#how much of what the president said about the people he's wiping out having been in a similar dictatorship in the past is true?

[july-19th-club]

house md wildest show on earth. a main character outright assassinates a known dictator, a moment that would be the very beginning or the mid-series crisis in any other show - an act which creates a power vacuum in a foreign nation already filled with child soldiers and genocide, and it's literally only brought up again throughout the season because that guy's wife divorces him over it. and occasionally to explore his relationship with who he is as a person and a catholic after having deliberately taken a life for what he calculates as the greater good, but mostly it's about his divorce

#i no longer think wilson is the most divorced guy ever #sure he's been divorced more TIMES than chase #but the things he's been divorced OVER are way more normal #it is so nuts like . chase. bobbie. rob. bobert. what happened next. in the country i mean #like the president is dead. does his regime crack down extra hard on the ethnic cleansing? #does the power vacuum give the opposition a chance to step in? #how much of what the president said about the people he's wiping out having been in a similar dictatorship in the past is true? #does the nation descend into civil war? is the president's death the excuse the us or england or whoever is waiting for to step in #and assume ad hoc governance thus destabilizing the region even more? #all because one guy in one hospital decided the math was in favor of his killing a guy if that guy was going to order more killings? #absolutely NEVER explored. yeah do no harm and the morals we share with our partners are important #but christ alive. the aftermath of the assassination could be a whole show in and of itself and im pretty sure it just never comes up #house is a show #house md #q

[bachiras-toaster]

your rewards are so sweet : ̗̀➛

RANPO EDOGAWA x gn!reader

cw: suggestive but no explicit smut

wc: 1.6k

Ranpo sat idly at his personal desk in the Armed Detective Agency: A dimly lit office, his hands perked behind his head in a resting position, his legs on his desk, and a strawberry lollipop wedged in between his pouted lips. Underneath his feet were piles of documents he had yet to even look at, and it seemed like he had been procrastinating his duties for what was likely an hour now, just staring at the clock as the minutes went by.

He didn't even seem startled by the sound of footsteps approaching his office, despite having done literally nothing within the past sixty minutes. Scolding? Punishment? Ranpo had been through all of that before, and besides, he was already the greatest detective that the agency had to offer. What was the worst that could happen to him if he was caught slacking on the job?

"What is it you want? I'm busy." He groaned, knowing that he had done nothing but get lost in his own daydream the entire time. However, his demeanour changed when he caught wind of the voice that was on the other side of the barrier as the entrance to his office slowly tilted open.

"Oh, that's no way to treat your coworkers." You made her presence known to him, your voice low in a teasing tone.

Ranpo's heart leapt as soon as he heard your sweetness. How could he mistake that voice for anybody else? It was the voice of the coworker he was practically head over heels for, the one he would do anything to impress.

It was no mystery to the agency that Ranpo was hopelessly in love with you- It was no mystery to you either. In fact, it seemed like the only one who seemed to deny his infatuation was himself, disliking the fact that people could accuse him of being so devoted to another person's approval. Despite what he said though, it was abundantly clear that he was constantly at your feet, desperately waiting for just a shred of praise.

He quickly turned around, his lollipop dropping onto his desk accidentally as he was shocked by your sudden appearance, his face flushed with embarrassment.

"(Y/n)-San! I didn't even know you were here." He stammered, immediately going to wipe the drool that leaked from the corner of his lips when his lollipop hit the table, trying to seem as casual as possible but unfortunately failing miserably. He glanced down at the desk and swiftly picked up the treat, wrapping it in tissue before nonchalantly discarding it into the bin and standing up. "—What are you doing in my office? Are you investigating something?" He turned his attention towards you, still a little nervous. "You could have knocked first.."

"Had to make sure you were doing your work instead of slacking off." You hummed, making your way towards his workspace. It seemed like his eyes hadn't moved from you since you entered the room- Although, how could they? You seemed so serious and elegant in everything that you did, even walking seemed like an accomplishment of yours to him. "The President ordered me to make sure that you were working on the cases instead of just sitting at your desk and eating sweets like you always do."

"Just eating sweets?" He seemed offended, adjusting his cap before looking you in the face. "I am investigating all cases that come to me with complete seriousness, thank you very much." He huffed. "Sweets are important for a detective's health! Detectives must use their brain a lot, so they need a lot of energy. Besides, I am doing all of this work for the sake of catching criminals, for the sake of justice. Shouldn't I be rewarded for my hard work with sweets?" He asked you in a rhetorical sense, already reaching into his pocket to take out another unwrapped lollipop to replace that one that was just wasted.

"Rewards come after you get the job done." You proclaim with a faint smirk as you watched him carefully remove the wrapper from his candy. Just as he was about to take the second lollipop into his mouth, you swiped it from him and stuck it in your own, enjoying the delectable taste of raspberry-flavoured goodness. At the action, his face took on an expression of both offendedness and arousal at the sight of you stealing his candy and he wasn't sure whether he should address it. But as you sucked on the lollipop with such relish, his face flushed and he let down a gulp. Just the sight of you taking the candy from his mouth and putting it in your own filled him with emotions he never knew he could feel, as well as a range of private thoughts he had thought about every night.

You truly were one of a kind. He would do absolutely anything for you, and he'll do it willingly.

"Can you tell me what you've found out about the case at least?" You asked, your words muttering, the lollipop was stuffed between your teeth and cheek. He quickly adjusted himself and cleared his throat, tugging on his collar as he sighed, pointing at the documents.

"Of course... Well, I've already found out that we're dealing with a serial killer, probably a woman. According to the evidence we’ve collected, the culprit also suffers from some form of illness." Ranpo replied obediently and swiftly, as if he had known that information all along despite having just looked at the case for the first time since being assigned it.

You smiled at his immediate response and just chuckled, your index finger swirling around the stick of the lollipop. The first sentence he said came out casually, but when he caught a glance of your approving nod, Ranpo’s head immediately went down to skim through the document some more to desperately search for more leads and clues.

“…More specifically amnesia.” He continued. “Though, it’s quite clear that her loss of memory was not natural and it was forced from her by someone who’s powers probably has something to do with the mind.” He spoke fast, still trying to catch glances at you to see if you were still listening as he rambled on, pointing towards the documents. “The murders lead back to her, but she is not the villain. She was instead brainwashed into doing someone else’s dirty work for them so that they couldn’t be traced back to the crime… The only reason we haven’t found the culprit yet is because they’re already dead. Her latest mission was approximately one month ago.”

He turned the sheet of paper towards you and you scanned the collection of images and texts written down, continuing to swirl your tongue around the lollipop.

“All of the previous murders are relatively close together- Perhaps by two or three days. The absence of murder in such a long period of time is clearly an anomaly. But it’s only this way because I’ve concluded that her latest murder was killing the person who set her up to all this after she gained clarity over what she had done. This murder-slash-victim in question is Yori Hazaguchi: a meek, little office woman, who has probably already thought about turning herself in.”

As his last finger pointed towards the papers once more, he stood himself back up to his fullest height to proudly admire the case he had solved yet again. He then turned his head towards you to see if you agreed, and was met with the perfect sight of your smile just growing into a wider, proud grin.

"Ah, good. So it looks like you actually have been working. Fukuzawa was wrong to be so accusing. Maybe you’re deserving of rewards after all." You got up.

Removing the lollipop from your mouth, you strolled slowly over to stand right in front of him. You saw the way his chest tightened the closer that you got, and it fascinated you to see him so nervous in your presence. It wouldn't stop you in any capacity though. You kind of liked seeing him in such a way.

"Say 'ah'." You smiled, holding his chin with your thumb and beckoning him to open his mouth.

He looked at you while you stood in front of him, his eyes actually fully opened for once to welcome you with a love struck gaze- The pupils of a puppy. Your faces were so close to each other that he felt your sweet breathing mingling through the air, the aroma of the lollipop still being present in your breath. Your lips, your eyes, your hair: As he scanned these things and felt your thumb softly graze his chin, he pulled a weak smile. All of these aspects filled his mind and made him go weak.

"Ah..." He opened his mouth, awaiting for the reward.

As his jaw hung open, you shoved the lollipop that you had previously sucked on into his mouth, smiling as you watched him happily close his lips around the treat. He took a couple of glances at you, before stuffing the sweet between his teeth and cheek without a second thought, the stick hanging innocently from his lips- The fact that he could still taste your warm saliva on it was even better to him. The action made his heart go even faster and his brain rushed with memories of how you had licked on that candy... God, he felt so special.

These kinds of rewards were the best.

#bsd #bsd x reader #ranpo x reader #ranpo x reader smut #ranpo edogawa #ranpo edogawa x reader #ranpo edogawa x reader smut #bungo stray dogs #bungo stray dogs x reader #bungou stray dogs #bungo stray dogs x you

[tittyinfinity]

i can't shut up i'm sorry I'm ranting about Biden again

I'm starting to think Trump's presidency really wasn't any worse than what we have going on now, he was just targeting different people.

Bear with me.

The thing is, Biden has been the president for most of the pandemic and he hasn't been doing anything to stop the spread of it, so when people say "but Trump would kill US here!!" I wanna mention that Biden is already killing people of all parts of the political spectrum with his passiveness on covid

Biden is smarter than Trump. He's been in politics longer. He has had decades of learning how to maneuver politics. He has agreed with a lot of bad policies, many more than Trump even had the ability to do w his only 4 years of presidency. Trump is more interested in his image than anything else. Which is also dangerous! But it's much easier to convince people that Trump, a guy who is loud about his prejudices and caused a lot of damage because of that, is worse than a guy who pretends to agree with you on issues and then commits literal genocide.

Like I said, it just changes who is targeted instead. But is that really the case? We're already being targeted in different ways. A few good things have passed under Biden! But we also lost more bodily autonomy rights as far as abortion and trans rights go (not everywhere, but many states have become dangerous to live in). "That's not completely his fault" sure! Well then if the president doesn't have the power to change things truly for the better themselves, then worrying about who the president will be doesn't really matter. Also, presidents in the US have the ability to make executive orders.

And maybe he has spoken up on these things more and I just haven't heard about them - but Biden does not take the time to speak out about the anti-abortion, anti-trans, or healthcare related issues, except for the occasional quip here and there before he goes right back to not giving a shit. And I'm only using those as an example because a lot of "vote blue no matter who" people apparently only care about what happens to people here instead of in other countries.

And it's just really shitty to say "well what about the people who COULD die under a republican presidency instead of the real people dying from Biden's incitement of genocide right now!"

Trump incited a LOT of hatred in our country, yes. It pushed people to be more loud and open about their prejudices. But the deaths caused by hate crimes and COVID here in America were not on near of a large and deadly scale as what Biden is doing right now. We didn't watch our entire cities get destroyed and have our entire families wiped out.

So it seems, again, like the "vote blue no matter who" crowd only cares about politics when it comes to how THEY will (or MIGHT) be affected.

Am I saying vote for Trump or DeSantis? Fuck no. I'm saying prevent the next election from happening and burn this imperialistic genocidal government to the ground. The US has caused enough death, well into the millions, ever since it was created, and hasn't ever stopped committing genocide. But it only seems to matter when it (COULD) happen to white Americans.

Mexican people are still being put in cages and having their children stolen, too.

Indigenous people are still being murdered.

Disabled people are still dying from lack of accessible healthcare.

And the prices of everything have SKYROCKETED since Biden became president.

People are already suffering under a democratic president. You just won't care until it happens to you.

#.bdo

[dead-dove-yandere]

I have thought a lot about how Cayce would deal with a candidate opposing his darling who makes moves that are not clean and humble, even making smears about the reader.

Short answer: Cayce’s gonna wipe the floor with them even if she doesn’t want to admit that she’s doing it because she actually does care about her darling lol.

I hope you enjoy!! :]

TW: Stalking, obsession, threats, violence, explicit murder, explicit but minor gore

Cayce tore down the smear campaign poster and ripped it up. Her friend gave her an odd look.

“What you doing that for?” She asked. Cayce unraveled the crumpled poster with such force that the paper nearly tore into two halves. The poster was a facsimile of your own campaign posters, but pasted over top was a list of reasons why you might not be a good candidate for class president, ranging from somewhat legitimate criticisms to downright malicious rumours. At the bottom, a slogan asking people to vote for your rival candidate. Cayce’s friend shrugged.

“So? It’s just class president. Who cares if swots and nerds are having a slap fight over who gets to be teacher’s pet?”

“It’s him,” Cayce said, pointing to your rival’s name on the slogan. “Slimy little ratbag. I can’t stand him.” She tore the poster in two and let it flutter to the floor. Her friend rolled her eyes.

“I get you have some vendetta against the class president candidates or whatever, but why do you even care?” Cayce clenched her jaw and felt herself going red in the face.

“Fuck off,” she muttered.

“I bet he’s going to win. Them rumours on that poster have been spreading like wildfire. I’ve seen them get into an argument over it in the study hall and everything,” he friend said. “Everyone thinks it’s true.”

“But it’s bullshit. It’s all lies, it’s obvious!” Cayce grumbled. As students milled past, ready to go home, she spotted a familiar face in the crowd - your rival, a smug smile on his face as he strode out of the school.

“Hey, I’ll see you later,” Cayce said, not waiting for a response before leaving her friend and slipping into the crowd. She followed the rival, keeping sight of him as she waited until he broke off from the swarms of students milling about the streets until they reached some emptier streets, where it was only the two of them walking. Cayce seethed as she watched him walking home, her glare intense enough to burn a hole in the back of his uniform. He was just some git, a ponce who was so desperate for power he had to cheat and drag your name through the mud. Another unfair, cruel person in this world that had always been so mean to Cayce. She saw him about to turn into a back alley, and she ran up, overtaking him and blocking his passage through the narrow alley.

“Hey-!”

“Give us a ciggie,” Cayce demanded. The rival frowned and scoffed.

“I haven’t got any,” he said, waving dismissively. Cayce glared harder.

“You haven’t got any, or you just don’t want to share?” She said, crossing her arms. The rival tried to step past her, but she moved to block him again.

“‘Cause you had no problem sharing all them rumours about the other candidate, didn’t you?”

“What’s it to you?” The rival growled. “Did they pay you to play fisticuffs or something? Well you can tell them I ain’t scared of them or you.”

“I’ll tell you what it is to me - you’re a fucking ponce and a coward and you’re going to end up with your head smashed in,” Cayce snarled. The rival snapped, lunging at Cayce, looming over her. He was much taller, but Cayce was stronger and faster. On instinct she threw herself at his torso, ducking under his grabbing arms and tackling him, sending him flying to the ground. His head smacked against the brick wall at the side of the alley, staining it with blood. He gasped as he writhed on the ground, winded and trying to get his breath back as his head bled profusely. Cayce threw a punch across his jaw, sending him reeling again, his body slowly beginning to convulse from the head blows. Cayce’s anger suddenly evaporated into fear upon seeing him in such a state, and out of fear she kicked his head with her boot. He slumped to the ground, still. Cayce panted as she looked upon his dead body, limp on the floor, still bleeding from his head. She’d just killed for you - shed blood for the first time, and even as her heart pounded and she was scared of getting caught, she didn’t regret it one bit. Cayce turned on her heels and fled.

Dividers Credit: See Pinned Post

#yancore #yandere #yandere blog #yandere fic #yandere imagines #yandere x darling #yandere drabble #yandere oc #yandere oc x reader #female yandere x darling #female yandere oc x reader #female yandere oc #female yandere #yandere female #Ask #Story #Cayce

[socialist-microwave-laser]

your post regarding christians learning hebrew made me consider - i'm anishinaabe (ojibwe or chippewa or native american or however you call it) and so i very much hope this does not derail you and is instead only the shared experience i mean it to be - it reminds me of how white people and the descendants of colonizers will mystify & then appropriate native medicine and mythology, our art, languages, and cultures, because they think it has secret ancient magic powers, and that everybody who actually practices that medicine or speaks that language is dead and gone, and that indigenous people are ancient history. when we are still alive and around and speaking those languages and practicing that medicine today. and the only reason we would even be all dead and gone anyways is if the colonizers who now appropriate our culture had succeeded in their plan to wipe us out!! anyways that's just a thought, like i said, i hope this only comes across as solidarity of some sort, i read your post and really felt i related to the experience!

oh this isn't a derailment at all!!! something i've noticed a lot but feel like i don't know enough about to be eloquent with it is the similarities between a lot of indigenous cultures and jewish cultures. idk it's super cool. shoutout to Really Fucking Old cultures and traditions surviving through and despite everything

there was a celebration for 40 years of democracy here in argentina at la plaza de mayo on saturday. lots of argentinian flags everywhere, big concert stage set up, the works. my friend and i went to an encampment on the casa rosada side that i had noticed a few times before. they had hand-painted signs talking about how they're from an indigenous self-advocacy group that has been trying to get an audience with the president for two years and three months. to support their continued stay on la plaza, they had a shop of homemade materials like bags, scarves, baskets, and more. i ended up buying gifts for my siblings, a gorgeous rainbow scarf with designs the man was telling me had all unique meanings and symbolisms in mapuche culture, and a handmade necklace of the tree of life. i told him that being jewish i'm always on the lookout for more scarves i can use to cover my head, and he told me he hopes this will serve me well (it has, i'm in love with it already). when he told me about the tree of life necklace, i told him judaism has similar symbolism, called etz hayim. he thanked me for teaching him the term

i don't know if that was a particularly impactful exchange for him, but there was some sort of solidarity i immediately felt, like our fights are intertwined (as are all our fights but you know what i mean). you put at least some reasons why that solidarity exists here into words. we are parts of cultures that have faced and are still facing attempted genocide after attempted genocide, and yet we are still here, embodying our people and not backing down. as people try to relegate us to some mystical past, we are vocal and fight back. solidarity to you anon, ily and i wish you the best. please feel free to talk to me more about this

i've reached out to the indigenous organizers currently camping out in front of la casa rosada but as of writing this i haven't gotten a response. the website hasn't been updated in a bit, but i'll add what information i have so that more people can learn about this fight in argentina (i'm realizing as i add this stuff that almost everything is in spanish lmao. i'm going to reblog this with the photos of their signs and translations of each. if your browser doesn't automatically translate these links please lmk and i'd be happy to help out anybody interested in learning more)

information about the org:

a story about a previous protest:

a story about the current encampment:

#indigenous liberation #jumblr #landback #land back #christian antisemitism tw #cultural appropriation #solidarity #anarchist #genocide tw #asks #anonymous #argentinian politics

[fanficimagery]

Miss Knowles, Secret Agent pt. 1

After years of not being in contact with your sister, you seek her out and hope all can be forgiven. Of course, when things are going well, your past comes waltzing into Charming.

PART ONE | PART TWO

Words: 7.1K  Author's Note: SOA!AU because that's how I roll. I love Gemma to an extent, but I don't want to write her or Clay. So for this, Jackie-boy is President of the MC.

Charming, California is.. not quite as charming as you had expected. It's a quaint little town and all, but it's not a place you pictured your sister living in. Yet here you are, being dropped off down the street from where the address you had found for your sister said she resided.

Hoisting the strap of your duffel bag higher onto your shoulder, you take off down the street. Her house is easily found- single story, painted off-white with blue shutters and green bushes lining the front windows. There's a single car and a motorcycle in the driveway, and you allow yourself a moment to cheer on your sister for hooking up with a biker. All the research you did on Tara led you down the rabbit hole that consisted of a MC called the Sons of Anarchy, and well.. you were impressed. You knew your sister had a bit of grit about her, but you didn't think she had that much to associate with people like the Sons. But oh well. You weren't here to judge.

As you walk up to the front door, you hesitate briefly before knocking. It's been years since you've last seen Tara- the last time being when you were still a teen- and you have no idea what this reunion is going to be like. You hoped for the best, but you knew there was a chance she'd be truly pissed at you for falling off the face of the Earth.

