#used to play cookie run in bars with them…. also watched them try to print dragon ball yaoi in the mall one time and i yhink i fell in love

[cabbagegunk]

so sick of seeing cool t4t couples on social media. need more representation for two of the worst freaks on the face of this earth. me and the lame ass loser i pulled by also being that

#cabbagetalk #instead of flirting or asking them out i just watched my partner play mobile games till they kissed me and it worked. #used to play cookie run in bars with them…. also watched them try to print dragon ball yaoi in the mall one time and i yhink i fell in love

[chibi-tofu]

Hearts In Boxes

A Very Hannibal Christmas AU

(Domestic Hannigram. Stealing each others clothes. Awful Christmas Puns. Doggos. Hannibal being a shit. Will being a flirt. An apology. SO MANY BOXES. Mainly fluff and a bit of smut.)

Hannibal stretches out Will's shirt and has to apologize. V cute.

Crop Top Hannibal.

(Sorry for any grammar or spelling mistakes, kinda new to writing.)

-----

December.

Hannibal started noticing his winter wardrobe getting smaller bit by bit. Starting in mid October up until the 15th of December, The day he caught Will red handed! Will was making coffee and preparing the dogs’ food and seemed to be wearing a lavender button up. While it seemed slightly big on him, he looked stunning. The fact that he was wearing a silver chain and that the button up was only buttoned halfway distracted Hannibal from registering it was his shirt. The next day Will was wearing a dark navy sweater that he knew would get noticed. As it was the one Hannibal would store in his car for if it got below 45 degrees outside or if he got blood on his current outfit. He was wearing it paired with some ridiculous boxers with dog paw prints on the back while reading by the kitchen counter. Hannibal was amused and decided to play along as he stood in front of Will and put his hands on the counter on either side of him. “Darling, Is that my sweater? It looks rather familiar.” Will smiled and gestured to his torso “This? Is it? I had no idea.” then ran a hand up the side of his lover “Would you like it back? Now? I do have a busy day. Might have to pencil you in.”

Hannibal loved this game. Really, any game where he could make Will laugh. 

So began the Wardrobe Week War.

Hannibal stealing Will’s beanies, Will stealing Hannibal’s ties. Both stealing and hiding each others shoes, then keys, and even any pair of fuzzy socks. Most nights would end with kisses, a few with “Will, This shirt cost more than your entire wardrobe, I’m not going to rip it off you.” 

Hannibal decided to be a shit on the 21st and wear a shirt that was gifted to Will last Christmas. An ugly Christmas sweater shirt that read “Bah Hum-Pug” with pugs running across the bottom of the shirt. It just barely fit his boyfriend, rising up to show a bit of his stomach when he lifted his arms. So when the blonde stretched this shirt onto his torso he expected Will to laugh and retaliate. Will cocked his head and gave a tame half smile then sighed “You’re a dork. What are we making for dinner?” Not much of a reaction, this was strange but he decided not to bombard him with questions. “I was thinking prosciutto roses on watermelon since the two bottles of Batard-Montrachet were delivered yesterday.” Will pouted a bit “Not the most festive, is it?” Hannibal made a slight twirl with his hand as he boasted “I promise you it will taste incredibly festive, he was dressed as Santa after all.” Will shook his head, kissed Hannibal’s cheek, then stood up “Change and meet me in the kitchen, or you’ll have to fight me for the oven.”  

December 23rd.   

Hannibal was busy trying to find a whisk so he could finish the sugar cookie dough as Will sat at the bar and mixed icing colors. Hannibal asked him if he had seen the whisk twice but his beloved seemed to be stuck in an introspective state. He softly rubbed Wills back as he asked “Feeling okay? There’s something lonesome about you, pet.” Will looked tired, bags under his eyes and his hair slightly mussed. He made a small hum in response and continued mixing the food coloring into the icing. Hannibal dipped his finger into one of the small icing bowls and swiped the tip of Will's nose. Will gasped and did the same with a smirk. Hannibal could still feel how shutdown his lover was and decided he’d talk to him before bed. 

Hannibal leaned against the bathroom door frame and looked at will in the mirror “So...Is the silent treatment your solution, Will?” He questioned while undoing his tie. Will was silent for a few beats before replying. “No, stealing all of your damn ties and hiding them around the house is my solution. I just happen to be brushing my teeth and deep in thought about how to kick your ass.” Will smirked and resumed brushing his teeth as his lover continued undressing. “You know, it was only one shirt. I’m sure you’ll steal one of mine as a replacement.” Hannibal walked up behind him and slowly wrapped his arms around his partners frame. “Hannibal. Dear. Darling. You stretched my shirt into a crop top. It’s rude. If I recall you have a saying about those who are rude.” He smirked and squeezed Will ever so slightly in his arms then lowering his voice stated “Are you planning to eat me, Will?” “Not with utensils.” Will teased. He spit then swished with mouthwash before turning around in Hannibal’s arms. “I’m alright, just tired...and you ruined one of my favorite shirts.” he teased “I just need to sleep it off.” he pulled Hannibal into a hug and felt his boyfriend kiss his neck. A muffled “Come to bed my sweet.” was the last full sentence uttered before they shuffled off to their bed.  

December 24th.

As Hannibal closed the oven after checking on his sugar cookies he heard a sigh. He could barely hide his smile for how his partner in crime was pouting around the apartment. The brunette was stringing the Christmas lights around the tree and huffing every few minutes. He watched as Will disappeared behind the tree and decided to give him some Christmas spirit. He quietly padded to their room while six wagging tails followed him, nearly blowing his cover. After a few minutes of putting together his surprise he collected two items from the bedroom closet then slid into the kitchen. Grabbing two sugar cookies from his first batch, the ones with snowmen on them, he led his troop of fuzzy step children into the family room.

As Will was hanging Hannibal’s ties around the tree he paused when presented with six fuzzy children wearing velvet red collars with little silver bells attached to them. “It seems you have resting Grinch face Will.” The shorter man grimaced and chuckled “Where did you even hear that?” Seeing that his plan is starting to work the blonde stepped a bit closer with his hands behind his back. “The younger detectives use slang around crime scenes. Possibly inappropriate but incredibly entertaining. I’ve also heard the term Velvet Daddy.” Will laughed out of surprise “Please NEVER say that again. Is this you apologizing?” Hannibal sheepishly took another step forward and softly put antlers attached to a headband onto Will’s head. “This is only the first part, the next piece of my apology comes tomorrow. But I thought you might indulge me and our children?” He pulled out his phone  “Take a Christmas card worthy photo with us?” He pulled Will in close and softly kissed his cheeks. “I could put a splatter of blood on our sweaters just for fun.” Will whispered just inches from the blondes lips. “A beautiful idea darling, but where would we get the blood?” Words could no longer be heard over their heartbeats becoming collectively louder. They kissed softly, Hannibal’s face held in Will's hands, while his hands were around the shorter mans back grabbing his shirt with a bit of urgency. 

A few jingles and an adorably loud whiny yawn made them laugh into the kiss. They let go of each other and got ready for the pictures, Hannibal put on a matching set of antlers, and Will got the picture timer set up then grabbed a few dog treats. They ended up laying on their stomachs on the floor with the dogs, the phone took three quick photos. In the first one they were all smiling at the camera while the two men held hands and the second was the same but now the men were looking at each other preparing for chaos. Right before the third was taken Will smiled, counted to three, and said “Go!”. They giggled when they saw the last photo, The children were looking up and even some mid jump as they scrambled to catch the treats the men threw into the air. 

“One more, just you and me?” Will rolled his eyes but held the camera up and was about to snap the picture when his lover shoved a sugar cookie into his mouth. His look of surprise deemed adorable next to Hannibal’s look of pure love and joy in a smile as he held one with a bite already taken out of it up next to him.  

December 25th.

Hannibal was the first to stir as Will unconsciously squeezed his hand. He stared at his person for a bit, just admiring how sweet and relaxed he looked as he slept. He rolled onto his stomach and partly onto Will. He started kissing up Will's side and then his chest, he paused briefly as a hand gently ran through his hair. “Good Morning. Did you sleep well?” Will raised an eyebrow as he remembered just how well the apology wound up going last night “Good Morning, Velvet Daddy.”  he giggled and pulled Hannibal up to kiss him “Yes I slept well, did you?” Hannibal whispered “I slept well, but call me Daddy again and I’ll make sure this night is sleepless.” Will bit Hannibal’s lip “Is that a threat or a promise?” Hannibal got inches from Will’s lips then put his hand around his throat. “Oh darling, It’s the most fun when it’s both.”

About an hour and a half later the two appeared downstairs to make breakfast. Will made coffee as Hannibal grabbed a Labrador sized present “I want you to open this one before we cook.” Will rolled his eyes lovingly “Before food, Hm? Must be good.” He shook it lightly then tore through the shinny red wrapping and opened the box to revel...another box wrapped in the same red wrapping paper. Will tilted his head at his lover but Hannibal just sipped his coffee with a big grin. He picked up the next box and tore the paper again to revel...yet another box. He could since where this was going but repeated the steps again to revel...another. fucking. box. This continued for about fifteen more boxes and will had now been doing this for ten minutes. The boxes were now medium small and he could hold them in both hands. He suspected there were about seven boxes left. He was off by two. 

It had now been fifteen minutes. By this point Will had chugged a cup and a half of coffee, was now sitting on the couch next to Hannibal, and the dogs had begun playing in the mountain of wrapping paper. He had finally reached the last box, wrapped in black matte paper with a metallic silver tag. Will beamed as he read the tag “Beloved.” and the noticed a small black heart at the end that was slightly smudged. He carefully unwrapped and opened the box. Sitting in a deep red velvet pocket was a beautiful pocket knife, the handle made of bone. Engraved on one side of the blade was Will and other side Hannibal . Will teared up a bit and chuckled as he quipped “If you eat me on Christmas, Who will tell the dogs you miss them when you’re at work?” Hannibal put the knife back in the box on the table then took Wills face in his hands “I’m not going to eat you Will, Well not with utensils anyway.” Will snorted as Hannibal smirked. “Our names are on both sides to symbolize we are two sides of the same coin, or knife in this case. We are the same. You are my Beloved.” 

Will kissed him hard and pulled him close. His nails dug into Hannibal’s sides claiming him as hard as the kiss. “Beloved, Huh? “ Hannibal nodded “Is it as good as Velvet Daddy?” Will laughed hard “PLEASE stop saying that.” “Maybe after Christmas?” Will blew out a puff of air “Finnee. Who gave you the box full of boxes idea?” Hannibal shook his head and scoffed “You’d kill them and me.” Will picked up the pocket knife and put the tip gently against Hannibal’s chest. “Would you like to go first?” Hannibal kissed him deeply and grabbed the knife

 “Where would the fun be in that?”

Happy Holidays Fanibals.               

#hannibal #Hannibal #hannigram #hannigram christmas #will graham #hannibal lecter #hannibal nbc #Christmas #Christmas fic #hannibal au #eat the rude #murder husbands #mlm fic #hannigram fluff

[differenceenginegirl]

Everything seems a little dark and scary at the moment, so I have complied a list of links to cultural and/or educational things (and some just streams of cute animals, or just plain fun) that are available to watch or listen to or do for free (mostly) online. Some of these will only work for the duration of the current situation (marked with a *), but most are permanent (so far as I know) so can be kept around for a little bit of sunshine on a rainy day.

