut insight in Chapter Five, and we also get a neat moment between Charles and Senator Kelly in Chapter 6. I thought both were worth writing about. Tagging @malakhvent and @profxisajerk in case you’re interested in either of these things at all.

CHAPTER FIVE We're reminded at the beginning of this chapter how Cain's father abused him and the rest of the family. I like the detail that it was his father's cold words and hard looks that hurt more than the physical abuse. And how he saw his stepmother quivering and Charles withdraw into his studies, and he (Cain) started to hate them. He feels that they were weak, they deserved what they got, and Cain vows to himself to not be like them, to be strong, to never show weakness. Basically, it seems to me like Cain feels the abuse is his fault, that if he's not weak this wouldn't happen, and he's projecting that on to his fellow victims rather than his abuser. And so he becomes a bully in the schoolyard and worse to Charles, and becomes a criminal once he becomes the Juggernaut. And he always thought kindness and friendship were weakness. But then he met Black Tom Cassidy. Black Tom, for those who won't know, is Banshee's evil cousin. He and Jugs have been pals'n'partners in crime for a LONG time in the comics. And we learn that it was kindness and friendship from Black Tom that showed Cain he was wrong. Because Black Tom is the kindest and most ruthless person he's ever known. And he realizes that friendship is actually a desirable thing. It's specified this doesn't change at all how much he hates Charles, how hard he fights the X-Men, or that he's a criminal. But he's still changed in this way. And I really like that. I love villainous friendships and villainous character development that doesn't make them stop being villains.

We also learn that Cain has always felt condescended to by the X-Men, that he finds them “holier-than-thou”, that their offers to “help” make it seem like he's weak, and how from his perception they treat him like gum on their shoe...”the same way Charles had always treated him.” Which I'm sure is objectively NOT how Charles treated him, but I'm fascinated this how Cain perceived and/or remembers Charles. I don't know if Cain has ever like...acknowledged his father as abusive and wrong, but if he hasn't, I'm really starting to think he directed all his anger and pain at Charles not just in the form of physically abusing him, but in making HIM the bully in his own mind because he COULDN'T bring himself to blame his ACTUAL abuser, whom he probably had a much strong familial bond with seeing as how that was his father whereas Charles was just some random kid he was now living with.

And Cain is thinking how Charles knowing his precious mutant soldiers are going into battle alongside the Juggernaut will just get under Charles skin so much and how he loves that and it's worth it even if Magneto hands his ass to him....Cain buddy boy do I have news for you. Seriously, I feel like Charles would be THRILLED to know that Cain has teamed up with the X-Men against Magneto even though there's nothing it for him.

