#but half the island is phils kid lets be honest | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

dnp-and-blankets · 5 years

Text

Ceramic Bowls Are Too Cold

"Good morning, sleepy-head" Phil chuckled as Dan walked in. He had slept in, which was rare, contrary to popular fan belief, he was usually the first one awake. He makes breakfast most days, and watches whatever show he's been watching without Phil. He turns it over once Phil comes in, and they then eat breakfast together whilst watching an anime- they're currently watching Erased. Dan made a small noise in response. Phil chuckled even more. "What's wrong baby?" He asked, turning to fully face his boyfriend, and take in his gorgeous, bed-head self. His curls were completely wild, having grown out for a while, in a fashion similar to their Getting Over It video; his eyes were heavy lidded, still somehow sleepy; he was wearing nothing but an old pair of Phil's boxers, and one of Phil's oversized hoodies, that managed to look like a dress on Dan, giving him sweater paws. This will always confused Phil. Dan is taller, and they have the same clothing size, and yet Dan can manage to look tiny in Phil's clothes. Dan shuffled over to the sofa and plopped down, resting his head on Phil's shoulder. "Why're you so tired?" Dan only shrugged his shoulders in response, grabbing onto Phil's arm and holding on, like a baby koala. Phil smiled and ruffled his hand through Dan's curls.

"Mmmph," was Dan's response. "Did you have nightmares? Stay up late on Tumblr? Get to a good chapter of whats-it-called?" "Something like that," Dan giggled, his voice still soft from sleep. "Cereal?" He asked as he let go of Phil's arm and looked up at him with puppy dog eyes. "Are you sure? I thought we were having healthy breakfast this week?" "Cereal?" Dan repeated. Phil caved immediately and got up, gently easing Dan off of him beforehand. "Okay sugarplum, which cereal?" Dan shrugged again. "Golden Nuggets, Crunchy Nut, or Chocolate Weetos?" "Golden Nuggets please" He asked softly, rubbing his eyes. Phil tried his hardest not to coo out loud. He instead opted to laugh, "Nice manners today." Dan smiled. Phil looked into his boyfriend's eyes and smiled back. It was impossible. The dimple was just chilling there, existing, and it was the best. He got a ceramic bowl out, and Dan whined. Phil raised an eyebrow in question.

"That one's too cold! That's why I bought plastic ones last month." At least Phil's original question was answered, but it raised many more. Ceramics never ever annoy Dan. Sometime's he'll opt for a plastic one, but he's never complained about ceramics being 'too cold.' Phil poured in the cereal and as he went to grab the milk, Dan whined again. Phil let out an exasperated sigh, throwing up his hands, he sarcastically said, "What now? Chocolate milk?" To which Dan replied, "Well actually..." And Phil had to comply. Because Dan looked utterly heartbroken over Phil making fun of him. "Are you going to tell me what's going on?" He asked as he handed Dan his bowl of cereal. Phil had opted for some Crunchy Nut, with normal milk, in a normal bowl. Dan just rolled his eyes and started eating his breakfast. "Don't wanna watch Erased today, what about that new babysitter one everyone's been talking 'bout?" "Gakuen Babysitters?" "Yes" "Okay..?" Phil paused, Dan hated starting a new anime in the middle of bingeing another one. This confused Phil especially, because Erased was only one season, meaning they were almost finished it. They probably could finish it today, but alas, Lord Daniel desires a change of scene.

They put the anime on, but Phil didn't watch it. He watched his boyfriend, intensely, trying to figure out if everything was okay. Dan's bright eyes were glued to the screen, breaking every now and again to make sure he didn't spill his cereal on himself. Every so often he would let out a soft giggle. That was definitely new. He had heard it once or twice every now and again, but never multiple times in the space of 10 minutes. "Baby?" Phil finally asked. Dan turned, his cheeks suddenly dusted with pink. He looked at Phil to signify he was listening. "Do you promise me you're okay?" "Mhm" Dan nodded vigorously, then looked down shocked as some chocolate milk split on him. He furiously wiped at his chest and pouted. "I'm fine, aside from spilling this on myself" He said, finally in a normal voice. It was short lived however, as the soft sleepy voice returned as he asked if Phil could make him a coffee whilst he got changed. "Of course sweetheart."

Phil set the kettle boiling, and got Dan's favourite mug out, along with one of his own. He put the correct amount of coffee, sugar and milk in -he even considered putting chocolate milk in Dan's before deciding against giving the boy even more sugar- and then went to grab the fully boiled kettle. He heard a sob come from their bedroom. The speed at which he ran towards it, is a speed Phil saves solely for Dan Related Emergencies. Dan rarely cries audibly, which meant he was either badly hurt, or something really bad had just happened. "Baby, baby, what's wrong?" Phil puffed as he swung the bedroom door open. The sight he saw was pitiful, Dan was sat down on the floor, a clean hoodie half way on, but seemingly abandoned, and every single drawer in the room had practically been emptied. "I can't find it." "Can't find what?" "You'll laugh," he sniffled. "Of course I won't." "Lion." "My lion?" Dan nodded in response. Phil thought for a moment before going into the AmazingPhil room. Lion sat decoratively on the dresser, and Phil scooped him up, then turned on his heel and brought him to Dan.

Dan took lion and immediately stopped crying. "I thought he was lost," he sighed. Phil just shook his head, smiling as he returned to the coffee mugs. Dan eventually padded back into the living room, lion held firmly in his little fist, and they pressed play on the anime. Phil snorted as one of the adult characters began playing with the children. "He looks like one of those weird kinky people that act like babies," he laughed at his own joke before sarcastically adding on, "I'll never make you wear a nappy whilst we have sex, so you better not be a DDLB kid, those guys are nasty." Dan visibly froze. "You're not, right?" "Absolutely not, they sexuality kids," he scrunched his nose up and pretended to gag. Phil laughed in agreement, and sipped his coffee. "Shit, I forgot to-" "Bad word," Dan scrunched his nose up. "Daniel, darling, have you ever heard yourself playing Mario Kart? You, good sir, are the King of bad words." Dan just pouted and huffed through his nose. Phil giggled and kisses the tip of his nose.

"As I was saying, I forgot to tweet about a new video coming soon." Phil pulled his phone out and began opening said app before he even finished his sentence. "Also, people are @ing me asking where you are, you've been inactive for a while, I recommend tweeting, or at least replying to some replies to your older tweets." "Ugh, fine, if I must." "You do realise how incredibly lucky we are for this to count at us doing work, don't you?" Phil laughed, as he finished composing his tweet, "If you don't like it, I'm sure Tesco is hiring." "I don't know where my phone is" "That doesn't come as much of a surprise to be honest babe." Dan stuck his tongue out and started checking under the couch cushions. "Do you want me to call it?" "No!" He practically yelled. "Chill out Dan, I don't care what you've set your ringtone to this time" "It's not that-" "I'm calling it, shush, we need to listen." The two men stood silent for a while before they heard vibrations. "Great. I love hunts for phones that are on vibrate." They both began walking around the living room, pausing every few seconds to listen. Phil almost face palmed as he saw it in the Kitchen.