Taking a deep breath, you allow your knuckles to rap against the wooden door and then take a couple of steps back. Seconds slowly tick by before the door is being pulled open and you swallow at the sight of Jax Teller. Oh yeah, his mugshot did him no justice. Your sister was one lucky bitch. "Can I help you?" He asks, raising an eyebrow at you.

"I, uh, yeah. I hope," you say as you obviously look him up and down. He grins at your stammering. And possibly at your ogling. "I'm looking for Tara."

His grin falters. "What's your business with Tara?"

You exhale softly and meet his gaze. "I'm her sister."

"Bullshit."

You snort and then immediately wince at your reaction. Jax is not impressed. "I am. Ask her. I've just been kind of.. off grid."

You're trying to make yourself appear as non-threatening as possible and you feel you must have hit the nail on the head because he leans back into the house and calls out, "Tara?", over his shoulder.

When he stares back at you, you cross your arms over your chest and glance down, scuffing the toe of your shoe on the porch.

"Yeah, babe?" You glance back up at her voice, biting the inside of your cheek in worry when you lay eyes on her in the flesh. Her gaze darts from her husband to you, giving you a double take as she stumbles to a halt. "YN?"

You smile uneasily as Jax glances between the two of you. "Hiya, sis."

She stumbles forward, catching herself on her husband's arm. "I thought you were dead. No one could-"

"I'm sorry," you blurt. "I never meant to-" Your voice cracks and you pause, shaking your head as if that would clear away your emotions as you glance at your feet once more. You take a beat and then swallow down the lump in your throat. "I just- I needed to see you," you say while looking up once more. "To let you know that I was alive."

"Y-You're leaving?"

"If you w-want me to. I'm sure you're pissed-"

"No!" You blink in surprise at Tara as she stumbles out of the house, onto the porch and reaches for you. Her hands cradle your face and you hate that your eyes sting at the kind gesture. "Are you kidding? You're alive. You're here. I want to know everything."

You chuckle and reach up to wipe away a falling tear. "I can't tell you everything, but I will tell you what I can."

"What does that even- no, you know what? We'll talk inside," she says. Tara ushers you inside her house and you smile faintly at Jax who's keeping a close eye on you. She leads you to the kitchen and you set your duffel bag down on the floor by your feet as you take a seat at the table. "Do you want anything to drink?"

"I'm good. Thanks though," you tell her. As she and Jax take a seat across from you at the table, you can't help but smile when Jax reaches into the back waistband of his jeans and pulls out a gun that he lays on the table.

"Jesus Christ, Jax!" Tara jerks away from the table. "What the hell are you doing?!"

"It's fine, Tara-"

"No, it's not fine!" She yells, glaring at you and then at her husband.

"It wouldn't be the first time I've been threatened with a gun. It's fine," you assure her.

That stops your sister short and she glances at you in surprise. "What?"

You shrug and clasp your hands atop the table. "What does Jax know of me?"

"Not a goddamn thing," he says. He scoffs when Tara has the audacity to look ashamed. "I've known Tara my entire life and not once did she mention anything about a sister."

"That's fair." Taking a deep breath, you decide to explain your relationship to Tara so her husband can understand, and then explain a bit about why you've been off grid. "So, uh, Tara and I share the same shitty dad. My mom had me when Tara would've been ten and then fled with me to the East coast."

"I only knew a bit about her," Tara says softly. "Couple of letters here and there every year, and then we finally met up when I left after graduation."

You smile at the memory. "Before anything else is said, can I just say how happy I am that you two found your way back to each other?" Jax frowns at you, so you explain. "Tara was really heartbroken when she left. Kept moaning on and on about some boy named Jax."

Jax's stern expression quickly morphs into one of amusement as he glances at Tara and she rolls her eyes at him. "Whatever. We're not talking about me. We're talking about YN."

"Right." Your amusement fades. "Anyway, I ended up in New York."

"I remember that," Tara says. "Nursing program, right?"

"Yeah. I was doing good there too," you say, "and then one day I just- I found myself in a rough spot," you admit, vaguely telling them the truth. "I struggled for a while and it ended up with some people getting hurt."

"Jesus," Tara mumbles. "Why didn't you ask for help?"

You shrug as your eyes fill with tears. "It was bad, Tara. Really bad."

"What happened?"

"I can't- I literally can't say," you tell them. "NDA's were involved."

Jax sits a little straighter. "What the fuck?"

"But it's okay now. It's all fine," you're quick to assure them. "Some people took me in and helped me get back on track."

"Who?"

You slowly smile as you sniffle. "You wouldn't believe me if I told you."

"Try me," Jax muses. Tara's gaze darts between you and him like she's watching a tennis match.

"Avengers." Jax barks out a laugh of disbelief, but you merely raise an eyebrow at him. "I'm being serious. That's why NDA's were involved," you tell him. "Some shit went down and they got me out of trouble. Tony Stark even offered me a job to keep me out of trouble."

"A job in what?" Your sister asks.

"Assistant nurse on the medical wing. I eventually became trusted enough that they let me on other levels of the tower and got to help out in the science department, just being a gopher for them since I didn't understand anything they were working on."

"You worked alongside the Avengers and you left all that to come to Charming?" Jax asks. "Why?"

You shrug. "It gets tiresome when the building is under attack every other week, not to mention the extraterrestrial visitors. I needed some normalcy back in my life."

"Well Charming is pretty normal."

Suddenly the sound of a child crying out pierces the quiet of the house and Tara immediately gets up. You smile as she rushes away and Jax says, "That's Abel. He's my son, but Tara really stepped up when I needed it. He only knows your sister as his mother."

"That's one lucky kid," you muse. "Tara's the best."

"Yeah she is." Jax slowly smiles and you chuckle at his lovestruck expression.

You and Jax fall into a comfortable silence in your sister's absence, and then a handful of minutes later she's returning. "Sorry about that. Abel got a bit fussy, but he's asleep again."

"That's fine," you tell her. "I should actually get going anyway. I need to grab a motel room."

"What? No way," Tara says. "We have a perfectly good couch you could-"

"I appreciate that, I really do," you say, cutting her off. "But you and Jax have a lot to think about."

"Think about?" She frowns. "What would we have to think about?"

"About whether or not you guys want me here in town."

Jax tenses. "Why wouldn't we?"

You sigh and tell him. "Full disclosure here, when I looked up my sister I found out a lot of shit."

He leans forward in his seat, hand next to his gun. Tara sees it, worriedly glancing between the two of you. "Shit like what?"

"I think you know. Tara's files were connected to everything that mentioned the Sons of Anarchy, so I did a little digging to see what I was walking into. Rest assured though," you say when a look of fury passes over his features, "that everything I found out, I scrubbed from my laptop. I don't care what you guys or the club has done in the past or will do in the future. I'm honestly just here to make up for lost time with my sister." Tara's surprised expression is more acceptable than Jax's curious one. "So.. you guys think about it and if you're not comfortable with me being here, I'll leave."

A strangled noise escapes from Tara's throat, but she snaps her mouth shut. Jax glances at her, holds her gaze, and then sighs. "You swear nothing you were involved in will blow back on my family or club?"

"I'm not runnin' from anyone," you assure him. "I didn't do anything to piss anyone off, nor is anyone looking for me. I honestly just got tired of all the hustle and bustle of New York, and being friends with Avengers. I just want to get to know my family."

Jax sighs and rubs a hand down his face. "Fine. You're on probation though."

"Jax-"

"No, Tara. Until we can trust YN, your interactions are all going to held at the clubhouse. And if you want to go out, you're gonna have escorts."

"Jesus-"

"That's fine." You smile at your clearly agitated sister. You cut her off before she can tell her husband anything. "Really, it's fine. I know some shit I'm not supposed to and they want to keep an eye on me to make sure I don't rat. I'm okay with that." The fight drains out of your sister. "So now that we've established that, I really have to go. Do you have a pen and paper so I can leave you guys my number?"

Tara gets up and goes to a drawer, getting exactly what you asked for. You write your number down for them, and then she writes down hers and Jax's.

"Do you have cash for a motel room?" Tara asks.

"Yeah. Stark Industries paid really well. I'm all set."

"Well okay then."

An awkward silence falls over the three of you and you nervously chuckle. "So I'm gonna go."

As you stand up, Jax and Tara follow suit. On your way outside, you make a phone call to the local cab company and then stop on the porch to face your sister. "Call or text me when you're free, yeah?"

"Of course." Tara stares at you for a moment before she pulls you into a hug and you laugh as you wrap your arms around her. "I'm so glad you came looking for me."

"Ditto. I've missed you." A car out by the curb honks and you sigh. "And that's my cue. See you."

"See you."

When Tara calls you on your second day in Charming, she picks you up from the motel room and heads over to Teller-Morrow Automotive. She explains that the building attached to the automotive garage is the clubhouse for the Sons of Anarchy, and since Jax was wary of you then that's where the two of you had to hang out.

When you popped up on their property for the first time, Jax introduced you to his brothers. You could tell he told them that you knew some stuff about them, but no one dared threaten you.

You and Tara got to catch up out by the picnic tables, she telling you all about her career path and you yours. She tries to get some more information about the rough patch you went through, but you only gave her vague answers. Eventually, one of the Sons who went by the name Juice joined you and you couldn't help but feel he had ulterior motives. And you were proven correct when you saw him subtly try to maneuver his phone around your purse.

"If you're looking for any type of recording device, you won't find any," you had told him. Juice had frozen and Tara rolled her eyes when she realized what he was doing. "But if it'll make any of you feel better, feel free to dig through my belongings. I'll even let you wave your phone over my body, inch by inch, if you want to."

Juice's eyes had widened and Tara snorted. "I, um, that won't be-"

"For real. Have at it." You opened your purse and planted it directly in front of him. "I have nothing to hide."

Juice had looked at your sister, wincing apologetically. "Sorry, Tara, but we really need to make sure."

Tara had looked like she wanted to argue, but you really had nothing to hide. So you let Juice go through your belongings, searching for any type of listening or recording device that wasn't there. And when nothing turned up and your story seemed to check out, you were finally allowed inside the clubhouse.

Of course, though, before you step foot into their domain, Tara explained the rules of the MC world. She explained how the hierarchy around there worked, but while you understood the men were ranked differently, you were more interested in the hierarchy among the women. Croweaters, or sweetbutts, were what the men all referred to as free pussy. You had wrinkled your nose at the term and Tara completely understood, but you apparently had to know what you were walking into. Tara was Queen Bee and all the women answered to her, but the veteran croweaters would see you as competition. Tara promised to keep the drama from you as long as she could, but she mentioned it was only a matter of time before a confrontation occurred. And if said confrontation ever occurred, you were well within your rights to put a bitch in her place to prevent further confrontations. Jax's only stipulation was that you didn't kill anyone. Women business was women business, but the club did not need the cops investigating a death on the premises. You agreed.

The Sons soon became used to your presence in the club, though you did tend to stay away from their Friday night parties. You had been approached by nearly everyone- Tig tried only once to get into your pants before both you and Tara shut that shit down- and made friends with a few. However, your favorite, by far, has been Juice. Of course, you really liked your brother-in-law, but you couldn't help but feel that he was just waiting for you to slip up.

On one of the shop's slow days, Jax orders some of the lower ranking members and Prospects to watch the garage while everyone else slinks off to the clubhouse to start winding down for the day. You were already there when they walked in, waiting for Tara to get off work, sitting on the couch with your feet propped up on the coffee table and laptop in your lap. You've been in the cheap motel for too long now and you were looking for a place to call your own since Tara didn't want you going anywhere. And Juice, being the only other person in the club who knew his way around technology, was sitting next to you with his own laptop and digging through information on the houses you'd been looking into.

"Any luck?" Jax asks, sitting across from you on another couch, beer in hand.

"Eh." You shrug. "Found a few places, but Juice has been vetoing them."

"I love Charming, but our locals are seriously trying to rent out places that are in need of major fixes."

"Aren't 'ya swimmin' in cash, lass? Build. Or better yet, ask that Stark fella to lend a helpin' hand," Chibs muses.

"Nah."

"I don't know. If I had a billionaire for a friend, I'd be asking for all sorts of favors," Opie says.

You glance up from your screen, narrowing your eyes on the bearded Son. "Are you guys still on that? Just because I don't hold phone conversations with them on the regular, doesn't mean I don't personally know them. They're very busy people."

"Bullshit." Tig calls out. "I think you just threw out some big names so we would tread carefully around 'ya. Or just to make yourself look cool."

You pinch the bridge of your nose, sighing.

"What? What'd I miss?"

Your sister's voice calms you. "These idiots still think I don't know the Avengers."

"Well.."

You quickly glance at Tara. "You too?!"

"I'm sorry!" She laughs as she takes a seat next to you. "You can't just name drop those names and have nothing to show for your friendship with them."

"Phones are easily hacked! I wasn't about to have pictures with them and then have those pictures end up in the wrong hands."

"I got twenty that says she doesn't actually know them," Happy says. You gape at him, the stoic biker not one for many words. At least not when you were in the room.

"Seriously?"

"I'll take that bet," Chibs says. He pulls a twenty from his kutte pocket and throws it on the table.

You glance between those sitting around- Jax, Opie, Bobby, Tig and Juice tossing down cash as well. Chibs, Bobby, and Juice were the ones who thought you were telling the truth about the Avengers, whereas Happy, Jax, Opie and Tig thought you were spewing bullshit. Tara, however, was on the fence. She wanted to believe you, but she wanted proof.

"Fine. Fine!" You grit out, scowling at the Sons. "I'll make a video call, but I can't guarantee it'll be answered."

Jax smirks. "Of course. Go ahead."

Closing out of your opened tabs, you pull up your video calling app. Out of everyone, you figured Tony would be your best bet since he never cared to stay focused on his work unless it was super fuckin' important. So after leaning forward to place your laptop on the coffee table, you hit Tony's icon and sit back while it rings.

The Sons start to smirk as the fourth ring goes unanswered, but by the sixth when your call is answered, it's your turn to smirk.

"Shortstack! You called!"

"Hey, Tones."

From one moment to the next, the Sons are all scrambling out of their seats to stand behind the couch you're sitting on. Tara and Juice gape at the screen, and you can see the sparkling amusement in Tony's eyes. "What's up? You need me to be the Daddy Warbucks to your Annie again?"

Your nose wrinkles. "Why does that sound so gross?" Your question goes unanswered and you shake your head. "And no. Just thought I'd call and say hi. And to appease these morons around me. They didn't believe I was set up with superheroes while I was in New York."

"Ahh. Got 'ya." You can see his gaze dart to your sister. "So you must be the other Knowles. Nice. Your shitty father made hot daughters."

Tara barks out a laugh. "Uh, thanks."

"Mhm." His gaze then darts all over the screen. "And you gentlemen must be those outlaw bikers I know absolutely nothing about."

The Sons all around you tense and your eyes narrow at the screen. "Tony.."

"What?" He feigns innocence. "I said I know nothing."

"You're not Jon Snow. You know everything, don't you?"

"Oh, would you look at that? I think Pepper-"

"Anthony Edward Stark!"

"Fine. I got bored on day two of your absence and did some research on your sister. I made the connections you no doubt did, after all I taught you everything you know, and ate all the bags of popcorn as I read through their files. They're fascinating people. I definitely need to meet them in person."

You exhale tiredly. "Goddammit, Tony. You promised not to stick your nose in places it doesn't belong."

"Whatever. Natasha's impressed. She wants to meet them too. We all have our bets on which biker you've already bedded."

You choke on nothing but air as the Sons slowly start to loosen back up, chuckling. "What?! I'm not sleeping with anyone."

"Really? I had my money on Lowman. He looked like the scariest one and after you had that thing with Barnes-"

"What!?" Your sister cuts in. You can feel your face heat up and Tony smirks at you through the screen. "Did you have sex with a national icon, YN?"

"Maybe." She gasps and you groan. "But it wasn't with Barnes. He was a tough nut to crack." Tony laughs. "I, uh, I defiled the other national icon."

"You boned Captain America?" Jax asks, eyebrows raised in surprise. "Nice."

"Can we move on, please? I didn't call to talk about my sex life."

"But it's such a fun topic. By the way, Natasha has her money on Ortiz. She said you wouldn't be able to resist that goofy smile of his for long."

From your peripheral vision, you see Juice face you. You see his lips stretch wide and you shake your head. "Not a word."

"What?" This time is Juice's turn to feign innocence.

The Sons chuckle all around you as you glare at Tony. "Thanks for that, Tin-Man-"

"You're welcome."

"-but now I'm gonna go since you've started shit I'm gonna have to deal with for the next couple of weeks. A bunch of these assholes didn't believe I knew you, so now that their curiosity is sated, my job is done."

"Sure. See you, Shortstack."

As soon as you end the call, Juice leans forward to collect the cash from the table and divide it up between himself, Bobby and Chibs.

"So," your sister drawls. "That was something."

"Mhm. And now that I've opened the floodgates, I'm pretty sure those calls with Tony are going to be more frequent. He's too nosy for his own good, but no worries. He won't say shit about anything he learns. He loves the drama."

"And this thing with Captain America?" You groan and your sister nudges you. The Sons all reclaim their seats, giving you their undivided attention. "How did that happen?"

You shrug. "I honestly don't know. It was only once, so don't get carried away. We were friends, we fucked and got it out of our systems, and then went back to normal."

"And what about the Winter Soldier?" Jax asks, eyes glittering in amusement. "Now that's one scary dude. Did you really try to fuck with all that?"

"Dude's a charmer when he's not on a mission," you tell him. "That fuckin' smirk of his did me in and he knew it, but he wouldn't get involved. Said he had too many enemies and couldn't risk someone catching wind of any significant other and using them against him."

"Good," Tara says.

All is quiet and then, "I don't have that many enemies. We could still-"

"Oh my god, Juice, shut up and help me find a house."

Against your will, your cheeks heat up and you do your best to not look in his direction. "That wasn't a no."

Tara snorts so hard she clamps a hand over her mouth, muffling her laughter as you try to sink in your seat and disappear.

Juan Carlos Ortiz was definitely going to be trouble, but deep down you were looking forward to it.

Juan Carlos- er, Juice- really amped up the flirting when Tony admitted that the Black Widow figured you would have slept with him by now. He really was your type and had you met him outside of the club, you probably would have slept with him. But for some reason, you felt as if the Sons were off limits and decided not to go there. Not even after Tara had given you permission since you were an adult and could handle your own shit.

But even after having that permission, you held back a bit. You let him flirt and even started to flirt back, surprising him one day when you were playing a game of pool with your sister. You knew perfectly well what you were doing, but Juice still found it necessary to bend over your back and cage in with his arms to show you how to properly handle a cue. Across the table, Tara hadn't bothered to hide her amusement as you played along, pushing your ass back into his groin and then pulling away to take the shot on the other end of the table.

And though you never said anything out loud, you did take notice of how he started distancing himself from the sweetbutts when they tried to get him to take them to his dorm in the back. Unfortunately, the sweetbutts noticed it too and didn't bother hiding their annoyance with you.

Tara ended up convincing you to buy a house instead of renting, and it was no surprise Juice helped with that as well. With his and Tara's help, you were able to find a three bedroom, two bath house and easily put in an offer that was accepted only after a few days.

So after a long day of buying furniture and setting it up in your house, Jax threw a party at the clubhouse to officially welcome you to Charming.

By midnight, the party at the Sons of Anarchy clubhouse was in full swing. Jax gave a speech and then had you do a shot with all the Sons you've become comfortable around, along with your sister. Sweetbutts worked the stripper pole and worked the floor, trying to pick up any fully patched member of the club, and you were immediately annoyed with all the glaring when Juice chose to spend some time with you at the bar.

Juice had eventually walked off to play some pool with Opie and Tara decides she needs the bathroom after one too many drinks, leaving you all alone. A Prospect behind the bar asks if you need another beer and you gladly take one. Just as you're handed your beer, your right shoulder is shoved- shoved hard enough to know it wasn't an accident. So turning on your stool, with one knee still crossed over the other, you raise an eyebrow at the group of three sweetbutts trying to intimidate you with their glares.

