#c. butter press conference

[xenodile]

After Bahamut is defeated and the Binding Coils silenced, Alisaie prepares to embark on a new journey, but before she does, Alphinaud makes her an offer.  

In which I take a single line of dialogue wildly out of proportion just for the drama of it all.

It was still dim and cool in the Waking Sands as the morning sun began to warm Vesper Bay.  Alisaie lingered in the now unused Solar, the scant few Scions that remained not yet roused from the barracks.  She was procrastinating.

Today she embarked on a journey, going...somewhere.  She didn’t know yet.  For all she had spoken of having found her purpose, she had no clear indication of what she hoped to achieve or where she might start.  Perhaps that was why she had arranged to meet Bylgrael at the Burning Wall prior to her departure.  Seeing her blade of light one last time before she left would surely spark some kind of inspiration wouldn’t it? ...Or perhaps it would persuade her to stay.  Stay and say...what?  Something poignant, inspiring, memorable?  Gods, romantic?  She shook her head as if to knock loose the foolish notions of a relationship with the Warrior of Light.  Regardless of the trials they had overcome together in the shards of Dalamud, they hadn’t know each other for long enough to entertain that their friendship was anything more than just that, and she couldn’t hold a candle to the older woman as a combatant; if she continued to hang around after her mission was complete it was only a matter of time before she embarrassed herself.

As if in response to her musings, the door to the Solar opened, and her reflection walked in.

“Good morrow, sister dear, I had hoped to find you before your departure.”

“Alphinaud.  I would have thought you had all manner of conferences and meetings to attend in the wake of Bahamut’s defeat.”

“The most pressing missives have already been sent, and the rest will come in time.  For now, I was hoping to have a word with you.  It’s been some time since we last had a chance to speak in private.”

Not quite a year, but close to it.  Some eight, maybe nine moons had passed since their last argument in the Quicksand had seen them going their separate ways to pursue their own goals.  And now, with those goals achieved, they were reunited.

“Where do you intend to go next?” her brother asked, a touch of concern in his voice.

“...I don’t know.  Anywhere, really.  That’s how adventurers go about it, isn’t it?  Traveling the land, righting wrongs and some such?”

“I have a suggestion where you might begin.  Revenant’s Toll, in Mor Dhona.  It also happens to be home to the Scions of the Seventh Dawn.”

Alisaie folded her arms and frowned.  Her twin’s face was curved into that insufferable grin that he got whenever he thought he was being terribly clever.

“I take it this is my invitation into your little secret society?”

“Not so secret these days, but yes.  The Scions fight for a noble cause, and Revenant’s Toll is a well traveled hub for adventurers the realm over.  You could do worse if that is the path you wish to follow.”  Alphinaud’s grin, against all reckoning, somehow managed to look smugger as he continued, “And it would afford you plenty of opportunities to prove yourself to our dear blade of light.”

It was a tempting offer.  The chance to actually see her brother on a regular basis, to spend time with Bylgrael, and commit herself to a cause she could believe in was just about everything she could want at the moment.  But she didn’t like Alphinaud’s tone.  In the sixteen years they had been siblings and nigh inseparable, Alisaie was all too familiar with the tone Alphinaud spoke in when he thought he was presenting an unbeatable, decisive argument.  A tone reserved for when he was trying to win someone over.

“What’s your game, brother.”

“...I beg pardon?”

“You should know better than to try and butter me up like one of our classmates during a debate, why do you want me to join the Scions?”

Alphinaud faltered.  “I-I’m merely offering a suggestion because I am concerned for you, and I’m certain Bylgrael would be glad of your company were you to stay!”

“Weren’t you so keen for me to find my own purpose, yet now you’re practically begging me not to go?  And that’s the second time you’ve tried to tempt me by mentioning our mutual friend.”  Her eyes narrowed.  She didn’t doubt Alphinaud was genuinely concerned for her, but his decision to treat the offer as a bargain couldn’t feel more suspicious.

“Well, you fancy her don’t you!?  You said it yourself during our confrontation with Bahamut!”

Alisaie recoiled, her ears burning. “H-How I feel about Bylgrael is not your concern, and since when did you start playing matchmaker!?”

“I only want what’s best for the both of you, and I am certain you would be happy with her.”  Alphinaud was visibly flustered now, that smug grin far from his face.

“...And what, pray tell, does that mean?”

Alphinaud sighs, realizing he has overplayed his hand.  “Alisaie, I need your help.  I want you to...support Bylgrael, from here on out.”

“...Support her?”

“Bylgrael is a very dear friend, but over our travels together she has developed a certain...infatuation with me, and has at times been dependent on my presence to remain steadfast.  With the Crystal Braves now a proper Grand Company, I simply do not have the time to entertain her flirtations.  So, I was hoping that-”

“I might be your stand-in.” Alisaie finished, venom dripping off every word.

“Alisaie, that’s not-”

“No!  Do not act like that is not exactly what you want!  Gods, of course, that’s why she was so friendly to me, I look just like her dear little Alphinaud!”  Her face felt hot and her gut churned, tears welling behind her eyes as all the fond looks and gentle smiles that Bylgrael had shown her flashed through her mind and twisted into the pit of her stomach.  She’d been mistakenly teased and flirted with before by women that had gotten her mixed up with her identical twin but it never hurt like this before, never caused raw betrayal to sear through her chest like a knife.  “Even the best of these Eorzeans are naught but leering brutes-”

“Alisaie!”  Outrage was writ plain on her brother’s face.

“And you!  You who I have always trusted to be on my side, would use me as a reward!  Offer me up like a prime cut of meat to your prize hunting dog!!”

“ALISAIE!!” Alphinaud all but roared, his voice more furious than Alisaie had ever heard in their shared lifetimes, forcing her attention. “Alisaie.  Think ill of me all you like, I do not deny that what I ask of you is unfair, but do.  Not.  Ever.  Speak of her that way again.  She has never treated me ill or been untoward, and she has done more for me than I could ever repay in ten lifetimes, and I would give her anything that is in my power to give.”

Alisaie stared, mouth slightly agape.  She let his words hang in the air for a moment, and her eyes suddenly went wide, her anguish from mere moments ago almost forgotten in place of dumbfounded revelation.

“Oh, you cowardly little worm, you’re in love with her!!”

Now was Alphinaud’s turn to be dumbstruck.

“Wh- You!  I! Ha!  I...I have no idea what you mean!”

“Oh don’t play dumb with me, Alphinaud Leveilleur, I know you too well for that.  She’s become so enamored with you because you’ve been encouraging her!  You were so quick to shut down all those upperclassman that took a liking to you, but your dear Warrior is allowed to entertain such thoughts for nigh on a year!?  The only way that makes sense is if you enjoy her affection.”

No one could tear away that collected, diplomatic mask and expose Alphinaud for the emotional young man he was underneath quite like his sister.  Well, her and Bylgrael.

“Yes!  I am!  I am in love with Bylgrael, satisfied!?”

“Hardly.  Why in the sight of all the gods, are you trying to push me towards a relationship with the woman you love!?”

“Because I cannot be what she wants!”  He spat the words at the floor, grimacing as if their bitterness still lingered in his mouth.  “Alisaie, I am the Commander of a Grand Company.  I maintain the Scions’ diplomatic and economic relations with the three city-states, and am in the midst of negotiations with a fourth!  My position is tenuous enough without risking my credibility on some boyhood affection!”

“...Your reputation!?  THAT’S what this is about!?”

“Yes!!  If it were to be publicly known that Bylgrael and I were...romantically involved, it would destroy everything we’ve worked for overnight!”

“Why??  No one in Sharlayan would bat an eye.”

“Things are different in Eorzea.  That we have graduated from the Studium and are recognized as adults in our homeland matters not here.  In the eyes of Eorzea, you and I are still wide eyed children.  Were it to become known that the Warrior of Light harbors an interest in me, it would ruin her, and without her, all I’ve worked for is naught.”

Alisaie rubbed her forehead as she processed the staggering mountain of convoluted social minutia that her fool brother has piled atop himself.

“But that doesn’t explain why you would want me to be with her.  If Eorzea would judge your relationship with her so harshly, why would they think any better of mine?”

“I don’t mean for you to publicly declare yourself her partner!  Just...be there for her.  As a companion.  And...if something more develops between the two of you as time goes on then...I shall happy for you both, truly.”

He was always such a terrible liar.

“But why me?  Surely there are others that would jump at the chance to court her?  What about that G’raha fellow she mentioned, she seems fond of him?”

Alphinaud wouldn’t meet her gaze. “I would simply feel better knowing she was with you.”

A truly, terrible liar.  Alisaie grimaced as the last piece fell into place.

“...You want to keep pretending she’s yours.”

Alphinaud winced as her words hit him, icy with disdain.

“If she runs off with someone else, you’ll have to live with knowing you threw away your first love for your selfish pride, but if she’s with me, your identical twin, you can keep her close, and tell yourself that there’s still something between you.  Is that it?”

Alphinaud didn’t respond at first, just stood still and refused to look at her.

“She has been through so much pain because of me.  Gave her life for my cause.  I cannot imagine a worse betrayal than to throw that all away for the sake of some...childish endearment.  No matter how much she or I might desire it.”

“So you’ll leave yourself unhappy for the rest of your days then?  Knowing you willingly turned away someone who loves you dearly for some grand ideal?  Have you even asked what she wants, or are you just deciding for her?”

When Alphinaud refused to answer again, Alisaie sighed heavily.  The hot fury she had felt earlier had run cold and was now buried under so much pity.  Sad, weighty pity for her poor, foolish brother.  He had ever been an earnest, passionate sort, and she could tell how much this conundrum weighed on him, to be so torn between what he wanted and what he believed was right was a choice that had broken many.  But she could find no sympathy for his solution.  For so brilliant a tactician and wise a leader, he was so very stupid in matters of the heart.  He probably saw this answer as the logical conclusion to an otherwise untenable problem.  His reputation was maintained and he could continue on the path he’d chosen, Bylgrael was happy, and Alisaie was happy.  But when love was involved, nothing was ever so neat and tidy.

“...I have an appointment to keep.”

“Alisaie, wait-”

“Good luck with your Grand Company, brother.  I hope things turn out well for you.”

----------

“You’re going?”

“Yes.  I have to find my own reason to fight.”

“But you’ll come visit right?  Some time soon?” Bylgrael’s smile, gentle and warm as ever, was tinged with disappointment.

Gods, she hated when Alphinaud was so damnably right.  Even after all that had been said in the Solar, the pain Alisaie had felt when she considered the possibility that her blade in the dark had only cared for her as an extension of the person she actually loved, she hesitated.  Oh how she wanted to stay, to fight at Bylgrael’s side once more, to see her radiant scarlet hair framed in the light as she stood triumphant against all odds!  She was grateful the burning heat of the midday sun over Thanalan excused the pink flush in her face.

“I’m not sure, I haven’t decided where to go just yet.”  She couldn’t bring herself to say ‘no, I’m going as far from here as I can’, it felt too harsh to someone she admired so deeply.  She needed to get away from this, clear her head.  She wanted to cherish those memories, scrub away any doubt that what she had felt from Bylgrael was real, the reconciliation she’d found with Alphinaud as they confronted Bahamut, saying good bye to Grandfather, she wouldn’t let it all be tainted by Alphinaud’s plea for her to enable his self-destructive pride.

“Well you’ll always be welcome with the Scions, Alisaie.  I’ll miss you.”

Oh to hear her say her name with such tenderness again!  Alisaie’s heart wavered for a moment, before setting her jaw, and smiling fondly.  She waved farewell to Bylgrael and turned to take her leave.

She had chided Alphinaud for being willing to throw away his first love for his pride, yet here she was doing the same.  Turning and walking away from the woman that had made her feel braver and stronger than she’d ever felt before, all because she would not play her brother’s pathetic little game.  The difference, in Alisaie’s mind, was that she would not settle.  She would travel, and grow strong.  She would see wonders and meet people and become all the more radiant for her experience, and then she would return and steal Bylgrael’s heart.  Not as Alphinaud’s twin, but as Bylgrael’s equal, a woman worthy of standing side by side with Eorzea’s blade of light.