Feel free to add to this with your own links or ideas, and remember, we’ll get through this together (with the appropriate social distancing). Follow the advice that’s been given, wash your hands, and be kind to one another. 

The majority of links were brought to my attention by @theyahwehdance, @elleflies, and @buckysleftarm (plus a bit of a deep dive through my drafts). Under a cut because hoo boy it got long... 

(Some links in the linked lists may be broken, some may be region-locked, and some may be duplicated, I haven’t checked them all.)

Culture and Education!

The Metropolitan Opera, free nightly (19:30 EDT, 23:00 GMT) broadcasts of operas, available for 20 hours following the broadcast too. (Schedule for the first week)*

Berlin Philharmonic: 30 days free access to their virtual concert hall (redeem before 31st March 2020)*

Playbill have compiled a list of 15 professionally recorded musicals you can watch at home (Not all free) and are inviting people to join them in watching Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella Starring Lesley Ann Warren on 20th March at 20:00 ET! (video may be region locked) 

12 highlighted virtual museum tours and a whole load of others from around the world!

Science Twitter, a series of Skype with a Scientist virtual lectures! (A sign up with an email is required through the link in the tweet, running from 12:00-14:00 EST, (16:00-18:00 GMT)

30 virtual field trips! Links to virtual tours and live cameras of many different places! (Aimed at kids)

Animals!

Cincinnati Zoo Facebook Live virtual safaris, every weekday at 15:00 EDT (19:00 GMT)* Completed safaris will be posted to their website shortly after the Live finishes, and also kept on their Facebook.

Live Monterey Bay Aquarium Cams: 10 different cams showing various tanks and enclosures, and the bay itself!

Live San Diego Zoo Cams: 9 different cams showing various creatures in their habitats! 

Atlanta Zoo Panda Cam

Danish Sea Eagles Cam (this site in Danish, and may go dark, as the equipment is solar powered): A live feed of a Danish Sea Eagle nest!

Peregrines in Norwich and Bath!

Live Animal Cam, Ohio: A cam focused on a feeding station, with night vision so the feed continues even after the sun goes down! (This shows wild animals, so there is no guarantee that you’ll see creatures)

Shedd Aquarium let their penguins out to explore! (Under supervision) More exploration here! 

Two Oceans Aquarium did too, and look at these little cuties on the stairs!

A livestream of adoptable kitties!

And here’s a thread with some of these cams, and more!

Music!

Various people (started by cellist Yo-Yo Ma) playing/sharing music that comforts them on Twitter.

Virtual High School Musicals! (Original Thread) (Wider Hashtag) Many High School kids are now finding themselves unable to perform the musicals they’ve been working so hard on, so Laura Benanti invited them to video themselves performing and share it with her, so they still get to perform for an appreciative audience! (Some of these are absolutely stunning!)

Never before heard Hamilton track demo! 

A playlist of Quarantunes on Spotify, compiled by Rita Wilson (Tom Hanks’ wife)

A playlist of 101 Feel-Good songs on Spotify, compiled by @lanamlouise 

This guy made a really cool instrument out of PVC pipes!

A group of engineers in Stockholm turned a set of stairs into a piano to encourage people to use them rather than the escalator!

Stories!

Josh Gad reads a bedtime story (Olivia goes to Venice) with voices!

Various celebrities reading kids stories, as part of a charity initiative to keep kids fed during school shutdowns.

A bunch of free short stories, essays, audio and video by the wonderful author @neil-gaiman (Plus two photos of him in an ancient hat!)

Find your local indie bookstore and support them while also getting a new book! (US only)

And of course, you can’t leave out the marvelous Archive Of Our Own for fanfiction and fanworks for almost every fandom you can think of! (Remember to make use of the tags and filters to narrow your search or avoid things you don’t want to see/read!)

Food!

A recipe for Norwegian Christmas Butter Squares! (Apparently like sugar cookies, but in bar form and better)

A fudgy brownie-in-a-mug recipe!

A really nice chocolate pudding (in the British sense, so like a cake) with spiced chocolate sauce! (I love the whole cookbook that this is from, and it’s especially good for Discworld fans. Available from various sellers, I have linked my favourite money-sink, the Discworld Emporium: Nanny Ogg’s Cookbook)

My favourite biscuits (cookies) to make! Honey and cinnamon, with a picture book (Honey Biscuits by Meredith Hooper) that you can read alongside to explain to kids where all the ingredients came from!

Creativity and learning new things!

LUNCH DOODLES with Mo Willems! (13:00 ET weekdays, videos remain post-stream) Aimed mostly at kids, but don’t let that stop you doodling with the  Kennedy Center Education Artist-in-Residence!

A little list of doll makers/dress-up sites!

How to take really good photos of the night sky with a phone! (Please continue to observe social distancing rules while taking your pretty pictures)

Fancy making a language? Here’s a site with resources to help you get going with that!

A long list of sources of inspiration, arty websites, and some that are just fun!

Make your very own Peaches the Mouse by @my-darling-boy!

Want to learn 3D modelling? Fusion360 is free (for hobbyists and students) and professionally used, with a good network of tutorials and an, imo, fairly intuitive interface! (I use this a lot)

Want to play with Photoshop but don’t have the money? Here’s a free, in browser version! (Has ads, but they’re unobtrusive)

Want to try your hand at creating a sim? The Sims 4 Character Creator Demo is free! (Limited options, but still fun to play with)

Whether you play D&D or not, this is a really cool custom miniature creator, with loads of options that are being constantly added to updated! (And if you have the money, you can get it in a printable format, or printed for you in a variety of materials!)

Fancy learning something new? Memrise has a load of free courses, ranging from real languages like French or Spanish for beginners to fictional languages like Quenya (one of the Elven languages from LotR) or Klingon, or trivia bits like Harry Potter Spells or Noble Houses in Game of Thrones, and many more! (Available in multiple languages, although not all courses may be available in all languages)

Ever fancied trying to build armour or cosplay props from foam? R31 Studios has you covered with free PDF templates for all sorts of bits!

Meditation and Calm!

60 second meditation tool! Put a worry into a star, and watch it float away with a calming soundtrack and 

Meditation with Lizzo!

Customisable Rain Sounds!

Customisable Train Sounds!

And many more customisable noise generators!

Play with liquid/particles! (Warning: this one made me feel a bit motion-sick, but pretty!)

Interactive generative art!

Random bits I couldn’t catagorise!

Don’t want to dine alone? Have dinner with the Gaffigans!

A series of Mildly Interesting images from @catchymemes!

A group of stuntmen doing Super Mario!

Another list of Good Links (Really well organised!) by @secretladyspider! 

@thelatestkate draws wonderfully reassuring cartoons! (On Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook too!)

World Record Egg Instagram! Lots of nice little positive cartoons.

Happy news from The Happy Broadcast on Instagram, The Happy News, and HuffPost Good News!

Here’s an ongoing list of good stuff by @pftones3482! (Check the notes for more good stuff, and the latest addition)

Some feel-good browser games!

And finally, a little frog here to give you some reassurance!

#positivity #feel good #happy things #reassurance #link list

[suckitsurveys]

What is a fruit that you might eat in the morning? Bananas. 

Do you enjoy any food combinations that others might consider to be weird? I mean, probably? I can’t think of anything right now. 

What is a green vegetable that you enjoy eating? Spinach.

Name something you might find in a salad. Anchovies.

What is your favorite type of sandwich? One someone makes for me, lol. 

Which condiment do you use the most often? Good question. I don’t think I use any more than others, tbh. Like, I dip different things in different sauces. Name a chocolate bar that you enjoy eating. Kit Kats.

What is a meat that you do not eat - ever. Veal.

Are you lactose intolerant, or have any other sort of food allergies? Nope.

What was the last food that you burnt your mouth on? It happened recently but I cannot remember what the food was now. 

Which brand of soup do you eat? I don’t really eat a specific brand?

What are some flavors of ice cream that your enjoy? Butter pecan, anything caramel, vanilla, chocolate chip cookie dough, various Ben and Jerry’s flavors.

What is the best type of cookie, in your opinion? Pillsbury sugar cookies with the holiday shapes printed on them.

Would you rather have popcorn, pretzels, or chips as your salty snack? Chips. I prefer my popcorn more buttery than salty. Also, oddly enough, I’m currently eating pretzels.

Have you thought about going on a diet & actually went through with it? Fuck diet culture. 

When you woke up today, was there anything on your mind? I don’t remember. 

Who was the last person you interacted with for the first time? Someone at Starbucks when I picked up a drink the other day.

What colour was the wrapper of the last snack you ate? Green.

Do you have a favourite mug to drink from? What does it look like? I have a mug with bats on it. 

What was the last thing you used, that came in a spray can? Lysol. Just 2020 things!

What colour is your favourite bra? Beige. 

Who was the last person you went to for advice about something? My husband.

Have you had a deep conversation with anyone lately? Sure.

What was the last compliment you recall receiving from someone? Mark said I was cute.

And the last compliment you gave to someone else? I said Mark was cute. Lol.

What kind of bread did you eat most recently? Garlic.

What was the last sound you heard, that you found pleasant? My cat meowing.

How many books do you think there are in your house? Take a rough guess. Like, 50 ish?

Of all the books you own, which do you think has the most pages in it? I dunno.

^ And how many pages is that? I don’t knowwwww.

What was the last film you saw at the cinema? What did you think of it? Frozen Two in an actual theater over a year ago. Hocus Pocus at a drive in back in October.

In the last book you read, what was the main character’s name? Hfhdksfhdkfhdkfdfs

What was the last song you heard, that meant something to you? 34+35 by Ariana Grande :P 

How many people do you know whose name begins with Z? I can think of 1 person right now but I’m also tired af so who knows.

What do you expect to be doing at this time tomorrow? Probably trying to sleep. Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday are my last days of work until I am off for two weeks and they are going to be STRESSful.

Did you start listening to more Michael Jackson after his death? No.

When was the last time that you played hide and seek? Recently with my niece.

Who was your first celebrity crush, if you can remember? Ash Ketchum. 

Do you worry about money? Uh huh.

Have you ever had to beg for a second chance? No.

When was the last time that you sent an actual letter through the mail? I just sent out a bunch of holiday cards!

Are you excited to return to school? I’m done with school.

Do you hate Internet abbreviations? No.

What was the last insult you gave out? idk I probably called Mark an idiot. 

What’d you last look up on YouTube? I don’t remember what the last thing I searched for was but the last thing I watched was a recommended video about 25 facts about Bob’s Burgers.

Are you texting someone really awesome right now? I’m not texting anyone right now.

Do you know when to be serious and when you shouldn’t be? Yes.

Do you think that you’re funny? Sure.

Have you ever sent a secret to Post Secret? No.

What movie do you really want to see in theatres right now? There aren’t any showing in theaters in right now or for most of this year. I miss going to the movie theater.

Have either of your parents shown affection for you today? Yes, my dad said he loved me before I left his house earlier.