He marched over to the kitchen island, and picked it up. "Uh, Dan?" Dan froze again. He looked up at Phil with fear in his eyes. "Why is my name on your phone, 'Daddy <3' when you told me years ago that you don't have a daddy kink?" "I don't have a daddy kink." He said, stomping his foot. Phil tried to swallow the bubbling anger, but when Dan lies to him when the evidence against him is very prominent, it's very irritating. "Stop bullshitting me Dan" "I knew you'd react like this" "What the fuck is that supposed to mean?" "Please don't yell at me," Dan begged, Phil could see the tears forming. He inhaled, and carried on more gently, "Daniel, I don't like it when you lie to me. Please tell me why my name is daddy." Dan looked at him pleadingly, before inhaling sharply and hurriedly saying, "I'm not into DDLB, I'm a safe for work age regressor, which means sometimes I'm little," the last bit was said all in one breath, "SosometimesIuseadummyandIlikestuffiesandblankies-" "Hold on baby bear, slow down, I heard that it was non sexual, so take your time. I'll listen. And I won't judge." "Sometimes I use a dummy, and I like stuffies and blankies, and I get fussy and sometimes sleepy, and in my mind you already look after me like a daddy so the other day I was little and thought it'd be a good idea to set your contact number as such."

The discussion took around 4 hours, of Dan showing Phil his private sfw agere tumblr, teaching him signs of when he's little, and setting boundaries for when that happened. They agreed that Phil should look into it some more before officially becoming Daniel's daddy, and finally, a month later, that's where they were. "Daddy! Get! Up!" "Nooooooo" "I want pancakes" "Go make them then" "Okay" there was silence for a moment before Phil realise Dan had called him daddy, and he shot out of bed, just in time. "Don't touch the oven!"

#my writing #dan and phil #sfw age regression #phanfiction #sfw agere phan #phan #phandom #daniel howell #little!dan #sfw daddy!phil #phil lester #amazing phil #danisnotonfire

40 notes · View notes

iammarylastar · 6 years

Photo

11. Rollercoaster, 1746.

Fucking wasted mission today. We were sent for a bombing mission, the targets were Japanese weapons stockpile’s buildings on a tiny and so called secret island named Nauru. We flew with an entire squad of bombardiers, we dropped the bombs and destroyed half of the enemy’s military base. Louis is a fucking good snipper, he could shoot and hit an ant from the sky.

But Bandits appeared all over the place and we’re taking fire as balloons in a fair riffle shooting. Bombardiers are too heavy and too slow to avert an attack by those sneaky mosquitoes. Our salvation is in the snippers’ hands in the back, that fought back and shot all the attackers. It was raining bullets and wrecked aircrafts, hopefully not from our side.

Our old bird is seriously crippled, riddled with bullet holes, hopefully nothing I can’t deal with; I’m a fucking good pilot, remember.

I’m nonetheless focused as fuck, I have to get that bunch of asses back home. And I have a personal fucking good reason to get me there in one piece.

With land in sight, I can’t help but bursting into laugh. Fuck, we did it.

We’re back to our base. I’m back to Angie.

Holy shit. We begin our descent and the landing gears are dead. So is Harry. Shot at the beginning of the fight.

My nerves start to wreck, could that fucking fate be on my side for once? I didn’t survive an air battle to die stupidly on a crash. Harry’s death will be the only one today, trust me I’ll put that fucking aircraft down there, even if I have to land it on its belly and brake it with my own feet.

That lucky bastard; Louie managed to get those fucking landing gears down with his bare hands, fuck I’m gonna kiss him with tongue as soon as I can.

Angie, Angie, Angie is the only image I can see while the sky and landscape are running before my eyes. My grip on the handle tightens like I’m going to rip it out of the board, but the aircraft finally lands on its wheels, half on its belly to be honest but who cares. It took more than forever for the plane to stop, but it finally stands still at the very end of the landing zone.

Fuck me, that old bird is on the ground and nobody is dead, not even hurt. Except Harry. And two boys of ours shot but alive.

We all stay silent, holding our breath, waiting for any other shit to happen, but everything is obviously alright.

Mac sighs heavily, Louis stops praying, Phil wipes a tear on his cheek, I chuckle nervously. Then we all cry out in joy and relief, laugh like the crazy lucky bastards we are.

We stumble out of the wreck of a plane, arm in arm, exhilarated, alive. With my feet on the ground, I realize there’s only one thing I miss. Adrenaline is still burning in my veins and fear keeps biting my guts. My sweet girl in my arms would be a perfect cure. A strong drink could help too.

I miss her so much. I have to go and find her, whatever. No way I’m waiting till dark tonight. I nearly died today and I’d rather die for real with her in my arms than live one more second without her.

Before I dive further in a perfect daydream, a loud high perched scream comes from afar.

Turning around to the sound, I see my sweetheart running to me, her hair wildly dancing around her face.

“Cup!” She screams, out of breath.

‘Angie!“ My voice breaks, so does my heart. She’s here, back in my arms in a couple of seconds. A wave of warm insane love runs through me and the whole world disappears. She’s my world. My everything.

My everything jumps on me, wrapping her arms and legs around me and all I can see are red lips attacking me. My world flips upside down as I lose balance under the force and we toppled over backward, falling heavily, my back on the floor.

None of us care, we just kiss and cry and clung to each other like there’s no tomorrow.

Her lips are all over my face, covering every piece of me with pepper kisses, tasting my lips, making love to my mouth. I’m not dead but I’m in Heaven.

Angie pulls back a little to check on my face, hastily covering my mouth with another kiss.

"God, Cup, are you OK?” She manages to speak between kisses. “ I saw the plane coming back and knew it was you. I ran as fast as I could and… and I thought… Cup the plane almost crashed down and I thought I lost you.”

She bursts into more tears and I have to cup her face to stop her frenetic kissing.

“I’m Ok. Angie I’m fine.”

I study her face, these sweet outlines that I missed so much and filled my dreams. She’s put make-up on, she surely was beautiful as ever but it just turned into disaster. Her eyeliner and mascara have melted into a river of tears and drew black trails down her cheeks. The sexy ring of her lips just painted my face with red lipstick but I don’t care.

“Don’t you dare die on a mission or crash down again, or I swear I’ll find your corpse and kick the shit out of you!” She scolds me.

“Ha ha, I’m so scared” I make fun of her so serious face, which absolutely doesn’t match her disastrous make-up.

“I’m serious Hugh ” She’s never called me by my name before, nobody ever has.

“Never leave me again.” She whispers

Brushing tears and strands of her long hair from her face, I chuckle.

“Shhh…I’m not going anywhere. I’m here with you. I’m where I belong.”