#David plays FFXIV #The MSQ Replay #HEY REMEMBER WHEN I MENTIONED SOME UGLY FUCKING DRAMA #Bylgrael

[for-yoongi0309]

#ultkpopnetwork #usersugassi #yoongi #suga #min yoongi #bangtan #bts #myghairstyle.wolvesmane2.0 #myg.years : 2021 #c. butter press conference #bora's is definitely.. she is.. shes crying and shes screaming.. she... yeah

[thewidowsghost]

Fox - Chapter 33

Previously on Fox:

A few hour later, Natasha wakes up to (Y/n)'s heart beating rapidly behind her head and looks up to see (Y/n)'s eyes clenched shut. Natasha grabs (Y/n)'s shoulder and shakes her awake and (Y/n)'s eyes snap open, breathing heavily.

"(Y/n)," Natasha murmurs, looking concerned and (Y/n) looks at her, her (E/C) eyes wide.

(Y/n) doesn't say anything but wraps her arms around Natasha, her breath hitching. Natasha takes a hand and gently runs her fingers though her (H/C) hair - just as (Y/n) had so many times for her. After a few minutes, (Y/n)'s breathing slows and she rests her head against Natasha's again and the redhead doesn't press, just resting her head on her girlfriend's chest again.

Natasha finally relaxes when (Y/n) falls back asleep, the redhead finally falling back asleep after (Y/n) and the two sleep soundly for the rest of the night.

3rd Person POV

Around 7:30 the next morning, (Y/n) slides out from under Natasha, changes into some jeans, a black t-shirt, and pulls on a red leather jacket, before walking into the kitchen.

(Y/n) pulls out a large mixing bowl, and whisks together some flour and eggs. She gradually adds milk and water, then salt and butter, whisking until the batter is smooth.

Then she pulls out a frying pan and turning the burner on medium heat. (Y/n) scoops up some of the batter up and tilts the pan in a circular motion so the surface of the pan is covered in batter.

She cooks one side of the crepe and flips it.

"Here," a voice from behind her says and (Y/n) jumps. "Sorry," Skye says sheepishly.

"It's okay," (Y/n) smiles softly at the younger woman and slides the crepe onto the plate.

"You need any help," Skye offers.

"Actually, if you want to slice some strawberries, that would be great," (Y/n) answer. The brunette nods, opening the fridge and pulling out a box of strawberries, a cutting board from a cabinet, and a knife from a drawer, and begins to slice the strawberries as (Y/n) finishes the crepes.

"How'd you learn to cook like this?" Skye asks (Y/n).

"My mom taught me before she passed away," (Y/n) answers, studying Skye thoughtfully. "Speaking of, you look a lot like my mom when she was your age." (Y/n) pulls out her phone and scrolls down her gallery for a little bit until she finds the picture. Skye looks at the picture her eyes widening as she gazes at it - (Y/n)'s mother had the same nose and eye shape as Skye, and even the way they held themselves up was the same.

"She really does," Skye says gazing up at (Y/n).

"Imagine if we were cousins or something," (Y/n) says smiling.

"I've always wanted to find my family, maybe I've found it," Skye says and (Y/n) beams at the girl.

"Tasha and I wouldn't mind," (Y/n) says honestly.

"She's right," Natasha says, walking into the kitchen wearing jeans, a green t-shirt and the emerald jacket (Y/n) had given her back when she and (Y/n) were staying with (Y/n)'s dad. Skye smiles warmly at the two and continues slicking the strawberries. (Y/n) slides Natasha her phone and the redhead studies the picture of (Y/n)'s mom, continuing to glance at Skye. "You're right," Natasha says. "Skye does look a lot like your mom."

"My mom had a brother named Calvin Johnson, but Mom didn't really get along with her parents so she dropped the last name and went by (L/n). I'd never met my uncle, but I knew he had a kid, but I'd never met them either," (Y/n) says and Skye seems to be hanging onto her every word. "Anyway, we got crepes now, so yeah," she sets the plate of crepes on the table. (Y/n) makes a pot of coffee and pours three mugs, putting cream and sugar in her's and Skye's before taking the three cups out and setting them on the table, making sure to put the plain black in front of Natasha.

The three eat and Skye helps (Y/n) clean up the dishes and glances up at her. "Do you have any clothes I could borrow today?" Skye asks sheepishly.

"Sure, you're taller than Nat so yeah, you can borrow some of mine," (Y/n) smiles at the brunette. "Come on kid," (Y/n) says cheerfully and Skye smiles, following (Y/n) into her and Natasha's room. "Go ahead," (Y/n) says, sitting on the edge of the bed motioning to the closet.

Skye glances back at (Y/n) again and the (E/C) eyed woman nods encouragingly. Skye opens the closet and pulls out a pair of shorts out of the dresser, a dark gray t-shirt, and a black leather jacket.

"Thanks, (Y/n)," Skye says happily, and (Y/n) smiles.

"No problem kid," (Y/n) says as Natasha walks out of the bathroom carrying something wrapped in brown paper in her arms. "What's that, Nat?" she asks as Natasha sits down on the bed beside her.

Natasha simply slides the package to (Y/n) and Skye watches with interest as (Y/n) tears the paper off the package.

"Did you really bring my guitar and wrap it?" (Y/n) asks, grinning as she pulls her galaxy guitar out of the box.

"I figured it was more suspenseful than just handing it to you," Natasha says and (Y/n) shakes her head, still smiling. (Y/n) pushes the box and paper behind her and begins to strum a random piece she had been working on for a while before she had the whole kidnapping incident.

"How long have you been working on that one for?" Natasha asks.

"About a month before the whole incident," (Y/n) answers, setting down her guitar.

"How'd you remember that if you haven't seen it for three months?" Skye asks.

"I have a photographic memory," (Y/n) explains. "I remember everything. Sometimes it's a good thing, but sometimes not, you know?"

"What's that like?" Skye asks, sitting down beside (Y/n) on the edge of the bed.

"You ever had a cup of water and it's full, but you keep trying to fill it up and it overflows?" (Y/n) asks and Skye nods. "It's kind of like that but the cup keeps getting bigger."

"Doesn't that get overwhelming?" Skye asks and (Y/n) nods.

"Sometimes," she answers. "It's alright if it's mostly good memories, but there's always some bad ones thrown in there."

Skye nods thoughtfully then stands up, "I'm gonna go change." Natasha smiles and nods and Skye leaves the room.

"You know?" (Y/n) falls back on the bed and looks over at Natasha.

"What?" Natasha asks, falling to lie beside (Y/n).

"I'm liking Mama Nat," (Y/n) says and Natasha gazes into (Y/n)'s eyes, an unreadable look in her emerald eyes and (Y/n) looks up at the ceiling. (Y/n) is silent before speaking again, turning to look at Natasha again. "Maybe, one day. I don't know, it'd be nice," (Y/n) falters when Natasha remains silent. "Sorry," (Y/n) murmurs.

"No," Natasha says hastily. "I agree. It's just," she pauses, "I never though anyone would want something like that with me."

(Y/n)'s gaze softens and she sits up to pull Natasha into a hug. "Anybody would Nat," (Y/n) says and Natasha relaxes. "I'm just the lucky one." Natasha pulls away and can see the sincere look in her (E/C) eyes.

"Thanks," Natasha says and (Y/n) smiles.

"Come on," (Y/n) takes Natasha's hand and pulls the redhead gently to her feet. "Let's go take my, I'm guessing, cousin to go get stuff."

"Imagine if you were actually cousins," Natasha says walking into the living room with (Y/n) and settling down on the couch, pulling (Y/n) with her.

"That would be really cool," Skye says, emerging from the hallway in (Y/n)'s clothes, which actually fit pretty well on the five foot six woman.

"Let's go," Natasha says, pulling (Y/n) up with her.

"You're gonna rip my arm out of it's socket one day," (Y/n) teases, letting go of Natasha's hand and going to grab her phone and wallet.

Skye laughs and the three walk out of the apartment, Natasha locking the door behind them.

"So, I figure," (Y/n) begins as the three walk down the street. "We'll just get a couple things today and then when we get home we can actually buy stuff."

Natasha nods and Skye smiles. "Thanks for doing all this you guys," Skye says.

"No problem," (Y/n) says and she goes to say something else when her phone rings. "Dad? What's up?"

"You seen the news recently?" Tony asks.

"Not since the press conference," (Y/n) says, sharing a confused look with Natasha. "You should have gone to the hospital, by the way," (Y/n) scolds.

"Yeah," Tony shrugs the comment off. "Anyway, you took martial arts lessons, right?"

"Yeah, why?" (Y/n) wonders.

"I need your help," (Y/n) puts the phone on speaker so that Natasha could hear. "With what?" she asks.

"I need you and Pepper to get some files from my office," Tony says, his voice strained.

"I'm in San Diego," (Y/n) says, exchanging a look with Natasha again.

"You've got an hour, get your arse to the airport," Tony says, hanging up.

"Duty calls, I guess," (Y/n) hands her credit card to Natasha. "I'll got help Dad and Pepper, you and Skye stay here. I'll be back, probably tomorrow."

Natasha stares reluctantly at (Y/n) for a moment before nodding.

(Y/n) hugs Natasha and Skye, "I'll be back soon."

"How you going to get to the airport?" Skye asks. (Y/n) smirks, looking around and shifts into a hawk. "So cool," Skye says as (Y/n) flies off.

Landing outside the airport, she shifts back into herself and jogs out to her father's private jet, which had just arrived.

"Let's go, Happy," (Y/n) says as soon as she gets onto the jet. "I have forty-five minutes for an hour flight."

"Right," Happy says and the jet immediately takes off.

"Gotta push it, Hap," (Y/n) calls after about half an hour. "Actually, can you stop the jet over the Stark Industries Headquarters? I can take it from there."

"Sure, what are you going to do?" Happy asks nervously.

"I'm going sky diving," (Y/n) says simply, pulling a parachute from the back of the jet and pulling it on.

"Right," Happy says quietly, and the jet stops slowly.

"Open the door," (Y/n) orders and Happy does.

(Y/n) steps back and takes a running jump out the window and dives towards the ground, pulling the parachute about fifty feet from the ground and landing beside Pepper.

"Hey," (Y/n) says casually, pulling the parachute pack off her back. Pepper stares at her for a moment before looking up at the jet.

"Let's go," Pepper says, and the two walk thought the Stark Industries doors.

The two make their way up to Tony's office, Pepper casting nervous glances behind her.

"Calm down Pep," (Y/n) says out of the corner of her mouth and Pepper looks over to see a calm look on the (H/C) haired woman's face.

Pepper and (Y/n) step into Tony's office and Pepper plugs in a hacking device, about the side of a thumb-drive. (Y/n) sits down in the chair, Pepper looking over her shoulder.

The device, with (Y/n)'s help, begins hacking though Obadiah Stane's passwords, firewalls and security networks.

(Y/n) begins pulling up files from Stane's hard drive: Jericho Missile orders, shipping manifests,  schematics, blueprints, and sections for a suit that sits in the pipe room under the Ark Reactor.

"What are you doing, Obadiah?" Pepper wonders aloud.

Pepper glances towards the door, thinking she had heard something. She waits then hears nothing and (Y/n) continues.

A new icon appears with Arabic text underneath, an icon for a video clip.

(Y/n) double clicks the icon and swallow thickly when she and Pepper see the video clip open. A half dead, Tony, and a knocked out (Y/n), tied to a chair.

Pepper shakes her head in disbelief.

"Translate -" Pepper tells the computer.

As the clip plays, the translated text appears on the screen: "Obadiah Stane, you have deceived us... the price to kill Tony and (Y/n) Stark has just gone up..."

Pepper and (Y/n) look shell-shocked, and Pepper gapes at the monitor.

Pepper and (Y/n) look up to see Stane standing in the doorway and Pepper nearly leaps out of her skin.

"What a nice surprise," Stane says.

"We... just wanted to get some personal stuff," Pepper nods to the monitor. "And my resume. In case," Pepper grins. "You know how I love job hunting."

Stane circles around the desk and (Y/n) quickly changes screen, sliding a newspaper over the drive.

"How's Tony?" Stane asks.

"Honestly... I don't know," Pepper answers. "He's shut me out."

"You and everyone else," Stane says.

Stane circles around the two, picking up a photo on Tony's desk.

"This... thing between you, it's hurting him. You're the only real father Tony ever had. It would mean so much if you could just talk -" Stane cuts Pepper off.

"Tony's imploding," Stane says in a matter-of-fact voice, "it's unfortunate. You should consider whether you want to take that ride with him."

