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Feliciano and the King of Hearts

Chosen by the gods as the Queen of Hearts from the moment of birth, we follow Feliciano’s story as he grows into royal life, learns to rule, go against age old customs, and his relationship with his husband to be, the King of Hearts.

Chapter 1 I Chapter 2 I Chapter 3 I Chapter 4 I Chapter 5 I Chapter 6I Chapter 7 I Chapter 8 IChapter 9I Chapter 10I Chapter 11I Chapter 12 I Chapter 13 I Chapter 14 I Chapter 15 I Chapter 16 I Chapter 17 I Chapter 18 I Chapter 19I Chapter 20 I Chapter 21 I Chapter 22 I Chapter 23 I Chapter 24 I Chapter 25 I Chapter 26 I Chapter 27 I Chapter 28I Chapter 29 I Chapter 30 I Chapter 31 I Chapter 32 I Chapter 33 I Chapter 34 I Chapter 35 I Chapter 36 I Chapter 37I chapter 38 I Chapter 39 I Chapter 40 I Chapter 41 I Chapter 42 I Chapter 43 I Chapter 44 I Chapter 45 I Chapter 46I Chapter 47 I Chapter 48 I Chapter 49 I Chapter 50 I Chapter 51 I Chapter 52 I Chapter 53 I Chapter 54 I Chapter 55 I Chapter 56 I Chapter 57 I Chapter 58 I Chapter 59 I Chapter 60I Chapter 61 I Chapter 62 I Chapter 63 I Chapter 64 I Chapter 65 I Chapter 66 I Chapter 67 I Chapter 68 I Chapter 69 I Chapter 70 I Chapter 71 I Chapter 72 I Chapter 73 I Chapter 74 I Chapter 75 I Chapter 76 I Chapter 77 I Chapter 78 I Chapter 79 I Chapter 80

Look! A chapter! HOOZA! SO DARN CLOSE OMG! Yes, like always, I apologize for taking so long, tons of things, as usual. I hope the chapter makes do for it...I guess. Enjoy!

Chapter 81

And celebration rang, with shouts and applauses, the swing of flags and surviving weapons decorating the field in wonderful splendor. Some jumped, danced, complete strangers embraced one another or even kissed in the passion of lovers. Roderich and Francis couldn’t help but to cry, Elizabeta, Lili and Vash embracing them…not long before they joined in the same tears. Alfred took as many as he could in for the largest group hug he intended to make, much to Arthur’s distaste of being squeezed between many of his people. As Yao was trying to find his escape, he bumped into Ivan, who proceeded to take him into a large embrace, the very one the Spadian Jack was trying to avoid. Yet as Ivan took his lip…he didn’t find himself minding any longer. He wrapped his arms around the Clubian King’s neck and let himself that beautiful bliss.

The three Heartian royals stood alone in this sudden feast. Feliciano had already commanded that none were to come close, and so they yet remained in their field were Khaos’s last traces had been, still in the same silence that had welcomed them when Khaos was at last officially defeated.

“What are we waiting for?” Kiku asked, because indeed that was what it felt like they were doing, especially with Feliciano looking on as if…expecting someone to come.

“Is this about that one thing you asked us to protect? That Khaos had?” Feliciano nodded to Ludwig, taking steps forward, right towards this sun rise. Ludwig and Kiku stayed behind and watched, giving Feliciano some space to breathe and focus.

“…he’s here,” he whispered after the silence he wanted was reached.

It wasn’t a message for Ludwig, for Kiku, for anybody there.

“…he’s here…I know he’s here…” he whispered on, a hand reaching so it could focus on one spot.

The wind that blew now was different, the energy that came ancient, along with the magic and form that even to Ludwig and Kiku, felt as the arise of a person. And there, in a sudden flash, there was a red ball of fire, fitting along with the sun, potent and shinning to them like another burning star.

Feliciano sighed, smiled…and even began to cry. “He’s here…He’s here…” he still repeated.

Something suddenly changed in the air, like an earthquake…but nothing shook, nothing trembled, magic and energy just rained, at first, invisible, like a force that brought everyone to silence as their eyes came to the Heartian royals, to the center of what was occurring. Then there was flashes of light, golden and glittering, blowing and seeming to scream into the skies. Feliciano was engulfed in it, in fact, from him it turned larger, a calming fire blazing, arising into the skies, taking the whole field, in beautiful reds and golds that the Heartian Queen helped to make tall, letting his halo, his marks, his wings, shine on up. It was a storm that reminded them of when Khaos had first turned, but this…although powerful and indeed fearsome at first, it was gentle, caring, a beauty that instead of turning away all, it brought and made them aw in a combine admiration. A form became evident, gigantic and towering, with flowers, jewels and silk to cover…her…in grace. From the rains of this colorful and royal feast, she came, showing herself in all her pure form. She was as high as Khaos had been, looking down to all her people with deep fondness in large ruby eyes. Ah, she was gorgeous. Her curled hair fell down to her knees, crowned with a large golden pillar halo that matched well with the specks of gold in her long red dress, tainted like stars, like constellations. Her skin was marked in long lines of vines and symbols, identical to the ones Feliciano held. They also shared a set of wings, although hers were with a hint of rose, much larger, surely to extend to the next mountains if she spread them open. And then the structure of her face, her smile…Feliciano, Lovino, Renata and all the rest of the Valenti knew she was family. For a moment, they were reminded of Augusto and understood then why he had the perfect namesake. Even as she stood gigantically over them, especially when she kneeled, her reach to the ground soft like wind, none were intimidated, all smiled and welcomed the presence of an Ace.

“…Nonna Augusta,” Feliciano greeted her so meekly once the release was completed.

She looked to him with deep fondness, kneeling and bringing her head much closer to his. Ludwig and Kiku were startled slightly back at being right before a large face like this, if even so beautiful.

“Feliciano…” and she smiled with a ring that surely brought music to the whole valley, “l’hai fatto.” He shook at the realization once again…completed and fulfilled. “A mission that I set upon a thousand years ago, one in which the state of your world and mine was held at a delicate balance. I harbored power through my family, generation by generation, until it was with you that the next alignment found itself with. It was much to put that responsibility on only you, so young and still so new to a ruling of a kingdom. Yet, it was by your hand that it was done. With a belief and effort that I was proud to witness, see it grow and now…I watch as it shines.” Feliciano blushed, so intense that he wanted to hide it, not being able to continue his stare with his great grandmother.

“Of course, I also owe congratulations and compliments to the King and Jack.” Ludwig and Kiku startled, more so when this great Ace bowed to them. “Your own growth, I paid attention to, and it is worthy of your position.” And they couldn’t answer, as nervous and blushing as Feliciano. “And the others…” she turned to meet their gazes in the crowd, their knees shaking and eyes widened as if taking blame. She couldn’t help the chuckle. “Brave you have been, courageous and a great loyalty shown to your kingdom. Your respective Ace I know is just as proud.” They wanted to faint from the honor. Even Alfred was left speechless and without a high comment to say.

“And your people, who without every piece of help they could give…we would not stand victorious here now. I thank you all. You have brought to this world a peace that has never been, new and promising. Darkness has disappeared and now light will always be prominent.” Shy cheers and applauses spread, part of the crowds wanted to remain respectful, as presentable as possible for an Ace. Augusta partly rolled her eyes at it, Feliciano giggled at such a human presentation. It was just the ring that brought her giant gaze back to him again.

“You have freed me from your vessel. No doubt you learned it in the Eternal Reserved.” Feliciano nodded sheepishly, worried that perhaps it was something she had not wished. “Why so?” She asked and for a moment Feliciano forgot every single language he knew. He needed a moment to bring his words back, leaving a silence that left everyone else with tension.

“I know…you would want to meet him again in person…” was all he could utter.

Ah…of course.

Her expression suddenly changed to something so unsure and weak, a pain that had been there for thousands of years presented. She then turned to the small ball of fire that Feliciano had brought only minutes ago. It looked so insignificant and small to all, yet for her, who reached and engulfed it in the palm of her hand with care, love deep in her eyes, making her flourish the more, it was a worth higher than any gold. She smiled, with a hint of a lake forming in her eyes, standing once again to bring this light closer to her heart. There, between folds of satin, lay the most prominent and beautiful of all the designs on her body. Feliciano could recognize it as the most ancient Heart symbol and the light fitted perfectly to its art.

“Romulus…Romulus…” she prayed his name in relief, caressing it as if he was fully there.

He was…he was truly there.

Ludwig and Kiku exchanged glances with wide eyes and mouths.

“You have to thank Ludwig and the Beilschmidts,” and he turned to his husband with such pride, like he was the one that did the magic. Ludwig startled and for a moment didn’t understand his part in it. “They carried his soul along, for just the time that you passed through my lineage. It was corrupted…and you saw how Khaos used it for his own purpose.” A dark memory that brought gruesome shivers to Ludwig. He turned his attention to Augusta’s light and suddenly it was gone. “But he learned to control it, to fight against it…and together we purified it…united it with another part Khaos still held and he is now…with you.” Feliciano was joyous, and he knew his great grandmother more so, letting the light bounce and letting herself laugh. Truly a wonder.

“Oh, Feliciano. I could give you the whole world for doing all of this…and in fact.” There was indeed a reward that was to be given, and released or not, she would make do Feliciano received it. She extended her large arm long, closed her eyes, and called forward a strong magic, potent and surely meant to break apart the very line that divided their world from others. It was the kind of power that not even Feliciano knew or didn’t think he would ever reach enough to master. This was portal opening, Augusta with an ease creating a large window enough to give her enormous frame passage. Other than just an opening, the edges were decorated and strengthened with beautifully carved pillars, pots and statues that rained on magic and light, with flowers vines of red and gold that bloomed before their eyes and seemed to dance at the welcome of their Ace. Inside its frame was just light, reflecting and glimmering in pinks wonderfully. What was on the other side, they couldn’t see, but it awaited them patiently, yet the three royals were hesitant, as if a bar was still being held in front of them.

Augusta smiled at them, “come.” A barefoot went easily in, just as the waters and dives Feliciano remembered from the Interludes. She let her whole body go in its taking, with her dress, hair, wings and halo. A single hand gave a final wave to all her people and she was gone, only leaving behind the light of the portal. Kiku, Ludwig and Feliciano were yet frozen…but Feliciano was the one to take a deep breath and dared to be the first to take a step. It was just like the interludes…there was nothing to fear. It was the example and leadership Ludwig and Kiku followed, matching along together to be granted passage as a single force.

Feliciano recognized this feeling of going between, the feel as if water purifying you into a new world, while Kiku and Ludwig were startled at this wonderment, almost tripping in their welcome. With the change of the portal, Ludwig and Kiku were granted their very own form. Both with reddish and golden marks, wings, Ludwig’s a darker red while Kiku’s were almost orange. They shone with strong halos, of fire, heavy surely if it was back in their own world…but here it was as light as another strand in their hair. Their clothes turned into richness and beauty as the very ones Augusta had shown herself in, to the style of their province, making clear their origins, the three making quite a trio as they stood above a stage that put them to look below to what this world was.

They were left breathless, almost fainting at the colors, the sound of the creatures that roamed freely and confident, palaces and palaces, piling up, shinning with the rarest of crystals and forms, with water, routes, trees and flowers cascading down to different floating islands. Clouds and mist seemed to grant them this flight, this place in between the folds of the universe, perfect like heaven.

“What…what…” Kiku tried to word but was still too taken to really continue what he meant to ask.

“What is this place?” Ludwig somehow managed to reach.

“The heavens,” And Augusta appeared beside them, not gigantic, but matching with their own statures, yet still decorated as beautifully. She placed comforting and welcoming hands on their shoulders, leading them, with the way she practically flew forward, telling them to follow her. She easily went over the precipice, with each step creating a path of golden bricks, shaped with clouds and shine, a hint of pink to them that the three royals couldn’t resist their own step towards.

They passed well-turned spirits and souls, riding happily on the backs of dragons, phoenixes or St. Marks, each animal decorated just as gorgeously as their human counterparts. They spotted trees and flowers that they had never seen before, overflowing from roofs, some even floating, in the control of those who wanted to make them fly or make them sprinkle the air.

Feliciano had to try and remember every detail, every portrait, every scene painted on walls, the capture of statues, or nature in vases, bricks, sidewalks, glasses and crystals reflecting more whatever shine decided to present itself as they walked on.

The deeper they went, the more came to gather, shouting, congratulating, in an array of different languages, some their own but as it was spoken two hundred years ago. From their wear, their marks, their wings or halos, they saw people from a span of many years, Feliciano recognizing many of their clothes from old paintings.

Augusta continued to lead them through this celebration, floating them through the streets, the golds, between arches of sapphire, pillars in diamonds and green vines coming alive through every wall. Even as the songs and shouts were directed at them, the three royals, taken still by what they saw, couldn’t raise their hands, couldn’t utter a word, their eyes still occupied taking every detail, every movement, every color. Augusta kept leading them through crevices and wondrous corners, until she could expose them to surely the four largest palaces in the realm.

Nothing in their world could compare to their tallness, their majesty, shine and as Augusta laid them back on the ground, right before the road that could lead to her red and golden one, the three royals felt unworthy to step on such a pavement. They were left no other choice as Augusta blew away with ease the road for them she had created, bringing them to the center of this feast, to the loudest of all the cheers, and also the very center of their universe. They noticed then three beings come, one in blue, the other green, and one in yellow. Even as they stood in their same stature, the Heartians could feel nothing but power and magic from them, almighty and way above whatever reaches they could reach even when they were right there. They knew they were the other Aces. Artem, Maiara and Jabbar. They came to meet their fellow sister…who they hadn’t seen like this in surely centuries. In an act that was utterly human, they all came into an embrace, together, in an union that Feliciano swore he could see their entire world shine in. Augusta let herself go to introduce forward the royals chosen for her own kingdom, the three surely shaking and with eyes of enchantment…but also panic. They bowed, as low to the ground, kneeled and hands extended as they were taught in the very rare case they were in front of all four Aces.

“No need, stand.” Artem commanded, and quick, like they had been scolded, they stood, precise and orderly. “No such greetings are needed.”

“It is us that should bow,” Maiara reminded as she started, the rest of the three following in her lead, their thanks large as their knees reached the ground and their hands came to them in reverence.

They wanted to say something…wanted to tell them that it was not necessary…they didn’t deserve this, shown as if Aces themselves. Despite everything, they were still only human, not beings that created this entirety. Yet…it was an honor…one that strained their words and their actions, embarrassingly only standing there agape…it was only Feliciano who began to cry, having to put his arms to himself to try and keep his feelings under some kind of control. “Oh, please, please stop! Stand!” He in the end had to shout at them. And all four rose up with smiles and laughter.

“You have saved your world,” Jabbar continued.

“And through it, our own, here in the Heavens,” Augusta spread her arms to show it, even to the souls that celebrated and cheered from their heights, in their celestial homes and days. Truly beauty, a jewel, shinning eternally in colors that now Feliciano really hoped he could remember to sketch it all to his memory.

“As well as the Interludes, the very passage and line that balances all our worlds. If it wasn’t for your actions…all of it could have been gone,” Artem continued. “It still stands, by your efforts.”

Maiara then chuckled, “with the use of wisdom, your power, the trust you placed not only on one another, but your people had on you.”

“And above all, love being the driving force that stood against all. Ludwig, Feliciano, your love truly defeated Khaos,” Augusta resonated some words Augusto had said himself. Ludwig and Feliciano blushed, turning towards one another wanting more than ever to kiss and hug each other in that very love that won this war. Oh, if Augusto…that reminded Feliciano. He turned and looked towards whatever floating islands, to whatever rush of people…hoping to find those familiar curls he himself inherited.

“Feliciano!” Came that known shout.

Just like that, Feliciano was almost on the ground from the force his grandfather greeted him in, his embrace just the same, with celebration and pride that just had to be showcased even before the Aces. Of course, Kiku and Ludwig couldn’t be left out from it. Once Augusto made the space, he took both the King and Jack to the same embrace, laughing and practically dancing in circles.

How they have missed these joyous little feasts between themselves, loud and happiness glowing for all to witness.

“I’m so proud, so proud for all of you. You have done amazing!” He shouted, going as far as to even kiss Ludwig and Kiku, both left dumbfounded at such an action, but they smiled at it and took it as but another way to shout celebration. Feliciano hanged himself over him, laughing and letting himself be that child that long ago used to do just that. In heaven, before the Aces, it didn’t matter. He would let everyone know how much he loved and how dear was his grandfather to him.

But his grandfather wasn’t alone, with him came tailing a whole group, wearing all similar wears of reds and golds, a symbol that they all shared, proof of being Heartian, Italian, and more specifically, Valenti.

“Oh! Vieni! Vieni! You have to meet your family!” He pulled Feliciano and the rest to this large crowd, all with the famous Valenti curls, from blondes to brunettes, even an occasional red-head. From distinct and strong facial features, to the simple ones like his own. Some were very tall, others beautifully plum, some, whether men or women, had short hair above their ears, others had none, or some had it falling down their back. It was all to the styles of the times they were born into. Feliciano was shy to meet them, even if indeed they were all family, but it was unexpected, it was too much…yet he didn’t mind giving his greetings, hugging even some he had heard much about, going on with random chats as if they had known each other all their lives. The Aces didn’t mind this, they let Feliciano this reunion with his family…it would be good persuasion with what they were about to offer.

“Feliciano,” Augusta called him forward, open arms, and Feliciano rushed to it, not at all hesitating in the hold he took of her hands. Warm, comforting and like home. Augusta shook them and suddenly she found herself nervous to say what she wanted. But a turn to the Aces, a nod, an approval, and of course, a hurry and excitement, and Augusta turned to her great grandson determined.

“Feliciano, what you have done, is deserving of an award.”

“Nonna, really, you don’t-”

“Amore, please let me…I promised this and it is something you must come along and take.” A deep breath, a silence suddenly coming, no one daring to disturb the words of an Ace. It was quite eerie how the entire heavens just fell silent for this. “As I have told, as I prophesied and the other Aces and I have made ready for centuries…in the hopes that Khaos was indeed defeated…” she breathed, she prepared, “Feliciano…you must come to live with me in the heavens now and become…” she turned, pulling him them closer to the road that will lead to her palace, all of a sudden presenting itself with more shine. “The new Ace of Hearts.”

Suddenly, angels came, marching like an army, only to decorate the road, raising flags upon flags to decorate in welcome, surely for a pathway they wanted the Heartian Queen to take. Some played drums and trumpets, added then with the cheer of the crowds, already celebrating as if Feliciano had already passed the palace gates…making it officially his new home. Then, a creature, a St. Mark walked towards him, having journeyed from the Heartian Ace palace. This one was large, majestic, decorated with more jewels, with armors that could go against meteors and surely with a roar that could cause earthquakes in his world. It was Fabius, Augusta’s own St. Mark like Pookie was to Feliciano. The lion, now small, cowered on Feliciano’s shoulder, intimidated by this one…even if it was his father. The St. Mark bowed to Feliciano and the Queen did so back, the creature seeming to smile and shine along with the celebration, moving aside for when Feliciano came forward. Augusta cuddled herself towards him and the Lion, no matter how godly, leaned towards her in the same devotion.

Ludwig and Kiku on the other hand, stilled, the news only downcasting them, not even the feast around them enough to bring them back into light. Ludwig…tried hard to hide how already he was breaking apart inside, defeated…like he had already lost Feliciano over a precipice he would never reach for him again.

He knew…he knew this would happen…he knew this would come…if what they wanted occurred…this was to be the next step, the finality that settled everything and made an ending to this story. It’s one of the reasons he had tried to keep him apart after the eight year gap, why he refused to accept his feelings as well as Feliciano’s, refusing any kind of advance so Feliciano could accept it all as he deserved.

He had wanted this not to hurt, he sometimes liked to daydream that he would applaud and only wave Feliciano some sort of goodbye that will settle well for an eternity. He would turn and march on with a smile on his face. But here now…he couldn’t move, couldn’t say a word but shake and try to hold down the tears that surely wanted to burst and reveal the moment of weakness this was. Kiku must have noticed…he must be feeling the same way, and they gazed between one another in a moment of understanding and trying to reach some comfort.

“Should we…?” Kiku surely questioned if there was a way to stop this, to place themselves as a hold to what this future could be. Ludwig, with a deep breath, looked away, ready as if to leave that instant away from the heavens. Suddenly it didn’t hold the same charm anymore.