She draws a cute smile on her lips before attacking mines again.

I’m lying on my back on the landing zone, where I could have died minutes ago, with the love of my life over me, in the sight of the whole base, possibly in the Colonel’s firing line.

“Tell me.” She says before kissing me again. “Tell me you love me.”

“Oh God, Angie I love you.” There’s no word on Earth to say how much, not even close.

“Tell me you want me.”

I grab her bottom cheeks and grind against her, showing her how bad I want her right now.

“Love, I want you. Always and forever.”

My love for her overflows and tears are knocking behind the door of my lids. The urge to have her takes over and my lips crash on hers eagerly. I’m so hungry for her I devour her mouth, hugging her the tightest I could. Never ever let her go.

She pulls back but I’m not enough. I beg her to kiss me again but she doesn’t let me.

Still hovering over me, she stares at me: “Ask me.”

What? OK. Though the answer is obvious, it’s always nice to hear someone saying 'I love you’. Even more when told by that drop dead gorgeous piece of cake straddling me.

“Do you love me?” I try teasing her with my low sexy voice.

“Naaah. You know I love you. Ask me!” I’m stunned by her tone. So confident, so…. She speaks like me.

What the fuck does she mean? Ask her… but wh..?? The large grin on her face and the excitement in her sparkling eyes put the words in my mouth.

“Ask you… about… marrying me?”

She nods her head frantically.

“But…” Everything collides in my head. How does she know I wanted to propose? Did she hear me while I was rehearsing the question, thinking she was asleep? Has she forgotten Gessepp almost killed us both a few weeks ago? Does she want us to elope, condemning me to death for desertion? If that’s what she wants, I’d gladly comply.

That’s still not how I pictured my proposal to her. I’m covered with sweat from the landing, dust from the ground and red make up from her lips. I even don’t have any engagement ring to slide up her finger.

“I had a talk with him. Jessie talked to him. It was hard. It was horrible. But he finally agreed. He wants to meet you. Tomorrow. ”

Holy shit. That woman won’t stop to kill me. She has more guts than I’d ever have.

That shit eating grin is back on my face and as I lift us up on our feet, my mouth suddenly goes dry and my throat tightens. My heart is likely to explode in my chest, there’s only one thing I have to do.

Unable to keep my hands from shaking like crazy, I kiss her the more gently I could and kneel before her, doing my best not to break her thin fingers in mines.

“Angelina Kathleen MacCarthy, will you marry me?” The floodgates are open, we’re both crying, those tears feel so good.

She drops down on her knees, gently stroking my cheek.

“I wanna be Mrs Hugh Franklin Cupernell. I wanna be your Angie. Yours.”

Both our heart explode as we melt in each other in a passionate kiss.

I’m running out of breath but I can’t stop tasting her lips. We finally part, panting, crying, laughing, still cupping each other’s faces. We share beautiful I love you’s and light kisses, this is the more intense and happiest moment of my whole life. My bride, my wife . Fuck me if there’s something sexier on Earth.

“Angie, I have nothing more to offer than my endless love. And dirty shirts.”

“I’ve been warned. And I take them all!” She laughs.

All of a sudden, a rain of wildflowers and grass shower us, daisies run down her hair. How beautiful she is.

Finally breaking our stare, I look up to find what the fuck is happening. Here they are, my mates, my brothers cheering and wooing at us, stupid huge smiles tapped on their faces.

Laughing like kids, Angie and I stand up, immediately engulfed by our friends in a giant, warm family hug.

I deserve a beer or something stronger. I survived a crash, a breathtaking proposal, I have to survive Gessepp torture tomorrow and I’m done.

Let’s celebrate. I’m going to down some drinks. Then take her hand and bring her in a safer place. And make her mine again.

@captstefanbrandt @kenzieam @jaicourtneyseyes @every-jai @sajess98 @tigpooh67 @badassbaker @writingismyhappytime @onceinamillionlifetimes @oddsnendsfanfics

@bookgirlsthing @pernilleals @knittingmad @menink0pe

@jojuarez26 @athe-krieger-der-elemente @lunaschild2016 @muerete-cagando @runningfromchances

@kiiiimberlyriiiicker1995

#morning cup #jai Courtney #angelina jolie #unbroken #fanfic

18 notes · View notes

sly-punk1712 · 7 years

Text

Tony Stark knew on an intellectual level he had no impulse control. He knew because almost everyone he’d ever met had told him so, Pepper, Rhodey, Steve oh god so much Steve, Happy, the 12 assistance before Pepper, Xavier and the waitress at John’s Pizzeria off 43rd ave. He’d heard it all before, But nothing compared to the moment he realized it for himself.

To be real he probably should have noticed in every moment leading up to the big one. He should have seen that swiping Thor’s stash of Asgardian mead with Darcy was a bad idea. He should have known better than to have a marathon of broiler makers with the mouthy intern using the ale instead of whiskey was a bad idea.

He probably should have known if he was swaying that they shouldn’t have gone out, but Darcy had said she hadn’t seen the city yet and Steve and Bucky kept teasing her about it.

Happy hadn't even needed to hide his eye rolling because Tony was to focused on the crisp fall air on his flushed face. Darcy was beside him bubbling with laughter ignoring Happy’s cries that they should both sit down and get out of the sun roof. They headed to Times Square and bought an entire vender out of cheesy “I love New York” hoodies and in Tony’s case a hat to sort of disguise himself. They pulled on their hats and sweatshirts and Happy directed the rest to be sent to the tower. Tony slipped the bemused man a hundred and patted the man’s hand like a grandma before turning back to his sidekick.

“This is what all the superhero’s are wearing!” He proclaimed proudly gesturing to his heinous green ball cap with “Hulk Smash” stitched in purple on the front. He didn’t care at the time but the selfies of him and Darcy in Times Square were cringe worthy. They briefly dropped by John’s and said hello to Tony’s waitress. She shook her head and sent them on their way with glasses of water and sympathetic looks for Happy.

“Come on We’ve got a few more stops!” Tony gestured over his shoulder into the streets at the car. Apparently however Darcy’s eyes had not stopped at the car but landed on a street performer dressed as the Statue of Liberty.

“Oh can we please go see Her?” Her hand covered her heart and she gestured like a child to the woman with the other. Happy checked his watch and frowned.

“The fairy’s closed down this time of day.” He told Tony. Tony nodded in agreement. “We could go see Conney Island if you promise to sit completely in the car before we go home for the night.”

“Ohh Steve said it’s awesome!! We can go to the Lady tomorrow! I want to sing her the National Anthem and don’t know if I could get all the key changes right now” She giggled “We could take Steve and have the most patriotic photo shoot. Phil would love it!” and with that she held her arm out to Happy agreeably. And all that would have been fine if it hadn't been for traffic.

Happy pulled up to the curb and Tony rolled down his window with a frown. The park was closed. Darcy hadn’t noticed yet as she was making quick work of Tony’s mini bar but she tended to be a weepy drunk the fall out was going to be Niagara worthy.