"Unfortunate?" (Y/n) asks.

"You know I love Tony - but this is business," Stane says. "We can't save him, but we can save his legacy."

(Y/n) flashes to the download screen reading '87%' complete.

"It's tragic, but... Tony never really came home."

He circles behind the desk again, looking closely at the screen - again depicting the Google ads.

"This company has a bright future," Stane says. "Pepper, I'd like you to be a part of it." He smiles and touches her cheek, (Y/n) shutting off the computer. "Tony doesn't understand your value," Stane says. "He never did."

"Are you . . . offering me a job?" Pepper asks.

"Think about it," Stane says, taking the box from Pepper and waits for her. "I'll walk you out."

As (Y/n) passes the computer, she takes the drive, holding it in her palm, the newspaper on the outside.

"Is that today's paper?" Stane asks (Y/n) and she nods, a smile on her face.

"Here, I know how much you like the puzzles," (Y/n) says in a calm voice, handing him the puzzle, keeping the thumb-drive in her hand.

A few minutes later, Pepper and (Y/n) walk down the stairs, Stane hovering above them on the balcony railing - watching the two.

Sitting in a chair on the bottom floor is Phil Coulson. He looks stunned for a moment to see (Y/n) and she flashes him a look before he speaks. "Miss Potts, did you forget our appointment?" he stands up.

"No," Pepper says grabbing Coulson's arm and walking. "Of course not. I've been very much looking forward to it. Let's," she glances over her shoulder, "why don't we do this somewhere else?"

The three walk outside, Stane still watching them from above.

A little while later, in Rhodes's office, he gets a phone call from Pepper.

"What do you mean, he paid to have Tony and (Y/n) killed? Slow down. Why would Obadiah?" he pauses. "Where is Tony now?"

Pepper, (Y/n), Coulson, and five dark-suited SHIELD Agents walk urgently towards two Crown Victorians. Pepper answering Rhodes's questions. "- I don't know, he's not answering his phone. Will you just go over there and check up on him? Thanks Rhodey."

She ends the call and the Agents pile into the Crown Vics, and Coulson holds the door open for the two.

Pepper instead, pulls (Y/n) towards her parked Audi. "I know a short cut."

(Y/n) glances at Coulson, asking something though her mind, Is it time to show my powers? He nods.

"Since when could you turn into a dragon?" Coulson asks and Wyvern (Y/n) lets out a snort, then looking over at Pepper, who's eyes are wide. She stares up at the blue Wyvern.

Come on Pep, we don't have all day, (Y/n) teases, and Pepper looks around.

"She's right," Coulson says, getting in the Audi with Pepper.

As the cars stop at the Stark Industries Headquarters, (Y/n) shifts back into herself about six feet from the ground, rolling and ending up on her feet.

Pepper stares at her for a moment, (Y/n) nods, and they all walk into the building.

"Section Sixteen, Section Sixteen," Pepper mutters.

"There it is," (Y/n) says.

Pepper walk up and tries to scan her badge. "My key's not working. It's not opening the door."

Coulson nods to (Y/n) again and she grins. "It's just my day, isn't it?"

"What are you doing now?" Pepper asks.

"You might want to step back," Coulson advises.

(Y/n) steps forward and places her hand on the lock, and sets her palm on fire, yet, it doesn't open. "Okay, stupid door," (Y/n) complains, stepping back and slamming her fist against the lock and it pops off.

"Nice job kid," Coulson says and (Y/n) smiles.

Back at Tony's house, the billionaire hears a door splintering and Rhodey rushes in and finds traces of blood on the floor, the collapsed shelving unit, and Tony staggering to his feet.

"Tony -" Rhodes begins, but Tony cuts him off.

"Where's (Y/n) and Pepper?"

"Don't worry, they're with the Feds," Rhodes tells him. "They're on the way to Stark to arrest Obadiah."

Tony's face is grim, "They're going to need a lot more than a few Agents. Give me a hand."

Pepper, (Y/n), Coulson and the Agents drift through a metal jungle of vats, machines, armored limbs and guts having from tethers, and utility pipes running along the walls.

The eight come across the armor from Afghanistan and they stopped, a little spooked.

Pepper and (Y/n) notice some empty scaffolding and they walk towards it, Coulson and his team of Agents fanning out.

Wandering through the fringes, Pepper tries to make a phone call, but there's no signal.

Through the pipes and girders, (Y/n) and Pepper spot a pair of glowing eyes. The whir of hydraulics and grinding metal starts up and wild gunfire suddenly breaks out. Bullets ricochet, hitting pipes and spewing steam and coolants.

Pepper rushes away, (Y/n) covering her exit. Pepper looks around, squinting through the machine gears and steam, seeing flashes of Agents running for cover, firing their guns at some giant flitting shadow.

Another Agent is yanked out of view and screams. Panicking, Pepper tries to find a way out.

A piece of metal zips at (Y/n) and Pepper, cutting pipes before it embeds itself in the cement above them.

An agent staggers out of the murk with his radio, "Agents down, agents down!" He sees Pepper and (Y/n). "Captain, escort her out of here," he yells.

"You heard the Agent, let's go," (Y/n) says, nudging Pepper forward.

The two make their way up the stairs, and halfway up, Pepper turns, hearing the three-ton thump of the Dynamo's legs charging out of the mist, but the armor is too big for the stairwell and crashes into it with a shower of debris.

(Y/n) sighs, and scoops up Pepper and sprints up the rest of the stairs, setting the auburn haired woman on her feet once they are out of the facility.

(Y/n) whips around, facing the entrance of the door and slams it shut.

"Call my dad, I'll watch the door," (Y/n) says and Pepper nods, pulling out her phone and dialing with shaky fingers.

"Tony! Obadiah's got a whole assembly line under the Ark. He's inside one of them!"

A thump comes from below them and the asphalt cracks. Another thump and another and Pepper is knocked over as teh asphalt bulges open to reveal the fist of a huge iron suit. Pepper's cellphone skitters away. Like a hatching dinosaur, he peels away the asphalt, pulling himself out of the ground and finally rises to his full height. He turns face-to-face with Pepper, who is the size of a gnat against teh dull-gray leviathan.

Pepper skids backwards and (Y/n) darts in front of her father's assistant, her hands charging up with lightning. "I never liked you," (Y/n) comments, blasting the suit with electricity, but the suit continues to advance, not a single forgiving feature in the steel-face and dead eyes.

Pepper's foot hits her cellphone and she grabs at it, the iron suit slams it's fist into the side of (Y/n)'s head and blood begins pouring out of the right side of her head. She staggers to her feet and raises her hands as the iron suit swings it's arms down again.

"Duck!" Pepper yells and (Y/n) drops to the ground as the iron suit stops and Tony dives out of the sky in his Iron Man suit. Tony lands on the Iron Leviathan's shoulders and the Leviathan crashes back into the hole it had crawled from.

"We need to get you out of here," (Y/n) says, blood still trailing it's way down the side of her head. "Come on," she grabs Pepper's hand and pulls the woman to her feet. 

Pepper lets (Y/n) lead the way out of the building. 

"Stay here, I'm going to get my Agents," (Y/n) says and Pepper nods reluctantly. 

(Y/n) lights her hand ablaze and cautiously makes her way into the building and down the stairs. (Y/n) catches sight of a flash and moves towards it, catching sight of Coulson and three agents crouching over to fallen agents. "We need to get out of here," (Y/n) says and they turn to her. (Y/n) picks up the two fallen agents and carries them up the stairs, Coulson and the other three Agents following. 

(Y/n) leads the way out of the building, gently setting the two agents she was carrying on the ground.

 "I've got to go help my dad," (Y/n) says, looking up at the lights in the sky above the building. She hugs Phil, "Stay safe."

"Same to you," Phil answers. 

"Always am," (Y/n) says, propelling herself up after the two iron suits on a jet of wind, landing beside her father's suit lying on the top of the building. 

Stane shoots at (Y/n) and she throws up her hands, creating an energy shield in front of her and her father. "Come get me," (Y/n) taunts, lifting up her father's suit. 

"Pepper! You need to overload the reactor!""You'll be killed!" Pepper calls from below. 

"Do it!" (Y/n) yells. T

he Iron Leviathan charges at (Y/n) and Tony' and she sidesteps, the large iron shape falling through the roof and into the reactor, and (Y/n) turns her back on the blast, but gets blasted forward anyway, landing on her front about fifteen feet away. 

Word Count: 3790 words

Yeah, so here you go...Chapter 35 will be up soon, hopefully...So yeah, see y'all!

Love,          

Kaitlynn ❤️😍

Imma tag peoples now: @confusinggemini612, @gay-disaster826, @thelastavenger-3000, @osugahunnyicedtea, @night-howl199, @minicastle, @happilyeverafterfantasybooks, @billiebanner, @me-and-sweatpants, @scottjudah, @scarlet-raccoon, @whore-for-charlynch, @nyx-aria, @night-howl199, @brittanyrenne2004, @juegamiri29, @minicastle, @peggycarter-steverogers, @gay-disaster826, @guitargodme, @avengers-avenging, @natashadeservedbetter2, @awesomesuperbat2universe, @witchxaf, @marvel325​, @natashadeservedmore

#reader insert #fem reader #dad tony stark #steve rogers #thor odinson #clint barton #bruce banner #wanda maximoff #pietro maximoff #nick fury #leo fitz #skye #grant ward #maria hill #daisy johnson #jemma simmons #phil coulson #melinda may #natasha romanoff #pepper potts #peter parker #avengers x reader #agents of shield x reader #natasha romanoff x reader #black widow x reader #natasha-romanoff-x-female-reader #natasha romanoff x femreader

[chateautae]

S A M M Y!!! Here I am screaming about Butter because WHAT THE HELL. I mean they really chose violence this comeback 😭😭 Also the Butter press conference photos have been released and TAEHYUNG’S HAIR, but also just OT7’s presence?! S C R E A M I N G

Side note: I hope you’re feeling better and your day was amazing ❤️

Love always, 🐝

NO REALLY BEE ANON WTF??? LIKE IM ACC SO OBSESSED WITH THIS SONG AND EACH MEMBER COMPLETELY SERVED!! not the hair his damn HAIR HE LOOKED LIKE A FLUFFY PUPPY PLEASE. And ofc love i'm feeling so much better!! Butter was the exact type of serotonin i needed and I'm so glad the boys did so well!!! I love you~💓

#bee anon!! #inbox #sammy files

[eretzyisrael]

ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates — Israel and the United Arab Emirates were never at war, but the normalization of ties between these two countries, which is advancing at a dizzying pace, promises to become a very warm peace. At least that’s the impression the Israeli delegation to the Gulf country got on its historic first day here Monday.

As soon as we stepped out of the Boeing 737-900 onto the Abu Dhabi tarmac and into the 44°C afternoon heat, we Israelis visitors were all treated like honored guests.       

There were Israeli flags waving alongside the American and the Emirate ones in the airport terminal. 

On the journalists’ bus, bottles of water and orange juice and cookies made in Oman were waiting.

And our fast-moving motorcade — the bus for us reporters, some vans and limos for the genuine VIPS — was escorted to the hotel by local police cars, who honked brusquely whenever anyone else came too close to us on the road and might have slowed us down.

This is not the norm for visits of this Israeli level in most other parts of the world. It was not, after all, a state visit by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, or even a working visit by a foreign minister.

But we were making history — as the Israeli part of a US-Israeli delegation headed by US President Donald Trump’s senior advisor Jared Kushner and the US and Israeli national security advisers, joined by the directors-general of Israeli ministries and other Israeli officials seeking to lay the groundwork for thriving diplomatic relations.

And our hosts wanted to ensure that we felt wanted and welcome.

When I entered my room on the 37th floor of the city’s magnificent St. Regis hotel, I found some exquisite baked goods and several other gifts in a bag with the UAE’s official emblem on it.

It contained a locally made dark amber and cardamon-scented candle, a jar of raw organic samr honey, and a rabaah — a spike fiddle traditionally used by nomadic Bedouins — in a fine leather bag. 

In the evening, the traveling press was invited to a quick tour of the Abu Dhabi Louvre, a sprawling branch of the Parisian museum.

The message to us was clear: The UAE is modern, tolerant and open — you Israelis can feel comfortable about the budding peace between us.

