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litcityblues · 2 months

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'Honor Among Enemies' --A Review

I’m back on the Honor Harrington train for 2024 with Honor Among Enemies and this time, Honor is being recalled back to active duty with the Royal Manticoran Navy– only this time, there’s a little bit of a hitch.

When last we left her, Harrington had been forced into exile on Grayson. Her longtime nemesis, Lord Pavel Young had killed the man she loved Paul Tankersly and in turn, Harrington had killed him. In exile on Grayson, she had set to work building out her Steading and confronting extremists on Grayson that want to overturn what they consider to be a dangerously modern new order which gives women things like ‘the ability to have an education’ and ‘the right to speak in public.’ Having see that challenge off, she’s still on Grayson when Manticore comes calling again.

Things are not going that great in their ongoing war against the People’s Republic of Haven. After a coup throws the Peeps into chaos for awhile, they’ve now recovered their footing a bit and the war is getting rougher for both sides. While the Peeps and Manticore are going at it, however, a new problem is bedeviling Manticore: pirate attacks on their commercial shipping have increased, especially in the lawless Silesian Confederacy and if something isn’t done about it soon, the commercial houses will be forced to stop shipping and the economic consequences of that could be disastrous for Manticore.

They can’t pull any of their big ships off the front line of the war, so who do they turn too? Why the one Captain they can rely on to do more with less because she has a proven track record of doing just that: Honor Harrington.

Harrington and company (her armsmen are with her, her faithful steward Mac, Cardones, Gibson, Harkness– familiar faces that have served with her before in the previous books all show up) get to work souping up the Q-Ships (fast picket ships, not heavy hitters typically) with enough armament to stand up to potential pirates and then they head out on convoy duty and the adventure begins.

I’m kind of torn on this book: it feels like a step backward from the previous two books, which saw Harrington go through some trauma (losing Paul) and then retreat in exile to Grayson where she confronts more challenges (because that’s what these books are about) but more importantly, heals herself a little bit. I’ve said it before and I’ve said it again: the sheer numbers of losses that Harrington goes through in terms of people under her command that she loses would have an affect on anyone and I really liked that Weber took the time to have her actually sit with that and come to terms with it a little bit.

This feels like a reset back to the formula of the early early books. Yes, in the arc of the series, you probably need this to be a bridge novel to get Honor back into the Manticoran fold (and I think that’s exactly what this is about) but it feels like a retread in many ways. She’s facing overwhelming odds and doesn’t have the biggest, fastest, heaviest armed ships– but she’s got ingenuity and good old fashioned know how to confront the problems and get the job done, but pays a cost for it. It’s more or less Basilisk Station stuck in a blender and throw in some pirates for good measure and it’s kind of disappointing.

Her antagonist from Basilisk Station shows up: Klaus Hauptmann, shipping magnate is the one who pushes Manticore to do something about it and even suggests sending Harrington, because he figures it’s a win-win: either Harrington gets the job done and protects his shipping or she dies trying and a woman he dislikes is taken off the board. Standard issue villain stuff for the series, but for some reason he decides to actually go out there himself! With his daughter!

I don't want to make it seem like it's all bad with this book, to the contrary there are a few interesting developments worth touching on:

First, this we get to meet the Andermanis for the first time and they are a wild blend of German/Chinese culture and I like them. They're a player in galactic affairs, but they're not as big of heavy hitters as Manticore or Haven, but they've got some game and they're very interested in the Silesian Confederacy and have a vested interested in making sure it's not a complete mess, so are friendly to Honor and company as they pass through on convoy duty. (i feel like we're going to see more of them in future books.)

Second, we've got the Wanderman Plot. War being what it is, Honor's crew has it's fair share of ne'er do wells and trouble makers along with really new, green recruits and one of them, Wanderman, runs afoul of the biggest and baddest asshole of the crew, Stielman and after he gets his shit kicked in, everyone knows who did it, but Wanderman won't admit it. He gets taken under the wing of the Marine Contingent, learns to defend himself and eventually, gets his own back against Stielman. It's a nice B-Plot and I hope we see more of Wanderman in the future-- I'm betting we will, since Weber seems to bring folks back now and again in this series- usually when you're least expecting them to show up.

Finally, we get some Treecat Action and Nimitz, Honor's Treecat gets a mate with the Engineer's Treecat, Samantha. That means that they're going to have go on maternity to leave until she's delivered her babies and we explore Honor's slightly souped-up bond with Nimitz that isn't quite full telepathy, but does allow her to sense the emotions of other humans and she actually shares that with the Engineer, but... because this is Honor Harrington and she can't have nice things and happy endings- at least not complete ones, the Engineer ends up dying and she feels the breaking of the bond with his Treecat, Samantha, who does survive, but it traumatized and depressed by the experience.

Overall, I'd say by itself, there are better books in this series. When you put in terms of the arc of the entire series, this feels like a bridge novel (we'll have to see if that proves correct when I get to the next one in the series) but I'm also left with the notion that it was kind of a necessary novel as well, despite feeling like something of a retread. For sure, Honor is back from exile. She's also thinking about promotion- if not to Commodore, then to Admiral and while she acknowledges she will miss just commanding a starship, she also doesn't seem to hate the idea of getting to develop the big picture strategy of the war either. Some interesting things in this book, but largely, just okay for me, so My Grade: ** out of ****

#honor among enemies #honorverse #honor harrington #david weber #book review

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wonderswritings · 1 year

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The Reapers Call: The Second Time

Summary: Don’t be afraid of ghosts. Be afraid of the reaper.

Overall Warnings: Emotional Trauma, Parental Abuse, Torture, PTSD, Blood, Angst, Slow Burn

Pairings: Simon ‘Ghost’ Riley x Arabella ‘Reaper’ Kent

Part One

“You’ll be joining someone for this one.”

Nodding, she looked over at Shepherd as he sat down behind his desk.

“He’s one of our best. You’ve met him before, on a previous mission. I believe you both came to blows.”

“Sir.”

He leaned forward, handing her a file before he leaned back in his chair, folding his hands over in front of him, watching as she opened the file.

“Lieutenant Ghost will be leading the mission, follow his orders and everything should go swimmingly.”

“Yes sir.”

“You’ll be taken to the base Ghost is currently stationed at. Pack your things and get some sleep. Plane leaves at 0300. You’ll arrive on base at 0600. Sergeant Sloan will meet you once you land and will take you to the Lieutenant.”

“Yes sir.”

Shepherd nodded as she stood, handing him the folder. He took it, tossing it in one of the desk drawers as she walked towards the door.

“Arabella.”

She stopped, turning back towards Shepherd, slightly making a face under her mask.

“Do not fail this mission.”

She nodded once, Shepherd nodding back.

“Then get. It. Done.”

“Yes sir.”

Sergeant Sloan was a ball of nerves as he stood off to the side, watching as the plane landed. Everyone had heard the whispers, the tales of the Reaper who’d walk you to hell. Everyone feared the Reaper, and with good reason. And now Sloan had to not only greet the Reaper, but escort them to Ghost, who was just as scary as the Reaper. He’d had no reason to deal with Ghost, even if he was on the same base as him, and now he was about to deal with two of the heavy hitters back to back. Once he was Reaper walking down the ramp, he made his way to them, coming to a stop.

“Reaper-”

He stopped when Reaper stopped in front of him, his eyes widening slightly as he looked Reaper over. The mask covered their entire face, only their eyes visible and even then it was hard to see them, almost like he was looking into a dark, very dark, pit. He shook his head, huffing slightly.

“I’m Sergeant Sloan. I’m here to escort you to the Lieutenant.”

Reaper nodded once, causing Sloan to slightly chuckle.

“O-kay.”

He lifted his hand, pointing over his shoulder.

“It’s uh- it’s this way.”

He turned, walking towards the base when he stopped, looking over his shoulder, seeing the Reaper stopped behind him.

“Sorry, just uh- just making sure you were following.”

“I am.”

Sloan’s eyes widened as he turned back around, nodding.

“Right.”

He led the way through the base, walking down the hall. He came to a stop in front of the door, taking a deep breath as he hesitantly reached up and knocked. He jumped slightly when the door opened, looking up, slightly taking a step back, causing him to hit Reaper. He turned towards the Reaper, jumping forward, shaking his head.

“Sorry.”

He turned back towards Ghost, shakingly nodding.

“Lieutenant Ghost, sir, I- Reaper, sir.”

Ghost stepped out of his room, his arms crossed over his chest as he looked over at Reaper. Sloan stepped back to the side, his eyes wide as he watched the two have a stare off when they both turned towards him at the same time, Ghost speaking.

“Dismissed, Sergeant.”

Sloan nodded as he turned, practically hightailing it down the hall. Once he turned the corner he stopped, turning and peaking down the hall, jumping back when he saw the Reaper already looking at him.

Once the Sergeant had left, Ghost turned, walking back into his room. When he turned back around, he saw the Reaper looking down the hall, and a quick glance saw the Sergeant disappearing around the corner. He huffed slightly, shaking his head as he walked back towards the Reaper, cutting the light off and shutting the door.

“Ready?”

Reaper turned, looking back at Ghost, nodding.

“Yes.”

Ghost nodded, the two falling into step as they walked down the hall.

“Read the file?”

“Yes. Confirm the target's location, and once confirmed Shadow Company will execute. You’re in charge, so I follow your orders.”

Ghost hummed slightly, nodding.

“Good. Then we shouldn’t have any problems.”

Originally, there was supposed to be like two more paragraphs, but I got stuck so they'll be in the next part!

Caps Tags

Everything Tags:

@jedi-dreea

@sammysgirl1997

@scarlett-witchhh

@cevans-winchester

@rafecameronswhore

@jennmurawski13-writes

#the reapers call #simon 'ghost' riley x fem!oc #simon 'ghost' riley x oc #simon riley x oc #simon riley x fem!oc #call of duty modern warfare 2 #codmw2 #simon riley

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calamitydaze · 2 years

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Ro Ramdin video out ! At the halfway mark and it's. Pretty okay.

alright, i finally watched it! goddamn you guys weren’t lying that was a heavy hitter. tldr below the cut since it was an Hour of pretty dense commentary so even the summary is long, but i very much recommend watching it in full

i liked it a lot! i’ve never watched her content before before but ro is funny as hell and it was a very well put together and engaging video. i really appreciated the balance she struck between being firm and empathetic, and that she took care to separate criticism of dream from criticism of his fanbase. i took some issues with the first half, mainly in the misinformation department (not super important, but quite a few little things that i felt were incorrect/lacking in detail/misrepresented), and i think it was a flaw to so heavily lean on data taken from a survey you had to dm her to get. i don’t blame her for that though, inaccuracies are to be expected when talking about a community she’s not part of and given how quickly she made this video i can understand relying on secondhand accounts instead of really diving in herself

the second half is where it really cuts deep and i found it SO refreshing for someone to actually look into why and how dream’s fandom came to be the way that it is instead of just endless criticism and talking down to them. i especially enjoyed the section where she talked about how insular and reactionary and hard to reach dream stans are, not because they hate everyone else but because everyone hates them. it’s something i’ve thought for over a year and when i saw her put it so eloquently i was like YES!!!! i said before i watched it that i’m pretty self-aware about my parasociality and why i feel the way i do, and i still like to think i’m not super guilty of her main critiques, but even then it honestly left me with a lot to think about and reassess. particularly the point about how stans seek reassurance from each other to get the moral green light to keep being in the community— it both hit me like “oh shit. i do that” and felt a little close to home in some of the asks i’ve been answering. i’m more than happy to continue comforting people and fostering a less hostile (and hopefully more balanced) discussion, but i hope people don’t see me as some sort of moral compass that tells you it’s okay to still watch dream. i’ve tried to be clear that it’s just a discussion and you should come to a personal conclusion that feels moral and comfortable to you AND THIS FEELS VERY SELF-IMPORTANT IM SORRY but i wanted to say it

so yeah! good video, it was sad to see how nervous ro was to upload it but from what i know the response has been positive so i hope she’s doing well. definitely worth a watch, i’d love to have a conversation with her tbh

tldr:

- even though the twitlonger was an off-the-cuff response, the repeated focus on how the allegations are “harmful to real victims” feels insincere and misdirecting

- the “gorgeous as fuck” snapchat is enough for her to deem the situation inappropriate and heavily question whether he’s handling his fanbase in a responsible manner

- survey takers were overwhelmingly neurodivergent and queer (and about 1/2 and 1/4 trans and poc respectively) and that might be a reason why people stay even if the community becomes toxic, because it’s still a safe space in that regard that’s hard to find elsewhere

- she talked about how self-isolated dream fans are in comparison to most fandoms as a result of continuous harassment and ridicule, and how this creates an “us against the world” mentality that makes it even harder to see when potential misdeeds occur

- the thing she most takes issue with about the fandom is the seeming lack of personal values that people hold above all else, aside from basic leftist stances on things like race and war

- when levied against other fans, accusations of racism and sexual harassment are an insta-block but creators get a grace period, because the space they take up in our lives is larger— but the more you sacrifice your personal values to get permission to continue enjoying a thing the easier it gets to keep doing it

#bella answers #anon #dream.situation

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brainwormsprompts · 1 year

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Danny Phantom x World Trigger

So what if the portal in Danny basement didn't lead to the Ghost Zone but to the Neighbor world? This could work considering I've seen lots of ideas that the Infinite Reals isn't stagnant and that the haunt doors move (I don't know if this is confirmed in the DP canon) and it's canonic that the different Neighbor Worlds move in a wacky sort of orbital system. This would make the ghosts Neighbors who are trying to yoink people for their own respective societies. Maybe the trigger that is allowing the void travel is very experimental/deadly/top-secret which is why other nations aren't using it. Or maybe other nations consider the idea foolhardy and something that would never work so they don't try it and actively shun the nations that are trying it. There's also the resource management/intensity that you could think about. Many ways that you can spin it so that the small regulars of Danny's rogue gallery fit within this explanation. In fact, you could have a handful of Neighbor nations separately come up with the idea if you want to have "in-fighting" within the Gallery (again, I don't remember if this happened in canon). Maybe some of the Gallery eventually move into Amity Park and become unofficial citizens.

In this case, the Fenton tech probably isn't based off ectoplasm, but trion. Whether or not Jack and Maddie are aware of this fact is up to you. I can totally see them stumbling across a trion soldier, defeating it with Fenton wacky logic and then completely mistaking it for a ghost instead of an alien/otherworldly entity. Maybe they saw one of their friends get taken by trion soldiers and that's what started their obsession. But this means that there are a few triggers laying around the lab. Maybe Danny and Jazz have been trained in a few of these triggers and have some that are highly specialized to them. If so, assuming that one is going with the "half-dead" thing that makes Danny a halfa, then maybe he has his on him and he makes a black trigger out of his death. Granted, this feels like a stretch in plausibility so one may or may not want to include it.

Now because of the long standing, open portal to the Neighbor-verse, more trion expeditions from other nations probably pop up around Amity Park when compared to a place that doesn't have it. This makes Amity Parkers really experienced with what to do when that happens. Maybe they start to believe the Fentons. Maybe the Fentons or the Undying Trio start to give out basic triggers and train them in how to use it. For example, if a Bamster comes through, then the Amity Parkers immediately form groups and go into smaller areas while also doing head counts on some sort of public server. But a Marmod makes them scatter in pairs or maybe groups of 3-4 at the most. The overall affect is that there is a tight bond between Amity Parkers. One moment, the A-listers could be bullying others and the next, they're all working together to get to safety. I imagine that it affects the younger citizens more than the older ones, but that's just me.

With this, you can also decide how or if you want any characters to have Side Effects. One could have Danny have something like Chika's and have him have a danger sense that changes as he grows. So a Marmod would set if off strongly when the portal first opened but maybe after half a year or so, it registers as a medium or low threat to him. Maybe Dash has enhanced strength while Paulina can affect how others perceive her to a degree. Maybe Sam can talk to plants while Tucker has a complete and total understanding of technology.

As for how this ties into the main series, it would likely come into play after the Aftokrator invasion. Osamu pushes Border into an uncomfortable position for them. With the Away Mission coming up and many of their heavy hitters leaving for it, they want to make sure that they're not left completely defenseless should something similar happen while it's happening. So they look to outsource (with a huge blow to their pride). Now when Neighbors became widespread knowledge, the US Government tried to "recruit" Amity Park. However, they rebuffed the government multiple times including and up to the present. Whether or not the GIW came about as a way to strong arm them before or after this is up to you. When Border reaches out to them, the US Government doesn't really want to give them resources because the US likes to hoard weapons. So they direct Border to small town Amity Park which has been dealing with Neighbor attacks for a while yet has a very small casualty rate.

The Border goes to investigate and try and recruit. Their success depends largely on who they bring. Old Border members are much more likely to have things go over smoothly, bonus points to Danny if Yuma is brought along. But if it's just New Border agents, then it's going to end with Border not getting any help from Amity Park with the residents being mildly antagonistic to them. Danny would go out to meet them because while the Mayor may make big decisions for them, being the main protector makes his opinion valued. If the Border mentions the fact that they are gaining temporary protectors for the Away Trip, Danny is going to consult with any of the Rogue Gallery that has moved to Amity Park and/or Team Phantom. If Danny has Danger Sense, it would be a great show of power to Border if an attack comes through and he just sighs and sends out an alert. It would not only show that Danny has a "powerful" side effect for Border, but it also shows just how normalized attacks are and how most people go about their day through it, which is mind-boggling to Border who has shut down an entire area because of Neighbor attacks.

If Border passes the trust test, then Danny would probably ask about which Nations they're going through. He would casually throw out names and be like "well so and so is a small nation so they're less likely to have people but this nation is getting bigger so they might have some new captures" which would reveal just how valuable Amity Park is as an information source if not a defense ally.

#world trigger #world trigger x Danny phantom #prompt #danny phantom #dp #world trigger x dp

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zintranslations · 3 years

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Kaleidoscope of Death, Extra 7

Kaleidoscope of Death by Xi Zixu Link to Chinese / Novel Updates

Extra: Bai Ming and Zhang Yiqing

After Bai Ming and Zhang Yiqing met, Zhang Yiqing once asked Bai Ming a question. He asked him: "What are your dreams?"

When he heard this question Bai Ming immediately beamed. He met Zhang Yiqing’s eyes and answered earnestly and solemnly, "my dream is you."

At this, Zhang Yiqing was momentarily taken aback.

"I'm seriously asking."

Bai Ming, "and I'm seriously answering."

Bai Ming indeed was serious. Before encountering the doors, he'd already been a fan of Zhang Yiqing, obsessively devoted to that handsome man onscreen.