“Oh man, no Lady and no cyclone? Why’s time ruining my fun Tony?” Darcy’s lower lip quivered. Immediate action was required. Mayday!

“Hey, hey No! No tears, what’s the use in being obscenely rich if I can’t bribe someone with my money!” He gave an encouraging grin. Happy’s heavy sigh was not lost on him. “I’ll go ask if we can ride the cyclone and maybe win us a bear okay no tears” He quickly backed out of the car leaving Happy to handle the teary eyed twenty something.

The door shut and it sounded sharper to Tony somehow as he walked toward the gate. A memory that was faded and liquored up played at the edges of his mind, huge blue eyes watering slightly in a perfect pout. His own voice murky in time “Hey what’s the use in being obscenely rich if I can’t...” and then it was gone. He frowned and waved over the gate man.

A few charming smiles and a probably too fat check later and he turned to tell Darcy the good news. She was resting her chin on the window smiling lazily at him. She wiggled her fingers and Tony grinned back before a similar smile brushed his mind again. He shook his head to clear away some of the haze. It’d been almost two hours he wasn’t as drunk as before but there was still a layer of fuzz on his mind.

“Race ya!” She grinned and bounded off toward the ride. Tony gave a bark of laughter and let the memories rest before jogging slowly after her. They tossed ratty baseballs and weighted milk bottles before the attendant an exhausted looking man in his late thirties gave them a wane smile and asked which prize they wanted. Darcy got the Bucky Bear. Tony shorted and got the Captain America one just for laughs. They took a shaky selfie with the attendee before thanking him and heading toward their goal.

“We should snap them with the bears and hashtag it wish you were hear but you’re not because you’re lame and had meeting and responsibilities” Darcy placed her Bucky in her lap and was readying her phone before Tony agreed.

“We also, you know, didn’t invite them” He pointed out. She made a dismissive sound and tucked her head close to his giving her phone a goofy face. Tony hid most of his face behind Bear Steve and widened his eyes comically. The younger brunette seemed satisfied and put away her phone allowing the impatient teen running the cyclone to push the lap bar down over her Tony Bear Bucky and Steve.

The ride began a slow spin and before it had even reached half way Tony regretted buying this time. The teenager seemed irked he had to stay for Tony and what the kid probably figured was a one nighter and so the ride was hurtling toward a break neck pace only irritating Tony’s stomach further. Darcy however threw her hands up Bucky Bear’s paw firmly gripped in one and whooped. Tony swung between needing to vomit all over the place and watching the manic yet somehow beautiful looks on Darcy’s face. She brought her bear back down and buried her nose in it’s fur. The ride began to slow and she opened her eyes unfocused and bloodshot. Windswept and Content.

It ended up being Darcy and not Tony who shot off the attraction to the nearest garbage can to Ralph. Tony followed close behind and pulled her hair back into his fist and out of the danger zone. He leaned heavily on the can and grimaced at the sounds.

When she at last paused in her litany of puke she turned her head to look up at him simultaneously green and mischievous.

“Don’t tell the boys” She asked. Tony’s heart stopped as he looked at her. He nodded once unable to find words. Satisfied with this she fell face first into him. Mostly into his armpit but she smiled against him. Tony let got of her hair and gently held her to him stroking her dark locks and thinking unburdened by alcohol of a busty blond who’d rocked his world with a practically identical grin. Darcy’s breath flowed steadily on his neck as she repositioned herself in his arms.

“Thanks for holding my hair.” She murmured. Tony hummed in response.

“Anytime kiddo.”

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

As much as Tony was wildly incapable of controlling himself he was incredibly careful with secrets. They could hurt, he knew from his experiences with Stane. His almost ending the thing with Pepper. Infuriating his teammates and elected officials. So he was in something of a quandary.

As soon as they’d returned to the tower Tony had deposited a snoozing Darcy in her bed with Bucky bear on one side of her and Steve on the other. He of course took a picture of her drooling into Bucky’s fur and then hesitated. It was too similar to ignore. If he didn’t do this he’d spend the rest of his life wondering until he got answers. So he plucked a hair off her pillow and turned tail and run back to his lab.

Jarvis had had to repeat his name four times when he finally knew. Tony tried to put the memories together more solidly but he only recalled the blond laughing and waving much like Darcy did. He remembered holding her hair back while she emptied her stomach off the balcony of the Palms, She had turned to him with an almost identical grin and snatched his heart out of his chest. Tony closed his eyes and felt the brush of skin on skin hot greedy kisses and waking up the next morning alone. He’d figured she’d been embarrassed or maybe had someone waiting at home. He’d been disappointed but she’d made her choice so he’d let her walk.

“Oh Kate” He looked forlornly as the Vegas police report of her car accident and her daughter no one had come to claim. “Katie” He groaned as he realized he could have saved the little girl a world of grief that followed. Foster home after Foster home until she aged out.

Well now he knew. but what do do. Who to tell? Pepper? Eventually. Rhody was always a good option but Tony’s thumb hovered over calling him for a solid minute before deciding someone else. Eventually he’d dialed before his decision had been fully processed.

“How did you get this number? I know I didn’t give it to you” was the first thing the voice said and Tony felt a calm fill him. A good choice.

“I’m in a quandary. It needs handling it’s that what you do Agent?” He stalled. The other end of the line was silent. “I may have discovered I’m a father” There was an even heavier pause.

“and I’m the first person you wanted to tell? I don’t think Pepper” He began.

“No It’s not Pep. I’ve been a father for a while apparently.” Tony cut across. “Like 23 years”

“You’re sure?”

“Yea 100 percent. Do I tell her? What if she doesn’t want me? She’s been alone for a long time now she doesn’t need me.” Tony felt a panic rise in his chest. Oh God, she’d never forgive him.

“You need to take a deep breath.” Tony inhaled threw his nostrils. “If she doesn't know she deserves to at least know. just be honest with her Tony. Honesty will get your farther than you think”

Tony gave a noncommittal grunt and rested his head on hands.

“For what its worth Tony, You’ll be a great father” Tony’s breath caught.

“Enough with the feelings Agent Agent Thanks for picking up.”

“I’m contractually obligated” He deadpanned. Tony laughed and killed the call.

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

Tony was going to handle this well. Maybe take her to lunch and talk it out like adults. He was excited and nervous and had yet to sleep. He was currently fixing coffee from the enormous demonic espresso machine he’d had fitted in the common room when he invited everyone to live with them when people began filling in for breakfast.

Steve and Bucky both coming in from their morning run and apparently showers. They nodded curiously at the billionaire before pulling down pots and pans. Bruce wondered in next and gave him a scathing look for his ball cap which he had neglected to take off. That explained the looks Tony placed it carefully on the counter.