After the quick museum tour, we were treated to a banquet dinner, with four off-record briefings from prominent Emirati officials who talked to us about Emirati culture, society and history. Besides the speakers, our hosts invited Emiratis from various walks of life to chat with us during dinner — and all of them hailed the normalization agreement with Israel, and looked forward to the ceremony formalizing ties, and deepening relations to follow. The Middle East has seen too much conflict, and it’s time for a paradigm change, they said.

“We could not be happier to have you all here,” said one of those who spoke to us, and it didn’t feel forced. “I’m literally looking at cousins,” noted another, arguing that Jews and Muslims, Israelis and Arabs, have more in common than divides them.

Memories of Manama

In the summer of 2019, I was invited to a similar gala dinner in Manama, which took place on the sidelines of the Peace to Prosperity workshop co-hosted by the US and Bahrain. The Bahrainis, too, treated our small group of Israeli reporters as most welcome guests.

Those of us who strictly observe Jewish dietary laws were offered grilled fish by our hosts, carefully wrapped in aluminum foil so it wouldn’t come into contact with the non-kosher delicacies served for the other delegates

In Abu Dhabi, those keeping kosher were served a kosher-certified gourmet dinner.

(For starters, there was beetroot salad, artichokes, mushroom tempura, zucchini balls with feta cheese, vegetarian spring rolls with sweet and spicy sauce. This was followed by salmon with lemon butter sauce, filled seabass fillet, sweet potato with fresh truffle and crispy microgreens and garlic baby vegetables. For dessert, there was “lava dark chocolate fondant and dehydrated wild berries.”)

The kosher food was prepared by Elli’s Kosher Kitchen, a Dubai-based catering business owned by Elli Kriel — the wife of Ross Kriel, the president of the UAE’s small Jewish community, who had actually brought a Torah scroll to Abu Dhabi for the occasion.

Rabbi Yissachar Krakowski of OU Kosher, the world’s largest kosher certification agency, had flown from Israel to the UAE to facilitate all of the kosher food for the Israeli delegation, including this meal. (Krakowski has experience with kosher catering in the Gulf, having organized kosher meals for the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations when they visited the UAE and Saudi Arabia.)

Wrong

“OK, the bad news first: The State of Israel and the Kingdom of Bahrain are not about to establish diplomatic relations,” I wrote in June 2019, after that gala dinner in Manama. “Not this week, in the immediate aftermath of the US-led Peace to Prosperity economic workshop hosted here, and nor probably in the months, or even years, to come.”

A peace deal with the Palestinians, I asserted at the time, remains the ultimate glass ceiling that needs to be smashed before any Gulf state is ready to normalize ties with Israel.

Monday’s historic nonstop flight from Tel Aviv to Abu Dhabi, and the care and enthusiasm with which Emiratis welcomed us to their country, shows how wrong I was.

#Israel #UAE #Netanyahu #Trump #al nahayan #Peace

[steebharringt0n]

snapshots of our lives | b.h x you

Sent away for a work conference, Billy finds himself snowed in at JFK Airport. Itching to be back home for Ava’s first Christmas he meets a mysterious stranger at the bar who might be just be able to solve his Christmas dilemma.

a/n: IT’S OFFICIALLY THE HOLIDAY SEASON AND I CANNOT CONTAIN MYSELF. this story gave me cavities, I’m not even joking, this is by far the fluffiest thing I’ve EVER written. (part 2 of shadows of the night will be posted later today ayy two stories in one day!)

---

You pressed your head against the kitchen wall, twisting the phone cord around your finger. In the background you could hear Christmas music playing, Adam trying his best to help Ava decorate her Christmas cookies but she was more enthralled by all the colorful icing and sprinkles around her.

“No Ava, the sprinkles are for his hat!” you heard him pout. You could only imagine the only helping she was doing was shoving the sprinkles in her mouth.

You twisted your head around, frowning at your oldest child. “Adam, she’s only 8 months old, I don’t think you’re going to get too far with her”

You turned your head back around, trying to keep the conversation quiet.

“No luck huh?”

The other voice on the line sighed heavily, you could only imagine him rubbing his temples in frustration, “I’m sorry baby, I really am, I’m trying everything. This goddamn snowstorm came out of nowhere”

You glanced back at your children, both of them blissfully unaware that their father may not make it home in time for Christmas. You shakily exhaled, trying hard not to cry - you knew it would make it harder on him if you did.

Billy had been sent away to New York for a week for a work conference. He was due to be back on the 24th but New York got pounded by freak snow storm that stopped all flights back to California. So there he was, waiting around at JFK Airport, trying to kill time. His flight was already cancelled and he refused to pay for a hotel. He had some semblance of hope that maybe it would stop snowing and that he’d be able to see his kids and wife, but all of that went out the door when they predicted another foot of snow.

Worst of all, it was Ava’s first Christmas and he hated that he was going to miss her little [Y/E/C] eyes light up at all the toys Santa had bought her. He had already missed Adam’s Christmas recital, which fortunately for him you were able to catch it all on tape. But it still didn’t change the fact that he was thousands miles away from his family.

“I know Billy, it’s okay. I’ll tape everything - “

“It’s not the same Y/N ... I just want to be home, god, fuck this” he angrily muttered. He kicked the bottom pole of the payphone, his hands tightly gripping the phone in his hand.

“I know, I know. We just have to stay positive for the kids, for us. You’ll get home when you’ll get home okay?”

He let out another deep sigh. He felt so useless. “Yeah, I know, you’re right.” he paused, closing his eyes, trying his best to not let his anger get the best of him.

“I love you” 

His body instantly relaxed at the sound of those three words. If there was anyone that could get him to calm down, it was you.

“I love you too”

A loud commotion and Ava’s ear-shattering wail suddenly broke your thoughts away from Billy. You looked behind you and saw sprinkles scattered everywhere,

“Ava noo!” Adam whined, hoping off the chair and picking up the now half empty sprinkles container.

“Is that our children causing havoc?” Billy questioned, a slight smile on his face.

“Ah yes, your daughter has a knack for knocking things over - Adam, no, Adam, leave it there, I’ll clean it up - leave your sister in her high chair - no, don’t touch it! Ah, okay, Billy hold on just a sec - “

You placed the phone on the kitchen counter, quickly walking over to the dining room table where Ava had her little hands thrown in the air, her mouth open as she let out piercing screams. Adam took the opportunity to run over to the kitchen, grabbing the phone and pressing it to his ear.

“Dad! When’re coming home?” he excitedly questioned, “I made a drawing at school for Santa. You, momma and Ava are in it, Mrs. Lori said it was the best picture she’d ever seen!” he happily babbled onto the phone.

His mouth spread into a grin as he heard his son’s voice, nothing in the world made him happier than his children. 

“I sent the drawing to Santa in the North Pole, I told him that you went away for work and that you’d be coming back soon, right daddy? You’re coming home soon right?”

Billy’s smile dropped, he shuffled his feet nervously, uncertain on how he was going to tell his son that he probably wasn’t going to make it in time for Christmas. “Hey bud, I bet Santa’s going to love your picture, and I uh, I’m working on make it home okay? I’m going to try my very, very, very best to be home soon okay? You be good for momma, don’t forget to brush your teeth tonight”

“I promise I’ll be good for momma. Ava spilled all the Christmas sprinkles, we’re making cookies for Santa. We’re also making your favorite, the ones with the peanut butter” Adam said.

Billy swallowed thickly, trying hard not to let tears build up, “I can’t wait to try them buddy. Is your momma still busy?”

Adam looked behind him - in the last minute you had managed to clean up the mess and soothe Ava who was now happily resting on your lap, a teething ring in her mouth.

“No I don’t think so - “ Adam paused, “Momma! Are you busy?”

You let out a laugh as you walked back into the kitchen, “Say goodnight to your father, you’ll see him soon okay?”

Adam pressed the phone back onto his ear, “I love you daddy, I’ll see you soon”

Billy’s heart lurched, he had never hated snow more than this moment. “I love you too Adam. I’ll see you soon”

Adam then promptly handed the phone back to you, walking back to the dining room table to finish up his Christmas cookies. You carefully balanced the phone on your ear as one of Ava’s hand tugged on your hair.

“Hey, I’m sorry to cut this short, I gotta get them to bed soon” you wistfully told him.

Billy nodded over the other line, he twisted his other wrist to check the time. There was a three hour difference, it was almost 12 AM in New York, but almost 9 PM in California. You had let Adam stay up an hour earlier than usual since tomorrow was Christmas day, but you warned him that if he stayed up past 9 that Santa wouldn’t come because Santa only visits kids who are asleep.

“No, no I understand, I’ll uh, keep you updated if anything changes”

“Okay, I love you Billy”

“Love you too Y/N”

Billy slammed the phone back into the receiver, hanging his head low. He brushed a hand through his hair, walking back towards the gate where his plane was originally supposed to leave. He stared out at the large windows where a blanket of snow covered the runway. He then glanced up the TV monitor right above him, the word CANCELLED flashed brightly in red - as if it were mocking him.

He shook his head, making his way towards the bar that was still luckily open this late. He took a seat on one of the stools, raising his hand to get the attention of the bartender who was cleaning shot glasses. He then asked for some whisky, on the rocks. Alcohol always had a way to help soothe his emotional wounds, and right now he was hurting - bad.

“Alone on Christmas Eve? That doesn’t seem right” said a voice right next to him.

Billy glanced over, a large man with white hair and a white beard sat a couple of stools down. He too had a beer in his hand.

Billy shrugged, swirling around the drink, “My flight got cancelled. My family is in California, it’s my daughter’s first Christmas and I’m going to miss it” his voice was undeniably sad as he took a sip.

The large man nodded at him, “I understand. It’s hard to be away from your family during the holiday season”

Billy let out a dry laugh, “I hate being away from them at all. I uh, never really had the best Christmas’s growing up, but my wife, she’s absolutely amazing, she makes all these Christmas decorations, and my kids, oh man ... “ Billy paused, trying to keep his emotions at bay, his thumb twists his wedding band, “It just sucks you know?”

The man raises his hands, “No, no I totally get it” he then decides to scoot down towards Billy, taking the stool right next to him.

“Name’s Kris by the way” he extends his hand.

Billy glances up at him, he looks oddly familiar, but he takes his hand anyway and gives it a shake, “Billy, or Bill, whatever floats your boat”

“So uh, Billy, tell me more about your family. I’m sure it helps talking about them” Kris said.

Billy takes a large gulp of the whisky before he continues to talk, “I met my wife in high school, she was a quiet little thing. I was a little punk, don’t know how she put up with me, but I’ll forever love her for doing so” he smiles as memories of the two of you back in Hawkins flood his head.

“We had my son about 5 years ago, Adam’s his name, he’s a little clone of me, he’s so incredibly smart and so kind, and Ava is my little one, just 8 months old. She looks everything like my wife, she has the cutest toothless smile that just brightens up anyone’s day” Billy is grinning at this point, his hand continues to swirl the alcohol in the glass. 

“I had a really bad childhood growing up ... I had given up on people, I wasn’t a very nice person. But my wife gave me this amazing family, something I never thought I was able to have. She changed my life, my family changed my life” there’s a pregnant pause, “I’d give anything to be with them right now”

He downs the rest of the whisky, trying hard to not let his emotions overtake him. He then turns to Kris, who was just smiling and nodding at him the whole time. Billy gives him a thin smile, “What about you? Do you have a family?”

Kris takes a sip of his beer, shaking his head, “Ah, my family is far away as well, but I’ll see them by the end of tonight. I’m just taking a pit stop”

Billy frowns, “A pit stop? Where you heading to?”

“Ah, so many places”

Billy lets out a snort, “Good luck, you’ll need a Christmas miracle to get out of here”

Kris gives Billy a sly smile, he then signals over to the large window that looked towards the airport runway. “Huh, looks like it stopped snowing ... “

Billy glances behind him and his eyes widen, he places his empty glass down and runs over to the window. There were already workers outside cleaning up the runway. A sudden loud voice comes through the speaker, 

“Flight 342 to San Diego International Airport is now on a 3 hour delay. Looks like the snow has stopped for the rest of the night. Please allow our workers to clean the runway. Thank you for your patience”

A wide grin takes over Billy, his heart leaps with joy. He heads back to the bar to pay for his drink and to continue talking to Kris - but he’s nowhere to be found. 