What’s the last thing that you sang out loud? Christmas songs.

Is there a word that you always misspell? Sure.

What was the last thing that you bought that someone else benefited from? I mean, a buncha Christmas presents that will be opened next week.

Has someone ever made you a really great mix CD? Yeah.

Have you ever been on Omegle.com? Yes.

Did you talk to someone cool there? I didn’t talk much, I just went on there to check it out.

What song reminds you of your best friend? The White Stripes always do.

Who was the last person to hit on you? My husband.

What’s on the paper nearest you? a list of things I need to do next week.

Do you have a set of lyrics that you really love? A ton.

Did you get an A in your last English class? Probably not.

What did you last use scissors for? My niece and I made a paper chain to count down to Christmas.

Did you ever secretly hate a friend of yours that thought you liked them? No.

What do you think of when I say “boat”? Uhhh, a boat?

Would you ever get a tattoo sleeve? I want a half sleeve.

Do you know any really fake people? Yes.

What does the last blanket you used look like? I’m using one with the logo of the college I work for on it right now.

Do you have appreciation for graffiti? I’ve seen some really cool graffiti artwork.

Why don’t you drive? I do drive.

Does it annoy you when your printer runs out of ink? If I had one, yes.

Have you ever drank anything from a thermos? Yeah.

When was the last time you played in the snow? Earlier this year with my nieces.

Do you know any ignorant people? Yes.

What is the coolest name you’ve ever heard? Lots of cool names.

What did you last argue with someone about? I don’t recall.

Is there anyone that you dislike for no real reason? No, I have reasons.

Have you had a good day? Yes.

Are you going to have a good night? I mean, I am right now.

#surveys #quarantine

[elejahfanfic]

Hello Love/2

Fanfiction

Part 2

AU story with tvd characters

Miguel Galindo x Elena Gilbert💖

Ft. Klaroline, Kennett

It's a love story -no vampires. Human.

Featuring a song by David Bisbal_Me enamore de ti

Also, Yemaya is played by Zoe Saldana.

♡□

So much is going on in this ch, there is so many characters - I hope it still has a coherent flow - 😅

Thanks for reading. 😀😘

Tag_@miguelsbrat

♤♡◇♧

Niklaus, or better known as Klaus to his family and friends, just taken a cab to take him to the Mikaelson residence.

He still wasn't sure if he made the right decision to return home after so many years abroad, where he had built a very good reputation and established himself as a prominent young architect making his firm The Wolf Group, as they called themselves, one of the very best. He left it to be run by his partner, Marcel Gerard.

It was one morning after he spoke to Miguel that he made the abrupt decision to take a sabatical year and spend time with the family. Actually, to be precise, with his siblings, as his relationship with his parents was not a good one.

***

Meanwhile

In Rebekah's office, she was looking at the photographs that were to go in the next issue.

"Get me Damon" she said to her assistant Vicki.

"Anything else?" Vicki asked.

"No. I'll be working till late, so you can go. Thanks" Rebekah said.

The eldest of them was Finn, who tragically died in a car crash, at the age 20. Niklaus was their second child. He was three years old when they adopted Miguel.

Rebekah chose to work hard to prove to her father that she can get the fashion magazine up and running and make a huge success of it when she took over. So, at work she was known as the shrew, some of her co-workers would refer to her as a blood-sucker at times. The Mikaelson family was regarded as the most ambitious when business was concerned. Their parents taught their children to be excellent, to strive to excel. To be the best. And they made them proud.

After, Kol, Rebekah and finally Henrik followed.

Miguel fell in love and chose to go to live in San Diego to work after he married. And as his wife died, instead of returning to New York, he chose to go to Mexico City. As for Klaus, after finishing his studies decided to travel the world, finally settling in Europe starting to work as an architect in a small firm.

The Mikaelsons were a big family.

But lately, work was all she had on her mind.

Damon got to her office in a little while, and as he entered the first thing she said was-

"We are professionals and personal stuff should never affect the work-still- I am going to say this, because Elena is my friend and I love her dearly - you're an asshole! If you weren't so damned good at what you do I would kick you to the curb."

"That's not bad. I kind of thought you would dagger me!" Damon said.

"Let's get to work. Look at those", she now showed what she didn't like about those photos and asked for a new photo session with the next month's cover person.

***

Elsewhere

Bonnie and Caroline met Elena for some good old retail therapy. The best remedy when trying to kinda mend a broken heart. A change in style, hair was Caroline's suggestion. Also, they all had already received an electronic invitation to the Mikaelson cocktail night. And they need great dresses for the occasion.

Elena kept quiet about her unusual meeting in the cafe.

*

In the Upper East Side, Miguel met his son at his new school. Cris as he and all his family and friends called him didn't want to go to a private school, and so Miguel enrolled him in the public school recommended by Rebekah.

Cristobal, looked a lot like his mother, very savvy, goodhearted teenager, who knew exactly what he wanted in his life. He was very close his father. The death of Emily, cut them both and glued them even more together. Sometimes Cristobal took more care of his father, than the other way around. Mostly because Miguel was very dedicated to his work.

There were certain things he still needed to do regarding the transfer, and he now dealt with all that.

"There something different about you dad" he said to him when they got out of the school.

"In what way?" Miguel looked surprised at his son.

"I don't know.  But- different! You have a happy face."

"I have a happy face?"

"Yes. Usually it's - just serious." Cristobal said as he opened the car door.

Miguel looked at the watch and he had promised their housekeeper Senora Vega that they would be on time for the evening dinner. "Come on, we are late."

And there was a certain truth, he felt different. The woman Elena that he had met in the cafe was not getting out of his head. He had not felt a tingle in his heart for a woman for a very long time.

***

Greenich Village

Elena returned home later that evening and looked at the dress she chose for the cocktail party. Then at her new hairstyle, running her hands through them, inhaling deeply.

"Stop it!" she said to herself in the mirror, "stop thinking about him. Don't need anyone right now. Good-he looked so good in the three-piece suit- too good. "I am going crazy- what's wrong with me?!"

This man was not even her type. She prefered guys in jeans, with a badboy vibe about them. 'Mike' was completely the opposite. What was happening to her. Rebound thoughts. Totally crazy. Sliding the dress safely into the small closet, she went to the living room and put one of her mix playlists on.

Taking her laptop, she made hetself comfortable on the sofa. It was time to do some work. Lena's Cookie website needed updating. Browsing through the photos of her recent cookie creations made her stumble on a few she had done for her friend Yemaya's birthday. Though she was from Brasil, she was very much into mexican art and so she had requested mexican sugar cookies for her birthday fiesta.

Thinking of 'Mike', she looked up a recipe from her notes.

Me enamoré de ti, jamás lo imaginaba

Que algun día yo, de amor iba a vivir

***

A couple of blocks away

"Move in with me" he blurted out inbetween kisses and half way to bed disregarding supper.

"Enough of work." Bonnie said closing Kol's laptop nestling comfortably on his lap, pulling him into a kiss.

Kol finished writing the draft of his last research paper.  Bonnie sneaked up on at him with a trey of food and wine.

"Who is joking? Move in with me. I'm serious. I want you here - all the time. It's crazy paying for two apartments, sleeping ovet here- there."

"Ok," Bonnie said,"yeah, let's be practical"

"This is not about being practical," Kol drew his fingers up her cheeks, looking at her dreamily, "I really want you here with me all the time."

"When you look at me that way, I could never say no."

"You drive me crazy" Kol smiled, "At times I can't believe you are real - and you are with me"

"Shut up and kiss me" Bonnie pressed her forfinger on his lips.

She was a person so very open hearted, giving and so loving. He met her accidently, so he thought, as he waited for Rebekah to meet him for lunch at the bar. He didn't know that the Rebekah and the others set Bonnie and he up on a blind date. He complained to Rebekah that he had no luck in the love department and that he had enough of dates that led to nowhere.

He kissed her, and he took that as a 'yes'.

***

Stefan met his fellow journalist Yemaya for a last minute check before he gave in his article for print.

"Stop joking"

"Want to grab a drink?" he asked casually.

"Just one!" she stressed out, "Last night I had one too many"

"Wow- in the middle of the week ?!"he teased her as he knew her rule not to drink during the week.

"We took Elena out to kick her shoes off. She was really down."

"I heard," Stefan said, "I cannot make excuses for my brother, he is not bad-but he makes hell of mistakes."

"All the time!" Yemaya added.

"Yeah, but I am not really into the Damon- Elena talk. Actually, I need a date for a cocktail party?!"

"You got invited too?!" Yemaya was surprised.

"Maybe it was some mistake, but it came from Mikael's official e-mail!" Stefan said.

"Yes. I would like to be your date!" Yemaya accepted happily.

"Good!"- Stefan smiled, and  now waited for her to finish off what she was doing.

 ***

Days went by in a flash, and everyone had mostly work on their mind. Well, not everyone. Elena had something else on her mind, or rather someone else.

The Mikaelson cocktail party started to be the thing everyone started to talk about.

Esther and Rebekah were deeply immersed in the event. Everything had to be perfect.

Esther had invited all her family for a family brunch the day before.

Kol, Miguel and Cristobal arrived an hour before the meal. Cristobal immediately went with Henrik, who was two years older than him and that was a bit strange as he was in actual fact his uncle.

"What is not weird with this family" Cristobal said looking at Henrik wide-eyed.

"I kind of have to get to know Klaus and Miguel- they look too serious" Henrik said.

"Dad can be fun-he just doesn't like to show it much!" Cristobal explained. "Show me the last vynils you’ve bought."

"Come on" Henrik said gesturing to follow him to his room.

*

Rebekah walked in the living room all chirpy, "Gossiped much?!"

"No. Why would you think so?" Klaus said. "Then you have changed- you always had something smart to say about me"

"I did hear already comments about what a dragon you are at work, " Klaus teased, "it's only fashion, but I guess it has to be run with military precision. Father must be very proud!"

"There-you see" Rebekah looked at Miguel, who wanted to stay out of it.

"I hear you have new friends," Klaus said,"kicked the old snobby ones to the curb, I hear"

"I am sick of her snoby friends- yes-I have managed to make proper friends, and if you behave, maybe I will introduce them to you!" Rebekah shot back at her brother tapping him on the shoulder.

Esther walked into the Salon and there was gladness in her heart. All her children were there, and that was a rare occasion in the last years.

Her husband now joined them and they sat down for a very different brunch they all were used to. It was warm, chatty and quite lively.

Esther was counting her blessings, though her heart was not entirely at ease.

***

The next day, the pre-cocktail buzz was already in full flow with both the hosts as well as their invites.

Caroline talked to Elena over the phone about the cocktail party and Klaus.

"He looks really good," Caroline said, "you should check his site- he has done some amazing stuff."

"Caroline, you are telling me that I get into things head over heals like instantly. Rebekah is great, but he is a Mikaelson. Do you really want to get involved with one of them?"

"Elena, I know what you're thinking. Too close to home. Could mess up a great friendship if things go bad"

"Not thinking anything. Ok. I got to go. See you later"

"I will pick you up," Caroline said, "oh, I went back and changed the dress. I am wearing the blue dress - right- Jess is hear to do my hair. I will see you soon."