"Yes?" You muse. "How can I help you.." you pause, looking them up and down, and wrinkling your nose a bit to show your dislike of them, "ladies?"

"Listen, sweetheart, I think it's time you learn the rules of the MC." The blonde addressing you has too much makeup caked on her face, and it takes everything in you to not outright laugh at her. "We've put our time in here with the boys which means we get the pick of the litter. New pussy deals with the hang arounds and leaves the patched members for us."

"Is that so," you drawl. You take a sip of your beer, eyes glittering. You know you've had one too many since you're entertaining these morons.

"Yes." Your cheek suddenly stings with a slap you hadn't anticipated and your head barely moves with the force from the hit. Those around you cease all movement and noise to see how this plays out, and even the music is lowered. All eyes are on you. "Stay away from Juice."

Blondie's staring heatedly at you, your lips twitch, and then suddenly you're laughing.

Sliding off your stool, you stand next to her while addressing everyone watching on. "Listen up, sweetbutts," you call out. "I don't know what it is I did that made all of you so insecure, but you need to knock it the fuck off right now." Several of the sweetbutts scoff. "I am fed up with your petty bullshit, so consider this your first and only warning. If you approach me with the intention of warning me off a guy who is clearly not interested in sticking his dick in a party favor anymore-"

"Oh shit," someone laughs.

"-then you're going to walk off looking far worse than this skank standing next to me."

The entire clubhouse is quiet, so it's not hard to hear the mumbles of confusion. You obviously hadn't done anything to the sweetbutt standing next to you.

"Listen, you little-"

Without batting an eye, you angle your body towards the blonde sweetbutt, grab the back of her head and slam her face down on the bar. There's a sickening crack before the sweetbutt crumples to the floor and you exhale tiredly. "There's your warning," you deadpan. "If you start shit with me, you can bet your fake tits and fake tans that I'll fuckin' end it." Everyone blinks at you in surprise and you snap your fingers at the two closest sweetbutts standing next to you. "Get your friend off the floor and clean her up." They blink at you. "Now!"

The sweetbutts flinch at the tone of your voice and hurriedly collect their friend off the ground. It's your turn to glare until they're out of the vicinity and before you can take a seat, Juice is suddenly all up in your personal space, hand grasping the back of your neck and pulling your face to his.

Wolf whistles and catcalls erupt all around you as Juice controls the possessive kiss. Then when you start to pull back, you pull his bottom lip between your teeth and nip. He groans and you fully pull back then, reclaiming your stool and sipping your beer. "Still not sleeping with you, Juan Carlos."

He smiles, big and goofy, and your heart stutters as he steps between your knees, hands caging you in against the bar top. "At least not yet."

You laugh and then act as if the last couple of minutes didn't happen, but given the look Tara and Jax are giving you, it did. "Wow." Your sister drawls. "You're not even an Old Lady and these bitches are scared of you."

Jax laughs. "You're a little spitfire, huh. Now I see the resemblance to Tara."

You roll your eyes, swatting at Juice so he pulls back some. "Sorry about the-"

"Don't apologize," Jax says. "You were well within your rights. I'm proud of 'ya."

"Yeah. Me too." You meet Juice's amused gaze, letting him steal another quick kiss before you push him away.

"Alright, Juan Carlos, off you go. You staked your claim."

Juice laughs once more before he takes his leave, Jax watching his brother with amused eyes. "Juice, really?"

"Don't give me that look. I can't help it. His smile really should be considered a weapon."

Jax laughs. "Enjoy the rest of your party, sis."

You beam at him. "Will do, bro."

The next few months in Charming are some of the best months of your life. Not only do you have your sister by your side, but Juice has become a pretty solid presence in your daily life and it surprisingly doesn't bother you one bit.

You became acquainted with the MC life a bit more and, though you and Juice steered clear of the old lady label, the sweetbutts of the club learned pretty fast to not touch what everyone knew to be yours. And when other fully patched members from other charters tried to push up on you when they were visiting, Juice was quick to shut that shit down.

So, of course, when everything is going well, it's no surprise that it all quickly turns to shit.

The charter from Tacoma is set to visit in a couple of days, so you and Tara gathered all the sweetbutts to help get the clubhouse in tiptop shape. And since it was the weekend, only a handful of patched members were working the front while the others lazed about.

You are behind the bar, taking stock of the alcohol and mentioning to Tara what the club needed to stock up on when Jax saunters up to the bar.

"Hey YN?"

"Yeah?" You hum.

"Care to explain why suited up Avengers are making their way through the lot?"

"What?" Your head snaps up and you look out the door, and sure enough you spot Natasha, Wanda, Steve, Tony and Bruce making their way towards the clubhouse. And in the middle of them all Nick Fury strides confidently with his coat flapping behind him. You pale. "Fuck."

"YN?" Tara frowns. "What's going on?"

"I- I don't know." You quickly scramble out from behind the bar, rushing towards the door to meet them before they can step foot inside. Jax and Tara are not far behind you, and the other Sons are starting to close in to see what's going on.

You can't decipher anything from Steve or Natasha's expressions, but Wanda, Tony and Bruce are clearly apologetic. Fury stops just a few feet from you, uncaring for those gathering around him. "Agent Knowles," you flinch at the title, "we need-"

"No." You cut him off.

"Doll," Steve tries then and you take a step back, shaking your head.

"Not only no, but fuck no! I'm out, remember?" You bump into someone and glance over your shoulder to see Juice there, eyes dark as he glares down Steve. When you stare back forward, you nearly roll your eyes at Natasha's smug expression.

"It's a matter of Earth's destruction, kiddo," Tony says. "We need all our heavy hitters on board."

"Wait, what?" Tara says. "Heavy hitters? But my sister's not-"

"You didn't tell them," Natasha realizes.

"Tell us what?" Jax grits out.

Against your will, your eyes start to fill with tears. "I just wanted a normal life. Why did you have to-"

"YN." A hand grips your own and you're faced with a worried sister. "What's going on?"

You swallow down the lump in your throat less your voice cracks. "We need to talk." Then looking at Jax, you say, "I'm sorry. I never meant for anyone to find out this part of my life, but if you can clear the clubhouse, I'll explain. This is something I don't want just anyone knowing, so only bring in those you absolutely trust with your life."

The tendons in Jax's cheek twitches as he clenches his jaw, but Tara's hand slipping into his calms him a bit. "Fine." Jax looks out at all his brothers. "Get inside. Get the Prospects to watch the garage and send everyone else home."

Jax receives nods in return, and Tig, Juice, and Bobby start jogging around to send all the sweetbutts home and to make sure the Prospects remain in the garage and to not take on any new appointments. Fury and your friends from New York follow you into the clubhouse, looking around and taking in their new surroundings. And when you see Tony head for the bar, you sigh and grab him by the wrist before marching him over to the couches. Tara's lips twitch when she sees you scold the billionaire and he pouts in return.

After what seems like forever, everyone takes a seat. Or stands, as in Jax's case.

Opie, Chibs, Tig, Happy, Bobby and Juice are glancing around, waiting to hear just exactly what's going on that has their President looking a bit murderous.

"So, uh, you guys remember that rough patch between my nursing job and before I started working for Stark Industries? The rough patch where I told you that a group of friends helped me out of?"

Tara's eyes light up as she comes to a realization. "You said that the Avengers helped you out."

"Yeah." You gulp. "So as it turns out, I have alien DNA thanks to my mom." The room is deathly quiet and you shakily breath out. "I could have lived my entire life without ever knowing, but I was one of the unlucky individuals who was exposed to contaminated supplements."

"Contaminated how?" Tara asks.

"With terrigen crystals," you tell her. Sighing, you realize you're gonna have to explain. "There's an alien race out there that can pass for human until they're exposed to something called terrigen mist. Once exposed, their powers are activated."

"You have superpowers?!" Juice blurts. When all gazes dart to him, some annoyed and others amused, he sinks into his seat. "Sorry."

You flash him a grin and then get back to your story. "A shipment of this mist was dropped into the ocean, forming crystals among the sea life and ocean floor. Contaminated fish were caught and sold to businesses as usual. One day I was taking my daily dose of vitamins, fish oil was in there, and minutes later I was being cocooned in rock." You take a breath as that information sinks in. "I don't know how long I was stuck in stasis, but then in the next moment I was breaking free and in possession of powers so destructive that I dropped everything and ran."

"We found her," Tony says, "and took her in. She had brought down a building, took out a ring of illegal weapons dealers-"

"On accident! I just saw something I wasn't supposed to, they cornered me, I panicked and then my powers lashed out."

"Whatever," Tony huffs. "You were a complete badass and were in training to become one of us until you decided to live life like a normie."

Tara and Jax now look at you in surprise, and you shake your head. "Sure it sounds cool, but you guys didn't see what I was capable of. I was training in between my shifts in the medical wing and I nearly killed Wanda in a training session before I suited up for the first time. Wanda!" You say, pointing to the brunette in question. "She's the strongest Avenger and I nearly took her out. I wasn't safe."

Tony scoffs. "First of all, Wands isn't the-"

"Yeah, she is," you deadpan. "But anyway, I couldn't deal and decided to ask Doctor Banner if there was any way to cure what I had become. There isn't a cure for people like me, but there are suppressors. So after signing a shit load of paperwork, I asked Doctor Banner for those suppressors and wiped my hands of the superhero life."

"So you still have these powers?" Tara asks.

"Yeah. I just can't access them as long as I take the pills I was given."

"We have an injection that can reverse the pill's effects," Fury says. You freeze and glance at the Director, eyes narrowing. "Stark wasn't lying when he said we needed our heavy hitters."

"I'm a liability. Find someone else."

"There is no one else."

"Fuck that!" You snap at him. "You're Nick fuckin' Fury! Your secrets have secrets! There has to be other individuals out there that can stand against whatever's coming. Where's Thor?"

"On Asgard taking care of his people after the aliens coming here ransacked his home," Steve says. "He sent some friends to warn us of the impending danger."

"Fuck," you groan.

"Look at it this way, Agent Knowles-"

"Stop calling me that," you grit out. "I resigned."

Nick rolls his one good eye. "If you don't help and we somehow miraculously win this fight, the life you set up for yourself here goes away. This little club you've surrounded yourself in goes away." The Sons all tense in their seats, and you and Tara stare at Nick with wide, disbelieving eyes. "And then for the rest of your life you'll be looking over your shoulder for a bunch of pissed off bikers who've been thrown back into prison all because you couldn't handle your shit like a grown-up."

The Sons suddenly draw their weapons, but the Avengers and Nick merely stand there without batting an eye. The rage you feel after your friends and family have been threatened is nothing you've ever felt before, but before you can explode on the Director of SHIELD, Tara's touching your shoulder.

The tension flees your body when you see her tearfilled eyes. "Tara, I-"

"Please," she murmurs. "If not for the club, then for Abel. Whatever's going on, it sounds serious. I want my son to live a long and happy life." Your bottom lip trembles and your head hangs in shame. Tara's suddenly in front of you, arms wrapping around you as she lets you cry on her shoulder. "It's going to be okay. You have a bigger support system now. We'll help you."

After giving yourself a moment to recover and gather your thoughts, you lift your head and school your expression before turning to face Fury. "I'll do it, but on one condition."

"Name it."

"I do this, and anything and everything you dug up about those associated with the Sons of Anarchy vanishes. Anything pops up in the future, I expect you to catch it and scrub it."

The Sons all look at you in surprise and Steve looks ready to object, but Fury nods. "Done."

To be continued..

#juice ortiz x reader #juice ortiz imagine #sons of anarchy imagine #soa imagine #marvel gen fic x reader #marvel imagine #juice ortiz #tara knowles #jax teller #sons of anarchy #marvel #tony stark

[shiningwonderland]

Camus (All Star)

Translator: Mimi (twitter: _mimisaurora)

Happy End - The Polyrhythm for the Future Ahead Seems Bleak

His noble voice captured the hearts of the audience.

There was a tenderness in Camus-senpai’s song that had never been heard before.

The audience was captivated by this gentle, heartwarming, yet somehow sorrowful new song.

This song could surely break curses.

I believed so wholeheartedly as Senpai finished singing.

And then, everyone else finished their songs. 

The winner of the grand prize was determined by a special jury, the audience, and viewers watching the live broadcast.

I watched with bated breath as the votes were collected one after another.

Saotome: Resultsss are innnn!!

The Shining Song Festival's prestigious Grand Prize goes toooooooooo…

Mr. Camus!!

The moment the president announced Camus-senpai’s name, the ground trembled from the roar of cheers that erupted through the venue. 

In the midst of applause and under the spotlight, the president presented Senpai with his award.

He stepped forward to the center of the stage in a regal manner and bowed gracefully before the audience. 

The crowd let out a collective sigh in admiration of his sheer beauty.

Camus: Thank you very much. I owe everything to the ladies and gentlemen who have supported me up to this point.

This Camus will continue to serve you all with the utmost devotion and sincerity.

He bowed his head once more and the venue erupted into thunderous applause and cheers.

It was clear everyone in the venue thought he was deserving of the award. My eyes welled up and I wiped away the tears that were threatening to fall.

It was then that the magical bottle of perfume glowed in my bag.

The white light that always indicated contact with the Silk Palace began to spill out from within.

I hurriedly covered the whole bag with my coat, and a voice echoed in my head.

Caller: Camus-sama, I bring excellent news! Her Majesty the Queen has just now recovered. The curse appears to have been fully broken!!

The queen’s curse…?

It caused me to look up and realize that the sky, which looked like it was about to start raining at any second, had cleared up.

The curse… was broken….

Haruka: I’m glad….

I was right to think that Senpai's music, our music, could work miracles.

Feeling relieved, I relaxed and sank deeper into my seat.

Caller: Camus-sama, are you listening…?

Haruka: C-Congratulations. Senpai isn’t here right now, but I’ll be sure to give him the message.

Caller: Huh? Ah, thank you. Are you one of his Japanese aides…?

The person on the other end sounded startled by my sudden response, but…

Caller: Well, it is nice to meet you.

With that final remark, the transmission from the Silk Palace ended.

Haruka: …Phew. Thank goodness…

Following the closing remarks by the president and the encore, the festival came to an end.

I stood up from my seat, clutching the bottle of perfume.

I hurried to get out of the bustling venue.

I wanted to hurry and tell Senpai the curse had been broken. 

And also...

I missed him. 

I wanted to see him as quickly as possible to tell him how I felt.

Haruka: Excuse me, please let me through. Um…

The crowd was heading out in droves, making it difficult to move ahead amongst the waves of people.

Haruka: I’m so sorry. Um… Kyah!

I was struggling to move forward when someone suddenly grabbed my arm.

Camus: Where are you going in such a hurry?

Haruka: S-Senpai!?

I was startled, and Camus-senpai brought his index finger up to the front of his lips to shush me with a laugh. 

R-Right.

It’d be a disaster if people figured out he was here.

Camus: …Let’s get out of here.

He lifted me in his arms as soon as he said it.

Haruka: Wah! W-What…!?

Camus: If I let you walk yourself we’d be stuck in this crowd forever. It’ll be quicker this way.

Haruka: Hold on, but…

I was confused, but his arms were warm…

Camus: Let’s go… back to our home.

Haruka: A-Alright…

I nodded my head. 

Senpai grinned to himself in satisfaction and gestured beyond the crowd.

There I found Alexander sitting there, looking as if he belonged there, and we both exchanged looks for a moment before laughing.

I then leaned my body against his chest.

Over the next few days, Camus-senpai was busy dealing with the aftermath of the Silk Palace incident.

As for what happened to the queen....

While celebrating the recovery of the queen, those in support of her marriage that had not shown all their cards up to this point finally folded and revealed their intentions.

This led to a significant step in the direction of breaking up her engagement to Cecil.

Since this was a matter between two countries, it was not something that could simply be swept under the rug.

Perhaps the experience of being frozen also helped the queen to overcome certain troubles. 

She publicly declared how she lacked interest in younger men and would not marry one less than 2 meters tall.

After the commotion that ensued, the engagement was finally formally dropped a few days ago.

Senpai, who had taken charge of resolving this mess, appeared to be a little happy despite the hard time he was going through.

Although problems still remain, like the decline of her magical strength, I hear that the queen has started to smile as she used to from time to time.

Senpai mentioned that our song may not only have melted the accursed ice, but also have reached the queen’s heart.

Now that she is no longer in an arranged marriage, she has given up on using me as her vessel.  

Camus-senpai would no longer have to return to Silk Palace and could continue to watch over the president while maintaining his career as an idol like before.

Haruka: I’m so happy…

Everything I worried about has taken a turn for the better that it honestly felt like a dream.

But, there was still a major problem to solve if Senpai wanted to return to work...

Some days after the song festival... 

Camus-senpai and I were summoned to the agency by the president.

Haruka: I wonder what it could possibly be about…

Camus: No idea. Despite winning the Grand Prize, I've caused a lot of trouble for the agency because of what’s been going on in my country.

He had to drop all of his work to be able to return to Silk Palace, and also had to have the Song Festival program rearranged so he would be able to make it….

Camus: Who knows what kind of penalty Saotome will impose. …You have to be prepared.

He spoke with a solemn look on his face, and I timidly nodded my head.

Haruka: A-Alright. …I’m… nervous.

Camus: Hmph. There’s no need for you to be so concerned. I will be the only one to receive any punishments. …Let’s go.

We both shared a look, nodded our heads, and then Senpai placed his hand on the office door.

Saotome: Congratulations on winning the grand prize, Mr. Camus!!

As soon as he opened the door, the president's broad smile flashed into view.

Saotome: And YOU! You are officially a part of the Shining Agency now! I'm looking forward to working with you!

I was knocked back to my senses from the surprise of him suddenly pointing his finger at me. I hurriedly bowed to the president.

Haruka: O-Of course. Thank you very much!

Saotome: Congratulations to you both! That’s all from me for today!

The president announced loudly, and then…. Silence.

Camus: Excuse me, sir… Is that really…. Everything?

As one might expect, Camus-senpai was a bit taken aback.

Camus: I am deeply sorry for causing the agency considerable inconvenience by abandoning my work recently. That…

Saotome: Non non non. There was a huge emergency in your country. I get that your earlship is important to you too!

The president interrupted Senpai with a mischievous smile.

Saotome: Besides, I have a memory of the queen of your country saving my life when I was younger.

…I made some adjustments to your work schedule while you were away. You should have no problem getting back to work.

Camus: Are you… serious!?

The president winked underneath his sunglasses.

Saotome: This is my way of repaying the favor. Don't worry about it.

Camus-senpai humbly bows his head.

Camus: I cannot thank you enough. I will surely repay this gracious favor.

Saotome: Hahaha! In exchange, I ask YOU to work harder than ever before. As one of the agency's poster idols, you’ll have to make up for all the work you’ve missed out on, so brace yourself!

Camus: O-Of course. As you wish…

Saotome: Hahaha!

Camus: Jeez….

Senpai's face remained respectful, but only I could see the faintest hint of distress…

And the president's laughter echoed throughout the whole office for a while.

From then on…

The president assigned Camus-senpai an absolutely brutal work schedule.

There was still tons he had to do following the events at the Silk Palace, but he was kept very busy.

I, too, was suddenly swamped with work as the composer behind the winning song.

I was so busy that I had no time to talk to him.

Several more days later….

It was the first time in weeks that Camus-senpai had a day entirely to himself.

I suggested to him that we should relax and enjoy a pot of nabe together….

Cecil: ….

Camus: ….

I have no idea why Camus-senpai and Cecil-san are glaring at each other across the living room.

Cecil: …Camus. I was supposed to have come here today so you could thank me again for helping with the queen.

Camus: You’re right. Now don’t make me repeat myself, you fool.

Cecil: You should not be acting so arrogant when thanking someone!

Cecil-san glanced in my direction as he argued with Senpai.