Instead he sees a picture sitting on his stool. With shaking fingers he picks it up. It’s a stick drawing of a family, a man with blonde hair, a woman with [Y/H/C] hair, a little boy and a little baby. His name, your name and Adam and Ava are written right above the stick figures. He flips the picture over, the name Adam Hargrove is written at the top. His eyes prick with tears as he reads the messily written letter, 

Dear Santa, 

Please bring my daddy home for Christmas. I miss him very much. I have been a good boy, I eat all my vegetables and brush my teeth every night.

Love Adam Hargrove

A sob escapes Billy’s lips as tears hit the picture. He looks around for Kris, but he’s nowhere to be found. His mind can’t wrap around the fact at what just happened, hell, it doesn’t make a lick of sense to him. He wipes his tears, taking a deep breath to recompose himself. He calls over the bartender,

“Hey! Did you happen to see a large man with white beard and white hair sitting here?”

The bartender shrugs, “No sir, it’s just been you this whole time”

Billy shakes his head, “There’s no way ... it can’t be ... “ he mutters to himself. He glances back down at Adam’s drawing, folding it up neatly and placing it in his coat pocket. He pulls out his wallet and puts down a 10 dollar bill. He tells the bartender to keep the change.

He walks over back to his gate, taking a seat. His mind still can’t believe what has just happened, and he still can’t believe that he’s actually heading home. He decides not to call you and tell you the good news, he wants to surprise the 3 of you.

As soon as he lands back down in San Diego, he hails down the first cab he sees. 

It’s almost 8 AM when he finally arrives home. He promptly grabs his luggage from the trunk of the cab and walks up to his porch. He’s so excited he almost can’t contain himself. Grabbing the keys from his pocket, he unlocks his front door, opening it ever so carefully so that he can creep inside.

Instantly he’s hit with the smell of the peanut butter cookies Adam promised him. Christmas music is quietly playing in the background, he walks towards the living room where the tree is. He can hear chattering voices as he gets closer. He pokes his head in, a hundred watt smile on his face.

You and Adam have your back towards him, rummaging around through the presents under the tree. But Ava, all dressed up in her Christmas onesie, immediately notices her father. She babbles happily, clapping her hands as she reaches towards him,

“Da ... da!” she exclaims, her eyes wide and bright.

You turn your attention towards her, still not noticing Billy’s presence, “Ava, did you just say Dada?”

She reaches up for him again, and this time you finally look behind you and you let out a loud gasp.

“Oh my god! Billy!”

You jump up from the floor, throwing yourself into his arms. He welcomes your embrace, holding you tightly. You plant kisses all over his face as Adam leaps for joy, running towards his father and hugging his leg.

“Dad! Dad! You’re home!”

Billy has one arm tightly holding you, while the other is placed behind Adam’s head. You pull away from him, staring at him incredulously. Your mind still can’t process the fact that he actually made it in time for Christmas.

“I - I heard it was supposed to snow like crazy! What happened?!”

Billy shrugs, “I don’t know! It just stopped snowing! The craziest thing happened, you’ll never believe it” 

You and Adam watch as Billy pulls out a piece of paper from his coat, he unravels it and holds it out towards the both of you. Your eyes widen, then your jaw proceeds to drop.

“Hey! That’s my drawing!” Adam exclaims.

Billy crouches down to Adam’s height, “I know bud, I think Santa gave it to me”

Adam’s blue eyes become wide, a small gasp escapes his mouth, “You met Santa?” he whispers like it’s a secret.

“I did, he helped me get home” 

You pick up Ava who had been fussing the whole time to be picked up by her father. You hand her over to Billy, who then proceeds to give him sloppy kisses all over his face. She babbles excitedly at him, her little hands resting on his cheek.

Tears prick at your eyes, your heart swells at the sight of your husband and children. The rest of the day is spent opening presents, eating Christmas cookies and watching Christmas movies. Billy later explained to you about the mysterious man he met at the airport bar, still to this day you can’t believe how he was able to make it back home.

The both of you chalked it up as a Christmas miracle, and Christmas season at the Hargrove household became that more special to the four of you.

#Billy Hargrove #billy hargrove x you #billy hargrove imagine #billy hargrove x reader #billy hargrove fanfiction

[anexplanationofunfortunateevents]

the advisor’s book, the fixer’s confession, and the lawyer’s firing

The Traitor-in-Chief was hoping we’d talk about the racist incitement he tried to unleash at his Nuremberg Rally in Tulsa. This was, of course, dangerous and evil despite its pathetic failure, so instead of rewarding him for it, let’s go over this weekend’s reminders of his authoritarian escalations, his gluttonous corruption, and the glaring illegitimacy he is failing to hide.

The Advisor’s Book

John Bolton, the mustacioed Dr. Strangelove who served as Trump’s third national security advisor, has started leaking copies of his book, out this week. Unsurprisingly, the book contains a lot of damning evidence of Trump’s attempts to extort foreign countries into helping him steal the 2020 election, which Bolton pompously refused to provide during Trump’s impeachment. This included the shakedown of the Ukrainian president which got Trump impeached. It turns out Trump was also desperately trying to get Chinese President Xi to help him, either by announcing bullshit investigations into former Vice President Biden’s family (we knew about this) or by dramatically increasing American imports to kind of goose the economy in a way that might help Trump in the election.

Trump, naturally, has responded by having the Department of Justice sue to stop the book’s publication and threatening to have Bolton thrown in jail.

We shouldn’t get numb to the existential small-d democratic nightmare of Trump’s sabotaging American foreign policy interests for his own political benefit. Yes, we’ve been living with it all along, and you’re probably tired of hearing or saying how bad it is. It’s still really bad! But the China piece of it is, you know, relevant to current events. Bolton left the administration in the fall of 2019, so he wouldn’t have any information on the COVID crisis, but there’s no reason to believe that Trump stopped trying to get on Xi’s good side. All those spectacular failures to get the pandemic under control when we had a chance six months ago, and even some of the more bizarre decisions since then, have to be reconsidered in light of this:

The virus made it out of Wuhan to terrorize the world in large part because the Chinese Communist Party blew its early response.

Trump was trying to butter up President Xi because Trump wants to use the CCP to make himself look good.

While underplaying the virus, Trump praised the CCP’s response with a bunch of lies.

Break out your red string and corkboard if you want, but I think we’ve cracked the shit out of this case.

The Fixer’s Confession

Remember six thousand years ago when the Mueller report about the joint Trump campaign-Russian government’s criminal sabotage of the 2016 election came out? And there was SO MUCH stuff that was SO BAD, it was hard for people to remember that it wasn’t even close to the whole story? Well, we just got another look under the redactions, and WOOOO it is as bad as you already knew it was! When they agreed to plead guilty and cooperate, Trump campaign staffer Rick Gates, campaign manager Paul Manafort, and attorney Michael Cohen confirmed that former Trump campaign official and current convicted felon Roger Stone helped Wikileaks plan the strategic releases of emails stolen by Russian intelligence and then called Donald Trump and told him all about it.

Again, this is and always has been the opposite of complicated. HE DID IT AT A PRESS CONFERENCE. HE ASKED RUSSIA FOR MORE EMAILS AND MORE EMAILS APPEARED.

THIS WAS LITERALLY ON C-SPAN.

The excuse that the Very Serious People in the Republican party, political press, and cosplay-leftist-contrarian industrial complex  is that nobody knew about some secret communication where known Russian assets plotted out some aspect of the attack with the Trump campaign. There hadn’t been one particular phone call where Trump and whoever was on speakerphone with him heard about what the FSB was planning to do before they did it. EXCEPT THAT DEFINITELY HAPPENED. The issue, for the 132513798415th time, is not that we are unsure what happened, but that we are unsure what to do about it. The Mueller team, despite being cautious to a fault, were so sure it happened that they put it in their final report. Apply Occam’s razor to Trump-Russia and the rational conclusion is the worst case scenario.

Of course, the reason that this didn’t come out earlier is that Attorney General William Barr has turned the Department of Justice into a fully-owned Trump subsidiary, so that he could hide exactly this kind of smoking gun for Donald Trump.

The Lawyer’s Firing

Around ten PM on a Friday night, the attorney general’s office announced that United States attorney for the Southern District of New York Geoffrey Berman – that’s the lead federal prosecutor in Manhattan – had resigned, and his duties would be taken over by a reliable Trump flunky who already has a different government job. By midnight, Berman announced that he had done no such thing, he had no intention of leaving his job, and that the SDNY would continue to work on its cases as usual. (That last one is supposed to go without saying.)

You can get into the weeds on the back-and-forth of the following 48 hours, but the upshot of it is that Berman will be replaced by an SDNY career professional who …. seems reliably skeptical of Barr.

We don’t necessarily know why this sloppy, panicked attempt to decapitate the SDNY went down when it did. But OH MY GOD, we know why the fuck it happened.

These three headlines from the past few days are all part of the same story. Trump is actively trying to get foreign autocrats to help him cheat his way through the 2020 election, because he does not believe he can win a free and fair election. This is, unusually for him, a completely reasonable belief based on empirical evidence: he knows how much cheating he had to do last time. Whether it’s because of that cheating specifically or the general mobster bullshit he’s been into for his entire adult life, he’s desperate to gut legal oversight of his crimes and cheating, which is why he’s hired an attorney general who will help him cheat and cover up crimes.

All of this can only work if we agree to get distracted by nonsense. They are going to try absolutely everything they can think of to delegitimize their opponents and hide their own malevolence. You do not have to help them.

#donald trump #trump russia #william barr #authoritarianism

[abundantchewtoys]

HS Epi: Meat p10 reaction

So, with little fanfare, we've passed the point in time that is the Masterpiece.

I wonder if John's next interaction with the outside world will be granting himself retcon powers, or whether from his perspective the next thing is being summoned by Vriska. That being said, I wonder how Vriska will react to seeing these people emerge from the house artefact, you'd think she'd be very surprised. Will John & co. have felt it to be hours from their perspective, being trapped? Or longer? Can't have been years, or their relative age difference wouldn't matter any more.

Also, is Davepetasprite^2 nearby for their confrontation with LE? If not, this definitely won't be the final showoff! But if she is, well... I wonder how things turn out, this almost can't already be it for Lord English. Then again, if the perspective now switches back to Earth C for a long time, by the time we switch back the plot could be culminating.

I also wonder if there will be any interaction with the people outside the Black Hole's event horizon (I know, contradiction in termini there). Like, post-retcon Aradia, who'd been watching the mayhem unfold.

---

"Jane Crocker sweeps into her office" Well then. That answers that. Mary Poppins-style entry for them, then? :P Courtyard Droll isn't around to be wielding an umbrella, fortunately.

I'm interested to get a good look into her mind, given all we've heard said about the state of Earth C, and Dave's mistrust in her. Also wondering how her relationship with her Dad has evolved over the years. Wouldn't at all be surprised if he was still leaving supportive notes as well as confectionary in her office.

Blaperile has a good point, Dirk might be coming around, being her campaign manager. Their relationship was always interesting, due to the similarities to as well as the differences with John & Dave's.

"The sun cuts through her venetian blinds, painting butter-yellow strips of light all the way from one end of her impeccably tailored office to the other." In other words, exactly the state in which a private investigator likes their office to brood. :P Stations may change but demeanors don't do as quickly.

"It’s a lovely day, like most days, so not terribly remarkable except for the horrid news that she has just received at her customary morning press conference." There's competition afoot and its name is Vantas.

"[Jane] brushes her hands over her hips to smooth the wrinkles out of her powder-blue pencil skirt. Then she hems, haws, puffs out her cheeks, and takes a very deep breath before snatching a pillow off the nearest couch so that she can scream into it." So majestic. And such a Jane thing to do, too (even though Rose started the whole screaming into pillows for Homestuck), remember the time she was being 'supportive' when Jake was contemplating Dirk's affections? Both times, really.

"There are, surely, a multitude of ways for a person to find out that an acquaintance is running against you in a presidential election. From a carapacian reporter, in front of twenty-six other members of the interspecies press, was not the method Jane would have personally chosen." Welp. Well, yeah, it stood to reason Dave wasn't going to say anything, given his misgivings about her. 27 reporters, huh. Kinda wondering about how representative they were to the entirety of the populace. All the bigwig stations must've been represented, of course, but then it would seem humanity has an overly large representation in those already.