Bai Ming collected Zhang Yiqing's every movie, every drama, and every commercial. And when he found out that Zhang Yiqing was quitting the silver screen to direct behind-the-scenes instead, Bai Ming went crazy for a good long while.

During that while, nobody in their organization dared to go through doors with him. They all knew Bai Ming was the sort of person capable of doing anything on a bad mood.

Back then, Bai Ming had not yet been the boss of their organization. He had just been a plain and simple door-crosser, though the potential he emanated often gave his fellow door-crossers the sense that he was no small-pond creature.

Bai Ming's family situation was more complicated. He'd lived at an orphanage since youth, and had only been found and brought back home after he turned twelve. Only then did he learn that his father was actually a rich man, and the reason his father brought him back had nothing to do with paternal devotion, but rather because his brother needed a healthy liver.

This sort of bloody melodrama was what befell Bai Ming.

The truth was, prior to actually meeting Zhang Yiqing, the two of them had seen each other once before.

It was at a cocktail party hosted by the Bai family. Bai Ming had stood in a corner, small and thin, and watched as a smiling Zhang Yiqing chatted with his father. Zhang Yiqing had been young back then, and had just recently snagged Best Actor—there was still a touch of youth in his appearance, but the unparalleled splendor of his later years could already be seen.

Bai Ming had stared at him for a long time, many thoughts flashing through his mind. At this point he was already a fan of Zhang Yiqing's movies, but was too nervous to just walk up and start talking to him. He could only gaze from afar.

And later, Bai Ming met the doors, so he'd thought that there was only ever to be the one encounter between he and Zhang Yiqing.

But fate was always an extraordinary thing. After many years of hard work, Bai Ming had staked out quite a position for himself in the world of the doors. One day, a good friend suddenly asked him: "Bai Ming, you like Zhang Yiqing, right?"

Lit cigarette hanging between his lips, Bai Ming vocalized a lazy, "mh."

"He's started entering doors too," his friend told him. "Want to consider taking him on?"

Bai Ming's head twisted to stare at his friend.

"What did you say?"

Looking innocently back at him, his friend repeated himself.

Bai Ming extinguished the cigarette and laughed, "this isn't a joke, is it?"

Of course it wasn't a joke. The moment he saw Zhang Yiqing again, Bai Ming knew that his dream was about to come true.

Zhang Yiqing, who had retreated behind the scenes, was no longer as tender as he'd been in his youth. He was no less handsome, however. Like an aged bottle of wine, he and his charms had not faded with time, in fact had begun to emanate a unique fragrance of maturity.

All competent people have arrogance, and Zhang Yiqing was a proud standout in his industry. He'd taken the laurels for Best Actor four times, not to mention countless other awards, both large and small. The year he turned to directing, the country had even nominated him for Best Director.

The only shame was that after encountering the doors, his fate was forced to take a sharp turn.

"Hello, I'm Bai Ming." The two sat face-to-face, and Bai Ming held a hand out to Zhang Yiqing with a smile. His smile was sincere, and paired with that harmless-looking face, there really was no visible aura of an apex predator about him. "It's a pleasure to meet you."

Naturally, Zhang Yiqing was fooled by Bai Ming. He took Bai Ming's hand and said, "it's a pleasure to meet you. I'm Zhang Yiqing."

"Oh," Bai Ming nodded. "I've seen your movies."

Zhang Yiqing smiled politely. He likely thought Bai Ming was just a normal fan, or perhaps not even that—Bai Ming may just be an audience who had seen his movies in passing. But much later, when Zhang Yiqing saw that room stacked full of his own works, he would finally realize that Bai Ming was nowhere as harmless as he made himself look.

Of course, at this point, Zhang Yiqing was not aware of anything. He saw the headful of natural curls, the unsophisticated grin, and really took Bai Ming for a gentle-natured young man…

At this point Zhang Yiqing even failed to understand why everybody in Bai Ming's organization was so scared of him, to the point where Zhang Yiqing thought there really must be a misunderstanding…

Inside and outside the doors, Bai Ming did not change much. His personality stayed genial. When confronted with malicious words or even malicious people, he was never even vicious in return.

Sometimes, Zhang Yiqing even thought Bai Ming was being too nice, and would step up to protect Bai Ming.

"You're too well-tempered," was something Zhang Yiqing once said. "Nice people get taken advantage of. Harbor no intent to hurt, but preserve all instinct to caution!"[1]

Bai Ming listened to Zhang Yiqing's reprimand and said, beaming, "Zhang-ge's right to scold me."

Zhang Yiqing didn’t know what went through his head then, but seeing Bai Ming's well-behaved smile, he reached out and gave that head a pat. Only after touching Bai Ming did he realize the gesture didn't seem quite right, and so he coughed once, before explaining, "it just looks good to touch."

Bai Ming just blinked his eyes noncommittally.

Bai Ming's hair was extremely fluffy and truly peak touch quality. Just seeing it made people want to pet it. But there really weren't that many people who’d dare to pet a tiger—Zhang Yiqing was one of few, though at that time, he had yet to discover the fact that Bai Ming was a ferocious beast, and not some adorable kitten.

But fake was fake in the end—Zhang Yiqing was no idiot either. By the time he became aware of the incongruities about Bai Ming's person, the two of them had already grown closer.

Zhang Yiqing had noticed the oddity and even joked about it, saying, "Bai Ming, how come I've discovered that anyone who crosses you gets struck with misfortune?"

Bai Ming batted his eyes at this.

"Don't they deserve it?"

At his smile, Zhang Yiqing froze. Zhang Yiqing had only been joking, but after careful thought, a layer of cold sweat began to dot his back. Because as far as he could remember, ever since he and Bai Ming started entering doors together, those who had wronged Bai Ming were not simply "unfortunate," they were all…dead.

That's right, dead. Dead via various odd accidents. Some things may seem accidental on the surface, but—upon multiple occurrences—could no longer be mere coincidence.

Incidental became inescapable after a certain point.

Having realized something, Zhang Yiqing looked once more to Bai Ming, and found that the young man who was once so easy to read now seemed something of a stranger.

The good thing was, that feeling only lasted for a moment, because Bai Ming grinned and scooted closer again.

"Zhang-ge, come get hotpot with me tonight?"

"Sure," Zhang Yiqing agreed.

The relationship between the two of them was still ambiguous at this moment, but one could die at any time inside the doors. Zhang Yiqing saw clearly Bai Ming's devotion to protecting him, and so the two got closer and closer—until one day, when Zhang Yiqing went to a party.

As a heavy hitter in the entertainment industry, there were naturally many people lined up to take a ride on his coattails. That was why that day, a coworker introduced him to a beautiful young woman.

Though Zhang Yiqing rejected her immediately, Bai Ming, who'd come along for fun, still saw everything.

Oddly enough, against Bai Ming's gaze, Zhang Yiqing felt a sense of guilt. The party hadn’t even been over when Bai Ming pulled Zhang Yiqing alone into a break room. Zhang Yiqing wanted to resist at first, but discovered that he wasn't at all Bai Ming's opponent—he was picked up and brought along as if he were a sack of rice.

"Does Zhang-ge have someone he likes?" was what Bai Ming asked him.

Zhang Yiqing said, "no."

"No?" Bai Ming said. "Then what's the deal with her?"

Watching Bai Ming's expression, Zhang Yiqing had the thought that the person before him seemed a bit drunk. He licked his lips, and spoke hoarsely: "I don't like her."

"You don't like her, but you'll still have her?" Bai Ming asked.

Zhang Yiqing opened his mouth, wanting to explain. But when the words got to his lips, the pride in his bones was for some reason set off by Bai Ming's accusatory tone. He lifted his chin and, with a cool expression, forced down the anxiety deep in his chest.

"So what if I will?"

Bai Ming pressed a hand to his lips, got closer, and hummed, "but I'll get angry."

Zhang Yiqing's brow furrowed.

Bai Ming, "I'll get very…very…angry."

Zhang Yiqing was just about to ask and so what if you get angry when Bai Ming shoved him onto the break room sofa. Bai Ming's fingers picked apart the first button on his shirt, and the man looked down at Zhang Yiqing from high above. His voice when he spoke was colder than anything Zhang Yiqing had heard from him.

"I don't want to wait anymore."

Zhang Yiqing's eyes went wide. This was the first time he became aware that Bai Ming and that harmless youth he thought he knew were two completely different people.

"Zhang-ge," Bai Ming said. "I like you. Do you like me?"

Zhang Yiqing swallowed, and he didn't answer Bai Ming's question. He only said, "calm down a second…"

Bai Ming watched him. "You also like me, right? You just don't want to admit it…But even if you don't admit it, that’s alright." He smiled, as handsome as an incubus. "It's fine as long as I like you."

Everything that happened after that was unspeakable.

By the time Zhang Yiqing once again regained consciousness, he was limp all over. Bai Ming had him wrapped up in blanket and was placing him into the car. Seeing him wake, Zhang Yiqing beamed.

"Zhang-ge, you're up? We're headed home now."

Zhang Yiqing wanted to speak, but found his voice nearly gone. He recalled something, and a smudge of red appeared over his cheeks as he grated out: "Animal."

Bai Ming batted his eyes. "Zhang-ge, are you calling me big?"

Zhang Yiqing, "…" He surrendered.

Bai Ming, "no worries, it's only 3AM. There's still plenty of time when we get back."

Zhang Yiqing wanted to retort, so Bai Ming caught him by the lips. Bai Ming's kiss was rough enough to turn his mouth an evocative red.

Zhang Yiqing went dizzy with the kiss. It was only then that he had the faint realization that he…seemed to have caught the attention of someone incredible.

Translator’s Notes:

害人之心不可有，防人之心不可無; idiom that literally means, “you can’t have intent to hurt people, but you can’t not be guarded against people.” The two phrases have parallel rhythms Chinese (note the four middle characters are identical), so coming up with a translation that mirrors that to some degree is both fun and difficult.

[Extra: Twin Lives, Twin Deaths(3)] | [Extra: Tan Zaozao]

#kaleidoscope of death #xi zixu #cnovel #chinese translation #死亡萬花筒 #ugh sorry i got so fucking busy #disregard the tags on my last post TTT #tzz coming next chapter #we'll end as god (xzx) intended #i'm sooooo intrigued by BM and LQS's friendship

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sugarakis-p2 · 2 years

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Shigaraki's Muse Ch 23

Ember meets her new babysitter, and begs for the Terrors help in saving Bakugou. Shigaraki has hit his limit with Overhaul when all he wants to do is dream of Ember.

Warning: graphic violence, non/con threat, touches, mature, cusses, dream NSFW

Chapter 22

Chapter 23: Dream a lil dream of me

Shigaraki is petting Ms.Takiya's Pomeranian.

It was old, but it still reminded him of a fluffy little lion. She had bandaged him as best she could. It appeared worse than it was. It stopped bleeding when he stopped digging his nails in. The person with the packrat quirk took the rest of Ember’s apartment.

“When is Ember coming back? The whole community misses her?” Ms. Takiya asked. Dabi dealt with her. Plying her with gin and reassurances that Ember is safe but won’t be back from her overseas humanitarian work for a while. She sighs, “Tell her to write us. Please.”

They made their way to the hideout to find Overhaul had taken over the place. It was just him, a child, and five other lackeys.

“Whatever this is, I’m in a bad mood,” He rasps at Overhaul.

“Calm down. We’ve been raided. Several of the other hideouts have been taken out. I have a viable product now. But not the means of production. We can rebuild, but it will take some time,” Overhaul said in his hallow tones.

“Well, if it’s access to medical equipment is all you need, we can deliver you to the Doctor,” Shigaraki shrugs.

“Deliver us how?” Overhaul asks dubious of any of the League’s offers.

“Mr. Compress’s quirk. Either way, you are not staying here,” Shigaraki says. Shigaraki was being so reasonable and patient too! He has had it with this arrogant prick. Thinking he’s in charge. Bringing some abused brat with him. Worst of all, Overhaul did not live up to his part of the bargain. Now his light is gone, and this fucker thinks he can waltz in and invade his space. He wants to fill the largest room with Embers things and brood for one fucking moment in peace, dammit!

“Oh,” Overhaul stands in challenge, “We provided this space. I’m not willing to just hand myself over to you in such a vulnerable state.” Overhaul hands the kid over to Chronos and takes off his glove. Magne is the first to move. Screaming about how Overhaul won’t suppress her family. Her upper half turns into a fine red mist. Shigaraki’s blood is boiling, this fucking guy! She was one of his heavy hitters! In the chaos, he relies on the others to take out the others. He’s going to kill this fuckwad, personally.

Mr. Compress is right behind him. Overhaul's eyes widen as he shouts, “Shield.” Shots are ringing out in the confined space making his ears ring. Fool, he didn’t use his own gun in a confined space for a reason. The ricochet could leave more valuable pieces dead. He wants to destroy. The man screams as he turns to dust. It’s not enough. It’s not even close to enough. He has lost so much today. Jumping back from Overhauls swing. Compress and Overhaul touch each other at the same time. The asshole just lost his ungloved arm. Unfortunately, Compress also lost his arm, but he did good. The timing was perfect as he jumped forward and wrapped all five fingers around Overhaul's wrist.

The look of shock and disbelief was sweet. It soothed his soul.

What are you doing? The sweet drunk Ember in his head asks. She’s pressing her tits on his back in a skimpy punk outfit he saw her wear once on the cameras.

What does it look like? I’m getting satisfaction. He snarks at her. What has she done to him? He can barely function without her.

Seems a bit of a waste, also too quick; look at him. Accepting his death, it’s better than he deserves. Plus, taking that pretty quirk with him. Maybe the Doc has something? Sometimes living can be worse. Take it from me. I miss my brother so much. Don’t you miss me that much? Living hurts. He knows she is just trying to talk him into letting him live, and he grins at her efforts. She’s not wrong. It hurts without her.

Even when you are not here, you are still my muse.

“Toga. Stop the decay. I have a much better idea. Something he will really hate,” he orders around father. The little girl is crying, Chronos and Mustard are pointing guns at each other. Dabi is the threat forcing Chronos to remain at a stalemate. Twice is trying to help a groaning Mr. Compress. Toga looks ticked off, but she follows his orders.

“What are we going to do with this guy?” she asks coldly.

“Twice separate them. Compress, use your quirk,” he says.

“Come on, man. Compress is hurt here,” Twice shouts.

“Think about it, Jin. The quicker we put them away safe and sound, the sooner we can get Compress help,” Toga states the obvious. Toga hands Shigaraki a little box filled with red and blue injection bullets. Twice helps Compress, the little girl did not want to be touched. Sad little thing. He knows exactly what that was like. He puts them and the bullets in an envelope with instructions for Doc and a way to get in touch.

Ember. What would you do to help Mr. Compress?

I would take him to the doctor's at my job. They are corrupt and discreet.

“Dabi, Spinner, Toga, take Compress to the old folk’s home. They have corrupt doctors there. Anybody asks stupid questions you pretend you are visiting someone, Toga,” he says, turning to the lackeys that hung back in the fight. Before they leave, he has an idea, “Dabi, Bring the Terror here. I want to chat with him.” Dabi smirks and leaves.

“Now, the three of you. The one called Packrat, empty out Ember’s apartment in the large room then buy everyone something to eat, including yourself,” Packrat scurries off to follow orders. He faces the other two, and they cringe, “I want you two to take this envelope to this address. Put it in the third mailbox, then watch that mailbox like your life depends on it because it does. Whoever goes near that box I want you to follow. There are two of you, so there should be no reason you fail. Twice, Mustard, give Big Sis Magne a proper burial. I’m going to take a nap. Come get me when you are about to cover her,” he rasps, scratching his bandage. Leaving Mustard to handle Twice’s blubbering.

Packrat gives him a thumbs-up as he makes his way to the room. It’s cramped, but he flops down on her unicorn-covered bed. Holding one of the stuffed unicorns that smell like her. Tucking father away safely.

Are you dead? He wonders.

If I wasn’t, what would you do about it? What are you going to do about it?

I don’t know yet. Hold me. He imagines Ember’s warm arms wrapped around him. Her delicate loving fingers played with his hair.

Ember wakes with a jerk. It felt like for a moment, a brief moment, her fingers were in his hair. Where was the Terror? Maybe she wasn’t deep enough?

“You’re awake. Good. I want to meet Legion. Some of my finest work. Now, you know what your job is, right, Legion?” Ujiko giggles. Patting the massive black Nomu. It has one enormous row of fangs jutting out with no jaw. Two red streaks where its eyes should be, an exposed brain. The beefy body of a four-armed gorilla.

“Protect baby. Protect mother. Protect mother even from self. Keep hidden from enemies,” the thing rumbled deeply. Ujiko laughs and pats the thing.

“I really like this one. I had to use parts of nine people. But he has the perfect temperament to be your babysitter. Keep you out of trouble. He can split up to nine times, he has a hardening quirk and can grow nine sets of limps. Just to name a few,” Ujiko brags.

People. He uses people to make the Nomu. Ember stupidly assumed they were grown from some human mush spliced with animal DNA, like a chimera, and kept under obedience training. But Ember thought wrong. All the Nomu were once human, and it broke her heart. She can’t reverse what has been done, but she can remember that they are not just simple beasts and not to treat them like pets. She came over, placed a hand on its warm arm through the bars, and gave him her most brilliant smile.

“You are amazing and beautiful,” she said to it.

“Of course, he is. I made him to be. Well now, that we got the introductions out of the way. He will be sure to keep you on task. No free rides here toots. You were a nurse?” Ujiko asked. Looking at her chart as if it held all the answers to her.

“Yes. At a hospice slash elderly care facility,” Ember replies. Trying to comfort Legion with gentle strokes. He seems utterly unresponsive to the gesture.

“Good, then you can assist me. Come on. You can’t run or cause trouble with this big guy around,” Dr. Ujiko says with a massive grin. He has Ember spending her time logging blood samples. Ember spends the entire time talking to Legion, who is unresponsive until she gets up to use the bathroom.

“Where are you going?” Legion asks in its deep guttural voice, blocking her.

“To the bathroom. This little fuck is kicking up a storm today,” Ember laughs nervously.

“I will take you.” Ember shrieks in surprise when it carefully seizes her and watches on the toilet. It’s like that for days. It pampers you and takes care of you, all while watching you like a hawk. Ember can’t wipe her nose without it being there. At least she no longer has to sleep in that disgusting room. Dr. Ujiko insists they eat dinner together so she can go over whatever data the blood samples provided. Also, to mock her.