Cecil: I had guessed that she had been called here for the same reason.

But it looks like she is still living here. What does that mean?

Haruka: W-Well, you see…

I continued to live here since then because I was simply too busy to do anything else.

Now I’ve come to really feel at home living in this tower.

But I was just talking to Senpai about returning to my dorm room to set things right…

Cecil: The Song Festival is over. You two are not yet lovers. It is not proper for you to live together!

Cecil-san raised his voice.

Cecil: It is natural for two people in love to live with each other.... but that is not the case with you two yet.

Camus: Is that all you have to say? It's frankly none of your business that she wants to be here. Why is that a problem?

Haruka: H-Huh…? Senpai, I said I was going back to the dorms…

Cecil: I do not trust what Camus has to say. Muse, let me hear your side of the story.

Cecil-san looked at me in confusion. Camus-senpai smiled faintly and looked at me from the opposite side.

Camus: Alright, Haruka. Let us hear your true thoughts this time, free of any pretense.

Haruka: I-I…

He put his hand under my chin, making me turn to face him with a jerk. 

His eyes, which were as beautiful as crystals, looked directly into mine.

Camus: We're well aware that we shouldn't be living together if we're considering the agency's interest. 

But I don't want to be away from you. Don't you want to stay with me?

Haruka: I… don’t… hate the idea. 

I nodded my head. 

I would be very glad if I could continue to live with Camus-senpai as we have been doing up until now.

Senpai grinned in satisfaction.

Cecil: Camus! You’re terrible!

Cecil-san screeched from the side. 

He glared reproachfully at Senpai, who grumpily retorted, "What?"

Cecil: Now you have put some kind of curse on her!

Up until now… No matter how tyrannical, violent, arrogant, selfish, foul-mouthed, abusive, or much of a liar you were…

I trusted you would never put a curse on her, even if you were twisted and immature to actually do so!

Camus: Bastard… It is amazing how you can so quickly spout off such a tirade against someone who you claimed to have believed in. You've become fluent in Japanese for nothing.

Camus-senpai mentioned how this was also the second time Cecil-san’s brought up how he’d believed in him, and as he calmly pointed this out, he tugged on my hand to pull me toward him.

Haruka: Ah….

Camus: I assure you, I have not placed any curses on anyone. In fact, my singing has just shown that I can break any kind of curse.

Haruka: R-Right. This is no curse…

My heart had not stopped pounding in my chest since Senpai had stared at me earlier. There is no way that this is a curse.

Cecil: Grr. I am not convinced.

Cecil-san puffed out his cheeks slightly and pointed straight at Senpai.

Cecil: Camus. At one point I thought you might be able to take care of her. But I take it back.

You are still a tyrant. I recognize you as a senpai, but you are unfit to be her partner. A tyrant is not worthy of the Muse.

Camus: Ha, how so? Is there any man as gentlemanly as I?

Haruka: Um, you guys…

I was stuck in the middle of Camus-senpai and Cecil-san having a glaring match.

Cecil: Camus, shall I give you a mirror? If you look in it every day, you will see exactly what kind of person you really are.

Camus: Oho. You've only been in Japan for a few years, but you've mastered some truly sophisticated phrasing.

Then allow me to reward you with a can of cat food. It's 100% fish meat. Get down on your knees and eat it.

Cecil: Grr….

Cecil-san took a step backward after being stared down by Senpai's oppressive gaze.

Cecil: Maybe I should have married the queen after all. You would not be so rude if I were the king of Silk Palace.

Camus: Shut up. You think a boy like you could ever possibly be a match for Her Majesty?

Cecil: You are very devoted to the queen. If she is so important to you, then go back to your country immediately. I will protect Haruka, so there is nothing to worry about.

Cecil took my hand and smiled at me.

Cecil: Haruka, I want to live together with you day and night.

Haruka: Um… But….

Cecil: I will not be as awful as Camus, I will be much, much… kinder.

Those jewel-like eyes stared straight at me, and I froze in place.

Then, Cecil-san tried to lift up the back of my hand.

Just before he brought it to his lips, Camus-senpai tsked, put his hands on my shoulders, and pulled me toward him.

Camus: Tsk…. Let go of her hand.

Haruka: Hyah!

Camus: Hmph. I can be as nice as I want to be. Isn’t that right, Haruka?

Haruka: Y-Yeah…

He was so close.

Camus-senpai smiled at me as my heart began to race once more.

Cecil: Non! Camus' kindness is fake. Muse, you must wake up!

Camus: Hmph. It doesn't matter if it's fake, as long as it's kind. What is there to complain about if I say I won't hurt her feelings?

Cecil: Guh…

Senpai looked down at me while keeping Cecil-san in check.

Camus: Haruka, stay by my side as you always have. …Okay?

Haruka: O-Okay…

Cecil: Non. I won't allow that to happen! Haruka, let’s live together.

Senpai smoothly stepped away from Cecil-san and reverently took my hand.

Camus: Haruka, If you so desire, you can be a lady or a princess, and I will treat you as such. So, what do you say?

Haruka: U-Um… I actually prefer… the way you usually act.

Camus: Hmph. I will behave in any way you want, but why?

Haruka: Because I know you’re already a kind man, and I want to stand by your side as I always have.

Camus: Wha…

Senpai was momentarily taken aback but soon laughed contentedly.

Camus: Indeed. That’s what I like to hear.

Cecil: I see… I understand now. Haruka, you really are happy to stay with Camus…

Cecil-san alternated glances between Senpai and I, then his shoulders slumped dejectedly.

Cecil: I would have stayed by your side and protected you if I could. But…. so be it.

I will be watching over you from afar.

Haruka: U-Um… Cecil-san….

What should I do…. I am very glad I can continue to live with Senpai, but I also couldn’t bear to just leave Cecil-san, who is so honest, friendly and like a little brother to me, to worry about me like this.

Haruka: Well… You know… How about the three of us start living together?

Camus: ….

Cecil: ….

For a moment, they were both flabbergasted.

Camus: Absolutely not!

Cecil: No way!!

The two of them screamed out almost simultaneously.

Cecil: Right… My princess. That is the one wish of yours I cannot grant. It would be a nightmare living with Camus again.

Cecil-san held his head in his hands, trembling, and gazed up at the ceiling in despair.

Camus: That’s my line, you fool. I will never forget all the pain you put me through during the Master Course.

You've got a problem with everything I do. It offends me just to look at you.

Cecil: Non! It is you who always finds a fault in everything I do!

Camus: That’s because everything is your fault!

Cecil: Speak for yourself!

Camus: You peasant!!

Haruka: H-Hey…

Cecil: Ramandillo! Tua Terra!

Camus: Reduma! Shevarena!!!

The two of them got heated enough to start arguing in their respective native languages.

Haruka: W-What to do…

Being Japanese, I was absolutely clueless as to what they were shouting at each other.

But, they both kind of looked like they were enjoying this fight…

Alexander: Bark!

I stood there, baffled, as Alexander trotted over and curled up lazily at my feet.

Haruka: Alexander… We should…

Alexander nuzzled up against my leg, seeming to want to tell me to leave the two alone, closed his eyes, and began to sleep soundly.

Haruka: Ah… But…

I looked between both of their backs as they continued to argue.

Then… Somehow along the way, we started talking about which one of us would share a room with who if we were to live together.

The fighting has to eventually stop, but…

The two of them seemed to be having a good time, and Alexander looked somewhat content.

I was a little relieved at the sight.

Happy End

#utapri #all star #all star camus #camus utapri

[aurake]

𝐆𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫, 𝐆𝐨𝐥𝐝.

— Shinichiro Sano x Gang Leader!Reader

— slight mentions of blood, more fighty than the last one, VERY LONG ONE

— “Date me,” he says. Now that lingers in your head after three days of not seeing that idiot.

— FINALLLY HERE'S THE LAST PART, LETS GO.

“Boss? Boss, were you listening to what we’ve said?”

“Huh, what?”

“Let me repeat it for ya.”

Your mind felt like it was mid-air, something bothered you ever since you’ve met with those bunch especially their President, Sano Shinichiro. It’s annoying you, the way he cheekily grinned as he said those words that made you surprised; how does one have the damn guts to say that to a person? How do they gather their thoughts together to ask someone out on a date? This man is the epitome of a try-hard idiot, but knowing him—it felt slightly off, as if he didn’t like effort that much.

You kept staring at the okonomiyaki that your vice president is making, you were in Monja Street along with your close aids—the street was known for its many food stalls, it’s a way for you to unwind and discuss matters in gang issues and the problematic things that you needed to sort out to prevent the rise of unwanted attention. Your group was discussing about the bizarre proposal that the President of Black Dragon, either you combine forces with them or the latter will result the dwindling in numbers; the other gang is the biggest one out there as Redcliff and the White Leopard are there to assist that bastard. Or was it the fact that it became bizarre is because he just asked you on a date? You still are surprised and annoyed by it.

Did your gang know that he attempted to court you? No.

Will they go batshit when they learn of it? Certainly.

“Apart from those annoying lizard men, there’s someone who’s trying to take control of our turf?”

“From my intels, yep. We must be prepared for another round of turf battles.”

Your second-in-command had heard of rumors of a gang trying to grab the opportunity to seize your reign on Chuo Ward. It irked you, some people just try and attempt to take your kingdom from you; as if they can, if they grovel and lick your shoes maybe. You grabbed the nearest object to vent your frustration in—poor wooden chopsticks immediately snapped in two, catching the attention of your members that are present in the current meeting. You clicked your tongue before gazing at them with your (E/C) hues, grabbing the short metal spatulas that the restaurant and helped with the okonomiyaki. you needed an instigator for your anger, or maybe a pathetic thug to punch the hell out of him.

Not until you remembered Sano’s face.

You accidentally flipped the food too much into the air that it landed right in your vice president’s face.

“The Golden Child, (Last Name) (First Name)… so she’s the one that rules Chuo-ku?”

A group of men gathered around near Toyosu Station in Koto City, surrounding their leader of the pack—a bizarre looking individual who wore too much piercings all over his face, tanned skin and some tattoos decorating his neck. Everyone else can already see that they shouldn’t interact with these type of men—he’s already impudent by standing here near the station, what else is there to mention?

He mentioned the name and the title of the neighboring gang leader, scoffing as he playfully twirled around his knuckle brass around his finger. “A girl? Moreover she’s like a brat. Looks like we can take the turf from her easily.” everyone laughs with him, enjoying the imaginative scenario playing in their minds, like lunatics.

“Let’s strike at the perfect opportunity.”

Nihonbashi Bridge, 12:23 PM.

Holding a bottle of ramune in your hands, you continued to look at the passingly cars, maybe look at the still water that’s right in front of you. You’re supposed to asleep, but you’re here—mumbling to yourself, remembering that it’s been three days since you just escorted Shinichiro and the other three near Ginza. That curious look from his doesn’t get wiped away from your memories; black, empty yet lively eyes would stare at you for hours, you remember the void that seemed to swallow you whole every time you confront it - not that it scares you, you’re just intimidated by the way it looks. By the time you all arrived, he gave you his smile before asking you to finally answer his question by the time that you both will meet again.

Why do you still think of him?

Why are you focused on his face?

Do you fancy it? Are you attracted by his features? Maybe his cheeky personality?

You chugged down the remains of your drink, gasping as if you were on a chokehold—well not literally, but the way he would appear for three days in your mind… you definitely feel something in your chest stir and make you feel giddy, excited even.

No way, no fucking way… are you feeling a some kind of attraction towards him!? To that person who would say, “date me” out of the blue!?

You shook your head and lowered your gaze. You can feel your cheeks heat up in embarrassment, this isn’t going well for you at all. “The fuck is this?” you whispered to yourself. If this is some kind of a shit spell that he casted upon you, you swear that you’ll cripple him into a wheelchair; but sorcery isn’t even true… or is it just you being new to this kind of emotion? This embarrassment that you never felt before, not even from your parents, it tightens your chest but not enough to make you faint, just put on the edge.

You just need to get rid of his face every time you began to be all by yourself.

“…god fucking damn it!” you punched the marble in front of you.

Seems like it’ll be difficult for you to do it.

Saturday, Kyobashi, 10:11 PM.

Now what just happened?

You’re now in the middle of a fight in Kyobashi, where everyone paved way for you and your “business” to continue. You were fighting flocks of men either holding weapons or just charging straight at you.

You vaguely remembered, but these thugs apparently were harassing female high school students and forcing them to get close to them, which was something that you caught a glimpse of and rushed to immediately kick the person right in the face—you had instructed the girls to stay away this place as far as possible, they immediately ran away; you had to taunt them further to engage into a fight with you. Saturdays were supposed to be your daily break from gang activities, but oh well—fighting here has no schedule, and you will happily oblige to their challenge.

“Come fuckers, let’s dance.” you fixed your haori before grinning confidently at them. “Can’t your feet move, gentlemen? Looking pathetic, I see.”

One steps up, it was the same atrocious-looking male that I previously mentioned here. “So, you’re the brat that manages (Gang Name) and Chuo-ku.” he prepares his golden knuckle brass, you just scoffed at his sudden appearance.

This poor excuse of a man was known as Golden Monkey, he leads the gang, Fukutsa-saru but looking at him; he’s looks far more worse than a monkey. He was the one that your vice president mentioned an intel to… so he’s the one who tries to take your kingdom in your rule?

Things are getting interesting.

As you continued to fight the other leader, someone saw you and immediately called to someone that knows you.

Nishinomiya Shrine, 10:15 PM.

Shinichiro and the Black Dragons were having a meeting, about the diplomacy rules that you have previously mentioned before. He was agreeing on the matter with the decision of the other leading figures in the gang. Aside from gang matters, he’s just excited to see you again after you just dropped them in a station and left without waving them goodbye, not that you needed to anyways. He can still vividly remember the way you scoff every time he asks a question, or you about about to punch him because he almost invaded your personal space. That made his heart transform into a fast beating of a taiko drum.

“President, we have received a message from one of our members!” one announced, Shinichiro looks at the source of the voice. “(Name)-sama is fighting off another gang all by herself.”

“How many?”

“He had estimated that it was around thirty people, sir!” the person continues. “She’s on Kyobashi.”

He grabbed his coat and rushed towards his bike to immediately rode off out of his gang’s sight, leaving a frustrated Takeomi and a grinning combo of Wakasa and Benkei.

“Will he become a loser at love once again?”

“Dunno, but we can’t just stand here and let them get hurt further right?”

The Black Dragons cheered and began to prepare for the move-out.

Kyobashi, 10:35 PM.

You were getting tired trying to smack everyone to the ground, they just stand up and continue to attack you especially their damned leader. Even though he looks pretty bruised up, he still tries to attack you directly in the face. You on the other side had some minimal injury in your foot but it’s still manageable, however your face are all reddened from his damn knuckle brass, you’re trying to avoid those while landing some punches on him.

You’re feeling exhausted, but you need to finish this or you’ll be knocked out.

“God fucking damn you idiot monkey! Aren’t you tired yet!?” you groaned before landing your kick on one of his henchmen, ducking below against another’s attack on you. “You should lay on your ass and just eat your damn banana, you’re making me constipated just by looking at you!”

He chuckles weakly, wiping off the blood in his nose that you broke earlier. “You look tired already, princess. You, instead, should rest and let us handle this turf.” You cackle at his words, mocking him in the process and landed another blow on him—but it felt weak, you can feel it, you’re reaching your limit.

Hissing in fatigue, you stepped back.

One sees this as an opportunity as he grabs a metal pipe and attempts to hit you from behind.

“I WON’T LET YOU DO THAT, PUNK!”

Someone shouts right at him before meeting up with a fist that made him fly towards the front of the post office. Hearing the crash at your back, you turned around—your (E/C) eyes caught dark hues staring right at you. The idiot was still here at Chuo, unbelievable. Shinichiro Sano never fails to make you irritated and feel glad at the same time. “You’re fucking late to the party, you know?” you sighed before wiping off the blood trickling down in your mouth, you can hear him laugh.

He grinned. “It’s a surprise attack. Suppose you know that?”

“Hell yeah. But you executed it badly.” you shook your head.

The monkey sees the new challenger going beside. “Is this your sidekick now?” he scoffs. “Or maybe your boyfriend?”

“Actually I’m about to be—”

“Shut the fuck up, Sano.”

You both continued to fight… mostly you pulling Shinichiro when he’s about to get hit from behind, and then punching the thugs afterwards. It’s a cycle between the two of you just protecting each other’s back, but it’s not enough—they swarm in like countless of monkeys that were holding lots of grudges against you. You at some point began to fall, and he had to support you by holding you in the shoulders. God forbid, this fight is getting a little bit too long for your own good, you can’t even feel your feet on the ground.

You prayed, hoping that the heavens would hear you.

Just this one, heed my wish.

“Aww, everyone looks tired. That’s a shame.”

You heard voices, you looked at the male that’s supporting you—he was smiling, as if victory is already ensured. Continuous roars of motorbikes began to get louder and louder by the second, that’s where you realized that your gang and Shinichiro’s gang had arrived in the scene. You can see countless of gang members began to surround the small gang that tried to beat you up.

The leader horrifyingly looked at the man beside you. Looks like he realized that it was the Infamous Weak King that he had encountered and the Black Dragon was in this place. In the end, he got knocked out by Benkei who looked a little bit too excited about beating up someone again.

“Thank you for informing us of this incident, (Last Name)-san, please attend to first aid along with the fella that is also injured.”

“Right, thanks.”

Unfortunately for them, as they got wiped out, you immediately called the police on them; also informing the Black Dragon that they should disperse before they could get arrested, immediately went out as soon as you said those words, leaving only your vice president, Takeomi, Benkei, Wakasa and a beaten up Shinichiro hissing at his bruises on his face.

That looks painful, you looked at him again with uncertainty. He just looks at you, then smiles as he winces again as the attendee tends to his injuries. “Yikes, you look bad.” you just scrunched up your face.

He chuckles at your response, seemed like he likes it. “It’s nothing, I can manage.”

“Manage, my ass.” Wakasa just looked at him. “Remember the time when you almost got knocked out by someone because you weren’t paying attention?” Shinichiro immediately shook his head at the albino, as if saying that he shouldn’t talk further than that. The male just grins before leaving the two of you alone.

After some time, his gaze lands on you—he began to fidget, opening his mouth as if he was trying to say something. As much as you want to call him out on that, you let him take his time on saying it, it’s the least that you can do right now. He now leans back and sighs. “Since I did sacrifice my good looks for this, how about we relish it off by eating in some of the places I know of? Just the two of us?” what a smooth motherfucker.

You raised your brow at him.

Well the offer seemed to be nice, so why not?

“Make sure to be here at 7 tomorrow.”

“…what?”

“Seven, tomorrow morning at Ginza Station, don’t you dare forget that.”

You stood up from your seat and began to walk away from them, along with your Vice President who’s now apologizing to you. Shinichiro can only process some information that happened right in front of him. But then he realizes that he hasn’t told her about the agreement about the peace treaty between them.

“HEY (NAME)! ABOUT THE DEAL—!”

“You can tell me about it after tomorrow! We aren’t finished about the discussion yet!”

He was awestruck, he managed to persuade you by going to a date with him, but you immediately turned the tide around by inviting him into countless of city dates. He grinned back at his friends behind, Benkei was the first one to happily smack him in the back which made him fly towards the wall.

Poor boy.

At least he got himself into dates with you, that’s more than enough <3

sorry for the long wait! I finally finished my final semester of my first year in college, I'll now be updating more often since I fINALLY HAVE A FREE SCHEDULE! REJOICE! YAAAAAAAAAY!