“No…this is…this is…the greatest award that could be given. Glory that Hearts, our world, neither we can ever match with,” he sighed, still trying to make himself believe those words. “We will congratulate him…and leave.” And Ludwig, without even looking at Kiku, could just feel his utter refusal, but in part he did have to agree with those words, instead, hiding to himself whatever he meant to say, what he meant to act.

“He’ll…he’ll make a great Ace…at least we’ll know were under right guidance…and the balance of the universe is in good hands.” This was goodbye and there was not more to be done.

As Ludwig tried to take a last grasp of his husband between the still celebrating multitudes…he only wished he could properly say goodbye…hold him and kiss him one last time before anything…but by the looks of it…it didn’t seem likely. He sighed and accepted that whatever glimpses he could get would be the last he would have of him.

Yes…to Feliciano…this was all glorious. The floating islands, the wonderful colors, the magic, the richness of these palaces and castles, of the roars of the people around him. Yes…it was an eternal celebration that would keep him mighty for eons. He thought about how he still possessed the hand of creation, looking down to his hands as if already he could see everything he could bring alive…whole new worlds, cosmos and universes extending far beyond this one. Yet in that expanse…he spotted clearly the bearing gems. Two identical ones on each side of his hands…both shinning like their own sun, lighting and bringing life to a world…he had promised someone he would help create. It was in that moment he turned to Ludwig…who refused to meet his eyes, yet he saw sorrow in them that Feliciano shared in, suddenly the colors and music greying and lifeless to him. Those around him easily saw how his smile disappeared, and the shine in his eyes was gone. They silenced at such display, giving him space, thought, and the Aces could show their question as to why he know saddened when he was at the center of such an opportunity. Feliciano was scared to utter these words, here at the mercy of the Aces…but he had to insist, had to make them understand.

“And…if I don’t want to?” He placed the idea, one that surprised all, not thinking that it would be something that Feliciano would dare consider when what they would give they thought would be above whatever Hearts had.

“Feliciano, these are the heavens, a position as an Ace, with riches and everything you want at your fingertips. Why would there be a reason to deny?” Augusta tried to persuade.

“Who’s going to take care of my children?”

Augusta widened as if she was just finding out…when in reality…she had completely forgotten about that detail, having to reconsider, organize, with a glance to the other Aces and they quickly came to another decision.

“They shall be born here and stay with you.”

“Away from their father? From their grandparents…their family…their home. Leave everything behind as if it was all nothing…”

A long silence before Jabbar dared speak, “Are you truly only speaking about the children? Or is this about yourself?” With how Feliciano widened, it made sure that Jabbar hit straight to what the Queen felt.

“Yes…it’s also what I feel.” Here he turned to his Jack and King, a large smile that showed true to a promise. “This…this place is beautiful. A dream, a wonder, this chance…rare…perhaps I would be the only one for centuries to come that will be granted something like this…yet…” he began to walk towards his friend, his husband, no one around him daring to intrude his sure and set path. “Hearts…the world…mean so much to me. Enough it is my heaven, my place. It is home.” Now he stood right in front of them, his words now for them to hear. “When I was born…you saw someone in me that could save the world…but you also gave me a position, you gave me a duty as the Queen of Hearts.” Close yet to his Jack and King, he turned to face the Aces again. “Many times…I doubted it…I had wished and prayed that it wouldn’t be my destiny…I even tried to run away from it once…but now I see that it is my place, it is my calling…it will be wrong of me to turn away from it now…” He grasped one hand of Kiku, another of Ludwig’s. “My reign is still so young…there is still so much I can do in Hearts, so much I can help the whole world with, so much I should be there for. Nonna Augusta…you’re back again…the position is for you as the universe intends.” He hoped they understood, he hoped he wasn’t creating an offence, wasn’t disrespecting. But as Kiku and Ludwig grasped their own hold on their Queen’s hand…Feliciano smiled and suddenly stood higher, understanding then…there was no need to worry for any spite of gods. He knew then that they were in no position to react such a way against them, especially after saving their worlds.

His next words had a confidence as tough as the pillars and gold the buildings here were made of. “I want to stay in Hearts. I want to stay with my people. I want to stay with my Jack…and I want to stay with my husband.” The devotion, the utter love these two exchanged, made all the four Aces realize that they were naïve to think that Feliciano would chose a life away from this man. “I know my place…and it is with my family.”

To his surprise, the Aces smiled between one another, a new energy spread…and it wasn’t bad or punishing. Augusto began to chuckle, the rest of the Valenti there joining him, with laughs that shared joy across all the souls present.

“Very well then…you will stay to finish your reign in Hearts,” Artem spoke in decision.

“When it is done, and you have lived your life as any Queen, you will be welcomed here,” Maiara continued.

“The same shall await you then, and Ludwig, Kiku and every important member in your life shall all have a safe assurance of an afterlife here,” Jabbar said.

“Till then, we will await you. Now, we wish you farewell, a wondrous life to give to the world and to your family,” Augusta wished, coming over to give an embrace that to Feliciano was just like those of his family. He enjoyed from this warmth, wrapping his own arms around her as echoes of new celebration began to ring. In this hold, Feliciano released magic that had been weighted on him since birth…the hand of creation. In a wonderful swirl of platinum and gold, it was transferred back to Augusta. She splendored more in its shine as it placed her back as creator and superior goddess. When it was finished, she welcomed in the rest of the Valenti, and Feliciano enjoyed the most from his grandfather, surely to be the last for a long time. He had his chance to give his own to his grandmother, Helena, who he had never had the chance to meet in his world…he saw a lot of her in Lovino…and suddenly he already missed him and his nephew.

“Go and live,” his grandfather wished, and with those words, Feliciano had to tearfully let go of them, turning to then place them with Ludwig, who grasped Feliciano…relieved beyond however he had felt before. Without a care on who stared, where he was…he spun Feliciano to have him in front, hands adjusted on his waist, to pull him into a kiss, strong, magical, these forms giving it a touch that made sparks surely glow all around them. When they released and looked into their eyes…Feliciano truly saw that he had made the right decision. Ludwig raised his hands and let his fingers caress on the jewels…excited and hoping for a bright future with a new family just for them.

Any threats were away…Ludwig could now celebrate the coming of his own children…and that he was to return to Berlin with Feliciano.

Augusta smiled and opened her arms to create a portal, this one small, just the space for all three of the Hearts royals to make their passing back home. Kiku waved his goodbye before he rushed through. Ludwig and Feliciano refused to let go of their hands, determined to pass together. Ludwig had begun his engulfing, but Feliciano spared a last glance back…

The last he saw was celebration still ringing, chorus surely sang and orchestras played, the Aces watching them leave dutifully and then beside Augusta…the light, the one Feliciano had saved from the cage of Khaos, as well as with power from Ludwig…it began to grow, large enough until it was a figure as Augusta. It began to clear, it began to come alive…and for the first time Feliciano had seen what his great grandfather Romulus actually looked like.

Dark hair in silk waves, the same that was on his beard, but despite it, Feliciano could see a long and strong face, handsome, it slightly reminded him of Lovino. Green eyes, likes leaves and grass, a stature, a smile, a last gratitude to his own grandson before he turned to his long missed wife. They held to each other with all the strength needed for centuries. What more they would do, Feliciano didn’t see, he had passed through, everything beginning to erase in bright light.

He left behind the heavens to return home.

- o - o - o - o - o - o - o - o - o - o - o - o - o - o - o

Next chapter is the very last...oh boy.

#Feliciano and the King of Hearts #fatkoh #f&tkoh #gerita #gerita fanfiction #gerita fanfic #gerita fic

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whatdoesshedotothem · 2 years

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Wednesday 21 December 1836

7 35

1 25

No kiss but might have had had I wished it very fine morning and F42 ½° at 8 ½ and went out 35 minutes (with Robert Mann + 3 and set Robert Schofield and Joseph Sharpe to make the drain for the walk to the pools) - breakfast at 9 5 - A- did her French - sat talking till 10 - then out again - with Robert M- + 3 at the low pool - set the last stone up against the north end the great piece of rag - the gardener and his man getting up the great golden holly - had seen Booth for a minute before breakfast and told him to go to Little marsh - and see the house and hear what W- wanted - B- not yet able to get any information about the stone belonging to the Sutherlands’ in B-‘s farm and Landymere - but heard afterwards from Edward the mason has been here these last 2 or 3 days for the 1st time this I know not how long - that 7/. a yard had been bid for the stone on sale near Landymere (Mrs. Lancashires and Mrs. Brook’s I suppose) by one who did not get it who said he had taken care that if he did not get it, it should be paid for - when Robert M- went to dinner at 12 Mr. George Robinson came - went into the little dining room (south parlour) with him - William Green was waiting to give me the 2 keys of the Stump x Cottages he has just left - took the keys and said SW- would settle about it - I had told him I would not pay for the thing the late proprietors should have paid for but the balance he WG- wanted was only £3.10.0 and he should live the 1st year in the cottage he is gone to rent-free which was in fact the same thing to WG- the rent being £3.10.0 - GR- came about the rent - would give me £4 per acre hoped I should reconsider the rent I asked (£140 for Lower brea and Hipperholme fields) really could not pay for what he had not - 3 acres taken for the road - I shewed the plan done by SW- in 1833 after the road was made - said that he now had 15a.1r.9p. and that his own bid = £60 for the land throwing off the fraction of an acre and this and what the buildings were valued at (£35 (vid. SW-‘s valuation received 26 January last) came within £5 of what I asked him - He took Hipperholme fields of my uncle at £40. this take remained unaltered - I asked .:. £100 a year for Lower bea - I had good reason to suppose I could let it for that (yes! he had no doubt I could) and surely it ought to be worth that - he said he had not thought of giving anything for the buildings but £4 per acre for the land - no! no! I really cannot let you have such buildings for nothing - I cannot afford to do as my father did - you see what capital I have laid out - I really must have the value of my property - yes! he wondered how I had had spirit to lay out so much - spirit! said I, there is no living in this world without it - but I will make no agreement by the acre - I look at the place as it is, and wanted £100 a year for it - he said the last alterations had cost him £20 - he had been a great fool to lay out so much money - but, said I, it was your fault not mine - I always told you, I did not wish you to lay out a shilling - you knew what I should do - you knew I should want the value of my property - yes! but he said he had not so much land - you had better said I talk to Mr. Washington about that - but tho’ he is my steward he has nothing to do with letting - I let for myself or Mr. Parker’s has hitherto let for me - GR- began to soften down - wished to make all comfortable - hope there would be no more notices to quit - you know said I what they mean - you will have them regularly because you are not under lease, and if anything did happen, you know what pother I might have but if you like SW- shall serve the notice instead of Mr. Parker - yes! that would be better - Do not, said I, suppose the 1st sending a notice to quit was all my doing - my father and sister were just as much for it as I was - no! he did not suppose it was all my doing - said I should be very sorry to part with him as a tenant - would do anything I could for him - but I must have the old rent for the Hipperholme fields and £100 for Lower brea throwing in the little croft adjoining the mill, and laying out a hundred pounds (on the barn I suppose it is) - then talked of other things - he said the mill would want enlarged but not next year - I said I could not lay out money for nothing - but did not want him to lay out a shilling - I could lay out money on my own property as cheaply as he could - if he could not afford to pay percentage, how could he afford to lay out the money for it must be worth as much to him as to me - why! what did I charge? I said charged 7 1/2pc. on buildings to all but tenants and to tenants I charged 5p.c for anything laid out in reason - i asked what the thought the mill-alterations would cost - he said £200 - he paid 7 1/2pc. for what I laid out on the mill before - he ought to pay the mill insurance - he shall do so in future - and I will have 7 ½ pc for all I lay out above £200 I said I understood Mr. Carr had bought the White Swan - he had done very right - GR- thought he would have taken Northgate - he has never (said I) said anything to me about it - if you can get me a good tenant said I, it will be very well - tho’ I have not much doubt about getting one - yet if I do not, I shall all take it very easily - if the town wants a good Inn there will be one; if not, it is so contrived as to be easily convertible into something else - GR- said Carr was a great favourite -stood very high, not as to character, but as to managing an Inn - GR- came at 12, and went away at 1 ¼ -

SH:7/ML/E/19/0169

out again at 1 ¼ - with Robert M- + 3 and the gardener + 1 and Robert Schofield and his man Joseph Sharpe at all the great golden variegated holly getting it up on to the stage on rollers to be got up on the embankment it took them till dark to get it moved about 20 yards from its place - Robert M-‘s men Jack Green and John Frier have been driving, and getting the stuff out of for the last few days, drift to cut off the drain that has made the Low fishpond leak at the near top - went by the Lodge to the Stump X Inn - the new building nearly up to the 1st floor - then to the Turnpike house - the man will take the 2 cottages - but said I told you £8 a year and I find WG- paid £9 - however, as I said £8 so it must be the 1st year - or you must pay £9, and I must give the sovereign - the man rather smiled - said he could not leave where he was till the last day of next month - very well, said I, I do not mind that but you must see to the house that no mischief is done - and you must come and sign an agreement - or I will send the agreement by John Booth who can witness your signing it - yes! much obliged - that would suit better - wished his having taken the cottages not to be mentioned - said I had mentioned having offered them to him but should say no more about it - returned by the Lodge - with the hollys movers again - in the cellar passage - and about walked some time in front of the house - between 4 and 5 had Mr. Gledhill collecting the poor and Highway rages - 10d. in the pound - 2nd. rate this year - each rate £7.0.1 - will come again about

after 5 and dark before A- returned from all day at the school and a short visit at the school - Mrs. W. Priestley’s school of Industry given up today - note this morning per post (brought by George sent to H-x by A-) from Mr. Parker - has Hainsworth’s and Aquilla Green’s lease - but not John Oates’s - the conditions of the stone-letting are ‘400 square yards, superficial measure, of stone in the Long field, and the same to be gotten at the opening now made and to be properly and regularly worked in an Easterly direction’ - not at all as I directed and intended? - Frank and John Booth brought 3 dozen of lime today - I see the hay goes fast - the little stack seems ½ done already - GR- mentioned a new kind of out-of-doors work black paint - a good body in it - quite a new thing - ‘Imperial Nantz Black - Agents for Liverpool Mr. George Atkinson Fox Street and Mr. J. T. Hobson Bold street 36/. per cwt for iron and wood’ - looking over Estate plans and making memoranda till 12 at night at which hour F42 ½° very fine day -

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wiypt-writes · 3 years

Text

Leave No One Behind

Ch4- Not So Little Problem Co written with @icanfeelastormbrewing

Episode Summary: Ari deals with the aftermath of his conversation with Hannah the previous night, and the resort has some unwelcome visitors

Episode Warnings: Bad Language words.

Episode Pairings: Ari Levinson x OFC Hannah Horowitz

Leave No One Behind Masterlist // Main Masterlist

Chapter 3

“I’ll be there to comfort you, build my world of dreams around you, I’m so glad that I found you.” I’ll Be There by the Jackson 5

19th March 1971

“Oh Mama!” Hannah beamed at her mother as the large chocolate cake was set in front of her, complete with candles “Did you make this?”

“Of course I did!” her mother smiled “I’ve made you every birthday cake you’ve had, naturally I would make your 21st one!” “It stops here Han!” Sammy grinned, leaning back in his chair. “Mama ain’t made me a cake for the last 7 years.” “You’ll get one on your 30th.” Mama Navon narrowed her eyes “That is if you cut your hair. What on Earth makes you think it looks good?”

Ari let out a snort at that point and Sammy gave him a punch on the arm. “It’s a mullet, Ma, it’s fashion”

“Fashion, really?” Ari asked.

“You’ve no room to talk…you had that dodgy mop top for years.” Ari shook his head laughing, running his hand through his newly shorn hair, careful so as not to disturb the side parting he’d spent ages ensuring was pristine.

“Yeah, you’ve gone from George Harrison to George Lazenby.” Hannah winked at him and Ari grinned back.

“Whatever, get those candles blown out, I want some cake.” Sammy grumbled.

“Yeah, Han, make a wish!” Hannah’s friend, Amira instructed. The rest of the table began to join in, and with a grin she leaned forward, pulling her long bouffant pony tail back out of the way. She glanced over the table, looked at Ari before closing her eyes and blowing her candles out.

“Speaking of Bond…” Sammy spoke as their Mother began to slice the cake up. “The new film is due next month.”

“Connery returns, thank fuck!” Hannah nodded “Because Lazenby is shit.”

“Yeah, hear that, shit…” Sammy nudged Ari who shrugged.

“Hey, the fact that Firefly think’s I’m like James Bond is good enough for me.”

“Well you are an agent so… “ she shrugged, before she grinned wickedly “Although I’m not sure he would wear white skinny Levi's...” she gestured to his pants and he looked at her, his eyebrow raising.

“Erm, I’ll have you know that these are Sta-Prest and happen to be the height of mod fashion” he scoffed.

“Whatever.” she shrugged, before she smirked again “At least you don’t look like Rod Stewart. Mama’s right, that mullet needs sorting Sammy.”

“Can everyone stop taking the piss out of my hair?” Sammy glowered.

Once the cake was eaten, they all had another drink each before the meal came to a natural close. At this point Hannah’s mother wished them all goodbye and headed off home, the rest of them heading to the club across the road.

They headed straight to the bar and then Sammy vanished to go and find a couple of American Green Berets who were on a secondment into Mossad for 6 months, pending a potential formal recruitment following a successful mission a few weeks back.

They all placed their orders, and Ari took a quick check over his shoulder before he moved behind Hannah, bending over to speak into her ear.

“You know, you should be careful what you wish for, it might come true”

Hannah took a breath before letting it out slowly, and turning her head to look at him “What are you talking about?”

“You know exactly what I’m talking about Firefly…” he arched an eyebrow at her.

“So you think you know what my wish was, Levinson?” she asked, coyly, looking up at him.

“I think I know, yes” his voice was loaded.

“And are you gonna make it come true Lobo?” her eyes were suggestive as she bit her lip and Ari smirked a little. He wasn’t an idiot, he hadn’t missed the signs Hannah had been giving him for the past 3 years since her 18th. He’d been trying to ignore it, due to the 7 year age gap but in the 4 years he had known her he had watched her turn into the amazing, gorgeous young woman stood in front of him, and now, well, it was getting increasingly hard to come up with reasons as to why he should be ignoring her, especially now she was 21.

Before he could respond, Sammy returned interrupting their little moment, slapping Ari’s back.

“Let me introduce you to my little sister, this is Hannah, Hannah meet Andy and Max.”

Ari didn’t miss the way Andy’s eyes travelled up and down Hannah’s form and felt himself bristle a little as the man took in her outfit. He couldn’t blame them though, she did look good in her blue and purple paisley print mini dress and knee high white boots.

“Nice to meet you guys!” Hannah smiled at them both.

“Pleasure is all mine” Andy grinned.

“Sammy say’s it’s your 21st” Max looked at her “Happy birthday” he grinned, kissing her hand.

“Thank you” she smiled

“Yeah, congratulations.” Andy grinned, bending over to kiss her cheek. .

Ari shifted on the spot, reaching for the scotch that the bar tender had set in front of him. He took Hannah’s Campari and Soda, handing it over to her, her fingers brushing his slightly as she took it and he saw that adorable pink tinge appear on her cheeks.

“So if it’s your birthday why you hanging bout with these 2 morons?” Max asked, jerking his thumb in Sammy’s direction.

“I’m not, they’re hanging with me.” Hannah shrugged, taking a sip of her drink through the straw.

All of them laughed, and Max looked at Sammy, then Ari, then back to Sammy again. “I like this girl.”

“That’s my sister for you.” Sammy shrugged, turning to the bar tender to place his order.

“Yeah, be careful, she looks like a Firefly but can bite like a mosquito.” Ari looked at Max before he glanced at Hannah.

She winked at him and then turned to Andy and Max. “Well, seeing as you guys are in town for a while, come with me and I’ll introduce you to a few of my friends”

Ari watched as she led them over the light up dance floor, tapping Amira on the shoulder. She started to talk to the rest of the her group of University friends, and he saw one of them, a red head, Abigail, lock eyes with him and he smiled politely before looking away.

“She giving you the eye again?” Sammy smirked, nodding to Abi and Ari shrugged.

“Got my eye on someone else.” he said simply. For once Sammy didn’t pry.

15 minutes or so later, the band was in full swing running through a number of hits from the 60s through to the present day. Hannah seemed to be having a good time, and as the opening bars to Sweet Caroline struck up she grinned over at Ari and Sammy. Ari, done with observing from a far, downed what remained of his drink and jerked his head towards them. Sammy nodded and followed him over to the group where they joined in the dancing and singing and laughing as they all chanted along, When that finished it morphed into another song, then another, then another… they were dancing for a good half an hour to hit after hit, and then Twist and Shout by the Beatles started. Hannah gave a cheer at this point before her and the girls launched into some kind of dance routine, twisting on the balls of their feet, dipping to the floor, laughing as they did so.