"Ok." Elena put the phone down.

Elena went to do her hair and make up herself. She was good in anything creative. She decided to wave it a bit and pin one side. She was going for a more natural look, and yet looking glam.

Simplicity has always been her motto. And yet, everything she did never looked simple. From her range of cookies to her relationships. 

The door bell went and Elena was surprised to see Yemaya at the door. She had already been ready and dressed.

"Hey- Sorry. I just had to come" the woman stormed in.

Elena could see that her friend was all flustered. Something major must have happened for her to be coming and not calling.

Elena now waited to hear her spill the beans.

"Ok -I am going to say it- huh- I slept with Stefan. We went for a drink and it was just one drink -and we talked and he drove me home and then we kissed and then we kissed some more and- you know the rest."

Elena didn't understand what was so bad about it. He and Yemaya were work collegues. And that is exactly now what was Yemaya's concern.

"I said I would never get involved with someone I work with."

"Shall I guess what you told him in the morning?! Exactly that?! Right?"

Yemaya nodded. 

***

In the Mikaelson Mansion, Esther Mikaelson was going through the list with her personal party organizer for the afternoon cocktail party the family was hosting for an exlusive charity event for the hospital Miguel and Kol worked for. Just one look from her said volumes when she was displeased with something. When her favourite sister died in the car crash, everyone thought that she would retreat and never come back, as she did go away for a year to grieve and be by herself. The grief changed something in her, she became a recluse, but adopting Miguel, brought her back to life. As he now walked out into the garden, greeting her with a small kiss on the cheek.

"How are you, querida madre?"

"Very well - even better now that you and Cristobal are here." Esther replied.

"This looks beautiful. Thank you for doing this."

"Darling, it is nothing. It's my pleasure. Where is Cristobal?"

"With Henrik" Miguel said and now greeted Kol and Bonnie.

Kol then went on to introduce Bonnie to Klaus and Miguel. Rebekah quickly snatched Bonnie away from the men.

"So, I'm hearing wedding bells from the distance!" Klaus teased Kol.

"Unlike you, I actually want one woman for myself!" Kol threw back at him.

"You haven't changed at all!" Klaus said. "I will leave you two to discuss whatever medical thing you will discuss"

"Bonnie" Miguel started, " she seems to be lovely!"

"What about you? Are you never going to find someone again?” Kol asked his brother.

"I don't know," Miguel said, "maybe"

"What does that mean? Have you met somebody?" Kol continued with the quizzing. "Dr Ruben has set her eyes on you. She's been asking me if you were dating anyone?"

"Please don't play the matchmaker." Miguel warned.

"Don't worry -"

Cris and Henrik came up to them and Kol now turned to them, quizzing them about the band they were forming.

The guest started arriving and Cris now observed how Esther and Mikael, together with Rebekah glided among the guests and how masterfully they played the hosts.

Damon and Stefan arrived together. Krystal made a solo appearance. 

Elena, Yemaya and Caroline entered like a grand trio.

Rebekah was there like a shot and greeted her friends.

"Who invited Krystal?" Caroline shot at Rebekah straight out seeing the woman mingling with some of the guests.

"Father's office - she is the best model and it's about business -if you thought that this was a family thing only, then you are mistaken -come on -let me introduce you to Miguel and Klaus."

Elena's heart dropped when she heard the name, but when she actually saw that it was the man she had met in the cafe, her heart started beating uncontrollably. She tried to keep her composure as Rebekah officially now introduced them.

"Hello" Miguel said, curling a smile at the brunette.

"Hello" Elena muttered and smiled back at him, “I thought your name is Mike?!”

"Uhm - it's Miguel - when we were kids Rebekah would call me Mikey - uhm - I don’t know why I introduced myself using my childhood nickname - just felt like - I suppose being back in New York”

"Oh, you've met?" Rebekah said slightly wide-eyed.

"Yes- a few days ago" Miguel said, his eyes still fixed on Elena.

Se pinta de colores toda mi alma

Con esa dulce luz de tu mirada

Y al verte sonreír, vuelvo a tener fe

Elena nodded, confirming it was so, looking at her friend and then at the suave looking cardiologist.

The waitress with champagne cocktails approached them and Miguel now took the glasses and offered one to her.

"Strawberry Bellini! I think you will like it." Miguel said to the brunette.

"Thank you!" Elena took the glass. She was at ease now. His charm just enveloped her and she didn't care anymore that she had seen Damon and Krystal at the party.

Not standing far from them, Caroline already chatted with Klaus as if they knew eachother forever. He offered her a Mimosa cocktail. 

"You are looking in the direction of that brunette like she had done something to you so disgracefully" Klaus commented since Caroline looked at Krystal off and on.

_ to be continued

#miguel galindo #elena gilbert #fanfiction #klaroline #kennett #rebekah mikaelson #alternate pairing #alterntive universe #the originals imagine #the originals fanfiction #crossover au #crossover fanfiction

[beachbabywrites]

Sinatra and a Christmas Tree // A Jughead Jones imagine

SUMMARY: Jughead and R accidentally create a new Christmas tradition. For DASHER / day 1 of the Riverdale Reindeer Games

You giggled as you watched your boyfriend struggle to get the tree in the door from the safety of the front yard. "Some help would be nice." He snapped as he shoved. You shook your head with a smile as you walked up the steps. "What's holding us up?" He asked. "The top is stuck on the door frame, here, I'll hold this end up." He made sure you had your hands wrapped around the base of the tree before he slid into the house to pick the bottom up. You yelped as the tree almost knocked you off the porch. "You good?" He asked as you regained your hold, you could hear him chuckling. "I'm fine." You answered and in a matter of seconds, the tree was in his living room, laying on its side. You closed the door quickly and turned on the little space heater in the kitchen to warm up the home. "You need help setting it up in the stand?" You asked, but Jughead insisted he had it, you only had to bring him the scissors. He let you cut the net off of the evergreen as he adjusted the stand in the corner of the living room and asking if this side of the tree looked fullest. "The ornaments, the decorations, it's all in Jellybean's old room. I'll go grab those." "You wanna bring out your record player?" You asked him as you stood up off the couch. He stopped in the doorway, hand on the wall, smiling. "Sure, you know where it is don't you?" When Jughead came back to the living room carrying a few boxes of decorations, you jumped up to help him look through the boxes after starting the music. When he pulled the lights out of the box in one huge tangled mess, you took your time untangling them and checking to see which ones still worked. As he dug around in another box, looking for the ornaments, he asked you if you wanted hot chocolate. "Hey," he asked you from behind the kitchen bar. "Do you remember that Christmas party in 8th grade where the teachers ordered us all pizza and we watched polar express." "The one with the Secret Santa presents?" You asked and he hummed. "Do you remember what I got for Christmas that year?" He asked in a taunting voice. You sighed and hung your head for a moment before testing the lights. "A Lisa Frank lip gloss set." You mumbled. You had bought the set for Betty, who was your best friend at the time, but the gifts you wrapped for her and Jughead got mixed up. Betty ended up with the Spider-man nerf gun your parents picked out. "You know, I'm still hurt you never wore those. All of the girls in school wanted a set just like it remember?" He laughed. "You're right, I'm sure Betty wouldn't have minded if I tried on the Berry Bitty Sugarplum to see how the color went with my complexion." He handed you a mug and sat beside you on the floor. "So how long do you think it will take for the branches to lay right?" You asked. He shrugged. "No idea. Not too long I guess." You two sat in comfortable silence for just a moment, listening to Sinatra crooning. "Do you remember the year when the weather was so bad that they cancelled our 4th grade recital?" "Oh yeah. Boy Archie was bummed but as soon as Fred and Mary let him out to play he forgot all about it. I still remember sitting in his yard behind, just a wall of snow, while he talked about how I would lure Betty out and he would drag her into a snowball fight." You nodded, smiling. "But when you came out-" "I cried." "You cried when he hit you with a snow ball." Jughead laughed, leaning into you. "Archie felt so bad." "But not bad enough to not do it again ten minutes later." You added. "Oh! And the year when we had Santa come to school. You wouldn't go anywhere near him." You said accusingly. "Look," He said hopping up. "I knew it wasn't him. How suspicious is it that I see Santa Claus on the news that morning talking about going to a school over in Greendale and then he shows up at ours? One of them was lying about their true identity." You laughed and told him he was ridiculous. Jughead smirked at you before taking the lights from you. "Oh yeah, you're right, I am so ridiculous. Who was it that pitched a fit in the middle of the school field trip because they didn't want to pet an animatronic reindeer?" "Have you literally never heard the song Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer? I was not taking my chances." With the multicolored lights on the tree, Jughead asked you to pull the box of ornaments to the reclining chair next to the tree. "Have we ever had a Christmas where is hasn't snowed?" You asked him as White Christmas came on. "I don't think so. You know, I want to spend just one summer in the sunshine some day. I've had about as much snow as any sane person can handle." The ornament you picked up next looked handmade, a blue bulb with a white hand print on it, drawn on to look like snow men. "Jug, is this yours?" You asked, showing it to him. He nodded and leaned down to reach for another ornament. "Your hand was so tiny, how old is this?" "I have got no idea, to be honest. 12 years maybe?" You cooed as you hung it on the tree, Jughead sent you a playful glare. "So what are we doing for our first Christmas?" He asked. "Jug, it's our second Christmas." "The first one we get to spend together. Since last year we didn't get to see each other, I figured we could make plans for something this year." You thought for a minute before answering, "I want to go ice skating." "Jughead on skates? That sounds dangerous, kid. He has zero balance. Try again." You spun around to see FP throwing his jacket over the back of the couch. "Y'all got a tree huh?" "You want to help us decorate?" Jughead asked his dad, ignoring you snickering and asking him about his balance. "Nah, I don't want to interrupt. I am going to find something for dinner though. Any ideas?" You sat on the couch with Jughead, the record playing softly in the background as the two of you admired the tree. Well, you admired the tree. Jughead couldn't take his eyes off of you. With his arm wrapped around your waist, your head leaning against his shoulder, this was a moment Jughead never wanted to end. He knew it would soon, his dad would be home any minute with pizza, but part of him prayed to anything and everything that this feeling in his chest he got when he looked at you would never go away. He also knew they were going to have a horrible time trying to clean up the stray pieces of tinsel that didn't make it to the tree, but it was worth it to have you giggling and pushing at his arms as he draped the silver plastic in your hair. "Maybe this will be our thing." You whispered, forcing him to pay attention. "Hm?" "Decorating for Christmas. Our tradition." "Tradition huh? So does that mean you plan on keeping me around for next Christmas?" He teased. "Eh, jury's still out. Mm, we should make cookies and have them ready for when FP gets home." You suggested. He nodded and pressed a kiss to the top of your head. He smiled as he watched you stand up and turn to reach for his hand.

#riverdaleevents #buggiebreak #riverdale reindeer games #jughead jones #jughead jones x reader #jughead jones imagine #riverdale #riverdale fic #riverdale imagine #riverdale oneshot #beachbabywrites

[singledarkshade]

Sapphire And Steel

Part Two “Detective Hunter,” Captain Singh’s call made Rip look up from going through the paperwork for his last case, “A word please.”

