#the red book behind donald.. do you recognize it

[smovs]

Rainy days on the island make for cozy afternoons at Sora's 🌧️ [remastered for INPRNT]

#got real into coloured lineart lately so i went at it with fresh joie de vivre #the red book behind donald.. do you recognize it #so used to seeing it open i didnt even know thats how the cover looks #kingdom hearts

[daybreak-academy-fanfic]

KH OC Week: Day 6

Original Prompt: Loyalty

Summary: Day 6 of @khoc-week​​ gives me an excuse to justify the compulsive ship of VenSabi. Never make Sabrina mad, is all I can say- her wrath can be felt from the heavens. 🤣

Word Count: 803

☆ ⚬ ☆ ⚬ ☆ ⚬ ☆ ⚬ ☆ ⚬ ☆ ⚬ ☆ ⚬ ☆ ⚬ ☆

“Do you think it's alcoholic?” Sabrina questioned as she swirled the liquid in the glass goblet.

“Doubt it.” Riku said, looking over her drink halfheartedly. “Radiant Garden isn’t really known for its fermented grapes.”

Sabrina gave a little snarl, but didn’t say much else. The noises from the open air banquet made her grimace even more. It was a party she wasn’t prepared for, and that meant it was a party she despised. Everyone had been invited to come; Keyblade wielders, Radiant Garden’s townspeople, and even King Mickey with Goofy and Donald. At least Riku was smart enough to know that she didn’t want to be near anyone she didn’t like- which was, admittedly, pretty much everyone at the moment.

“At least it would make things more exciting.” Sabrina pouted. She continued to look discontented until her head perked up. Her face was unreadable.

“Hold up.” she said, shoving her glass into the confused Riku’s hand. “Someone’s trash talking Ventus, and it’s not me.”

“And how could you…?” Riku tried to ask, but she had already disappeared into the crowd. Riku let out a small sigh. He’d better go get King Mickey now. He’d been around Sabrina enough to know that things were about to get ugly.

Sabrina didn’t care who she pushed away as she went through the crowd. She didn’t stop until she came to the person that was actively talking against Ventus.

“How can he even be a strong warrior when he can’t even harm a fly? The poor boy would apologize to a fly buzzing around him! He’s too pure- too innocent. He shouldn’t be able to do anything, really.”

“You can’t talk about him like that!”

The offender just looked at her. It took a moment, but they were able to recognize her. They put on a rather cruel smirk before asking, “Why do you even care? You’re not even remotely nice to him either.”

“And when I am, how does that concern you?” Sabrina spat back. “Maybe I only tell someone how much I love them when I actually mean it, instead of lying to both them and myself. You can’t build a relationship on lies, sweetie.”

“If you really loved them, then you wouldn’t be lying.”

Sabrina took a step back, her head held high. “Oh really?” she questioned- her voice dripping with venom. “You mean you never looked someone in the eye, told them they did a good job, while at the same time you’re mentally going ‘wow, they really suck at this.’ But you don’t because it would hurt their already fragile ego. What about when someone you know has done something irredeemable to the thing you loved the most? Do you still tell them how much you love them even though they broke something that couldn’t be fixed? What if they lied to you about anything? Oh no, our ten year partner is sleeping around with another spouse. Would you still kiss and make up before bedtime? Would you?”

“You… you need to stop. You’re attracting a crowd.”

“Am I? Well then I hope someone’s recording this and puts it on my gravestone, because I’m not done yet.”

The offender just stared at her in horror.

“Maybe I’m mean to Ventus because that’s what he needs.” Sabrina went on. “Maybe I’m the most doting lover in the world, but how could you know when our private time is meant to be private. If I wanted the world to know that I loved Ventus, it would know. I shouldn’t have to constantly say it or even show it to prove it. And if I have to? Then maybe I don’t love him as much as I thought, and all I’m doing is lying my way into an incredibly unhealthy and unhappy relationship. There’s more to love than just saying it. More than just showing it. And if you don’t get that, then here’s hoping your future spouse does. They’ve got a lot to work with.”

The offender was still staring at her. They had managed to slowly back away, but were still frozen in a measure of fear to just book it. It only took Sabrina to cock her eyebrow that led to them turning on their heel and getting out of dodge. Sabrina was quite proud of herself. Of course, that pride immediately dropped like a stone when she saw Ventus standing behind her.

“How much of that did you hear?” she questioned.

“Enough.” Ven hummed. He moved forward a bit to give her a rather quick peck by her ear. If anyone had been watching, they would have assumed he had whispered something to her. Sabrina gave a noise of disgust- although her face was turning a rather deep shade of red.

“I hate you so much.”

Ven just laughed at her.

#khocweek2021 #kingdom hearts #kingdom hearts fanfiction #Sabrina #Riku #Ventus

[geniedocroe]

CLOSE AS STRANGERS

(don malarkey X reader)

angst, potential fluff

wc: 4430+

you were very in love. in fact, you had been for quite a while. since your seventh birthday actually. it was a blur of memories now and you could just barely recognize it. thirteen years passed quickly. soon things began to change and the future you were seeing . . . it wasn’t very bright and happy.

donald malarkey (your best friend, soulmate, the person you were in love with) had always been very perfect in your eyes. there wasn’t much to despise about him. so you simply couldn’t. you couldn’t hate him. of course there were a few things that set you off. these were only little things though. for instance, when the two of you would share a milkshake or something of the sort and he’d accidentally drop it (he was fairly clumsy), or how he’d jokingly trip you (that ticked you off to no end), or when he’d notice everyone else but you . . .

despite these minuscule flaws you loved him. from his toes to the stunning freckles and ginger hair. he was as pretty as a picture. he truly was. you didn’t believe you were as pleasing to be around, but it was always a confidence boost when don politely asked your mother if you come outside for a while. you felt as though he cared when he did little things like that.

today was like any other. you sat on the front porch of the little house you had grown up in, reading a book.

you thought maybe that was why you weren’t as desirable as the other women in town. they all seemed so daft and boring. apparently these “men” didn’t appreciate someone who could use their brain. it frustrated you to no end.

your like any other day was actually very tedious. it was one warm day in june. your mother wouldn’t allow you to work because she encouraged you to attend college first, which you did, but it was summertime. there was not one thing for you to do. so half of your day was spent sitting on the porch, flipping through books you had appeared to have read hundreds of times.

the excitement bubbled throughout your chest when you saw a mess of red hair running your way. it was about time he had shown up. don ran through your front yard and up the steps. he stopped short of you, trying to catch his breath.

“good afternoon, ma’am.” the ginger managed to cough out with a very bad british accent. he never failed to try and turn anything into a joke.

you looked up from your book with a soft smile. you responded in the same accent. “good afternoon, my good sir.”

“the weathers quite alright today, isn’t it?” he questioned, sitting beside you on the swing.

“i guess it is looking rather nice.” you gazed towards the sky. immediately regretting your decision to be blinded by the sun, you blinked at him, seeing colors.

“nice enough for a walk?” don asked, dropping the accent.

you grinned, gently shutting the book before standing to enter the house. “let me ask my mother.”

“you’re twenty years old!” he called after you as the screen door slammed shut. your laugh could be faintly heard.

don gave a soft little chuckle at the sound of your own laughter. he thought it was quite musical. everything about you screamed peace. it was like tiny birds helped you get dressed in the morning, or mice aided you whilst cleaning the house. you were some sort of sweet dream. something that he didn’t even know he wanted, someone he didn’t know he needed.

he may have been smart at times, but he was completely oblivious to your feelings and his own. you hadn’t made it extremely obvious that you were infatuated with your best friend. however, you dropped a subtle hint every now and then. don would just seemingly dance around it, but after some time you realized he didn’t even know how love-struck you were. in fact, you didn’t think he shared that very same feeling. you didn’t think he even had a minuscule bit of that feeling.

don sure felt something, but he thought it was just nerves. his chest felt loose and fuzzy, his stomach seemed to have joined gymnastics, and he just couldn’t seem to stop wringing his hands when you were near. he didn’t hate the way it felt, then again he certainly didn’t appreciate it either.

seconds later you reappeared, slamming the screen door shut behind you. there was a distant yell within the house. don looked up at you with innocent eyes.

“she said yes, of course.”

he stood up with a grin plastered over his freckled face. you bounded down the steps with your dear friend in tow. as the two of you stepped onto the sidewalk, he looped his arm through your own. you appreciated this dearly. it was as close to holding hands that you were gonna get, but it was casual enough where people didn’t ask you too many questions. this action had also made you feel safe. like the two of you were just out of arms reach.

of course you never felt unsafe in don’s presence. you weren’t incapable of protecting yourself, he was just your knight in shining armor. don was there and you would never force him to leave.

“what book were you reading?” don asked, gazing over at you, taking you in as if there was no more time left in the world.

“the wonderful wizard of oz. i cannot tell you how many times i’ve read that book.”

don thought for a moment before replying excitedly. “do you remember when we saw the movie and you dumped that bucket of popcorn on that poor guy? his face is fried into my brain. that was truly one of your best moments.”

“i live to please.” you sighed, throwing up your free arm. “you know what i still can’t get over? how amazing judy garland is. like truly, she is perfect i think.”

“she may be judy garland, but she doesn’t have a thing on you.”

you ducked your head away as your cheeks began to grow warm. a little voice in the back of your brain was screaming at you to just tell him before it was too late. you didn’t know how much time you had left or what girl was going to come and steal him away before you got the chance.

the rest of your walk continued it silence. the empty moments were filled with tranquility. don felt as though he wouldn’t be able to experience times like this for a very long while. all he wanted was to be around his best friend. all he wanted was for you to understand. for you to hug him and tell him that everything would be alright in the end.

approaching “your spot” on this day was unlike any other. it was a beautiful maple tree in the middle of a field with one ancient looking tire swing. not a lot of people knew about this place so it was perfect to get away. to just be the both of you. this was your safe place. you loved it here. you practically grew up here.

you could faintly remember the moment everything changed for the two of you as best friends. the moment you fell in love. you wondered if don remembered it better than you did. you wondered if he even thought about it at all. because to you, it meant the world.

“hey don, can you promise me something?” you asked, hanging upside down from the tire swing. you struggled for a moment before jumping down.

“i’d promise you anything.” he smiled at you as you sat down beside him. the two of you leaned up against the tree, looking out over the field.

“promise we won’t ever be like my parents. that we’ll always be best friends. cause, my parents have no friends and i always want you around.” you wrung your hands together nervously.

“of course we’ll always be best friends. i promise.” he stuck out his pinky to you and you accepted graciously. “oh! i have something for you.”

don pulled his hand away to grab something in his front shirt pocket. the look he had on his face said everything. the excitement had built up at this point. in his hand was held a small chain with a locket hung securely on it. he handed it to you and watched as you inspected it. engraved onto the silver was “forever in my heart” with two tiny roses.

“wow, don!” you gave him a huge grin as he secured the necklace. you threw your arms around him, hugging him tightly. you spoke into his shoulder. “i love it. thank you!”

“happy birthday.” he said fondly as he pulled away. he stared at you for a moment before he made an impulsive decision.

it was quick and it surely caught you off guard, but don pressed his lips to yours in a fleeting motion. you stood their wide eyed as you blinked at your friend with burning cheeks. don’s face was almost as red as his hair. and you were sure you had never felt this way before.

even at seven years old, you fell in love.

you plopped down beneath the tree without a care in the world. dust flew up as you disturbed the spot with your presence. don stood hesitantly beside the tire swing. his hand reached out to hang onto the rope.

looking out over the empty field sent a warm sensation from the tips of your toes to the top of your head. the sky seemed to stretch for years and the grass was as yellow as ever but that never stopped you from adoring it. the soft chirp of birds was music to your ears. how could you ever learn to loathe a place like this?

“i need to tell you something.”

you looked towards don. he fiddled with the rope for a moment before looking up at you. he didn’t expect you to already be gazing at him with puppy dog eyes. the sight of you almost made his eyes well up with tears.

“i’ll always listen. you know that.”

“i know. that’s why this is going to be so hard.”

as he sat down beside you, you began to think. with the war going on you weren’t very confident in what he was meant to tell you. half the men you had gone to school with had already enlisted or been drafted. it was only a matter of time before don would be leaving too.

there was a moment of silence where the both of you gazed out into the open field. you had to remind yourself that this was the place you loved and that don was your best friend. he wouldn’t ever intentionally do anything to hurt you.

“y/n,” don turned to you, placing a hand on your knee. “i’m being drafted.”

you blinked at him once, twice, then a third time. he stared back at you with sincere, innocent eyes. he prayed that you would understand. that this would all be okay and your friendship wouldn’t suffer.

whatever preparation your mind had done was no use. not a single person on earth was ever ready to face war. it didn’t matter how old you were or how many horrors you had seen. don would come out of the other side of the war as someone else. you knew he would. he would barely make it out alive. you didn’t want to know that person.

“i have to go.” you muttered, shoving his hand away from your knee.

immediately you stood with don following suit. he looked so incredibly hurt by your sudden movements. this was not the reaction he had expected.

a part of you was telling you to turn around and hug him one last time as you stalked off. you knew he was following close behind you but you were hard to keep up with. it was like a giant black hole had materialized in your chest and was beginning to consume all of your organs.

a hand grabbed your shoulder and you whipped around at an ungodly speed. the tears in your eyes were visible. you weren’t angry. don took a step back from you. he frowned at your reaction but still managed to choke out a sentence.

“this isn’t my fault, y’know. i wish i didn’t have to go.” he tried to reach for your hand but decided against it at the last moment.

“i just hope you make it home some day. you stay safe wherever you go, kid. good luck.” you gave a small smile before turning once again.

don was quite taken aback. you hadn’t called him kid in years. it was a joke that had died away after being used one too many times. then it became something you only called him when you were hurting deep down. he couldn’t fathom that this was one of those times.

as you quickly walked through the field you saw flashes of your childhood before you. the good, the bad, all of it. you love it here. actually, loved it.

over the next few days, you and don had absolutely no interactions. you strayed away from him and he felt hopeless. any time you saw him approaching you, you ran in the other direction. however, he never seemed to chase after you. neither of you knew what hurt more.

all don wanted to do was say one last goodbye. he didn’t know if he’d ever be able to see you again. there was some part of him that needed to see you but he couldn’t understand why. so, he left.

the day after don left you had begun to regret not going to see him. that black hole in your chest never subsided and you were afraid it was permanent. you had never gone so long without talking to him. the two of you had always been attached at the hip. if he never made it home . . . this silence would become your biggest regret.

your family looked at you with annoyance as you shoved the food around on your plate. you felt selfish to not want to eat but you truly weren’t hungry. you weren’t tired. you weren’t interested in anything. you had no motivation. it was obvious.

“what is the matter, dear?” your mother asked.

“nothing, mother.” you set down your fork, resting your chin in your hand.

“elbows off the table.” your mother instructed. you did as told. “it isn’t nothing, y/n. you haven’t spoke a full sentence in over a week. you haven’t left your bedroom. i haven’t even seen donald around here. are you ill? have the two of you gotten into an quarrel?” your mother questioned you with clear worry on her face. the rest of your family was silent. they looked at you curiously.

“i ain’t ill and there’s nothing wrong with don. he’s gone off to fight in the war. we won’t be seeing him for quite a while. we’ll be lucky to even see him again.” you huffed, studying the table cloth.

your siblings exchanged a glance. they didn’t understand the war. their naive innocent brains couldn’t comprehend why the war was being fought or why some people might not ever come home. you wished you could be as angelic as them.

“are you infatuated with that boy?” your father asked. mother elbowed him sharply in the side as your head shot up.

“infatuated?” you scoffed.

“let me tell you, y/n, military men are no good to marry. i like donald, but he’ll be completely gone after this war. they never come back home with a sane mind.” your father pointed his fork at you with a raised brow. “thought it will be such a same. he had a great future.”

“yes, because you’re such a great judge of character.” your mother dismissed her husbands opinion with a wave of her freshly manicured hand. “when he returns home you will dote on that boy. i’ve seen firsthand how much warfare can change a man, he’ll need all the help you can give him.”

you looked back down at your plate before looking up once more and scanning every face at the table. they stared at you expectantly.