It was the perfect opportunity for Ari who moved behind Hannah, giving her a hug from behind. No one paid them the slightest bit of attention as they were too busy dancing themselves so he took it upon himself to pull her back closer into him, his hands falling to her hips as he swayed with her to the music, grinding up against her, his face resting against her neck, the short whiskers of his beard scratching at her skin. Taking her hand in his he spun her out, then back to face him, his spare arm curling around her, hand splaying on her back.

She glanced up at him as the music faded into “I’ll Be There” by the Jackson 5. The song was slow enough but not too slow, so he could keep her in that hold and it looked perfectly innocent. Just two friends enjoying a dance, even if the electricity between them was crackling…and then she leaned up to whisper into his ear.

“What were you saying about making my dreams come true?” she purred, her eyes locked onto his, a sultry look on her face as she blinked slowly.

Ari swallowed and glanced at Sammy, who was fooling about with Max, Andy and a few of Hannah’s friends and he felt himself hesitate. Was he doing the right thing? Was this really appropriate? It was an unwritten rule that you didn’t touch your best friends little sister, especially when she is 7 years your junior. And then there was the whole thing about was he good enough? She was a bright, young, clever woman...with a huge career as a doctor ahead of her which was almost unheard of for a female... Fuck! He had been so sure before but now it actually came down to it, he was plagued with doubts. Subconsciously he loosened his hold slightly and Hannah, as perceptive as ever noticed.

“Are you backing off, Levinson?” she looked at him, reading his face as always.

“Hannah, you look amazing, you are amazing but..”

At that point she rolled her eyes and pulled back slightly “Oh just don’t…”

“Firefly…” he began to protest but she stepped away, shaking her head.

“I need the bathroom”

And with that she headed off over the dancefloor.

Ari watched her leave, groaning as he ran a hand through his hair, grappling with himself once more. He wanted her, like he had never wanted anyone before, and he knew that there was something there on her side too. But was it right? But then again, how could something that felt this good be anything but?

With a last glance at the group, he strode after her. Positioning himself outside the women’s bathroom he leaned against the wall, trying not to look like too much of a pervert. It took her a little while but when she emerged he reached out, grabbing her hand.

“Ari?” she asked but he didn’t say anything, simply laced his fingers between hers and dragged her outside.

Once there he spun round, backing her against the wall to the left of the door, placing his hands lat against the concrete either side of her head, looking down at her

“You’re driving me crazy.” he looked down at her as she bit her lip, her eyes wide, suddenly her demeanour was all coy. He chuckled and shook his head, “Don’t play innocent with me now, Han. You want me as much as I want you.”

“Well, sometimes we don’t always get what we want do we, mi Lobo hambriento?”

Fuck that nickname! It did things to him, inappropriate things and he gave a little groan as he looked down at her.

“You can have what you want Firefly.” Ari’s voice was low as he looked at her “I’m all yours, but I think you already know that…”

Her breathing became deep and Ari could tell she was turned on but he wasn’t going to do anything until she had given him a sign. He was ensuring she had the power, that this was her decision. Her eyes bounced across each of his, as if she was searching for something, making sure he was absolutely telling the truth. Which he was. He had come clean about his feelings it was up to her now. As he watched, her gaze flickered down to his lips and then back up again and she took a deep breath that was almost a gasp.

“Ari it’s almost midnight…” her voice was soft, almost a whisper. “And I’m pretty sure birthday wishes are supposed to be granted on the actual day…”

Ari grinned, arching his eyebrow slightly “Better not keep my girl waiting.”

His hands moved to her face, cupping her cheeks gently before he leaned down and kissed her. It was soft at first but quickly became heated as her hands slid up to his chest, clutching fistfuls of his black sweater. He kissed the life out of her. It was raw and heated as they both poured out 4 years of fucking frustration in one another.

Eventually Ari broke the kiss, more to breathe properly than anything, pressing his forehead to hers, both of them breathless.

“Were you serious?” Hannah asked.

“About what?” he frowned, and he watched as she bit her lip and looked down before she glanced back up at him.

“About me being your girl…”

“I thought I just made myself perfectly clear…” he said, his eyes boring into hers.

She looked at him, a smile playing on her lips before she shrugged, her hands sliding up round his neck, pulling his face back down to her.

“Hmm, maybe you better show me again…”

******

Ari woke up when the first rays of sun seeped through the latticed window above his bed. When he opened his eyes he was hugging his pillow for dear life and it took him a couple of seconds to adjust to reality, the memories of that night slowly retreating to the back of his mind where they had been kept for nearly 9 years now. He yawned and stretched and pulling his bed sheets away, he sat up on the edge of his bed and rubbed his eyes.

He groaned when he looked down and his eyes focused on his erection. Fuck, he thought. He tried to remember when the last time he had had a wet dream was but couldn't even recall it. Being around Hannah and stirring old feelings and painful memories was surely having an effect on him. An effect he had to sort immediately if he wanted to impersonate his role as the owner of this God forsaken hotel in front of the group of Germans that had unexpectedly arrived the previous evening.

Once he had got rid of his, not so little, problem in the shower of the small bathroom attached to his hut and after pulling on a pair of black shorts he headed out in the scorching Sudanese sun.

He went round the side of the building and he met Max leading some kind of class to a group of tourists, apparently Tai Chi. He saw Max turn to him standing on one leg and give him a wave, and so did the tourists mimicking Max movements. Ari waved back, an astonished smile on his face. He was surprised Max knew Tai Chi, a trained assassin and sniper giving an ancient soothing martial art class clad in what looked like a pair of pyjama pants. And to make it more surprising he had stopped eating to do so, seeing as he, for once, didn't have food in his hands.

Ari watched him for a second before looking down and giving a huff of a laugh. He decided then to head towards the main building with the intention of getting a cup of coffee. He stopped again as he saw Rachel walking from one of the jeeps, carrying a load of what looked like new bed linen, followed by a member of the staff carrying a box of groceries. Ari wondered where the fuck had they got all that, but then concluded they must have gone shopping as he spotted a load more boxes and baskets in the back of the open trunk of one of the jeeps.

And just as he turned towards the doors of the main building he saw Sammy walking from an outhouse with a basket of laundry and a blatantly grumpy expression on his face. He didn't stop, but gave Ari a stare instead of a good morning greeting. What was wrong with him? Ari wondered if he would still be pissed at him for the incident during the mission the previous night. Whatever. He shrugged and headed inside the main building.

He entered the kitchen and grabbed a mug. The kitchen and the reception area were deserted at this time of the morning. As he poured some coffee he noticed there was still no sign of Hannah, or Jake for that matter, and he thought it was probably for the best given the way things had gone last night and his damned dream and issue that morning when he woke up. Moreover, he wasn't quite sure how he should handle himself around her. She would probably be upset at him if not mad. Or maybe she simply wouldn’t give a damn, which would be worse because that would mean she didn't care anymore about their.... past. But then again it had seemed like she cared last night. A lot if you asked him, she had even admitted she had been in love with him back then.

Sighing slightly he grabbed his coffee mug and headed out to the seafront part of the building only to find Jake led on a sun-lounger in a very tight pair of red speedos. And, Damn it!, he spotted Hannah next to him in another lounger. She was lay on her stomach, her chin resting on her folded arms, and her head turned towards Jake who was explaining something to her, probably some of his exotic diving adventures.

Ari then noticed she was wearing a red bathing suit which had cut out panels on each side of her waist. She hadn't worn it before, Ari thought he would definitely remember if she had. Her hair was piled on her head in a messy bun and her eyes were covered by her Aviators. Ari couldn't help but check out those damned legs and curves, and that ass and he was suddenly glad he had jerked off in the shower that morning, though he still felt something stirring in the pit of his stomach.

He hesitated but he then decided to approach, watching as Hannah turned half her body to Jake and resting on her right elbow, her head on her hand just a moment before the two of them burst out with laugher. With the green eyed monster in the pit of his stomach groaning, Ari walked over to them and saw Jake had matches between his fingers and thought that would give him the perfect opportunity to engage in conversation and see where that would lead.

"What's with the matches?" he asked Jake.

Hannah lifted her head to face him. Ari couldn't see her eyes, hidden as they were by her shades but her demeanour didn't appear angry or stiff…just passive which was what he feared the most. Had someone asked him how to handle her, the answer would have been no fucking idea.

Jake looked up and then at the matches, which fell out at the motion of his hand moving his shades up his face, before answering which gave Ari the perfect opportunity to steal another glance at Hannah. A very appreciative one, now that he could take in the curve of her breasts and her cleavage.

“It's the only way to spread the tan evenly.” Jake answered.

"That's the stupidest thing I ever heard." Ari replied.

Hannah snorted at Ari's comment and Jake looked at her slyly before saying “You won’t be laughing at the tan lines you'll get from that thing.”

She frowned and looked down at her body. As did Ari, and Jake. Ari looked at Jake a second later and caught him checking her out. Not that he could blame him. He himself had been doing the same thing since he had spotted them both, but for some reason it pissed him. Then Hannah spoke bringing him back from his thoughts.

“Not like anyone’s gonna see em Loop.”

Ari swallowed hard and brought his coffee mug to his lips to conceal his raising uneasiness. Ok, so now we are on pet name terms. Fuck my life.

“You never know Red…” Jake winked.

Hannah laughed before retorting “I should be so fucking lucky…”

What in the name...

Ari tried to divert the attention and looked around him before asking Jake "What's going on here?"

"Well, your brochure mentioned the daily relaxing Tai Chi class. Irving" he said nodding at Max. "Liam is doing laundry because he lost a bet." he continued.

Ari looked down back at Jake, a dumbfounded expression on his face.

"He bet Rachel that Max didn’t know how to do Tai Chi…stupid bastard, not like he ain't known Max for 9 years or anything…" Hannah explained rather harshly.

“Are you mad at your brother?” Jake asked turning to look at her.

“Damned right I am.” Hannah snorted. Jake looked at her, raising an eyebrow but she said no more so he looked at Ari who shrugged. It was clear to him that he was not getting a reason why.

Ari shifted position and put his left fisted hand inside his shorts' pocket as he knew all too well what the reason for her bitterness against her brother was. He suddenly felt uncomfortable and looked behind them both, seemingly interested in the Tai Chi class while Jake continued his report of the chores assignment at the resort.

“Angela went shopping after giving a massage to a hairy Nazi. And now I'm giving a diving tour…” and at that he looked at his diving watch as he stood “which starts in exactly 12 minutes…” Jake informed, giving Ari a look “as per your fucking brochure.” But before leaving he glanced down at Hannah.

“You coming sweetheart?”

“Hell yeah…” she replied taking the hand Jake was offering her to help her up, but she then stopped.

"You promise I'm not gonna get eaten by a shark?" Hannah asked.

"Don't worry, I'll look after you." he chuckled. "Come on."

They both started to walk off without any more explanation before Jake turned to Ari. “Care to join?”

Ari looked at them for a moment but didn’t answer, he simply scoffed and drank his coffee. He was taken by surprised. He hadn't expected Jake and Hannah to hit it off and become so close in such few days. The green eyed monster now stopped groaning and started growling. He decided to shut it up by finishing his coffee and going to call Ethan and Isaacs to debrief the previous night successful mission in the privacy of his the outhouse where they kept the diving equipment.

***** Ari got back to the main building after the call to Tel Aviv and sorting a misunderstanding with a German couple who had been assigned separate rooms by mistake. Ethan and Isaacs had been giving him a hard time about the radio failure issue, Ari was willing to bet Ethan hadn't believed any of the excuses he had improvised. And seeing the turn the conversation with Isaacs had taken, he wouldn't like to be in Ethan's shoes and having to deal with Isaacs in person.

By the time he entered the main dining room Hannah and Jake had already come back from their diving tour and Hannah was gushing about the marine life, and how Jake had been amazing on the tour, showing everyone where to go and what to see. Max, Sam and Rachel listened carefully to her colourful account of Jake's expertise in the matter while Jake leaned back casually on one chair smoking and brushing off Hannah's flattering comments.

Honestly all Ari wanted to listen to was the sound of Jake's jaw breaking from his punch. But he faked interest as he sat on one of the free chairs and lit a cigarette after brushing his hand over his hair, an equally fake smile on his face. Rachel then suggested it would be nice if they all took a trip that afternoon after lunch seeing as they would be dismissed from their chores by then.

So for the second tour of the day, the entire team bar Sammy, who allegedly had a phobia of fish no one knew anything about and so offered to stay in the boat as spotter, decided to take a dive.

Later that day, when all the equipment had been checked and the tourist taking part in the diving tour were all settled in the boat on the way out, Sam sat next to Hannah who shifted in her seat.

“What the fuck is wrong with you?” he whispered. “You’ve been avoiding me all morning and now you’re looking at me like I murdered someone…”

“Not someone…” she replied without even bothering to look at him and shrugging.

If Ari could have turned himself invisible he would have, but seeing as that was impossible he was seriously considering throwing himself overboard and getting eaten by a shark instead. But chances were there wouldn't be sharks in the Red Sea, given his luck lately.

"What do you mean?" Sammy asked a bit taken aback.

Hannah shrugged again not looking at him. She still was undecided about how to confront her brother about his big fuck up many years ago, but it surely wasn't gonna happen in a boat in the middle of the sea with a group of chubby sunburnt tourists and Ari fucking Levinson nonetheless.

"What have you done to her, man?" Max chuckled.

"The fuck I know." Sammy groaned, looking at him

"Time of the month cracker?" Max asked Hannah, grinning.

“Seriously?” Rachel groaned.

"Like, that’s the one thing I never understand, why men assume when a woman is a little moody that they’re on their period?" she huffed.

"The one thing I never understand is why lesbians use dildos or strap-ons. I mean they either like cock or not." Jake thought out loud.

Ok, I might as well give a chance to the sharks, Ari thought.

"Maybe they like cock but just can’t be arsed dealing with the 6ft useless ball sack attached to it…" she offered before cursing in Spanish "Maldito cabrón." (Fucking asshole) Ari noticed Sammy rolling his eyes, clearly understanding whatever curse she had just spoke. Then a middle-aged German woman laughed and said something to Hannah in Spanish.

"Con quién estás más enfadada?" (Which one are you most angry at?)

Hannah laughed and glanced at Ari, Sammy, Max and lastly Jake.

"Ahora mismo, con todos." (Right now, all of them)

Sammy turned at her giving her a questioning look, but he couldn’t blow cover in front of the tourists so he bit back the urge to ask her what the fuck was going on.

Ari rubbed his face. Suddenly this boat trip was taking too long for his liking and his wetsuit felt far too tight.

Everyone remained silent, lost in their own thoughts. Silence only broken by sound of the waves and the lively chatter of a pair of overexcited German youths. Once they had reached the diving spot, Jake helped Hannah as she tumbled backwards into the sea before helping the tourists to do the same. Then it was Rachel and Max. Ari was the last to go.

"When did those two become so close? Is Jake hitting on my sister or am I imagining things?" Sam asked Ari, who merely shrugged before he tumbled backwards into the sea effectively determined to have his date with destiny... and sharks. Thanks, Sam.

God. Hannah had been right. The bottom of the sea at that spot was gorgeous. Being there, underwater, diving through the crystal-clear waters among all that rich variety of fish was simply overwhelming. Ari could recognise butterflyfish and clownfish along with sea turtles and some eels, and then a school of an unknown to him species of fish came swimming off a breath-taking coral reef when the group approached it. And just when he thought he couldn't be more amazed, Jake led them to a rather ghostly ship wreck.

The experience was as amazing as Hannah had described it, yes. But it would have been even better if Ari hadn't had to put up with her and Jake diving close together the whole time and him guiding her instead of the tourists. He would be lying if he said he wasn't low key pissed at them, had he a reason or the right to be or not. And he might or might not have not voluntarily kicked a school of fish with one of his fins. And to make things worse, that tight short legged wet suit she was wearing was doing nothing to help.

Just when he had decided to dive a bit more inside the ship wreck in order to keep his mind and his eyesight away from the pair, he felt a tug on his line. He swam up a bit and saw it was Sammy pulling so he heading up to the surface. He bobbed at the side of the boat gripping the boat side handle with his right hand and pulling his mask off with the left one.

"What's up?" he asked Sammy catching his breath.

Sammy just nodded towards the shore and said "Turn around."

Ari turned around and saw a bunch of armed guards all stood along the beach.

"Shit" he cursed. "Ok, I’ll go down get the others."

A few minutes later he had warned Jake and they all had gotten the tourists back in the boat and headed back to shore. Ari trying to keep calm so as not to scare the tourists and to reassure his team at the same time. Everyone more or less succeeding in keeping up appearances till they got to the beach.

When they descended the boat, Ari saw a man in an army uniform, with his hat on his head and a pair sunglasses covering his eyes. He quickly guessed it must be Colonel Ahmed of the local force, the one Kabede had warned him about.

"Hello." Ari greeted walking towards him, followed by his team.

"How can I help you?" he asked reaching his hand out to the Colonel, who looked back at him seriously as they shook hands.

"There's been an incident last night, and we wanted to make sure that all of you in the hotel are safe." Ahmed informed in his thick accent.

Ari looked back at his team, trying to buy some time, before turning back to the man.

"What kinda incident?" he asked faking a curious expression.

"Smugglers." Ahmed replied as he turned and walked back towards the hotel, all of them following. "They drove through one of our roadblocks last night. Nearly killed two of my soldiers."

The team exchanged glances as the soldiers began flanking them as they walk, guns held in their hands.

"I heard there's a smuggling problem up and down the coast, I hope no one was hurt." Ari offered casually.

Ahmed stopped in his tracks and turned to look at him. He inspected Ari's expression carefully before smiling an ample white toothed grin. He then nodded and continued walking, heading straight for the trucks parked at the left front side of the main building.

Ari had to put his quick thinking skills to the test before Ahmed started suspecting he didn't want his trucks inspected. He stopped as Ahmed walked to the trucks and leaned against the bonnet. He removed his glasses and gave Ari that inspecting look again before speaking.

"My soldiers shot the trucks. So the trucks from last night should have bullet holes in them."

Ari kept his face passive. Behind him Max and Jake both move nearer to Hannah and Rachel in a protective mode as the soldiers started circling the group. Tension was rising fast.

Ahmed resumed his walk round the side of the trucks towards the rear of them "There's no reason why your trucks should have bullet holes, Mister..."

"Thomas. Guy Thomas" Ari offered, walking after him. "And no. No reason." he admitted laughing a little with the last two words, as if he found it all ridiculous.

Ahmed didn't spare him a glance and proceeded to check the trucks, pushing at the wooden panels. Ari stood there watching. Then he looked at Ahmed whose face had fallen as he hadn't found the bullet holes he was sure he would find.

Overtaken by frustration Ahmed then barked something to his soldiers in Arabic. A second later a soldier ran up, saying something back as he nodded and Ahmed looked at him, before looking at Ari and returned to check the truck again.

Ahmed comes back a few seconds later and said something to his soldier, his voice steely, before beginning to make his way back down the side of the truck to his troop. Ari lowered his head with relief and in a bold move, encouraged by the rush of adrenaline, he chimed

"I hope you come visit us again real soon."

Hannah looked at Max and hissed "Seriously?" once the armed men had jumped back in their trucks. “I hope you come visit us again?” she looked at Ari, “You’re such a dick…”

Ari frowned as she turned away and with a shake of her head waked back down the sand and took a right towards the boat that they had occupied little over 10 minutes ago which were now moored by the launching ramp near the diving centre part of the resort. Max looked at Ari, gave him a shrug and then shouted after Hannah.

“Cracker, wait up…”

She stopped and turned, allowing him to catch her and Ari stood with his hands on his hips as Max tossed an arm round her, gave her a squeeze and they fell into step with one another walking down the soft sand.

“Come on, let’s get the gear away and we can talk.” Ari said, tearing his eyes way from Hannah’s back and nodding to Jake. Between them they all grabbed various bits of equipment and began hauling it up the beach to outhouses. It was hot work, the boys all undoing the tops of their wetsuits in an attempt to keep reasonably cool, but as Ari felt the sweat dripping down his back he could think of nothing better than getting out of the damned thing.

Once the last oxygen tank was placed on the floor by Jake, he let out a loud breath and wiped at his brow then his chest with a towel. Ari saw Hannah look at Jake and smile and that damned green eyed monster stirred in his gut again.