As this was over, there's an upcoming series I think you all will liek, hope you'll tune in for some news hehe! Rake out &lt;3 ALSO JEEBUS HAPPY BIRTHDAY LOVES SHINICHIRO YOU HAVE A PRESENT FROM MOI <3

[1]

#rake ʼ — writes! #ラケ. drabbles! #tokyo revengers #tokyorev x reader #tokyo rev x you #black dragons #shinichiro sano x reader #shinichiro x y/n #shinichiro sano

[qqueenofhades]

You're pretty smart, and you know your politics, so I have a question I want to ask. Leftists claim Biden has enough power to cancel student debt, and I'm wondering if that's actually true? So can he? Or is it a lie?

WELP. This has been one of the biggest talking points ever since Biden took office, and there have been rampant bad-faith misinformation, exaggeration, and general disingenuous attacks that have largely or entirely come from said Online Left. Right-wingers are screaming about how Biden's an illegitimate fraud who stole the election from God King Trump and is a socialist and evil Plotter Against America and so forth, but the left? They think Biden's the devil because "he hasn't cancelled all student loans!!!" Which, you may remember, he a) never actually promised to do outright, and b) this whole "Biden is worse than Trump because he hasn't given ME a pony, and therefore I am morally justified in withholding my vote from the Democrats yet again" is about as immature, sociopathic, and selfish as it's possible to get, especially when the other party has gone full masks-off fascist and is preparing its second coup attempt and end of American democracy in plain sight. So.... yeah.

The actual facts as to whether Biden has the authority to just wipe out the $1.7 trillion of current outstanding federal student debt are, to say the least, complicated. As I have said before, I am not unconcerned about the issue. I voted for Elizabeth Warren in the primaries largely because she made full cancellation a priority, and I have a lot of debt from three degrees (especially my master's degree) which I am, barring a sudden economic windfall, deeply unlikely to ever actually pay off. So yes, I would like to see the development of a policy to both permanently get rid of my loans and make sure that future generations don't have to be saddled with this unjust lifetime economic burden. As with most things, this is Ronald Reagan's fault. Once Reaganomics became the central economic planning strategy, and taxes for wealthy individuals and corporations were drastically slashed as a result, that meant there was no more money left over to either automatically pay for college or have it average $50 a semester. The student loan debt crisis is a predictable result of deliberate and repeated Republican policy: make the rich richer and make the poor poorer by forcing them to take out loans that they are unlikely to pay back, because we need to keep more money for the richest 1%.

Biden is the first president since Reagan to actually and forcefully denounce "trickle-down economics" and state outright what we can all see: that the policy doesn't work. However, since it's been the guiding principle of American and global capitalism for 40+ years, you can't just snap your fingers and reverse all the effects, and that's where the student debt debate gets really stupid. Online Leftists are the kind of people who strongly believe that all the problems in America could just be fixed if Biden and the Democratic Party "tried hard enough," and the fact that they "haven't tried" and/or succeeded in everything is proof that they don't care and that they're evil and etc etc worse than Trump voting is bad I am a very moral and progressive person who performs purest wokeness on the Internet!! So that's the approach that they're taking to the debt crisis. The fact that Biden hasn't snapped his fingers and wiped out the $1.7 trillion existing debt means that he doesn't care and he's evil, end of story.

You might recognize this as a risibly simplistic and nonsensical "analysis" that doesn't take into account any actual facts and mostly serves to stoke outrage and increase anti-voting and anti-Democratic sentiment in leftist online circles. And yet, it's pretty much the dominant philosophy, because fantasy worlds and magical thinking are much easier than comprehensively reasoning through the problem and coming up with a realistic, tenable, and long-term solution. It's substantially unclear whether Biden has the executive authority to just handwave away almost 1/20th of the USA's entire GDP (which was $23 trillion in 2021). That debt is managed by large companies, tied up in other investments, traded on the stock market, and otherwise treated like any other financial commodity, and it's unclear what just evaporating it would do. It's not fair, you say? Welcome to capitalism! Student debt is currently an integral part of the American economy, and with inflation and gas prices staying high and dark whispers of a recession that could hit just before the November midterms, Biden is going to be cautious about taking sweeping and unprecedented actions that might have a knock-on effect and hamper the ability of Democrats to be elected and/or keep the House and Senate, which is already going to be an uphill battle. Which is... not wrong.

This also involves a fundamental misreading of what the executive branch is and is not able to do. As noted, a significant chunk of the Online Left thinks that Biden can just wave a magic wand and fix everything, and/or write an executive order and solve the problem. First, executive orders are NOT magic wands, and second, they're temporary fixes at best, because the American system is purposefully designed NOT to centralize all unaccountable power in the executive branch, because it was founded on the kind-of-important idea that we shouldn't have a king. Obviously, recent Republican presidents have tried to use it in exactly that way, which has led to the grossest abuses of power that we have seen in possibly the entire history of the institution. If Biden did issue an executive order to cancel all student debt, it wouldn't be a magical and instantaneous fix; it would direct the relevant federal departments to come up with and implement a solution. That would still take time and effort to figure out and would involve all the factors previously mentioned, and I can guarantee that 48 hours after he did issue such a hypothetical order, there would be Online Leftists bitching about how it hadn't happened yet and therefore wasn't good enough for them.

Obama's second term and most of Trump's ill-fated single term were run by executive orders, because Obama had a hostile Republican-controlled Congress blocking everything and Trump was just too dumb and impatient to go through the legislative process, because he didn't care about anything except his own power and grift. That was why, in both cases, it was easy to get rid of some of the most egregious policies; you just issue an executive order to reverse the last one. It's also why any executive-order-based solution would be vulnerable to reversal by any Biden successor. If, God forbid, Ron DeSantis or some other aspiring Trump clone won the presidency in 2024, he could just issue an order cancelling the program. But Online Leftists don't get that either and likewise don't have the patience or understanding of the deeply flawed American legislative system, especially now that one of the two major parties has abdicated all interest in responsible government and just exists to pursue white grievance and fascism. Plus, the Democrats have a barely operable Senate majority thanks to Manchin and Sinema essentially functioning as Republicans. If you want a legislative solution that will be more workable, wide-reaching, and harder to undo, yet again, you need to elect more and better Democrats. But since voting is anathema to certain types of Online Leftists, God forbid they do that.

Besides, I don't know if they've heard of a certain branch called the federal judiciary, but it's been making major problems for both Biden's administration and the rest of us. (I'm expecting SCOTUS to drop Dobbs either next Monday or the last Monday in June, so... farewell to legal abortion in much of the country because "SCOTUS isn't important and I'm not voting for Hillary Clinton!") Anything that Biden does via executive action is subject to challenge and review in the courts, and since there have already been plenty of Trump-appointed judges striking down his policies, it’s foolish to think that such a drastic action as student debt cancellation would just slide right on through without being challenged by the latest asshole Republican AG who wants partisan points for stonewalling “Biden’s reckless economic policies!” And as noted, due to the four years Trump and McConnell spent stuffing the benches with partisan hacks, there’s every chance that said challenge would succeed. Then that would somehow also be Biden’s fault for doing it via executive order and not legislation, which the Online Left would suddenly remember as existing after all. There’s really no way it could ever be good enough for them, because their entire brand is built on positioning themselves as smarter and more morally correct and more progressive than The Establishment, even if their rhetoric is largely dangerous nonsense that is needlessly driving young voters away from the Democratic Party at one of the most fragile political moments in recent memory. But y’know, gotta get that Twitter clout.

Besides, all this overlooks that Biden has cancelled student loan debt to a degree unprecedented by any of his predecessors! Aside from the multiple extensions to the COVID-era loan freeze, which mean that no borrower anywhere has paid a single penny in either loans or interest since he took office, he has cancelled billions for low-income, defrauded, or otherwise cheated borrowers who attended defunct for-profit schools such as Corinthian College, who basically took students’ money, saddled them with unworkable debt, and didn’t provide them with an actual degree at the end. You know, the people who actually need debt relief the most, and yet you won’t find any so-called progressive talking about that, because Biden hasn’t personally cancelled THEIR debt or given THEM a pony. For people who claim to care about others, this is, again, profoundly selfish and short-sighted. Plus they behave outright abominably; in January, Biden’s POTUS Twitter account sent out a post solemnly commemorating Holocaust Remembrance Day, and there were plenty of gremlins in the replies attacking him for... not cancelling student debt yet. I don’t know about you, but I don’t think a Holocaust remembrance post is the right forum to bully and scream about that.

As I’ve said, I do have problems with how the administration is sticking too closely to the old-school model of “bipartisanship” and “due process,” especially in regard to the prosecutions of the Trump cabal for their endless and brazen criming. We’re having the January 6 hearings now, and it’s still not clear if it’ll lead to full charges, conviction, and imprisonment for Trump. We’re having to push and press and divine tea leaves for any sign that Merrick Garland and the Department of Justice are really doing their job; taking down the Proud Boys and Oath Keepers is all well and good, but everyone knows this is ultimately the Trump crime family’s fault. All of them need to be in jail for the future survival of the oldest democratic republic in the world, and yet Garland still seems to think that it’s too “political” or “partisan” to actually pursue an investigation with the necessary aggressiveness. I am hoping to eat my words, and as I have also said, I recognize that complex and unprecedented investigations into a former president with an extensively corrupt support system take time and effort. But also... nobody has any actual faith that Trump is going to be convicted and imprisoned for the rampant damage that he did and continues to do via proxy, and that speaks to a larger failing to grasp the seriousness of the moment. No matter what’s going on behind closed doors, public communication is important, and I just don’t believe the DOJ gets it.

All of this is to say: I have policy differences with Biden’s administration and think that it needs to be visibly more innovative and aggressive in several areas (aside from the J6 prosecutions, why the hell are you waiting for Dobbs to drop to issue an executive order on abortion rights? Just do it now for God’s sake! People will need time to plan and implement!) But the argument about “why hasn’t Biden cancelled student loans yet!” is fanciful, malicious, has very little relation to how anything actually works, and is pushed by Online Leftists who are doing unnecessary and serious damage to the Democratic Party in one of the most volatile and uncertain moments for American democracy in the history of the country. And for that, frankly, I feel like they don’t deserve to get their own loans cancelled, after behaving so terribly about it and spreading so much harmful outrage, defeatism, and misinformation. Oops.

#anonymous #ask #politics for ts #long post

[fleetsofsnow]

Every once in a while I think about how there's been some (not enough but some) international attention on Xinjiang and the Uyghurs, and how previously there were some (not enough, and now seemingly rapidly fading) concern and international attention on Tibet, but I've not really seen people talk about Inner Mongolia.

Because sometimes I'll come across articles like this one and wonder how their people feel, how they live, what they want.

Because "Thousands of ethnic Mongolians have protested across northern China in opposition to Beijing plans to replace the Mongolian language with Chinese in some school subjects" and "Elbegdorj Tsakhia, president of Mongolia from 2009 to 2017, published a video in support of the protests" and that "The changes mirror those already made in Xinjiang in 2017 and Tibet in 2018."

Because "Enghebatu Togochog, director of the US-based Southern Mongolian Human Rights Information Center" said “The main concern of the Mongolian people is that this language change is pretty much just to wipe out the Mongolian language education in Southern Mongolia once and for all”.

And he also said that "In the past 70 years Mongolian people have gone through a lot, including genocide, political oppression, economic exploitation, cultural assimilation and environmental destruction. So after 70 years of China’s heavy-handed policy, the Mongolian language is the last remaining symbol of Mongolia."

And "Chinese authorities also shut down the only Mongolian social media app in the country".

And how do you live with that knowledge floating around the back of your head? What can you do? You can maybe highlight one thing at a time. Try to change the world in whatever way you can one step at a time. Spread information one click at a time. But what does that do for the millions of people suffering, from Ukraine to Palestine to the Congo to Tibet to Xinjiang to Inner Mongolia to the indigenous communities in Philippines to the Rohingya to endless others that I know and do now know of.

What do we do?

#mongolia #atrocities #fleets of snow

[40sandfabulousaf]

大家好! The boss and I caught up with Antho, our mutual friend, who introduced us to a stall specialising in mala. We left the ordering to him and he filled our small table with enough dishes to feed 5! The food was so delicious, I couldn't stop eating even after I was stuffed to the brim. None of us stopped until we wiped all the plates clean.

I'll share about what I got up to during Chinese New Year in the next post. This week, I came across a stall selling tomato soup fish bee hoon (vermicelli). In a nutshell, they serve the tangy broth used in tomato egg noodles with thick slices of fresh fish, tomato chunks, tofu cubes, lettuce and thick bee hoon. Digging through the noodles, I discovered a generous portion of fish slices, so for the price of $7.50, it was decent value for money. I'll return to try their original flavour sliced fish bee hoon soup.

Hokkien mee, frequently a combo of thick bee hoon and yellow noodles, is wok fried with egg, veggies and a flavourful broth. The noodles absorb the broth, making them very tasty and a firm local favourite, any time of the day. There are 2 versions: with prawns (usually sold by stalls that specialise in this dish) and without (sold at cai fan, or mixed dishes and rice) stalls. The former usually has a much more robust prawn flavour since it's eaten on its own, whilst the latter is milder tasting so as to pair well with other dishes. Both are very delicious.

This Chinese New Year, whilst I love my country deeply, I'm also fiercely embracing my ethnicity and roots. Grandpa came from Xi Men, Taipei, ROC and spoke solely in Hokkien for all his life. When he told me stories about how he came to Singapore, he always said he came from China. So to me, there was never any question about Taiwan; it's part of China. Nonetheless, the issue of Taiwan remains strictly between it and China. I have enough respect to keep my nose out of China's internal affairs.

We might be feasting during this festive period but elsewhere in the world, including in Gaza, hunger persists. Palestinian civilians currently survive off animal feed and rice. Food supplies are dwindling whilst Israel is interfering in how and where aid is delivered. Why haven't the US, UK, Canada and other Western countries said anything about the abuse of human rights? 下次见!

#Youtube

[countrymusiclover]

22 - Sober Father

Part 23

Victor's Daughter

Tags - @lemonluvgirl87 @virtualsweetsdreamer @emma-andrea1

"So what's going on with her. How do you even know anything about her?" I asked being tugged through the hallways by Finnick. He doesn't say anything until he pushed me inside a room where I see my father blowing his nose into a rag. The door closed with Finnick leaning his back against it. "Why did you bring me here?" I asked eyeing my father who sniffed pating the empty bed space beside him so I sit down. "I asked him to. Katniss won't talk to me and neither do you. So I'm sorry that it has to be this way." Flipping my hair I scoffed his direction. "Maybe because you left a little girl there on her own. And don't deny it because she said you were a rebel-" He takes my hands in his cutting me off with a heavy sigh. "Sweetheart, she's still alive. She did her job. If she had left Snow would have burned every district looking for her." Running my fingers through my hair I knotted it a little in frustration. Flopping back on the bed until Finnick cleared his throat. "Katniss is about to start the speech. Come on I'll take you to her." He pulls me up and my father follows us through the halls. I slowly start walking beside him with a small smile mumbling. "I'm sorry dad. I just miss her..." Finnick eyes us as he pulled out a picture of his girlfriend from his pocket. I recognized the girl in the picture as Annie, the girl Maggs had volunteered for in last years games. In his eyes you could see he truly loved her, like Peeta does Katniss.

Katniss stands in front of a screen with little dots holding her bow in her hands. Dressed like she's ready for war. "People of Panem. We fight, we dare to end this hunger for justice!" She shouted but my father walked from around our corner slow clapping his hands to her. "And that my friends. Is how a revolution dies." Katniss just glared down to him quickly leaving the room and I followed. Unfortunately he followed us down the metal staircase grabbing her forearm. "You made your point, Haymitch." She rolled her eyes but he pointed a finger at her. "Not to you I didn't. Look we're gonna have to work together. So just get it off your chest." She yanks her arm from his crossing her arms over her chest. "You promised me that you would save him...but I guess all you care about is your daughter!" My gaze fell to the ground at her words, kicking the tip of my boots into the metal ground. I know she didn't mean it since we're friends but it still hurts regardless. "I can't believe you let him out your sight. And for your information yes I got her out. But I won't let Snow kill the only family I've got left in my life. Did you ever think about that?" She looks to the ground muttering something I don't understand.

"Katniss, he's not dead. We saw him. Snow isn't stupid enough to kill him because he knows how much you love him." I explained dropping my arms at my sides, hoping she has some hope for the baker boy to live. Celestia Snow would live no matter what. I learned one thing during my time in the Capital the 74th year. President Snow loved his granddaughter more than anything. "Katniss, lisen we're still in the game. Petta's still alive and so are we." My father told her wiping his nose with his sleeve. He's been struggling having to be sober or at least not have one beer a day. I've never seen him really without one and it makes me sad. Mom would be more upset that he's living such trauma. A couple hours later I meet Gale in the conference room where as soon as I get there I rushed embracing Effie in a warm hug. "Effie!" She embraced me with the same excitement. No longer wearing tons of makeup and big wigs since they aren't allowed. "I've missed you, little Victor." That brings tears to my eyes because only her and Cina called me that. Plutarch had told me of his death and it nearly broke my heart. The doors opened and I see Plutarch walk in with a woman with blonde straight hair being President Coin.

Sitting down in a chair with Gale to my right and Katniss on my left. Effie sits near Coin and Plutarch watching my father rise to his feet clasping his hands together. "Okay, let's all think of one moment where Katniss Everdeen generally moved you. Not where she made a good shot with an arrow or her dress went up in flames. But where she truly moved you." He then wiped away what was written on the large touch screen on the wall. "I hope that wasn't important." Tilting his head towards President Coin. Effie immediately raised her hand voicing. "When she volunteered for her sister." My father grinned writing it on the screen. Without a pause I reach under the table taking Katniss's hand in mine giving her a weak smile. Beeta spoke up about Rue where I sniffed with watery eyes. "When she chose Rue as an Allie as well." Everyone nodded in agreement. "You know Effie, I like you better, without all that makeup." My father suddenly spoke up messing with one of her first wigs. Pulling me from my trance I eyed Effie's reply. "Well I like you better sober." He turns back to the board then glanced over his shoulder briefly. Without thinking I give him a thumbs up discreetly, seeing him smiling. Mom would be happy that he found someone to make him happy after her lose.

"So what's the common factor in all these?" My father asked arms thrown out from his sides. Gale leans forward with his elbows on the table answering simple. "No one told her what to do." My father grinned pointing towards Plutarch and Coin explaining. "Then let's put her in the field. Shoot actual scenes instead of fake ones." Plutarch was trying with what he had but it's not enough. If they wanted her to lead a rebellion than she needs to be present during the Capitals cruelty. As horrible as it sounds it's what works. "I can't just send an untrained civilian into battle just for effect. We can't garentee her safety." Coin shakes her head no turning down the possibility. Katniss sat up putting her hands on the table leaving afterwards. "You'll never be able to garentee my safety. I'm going." Everyone just sits in silence so I stop playing with my fingers getting up to declaring to the room without a chance for disagreement. "I'm going to. Beeta can make me knives." Foosteps chased after me down the ramp and the person managed to grab my forearm. Spinning me back around I face Gale who has a look of disagreement written on his face. "Gale, I have to go. Celestia needs to know I'm alive. Plus the other districts are like us, we have to stand against the Capital." He released my arm with a heavy sigh, resting a hand to my cheek softly. "I just don't want you to get hurt. I care about you too much Y/n Abernathy." Wrapping my arms around his neck pulling him into a hug I mumble into his shirt. "I know, Gale. Believe me I know. But I'm done hiding for the rest of my life."

Comments really appreciated ❤️

#victor's daughter #gale hawthorne x reader #gale hawthorne #gale hawthorne x reader fanfiction #gale hawthorne x abernathy reader #liam hemsworth #katniss everdeen #jennifer lawrence #primrose everdeen #willow shields #haymitch abernathy x daughter reader #haymitch abernathy #woody harrelson #peeta mellark #the hunger games #catching fire #mockingjay part 2 #mockingjay part 1 #celestia snow #finnick odair #district 13 #president snow's granddaughter #wattpad fanfiction #ask box is open for feedback #comments really appreciated

[razorblade180]

Twin Snowflakes 43:Final Warmth

TSF 42<- here

“I won’t be long.” Valerie said to her mother, hopping out the car with her sports bag. Looking out at her school made her stomach churn and heart race. In and out, that was the goal. Valerie took a breath then headed inside. Hopefully the chaos of last period starting would help avoid Harriet or anyone else prone to long winded conversations. That hope was quickly yanked away by a hand gripping the back of her collar and suddenly yanking her into the council room.