“may i be excused?”

dear y/n,

i know we haven’t been on speaking terms and i’m sorry for that. i miss you so much. you are my best friend. your opinion means everything to me, but i hope you have tried to come to terms with my absence. it’s been over a year and neither of us have reached out to one another. that truly breaks my heart.

i’ve finished my training as a paratrooper. i’m sure you’ve never heard of that before. to put it simply, alongside the men i have trained with, i will be jumping out of airplanes with a parachute. it sounds terrifying, i know it does. however, i have trained with the best. you don’t need to worry.

i have met some amazing people during my training. it’s safe to say i’ve also met some insufferable individuals. there’s this guy named skip. he really became my best friend over the past year (of course no one could take your place). you would love him. he’s a great guy. super funny too.

my company consists of mostly good men. i don’t think i would ever say otherwise. they have to be extremely brave to want to jump out of an airplane. i have really gotten to know these men and i’m sure i’ve made bonds that will never break.

the beginning of my training took place in georgia. we ran up this mountain more times than i could even imagine. it was so painfully hot everyday. i don’t think i’d ever want to live there.

today i’m in a camp in new york. we leave in a couple days. we’re getting on a boat that’s heading over the atlantic ocean. i don’t know where we’re going or how long i’ll be gone. i’ve always wanted to visit europe, but not like this.

i hope you’re doing well. maybe you’ve graduated from school. maybe you have a great job. maybe you’re dating the best man you could find. maybe you have a kid. maybe you don’t have any of that. what a shame that’d be. you’re a real catch. you deserve anything and everything.

even if i don’t ever come home, i want you to live the kind of life that was always meant for you. find a new best friend. move on with your life. show everyone that you can’t be walked all over. don’t think that it’s all over because you won’t be seeing me again. in fifty years you could have everything you’ve ever worked for.

i miss you. i always will.

-don malarkey

dear y/n,

in about two days we will officially be entering the war. i’m terrified and i know i should be. i’m just trying to push through everything so that one day i will be able to come home.

there’s not much i’ll be able to say. i actually don’t know what to say. training has always been rough. they claim they want us to be the best. i secretly think they just want to see us struggle.

there has been a lot of difficulty over the past couple of months. despite all of this, there’s been the usual shenanigan. skip and our other friend alex, have dragged into some odd situations. i’m glad they do though. these are some memories i’ll hold close to my heart forever.

i still miss you. you never responded to my last letter. unless you did . . . perhaps i never got your response. i hope you’re doing great.

is there anything knew happening in your life? did you graduate? have you met any peculiar people? have you met anyone who’s completely changed your life? do you still go to that diner? i know you loved it there. i miss the milkshakes so much. are you working at all? do you miss me?

i pray that you will be able to respond to me. i’ll never know what my last letter will be. this could be it.

i miss you. i always will.

-don malarkey

dear y/n,

i still haven’t gotten a response. i hope you’re okay. i don’t know if you’re even alive. how horrible would it be if i was the one fighting in the war and you’re the one who’s passed?

this war is brutal. it’s horrible actually. i cant even explain how bad it is because those words aren’t even in my vocabulary. i’ve seen some really horrifying things. things that would make your hair curl.

we’ve lost people. good people. men with lives and families back home. people just like me. it just makes me realize that my days are potentially numbered.

i ended up getting into some trouble actually. a friend of mine and i had stolen a motorcycle. we went through the country in england and honestly i haven’t had that much fun in a long time. it was nice to let go and appreciate everything that was happening at the time.

if you are reading this, please respond. i need to know that you don’t hate me. or if you do hate me, i still want to know. i haven’t gotten many letters but every single one i get, i hope it’s you.

how are you? i really want to know. it’s been so long. are you okay? i miss you. i haven’t spoke to you in over two years. i’m sure something has happened in your life. something that has changed you completely. please respond, y/n.

i miss you. i always will.

-don malarkey

“hey mal!” skip called over to his friend who sat beside george luz.

don looked up curiously. skip, alex, john julian, and babe heffron stared back. they all shook furiously from the harsh weather of bastogne. taking the piss of conversations during their sad mealtimes were the only way to get by.

“who’s that girl back home that you’re constantly chattering on about?” skip asked.

“girl back home?” george echoed skip with raised eyebrows. “why have i never heard about this?”

don rolled his eyes as everyone looked at him with curious eyes. he had only ever spoke about you to skip. he hadn’t even told alex about you. i mean, what was there to say? you were only friends.

“i gotta hear this.” joe toye leaned forward to listen in.

“there’s this girl back home and she’s . . . she’s everything. you know, we were best friends. we grew up together. she hasn’t spoken to me since i told her i was leaving though. and – and i used to think i wouldn’t need her to just exist, but now without her . . . i feel like there’s a part of me missing. it’s horrible. she’s my best friend, y’know.” don explained. beside him george burst into uncontrollable laughter. skip and alex shared a look before cracking up as well. julian looked at babe with a confused expression. “why are you laughing at me?”

“sounds like you are in love with her, my friend.” joe nodded. george took a moment to try and regain himself but he burst back into laughter a second later.

“there’s no way. i’ve known her my whole life. i just - i just miss her, that’s all.” don pushed george away. the man was all but laughing in his face.

don felt like he was folding back into himself and pulling away from his friends. he didn’t want to bring you up and then get laughed at for your friendship. you hadn’t even spoken in years.

“you said you haven’t spoken in years?” julian piped up. don nodded. “well, why not?”

“i don’t think she wanted to face the idea that i wouldn’t be around for a while. she was pretty hurt. called me a name i hadn’t heard in years. i don’t blame her.”

“oh, so she’s in love with you too?” joe suggested and don gave him an incredulous look.

“i strongly doubt that.”

“you never know until you tell her that you love her too.” julian said.

“what the hell do you know about love?” babe snorted at the replacement next to him.

“i just think it seems kind of obvious.” julian shrugged. “he can’t realize that he’s in love with her and she could be in love with him and doesn’t realize it either. if the both of them can’t come to terms with it then the other would never know. so, they’ll both be suffering while they watch the other move on with their lives. might as well tell her now.”

everyone blinked at julian. for being so young and virginal, he spoke very wisely about love. he had more of a mind than don did. perhaps he would confess to you . . .

y/n,

i’ve never felt more alone. skip & alex got hit. they’re my best friends. i don’t know what to do. please tell me you’ll still be there when i get home.

-don malarkey

don,

i’m sorry about your friends. i’ll be here.

-y/n

dear y/n,

the past couple of months and years even have been extremely difficult. the war has changed my life drastically. it’s put me through the ringer. i pray it hasn’t done the same for you.

everyday i anxiously await the announcement of the japanese surrender. i cannot tell you how exciting that news was. the war is finally over. after years of all the pain and suffering for millions of people. of course, there’s still tons of rebuilding that will need to be done and there’s still so much that needs to be change. all i want to do is come home.

i hope you’re waiting for me. if you haven’t already met someone and started growing a life for yourself, i’d love to go out with you. you’re always the only thing i can think about. which is not good in a war.

i love you. i have always loved you. you mean everything to me and it’s hurt the both of us knowing that neither of us had said it sooner.

i’m coming home soon. i promise. i’ll be home before you know it. please don’t forget about me.

i miss you. i always have.

-don malarkey

#band of brothers #hbo war #easy company #donald malarkey x reader #don malarkey #donald malarkey #donald malarkey imagine #band of brothers imagine

[callme--starchild]

baking (growing) up

Cooking wasn't exactly Scrooge's favorite hobby. Not that the duck was bad at it; but with the tight schedule expected of an adventurous business duck like him, it was strange to see him in the kitchen unless he was supplying before an adventure.

Still, said duck business could detect when someone was in his kitchen. The aroma emanating was sparse, but the sound of utensils being used doesn't. Nor was secretive the voice that proudly sang while its ingredients were being used.

Strangely, this time he could not hear a preteen singing from the rooftops, and instead, he heard the classical music that Duckworth used to listen to when it was just him in the kitchen. Ironically, his employee sought to accustom the boy to that kind of music to no avail; but now that the butler was taking a well-deserved day off, it was when the boy was listening to that genre.

But the fact that his nephew was alone in the kitchen already puzzled the Scotsman, and before he knew it he was crossing the threshold, observing said preteen with flour on his face and the plucked areas of his wings.

True, Donald was already facing the molting that would give him adult feathers to his chagrin, and the duck's annoyance was equivalent to preparing some dessert, noting Grandma's recipe book next to the bowl.

As expected, the boy looked at him with wide eyes when he noticed himself discovered by his uncle, stopping mixing and turning off the radio quickly on a nervous instinct.

"Unca Scrooge, I..." Looking at the brown mass in the little bowl, the young duck realized what a mess his plumage and clothing was, making a face – which Scrooge vainly tried to ignore – when he tried to wipe his body and dragged small, yellow feathers with it, "sorry for the mess! I promise I'll clean up later."

His voice trembled to and was not for the nervousness, Scrooge knew the wee one used to be problematic and show himself proudly when he thought doing the right thing, but he recognized the sobs that he wanted to hide or the reddish degrade on his eyes and beak that betrayed that he had cried. He recognized that growing up could be a frightening aspect for many people and had sensed that his nephew would be no exception even before the first layer of feathers fell.

But this was a reaction he hadn't expected to see: it was as if his nephew was directly afraid of growing up. He couldn't get mad at him if baking was what lifted his mood.

"Wha' are ye preparing, Donnie?" He mouthed, his cane hitting the tile floor being the only sound in the now silent kitchen, smiling lovingly at the aforementioned stunned expression as he paused next to him.

There were a few blinks until Donald pulled himself together, clearing his throat awkwardly.

"Oh, er…" he hesitated and Scrooge tried to avoid the nostalgia because when was the last time he saw the not-so-young-anymore, nervous duckling, "I was thinking of making a chocolate mousse. I know how much Duckworth likes them, and I had thought in surprising him when he returned from his day off."

His hands fiddled with the hem of his blue shirt, not seeing the knowing smile on his uncle's face at the gesture. In fact, he was grateful that he didn't question his purposes, keeping quiet as his uncle reached for the ladle with which he made the mixture, choosing to focus on the instructions in Grandma Duck's cookbook.

He glances at the bald spot on his wrist, a frown with sadness and anger mingling across his features. Not only because pronto he wouldn't be Uncle Scrooge's duckling anymore, but because he had witnessed the effects puberty had in his classmates, from changes physical up in the conversation topics, focusing primarily on the comments to both boys and girls alike and those indecent jokes that made him nervous and red.

Donald didn't feel ready for what was to come for him, and that terrified him.

"It lacks a pinch of sugar" he looks up, coming out of his trance and watching his uncle analyze the ingredients he has at his disposal, "how aboot Ah help ye?"

The preteen blinked meekly, thinking for a moment that he had misheard. He thought twice when he saw the apex of a smile on the Scottish duck's face.

"What about your paperwork? You said it was very important, and I didn't want to bother you… that's why I thought of coming here,” he confessed, pink color to his cheeks as if he had been caught committing a prank.

He mirths hugging his nephew by the shoulder, fighting against his willpower not to ruffle him because it would be equivalent to feathers floating in the air, feathers that would remind Donald of the reason for the stress that led him to bake behind his back.

"Th' upside tae being yoor own boss, lad, is tha' ye can get the job done anytime ye want." He smiled knowingly, winking at him and feeling satisfied when the younger duck snorted, chuckling as he handed the bowl to his uncle to add the missing sugar.

"Uncle Scrooge, you have no idea what bad advice you just gave me. From now on, all my mistakes will be your fault" he scoffs, as if he had no worries and though Scrooge knows that while he won't dispel Donald's worries about growing up, this was a start and Scrooge was more than willing to cooperate.

#el's fanfiction #duckverse #teamuncleweek2020 #day 2: baking/cooking #team uncle #donald duck #scrooge mcduck #family fluff #light angst #molting

[kumeko]

A/N: For the KH Trios zine! I got the pint-sized trio and wanted to play with  my favourite Disney movie (Lion King!) and homesickness.

…

…

…

…

Sora burped as he lay down on the soft, dewy grass. The long blades tickled the fur on his back and his burp sounded more like a wheezy roar than it ought to. Rubbing his belly with a paw, he sighed happily from the feeling he only got after overfilling himself on a good meal. It was a slightly uncomfortable feeling, like he wanted to burst through his pants, but luckily he wasn’t wearing any for once.

 “Sora!” Donald quacked as he slowly landed on the ground. Despite transforming into a different bird, he still sounded oddly duck-like, as though that was the one characteristic that magic couldn’t change. Then again, he was still a bird; maybe they could all make that sound.

 With a satisfied grunt, Goofy lay down on the grass next to him. It was a probably a mistake for a turtle to lie on his back. Sora would just have to roll him over later. “That was soooo good, gosh darn it.” He burped softly. “Oh grawsh, I’m stuffed.”

 “Goofy!” Indignant, Donald stomped a foot. Smaller than ever, it didn’t have the desired effect, the noise hardly louder than a cricket’s chirp. He flapped his wings, fuming. “That’s disgusting!”

 “How?” Goofy burped again and covered his mouth with a foot. Or well, he tried too anyways. As a turtle, his limbs were far too small for him make any of his usual movements. His slow reactions only made Donald angrier as time went by. “Oops, sorry.”

“You two…” Giving up, an irate Donald sank down in the grass too. He grimaced. “I can’t believe we ate that.”

 “I know!” Sora closed his eyes, remembering the nest of slimy, slithering insects that they’d just feasted on. Insects! He could just picture Riku’s and Kairi’s reaction to it. If he was still human, he’d probably have reacted the same too. But he wasn’t, so when he had stared at that treasure trove of bugs earlier, he salivated instead of running away. By now he was used to changing as he travelled through worlds, used to the new laws of every universe twisting and contorting his body to belong. Mermaid, Halloween monster, undead pirate—he’d experienced a lot of things while travelling yet this was the strangest so far: he was a lion.

 A lion cub, to be exact. As if to make it even odder, Goofy and Donald had transformed into a turtle and bird respectively. From one set of talking animals to another. If he tried to thinking about it too hard, he was going to get a headache. Rubbing his belly once more, he focused on dinner instead. “They tasted so much better than I thought, though.”

 “Yeah.” Goofy nodded his head in agreement, stretching his spindly legs above him. “They taste just like chicken.”

 Donald looked at them, giving them a flat stare. “Chicken?”

 “Oh.” Sora opened his eyes and looked back at Donald. Chicken. Duck. Strange bird. Maybe that hit a little too close to home. Grinning sheepishly, he tried again, “Fish?”

 “I don’t think it tastes like fish—” Goofy disagreed, cutting off only when Sora elbowed him in the side. “Ouch! Sora, that…” He trailed off as he noticed Donald’s death glare. Slow to catch up, he whispered, “Why’s he angry?”

 “Chicken?” Sora whispered back. “Think it’s a relative?”

 “I don’t remember any chickens,” Goofy muttered, scrunching up his face as he thought about it. “His uncle, his nephews…” Holding up his feet, he tried counting on them, but he could only get so far with only three toes per leg. “Nope, no chickens.”

 Well, that dashed that theory. Sora shrugged carelessly. “Maybe it’s a bird thing?”

 “I can hear you two, you know!” Donald growled angrily, and that was a new sound. Maybe that came with the new body. “I ought ta—” He groaned, rubbing his belly. “I’m too full to get angry.”

 “Like that’d stop you,” Sora countered, chuckling. Goofy started laughing too and after a moment’s hesitation, Donald joined in. Their laughs echoed in the cool night air. A nearby river gurgled cheerfully, as though wanting to take part too.

 Sora lazily scanned his surroundings once more. Around them was paradise, a series of hills covered in leafy trees and sprawling plains. The blazing heat of the day had died down by now. A soft breeze stirred through his fur. All sorts of wild animals roamed about, though maybe it was wrong to think of them as just animals. They might not wear clothes like Goofy or Donald, but they talked all the same. Travelling had really changed his perception on things and he’d be forever staring at books, listening to stray cats, wondering if there was a secret world hidden in a forgotten corner.

 Sora ran a tongue over his sharp canines. Even now he could feel the keyblade as he bit onto the hilt, swiping at his enemies with the flick of his head. “Guys, it’s really weird fighting like this.”

 “No kidding!” Donald scoffed and if he could, Sora knew he would have crossed his arms by now. “I can’t even use my staff properly.”

 “Aiming is hard,” Sora agreed, his tail twitching back and forth slowly as he remembered fighting heartless two times his size. And those were just the grunts—what’d happen when he faced something big?

 “Gwarsh, I don’t know.” Goofy rocked back and forth on his shell as he thought about it. “It’s not that bad.”

 “You just have to spin your whole body!” Donald grumpily shot back. “And your entire body is a shield!”

 “Well, if you put it that way…” Goofy hummed before nodding. “Yeah, I guess so. It’s pretty easy!”

 Donald let out an enraged squawk. “For you!”

 Sora tried not to laugh again. If only so that Donald’s rage wouldn’t be directed at him. He raised a scrawny paw to the sky. It didn’t quite feel the same as raising a hand, even if the limb was the same. Would there be another world like this? Where they changed bodies entirely? Part of him hoped so. It was just too much fun, finding entire worlds that made his head spin. There wasn’t much rhyme or reason to the rules of the worlds he’d been to and it’d take a greater mind than his to figure it out.

 Riku probably could have.

 Sora lowered his paw, feeling guilty. Like every world before this, Riku and the king were nowhere to be found. Part of him was thrumming, ready to abscond, to find that gate that would bring his friend home and stop all of this trouble. It’d probably be faster, quicker, to just keep bouncing from world to world until they found the one thing that could stop it all.

 There was only so much travelling one could do before they wanted to see the journey end.