“Like what you see Red?” Jake teased with a wink and a smirk as he gave a little twirl.

“Well, there’s not much left that I ain’t seen, Loop, thanks to those fucking speedos.” she shot back and he gave a laugh, as she unzipped the front of her wet suit before she paused and then stopped when Max broke the silence.

“Smugglers huh…”

“Well they weren’t wrong.” Hannah mused “Just not smuggling the types of things they expect…”

“I almost shat in my wet suit.” Jake said, with a chuckle.

“Yeah, if that soldier hadn't been too scared to admit he'd missed, we'd all be locked up right now.” Sammy spoke, shaking his head.

Hannah’s attention flicked to Ari who wasn’t listening. Instead he was leaning against the wall, looking out of the window at the guests on the beach, one arm folded across his bare abdomen, the other playing with his beard and she could tell from the look on his face that an idea was forming in his head.

“Come here.” he spoke to the group as he pointed out of the window, his hands falling to his slim hips “What do you see?”

With that he turned and looked into the hut. Hannah, who was stood closest to him stepped up beside him, following his gaze to the tourists who were sat out on the sand, a few of them drinking beer from a cool box. Sammy moved to stand next to her and raised an eyebrow.

“Unsuspecting collateral damage?” he huffed a sarcastic laugh.

Hannah rolled her eyes and give him a filthy look as she shook her head, her hands falling to her hips. She shared a glance with Rachel who smiled at her, clearly they were both on Ari’s wave length.

“Best cover we could ask for.” Hannah said. Ari turned to look at her, smiling as she met his eyes her face almost smiling back.

“Imagine if the Germans hadn't been here when Ahmed arrived.” Ari looked at Sammy before he turned back to the window, folding his arms again.

There was a moment’s pause as the group stood looking out of the window for before they glanced round at one another, Max, Rachel, Hannah, Jake and Ari all grinning. Ari turned his attention back to the tourists, the idea was genius. Operate as a fully functioning hotel! They had the staff, and it was the perfect damned cover should anyone come sniffing around. Granted it might slow things down, they’d need a good few months to get it fully operational, and then there was the task of getting Ethan and Isaacs on board but he was confident he could sell it, especially with all the team’s support.

Well, almost all the team that is.

“You're kidding, right?” Sammy deadpanned.

“Yeah, coz this is one big fucking hilarious joke Sammy.” Hannah snarked and Ari turned round everyone’s attention focussed on her “Ari has a point…”

“What a surprise, you’re backing him up, again!” Sammy rolled his eyes.

Ari gave a sigh and stepped forward a little “Hey, hey come on…” he placated but Hannah ignored him completely and glared at her brother.

“Oh fucking grow up Sammy!” she shook her head, before she barged past him, shoving into him with her shoulder before she stormed out of the group.

“Oh fuck this…” Sammy grumbled, following her out.

Hannah stormed down to the sea front, Sammy hot on her heels.

“Hannah! Hannah, STOP!” he yelled, “What the fuck is your problem?”

“You really wanna know?” she rounded on him, her eyes blazing.

“Well I’d appreciate it if you told me instead of the snidey, bitchy comments and looks!”

“Would you appreciate it if I came round to your apartment one morning and punched you in the jaw…sound familiar?”

Sammy’s eyes grew wide and Hannah shook her head at him as the realisation spread across his face.

“How did you…” he started to ask but Hannah cut him off.

“Fuck you Sammy, how could you? You had no right to interfere in my life!”

“Hannah, you were my little sister…”

“I was 21 years old….a fucking adult.” she shook her head.

“I just…” Sammy sighed, and shrugged “I was trying to protect you.”

“From what? From Ari?” she shook her head “He’s your best friend Sammy, I mean how bad do you really think he is?”

“I know what he’s like Hannah.” Sammy shook his head “He’s a great guy but he’s reckless and arrogant and selfish…” “He wasn’t…” Hannah swallowed “He wasn’t like that with me.” “Look at what happened with Sarah.” Sammy sighed “That would have been you.” “Well, funnily enough neither of us has a husband now do we?” she shot back.

“Don’t say that.” Sammy looked at her.

“Why not?” she shrugged. “It’s true.” “You were 21…he was 28…”

“And?” “You had all your training to do.” “You had NO RIGHT!” she screamed at him “You had not right to decide what was best for me…I fucking loved him Sammy!”

At that Sammy’s face fell, and he looked down, shaking his head. “Hannah, I-“ “I loved him…and you took him away from me.” she sniffed “Why you would do something that you knew would hurt me so much?”

“I was trying to stop you getting hurt.” Sammy shook his head

“I mean, was it jealousy, is that it?”

“Don’t be ridiculous Han.” Sammy scoffed.

“You were scared I was gonna take your best friend or something?” she looked at him

“I didn’t know how serious it was.” Sammy looked at her “I didn’t know you’d been together for any amount of time…” “Hang on…” Hannah frowned “You didn’t know, so what? You just saw us at the party and then decided you’d punch him in the face?”

“I…I never saw you together.” Sammy looked down.

Hannah stopped dead and looked at her brother as he raised his eyes to hers “What? Then how did you-“ “I never saw you Han.” he repeated “Someone else did and they told me.”

“Who?”

“Hannah, does it matter?”

She snorted, remembering how Ari had said the exact same words to her the night before and let out a sarcastic laugh.

“I’m getting sick and tired of people telling me what does and doesn’t matter. I want to know. WHO told you?” “Hannah, don’t do that to yourself.”

“What the fuck does that even mean?” she said loudly “I have the right to know, tell me Sammy who told-“ “It was Andy!” Sammy yelled back “Ok, you happy now?” At his words Hannah visibly recoiled, stepping backwards on the sand. It felt like someone had just slapped her round the face.

“Andy?” she whispered.

“Yeah…” Sammy sighed

Hannah looked at her brother again, before she took a deep breath and turned and headed back up the sand towards her hut, the tears stinging her eyes. Her husband had been the one that had caused Ari to leave her. She didn’t want to believe it, but she knew her brother wasn’t lying. It felt like a double betrayal, from both of them, and it hurt. It physically hurt.

“Cracker?” Max stepped into her path, his voice gentle as he gently laid his hands on her shoulder

“Just...leave me Max, please…” she said, the tears pouring down her cheeks.

“I can’t leave you like this….” he said softly “What’s wrong? What are you and Sammy fighting about?”

“Hannah?” Ari asked softly as he appeared and Hannah groaned inwardly. She really didn’t need this. All she wanted to do was go and lie on her bed, curly up and cry. “Firefly, what happened?”

It didn’t take a genius to work out what the siblings had been arguing about. Ari watched her as her chest heaved with sobs, debating whether or not to hug her but he stopped himself, not sure exactly how well it would be received.

“He…” she started to talk and shook her head, taking a deep breath before she turned her beautiful blue eyes onto his, they were shining with tears “It was Andy.” Ari felt like the rug had been pulled from his feet, he knew instantly what she was referring to but couldn’t quite believe it.

“Andy?” he repeated, looking at her and she nodded.

“Andy saw us that night, and he was the one that told Sammy…” “Aah, shit…” Max sighed, and both Ari and Hannah turned to look at him. “That isn’t exactly what happened”

“How do you…how do you know what we’re talking about?” Hannah frowned.

“Because it was me. I saw you.” “What? Hannah whispered as Ari let out a groan and turned away for a moment to gain some composure.

“I saw you and Ari outside Cracker, and I made a joke to Andy because he liked you….and we knew Ari had some secret girlfriend he was refusing to tell us about and…”

“God, Max!” Ari spun round to look at him, shaking his head.

“I didn’t know he was gonna tell Sammy, or that he did…I swear.” Max finished, apologetically “I’m so sorry.” Hannah looked around at Max, lost for words.

“Cracker…” he said but she simply shook her head.

At that point Sammy approached and that was it, she’d had enough.

“You….” she pointed at Sammy “Had no goddamned right to interfere…” she turned to Max “You should have kept your mouth shut…and you…” she looked at Ari, wanting to scream and shout and rail at him for walking away and not fighting for her, but as his eyes locked onto hers, she saw the sadness behind them and even now, with the anger and hurt coursing through her veins, she just couldn’t bring herself to do it.

Instead, she simply turned and stormed into her hut, slamming the door behind her.

**** Chapter 5

#leave no one behind #Ari Levinson #ari levinson x ofc #ari levinson x original female character #red sea diving resort #chris evans #chris evans characters

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calibancangetit · 4 years

Text

The Final Witch’s Quarry (Part 1)

Chapter: Her Quarry

Pairings: Prince Caliban x Reader

Summary: (Y/N) finally finds a key to her revenge as well as finally meeting the one person she is destined to stop.

Notes: I JUST WANTED TO TELL YOU ALL HOW THANKFUL I AM FOR THE SUPPORT YOU HAVE SHOWN ME FOR THIS FIC! I really didn’t think it would do so well, but you all are really giving me so much love! Thank you to everyone who liked and reblogged as well as commented. It made me so happy. I’m going to start focusing on some imagines for you all as a gift. I got some ideas that I think you all will like. If you have any requests please feel free to ask. I haven’t decided if I’ll be doing any smut however, so please refrain from asking for that as of now. Thank you again!

Prologue

Hilda has had plenty of awkward experiences. She couldn’t count how many times she created tension so thick she wanted to just sink into the Earth and never come out. However, today was the first time she got to see that tension from an onlookers perspective.

You sat perfectly still in your seat at the Spellman’s dining room table. You were seated exactly centered at the table, where you had careful view of the entire kitchen as well as it’s occupants. Ambrose and Sabrina shifted in their seats uncomfortably as they both tried to make out the best thing to say. You let out a deep sigh as you crossed your arms; your annoyance raidiated off of you in waves.

A quick cough caught your attention as Hilda walked up to you with a tray of homemade cookies and tea.

“U-uh, it’s quite excellent to see Sabrina bring home some new friends-” your sharp glare made Hilda stumble on her words as she placed the tray in front of you-“or not. Um, where did you say you were from again, love?”

You eyed the woman beside you. She had a terrible habit of wringing her hands and patting her clothes down frequently; she also had this obsessive need to release uncomfortable chuckles to ease situations like the one you found yourself in now. It was amusing as well as agitating.

“Brooklyn.” you muttered as you lifted a cookie to your lips.

You sniffed it before taking the sweet between your teeth and savoring the oatmeal flavor. Your eyes met Hilda’s again as she watched you eat. You gulped down the cookie and let out a short awkward cough as you gave her a forced smile in order to aknowledge that you enjoyed it. She took your hint with a smile and ran off to the other side of the table to sit in and listen.

“So, um, (Y/N)?” Sabrina started as you crossed your arms again and gave her a harsh glare. “What I mainly need you to help me with is stopping Caliban.”

“What’s a Caliban?” You questioned with obvious boredom laced in your voice.

You could see Sabrina become more exasperated by your attitude as she tried to explain her plan. You listened on and off through her little presentation. You paid attention to certain key words within it like Prince of Hell, Tenth circle, etc., etc, yet your mind came to an abrupt stop when a certain competition was brought up.

“You are trying to obtain the Unholy Regalia?” You almost choked at the thought of her collecting every piece.

Sabrina and Ambrose gave each other nervous looks before nodding sadly. At this, you couldn’t help but burst into a fit of laughter.

“You realize this was made for you to fail! How could they expect you-“ you paused.

Suddenly, inspiration struck. You mind flew to the Regalia and it’s power. You smirked at the Spellmans as you drummed your fingers against the table. Things are going perfectly-at least for you.

“This Regalia is going to determine who is the ruler of hell?” You asked, twirling another cookie between your fingers.

“Yes, and Caliban is the only competitor. This man of clay seems to be hell bent, if you’ll excuse the pun, on defeating Sabrina, ruling Hell, and conquering Earth.” Ambrose bit his lip, and you couldn’t help but notice the frantic bouncing of his knee.

“And Caliban? What are his powers?”

“We aren’t sure. As far as we know he has the powers of any warlock, but he hasn’t shown us much.”

You gave a brief smile as you stood up from the table abruptly, knocking some cookies off your plate. That, of course, made Hilda wince.

“Do you know what’s funny about clay?” You asked with a face full of amusement.

The family shrugged to your little question with a series of confused whispers.

“No matter how good the sculptor, clay will always break.”

—

It had been a while since you have seen Hell. The stench of blood and death engulfed you, and torment was plastered on every suffering souls face. The walls of pandemonium were no better. Sinners were strapped against the wall and with every ten seconds of peace another 60 were spent with their bodies set on fire. You kept a straight face despite the cookies from earlier running up your throat. You were disgusted.

You felt Sage’s feathers brush against your cheek as she situated herself on your shoulder. You could feel her anxiety from being here and it was a valid feeling. She knew how you were feeling.

“So what am I suppose to do?” You asked as you flattened some of Sage’s feathers on her head.

Your eyebrows furrowed at the sight of your alli. Sabrina was an absolute wreck. She was chewing her bottom lip and wringing her hands every five seconds; you couldn’t tell if you were dealing with her or Hilda.

“Right now, you are going to be a scare tactic. Ambrose didn’t go into detail since he isn’t quite sure either, but he said Hell feared you. I’m going to need that fear.” You tried to ignore the way her face dropped.

After all, whatever was bothering her was none of your business. You were here for one reason and one reason only-

“Do you really speak to the false God?”

You blinked at the question and were about to brush her off, but you saw the way she pleaded with you for an answer.

“Didn’t you speak with yours?”

She gulped quietly before nodding more to herself than you. Guilt crept up your spine. She didn’t deserve your kindness, but you supposed she also didn’t deserve your spite. That was for her father. You could spare some advice.

“How long have you known you were Lucifer’s daughter?”

Sabrina was surprised by your sudden question but still answered, “Not long?”

“I can tell.” Sabrina stopped in her tracks at the confession. She could sense the trace of an insult and was greatly offended.

“What the hell is that suppose to mean?”

You gave her an amused look before continuing on,“I’ve known you for three days and even I can tell you are ill suited to be queen of hell just as everyone else can.”

She was at a loss of words as she tried to regain what was left of her pride.

You rolled your eyes and chuckled,“ You gotta stand up straight and quit being so nervous is what I am trying to say.”

Realization dawned on her face as she finally understood what you were trying to say. You shook your head in fake disappointment before pushing open too large blood coated doors.

You walked into the throne room where Lilith was expecting you and Sabrina. She was awfully disguised in the form of a human. It didn’t take you long to notice though. You could see through any poorly casted spell. You came to halt in front of the woman and quirked an eyebrow.

“Madame Satan,”

“Ah, the final witch. I thought you’d be-” she narrowed her eyes-“bigger.”

You gave a sweet smile and responded, "Yes, just like I thought you’d be queen. Guess life is full of disappointments. Isn’t it?

Her glare could slice you in half, and you wouldn’t be surprised if it did. Lilith made a move towards you but Sabrina quickly pushed her away.

“ Anyways,” she chuckled nervously as Lilith patted down her dress, “The court will be in soon to discuss more about the competition as well as upcoming changes I have been planning.”

Lilith hummed in agreement as she turned to face you once more to add on.

“You will be introduced as the Final Witch, who has sided with Sabrina in the competition. It should gain us some leverage. You must remain calm and seem regal despite whatever they may say. They need to know you are untouchable.”

You could clearly see the confusion laced on Sabrina’s face. She clearly had no clue who she allied with.

The sounds of heavy footsteps and high pitched cackles caught Lilith’s attention, “Here they come,”

You let out a breath as demons filed into the room. The last to enter were the three plague kings with a man following close behind them.

Sabrina seemed to take your advice since she stood before them with the aura of the greatest queen of all time. You stood tall yourself to match Sabrina as you waited for her to begin.

“Before we discuss the new regulations I plan on using during my reign, I would like to announce a very important alli of mine, who believes I am more certified to rule Hell than your prince.”

Your eyes wandered across the room as you assessed everyone’s reactions. You didn’t expect a certain pair to be staring right back at you. He was dressed in a leather vest with claws poking out of it. He was leaning against a pillar towards the back with his arms crossed. You could tell he was either very bored with the meeting or he was trying really hard to pretend to be.

“I present the Final Witch!” Sabrina shouted with a prideful smile.

The eyes of everyone in the room became filled with absolute horror as they faced you. The man from earlier smiled as it dawned on him who exactly he was staring at.

You turned away from him and cleared your throat, “I do, in fact, put my support behind Sabrina Morningstar. I speak for Heaven and Hell when I say that balance must be restored. A Morningstar must remain on the throne. Clay can not compare to blood.”

Whispers filled the room as they pondered their next step. You didn’t need to give a big speech. They knew of your hatred for the Morningstars. It was prophesied to be legendary. If you could agree with a Morningstar, then it must be correct.

“And what does your word mean to us?” A deep voice shouted from the back.

Your eyes immediately locked with the man’s once again.

“What does your word-” he said, walking ever closer to you-“ mean to me?”

You scoffed, “Excuse me.”

“Who are you to say I cannot rule Hell?” He asked.

Your eyes shot open when you finally comprehended who was in front of you.

“I’m the one soul no one could take. The one soul no one can have. I have powers that I am sure exceed what your small mind is capable of imagining. They are powers that Lucifer Morningstar gave me but could not take back. Powers that Heaven and Hell allow me to keep. They were indebted to me!” You seethed as he got in your face.

It was an obvious tactic to intimidate you, but you had definitely seen worse. Caliban only laughed at your attempt to prove yourself valid.

“Lucifer? How powerful could he be. It would seem he was tricked twice by two mere witches? Why should we let that legacy live on through her? The same witch that took down that same man, may I add.” He challenged as he pointed to Sabrina seated on her throne.

A small gasp left your lips as you listened to what he said. She’s the reason this all happened? She brought you here because she screwed up? You sent a glare at Sabrina as she tried to look away from you.

You were quickly losing traction on your side of the argument, so you had to think fast. The angered voices of the demons before you signaled that your lifespan was shortening if you didn’t find something to say, and Sage was getting more nervous by the second on your shoulder.

“Think about what you are getting yourself into. Lucifer didn’t lose to Sabrina because he was weak. He could kill you all without lifting a finger. He lost because Sabrina was stronger. She was stronger than him, so she is certainly stronger than you. I may be his enemy, but I’m smart enough to recognize the Morningstar strength.”

His eyes narrowed at your own. He was a foot away from you, and you were tempted to start a fight right then and there. However, it seemed Caliban had other plans. He smiled at you. There wasn’t any emotion behind it. It was just an unsettling simple smile. He suddenly turned on his heel and backed up from you.

“I’ll test your theory of her strength through this competition as well as yours. However, when you realize that she has dealt you some bad cards, feel free to slide into my bed for some better ones, beautiful.” A series of deep laughs echoed throughout the room.

You glared at him as he gave you a lustful look before walking off with the plague kings. Everyone allowed the rest of the meeting to go by with less trouble since Sabrina decided against sharing her new rules today. As the last of the horrid creatures left you shot Sabrina with the most terrifying look you could muster.

“You are telling me everything NOW,”

#prince caliban x reader #sam corlett #prince caliban #caliban x reader #caliban fanfic #caliban imagine #caliban #chilling adventures of sabrina #the chilling adventures of sabrina #sabrina spellman #sabrina morningstar #ambrose spellman #caos pt 3 #caos netflix #caos #sam corlett x reader

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dawfsaf · 3 years

Text

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skgway · 3 years

Text

1823 Aug., Thurs. 28

5 3/4

11 1/4

Did not hurry myself got my breakfast in comfort, took George in the gig, and set off to Rochdale at 7 40/60 – Walked all the way to H–x [Halifax].

A little drizzling rain so thick a mist on the top of Blackstone edge (got out of it in about 20 minutes) could scarce see 2 or 3 yards before us – A smartish shower for 3 or 4 minutes at Littlebro’, – The descent upon which place from Blackstone edge is fine scenery – Cleared up as we came within a couple of miles of Rochdale, and pretty fine when we stopped at the Wellington Inn at 11 10/60 –

Just 3 1/2 hours in coming – 17 miles from Shibden i.e. about 5 miles an hour – I had to let Caradoc feel the rein and whip a little in Rochdale streets to get him forward – Surely he cannot be tired – I drove him very gently to the top of Blackstone edge – Just 2 1/2 hours in getting to the Inn at the top – Walked and made George walk (1/4 hour) from the turnpike (about 8 miles from Rochdale) to the top of the hill –

“It has been remarked by the celebrated Haller, that we are deaf while we are yawning The same act of drowsiness that stretches open our mouths, closes our ears” volume 1 34/356

“The Friend: a series of Essays, in 3 volumes to aid in the formation of fixed principles in politics, morals and religion with literary amusements interspersed By S. T. Coleridge, Esquire a new edition” …. London 1818

“Avolent quantum volent paleæ levis fidei quocunque afflatu tentamonium! eo purior massa frumenti in horrea domini reponetur. Tertullian. Let if fly away, all that chaff of light faith that can fly off at any breath of temptation; the cleaner will the true grain be stored up in the granary of the Lord" 97/356

“a good book is the precious life-blood of a master spirit, embalmed and treasured up on purpose to a life beyond life” Milton’s speech for the library of unlicensed printing 108/356

Napoleon’s “close imitation of Charlemagne was sufficiently evident by his assumption of the Iron Crown of Italy, by his imperial coronation with the presence and authority of the Holy Father; by his imperial robe embroidered with bees in order to mark him xxxx as a successor of Pepin, and even by his ostentatious revocation of Charlemagne’s grants to the Bishop of Rome” 136/356…..