Valerie whipped around to see Eliza. The Vice President’s eyes burrowed into Valerie’s with such silent evaluation that Valerie could tell the girl didn’t pull her in here to talk about missing school.

“I take it you’re in the loop?” Val said solemnly.

Eliza crossed her arms and tilted her head to the side. “It’s only natural.”

Well it isn’t like Valerie didn’t see this coming or deserve this. That’s the thing about underhanded tactics when you’re at the top. Everyone ranked lower gets cheated out of their rightfully earned ranking. “I take it this is the part you yell at me?”

“No. I don’t care enough about you to do that if I’m being perfectly honest with you. Can’t say I lost much respect either. Nick’s always been better than you in my eyes. Maybe not in a fight but definitely as an individual.”

A lump formed in Valerie’s throat. “Fair enough.” Why couldn’t Eliza yell at her instead? “Well…I am sorry I diminished your efforts. I-”

“Not looking for an apology either. Save those for people you actually hurt.”

Val clenched the strap of her bag. “What do you want then!? Taking a dig at me? Believe me I already feel shitty about it.” Tears welled up immediately.

Eliza let out a sigh. Guess softening her tone would help, so she decided to cut the girl some slack. “Relax. No need for tears. I’m not an idiot. I could tell the moment I saw you that you’re clearly not thrilled about how things played out. Am I really the only person on this council that doesn’t get highly emotional at the drop of a hat? How exhausting. Guess that explains Nick didn’t give me the time of day just now if you two saw each other.”

“Huh?” She wiped her eyes, taken aback. “I haven’t seen Nick today. I just got here.”

“So did he, a few minutes ago. Both of you played hooky and now you show up near the end of school. I assumed you both ran into each other or had to have met outside of school for whatever reason.”

“No. I’m here to return and clean out some gear. Sports…just don’t feel okay right now.” To think that after staying home to avoid conflict for the day, Valerie almost ran into Nick who must’ve been doing something similar. “.Never mine all that. Which way did he go?”

“Why? So you can go the opposite direction from him and his sister?” The way Valerie’s eyes widened told Eliza she hit the nail on the head. “Since when do you back down from confrontation?”

“This isn’t a sport Eliza. I just…” Her body slouched over like it was deflated and weak. “I can’t see them right now. Couldn’t even bring myself to call. That is if they didn’t block me yet.”

“You are correct about one thing. This isn’t a game. It’s real life. Have you ever learned about the rules of three?”

“No but I’m sure you’re going to tell me.”

“I don’t need this tone from you.” Eliza squinted. Why was she even trying to help? She could be doing anything, and yet… “They say things like to come in threes. Luck, misfortune, disaster, and even habits that can easily turn into personality traits.”

Eliza reached out and lifted Valerie’s head up by the chin. “Full disclosure, I don’t think you’re a coward.”

“Ummm thanks?” That came out of left field.

“I might not think that but you should take this into consideration. Instead of telling Nick your honest thoughts and emotions, you ran from them. Instead of coming to school, you chose to skip out of fear of facing the twins yet show up to quit sports apparently; even though nobody will understand why. Now here you are, a chance to face your friends, and what do you want to do?”

Valerie had no answer. She tried looking away but Eliza turned her head right back to look her in the eyes.

Blood rushed to her cheeks, making them rosy whie her eyes were still ready to flood over. Eliza never saw the girl look so distressed. Despite her shortcomings, no one dealt with adrenaline and pressure quite like Valerie. Unlike Summer, it never failed to turn into resolve. Maybe with a push, it could do that again.

“Don’t let your third strike be running away from people you care about. Facing them is unavoidable and time isn’t gonna necessarily cool their anger. Best to get it over with. Like I said, you’re not a coward. Don’t take steps to be one.”

Val sniffled, trying to calm down and think. This wasn’t at all what she expected to hear, let alone for Eliza. Even with the look she gave earlier, Valerie started to understand that it wasn’t judgment. Eliza was accessing her, trying to see all the feelings swirling inside. It was oddly comforting, not being coddled or judged. Eliza was merely talking to her.

“You’re kinder than you let on to be.”

“I’m never mean! I don’t stand for any of the nonsense between you three. It makes things complicated to do and I feel uneasy.”

“Hmmm, that’s called concern and right now you’re showing a little compassion.”

“And right now you’re a little annoying and showing that you’re observant.” Eliza turned Val’s head to the board to show her the giant message saying about Summer being in the boiler room.”

“Ah…” In her defense, it’s hard noticing a message when someone is controlling your head and your eyes are watery. “I’m headed that direction anyways.”

“Perfect.” Eliza let her go and went on to go about her business. “Go be an extra set of hands. I’m sure that’s where Nick went.”

Compassion comes from unexpected places apparently. Though Valerie teased a little to ease her nerves, she really was relieved by Eliza. Also a little scared. Things these days felt completely out of place. Even so, Val knew there’d be hell to pay for turning back now. She didn’t feel ready for this conversation. She probably never would, so why run away indeed? Valerie walked out the door with her bag in hand, her unfortunately destination clear.

Her legs refused to slow her pace despite her mind needing more time to think of her words. Having a planned response might not go well. Defending herself wasn’t in the cards, but even the twins wouldn’t expect her to be silently berated. “Do they even want to hear sorry?” Val grumbled as she entered the boiler room. Each and every step down were seconds cherished until…

Bang! A hefty thud rumbled deeper down and snapped Valerie out of her train of thought, making her walk faster. “Oh, maybe they actually need…” cool air grazed the skin while destruction came into view. “help?” Her eyes didn’t know what to focus on or what she was supposed to be seeing, until they fell on a girl of ice poised to strike what laid at her feet. “Nick?”

Both him and Shiva turned their heads to down the aisle where Valerie stood, motionless, her bag dropping to the floor. Nick’s dim eyes locked onto Valerie's fearful ones. In that moment, be it a prayer or pure will, Nick’s eyes fought their way back to consciousness for his body to let out a plea. “Run! Away!”

To no one’s expectation, Valerie’s body leaned forward before breaking into a sprint towards them. “Away…” her voice trembled, fist reeling back as she lunged forward with her words spoken from the depths of her heart into a battle cry. “GET AWAY FROM HIM!”

Shiva smirked, smacking the floor for ice to manifest and solidify into a thick wall between them, but only fueled the Valkyrie’s fury.

“YOU THINK THAT’LL STOP ME!?”Pink aura began to glow brightly as her words turned into power and resolve thanks to her semblance.

“Ha! Try all you want. With all this power, not even Nora would crumble this wall without a charged hamme-”

Like a thunder clap, Valerie’s right fist bashed into the ice with a single strike that forced its way through like speeding trains through glass. Not only was Shiva completely caught off guard but almost failed to bring her arms up to block. When she did, the unexpected happened. Both girls witnessed a simple and small glyph pop up between them. There was no time for Shiva to even examine it because of its immediate destruction from Valerie’s attack. Her forearms connected briefly to bloody knuckles before her body was sent flying back into a wall, knocking some wind out of her. A glimpse at right hand turning red and blue from the cold as it fell limp only further surprised Shiva.

“She broke it?” Shiva’s body finally hit the floor, but not before seeing Valerie take Nick into her arms. Valerie and Shiva locked gaze, both still processing.

Not one to miss an opening, Max came running into view from Shiva’s left. He quickly took advantage of the chaos by throwing several of flame dust vials at Shiva that Summer had brought down with her, triggering a small fiery explosion with a boiler that made Shiva howl in furious pain for a moment; only a moment. Still it was enough for Max to throw Darren over his shoulder and run towards and past Valerie.

“Don’t just stand there!” He yelled in pure fear.

Valerie snapped out of her daze and b-lined it for the exit. A bellowing scream from behind that brought a chill to her spine told her not to look back.

The yell snuffed out the flames. Any damage done was already erased and left only one very angry being surrounded by water as the destruction of a boiler sounded off an alarm and brought flashing red lights.

“WHERE DO YOU THINK YOU’RE GOING!?”

Amidst the blaring lights and pain, Nick still tried to use his glyph on the dagger of Diamond Dust. Though to what end, he couldn’t say. “V-Val…”

“Shhh, now isn’t the time okay?” Her voice was shrill and eyes flooded with tears as she ran. “You’re okay. Just hang on a little and-”

“Left…” he wheezed in pain.

“Huh?”

“Left!!” He yelled the best he could.

Valerie sidestepped left into an ailes with no further questions when the icicles where she once stood shot up from the ground. Her feet took her all the way down to the other side to go straight when suddenly…

“Right!”

Valerie dodged right into another ailes. Nick kept yelling lefts and rights, even backwards, when icicles threatened their lives towards the stairs. Powerful or not, Shiva had habits, and Nobody spent more time running from them than Nick. The focus on them made it easy for Max to not only go straight to the stairs but grab Valerie’s bag. Ice spread through the area like plant life blooming across the wild towards the exit. Valerie was only several feet behind Max when more icicles rose in front of the door. Valerie’s entire body clenched, preparing for shoulder bash. If the ice was anything like that wall…

Shiva glared, “Just try it.” Prepared to trap her feet once Valerie failed with the creeping ice, Shiva gasped seeing her blockade shattered from the other side. Valerie ran straight up the stairs past Max who no longer carried Darren, but that girl’s annoying battle ax. He threw another vial at tanks nearby that impeded some of the ice with fire and whatever tanks of scalding water were yet to be tampered with.

“Heh~” Shiva staggered to her feet, fully getting her wind back and seeing the light from the door close. “Hehehe, Hahahahaha~”

Val stepped over Darren, left on the steps briefly before Max picked him up again. The boiler room door flung open with a kick. Both teenagers escaped up into the school where warning lights flashed and plenty of kids looked in confusion and worry.

“Everyone out of the building!” Valerie yelled, fearing the worst.

What she didn’t know was the worst was already in progress. Creaking in the walls began. Old metal rattled and the school echoed a ghastly noise like a broken instrument. Valerie slowly turned her head left towards a source of rattling. It was the water fountain. Valerie’s face went pale. They didn’t escape at all.

“She’s in the pipes…”

Blooms of ice burst out of the fountain and walls. Worry quickly turned to panic as droves of students began running from an unknown threat. Sinks exploded, the toilets, showers, one by one the cold spread and froze water in its wake. Valerie gasped as the gym doors flew open. It was Harriet.

“The hell is going on!?” She yelled.

“C-Coach?”

Harriet turned her head to the shrill voice and gasped. A few feet away was Valerie, shaking with Nick in her arms; his body covered in blood. Not to mention Valerie’s right hand dripping it from torn up knuckles with purplish red skin that reached her wrist. Nick barely glanced in her direction, before his glyph cracked, fading like his consciousness.

“Nick?!” Valerie felt her heart race. The feeling of Nick’s warmth fading made her breath quicken to the brink of pure panic. Her tearful eyes looked back at Harriet. “H-He’s dying.”

In a blink of an eye, Harriet stood right before Valerie. With her mind frazzled, Valerie barely felt Harriet take Nick out of her arms before speeding off. Val’s eyes saw the soldier's lips move but honestly couldn’t begin to hear the words. Her own thoughts going a mile a minute. Valerie didn’t even register the sound of her ax hitting the ground as Max fled with Darren.

Right below the school, Shive dumped her Dust in every take she could. The way it flowed through the pipes like blood through veins spreading to every inch of the facilities made her body tingle. The warm bodies through the hall, mass of heat moving to the south, cafeteria’s vacancy, the office attendants fleeing from their windows…

“I feel it. This place, I know it all.” Summer’s memories served her well. Shiva focused on the mass of heat. At first it felt like a clump of students, but now. The ice around that area seemed to melt and fall apart. She reformed it easily but it was clear the heat was destroying ice along parts of the wall or in the middle of halls. “Ah…how could I forget? Might as well not waste effort I suppose.”

xxxxx

Upstairs among the panic, Eliza blasted doors with fireballs and kicked them open, freeing anyone who might be trapped and blowing a whole through windows. She couldn’t stop panic, but she could prevent her peers from potentially trampling one another.

“Everyone take any exit I make!!” She readied another fireball when the ice near doors and floor began to move towards the ceiling and lockers. “The hell?” People fled out of them or into others as a means of escape. “They don’t won’t hostages?” She hadn’t the foggiest idea of what the threat actually was. Thinking about it, it couldn’t be some huge group or anyone looking to ransom the kids of Atlas Elites. It was the end of the day. Plenty of students were already leaving. Then there was the fact alarms going off after rumbles from underground made her think a boiler blew up, but then what’s with the ice!?

“Ugh this makes no sense! I swear if those bumbling twins are behind this then I’m gonna kill-” her eyes spotted Valerie down the hall. “Valerie?” Eliza moved closer. With how rigid her peers looked, mistaking her for a statue would be easy. It didn’t take a genius to wonder why she was still. Eliza could see the wounded arm and bloodied clothes. The young witch ran to her and gave a shake. “Hey! What’s wrong!?”

The response. Eliza had half a mind to shock the girl when a cool blast of air hit her. Her head turned towards the open boiler door, its walls covered in ice and lights broken which made it look more like a dark cave. Eliza couldn’t explain it but it felt…ominous. A flame built up her hand to throw down there when Valerie suddenly grabbed Eliza’s by the wrist.

“Don’t.” That’s all Val said, but her eyes told the rest. Eliza snuffed the flame and Valerie grabbed her ax. “We need to leave.”

“No. There’s still more people here and exits to be made. I haven’t even checked-”

“The school is a prison.” Valerie warned, “Remember what you said about running? This is the time to do that. We’ll cut through the gym.”

She pushed open the door and was immediately confronted with long icicles that hung from the ceiling sprinkler system. Eliza swung her arm out, making a flame wave. Sadly this ice didn’t budge. Not only that, but the crisp air began to sting and dry their throats. Eliza managed by puffing out weak flames. Valerie had no such advantage.

“It’s getting colder by the second and you’re in no state to barrel through this. We’ll make an exit.”

“You…can’t just break walls.” Val shuddered, “people are outside everywhere. You might hit them unexpectedly. Let’s…flow with the crowd that’s left.”

The numbness in Valerie’s hand increasingly became intense pain that was as if hot wax was poured onto the bone. Eliza could see the girl start to sweat. Then…her aura flickered. Valerie nearly fell over if not for Eliza catching her.

“Hey! Valerie!”

“Hehe…I didn’t realize I put so much into a single blow. My aura has been trying to n-numb the pain.” She felt like a rattle that couldn’t stop shaking. A glance at her hand showed a glimmer of blue surrounded by flowing red. “Eliza, do me a favor. I think I have a splinter.”

She noticed the shimmering blue between Valerie’s knuckle. “You hit dust?” She went to reach but Val moved her hand away.

“Make your hand hot.”

“That'll burn you. Are you insane?”

“I didn’t say flamethrower my hand. Just…don’t prick yourself. Destroy it. Maybe-Gah!!!” A cry of pain came from her as Eliza quickly yanked out the nail long shard. “The fuck!?”

“Waiting is the worst part.” Eliza said defensively. “At least you’re not shaking anymore, but now you’re bleeding. I’d offer to cauterize it but…”

“I’d prefer an actual doctor.” Her senses were coming back but her body remained weak. The idea that Summer has Diamond Dust in her bloodstream became all the more surreal. Was she always in pain?

Options ran low as well as their time. Eliza kept Valerie close to share some warmth and support the exhausted girl. She readied her to go with the scrambling crowd and shifting ice when suddenly…BOOM! A thunderous crash came from a classroom up ahead. The wall most definitely had to have been smashed. That’s when the door opened and with it, a sigh of relief from Valerie. It was her mother, Nora, her hammer smoking from the chamber. Valerie had actually forgotten she was waiting in the car.

“EVERYONE OUT THIS WAY!” She commanded. The people shifted like a current towards her. Nora broke the door off the hinges along with a bit of the wall so people could leave faster; where staff such as Flynt and soldiers that were in the area. Nora swiveled her head left and right. “VALERIE!”

Eliza raised her hand and charged it with electricity. The sparks got Nora attention. The mother let out a silent gasp, making her way over while also feeling the chill looming from the boiler room. “Shit. Eliza, get her to safety!” Nora twirled her hammer for a swing to break the ice near the door. If Shiva was out then Nora was gonna give her hell until backup arrived. That’s when a hushed voice came from down below.

“Try it~”

Ice around the school began moving again. The part in front of the door came down to blockade it while other sections from the ceiling came back down to the lockers before extending towards Nora. She readied to swing at it but then curved around her towards the crowd and the girls. Nora broke the ice around her but the pieces still moved fast enough to be flying in their direction.

“GET DOWN!”

Eliza and Val looked over their shoulder to see ice needles seconds from their body. Then, a flash of rose petals shattered them all. Ruby appeared right before their eyes. Before she took another step, Valerie spoke.

“She controls the school’s water system!”

Ruby and Nora’s eyes widened. The reaper put away her scythe. “Then outside isn’t far enough. Nora, focus on evacuation.”

“Right!” She backed off, the ice not stopping her.

Ruby watched the area and picked up Valerie into her arms. She’d be faster than any ambulance. “Talk to me.”

“Hi…” Val gave an exhausted smile, her body drained.It slowly relaxed and she rested against Ruby’s chest. Nora looked at her with fearful eyes.

Eliza quickly put the fears to rest. “Don’t worry. It’s fatigue. She said she put a lot into a single blow, then her aura was flickering. Still…” she looked at the bloody hand.

Nora carefully held it. It was worse than it looked in terms of bleeding. However, the skin around it looked frostbitten and it was no doubt broken. “I think she’ll be okay but she needs a doctor.” Nora said to Ruby, who seemed to be elsewhere. “Ruby?”

The huntress watched the way the icicles remained poised but never got closer. While the shifting ice around the room had stopped despite how fast it could react. If anyone knew speed, it was Ruby,especially when it came to her own. Rushing in like she did, assessing in real time, there’s no way she should’ve been able to block those needles without a few getting by. Ruby would have to confirm something later, but for now…

“Let’s go. Get everyone in the school to safety and have them all accounted for. Leave Val to me.” She dashed off with Valerie.

Nora took Eliza by the hand, which surprised the young girl. She wasn’t hurt at all,yet being taken to safety did make her more relaxed. Eliza wanted to ask what exactly had happened, since it looked like Nora, Ruby, and even Valerie had a greater understanding of the situation. Though now wouldn’t be the best time. The image of blood on Valerie, the ominous feeling from the boiler room, it gave her heart a sinking feeling. Nick and Summer aren’t the type to run away without helping, but she never came across either of them. Hopefully they were okay.

xxxxx

Shiva sat against a freezing boiler with one leg stretched out and the back of her head pressed against the metal as she closed her eyes. The feeling of warmth in the building dwindled by the second as people fled, until the warmth died like a flame several minutes later. Not too bad on their part. No stragglers from top to bottom. At last, Shiva was alone, in body and mind.

“Finally. No time to waste then.”

She stood up and stretched her arms before putting her hands together. The blooms of ice that bursted from pipes and icd that clung to school walls began to grow in size, spreading out in the process. Doors froze over, windows gained layers upon layers of frost as the school grounds turned into a winter wonderland that snowed; the air turning frigid while thorns made of ice fortified the perimeter. A wonderland for her to rest in and a prison for those daring to enter. Her strength grew by the second in these conditions, but there was still more to do.

“Off to a good start if I do say so myself.” Her voice was calm and even. Thinking aloud felt weird yet satisfying.