 Looking up, Sora stared at the night sky. Countless stars glimmered in the sky above, looking nothing at all like the paopu fruit at home. Actually, now that he was looking, nothing above him looked the same. Sora studied the heavens, at the stars that numbered almost as much as the sand at home. There were no familiar constellations above him. There weren’t the real ones that Riku tried to teach him: Vega, Cyrus, Ursa. Nor were there any of the ones Kairi made up: the shark, the pinching crab, the raft. Staring up at the sky, Sora felt adrift, untethered, like he was on that raft Riku insisted they’d make and was floating through the sea alone.

 There was nothing he’d recognized up there. “Hey,” Sora asked, still searching for a star from home. “I’ve never seen this sky before.”

 “Of course you haven’t!” Donald snapped, snorting scornfully. “You’ve never been here before!”

 “No, I mean…” Sora wanted to rub his neck but his limbs didn’t work like that anymore. He settled for flicking his tail. “I don’t recognize any of the constellations.”

 “You know constellations, Sora?” Goofy asked curiously.

 “Kinda. Riku taught us.” His ears flattened as he remembered the long-ago nights on the island, when he and Kairi would lie on the sand exhausted. Riku, ever at work, would sit in between them, forcing them to stay awake while he pointed out constellation after constellation.

 Why Kairi had asked, worn out.

 In the sea, we have no landmarks but that. Riku had tapped them both on the arms, making sure they didn’t doze off. It’s so you can find your way home.

 All that hard work was for naught. Sora stared at the sky hopelessly. There wasn’t even a single star that reminded him of home. He could never find his way back.

 “Oh.” Goofy looked up now to, cocking his head left and right before gasping. “Gosh, I can’t recognize any of them either!”

 “What do you know about constellations?” Donald asked derisively, rolling his eyes. “You can’t even read a map.”

 “Hey, that’s—” Goofy cut himself off, unable to argue. “Max likes the stars.”

 “Max?” Sora asked, raising a brow. That name was new.

 “Max!” Brightening up considerably, Goofy grinned. “He’s my son. Gosh, I can’t really show you now, but I have some pictures in my pockets. You’ll love him, he’s the sweetest, bestest, greatest.”

 Sora stared at Goofy. If he had fingers, he’d have pinched himself. For now, he settled for, “You have a son?” His incredulous outburst was echoed by a secondary one behind him and Sora turned around to stare at Donald. Raising a brow, he asked, “Wait, you don’t know?”

 Donald flushed a beet red. “I…no, I do know it’s just…” He gestured at Goofy with a wing. “What part of that looks like he has a son?”

 “You didn’t meet him yet?” Goofy looked surprised. “But I brought him to the castle and everything.”

 “I know that! I just…” Donald stayed a bright red, stumbling over his words. “I just keep…you know, he’s your son. I forget that.”

 If Goofy was insulted, he didn’t let on. Instead, he clapped his feet eagerly. “When we get back, you guys should meet him!”

 “Yeah,” Sora agreed readily. “Definitely.”

 “Gwarsh, I wish I could show you his picture now…” Trailing off, Goofy stared at the stars. “Oh!” Excited, he started pointing his foot at the sky. “He looks like that!”

 Sora looked up at the stars, raising a brow. “Like stars?” Did Max have freckles or something?

 “Uhh, how do I—okay, if you look at that really bright red one, and then at the blue one next to it.” Goofy moved his foot, connecting the stars in the sky with imaginary lines. Sora squinted, trying to find the ones he mentioned. “The green one there, that other one, and that’s Max!”

 “I…” Sora frowned, biting his lip. Maybe if he cocked his head or squinted, he’d be able to see it. Rocking side to side, he tilted his head but the stars remained the same.

 “I don’t see it,” Donald declared. “I see a teacup.”

 “Really? Max doesn’t look like a teacup, I think,” Goofy replied uncertainly. “Maybe the witch cursed him too?”

 “No, dummy!” Donald chided him and pointed a wing above him. “The stars over here look like a teacup.”

 Sora really couldn’t see that either. However, if he connected the three stars in a row with a few other more scattered ones, he could almost make out a familiar shape. “I see a paopu fruit,” Sora announced.

 “What?” Goofy’s moved his head back and forth, trying to find the shapes. “Gwarsh, there are a lot more stars here than I thought. There’s one that’s shaped like a cake. Maybe we could have a tea party with your teacup!”

 “Stars don’t work like that,” Donald rebutted, but his usually harsh tone had softened considerably. “I see an ice-cream cone. My nephews love ice-cream.” There was a wistful edge to his voice, a rare softness that was uncharacteristic of him. “And Daisy’s bow’s there too.”

 “They must be with Scrooge then.” Sora pointed above him at the oval-ish set of stars he found. “That looks like one of his coins.” He could already hear the clink of gold, see the brim of the older duck’s top hat. The triplets must be hard at work with him.

 “And maybe Queen Minnie’s with Daisy,” Goofy suggested cheerfully, caught up in it now. “They could go to the tea-party.”

 “With Aerith and Tifa!” Sora agreed. He stretched out on the grass, craning his head back further to see even more stars. Even more familiar faces. “They could take a break and maybe Kairi could join them.”

 “And we could have ice-cream,” Donald chimed in, enraptured as he stared up at the sprawling tapestry above. “With Pluto and the King!”

 “And Riku,” Sora added, not wanting to leave either of his best friends out of this. It wasn’t hard to find a set of stars that looked like his best friends. As usual, Riku had the grumpiest expression and Kairi was smiling. “It’s going to be a big party.”

 “Yeah.” Goofy chuckled, beaming brightly as he turned to Sora. “You know, after we’ve found the King and Riku and stopped the heartless, we should throw a welcome back party. It’d be really fun!”

 “We could have it at the castle,” Donald suggested, sounding enthusiastic for once. “It’s really big and we have the fair outside anyways. Then we could invite everyone.”

 A party. Sora lit up. He could see Riku, Kairi, Tidus and everyone there. It had been ages since he’d seen them—what did they even look like anymore? What did he talk to them about before? By now, that was impossible to remember. They could spend the whole party catching up, until they were as close as they were before the heartless were released. “Yeah, that’d be great.”

 It was strange. His homesickness washed over him, pushed aside by promises of the future. Sora glanced at his two companions, unable to stop smiling. It was almost impossible to get sad with these two around. Even now, he couldn’t stop thinking about the party, food and balloons pushing away fears and worry.

 Not that there was anything to fear. With Donald and Goofy, he could do almost anything. They’d save the world and have the best party ever. Sora looked up at the stars again and this time, he didn’t feel as lost in the endless balls of light above him.

 It’s so you can find your way home.

 Riku had been right. Sora could always find his way home, no matter how unfamiliar the stars were. All he had to do was squint a little and his friends were there, watching him.

#kingdom hearts #sora #goofy #donald duck #riku #kairi #fanfic

[ilovemeafteryou6]

How fictional pedophilia perpetuates real-life rape culture

A 17-year-old boy falls in love with a man seven years older than him in Call Me By Your Name, the novel-turned-film by André Aciman. Despite the criticism the author faced for the age gap depicted in his book, the story ultimately attained critical acclaim. The movie, based on Aciman’s work, was nominated for four Academy Awards. The success of the film effectively halted the discussion about its controversial relationship; concerns about the age gap became mere footnotes in our cultural memory. Aciman, riding on new recognition and fame, continued to write and enjoy respect within the literary community.

Then, in an interview from June with the Spanish news outlet eCartelera, Aciman said the following:

“The other day, talking with a friend, I told him, ‘I see 12-year-old girls and I already find them attractive,’ and he told me, ‘Me too, but you can’t talk about it.’ And I replied, ‘No, never.’ Because if you talk about it, you’re almost guilty of it. I do not commit the act, but you have no idea of the scabrous and disgusting ideas that come to our minds.”

Aciman’s language rationalizes sexual attraction to young girls. When he mentions the ideas that come to “our minds,” he seems to refer not only to himself and his friend but to men broadly. Aciman knows he is not alone in this experience. He expresses no issue with the thoughts as long as actions do not follow them. Aciman refutes the idea that he is guilty of anything because he keeps his actions under control.

However, the normalization of pedophilia has real impacts for children, especially girls and women. Plenty of men do act on their thoughts, and comments like Aciman’s only serve to empower them. It’s a bigger issue than the author recognizes: a Cornell University study from 2015 found that 85% of American women experienced street harassment before they turned 17. The perpetrators apparently agree with Aciman that their attraction to underage girls is okay.

While Aciman complains about not being able to discuss his feelings publicly, he fails to realize the larger implications of his words. His platform gives him the ability to influence many people. His fans may internalize his assertion that these thoughts are perfectly normal and acceptable. Aciman’s readers may take his words as proof that their own pedophilic thoughts are not a problem, or survivors of sexual trauma might interpret his statement as evidence that they are somehow at fault for what happened to them. Readers who trust Aciman could be seriously affected by his reprehensible statement, whether they find it affirming or blaming. This perpetuates the predatory culture that subjects girls to sexual harassment before they are even done with puberty.

This interview was the first time Aciman said anything overtly pedophilic, but his recent comments call to mind the past controversy surrounding the romanticization of Elio and Oliver’s relationship in Call Me By Your Name. The uproar over the age gap between the two main characters did not stop the book and movie from achieving success, but perhaps the story raised red flags that our society ultimately ignored. The idea that a fictional story, however troublesome, is harmless, is similar to Aciman’s suggestion that pedophilic thoughts are permissible. Aciman portrays the relationship in Call Me By Your Name in a positive light, thus romanticizing age gaps. If the author had described the process of an older man grooming a teenager, the plot would not have been so problematic. His audience would have put the book down with the message that what the older character did was manipulative and wrong. Instead, fans justified and endorsed the romance just like Aciman. Overtly promoting deviant ideas affects our culture in very real and dangerous ways.

The sequel to Call Me By Your Name, Find Me, came out in October, four months after Aciman’s statement about his attraction to 12-year-old girls. Mainstream media organizations, including The New Yorker, The New York Times and The Guardian, reviewed the book. None mention the author’s comments to eCartelera.

Despite recent media attention on sexual assault and the #MeToo movement, the handling of Aciman’s comments proves that rape culture persists. Aciman lamented the fact that people cannot talk about their attraction to children because they will be considered “almost guilty,” yet he has not been sufficiently held accountable for what he said. His fears that our so-called “cancel culture” would derail his career did not come to fruition. Instead of reporting on this incident, the mainstream media continues to publicize his work, thereby helping him advance his career. Our culture does not always “cancel” people who do wrong—in fact, men often get away with serious infractions. Rape culture is the real problem.

The 2016 presidential election revealed just how prevalent rape culture remains. Just weeks before election day, a tape from Access Hollywood came out of Donald Trump saying, “…When you’re a star, they let you do it. You can do anything… grab them by the pussy.” His comments were met with swift backlash from both sides of the political spectrum, but in the end, his supporters were apparently undeterred. Trump admitted to using his status to sexually assault and intimidate women, and he became the most powerful person in the country.

Why did they so easily forgive Trump for the Access Hollywood tape? The future president explained it away, dismissing it as “locker room banter.” His justification echoes Aciman’s. He normalizes disrespect for women by suggesting that many men speak that way behind closed doors, similar to how Aciman alluded to the “scabrous and disgusting ideas that come to our minds.” The basis of both men’s arguments is the same: they’re just words!

Neither Trump nor Aciman were ever punished for their words. In fact, they were practically rewarded: Trump became president, and Aciman retained the respect of major media outlets. Predatory men complain that “cancel culture” unfairly harms their careers, but our culture is actually forgiving. When we dismiss comments like these as harmless words, we contribute to a culture that places powerful men’s careers above the safety of women and children.

SOURCE; www.buzzsawmag.org

#metoo #cancel call me by your name #oliver #elio #how is this legal #what the shit #call me by your name #what the fuuuuuuuuck #trump #lolita

[enbydemirainbowbigfoot]

Lil’ Bulb:

Lil’ Bulb was alive and unharmed- if a little worried about his father- and had managed to escape the lab before the lockdown was initiated. Now he couldn’t get back in, and Gyro couldn’t get out. He knew that Gyro wouldn’t call for help easily, but he also knew that, like it or not, Gyro needed it. He sprinted out of the Bin as fast as his little legs could carry him.

Duckburg was a large city, and even bigger to Lil’ Bulb- he was only a foot tall, after all- but he couldn’t let that stop him. He didn’t remember much about the Mad Ducktor, but what little memories remained from his predecessor Little Helper told him that the Ducktor was dangerous. He’d locked up Little Helper, impersonated Dr. Gearloose, and tried to kill Scrooge McDuck and his niece and nephew. He had to be stopped.

He narrowly avoided being stepped on by pedestrians who didn’t notice him, and nearly got run over three times before finally making it to the base of Killmotor Hill. Once he reached the top and stood before the manor, he was faced with the question of who to ask for help.

The obvious first choice was Scrooge McDuck himself, but as the big red plane was missing from the side yard, it was unlikely that he was home. That eliminated Della and possibly Donald, but what about the nephews?

He’d met them before- Huey, and Louie, and Dewey- although that last one was through a network of other Bulbs during the Shadow War. From what he knew about them, he decided that Dewey, as well as the pink one- Webby- would have gone with their uncle and mother, as well as Huey. That left Louie, and even that was uncertain.

Entering the mansion was easy, though, as was finding Louie. The green-clothed triplet was sitting alone in the living room, holding a can of something called Pep and gazing at the tv. Whatever he was watching involved two large roosters and a short, cushioned stool.

Lil’ Bulb climbed up on the arm of the couch, tugging at Louie’s sleeve to get his attention. When the duckling looked over, the robot waved.

“Oh,” Louie said, bored, “it’s you.”

Lil’ Bulb explained the situation. Louie didn’t seem fazed. “Eh, Huey told me already,” he said.

Lil’ Bulb tilted his head.

“Well, he said not to trust Dr. Gearloose,” elaborated the triplet, “something about a clone ray and a dark past and ehhhhh… I lost interest. I don’t trust anyone, though,” he added with a shrug. “Huey’s at some dumb Junior Woodchuck meeting, and Webby and Dewey both are exploring Rattaca with Uncle Scrooge and Mom and Uncle Donald-“

[ ? ]

“Eh, some kingdom of rats,” Louie said offhandedly. “Last time we were there they asked us to find their legendary Wheel of Gold. It was cheese. So I stayed behind today.”

[ >:( ]

Perhaps noticing Lil’ Bulb’s annoyance, the duckling sighed. “Right. Gotta deal with whatever dangerous, life-threatening mess Dr. Gearloose’s gotten himself into this time.” He paused. “Actually, you know, he owes me for that time one of his inventions tried to kill me- oh wait, that was you, wasn’t it?”

[ ... ] Lil’ Bulb’s bulb flared red, then he shook his head. I won’t get much help here, he thought, jumping down from the couch. Time to go find Huey.

The robot located Huey in the library- the meeting must have ended- poring over a thick book with a hummingbird he vaguely recognized from the Shadow War- Violet, was it?

[ !!! ] He communicated, humming loudly.

They looked up, and Huey waved. “Hey, Lil’ Bulb,” he said. “What are you doing here? Is everything okay with Dr. Gearloose?”

[ O^O ] He overexaggerated his panic, and it seemed to work.

Huey stood, alarmed. “Violet, come on,” he said. “Dr. Gearloose needs our help!!”

“Agreed,” she said, setting the book aside. “Perhaps you should contact Fenton as well.”

“Already on it,” the red-clothed duckling responded, pulling a cell phone from under his hat. “Fenton? Huey here; Dr. Gearloose is in trouble! Can you meet us at the Bin?”

The four of them entered the Bin, descending to the basement level with no problem, but then encountered a thick wall of steel covering the entrance to the lab. “Why is the laboratory under lockdown?” Violet asked.

Lil’ Bulb scowled, crossing his arms.

“Dr. Gearloose must have activated it to trap the Mad Ducktor inside,” Huey guessed.

Lil’ Bulb had explained what had happened before he’d escaped, including the explosion that divided Gyro and the Ducktor into two separate bodies.

Violet shook her head. “Unlikely,” she told him. “Unfortunate as it is, this ‘Mad Ducktor’ persona, if he is truly as bad as you say, most likely activated the lockdown to imprison Dr. Gearloose within.”

Lil’ Bulb, perched upon Fenton’s shoulder, nodded. [ >:( !!! ]

“Lil’ Bulb’s right,” Fenton added. “From what I saw of him, he’s mean, and cruel, and as smart as Dr. Gearloose. If they’re in there together, we need to figure out a way to get inside before-“

The steel slid upward with a hiss, revealing the door to the lab. The group stood in silence, then Violet tentatively reached out and pushed at the wood. It swung open easily, revealing the Mad Ducktor standing there with a bored look on his face.

“Finally,” he said, running his fingers through his now-purple hair. “I was wondering when you were going to show up.”