“unless above himself he can erect himself, how poor a thing is man!” Daniel 166/356

“who has not, a thousand times, seen it snow upon water? who has not seen it with a new feeling, since he has read Burn’s comparison of sensual pleasure, to snow that falls upon a river, a moment white – then gone for ever!” 184/356

“Our bodies had their morning, have their noon, And shall not better – the next change is night; But their far larger guest, t’ whom sun and moon are sparks and short-liv’d, claims another right – The noble soul by age grows bustier, her appetite and her digestion mend; we must not starve nor hope to pamper with women’s milk and pap unto the end. Provide you manlier diet! Donne.” 179/356

All the above of today written at the Wellington Inn Rochdale. Shut up my book at 15/60 having written about an hour, and thought but a few minutes – (Manghester) ordered the gig – George gone out, and not returned – Near dead he return of 1/2 hour – Asked him the reason of this when I had ordered him to be ready in 2 hours – his “watch was wrong” – bade him not do so again, and drove off from Rochdale at 2 40/60 –

Got into Manchester – Stopt at the Bridgewater arms at 3 50/60 i.e. 11 miles in 2 10/60 hours – A hilly stage – Caradoc came better than before, and was less heated – He is unaccustomed to busy streets I was obliged here also (Manchester) to give him the whip once or twice –

Mrs. Lacy did, or I fancied she did, look a little surprised at my walking in alone. The gig could not get to the door for a carriage and four but she was very civil. Yet I have a very small room on the third floor and the bar parlour –

Ordered dinner at 6 – Washed and made myself comfortable – It was 4 40/60 before I set off to Mr. Simmons George St., having previously written a note to leave if he was not at home – It was 5 55/60 when I left him that I must have been a full hour with him – A plain-appearing, plain-mannered man – I told him the same story I had told Doctor Simpson save that my friend had been thrown from a curricle, not horseback. Enlarged on my suspicions but he said supposing it was originally a gonorrhoea that must be new worn out and it was a gleet or leucorrhea that now remained.

The discharge of whites if virulent or any other mucous disch[arge], if ditto, might be infectious. When I told him the immense exercise I had taken in Craven he agreed the complaint could not be weakness but something rather inflammator[y]. Perhaps astringents would not answer. As yet advised my taking capivior copaiba balsam but it would affect my breath and urine and this would not do till I returned from Scarbro etc. Thought I had better take lodgings here for three weeks. He could then do better for me. Said [I] would put myself entirely under his care and would not consult Doctor S[impson] anymore. I shewed him his presc[r]iption but said I had not tried it.

He knows the literary people here. Dalton would give me lecture in chemistry if I liked this. I said would make me not begrudge my time. He talked of organic disease. I was anxious to know that the complaint did not go beyond the vagaina. He hoped not. Asked if I had had many children from the impulse of the moment, I said ‘Lord, bless you, no. I never was married but my life was of too much consequence to my family for me to hesitate to do anything likely to be of service.’

He then proposed an examination. A [I] said I should not think it right to refuse to submit. Unbuttoned my drawer and he put his finger up. Then lay on my left side on the sopha and he put his finger high up and pressed. Desperately, said I, once or twice, ‘that hurts exceedingly’ However, he said there was no organic disease and very little discharge. Bade me not make myself uneasy and not think much of it. In fact, he did not then seem to think me very bad. I told him I had only just washed –

He thought my tongue furry and that a little gentle opening medicine would do me good. Might take warm sea water but not bathe – He thought proper diet and care would set me right. I might be subject to slight returns, but should know how to keep them off. Should lie with my hips supported so that the syringe being withdrawn, the contents should remain half hour. A sponge saturated with the injection being applied to keep all in.

I might take olibanum at Scarbro. This would not affect my breath nor render me liable to anything disagreeable. His prescription for me is different from π [Mariana]’s lotion of chamomile, hemlock, and purified sulphate of zinc and olibanum. To take inwardly. The handling hurt me and I felt it quarter or half hour afterwards, but otherwise I did not mind it much. These things are chiefly in idea, for strictly speaking there is no real indelicacy in submitting to a thing of this kind when so necessary –

Dinner not ready till 6 40/60 then sat down to boiled salmon, mutton chops, boiled potatoes, plum tart, a pint of very tolerable port and biscuits – Enjoyed my dinner and afterwards wrote the last 8 lines of the last page and all this so far –

For the weather vide the beginning of this journal of today – Beautifully fine all the way from Rochdale here, and very fine evening – I feel rather warm – (‘Tis now 8 20/60 p.m.) – Then wrote out the draft of the index to this volume from 25 to 29 this month, and copied wrote out the index into this volume from 15 to 21 this month which took me till 10 5/60 –

Came upstairs at 10 1/4 having paid my bill, determining to be off before breakfast at 7 in the morning. E [two dots, treating venereal complaint] O [two dots, signifying middling discharge] Several drops, thickish and yellowish –

[sideways in margin] Manchester Rochdale

#anne lister #anne lister code breaker #mariana lawton #shibden hall 1823

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underthewingsofthblackeagle · 4 years

Photo

“Berliner Fernsehturm” * Foto: BernardoUPloud

After her marriage with Frank Randall has failed and Claire Beauchamp flees from her violent husband, she finds refuge in the house of the Fraser/Murray family in Berlin-Wilhelmshorst. But then tensions arise between Britain (which has since left the EU) and some EU member states. All holders of an English passport are required to leave EU territory within six weeks … and suddenly Claire’s fate looks more uncertain than ever.

This story was written for the #14DaysofOutlander event, hosted by @scotsmanandsassenach

Chapter 10: 14 Men (6)

"Now you will tell me that this is all publicly available information and I would agree with you. But I was not aware of it before. In a way, it woke me up. It took some time but when I had the opportunity to take over another week of night shifts I immediately agreed. In this time I developed a kind of plan. I was eager to find out if Frank's statement was true. At first I tried to track when he was going to conferences or work meetings. Not all of them, but several of them took him to England and Scotland. I can't prove it, but I had the impression that his travels became more frequent at times when 'the Scottish theme' was boiling over. Later, after 2015, and particularly after the Brexit, his travel intensified."

To Jamie's surprise, Claire reached into her handbag, which she had hung on the back of her chair, and pulled out a piece of paper she handed over to Ferdinand Groide.

"This is a list of all the trips my husband has taken since 2013, supposedly for reasons of his work as a historian."

Groide skimmed the list, then put it aside.

"Thank you very much. We will try to verify the data."

"In the weeks that followed, I voluntarily took several weeks of night duty, because there was another advantage to this. I was at home while my husband was at university and could look through his records almost undisturbed."

"Will you share the knowledge you have gained from this?"

"Yes. But perhaps we could have some tea?" Claire replied as she looked at Jamie.

"Certainly."

He got up and left the room for a moment. Ferdinand Groide pressed the 'stop' button on the recorder. Then he got up and stretched a bit. Claire did the same.

"Tea” by Pexels

"It's good to take a little break," Groide said as he slowly walked across the room and then paused at one of the windows. Claire, too, had stood up and stretched. Her steps led her to one of the dark oak bookcases. Slowly she let her eyes slide over the old leather-bound volumes. Then her gaze wandered over to Groide. Ferdinand Groide was, at least as far as she could judge right now, an impressive person, even on the outside. Claire estimated him to be in his mid-60s and should be almost right. The 66 year old, tall man stood bolt upright in front of the window and had his arms crossed behind his back. He was moderately slim and not muscular, but his movements suggested that he had kept himself physically fit for his age. His black, short cut hair showed grey patches only at the temples. From the first moment they met, Claire had been attracted to the unusual shape of his face - you could almost call it rectangular. The way he appeared and behaved radiated calm and a kind of positive authority. He was wearing a black three-piece suit of virgin wool, whose jacket he had taken off before dinner. The timelessly elegant waistcoat that appeared beneath it, from whose small side pocket a golden watch chain protruded, and the discreet tie of dark Italian silk jacquard that matched the pocketkerchief of his jacket contrasted with the visitor's simple but flawless white shirt. Groide wore gold-framed, thick glasses that suggested myopia, a simple gold wedding ring on the right hand and a signet ring with a dark blue stone on the left hand. At dinner, Claire had also noticed the rectangular gold cufflinks bearing Groide's monogram. Everything about this man underscored Claire's impression that she was dealing with a person who not only knew exactly who he was, but also what he was doing.

Moments later, the door opened and Jamie entered.

"Tea will be here in just a few minutes. Would you like something else to drink?"

Claire shook her head, Groide turned to Jamie and said:

"Thank you. Not yet."

A little later, a knock caught their attention.

After Helene Ballin served tea and everyone had a cup, Groide asked:

"Can we continue?"

Claire nodded.

Groide pressed the record button on the recorder, and Claire went on to talk:

"My husband has always had a certain reluctance towards the new media. Of course we had a PC in the house that was connected to the Internet. But my husband used it very rarely. An yes, he also has a notebook. But it was never allowed to be connected to the Internet. Frank was always afraid of viruses or that hackers would steal his work. Before 2015, when he used the term 'work', I was thinking only of his research and the manuscripts of his books. But since that conversation in November 2015, I wondered if it could be about something else entirely. My husband always took his notebook with him to the university. But that was not a problem. Because Frank was obsessed with the thought that his notebook might get lost or - even worse - be stolen. So..."

“.... were there disks, USB flash drives?" Groide asked interested.

"No," Claire replied smiling, "papers.”

The expression of highest astonishment was to be heard in the older man's voice.

“Papers?”

"Yes, papers. Frank believes that only what is written by hand will remain in ones memory. That's why everything he later typed into his notebook was first written down by hand."

"And you had access to these handwritten documents?" asked Groide, who had now put his arms on the table and moved his whole body forward a little.

"No," Claire replied smiling.

"Too bad."

An unmistakable disappointment spread over the face of the German.

"Why?" Claire asked, adding: “One can get access."

She laid her head to one side coquettishly, smiled and shrugged her shoulders.

Once again, astonishment spread over Groide's face. Meanwhile, Jamie had to pull himself together because he almost laughed out loud. This woman was not only intelligent and strong, she also had a sense of humor. It was delicious to watch the rapidly changing emotions she was able to conjure upon Ferdinand Groide's face.

"So you have ... gained ... access ..." he said, trying to remain objective.

"Yes," Claire, in turn, noted objectively and took another sip from her teacup.

"One Friday evening, it was in early February 2016, my husband came home from university in a rage. He said that he had had a dispute with the university management about his research funds. Later I was to learn that this dispute never existed. In fact, it was that one of his affairs had dumped him. But that's another story. As always, when he was angry or did not know how to handle a situation, he became aggressive and drank. And that's what happened that weekend. "

Claire paused for a moment, looked at the table and took a deep breath.

"Then on Sunday ... he started drinking whisky after lunch. He drank until he was laying snoring on the sofa. I used this opportunity to make a copy of the key to his filing cabinet and the key to his desk."

"How did you know how to do that?" Jamie asked, looking at Claire in amazement.

"As I said, I was raised and educated in a very ... nonconformist way. In port areas you can ... come into contact with ... people ... who ... help you with ... such questions ... I had used the pre-Christmas period to, well, let's say, make contacts there. Frank hates to go shopping and so I knew that on these days I did not have to expect that he wanted to accompany me. In a bar I inquired and the waitress behind the counter told me that she could make a contact for me for the payment of $100. I gave her $50 and the number of my department at the hospital as well as the dates on which I was on night shift. Two days later, a man calling himself 'Joe' called. We set up a meeting the night of the next day. He promised to give me two small boxes with a mass to make prints with. He asked me $600 for them. The next night, just before the night shift started, I met ‘Joe’ in the parking lot of the hospital. He gave me a brown bag, the kind you get in burger and fast-food restaurants. Inside were the little boxes. I gave him an envelope with the money in it. We agreed that if I got the prints, I would get back to Brenda at the bar. It took some time, but at the beginning of February, as I said, I finally had the opportunity to carry out my plan. When Frank fell asleep drunk on the sofa that Sunday afternoon, I took the bunch of keys from his jacket pocket. Then I locked myself in the bathroom and made the prints. When I returned to the living room, Frank was still asleep and it was easy to slip the bunch of keys back into his jacket pocket. I had taken the boxes with the prints, wrapped in a towel, into the bedroom. There I stashed them among other things in my doctor's bag.”

“Medical Bag” by Raimundo Pastor

Claire held out her cup to Jamie, who poured tea for her again.

"A few days later I went back to the bar, gave 'Brenda' another $50, the boxes and a note with the details of my next night's duty. It took about 10 days, then 'Joe' called during my night shift and announced that he would bring me the keys the next evening. And that's exactly what happened. He gave me the keys and I gave him another $600. The next day I went back to the bar and gave 'Brenda' another $100, as I had promised her. That was the end of the deal. In total I paid 1400 dollars. I thought, this investment will certainly pay off."

Now Claire took a big sip from the cup that Jamie had left for her.

"Investment?" Jamie asked.

"Well, I was curious if Frank was really working for the Secret Service. To be honest, I still thought his story was just bragging and I didn't expect to find anything real to do with MI5. But I was hoping to get hold of evidence of his affairs. Evidence that, in the event of a divorce..."

Claire paused for a moment.

"Our marriage had gone downhill in the years leading up to it ... I had heard rumors, I had suspicions. "But my studies and work didn't give me time ..."

"And then you put the keys to use?" asked Groide, who was very keen to make sure the conversation didn't drift into secondary topics.

"Yes, in mid-March the opportunity arose. Frank flew to Edinburgh for a weekend, supposedly for a conference, and I took the opportunity to look around in his filing cabinet. I was frankly amazed at how well the keys worked. When I opened his cabinet I found, among other things, 14 files relating to the 'New Jacobite' leaders. They contained detailed information about each of these men. CVs, family trees, family relationships, friendship and business relationships, relationships abroad and more. In each of these files there was also a folder with pictures. I didn't recognize Jamie, I mean Mr. Fraser, in Boston. Because in the pictures in the file that Frank keeps on him, he has red hair and no beard..."

Claire looked over at Jamie, whose hair and beard were black. He smiled and stroked his hair, slightly theatrical, and said:

"There's nothing like a good make-up."

All three of them smiled. Claire picked up her cup again and drank. Then she continued in a rather nonchalant tone:

"It was very interesting to read about the lives of these men. "

"After all these years, do you think you can still remember what you read in these files?" Groiede asked.

"Anything?" she asked with a smile.

"I can remember everything as if I had a photographic memory."

Again she reached into her handbag. To the surprise of the two men, Claire's delicate hand produced three silver USB flash drives, which she slid over to Ferdinand Groide.

"Each of these sticks contains one terabyte of data. I photographed all the pages of the files and placed them in folders with the appropriate names."

The men looked at her first, then at each other in silence for a moment. Ferdinand Groide took the sticks and looked at them.

"You ... said ... that ... you ... did this ... research ... in 2016, so seven years ago ... does that mean the files are up to 2016?"

Her answer came quickly and came as no surprise to Ferdinand Groide or James Fraser:

"No, I made the last additions three weeks ago. At that time Frank was - supposedly - at a meeting of historians in Canberra. So all the files should be almost up to date."

Groide was struck dumb. Jamie had no recollection of ever seeing the old man like that. He had sunk slightly into himself and his face had lost the rosy colour that was so characteristic of him. He was obviously aware of the heavy responsibility that came with owning these sticks. Claire's information could change the fate of at least three or more nations. Groide knew it and Jamie knew it, too. But was Claire aware of it? Jamie could not answer this question.

His friend took off his glasses with the angular golden rims and wiped his eyes. A long breath of air escaped the old man's lungs. Then he looked at Claire:

"And you want to give me, I mean us, this information freely?"

Claire nodded:

"Yes."

"May I ask you, are you doing this to get back at your husband?"

"No, I mean yes, you may ask me. But the answer is no. I was thinking of using it against him in case of divorce. But having read so much about the history of Scotland, I think that something like this ... must never happen again. And..."

"And?"

Now ist was Claire who took a deep breath.

"And having learned by chance this afternoon what a member of my husband's family had done to Mr. Fraser, I don't want anything like that to happen to anybody else."

Groide looked over at Jamie, but kept silent.

"All I ask is that you use the information you receive from me in a way that will prevent harm."

China-usb / CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)

Groide had his eyes on the tabletop and the USB sticks in front of him. Claire and Jamie heard the hands on the big wall clock that hung behind them ticking. A few moments passed, during which they all remained silent.

"Mrs. Beauchamp, I want you to know that I have great respect for your decision. I'm just one small weel in a much larger machine. But I promise you that I will use all my influence to see that this information is handled as you wish. I also want you to know that we have no hostile feelings towards your country here. On the contrary. The Brexit and its consequences are much regretted in our country by most people. And not just for economic reasons. We miss the voice and political weight of your country. The oldest democracy in the modern Western world has always had an important, a great weight in this Union - also to establish a political balance. You know, there are member states that have not been familiar with the democratic system for so long. So far, things have gone reasonably well, but the loss of the British vote in the Europan Parliament could lead to dangerous imbalances ... And then we must not forget the human relations. I myself grew up many decades before the reunification of our country in a West German state where British troops were stationed. The British were neighbours for us. A friend of mine, who has since passed away, married an English woman, joined the Anglican Church and became military chaplain for these troops in his city. Friends of mine had planned to buy a small cottage in the southwest of England and spend their retirement there. Many of the cities where I lived had partnerships with English cities. We all very much regret the developments of the last ten years ... and we can only hope that a future generation may be able to reverse them. I hope you know that you are very welcome, not just because you are giving us this information or as a health professional, but as a person. And I hope you'll be able to settle in."

Claire nodded. Then she reached out her hand and put it on the old man's right hand.

"Thank you, Mr. Groide. I appreciate it."

"You can call me Ferdinand, if you like."

"Sure, Ferdinand, I'm Claire."

"Thanks, Claire."

"Well, after that eventful work meeting, let's have a nice drink, shall we? How about a whisky?"

Jamie looked at her expectantly.

Claire nodded.

"I'd love one."

Groide shook his head.

"Jamie, you know I don't drink that stuff. I'll have a vodka, please."

"You see Claire," Jamie said with an ironic undertone, "you might as well learn something about the Germans here. When it comes to alcohol, they have no taste."

He handed her a glass of whisky.

"He's right, Claire. And remember one more thing. We have absolutely no sense of humor either."

The men began to giggle and Jamie had to stop for a moment before he handed the glass of vodka to Groide.

"You may say what you usually say about my taste in alcohol, Jamie," Groide then said jokingly.

Jamie looked at Claire with a grin.

"He spent too much time with Russians, they spoiled his taste."

Wodka / Vodka Rene1905

"Sa sdarovje!" was all Groide would answer. Then he turned to Claire again:

"You said earlier that you intend to ask for a divorce from your husband?"

"Yes, I do. I hope it's also possible from here."

Groide looked at her thoughtfully.

"Do you object to Claire's request, Ferdinand?"

"No, I understand the request very well. I'm just worried it might put MI5 on to you, Jamie."

A mild shock drove Claire through and she nearly choked on the whisky she'd just taken.

#14DaysofOutlander #Outlander #Outlander Fan Fiction #From Boston to Berlin in 14 Hours #Boston #Berlin #Claire Beauchamp #jamie fraser #Ian Murray #Jenny Murray #Frank Randall #Germany #Modern AU

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lnarizakis · 4 years

Text

the punchline | h. shoyo

masterlist | cards against humanity x haikyuu!!

pairing: hinata shoyo x gen!reader

foreword: i’m on that writing grind, y’all. i hope you guys like this!! i really like writing this <3 btw: i based this on the assumption that the characters (except for the reader) have never heard the joke mentioned in the fic before.

look out for: no warnings!