“So what did we learn?” Jane’s voice carried into the room ahead of her and the others looked up. Darcy entered holding her stomach and shuffling pitifully. Jane followed looking much less hungover.

“Don’t drink with Tony.” Darcy grunted and began to pour her own cup of coffee. Tony didn’t speak, not trusting himself to yet. His eyes watched hungrily as she stirred her drink for signs of what he knew. Her unbrushed wild brunette hair, the shape of her eyes, the hangover slouch yea he could see it. Then Katie’s beautiful blue eyes and pouty mouth, her heart snatching laugh. It seemed so obvious

“What?” Darcy glowered at him. Oh yea he had that grumpy face sometimes.

“Darcy threw up on the cyclone!” He blurted. Her eyes widened.

“TONY!” She shrieked.

“And she’s my daughter!” His shouting matched hers in pitch but was far more excited. Darcy’s eyes widened if possible further and then narrowed looking at him critically.

The supers were paused mid bite. Jane gaped and Bruce eyed the pair wearily.

“Okay I can see that” She finally said with a shrug. Tony barked a laugh not exactly how he’d pictured her taking the news. Then again he hadn’t thought he’d shout it at her over breakfast in the common room either.

Such was life when you had no impulse control. But looking at the beautiful girl across from him he thought he rather liked this life.

#darcy lewis #tony stak #tony feels #darcy is tony's daughter #whoops who knew #Phil Coulson #asgardian ale yo #don't drink #rollercoasters are hard #why did i write this #i should be alseep #writers block is ruining my life #pre bucky and darcy #pre dating #pre steve and darcy #bucky bears

99 notes · View notes

flowerfan2 · 7 years

Text

Winds of Change - Chapter 1

Stucky, 46k total, A03. Post CACW. This fic is fully written, and will post 2-3x a week.

Bucky’s still got some healing to do after the doctors in Wakanda rouse him from sleep and make sure there are no more deadly triggers lurking in his brain. He decides it should happen where he can have some peace and quiet, as well as a little distance from Steve’s overwhelming presence. When he sees an ad for a “Winter Caretaker” he takes the job, but it turns out to be not so peaceful after all.

Or, how Bucky realized that while he still needs to heal, it wouldn’t be such a bad thing for him and Steve to do it together.

Chapter 1

“You may stay here in Wakanda as my guest for as long as you like,” T’Challa says, once the doctors have roused Bucky from sleep and made sure there are no more deadly triggers lurking in his brain, “but I did promise Steve Rogers that I would keep him apprised of your status.” The “it’s only fair” is left unsaid, but Bucky hears it anyway.

“Let me tell him,” Bucky replies. Now, several hours later, he is in his room, staring at the computer screen, trying to figure out what to say.

It has been two weeks since he came out of cryo, two weeks full of poking and prodding both mental and physical, two weeks when the thought of Steve has never been far from his mind. T’Challa has gone along with Bucky’s wish that he be allowed to get through this process without anyone else knowing that he was awake. He wanted to make sure it would work, first; that he would no longer be able to be used as a weapon against his will. Now that part of him, at least, has been healed. He can’t put this off any longer.

Bucky opens up a new email, too chicken to call Steve on the phone like a grown-up.

“Dear Steve,” he begins, the vibranium fingers of his new left hand clicking on the keys as he goes.

It’s me. I’m okay, according to the docs here. T’Challa can fill you in. I’ve given him permission to give you the details, if you want them.

I need to thank you for everything you did for me. I hear things are better between you and the Avengers, which is good. I didn’t mean to come between you and your friends.

I know you are going to want to see me, but maybe wait a while? I need some time to-

Bucky gets stuck on this part. He doesn’t know what excuse to give Steve for why he can’t see him right now. Part of him would love to let Steve drop everything and come get him, as he knows full well he’d do. He thinks about the way Steve smiles at him. How he claps Bucky on the back, eyes full of affection. It would be so easy to let Steve shepherd him around, take care of him through whatever confusion is still haunting his abused mind. But the thought doesn’t sit right with him.

It’s not only that he thinks he isn’t worth Steve’s time, although there’s some of that in the mix. It’s something he can’t really put his finger on. Whatever it is, he knows he doesn’t want to be swept up into Steve’s orbit, not right now. He just wants some peace and quiet.

This is the first time he’s woken from cryo without pain, without more than a momentary twinge of fear. Without someone giving him orders. He’s not sure what he wants, but he wants to be the one to figure it out.

He returns to the email, deletes a few words, and finishes writing. He reads over the end of the message, changes the closing a few times (he finally settles on “yours always, Bucky”) and then, his stomach clenching, hits send.

There’s a shower in his suite nicer than any he’s ever had at his disposal before, so he shuts himself in there, using every ridiculous bath product in the room. He tells himself not to expect an immediate reply back from Steve, he’s probably asleep or out on a mission, or busy with his friends. And even if Steve reads his email right away, he might be too annoyed to write back. Or, worse, he might tell Bucky to go fuck himself.

Bucky drags out his shower for as long as he can, cleaning every nook and cranny. He dries himself carefully, slathering lotion on his body, even the tender skin where his metal arm attaches to his shoulder. Leaving the bathroom he pulls on some of the white lounge pants everyone seems to wear for comfort here, and gets into bed. Filled with trepidation, he opens the laptop and checks his email.

There are two messages, both from Steve.

The first is heartbreakingly short:

Dear Bucky,

I understand.

Steve

The next message was sent fifteen minutes later, and Bucky sighs with relief as he reads it.

Dear Bucky,

I can be an ass sometimes, but you know that already. Natasha told me that if I didn’t send you a better message immediately she was going to beat the crap out of me, and she wasn’t kidding (she says hi, by the way).

I’m so very grateful that you are alive. I can’t pretend not to be disappointed that you won’t let me come see you, but that’s just selfish of me. When I stop to think about how lucky I am that you are out there somewhere in the world, well, that will have to be good enough for now. (You do want to see me again at some point, just not right this minute, right?)

I have so many ideas, so many things I’d like to do with you. But they can wait.

Please keep in touch. I miss you, but I swear I’ll respect your wishes no matter what they are.

Yours always,

Steve

Bucky reads over the message a few times, a lump forming in his throat. Steve is so sweet. It’s not as if he really believed Steve would shut him out. He trusts Steve more than anyone, but then again he has little idea what’s been going on in Steve’s life since he’s been in cryo.

He hates that he made Steve feel sad, even a little bit. Logically he knew it would happen, although it’s hard for Bucky to fathom why he means so much to Steve after everything Bucky did as the Winter Soldier. But Steve’s question about whether he ever wants to see him again is honest, and he’s glad he asked it, even if it stings.

He hadn’t planned on getting into a back and forth conversation with Steve, but there’s no doubt in his mind about the answer to his question.

Steve,

Punk. Of course I want to see you again. Now go off and save the world and let a fella get some sleep.