Part eight:

[oveliagirlhaditright]

Red to Brown

Summary: I wrote this for RiKai Week. And it was supposed to be a companion piece to my "Underwater", where in that Naminé--while visiting Verum Rex--is still hung-up on Sora, even though KHIII made it all SoKai time all the time, and she eventually realized she needed to get over him for that reason and did. This was supposed to be Riku in Shibuya still hung-up on Kairi and needing to get over that, which he does, but it ended up a little weird with some SoRiku in it, too (that he also gets over) and a little Riku/Shiki and Neku/Shiki. Also, beware of TWEWY spoilers if you haven't played/finished that game.

(And I am hoping on doing another piece that’s more wholly RiKai for the week, too.) "Riku, why do you think Sora would be here?" Shiki asked kindly but uncertainly, as she cocked her head to the side and met his gaze with a concerned one of her own from behind her glasses. Right now, Riku, Neku, and her were at some burger place called "Sunshine", as Shiki and Neku tried to give him the lowdown. When Riku had first come to Shibuya, Shiki had been the first person he’d seen—that he thought was kind of fitting, because he’d always liked her—and while he hadn’t recognized her at first (because she somehow moreso resembled Xion than Kairi now), he’d heard her talking and recognized her voice and seen her lugging around her Mr. Mew. And then… then the things that Riku hadn’t allowed himself to feel at the Keyblade War hit him at full force, and he’d dropped himself at Shiki’s feet and begged her to help him get into the Game to find Sora. Then, Shiki had turned towards her orange-haired friend beside her in an embarrassed and panicked way—as she’d moved her hands this way and that—and had asked him, “What should we do, Neku?” And Neku—moving a strand of hair from out of his eyes—had just muttered, “Sunshine. Now,” and had helped Shiki get Riku to his feet. And as soon as Shiki had touched Riku (perhaps he was touch starved and had needed that comfort there?), Riku was very much himself again. And was that way right now, as they discussed things over food. "A wizard- a wizard that I know said he would be here," Riku answered, as he tried something called "French fries" for the first time in his life; and they were actually so good, he thought he might have died and gone to heaven. If only he had... it would certainly make his job of finding Sora easier that way. "And I guess I just had faith in that, that's all." "Riku," Neku whispered darkly, as he hid his eyes beneath his bangs and seemed to be wanting to say even more than he was. “You know that you have to be dead to play the Reapers' Game, right? —err, for the most part—so are you saying that-" "...Yeah. Sora's dead. And you're probably not going to believe any of this... but we were in a war and we alldied. But K-K... Kairi—Sora's girlfriend, that is—kept him tethered to life and Sora then... somehow rewrote time to bring us all back. But the cost for that was his own life. And he would've died from what he already did there, eventually… but our number one enemy had to put the final nail in the coffin by killing Kairi and making Sora use the power one more time to rescue her. Once he brought her back to our Islands... he vanished." Shiki was bawling her eyes out at this news. Tears streamed down her eyes, as she covered her mouth and made a choking. And Neku just looked like he wanted to hit something—as he muttered something about this “being like that time again”—which Riku couldn't blame him for. Once he'd made sure that Kairi was okay after losing Sora, he had punched every wall that he could find. "That's not- that's not fair!" Shiki exclaimed, standing up and throwing her hands onto the table—apparently she didn't mind making a scene at all anymore if it was for Sora’s sake, and that made Riku like her all the more... but was Riku imagining it, or had Joshua just come into the restaurant for a second and pressed one button on his phone before leaving? —"I mean, life isn't fair. Those of us who have played the Reapers' Game know that most of all. Neku didn't deserve to be murdered twice... Beat’s family didn’t need to insult him, making him then storm out and Rhyme have to come follow him just as a car was careening towards her... that though Beat tried to stop, couldn't do so and it killed them both. Joshua shouldn’t have had the RG treat him so badly, that he didn't want to be a part of it anymore. And my own really big misunderstanding with Eri was dumb, and it led to me going outside without my wits about me and falling and getting a concussion and waking up in the UG. And Sora was a really sweet guy who helped us all and deserved so much better than we got. So what can we do for you guys, Riku? Riku swallowed against a lump in his throat with everything that Shiki had just told him. He’d assumed his friends who had played the Reapers’ Game lives must have been bad, if they’d died so young to be in it to begin with. But he hadn’t thought they were like this. It reminded Riku of before his adventures had started, when he had thought that the worst thing in his own life that could surely hit him was an early death. And while since then, Riku, Sora, Kairi, the King, Naminé, Donald, Goofy, Roxas, Xion, Axel, Terra, Aqua, and Ventus had definitely gone through even weirder horrible things than all of this, it didn’t lessen any of the sympathy that Riku felt for Shiki and her friends here. Instead, he only felt empathy for them. “I have… a strange request,” Riku said to Shiki and Neku, after he’d gone over to Shiki and run a soothing hand down her back and helped her back into her seat—Neku’s eyebrows had risen into his hairline as Riku did this, but he didn’t care. Shiki had seemed like she’d been having a panic attack for Sora’s sake and Riku wanted to help her—“Master Yen Sid was wrong before, but maybe he’ll be right about this one thing: he said that there are alternate versions of Shibuya—maybe of all the worlds—that at least one person here can get to? Do you think you can find this person and get them to take me to one? If Sora isn’t in this Shibuya, maybe he’s in one of the other ones.” Neku and Shiki shared a look here and soon began talking to each other in hushed whispers. Riku tried hard not to eavesdrop on them, since that was rude, and instead took quite a few swigs of the coke that he’d gotten with his burger and fries… but he thought he heard them debating which person they should ask: Joshua or a “Mr. H.” Shiki was leaning towards Joshua, since Riku at least knew him. But Neku said something that Riku couldn’t decipher, and then something about how Josh apparently could interdimensional leap, but couldn’t exactly control it so it would probably be best if they asked Mr. H. “Except that no one knows where Mr. H. is right now, Neku. He became a fallen angel after all he did for us in the First Game. You know that, of course. But he may have earned his title again after he brought Shibuya back from being Erased. So he may be contending with the Angels right now… or he may be in the UG, or somewhere in RG Shibuya. Since we at least know Joshua’s in the UG in the Room of Reckoning, and was even just here and changed our Frequencies so we’re in the UG now, I feel like I should go look for him there and go get his advice. So I’m going to do that. The less time we waste right now—when time if of the essence—the better!” And not allowing another word in edgewise from either of the boys, Shiki took off to do just that. And Riku couldn’t help smirking as she did so, as this attitude of hers reminded him quite a bit of Kairi. As Shiki went, Neku watched Shiki’s retreating form anxiously—and Riku guessed it maybe had something to do with Joshua, since he himself knew how pushy and dangerous feeling that boy seemed to be with all of his power. But Neku seemed to think this even moreso than Riku did, if the way he’d reacted to Joshua’s name being said a few times today was any indication—but finally seeming to decide that she was going to be okay, Neku leaned back into his seat and mumbled, “Fine. If she’s right and the Josh thing works out, that’s great. And I guess it’s better than me going to see him. I’m still pissed off that he didn’t seem to care at all when Coco killed me recently. But I don’t want to talk about him… Riku, you tell me about this Kairi girl and why you like her.” To say Riku was taken aback by this sudden line of questioning would have been a massive understatement. And he was shocked that Neku was bringing it up at all, since he didn’t seem to be the type who liked to pry into other people’s lives or have them look too deeply into his. But then again, Riku saw a psychology book of Neku’s opened up on their table—was he going to school for that now?—so maybe that was the answer to why the boy was now doing something that Riku would have assumed was out of character for him. “I’ll- I’ll tell you!” Riku stammered hastily—and surprisingly loudly—before he could take it back. “But only because I feel like my not talking about Kairi, and lying about some things, is keeping me from being able to find Sora. “Where do I even start? Kairi came to our world from another one—and in that way, she was the first clue to Sora and I that there was something bigger and greater out there—so of course I had to like her for that: this girl who wasn’t just the promise of an adventure, but perhaps the embodiment of it. And over time—as I grew closer and closer to her and her kind heart—my feelings grew, so much so that I really wanted to tell her I liked her when she was fourteen and I was fifteen… but didn’t, because I knew if given the choice, she and Sora would probably be together. “So jealousy grew in my heart, and I started doing bad things. Like, world ending kind of things and I didn’t even care. And because of my actions—literally throwing our Island home away, so we could get onto seeing other worlds already—Kairi lost her heart, and I was desperate to get it back, so I became even more of a monster. I would’ve killed this puppet that had been animated if I could give its heart to Kairi… I sided with an evil fairy who I knew wanted to take over the worlds, just because she promised she’d help me with Kairi. And I even tried to kill Sora as he fought me… “I fell into a trap where I became possessed, because of my stupidity and lust for power and desire to hear how great I was—and oddly enough, it was only then that I started coming back into myself—Kairi awoke because of a self-sacrificing move of Sora’s. And the man who had taken me over, Xehanort, tried to hurt her and I was able to fight him back just long enough that she could run away… and then I started fighting back in general. “Alongside Sora, I did the first really good thing on my journey—I locked myself, because I had to for it to work, behind the Door to Darkness, that would have continued spilling more evil out into the world if it had remained open and I was resigned to my fate there… but then I got a second chance to fight the darkness, and be who I was again, by taking on a place called ‘Castle Oblivion.’ And there, I was ashamed of the things I had done to Sora and Kairi. And I did hate my actions towards Kairi, too, because if I had succeeded and revived her… she would’ve hated the things I did to accomplish it. “So while I desperately wanted to see my friends again and make amends… for about a year, I told myself I had no right to that… even if a guise of Kairi is who told me I could use the light and darkness back-to-back… and even if I did at least try and keep an eye on her for a while, and ran into her again while she cried and begged me to stay—forgiving me for all I’d done and breaking me of my desire to leave ever again. “I know… I know she’d been a little afraid of me when I started to change, right before I destroyed our Islands, and who could blame her? So that massive leap of faith she made for me when she came back into my life meant so much… maybe- maybe that’s why when I passed out in the Castle That Never Was, it was with her name on my lips. “And then when we got home from the Castle That Never Was, we had some months together like we used to, and it was great… I haven’t seen her as much lately, because I’ve been busy on adventures with Sora and had him on my mind some lately—but even then, Kairi isn’t too far behind. My Data-self wanted to make sure to tell Data Sora about hurt that Kairi’s experienced, and when I met someone who had never once had anyone look past their appearance to see who they were, I thought of how lucky I was that Kairi had done that for me. And… my greatest failure is that in this Keyblade War, I let other responsibilities go to my head and I didn’t protect her—instead leaving her with a novice—which then led to everything else. And maybe- maybe I’m thinking if I bring Kairi’s Sora back to her, she might finally give me a chance.”” Neku was quiet for a long moment, as he let all of this sink in—and Riku was glad that he hadn’t interrupted him with too many questions, like “What’s a Data self?”, because some of this stuff was hard to explain, okay?—but finally, after removing earbuds from his ears and giving Riku his full and undivided attention, Neku spoke, “What I think is this, Riku: While I don’t want to tell you to give up on the romance you feel for this girl who seems to make your life worth it—believe me, I get it—and I’m only taking your word on the Sora and Kairi relationship here… Maybe you’re wrong and being too self-conscious and Sora and Kairi really aren’t together, and Kairi likes you. I don’t know… “The way you just talked about Kairi… I think you’re mostly over her, even if don’t realize it. The more you got into your story… the less you had to tell about her, and it even seems you’re really more about Sora now. I’m not saying you still don’t love her as a friend or sister—and I know how hard it is to let go of a safety crutch—but I think if you do… and let yourself believe that you’re not so selfish anymore, as to be looking for Sora just to impress Kairi—or even just to have Sora for yourself--you’ll find him.” And deep down, Neku was right… and Riku knew that he was, and had perhaps even sensed so for a long time. Because just as Neku got done telling him all of this, a man with short brown hair, glasses, a goatee, and a cup of beans in his hand appeared out of the ether and told Riku that while Sora wasn’t in RG or UG Shibuya, he was in High Plane Shibuya and could take him there.

[mighty-ant]

Mortis Memoriam

A cursed artifact erases Donald’s memory. And keeps erasing it. 

The first thing he sees is white.

White walls, white sheets, and a white light above his head. It hurts his eyes to look at it, even when he blinks.

His first sensation is pain.

He looks down from the light to a sea of unfamiliar faces clustered around his bed. He can’t seem to their focus on their features; his gaze slides past each one of them, unable to linger with nothing anchoring him.

A cacophonous wave follows, words he only half understands.

“Unc—”

“—nald, how do you fe—”

“—right, lad?”

“D—nald!”

White hot agony slices through his head. He doesn’t know if he makes a sound, but the chaos around him increases tenfold. Something warm dribbles from his nose, trailing down his beak.

“Wh—”

“—he’s bleedi—”

“Donald!”

The pain and the white and the noise fade to black, and he’s relieved.

He doesn’t know who Donald is.

In the space between two breaths, he forgets having heard the name entirely.

The next time he wakes up, his vision remains dark. An expanse of stars stretches out above his head, hovering close but just out of reach. The stars are a child’s imagining, clumsily cut angles in yellow construction paper strewn across a blue velvet sky. He finds he doesn’t mind the sight of them.

There are edges to his vista, where if only he had the capacity he could draw it back like a curtain and reveal whatever hides behind the stars. Instead, those few stars continue to shine dully above his head, his silent companions.

There is a voice somewhere nearby, closer to him than the stars. The words mean little to him, but it’s more interesting that just staring at the expanse over his head.

“The artifact—repetitive memory loss—sense of self and—impossible to make new—” The first voice is cold, like the bright white he first woke to. He almost prefers his stars. But then he hears the second voice.

“—take him home—help him?” The second voice bleeds, and it hurts to listen to. Where the first voice was lacking, the second is almost too much. It isn’t loud, but it’s jagged and worn, and their words burr together strangely. He doesn’t know why he finds it so comforting.

He catches a brief glimpse of a red coat, standing out like a beacon against a white room. The stars swallow the sight back up, but not before he feels the phantom sensation of a hand on his shoulder.

“—we’re going home, D—”

The stars shine a little brighter.

Sensation comes and goes, awareness blinking in and out like the stars over his head.

He isn’t aware of being moved, but the next time his consciousness expands beyond his stars, he is in a different room. The walls are dark. He sees the tall bed posts, and his feet under the blankets.

There’s a new voice, sitting somewhere to his right. He can see their red shirt, and little else. They’re reading aloud from a book, judging by the occasional sound of a flipping page. It’s a story about a dragon and a golden fleece, and he listens as well as he is able before the expanse of stars descends over him over more.

In his mind, the voice in red becomes the boy in red. When the stars pull back enough to see, to hear, the boy is often there. He usually tells stories, or reads aloud from books that make little sense. His voice sounds so young, and it shakes when he speaks for too long.

Most times, the boy in red is joined by blue and green.

The visits are louder, but he finds he doesn’t mind. He has trouble deciphering what blue says, but the energy and rapid pace is a comfort. Green is slower, speaks less than the other two, but hugs him at the end of every visit, without fail.

The sea of stars over his head gains definition, less a child’s proxy. Instead, the stars glimmer like holes cut in black canvas, masking some far away brilliance.

The boys continue to visit, and his awareness expands, inch by inch.

He learns to recognize the saltiness of broth, the warmth of sunlight on his face. Sometimes he catches a glimpse of a hand holding a spoon, or adjusting his blankets. He sees a top hat on the nightstand for a few moments.

Sometimes, when the curtain of stars pulls back enough for him to see, the room is dark. On these occasions, his eyes can never stay open for long, but his mind remains awake. Some part of him knows that if he were to turn his head, he would see real stars on the other side of the window.

He feels a hand holding his on top of the blankets. While his hand remains limp, the other shakes.

The second voice is there, the one that bleeds pain and comfort in a red coat. He remembers the coat, just as he remembers the voice. He tries harder to hear the words, to understand when it speaks.

The second voice tells stories too. Stories about a daring little girl and a brave little boy that don’t alway get along. About how one day they got lost in a maze, and their uncle was so afraid he’d never see them again.

The voice tells him about a mother and a sailor, adrift in faraway seas.

When the darkness is especially pronounced, and he cannot open his eyes at all, the second voice won’t stop apologizing. Begging forgiveness for a transgression that he does not understand.

The voice trembles as it whispers into darkness, always holding his hand.

“—over again, like Dell—couldn’t stop this, couldn’t save you eith—sorry.”

He doesn’t like it when the voice apologizes. It’s not your fault, he isn’t able to say. I forgive you, for what he doesn’t know.

“Come back to us, lad,” the voice says.

I’m right here, he thinks, but cannot say.

He receives more visitors, but he can’t say for how long. His personal expanse of stars sometimes seems frail as a gossamer veil, and he can understand every word, see everything but his visitors’ faces.

Pink joins the red, blue, and green; he can see the bow in her hair. She’s hesitant at first, quiet, but her presence becomes as familiar as the boys’. Her stories are ordinarily too long and rambling for him to understand, and it’s a point of pride when he manages to follow a tale about a lucky dime.