The girl began walking in order to examine the area. Her trip stopped short however as got halfway down the aisle, her attention drawn to the floor where red ice was made, the product of Nick’s final and greatest failure. As Shive continued to stare at the frozen blood her vision blurred, then she heard it. A small pitter patter that hit the floor at her feet. The only warmth left in this entire place was fleeting as it ran down her face. Shiva wiped her face and felt that warmth freeze over.

“Hehehehe.” She fell to her knees hugging herself. All she could was laugh. Laugh and cry in her wonderland. “Hehehahaha. Ahahahaha~”

xxxxxx

Temperature and fallen tears did it stop at the school. At first, Weiss didn’t know why she heard Penny slam the door as she flew off, but then, the news broadcast had taken over. It wasn’t too much longer that both her and Jaune got a call at the same time that made their faces ghastly white. Now she stood rigid, her hands over her mouth as she watched from the other side of glass along with her friends, as Nick laid in a hospital bed; machines hooked up to him as doctors, including Penny, rushed to keep him stable. The excessive beeping, fear in the doctors’ eyes, the lifeless tone of her child, Weiss couldn’t believe it was happening a second time. She couldn’t take it. Almost falling to the floor in tears until Jaune and Yang caught her as she wept uncontrollably in fear.

“Again…why is it happening again?”

This had to be a nightmare, right? Just a bad dream Veronica was about to wake up from. That had to be it. It’s why crying would be pointless. She’d wake up any second to the smell of breakfast and the sound of Nick's heart beating fine and not…fading. Why was it fading like it’s weak? Nick’s heart isn’t weak!

Blake put her hand on Veronica and her daughter immediately latched onto it, refusing to look away. Blake wrapped her arms around from behind and held on tight.

“Shhh, everything is going to-”

“Don’t…” Veronica uttered. Her free hand held on to the arms around her while her ears fell. “Just don’t, okay?” Her voice cracked.

Harriet walked up to them. Winter, failing to control her emotions, spoke angrily with tears welling up. “The hell happened, Bree?” She trembled.

“I wish I had an answer, I really do. I didn’t even know he was at school today. The last class was ending and kids were either going home or getting ready for after school when an explosion happened and everything got cold as ice shot out the walls.”

Everyone’s attention was on her, making her take a step back. “I…wasn’t around long. I came out of the gym when the alarm had gone off and people were running. That’s when I saw Valerie, she was holding Nick. Also…”

“Also, what?” Ren said with urgency.

“Her arm was banged up like it had gotten burned by something. I’ve never seen the kid look so terrified, but given Nick’s conditions. All she did was beg me to save him. He was barely conscious when I took him.”

Harriet raised her right hand to show it covered in fresh bandages, though they were already getting a tent in red.

Yang winced looking at it. “Did you get hurt on the way here?”

“Not exactly. There was a dagger in Nick. Doctors tried removing it but screamed in pain immediately. Then I tried taking it out and this happened. I’ve never felt anything so cold. I’m glad I called Penny on the way there, seeing how she’s one of the best minds we have in just about any science, medical or otherwise. Having metal parts pays off. She’s the one who got it out. I’m sorry but that’s all I really know.”

“No that’s…thank you.” Winter said. She looked through the glass. “Every second counts.”

Jaune slowly let go of Weiss and walked over to Harriet, extending his hand to help heal hers. “Do you know where the other doctors that tried grabbing the dagger are?”

“Yeah.”

“Show me.”

It was hard but he started walking away. Winter almost wanted to tell him to stay with Weiss but Whitley stopped her, pointing to Jaune’s clenched fist and faint trembling. If he stayed any longer he might’ve broken down too, enraged at his own uselessness.

“Let him help who he can right now.”

Ren stressfully rubbed his hand through his hair. “Nora should be at the school, but I haven’t heard a thing from her or Valerie.”

“Ruby and I were out in town when we heard sirens from rescue vehicles. She took off immediately to investigate and I left when I got the call about Nick. I'm certain she’s at the school helping.”

On que, Ruby dashed through the door with Valerie in her arms. “This child needs medical attention!”

The crew turns and Ren gasps seeing Valerie bleeding and delirious. “Valerie!” He runs over along with two nurses who reasonably keep at a bay, but that doesn't mean he wasn’t thrilled about it. “That’s my daughter!”

“Ren, Relax! She’ll be okay.”

Valerie’s eyes flutter open. The first thing she sees is the worried look on her father. A faint smile appears at the corner of her lips. “Hey pops. What’s…with the look?” She groans as she shuts her eyes again.

Ruby hands her over to the doctor. “Besides the blood, her body is pretty cold and her aura fell harshly. She’s more exhausted than anything. Is Jaune here?!”

“He’s helping with some injured.”

“Well he’ll gladly add her to the list. Let him know she’s drained to zero.” Ruby ordered the Nurses as they took Valerie. She looked at Ren. “Nora is perfectly fine and on her way.”

Ren nodded. “I’m going with those two. Thank you.”

“Anytime.” She watched him run off before noticing everyone else. It was her turn to be speechless. All her friends looked defeated, and Weiss, well she looked absolutely devastated. Ruby walked slowly as if to delay the inevitable her heart told her. Ruby eventually reached the glass all the same and was brought to tears.

“When did…” she couldn’t even finish her words. Ruby looked at Weiss before reaching out to hug her tightly with Yang.

xxxxx

Hours passed. The crew waited anxiously in the hospital while doctors worked nonstop. Weiss eventually ran out of tears to cry but her eyes remained red and the sniffling never ended as she sat in a chair with Jaune’s arm around her. He had been back awhile now. Nora had eventually shown up to the hospital after her responsibilities. Valerie was already taken care of by then, the girl fast asleep in her hospital room with her arm bandage and in a sling. Even with Jaune’s help, it would need time to heal.

Now everyone was together, still near the operating room but a doctor thought it best to shut the curtain. Harriet came back to them and handed Ruby a list.

“There ya go. All the students accounted for by attendance. We even called the homes of any who left early to make sure they were safe.”

Little did anyone know because he arrived late as well as other circumstances, Darren was overlooked. Max hadn’t told anyone and the only other people who could’ve mentioned him were both out of commission.

Ruby looked over the list. “Any injuries?”

“A few got scraped and bruised trying to get out in the chaos. It was a miracle no one got trampled. The kids are on edge but I couldn’t blame them. Also, I know you said Summer is accounted for, but I haven’t seen her here. Did she get hurt too?”

A couple seconds of silence hung in the air before Winter spoke. “Seeing Nick was too hard on her. She’s at home with Sparrow.”

“Ah, I see.” Harriet frowned. Summer wasn’t always there for class but Harriet knew the girl was kind and tried her best. This had to be hard on her. “Tell her my heart goes out to her. Same for all of you.”

“Thank you.” Ruby said. Harriet left after that and Ruby took a long sigh. “Maybe more should’ve known about Shiva?”

“Those who know, did.” Winter insisted. “It’s not like I don’t trust those I personally lead but things were under control, or so we thought. Summer had a hard enough time creating normalcy. We also couldn’t have known something of this scale was possible. To put it simply, we underestimated Shiva.”

Ruby through the list down infrustration. “No matter how you slice it, Shiva knew things we didn’t know she knew. Not only that, but this list proves I fell for her trap.” She leaned forward in her chair with fingers interlocked.

Ruby had been replaying the events in her head countless times since she arrived on the scene. “Not only was Shiva left to her own devices, but with none of us in the area to her knowledge, that school could’ve been a massacre before anyone was the wiser. However, the only people actively hurt by her was Valerie, who chose to engage, and Nicholas, who she’s always wanted to harm.”

“Are you saying she had no interest in chaos?” Ren asked.

“No, I’m saying that’s all she wanted. Shiva made it look like countless lives were in danger not just to drive people out, but so anyone who arrived would completely prioritize the safety of the kids. I mean think about it. Kids were already leaving, and no parent is going to be calling for blood over a mechanical explosion everyone lived through. To top it off, now the school is frozen shut apparently.”

Winter rubbed her chin. She picked up the list of names and thought aloud. “I can only think of one reason you don’t make a situation worse, even though you’re able to. The backlash is more than you bargained for.”

Nora’s eyes lit up in realization. Sheturned to Ruby. “We could’ve taken her.”

“…..I think you might be right, and Shiva wasn’t gonna take that chance. Now she’s been out longer and it’s not like things are getting warmer. I’m such an idiot.” Her body tensed.

“Hey.” Yang got up and put her hand on Ruby’s shoulder. “Since when does Ruby Rose regret prioritizing saving lives? You did the right thing.”

“Right thing? I moved just like she wanted to and those lives are still in danger with her out.”

“Just because you think that doesn’t mean it all adds up. Shiva might’ve committed to hurting people if you stepped out of line. Also, regardless of what you think, Valerie definitely needed help and got it for her. So quit acting like you didn’t make a difference.”

Ruby sighed, lowering her head. Yang was right but this situation was so chaotic. “Thanks Yang. Still, we’re lacking critical information. Not only about what happened down there, but what Shiva's next move is.”

The endless possibilities brought silence. The next move was crucial and time was of the essence. They would’ve thought uninterrupted if not for the click of the operating light going off. The creaking doors opened and Penny walked slowly with exhausted eyes. No one could remember the last time Penny of all people, the girl built to last, looked like she needed sleep. Weiss and Jaune stood up, too afraid to ask as Penny looked at them.

“That dagger, it was pure Diamond Dust, and it was in him for a pretty long time. Internal bleeding tried to freeze and…it’s almost like frostbite tried to happen inside out in some spots.”

“What are you saying?” Weiss’s voice trembled.

“…He’s touch and go, and I don’t know how to save him.”

It was as if the world suddenly lost color. Try as they might, there wasn’t a steady heartbeat in the room or dry eyes.

“What if I used my semblance!?” Jaune begged.

“It would ease the pain and might buy more time, but I don’t need to tell you the coldness of Diamond Dust might as well be compared to molten metal or worse. Even aura can’t negate that level of damage outright. Especially internal organs.”

“What about organ transplants, or maybe-”

“Nick is so tired, Jaune.” Penny said, barely holding it together. She stepped aside and gently pressed her hand on the door. “He’s barely conscious but…”

Weiss and Jaune ran inside while the others respectfully stayed back, despite wanting to join. Penny pressed her back against the wall. Her body slowly slid down until she was on the floor with her hands on her head. The others gathered around her but she didn’t want to help up. Winter could see the stress all over her face as Penny stared off into the distance.

“Penny…”

“This is unacceptable.” Penny said rigidly. “What’s the point of having access to a world’s worth of knowledge if I still can’t find an answer to save my friends. I refuse to fail here! I won’t! Everything has an answer. Do you think maybe Qrow and Os-” Penny stopped after seeing Winter’s face contort with even more remorse.

“I…I can’t locate their ship, or get a call. We have no idea where they are.”

The news took everyone by surprise. Surly they couldn’t just be gone, could they? Winter got done on the ground in front of Penny and the girl immediately jumped into her arms, shaking and crying. Oscar was her world, and now he’s lost with Winter’s.

On the other side of the wall, Weiss and Jaune stood by Nick’s bed. His skin looked tinted gray. Tubes connected to his arm went to machines while an oxygen mask covered his face. Gradually his eyes opened to see a blurred version of his sobbing parents. He could gently feel the warmth of a small hand in his.

“M..Mom?” He tried squeezing her hand.

“Ssh. It’s…It’s me. Please, don’t try to speak. Just…save your energy.”

The familiar sensation of Jaune’s aura washed over him, making it a little easier to breathe. Nick didn’t need to ask his parents what brought these tears or the fear in his mother’s voice. He could feel just how far was from being okay.

“I’m…sorry. I…”

“I said not to speak. You can apologize later, okay?” Weiss fell to knees, still holding his hand. “Please tell me later.”

Nick didn’t argue. Didn’t have the strength. He could barely think and wanted to rest, yet he feared shutting his eyes right now wasn’t a good idea. All he could do to stay awake was focus on the pain. Both physically , as well as mentally.

It had been awhile since things felt so bad. Our heroes felt down and out, the world at large none the wiser. Par for the course honestly, except things weren’t done. Not by a long shot. A chill was in the air. One that Veronica picked on the moment she sighed.

She gained their attention. “Uh, you guys?” She took a shallow breath, clearly visible by all. “Was it always this cold in here?”

Dread hit instantly. Ruby and Penny both rushed to the hospital exit to get a look outside. Ruby was meant with crisp rushing wind that stung. Not unusual for Atlas in winter, yet the falling snowflakes inspired fear.

“Penny, the heat is on right?”

“Yes! It wasn’t scheduled to snow either. Is this coming from the school!?”

“It’s worse.” Winter said as she ran outside with scroll in hand. “Penny I need a bird’s eye view of Atlas and Mantle from a distance!”

Penny launched herself into the air and flew as fast she could outside kingdom limits then turned around to live broadcast to Winter. “Winter…alert the general. Request all hands on hands deck, and tell Whitley to take inventory of all the flame dust available. I think…”

Her words trailed off from what she witnessed. An immense glow from the forest where the lake was located could be seen. From it, a long trail of shimmering white particles flowed upward like a winding river in the sky that had begun swirling around all of Atlas as if it was one massive snow globe.

“I think we’re going to need all of it.”

#rwby #rwby au #rwby twin snowflakes #eliza marigold #harriet bree #val valkyrie #nora valkyrie #ruby rose #nicholas schnee #summer schnee #penny polendina #weiss schnee #jaune arc #winter schnee #rwbabies #veronica belladonna #blake belladonna #yang xiao long

[marie-dufresne]

Tit for Tat

Arthur Dufresne arranges a business marriage between his daughter and one of ShinRa Weapons Company’s rising stars: Josef Heidegger

1973.

The bustle was typical of the Dufresne household, particularly when there was a gala to put on. Their home was always host to a number of events, perched just above the beaches of Junon, offering their guests no shortage of views and elevated status as they clinked wine glasses and exchanged funds.

There were three days before the next event took place and at this time, there were people all over the property, from florists taking finals notes, to temporary water features being erected, caterers detailing the final menu, and as Marie tapped her pink feathered pen against her notebook, giving some thought to the uplighting, their butler appeared before her with a silver tray, a lilac R.S.V.P. envelope sitting upon it.

She lifted it with thanks, noting her father who had just come home, barking orders at this one and that as he made his way towards her.

The envelope was thicker than it should have been, and at the moment she withdrew the card and Arthur took his place beside her, she jumped back, a crumpled pair of red silk panties popping out from its prison. Arthur Dufresne let out a curse, but his daughter took a polished step back from the insult, giving her hand to a footman who had appeared out of nowhere, wiping down her skin and scurrying off with the discarded missive.

“Mother tastefully declines our invitation,” she said, giving her fingers a little flick. She shouldn’t have been so shocked at the crass response.

She ignored the reddening of his face, moving out from the ballroom and into the foyer.

“How was Midgar?” She asked, directing his mood towards the trip he’d just returned from, “the president is well? He recently showed me his drafts of those ‘plates’ he’s trying to move forward on. It seems exciting.”

Arthur stopped, nearly colliding with a dolly wheeling a statue of a fish, flourishing his annoyance with the file folder in his hand.

“Don’t talk about the president in that voice.” Marie’s brow lifted and she turned, curiosity alight. “What voice?”

“The voice you do when you try to get all chummy with someone. Artemis ShinRa is my business, not yours. At least not until I say it’s so.”

She pursed her lips at that. Of course. There was always a job to do and no one was exempt from being a job. Either they were a job, or they were no one. That’s the way her life was expected to run. She couldn’t help it if Mr. ShinRa had taken an interest in her first. It wasn’t a romantic interest, much to her disappointment (and surprise, if she was taking his habits into account), but even if she was not destined to be Mrs. ShinRa, she could still value being in his inner circle. He was young, handsome, and on track to rule the planet.

What more could an heiress want?

“Well you don’t speak to me unless you’re about to give me a job, so what do you need? I have your gala to plan.” If he hadn’t been so focused on his new business lead, he might have had a scathing comment, but instead, handed the folder over without much fuss.

“What can you tell me about this man?”

Tucking her notebook and pen under her arm, her eyes lit up when she saw the man in question.

“Oh! This is Josef Heidegger! He’s really up and coming right now.”

“How so.” He knew the answer, but what he didn’t know was anything else. His meeting hadn’t been with Artemis, but with Heidegger and as promising as a business agreement sounded, the man had not been forthcoming with any information regarding himself.

Marie’s hand flapped excitedly by the photo, her little fingers wiggling in the air—something she did when she was excited.

“Well, he’s only…twenty-….four, I think and the President just appointed him as ‘Head of Public Safety’, which makes sense because it's a palatable way of saying ‘military’ and why wouldn’t a weapons company just whip up their own military?”

Arthur let out a little breath from between his lips, finding amusement at her sarcasm. They had a great relationship with ShinRa, but even Arthur Dufresne was not nearly as ambitious as the president.

“But what’s really fascinating about Heidegger is that he’s entirely self made. He’s from Corel and from the pieces I’ve put together, got bored with life in the mines and set himself up as a mercenary until Artie took notice.”

“Don’t call him Artie.”

“So here we have this absolute brute of a young man, literally bully his way into a top tier position of the most rapidly growing company on the planet. He is dangerous, father. He’s dangerous in his own right and now he has the president in his pocket. Maybe it’s the other way around but…he is not someone we should cross.”

She took a moment to admire the photo in the folder, her fingertips playing at her lower lip as she shook her head.

“I mean…look at him. He’s massive, all muscle by the looks of it. He could strangle me with one hand, I bet.”

Arthur took a swipe for the folder, his effort thwarted by her quicker reflexes as she spun to give him her back.

“I advise you not to cross him then,” he said, moving to stand over her shoulder and jabbing a finger into her neck.

“I do not intend to,” she replied, putting distance between them and handing the file back, “we’re on the same team, aren’t we? What’s good for the goose is good for the gander and all that. So long as we all keep Artie happy, we’ll be happy.”

“Well your job is now to keep Heidegger happy. Be at the chopper in an hour; you’re going to Midgar.”

“I—“

Someone approached her and she silenced them with a hand in their face, her palm squishing against their nose until the turned and retreated from whence they came. This was not the time to be interrupting her.

“I can not go to Midgar! This gala is in three days. Three. Days. One of those days, my time will be spent getting ready to be present at it. A trip to Midgar and back will set me back at least half a day. I can’t do it. Reschedule whatever it is you have planned.”

As much as he found himself ever impressed with how she ran their family’s show, stepping into the role of lady of the house when her whore mother had stepped out, Arthur Dufresne would not ever allow himself to be ordered around by her. He would not ever allow her to take control of the schedule.

They were not equals.   He inhaled slowly, puffing out his chest when he towered over her, his grip on her set in her hair, forcing her neck to hold her gaze to him. This was not an uncommon scene and though no one said a word, the foyer emptied almost immediately.

“You will fly to Midgar. You will meet with Heidegger. You will impress him and I don’t care with what. He has agreed to form an alliance with us through marriage upon approval of you as a mate and I don’t think I need to remind you that there is room on our guest list for a Mr. Colin Devereaux should you fuck this up for me.”

Any fire of defiance in her eyes was doused, replaced by an anxious scanning of her father’s features, and her voice lowered to just above a trembled whisper.

A mate? Had he really said that? As if they were nothing more than animals.

“And what if he doesn’t approve of me?”

“Then you will have fucked up.” He released her with a shove, demanding to the empty room that someone ring up one of his mistresses and Marie stared down at the floor for a moment, taking a deep breath. Marriage was not the news she had been expecting today.

She was unusually silent in the helicopter, having only had enough time to put on an outfit she thought suitable for the situation, she hadn’t processed any sort of plan. Impress, she’d been told. That was usually easy enough for her but…dazzling men with a cute smile and a tease of cleavage to remain in their thoughts was one thing. Presenting herself as a good prospect on one hour’s notice was altogether different. That was personal.

How did one approach a man whose idea of a wife was nothing more than a ‘mate’?