“why did the chicken cross the road?” + “a fool.”

“Ah, you’re finally done, Shoyo.”

The orange-haired boy made his way towards the group of three, consisting of his middle school friends Izumi Yukitaka, Sekimukai Koji, and (L/N) (Y/N). The four of them were gathered around by the park near their school, where Hinata had just finished practicing volleyball. It was tragic that he could not form a whole volleyball team, as he was the only member of the actual club, so he resorted to practicing on his own. It was a quiet Friday — they had just finished classes for the week, the sun was setting, and the only noise that was made in the vicinity was the sound of Hinata’s feet shuffling their way towards the group. They had situated themselves by the swing set, with (Y/N) and Izumi sitting on the swings, and Koji leaning against the metal pole that held up the swings. Hinata crouched down to pick up his soda, which stood more than half full, on the ground. He took a long swig, then sighed out loud. His friends laughed at his tiredness.

“Hey,” Hinata drawled, “I’m not some joke you guys laugh at!” They continued on with their laughs. In time, Hinata smirked, finding their laughter contagious. He soon joined in. It was a nice day.

“Y’know, I’ve got a joke. Got it straight from America,” (Y/N), who had recently moved to Japan from America, proudly claimed. The three other boys looked at them with curiosity in their eyes.

“Well, now you gotta tell us, (Y/N)-chan,” Shoyo teased.

“Alright, alright. It’s a stupid joke, though,” (Y/N) lamented, “Okay, here it goes: ‘Why did the chicken cross the road?’” The group went silent. They thought long and hard about what the punchline could be, but to no avail. Why did the chicken cross the road? After a couple minutes, which, to (Y/N) and the rest, seemed like an excruciating seven hours, Hinata’s face lit up with a sure fire answer in his eyes.

“A fool! Because the chicken is a fool!”

The group, once again, went silent. That was… far from what the punchline was. Judging eyes bore into Hinata’s skin, from which he got shivers.

“Shoyo… that’s not… right…” Izumi and Koji muttered. Hinata turned to them.

“Huh?! That’s not right?” He repeated, practically shouting directly in their faces. Hinata shifted his gaze towards (Y/N), who had the punchline waiting in their mind. They shook their head, keeping their face down low towards the ground so the others couldn’t see the creeping smile on their face, a direct result of Hinata’s unintentionally humorous answer.

The ringing of a cell phone broke the silence, and (Y/N) pulled their cell phone out of their backpack. They flipped open the phone, and muttered a few “okay”s and after an “okay, bye, love you,” (Y/N) had to tell their friends goodbye. Dinner was ready. They hopped out of the swing seat, grabbed their backpack, and made their way back home.

Right when (Y/N) was out of sight, Hinata exclaimed, “Oh no, I forgot to ask them what the punchline to the joke was!” Izumi and Koji resumed their laughter. The latter playfully punched Hinata on the arm as he told Hinata just to forget about it.

And so he did.

—

A few years later, Hinata and (Y/N) stared outside the window of the third years’ hallway. The day had just ended, and Hinata was stalling some time before he had to go to practice. Outside, they watched the basketball club begin their jog, and a multitude of students walking out of the school gates, leaving for home. As they remained people-watching, they observed a tiny Kageyama Tobio making his way towards the club room. Hinata gasped out loud, clearly surprised to see someone he recognized as he people-watched. (Y/N) replicated his actions, and they both laughed at the small exchange.

“Kageyama-kun would hate us if he knew we were laughing at him while staring at him through a window,” (Y/N) said, adding in a few giggles between words. Hinata promptly agreed, snickering as well. As their laughter died down, they both sighed in relief, content to get a good laugh out of their system. They resumed looking out the window. This little moment of theirs continued on for several minutes, until (Y/N) broke the silence.

“You know, I’m moving back to America to study at a four-year university,” they solemnly mentioned. Hinata exhaled through his nose, telling them, “I know.”

“Well, I’ve got a little something as a reminder of me,” (Y/N) stated. In hopes to cheer Hinata up, they recited their little something: “Why did the chicken cross the road?”

Hey, Hinata’s heard this one before.

“You told me this before. Back when we were in middle school.” Hinata smiled a toothy grin. He then pursed his lips as he thought, once again, long and hard about his answer to the question. He hummed as he thought. Before he could give any answer, however, a timid voice made itself known from behind the two of them.

“Um, Hinata-senpai. Coach Ukai wants you to go to the club room now.” It was the first-year manager-in-training. Like Yachi in her first year, she was a shy girl still nervous about her surroundings — especially her very tall surroundings as she helped out with the volleyball club.

“Oh!” Hinata exclaimed, “I totally forgot! I’ll see ya later, (Y/N)!”

“Yep. See you later, Shoyo.” They turned their head towards the window once again. After what had only been a minute, they watched Hinata run across the area which they could see outside the window and towards the club room. Ever the speedy boy he was.

As Hinata ran, with the manager following some distance behind him, he only just remembered, once again, that he forgot to answer why the chicken crossed the road. He groaned out loud.

—

“... And (Y/N)— don’t think we haven’t noticed that American accent of yours!”

It’s been seven years since they graduated. It was a cold January night when Hinata, Izumi, Koji, and (Y/N) met up once again. They found themselves huddled together in a corner booth of a barbecue restaurant, with the sound of meat sizzling on the grill before them and the scent of it rising up in the air in front of them. They were celebrating a small reunion of friends together, with (Y/N) fresh from America. Laughter rang in the air once again. True, speaking in English for seven years had taken its effect on (Y/N)’s accent as they spoke to them with an American accent laced in their Japanese.

“Oh! Hey, guys, I’ve got a joke for you all!” Hinata exclaimed. He had the same kind of excitement in his eyes found in the brightness of his eyes in his middle school days.

“Alright, shoot! I’m sure I can come up with something funnier,” Izumi jokes.

“Okay, okay. It goes like this: ‘Why did the chicken cross the road?’”

Everyone goes quiet. There’s a vague memory in the back of their heads that’s revived itself, reminding them what happened the last time (Y/N) asked that question. Hinata said the punchline so, so wrong. They were expecting him to say the wrong punchline once more, until he blurted out something totally different.

“To get to the other side!”

(Y/N) sputtered out their food that they were currently chewing. He said the joke correctly?! Even though the past times they’d ask that joke he said it completely wrong! He did it! They began laughing, and everyone else joined in. No, they weren’t laughing because of Hinata’s joke. Rather, they were laughing because Hinata finally got the joke. After all these years, he finally got the punchline.

Later, after the check was paid, Izumi and Koji bid Hinata and (Y/N) goodbye as they made their ways back home. And so that left Hinata and (Y/N) alone together, standing outside the restaurant in the cold. It was a dark night, with only the light of the restaurant inside along with the single street lamp lighting up their surroundings. It was practically scenery begging to be used as a confession scene. (Y/N) broke the silence.

“So, you finally got the punchline.” Hinata let the smile stay on his face. Warmth rushed in his cheeks, and he’d like to say that it was 60% because of the fact they were outside in the cold, and 40% because of (Y/N).

“Yeah. I couldn’t stop thinking about it ever since you left me to wonder back in middle school.”

(Y/N) realized it at that moment. They never really told Hinata the punchline themself. “Oh, you’re right. My bad.” They chuckled. Hinata exhaled through his nose, letting out a slight chuckle as well. Hinata straightened his back, and pushed his hands into the pockets of his puffy jacket to keep himself warm.

“Well, it was nice seeing you, (Y/N). I hope to see you around some time.” He held out his hand, giving them a peace sign, as he made his way towards his bike on the bike rack.

“Wait.”

Hinata stopped in his tracks.

“When can we see each other again?” (Y/N) asked him. Oh, how he thought they would never ask.

“Hmm, let’s see… there’s yesterday… and in a couple hours… there’s tomorrow… and in a few seconds… there’s today… and in thirty minutes…” he droned. (Y/N) crossed their arms.

“Shoyo… is there a punchline to this?”

He laughed. “Of course not! I’m just getting back at you for making me wait forever to know what the punchline was… and to see you again.”

“So when can we see each other again?”

“... How about tomorrow, at noon? Let’s meet by the park near Yukigaoka.”

#haikyuuwritersnet #haikyuu x reader #haikyuu!! x reader #hinata shoyo #hinata shouyou #hinata shoyo x reader #hinata shouyou x reader #cadekagi

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magnesiaandlemonjuice · 4 years

Text

Tuesday 19 December 1826

6 3/4

11 3/4

my bowels right enough this morning - In my room at 7 35/60 - read the debates in the paper of yesterday - then till 9 3/4 looking over and assorting all the papers (Galignanis messengers) from 1 September to this time - 3 wanting, 5 September and 2 and 3 November - then finished dressing - breakfast at 10 20/60 which took me 25 minutes - wrote a little note to Madame Coutart to thank her for the sequel to Montlosier’s memoire which she sent yesterday (by George) with the gown, to say I was ‘très contente de la robe’ et begged her to send the note back by George - then ruled a model sheet to give to the papetier in the rue de la paix - determined, after all, not to save my 14/. in a case like this - the book will have 160 leaves which at the rate of 4 per annum will last 40 years, a period too long to throw away any comfort of arrangement for a small saving of money at present - counted over what I got at the bank on Saturday - rang for my breakfast things to be taken away at 11 1/2, and then paid George his last 1/2 year’s wages due today (he has now lived with us 6 1/2 years) £7 at 25/. and the remaining 17 shillings and 6d pence at par (24/.) - gave him my note to take to Madame Coutart - then read the whole of today’s paper and settled my accounts all which took me till 12 55/60 - talked to my aunt a little - went out at 1 1/4 - ordered a weekly summary book at Numero 11 rue de la paix, 160 leaves to be neatly 1/2 bound price 14/. then called at Mellerio’s to hasten them to let us have the plate - then sauntered slowly along thro’ the gardens to Quai Voltaire and got there at 2 1/4 - Mrs Barlow had been watching for me the last 2 hours - almost ill at my not arriving - on the point of coming to see if my aunt was ill -

the coast was clear jane with her friend adele Mrs B had a fire in her bedroom and took me in there after sitting about an hour began to feel her a little she asked if I should like her to lie down on the bed she had just got settled there and I got my right middle finger up when there was a ring at the bell she jumped up it was a little french woman come to inquire the character of potter Mrs B not long before she was back leaving the lady to have a tete a tete with potter when we heard they were both gone Mrs B went to bed again and I had my right middle finger up for three excitements besides handling and feeling her a great deal she said I had more strength with my hand than a man had rubbed her more and of course tired her more than she was not so soon ready again as she would be if it was another thing said she had never known a man in his full strength she said she had had colonel b five and seven times in a night bid her tell me when it eazed her and teach me to do it just as she liked she said I was not too rough when passion came she could bear anything but I made her feel a little more tired afterwards than a man would she calls tuesday her day said it was on a tuesday her birthday twenty eight december I first made her mine and I am to dine with her this birthday next week on observing she never seemed to believe my having no connection with π [Mariana] for I had called her mary by mistake she said ‘you know best nobody could deceive better than you but if I believed it I would not be to you what I am now’ I think that is uncertain for her passion is sstrong she is more and more quietly wanton she asked if I did not want the pot then would feel in my drawers but I would not let her saying it excited me too much her curiosity is exceeding she asked me again today what I did that monday I would not have madame g (when I called on the newtes) had I been to an attorney to borrow money I said no but she knows I liked fun and to teaze the fact was I had been to seek a particular sort of candle luckily this ssatisfied she said jane was reconciled to our being alone when she was ill and had fever she had thought of throwing herself from the terrace is she a little crackily inclined her curiosity jealousy and passion are perhaps ssymtomatic -

I just saw Jane for a minute or 2 came away at 5 40/60 and got home at 6 - washed my hands - read 3 or 4 of the prefatory pp. [pages] of Montlosier’s sequel to his mémoire - Dinner at 6 20/60 - sat talking to my aunt from 8 to 9 20/60 - then wrote the last 28 lines which took me till 9 55/60 - Fine day tho’ a little damp in the air almost amounting to small rain when I went out, and as I returned this evening - Fine night at 10 1/4 O [two dots, marking discharge] - went to my room at 10 1/4 -

[Margin] very fine frosty morning F361/2 at 8 a.m. 38 - 1 p.m. 40 - 6 - 38 - 10 1/4 -

SH:7/ML/E/10/0032

#December1826 #AnneLister #GentlemanJack #AnneListerCodeBreaker

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wasalwaysagreatpickle · 4 years

Text

Monday 5 September 1831

11 40/..

Fahrenheit 65 1/2˚ and hazy morning but fine at 7 5/.. – Looking at and reading over papers from 8 1/4 till breakfast at 9 1/2 at stayed talking to my father – till 10 40/.. – then came up stairs and again at papers – Coal purchase papers Hipperholme found purchase papers etc. – calculating about Lower Brea and Hipperholme fields etc. till 1 – found there was taken from Lower Brea for the road 2.2.29 a.r.p. [acres rood perches] or 4 days work 14 perches and 10 yards rather more than 4 1/8 days work for 30 1/4 square yard = one perch – (3136 square yards = 1 days work at Halifax and 4840 square yards = a statute acre) –

Went down and stayed talking to my aunt near an hour – then out at 2 – down my walk Mr Sunderland shooting there bottom Calf Croft – had seen Mr Rawson who said he had not seen the man but was very sorry and would send him up to beg pardon - Mr Sunderland explained how ill the man had behaved – then to Tilly holm – Charles Howarth junior and his son doing up the railing –

George Robinson came – proposed laying the hollies, and putting a little soil to them – one day would do it 3/. – engaged him to get it done – then talked about the mill – will there still be a little difficulty? – he gave me a plan of Lower Brea, and Hipperholme fields for my father stating rent at £100 (so it seems my father has continued the allowance of £10 a year till it is no longer considered allowance, but the rent is in fact reduced) and wanting for 3.3.3 [acres rood perches] and taken for the new road £9.17.0 or £10 allowing – said he would agree with my father on very different terms from what he would with me – did not wish to prevent this, but did not like making a lease that would not do for always – this would not do for my father to see, and we would let the farm remain as it is, and have a lease of the mill only – for should anything happen to my father I should value Lower Brea with all that building at 60/. a days work and Hipperholme at 50/. (thinking to myself Lower Brea still 23 days work = £70 and Hipperholme fields 17 days work = £42.10.0) – George said oh! this could never pay – he wished to go by acre, and I had before said I meant to have 80/. an acre – well! said I, I will go by what ever you like – but this is about what I mean to do, should anything happen to my father – according to the plan there were at Lower Brea 16.2.21 [acres, roods, perches] and Hipperholme fields 11.1.34 [acres, roods, perches] = 28.0.15 [acres, roods, perches] – told him he should pay for the mill lease to be dated from 10 November next £80 a year to my father and £20 a year to me for the £200 laid – ‘Well! but the dam would want enlarging! – would cost £60 – what to be done about that?’ I said 7 percent paid to me for all above £200 laid out – agreed –

Then came home – talked to my father 1/4 hour explaining why to be a lease of the mill only, and at my desk at 4 – wrote all but the 1st page and 7 lines of the 2nd written yesterday of 3 pages and ends and under seal to Mrs Norcliffe – amusing enough chit chat – very fairly well done – written casually and quickly – very busy – half pothered to death with one thing or other – Isabella Norcliffe must wait a little for the particular account she will (is determined to) have of the Dutch tour, and Charlotte Norcliffe shall have something about Scotch expenses from Paris – have promised to be in London by the 12th or 13th – the Lawtons to be there on the 9th therefore I shall hurry the more – Charles has again mentioned Paris – In such a case, in general, one could count on the possibility of our all going together – but I have merely said I shall probably be crossing about the middle of the month, and shall be delighted if we can make our plans meet –

I now talk of a quiet winter in Paris, and put off Italy till Spring – not going to Paris with Lady Stuart know not how the report could originate – not from me – perhaps some confusion of on dit between her (but know not how) and a friend of hers – but even this is deferred till spring – on the subject of my plans, no more – save that I will write to Mrs Norcliffe soon after being resettled in Paris whenever that my be – ‘up to the 15th to be found at Hammersleys – after that ….. no! best to direct to me here – my aunt will forward my letters immediately’ - About Joseph Booth going to Scott’s, I should be gone before the 19th – will Mrs Norcliffe be so kind as write to my aunt who will do all that may be necessary – But I will do all I can to save Mrs Norcliffe trouble and may perhaps write to Scott himself before I go –

Then wrote note to ‘Messers Parker and Adam solicitors, Halifax’ to prepare lease of mill only – and, if time, to send up a man to Lower Brea tonight and they will give him possession of the mill – we shall all be at the office at 10 a.m. tomorrow and to be so good as let Mr Briggs know – Sent off George at 5 1/2 with the above note and my letter to ‘Mrs Norcliffe, Post Office, Whitehaven, Cumberland’ – then wrote all but the 1st 5 lines of today till 6 5/.. – dinner at 6 1/2 to 8 1/2 – then skimmed over volume 1 Crawfurds mission to Siam. London 1830 - came upstairs at 10 – fine day – Fahrenheit 68˚ now at 10 p.m. -

#anne lister #anne lister code breaker #1831

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captainsscarlet · 4 years

Text

All of the Stars - Bucky Barnes x reader

A/N: Hey, it’s ya girl. I wrote this in 5 hours over a discord call with @captainscanadian. I love this so much, it’s definitely the one project I’m most proud of. So enjoy and I promise, I’m not a heartless monster!

Summary: Hey look, it’s a rewrite of Endgame.

Warnings: Angst, tears, death mentions, spoilers for Avengers: Endgame.

Words: 3,674

23 days post Thanos

You were in the kitchen, heavy bags under your eyes from the lack of sleep. Every night, you dreamed of Bucky. There was no escaping it, it was something you had to push through. In your dreams, it jumped from laying in bed and waking up remembering he was gone and dreaming that he was in turmoil somewhere with no one to help him. A cup of coffee sat in front of you, being the only thing that kept you awake. Behind you, Steve had arranged a plate of toast, bacon and eggs, trying to coax you into eating something. These days, mostly you laid in bed with your mp3 player, listening to the playlist you had made for Bucky, filled with songs that reminded him of his life before HYDRA and of you as well.

“C’mon, you gotta eat…Buck wouldn’t wanna see you like this.”

It was the argument they used to get you to get up and try to live nowadays. It wasn’t like they were trying to be hurtful or upset you. But in reality, it did. You didn’t want to think about what Bucky would say right now, or that he would be upset because the truth of the matter was that if he was here, you wouldn’t be like this. You wouldn’t be in an ocean of grief.

These days, you leaned on Thor as much as you could. Most people stayed away, but you and Thor spent every sleepless night on the roof, watching the stars and telling memories about the loved ones who had died. And while Thor blamed himself, you reminded him each time that it wasn’t his fault. That Thanos was the one who killed everyone and not the God of Thunder.

You accepted the plate from Steve and began to pick at the food in front of you, managing to choke down some toast. You were pushing the food around your plate when you saw the light of…something. You looked up at Steve and you both ran outside, seeing a glowing figure…was that a woman? She was holding a ship in her hands and you held your breath. A few moments later, Tony Stark stepped out with Nebula and you let go of the breath you’d been holding, seeing him alive. You hung back while he said something to Steve but had to go back inside when he embraced Pepper.

It stung, and a part of you, some hateful and angry part of you, wished he had died instead of Bucky. It wasn’t kind and it was horrible for you to think that you could be so mean, but it was true. You loved Tony, but you would give him up in a second to have James Barnes back in your arms again. You went and sat back at the counter, pushing the coffee and food away from you and staring into space. The fact was you couldn’t change what had already happened.

---------------------------

You stood next to the new girl, a woman named Carol, as what was left of the Avengers discussed what had happened in the 23 days since that day. She chuckled slightly at Tony’s banter with Rocket but when Tony started getting upset, you stopped at stood up straighter. When he started yelling at Steve, you lost it and walked between them.

“You think you’re the only person who lost someone, Stark? We all lost someone! All of us! We could point the blame at any one of us. Hell, let’s look at you. If you hadn’t driven Bucky out of the states, if you hadn’t started a god damned war, I would have had time. I could have held him every night. But instead, I get memories of a year ago, when he was on the run. When you tried to kill him. Sure, there are some happy ones, but that is the main memory, Tony. We all are to blame.”

You didn’t stick around to hear his reaction. You went straight to your room and cried. You cried for Thor who lost his brother and his entire planet. You cried for Rocket, who lost his friends, the only family he ever had. You cried for every single person on the compound, including yourself. And it didn’t stop until late into the night, when your tears had run dry and you were too exhausted.