Other times, the curtain of stars is more of a brick wall, enclosing and suffocating. He can’t see anything other than the stars and the inky blackness that surrounds them, blazing so brightly in his mind that they burn away all memory of the voices, of red, blue, green, and pink.

Some unknowable amount of time later, the vise always eases. Memory trickles back in, like water from a blocked stream.

The boy in red reading him a story about windmills and knights, touching the back of his hand with light, hesitant fingers. Blue insisting that he can’t leave them too. Green’s hitching sob when he hugs him.

The second voice, apologies tripping off his tongue.

There are other voices, faceless bodies that come and go seemingly at random. He remembers them with varying levels of clarity.

A voice, heavy with self-importance, made thin by guilt and apology. “I’m sorry, Mr. Mc—have to let it run its course.”

Another voice, suave and coy, wrapped up in a polished green suit. His words belie his appearance, turning strained. A hand grips his arm, squeezing gently.

“We need you back, Double D—if you can hear me, we need you ba—”

The only trouble is that he hasn’t gone anywhere. He’s right here, just out of reach. And no matter how much he strains, he can’t touch that starry expanse.

His stars shine like the real thing now, numbering in the hundreds. He’s certain that more appear every day, glinting sympathetically. It’s so close now, nearly pressing against his eyelids. If he could just reach out, and pull it aside, he could tell the voices to stop sounding so sad.

He comes back to himself without warning. It’s a little unremarkable, actually.

He forgot what his body felt like; the ache of his bad knee, the creak of his bad back. He curls his hands into fists with more effort than the motion should require. His body feel heavy, exhaustion already pawing at the back of his mind.

The stars overhead settle, glimmering faintly and finally, finally, close enough to touch. With one hand, he grips the curtain of stars and tears down.

Donald opens his eyes.

He’s in his old bedroom in the mansion, from when he and Della had outgrown sharing their tower room. He only recognizes it because almost nothing has changed, besides being clean for once. His Geezer poster is still up, as is his collection of photographs over by the desk; he can make out himself and Della at Niagara Falls, him, José and Panchito at their graduation.

The window is open, letting in sunlight and a sweet smelling breeze.

Scrooge is sitting beside his bed, narrating a heavily embellished account of the time the three of them discovered El Dorado. He smiling, eyes crinkling at the corners. He hasn’t noticed Donald’s gaze on him.

“—and you were the one to discover it was actually the missing half of the map! Ach, not even Della or I had noticed, too wrapped up in what the guide had told us. I was so proud of you, lad! Centuries of explorers have searched for what you discovered by chance.”

“You forgot the part where I threw it onto the fire first.” Due to disuse, Donald’s voice is even rougher than usual. Scrooge stiffens, the knuckles in his fists standing out. “Della couldn’t stop laughing, and you complained about the burn hole for the rest of the week.”

Scrooge turns to look at Donald with excruciating slowness, expression wretched. He doesn’t seem to be breathing.

“Donald?” he whispers.

He manages a weary smile. “Hey, Uncle Scrooge.”

Scrooge stands up suddenly, his hands trembling at his sides. Moving almost too quick to follow, he wraps his arms around Donald’s shoulders, lifting him off the pillows.

His throat tightens and itches with tears, as his weak grip scrabbles for purchase on the back of Scrooge’s coat.

Scrooge is shaking, his embrace almost painfully tight. “You’re back,” he murmurs, voice thick with disbelief. “Sweet merciful heavens, you’re back.”

“I was never gone,” Donald promises, blinking as the tears welling up in his eyes trail down his cheeks.

#ant writes #donald duck #scrooge mcduck #memory loss

[axel-fics]

What about Axel bringing his s/o to see the festival and floating lanterns in Corona?

I’m literally gasping because THIS IS SO CUTE WHY DIDN’T I THINK OF THIS SOONER!? Here you go anon :D hope you like it!

Axel’s Day Off 

“Okay, that’s quite enough training for today.” Merlin closed his large book of spells with a loud thump. “You two are making excellent progress! I think the you both deserve the day off tomorrow to rest. I will update Master Yensid over tea this evening on your progress. Enjoy your time off!” 

Kairi looked up at Axel and smiled. “A whole day off! Any ideas on what you wanna do?”

Axel was lost in his thoughts and didn’t hear Kairi’s question. All he could think about was spending time with you. It’s been weeks since he’s seen you; before he left with Kairi for training, the last time you were both in the same room was at Master Yensid’s tower after Sora and Riku’s Mark of Mastery exam. Although you weren’t officially together (yet), there was definitely something unspoken between the two of you. Catching one staring at the other here and there, light touches in passing, always making each other shy away and blush. He felt something deep for you, and decided now was the time to finally show it. 

“Axel? Are you listening to me?” Kairi asked. 

“Huh? Oh, sorry. What were you saying?”

“I asked how you plan on spending your day off tomorrow, silly. Are you okay?”

“I’m fine. I just…. I think I wanna spend it with [Y/N]. Get to know her some more, ya know?”

“Aww, Axel! I’m sure she’d love to spend some time with you, too!” Kairi squealed.

And that’s when he realized the problem: how was he going to find you?? You were off venturing with Sora, no doubt, and he had no clue where you were. His shoulders dropped in defeat. “Yeah, but how am I going to find her? Who know’s where she is, especially with Sora leading the way…”

Kairi rolled her eyes and pulled her phone out of her pockets. She smiled as she dialed Sora’s number while Axel looked over her shoulders. 

“Where did you get that??” 

“Chip and Dale made them for all of us! It came with my new outfit. You’d have yours too if you opened your suitcase from Master Yensid,” she smirked. 

Axel scoffed and rolled his eyes. “Wise-ass,” he muttered. 

“I heard that. I’m trying to help you out, you know,” Kairi stuck her tongue out. Her phone stopped ringing and a live video of Sora displayed on the screen. “Hey, Sora! How’s it going??”

“Kairi! I’m so happy to see you! You’ll never guess what happened! We just came back from a world where we were turned into toys! We were all shrunk down really small, and even got to explore around a huge toy store! It was so cool!” Sora was practically yelling into the phone because he was so excited. Kairi shook her head and smiled, letting him ramble on about other worlds that he’s visited since they last saw each other. 

“Sora, that all sounds great! But Axel here actually needs to talk to you. It’s very important,” she waved at Axel and shoved the phone in his face. “Talk!”

Axel stared at the phone and noticed you in the background, sitting with a girl with long blonde hair near a lake. He heard you laugh, and it made his heart skip a beat, something he thought he’d never feel again once he became a Nobody. Snapping out of his thoughts, he took the phone from Kairi and focused back on Sora. 

“So uh… where exactly are you guys now?”

“The Kingdom of Corona! We landed a little while ago, probably’ll set up camp for the night before we continue in the morning. Our friend Rapunzel needs to get to the Kingdom by tomorrow night to see the lantern festival. Why, what’s up?”

A lightbulb went off in Axel’s mind. “Lantern festival, huh? What’s that all about?”

“Apparently they do it every year in hopes that the Kingdom’s lost Princess makes her way home. Rapunzel says thousands of them are released into the night sky and you can see them from miles away! But it’s also Rapunzel’s birthday tomorrow, and she wants to see them up close. We’re helping her get there safely.” 

“Hey, you guys think you can stick around the campsite a little late tomorrow morning? I’m thinking about coming out to you guys…” Axel trailed off as he looked passed Sora to look at you again. 

“Oh, really? Uh, sure! We can hang out until you guys come. Wait, Kairi’s coming too, right?” Sora brought the phone closer to his face, cutting off Axel’s view of you. 

“Of course I’m coming, Sora! I’m not going to let Axel have all the fun on our day off,” Kairi poked her head back into the camera’s view. 

“Awesome, we’ll see you guys tomorrow!” Sora smiled widely and hung up before Axel could even ask where their campsite was. 

“Guess we’ll have an early start tomorrow…” he sighed. 

~*~

Thanks to Merlin’s magic, Axel and Kairi were transported to the Kingdom of Corona early that next morning. They arrived in a secluded area with a tall, narrow tower next to a stream. Once they located a hidden cave that led to the main part of the forest, the two of them began on their journey to locate you and Sora. It was a beautiful summer morning: the sun already beaming down strong, the soft grass warm to the touch, a slight cool breeze picking up dandelions. This world was simply beautiful. 

“This place is amazing,” Kairi gasped.

Axel hummed in agreement. “We should still be on our guard. There could be Heartless around here.”

“Right,” Kairi nodded. The two of them continued to walk for bit longer until they reached a clearing. As if on cue, a few Heartless formed and the two wielders-in-training summoned their Keyblades. Standing back to back, Axel and Kairi readied themselves and launched their attacks, keeping in mind everything they’ve learned so far from Merlin. After a few combo attacks, the Heartless were cleared out. For now. 

“Hey, look up ahead!” Kairi pointed to a grassy area next to a few hills with some logs and a small fire pit in the center. Axel could see a few forms laying on the ground, immediately recognizing you amongst them. Figures, Heartless are roaming around and you and Sora would be sound asleep. Kairi ran up ahead stood over Sora with her arms on her hips. “Sora! Always such a lazy bum, wake up!” Sora didn’t budge one bit, letting out a rather loud snore. Axel rolled his eyes and walked over to where you were sleeping. Kneeling down beside you, he pushed a strand of your [h/c] hair away from your face and smiled. You looked so peaceful; he wished he could curl up and lay next to you, but for once he didn’t want to waste his one day off taking naps. 

“[Y/N]? Hey, wake up,” he whispered. You shifted slightly and grumbled before slowly opening an eye. You thought you were seeing an illusion, or even possibly still dreaming. Axel looked down at you with a soft smile. The sun made his red hair appear more fiery than ever, and he placed a hand on your shoulder. Nope, definitely not dreaming. 

“Axel?? How?? What are you doing here?”

“Morning, sleepy head. I guess Sora didn’t mention that Kairi and I were coming to visit you guys?”

“No! Ugh, Sora, we gotta do something about that memory of yours!” You threw a nearby mushroom at Sora’s head. He jolted up from his deep slumber, almost bumping heads with Kairi. 

“What the — Kairi! You’re here!” He practically attacked Kairi with a gigantic bear hug that nearly knocked the two of them over. 

“Hey, in case you guys were wondering, there are others here who would like to wake up at a normal time of the morning,” a voice groaned. You all looked towards the rest of the group as they slowly started to wake up. Donald didn’t look too thrilled, per usual, and Goofy just let out a big yawn and waved at Axel and Kairi. 

“Sorry, Flynn! Oh, you guys! This is Flynn Rider and Rapunzel. [Y/n], Donald, Goofy and I are helping them get to the Kingdom for the Lantern festival today.”

Rapunzel hesitantly waived at the new guests, while Flynn shot a thumbs up in the air before flopping back down to catch a few more snoozes. You and Axel turned at the same time to look at each other, immediately shying away when your eyes connected. A blush crept up on your face and you did your best to hide it behind your hair, but Axel gently pushed the same strand out of the way and behind your ear. 

“Well, let’s get going then! I want to make sure we get there for the start of the festival,” Rapunzel jumped up from her spot and started running away from the campsite, too excited to start the day. “Flynn, hurry up!”

“Is it too much to ask to sleep a little longer…?”

~*~

Several hours later after a number of Heartless and Nobodies vanquished, you finally arrived at the Kingdom’s main village. The entire place was streamed with purple flags with golden suns painted on them, villagers lined the market place to sell their best food and souvenirs for the festival. Excited chatter was amongst all of them, hoping that this year would finally be the year the lost Princess would return home after being missing for almost two decades.

“Wow, look at this place!” Kairi exclaimed. She grabbed Sora’s hand and dragged him to the center of the town circle where people started to gather with flowers. 

“Ready?” You looked up at Axel and smiled, holding your hand out. He stared longer than he probably should have, which made you grow more nervous, but he finally smiled back and took your hand. You led the way to the town circle where music began playing loudly and made your way through the crowd. Rapunzel was already dancing in circles and grabbed Sora and Kairi’s hands to join her. Flynn stood next to the two of you, crossing his arms and admiring Rapunzel, until she dragged him into the dancing crowd as well. Donald and Goofy jumped in, accidentally tripping up a few people along the way, leaving just you and Axel along the sidelines. 

Kairi ran over to you and Axel, pulling you towards the crowd. “C’mon you guys!” She pulled your arm so hard you thought it popped out of its socket for a second! You looked back at Axel and smiled, holding out your other hand for him to join, but you were interrupted by a villager who started to twirl you around. 

Axel shook his head and laughed. “I’m enjoying the show! Have fun!” He winked as your eyes widened, as if saying “Are you kidding, help me!” Axel’s attention turned to a man selling lanterns from across the circle. Making his way over, he purchased two lanterns and stuffed them in his pocket before returning to his spot in the crowd. Moments later, someone in the crowd shouted that it was time to go to the boats. 

Out of breath from dancing, you walked back to where Axel was standing. The sun was starting to set and a light breeze swept through the evening air as people started to make their way down to the shores. The group briefly rejoined at the center of the dancing circle before Rapunzel and Flynn took off on their own, followed by Kairi and Sora. Axel looked down at you and placed his hand on your shoulder. “Come with me this way.”

You nodded and took Axel’s hand, this time him leading you, to one of the long wooden piers by the water. It was just the two of you walking slowly down the wooden planks until you reached the far end and sat down at the edge, letting your legs dangle off the sides of the pier. A few moments of silence ticked by, and then finally a single lantern started floating above the castle in the distance. Dozens slowly followed its path, and before you knew it, the entire sky was full of lanterns! You gazed up in awe at how beautiful it was, not noticing that Axel had taken out two lanterns of your own.

Clearing his throat, Axel held up a lantern in each hand and passed one to you. Your eyes beamed at him as you took yours. “Axel, thank you!” A small flame illuminated from Axel’s fingertip, carefully lighting the bottom of each lantern. The two of you raised them up above your heads before releasing them into the night sky to join the rest of the other lanterns floating above you.

Axel couldn’t help but stare at you again; the way the wind gently blew your hair around, how your eyes sparkled while looking up at the lanterns, your face glowing from the golden lights surrounding the both of you. You were the most beautiful woman he’s ever seen, and tonight he was determined to show it to you. He lightly tucked the same stubborn strand of hair that kept falling in front of your face behind your ear before tilting your chin towards him. 

“[Y/N], I just can’t keep quiet about this anymore. I like you… I like you a lot. I know we’ve had our differences in the past. Hell, we’ve even fought each other more times than I’d like to remember. But things are different now, and if you’d give me the chance, I’d really like to show you.” Axel stumbled on his words a few times; you could tell he was pretty nervous, and you decided that a flustered Axel is a very cute Axel. 

You giggled and cupped his cheek with your palm, smiling back at him. “Axel, I really like you too. I have for a while. Honestly, what happened in the past doesn’t matter to me anymore. I just want to get to know the real you.” 

Axel leaned into your hand, placing his own on top and looked into your bright [e/c] eyes. He started to bring his face closer to yours until your lips were just barely touching, and closed the distance between you. It was a soft kiss at first, slowly evolving into a deeper one as he ran his fingers through your hair and lightly grabbed on. For the first time in what seemed like a century, Axel remembered what love felt like. And he’d be damned if he were to ever let that, or you, slip away again. 

#axel x reader #kh axel #kh lea #axel/lea #lea #lea x reader #Axel #fluff #kingdom hearts #kingdom hearts 3

[things-we-used-tc-share]

Ink On My Skin

Soulmate!AU: Where the first words you ever hear of your soulmate appears on your body, Virgil has three different phrases in three colors, cyan, red and dark blue. Turns out, he misheard at least one of them. 

--

He traces three sentences on his arm with a gentle smile, looking around his new dorm room as a breath escaped his lungs. In neat calligraphy in red lettering are the words “I think I took a wrong turn,” It made him laugh, it sounded like his soulmate, whoever they were, was a little directionally challenged and that was something he could relate too. The second, in barely legible handwriting in a bright cyan is “Would you like one?” It was mysterious, and he had so many times come close to thinking he’d found his soulmate, one of them, only to find out they weren’t them, it was a common phrase heard at market stalls, arts events, and Virgil was sure that if his actual soulmate said it too him, he may actually brush it off.

The last one, however, was the one he was most excited about at this moment in time, written in almost printer-perfect handwriting in dark blue are the words “I suppose I’m your new roommate,” His legs kick just a little as he bites down on his lip to keep his excitement contained. People would still be moving into the rooms around him for the next couple of days yet, he had five roommates in total and one of them would be one of his soulmates. 

--

There’s a knock at his door at 5pm on Wednesday, two days after he moved in. He opens it to reveal a tall, slender young man with porcelain skin dotted with freckles. The man pushes his glasses up the bridge of his nose, dark brown curls falling gently into dark brown eyes; he gives a gentle smile and holds out his hands “I suppose I’m your new roommate,” Virgil’s entire breath runs out of his lungs in two seconds. “The other’s are trying to play a video game and although I am certainly not interested and find it a drain on precious time, I wondered if you would like to join their...shenanigans?”