Bucky

He closes the laptop and sets it off to the side of his ridiculously big bed. Bucky knows Steve will respond, probably with a lighthearted joke, and he smiles in anticipation. He’ll save it for the morning, something to look forward to, before he starts on the gargantuan task of trying to decide what to do with his mess of a life.

*********

It takes Bucky almost two months to make plans. Wakanda is pleasant enough, but he doesn’t want to stay here permanently. For one, although T’Challa is unerringly polite and generous, he’s putting Bucky up out of some good Samaritan sense of obligation, not due to any actual knowledge of Bucky himself. And Bucky’s not always comfortable with how people look at him, knowing his history.

Mostly, he wants to go home.

He realizes this as he hikes one morning through the rainforest. There’s a clearing leading up to a little waterfall, and he stops and crouches down, splashing water on his face. It’s beautiful here, no question. People probably pay bundles of money to travel to places like this. But it doesn’t feel real.

Later that night, he starts looking for a job. Nothing fancy, nothing spooky. Nothing that requires him to speak any language other than the one he spoke as a kid.

Bucky knows he could return to government work – a guy named Phil Coulson offered him a spot in intelligence in whatever group has now taken SHIELD’s place – but he’s not really interested in that kind of thing right now. He’s free to do whatever he wants, and he can do it legally, too, thanks to a presidential pardon, a U.S. passport with his honest to god birthdate on it, and a bank account with seventy-something years of military back pay, which is quite a stack of cash.

(He tries not to think too hard about all the effort Steve and his friends went to while he was under, getting the mechanics of his life in order for him, not knowing when he’d wake up – or if he’d wake up. Yet another good deed he can’t repay.)

Sam Wilson had sent him some links to resources for veterans, and it’s one of those that leads him to the job opening. It’s titled “Winter Caretaker,” and he has to laugh at the fitting irony of it.

Winter caretaker needed for Martha’s Vineyard home. Must be willing to do routine maintenance, snow removal, water plants and care for three (very shy) cats. Car for local use, moped and bicycle provided.

It doesn’t pay much, but then Bucky really isn’t in this for the money. He does some quick research, confirming that Martha’s Vineyard is an island off the south coast of Massachusetts. It’s a popular summer destination, but its off-season population drops dramatically. Without overthinking it, he emails the owner.

Within a few days, it’s settled. Nora, the owner of the house, is an artist who seems to be a little paranoid about leaving her home unsupervised while she travels, and keeps throwing out more reasons why having someone stay there is such a good idea. Bucky is quick to agree with her, as he knows from way too much experience how easily an uninhabited building can be used for something unsavory, although he has his doubts about whether this particular location (“it’s kind of rural, actually,” Nora writes, “the island is bigger than people realize, it can take half an hour to drive from one end to the other”) is going to be in demand for criminal activity.

After Nora assures herself that Bucky is the right person for the job (“you won’t get scared out there by yourself, will you?” is Bucky’s favorite question so far) they plan to meet at the house in two weeks, and it’s done. He may not know where his life is going, but three (“really, they’re ridiculously shy”) cats are counting on him, so off he goes.

**********

Bucky may be many things, but he’s not stupid, and he knows full well that the fact that he is moving back to the U.S. is probably of interest to Steve. Except for a brief email exchange a few weeks ago which sounded disturbingly like something Bucky would have written to his old Aunt Ethel (“Hi Steve – just wanted to let you know I’m still doing fine. T’challa’s docs have tinkered with my arm a bit, it’s quieter now. Hope you are well. Yours always, Bucky.”) he hasn’t communicated with Steve. It would defeat the purpose, he thinks, although he’s not still clear on what the purpose is.

He misses Steve, though. It’s an ache that’s always there in his chest, and as he sits in his appointed suite, duffel packed with his few belongings, he lets himself feel it. He’s flying to Boston tomorrow (by way of Berlin, which makes him squirm with discomfort), then taking a bus to Woods Hole to catch the ferry to the island. It would be the easiest thing in the world to give Steve his flight information and meet up with him for a few hours, or even a few days.

But that’s not the plan, and for better or worse, he’s going to stick to the plan.

He starts typing out an email, biting his lip in concentration. Because not hiding, telling the truth when it matters, is also part of the plan, so he’s got to walk this middle ground, and it isn’t getting any easier.

Steve –

I’m coming back to the states. Please thank Sam for sending me all that info about jobs (and tell me honestly, is he pissed about me breaking his wings? Because I still feel terrible). I’ll keep you posted.

Yours always, Bucky

The response comes after he has gotten into bed, but he’s not anywhere near asleep.

Dear Bucky –

I’m really glad to hear you’re coming back, although I imagine T’Challa will miss your sparkling wit.

You ass, Bucky thinks, a smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.

Don’t worry about Sam. As soon as we all kissed and made up Tony built him a brand new set of wings, even better than the old ones. It helped make up for the fact that Tony never got a chance to examine your arm – he’s still convinced that the Russians had help, that there’s no way they could have pulled off something that impressive with their “pathetic lack of technology.” Don’t get me started on how he feels about you having a Wakandan engineered one now. He keeps trying to weasel an invitation from T’Challa but I guess the King has more important things on his mind than a play date with Tony Stark.

But seriously, Buck, thanks for telling me where you’ll be (although don’t think I didn’t notice that you actually didn’t give me much of a clue – it’s a mighty big country, Bucky). I’d love to see you, pal. Hopefully you know that. And if you ever need anything, anything at all, just call - wherever you are, I’ll be there (have you listened to James Taylor, or Carole King? Coulson put them on my list, they’re great. Call me a sap, if you want – everyone else does).

Yours always,

Steve

It doesn’t make Bucky as uncomfortable as he would have thought to know that Steve and his friends are talking about him. He’d actually gotten a long and rambling message from Tony, declaring a “permanent truce” and attaching a file of research on how his father may or may not have been involved with a plan to create more super soldiers. “I still can’t tell,” Tony’s message concluded, “what side my dad was on. But he was in control of his own mind. You weren’t.”

#stucky #bucky barnes #steve rogers #winds of change #captain america #marvel #my fic

13 notes · View notes

thejustinmarshall · 4 years

Text

A Very Informal Interview With New American Alpine Club CEO Mitsu Iwasaki

Last month, the American Alpine Club announced that Mitsu Iwasaki would be the organization’s new CEO. This was big news, as the new CEO was replacing Phil Powers, the club’s CEO for the past 15 years, who announced he would be retiring last October. It was big news to me because I’ve been friends with Mitsu since 2008, and have shared many adventures with him, from climbing and skiing volcanoes in the Pacific Northwest, to trail running in the Grand Canyon, to this one time we helped a couple random guys load a massive roll of carpet pad onto a very small pickup outside a Home Depot store in Denver, without once asking them if they thought it was a safe idea (by the look of how bottomed out the truck was as it drove away, I’m pretty sure it wasn’t).