5 Years Later

You slammed your hand over the nightstand next to your bed, trying repeatedly to hit snooze but to no avail. Instead, you had to haul yourself up to do so, and by that time, you were already well awake. Rubbing the sleep from your eyes, you began your morning routine. Bathroom, clothes, coffee, food, and then off to work. Ever since ‘the snap’ as people were calling it, you’d been working with Steve on his support group. It had helped you through the past 5 years, and even helped you now. You try to keep things light and go with the flow, but somedays, it’s as if all of this happened yesterday and you lay in bed, crying, wrapped up in his clothes and holding the letters he wrote you from Wakanda.

But today was a good day. So you went out the door and walked to the building where the meetings were held. You unlocked the door and set yourself to work. Brewing coffee was saved for last, but you liked to clean before everyone got there. You set up chairs and tried to at least make the room somewhat cheerful. You had put on the stereo to a soft rock station while you worked and then set up your laptop and started answering emails. A lot of grieving people simply emailed instead of coming to meetings, whether they couldn’t leave home or they just wanted to remain anonymous and you and Steve tried to answer as often as you could. It hurt that you couldn’t answer them all, but you liked knowing that you could help soothe some people’s pain. You heard the door open and looked up from your computer, giving a small smile to the blonde man who’d walked in.

“Hey Steve. Just finishing up some emails and then I was gonna head down to the store and get something for meeting tonight. Anything in particular you want?” Your head went back down to typing as Steve walked toward you and put a hand on your back.

“Whatever you pick is fine. How you holding up? Nat said she hasn’t spoken to you since last week after group.”

You knew they worried about her. You lost contact with a lot of people after the snap. Tony cut you off completely, although Pepper emailed you pictures of their daughter. You’d been to New Asgard to visit Thor once or twice, but he told you not to come back. Whether it was because you reminded him of his failure or just because he’d rather be depressed and alone, you didn’t know. But you made sure the Valkyrie kept you in the loop, making sure he was at least alive. Nat and Steve were your only friends now and while you loved them, they could be very overbearing at times.

“I’m doing okay. I uh, I’ve been redoing my apartment. New paint, new rug, all that stuff.” Your fingers moved across the keyboard, your eyes not even looking up from the screen. “I know you guys are scared I’m gonna breakdown but honestly, Rogers, I’m fine. I’m trying to move on.”

Steve looked down at you and gave a soft smile before patting you on the back and going to get chairs to set up. “Can you grab more water and maybe some MnM’s?” You chuckled and gave him a thumbs up before settling back in and finishing up emails.

About an hour later, you headed to the store, music blaring in your ears as you walked, until a song made you stop in your tracks. It was one of the songs that Bucky had heard and insisted on putting on your phone. You remembered the memory so clearly.

You had been laughing and swatting at Bucky, screeching as he pinned you underneath him and began assaulting you with kisses. Bucky had started opening up a bit more and ever since, you had the time of your life. He kissed you more and wasn’t afraid to hold you, it was amazing. Your laptop had been playing some youtube playlist of old music, trying to compile a playlist for Steve of songs he might like to listen to while on the way to different missions. All songs from the 60’s and later. When the song ‘It’s Been a Long, Long Time” by Harry, James and Helen Forrest came on, Bucky stopped and listened before standing and a ghost of a smile was on his face.

“What you thinkin’ about, Bucky?” You focused on his face before it turned to face you and he held out his hands.

“This reminds me of home. Back then, I mean. Sounds like some of the stuff we would have played back then.”

You stood up and took his hands in yours, placing one on your waist before putting your own on his shoulder and swaying gently. When a woman’s voice started to croon over the speaker, you hummed along, feeling Bucky rest his head against your own. And for a moment, you wished that you were in a snow globe. That this moment would never end and just go on forever.

You felt tears rolling down your face and quickly swiped them away. It was the one song that you refused to delete. But you always skipped it when it came on shuffle, simply for the fact it made you cry every single time. You leaned against a nearby wall and just listened, holding back every feeling until the 3 minutes concluded. You had to compose yourself. If anyone at group and especially Steve, saw your tears, they’d know that you’d been lying and that in truth, you hadn’t moved on.

After a brief time of just standing there, you took a deep breath and began again toward the store. You grabbed a case of water, enough MnM’s to feed a small army, or just one super soldier, and a medium sized platter of cookies. You paid and began your way back to the center, this time with no issues. A quick set up and a couple pots of coffee later, people started showing up. You hugged and greeted each person by name and allowed everyone some time to talk before you and Steve brought everyone to the circle and started the meeting.

“Anyone wanna start?” Steve asked, looking around. You waited about a minute before you began to speak.

“I uh…I went to the store and got water today, and our song came on.” You kept a practiced, even tone, not letting your emotion show through. “I think we all try to ignore those little signs that they’re gone…but you can’t. Because it means pretending they never existed…I think we just have to push on.”

Steve turned to you and reached over, taking your hand and squeezing. “You’re right. We gotta move on. The world is in our hands, it was left to us, guys. We gotta do something with it. Otherwise, Thanos should have killed all of us.”

---------------------------------------

You and Steve walked into the compound, you threw your bag on the table and walked into where Nat was, sweeping past Steve and heading straight for Nat, wrapping her in a hug. “I heard you were trying to get ahold of me, even though I’m pretty sure I’m old enough to watch out for myself.” You teased, grabbing a piece of Natasha’s PB and J sandwich and taking a bite. The redhead smiled up at you and held your other hand, before you both turned to look at Steve.

“You know, I keep telling everybody that they should move on and grow. Some do, but not us.” You moved your eyes back to Nat and squeezed her hand. You sometimes forgot how much Natasha was hurting, since she rarely showed that part of her to anyone. But she had lost the only family she’d ever known. Laura, the kids, Clint…even though he wasn’t dead, he still wasn’t here and that part was hard on Nat.

“If I move on, who does this?”

“Maybe it doesn’t need to be done.” The look in both of your friend’s eyes were sad and as Nat began to speak, you felt your own eyes water up. You moved to stand behind her and lean down, wrapping your arms around her chest in an attempt to comfort her. Soon after she was finished, you heard a beep on the security camera and your jaw dropped.

“Scott?” The man was speaking about a mile a minute and you knew exactly who he was. You’d met him before the boys went to the airport, and instantly liked him. And as soon as Nat confirmed that he was actually there, you actually had some hope.

----------------------------------------

The wave of guilt you felt as you got out of the car weighed on you. Sure, you and Tony had fought before but this time it wasn’t something trivial or unimportant. You had blamed him for Bucky dying and there wasn’t really a way to come back from that. Pepper had forgiven you, understanding your grief and letting you slide. But seeing Morgan and Tony, brought back just how selfish you had been and you hung your head in shame. Instead of talking shop with the boys, you headed inside and chatted with Pepper, even playing a little with Morgan before Pepper sent her out to save Tony from the others.

“Thanks Pepper…for letting us come here. I uh, I’m glad you and Tony got your happy ending.”

Pepper wrapped her arms around you and shook her head. “Stop blaming yourself. It’s been five years, y/n. You need to stop letting this get to you.”

You smiled and pressed a kiss to Pepper’s cheek as you saw them getting up to go. “I’m really happy for you Pepper.” As you walked toward the door, you waved goodbye to Morgan and looked up at Tony. “I’m happy for you too, Tony.” He turned and called your name but you just kept walking, following Steve to the car and climbing in the back beside Scott.

----------------------------------------

As you made your way to New Asgard, all the nerves you had pushed away came back. You hadn’t see Thor in years. And where you once were his friend and the person whose shoulder he cried on, you now were scared to face him. What if you reminded him of the bad things and pushed him into a depressive episode? You felt so much guilt for all the people you may have hurt when the Snap was fresh.

When Val looked toward the stack of empty beer kegs, you looked at her and your face dropped. He wasn’t just depressed; he was numbing the pain with alcohol. And while Bruce and Rocket may not understand, you did. You understood just how much Thor felt and what was weighing on his mind and heart.

When you knocked on the door, you didn’t expect an answer. Even so, you let Rocket try and when you ended up in the house, you couldn’t help but look around and want to cry. You knew Thor had to be in a bad place to live like this and it hurt for you to see it, but Steve had said you would do some good to see your old friend again, and you had hesitantly agreed.

When you came face to face with the God of Thunder, you expected a lot of things. Maybe to be thrown out, maybe a kiss on the cheek or even to be ignored. You did not expect to see him shirtless with a beer belly and his long blonde hair knotted and greasy. You tried to smile, truly you did, but it surely came out as more than a grimace and when Thor wrapped his arms around you, you had to hold your breath. But in all the bad, you were just happy to see him again, in any form. And now in his arms, it almost felt like it had 5 years ago, but a lot softer.

When he let you go, and Bruce mentioned Thanos, you saw the reaction. The tears, the wetness in his voice. And the fake strength in his voice as he tried to kick them out nearly broke you. But he came with you, for the beer of course. But as he was buckling himself on the ship, you reached out and took his hand.

“I missed you, Thor.”

His smile didn’t quite reach his eyes, but it was something and at that moment, it was the most important thing in the world. Because he was still the person she saw five years before, whether or not he knew it.

-----------------------------------

During the ‘time heist’, you stayed with Pepper and Morgan. You played games near the lake with the smallest Stark and when Pepper jetted off in the suit Tony made for her and Happy appeared instead, you knew it was the end. The question was, had they done what needed doing. God, you hoped so. When Clint had come by, and told you about Nat, it killed you. The scream that came from you, it was loud and guttural. Hadn’t you lost enough already? Had you not been through enough than to lose your best friend?

You laid on the couch with Morgan, watching one of the home videos Tony had made throughout Morgan’s childhood when you heard a commotion outside. You pressed a finger to your lips and you and Happy both went to investigate. When you saw an injured Tony, you ran toward him, as he was supported by Steve and Pepper. “Did we… Did we win?” you asked, out of breath and looking to Steve for an answer. You got a nod and fell to your knees, tears flowing from your eyes as the reality hit. Clint tapped you on the shoulder a moment later and your eyes flew up to meet his.

“By the lake. We’ll patch Tony up but you should go down to the lake.”

You nodded, and began your way there but when you looked up, your breath caught in your throat. There, back facing you, stood James Buchanan Barnes, in all his glory. For 5 years you had prayed that you would hold him again. But this time, it wasn’t a dream. He was real and he was here. You wanted to fall to your knees again and thank god or whoever had made this possible.

But instead, you ran.

Your feet grew wings and you ran toward him with a simple scream of ‘Bucky!’ echoing in the trees. He turned and caught you in his arms as your arms and legs wrapped around him, completely enveloping him in your embrace. His own hands found their place on your body, holding you tight to him and pressing his face into your neck. You couldn’t stop crying, all you could do was hold him. Because he was real, and he was here.

---------------------------------------

The table was set. Well, tables. Many laughing and smiling faces seated and there you were in the middle of it, making silly faces at Peter and Morgan from across the table. That was until you heard footsteps and you all stood, clapping as Tony sauntered in.

It had been a couple of months since the battle. A month since Thanos had been gone. Tony had almost lost his life fighting him, almost lost the little life he had for himself here. But he fought and with Bruce working on him, he was a force to be reckoned with.

“Thank you, thank you everyone. Very happy to be back.” Everyone sat back down and you slipped your hand into Bucky’s, leaning against him as you both watched Tony. “I just wanna thank each of you, because, well honestly, if it weren’t for you, we would have lost and all this would be…nothing.” He gestured to everything around him. Dinner continued on, everyone passing things around and telling stories to those who hadn’t been around or just chatting.

You stood up, putting a hand on Bucky’s shoulder and excusing yourself, before going outside and settling yourself on the railing of the porch, looking out onto the lake. It was funny, how these things happened. You were sure that Bucky never imagined Tony as his next door neighbor but from where you sat on your porch, across the lake, you could see Tony’s house, just a short boat ride away.

While Bucky didn’t wanna stop fighting, he wanted a place where his family could be safe. So in the middle of the woods, they built their dream house, complete with your grandmother’s vintage record player sitting in the living room.

You felt a hand touch your shoulder and when you turned, you were shocked to see it was Tony.

“Hey kiddo. Nice place. Not as nice as mine, but you definitely could have done worse.” You chuckled and leaning into the man. Ever since his near death experience, you had talked. Long nights of discussing and thankfully, he forgave her. He understood, what you had said back then, and why you had felt that way. He was just so concerned and grieving and upset that he couldn’t handle any other person’s feelings at that moment.

“Thanks Tony.” You smiled before swinging yourself off the railing and pulling him back inside. “C’mon Iron Man, you got a party to get back to.” You pushed him back inside and leaned against the door frame, watching your family all play and laugh with each other.

A pretty perfect picture. And it was all yours.

#bucky barnes x reader #bucky x reader #marvel x reader #thor x reader friendship #tony x reader friendship #endgame rewrite

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fantasyresident · 4 years

Text

There’s Something I Have To Address

Just like when the Dexit controversy was stirring, there is now a “new” controversy (if you want to call it new) that is causing unhinged fans to go after Masuda. Only this time, they decide to do it in response to people wishing him well for his BIRTHDAY. Last time it was a wedding, this time it’s his fu**ing BIRTHDAY. I missed this insane ordeal, which happened on January 12th (5 days ago from now) but I thought it was important to respond because I always consider harassment wrong, especially against people who work hard at what they do.

Apparently people are automatically assuming Pokemon were cut in the first place to be added later for money, even though they took the time to make a free update that allows you to get them through trade. Now it is true there is still a little bit of a “paywall” for them since Pokemon Home is a paid service, but if you’re operating a service like that, shouldn’t you be allowed to charge for it? And if it’s a low price like Pokemon Bank, that’s an extremely small paywall especially compared to what other games expect you to pay for various things. The other cost is the Nintendo Online subscription, which again is a service that has to be constantly run, which I and anyone else who believes in paying for hard work would think, SHOULD be paid for. Not to mention, the Online Membership has different payment packages you can choose from. The single member plan is quite cheap (compare it to the terrible price of Play Station Plus). Many PS4 games lock online content behind that $60 PS+ paywall and nobody complains about it. Yet Pokemon expects you to pay for the same thing only for far less and suddenly it’s a “problem”.

This isn’t to say that everything is perfect with the Pokemon Company. In fact, I do believe there is some level of corruption going on somewhere within the company. (Most likely the marketing department) But then again, you look at any company these days and you find the same exact issues all over the place. However, since Pokemon is a huge brand and people have seriously extreme attachments to the franchise, people complain more about Pokemon than other franchises that pull the same (and even far worse) tricks. Do I believe Masuda or Ohmori are behind any of this. NO. Masuda and Ohmori seem very passionate about their work in the Pokemon franchise and I don’t believe they called all of these shots. There’s more to a company than just a couple people making decisions. Many people make decisions in a company and normally most of the decision-making process is made privately, so we Pokemon fans don’t even know the full picture of what’s going on behind the scenes, yet many people are harshly judging others. Masuda did give reasoning for dex cuts previously, referring to things like game balancing, better animations, etc. For one, they most likely did try out game balancing, but realized when everyone was using the same broken Pokemon that their plans for that were done for.As for the animations, many did improve or were worked over entirely, even if a handful remained the same. (New animations wasn’t a total lie like everyone’s making it out to be.) Referring back to the gameplay balancing, the timing makes sense, considering not long after the first tournament they decide to reveal the DLC expansion pass for more Pokemon. (They probably used the results of the tournament as a way of judging how well the game was balanced.) There’s literally a million things that could have happened behind the scenes to change their minds, yet people interestingly enough automatically glue their minds to the word “corruption” and “greed”. Negativity spreads like wildfire and not everyone wants to deal with that shit. I’m very skeptical of big-shot gaming companies, but do I automatically assume the worst every time Game Freak does literally anything that people doesn’t fully understand? Of course not. If you’re going to attack Masuda for making very good DLC for $30, then attack the creator of Call of Duty for the COD Black Ops 2 season pass that costs $50. Or you can criticize all of the other games that have season passes that cost just as much or more than Pokemon SwSh’s very expansive passes.

I realize that some of you critics will refer to how supposedly “empty” the base game of Sword and Shield was and then rant about how games that are complete from the start deserve to have highly priced DLC, but let me address that point. It may be “incomplete” in your opinion, but it’s not in others’. For me, the game felt fulfilling and I especially loved the new gen of Pokemon creatures. The only thing that felt a bit bare was lore, and SwSh aren’t the only games to lack that, so it’s not that shocking to me. They’re still great games. If you’re going to call SwSh’s expansion passes expensive, then be fair and consider all other expansion passes/season passes. Not only that, but DLC as well. Consider the often absurd cost of skins that are marketed in many games like Final Fantasy Dissidia NT. Just because the Pokemon Company decided to do DLC, that doesn’t mean they’re planning to make us pay heavily for pre-existing Pokemon. Again, there are small pay hurdles, but considering I only have a small amount to spend per month and I can even afford to pay what the Pokemon Company is asking, that really speaks volumes for how relatively cheap the content is. You also have to consider how companies need methods for earning revenue in the long term, something inbetween releases of major titles, and a service like Home will not only benefit the Pokemon players, but it will also benefit the people putting their time and effort into making the service a success. A win/win for everyone.

What I’ll say is, leave other people the f*ck alone, this includes Masuda. Whether if your biased mind wants to admit it or not, game developers DO work hard and they don’t deserve to be attacked on their birthday of all times. Nobody does. When you act, put yourself in someone else’s shoes first. Would you want to spend such a long time on a game that you felt passionate about only to be put down by a bunch of people on your own birthday? This really just shows how fans don’t even think of game developers as people, they just think of them as factories for making games. Whether if you liked Sword and Shield or not, that doesn’t matter. Stop attacking Masuda and bombarding him with paparazzi-style questions that imply he’s cheating fans their money.