Locking his computer, Rip headed into the Captain’s office to find Detective Perkins sitting there.

“Grab a seat, Detective,” Singh said.

Rip slid into the chair at Perkin’s side, and waited. He’d only been in the city for five months and as the new guy, knew he was the bottom rung of the ladder. Which meant he was a little worried what he was getting.

“As you probably know,” Singh leaned against his desk, “Detective Perkins is retiring next week and is handing over his workload. There is one case left that is a little harder to pass over than the others. And I’m afraid your name came up.”

Rip grimaced, “Should I run now?”

Singh chuckled and handed him a case file. Rip opened it to find pictures of two beautiful women along with a very thick file of paper inside.

“Meet Gideon Ryder and Miranda Coburn,” Singh told him, “Otherwise known as Sapphire and Steel.”

“Jewel thieves,” Rip mused as he ran down the list of crime they were suspected of, “Why haven’t they been convicted? Especially since we have pictures of them with all the stolen items.”

“Oh, they send us those pictures,” Perkins let out an amused snort, “And we haven’t arrested them because we can’t find them.”

“What?”

“I’ve been on this case for three years after taking it from Detective Miller who asked to be taken off,” Perkins explained, “Every time we thought we were close, they were already gone. Leaving one of the pictures you found in there to let us know that we’d just missed them.”

Rip grimaced.

Singh gave him a tight smile, “They like to taunt the police. Perkins had quite the relationship going with them?”

Rip turned to the older man waiting for him to explain.

“They send me a birthday and Christmas card every year,” Perkins clarified, “Along with flowers to my wife on our anniversary.”

“Okay,” Rip said.

Perkins nodded, “They even sent flowers to my mother’s funeral along with a rather nice condolence card.”

Rip leaned back and mused on this, “So I can expect birthday and Christmas cards. Delivered by mail?”

“Hand delivered,” Perkins replied, “Every time.”

Rip nodded, “Well, that is something I might be able to work with.”

“Good luck,” Perkins told him, “They are smart and cunning. They like to push and play with you. Singh is hoping, considering you’re supposed to be super smart, that you’ll be a match for them.”

Flipping through the file some more, Rip hoped he would be.

                                *********************************************

  Miranda scanned the room service menu for the hotel, while Gideon had her shower. It wasn’t all that long ago they stayed in horrible rundown motels, stealing for a man who gave them very little back. The day they decided to go out on their own had been terrifying but looking around their accommodation these days Miranda knew they’d made the right decision. They were the best and all they needed was each other.

“Have you decided what we’re doing for the picture this time?” Gideon asked, wandering out of the bathroom wearing only a towel, her long damp hair falling around her shoulders, “Especially as it is our first for Detective Hunter.”

Miranda looked at her, and a smile touched her lips, “I think you exactly the way you are just now.”

“Really?” a sweet smile touched Gideon’s lips.

“Once you put the necklace on,” Miranda mused, “Lay on the couch surrounded by the cushions, but maybe show a little more cleavage and leg for our new detective. We want him to be stimulated.”

A shy smile touched Gideon’s lips, “You want just me be in the first picture we send to him?”

“Well,” Miranda gently stroked Gideon’s cheek, “We’ll be showing off the most beautiful jewel with the necklace.”

Smiling sweetly, Gideon kissed her, “I love you.”

“Love you too,” Miranda murmured, “Now, let’s get this picture taken. I’ve ordered some food, including strawberries and chocolate sauce for dessert.”

Gideon grinned before she lovingly picked up their new necklace allowing Miranda to fix it around her neck.

“What do you think?”

Miranda sighed, “You look beautiful. I’m going to get the camera while you get yourself situated in the perfect pose.”

  “I’m still not sure I like her,” Gideon said as they cuddled together on the bed watching some of the footage they had of their new friend with his girlfriend.

Miranda chuckled, “Now don’t be jealous.”

“I’m not jealous,” Gideon told her, “I’m just concerned he’s setting himself up for a broken heart.”

Kissing her temple, Miranda murmured, “He’s not invested in that relationship. Trust me. It won’t last.”

Gideon smiled before she sighed, “I kind of miss Perkins.”

“I miss his wife’s cookies,” Miranda replied, making Gideon chuckle.

Sipping her wine, Gideon mused as the man on the screen opened his fridge and started pulling out ingredients to make dinner.

“What about the roommate?” Miranda asked, “She could be a problem.”

“I can easily tag her phone so that we can work out her schedule too,” Gideon suggested.

Miranda nodded, “It’ll be helpful. It just adds one more person to work around.”

“You know I like a challenge,” Gideon smiled.

“After we send the picture tomorrow,” Miranda said, “We should head out of town for a few weeks to give them time to wear themselves out chasing their tails.”

Gideon nodded, “I can look for our next target, but we get the hotel with the spa this time. I could use a good massage.”

“Getting far too used to the high life, Miss Ryder,” Miranda laughed.

“I know you need a good mattress, or you complain about your back,” Gideon shot back.

Miranda kissed her and they lost themselves in each other as the video feed from their detective’s house played on in the background.

                                  *********************************************

  Rip scanned the footage they had of the break in, which unfortunately wasn’t much. These women were as good as Perkins had said and left so few clues that he felt like hitting his head off the desk.

Three years they’d been pulling these jobs, three years they’d been avoiding and taunting the police.

But they couldn’t have just appeared from nowhere.

“Cisco?” he called.

The younger man appeared from beneath the desk across the room, “You yelled?”

“Can you get me all the robberies with similar MO’s from the past ten years before…” he sighed, “Sapphire and Steel appeared.”

“You really hate calling them that,” Cisco chuckled, “Don’t you?”

Rip frowned at him, “Romanticizing them doesn’t make them any less criminal.”

Trying not to smirk, Cisco asked, “Why are you wanting the files?”

“Because these women are good,” Rip told him, “Far too good to have not done this until three years ago.”

Cisco nodded, “Good point.”

“Also check with Star City PD,” Rip added, “Speak to Captain Lance and let him know it’s for me. He owes me a favour. I’m going to check in with some old friends in London.”

An email appeared on his computer with some information and Rip opened it, letting out a noise of surprise at the picture that appeared on his screen.

“Wow,” Cisco uttered from behind him, “They did not send anything like that to Perkins.”

Closing the photo, Rip studied the email frowning, “They used one of our email addresses.”

“What!!” Cisco demanded.

Before Rip could say a word, his phone buzzed. At Cisco’s questioning eyebrow he replied, “It’s Caitlin.”

Opening the message, he swore when the same picture appeared on his phone. Checking the details, he shook his head in amazement.

“They entered another email and phone number under Caitlin’s profile,” Rip said.

Cisco frowned, “How did they get a hold of your phone?”

“New Year,” Rip grimaced, closing his eyes in annoyance, “They were in my house.”

Staring at him stunned, Cisco asked, “Why didn’t you say anything before now?”

“Because I thought they’d just replaced a box they’d left for me,” Rip dropped his head into his hands, “I was heading out to the party. It never occurred to me they touched my phone.”

“This could be good,” Cisco said, “The email is an internal one, but I should be able to use your phone to trace them.”

Handing over his phone, Rip nodded, “Do it. I don’t expect them to be there, but we might manage to find something from wherever they were hiding out.”

  The hotel room, despite not being touched by the staff, was spotless.

With one exception.

There was a note on the perfectly made bed with two lip prints, one silver and one blue, which read:

Detective Rip Hunter Sorry we missed you. Maybe next time Sapphire & Steel

Rip carefully picked it up and passed it to the officer standing waiting with an evidence bag.

“The rest of the place is clean,” Barry Allen, the CSI tech, told him, “It looks like they even cleaned the drain.”

“I am really beginning to hate these women,” Rip sighed, “How did Perkins do this for so long?”

Barry chuckled, “They didn’t send him love letters.”

“Does anyone have anything else?” Rip asked sharply.

“I do,” Cisco, spoke up suddenly, appearing from beneath the couch, “I have an SD card.”

Rip let out a sigh of relief, “A lead,” he said before saying silently to the sky, “Thank you.”

Barry took the SD card and put it in an evidence bag, “I’ll get this back to you Cisco as soon as I can.”

“Thanks, Barry,” Rip said, “I’ve a feeling we need all the help we can get.”

  Sara placed a beer beside Rip as he sat with his head on the breakfast bar.

“I take it work isn’t going well,” Sara noted as she drank her own beer.

Rip groaned, “I’m a good detective. I had a great record before these nightmares.”

“Come on, Rip,” Sara said, “You’re great at your job. You know that.”

Looking up he took a long drink of the beer she’d passed him.

“They stole a priceless necklace,” Rip told him, “Sent me a picture of one of them wearing it in only a towel then left me a note.”

Sara perked up with interest, “Let’s see the picture.”

Rip frowned at her.

“Oh, come on,” Sara cried, “You can’t tell me something like that and not show me the picture.”

Sighing Rip opened the message and handed Sara his phone.

“Wow, she is hot,” Sara breathed, “That is some picture.”

Rip nodded, “I know.”

“What about the note?” Sara asked.

He sighed again, “A taunt. We found an SD card near it and we thought might have something.”

“Did it?”

“Fifty photos,” Rip told her, “All of desserts, with one single diamond in each. That’s all.”

Sara took a quick drink, “So no clues.”

Rip shook his head, “Not one,” dropping his head back onto the breakfast bar he sighed, “I really hate these women.”

#fic #legends of tomorrow #the flash #rip hunter #gideon #miranda coburn #sara lance #cisco ramon #burnship

[littlepryingpandorica]

Project Rebuild Chapter 12

EXT. GARMADON’S VOLCANO LAIR - DAY

The Shark Army returns to Garmadon’s Volcano Lair, which is shaped like a giant shark fin jutting out of the water.

The instrumental version of “Coming Undone” by Korn plays in the background.

[Song: Coming Undone by Korn - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KiDY3UCAyiY ]

Multiple Flying Jelly Subs and Manta Ray Bombers fly into the caverns with lava flowing on the sides. Other aquatic vehicles can be seen entering and exiting the lair. Inside the volcano are hollowed out chambers for use of the different departments in Garmadon’s army. As the music plays, we get an epic, single take, tracking shot exploring the different areas in Garmadon’s Volcano Lair.

INT. VOLCANO ATRIUM - DAY

At the center of the Volcano Lair is The Atrium, where the Research and Development, and I.T. Departments can be found. Many I.T employees are busy working.

Hanging high above in the ceiling is a Dragon Skull on display. Beneath it is a plaque that says “IN LOVING MEMORY OF DEMIC”.

A lady with round blue glasses and a black Batman shirt under her labcoat walks through rows of computers, machinery and display screens. This is TERRI THE GPL TECH. She oversees everything.

She pauses at a display screen that reads “PROJECT SEPARATOR: GOLDEN POWER EXTRACTION AT 86%”. Beneath it is a loading bar to track the progress.

Terri walks over to the equipment connected to the display screen. She watches four golden BRICK SEPARATORS strapped to extraction machines. GOLDEN POWER is being drained from the Brick Separators, which flows into a War Hammer placed on a pedestal.