So when Mitsu got the AAC job, I thought it would be fun to interview him, but not so formally. I suggested iMessage, since that’s how we communicate about 90 percent of the time anyway. I hope it helps paint a picture of the person now leading the 25,000-member climbing organization.

—

BRENDAN

So I have some professional questions and some not-as-professional questions, which I hope will keep you awake and make this interesting. I think the best strategy here is to just be yourself

MITSU

Sounds good

I like tacos

Getting ahead

BRENDAN

We’ll do that part later.

Ok, so it would appear that you are the new CEO of the American Alpine Club, as of last month?

MITSU

Yes, as of August 3

I’m the new CEO at the AAC

BRENDAN

Do I talk to you about getting new membership cards, or who handles that

MITSU

You could talk to me about membership, but it might be faster to log into the AAC website.

BRENDAN

Just kidding

MITSU

Oh wow! I can help get you a non-moldy card

BRENDAN

I don’t think that’s mold

MITSU

What’s going on on the edges

BRENDAN

Just some general abrasion from being in my wallet I think

MITSU

Very well used! Love it! Also love that you haven’t had to call the rescue hotline

BRENDAN

I know, hoping to keep my streak alive for the rest of my life if possible

Anyway, was the interview for the job like half work experience questions and half climbing questions, or how did it go?

MITSU

I was impressed with the search committee. They made an early decision to focus on future vision of the club and not as much on my climbing resume. It was important to the AAC that I’m an authentic climber – building a life-style around climbing – but wasn’t important to know what or what not I’ve climbed

So, to answer your question more directly. 50% work experience and 50% vision.

0% climbing resume

I am taking an opportunity now, after the interview, to talk climbing with staff, board, members, and supporters.

BRENDAN

Did the search committee mention that Phil Powers climbed K2 and 5.13 in the same year?

MITSU

Yes!

Those are big shoes to follow.

Phil and I compared actual shoe size. We are both 8.5

BRENDAN

hahaha

You should ask them if they’ll settle for Mt. Rainier and 5.11 in the same year

MITSU

Haha!

BRENDAN

For the purposes of this interview though, what would you list as some important parts of your climbing resume?

(Besides our visionary 30,000th ascent of Ancient Art)

MITSU

Oh interesting question. My impulse is to list the 5.12s and hard(ish) mountains routes in South America, Alps, Canadian Rockies, North Cascades, etc..

But

I think what’s important to me isn’t so much the grades.

But the ‘resume’ of close friendships formed in the mountains

Including you

BRENDAN

Dude you’re blowing my journalistic objectivity

But agreed, thank you

MITSU

I mean, I still remember our Estes Park expedition

epic

BRENDAN

I thought you were going to say “What’s important to me isn’t so much the grades, but the fact that I have a masters degree”

MITSU

Haha

BRENDAN

Feel free to use that one if it comes up in conversation

MITSU

I do think in addition to friendships, there’s been a lot of soul searching and learning in the mountains too.

And maybe those are more important to me now.

In my 20s I did think the objective was to climb the hardest thing I can.

But wasn’t learning anything from it, besides checking off a tick list

Being thoughtful and being honest with myself has resulted in a lot more joy

To your earlier statement, I’m surprised Ancient Art is still there

Jamie Logan, Mia Axon and I were talking about and remembering Billy Roos last night over dinner

First ascensionist of Cork Screw Route

BRENDAN

on South Six Shooter?

MITSU

Ancient Art

Oh sorry

Stolen Chimney

BRENDAN

South Face of South Six Shooter as well, I just checked

so let’s go through your biography a little bit: born in Japan, grew up in Seattle, graduated from Western Washington University, started working at Outward Bound right after college, do I have all that correct?

MITSU

Yes. That’s correct

Really chose Western because of its proximity to the North Cascades

I often say that I #vanlifed before the hashtag

Lived in a VW van for the majority of the 90s

BRENDAN

and went vegan

MITSU

Ha!

yes.

BRENDAN

Long hair

MITSU

For about 3 years

Inconvenient to get haircuts in vanlife

Past my shoulders.

My parents were horrified

BRENDAN

So the Outward Bound trips you led were in California, Baja, where else?

MITSU

North Cascades, San Juan Islands, Central Cascades, Sierras and Baja

Lived in Joshua Tree (or 29 Palms) for a few winters during that tie

Time

So. yah. Taught a whole bunch of climbing courses out of Joshua Tree

BRENDAN

And did you have leadership positions with OB too?

MITSU

Yes, I’ve had a few opportunities with OB. I was the Executive Director of Northwest Outward Bound School from 2013 through 2018

BRENDAN

Ah sorry, I was going chronologically

MITSU

So, yes.

Program Director at the Pacific Crest Outward Bound School

And also Thompson Island Outward Bound School

And then helped with a merger of Outward Bound Los Angeles with the larger network

BRENDAN

Did you get the Thompson Island job and then decide to go to grad school in Boston, or vice versa?

MITSU

Yes, chronologically yes

BRENDAN

So you went to grad school, got a masters in … nonprofit management?

MITSU

yes

I knew I wanted to be in the non-profit space and in the outdoor industry, but my experiences at outward bound taught me that I was a good educator and climber, but didn’t have the background to lead organizations.

And to make a career in this space, leading organizations, I needed to go back to school

I think there’s a narrative that we can learn on the job, and I do believe a lot of people can, and have, but felt that learning from other peoples experiences and from experts made more sense to me.

At least, in the sense that I would be more effective with education

BRENDAN

So shortly after that you became the Director of Operations and Safety at Big City Mountaineers, where we met, and you no longer had a van, were no longer vegan, but still had long hair

Or am I missing a step?

MITSU

You’re exactly right.

I moved to Denver, sold my van and bought a subaru

I loved that subaru

It died last year…

BRENDAN

Wait, did you get a new one?

MITSU

I’m in a new one now!

2019 version of the same car

BRENDAN

new car, seems pretty elite

MITSU

Haha! So true

I read somewhere a Tesla could be a good road tripping / adventure car

That would be elite!

BRENDAN

indeed

Would you say your time at Big City Mountaineers was the low point of work-life balance (or the peak of work-life imbalance)? I remember you and I bailing on lots of stuff at trailheads during those years

MITSU

Yah. I’d say that was lowest point of work-life balance

And also of just personal health

BRENDAN

Yeah I don’t know if I ever saw you drink water in the office, just coffee

MITSU

Lots of coffee! It’s mostly water. Right?

BRENDAN

Chemically, yes

MITSU

I also remember eating a croissant bread pudding for your birthday

*chocolate* croissant

Or was that your going away?

Anyway. yes. Too much coffee & not good work-life balance.

BRENDAN

Going-away, Buffalo Doughboy Bakery

MITSU

Yes!

BRENDAN

One time you and I drove up to Lumpy Ridge, and in the parking lot it was really windy, and I said I think the climb we were going to do would be safe, just the rappel might be a little difficult and you said, “I’m not worried about it being not safe; I’m worried about it being not fun.” I often quote this when talking about bailing

MITSU

Haha! That day turned out well. We drank

coffee….