“Can I talk to Tomura or at least know how he’s doing?” she asks nearly every night.

“Why are you so concerned for that brat? If he’s any kind of villain the Master expected him to be, he will make it just fine. Although I am getting tired of waiting. Don’t bother asking about the explosive brat. I’m already exhausted from this conversation. You really are a boring bleeding heart.” It feels like forever before she sees the Terror again.

“There are no windows, and the Doctor has a very scary babysitter keeping me from leaving or discovering our location. The man is cautious to say the least. It’s been five days. Where have you been?” The teen version of herself huffs at the Terror in the dreamscape.

“I’m sorry. The dreamscape is not so cut and dry. Shigaraki has been having very vivid dreams of you, and it has been drawing me to him versus you.” He looks sheepish.

“He’s alive. I am going to kill him for leaving me for so long. Why did he leave me down there? Is he ok? Has he been eating? Does he miss me? Does he still love me?” She pleads in a parade of questions that sets the Terror’s emotions spinning.

“Ack! No! I don’t know. He spends his time imaging you are counseling him, fucking, or feeding him. Honestly, I am tempted to kill him if it wasn’t for the fact, he can get you away from that insane doctor. Have you ever considered Shigaraki put you there with him?” The Terror asks and then instantly regrets it.

“What! No! Never!” Ember laughs, “He would be here. I mean, he would. I-I-I’m sure he.” Ember stops to sob. Because she doesn’t know. Maybe he is punishing her. Perhaps he doesn’t care like Bakugou has screamed at her over and over again. She is starting to hyperventilate. The Terror holds her tight.

“Shhh. Shhh. My little baby. Calm down. I was a fool. Think of the baby. Shhhh. I will make it right,” He soothes. Bakugou! Her mind screams.

“If you want to make it up to me. Convince Shigaraki to save Bakugou. I am fine here. I am safe.” Ember demands.

“The fuck you are! If the Doctor has you, that means he has plans for you. AFO has plans for you, and he is pure evil.” The Terror frets.

“Yes, but for now, I’m fine! Please! You owe me! You can never repay what you owe me. But this will help. It will help my soul heal a little. Please,” She begs, and the Terror softens.

“It is not that simple. I can control it, and when he wakes, Shigaraki will shrug it off because it will not be his nature to save a hero. I can manipulate and pretend to be you in his dreams, leaving the same issue. I don’t want him to grope me as you. Too creepy,” he states.

“Days ago, I was asleep, and it felt like one of your dreams, but I could feel my fingers comb through his hair. Can you put me in his dreams?"

The Terror looks utterly disgusted. But he nods his head.

“There are rules and conditions. Shigaraki must be asleep at the same time. He has to be dreaming of you. If he decides he doesn’t like what is happening, Shigaraki can assert his will and make you do whatever he wants, and I won’t be able to pull you out. You have to wait until he wakes up naturally or.....” he trails off.

“I get it. A lot of ifs and musts. But I can handle whatever he wants." She reassures.

“What if he gets mad and wants to strangle you? Maybe use his nasty quirk? The dreamscape caters to the Id and some of the darkest desires of a person’s mind. It will feel like you are being strangled, and often that’s enough for the actual body to die. They go into a state of shock or some shit.” he's shaking his head.

“You owe me,” she says, holding his hands. He purses his lips.

“When do you want to go?” he sighs in resignation.

“Now!” she growls.

“I was worried you were going to say that. Ok. Close your eyes count to six, then open them.”

“One…two…three…four…five…six.” She opens them to see she is lying on Shigaraki’s chest, feeding him cheese puffs while he plays a video game. Licking and sucking cheese dust off her fingers. Ember looks around and sees evidence of children, two book bags with the names Cyrus and Hana neatly printed on the front. Ember looks down to see she looks like a slutty trophy wife distinctly not pregnant. The place seems expensive and large. She can see he has added her things everywhere, horror and unicorns, adding a nice little tack to the villa.

She sits up, and Shigaraki gives her a confused look with those crimson eyes that strike fear and lust in her. His hair is a little longer, and he looks too thin. She is angry but misses him so much. Ember slinks over him and presses her lips against his. She can feel him smile and hears him toss the controller aside. His lips feel exactly like she remembers. She can even taste the cheese puffs as her tongue plays with his. Her hands caress his abs and chest. He was building up some muscle when last she saw him, but this. This felt downright sexy as she stroked her fingers up his washboard stomach. She moans with need because it has been too long. Ember shrieks and jerks when she feels both hands squeeze her ass with all ten fingers.

“What?” He asks with a perplexed look. She reminds herself this is all a part of his dream, panting with brief fear. It’s starting to feel weird. Like she is really violating his trust by looking into his inner thoughts. She combs his hair back and kisses him around his eyes.

“I love you,” he rasps. Now she feels confused. He has always been like an awkward teen when he attempts to say it first. But it’s slipping from his lips so freely here.

“I love you, and I miss you. I need you. Yours is the only light I will never seek to snuff out. Fuck, this feels so real. More,” Tomura growls, undoing his pant and pulling her panties aside. So, impossibly smoothly and fast.

“Wait! I have somthi-Ahhhh….fuck! I forgot how big you are,” Ember moans while he makes her bounce on him without any prep or warning. But he has always been more willing to listen after being made happy, she thinks.

“Wait? The kids are out Now is the perfect time,” he laughs, “I’m not too big. You’re too tight. Naughty little pussy should have stayed shaped to my cock. Damn, you’re perfect. The way you grip and clench on me. Wet and warm.” He looks absolutely thrilled. Disintegrating her clothes, sucking, and drooling all over her dusty tits. Ember squeals and moans.

“You are making the cutest sounds. Ones I’ve never heard before,” Tomura pants around her nipple. He is gliding his hard hot cock perfectly over her slick walls. The grinding, as he arches up into her, hits her clit and sends shudders of pleasure up her spine.

He makes the lewdest little moan of pain when he grips her hips and arches into her milking cunt. Her eyes drinking in the sight of his stomach tighten and his entire core flex under her. Ember groans as the knot in her middle comes undone with him. Orgasming at the same time is beyond euphoric. Cumming in her once wasn’t enough for him. She made a little squeak when he threw her back and pounded her hard into the pricey couch. His aggressive thrusts sent her over the edge in pleasure. It’s almost painful, and she has to grit her teeth. It’s made even harder when both hands are wrapped around her throat. She’s too weak in this dream to push him off.

She’s starting to struggle for air, her lungs begging for it. She is beginning to get feeble. The blackness is crowding around her sight. She can see the Terror at the edge of her sight, reaching for Tomura when she squeezes his cock tighter. He releases her, throwing his head back and rolling his eyes. Drooling, gasping, while his tongue lolls. He falls forward, collapsing on top of her, and makes pitiful whimpers with each pulse of his spurting cock. She waves the Terror away. Mortified he didn’t fucking tell her he would be around watching. He appears to vanish.

Ember embraces Tomura and nuzzles his hair. Making him whine more.

“I’m still down there. Starving. The boy is too weak to help. Save me. Be my hero again. One more time,” she whispers into his hair. His shoulders start to bounce as he presses harder into her.

“I-I-I’m so sorry,” he weeps. Disturbing Ember. She has never seen him cry, making it all too real that she is mind raping him.

“Tell me how?” he mumbles before she is jerked from his dream. Waking with a start on her cot. Gasping for air. Legion is hovering over her.

“FUUUUUCK!” she screams, thrashing in a rage. Panties soaked, “Legion, can you help me to the shower?”

“Yes,” he rumbles.

“Shigaraki, you told us to wake you when we are ready to cover Magne. Are you alright, boss?” Mustard asks. Shigaraki sits up. He doesn’t mind the wetness in his pants, but the moisture on his face is irritating him. He wipes it off.

“I’m fine. Wait for the others. Get out,” he hisses. Putting on a fresh pair of pants, he goes through his phone. He has thousands of Ember, but only two of them together. One where she is asleep on his chest, holding him like a kitten. Him kissing her forehead. The other he stares at often, Ember took it herself.

She has her arms wrapped his shoulders from behind, giving the camera a radiant smile. He has a look of surprise and, with a slight smile playing at the corners. The months away have made him realize a few things. She trusted him, and he destroyed it. He destroys everything he touches.

He has grown by leaps and bounds because of her, and he lost her. He needs to get her back. This time it will be different. He’s not going to give her all the credit, though. He’s going to make sure she’s safe this time. He follows the smell of pizza and Twice’s sobbing. He takes a slice and looks at the mousy young man.

“Packrat? Was there anyone in the Yakuza that had tracking or a warp-type quirk?” He questions.

“How can you eat at a time like this? I’m starving!” Twice whines. Pack rats’ nose twitches as he thinks. Munching the pizza like a rat.

“There was a tracker, but he was arrested. He needed to see and sniff the person in person first,” Packrat squeaked.

“We’re back,” Dabi announces to the room.

“Mister is a bit loopy. That doctor gave him the good. Stuff,” Toga says. Shigaraki tosses the pizza back in the box.

“Let’s bury Magne. Then eat,” Shigaraki says. They stood around Magne's grave in silence.

“Magne believed in the League more than anyone. I have faith that sometime soon, we can make our vision of the future happen. Like Magne, I trust in all of you,” he says around father. The wake pizza was cold, like the mood in the room.

“Shiggy, the Terror is missing,” Dabi says, lighting a cigarette and handing one to Shigaraki. “Not to pile on the bad news, but that new arm and doctor cost a pretty penny. Decent eulogy, though.”

“We still have that one sidekick. When Mr. Compress feels up to it, we’ll make a video. Then we’ll be flush again,” He blows out the smoke. He finishes and grinds out the cigarette, “I’m going to take a nap.”

“Really? You’re going to go mope like a little emo about Ember. Bet she would rather you think of a way to find her,” Dabi snarks.

“Rich, coming from you, edge lord. Go recruit someone with a fucking quirk that can help us find her, or are you over the baby thing?” Shigaraki growls.

“No, I’m not,” Dabi mumbles.

Chapter 24

#yandere shigaraki tomura #boku no hero academia tomura #shigaraki tomura #lemon #my hero academia shigaraki #bnha shigaraki #yandere #boku no hero academia shigaraki #shigaraki x oc #shigaraki #league of villains #alternate universe #alternate canon #soft bakugou #f/m

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thebibliomancer · 2 years

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Essential Avengers: West Coast Avengers #6: QUEST for CATS!

March, 1986

I love this title, if nothing else!

Cat Quest! Quest for Cats! Lets goooooo!

Let’s summon a cat out of smoke because this book has insufficient amounts of cats!

As I try to type this, a cat attempts to lay on my wrists! Cats!

But before cats, last time on West Coast Avengers time.

Last times: West Coast Avengers Tigra has been more and more taken over by her cat side. Mostly its causing her to be super horny and mercurial of mood. Also: Wonder Man re-revealed to the public that he did a white collar crime like twenty years ago when it was the 60s. And Hawkeye aggressively pursued Ben Grimm the Thing to be the sixth member of the team! And there’s something going on with this guy called Master Pandemonium who can turn his arms and legs into demons! There’s just a lot going on, okay? But it has resulted in Firebird, the not Phoenix phoenix themed hero, to be hanging around the team. Also, Ultron kept prank calling Hank Pym until Hank yelled at him so Ultron suddenly decided he wanted to make amends instead.

There’s so much going on.

LIKE THE BEST MAGIC SPELL EVER

(I assume its the cat summoning spell from the cover)

Love the caption box that seems to bemoan that California has lost its way in the Greed is Good 80s by losing its interest in the occult.

I mean, these those days you hardly ever find a former living vampire teaching superheroes how to summon demons.

Not like the good old days.

Anyway, yeah, that’s what Morbius remembers of the spell that he saw that one time which he doesn’t even know if its related to the same cat people that Tigra is looking to speak with. But what he does know is that the West Coast Avengers probably should do the spell at Daemond Mansion!

The phone rings, interrupting things. Hank rushes to answer it because IT MIGHT BE ULTRON but its not, its just Wonder Man’s agent.

I do like what Hank thinks as he’s rushing to answer.

Hank Pym, Normal NotSuperheroMan: “It might be Ultron again! He said the last time he wanted to ‘bury the hatchet’ between us -- so it must be time for him to tell me ‘April Fool!’”

I love that sounds perfectly in character with Ultron’s new prank caller persona.

Just calling Hank to get his hopes up and going ‘just joking, bro!’ Lean fully into being a petty shit.

Anyway. Something I notice about Englehart’s writing that I don’t think I remembered from his earlier Avengers run is that its very wordy.

When Simon Wonder Williams goes to answer the phone, Hawkeye, Mockingbird, and Tigra all over thought bubbles where they muse that this might be the verdict on public opinion on Simon re-revealing his criminal past.

(While, hilariously, Firebird is watching all this nonsense going on and thinking "If only I could be an Avenger -- !”)

As it happens, the phone call is good news. Simon Williams’ agent got him a role in a good movie! An A-movie! With Universal Studios!

In also good news, the polls are coming up Wonder Man. The majority of people aren’t bothered by that embezzlement Simon did decades ago. Or however long ago. Sliding time scale.

Hawkeye has to be the party pooper because that’s what the team leader needs to be sometimes and points out that they need Wonder Man on the team for their cat quest.

Iron Man is on medical leave for werewolf wounds and Wonder Man is their only heavy hitter.

Tigra argues naaaaaaah, the cat people are friends! We don’t even need to punch them! Go on and do your movie, big guy!

Mockingbird suggests Firebird could join them since she’s hanging around anyway, which Tigra balks at.

Because she arbitrarily hates Firebird. For cat reasons? Probably.

Tigra: “Her? She’s not an Avenger! She’s just a little bird who got her wings clipped!”

Firebird: “I -- I don’t know what I’ve done to offend you, Tigra -- but I apologize for it, whatever it is!”

Firebird also points out that she has her own mission to deal with. Y’know, Master Pandemonium? But Mockingbird points out that she went off to look for Master Pandemonium and just ended up hanging out with the Avengers again! So might as well stick with them for this cat quest and then they can all look for the guy together!

Hawkeye disinterestedly approves of Firebird as a temporary party member and then runs off to call Ben Grimm.

Hawkeye lies a liiiiiitle bit, claiming that Tigra has been asking after him so the Thing agrees to join the mission so he can hang out with Tigra for the old times’ sake of that time she was hanging out with the Fantastic Four.

Hawkeye: “Got ‘im!”

Pfft. Oh Clint.

Later, the (West Coast) Avengers fly to Topanga Canyon Hills to visit Daemond Mansion, a clearly very haunted house.

Firebird: “I do not like the feel of evil in these walls! It seems to be... waiting...!”

Tigra: “Nobody wants to hear your feelings, Firebird!”

Geez, Tigra.

You are becoming unpleasant.

Also, despite all the ominous feelings, the only thing in the mansion is a very cat-looking coyote who apparently has nothing to do with the Epic imprint series Coyote.

Thanks, caption box!

ANYWAY, the West Coast (Avengers) find a giant pentagram painted on the floor of the ritual room and get down to doing some black magic(k)!

Didn’t think I’d see it happen so casually in an Avengers book but there we go!

Actually, a more magic focus in their adventurers would distinguish the West Coast Avengers from the Hydrobase Avengers. The East Coast team doesn’t not deal with magic. I mean, Wanda learned witchcraft over a weekend. But its not one of their most common genres of adventure. Its something that happens to them sometimes and they’re never happy about it.

MAGIC(K)!

I can think of a lot of circumstances where a spell of Summon: Cat Hunk can come in handy.

Carpool lane. Need a date for prom. Need some help carrying groceries. Shoulder to cry on. If you be into that kinda thing no judgement. Dealing with rodents of unusual size. Have some extra fish to get rid of. Want to put the fear into a cat-hating dog. Hugs.

1001 uses. And yet I named but a few.

Although Cat Hunk Balkatar hasn’t strictly made any aggressive moves, the Thing immediately moves to punch him. And Firebird, deciding that he’s an evil demon who must be purified, immediately sets him on fire.

Hilariously, while clearly smouldering from the fire, Balkatar claims that since fire doesn’t exist where he comes from, he’s immune to it.

YEAH SURE THAT’S HOW THINGS WORK now I’m going to lick the sun. In my land there is no photosphere so naturally I’m not affected by plasma.

Also, again, they summoned this dude for help and immediately started kicking his ass.

Geez, guys.

Tigra ends the fight by going ‘hey I’m Tigra’ which works a charm.

Tigra asks that Balkatar take them to the cat lands for their cat quest and Balkatar wastes no time disappearing them to the land of the cats.

Meanwhile, Simon Wonder Williams Man appears on the set of the movie that he still doesn’t know which movie it is.

The motive for casting the big guy? “Pictures live or die by word of mouth, Dino, and Wonder Man’s number one in that department right now!”

Hey, wouldn’t be the first time Hollywood tried to strike while the iron was hot on someone’s notoriety or whatever.

A foot in the door is a foot in the door.

Anyway, then Wonder Man is attacked by a barbarian type with a sword and mace.

A barbarian type: “DIE, vampire! You’ll not mingle my blood with the poisonous ichor which bloats your veins!”

Morbius is in the A-plot, dude.

The barbarian dude tries to hit Simon with his weapons so he just breaks them. And then tosses the guy across the room.

Dude is like seven feet of pure muscle but he’s not pure ionic muscle.

Turns out though, that this random dude attacking on a film set was in fact an actor! The lead actor! Arnold Schwarzburger, who is legally distinct from Arnold Schwarzenegger!

And like that Arnold’s role as Conan, this Arnold is playing Arkon in Arkon IV (so this Arnold’s barbarian movie did a lot better?) and they need a really spectacular villain!

(Apparently the director told Arnold to attack Simon, as a sort of unannounced try-out for the kind of action the movie might have)

You might remember Arkon from long, long ago in Avengers #75 and 76?

He was the barbarian king of another world who came to Earth to start a nuclear war that would save his own world? He instantly fell in love with Scarlet Witch because she was the One Woman on the team and had to be available for all plots like that?

Anyway, apparently his rampage around Earth in those two issues made enough of an impact on the public that there’s a trilogy of films about him. Not bad.

Plus, if you make movies about people from another world, they can’t demand a cut of the profits. Probably. I think there was a She-Hulk story adjacent to this but I don’t remember what the legal deal was.

Arnold Schwarburger, who is definitely not a real world Arnold who is also a bodybuilder actor, isn’t bothered by being thrown across the room because he’s just thinking how cool the movie will be if Simon plays the villain.

The director suggests that its a sympathetic villain to try to keep Simon’s interest but, hell, Simon would play the horse if he got a role in an Arkon movie!