Content with the progress, Terri goes to her desk and continues working on the blueprints of a large shark-themed, humanoid mech.

INT. GARMADON’S THRONE ROOM - DAY

The walls of the Throne Room have murals of ONI MASKS. Lord Garmadon is sitting on his throne. He is crying tears of fire.

There are several Shark Army soldiers present, attending to Garmadon’s whims. Generals # 4 and 6, currently the only remaining generals, are also present.

But then we focus on a new character, a dark blue reptillian humanoid with a cobra-like hood and a long, brick-built rattlesnake tail. He has red eyes with spiral patterns. But his most noticeable feature is a large, faded scar that can be seen spanning across his entire torso. This is GENERAL FANG THE HYPNOBRAI.

Garmadon sobs loudly. He is an emotional mess with fire tears leaking out of his eyes and fire snot dripping from where his nose would be. His anger makes him look monstrous but his sorrow makes him look pitiful. He swings wildly between these two extremes.

Garmadon blows his nose on a piece of non-Lego tissue paper. It catches fire and he throws it at a pile of other discarded tissues. The pile of tissues also catches fire.

General Fang rolls his eyes and puts out the flame out with a fire extinguisher.

GARMADON: I can’t believe my own son would turn out to be the Green Ninja! Where did I go wrong? I did not see this coming at all!

Garmadon looks at old pictures of him and Lloyd bonding over evil acts. One photo has them standing on the giant non-Lego grass next to a “Keep off the grass” sign. Another photo has them gleefully riding the Ninjago Monorail as it is about to run over several Ninjago citizens tied to the train tracks. Yet another photo has the them playing a regular game of baseball, with Lloyd as the batter and Garmadon as the pitcher. But instead of throwing a baseball, Garmadon throws a kitten in Lloyd’s direction.

General # 4 snaps Garmadon out of his reverie.

GENERAL # 4: Actually, Sir, if you look at past prophecies, this should have been really obvious in hindsight.

General # 4 holds out the original fortune prophecy that says Lloyd would defeat his father.

GENERAL # 4: They even have an attack called the Wu-Cru formation. That really should have clued you in on your brother’s involvement!

Garmadon angrily glares at the general. General # 4 tries to verbally backtrack.

GENERAL # 4: Clued us! Clued us in!

GARMADON: You’re fired!

Garmadon slams down a button and General # 4 literally gets fired out of the volcano.

A Shark Army soldier offers Garmadon a cup of tea, perhaps in a futile attempt to calm him down.

Garmadon drinks the tea and immediately spits it out.

GARMADON: What is this? Green tea?

Garmadon throws the cup of hot tea at another nearby Shark Army soldier in the background. The soldier lets out a Wilhelm scream.

GARMADON: The only tea I drink is black! LIKE MY HEART! You’re fired!

Garmadon slams down the button again and the soldier is jettisoned out the volcano.

GARMADON: (ANGRILY) SOMEBODY BETTER GIVE ME SOME GOOD NEWS OR THE NEXT PERSON TO TALK GETS FIRED OUT OF THE VOLCANO!

General # 6 receives a message over his radio communicator. He nervously relays the message to Garmadon.

GENERAL # 6: Sir, your daily prophecy has arrived.

A large non-Lego fortune cookie is wheeled into the throne room and delivered to Lord Garmadon. Garmadon cracks it wide open with a swift karate chop.

The fortune prophecy reads "You will not conquer Ninjago City today. Better luck next time." Garmadon loses his temper at this. Everyone else in the room sees the fortune prophecy and stands completely still in fear.

GARMADON: AAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRGGGGGGHHHHHHHHH!!!

General # 6 drops to the ground in a fetal position.

GENERAL # 6: Just make it quick, sir.

General Fang hisses and put himself between Garmadon and General # 6. He speaks with an emphasis on the “s” sounds in his words.

GENERAL FANG: Sssssssssssir, you might want to firssssstt consssssssider replacementssss...

Garmadon is enraged, practically grinding his teeth in anger. But he pauses to consider the sense in General Fang’s suggestion. He composes himself, wipes the fire tears from his eyes, inhales and speaks to General # 6 in a polite tone.

GARMADON: Oh but before that, could you kindly call in the next batch of generals for me?

General # 6 radios in on his communicator.

GENERAL # 6: Hello HR? Lord Garmadon is requesting a new batch of generals. Okay.

He turns to Garmadon.

GENERAL # 6: They’re on their way, Sir.

GARMADON: Good!

For the third time, Garmadon slams down on the button and General # 6 flies out the volcano.

On cue, the new batch of generals enter the room. They all look exactly like the previous batch of generals but with genderswapped face prints.

All the new generals are uneasy and apprehensive. The Shark Army soldiers mirror their apprehension. They know what will happen next.

Garmadon glares down at the new generals. His eyes burn a bright red.

We go to Garmadon’s POV and in the center of each torso of the new generals, he sees a glowing golden aura. He stares for a beat then turns to General Fang.

GARMADON: General Fang, I’m not in the mood to invoke them one at a time. Take care of this for me.

GENERAL FANG: Assssss you wiiissshhh…

But then General Fang hisses to himself.

GENERAL FANG: You jusssst don’t want to deal with the messssss of fortune cookiesssss.

Garmadon eyes General Fang suspiciously.

GARMADON: What was that?

GENERAL FANG: Nothing, sssssssir.

General Fang slithers into position. He nods at Garmadon. Both their eyes glow bright red as though in synchronization.

General Fang turns to the new generals. They look terrified. General Fang begins shaking his tail rattle. The spirals in his red eyes begin spinning and he hypnotizes the new generals.

GENERAL FANG: Look into my eyessssss. I control you. Follow the Way of Lord Garmadon. Let anger ssssssseep into your heartssssss.

One of the generals looks away. He looks like a male version of the previous General # 2. Garmadon appears behind him, places his hands on the general’s head and forces him to look at General Fang.

GARMADON: Ah ah ah, can’t have you resisting now, can we?

GENERAL FANG: Follow the Way of Lord Garmadon.

The glowing, golden auras in each of the general’s torsos burn brightly. But in Garmadon’s torso is a dark purple aura. A wisp of his purple aura floats out of his torso and splits into seven snake-shaped wisps. These snake-shape wisps drift in the air and slither into the torsos of the seven generals. Their respective golden auras become tainted by the purple aura.

The new generals twitch in uncontrollable spasms. Intense percussive music plays in the background as this happens.

We see a shot from behind General Fang. He moves out of the way, revealing a very stern and angry-looking batch of generals. Each of their eyes briefly flash red. The Shark Army soldiers in the room cover their mouths in shock.

GENERAL FANG: Whom do you ssssserve?

The new generals speak as one.

GENERALS 1 - 7: All hail Lord Garmadon!

CUT TO: INT. NINJAGO HIGH SCHOOL HALLWAY - DAY

The Ninja all jump out of their lockers. They have all changed back to their civilian outfits. They are all sweaty and panting as they run back to class.

Kai whispers to Lloyd.

KAI: But seriously, did you just have blab about your secret identity to your dad?

LLOYD: Later, Kai. We’ll talk about it later.

INT. SCHOOL CLASSROOM - DAY

The Ninja enter the classroom and try to return to their seats as inconspicuously as possible.

The words “Show and tell tomorrow” are written on the black board.

Ms. Laudita notices the Ninja and calls their attention.

MS. LAUDITA: Ahem! You were all in the bathroom for a very long time.

The Ninja all freeze in place and Lloyd improvises an excuse.

LLOYD: Yeah... We all got... diarrhea?

Lloyd shrugs his shoulders sheepishly and hopes Ms. Laudita will buy it.

MS. LAUDITA: Really? Simultaneously?

Ms. Laudita raises an eyebrow. All the other Ninja immediately go along with Lloyd’s excuse, all speaking at the same time.

KAI: Diarrhea like you couldn't believe!

ZANE: It was a most painful bowel movement.

JAY: I actually didn’t poop my pants this time.

NYA: Not as watery as usual but it was relentless!

Cole clutches his stomach and groans.

COLE: Ugh! I shouldn’t have eaten all that chocolate cake.

Kai turns around, bends over and points at his butt.

KAI: We had bricks coming out of our...

A disgusted Ms. Laudita immediately interrupts Kai to keep him from finishing his sentence.

MS. LAUDITA: Okay! That's enough! Just go back to your seats!

The Ninja all return to their seats but everyone else visibly inches their desks away.

NYA: (indignantly) Hey! We washed our hands!

CUT TO: INT. VOLCANO ATRIUM - DAY

A flashing light catches Terri’s attention. She looks at the computer screen as it finishes loading, flashing the sign “GOLDEN POWER EXTRACTION COMPLETE”. The Brick Separators have been completely drained of Golden Power. They are now just regular orange brick separators.

Terri gasps and runs off to Garmadon.

INT. GARMADON’S THRONE ROOM - DAY

Everyone in the Throne Room is still completely silent. All the Shark Army soldiers are afraid. They know whoever speaks next risks being fired out of the volcano. The new generals don’t seem aware of this.

Garmadon is pacing impatiently around the room. One general reluctantly raises his hand. It is the new General # 2, the one who previously resisted.

GARMADON: Yes, new General number 2?

GENERAL # 2: Sir, we’ve been sitting here in silence for several hours and I... generally need to do a number 2 so... can I go to the bathroom?

Garmadon narrows his eyes in anger.

GARMADON: It’s “May I? May I go to the bathroom?” You imbecile!

Garmadon presses the button again and we go to a distant shot of the new General # 2 being fired out of the volcano. Too late, he shouts his rebuttal as he flies through the air.

GENERAL # 2: Maaaaaaaaaaay Iiiiiiiiiiiiii????

GARMADON: Grammar is important even when plotting to take over the world. Now, anyone else have anything to say?

All the new generals squirm and shake their heads silently.

Suddenly, Terri bursts in through the doors, slamming them open. All the generals and Shark Army soldiers struggle to contain their gasps.

TERRI: Sir, Project Separator is complete. Your MEGAWEAPON is ready.

CUT TO: INT. VOLCANO ATRIUM - DAY

We go to a close up shot of the Megaweapon. Garmadon leans into view and admires the War Hammer. It glows with Golden Power. Garmadon places a hand on it and the glow fades away.

GARMADON: At last! The powers of the FOUR GOLDEN WEAPONS OF RECREATION are mine!

GENERAL FANG: What isssss it, ssssir?

Garmadon turns to General Fang.

GARMADON: Traditionally, a Hammer is a useful tool for building. But a War Hammer is a weapon of destruction. The Megaweapon is both. Infused with Golden Power, it now has the unlimited potential both to create and to destroy.

Garmadon lifts the War Hammer from its pedestal and moves toward General Fang in a vaguely threatening manner.

GARMADON: General Fang, how would you like to join me on my next attack?

General Fang’s eyes widen and he looks horrified at the idea. He instinctively clutches at the faded scar on his abdomen. He slowly starts to back away.

GENERAL FANG: Sssssoooo sssssorry but I musssssst decline.

Garmadon advances in a show of dominance.

GARMADON: Come now, you’ll be safe. I promise.

GENERAL FANG: Then why don’t you invoke it?