#pokemon sword and shield #pokemon sword #pokemon shield #masuda #pokemon controversy #dex cut #pokemon expansion pass #the crown tundra #crown tundra #isle of armor #pokemon isle of armor #pokemon dlc #pokemon dlc controversy #pokemon #stop attacking masuda

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awhilesince · 4 years

Text

Friday, 28 November 1828

6 35/60

11 3/4

making some addition to what I wrote yesterday to Pi (Mariana) about her mother then crossed it out —

from 7 20/60 to 9 1/2 wrote 3 pages and the ends to M— (Mariana) 4 or 5 lines of page 2 the whole of page 3 and 2 comparisons of lines on the 1st end respecting Mrs B— (Belcombe) M— (Mariana) must stay one or two days here on her return and I will help her to settle her array of what she has to do at home — mention Becher’s work and having got plenty of information for her respecting Friendly society — “But to turn to your letter — on the subject of the misunderstanding between your mother and myself, you are quite assured that, had any “choice been left me, your mother (for whose previous kindness I have never ceased to feel obliged) is one of the last with whom “I would have had any misunderstanding at all — Prevented by yourself and Stephen from sending the letter, but still anxious to conciliate “as far as I could consistently, and then sent the written message of which you had a copy; and you find me, on your arrival here “in the spring of 1826, surprised and hurt that your message, however well intended, had not, in spite of my “twice urged entreaty, been deemed worthy the smallest notice — you will remember my saying, any answer “would be better now; for that, if no answer at all was returned, this must convince me that all hope of conciliation “was for ever at an end, and that the not being even on speaking terms must inevitably ensue — this induced you “to inquire into the fate of the message, and thus wrung from you, not Anne, the following answer in your letter from Scarbro’ of 31 March 1826 — “Harriet did give your message to my mother — she read it herself, and returned H— (Harriet) the letter, saying, “ probably Miss L— (Lister) and I “may never meet again, ’tis better we should not” (Anne told me this) — She has never mentioned your name to me, tho’ “I have given her opportunities” — what course remained for me but to keep out of the way, yet, as you begged me “not to let thing be known, to keep up appearances as well as I could? I did do so — tho’ 3 or 4 times in York “afterwards before going abroad, my not calling as usual was either not known, or, in some way, so well excused, that “not even Mrs Duffin could suspect from any word or conduct of mine how matters really stood — I never named “it to anyone out of your own family, except my aunt, till Isabella told me in Paris, she had heard it from Mrs D— (Duffin) when I, of course, in self justification, told my own story, yet still begging her not to mention it, except “to Mrs N— (Norcliffe) and Charlotte — with the latter, I told you, I had talked the matter over the other day at Langton — “The contrast between your mother’s manner of meeting me at the Duffins’ and of receiving me in her own house in “Petersgate only about 2 hours before, did certainly take me by sursprise — whatever of your mother’s kindness I had deserved to forfeit, I had done nothing to deserve to regain — But Mary, from what you wrote me in March “1826, could I calculate upon your writing in November 1828, “when I named the thing to my mother” (i.e. the hope “never to see me again)” declared such an idea never entered her head, that on reading your message she did, “Tell Miss Lister that we shall sometime meet again, meaning by that, her manner when you did meet would “convince you that the thing was forgotten”? These 2 messages are, in fact, Mary, so unlike each other, “that all I can say is, I agree with you, “there has been a great and unfortunate mistake” — Still good accounts of “Miss MacL— (Maclean) Luckily, she can get a good servant in town, that I am at ease about not sending Cameron — “write soon …. Tell me particularly how you are — Have the goddness to take care, and harass yourself as little“as possible (the following written merely that the Bs Belcombes may read it) Do not pother about that foolish settlement — “business — you have had misery and vexation enough about it; and for pity’s sake, trouble yourself no more — I doubt that “you can do any good; and their unavailing anxiety hurts, mortifies, and disappoints me — I am sick of making “friends of the mammon of unrighteousness; for such friends, even when obtained, have no beauty in them that we should “desire them — we know the unstable value of the things of their world better as we use them more — God bless you, “Mary! I am now and always very especially and entirely yours AL Anne Lister” —

read over and folded my letter — what will M— (Mariana) think of it — will it be a makeup or not I dont care about it had I been very anxious on the subject might have made more advances — Breakfast at 10 —

went out at 11 to the Cunnery plantation — Throp and the 2 wallers planting and our 3 men and 2 horses clearing away as yesterday — In the afternoon Mosey begged a piece of elm which he said was worth 6 d (pence), and for this felled 4 firs, and for 6 d (pence) to be paid in money felled 5 more larches, and one sycamore — He and his companion all along the upper Cunnery hedge (15 roods) for railing — Throp and the wallers 1 1/4 hour at dinner on Wednesday — remonstrated — so 50 minutes today and yesterday — while they dined sauntered about the upper fields musing upon building a pretty farmstead at the top east corner of the upper Cunnery, or just above the upper will field — fancying how much and how to plant the upper will field so as to form one continuous line with the present plantation and the other side of Bairstow — with the workmen till 5 — returned by the Cunnery — talking to Matty a few minutes — she hoped if their cottage was taken down I should find her some place — a lodge or something — not improbable said I — we are like to find some place for you — she thanked me, and I returned by Benjamin’s and the high road and came in at 5 20/60

Dressed — Dinner at 6 — afterwards John took to the post my letter to M— (Mariana) (Mrs Belcombe‘s Scarborough) — He brought me from Thomas Greenwood‘s this morning (got for me by Thomas) „Hoppus‘s Measurer“. York printed by and for Thomas Wilson and sons, High Ousegate 1825 price 3/. bound — for measuring wood, stone, glass, etc. — new Edition revised by new Edition revised by T. Crosby —

Came upstairs at 8 3/4 and wrote the whole of today (the extract from to M— (Mariana) — copied from the rough draft and what I copied on to it from the letter this morning) —

On seeing young James Greenwood of the Cunnery in the plantation this evening gathering up some of the fire wood, spoke to him about keeping people out of the plantation, and said I would give him 10/. a year — to be paid by Mr Briggs Xmas and midsummer, the day after the rent day — writing the whole of this day took me till 10 — then went downstairs, and came up again at 10 1/2 — asked my father not allow old Rothero to cut grass in the Cunnery plantation now it is replanted — mild day

drizzly but too windy to keep my umbrella up — high wind all last night before — yet neither my thorn bush nor beech in the Allan Car seem to have stirred —

(SH:7/ML/E/11/0099)

https://www.catalogue.wyjs.org.uk/CalmView/Record.aspx?src=CalmView.Catalog&id=CC00001%2f7%2f9%2f6%2f11%2f99&pos=1

#annelistercodebreaker #annelister #mariana #1828 #shibden hall winter 1828

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austerlitzborodinoleipzig · 4 years

Text

The Timeless Children review.

There’s a lot to say about the Timeless Children, but setting aside discussion about what that new lore dump means for the show, and trying to keep things about this episode...

A bad episode with okay lore, and some noted improvements on Chibnall’s part.

I’m okay with retcons. It’s Doctor Who. Nothing is sacred. (I mean, except the core values of the main character. Having the Doctor selling the Master to the Nazis as a POC is so much worse). Things will get retconned/modified. Are certain retcons bullshit? Yes, but that’s another matter. Fundamentaly I don’t think Who canon, if there’s even such thing, should be kept safe. Like it or not, the showrunner is in charge. There’s no such thing as respect for the fans, or for the previous eras.

And like I’m the first to complain but really if Chibshow wants to stick the middle finger at Moffat show, that’s his godamm right. The showrunner has full ownership of the show, otherwise it would hamper the creative process. We can discuss why the changes made are bad, but saying “How dare Chibnall retcon the deep lore” is idiotic.

So kudos to Chibnall for daring. I mean The Timeless Children left a bad aftertaste in my mouth, but hey it was engaging. I wanted to know more, which compared to Series 11 is a vast improvement.

So yes lore was okay.

Did I like the reveal/retcon ? Not really.

Is it possible to make something interesting out of that? I’ve seen some good takes about it, so yeah. On the downside this is Chibnall we’re talking about, so trust him to pick the least interesting idea.

Will I come to terms with it? I did not like the idea of the War Doctor, or the fact that Doctor saved Gallifrey at first. I’ve come round since, and even like it now. I expect I’ll have digested all of it in the coming months, and I’ll be able to make it fit with my own headcanons/continuity/personal conception of Doctor Who...

Does it really change anything? The Timeless Child, not so much. All the pre-Hartnell Doctors and the fact that the Doctor worked for the CIA (or the Division, whatever the fuck the difference is), yes, a lot, and I like it even less.

Are there ways to go around it? Yes there are. And also the scope of Doctor Who is so big, you can comfortably ignore it.

The episode was bad.

Bad because the lore was infodumped in the most boring and unimaginative way, with the Master just doing exposition for 60% of the runtime. Also the Matrix looks boring. Fucking grey background.

Ashad is perhaps the Chibnall villain with the most potential. I’m still thinking voluntarily converted Cyberman is a great idea that deserved a lot more of exploring. There’s really some fascinating implications... And all of that got flushed down the toilet, because Ashad got unceremoniously killed by the Master.

Also, hello big MacGuffin death particle. Chibnall, would it kill you to make the effort to introduce the great big “plot-resolve” button in the previous episode?What a convenient reveal with no groundwork, that feels telegraphed from a mile.

Worst of it is probably the moment where the Doctor awakes, ensues some excruciating moments, where the Doctor tries to figure out the Master’s plan, while we, the audience have already been informed, by means of exposition. And then we get more exposition for the death particle we already got 20 minutes ago, with bad dialogue to boot. “There’s a myth...” Oh ffs! Why use myth? Nothing in that dialogue is mythic, Chibnall is not lyrical enough for it. That’s imitation of mythic.

Also unclear on the specifics of how the death particle works. Per the Master and Ashad, it erases all the life in the Galaxy. And then during exposition n°2, provided by Ravio, we hear it only erases life on one planet, which is what the Doctor tries to do at the end.

But “all organic life”... By all account had Ashad activated it, it would have killed the Cybermen as well, or at least him. They’re not pure robots and we can clearly see with Ashad that there’s organic living bits underneath. So all that big ascension will be without Ashad. Of course you could make the case that the Ascension is really the Cyberium’s aim and that it does not care the slightest about Ashad.

Also we shall have dominion... Over what, if you killed everyone? Again, poorly thought out motivations for Ashad. Mostly it sounds cool, but it’s empty when you take a closer look at it.

And speaking of the Cyber Time Lords. Well, we’re told they were made with the corpses of dead Time Lords the Master kept. If they’re dead, we’re assuming it’s permanent death, otherwise they would have regenerated... So where the hell does the regeneration ability comes from? And if they are corpses in Cybersuits, how come they would be affected by the death particle, as they are definitely not living?

I mean it’s Doctor Who so I’m willing to overlook this details if there’s a good story told behind it. Like, the Daleks’ plot in The Dalek Invasion of Earth is fucking stupid. Let’s mine the Earth’s core, to replace it with a motor and then drive Earth around in space, like a big spaceship. But then that’s a small detail in an episode whose purpose is elsewhere : presenting a dystopian vision of England, a post apocalyptic, facist world. It’s about the pure dread for the spectator of seing his world overrun by space Nazis. It’s the first episode of the show’s history with an alien invasion. It’s also about Susan. And there’s also quite a chunk devoted to mostly Barbara, but also Ian for a bit: how they react to that world that seems familiar and at the same time, completely alien.

Here there’s no story behind it. It’s basically a dressing for the big lore reveal.

It’s a bad Cyberman story. Nothing about the Cyberzealot is really explored in a meaningful way. He’s supposedly conflicted... Yeah because we’re told so by the Doctor in Ascension. Show not tell, yadda, yadda, yadda... So Cybermen are nothing more than your generic evil robots... And even the Master sees how stupid that is and takes the piss (rightly so).

Supporting cast is there for nothing more than exposition, or action sequences that do nothing more than distracting us from the lore reveal, because that’s the only thing really going on in that ep.

And yet again we have a final that does a piss poor job with the companions. Second in a row. To be fair, Battle of Raging Avatar tried to give some closure to Ryan and Graham... It just did it so badly it does not even register as a try.

This time Yaz is the better served with three(!) character bits. Tis only fair after Series 11. But still feels underbaked. I mean I think it will all depend on whether she leaves with the Christmas Special. She still has been massively underserved by the show. The last episodes, starting with Praxeus she did get some good content, but that‘s a bit late and still not enough, when you compare it with the other New Who companions. And well one of Yaz’s traits is her need for validation from the Doctor... and here she gets it from Graham??? In itself it’s a really fine moment. but underwhelming if that is to be the conclusion of her arc.

And again, there’s only minimal progression in terms of development for the fam. Yaz has perhaps the most significant one, going from Doctor is the best person -> I’m the best person.

Graham has mostly been stucked with comic relief this series, and goes from. Decent bloke that married Grace to ... You’re okay??

Ryan... I feel this season really did not know what to do with him. He doesn’t have anything to do in the final, just fire at a bunch of Cybermen. That bit with the bomb is one of the most half-assed excuses for an arc I’ve seen. So Ryan beats dyspraxia, said dyspraxia being only mentioned when it’s convenient, or when we need to establish the character, because he really believes in himself and focuses??? And yet I had so much hope after Woman Who Fell To Earth and that really good bike scene.

Also the relationship between the Doctor and her fam is again unresolved... My fam, I need them... That feels unearned after a whole season of agressively pushing the Doctor and the companions apart, and with the Doctor becoming more and more distant, and sometimes an asshole. I was waiting for the show to adress that... And it peters out. The episode fails on an emotional level.

The big climax... Sigh... Is yet another riff from RTD, this time from that super good scene from Parting of the Ways... Except less well done, because we’ve seen all that before, what else is new? Also the resolution of that in Series 1 was a moment of grace and love, and just beautiful, and felt satisfying, and paid off the Doctor’s arc... Here we have wannabe-Obi-Wan/Luke-from-the-sequel conveniently sacrifying himself. Again, the less well done remix of the RTD years. And that final cliffhanger would have been charming had we not been coming from a season that consistently mined the RTD-nostalgia.

That bit with Ruth was lovely, and gives me some hope for the way the lore is going to be treated but... Doctor!Ruth is magnificent and yet again upstages Thirteen a bit. And I think it’s a bit of a problem when your incumbent Doctor gets upstaged by other incarnations...

Another problem here is that the Doctor remains totally passive, ineffective, and with limited agency throughout the episode, which was... eh. Doesn’t make for a good story.

Still some things were good

The Master was definitely the best thing about this episode. Maybe unpopular opinion but Chibnall nailed the Master. So many good moments

the whole kicking himself for not thinking of a good one liner before zapping the Ashad

his whole motivation: I’ve seen some really good posts going round, but of course everything is totally in character for the Master. Jealousy at being upstaged by the Doctor, again. Hint of race supremacy. Cannot bear the fact that his not from the Master race, because all his claims to superiority have gone up in smoke. He’s not a renegade prince anymore. He’s a renegade fake.

That really good bit where he’s sad his gamble paid off, and he did not died when killing Ashad. This is a suicidal Master, a bit like Simm, but Simm had the rage to live, while Dhawan!Master... Just wants to sow destruction, doesn’t matter if it’s his own. Mostly really broken, with an identity crisis no less than the Doctor’s and going on a destructive rampage instead.

The carped is red because it’s drenched in the blood of the Time Lords. That line and its delivery is one of the highlights of the episode. It’s so perfectly ridiculous and bad on purpose and over the top.

Also Dhawan has a really great voice and I could here him speak forever. Does he narrate books?

Interesting how even if he’s Thirteen’s Master, the Dhawan Master just screams Eleven. The clothes. The mannerism, the lines and the delivery... I could see Smith in his performance.

Another good bit is Ko Sharmus... Finally someone to articulate why the whole take “guns=bad” that was going on these two series was bad. Because yeah sometimes people try to kill you so you have to fight back.

I was afraid that Ko Sharmus would be undermined... And he’s the hero of the episode. And I’m really glad that Thirteen failure to fire the bomb was depicted for what it was... A failure. Because then Ko Sharmus gets his hero moment and saves the day, by firing it.

Criticism of the Doctor’s position for what it is: self righteousness and hypocrisy?? In my Chibshow??? That’s more likely than you think.

And finally the Cyber Time Lords were ridiculous and I loved everything about the design.

So really, my problem is not the lore. My problem is that Chibnall is going balls to the wall, firing from all cylinders, doing big lore... And still fails to tell an engaging story.

#doctor who #the timeless children #thirteenth doctor #yazmin khan #graham o'brien #ryan sinclair #dw meta

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dearyallfrommatt · 4 years

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My late father loved Krystal burgers. Even after his diabetes blossomed into something his battered old body could barely control, if he came near a town that had a Krystal, he’d make Momma drive him by it. When my brother got married in Athens, GA, and a mix-up of Daddy’s meds put him in a serious fog, he had enough presence of mind to have us make a run to the one on Prince Avenue.

Long story short, the Krystal burger chain is filing for bankruptcy. Founded in 1932 and famous for those little hamburgers like you’d get at White Castle up North, the company has a hearing in the North District Court of Georgia Wednesday, citing debts up to $100 million dollars. Regardless how things turn out, some of the 320 restaurants in nine different states will remain open thanks to franchising, but that still makes life a little worrisome for the 5,000-plus people who work for the company now, mostly at part-time wages, of course.

The last time Krystal went bankrupt was 1997 and that was due to millions of dollars of unpaid overtime owed to employees. The company was bought by a private equity firm, Port Royal Holdings, for $145 million dollars. As an aside, the original Port Royale was a famous pirate haven back during what’s called The Golden Age of Piracy, roughly 1620-1720, before becoming a center for “legitimate” shipping and trade in the Caribbean, but I’m sure that’s a coincidence.

Since 1997, Krystal has bounced from private equity firm to private equity firm and has had eight different CEO’s. The last one, Paul Macaluso, left after the company eliminated franchises and management positions, not to mention slashing basic staff, in an effort to not actually turn a buck but the stave off their mounting creditors. The company declared bankruptcy the day their last loan deal with a creditor ran out. At the same time, the company’s dealing with an investigation into their payment practices and a “security breach”.

I doubt this will mean we’ll see the end of Krystal, but maybe. What’s most likely is that yet another private equity firm full of people who care nothing about anything beyond making more and more profit and damn the torpedoes, will swing in to rescue it, finding new and better ways to screw over workers. Because they can never make enough money.

I don’t understand rich people, I really don’t. People who can’t just enjoy their wealth and good fortune, I mean, the ones that have to have more and more lucre. Wrestling legend Jim Cornette - stay with me here - once said the main thing he could not understand about former boss and WWE CEO Vince McMahaon is why he couldn’t just enjoy his billions. He had to have more and, not only that, fuck over other people as much as possible while doing it.

For your edification, after the end of the Monday Night Wars in 1999, the only professional wrestling company that made money was the WWF. McMahaon - who bought the company from his father Vince Sr. in the late ‘70s for one dollar - was literally worth billions. On top of that, it didn’t look like the they’d ever stop making money bringing the rabid fan base the best in sweaty men in small pants pretending to fight.

And then Vince got greedy. First they tried to bring the world two billion-dollar flops in the XFL and a restaurant in Manhattan. I really don’t know from the restaurant except that it crashed and burned, but being a fan of football, I watched the XFL saga with fascinated horror. Going against the NFL is a rum’s game - ask the USFL and President Trump - but the XFL was set up to actually take down - or pretend to, keeping with the wrestling theme - the pro football juggernaut.

The lads from at Old School Wrestling can sum it up better and more entertaining than I could. After all was said and done, the league lost $138 million dollars with their deal with NBC, it cost Vince himself $69 million, and by the time the thing washed out, Vince was no longer a billionaire. In short order, the wrestling boom ate itself and money that could’ve been spent to give their employees some sort of health insurance security went to creditors. Even in the football league, the highest paid athlete made five grand a week and, of course, no health insurance for players.

Now, I’m not ragging on the WWE or even professional wrestling. I firmly believe that one of America’s greatest contribution to world culture is professional wrestling - no, seriously - and a full understanding of the United States’ development and evolution, at least in the 20th century. But this is a fine example of how greed destroys whatever it touches. Call it capitalism’s inevitable outcome or whatever you want to call it, but this is now seen as How Things Are Supposed to Be.

The last decade saw a plethora of long-running businesses go flat broke and have to shutter their doors. Financial experts blamed the death of Toys ‘R’ Us on Millennials not having kids and the spread of Amazon, for example, but the fact is the private equity companies - including Mitt Romney’s Ban Capital - cut and sliced everything they could in the run for more profits and less overhead. ‘Cause that’s all that matters.

I used to do an internet streaming radio show with a libertarian who once tried to enlighten to me the evil of taxation in maybe the dumbest way possible. A friend of his, he said, worked at a private equity firm, putting in 80 hours a week, and because of taxation, she was only able to bring home $180 thousand out of the $200 thousand she “earned” each year. Needless to say, that didn’t cut it.

But again, this is how the world is Supposed To Work. Providing a good consumers either need or really enjoy and in some way makes their lives a little better, that doesn’t even pretend to matter anymore. Taking care of your employees, paying them enough to live on and keep themselves hale-&-hearty because workers that aren’t living in terror of getting sick or a raise in rent are better workers, that’s not profitable.

Well, it is profitable and a smaller, self-contained businesses can totally do that, but the American Way is to gobble up as much as possible for some reason. Instead of enjoying your wealth and the sense of stability never having to worry about which bill you’re going to have to skip this month or if your landlord is going to increase your went for whatever the hell reason, our society encourages the very richest to accumulate and horde as much wealth as possible. If you can step on someone’s face in the process, even better.

And if you fail, no big worry. In 2008, Delta Airlines fired their CEO, Richard Anderson, after four months because the company lost over $70 million. Anderson nevertheless walked away with a severance package that included over $11 million dollars plus a corner office on Peachtree Street in Atlanta. More recently, due to on-going scandals involving their 737′s, Boeing booted their CEO Dennis Muilenberg after ballooning losses and deadly crashes of two of their planes. They did punish him by denying his full severance package, though. Luckily, he still walks away with $60 million in stock options and pension benefits.

So, what is the answer, I hear you say. Hell, I don’t know. These practices are an ongoing problem, but the acceptance of such behavior by the hoi palloi is even worse. We see this as natural and good, the American way. We elected a president who was born rich and was a big mover-&-shaker in a field his father already plowed, and companies under his control went bankrupt at least six times. Had he spent the last 50 years funding art galleries and weaving baskets, just letting the interest do it’s work, he’d arguably be richer than he is now.

Is socialism the answer? Can capitalism be saved? Do we need to look for an entirely different paradigm when it comes to economic survival? Again, I don’t pretend to have any answers. Indeed, my whole approach to anarchistic theory isn’t searching for a specific end result way to “make things work” so much as using the tools I can live with to get by as best I can while maybe making the world a better place along the way. But since no one is ever really punished or suffers from such actions that have proven to be, at best, a crap game, we’ll see more of this.

More profit, that’s all that matters.

#krystal #capitalism #anarchism #WWE #xfl #Delta Airlines #Boeing #greed in America

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