We also learn Cain didn't finish high school idk if that's news to you

And he considers mercenaries to be scum. Which is weird cuz he openly admits in the same breath he's into crime for personal gain, calling himself a “career criminal”. I guess maybe to him robbery has some dignity and class (which he says mercs don't) but being a soldier for pay in a cause you don't care about doesn't? I guess that has a certain logic. He also seems kinda into cowboy movies, mentally seeing himself as one of the “black hats”, a bad guy/outlaw who still has some kind...again, class and dignity are the words he uses, I'm not sure if they're the correct words, I guess maybe...standards? Not so much morals or ethics, but standards. He'll rob a bank for the cash, but he won't do guerrilla warfare for a fee, basically. He'll work for a bigger criminal on a heist for a cut of the profits, but he won't align himself with a cause he doesn't believe it just because there's cash in it for him. And he takes blatant issue with the those who do. So that's really interesting. And not something I would have expected from Cain. Once more, Christopher Golden is being really great about giving every character some depth and POV, I'm honestly impressed by how many times he's done that, especially for villains and minor book-exclusive background types. CHAPTER 6 I would like to remind everyone that at this point I canon, Xavier was NOT known to the public to be a mutant or to have anything to do with the X-Men. The book reminds, however, that he is a celebrity “the way politicians ad scientists became celebrities.” That is to say, he doesn't have fans or the like, but his opinion on mutant issues is valued by the media and he's considered the most powerful pro-mutant proponent on the subject, so lots of major news stations have requested him for comment on the current goings-on in Manhattan. As a small note, it always bugged me that Xavier seems to not simply be the most important public person who is pro-mutant/human peace, but the ONLY person. We never see anyone else, let alone ACTUAL humans, who are vocal public figures about that UNLESS they're anti-mutant. We do get some “public figures who preach mutant/human peace” during the 90s (Haven and Empyrean) but they're short-lived, super-minor characters that no one knows or remembers. I kinda wonder why Moira MacTaggert was never asked on any TV show or radio debate that I can remember (she's a scientist who is the leading expert on mutants in the comics, not a CIA agent) then I remember that unlike the diplomatic Xavier, Moira has no patience with any bullshit and wouldn't pretend to. I guess the meta answer is because Xavier is one of the main characters and this lets us see him doing something, something that the other X-Men can't do, something that advances his beliefs without violating his morals or involving secret paramilitary groups of child soldiers, and I like that. I'm just saying I think it's weird they can't at least stick in one other famous person who agrees with him. Then again, I guess that also helps to show that this isn't an equal battle, the odds are against him. Anyway. Tonight he's going to be debating Senator Kelly on ABC news. I look forward to this. Kelly gets a really bad rap in fandom, and I do understand why, but a lot of people don't realize that in the comics, he's actually a very moderate guy whose concerns come from a rational place, in contrast to the usual frothing bigots like Pierce, Hodge, and Graydon Creed. Speaking of Graydon, Xavier finds it strange that he has all but disappeared from the “media circus” since last evening, something you'd think he would be taking advantage of big-time. Charles suspects that whatever the outcome of Magneto and Manhattan is, Graydon is simply waiting to pounce on the backlash. Me, I think there might be a bigger plot afoot. It also makes me suspicious when a news anchor Charles had made a connection to in previous books, an Annelise Dwyer, surprises him when she approaches without him sensing her first. He figures he's just tired. I figure this is a foreshadowing. During the debate, Charles is impressed by how calm and rational Senator Kelly is, and how clear it is that Kelly is a man who understands the power of words and does not wish to use them to cause a panic, but instead presents them in a responsible way. It makes him that much more pleased that Graydon Creed isn’t here. Kelly closes with an argument that I myself have made many times before: that the different in humans and mutants is not the same as a difference of race or religion or anything else like that. He says that though “all men and women were created equal, even if they are not treated so” until mutants came along, and that “Mutants are not equal to the rest of humanity. Mutants are greater. I do not say better, but greater. More powerful, and thus inherently more dangerous. For the good of the entire world, all mutants must be registered and monitored. Now, I do not agree with the registration and monitoring part, but I do, as I said before, agree that concern about mutants is not the same as concern about black people or people who are transgender. Because those traits don’t give you more power than everyone else. Mutation does. There is real concrete reason to be worried about people who can make you explode when they’re angry or wipe your mind with theirs. This is what I like about Senator Kelly---he doesn’t hate mutants for what they are. He doesn’t call them freaks or lesser beings, he doesn’t want them exterminated, he does not wish for them to be harmed simply for existing. He’s just raising the very rational question of, what about the rest of us? And I don’t like his answer, but I do like his contrast to the usual way anyone who doesn’t 110% love mutants is portrayed as a mindless straw-bigot who just wants to wipe them all off the face of the Earth. Xavier then makes his closing statement. He starts by praising Kelly as an intelligent man concerned for others, and that there is cause for concern after seeing what Magneto and his followers have done. But, he adds, one should be no more afraid of mutant terrorists than any other terrorists, that the men bombed Oklahoma city and the World Trade Center (note: He does not mean 9/11, this was written before then, this is in reference to an event earlier in history. Just thought I’d mention that so there was no confusion over when this is set) are dangerous too, not because of any powers at their disposal but the hate in their hearts. He says that there are many people proficient with guns and martial arts who could also be considered “greater” than other humans, yet no one has discussed taking away their civil rights. That every American has a right to life liberty, the pursuit of happiness, and privacy. That criminals, including mutants, should be punished to the fullest extent of the law, but innocent civilians should have their rights preserved, that if all mutants were an evil conspiracy they would rule the world already, and that the fact they don’t is proof most simply live in peace. But that whether they get to “is up to you.” I do very much agree with him about leaving civil rights intact, but I have a lot of counterpoints to the claim mutants aren’t more dangerous than regular terrorists, but I feel like that would just veer into too much a tangent, so I’ll continue the summary instead. Especially since we’re getting to the part I really like!

After they finish and the broadcast is no longer running, Kelly approaches Xavier. And Kelly says something amazing to Charles: “I know you’re right.” Seriously. He says that. He really does. But he then follows it with that he believes that the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few. Basically, he agrees with Xavier’s principles, but in practice feels the only way for the majority to be safe is for mutants to have their civil rights restricted, even if, as he concedes, that’s morally wrong. Xavier counters that mutants are PART of the many, and that people like Kelly are what forces them to splinter off and see themselves as something else entirely, as though they are another tribe at war with so-called “normal” humans...and if they are made to feel this way, what happens when mutants become the majority? You know, in his own way, Xavier is capable of motivating by fear as much as Magneto is. Like, this is NOT an appeal to compassion, this is PLAYING on the fear of mutant abilities with a “be nice now or else later” Which, admittedly, might be sensible. Kelly says he takes his point. He also says that he hopes this whole thing in Manhattan is resolved as quickly and “painlessly” as possible. Xavier says that’s at least one thing they can agree on. They shake hands, and Xavier’s “thoughts returned to hope.” I liked this :)

#xmen #x-men #mutant empire #juggernaut #Senator Kelly