"She cannot believe that Karkat would do this to her. This is no longer a political fiat (which the election would surely have been had she run uncontested by any other civilization-founding celebrities) but rather a battle between “friends.” What did Vantas think he was doing?" Well, uh, it seems that he's giving you fair competition where you seemed to be of the idea there wouldn't be any. That's not really a good starting point for a politician, Jane. Seems like her business-minded attitude is indeed influencing her campaign strategy.

"This could not have possibly been Karkat’s idea." Yeah, I'd thought she'd be on to it quickly.

"He is not cut out for politics, neither intellectually nor in the very important matter of social constitution. Certainly not when it comes to economic policy. In fact, Jane is pretty sure that Karkat Vantas would probably literally burst into flame if too many people happened to look at him at the same time, like a vampire walking out into the sun." I was going to say that's unfair of her, but then she's never known Karkat when he's aflame with purpose, only the Karkat that's been hurt too much and suffered too many losses to remain motivated. Also, of course she'd "think of the economy" first. :P That's hilarious given Dave's concerns.

"Wait. Jane lowers the pillow from her face and stares at her brass-and-glass art deco ceiling. Was that vampire thing xenophobic against Kanaya?" Well, at least we know that IF Jane's really xenophobic, as Dave fears, she's trying to become aware of when she is and doing something about it. Of course, trying and succeeding are two different things - just as Karkat.

As for it being hurtful, well... Good thing she never met Game Over Kanaya, she might have had some objections to death-by-light-from-above.

"Dave was certainly no Dirk Strider, no Rose Lalonde, no Roxy, but he had that same scheming gene, buried deep down beneath his transparent onion layers of posturing and, frankly, rather outdated humor. An instinct to plan." Well, I wouldn't have said as much - if it was genetically determined there's no reason Dave couldn't have just not inherited those genes. But then, I'm all here to see Dave's take on scheming, sure. He's had a great example in John planting ideas about apple juice in his head. The bar is already set.

"And despite being inarguably the dimmest of his family’s impressive ecto-biological stock...

Oh, dear. Stock. That’s likely a problematic word, isn’t it?" Yep, seems like Jane really is trying. Can't believe I'm saying this, but if Kankri were here, he might have some good advice for her. A lot of bad, too, but still.

"Despite being the least mentally gifted member of his family" Eesh, okay, but she's still got a lot of prejudices to work out.

"Dave has always had an awful lot of opinions on the economy. In fact, Jane cannot remember a single conversation she’s ever had with him that wasn’t about the economy. She thinks back to one time at John’s eighteenth birthday when Dave engaged her in a rigorous and rather one-sided debate about deregulation and the failure of “neoliberal austerity measures” until Karkat had to come over and put his hands over his roommate’s mouth to make him stop talking." Well, I guess he's really, REALLY concerned. Can't blame the guy, though, but poor Jane, Rose knows what that's like, being on the other side of that trailing, lumbering monologuing. At least Rose's monologue's don't meander. :P

"carapacians were widely known to be swayed by underdog populism." That's because their civilisation was founded by WV, isn't it?

"And the consorts? Who had even given them the right to vote in the first place? In any other year..." Oh, so... Does that mean the consorts only got their right to vote so recently, after 5000 years. That's... Well, that might just be indicative that until recently, their political activism was nothing to write home about.

Jane starts to chew a pencil and it's just so FITTING for her, she's so fidgety, it's probably how Jade ended up being so giddy.

"In any other year, this wouldn’t be a problem. She’d be happy to accept a graceful, temporary defeat and let Karkat play president for a couple of years. After all, unlike her, he was not immortal." ... Eesh, so, yeah, that confirms that Karkat's godhood isn't expected to be eternal, unlike the humans. They could be wrong about it.

But what is so special about the current year, is the political situation on Earth C THAT volatile, or is Jane aware of things about to unfold on a cosmic scale - or even pan-cosmic, if she knows about the events back in canon with the Black Hole 'n all.

"But Earth C’s paper-thin idyllic history was very close to a boiling point—its very first boiling point, in fact, which will have everything to do with the problematic nature of troll reproduction." Ahhhh, right. So that's why she's aiming for the reigns. Didn't think her 'political takeover' had so moral reasons. ... Or, well, at least humanitarian.

"The first generation of natural-born trolls obviously cannot be entrusted to a troll." ...

Well that's just cruel. I know she'll have reasons given troll history on Alternia and B2 Earth alike, but it's their purpose as gods to change the world for the better, together.

Guess now we get to see the parts of her thinking that gave Dave reason to brand her a fascist, semi-serious or not.

"The citizens of Earth C were able to rest easy knowing that the government held careful rein over the... well, over matters of equity. No one could possibly trust something so important to a troll, knowing what everyone knew about their violent history." So it's the hemospectrum she fears would be reinstated. She's equating their biology with their ideology then, thinking natural-born trolls are fundamentally more oppressive as to those birthed through scientific means. Oooh boy. That's a whole steaming pot of problematic thinking.

"Jane presses her eyes shut and runs her fingers along the fine-grain patterns in her mahogany-paneled desk. She is about to think something that she has promised herself never to think again. In fact, she is about to say it—this horrible, ghoulish, girlish thought that used to rule her world and make her so terribly weak. The shameful thought is expressed out loud in the form of a defeated sigh." ... Is it... "I wish Dad was here?" Even if he's still alive, she might have tried to become her own woman, cutting more ties than is healthy.

"JANE: I need Jake." Pfffff, okay, yeah, that I understand. She needs his support to swing the voters. Guess Jane is also trying very hard to be "over him", just like Jake with Dirk. I can see how well that is going for her. Now I wonder how the Nannasprites are doing.

"She spins around and, still sitting on her desk, presses a familiar entry on her phone’s contact list." Either it's Jake and it's familiar to her because she still looks at it ten times every day, or Dirk's because they get along so well and are working together on her campaign.

"JAKE: Ahoy ahoy!" ... Yeah, this is going to be so cumbersome for Jane, I can just feel it, her old feelings now causing quite the opposite response towards everything that makes Jake who he is.

"the ol’ horse tranquilizer trick." Just... just how many times has Dirk pulled this on him already? And how many more times is Jake willing to go through with their show?

"JAKE: Which i suppose i should have seen coming, as dirk has ended all of our matches in this fashion for the past week." ... Jake. Jake, honey, you need a coach. A non-robotic one. Or settle for a non-shitty spirit guide. I know that narrows it down to basically zero, as far as sprites are concerned, but still.

"JANE: Oh dear. That sounds absolutely terrible, Jake. Is there anything I can do to help?" I wouldn't like it if Jane keeps pretending to care for Jake if there wasn't any truth left to the gesture.

"JAKE: Help? Gadzooks woman! I hardly think myself in need of help. JAKE: Its a jolly good adventure working with someone so predictably unpredictable as our good friend dirk!" Then again, it would be hard not to get exasperated by all of this... airheadedness, well meaning as it is.

"You would think that Jake enjoyed the sadomasochistic nature of his and Dirk’s personal and professional relationships. Judging from the last conversation about election strategy with Dirk, he seems to be perfectly aware of this feature of Jake’s personality. You can’t be too nice when courting his endorsement, Dirk would say. He doesn’t respond to nice." So Dirk is still being rather methodical in his interactions with Jake. :/ But I mean, Jake does respond better to challenges, at least initially. He appears not be scared off/by Dirk though, I wonder how he's worked through his feelings about their breakup?

"something big and hollow and metal connecting with Jake’s head. When Jake comes back to the phone, he’s yelling into it." Jake's life is just like a cartoon on even the best of days, isn't it?

"I appreciate very much that you have called me out of the blue to say such nice things to me with no ulterior motive!

From anyone else, this would have been a portentous statement. However, Jane knows that Jake English could not have possibly meant this with anything but the utmost sincerity." Well, I wouldn't mind it for Jake to have developed a level of self-awareness, but yeah... That's unlikely by now, isn't it?

"JAKE: Because i must note that although i try to stay sporting about what comes at me, i cant say that i am chuffed about how much of my correspondence lately has to do with the marketing of my image. JAKE: Its beginning to feel like all people want from me is to stick my derriere on a signpost for their own profit." ... Well, okay, he's become self-aware to the extent he realizes people idolize him and pine for his affections. But that's just because he was so very much affected by that during the session. It'll take a lot longer for him to pick up on more subtle and rarer things, though.

"It must be so difficult. For you more than the rest of us, due to your, let’s say... JANE: Natural gifts? JAKE: Huh?" Well, guess he doesn't realize his good looks yet, at least.

"JANE: But you know that I have always wanted what’s best for you, right? JANE: And I am ready to give that to you. JAKE: To give me what? JANE: The best, Jake. The very best." That could be very ominous, "what's best for you". But what would it be if it were sincere? A way to follow in his Grandma's footsteps, while ensuring he doesn't blunder and blow up anyting unintentionally?"

Jake is quiet a moment, and Jane can hear the rusty gears turning in his head." Insert "*thinking*" smiley here.

"JANE: You should stop by to see me this evening! JAKE: Do you mean my evening or yours? Were in different time zones right now and i dare say that the sun just went down here so if you wanted to have a soiree on my time youve missed your chance." It'd be a fair question, assuming Jane could've been in his neighbourhood. I'm sure their meetup won't go quite as nefarious as pretending they're dating to the press, right? ... Right, Jane?"

Jane feels her fake smile flexing so hard that it was beginning to hurt. Oh yes, she loved this man in basically every category that you could possibly love a person, but sometimes talking to him is like trying to build a house of cards while riding a mechanical bull." Ah, so they were facetiming? :P Note the past tense in 'loved'. :/ Well, old flames do still elicit feelings of friendship, a lot of times.

"JANE: Mine, of course! I’ll have the best year of your favorite crocodile-made scotch flown in from the Consort Kingdom and we’ll have a little catch-up.

Jake actually hates scotch, and only drinks it for appearance’s sake. But for this—for this unbelievably pivotal moment in the history of the planet that they created with their bare hands—Jane is willing to spend a few thousand boonbucks to watch her old friend pretend to sip at the same glass for a couple of hours while prattling on." So: A) Crocodiles might be living in Scotland, if the scotch authentic. Highlander Crocs in kilts and playing bagpipes. Glorious. B) Boonbucks are the currency running the economy, which explains how they can all be so rich. Of course, their influx of cash could've disrupted the economy, but if it had Dave's would've already complained about it. C) Guess there's never been something as disruptive to happen to Earth C as the Mother Grub, then. Not even natural disasters. D) Plan Fake Date is apparently, actually going to happen.

"Time to work your magic, Crocker." Magic being ruthless business-minded political scheming, I hope. Since she's serving Jake drinks he doesn't like, it'll all be for pretense, down to the drinks too. But I wouldn't like to be in Jake's shoes if she starts to fake-fancying him.

#homestuck #homestuck epilogues #homestuck liveblog #reaction #upd8 #spoiler alert #jane crocker

[for-yoongi0309]

#mygsnet #ultkpopnetwork #networkbangtan #usersugassi #yoongi #suga #min yoongi #bangtan #bts #c. butter press conference #myghairstyle.wolvesmane2.0 #myg.years : 2021 #thebeautyof.myg : smile

[bibakers]

The Blitzed Bisexual Bake-Off

Welcome Bi-Bakers! Inspired in equal parts by My Drunk Kitchen, The Great British Baking Show, and /r/bisexual this virtual pop-up event will test your skills in the kitchen and your ability to hold your liquor.

We'll be gathering via video-conference to kiki about bi culture, life during the pandemic and whatever else comes up as we enjoy a couple of adult beverages.

THEN, the baking will begin. Everyone will work off of the same recipe to make some Bi-Pride Lemon Bars.

As we bake we'll continue drinking and possibly even have a signature cocktail pairing, 'cos we fancy.

Finally, we'll pull our dishes from the oven and compare results. There will be a vote to determine the winner (based solely on appearances) who will be awarded the best bisexual baker bragging rights.

Logistics

Log in to the call with drinks on-hand

Use your first name and pronouns as your display name

Drinking, chatting, gossiping etc. will commence as we try to get little bit tipsy

Once we're all feeling it (Mr. Krabs) we can start baking

Asking for advice and throwing shade are encouraged during the baking

Once all of the bars are baked we'll vote on our favorites (no voting for yourself)

We'll crown a winner, eat some lemon bars and go to bed drunk and happy.