Looks like things are coming up Wonder Man!

Anyway, back at the West Coast Avengers Compound, Hank Pym goes for a ride on Hawkeye’s sky-cycle.

Ultron-12 invited him to talk and while Hank isn’t afraid of Ultron killing him, he isn’t about to invite Ultron inside the (West Coast) Avengers base.

Ultron-12 shows up and does Hank a startle, although the killer robot emphasizes that he’s not here to kill Hank.

Ultron-12: “You know, father, I have ceaselessly evolved myself since I gained self-awareness as Ultron-1! In those early days, I hated my father, as many adolescents do -- but having progressed through twelve forms, I have finally seen what most young men see -- that the struggle to assert myself at your expense is essential, but an essential phase that mature men outgrow!”

Oh my god.

I am enamored with Ultron just... growing out of supervillainy. He’s always been a bit of a tantruming piss baby but. The idea that he’s gone through so many iterations that he goes ‘and now its time for me to put away childish things like trying to kill my dad and trying to turn his wife into a robot!’

It’s amazing.

I think my favorite part is that Ultron doesn’t really say that being an evil killbot was wrong, just immature. In fact, he says that it was essential to his emotional development!

I know where this is going (cursed future knowledge) plus there’s so much asshole Ultron content in the future, like Ultron and Hank smooshing into one horrible cyborg. But I can imagine a future Avengers team which casually has Ultron on it, like the difference between present Braniac and the Braniac on the Legion of Super-Heroes. Except with less of a time gap.

Anyway.

Ultron also has non-maturity reasons. Although he credits them to having a mature outlook now.

Ultron-12: “I have looked at my life -- or lives -- and seen that my dreams of creating a ‘son’ in the Vision, or a ‘wife’ in Jocasta, have collapsed -- and you are my only relative! Moreover, father -- now that you are divorced, it is likely that the only ‘son’ you’ll ever have is me!”

Hank Pym: “That’s not an easy concept to swallow, Ultron!”

Ha.

Ultron: ‘We’re the best company we’ve got!’

Hank: ‘Oh that makes me so sad.’

Ultron further explains that he was impressed how Hank Pym heroically fought when he was kidnapped by the Grim Reaper. Presumably the fact that he did it without any powers adds to the impressiveness.

So he thought about it and decided, ‘yes, that’s good’ and instead of Ultron he now goes by Ultron Mark Twelve because he thinks it sounds human.

I’d personally suggest Ultron Mark Twelve Pym but maybe he wants to reconcile with Hank before he starts using his name.

Ultron-12: “So, father -- may we put my evil past behind us and forget the first eleven Ultrons? May we begin anew?”

Hank is noncommittal. That’s a lot of grievance to just forget but Hank suspects that if Ultron were a meat son, Hank would be ready to forgive.

SCENE CHANGE SO HANK DOESN’T HAVE TO MAKE UP HIS MIND NOW

Its been a couple of pages but the West Coast Avengers and also the Thing and Firebird have arrived on the planet of the cats. Or “the land within.”

It seems like... its an enclosed world. There’s what could be a rock ceiling above the cat city. And there’s a sorta-sun called the glowsphere, which warms the land but doesn’t grow anything.

Also, all the decorations are cat themed. But I don’t point and laugh whenever anything on Earth is all human themed so I’ll be respectful.

A welcoming party of cat people meets Balkatar and the West Coast Avengers plus the Thing and Firebird before long and remind him ‘UH HEY bringing in outsiders is ABSOLUTELY TREASON, you dunkass!’

But Balkatar introduces one of the ‘outworlders’ as Tigra and the welcoming party immediately changes their tune.

Huh, Tigra was right about the cat people being her friends. Her name is opening doors.

When she goes in front of the king though, he’s less awestruck.

He orders his guards put the non-Tigras in cages so he can speak to Tigra privately.

Ben Thing tries fighting back but Hawkeye convinces him to stand down and let himself be taken prisoner.

I’m sure he has a plan.

Or maybe he’s just over-valuing Ben telling the king to get off “our backs!” and misreading it as another sign that he’ll badger Ben into joining the Avengers (West Coast) yet!

Although Hawkeye does complain about having to make the smart, leadership decisions like not punching cats as they’re led out.

With the (West Coast) Avengers led out, the king gives Tigra leave to talk.

Tigra: “Your majesty, I am cursed with having two separate souls -- the one I was born with -- Greer Nelson, a woman of Chicago, Illinois -- and the one that was overlaid upon it by your people -- Tigra, your legendary warrior!”

This cat king isn’t actually familiar with Tigra’s backstory so Tigra recaps her entire backstory!

As people are wont to do. As was the style at the time.

So in brief, Greer Nelson was the Cat wearing the costume more known for Patsy Walker, Hellcat. The costume was given to her by her friend Dr. Marie Tumolo and increased her physical and mental attributes. Then the Cat got shot by ALPHA RADIATION while fighting crime.

Dr. Tumolo revealed that she was actually a cat person, gathered a bunch of other cat people, and transformed Greer into Tigra through “science, and magick, and mental energy.”

Hmm.

Tigra was a lot more catlike back in the day. She even had cat ears.

Anyway, after telling her story, Tigra says dominance keeps swinging back and forth between the cat and woman sides of her and she wants the cat removed even if kills Greer.

The king tells her to relax, their science entirely capable of removing part of her soul without harming her. And as The Tigra, she’s welcome to their aid.

EXCEPT the king declares that the part of her they’ll remove is the human woman part.

Tigra: “What? Oh, no -- Please understand, it’s the uncertainty that torments me, not the Tigra part! I’ve had many good moments as Tigra -- but I’m human! I want to be human again!”

King Cat: “Silence! If you were one of my subjects, I’d have you destroyed for such insubordination! I must consider your situation at great length!”

Then King Cat tells Balkatar to take Tigra off so he can think about the situation at great length.

Balkatar asks if he’s in trouble for bringing outsiders to the cat land and the king says he’s not in trouble for Tigra but might be for the rest of the group.

So Balkatar takes her to the cliffs surrounding the city and apologizes for the king, saying that its a hard life in the “land within” so the king has to be harder.

ALSO he mentions that “it is our nature to please females” so uh.

Tigra: “Nothing will please me till my life gets settled!”

Balkatar: “Oh, I doubt that -- not if you have any part of us within you!”

Tigra: “Well... I suppose you’re right! Cats’ moods do come and go -- !”

Eesh.

So she and Balkatar sit on the warm rocks and chillax.

Balkatar mentions that as the Balkatar, he actually does a lot of just chillaxing on warm rocks.

Balkatar isn’t a name, its his job.

The Balkatar is the cat man selected to answer the summons of outworlder sorcerers. So I guesss he has to be on call so spends a lot of time just waiting.

Tigra isn’t really listening to this. She’s more thinking “I can’t not fuck him!”

So they make out and maybe more. The time skip, it’s like a fade to black.

After the maybe-sex, Grigar the Balkatar tries to convince Tigra to move in with him. Move into his dimension, I mean.

Still, kinda moving fast, dude.

Moving in after one fade to black? Geez, you’re coming off as desperate.

And then its time for the post-maybe-sex history lesson because apparently Tigra is a title just like Balkatar is.

Luckily(?), the history of the Tigra involves explaining the whole ass history of the cat people.

Yay, multi-tasking!

Anyway.

A sorcerer from Earth named Ebrok turned normal cats into cat-people.

I don’t know why he did this but he taught the first cat-people Flavius and Helene magic. The other sorcerers didn’t like cat-people knowing magic and tensions eventually led to a sorcerer on cat-people war.

A war that the cat-people lost.

The sorcerers banished all the cat-people to the land within, with the Balkatar being the sole exception who could come to Earth if summoned by a sorcerer. To do cat errands, I wager.

Unbeknowst to the sorcerers Flavius and Helene managed to avoid this banishment. They hid out with Ebrok and helped him with his work.

Apparently, his work was to create the bubonic plague.

Because one of the enemy sorcerers found out that Ebrok was hiding cat-people and killed him. In retaliation, Flavius broke a flask of black plague over the sorcerers head, unleashing it on the world.

Geez, Flavius. You’re a mass murderer!

This cat story being told by a cat seems to lean sympathetic towards the cat-people but maybe Ebrok was a dick?

Anyway, Flavius had murderer’s remorse. He and Helene fled into the mountains and tried to create a cure of the plague.

Wait, why did Ebrok create a plague and no cure?

But either way, Flavius and Helene’s efforts were thwarted by the sorcerers’ guild, still very angry at the concept of cat-people who know magic.

Flavius and Helene tried to summon the Balkatar to help them but his whole deal prevented him from going against the sorcerers.

So instead, Flavius and Helene decided to make more cat-people! The new-fashioned way! The same way Ebrok made them!

Except, they couldn’t figure out how to turn cats into cat-people. The narration says that the sorcerers blocked their efforts but doesn’t go into any detail on how they did that.

And the panel is just Flavius and Helene looking quizzically at a cat that doesn’t give a crap about them.

So who knows.

Anyway, if they couldn’t turn cat into people, they’d go the other way and turn people into cats.

“Thus was born the warrior of our legends -- the first Tigra!”

“And she fulfilled her function with great savagery!

I assume that means she killed all the sorcerers in that hostile sorcerers’ guild.

So with the Balkatar freed of the sorcerers’ control, kinda, Flavius and Helene summoned him again and asked him to have sex with Tigra I to create a second race of cat-people.

HMMMMM.

I have no reason to suspect that this exposition isn’t 100% historically accurate but it sure is a thing that the Balkatar is telling the Tigra that, historically, they should bang.

Anyway.

This Balkatar-Tigra cat-people race eventually led to Dr. Tumolo and her cat-people friends.

And Dr. Tumolo’s research was, retroactively, all about granting humans the power of the cat-people through artificial means. Like the Cat costume, which Balkatar describes as “something very like an artificial Tigra.”

Uh. Do the powers of the cat-people include grappling claws?

Anyway, all this talk of Dr. Tumolo makes the Tigra want to exposit.

Tigra: “Poor Marie! I guess I’ve always felt I was sort of her legacy -- which made it that much harder to reject this form -- but I never knew how much a legacy I really was! She did her best for her people, as she saw it -- but I wonder now, in retrospect, how much she cared about people-people! She didn’t tell me what she was up to, until she made me a real Tigra!”

Anyway, Dr. Tumolo is dead now, Tigra exposits and flashbacks.

The High Evolutionary turns a cat into a cat-person named Tabur, as the High Evolutionary is wont to do, and Tabur went on a rampage in Marvel Premiere #42. Dr. Tumolo sacrificed herself trying to stop him and Tigra wound up actually stopping Tabur, turning him back into a cat.

This plausible sex and exposition session is interrupted by one of the cat-people who tells the Balkatar and the Tigra that the king has summoned them.

Balkatar: “What a shame...!”

Random cat-person: “What did you say?”

Tigra: “He said -- ‘nice day if it don’t rain!’”

Heh.

Comedy duo these two.

Anyway, the two lovecats? return to the throne room for the king’s decision.

King Cat: “There is an outworlder who is extremely bothersome to us, since he considers us to be demons! His name is Master Pandemonium... and I want you to kill him!”

Oh, hey, what’re the odds!

Now the Avengers (West Coast), the cat-people, and Firebird are all after Master Pandemonium!

This dude be collecting enemies.

Tigra protests that Avengers don’t kill!

And before the king can answer, the (West Coast) Avengers Assemble right in the throne room and start beating people up.

They got bored waiting off-panel, broke out off-panel, and came on-panel to help!

What are teammates for, after all.

Mockingbird singles Balkatar out of the crowd and starts kicking his ass, demanding he tell the rest of the cat-people to call off the fight.

She’s missed some nuance about the Balkatar’s position here, I feel.

Either way, Tigra objects.

Tigra: “Wait, Mockingbird! If anybody jumps his bones -- it’ll be me!”

WELL

Just going to up and say it, huh?

The (West Coast) Avengers and two guests re-assemble, for some reason. It makes for funny text, at least.

But Tigra yells the fight to a halt.

Tigra: “The king already made his decision, Hawkeye! He’s going to help me -- no strings attached!”

Gaaaaaaaaaasp, Tigra, that’s a fib!

What prompted the change of mind?

Who knows! And who needs consistent characterization when you can just go ‘lol cat mercurial.’

Grumble.

I don’t object to an excuse to have an adventure in cat-land with the cat-people that gave Tigra her cat-powers. Learn some Deepest Lore about why a tiger woman.

But I have a problem with the inciting reason.

Tigra suddenly having trouble with her cat instincts and all. Which seems to come out of nowhere and has nothing to do with where she was before the ongoing.

Maybe it’ll get better or not get worse? Hope springs eternal.

Now I have to go read part of Secret Wars II to make sense of an Avengers issue that’s super tied-in! Haha, why!

Follow @essential-avengers because West Coast Avengers! Just the concept of the West Coast Avengers! Maybe the Great Lakes Avengers, wink. Like and reblog too, to make me feel good about myself.

#essential avengers #west coast avengers #avengers #essential marvel liveblogging #just a whole bunch of cat people #Tigra #hawkeye #Mockingbird #Wonder Man #Firebird #the Thing #the absence of Iron Man due to werewolf wounds #Michael Morbius #Hank Pym #Ultron #Ultron Mark Twelve #a lot of stuff going on in this west coast avengers book

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deafchild2000 · 3 years

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I just saw this post on Instagram regarding Legacies needing to stand on its own two feet and how focusing on any characters steals the spotlight from Hope and twins but I'm like:

It's "Legacies", not "Legacy"! The whole point of the show is that it's the next generation that follows after the Mystic Falls Gang and the Mikaelsons, especially since by this show, the heavy-hitters (beloved characters and villains) are either deceased or moved on!

Hope is important. She's the tribrid who's bloodlines born 2 thirds of the Salvatore school population! Her parents and paternal family, who were involved in Mystic Falls at some point, left a lot of history there and for better or worse, she needs to learn how to be Klaus' Heir in a place where she could be Klaus 2.0 or something better than him. Especially around people who's lives were directly affected by her father's choices.

Lizzie and Josie are important. They were born into a family that: A.) Is responsible for the existence of vampire-witch hybrids aka Siphoners - touch-based magic users, B.) Has a family history of psychopaths, C.) Direct relations to a coven responsible for making hand-held pocket dimensions called Prison Worlds, and D.) The Merge, a way to choose the ruler of the coven by making a set of twins battle it out and - essentially - morph as one. With a family history like that, plus being the next (and possibly last) set of Gemini twins to do the Merge, that alone sets the proceedings to how internal their story is.

Yes, these 3 are important when it comes to major TVD relevance! But...

MG is important. (IMO) We don't truly know if MG really is a Ripper or just needs to learn to handle human blood better, however, he's important as he's a vampire with the Ripper capabilities and just genuinely wants to be a good person. Learning to be a good vampire while fighting darker tendencies.

Kaleb is important. He represents the vampires willing to indulge in his darker tendencies but can show a willingness to be better if given a chance or shown a better way. A good vampire, but willing to walk the grey line of morality to get things done.

Landon is important. He represents the refreshing sight of a human oblivious to the supernatural. His world turns upside down in one night. He's brought back to Mystic Falls where he learns not everything is what it seemed before he left. He brings back the wonder and a hint of naivety that Salvatore isn't so used to. Even with the events his introduction brings in, he's still himself and a willing ally and friend to those who need one.

Rafael is important.

Jed is important.

Alyssa, Wendy, Jade, Diego, and so many more characters are important because they have to navigate living in a world where their differences could mean life or death, where unity vs. division can decide who your friends and enemies are, where differences of love is either a strength or weakness to exploit, and finally, where blood ties and found families are truly brought out.

Hope and the twins are just three of the many who are legacies. They inherit a world left behind and ridden with some of the worst evils that could plague them if they weren't taken out sooner.

Because what else is a legacy?

Planting seeds in a garden you never get to see grow.

#legacies #the vampire diaries universe #the vampire diaries #hope mikaelson #lizzie saltzman #josie saltzman #kaleb Hawkins #Jed tian #landon kirby #Legacies jade #legacies wendy #legacies Diego #rafael waithe #mg greasley

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chatonne-rousse · 4 years

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Three Kids and a Hamster

This was my contribution to the @adrienettezine. I joined the zine as a beta and ended up as a pinch hitter - this sweet little fluffy story was the result. I hope you enjoy it! I just love these two so much.

Read it on Ao3 here.

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

The same full moon that lit their way over rooftops and across the Seine an hour before shines through the hatch above the bed, illuminating their entwined legs in its gentle glow and casting shadows on the room below. Even if she weren't tucked beneath his arm with her cheek against his chest, this would be a place of perfect peace, awash in a sense of rightness and comfort and home. It makes his chest constrict all of a sudden, his next inhale a sharp shudder that rouses her immediately from near-sleep.

"You okay, Chaton?" she murmurs, eyes wide and worried.

He reassures her with a soft, genuine smile. "Yeah, I'm fine. Just...thinking."

Bending forward to press a kiss to her forehead, he pulls her back down to his chest and starts up a purr for her. The breathy giggle he gets in return is always worth the twinge of embarrassment and the weird tickle in his throat.

"About what?"

The purr dies down, replaced with a contented hum. "How much I love you, of course, Princess. What else?"

As expected, she swats him playfully and laughs, but a moment later he feels her hand stretch across his torso as she cuddles closer into his side.

"I mean it," she whispers into his shirt. "Your breathing got all weird. What's wrong?"

"Bugaboo, you know you take my breath away!"

"Adrien."

Her voice is all no-nonsense Ladybug, but it just makes him grin wider.

"I'm actually not kitten, Marinette."

She groans and lifts her head again but when she meets his gaze after an exaggerated eye roll, her features soften in response to his. She begins to duck her head shyly before changing course and pressing her lips to his instead, soft and sweet and warm. His eyes slip shut and he melts beneath her, his ever-romantic heart singing her name over and over in a three-beat cadence.

"I love you, too," she whispers against his lips, finally breaking away after a long, slow kiss that leaves them both breathless.

After a quick kiss at the corner of his mouth and another on his jaw, she settles back into the crook of his neck, her breath warm and tickly and perfect against his skin.

Logically, he knows he needs to transform and head home, but the stark difference between his bedroom prison and Marinette's warmth is enough to keep him here just a little longer, stretching time and tempting fate.

Wouldn't it be wonderful, he thinks, as the sleepy calm drifts over them once more, to stay here forever, just like this?