The purple haired man smiles, eyes lighting up “My name’s Virgil,” He says softly, his heart pounding in his chest as the other man’s eyebrows raise suddenly, hand going to his forearm. “I...don’t really play video games either,” He’s engulfed into a hug, and although this man hugged like he’d never actually received or given a hug in his life, it was warm and comfortable and Virgil all but melted against his thin frame. “I’m guessing you're my soulmate?” His voice sounds and feels so small in his throat, eyes welling with tears. 

“I’ve waited for a long time to meet you,”

--

They sit in the younger man’s room and talk for what feels like hours, about their lives, what they were studying, how happy they were to meet each other. Virgil quickly learned the elder struggled with social communication, his words often long but rolled off his tongue naturally. He was studying Robotics. Also he was beautiful, utterly and completely beautiful. Virgil also learned that the other had three soulmates in total as well, as they compared the writing and colors there seemed to be a distinct possibility that it was the same soulmates. 

--

It’s his first day of study and Virgil is as lost as he could get, having given Logan a hug (Which the other was getting better at, relaxing a bit more, in general being more used to physical human contact) There’s a boy wandering around, eyes concentrating on his phone, eyebrows furrowed in concentration, he looks up at sees Virgil, and says something but Virgil can’t hear him over the general noise of the public surroundings and howling September winds. “What?” He mouths and the boy comes hurrying over, white coat billowing behind him in the wind. 

“I said...actually it doesn’t matter, do you know where this is?” Virgil looks at the map on the other’s phone before looking at the buildings around him. He tries to remember where he’s even supposed to be, but he’s ninety percent sure that the Performing Arts block is also where he needs to be. 

“Oh, I don’t, but I think you’re in my class,” The brunet man nods and Virgil takes a moment to look at him instead of the surrounding areas. This man was strikingly handsome, with a firm jawline and tan skin that appeared to be free of any sort of teenage acne curses that he himself was still fighting off. The newcomer appeared to dress to impress, skin-tight skinny jeans with a long white coat and a dark red shirt left very little to the imagination as Virgil could see the strong muscles under his shirt move as he looks around. He seems to still be thinking before he freezes, looking at the other with wide eyes. 

“Oh dear,” He mutters “I’ve...forgotten something, I’ll...see you later I hope,” There’s intense shock written all over the other’s face, eyes barely leaving Virgil’s face before he turns around a hurries in the opposite direction, leaving the shorter man dumbfounded and already reaching his limit with weird encounters. 

He would find out later on in the week that what the strange boy had said to him, had in fact mattered. 

--

It’s Saturday, and Virgil is exhausted, leaning on Logan’s shoulder like the entire world was resting on his back. “I’m tired,” He whines as the elder chuckled, flipping through the book he’s reading “But I’m also too bored, are you going to that Student Union thing? Where they try to rope you into attending clubs and shit?”

“Virgil, dear, I am one of the people trying to rope people into a club,” He snorts, eyes still focused on the book as his soulmate blushes bashfully. “The debate team is seriously lacking in people, and I’m more than happy to drag people head first into chaotic discourse about pineapple on pizza or if Donald Trump is the worst president, both real debates by the way, on the same day,”

Virgil shakes his head “Well I guess I’ll come alomg and see you, at least, I’m not joining the debate team, at all, ever, I hate arguing with people,” He yawns, nuzzling his head under Logan’s arm before laying his head on his chest. 

“Hissing at people is not a debate Virgil, I know you think it’s a debate tactic, however...”

“I’m gonna stop your right there pocket protector, let me have a nap before you start lecturing me on your...debate tactics,” Logan chuckles as Virgil closes his eyes, yawning ever so slightly again before he accepts the warmth of sleep. 

--

The Student Union stalls are all remarkably basic, and Virgil strolls from one to another, desperate for people to not talk to him as much as he could help it. At once stage, one person tried to engage with him and he had straight up turned around and walked away, hands shaking in his pockets. At some point, he must’ve zoned out because he can see a young man beaming at him with a wave. “Would you like one?” Virgil’s eyes shoot open wide. 

This man is wearing a pastel blue shirt with a grey jumper tied around his shoulder, as is peering through bright brown eyes framed by circular glasses. A crown of flowers was placed precariously on top of messy light brown hair and he wore a smile like a trophy. In his arms is a tray full of cakes decorated with icing flowers in shades of pink, blue and white. It takes the purple haired boy a moment to respond “I really like your flowers...” He can’t tell if he’s talking about the flower crown or the cake decoration, but he is completely entranced by the other. 

Whose face has completely fallen from it’s cheerful smile to a wide-eyed expression. “Are you...are we?” In response, the taller boy pulls up the sleeve of his jumper to show the writing. The tray of baked food is placed on the table as his arms become full of the smaller boy who is trying very hard not to bounce up and down with excitement. “I’m Patton,” He says cheerfully into his soulmates’ shoulder. 

--

The true test of their luckiness came with Patton and Logan meeting, initially, he had planned to introduce Patton to his soulmate as his soulmate, but the moment Logan had opened his mouth he had an armful of Patton too. “There’s no one else that would greet someone by saying ‘salutations’” He mutters, and Logan laughs, Virgil smiles and the three of them sit on a bench. 

“So just one more?” Virgil airs, but Patton looks confused. 

“You haven’t met Roman yet?” The purple haired boy’s eyes widened. roman, the kid in his performing arts class, who had...he cussed under his breath, registering the sheer panic on the other man’s face the first time he’d spoken to him. 

“I’ve met him,” He sighs “But I didn’t hear what he said it was windy...I spoke and he ran off,” He plants his face in his palms “You mean to tell me I’ve been sat in the same classes as my soulmate this entire fucking time,” A low growl escapes his throat in frustration. “Do you know where he’s staying?” 

“Yeah! We’re in the same block, I ran into him on the way back from class, he asked if I knew I had flour on my cheek, I told him I was waiting for a handsome man to just come and brush it off my cheeks,” The energetic ball of a man giggles, bouncing slightly, “and he did, and then showed me the writing on his arm and then...he kissed me,” Patton flushes, audibly and physically swooning amongst giggles “He’s such a romantic, honestly, come on let’s go,”

--

Roman opens the door after the third knock, sees and recognizes Virgil, and lets the door swing shut again. Patton lets out a loud sigh before knocking insistently on the door “Roman Cato Prince if you do not open this door right now, you will not have a single homemade cookie for a week!”

The door tentatively opens again, registering the two newcomers with a  resigned sigh to his fate, and gestures for them to come in. Logan shuffles awkwardly behind Virgil, trying to fold his lanky frame in half behind the other, who gives him a playful shove. “So,” The violet-haired man finally speaks “I believe we are soulmates,” The drama student nods sheepishly, scratching the inside of his wrist with an air of nervousness. “This is Logan, assumedly your other soulmate,”

“Pleasure to meet you Logan,” Roman’s voice was soft but certain, his eyes shimmer ever so slightly as he gives a kind but anxious smile, holding out his hand for the other to shake like a peace offering. 

“Likewise, Roman,” The two’s hands stay held even after the handshake had ended before the shorter man cannot resist but pull him into a hug, before holding out another arm to gesture the others closer. 

“Group hug!” The youngest exclaimed excitedly, almost knocking his glasses off his face as he bowls into the other two, Virgil laughs and tucks himself much more calmly between Logan and Roman, breathing in the warmth in his heart as he finds himself enclosed between so many variations of affection. His heart swelled. 

--

They sit around talking for a while, watching Netflix and generally living a better life than they had been hours before, a sense of completeness settled in the air around them as they took in the world around them through different eyes. Soulmates, all of them, happy between four walls where the outside world needed not bother them. Roman eventually divulges that he had straight up panicked seeing Virgil and had no idea what to say or do “I got stage fright,” He mutters around a mouthful of popcorn “I wanted to tell you every time I saw you, I just didn’t know what I would say,” His classmate kisses the top of his head and shakes his head. 

“You didn’t have to say anything Roman, the words are on your arm,” 

--

Roman and Patton give Logan and Virgil a kiss on the cheek each as they leave the dorms, blushing furiously in the cold they cross the courtyard in the darkness. Suddenly, Logan stops and looks at the other; startled Virgil turns to look at him, mouth open to ask a question that's silenced by a hand on his cheek. Cold, slender hands, drawing patterns on his cheek, he shivers but it’s not because of the temperature; Logan’s eyes are burning with fire, warmth, the air around them seems so still in the slow running of time. 

Logan tastes like berries and fruit and coffee. He tastes like home. He feels like home, kissing with fierce passion and completely unadulterated love; his free hand snaking around Virgil’s slim waist to pull him closer, feeling the taller man’s chest and ribs, and the heartbeat in his chest. They pull away and breathe in the air around them, sinking into a blissful silence, before Logan takes Virgil’s hand and they walk towards their dorm.  

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[dailyaudiobible]

10/06/2019 DAB Transcript

Jeremiah 6:16-8:7, Colossians 2:8-23, Psalms 78:1-31, Proverbs 24:26

Today is the 6th day of October. Welcome to the Daily Audio Bible. I am Brian. It is a pleasure. It is awesome to be here with you as we walk through the threshold of a brand-new week together. And this will be our first full week of this month of October and I'm excited to see what's in store for us as we continue our journey through the Scriptures this year. This week we'll read from the New International Version and pick up right where we left off, which will take us into the book of Jeremiah today, chapter 6 verse 16 through 8 verse 7.

Prayer:

Father, we thank You for that proverb because…because that's what it feels like You give us every day that we engage in this rhythm of allowing Your word to speak into our lives, it feels like an honest answer and some days it's the only honest answer we get. And, so, we thank You for Your kindness. We thank You for the voice of wisdom in our lives, we thank You for Your patience and Your grace and mercy over us. And, so, Father as we move into this new week, we look for the honest answers that we find in Your word and we ask Your Holy Spirit to help us recognize the truth. In fact, we surrender and follow You as You would lead us into all truth, which is the promise. And, so, we accept. Come Holy Spirit, lead us in all of our thoughts, words, and deeds in this week we pray. In Jesus’ name we ask. Amen.

Announcements:

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And, as always, if you have a prayer request a comment there are a number of ways to reach out. You can press the Hotline button in the app, the little red button at the top and just start…just start sharing your story or there are a number of numbers that you can dial. If you're in the Americas 877-942-4253 is the number to call. If you're in the UK or Europe 44-20-3608-8078 is the number or if you are in Australia or the lands down under 61-3-8820-5459 is the number to dial.

And that's it for today. I'm Brian I love you and I'll be waiting for you here tomorrow.

Community Prayer and Praise:

Good morning Daily audio Bible listeners this is Gina from Orlando again. This morning I would like to pray for all who were struggling with hurt - emotional, physical, mental or even spiritual. Father God, please comfort us Your children, please fill our heart because You are the only one that can do a complete healing. Father God You know everything about us, please hear and answer because sometimes the pain is so unbearable, we can’t put it into words. Lord, I pray that You would deliver us from any bitterness, envy, unknown pride and anything else that would estrange us from Your presence. With that said Father God, please give us an added sense of Your presence during our trials and trying times. Lord God if any pain we are experiencing is because of unforgiveness or unconfessed sin God please forgive us and please reveal so that we can repent. Lord God, I pray that You would create in us a clean heart and renew a right spirit within us today. Lord please also give us a heart of flesh that is soft toward You and desires to do Your will. Lord today I also pray that everyone listening would be filled with Your overwhelming joy and peace that Your goodness and mercy will be with us continually also. Lord for myself I ask for direction with finances and the ability to hear You clearly. Father please bless and protect Brian and Jill, all those that pray without ceasing, and those in the DAB community. Thank You Lord for an opportunity and a privilege to pray. In Jesus’ name I ask all these things. Amen. Be blessed Daily Audio Bible, be blessed.

Hello, my name is Susan I’m calling from Plano Illinois. This is my first time calling. I have been a listener for over 11 years and this call mainly is just to introduce myself. I keep hesitating to call. I don’t know why but Brian’s new little button has made a change for that. So, it’s so much easier to call and I can’t let the enemy change my mind. Normally I listen to the Daily Audio Bible while I’m driving to work. So, I can’ always write down the prayer requests but I pray for those as I’m listening to them and there are special ones that stick out in my mind especially those suffering from anxiety, children, or family members or friends who have committed suicide. I just pray for all of you guys. I love you. I recognize voices right off the bat, a lot of the you. First of all I want to thank Brian and Jill and his family and all those behind the scenes who make this possible because it has meant so much to all of us. And I just want to say hi and thank you to all the prayer warriors that call in on a regular basis - Annette from Oklahoma City, Blind Tony I love your poems, Victoria Soldier, Slave of Jesus, Pastor Gene I haven’t heard from you for a while, Lee from New Jersey, Jay from Nashville, Candace from Oregon, Diane Olive Brown, His Little Cherry, Alfaro from Delaware, Tony the Painter I haven’t heard from you for a while or Mark Straight haven’t heard from you for a while, Walta the Burning Bush, Angel from California, Rebecca from Michigan, Biola. I love you guys. I just wanted to introduce myself and say hi. I’ve ordered my God of Your Story. Thank you, Brian. You are amazing. God bless all of you and I love you.

Hey guys. How you doing? This is John the Prodigal. I’m calling. I need your help. I need your prayers. Just got terribly depressing call from my son. He’s ready to give up. He thinks he fails at everything. He’s at the end of his rope. He passed out last week at work, went to the hospital, he’s been at the hospital. He just seems to fail at everything he does, and he beats the crap out of himself. He’s a lot like his dad. And I just wish and ask him that you pray for him. He’s beaten drugs, he’s turned his life around, but he just needs a little help from God. So, just going to ask you to pray for him please. Please pray. I’m praying as hard as I can. I’m doing everything I can and I’m…I’m not doing too good as you all know but please pray for my son Jake. Love you all. God bless you all. You make it a great day. I’m out.

Good morning family this is Mikayla from Gloucester in the UK it is Thursday the 3rd of October and it has long been on my heart to pray for our leaders in our countries and I was reminded of this a couple weeks ago when our speaker at church spoke on the start of one Timothy two. First of all then I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior who desires all people to be saved and to the come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God and there is one mediator between God and man, the man Christ Jesus who gave Himself as a ransom for all which is a testimony given at the proper time. Father God, thank you so much for our leaders and those who are in positions of power and authority and influence. Lord I pray especially for the following people and those who represent: Boris Johnson, Donald Trump, Justin Trudue, Sevaale Ramaphoso, Scott Morrison, Angela Merkel, Stefan Lufan, Jusenda Aarden, Shizoo Abby, Paul Bia, Mohammed Bihari, Burness Oberg, Immanuel Metatron, Vladimir Putin Andrea’s Manwell Lupus Obradoor, Hun Sun, Lee Ji Ping, Gamneth Kuvend, Moon Jain, and Kim Jaun. Lord, there are so many I haven’t mentioned and we lift them up to you as well and I just pray that…that you would be guiding…

Hello family this is Kenny in Ohio. I was just listening to the September 27th podcast and in the Ephesians 5 where it talks about husbands to love their wives and in comparison to Jesus and His sacrifice for the church and I was just, I’ve read that multiple, you know, 10s to 20s of times but when Brian was reading it from the Voice Translation it just hit home that…that I am, you know, not loving my wife as that and I just need the Holy Spirit to transform me into having that sacrificial love. I just pray over all the husbands and wives as we just read Ephesians and just thank you. Love you all. Bye.

Hi DAB family this is Kimberly from Maryland and I’m asking for a covenant of prayer to go over my friend Donna and Reggie and Marcus. And Marcus has conflicting diseases and needs a kidney and just really really praying at this juncture for a miracle. And if you all could all lift him up in prayer and Marcus I really really appreciate it. Love you all. Talk to you later.

[merlinzedane]

:DEEP SCARE: part 5

————————————————

Huey could begin to see the city of Duckburg beginning to raise into view in the distance, and one of the first things he clearly could recognize was the high and almost completely glass covered building with a big W smacked on one of its sides.

It was clear that it was still being build upon and it looked nothing like it did the day he first visited it with his brother Dewey.

Huey lets out a yawn a little to loud to his liking as he leans against the limos door, he knew that he needed sleep, he just couldn’t get himself to take a nap out if fear of getting trapped in a nightmare.

Well it really wasn’t a nightmare he just couldn’t wake up again even if he knew he was asleep, it was just him sitting against a rock in the dark...being watch in silence.

Huey shivers at the thought and begins to rube his hands along his arms trying to get a little warmth in them.

He wasn’t going to sleep before he found a book or something that explained his weird and frightful situation.

“I’ll like too see you try” the words was said with a big hint of amusement in them as the where whispered to Huey.

Huey sat straight up after hearing them and looks over at Launchpad with a expression of confusing, “di- did you say anything just n-now?”

His voice came out more scared that confused.

“What?” Launchpad questioned as he looks over at Huey before he continued “oh! No I didn’t say anything bud”

The older male finished before looking down at the book he had been reading.