Lemon Bar Recipe

Ingredients

For the Shortbread Crust

1 cup all-purpose flour

1⁄2 cup unsalted butter at room temperature

1⁄4 cup confectioners' sugar

1⁄4 teaspoon vanilla extract

1⁄4 teaspoon salt

For the Lemon Curd

2 large eggs

1 large egg yolk

1 cup white sugar

2 tablespoons all-purpose flour

1⁄4 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice

1 tablespoon freshly grated lemon zest

1 teaspoon confectioners' sugar, or to taste

For the Bi Pride Topping

Confectioner's Sugar

Purple, Pink and Blue Food Coloring

Directions

Step 1

Place an oven rack into middle position in oven and preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly oil an 8x8-inch baking dish.

Step 2

Place 1 cup flour and butter in a mixing bowl and mash with the back of a spatula or wooden spoon until thoroughly combined. Mix in 1/4 cup confectioners' sugar, vanilla extract, and salt; mash mixture together until mixture looks like a slightly crumbly cookie dough.

Step 3

Moisten your fingers with a little water and press dough into bottom of prepared baking dish. Use a fork to prick holes all over the crust.

Step 4

Bake crust on center rack in the preheated oven until crust edges are barely golden brown, 22 minutes.

Step 5

Beat eggs and egg yolks together in a bowl; whisk in white sugar and 2 tablespoons flour until smooth. Add lemon juice and lemon zest; whisk for 2 minutes. Pour lemon custard over crust.

Step 6

Bake on center rack until custard is set and top has a thin white sugary crust, 25 minutes. Let cool completely before cutting into bars. Dip knife into very hot water, run around the edge, and cut into 16 squares.

Step 7

In three plastic bags or small containers, mix 1-2 drops of each shade of food coloring with 1/2 cup of powdered sugar. Mix to obtain desired color.

Dust your lemon bars with pride sugar.

Signature Cocktail

TBD

[lectorguk]

How to Use Cortana As Your Virtual Assistant in Windows

Cortana is a virtual assistant, similar to Amazon's Alexa and Apple's Siri, that is built into Windows 10. Using Cortana you can ask it to look up information, schedule appointments, send emails, start applications, and much more. The best part is that you can also do all of this hands free using voice commands so that you can work on other things and still have access to your Windows 10 computer.

In this tutorial, we will show you how to use Cortana by typing commands that you wish her to execute. We will then show you how to make it so that Cortana responds to voice commands so that you can use it hands free. Finally, we will provide information on how to configure Cortana and personalize your experience.

Available sections in this guide:

How to start Cortana in Windows 10

How to use Cortana

Using the Cortana Notebook to personalize Cortana

How to enhance Cortana using 3rd party skills

How to enable Hey Cortana to listed to voice commands

How to start Cortana in Windows 10

In order to use Cortana, you need to launch it, which can be done using the Start Menu, through various keyboard combinations, and by saying "Hey Cortana" out loud. I have explained how to use each of these methods below.

Start Cortana from the Start Menu:

To launch Cortana from the Start Menu, click on the Start Menu button () and then select Cortana as shown below.

Start Cortana via the Start Menu

Once you click on the Cortana, it will open and wait you for you to type in a command.

Cortana!

From here you can type commands such as "What is the weather?", "What time is it?", "Send an Email to John", etc and then press Enter. Cortana will then execute them. For more information on how to use Cortana, please see this section.

When Cortana is open, you can also click on the microphone button () to make Cortana listen for a command. You can then simply speak the command you wish her to perform.

Open Cortana using the Windows+S keyboard combination:

To make it easier, you can also open Cortana by pressing the Windows key and the S key at the same time (Windows+S). This will cause the Cortana window to open and wait for you to type in a command.

When Cortana is opened in this way, it will look exactly like the screen above.

Speak commands to Cortana using the Windows+C keyboard combination:

If you press the Windows+C keyboard combination, Cortana will open in a smaller Windows and sit their listening for you to speak a command via your computer's microphone.

Speaking to Cortana

Using this method you can simply speak the command that you wish Cortana to perform.

Using Cortana in hands free mode with "Hey Cortana":

Cortana also has the ability to be entirely hands free by speaking the command "Hey Cortana". This will then open Cortana and wait for a command to be said using the microphone. This command is not enabled by default, so you will need to enable it first using these instructions. To use this feature, you will need to be near your Windows 10 computer and for it to have a microphone.

Hey Cortana

If saying "Hey Cortana" does not do anything on your computer, then you should make sure this feature is enabled using the instructions here.

How to use Cortana

Now that we know how to start Cortana, let's learn how to use. When using Cortana, you can either type in commands or speak them. When using typed or voice command, Cortana will return the same information, but with voice command Cortana will respond out loud using the computer's speakers.

Examples of some of the commands you can execute are: "What time is it?", "Schedule an Appointment", "Open bleepingcomputer.com", "Add butter to my grocery list", "How much is windows 10?", "Open Word", etc. As you can see, you want to speak to Cortana in a natural way as if you are talking to a human being. 

Personally, I find executing commands with Cortana to be a better experience when doing so via voice rather than typing them. I will illustrate both methods below so that you can decide what method is better for you.

Below is an example of how Cortana will schedule an appointment when you type it in. In the search field I typed "schedule conference call for friday" and Cortana automatically filled in the information and asked me to confirm if I wish to add it to the calendar.

Scheduling an appointment

Below is a video showing how you can use "Hey Cortana" to schedule an appointment and ask for the time.

<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" mozallowfullscreen="" scrolling="no" src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/263063717" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="640">

As you can see, speaking to Cortana makes it much easier to use.

Using the Cortana Notebook to personalize Cortana

Cortana has a section called the Notebook, which is used to enable various features and to tell Cortana the types of things you are interested in. This includes your favorite places, the type of food you like, how you prefer to travel, and other information that allows Cortana to get to know you so that it can provide a personalized experience.

To access Cortana's Notebook, you can click on the Notebook icon in Cortana as shown below.

Cortana Notebook

Once you open the Notebook, you can then click on each category to enable various features or input information that you wish Cortana to know about you.

For example, if you open the Eat & Drink notebook, you can tell Cortana the type of cuisine you like and the ambience you prefer. This allows Cortana to tell you about new restaurants that she thinks you may enjoy.

Eat & Drink Notebook

These notebooks are commonly updated as new Windows updates are released in order to continue providing you a more personal experience.

How to enhance Cortana using 3rd party skills

Like Alexa, Cortana also has the ability to add 3rd party skills that extend Cortana's functionality. These skills include the ability to query popular services such as Dark Sky, Expedia, Spotify, and Nest. To see a complete list of skills you can go to the https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/cortana/skills/ and browse what's available.

To install a skill, on the site linked to above, click on a skill and then click "Try Now". Cortana will then ask your permission to install the skill.  If you wish to use this skill, click on the Yes button to install it.

Cortana asking permission to install a skill

Once a skill is installed, it will now be found in the Skills Notebook as shown below.

Skills Notebook

From the Notebook you can disconnect a skill you are no longer using.

How to enable "Hey Cortana"

As previously stated, you can configure Cortana so that it launches when you say "Hey Cortana". By default this feature is not enabled and you need to go into the Cortana settings and enable it.

To enable "Hey Cortana", click on the Start Menu button () and type Cortana Settings. When the search results appear, click on the Cortana & Search settings option as shown below.

Open Cortana Settings

When the settings open, scroll down till you see the Hey Cortana section.

Hey Cortana Settings

In this section, change the Let Cortana respond to "Hey Cortana" to On.

Once this is enabled you can open Cortana by saying "Hey Cortana" out loud.

via RSSMix.com Mix ID 8135823 https://ift.tt/2El3NAk

#IFTTT #RSSMix.com Mix ID 8135823

[hottytoddynews]

SOUTHERNISM OF THE WEEK

Sweet as pie: A descriptive term referring to a person with a pleasant nature. A high compliment when conferred by a Southerner, for we all love pie, and all good pie must contain its weight in sugar.

A cold wind swept through Oxford this past weekend. It had nothing to do with chilled political relationships or tepid sports endeavors.

Literally, the temperature dropped from balmy spring-like stickiness to a brisk autumnal dance of the falling leaves.

It was about time.

At last, the weather is season-appropriate and the clock has fallen back to its natural state. Just in time for the holiday season, a person can rightfully turn one’s thoughts to hot toddies, pumpkin-spiced everything and picturesque fires.

The weather change inspired me to start hustling for the holidays. And while compiling my belated list of dishes to make for Thanksgiving, I chuckled over a recent email exchange with my Canadian buddy Fern. Poor Fernie—all her family cookbooks were boxed for a move, and she needed my versions of several obligatory Thanksgiving “molded salads” (a.k.a. congealed gelatin-based salads). From past experience, she knew our Southern recipes were identical to her Canadian mom’s and auntie’s, albeit known by different names.

That started my own wheels turning as I contemplated the increasing globalization of food culture and how it reflects who our people are, where we came from, and where we seem to be going. It’s the sort of thing our Southern Foodways Alliance colleagues contemplate with every written or oral word seeping out of the Ole Miss Center for the Study of Southern Culture.

Foodways have merged so much that a person could experience related flavors whether dining in Marrakech or Manhattan, El Paso or Copenhagen.

Take, for instance, cauliflower, one of the trending foods of 2017.

More specifically, let’s talk about cauliflower soup, made from roasted, steamed or boiled cauliflower puréed with seasonings of salt, butter and, in most instances, first-rate chicken stock. Depending on personal taste, the soup may contain cream and other ingredients such as sautéed and puréed onions. Seasonings in the soup are tweaked according to cultural preference.

In March in San Francisco, Hubby and I, along with Fern and her hubby, Graham, dined on a lip-smacking chicken stock-based cauliflower soup prepared by a personal chef. Trained in culinary school and apprenticed for years under an Indian master chef, he embellished the San Francisco cauliflower soup with cauliflower florets sautéed in browned butter and vadouvan spice, a subtle Franco-Indian seasoning.

On a cold November day in Stockholm’s Old Town, we dined on a vegetarian version of cauliflower soup. This equally rib-sticking variation contained coconut milk and apple cider vinegar instead of chicken broth. Delicately flavorful, the Stockholm version omitted the curry usually added to coconut milk-enhanced Thai and Indian offerings.

We skipped the cauliflower in Copenhagen but devoured the nightly smorgasbord-style hors d’oeuvres prepared in our hotel for peckish travelers. One of my favorites was a Danish interpretation of every red-blooded American’s favorite party dip—Mexican guacamole. The Copenhagen version was piped as a swirled paste atop 1 1/2-inch blini rounds and topped with Italian-style roasted red pepper strips.

In fact, wherever we ate in London, Berlin, Copenhagen and Stockholm during our recent fall trip, we noticed a confluence of Mexican, Italian, Greek and Middle Eastern cuisine. Fusion food was offered alongside “American” staples of nachos, burgers and wraps.

Desserts were another matter. There’s a reason why we Americans have appropriated French macarons, Franco-Catalan crème brûlèe, Italian tiramisu, Danish pastry and strudel. Even in Berlin, I experienced déjà vu over a raw apple “cake” dessert remarkably similar to my Appalachian kinfolks’ fresh apple cake.

Travel provides a wonderful lens through which to reflect upon one’s roots and, in the case of Hubby and me, be thankful for what we have and where we live. As fun as it was, I returned home from this latest trip just in time for Thanksgiving, grateful to be an American. I’m doubly grateful for the fusion of the many foodways brought here by our immigrant ancestors, who most definitely were not from around here.

The recipes listed below reflect a few of our recent global food fusions. Why not try them at this year’s holiday gatherings?

As my friend Fernie says, “It’s time to tweak tradition, eh?”

SAN FRANCISCO CAULIFLOWER SOUP

Ingredients Unsalted butter 1 yellow onion, chopped 1 clove garlic, sliced thin 1 medium head of cauliflower, sliced thin; reserve a handful of florets 3 medium sunchokes, peeled and sliced thin White pepper Kosher salt 1 to 1 1/2 c. white wine Chicken stock 1 c. crème fraiche or heavy cream Canola oil 2 T. salted butter *Vadouvan spice

Directions: Melt unsalted butter in a skillet and add onions. Simmer until transparent. Add remaining vegetables, seasonings and wine. Simmer on medium-low heat until mixture reduces.

Add chicken stock to almost cover mixture. Bring mixture to a boil and cover, simmering 10-15 minutes.

Stir in crème fraiche or heavy cream and remove from burner. Purée mixture with immersion blender until smooth. Keep warm.