General Fang quips defensively. Garmadon answers as though talking to a toddler.

GARMADON: You know it doesn’t work that way. The powers of life and death are beyond even my abilities.

Garmadon wistfully looks up at the dragon skull of Demic. General Fang follows Garmadon’s gaze. Garmadon looks genuinely sorrowful for a beat. He shakes it off. Then he gives a demonic smile to General Fang.

GARMADON: But I have a good feeling about this one.

Garmadon grips the War Hammer in his hands and gives it a spin.

GARMADON: I’ll even let you ride in my mech this time.

GENERAL FANG: What mech? You don’t even have your sssshark mech anymore. The Ninja trasssshed it, remember?

Garmadon mutters to himself, not really listening to General Fang.

GARMADON: Yes. That Black Ninja packs a real punch. He has a spunk and willfulness that almost feels... familiar.

GENERAL FANG: And now your mech liessssss at the bottom of the ssssea.

GARMADON: Trashed. At the bottom of the sea. Heh.

Garmadon mulls over these words. He tightens his grip on the War Hammer and yells out a raging war cry.

GARMADON: AAAAAAAGGGGGGHHHHH!!!!!

With all his strength, Garmadon uses the War Hammer to strike a wall of the volcano lair. Streaks of Golden Power snake out from the impact point and spread to the rest of the wall.

After a beat, the entire wall EXPLODES!

KABOOM!

Lego bricks rain down everywhere. Everyone except Garmadon panics. There is now a massive hole in the side of the Volcano Lair.

GENERAL FANG: Ssssssirr! What are you doing?

General Fang tries to shield himself from the falling Lego bricks.

Garmadon looks back at General Fang and gives a knowing smile. As though on cue, Terri hands him the blueprint of the humanoid mech.

GARMADON: Observe.

Garmadon holds aloft the Megaweapon. He looks at the blueprint then closes his eyes and concentrates. The Megaweapon begins to glow. Waves of Golden Power radiate out of of the Megaweapon and into the Lego bricks. Ominous choir music begins playing.

The Lego bricks and pieces float in the air and stack on top of each other, creating some sort of brick built structure. One by one the bricks snap and click into place. Slowly, the structure begins to take shape.

Close up on Garmadon as he strains to mentally build the new mech. Then close up on General Fang with an awestruck expression.

When Garmadon is finished, he sets the Megaweapon on the ground and collapses on all sixes. He is sweating and breathing heavily. Using the Megaweapon clearly takes a toll on him.

General Fang moves to Garmadon’s side and helps him up. Then they both stare at a giant, shark-themed but humanoid mech.

GARMADON: I call it the Garma Mecha Man. I’m sure Luh-loyd will come to his senses eventually but I will still conquer Ninjago with or without his help.

Garmadon turns to General Fang.

GARMADON: What do you say?

General Fang looks at the mech and gulps audibly.

General Fang looks back at Garmadon and concedes.

GENERAL FANG: Assss you wisssshhhh.

#Ninjago #Ninjago Project Rebuild #Project Rebuild #Garmadon #Lord Garmadon #Ninjago Garmadon #General Fang

[cosmosogler]

ok! phew!!!

this morning i woke up a LOT. i had so much trouble staying asleep that i wasn’t even that bummed when my alarm did go off.

i spent the morning doing a crap ton of stuff. i organized my desk, scanned my paperwork, figured out what i need to do to finish my welcome packet, made an anxiety jar, filled the anxiety jar with stuff that needs to get done in the near future but not today specifically, and watched a couple youtube videos. because i got up at like 9:15 and i didn’t have therapy until 1. i also made some leftovers for lunch and started washing my bedsheets and blanket.

in therapy i was a little more open-ended... not more than usual, but less focused than i felt i should be. the therapist offered to bring perseverance worksheets next time and i said that would be helpful. i didn’t really get to work on my short term goal, but i got some worksheets to get started. i said i had a lot of problems that need work, and that i would like to focus on, like, underlying problems more than things that might go away if i address the big problem.

now i gotta figure out what those underlying problems are and what i wanna do about them.

my therapist said that “finding out who you are is a lifelong process.” i find that odd... isn’t that one of the first things you learn? you spend all your time being yourself. but man i’m not always even sure what my opinion of, like, morning is. i guess that’s not a unique problem. i guess that’s good to know, since i was kind of feeling like i had been set back in that regard from so many years of... you know. having my thoughts overwritten by jerks like mom.

after therapy i dropped off my sister’s old meds at the police station and also found my childhood doctor office to ask them to fill out the ufl-approved paperwork instead of printing out their own form. all the buildings in that area look the same so i had to wander around a little bit. but the receptionist was helpful and polite, and she said the office would give me a call when it’s ready to be picked up.

when i got home i think i watched youtube videos for a while and not much else. mostly took a break. oh, i was doing my laundry. i cooked a new thing for dinner. i made “black bean ramen.” it needs to be cooked with something else though, by itself it smelled weird and didn’t taste like much. i put in some hot sauce and that livened it up a bit but it really needs, like, some kind of vegetable. the egg wasn’t enough.

after dinner i pulled out some of my note from the anxiety jar and resolved to spend ~15 minutes on each. i spent a lot more time than that... basically five hours.

what i did first was acquire all the study materials my classmate suzanne had uploaded for me. there were 38 files... so that took a bit. i haven’t read anything physics related yet though. that’s a separate note.

then i blew through a ton of stuff i needed to fill out for the welcome packet. that took maybe an hour and a half to two hours. i got really frustrated when i found out i was using the wrong browser and it wasn’t going to let me submit the forms i had just filled out.

the orientation videos are separate. but i did all my health insurance stuff, set up my student profile, and looked up a bunch of stuff about starting grad school. i will get more information about the physics program specifically and the classes i’m taking in july or august. there’s not a lot i can do right now about that, but i do feel less unprepared.

then i spent the other 2 and a half hours reading through the rest of the help posts i loaded up the other day. i put like 20 of them in my queue. i have even more in my bookmarks so i can come back to them when they become relevant in august. gotta organize my bookmarks though, i’ve got like a million on my bookmarks bar not sorted into folders.

when dad got home from work we let the injured mouse go in the backyard. his eye was looking a lot better when i saw him running around. also, he was running around. he should be fine, barring any horrible catastrophe. like falling back into the pool filter. or being found by an owl while getting back to his nest.

i was so busy with all this stuff that i forgot to do my pokemon stuff. i will have to try to catch it early in the morning again so i’m not up waiting until 1 to pick up berries and junk. the daily stuff isn’t lined up with the poke pelago.

i still need to do my self esteem journal. that’s only three sentences though so i can just do it when i’m done with this.

tomorrow i need to probably get started with dusting the house. mom is assigning us “chores.” by which i mean she will be bossing me and my sister around while my brother plays league of legends. i also gotta pick up the immunization form. and... do the orientation videos when i get the authorization email. do my therapy homework. mom asked me to bake some cookies, so i’m going to do the macadamia nut mix. asher is allergic to nuts so if i make them while he’s not in town then i won’t be tempted to share any with him haha. i can make the snickerdoodles when he gets back. i want to brush the dogs for a while so eve doesn’t shed all over the bedding i just washed. maybe i will see about getting some exercise first thing in the morning since i haven’t been doing a lot with wiley (it’s over 100 even in the evenings). i will also try to do “self care” and use more stuff in the shower than i usually do. my sister brought home all sorts of weird stuff and i’ve got a lot of christmas presents i haven’t used.

i also need to figure out what i want to eat tomorrow. i think mom had the rest of the leftovers for dinner. 

hmm, ok, that is a lot of things. i will try to pace myself a little more carefully going forward. i don’t want to tire myself out right away. i read so many tips and articles tonight that words stopped meaning anything for a little while.

i didn’t have time to color the owl picture today since i read all the way through my scheduled drawing time. i got some ideas from my group mates though so it won’t be hard to continue working on it i think.

as always, i feel like there is something else, but i do not know what it is. maybe i am just not getting enough sleep. i will try to limit myself to 1 jar note tomorrow so i have more time for something more relaxing instead of exhausting.

the kid i was doing an art trade with posted her picture today. it is basically a trace of the mouse reference image i gave her. she’s got a good shading instinct though. hopefully in the future she will feel more confident about making up her own poses.

ehhh i’ll think more tomorrow. i am tired now, and my head hurts.

[ecotone99]

[MS] ‘Retaliation’

A frenzied shriek over the airwaves was the only response to the controller’s repeated request for identification. A few tense moments later, the unidentified plane crashed east of the airport and nearly caused an air-to-ground collision. A midsize jet had been taxing down the runway in preparation for takeoff but had to abort in lieu of the emergency circumstances.

The crash investigators were surprised there were no survivors or human remains found amid the wreckage. A cursory examination revealed that the vast majority of the doomed vessel was still intact; allowing for a realistic outcome of survivors. As a matter of fact, no explosion or fire had occurred at all in the fuselage. Closer inspection revealed the reason was because the fuel tanks were completely empty at the moment of impact.

What did puzzle them was the very odd combination of forty five sticks of dynamite; and the bodies of twenty seven adult chimpanzees. “With those sticks of dynamite, there wouldn’t have been anything left if it still had fuel.”; They reasoned. "Luckily they didn't detonate from the impact alone."

The obvious conclusion to the mystery was that the plane had been piloted by rogue animal smugglers. Those unscrupulous criminals were lured by the illicit fees paid to smuggle primates across the world to North American experimental laboratories.

Another curious aspect of the investigation was the unusual location of the dead apes. They were scattered throughout the plane; instead of being in cages or crates. Ordinarily wild animal smugglers isolate them in the cargo hold during transportation. Three of the apes were even in the cockpit area. The investigators concluded that the smugglers had miscalculated their fuel supply and had bailed out before the crash; or hastily made their escape as the emergency vehicles screamed to the scene.

“Perhaps a loose chimpanzee distracted them from checking the fuel gauge.”; Another theorized enthusiastically. "During the chaos, the loose primate may have freed the others. That would explain the dead chimps being in the cockpit."

An all points bulletin was put out for the unknown suspects. The official report suggested at least three would have been required to fly a plane of that size. Since it crashed near the runway, it was assumed they were still close by. After running the plane’s ID number through the database, it was determined to have been stolen a few hours earlier from a large land development company. The mid-sized cargo plane had been taken from an airfield near the owner's construction site; four hundred miles away.

Perplexing to the investigators was the fact that the company headquarters was only a few miles away from where the stolen plane crashed. It seemed to be quite a curious “coincidence” that (of all the places the smugglers could have went with their contraband), their flight path was in direct line to whom it had stolen it from. That revelation brought up many unanswered questions which needed to be taken up with the owner. He agreed to come in for questioning and to give an official statement.

When asked why the stolen explosives hadn’t been reported, the owner contended that he had no knowledge of it. He further explained that he hadn’t even been told about the missing plane until an hour beforehand by the site foreman. His explanation and genuinely confused expression satisfied the local police but they had been given strict instructions to detain him a bit longer. A federal agent was on the way to further interviewed him.