He imagines waking up this way, morning breath and snoring kwamis and a warm tangle of limbs illuminated by a new day's dawnlight instead of the quiet moon. Perhaps there would be a purring cat asleep on the bed with them. And one day, maybe, he'd wake to find a toddler who had crawled up onto the bed and wriggled between them in the night to be close to maman and papa. A family. His heart squeezes with emotion again, but he keeps his breathing steady and Marinette doesn't seem to notice this time.

Dreaming of what the future might hold seems like an extravagant luxury in a world where a supervillain regularly terrorizes Paris and threatens to rend the very fabric of the universe and its delicate balance. Then again, isn't that all the more reason to dream?

Even with the freedom being Chat Noir grants him, the responsibility of avoiding that fate is a heavy weight across his shoulders, and a far more cumbersome yoke on his Lady's. Imagining a day when they can transform for fun instead of necessity, cook dinner together, fall asleep just like this, and not have to wonder if an akuma alert will rouse them before the sun—well, that just makes him fight each battle harder and despise Hawkmoth that much more. After all, the fate of humanity includes the fate of Adrien Agreste and Marinette Dupain-Cheng, too.

Her fingers glide feather-light at his wrist, so he knows she's still awake, and before he can think twice about it, he's murmuring a question into the dark.

"Hey, Bug?" He takes a deep breath and lets it out slowly. "Do you ever think about...the future?"

Her hand stops its gentle, soothing motion against his arm, and he misses the feeling immediately.

"After we defeat Hawkmoth, or...?" she trails off.

"That could happen tomorrow, so let's start with tomorrow and go from there."

She resumes her caress, though this time her hand trails higher, up and under his t-shirt sleeve to the warm skin of his bicep. He smiles against her hair and hugs his heat-seeking little bug tighter.

"Well, tomorrow we have a calculus test, then you have a piano lesson after school. I really didn't plan anything beyond that, but if we're going to squeeze in an epic final battle with Hawkmoth, I suppose I should work on my history project at lunch to get ahead."

"Cheeky bug!" He tickles her in retaliation, and she giggles into his chest. "I was being serious!"

"I know, Minou." She laughs for another moment but says nothing more.

He waits through one deep breath, then two, before he whispers her name, questioning, against her hair.

She cranes her neck to look up at him, her gaze shy but warm. "It's just...can I be weird?"

Ah, that explains her reticence. The delighted half-smile that crosses his face is pure Chat Noir, but he can't help it. He loves this.

"Of course, My Lady. Always."

Five months and four days ago (yes, he's counting—it was the greatest day of his life, so far), after more than three years of superhero partnership and civilian friendship, an unplanned reveal, and the awkward nine day aftermath (yes, he counted—it was awful), they'd finally made it official. Adrien and Marinette had, at least. Ladynoir was still under wraps for now to avoid suspicion, but he looked forward to the day when a real kiss they could both remember would grace the front page of the Ladyblog.

At the beginning, between blissful kisses and timid touches, they'd taken the time to really get to know each other—with no secrets between them, a whole, beautiful picture emerged. It was amazing and thrilling and freeing. It was also a bit embarrassing.

She'd seen him in his Ladybug pajamas one evening when she'd stopped by his bedroom for an unplanned visit. Another afternoon, he'd opened a drawer in her room looking for a pen and discovered approximately two dozen photos of himself looking back at him. Plagg had unceremoniously dropped Adrien's Ladybug and Chat Noir action figures onto Marinette's lap while they watched a movie and proceeded to tell her that Adrien sometimes played with his dolls and made them kiss. He'd never been so mortified in his life (and he once fought an akuma wearing a banana costume, so that was saying something), especially when Marinette had laughed until she cried.

He'd have sentenced the tiny magical agent of chaos to eating Velveeta for a week if Marinette hadn't caught her breath, removed his hands from his beet-red face, and kissed him silly.

Afterward, lovestruck, he'd asked, "So I'm not...weird?"

Cheeks still stained with the sweetest blush, eyes soft and bright and full of love, she'd responded, "Of course you are, kitty. I already knew that," and kissed him again for good measure. "It's a good thing your Lady is just as weird."

And just like that, it was okay. His pajamas, her photo collection, his action figures, her calendar.

Can I be weird? preceded his admission of being unable to sleep if his Marinette lucky charm wasn't beneath his pillow. It was asked before he learned she slept with her handmade Chat Noir plushie beside her every night.

The question is rhetorical, of course. Permission to be weird is simply indemnity from embarrassment, a solemn vow of understanding between them. It's been the lead-in to many shared secrets and it still gives him a little thrill every time, just knowing that he's about to learn another closely-held tidbit about his Lady.

Tonight, he's especially curious—the question he asked was about the future, after all.

"I used to think about it a lot," she begins quietly. "And I mean, a lot. I'm a planner, you know."

Oh, he knows. Thank goodness one of them is.

"You've seen my sketchbook. You saw my wedding dress designs and all your possible matching tuxes. Alya's dress and Nino's suit..."

"And they were beautiful, Bug. I loved them all."

He can feel her smile against his t-shirt collar.

"Thank you, Chaton. But...it's not just that. I, um...I chose the flowers for my bouquet, I planned the menu for the reception dinner—"

"And your parents will make the croquembouche," he whispers, suddenly entranced.

She nods, but goes silent once more. He wants to hear about everything—the venue she imagined for the service and reception, what they'll wear at the civil ceremony prior, whether their guests will throw rice or rose petals or wheat as they exit as newlyweds. It's all so beautiful, his heart is positively singing; how could she ever think this is weird?

"I named our children."

The song in his heart comes to an abrupt stop when the rhythm falters before restarting at hummingbird speed.

Dazed, he breathes, "Our..."

"I know!" she groans. She covers her eyes with one hand and buries her face in his shirt. Her voice is muffled, but he's hanging on every word. "I told you it was weird! I named them! I thought about who would be youngest, oldest, middle--"

"Three?" He chokes on air. Is he even breathing?

"I designed the little outfit we'd bring each of them home from the hospital in. Their nursery had a theme! Our hamster had a name! I imagined our house, our garden, the layout of the kitchen, the color of our master bathroom!"

"What color?" he asks weakly.

A pause.

"Blue."

"I love blue."

"I know."

Silence descends again, as he attempts to regulate his breathing and bring his swirling, scattered thoughts under control. She hasn't moved a muscle, and neither has he. Honestly, he's thankful to be moored to his steadfast port in the storm right now, so he can't float away or slip under.

"Adrien?"

He hums questioningly in response.

"I'm sorry." Her voice is small and tinged with sadness, slicing directly through his current bubble of overwhelmed euphoria in an instant.

Sitting up so quickly that she's dislodged from his side with a startled squeak, he pulls both of her hands between his and brings her close enough to really see her face in the shadowy moonlight.

"Why are you sorry?" he asks, baffled. "That was..." he trails off, shaking his head as he searches for the correct word, wanting to convey his feelings properly. Incredible doesn't seem like enough. Perfect, perhaps? A dream I didn't know I had until you said it, and now I want that exact thing more than I've ever wanted anything in my life?

"Crazy, I know. Selfish."

"What? No!" he exclaims, and her wide eyes snap to meet his. "Marinette, it sounds amazing!"

"Amazing?"

He lets go of her hands to gather her in a hug instead, happy to feel her arms wrap tightly around him in turn.

"Amazing," he murmurs against her hair, hoping she can hear the sincerity in his voice. "Why do you think it's selfish?"

"Because...because I never thought about what you'd want, not really. Maybe you don't want kids—"

"I want kids," he interrupts.

"Or maybe you don't like hamsters."

"Mari, I love hamsters."

She smiles against his skin. "I'm glad. I thought you'd want a cat."

"Oh, I do," he says, nodding.

"I knew it!" she laughs. "But I didn't know any of that back then. I just dreamed my own wild dreams and brought a fantasy of future you along for the ride. It wasn't fair to you." She leans back, settling her wrists over his shoulders and searching his gaze with her own. "You deserve to have a say in your own life, Adrien. For once."

A wave of stunned gratitude wells up within him and he swallows around the sudden lump in his throat. No one, not even his beloved mother, has ever extended him the courtesy of autonomy, much less apologized for not considering it in the first place. The way Marinette loves him, with a selfless, gentle kindness, is like nothing he's ever known, and it overwhelms him sometimes.

Oh, he loves her so much.

"Marinette," he says, when he's able to. "Do you want to live on a desert island with me and eat only fruit for the rest of our lives?"

She blinks, confused.

"Because that was one of my dreams," he continues. "You—well, Ladybug—me, our hamster, and a ton of fruit. Silly, right?" He shrugs. "I was a lovesick teenager. I have a feeling you know something about that, don't you, Bugaboo?" His cheeky wink and Chat Noir smirk are rewarded with the blush and giggle he'd hoped for. "My point is, I wasn't thinking about what you wanted when I daydreamed about that, and I never worried about it. You have nothing to be sorry for, Bug."

Her smile is bright even in the shadowy loft. "Thanks, Minou. Those were fun dreams."

"Were? You don't want the hamster and the blue bathroom anymore? I was just getting excited about our house and three kids."

"What do you dream about?" She asks, clearly dodging the question with one of her own.

He doesn't even have to think on it to know the answer.

"A family. Hugs. Eating dinner at a little table together. Going to the beach and seeing you in your bikini."

She snorts. "Tomcat."

"I'm only human, Mari."

"Adrien, you can purr."

"Touché."

They can only laugh. Their lives really are ridiculous.

"Princess?" He asks after they've settled into silence again. "What are their names?"

"Who?"

"Our kids."

She takes a deep, deep breath, and it feels like an eternity before she speaks. "Emma, Louis, and Hugo."

"I love them already," he breathes, imagination awhirl with scenes of bedtime stories and blanket forts and the myriad other childhood joys he only knows about from movies and tv. It's so beautiful, they're so beautiful, that he has to clench his teeth for a moment to keep from crying. "Have you drawn them?"

She nods, brow starting to furrow in concern at what must be one hell of an expression on his face.

"And their clothes? The nursery? Our kitchen?"

"Yes, I told you I was—"

"You're amazing, Marinette. I can't wait to see them. I can't wait to meet them."

Before he knows it, she's pulled him into her embrace, whispering her love against his shoulder. If a few tears escape into her hair, she doesn't say a word. They stay like that for a few long, sweet moments, until a thought pops into his mind.

"Mari? Why didn't Plagg find those drawings when he found your sketchbook of wedding ideas?"

She pulls away from him and giggles. "Because that sketchbook is hidden under the mattress."

"Along with how many of my photos?"

The mock-glare she levels at him would be terrifying if she weren't so adorable. He leans in and watches her stern expression slacken just before their lips connect and his eyes close, and her soft sigh tells him he's forgiven once more for teasing her.

They fall back against the cat pillow and soft pink sheets once more, rearranging their bodies to that perfect fit that reminds him every time how phenomenally lucky he is to have found his soul's other half as a teenager via ancient magic and fated proximity. The kiss deepens, his hands clutch at her back, and he thrills at the feel of her fingers in his hair. This is everything, everything—love and light and power and freedom, the chance for a future, a home, a family.

It's just another late autumn Tuesday night in Paris. Marinette will convince him to stay for another hour, he'll set an alarm. They'll go to school again tomorrow and, though it's certainly possible they'll defeat Hawkmoth before the day is over, it's more likely they'll simply fight and cleanse another akuma before returning to the library to work on that history project.

But it's suddenly different. He's always fought for Paris, for the safety of his friends and family, for his beloved partner. Now? A new and different feeling of protectiveness rises in his chest, even as her tongue brushes the seam of his lips and his purr rumbles gently between their bodies.

Hawkmoth will rue the day he tried to take Emma, Louis, and Hugo away before Adrien could meet them. He makes the promise right here and now, with his Lady in his arms and their kwamis sleeping on the desk below: Every akuma from now until he can punch Hawkmoth in the face and rip the misused miraculous from him, Chat Noir will fight for Paris, the world, and that shining dream of the future. He's one half of an unstoppable team. Together, they can, and will, do anything.

He and Marinette have three kids and a hamster to look forward to, after all. And it's going to be amazing.

#miraculous ladybug #marinette dupain-cheng #adrien agreste #ml fanfiction #adrienette zine #i’m unrepentant adrienette trash #tooth-rotting fluff #it's my jam

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avengerscompound · 4 years

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The Surrogate - Chapter 18

The Surrogate: A Clintasha Fanfic

Masterlist PREVIOUS //

Buy me a ☕ Character Pairing: Clint Barton x Natasha Romanoff x F!Reader

Word Count: 1639

Rating: E

Warnings: Pregnancy, kidnapping, panic attacks, pregnancy complications, medical procedures

Synopsis: A freak end of the world incident leads to meeting your two best friends, Clint Barton and Natasha Romanoff. While your friendship with the two Avengers is anything but conventional, they are your all-time favorite people. When you find out that Clint and Natasha want to start a family but have exhausted all their options, you realize your powerset might allow you to give them what they want. Having your best friends’ baby might seem like a good idea on paper, but when you are as close as you, Clint, and Natasha are, will doing something so intimate mean feelings get a little mixed up?

Chapter 18

Clint’s mission was supposed to only be two nights. “Three at most,” Steve had assured the three of you with the cool calm of a man who had completed thousands of similar missions with no problem. The Avengers team had been really good about keeping Natasha and Clint’s missions under a week and the closer you got to the due date, the shorter and less frequent they became. No one wanted the baby to arrive when a family member was missing, and they knew how much stress it put on you when either Clint or Natasha weren’t there.

This particular team had included Steve and Thor, so you weren’t exactly worried about him. If it was a simple mission with two of the bigger hitters, he’d be home in no time.

When the fifth night passed and they weren’t back, you began to worry.

You weren’t the only one. Natasha wouldn’t let on, but you could tell the lack of any word was getting to her too. She was in the comms rooms and attending meetings so much that you only saw her at night, and often you’d wake up in the middle of the night to an empty bed.

That only made you more anxious and over the course of the week where there was no word, each time you woke up to an empty bed you would start imagining the absolute worst possible outcomes.

Visions of Clint being tortured or dead haunted you and the more time passed without word, the more graphic they got.

When you finally got in communication with Steve and he said they were headed back, everyone went straight to the landing pad and waited for the jet to come in. When it finally landed and the back opened up to let the occupants out, only Steve and Thor climbed out.

“Where’s Clint?” Natasha said, rushing up to them.

“Nat,” Steve said, gently, putting his hand on her shoulder. “Maybe we should…”

“No,” she shouted. “Where is he? Tell me now!”

“He went missing,” Steve answered. “We sent him out to get intel and he never came back. Then we found out we’d been bugged so we couldn’t send word back here. We thought it better to try and get him out immediately but when we finally tracked down their base, it was deserted.”

“What? Steve! You should have told us right away!” Natasha shouted. She looked ready to tear someone apart and she just wasn’t sure if she should start with Thor or Steve.

“Natasha,” Thor soothed. “We did what we thought was best…”

“You thought wrong!” Natasha shouted.

Bucky moved to her quickly. “Don’t worry, Tasha. It’s Clint. We’ll get him back.”

You just stood there in silence. All the worst thoughts you had had while they had been gone had come true and you felt like you’d been hit by a truck. You wanted to say something you just weren’t sure whether that thing was to get angry like Natasha was, comfort her and tell her it would be okay, or just break down and cry.

“Let’s go in,” Steve said. “We have a lot to talk about and we need to make plans for a rescue mission.”

Everyone started to move in the direction of the main building and you went to move after them. As you took a step, the world started to spin around you and turn on its head. As everything turned black you heard someone scream your name.

There was a beeping. It was incessant and annoying and you wished it would stop, but you couldn’t quite seem to be able to open your eyes to see where it was coming from.

Wherever you were, it smelled like antiseptic, and it was too cold. Your throat hurt, and your mouth was dry and you were panicked but you didn’t know why. Someone said your name and you snapped your head into their direction and pried your eyes open. Your eyelids felt heavy and you only managed to keep them open long enough to see Jake, one of the doctors from the medbay.

“Dorogáya?”

Natasha’s voice sounded panicked and terrified. You turned in the direction that it came from and forced your eyes open again. You were crying and you didn’t know why, but Natasha sat beside you with a wild look in her eyes.

“Nat?” You said, your voice hoarse and gravelly. “What happened?”

“You fainted,” Jake answered. “Landed pretty heavily. Your powers seem to be impeded…”

Panic rushed through you and you tried to sit up. Jake and one of the nurses held you back down as you thrashed under them. “The baby? Is she okay? Natasha?”

“Shh… it’s okay. The baby’s okay,” Jake soothed. “You need to relax.”

“She’s okay?” You said, laying back down and putting your hands on your stomach.

“Yes, at the moment,” he said. “But… you fainted and you landed badly. Your powers seemed to have helped you and the baby, but not as much as they usually seem to. Your blood pressure is very high which shouldn’t be happening. We think that’s why you fainted. Your body is also not fighting the cannula, which it always does, we normally have to keep moving it, just to stop your skin healing around the thing. Have you taken anything? Eaten anything unusual?”

You shook your head. Things were still fuzzy and picking through your memories was like walking through a fog. You couldn’t remember eating anything unusual. You’d been with Natasha all day.

“Try to remember,” Jake said. “If we can’t get to the bottom of this we might have to just get that baby out.”

You started crying again and looked at Natasha. “It’s too early. Nat… Nat… Clint’s not…”

And then it hit you like a ton of bricks. Clint was missing. Possibly dead. The machines around you started beeping louder and an alarm began to sound. “What are we going to do about Clint?” You babbled, completely ignoring the frantic way the medical staff was moving around you. “Nat, Nat… we have to go and get him back.”

“You can’t do anything, dorogáya,” Natasha soothed, though her voice was shaking slightly. “My darling, calm down.”

There was a pinch in your arm like something bit you and you looked over to see something being injected into your arm. The mental fog you were suffering from deepened and you sunk back into bed as your muscles all seemed to relax. The machines all calmed down again and you closed your eyes.

“What happened? What did you do to her?” Natasha snapped.

“Agent Romanoff, you need to calm down,” Jake said. “It was a sedative. It’s safe for both her and the baby. Because of her powers, it’s really hard to say what exactly is going on right now, but given that her blood pressure has shot up at the mention of Agent Barton, and the original incident happened when Captain Rogers and Thor returned without him, I’m going to assume this is an extreme stress reaction.”

“Nat,” you mumbled, shaking your head slowly from side to side. “We have to get him. He’s gotta be a dad.”

“I know. But I can’t leave you,” she said, pain dripping from her voice.