BRENDAN

I believe there were breakfast burritos too

MITSU

We fed our soul

BRENDAN

OK sorry for all the logistical questions, but you left Big City Mountaineers in 2012? And became the Executive Director at NW Outward Bound

MITSU

Yes

Moved to Portland

(photo by Kendall Krause)

BRENDAN

What year did you cut your hair? And get welcomed back into your family

MITSU

I cut my hair day -1 of Outward Bound

My thinking was that donors, supporters, partners, etc.. should remember the contents of the conversation rather than the ED’s hair

BRENDAN

interesting

MITSU

So, it was a choice to put the focus on the organization than on myself

I also figured I had a hill to climb already being Asian

Reduce self created challenges in my work

BRENDAN

Ah ok

Plus long hair is a pain in the ass

MITSU

That’s true

BRENDAN

And being back in Portland, you started climbing and skiing the Cascade Volcanoes with our friend Kendall

Her idea or your idea?

MITSU

Yes!

I’m not sure who has claim to the idea

If I were to guess, I’d defer to Kendall

BRENDAN

That’s what I was going to say

MITSU

At some point we decided there aren’t enough volcanoes in the Cascades and are now climbing and skiing the Pacific Rim volcanoes

BRENDAN

So, Mt. Rainier, Mt. Adams, Mt. Hood, Mt. Baker, Glacier Peak … did you do all the Oregon ones?

MITSU

We haven’t skied the OR ones so much. I think Hood x 3 times

I haven’t skied Glacier

BRENDAN

Ah OK

MITSU

The North Cascades volcanoes are a little steeper than the Central Cascades

And a little more interesting

BRENDAN

Right, Lassen doesn’t look that exciting

MITSU

Haha

(photo by Kendall Krause)

BRENDAN

OK so after NW Outward Bound, you became the executive director at Mazamas in 2017?

MITSU

I had a short interim ED gig at the Association for Experiential Education between Northwest Outward Bound and the Mazamas

8 months?

BRENDAN

ah that’s right

MITSU

So super short interim thing

And then the Mazamas

Which I’m still feeling tortured about

I was there for less than a year before this opportunity to lead the AAC appeared

It’s a great organization and I’m super grateful and proud to have had an opportunity to work with the staff and members at the Mazamas. And in the short time, I learned a lot about leading member organizations

BRENDAN

Well that’s nice of you but I’m sure they understand

MITSU

Member *driven*

yes. Everyone at the Mazamas were gracious and understanding

Supportive, really

BRENDAN

I quit a telemarketing job after 4.5 days in 2004 if it makes you feel better

MITSU

I read that as I quit telemarking after 4.5 days

BRENDAN

Good transition, want to talk about how you quit telemarking after 20 years?

MITSU

I finally sold my telemark skis before moving back to Denver

yeah. I still love the telemark turn and I still believe my tele turn is better than my parallel

But efficiency

AT skis are lighter, more dependable, and less physical effort

I’m aging

Almost 50!

BRENDAN

You certainly don’t have to sell me on it

MITSU

While I did sell my tele skis, I couldn’t let go of the boots.

So, still hanging onto the idea that I’ll return to tele

Someday

BRENDAN

Ace Kvale swears it’s better for old knees

MITSU

I think he’s an expert

Maybe I will rethink this

BRENDAN

OK I want to be conscious of your time here—how about some AAC stuff?

MITSU

Sounds good

BRENDAN

What are some of the vision pieces you’re thinking about in your new role at the AAC?

MITSU

I think the AAC under Phil’s vision and direction over the last 15 years has gone through incredible growth; we grew from 7,000 members to 25,000

And with that growth, we’ve built capacity and greater presence in the outdoor industry

What I’d like to do with that is for us to lean into community building, education, and advocacy

As part of that, I think we can help to build a cohesive and understandable gym to crag pathway in partnership with regional climbing organizations

Also, I think there’s an opportunity for us to lean into difficult conversations.

Some of those conversations being equity and inclusion, misogyny, eating disorders, substance use/abuse

On the advocacy/policy side, I’d like to invest more resources into building political power to protect our climbing areas in partnership with the Access Fund and LCOs

We’ll of course continue to create opportunities and fund/support expeditions and climbs that inspire us

I like to create/inspire dreams

And we want to support entry into climbing, be a club for everyone, and inspire all of us into further adventure

I know that I was a little cagey about what I’ve climbed earlier

That comes from my feeling that we’re all on great adventures and we’re all pushing ourselves whether it’s a big mountain in the Himalayas or a windy day on lumpy ridge

BRENDAN

Right on, yes, was just hoping to establish that you have some credentials

MITSU

Yes. True

And I think that’s important.

And so appreciated

BRENDAN

So overall, it sounds like your mission is to help the club evolve and embrace the diversity of climbing and climbers, in so many words?

MITSU

yes. embrace all climbers and expression of being climber/human

And be a force in creating opportunity for climbers, protect our climbing areas, and engage in important conversations

Important conversation – culture

BRENDAN

That sounds great. So if you were talking to climbers at, say, Brooklyn Boulders, how would you sell the idea of an AAC membership to them—especially as it relates to the future of the club?

(Brooklyn Boulders as opposed to, say, climbers at Camp Muir on Mt. Rainier)

MITSU

Invest in the AAC to support advocacy and education for the climbing community

And as an organization that holds much of our history as American climbers in our library and archives

We, AAC, represent and are a club for all expressions of climbing.

We also have a campground/ranch in Hueco.

BRENDAN

And the Gunks, correct?

MITSU

So, let’s get outside and climb together!

yes

Gunks.

Grand teton

Red River

A small hut in AK

Rumney

Not red river

Sorry

New river

BRENDAN

Big difference there

MITSU

Lots of miles in-between

And, I suppose, as someone looks to transition outdoors, membership comes with rescue insurance

BRENDAN

OK, last question from me so I can let you get back to work: did you happen to see the not-insignificant collection of Japanese Alpine Club journals in the AAC Library?

MITSU

I did!

I haven’t read them yet. Once I’ve settled-in and have a bit of time to breathe, I’m definitely going down to the library and sitting down with those journals

With a cup of coffee

—

Thanks for reading. These posts are able to continue thanks to the handful of wonderful people who back Semi-Rad on Patreon for as little as $1 a month. If you’d like to join them, click here for more info—you’ll also get access to the Patreon-only posts I write, as well as discounts to my shop and other free stuff.

—Brendan

The post A Very Informal Interview With New American Alpine Club CEO Mitsu Iwasaki appeared first on semi-rad.com.

from Explore https://semi-rad.com/2020/09/a-very-informal-interview-with-new-american-alpine-club-ceo-mitsu-iwasaki/ via http://www.rssmix.com/

0 notes

olivereliott · 4 years