“Oh okay then...” Huey began looking away with a more nervous face, buuut it quickly turn into a face of horror after realizing there situation and he quickly looked over at the other again.

“LAUNCHPAD THE ROAD!!!”

Huey quickly grips at the wheel just escaping with a scrap to the side from the big truck that had been honking and now can be seeing giving them a very rude hand gesture in the side mirror.

“Hehe ups..” Launchpad begins as he can feel a unnerving hard glare given to him from the side.

—————————————

Later

—————————————

The rest of the drive was in total silence and the limo was now on its way through the big gate and up to the manor.

“Weeeeell here we are! hope you didn’t get to stressed out back there earlier..” Launchpad said as he begins to drive very slowly up in front of the big front door with a nervous smile, clearly still taken back by the glare he got earlier, the glare that had looked so out of place on the younglings face.

“Well... cya in about a hour! im of to pick up the others from their little trip!”

He finished with a still nervous smile that began turning into a concerned one when he still wasn’t getting a answer from Huey that now was facing away from him, stopped in his tracks as he was opening the limos door, Huey tried clearing his throat “okay ya ehm..see you later” Huey said before he opens the door and gets out without looking back at the other male and closes the door nice and calmly.

The limo first begins to drive away when Huey reaches the too of the white marble stairs, he looks up at the big door and the back at the limo that now was driving out the metallic gate longer down the hill.

He turns his head back to look at the doorknob this time with the feeling of being uneasy beginning to rise from his stomach towards his chest.

He turns the doorknob and goes through.

Everything looked the same in the entrance hall nothing out of place but even so it still felt kind of....new?

Huey grips harder at his backpacks straps as he can hears music being played somewhere, he walk towards one of the two doorways close to the big staircase in the middle of the hall.

Peeking around the corner of the left one he sees the living room with the fireplace and the big tv hanging against the wall over it, Huey walk a little more into the room now staring at the big red sofa where he and his brothers spend most times seeing a movie on a Sunday evening with Webby.

He lets out a tired chuckle as he remembers how it had went last time when it had been Webby’s turn to choose a movie and of course she chose a horror one, Huey had of course expected Louie to hid away behind him and he did, but he hadn’t been the only one that day.

Huey smiles as he remembers how Dewey out of nowhere began to hug him too as he tried to hid his face behind Huey’s shoulders,Huey small smile turned into a small frown as he realized he didn’t remember what the movie had been about, concerning how could he forget something easy like that.

“Hubert?”

Huey jumped away from the sofa in fright from the sudden voice and he turns his head too see Beakely that was standing in the doorway to the kitchen to the right of him staring at him with a small frown.

“Im sorry for scaring you, I just didn’t hear you come in” she says with a apologizing smile.

“Oh it-its fin i was in my own thoughts” Huey response as he begins to scratch the back of his neck in embarrassment with a tired smile, “ i was actually on my way up to put away my things”

He says as he begins to go towards the doorway to the hall with the staircase slowly.

“Oh okay” Beakely says looking towards the doorway herself before looking back at the young duck “would you mind coming down to the kitchen after your done? i have a feeling that your quite hungry after some normal food after that hospital garbage” she finished with a smile as she watches Huey turns to look at her fully facing her this time.

A bigger smile finds it way on to his face “that sounds good, ill be back in a few minutes”

He finished before walking out of the room as Beakely turns around and goes back into the kitchen.

———————————————

Huey walked up the stairs and continue down the right hallway till he came to a door full of different kind of signs and stickers on it, he looked closely at a few of them there was a set of sticker with three different animals, one for each of them it had been Dewey’s idea of finding stickers of their favorite wild animal, Huey looked at the little fat seal Louie had chosen and then at the tiger Dewey took a liking in, and at last he laid his eyes on the grey wolf sticker he had put beside Dewey’s tiger.

He thought he would smile after looking at them he used to smile every time he saw them, but somehow he couldn’t.

“You haven’t slept in almost 4 days Hubert thats why..” he said to himself in a whisper, as he opened the door to the bedroom he shared with his brothers, but what he didn’t notice was that his shadow had changed behind him, it was now towering high above him with bright orange eyes staring down at the back of his head and as he closed the door behind him, the shadows head turn and looked down the hall now staring at a set of big double doors containing one of his great uncle’s many treasure rooms.

It smiled with a deep rusty chuckle as it began to grow small again and it slowly slipped under the bedroom door, quickly and quietly hiding itself back inside the tired ducks own real shadow and the orange eyes closed once again, the plan was going smoothly.

—————————————————

After Huey finished putting away all his things he had in his back he walked back out the door and down to the kitchen.

The first thing he noticed when he walk into the kitchen was a cup with steam coming from it in the kitchen island clearly showing it had some kind of warm liquid in it.

He walked over and sat on one of the high chairs as he watched Beakely with a hint curiosity as she clearly was making something, but it only lasted a few seconds before he looked out one of the big windows that was facing the backyard with the swimming pool and he quickly laid his eyes on the houseboat.

It was being held about ground by some wood work on the grass beside the pool because it was still to broken to float on water after the big fight a couple month back, and it has now become a hobby job for his uncle to do when he wasn’t working.

A quiet clank sounded in front of him and Huey turns to see that the steamy mug from before was now in front of him and he takes it in his hands as he says a quiet thank you before beginning to sip from it.

It was mint tea, Huey slowly closes his eyes as he focuses on the taste, it gave him very relaxing feeling when he drank tea, like after something big and stressful had happened, or it had been a very irritating day too.

“How you feeling?” Came Beakely’s voice after a few seconds and Huey opens his eyes again, the housemaid was now sitting over for him on a similar chair holding a steaming mug of her own and concerned expression on her face, she pushed a plate with two sandwiches in front of him.

“Im feeling okay, im...im just really tired thats all” Huey answered while he takes a hold of one of the sandwiches before taking a bite out of it.

“How about your head was it critical?” Beakely asks before taking a sip from her own mug.

Huey looks confused at her before realizing something.

She was in the dark of the hold accident.

“Wait how much do you know of what happened?” Huey says surprised.

She looks out the window “honestly all i know is that you where quickly driven to the nearest hospital after you came out for a bad accident” she finished looking back at Huey with a frown.

“No one had the energy to tell me, your brothers didn’t want to say anything and I didn’t want to push my niece, both your uncles where hard to get a hold of specially Mcduck, and Donald was mostly at work or visiting you at the hospital soooo” she continues “and when i tried to asking Launchpad he gave me the look of a puppy that had been kicked...”

She was now looking down at her now half empty mug.

“Oh” Huey says quietly as he looks down at his mug too, and there was silence for almost a minute, “i fell down a deep ravin..” he looks up to see Beakely with a face of shock and horror.

He sighs before continuing “i got a nasty scare on my forehead” he lays a hand on the bandage around his head, “but somehow i got away with only a mild concussion, a flashback of Louie’s terrifying face expression when he saw him in the cave flashes before him and Huey shivers of the chilling memory.

“The doctor said i had been really lucky...”.

Again the silence took over the kitchen.

“So where’s Webby?” the words came with a hint of curiosity in them, Beakely looked to be happy to change the subject “shes with your brothers at the schools field trip” now Huey got surprised “wait what you finally said yes to let her join our school?!” Beakely gave a short laugh “no actually, Dewey had asked the teacher if they could let her join the trip” Beakely’s smile grew bigger of them memories of a excited and happy Webby when she got her aunties approval to go.

“He!, yeah I cannot wait to see how much homework i have to catch up on” said, the words full of sarcasm in them.

But the smile on the young boy slowly fades again as he looks down again, “ho- how are my brothers?”

Beakely opened her beak to answer but someone else answered for her, “they holding up just fine”

Both ducks sitting in the chairs turn there head to the doorway to see Donald duck with a tired but happy smile as he locks eyes with his nephew.

——————————————————

I did it yay! After so long xD

Well i hope i wasn’t to rust when writing this chapter! Hope ya all enjoy it!

@delta-toons @janetbrown711 @curlscanbefiesty @cartoonlover233 @analyticamethyst @saycheesecabrera

Sorry if I forgot got someone 😅😅😅

[echoes-of-the-clockwork]

Gladiolus x Reader

A/n: Hi, guys! I’m new to Tumblr and wish to share one of my many one shots from my Final Fantasy XV One Shots book on Wattpad. The link to all my works is on my page. This is a Kingdom Hearts crossover. I hope you all enjoy!!!

•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

~(Y/n)'s POV~

"Welcome to Traverse Town!" I cheer as we exit the portal I had created. Luckily, my portal took us to the First District which is where I was hoping to land.

"You get to visit this place anytime you want,

(Y/n)?" Prompto asked. I nodded and dismissed my Keyblade. "It's just one of the many worlds I wanna show you all. When we first met, you all were so kind and even helped me hunt down a giant Heartless. Not all worlds I visit have friendly faces. Learned that the hard way..." 

"Well, you were passed out in the middle of the road when we found you," Gladio chuckles.

"That... uh, was because I miscalculated," I say while fiddling with my fingers. He chuckled harder and patted me on the head. "Glad you did. We probably wouldn't have met if you didn't."

"Aw, how sweet. You're making me feel better about my mistake," I said as I lightly shoved him.

"This place has a completely different atmosphere than Insomnia," Noctis comments.

"Yes, a more clean and light atmosphere," Ignis adds.

"I know you all will enjoy Traverse Town," I smile confidently. I began showing them around the First District and continued to the Second and Third. After that, we headed to the Fountain. "This is the most beautiful place in Traverse Town," I state as they spot the fountain.

"Incredible," Ignis compliments. As they awed at the fountain, I saw Gladio was the closest to it. A smirk crept onto my face as an idea popped into my head. Sneaking up behind him, I gave him a gentle push. Since he was off-balance, his body easily fell into the cold water.

Without holding back, all my laughter spilled out. Gladio sent me a small glare as he finds out I was the one who pushed him in. "Sorry, couldn't pass up such a golden opportunity," I say, my sides splitting from laughter. His frown then turned into a smirk. Before I could do anything, he latched onto my wrist and pulled me in. I yelp as soon as my body collides with the freezing water.

Now the roles were reversed. Gladio was the one laughing at me while I was glaring at him. He got out of the fountain while I just kept my sharp glare on his form. When I tried to exit the fountain, I ended up slipping and fell back into the water.

"Need some help?" Gladio asked, extending a hand towards me. I gladly take his hand and he hoisted me out of the cold water.

"Thank you," I smiled, wiping away my glare. While helping me, I could hear Noctis and Prompto whispering to each other. I heard my name and Gladio's for some strange reason. Ignoring the gossiping boys, I sit on the edge of the fountain. Gladio kneeled in front of me and moved strands of (h/c) hair that stuck to my face.

"Thought I heard a familiar voice."

I looked passed Gladio and saw a person I haven't seen in months.

"Leon!"

He smiled as I called his name. I ran over and gave him a hug. "Heard from Sora that you were visiting another world, (Y/n)."

"Yeah, but now I'm back and have brought some new friends," I said, gesturing to the group of men behind me. Leon looks up and examines each one of them. From his gaze, I could tell he was being very cautious. With a small huff, I pinch him on the cheek. "Leon, stop that. They helped me numerous of times when I was stuck in a rut."

His expression softens at my words. "Then I should be thanking them," he whispers to me. I smile and nudge him forward. While Leon thanked them, I turned around as soon as I saw white feathers in my peripheral vision.

"(Y/n)!"

Someone shouts my name and I see a small, white figure jump on me. Once I realized who it was, I immediately hugged them close. "Donald!" Smiling while holding the duck, I saw Sora and Goofy not far behind. Out of the three of them, I've known Donald the longest. He helped me around the worlds until Goofy came along. Then, that was when all three of us met Sora. We all instantly became friends after our first mission together.

"We didn't get to see you before you left," Sora said as he and Goofy joined the hug. "Gawrsh, you were gone for months! Did somethin' happen?" Goofy asked. I shook my head with a wider smile. "Nothing happened, but I did meet more friends. I'll introduce them to you."

One by one, I introduced the trio to Noctis, Prompto, Gladio, and Ignis. Even Leon introduced himself to them along with Sora, Donald, and Goofy. Once introductions were out of the way, I clapped my hands together. "So, how about we finish our tour?" They all nodded and we decided to split up into groups. Sora and Goofy went with Noctis, Prompto, and Ignis while Donald, myself, Gladio, and Leon grouped together.

As I continued to show Gladio around, I saw Leon's eyes were glued to me. Tilting my head in confusion, I made eye contact with him. "Um, Leon, are you okay?" His eyes widen at my question and he looks away, a hint of red on his cheeks. "Nothing's wrong, (Y/n)."

Picking up on his strange behavior, I jumped in front of him. Raising an eyebrow, I searched his blue eyes for an answer. He turned his head away from my gaze and crossed his arms.

Suddenly I heard Donald yell out. The frightened duck catches my attention as he hides behind me. Turning around completely, I saw one of Organization XIII's members. As the figure cackled, I immediately recognized who it was.

"Xigbar."

He laughs even louder and claps his gloved hands together. "Right on the nose, cupcake!" I glare at the man as he slowly begins walking towards me. Before I could summon my Keyblade, Gladio stepped in front of me protectively. Leon grabbed my arm and pulled me to his side.

"You wound me, (Y/n)! I was hoping to have a friendly chat with you," he said with a smirk.

"What do you want?" I ask, venom bursting from every word. Xigbar gestures to my hands. He must be after my Keyblade for his leader, Xemnas. "That blade of yours is why I'm here. Now, how about you just hand it over like the good girl you are?"

"Get lost," Gladio growls as he summons his broadsword. Xigbar just sighs while rolling his eyes. "You're no fun." Gladio swung his sword at the man, but he easily dodges the attack. When Xigbar was distracted by Gladio, I summoned my Keyblade and used a few spells against the nobody. Switching his attacks from Gladio to me, I nimbly dodge all of his attacks. Leon and Donald joined in and didn't hold back.

"Aero!" I cast one last spell and knock Xigbar away. His weapon disappears as he crashes to one knee. "You guys are no fun," Xigbar states with a faint huff. He gets to his feet while wearing a smirk. A portal opened behind him, making him take a few steps back. I pushed passed Gladio so I could prevent him from escaping, but I was suddenly grabbed from behind and yanked back. I watch the man disappear into the portal with a grin directed towards me.

"Get back here!" Donald squeals as he runs to where the portal once was. "Donald, it's fine. I'm sure we'll be seeing him again soon," I said to the duck. Looking to had grabbed me, I saw Gladio had a hold on my arm. "Um, Gladio... you can let go now." He immediately frees me and apologizes for grabbing me. I shook my head with a smile to reassure him.

When I turned to ask Donald a question, I saw he was mad. He began walking away in a tizzy and I sighed in annoyance. Taking chase, I called after him to stop his rage.

~3rd Person POV~

Gladio and Leon watch as (Y/n) chases after the raging duck. Both smiled as she attempted to straighten his ruffled feathers. While keeping his eyes on the girl, Leon spoke up. "It seems I don't have worry anymore."

Gladio tore his eyes away from (Y/n) to glance at Leon. "Don't think I didn't pick up on how you feel about her."

Leon grins and began messing with his hair. "And don't think I haven't either." Gladio was a little shocked at his reply. The bodyguard rubbed the back of his neck with a sigh. Leon crossed his arms with closed eyes. "... And I can tell how she feels about you."

"What're you talking about?"

"I've known her for years. She's an open book. You should tell her before something happens."

"And you're giving me permission?"

"She's only ever seen me as a brotherly figure. Nothing more, nothing less. Since she'll be with you, I don't need to worry about her safety. Take care of her for me, Gladio."

Leon went over to Donald and grabbed him. He took the duck to help find the others while (Y/n) and Gladio could have some time to talk. He approached the confused girl as she made eye contact with him. "Where are those two going?" She asked.

"To tell the others of what happened," he replied.

(Y/n) narrowed her eyes as she saw a mixture of emotions pass through Gladio's eyes. She stood in front of him and got on her tippy toes. Her hands cupped his face, making him stiffen at her warm, gentle touch. A small frown etched its way on her lips as she raised an eyebrow. "What's wrong? And don't tell me it's nothing! I know you too well for that lie."

Without warning, Gladio had yanked her body close to his and pushed his lips against hers. Shocked at the sudden kiss, (Y/n)'s eyes flew wide open. Her hands fell from his face and moved to his arms that held her body flush against his. During the kiss, they heard the sound of a camera. Both pulled away and saw a bubbly Prompto jumping around with a smug grin.

"Totally keeping that one!"

#final fantasy xv #ffxv #kingdom hearts #gladiolus x reader #sora #donald duck #goofy #romance

[aion-rsa]

Oscars 2021: Frontrunners and Predictions

https://ift.tt/3cGcIj1

This is weird, right? In a normal year this kind of article would have been written closer to New Year’s Day, and the awards season red carpets would’ve been rolled up weeks ago. But 2020 really was a weird experience, to put it mildly. And among other problems, it caused the Oscars race to bleed all the way into April. Indeed, it’s mid-March and the weekly Sunday night ceremonies have barely begun.