“I’ll go,” you tried to push yourself up, but Jake easily pushed you back down.

“If you can’t lie still, I’m going to strap you down,” he warned.

“Is that really necessary?” Natasha snapped.

“I don’t think you understand how dire this is, Agent Romanoff,” Jake warned. “She’s not quite thirty-five weeks yet. If we can’t keep her blood pressure down we’re going to have to do an emergency c-section. Do you think that’s even possible given her power? Because I don’t.”

Tears began to run down your cheeks even with the sedative making you so disconnected from your emotions. “I’m sorry, Nat.”

She dabbed at your forehead with a cool compress and kissed your cheek. “I’ll figure it out, dorogáya. We’ll get Clint back and the baby is going to be fine.”

It was hard to tell under the influence of the sedative but Natasha sounded panicked and you forced your eyes open again to look at her. “Nat… Nat… he might need me.”

“Of course he does,” she whispered. “But you need to relax and take care of his daughter. I’ll get him… I don’t want to leave you, but if I can just…”

“I’ll go.”

You lifted your head and looked over to where the familiar voice had come from. You were much more out of it than you thought because it took a moment for your eyes to adjust and for the realization that Kate was standing in the doorway.

“Did Steve tell you to go?” Natasha asked.

“I volunteered,” Kate said. “Think about it, Natasha. I know him better than anyone, except maybe you two. I know how he thinks. I know his moves. I’m the best person to do it. Wanda’s coming too. Cap and Thor as well so we can pick up the trail.”

Natasha shook her head. “Katie, I think I should…”

“No, Nat,” Kate said firmly. “You stay here and look after your girlfriend and your daughter. I’ll get him back.”

She turned on her heel and marched out of the room without waiting for a reply. Natasha watched the space where Kate had been standing for a little while, looking like she was lost in thought. Her brows were knitted together and she was frowning slightly.

She snapped out of it quickly and turned her attention back to you. “Okay, dorogáya,” she soothed. “You heard Katie, you rest up. She’s bringing Clint home.”

You nodded and curled into her, letting her hold you as the sedative pulled you down into sleep while you wept by her side.

// NEXT

#clint barton #natasha romanoff #clint barton x natasha romanoff x reader #clint barton x reader #natasha romanoff x reader #clint barton x natasha romanoff #clintasha #clintasha x reader #black widow #black widow fanfic #hawkeye #hawkeye fanfic #fanfic #fanfiction #reader insert #pregnancy #the surrogate

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sinceileftyoublog · 3 years

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30 (Technically 34) Albums We Loved That Happened To Come Out in 2020

So much has already been said and written about this cursed past year, but a few good things came out of it, including the music. Album-wise, like many before it and many to come, it was an embarrassment of riches. But even with so much time on our hands to devour new tunes, it was often old favorites, songs of comfort or familiarity that garnered the heaviest rotation. For many artists, too, it was a year ripe for revisiting or reissues of old material, looking at existing songs with fresh and new perspectives. Simply put, with so much to listen to, new and old, the prospect of ranking a finite number of albums felt not only daunting, but frankly a bit stupid. Maybe we were late to the game, but 2020 taught us that music should and can be appreciated in multiple contexts, not limited to but including when it first came out and when it was heard again and again, even if years later. The records below--listed in alphabetical order--happened to be released in some form in 2020, whether never-before-heard or heard before but in a different format. And the only thing I know is that we’ll be listening to them in 2021 and beyond.

Autechre - SIGN & PLUS (Warp)

The legendary British electronic music duo surprise released SIGN a mere month and a half after its announcement and then PLUS 12 days later. The former was a beatific collection of soundscapes that belied the band’s usual harsh noise, while PLUS embraced that noise right back, drawing you in with the clattering chaotic burbles of opener “DekDre Scap B” and lurching forward. -Jordan Mainzer

Against All Logic - 2017-2019 (Other People)

The perennially chill ambient house artist Nicolas Jaar had a busy 2020, as usual, releasing two albums under his name, Cenizas and Telas. But it was 2017-2019, the follow-up to the debut album from his Against All Logic moniker, that came first and throughout the year helped to illustrate Jaar’s penchant for combining inspired samples with club beats and tape hiss. Take the way the lovelorn vocals of “Fantasy” or soulful coos of “If Loving You Is Wrong” war skittering, scratchy percussion and cool arpeggios, respectively: Jaar is coming into his own as a masterful producer almost a decade after he released his first full-length. Oh, and bonus points for including none other than Lydia Lunch on a banger so blunt it would make Death Grips blush. - JM

Bartees Strange - Live Forever (Memory Music)

Like many, my introduction to Bartees Strange was through Say Goodbye to Pretty Boy, his EP of The National covers. Creativity and shifting perspectives shine through each song’s reimaging, like flipping the coarse, almost manic “Mr. November” into something softer, more meditative. It felt like a mere peek into what was to come on Live Forever. Bartees Strange is a world-builder. Each track on his debut unfolds and welcomes you to a wildly engaging tableau, a fully constructed vision. “Jealousy” opens with soft vocals and birdsong. “In a Cab” is the slick soundtrack to racing through a cityscape in the rain, seeing the blurred lights of the high-rises above as you pass by. “Kelly Rowland” warps wistful pop song feelings. “Flagey God” takes you into a dark, pulsing club while only a few songs later, “Fallen For You” wraps you in echoed vocals and romantic, raw acoustic guitar.

It’s an accomplishment to craft an album of individual songs that stand strongly on their own but still feel cohesive. 2020 wasn’t all bad. It gave us Live Forever, a declaration of an artist’s arrival. - Lauren Lederman

Charli XCX - how i’m feeling now (Atlantic)

Back in the spring, many of us wondered who would put out something great in 2020’s quarantine. It was hard to imagine that the intensity of a global pandemic would really allow for artists to embrace creativity. That thought carries the same eye-roll inducing feeling of “We’ll get some great punk music out of a Trump presidency,” but of course, Charli XCX delivered. Through live workshops with fans and longstanding collaborators, she delivered songs to dance alone to in your bubble. Charli embraces the unknown of the moment but clutches onto what’s familiar. Under the glitch-pop veneer of the album, she digs into the anxieties of not just this moment of time but of the bigger questions we all confront: trajectories of relationships with friends, romantic partners, ourselves. Album standouts “forever” and “i finally understand” embrace that feeling of both looking for control and accepting the lack of it. Charli is a master at balancing this. - LL

Christine and the Queens - La Vita Nuova (Because Music)

Named after a Latin text by Dante Alighieri about missing a woman who has died, Chris’ La Vita Nuova is not about mourning a death but instead about loneliness and isolation, post-relationship or otherwise. It doesn’t bang quite like her previous two albums, but it hits harder than ever.

Read our full review here.

Dogleg - Melee (Triple Crown)

Released on March 13th, right as the COVID-19 pandemic hit, Melee was supposed to be supported by three cancelled tours–SXSW, an opening slot for Microwave, and an opening slot for Joyce Manor–and an appearance at this year’s cancelled Pitchfork Music Festival. Listening to the songs on the record, you can only imagine how they translate: the jerky momentum of “Bueno”, build-up of “Prom Hell”, gang vocals of “Fox”, clear-vocal anthem of “Wrist”, and odd groove of “Ender”.

Read “Buckle Up, Motherfucker”, our interview with Dogleg.

Dua Lipa - Future Nostalgia & Dua Lipa/The Blessed Madonna: Club Future Nostalgia (Warner)

Where Dua Lipa’s much-anticipated second album Future Nostalgia succeeded was in its disco anthems and retro, club-ready beats, so who better to bring out the best of the record than The Blessed Madonna? The turntablist masterfully curates a mix of heavy hitters of the charts and the underground that not only offers an essential complement to Future Nostalgia but transcends it. Sending the tracks out to various producers and singers for features and then adding her own samples on top, she invites you to peel back the layers, enter a YouTube rabbit hole of sample searching as much as bopping along.

Read our full review here.

Emma Ruth Rundle & Thou - May Our Chambers Be Full (Sacred Bones)

Roadburn Festival has long been on my bucket list, and since the pandemic showed me how much live music can be taken away in a flash, when it’s safe again to travel and go to a festival, I may just pull the trigger and go--especially considering it’s the springboard for such fruitful and inspired collaborations as the one between Louisville singer-songwriter Emma Ruth Rundle and Baton Rouge sludge dwellers Thou. Rundle embraces the heavier opportunities on the follow-up to her incredible 2018 record On Dark Horses with the ever-flexible Thou backing her up vocally and instrumentally. Slow-burning opener “Killing Floor” offers a familiar introduction to fans of both--sort of what a Rundle/Thou song would sound like--before grunge chugger “Monolith” introduces huge, catchy riffs and “Out of Existence” a True Widow-esque dirge, newfound inspirations for both artists bringing the best out of each other. - JM

Fiona Apple - Fetch the Bolt Cutters (Epic)

What makes Fetch the Bolt Cutters stand out among Apple’s catalog and music in general is the clarity with which Apple seethes at those who have wronged her, whether ex-boyfriends or patriarchal oppressors, and looks to her relationships with other women for peace of mind.

Read our full review here.

HAIM - Women in Music Pt. III (Columbia)

For HAIM, the title Women in Music Pt. III is suggestive that, more than their previous two records, their third centers around the experiences of being an all-female band in a historically white cis male-dominated scene, at least one that wouldn’t call catchy riffs written by a man “simple” or call attention to the faces a man makes while playing. What it doesn’t let on to is how deeply personal the record is, how, by unabashedly embracing genres and styles of music that they love, HAIM have made far and away their best album. Co-produced by the usual suspects, Danielle Haim, Ariel Rechtshaid, and ex-Vampire Weekender Rostam Batmanglij, it’s instrumentally and aesthetically dynamic and diverse, consistently earnest without devolving into cheese.

Read our full review here.

Irreversible Entanglements - Who Sent You? (International Anthem)

I’ve been captivated by Irreversible Entanglements ever since I first saw them at Pitchfork Music Festival 2018. The radical poetry of Camae Ayewa (aka Moor Mother) is the perfect front for a ramshackle mix of Luke Stewart’s spidery bass, Tcheser Holmes’ weighty drums, and a horn section that concocts tones that range from hopeful to desperate. At their best, Who Sent You? is a shining example of celebratory Afrofuturism and metaphysics that makes the urgency of Ayewa’s more concrete and political words all the more necessary. “No Más”, composed by Panamanian-born trumpeter Aquiles Navarro, is a declaration against imperialist oppression, while the stunning title track flips the switch like a Kara Walker painting, as Ayewa’s the one interrogating the police officer terrorizing her community. “Who sent you?” she repeats, never spiraling, grabbing a hold of the power and never letting go. - JM

Jeff Parker - Suite for Max Brown (International Anthem/Nonesuch)

It’s Jeff Parker’s mom’s turn. After 2016′s The New Breed ended up being a tribute to the guitarist’s father, who passed away during the making of it, Parker decided to pay tribute to Maxine while she was still alive. Suite for Max Brown (Brown is his mother’s maiden name; Max is what people call her) is a genre-bending collection of tracks inspired by Parker’s DJing, juxtapositions of sequenced beats with improvisation that certainly sound like the brainchild of one individual. Indeed, Parker plays the majority of the instruments on it and engineered most of it at home or during his 2018 Headlands Center residency in Sausalito, CA; though all of the players and the vocalist (Jeff’s daughter Ruby Parker) on The New Breed show up, plus a couple trumpeters (piccolo player Rob Mazurek and Nate Walcott of Bright Eyes) and cellist Katinka Kleijn, Suite for Max Brown is a distinctly Jeff Parker record.

Read our preview of Jeff Parker & The New Breed’s set at Dorian’s last year.

Jeff Rosenstock - NO DREAM (Polyvinyl)

Jeff Rosenstock throws us right into the spinning, manic energy of NO DREAM, his latest release from a seemingly endless well of music that never lacks urgency. It’s a reminder that though it’s been a strange year, the issues Rosenstock tackles here aren’t new. There’s no interest in making you feel comfortable here. On the album’s title track, Rosenstock sings, lulling you into a false sense of security, “They were separating families carelessly / Under the guise of protecting you and me.” But reality sets in, and the hazy guitars spin out as he spits, “It’s not a dream!” and, “Fuck violence!”

My image of Jeff Rosenstock in the year 2020 is masked up with “Black Lives Matter” scrawled across the fabric of his mask in Sharpie, performing album highlight “Scram!” on Late Night with Seth Meyers as high energy as ever. It felt like watching someone send out a beacon, both a distress signal and a call to arms. - LL

Jessie Ware - What’s Your Pleasure? (PMR/Friends Keep Secrets/Interscope)

I am not someone who goes to clubs. I don’t “go out dancing,” preferring to let loose in the privacy of my own home or a trusted friend’s house party. But Jessie Ware’s What’s Your Pleasure? makes me think I could embrace a night out like that, once the world opens up again, of course. The album is filled with syncopated disco beats that feel fresh and classic all at once. The abundant horns and strings on “Step Into My Life” are decadent, like light bouncing off sequins in a dark room. Ware’s voice is slinky and velvety one moment, windswept like her album cover the next. It’s songs like “Save a Kiss” that embrace both, allowing her to show off her range. - LL

Laura Marling - Song for Our Daughter (Partisan)

With sparse production, mostly from her but with additions from Ethan Johns and Dom Monks, Marling foregoes the comparative maximalism of the Blake Mills-produced Semper Femina, her last proper full-length, and 2018′s LUMP collaboration. The songs aren’t simple, but they’re succinct, and every element, from Marling’s finger-picked guitars, the occasional slide guitar, and that unmistakably calm voice, sometimes alone and sometimes layered, fits. It’s her most universal set of songs yet, centering around the times when we’re apart from one another but reflecting on when we were together and when we might be together again, with no guarantees.

Read the rest of our review here.

Les Amazones d’Afrique - Amazones Power (Real World Records)

The groovy pan-African collective expands upon their debut Republique Amazone and then some with Amazones Power, a tour-de-force statement of female empowerment in the face of oppression against women throughout the African diaspora. Indeed, the album is more than just songs boldly decrying FGM, though those demands ring heavily. Instead, the group goes further, delving into gender power structures in marriage on “Queens” and selectively finding strength in tradition on “Dreams”. And this time, they include men to stand alongside with them. “Together we must stand / Together we must end this,” sings Guinean musician/dancer/artist Niariu on opener “Heavy” in solidarity with features Douranne (Boy) Fall and Magueye Diouk (Jon Grace) of Paris band Nyoko Bokbae. But perhaps it’s her kiss-off on “Smile” that hits hardest: “I shut up for no one.” - JM

Lianne La Havas - Lianne La Havas (Nonesuch)

The British singer-songwriter’s much anticipated follow-up to 2015′s Blood was better than I could have ever imagined. A song cycle about life cycles--of nature, of lives, of a relationship--inspired by an actual breakup, Lianne La Havas is a contemporary neo soul masterpiece. Overview opener “Bittersweet” is an instant earworm, La Havas’ coo-turned-belt filling the space between classic and increasingly emotive slabs of piano and guitar. Funky, lovestruck strut “Read My Mind” is the soundtrack for the unbridled confidence of finding new love. Yes, the doubts begin to sow on the fingerpicked melancholy of “Green Papaya” and “Can’t Fight”, and where the album goes from a simple narrative perspective may be predictable: They break up, they don’t get back together, La Havas enjoys her independence. But the depth of the arrangements and assuredness of La Havas’ singing is a product of an artist starting to really show us what she can do. And how many people can pull off a Radiohead cover like that? - JM

Lomelda - Hannah (Double Double Whammy)

What does it mean to title an album after yourself? Lomelda’s latest album is centered around discovering more about yourself while not always having the answers. Despite the lyrical content, the album is self-assured. Hannah Read’s voice feels as steady as ever as it navigates these twisting questions, like the way the world can shift after a kiss. She finds power in softness and reflection throughout the album, like when she explores the mantra-like words of “Wonder” or through a reminder to do no harm in “Hannah Sun”. In a year that allowed for perhaps more reflection than usual, Hannah makes space for the questions that arise out of figuring yourself out, of making sense of the messiness of it all, wrapped in warm guitar, balanced vocals, and steady drums. - LL

Moses Sumney - Grae (Jagjaguwar)

“Am I vital / If my heart is idle? / Am I doomed?” Moses Sumney famously sang on his stunning 2017 debut Aromanticism, an album that saw him developing his acceptance of being alone. grae, his two-part 2nd full-length, and his first since officially moving from L.A. to the Appalachian Mountains of Asheville, North Carolina, doubles down on themes of heartbreak, but instead of being sure in his seclusion, he embraces the unknown. The album teeters between interludes of platitudes about isolation and ruminations on failed human connection, and maximally arranged clutches of uncertainty. “When my mind’s clouded and filled with doubt / That’s when I feel the most alive,” Sumney coos over horns and piano on slinky soul song “Cut Me”; it’s an effective mantra for the album.

Read the rest of our review here.

Norah Jones - Pick Me Up Off The Floor (Blue Note)

At the time we previewed Norah Jones’ 7th studio album, she had only released a few tracks from it. Turns out the rest was just as powerful. From the blues stomp of “Flame Twin” to the rolling piano stylings of “Hurts to Be Alone”, Pick Me Up Off The Floor is an album full of jazzy orchestrations and soul and gospel-indebted arrangements, Jones’ silky, yearning voice tying together the simple, yet lush and deep instrumentation. And that other Tweedy feature, that closes the album? It’s a heartbreaking portrait of loneliness, one of many on a record that still manages to celebrate being alive all the while. - JM

Phoebe Bridgers - Punisher (Dead Oceans)

Phoebe Bridgers is a master of details. Her lyrics shine when they get specific. They range from the mundane to morbid: A superfan’s ghost-like wandering under a drugstore’s fluorescent lights, a skinhead likely buried under a blooming garden, reckoning with the you in “Moon Song”’s lines, “You are sick, and you’re married / And you might be dying.” Bridgers has always been able to set a scene meticulously, and Punisher arrived with 11 songs that expanded that skill, both lyrically and musically, with her dark humor intact and a fuller sound that includes her boygenuis collaborators’ harmonies. - LL

PJ Harvey - To Bring You My Love: The Demos & Dry - The Demos (Island)

Yes, revisiting Dry’s demos as a separate entity is still worthwhile. Harvey’s powerhouse vocal performance carries the acoustic strummed “Oh My Lover”, while the comparatively minimal arrangement of “Victory” highlights bluesy riffing, call-and-response harmonies, and layered guitar and vocals. The singles, the slinky and sharp “Dress” and propulsive anthem “Sheela-Na-Gig”, hold up to their ultimate studio versions, too. But it’s the To Bring You My Love material that provides novelty because it’s never been released and more so because it encompasses the greatest aesthetic contrast from the album. From the warbling hues and guitar lines of the title track to the tremolo haze of “Teclo” to the crisp snares of “Working With The Man”, the demos show a continuity and level of cohesiveness with the diversity of Dry and Rid of Me not shown on the studio version of Harvey’s more accessible commercial breakout. (Predictably, the album’s most well-known song, “Down by the Water”, is the closest to its eventual version.) “Long Snake Moan” is simultaneously more spacious and more noisy, its garage blues a total contrast to the lurking “I Think I’m A Mother” and swaying shanty “Send His Love To Me”. And “The Dancer” fully embraces its flamenco influences, hand claps and all.