In all investigations involving explosives, animal smuggling, and aircraft highjacking the government assumes jurisdiction since criminal offenses of that nature could threaten national security. Also taken very seriously are suspected cases of insurance fraud and false theft reports. That was exactly what the inspector suspected under the circumstances. The lead investigator wanted to judge for himself if the developer had anything to hide, before releasing him.

When he arrived; the agent formally introduced himself as Special Operations Investigator Joe Harris. He removed his mirrored sunglasses and deftly placed them in the coat pocket of his tailored suit. After taking a few minutes to familiarize himself with the facts of the case, he proceeded to the interrogation room for the questioning. Recently the government had tightened down on animal smuggling after U.S. based animal right’s organizations put pressure on them. Most state officials resented interference by the same country that created the incentive for smuggling in the first place but the American tourist dollar was a major part of their economy. They couldn’t afford to ignore the animal rights groups since they were such a powerful lobby. The general consensus however was that it would have made much more sense for them to tackle the problem from where it started; the U.S. Being a country with extreme poverty made this lure of riches simply too tempting to their poor countrymen.

In the interrogation room, the agent questioned the owner with deliberate repetitiveness. He did this to determine if the same answer was given each time it was asked. This particular method of interrogation is called re-collective continuity. It is considered one of the best techniques for uncovering the truth about the subject’s statement. In this case however, the developer seemed to be telling the truth so he was cleared of suspicion and released.

Two days later Agent Harris flew to the construction site and began interviewing laborers about the theft. As his first subject he chose the construction foreman since he had been the one to report the theft. From there, he planned on working his way down throughout the ranks of workers and contractors. During the initial interview, the foreman went over the events leading up to the robbery. When he mentioned the strange circumstance of the chimpanzees being loose on the plane, the foreman offered: “I don’t guess it would have done any good to cage the little bastards!”

When asked for further clarification; the foreman explained that for months chimpanzees had been breaking into their supply hut and stealing food and snacks at night. Finally sensing what he meant, the agent dropped his serious disposition and asked with a humorous overtone; “Well, didn’t you lock it?”

To that the foreman explained that at first there didn’t seem to be any need to. Eventually the supplies just started disappearing and couldn’t be accounted for.

“That still doesn’t prove that...”

“I hid outside one night and waited to catch the thief. It was then that I saw with my own eyes!”; He interrupted. “Those harry rascals crept over quietly and pulled the stick out of the lock flap and helped themselves to several cookies before I chased them off!”; He continued.

Agent Harris broke into an ‘ear to ear’ grin. “You guys never heard of a padlock?”

“Of course we’ve heard of padlocks.”; He sneered. The thick sarcasm annoyed him. “But that didn’t do any good either! They must have watched us put up the key on the pegboard next to the bulldozer keys. The next day, more food was missing and the supply hut’s key was on the wrong hook. I thought one of the men was playing a joke but I’ll be damned if we didn’t catch one of ’em the next morning ‘red handed’; trying to put the key back, with a candy bar in his other hand!”

“You mean to tell me the apes were unlocking the padlock with the key?”; Joe grinned.

“Not only that; they were locking it back so we couldn’t tell!” Agent Harris roared with laughter. “I’m tellin’ ya’, those monkeys are smart. They were sneaking into our R & R lounge and watching T.V. at night! We never caught ‘em but we could tell they had been in there because our generator was ran down every morning. Muddy paw prints would be everywhere!”

“Well; so much for the ‘perfect crime’!”; He chuckled. A hilarious vision flashed in his mind of the chimpanzees sitting around watching “Bedtime for Bonzo”; while eating popcorn and wearing human clothes. Slowly he rose from the chair and thanked the foreman for the very amusing story. “The crazy things I encounter at this job!”; he thought to himself.

One by one, Agent Harris eliminated all the workers as suspects at the development complex. They had all given similar accounts of the events which took place on the day of the theft; and all had 'iron clad' alibis. About the only interesting fact of the whole investigation was that the nearby chimps had a preference for candy bars and old war movies. The only other information came from workers who cleaned up after the rogue primates but he wasn’t about to put any of that ridiculous hearsay in his report. He would have been the laughing stock. There didn’t seem to be anything further to uncover there so he prepared for the return trip to the crash site.

Unfortunately his dismissal of the provided testimonials at the development site was wrong. All the evidence he needed to solve the case was right there 'under his nose' but he refused to see it! In all fairness, he wasn’t alone in being oblivious. No one else would have been able to accept the true facts of the mystery either.

Rapidly, the jungle was being bulldozed down to make room for the new development; and the ‘rascals' were watching their home disappear. Since fruit is their primary source of food and trees are their source of shelter and recreation, they began to suffer losses of both; as they were cut down. It was only natural that they would resort to raids on the supply hut and the R & R lounge (to seek food and recreation) since the source of both was becoming increasingly scarce. There in the lounge the Chimpanzees learned about war and bombing missions while watching T.V. They wanted to extract revenge on the humans who were responsible for destroying their home, so the supply plane seemed to be the logical answer. Many times they had witnessed the destructive power of dynamite while watching human’s blow up tree stumps out of the ground for clearing land. They simply navigated toward “enemy headquarters” for a retaliatory strike with the human’s fire sticks. Only a little more fuel in the plane stood in their way of successfully blowing up the land developer’s office and extracting justice.

Still; I know that many of you readers will refuse to believe this is a case of “monkey see, monkey do”; but look at ME for proof! I learned how to type while watching the same T.V. as the others. I would have been on the bombing raid myself if I hadn’t broken my leg stealing this laptop out of the office! 'Who ho ho he who who!’

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Free PLR Articles: Not The Usual Super Bowl Theme Party . . . Celebrate Backwards Day Instead!

While it seems that 99% of the United States (OK, the world) plans to either throw or attend a Super Bowl theme party this year, I know for a fact there are many of us (yes, yours truly included) who would be extremely happy with an alternative theme party idea for that certain Sunday, and all the details for giving one are right here.

Did you know that every January 31st is Backwards Day? It is not a very well-known holiday, but it certainly is a fun theme to build a party around. You can throw one that Sunday as an alternate to the usual Super Bowl party, or also incorporate it within a Super Bowl party for those guests who come, but are not really into football or watching TV commercials.

INVITATIONS TO A BACKWARDS DAY PARTY

If you are mailing out printed invitations, you can put the stamps and return address labels upside down, but do not write the guests’ addresses upside down, unless you want to upset the postal workers. Or, you can address the envelopes correctly, but place the name, address, stamp and return address on the backs of the sealed envelopes, so the guests receive truly backwards party invitations.

Select a generic “We’re Having a Party” style invitation, but write the “Time,” “Date,” “Address” and “RSVP” on the wrong lines. Be sure to give the correct information, just put it on an incorrect line or space on the invitation. Or, you could leave the inside blank (if it opens like a card), and write all of the information on the back of the invitation. Your guests will certainly figure out something’s up! Another idea is to use Super Bowl party invitations and with a thick red marker place a red circle with a slash through it (the universal sign for “NO”) and then announce it’s a Backwards Day Party somewhere else on the invitation. For any of these ideas, you can also fold the invitations inside out before placing them in the envelopes.

MIXED UP DECORATIONS

Any color scheme works fine for paper goods for this theme. Depending on how far you want to take the theme, you can have fun by mixing things up in your house. For example, move items that belong in the kitchen to the living room. Have your guests laughing at the toaster on the cocktail table, or a spatula and roll of paper towels on the fireplace mantle, or an apron tied over a pillow on the couch. Hang your framed pictures backwards with the fronts facing the wall (but be sure they’re secure and won’t fall), or hang them completely upside down and see if any of your guests notice!

ACTIVITIES, GAMES AND BACKWARDS THEME FUN

Activities are the most hilarious part of this theme party and are sure to engage all of the guests no matter what their ages. Here are some ideas to get started with, but again, only you decide how far you want to go with this theme:

** Wear your clothes backwards or inside out and encourage your guests to do the same by writing a note on the invitation. You can even try wearing your shoes on the wrong feet if you can stand it!

** Greet your guests at the BACK door with “Goodbye! Come again soon.” When they leave be sure to say, “Hello! Good to see you. How nice of you to come!” You can have backwards conversations; describe something or give instructions using the opposite of what is usual. Or, try singing songs backwards!

** Call everyone by their last names instead of their first names.

** Sit on chairs backwards and walk backwards. This is also a perfect party at which to serve dessert first and then proceed to a main course, appetizers or snacks as the festivities continue. See the Menu section below.

** Have your guests write their names and/or a “secret message” backwards on name tags when they arrive. Have a mirror set up nearby so they can check to see if their creations can be read when viewed in a mirror.

** Have a race to see who can recite the alphabet backwards the fastest. Make sure to have a stop watch handy.

** Run relay races backwards if weather allows you some time outdoors. If it is too cold, play a board game backwards, such as Scrabble or Scrabble for Juniors (spell all words backwards), or Chutes and Ladders (go down the ladders and up the chutes). These are two classic games, but there are many more that can be adapted for a backwards theme. Let your imagination soar!

** Watch the DVD of “Groundhog Day” starring Bill Murray (rated PG for thematic elements), a classic from 1993. A terrific family movie, Bill Murray stars as a sullen/sarcastic news reporter who is stuck living the same day over and over again….until he gets it right. OK, so it’s not exactly a movie with a backwards theme but Groundhog Day is celebrated every February 2nd — and that’s a whole other theme party idea in itself.

** Award a goofy prize to the person who can find the most palindromes in the dictionary. A palindrome is a word, phrase, verse or sentence that reads the same backwards or forwards. Examples of a few are: noon, kayak, racecar, pop, and deed.

** Play your very own Jeopardy game. Make up riddle answers about your family, guests, celebrities, and/or current events and see if the “contestants” can come up with the correct questions. Have a goofy prize for the winner.

BACKWARDS MENU IDEAS

Aside from serving dessert first and the healthier fare later in the party, it is time to get creative with your menu and presentation:

** Since you’re starting with dessert….have an ice cream sundae bar set up with all of the toppings and ice cream ready to go. Be sure your guests start with the cherry and nuts on the bottoms of their bowls, then add the toppings, ice cream and even a brownie to top it off! Or, serve Upside Down cake! There are recipes for many varieties of Upside Down cake to be found online; just type “Upside Down Cake” into your favorite search engine and check out the myriad of results.

** Make sandwich rolls with the meats or cheese on the outside and the bread (tortillas, lavash or any flat breads work well) on the inside. Or serve mini-burgers with the meat on the outside and a piece of a bun on the inside. Slice a hot dog in half and put it on the outside of a half of a hot dog bun. Make sure you have lots of napkins on hand!

** Serve foods in opposite-size helpings. In other words, have a huge bowl of dip with a tiny bowl of potato chips next to it, the reverse of what is customary. Or, have a cookie tray with 12 shot glasses of milk on it and next to it have a large drinking glass with five or six cookies inside it. Consider these “stunt” foods — meant to emphasize the theme as well as to actually be eaten.

Be sure to take lots of photos, too . . . with your guests’ backs to the camera! It may not be a Super Bowl theme, but it is guaranteed to be a super party that your guests will remember for years to come!

See Full PLR Article Here: Not The Usual Super Bowl Theme Party . . . Celebrate Backwards Day Instead!

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