Nevertheless, and despite hand-wringing from this time last year about whether there would even be anything worthy of nomination in 2020, we’ve just come through a resilient and even hopeful period for quality cinema. Movie theaters remain largely closed throughout the U.S. and Europe, yet filmmakers have found a way to get their passion projects out via streaming, video-on-demand, and for a precious few in limited capacity movie theaters. Through it all, the industry endured and quality work found an eager audience anxious for the catharsis of shared art—or at least a good Borat joke.

Thus the weekend before Oscar nominations are officially announced, we are providing our final predictions of who’s leading the race for Best Picture, and where the frontrunners might also stand in other Academy Award categories. The movies below are ranked from most likely to get a Best Picture nod to least likely.

Nomadland

The obvious frontrunner has long been Chloé Zhao’s Nomadland. This held true months before the Searchlight Pictures release picked up Best Picture prizes at the Golden Globes and the Critics Choice Awards in the last two weeks… but those certainly helped.

As a beautiful and lyrical elegy to the people America has left behind, and the fascinating American Nomad culture that has flourished from these hardships, Nomadland struck us as a modern day Grapes of Wrath when we saw the film at TIFF last year. In fact, the movie won the coveted People’s Choice Award at that festival, a feat achieved by recent Best Picture frontrunners La La Land and Green Book, with the latter succeeding at winning the top prize.

More impressive than tea leaves derived from historical precedent though is that Nomadland is the rare major Hollywood release from a studio (Searchlight Pictures, which is the prestige arm of the now Disney-owned 20th Century Studios) that opened in theaters for a limited period of time before debuting on Hulu last month. That commitment to the theatrical experience—although not absurdly so—will play well to Academy voters who’ve long resisted awarding streaming originals the Best Picture over the last decade.

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Additionally, Nomadland is an achievement wherein the line between narrative storytelling and documentary filmmaking is blurred. That unusual alchemy has become Zhao’s specialty, and in a year of acute self-consciousness, finally awarding the talented Chinese filmmaker with Best Picture and probably Best Director is a refreshing nigh inevitability. Also expect nominations for Best Actress thanks to the ever riveting Frances McDormand’s haunting turn, as well as nods in Adapted Screenplay, Cinematography, and other technical categories.

The Trial of the Chicago 7

The new old adage of “if it wasn’t a Netflix movie…” applies heavily to Aaron Sorkin’s otherwise Academy-friendly The Trial of the Chicago 7. A truly terrific drama that recounts a gross miscarriage of justice enacted against eight men deemed “radical” for protesting the Vietnam War by the Nixon administration, The Trial of the Chicago 7 is a life-affirming period piece about a subject near and dear to Baby Boomers’ hearts: the culture war of the 1960s. The fact Sorkin finds direct parallels between its story about civil unrest and social injustice during the Civil Rights movement and modern demands for social justice at the tail-end of the Trump Years makes it doubly potent.

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(It probably also doesn’t hurt its chances that Yahya Abdul-Mateen II’s powerhouse performance as Black Panther Bobby Seale is supporting while Eddie Redmayne’s all-American embodiment of the New Left is the closest the film’s ensemble has to a lead). Sorkin’s ability to turn dialogue into spectacle has long appealed to the Academy, with his scripts previously earning him three Oscar nominations, and one win for The Social Network. We imagine though that he’ll again have the best chance to win in the Best Original Screenplay category, as Chicago 7’s Netflix status might just make it first runner-up, as Roma was to Green Book. However, don’t be surprised if Sacha Baron Cohen also pulls an upset in the Best Supporting Actor category for his resurrection of Abbie Hoffman’s ghost.

The movie is also a near lock for the Best Editing prize.

Minari

One of the best films of 2020, Minari has had a quiet ascent to the top. In actuality, the film has been cruelly misrepresented by other awards bodies. Categorized as a “foreign language film” by the Golden Globes’ Hollywood Foreign Press Association, as well as the Critics Choice Awards, this all-American story about Korean American immigrants attempting to make a go of it as Arkansas farmers is as American as Apple pie. And Lee Isaac Chung’s visibly semi-autobiographical portrait of his young family in the 1980s heartland, complete with a nuanced empathy for the plight of his parents and even his grandmother, make this one of the most beautiful triumphs about the human spirit committed to cinema this year.

The film was snubbed by the Globes from the Best Picture race, but the much more prescient Hollywood guilds, including the Screen Actors Guild (SAG), the Directors Guild of America (DGA), and the Producers Guild of America (PGA), have all recognized Minari’s brilliance. Indeed, Chung getting into the competitive DGA short-list speaks highly of its competitiveness. One year after Parasite shocked the world by winning Best Picture, here’s an American story that supported the theatrical experience thanks to A24, and whose inclusion speaks well about the future of American cinema. Putting it in its rightful place at the top of the ticket, as opposed to Best International Film, is also a very good look. Hopefully, nominations will also include Best Supporting Actress, Best Cinematography, and Best Original Score.

Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom

Perhaps showing the relative sparseness of this year’s cinematic offerings, I suspect we’re already past the point on this list where contenders have a sincere shot at winning Best Picture. However, a movie like Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom will surely be nominated. As a sledgehammer film about the pressures on Black artists in America, and the corrosive influence of white money used to appropriate that art, George C. Wolfe’s Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom hits like a ton of bricks.

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This is in no small part due to the harrowing performances of both the late great Chadwick Boseman and Viola Davis. Expect both to be nominated in the Leading performance categories, with Boseman as close to a lock as possible for winning the Best Actor prize with his final, heartbreaking performance. The movie should also do well in the Adapted Screenplay, Costume, Makeup, and Production Design categories. 

Mank

A personal favorite of mine from 2020, Mank is an admittedly acquired taste. A meticulously researched and authentic portrait of the creative process and the uglier side of Hollywood’s Golden Age, David Fincher’s Netflix production is less a love letter to the industry than an affectionate middle finger. That abrasiveness has rubbed some audiences the wrong way, as does its expectation you know about the the debate of authorial credit on Citizen Kane. Nonetheless, this is a swaggering triumph of presentation and performance.

Ergo expect a large amount of nominations for Best Director (Fincher), Best Actor (Gary Oldman), Best Supporting Actress (Amanda Seyfried), Best Original Screenplay (Jack Fincher), and multiple technical nominations including Cinematography, Editing, Score, Costumes, and Production Design. For above the line nominations though, the best shot at a win may be Seyfried’s enigmatic turn as Marion Davies. Although, given the chances of two performances below, she’s now the underdog in that race.

Promising Young Woman

One of the most original and talked about movies of 2020, Emerald Fennell’s Promising Young Woman is a pitch black comedy/tragedy that’s as intentionally uncomfortable as it is bleakly amusing. A passion play for the post-#MeToo era that examines our culture’s treatment of women through the gaze of an avenging loner named Cassandra (Carey Mulligan), this soon-to-be millennial cult classic may honestly be too outside-the-box and ballsy (pardon the phrase) for the the typically more conventional, older sensibilities of Academy voters when considering the top prize.

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Promising Young Woman: Director Emerald Fennell Breaks Down the Ending

By Rosie Fletcher

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Mank and Amanda Seyfried’s Quest to Save Marion Davies from Citizen Kane

By David Crow

Still, expect Fennell to also get nominated for Best Director while also being the frontrunner to win the Best Original Screenplay Oscar over Sorkin. It is a long established tradition for the Academy to award the most challenging (and stylish) Best Picture contenders a Screenplay Oscar over Picture or Director. Meanwhile, Carey Mulligan is likewise the frontrunner in the Best Actress category—deservedly so.

One Night in Miami

Despite premiering on the globally accessible Amazon Prime, Regina King’s One Night in Miami feels like it’s fallen a bit under the radar for most folks. Which is a shame, because this is a superb directorial debut for King and one of the most thought-provoking movies of 2020. Another adaptation of a play about the intersection between the soft power of celebrity and the hard responsibility of Black art, we personally argue One Night in Miami is the more challenging and intriguing adaptation: one that imagines what words might’ve been said on a mysterious night shared by Cassius Clay (soon to be renamed Muhammad Ali), Malcolm X, Sam Cooke, and Jim Brown.

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By David Crow

With this being such an actor’s showcase, as well as one directed by a great actress herself, expect the Academy’s large thespian wing to power this into a Best Picture nomination. Leslie Odom Jr. also appears to likely be nominated for Best Supporting Actor due to his turn as Sam Cooke, as will Kemp Powers’ adaptation of his own play likely land him in the Best Adapted Screenplay race. However, after the DGA snub, I fear King will be ignored in the Best Director category.

Judas and the Black Messiah

At this point, we are examining films on the bubble of actually getting a Best Picture nomination. One contender that may yet squeeze in is Shaka King’s fearless depiction of the death of Black Panther Party Chairman Fred Hampton. Executed by police officers working on intelligence gathered by the FBI, the film of Hampton’s life is told from the vantage of William O’Neal, the man who betrayed Hampton to the feds.

A film with a more revolutionary heart than the similarly themed The Trial of the Chicago 7—in fact, Hampton is a supporting character in the Sorkin picture—Judas might be too zealous for more conservative Oscar voters; it also is a little narratively messier. It should be nominated for Best Picture, and its odds grew with a nod from the PGAs, which remains the best prognosticator for this category. However, it very well may wind up with only nominations for Daniel Kaluuya in the Best Supporting Actor category and a nod for Best Original Song.

On the plus side, Kaluuya is the clear and away frontrunner for Best Supporting Actor after winning in the same race at the Globes and CCAs.

Borat Subsequent Moviefilm

Borat 2 is a legitimate Oscar contender. Brave new world, indeed. While I’m still skeptical about it actually getting into the Best Picture race, that idea doesn’t seem impossible after Borat Subsequent Moviefilm earned a dark horse nomination at the PGAs. Granted the producers guild is always more eager to shower love on successful audience entertainments than the Oscars, hence Deadpool and Wonder Woman also getting recent PGA nominations while being shut out by the Academy. But those movies didn’t have a scene where a fictional character unmasked Rudy Giuliani as a dishonest creeper with his hand down his pants. So…

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Maria Bakalova is Ready to Do Borat 3 in ‘Five Minutes’

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Borat 2: Sacha Baron Cohen Reveals Dangerous Deleted Scene

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Either way, expect Borat 2 to pick up a Best Supporting Actress nomination for Maria Bakalova’s star-making turn as Borat’s daughter, Tutar. It’s a performance that demanded as much spontaneity and improvisation as Baron Cohen’s, with Bakalova arguably being even more impressive as she also creates a sincere heartbeat underneath the snark. The performance was snubbed from winning a category it should’ve been a shoo-in for at the Golden Globes—Best Actress in a Comedy/Musical—but Bakalova recovered momentum by winning in the more 1:1 Supporting Actress category at the Critics Choice. She faces steep competition from Olivia Colman in The Father and Amanda Seyfried in Mank, but neither of them embarrassed Donald Trump’s personal lawyer weeks ahead of the election he was trying to undermine.

The Father

As someone who has watched a loved one suffer from dementia and the effects of aging, I can attest that Florian Zeller’s The Father is an accurate, and arguably too devastating of a portrait of a mind in deterioration. For that depressing element, I suspect Zeller’s film will play too tragically for Academy voters, who tend to prefer life-affirming stories in the Best Picture category. But The Father has an outside shot for nomination. And it will definitely get nominations for Best Actor (Anthony Hopkins), Best Supporting Actress (Olivia Colman), and Best Adapted Screenplay. The odds makers similarly say Colman’s the frontrunner in her category (even though she’s lost the major awards thus far), although I still have my doubts about that too.

Sound of Metal

Darius Marder’s depiction of a punk rock drummer going through early hearing loss got a boost of confidence from the PGAs nominating it for Best Picture. I could also see it sneaking into a Best Picture slot over Judas and the Black Messiah and Borat 2, especially with its story of a man learning to live again. However, it will most likely walk away solely with a nomination for Riz Ahmed in the Best Actor category.

Da 5 Bloods

Spike Lee’s follow-up to BlacKkKlansman may be one Netflix film too many for Academy voters this year. Which is a shame since this is an underrated slice of cinema that merges Vietnam War dramas with Treasure of the Sierra Madre thriller elements, and Lee’s singular dreamlike stylizations. At the very least, Delroy Lindo should be nominated for Best Actor. However, I fear Da 5 Bloods will be shut out, save for perhaps a Best Cinematography nomination.

News of the World

An underrated Paul Greengrass Western starring Tom Hanks, this is old school moviemaking that I suspect would’ve found a larger audience in a normal year. Instead it opened to mostly closed theaters and has gone strangely overlooked. At the very least child actor Helena Zengel should be considered for Best Supporting Actress for her poignant turn as a child torn between two worlds. However, this may only end up nominated in a handful of technical categories, with its best chance at a nod being for James Newton Howard’s rousing score.

Soul

Pixar’s Soul is excellent and will almost certainly pick up Oscars for Best Animated Film and Best Original Score. That might also be the extent of its nominations.

The United States vs. Billie Holiday

Lee Daniels’ by the numbers musical biopic about one of the defining voices of jazz being hounded to her death by the federal government will not be nominated for Best Picture. Sadly, this is a movie that should’ve been much better. Still, Andra Day will definitely be nominated for Best Actress.

Pieces of a Woman

An interesting (if somewhat cold) piece of cinema, Kornél Mundruczó’s Pieces of a Woman was always a long-shot before allegations of abuse against star Shia LaBeouf took it entirely out of the Best Picture running. Yet you can expect Vanessa Kirby to be nominated in the fifth spot for Best Actress for her raw essay of a woman who’s lost her child. Ellen Burstyn also has a dark horse shot at getting in for Best Supporting Actress thanks to her ruthless depiction of a grandmother denied.

Academy Award nominations are announced on Monday morning, March 15.

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[onisionhurtspeople]

I’m going to be writing a very long post about Onision...

...hopefully on something involving some aspect of Greg’s behavior or psychological state. What I want to know is this: is there any topic in particular that you guys are curious about, interested in exploring, seeing some research about, or would like to hear my opinion on? Here are some of the possible ideas I’ve come up with so far:

1) A loose timeline of Greg’s relationships (maybe in the form of a chart? I’m not sure yet). 

2) A more polished, updated, and revised version of this post, written with more detail and including more evidence. (I’ll probably end up redoing that post eventually anyway.)

3) An in-depth explanation of one of Greg’s relationships (Skye, Shiloh, Lainey, Billie, etc) as well as examining it from a psychological standpoint, including proof (using screenshots). (This might become a series?)  This could end up being either one long post, or split into several smaller posts - one per girlfriend - and which focus on the details of how they met, what they did behind closed doors, and how they broke up; but also, more importantly, taking a look into how Greg treated his partners while they were together, and what his actions reveal about his personality.

4) A thorough examination of the characters in Greg’s books (though Stones of Abbifail does a wonderful job of this already).

5) Something to do with Greg’s past (pre-YouTube years) including looking into his relationship with his mom, and some of her behaviors as well (I’m convinced at this point that his mother is a narcissist too). Note: this would probably be the most difficult for me to do and would probably require a LOT of research on my part, and I’m not convinced I would end up necessarily finding anything meaningful. But it’s still a possibility. Perhaps also doing something similar with Lainey - just a general peek into how their lives were as children and teenagers, throughout high school, and up to right before they met. 

6) A giant master post of all the logical contradictions I’ve ever seen Greg make, either in videos, on Twitter, or during debates. This would basically just be me posting about every time he’s ever made a claim only to later go back on it and contradict himself completely. 

7) An explanatory break-down of some of the body language in his videos.

8) A series of posts in which I provide a more in depth, accurate, and objective perspective for some of his favorite opinions, on subjects such as depression, abuse, eating disorders, veganism, self-harm, drug use, and more. This would essentially be me providing a rebuttal against all of his claims using fact-based evidence to explain why his opinions are incorrect or over-simplified.

9) An explanation of narcissistic personality disorder, and in what ways his behavior fits into what we know about how the disorder is expressed.

I’m also considering making a super long video detailing all of Greg’s relationships and/or friendships from the perspective of examining his behavior and how it reflects on his psychological state. 

What do you guys think? Or there another topic that you’d like to see me write about? My goal here is mostly to observe and examine not just his behavior, but also the red flags exhibited therein, and how to recognize and stay away from people like him. I created this blog in order to give a voice to his victims (among other things), but I must admit that I find him quite interesting to observe as a person because he’s such a classic case of narcissistic personality disorder that I highkey think that he’s going to end up being a case study one day. To my mind, he’s the most textbook example of a narcissist that I’ve ever seen, apart from Donald Trump. There’s something very fascinating about that to me, even if his behavior repulses me. 

What do you guys think? Is there any subject on here that stands out to you? Or do you have any suggestions of your own on what you’d like me to write about?

#onision #laineybot #npd #question #help