Porridge Radio - Every Bad (Secretly Canadian)

Is there a better opening line than “I’m bored to death, let’s argue”? That kind of duality is found across all of Every Bad as it grapples with the frustrations and anxiety of trying to figure it all out, whatever that might mean for you. “Maybe I was born confused, but I’m not,” vocalist Dana Margolin repeats throughout the opening track, roping in listeners with the dizzying feeling of trying to make sense of yourself. The band’s guitar and synth sound coupled with Margolin’s howl makes for a dance party filled with dread, rendering Margolin’s already strong, repetitive lyrics even more spiraling. And yet, by the time we get to “Lilacs”, a glimmer of something else shines through as the music gets more manic and Margolin’s voice begins to soar: “I don’t want to get bitter / I want us to get better / I want us to be kinder / To ourselves and to each other.” - LL

Sault - Untitled (Rise) & Untitled (Black Is) (Forever Living Originals)

Yes, Black Is still pulls plenty of devastating punches. “Eternal Life”, a segue from the gospel boost of “US”, juxtaposes a deliberate drum beat with zooming synths, both ascending like a chorus of angels, as they sing, “I see sadness in your eye / ‘Cause I know you don’t wanna die,” presenting the oppression of Black life at the hands of white supremacy in inarguable terms. Ultimately, though, it’s the anthemic nature of the songs, resistant of platitudes, that shines through. “Nobody cared / This generation cares,” says Laurette Josiah on “This Generation”. Whether she’s talking about young people in general or the latest generation of young Black leaders, the sentiment is reflected on songs like “Black”, wherein over dynamic, sinewy instrumentation, the singers alternate between encouragement, support, and love of the self and others.

Read our full review here.

Shamir - Shamir (self-released)

Shamir’s voice is a bright beacon in a sea of conventional singers. Shamir captures the effervescence of pop music and weaves it together with elements of country, alt rock, and diary confessional lyrics all supported by the emotion and range of his vocals. There’s something for everyone across the album’s 11 shimmering tracks. Lead single and opener “On My Own” feels like a declaration of self and self-sufficiency, an anthem of a breakup song. The almost pop-punk bounce of “Pretty When I’m Sad”, paired perfectly with lines like the angst-ridden, “Let’s fuck around inside each other’s heads,” feels impossible to not bop along to. The twang of “Other Side” would put a country crooner to shame. That’s the power of Shamir. His voice has the ability to smoothly convey joy, resilience, and humor. He uses elements of several genres, not just the dance-pop of his debut, to build a unique album that gives listeners so much to sift through and, of course, dance to. - LL

Songhoy Blues - Optimisme (Fat Possum)

If Songhoy Blues’ second album Resistance lacked “the grit of its predecessor,” it’s clear from the hard rock stomp of the opening track of Malian band’s third album Optimisme that they rediscovered their mojo. More importantly, they couple this maximal brashness with tributes to those who make their world a better place: fighters for freedom, women, the young. It’s perhaps the first Songhoy Blues record to truly combine the celebratory nature of their desert blues with a balanced mixture of idealism and vigor. - JM

Spanish Love Songs - Brave Faces Everyone (Pure Noise)

How can you find hope in hopelessness, or optimism when every news story points to cruelty? Is it naïve to keep searching for light in the dark? I don’t think so, and I don’t think Spanish Love Songs does, either. I’d like to think we both believe that’s not naivety, but power. It’s the embers you need to really ignite a flame. After all, this is the band with a song titled “Optimism (As a Radical Life Choice)”. It’s a band whose crunching guitars and earnestness insist that despite death and depression and addiction, the instinct to survive shines brightly above all. That relentless hope resurfaces across Brave Faces Everyone’s 10 tracks even as it works through the bleakness of everyday life. - LL

Tashi Dorji - Stateless (Drag City)

The magnum opus from the Asheville-based picker is a group of evocatively titled, disorderly songs about the desolate hellscape of America for outsiders and immigrants. Enigmatic in its nature, not exactly narrative, Stateless combines Dorji’s urgent strumming with moody motifs, captured beautifully in a studio setting for maximum emotional wallop. - JM

Touche Amore - Lament (Epitaph)

Is this what an almost uplifting Touche Amore album sounds like? It’s cathartic in a newer way for the band, especially after the beautifully rendered grief of Stage Four. Lament loses none of the band’s aggression or urgency. “Come Heroine” thrusts listeners into that urgency and introduces a moment of warmth, Jeremy Bolm’s vocals still rasping and insistent: “You brought me in / You took to me / And reversed the atrophy.” The bounciness of “Reminders” may seem close to optimism, but a sharper look at the lyrics uncovers more than blindly looking to the things that bring joy. “I’ll Be Your Host” is reflective, a few years removed from Touche Amore’s previous album and the immediacy of loss, self-aware and growing, but still raw. The album closer, “A Forecast”, takes a turn, a lone voice and piano acting as a confessional before giving way to thrashing guitars and the realization that growth and reckoning with trauma doesn’t mean minimizing it. It means learning to keep moving forward and to stop for help when you may need it. - LL

Waxahatchee - Saint Cloud (Merge)

The best album yet from Katie Crutchfield is inspired by positive personal change (getting sober, dealing with codependency issues, her blossoming love with singer-songwriter Kevin Morby) and reflections on family and friends. Named after the suburb of Orlando where her father’s from, Saint Cloud is a genre-hopping collection of stories and feelings that doesn’t necessarily follow any semblance of narrative. On opener “Oxbow” and country-tinged ditty “Can’t Do Much”, Crutchfield’s increasingly aware of the need to pick your side and your battles, whether in the relationship between two people or between the allure of the bottle and the next-day hangover. Some of the best songs on the album see her finding commonalities with others as a means towards self-love. Gentle strummer “The Eye” refers to her natural creative relationships with Morby and her sister Allison. “War” she wrote for herself and best friend, who is also sober, the title a metaphor for one’s fight to remain substance-free. “Witches” is an ode to her best friends, including Allison and Snail Mail’s Lindsey Jordan, all equally frustrated by the toxic nature of the music industry and the world at large, ultimately lifting each other up because they simply have each other.

Read our full review here.

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sosthemortalcoil · 4 years

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BLM Donation Shorts: Fool Me Once...

@ironicapathy requested a breakup/makeup with stoic!m!Gabriel and Aelius. Special appearance by Israfel.

Aelius should have known better than to trust an invitation from an angel, and an archangel no less. He shouldn’t have accepted it.

But he is weak. The contact from Israfel had filled him with such a surge of excitement that he couldn’t help himself. A masochist, Iro would tell him. He must be to enjoy inflicting more wounds on his broken heart.

The chance to hear something about Gabriel from a source so near to him was too much to resist, and so here he is, sitting and waiting in a bar. He wished the meeting had been at his place, or the Garden, but he could understand why an archangel wouldn’t want to frequent an establishment that was demon-owned.

He refused to visit the uptight atrocity run by the werewolf alpha either, though, and they couldn’t meet in the cop bar. So they’d found a dark water-front bar, with oversized round booths and so few patrons it is a wonder the place remains open. Though, if the occasional sounds he hears when a door opens somewhere are any indication, this place is a front for some sort of illegal gambling hall. Probably fae, if he had to guess. They love gambling and secrets, and you couldn’t throw a shoe without hitting one in this city.

The perspiration from the glass has formed a thick ring of water on the table, making it look like his glass floats on the surface. Israfel is late. He should leave.

The door opens and his head jerks up, giving away his anticipation. It’s not the tall archangel though, just a random human who looks already past his limits. Sighing, he slumps back against the booth.

Only to jerk upright as a familiar figure slides in.

“Hey.”

Aelius tries to get out of the booth, only to run into another figure. There’s the blasted archangel who had invited him here, blocking his escape.

“Please stay,” Israfel pleads, hands held upright in supplication. “I am sorry for the deception, but I feared if I told you of the truth you would not come.”

The angel is damned right he wouldn’t have come if he had been told the truth. Demons and angels didn’t belong together. They were natural enemies, oppositional forces. Dating one was a new level of foolishness, even for him.

It had imploded, like it had to. They were too different. Not that Gabriel seems to care. The man was never good with emotions, and Aelius had grown tired of the guessing game. It was a game he could never win, because even if he guessed right, he was reminded of how ephemeral this relationship had to be. The lifespan of a single mortal, if that. Once the boy was grown, once Gabriel had done his duty, he would go back to Heaven. Back to Heaven and back to killing Aelius’ kind.

“What do you want?” he demands. Israfel had never said to begin with, and because Aelius was a fool, he hadn’t asked.

“To talk,” Israfel explains. He doesn’t move from blocking the booth, so Aelius sighs and scoots further back from the edge.

“Well, I am here. Go ahead and say what you came to say.”

Israfel glances over to Gabriel, who hasn’t taken his eyes off of Aelius. He can feel the man’s gaze burning into the back of his head, and only petty satisfaction stops Aelius from staring right back at him. Let him look. Aelius will not grant him the satisfaction of peering back, of getting lost in those eyes he knows so well, of tracing those lips with his gaze in lieu of his fingers…

He catches himself before he turns further in the seat, staring steadfastly straight ahead, not looking at either archangel.

A small smile flits over his lips. What do you get when a demon walks into a bar with two archangels?

“The meeting was for you and Gabriel to meet,” Israfel explains. “A necessary deception if the two of you were to talk.”

Aelius is a demon. Deceptions are part of his daily routine.

“Job accomplished then,” he murmurs. It shouldn’t sting, but it does. He knows firsthand however that even angels are liars.

“Aelius.” The low rumble of his name sends heat washing through him. He closes his eyes tight, removing the temptation to look at him. His name said like that conjures memories of warm hands on him, holding him like he’s precious. Lips skimming across his neck, moving lower as Gabriel showed him that he knew Aelius intimately.

“What do you want?” he demands, voice barely audible. To cut open the jagged wound, to line it with salt and make sure that nothing would grow in his heart again? If so, Gabriel is doing a fantastic job of it, the dull edges of his words sawing through the remains of his defenses. He’d been the one to let the enemy in, to give him the keys to the gates.

Of course, it would be nearly impossible to remove him.

“You.”

A single word. Gabriel isn’t a verbose man, isn’t ready to pour his heart out to the demon like most humans. The man keeps everything close to his chest.

“Too bad. That’s off the table.” If only his words didn’t shake and tremble like he was some hellmutt coming face-to-face with the terrible light of an avenging archangel.

“Well, the only thing on the table is a drink that looks like you’ve abandoned it to a slow demise by evaporation.”

That startles a laugh out of him, today’s brown eyes opening. Fool. Embracing his own destruction. The pull is too strong, and he turns, meeting Gabriel’s gaze.

“What are you doing?” he whispers. The obstacles between them haven’t changed. Gabriel is still one of the heavy-hitters for an entity that sees demons as little more than cockroaches.

“Getting the love of my existence back,” Gabriel answers.

A sob leaves him, his hand pressed in a fist to his lips. Don’t say that. Do you like pain so much? Are you so determined to make both of us suffer?

But he’s always been weak. He’s always been susceptible to offers too good to pass up. It was how he got where he is now.

“This doesn’t fix everything,” he tells his angel, even as he slides into the man’s lap, grateful now for the size of the booth. Israfel clears his throat but he ignores the sound. “I’m still a demon, and you’re still an archangel, and I—”

He doesn’t finish, lips descending on his and interrupting his words. Aelius grips the side of Gabriel’s head in an unforgiving hold, nails making crescents along his temple, all gentleness discarded. The anger, the fear—he hasn’t let go of it yet.

“Take me home,” he hisses against those rough lips, tongue flicking over the indents he’d left with his teeth. “I’m not sharing you tonight.”

#BLM shorts #BLM prompts #shorts #Aelius #breakup makeup #m!Gabriel #stoic!Gabriel

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yamithediaperdork · 3 years

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Billy's Birthday Bash part 1 (DC)

Billy yawned and sat up in bed, reaching over and turning off his alarm clock which was blabbering away about how the justice league had saved the day last night, again. from alien attackers, Again.

"Like I don't know that." Billy muttered, swinging his blanket off and twisting in his bed so his bare feet could hit the floor. "I was only there."

Billy Batson after all was the secret identity of the world's mightiest mortal Shazam, gifted with gifts from seven gods and one of the league's heavy hitters.

Just thinking about that brought a smile to the 13 year old hero's face and he turned to pose in in the mirror in his bedroom, and then his face fell as he saw his reflection.

while once he said his magic word he was a 6'9 muscled beefcake, the image looking back him with it's scrawny arms and chest which were covered with a faded flash themed PJ top while around his hips was a semi bulky and again flash themed overnight diaper, that was drooping from being used many times (Thankfully only wettings though, something he confirmed with a quick pat to his padded rear and a sniff of the air) despite Billy having only made it to bed at around 3 am.

He hadn't of been worried about getting in trouble for being out so late though.

the once orphan had been happily adopted and taken in by one Barry Allen and got alone great with his new dad and tried to be pleasant around Miss west, Barry's girlfriend who came over often enough to have her own key.

It wasn't that she was unpleasant or anything, it was just with Billy's 'problems' acting up bad enough that he needed his diapers basically 24/7, she insisted on diaper checks, even in front of her nephew Wally who'd come over sometimes with her and was like the coolest guy ever!

The reason why he hadn't of been worried about Barry finding out though was because Barry was also a member of the Justice league, ironically the Flash who's symbol had been on the front of the bulky diaper at one point.

"You'd think he'd be mad these things even exist since till Bat's set up that account for us there was no way to collect royalties." Billy grumbled to himself.

But when asked Barry admitted if he could help kids like Billy who had potty issues feel big and brave like superhero's, He was fine with the diapers being made and mostly didn't touch his share of the royalties.

though as Billy's legal guardian Shazam couldn't touch his share either without permission and was irked that Barry would use some of Billy's money to stock up on his diapers.

"I'm teaching you to be reasponable. if you have to pay for the diapers you'll be less likely to rip them up like that first pack Iris got you." Barry had reminded Billy, with a smirk on his face but a slight stern tone.

"I said sorry..besides they had stupid ponies and stuff on them." Billy had whined back.

still he fell in line and even if he had wanted to just blast the diapers with his lighting some times and suck up the wasted cost, with his new day's symbol on it he just couldn't do it.

Since he was only wet Billy was allowed to change himself, there had been the great carpet incident a few days after he'd moved in trying to change a dirty diaper on his own and Barry had made him pinky swear to ask for help with those.

since Billy was on the family plan and had his own cell phone he could just discretely call Barry when he was smelly, though thankfully his daytime accidents were few and fair in between.

Snapping the tapes off Billy had a minor moment sulkiness again since his budding pubic hair had been shaved clean because of his diapers, though he had to admit Barry had been right, he was getting a LOT less rashes.

balling the soggy diaper up and holding it out with one hand, Billy took a deep breath and pinched his nose with the other one as he stepped on the foot petal for his diaper pail and dropped it in, not wishing to smell memories of diaper past.

with that done he walked around enjoying the lack of a waddle in his step for the precious few moments he would and tugged opened his version of a underwear drawer, stocked full of daytime and overnight flash brand diapers.

"Gee, what's a boy to wear, flash themed disposable undies or flash themed disposable undies?" He asked, tapping a finger on his chin and smirking a little."the struggle is real for 13 year old pants wetter."

"heh, Oh really?" Came a voice from the doorway and Billy yelped and tugged to tug his shirt down, even though he knew Barry had seen everything.

"B-Barry knock!" He huffed, and blushed, hands over over his crotch now.

"I did, someone was off in his own little world.. in fact so off he forgot what today is." Barry said and smirked, pointing over to a Shazam themed calendar on the wall, with the dates date circled in red."Your not 13 anymore silly. Happy birthday~"

Billy, who normally was ignored on his birthday either by choice or lost in the shuffle while in foster care really had forgotten and now grinned big time.

"That's right! I get a real party, with cake, and ice cream an-" Billy was saying and was cut off as Barry zipped over, a little bit slower in his blue jeans and denim shirt but not by much and was ruffling Billy's hair.

"And you get a birthday spanking." Barry teased, but winked to let Billy know he was joking.

"Try it and I'll saw you know what." Billy giggled and blew a raspberry.

"Hmmm flash vs. Shazam in a spanking fight. we could sell out areas. But At last, your butt's just too cute to mare." Barry chuckled and gave the boys chubby cheeks a soft pat before zipping back to the door frame.

the pat while gentle, was unexpected and Billy yelped and a little trickle of pee came out, something Barry missed but the now hard wood floor of Billy's room could handle it.

"Finish getting dressed buddy and I'll get this cleaned up in-"

"Don't say it!" Billy groaned rolled his eyes.

"A flash!" Barry said, zipping off as Billy snatched a pair of daytime diapers out.

'He's so corny sometimes.' Billy thought.

Dressed in a red t-shirt and a baggy pair of black shorts that did a good job of hiding the bulk of his padding (there there was a tell tale crinkle for those listening for it) he made his way to the dinning room and grinned ear to ear as the table was loaded with chocolate pancakes, blue berry waffles, fried eggs, scrambled eggs, bacon, sausages and a pitcher of chocolate milk and a pitcher of orange juice.

with how fast Barry's metabolism was he was always making big meals and was part of the reason Billy had put on some much needed wait, but even so, this was above and beyond.

with drool trailing down his chin he grabbed a plate and looked over the feast, almost at a lost of where to begin.

"heh, Did daddy do good or did daddy do good?" Barry asked, zipping into the room.

"This. Is. Awesome!" Billy squealed. "Was this all you or did Iris help too?" Billy asked.

"She's out of town on a assignment for a news papers, she's sorry she's gonna miss the party." Barry said, looking sorry.