Heat canola or grapeseed oil in skillet until oil dances. Add reserved cauliflower florets and toss. Add salted butter and heat until butter turns brown, tossing florets. Add vadouvan seasoning and continue tossing in browned butter. Add a splash of water to browned mixture to foam it up. Remove from heat and reserve. Plate the soup into cream soup bowls and sprinkle with brown-butter florets. Top with a sprinkling of minced fresh chives.

*Vadouvan: You can make this seasoning with 1 T. powdered garlic and curry, 1 tsp. powdered cumin, cardamom, turmeric and mustard, 1/2 tsp. each red pepper flakes and nutmeg, and 1/4 tsp. ground cloves. (Ground fenugreek seeds are optional, but desirable.)

STOCKHOLM VEGETARIAN CAULIFLOWER SHOOTERS Ingredients 1 T. olive oil 2 medium yellow onions, diced 1 bay leaf 1 1/4 tsp. ground cumin 1 tsp. kosher salt 1 tsp. ground turmeric 1/2 tsp. ground coriander 1/8 tsp. ground cardamom, optional Dash of ground black pepper 1/8 tsp. crushed red pepper flakes  4 garlic cloves, minced 32 oz. carton (4 c.) vegetable stock 1/2 c. water 1 large head cauliflower, chopped 1 c. canned coconut milk 1 T. apple cider vinegar Fresh dill, optional Fresh ground black pepper 

Directions: Heat the olive oil in larger stock pot on medium-low. Add onions and next eight ingredients. Sauté, stirring occasionally, until onions become transparent, about 10 minutes. Stir in garlic; sauté another few minutes.

Add broth and cauliflower; bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce to a simmer and cook 15-25 minutes until cauliflower is tender.

Remove from heat and puree, using immersion blender until silky smooth. Add coconut milk and vinegar. Bring back to simmer but do not boil. Serve hot, topped with fresh dill and ground black pepper.

GUACAMOLE CORN BLINI BITES

Feel free to make mini pancakes, but these corn muffin cakes pair really well with the guacamole.

Ingredients: 8.5 oz. box of corn muffin mix 1/2 c. whole milk 1 large egg, beaten Extra light olive oil for shallow frying Guacamole (omit the chopped tomatoes) Roasted red bell peppers, cut into strips Chives

Directions: Whisk the muffin mix, milk and egg until smooth. Heat about 2 tablespoons of oil in skillet on medium heat until oil shimmers. Carefully drop batter by the teaspoon onto skillet, separating each by about 2 inches. Flip when bubbles appear on tops and bottoms are golden—about 2 minutes. Cook about 1 additional minute.

Remove carefully to serving platter. Continue making the corn blini, adding oil to hot skillet as needed. Pipe guacamole onto each. Top with two crossed strips of roasted red pepper and chives.

FRESH APPLE SHEET CAKE

Use a 9 x 13 inch baking pan, ungreased. This is an Americanized easy interpretation of German raw apple cake.

Ingredients: 15.25 oz. box of yellow cake mix 1 stick (1/2 c.) salted butter, softened 1/4 c. light brown sugar 1 tsp. ground cinnamon 6-7 apples (I use a bag of 7 Sweet Tango apples) 1 c. sour cream (low-fat is ok) 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract 1 large egg 1/2 c. golden raisins, optional 1 c. chopped pecans or walnuts, optional

Directions: Heat oven to 350˚F. Combine cake mix, softened butter, brown sugar and cinnamon in a large bowl until crumbly. It makes about 3 to 3 1/2 cups. Reserve 2 cups. Spread remaining crumble into bottom of pan and press lightly.

Peel apples and shred on large hole side of box grater. Pick out any stray apple seeds. Combine with optional raisins and pecans if desired. Spread apples evenly in pan over crumbled base.

Beat sour cream and egg together until blended. Spread evenly over the apples. Sprinkle evenly with reserved crumble mixture. Bake 25-35 minutes, until topping is light golden-brown. Remove from oven to cool before slicing. Feel free to cover when cooled and refrigerate up to 2 days. Serve topped with whipped cream and mint leaves. Feel free to drizzle with berry liqueur such as Chambord (raspberry). Yields 16 servings. Freezes well.

Laurie Triplette is a writer, historian and accredited appraiser of fine arts, dedicated to preserving Southern culture and foodways. Author of the award-winning community family cookbook GIMME SOME SUGAR, DARLIN’, and editor of ZEBRA TALES (Tailgating Recipes from the Ladies of the NFLRA), Triplette is a member of the Association of Food Journalists, Southern Foodways Alliance and the Southern Food and Beverage Museum. Check out the GIMME SOME SUGAR, DARLIN’ website and follow Laurie’s food adventures on Facebook and Twitter.

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Fmr. Trump Advisor Carter Page Plans to Sue Obama Officials

The FBI case into former Donald Trump campaign guide Carter Page simply took every other prison twist. CNN is reporting that the FBI used that infamous Trump dossier as part of “the justification” to convince a FISA court docket to the problem a warrant letting them secretly reveal Web page. The research is reportedly probing possible ties among the one-time Trump guide and Russia.

However, what is especially interesting from

A felony stand factor is Page’s reaction to this today’s improvement. Reputedly, he’s now making plans on taking the Obama officials to a courtroom. He said in an assertion:Michelle Obama

“I look forward to the Privacy Act of 1974 lawsuit that I plan to document in reaction to the civil rights violations by using Obama management appointees closing 12 months…The invention manner could be of first rate fee to the USA, as our kingdom hears testimony from them under oath, and we get hold of disclosure of the documents which display what precisely become done in 2016.”obama bucket list

So what the heck is he regarding?

The Privateness Act of 1974 changed into alleged to provide suggestions to the regulations, series, maintenance and dissemination of personal statistics. It is supposed to save you the government from freeing a person’s personal information without earlier authorization. However, even the DOJ refers to the regulation as “quite previous” which has “rendered it a tough statute to decipher and follow.”

Financial Advisor Recruiters – Finding Your Ideal Position

Let’s face it, the Economic Marketing consultant enterprise is booming and is the month-to-monthly profitable area of specialty. It has been reported via the U.S. Bureau of Hard work Statistics that there has been a growth inside the total quantity of Economic Advisor associated jobs at some point of the recent years, and this region is anticipated monthly boom through 2020. In truth, an expected increase of roughly 32%, which equates monthly about 273,200 general positions are expected monthly be crammed through 2020.

However, how do you move about locating your ideal Monetary Advisory process role if you have an interest in this field? Below are some pointers which could help you with figuring out your employment as a Financial Adviser.

There may be the Personal Financial Advisory zone,

The Business and Financial Operations area, in addition, month monthly different related Economic Advisory jobs within this discipline monthly choose from.home advisor pro

Some of the positions are fee simplest in which you are required monthly promote various Economic merchandise without profits. Corporations that normally offer fee simplest month-to-month positions revel in an excessive turnover rate; typically as high as 80%. fee-based month monthly most effective Monetary Advisory type positions require robust sales capability month-to-month compensate for the commission-handiest month-to-month pay structure.advisor Belarc

There are other Economic Advisory associated positions that require you monthly gain cuts month monthly that possess a positive number of property inside your first few months of employment. You also ought month monthly be appropriate at obtaining new clients monthly on an on-going basis or selling Economic merchandise that generates a reoccurring income on a c basis.

Sorts of Monetary Advisory activity Capabilities

There are 4 primary Styles of Financial Advisory positions, and it is as much as you monthly decide which one is most suitable for your personality and skill set. They include the following: advisor Belarc

1. Commissioned-most effective based Advisers

They may be often known as monthly Registered Representatives, Marketers of Broking-Sellers or Brokers. They commonly receive a fee from selling Economic products along with mutual funds, investment merchandise, annuities, coverage and different established merchandise.

2. Fee-most effective Advisers – Fee-most effective Monetary Advisers are compensated month-to-month tally monthly on a percentage of month-to-month til belongings managed. they are also compensated with the retainer or on an hourly basis.

three. Fee-primarily based Advisers – The Fee-primarily based Economic Adviser is compensated for selling products on a fee foundation, as well as monthly repayment for hourly control expenses.

Obama: Examples of Deceptive Speech

Here are some examples of misleading speech from considered one of former President Obama’s Press Conferences, interspersed with my very own crucial remark. Optimistically, my refuting statements will seem to clarify and you’ll be much less likely to be swayed with the aid of this type of deceptive speech inside the future. I wrote it just days after the occasion in 2013, but never posted it earlier than, so in it, I cope with Obama as the modern-day president, because he became nevertheless in office at the time. The factor of the thing isn’t mostly to vilify Obama but to clarify the shape of deceptive speech in the standard.

The following rates from President Barack Obama were taken from his Press Convention on NSA Surveillance on August nine, 2013.

Obama: I am centered on my number one duty as Commander-In-Leader, and that is keeping the Yankees human beings safe.

Me: Many could argue that the most fundamental duty of the President of the united states is to preserve, protect and shield the Constitution. What does he mean by way of the phrase ‘safe’? And at what cost to liberty will this so-called protection be received? When Obama and every other President took their oath of office, they solemnly swore that “I can faithfully execute the workplace of President of Americans, and could to the first-class of my capability, preserve, defend and defend the Constitution of America.”

And in a talk room verbal exchange I stumbled upon, a person (I could not inform what his or her name became) published The following:

Just this morning I examine a CNN opinion piece with the aid of Republican

Senator Sam Brownback arguing in opposition to remaining Guantanamo. in the first sentence, he says ‘The maximum critical obligation for any president is the safety and protection of the American humans.’ He makes use of this flawed premise at some point of and is outwardly willing to justify any act as lengthy as it continues Americans safe. Why is this man allowed thru the doorways of Congress? I, like many Americans, am willing to surrender my existence in the protection of American ideals and freedoms. I would as an alternative die in a terrorist assault than seeing the Constitution and the Yankee ideals embodied within it weakened or destroyed in the call of protective me.”

This emphasis on the protection and security of the yank people can also sound affordable, but until we recognize exactly what this phrase represents to the President, till we realize what values and intentions are riding his efforts to supposedly guard us, till we realize especially what final varieties of protection and safety he envisions, and precisely what he considers the gravest threats we need safety from, we can not genuinely tell whether or not we should welcome it or oppose it.

Officials May Vote to Tax Large Kitchens

In case you’ve been following the information in Philadelphia you’re likely conscious that the mayor has proposed a tax on sweet sodas and sugary liquids. Like in The big apple City, a few years lower back, while the Board of Health tried to ban huge sodas and servings of popcorn, he and his minions are convinced that this will spell the stop of obesity. I am fascinated about finishing corpulence, however, does everyone assume that this can absolutely work? Will a few greater pennies (yes, we nevertheless use them), keep the general public from their candies? Associated Press says that this regulation has failed in over thirty cities and states up to now, so what’s the big deal? The handiest reason I visit the films is to devour popcorn laden with the splendidly disgusting, synthetic butter-kind substance after which wash it down with a candy drink.

If the authorities are allowed to tax chocolates

What is subsequent in their bag of hints to lessen the girth of length-challenged people? I’m able to only photograph that the best committee will decide that massive refrigerators must be made illegal due to the fact they can be used to keep massive quantities of sugary drinks. A ban on massive pantry cabinets would logically comply with next, due to the fact you can put massive boxes of sugary cereal in them. Really, large kitchens themselves would be on the agenda, due to the fact In case you most effective have a small kitchen it might inspire people to be smaller in order that they would have more room to transport around.

Of path, this is all nonsense. humans need to be allowed to buy food within the portions that they want and actually, they should be allowed to have any length kitchens, without being subjected to additional taxation. However, If you do not have a large kitchen, you can make your petite one look and experience larger by using following a couple of layout hints. And the government will in no way understand!

In case you’re running with a small area the first impulse is to use wall cabinets that expand to the ceiling

While this could add a further shelf in every cabinet it’s going to also near inside the room, making it seem smaller. When you have ninety-six” ceilings, stay with general 30″ or 36″ high wall cabinets, but order a further shelf for each one. In maximum kitchens, cabinets are not used to their maximum potential due to a lack of shelving. Regularly a further shelf in a fashionable peak cabinet can growth its useful ability by using about 20% and via leaving a touch area open on the top of the shelves it makes an “airier” look. you may store some ornamental cookware there.

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