No, that wasn’t her focus. It couldn’t be. She needed to focus on what he was proud of. The things he had accomplished. His skills. Murder was one.

Murder was most of them.

Not a good plan either. This was…a business transaction. Business transactions she could handle. She had something he needed, she had the very thing she was best at and it was that thing that he required for the level of success he desired. The very thing Artemis ShinRa also required her for.

That would be her angle.

The temporary headquarters for the Department of Public Safety was no more than a few conference rooms and an office in a multi-level professional space at the harbor. If nothing else, it had a great view.

It was concierge that directed her to the second floor from the top (the top being Mr. Heidegger’s personal quarters at the moment) and when the attendant opened the gated door of the lift, twenty-one year old Marie Dufresne stepped onto the marble tile in forest green pumps.

When she left this building, she’d be spoken for.

Her dress matched her shoes (greens were so en vogue right now), offering no frills or embellishments. It was the cut that shone the most, a silhouette from decades past that hugged every curve she had to offer. She had many, and they were all on the table for Josef Heidegger. She bore so little skin; no cleavage in her jewel neckline, no shoulders, her arms covered by the deep green velvet racing all the way to the tops of her hands. Even though her hemline teased above her knees, the seams that ran up the back of her calves warned any onlooker that her legs were not as bare as they seemed. It was only the row of tiny, meticulous buttons that ran down her spine that suggested it was possible to remove the garment at all.

The only tease of flesh she gave at all was her neck, her golden curls swept up high into a near impossibly stable nest, where only a few dared pop out and tease against her pulse. It was an invitation if he was smart enough to notice.

As it turned out, he was not.

Maybe it wasn’t that he was unintelligent, but when she entered the room and he stood not to greet her as a gentleman would, but to advance on her, towering over and asserting his physical dominance, Marie realized what he lacked was sophistication. It explained the entire circumstance, really.

With her face barely inches from his chest, she could smell the cologne he wore. It was cheap, but surprisingly pleasant, though he wore too much of it. An easy thing to learn.

She didn’t quite understand why he was standing so close, the way a wild dog might push to intimidate its lesser pack mates, so she put a hand up to his white dress shirt, palm pressing into his chest ever so slightly.

“Mr. Heidegger.”

He hadn’t expected to be touched.

He had approached her with ferocity to test her. Would she run? Cry? Cower? She was pretty, but even pretty women withered into crones with age. He wasn’t going to waste his time with an imbecile attached to his name for the rest of his life. He was in charge. He’d make that much clear, but if he was to be shackled, it would be by someone who knew how to take it.

This one didn’t even flinch.

She cleared her throat lightly and he felt pressure where her hand was, but she wasn’t pushing him away. She used him as leverage to take a few steps back, raising her head to display a beaming smile.

“I’m so glad to meet you.”

For a minute, he didn’t say a thing. He stared down at her with his naturally disapproving face, shrouded in his beard that had always grown too thick, too quickly, and far sooner than all the other boys in his town. He was mean looking, unyielding, and though he was young, he’d never looked it.

And yet she didn’t seem to mind. She was…all sparkles and regality and why was she smiling like that?

He let out a little grunt and stepped away. “Let me tell you how this is going to go, Marie.”

“Oh please do,” she encouraged, taking her small strides to follow him, “but not here.”

With furrowed brows he looked down. How dare she—

“Tell me downstairs, at a table for two. Or upstairs on your sofa over a bottle of champagne.” Her hand was at his chest again, all light and playful. “I don’t usually enter a man’s living quarters but given the situation I don’t think it would be too scandalous.”

“You…want to eat?”

“Food and wine are always a romantic choice, don’t you think?”

Did he look like he gave a damn about romance? But then again…there was a filet that went unrivaled thusfar and his taste for red wines was growing. He had skipped lunch…

“We can order to my suite,” he concluded, swiping his suit jacket from the back of his chair and flipping it up over his shoulder, “I hope you like cats.”

“I like all cute animals,” she confirmed, following him out of the office and into the elevator. This time, the attendant made himself as small as possible, praying he wasn’t addressed by the man who had just walked in.

“There is one thing I need to know before I can think about agreeing to a marriage,” he said, using a card key to open the door to his dwelling. “Are you a virgin?”

If she hadn’t been expecting the question (so typical. so so so irritatingly typical of men), she would have rolled her eyes so hard she’d have passed out. Instead, she kept in the character she was playing.

“No,” she drawled, giggling and hiding her smile behind her hand, though her eyes displayed mischief as she returned, “are you?”

The indigence that crossed his features was expected and she continued to laugh when his fist hit the countertop.

“No! Of course not! What do you take me fo—“

Oh.

Damnit, Josef.

This girl was flirting with him. She was…she was being playful. Well shit. No one had ever flirted with him before.

“…that’s good then. I don’t have time to deal with amateurs.”

Marie gave a little half shrug of one shoulder and leaned back to rest up against the arm of his sofa, welcoming a black puffball of a feline who began to saunter across her lap.

“I’m sure you could show me a thing or two still.”

She adjusted her feet slightly and the sound of her heels against the wood floor sent the cat into a panic, scrambling down and choosing six directions in a row before finally disappearing into the bedroom.

Heidegger hid his embarrassment behind a cough. He wasn’t used to this sort of conversation. Filthy conversation at females expenses yes, but with his peers. With women it was…purely physical. There was no room for conversation. He put them where he wanted them and did as he pleased and that was that.

“So when does it happen, then?” He asked. If he was unfamiliar with conversing, marriage was an even further concept. “Did you bring paperwork with you?” From the looks of her itty bitty…purse? Wallet? What was that thing? Well, from the looks of the thing she had in her hand, there was no paperwork.

For as much as he claimed to have no time for amateurs, from where she sat, that’s all he was. He knew nothing of society. His newfound career and salary may have paid for a penthouse above the harbor, but this man had absolutely no idea how to behave in his tax bracket. This was her job. This was the part she would play as his wife. She was the key to all the doors currently locked to him.

“We can’t just get married,” she explained, “well we could, but you’ll never achieve what my father promised you if we get married today or tomorrow. The people need to believe it. Your business prospects who already adore and trust me need to believe and trust you. Signing a document and wearing a ring isn’t going to do it for them.”

He sighed with irritation, throwing his jacket in her direction before picking up the phone to order two filet dinners and whatever wine they recommended. He didn’t ask how she preferred it cooked, nor if she even enjoyed the wine they suggested. He ordered two of everything and that was that.

“You don’t have to love me,” she said, trying not to condescend. He didn’t know how to navigate this and that was fine, “you don’t even have to like me, but…it has to appear as if our decision to marry was personal, not economical.”

She laughed a little. How silly that was, when in her world almost nothing was personal, but if he appeared to marry her simply for the sake of an advantage, the advantage would be denied him. People were happy to be used and swindled until they knew they were being used and swindled.

“I have a lot of influence over the masses as well. You want their favor. Your department depends on their favor. Woo me. Date me, we’ll have a long enough engagement for people to gossip about, we get married and then…you do what you want. And in that period of courting I introduce you to all of the people you need to know, they’ll feel you out.

“You have both legs up on this world. Being a personal friend of the president, and then in a relationship with me, people will warm up to you quickly, that’s a fact.” It was most of what her father had said last night when he proposed the idea. He needed this deal, as much as he didn’t like to admit it. A former nobody turned mercenary turned head of city enforcement…he wasn’t the quickest thinker, but he knew that was a quick path to mutiny if he didn’t have the support of all the elite, not just ShinRa.

“…alright,” he conceded, “I will…take all of the necessary steps to gain favor.”

Marie jumped up, sending the black cat—who was making an attempt to come out again— scurrying back into hiding. With a happy little ‘yay!’ she clapped her little hands and wiggled her hips as if this was something that actually made her happy. Was it?

“What do you get from this? I know what your father gets, but I don’t see any benefit in a loveless marriage for you.”

“I get the benefit of being married to someone young, handsome, and strong. I’ve always known I don’t have a say in who I marry, but the other past candidates have been nearly twice my age. With you I have a chance at companionship at the very least, but…fondness and affection could follow companionship.”

He snorted, crossing his arms and leaning against the wall. “I’m also incredibly violent. I’m sure that didn’t fly under your radar.”

There was a spark of something that flashed in her eyes then and he thought it might have been lust.

“You are incredibly violent,” she mused, running one of her manicured fingernails across her bottom lip, neither smiling nor unsmiling, “I suppose I’ll just have to be a very good girl then.”

And for the first time in his entire life, Josef Heidegger’s heart skipped a beat.

Marie Dufresne had not fucked up.

#Heidiggity Dog #ok I know I keep saying it's garbage but I genuinely hope people enjoy my take on young Heidegger and his rise and fall #because he had to start somewhere #somewhere apparently being afraid of pretty girls #Heidegger ffvii

[autisticmao]

GENRE: fluff

FEATURED: akehoshi, hidaka, yuki, hasumi, kiryu, kanzaki, ritsu (fricking heck-)

WARNINGS: none!

PROMPT: a small percentage of the human population has a life companion or a few named a ryune, mao is one of those people, and this is one of his many daily moments with them (and friends!)

WORD COUNT: 1,520

✎: the daily life of mao and the ryune's

"Wait... Subaru! No! Don't tear that... apart... too late." A sigh of defeat leaves in between the small gaps of his lips. Three levitating figures zoomed around his bedroom. "I swear you guys get more chaotic with each day that passes! Is that how you Ryune's really grow?"

Ryune's are little mythical creatures that live alongside humans. They're like humans, but much smaller — like the size of fairies, and they don't speak any human language other than in some tones of squeaks. A Ryune is like a companion that only a few people in the world are born with the power to summon.

Isara walked over to his desk in the corner of his room, grabbing the manga book he left wide open from a few nights ago, staring with a frown as he grabbed the said manga by its few pages and shaking his head in disappointment. "Looks like I'll be spending my pocket money on buying a copy of this manga for Sazanami... again. He's already mad at me for having the original one I borrowed all wrecked. Thanks to none other than you, Akehoshi Subaru."

A high-pitched squeak comes from an orange haired Ryune who floated towards Isara, sitting on the said teenagers shoulder in triumph. A smile of pride wiping over his facial features. "That... wasn't of gratitude, I was being sarcastic~" he places the torn manga book down onto his desk and glances around his room, a thought hitting his mind.

He got distracted with scolding Akehoshi off, that he forgot what he was almost doing... getting ready for school. He checks over himself, seeing that he has his bag over his shoulder, shoes done up, and wearing them, his phone in his school blazers pocket as he situated the hood of his pink jacket from under his blazers more comfortably and soon begins walking towards his bedroom door.

He only takes a couple of steps, reaches for the door handle, and pulls the door open when he's suddenly halted to a stop by his two other Ryune's squeaking loudly, practically scolding at him in someway, as they held something in their tiny hands, struggling to carry it by just the two of them. Ryune's aren't exactly the strongest creatures in the world... they barely have any strength as is, other than for the see-through wings they could carry on their backs all their lives.

"Oh - right... I almost forgot my tie! That would have been stupid, I wouldn't want to get another scolding from Hasumi because of it, thanks, Hokuto and Makoto." He takes the coloured tie from their tiny holds gently, the two bow their heads at him once the tie had been taken as he lifts the white collar pieces of his school shirt up a bit, wrapping the tie around his neck and begins doing it up and pushes the collar pieces back down not long after, pulling the tie to a comfortable knot at the front.

"At last, let's go!" He smiled towards his trio of Ryune's.

...

"Isara, you're late."

"I know... and I'm sorry. I tried getting here on time, but these idiots just don't know how to behave most of the time. So I had to keep stalling by telling them off." Isara apologises to the vice president of the student council, Hasumi Keito, as soon as he walks through the door whilst pointing to his Ryune's that always seemed to be curious about every object within the room no matter how many times Isara has entered the student council room.

"You should take them to a facility to get them trained for their manners. I've done so with mine, and cope well with them."

"Not to break your bubble, Hasumi, but... I don't think your two Ryune's are exactly behaving well right now." Isara points out to behind the taller student, where a redhead Ryune seems to be fighting with a purple one who was chewing on the corner of a handle belonging to the big window at the back of the room, wishing to go outside and do something fun and free.

A sound of frustration leaves from Hasumi Keito as he walked towards his little Ryune's, grabbing them both by their small collars of their clothing. "What have I said about this, you two? Souma, stop chewing on everything you see. You'll get your free time soon!"

In the meantime, Isara turned around and walked towards his desk, ready to catch up on some paperwork that needed to be done for the day, and to move onto other subjects for his role in the student council as quickly as possible.

...

"Mao~!"

"Ritsu! Don't sneak up behind me like that!"

"Couldn't help it. The pathway was too easy to manoeuvre through, plus you're just so easy to scare." The carnelian eyed friend mentions as a yawn escapes between his lips as he slumps his taller figure over Isara's back. "Take me to the lunch hall with you, please."

"Can't you walk yourself this time around? The hall is just literally right around that corner."

"Is Mao learning to backchat me now? Rude~"

"No! I'm just... you know what, never mind, there's no winning to this battle. At least you said please this time."

Isara positions himself properly, so he is holding Sakuma Ritsu on his back, his heart racing of hope that he doesn't drop the older boy at all during the short walk. "Anyways, where are your Ryune's? Don't tell me you've lost them again."

Ritsu hums, "I don't know."

"You... don't know?" Isara glances over his shoulder for a second towards the older teenager and then forwards again as he rounds the corner, feeling thankful that the lunch hall was at the end of the corridor he now walked upon.

"I let Izumi take charge for a bit with the others. Taking charge is too tiring... and boring." Ritsu mutters at the end.

"You let... Izumi... out of all four of them to take charge, really? Don't you remember what happened last time you let that happen?"

"Uh... nope. Mind reminding me?"

A noise emits from Isara of frustration, "he almost hurt Makoto! Along with threatening Subaru to an all-out fight that caused them both to be on the brink of death!"

"Pretty sure your Subaru Ryune started that one. My Izumi is innocent~"

"Ritsu-"

"Hush~, go buy some nice food. I want you to feed me for backchatting a lot this week."

...

A cough emits deep from his throat from where he sits on his bed, his winters' thick duvet covering his whole figure, his figure shaking from the cold that surrounds the room as a sniffle reaches from his being.

A tiny squeak sounds from Isara's left. He looks over to see Yuki Makoto holding a white powdered tablet in his hold, whilst Akehoshi Subaru and Hidaka Hokuto were pushing a bottle of water from one end of the bedside table to the other where Isara could more so reach it from. Isara reaches one hand out from underneath the duvet and grabbed the tablet out of Yuki's hands, along with the bottle of water that Hidaka and Akehoshi had unscrewed the lid from.

"Thanks again, you guys." He smiled down at his Ryune's. "This sickness sucks... I don't even know where I got it from." He places the tablet on the back of his tongue, sipping some water and tilting his head back and attempts at swallowing the tablet. He groans out of annoyance when it doesn't go down the first time, so he tries swallowing the tablet down again with more water and felt pride in the success of it going down at a second attempt.

Isara then places his bottle of water back onto the bedside table, screwing the lid tightly back onto it so the water doesn't spill from it for whatever reason.

He reaches over his bed a second after, noticing another manga lying on his floor. He goes to grab it to read it but gets stopped by his three Ryune's squeaking loudly in madness once again, but at him this time of around. "Am I not allowed to read before bed now?"

That question got even more multiple squeaks from the three, causing Isara to back away his hand up from the floor and to lie down on the mattress of his bed. "Alright... fine." He turns himself around to his other side, pulling his duvet up to under his chin as he stares blankly at the wall for a moment. "I guess... going to sleep early isn't so bad." A yawn emits from the thin gaps of his lips, a noise following with it as his kelly green eyes blinked closed a couple of times.

Just as Isara let's the sleep begin to take over, his little Ryune's: Akehoshi, Yuki, and Hidaka flutter down to the side of his pillows that Isara wasn't laying on, the trio sat in a triangular shape with one another, their bodies stiffening as they fell asleep with Isara, with their protective modes still engaged for any reason possible.

#ensemble stars #ensemble stars game #ensemble stars trickstar #enstars #fanfic #mao isara #oneshot #isara centric #cross posted on ao3 #cross posted on wattpad #trickstar enstars #fandom writing #ensemble stars fanfic #enstars fanfic #fanfiction #ritsu sakuma #keito hasumi #trickstar #akatsuki #knights #akatsuki enstars #knights enstars

[disgustedorite]

Joe Biden isn't 'misled' he's actively participating in a genocide while also denying its existence. What the fuck makes you think he, or any other democrat, would do anything to prevent a genocide here? Our only hope for liberation is organizing outside of bourgeoise political parties and forming militant organizations that can defend ourselves.

Remember that:

The prevailing propaganda in the US is "everyone in the middle east is a terrorist", and that politicians are not immune to said propaganda. Most people on the left aren't either. Biden is less sheltered than any other president we've had for a while, but he's still in the politician world which is more sheltered than it should be.

A lot of people really genuinely believe that the reports of genocide are exaggerated, a lot more than you realize, not out of malice but because of the propaganda I just mentioned and due to a lack of information being disseminated.

The vast majority of information about what's ACTUALLY HAPPENING in Gaza is exclusively circulating in extremely far left spaces, much further left than any in-office US politician you can name off the top of your head. Information simply isn't being disseminated to more left-center spaces, which is why you see so many people on the left supporting Israel and being confused and upset when people even further left start screaming at them.

Have you looked at any website that's been standing with Israel? Every single one of them has framed the Palestinian perspective as seeking a "final solution" against Jews--anyone who hears that first is gonna misguidedly shut out anything to the contrary because anyone against calling it the "final solution" is an automatic Nazi from that perspective. It's similar psychology to how so many people got locked into qanon not because they wanted to believe it, but because people going against it are framed as "supporting pedophiles".

Hamas is the face of literally all of this, especially in the media. It's not the fault of the Gazans that they're stuck with Hamas as their only chance at freedom at this point, but anyone not in the aforementioned far left spaces that actually report on it doesn't understand that.

I could be proven wrong, but it's realistic that Biden just straight up doesn't realize that people are telling the truth about it being a genocide and has, with information passed to him only though the filter of media and other politicians, and like basically everyone who isn't in far left circles, been lead to believe it to be a genocide against Israeli Jews instead, especially as the face of Gazan resistance right now is, unfortunately, Hamas. Knowingly supporting a genocide is in serious conflict with all of his other actions as president thus far, and someone needs to give him a reality check. It's a really fucking bad situation, but there's not much we can do about it at this point if protests don't get through to him. But as said in a previous post, it would also be so so much worse if Trump was in office--he'd proudly call it what it is with some stupid trumpy phrasing and support his literal buddy Benjamin Netanyahu anyway, and Gaza would just be a black mark on the coast by now with nobody left to report the number of casualties, and we might not even hear about it beyond a short "oh, Gaza was wiped off the map, aah, bad" that everyone forgets about in a day once the news suppression kicks in. And a bunch of people would be dead in the US too, we'd be in a hot nuclear war involving Russia and China, and the democracy would probably be over, but that's beside the point. I'd say that's a pretty important difference.

Meanwhile, while plenty of people are justifiably angry and saying they won't vote as a personal choice, many more who are actually calling for other people to not vote at all are social media accounts that mysteriously appeared or underwent a dramatic transformation only in the past three weeks. I spotted a former mutual who was hispanic living with their Mexican immigrant family in the US mysteriously turn into a Palestinian whose entire family except for themself lives in Gaza, whose deaths they then proceeded to liveblog one by one. Many of these blogs frequently share information sourced only from tweets and fake news sites that use overly loaded language that adds nothing to the information being shared, or even directly distracts from the facts, and serves only to make the reader angrier. Does this not sound a little bit familiar?

Everything sucks right now, but do what you can to slow down the rate at which things go downhill to give as many people as possible a fighting chance. If you don't, you become an easily sniped target in a worse world that could have been prevented.