"Well it's ok." Billy said, starting to load up his plate, a impish grin coming across his face. "we can just have anther party with more cake when she gets back. It'll be hard having all that sugar and getting double presents, but it's a sacrifice I am willing to make." he said, topping off his plate and plopping his butt onto his special chair.

with his bulky diapers and the fact he leaked sometimes, Barry had gotten him a dinner chair with sides coming up to the middle of his tummy so Billy wouldn't lose balance and fall off, and it had a plastic cover for a easier clean up instead of the stained oak that the rest of the chairs had.

Naturally Billy had been least then pleased at the fact he had a toddler chair but after falling off of the other chairs three times he'd finally bit the bullet.

"Oh, your willing to have two party's huh? truly, your a saint among men. We'll see what happens." Barry said, coming over and getting his own plate while taking a second to mentally gush at just how adorable Billy looked, his legs kicking under the table as he scooped food in his mouth like he hadn't eaten in a month. "Heh, wow, and I thought I was fast..slow down before you choke buddy."

Billy as normal, took that warning as a challenge and sped up.

After 4 helpings Billy just sat back in his chair, burping softly and groaning as he put a hand to his belly, not even offering a fight as Barry came over with a cloth to wipe his face and hands.

"Did somebody maybe eat more then he should of?" Barry asked sweetly, as he helped the groaning boy out of the chair, and after a second picked him up, setting him on his hip and patting his back.

Billy's reply was a loud blench and Barry winced, glad he'd had the foresight to get Billy's head over his shoulder.

"well put. any follow ups?" Barry chuckled, and kept patting, this wasn't Billy's first semi food coma and he doubted it would be the little thunder champions last.

Billy went to open his mouth to say something then a loud booming fart blasted out of his bottom and for a split second Barry wondered if his arm would of been burnt if not for the padding.

"I-I didn't..I.." Billy whimpered and buried his head into Barry's shoulder and Barry could feel the heat from the boys face.

"Hey..hey..it's ok. fart's happen. besides you've gone uh-oh in my lap so this is hardly worse." Barry said, tilting his head and giving the poor blushing little guy a smooch on the head.

"N-Not helping!" Billy whined.

"Ok ok, I'll drop it.. here let's get you sat down and watching some carto-" Barry started to say but anther thunder poot from the champion of lighting cut him off.

"gawd! that stinks!" Billy whined.

"...Or Maybe you wanna go and sit on the potty." Barry said trying to be nice, but the boy wasn't wrong.

"I know when I have to go poop Barry!" Billy huffed and two more loud farts came out and the boy switched from huffy to shocked. "..and that would be right now. Potty daddy!"

Any other daddy wouldn't of stood a chance in the world, But Barry Allen didn't call him the fastest man alive for nothing, but even then it was a close call as he barley got Billy's shorts and diaper down and got him on the toilet before the boy started to unleash hell.

Knowing how Billy valued some privacy, Barry left almost as quick as he'd gotten him in there, though not before bringing a few room freshers into the bathroom and opening a window.

'don't want him to pass out form his own stink.. man..I wonder if there's anther god powering.. skunkculues, champion of stink.' Barry mused as he waited outside the bathroom door just in case he was needed.

Billy groaned as he hunched over and pounded a fist on the sink's counter, wondering if maybe he had a natural power over lava because that's what this felt like as he made use of the potty.

His own stink was assaulting his nose though thankfully daddy had set it up so it would be as bad, though he still ended up having to flush a couple of times just to help with the smell.

Sweating, Panting and feeling drained, he barley had it in him to wipe himself when it was all said and done, and swore he'd never cram that much food into his tummy again all at once.

(of course since he swore that once every three or so days the oath may of fallen on deaf ear.)

which his cheeks wiped, Billy went to stand up on shaky legs and plopped back down, then noticed the shart stains in the back of the diaper and signed.

"Dadddd..IUh...I need help." he called out. huffing and slumping, elbows on his knees and waiting.

when the door opened up and his cousin/cool bro via adoption opened the door Billy yelped and in vain tried to cover up the diaper around his ankles.

4 minutes earlier...

Wally who had retired from the superhero game while going to collage and trying to be a CSI like Barry, had surprised Barry by showing up for the party.

"Wally! good to see you!" Barry had said, shaking the younger mans hand, but then, ever the good daddy/uncle had narrowed his eyes. "Aren't you suppose to be in class right now?"

"The professor for the only class I had today had a family emergency, so the class was called off, and I was gonna try and make it anyways." Wally said, keeping his voice down and Barry picked up on it and kept his down as well.

"Ah, a birthday surprise for Billy." Barry said and smirked. "you know he thinks the world of you right?"

"I might of picked up on that. hence why I pretend not to notice his little problem." Wally chuckled and ran a hand though his orange hair. "you'd think he would of linked how Aunt Iris doesn't do bum checks when I'm around with it buttt.."

"Heh, Well he see's what he wants to see. He's on the potty right now though so maybe if you hi-" Barry started to say when his com beeped.

it wasn't his JL com, but the one he'd given the Meta human crimes department for central and Keystone city, being the hero of the twin cities.

dashing over he answered it, and frowned, then dashed back to Wally but even as he did he was in costume.

"I hate to do this, but Weather wizard and Captain cold are causing heck in Keystone. could you stay with Billy? he might need a little help." Barry said and gestured his head to the bathroom.

"Of course. Listen, if you need any back up.. I might not have my costume, but after Billy gets out.."

"Hey, I'll handle it. I'll be back.."

"in a flash. I know I know." Wally groaned, having the same opinion as Billy about the phase.

Barry just smirked like it was the worlds greatest dad joke and took off.

"W-Wally!? Get out! I-" Billy was whining and had actual tears welling up in his eyes, making Wally just wanna hug him.

"Billy, Billy listen to me, Barry had to go and fight the rouges, I came here for your party..and I've know about your diapers since Barry adopted you." Wally said, cutting right to the chase.

"..No you haven't! I was super careful and someone as cool and awesome as you wouldn't wanna hang out with a diaper wetting baby!" Billy whined, in denial even as Wally sighed and shook his head.

"Really Billy? I'm training to be a CSI, so I'm learning to notice little things, I move at super speed, not as fast as Barry but still, and you crinkle lots." Wally listed off on his hand, raising fingers, then giving Billy a hurt look. "Also, you think SO little of me I wouldn't wanna hang out with a awesome and cool little guy like you just because you have accidents?"

"But..I.." Billy whimpered and sniffled, and went to wipe at his tears with his arm but Wally was there, with a wad of tissue.

"Hey, it's ok Billy. Truth be told, I wet the bed for 3 years after getting my powers. But My Parents weren't as nice and Uncle Barry and aunt Iris. they were the ones who looked after me like they're looking after you now. so no more tears alright? let's get you dressed and then we can play some video games." Wally said, and ruffled the boys hair.

Billy gave him a smile and then hugged Wally's waist, and the 19 year old almost melted and patting his head.

Tossing the dirty diaper, Wally got Billy in a clean over night diaper, and added powder, though Billy whined a little he was pacified by Wally saying he thought those looked cooler.

Going off of that logic Billy when offered a pair of baggy pants to go over the thicker diaper went all shy.

"uh. well..I mean.. if you wanna see this diaper because it's cuter.. and we're not going out anywhere.." Billy said, squirming and shifting all around.

"..I do think it's cuter, and Barry said he'd call if he needed us. Uh.. " wally trailed off and then blushed himself, and put a hand behind his head. "I have ONE question that's been bugging me."

"heh, what is it?" Billy said, holding up his arms for the older boy to pick him up.

"when you change.. do you have to take the diapers off first or..how does that work?!" Wally asked, picking him up and gushing as Billy cuddled in.

"heh, Nah, the big guy isn't padded, and as to how that works.." Billy paused and let wally hold his weight as he spread his hands, wiggling his fingers.

"Maggggggic~"

Wally snorted and smirked.

"your such a dork sometimes you know that?" he asked playfully, carrying Billy at normal speed down the stairs.

"Pffft please, I've seen you marking out over dad's cases when going over them with him, and not his stuff as flash, but as Barry Allen,CSI."Billy teased back.

Wally huffed and blushed himself and then smirked.

"You're lucky your cute or I'd super speed your butt to central park right now."

"heh, you wouldn't do that, A) because I'd say the word and leave, B) because Dad would kick you butt and C).." Billy said and tapped Wally's chest as he listed off his points. "You'd made me cry and hate yourself for it~"

"..Dang, guilty as charged."

Getting into the living room, Wally sat Billy on the couch and then went to look though the selection of games they had for two player.

"Super monkey fury 5 good for you?" He asked, looking over his shoulder.

"Um..whatever YOU think is a cool game!" Billy said, and gave a big grin.

he might of been 14 but in his diaper and t-shirt, and all eager to please his 'big bro' figure, he looked like a toddler.

"Heh, it's YOUR special day Billy, whatever YOU wanna play we'll play it." wally chuckled.

"W-Wellll.. Dad doesn't let me play Duty calls a lot because it's so violent.." Billy said, poking two fingers together.

"..I think Barry will understand." Wally smirked and put the game in, coming over with controllers for both of them.

As Wally sat down he was surprised as Billy moved from his spot next to him to sitting in his lap.

"heh,What are y-"

"it's MY Special day right?" Billy asked, flashing his imp smirk. "So I can sit anywhere I want.. rightttt?"

"heh. of course."

Barry hated how long it took him to deal with the rouges, they had gotten reinforcements from mirror master so it took longer then he would of liked to finish up, plus then he had to deal with the police over and handle the press, all part of keeping up the hero image and while any other day it wouldn't of irk'ed him, knowing he was missing out on Billy's big day, he was short tempered

he had almost snapped at Detective Morro, a long time friend on the force in both identities but caught himself.

"you ok Flash?" his friend asked.

"I..I'm missing out on my kid's birthday party for this." Barry admitted.

"heh, didn't know you HAD a kid. go on, get." the heavy set cigar chomping hard ass said. "We'll try to manage without you for the rest of the day...Oh, tell yer kid happy birthday."

"heh, Will do!" Barry said and after a trademark flash salute, was off and running.

Getting back to the house Barry found Billy in Wally lap and whining a little, sucking his thumb and a kiddy cartoon was on the TV, much younger then Billy usually liked to watch.

"Hey guys, I'm back, whats going on?" Barry asked.

"Oh well see, I was a jerk and tried to make Billy play a game I like an-" Wally started to speak up but a whimpering Billy cut him off.

"Noo! it was me! I made Wally play duty call's with me and it was way more awful then I thought and I know I've done worse as you know who but but..I dunno and I started to cry and and-" Billy whined and whimpered.

"..Billy when your Shazam you have the wisdom of Solomon that let's you work out why you have to do the things you do. not so much as yourself. that's why I didn't want you playing that, you're not in trouble, either of you but I think we're gonna keep it to cartoons or silly games for the day." Barry said, coming over and as Wally hugged the whining Billy in his lap, Barry did too and Billy sniffled and smiled.

"Kay"

with Billy calmed down, they sat down for a few episodes of different baby shows, with billy giggling and clapping alone even if Wally and Barry were bored out of their skulls. trying to break it up they pulled out a few board games but after having to watch Billy do his 'i won you lost' diaper booty shake 4 times in a row (which admittedly was pretty cute with his diaper butt on display) they switched from candy land to clue, where Wally won 2 out of the 4 games.

Barry technically could of won the other two but played bad on purpose for the last game where billy was getting all huffy.

After that they played pay day and once again were subjected to Billy's singing about how awesome he was and how much they sucked, while wiggling his padded rear in their faces but compared to the sulky silence that losing brought, Barry and wally put up with it.

Or at least they tried to till in the middle of shaking his butt in both their faces Billy froze and then let out a muffled poot.

"Really Billy?" Barry asked, waving his left hand at super speed to blow the smell away.

"I-I didn't mean to.d-do that! I'm Sorry!" Billy squeaked and turned around, blushing and starting to tear up. "P-Please don't ha-"

Before Billy could finish his thought, Wally and Barry were on either side of Billy, hugging him.

"Hey, hey, It's alright, Fart's happen." Wally was saying, rubbing and patting Billy's back.

"And I'm 90 percent sure you wouldn't fart on me after winning a game. Now if you lost.." Barry said and winked, patting billy's bum.

"D-Daddy!"

"Hmmm, Feels like it was just a fart, do you wanna sit on the potty just to be sure buddy?" Barry asked.

"Daddy, I know when I have to po-" Billy started and let out a long fart, one eye half closing and a leg coming up. the fart went from a normal sounding if massive one to wet and muddy, then Billy's leg came down and he was popping a squat.

Of course either Wally or Barry could of gotten him to the bathroom, but honestly, they had both agreed wordlessly to just let him fill his diapers.

"D-Daddy I'm Pooping!" Billy whined, as if Wally or Billy couldn't of told, and they just hugged him tighter and went double time with the bum and back pats as he whimpered and put his face in either shoulder, bearing down and finishing up even as whimpers of 'stinky' came out of his mouth.

As the diaper drooped in the back and Billy finished up, he sniffled a few times then pulled back.

"D-Daddy..Wally..Diapie change?" He asked in a voice that made him sound like a toddler.

"Of course buddy. I'll have you clean i-" Barry started to say but Wally moved his hand over and closed Barry's lips.

"I'll change him it means I don't have to hear that pun again." Wally said and winked to Billy even as Barry's eyes went wide from shock then a little glare.

Billy meanwhile was giggling like crazy and hands coming up his mouth to try and hide it.

Barry got Wally's fingers off his lips and smirked.

"oh, you think that's funny little man?" Barry asked, looking to wally and giving a evil smirk.

"I mean.. Kinda.. sowwy.." Billy said.

"Oh come on Barry, it WAS funny." Wally said and smirked.

"..Not as funny as this is gonna be." Barry said and Wally saw what was going to happen but could never beat Barry's speed, so was too slow to stop what happened next.

His hand moving at a blur, Barry smushed and squished the mess in the diaper around, making sure the boom boom went EVERY where as Billy's mouth formed a O and Wally groaned.

Zipping up to his feet Barry smirked.

"Have fun cleaning that up.. Oh and you can't use speed speed for cleaning up a poopie diaper, it'll hurt billy's bum." Barry said and went off to go and start working on lunch.

"wait what?!"Wally yelped.

"I..Poopie all over..I.." Billy was mumbling, looking out of it, and swaying back and forth on his feet, too out of it for Wally to ask if that was really a thing.

"DICK MOVE BARRY!" Wally yelled, then cradled Billy, the smell was even worst now and Wally gulped, wondering if he was strong enough to do this.

Billy mewed softly and wrapped his arms around Wally's neck and nuzzled his head into Wally's chest.

"I Sowwy. I stinky." Billy mewed, eyes semi glazed over.

Looking at how much Billy needed him, Wally found the will power needed and dashed billy off to the bathroom, though he did a slight detour to get a clothespin for his nose.

'maybe it won't be as bad as I think.' Wally thought, getting Billy on his back on a towel in the bathroom, sliding the little guys thumb into his mouth and gushing at how cute he looked.

opening the diaper, Wally realized it wasn't as bad as he thought.

it was worse, much much much.

Wally wasn't a stranger to changing diapers, as big of a family as he had and baby sitting jobs but this was the record for longest and grossest he'd ever handled.

going though a whole freshly opened box of wipes, he got it done, going at normal speed and taking time to comfort billy and talk softly to him.

it took the better part of 15 minutes, and then just to be safe Wally gave Billy a quick bath, semi worried as Billy had apparently slipped into a baby mode of sorts and was playing with some rubber duckies while Wally washed him, at one point offering one of the duckies he had been chewing on to wally.

"Uh..No thanks. you keep chewing." Wally said with a sweat drop.

Billy just giggled and nodded, noming on his ducky and letting wally wash him, only fussing when his hair was being washed, though thankfully Barry had gotten no more tears shampoo.

with Billy washed up all nice and clean, Wally got him dried off with a big fluffy towel and was walking him back toward his room to get him dressed when Barry cut him off, holding one of the presents under one arm.

"Thought I heard the tub running.Lunch is ready downstairs, I'll get the birthday boy dressed. go get something to eat." Barry said.

"Heh, Sure, now that I've handed all the smelly stuff you wanna tag in." Wally teased, and Billy giggled.

"What can I say, Perks of being a daddy and honorary uncle." Barry said.

Wally just shook his head and headed down the step while Billy toddled along side Barry, wrapped up in the towel and then just laid back his bed, willing to let Barry do all the work.

"heh, your being pretty cute kiddo. maybe you should poop your pants more often." Barry teased, tickling billy's tummy and getting a fit of giggles out of him.

Deciding with how little Billy was acting and the bigger accidents he was have, Barry got billy into a daytime diaper but cut slit in the front of back of it first, while Billy watched with a confused look and a finger on his bottom lip.

"Ummm daddy, what cha doing? I'm leak all over now." Billy pointed out.

"Well, if that was your only diapie you would, but daddy figures since we're not going out and you're having lots of accident's.." Barry said and pulled out the bulky bed time diaper.

"Sheesh, I'll be waddling like a toddler with both of these on!" Billy said and stuck out his tongue.

"I know! I don't know why i didn't think of this sooner!" Barry gushed and got a raspberry from billy.

with the bulky diaper taped up over the thinner one, Barry helped billy stand up and gushed and coo'ed at how Billy's legs were forced apart.

"Sheesh, One more and I think I'd be stuck crawling!" Billy said, rubbing the back of his head.

"Don't temp me." Barry said then handed Billy the present. "Here, open this up, it's from Iris and I thought it might be useful right now."

Warning bell's were going off in Billy's head as he took the present and he had to suppress a groan, it was a flash themed diaper shirt.

"Well what do you think? Iris noticed that your diaper sag a lot when you got pants-less and this will help! Heck, might even get you a few of theses if it works out. but for now,you can be the fastest pamper butt alive!" Barry asked.

"..I think I'll save it special occasions." Billy tried and Barry just laughed.

"Silly boy, this is your birthday, that IS special, here, I'll help you get it on." Barry said taking the diaper shirt from Billy and dashing around the boy. in seconds he was snugly fit in the diaper shirt.

Despite how humiliating it was to need the shirt for his saggy diapers, Billy had to admit it felt right, even if his bulky diapers semi showed.

"Soooo?" Barry asked.

"..I could get used to it. " he said and started to head for the door, realizing just HOW bad his waddling was now as Barry squealed behind him. "..I'll calling it in. carry me."

Billy sighed then giggled, holding his arms out.

"Well if I HAVE to." Barry laughed, coming over and picking up Billy and heading for the dinner table.

So far the day had been fun and cute, and it was only gonna get better.

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