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presiding · 7 months

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What is your favourite thing about Billie Lurk?

(Answers are obvious possibly but i love when people talk about her👍)

thanks for the ask!! YEAH ME TOO I love when people talk about Billie! I can't say I have a favourite thing specifically, but I can explain why she's my fav. apologies for not taking this qn literally, but -

short answer: she’s really cool

& you can stop reading there, or, for the maybe 2 mutuals who might have time to read this my thoughts on her as a character, her meta, and her character as raw potential...

long answer:

i considered making this entire thing a gush so you could read a gush about Billie. but, part of what draws me to her is that she’s not always well written, and in fandom she’s underrated for a literal protagonist.

since you ask...

billie is a cool character

when I played Dh2 (hadn't played Dh1), I was excited to see a black woman with disabilities who was captaining a massive ship by herself. wow.

then I discovered Billie’s backstory with Deirdre, the way she responded to that, then having to survive while living on the run, and her bisexuality. as well as her history with daud & delilah. fascinating!

she’s an outsider who has so much to lose, and knows what it's like to lose everything - having lost everything not once but three times - but nevertheless speaks truth to power. she's so brave! she went and helped Emily & Corvo and she must have known they might kill her! plus, she’s smart, she’s funny, she gets shit done, she’s gorgeous.

but... the meta

mild critique of fandom & arkane incoming.

skip this bit if you want - you've been warned twice now - jump to tired Hayao Miyazaki and read from there if you'd like my thoughts on writing her.

i thought Death of the Outsider was going to be amazing and then... well. *sad trombone* i've written about that before so i won't keep banging on. i figured others must be disappointed too, so I joined a few fandom spaces in hopes of finding camaraderie.

most people with complaints about DotO didn’t like how the Outsider and Daud were handled. which is valid & I agree. but it seemed like most paid no attention to Billie; when people talk about her it’s with respect to Daud, as opposed to in her own right. you could argue for fandom misogyny because people don’t talk about adult Emily Kaldwin that much either, but in Billie's case, it’s misogynoir (compare & contrast with the popularity of thomas, particularly the popularity of thomas portrayed as a white man for no particular reason that i've been able to discern - i keep asking around, is it in the books???).

i think this is a LOT better now than it used to be, which is fantastic. or perhaps i have found the correct echo-chamber? ha.

ultimately, The Fandom is a fraction of the entire picture, and not even the important bit since The Fandom is not who these games are made for. you can't make money relying on only your hardcore fans even if all of them spent a fortune on merch, this is true for any AAA game.

while it's true that Billie is underrated from a fandom perspective - but Billie as an underwritten protagonist is squarely Arkane’s fault.

it was reasonable when she was a side character - the lack of info in Dh2 makes perfect sense (if anything there was more lore in Dh2 which is kind of wild)-

- but as a protagonist in Death of the Outsider?

.... there’s lousy writing, and there’s whatever is going on with Billie Lurk, a black woman who mostly exists as a foil or saviour for light-skinned characters. In her own game there’s barely any of her own lore except where it's relevant to saving two dudes.

lore hints at, but barely touches on what race means in the Dh universe (xenophobia is stronger in Dh1; separate essay i guess), but Arkane has patted themselves on the back for portraying non-white characters, which feels like the same thing as the aesthetic of diversity we're seeing in advertising currently because it’s in marketing trend guides. it's self-congratulatory and it's a missed opportunity for deeper storytelling.

you can see an example of diversity at its most shallow in the way that Billie’s written: there’s little engagement with her as an entire person with history & wants & preferences, and the world she walks through in that game feels like it has nothing to do with her. you could make a case for alienation as a theme, but then, how do you handle the titular premise of 'Dishonored' without ever letting Billie make changes in an environment without a chaos system? it's disappointing from that angle too.

in my opinion, whatever it's worth, it was an accident Arkane created such an awesome character - they needed someone to betray daud. congrats billie.

all this said, it makes her an underdog as far as characters to enjoy & create art & stories for. it's nice to find so many like-minded, switched on people! <3

billie's character potential

she’s got a wealth of unexplored lore, being deeply intertwined with both Karnaca & Dunwall’s fates & criminal underbellies, as well as her connections to the witches & whalers, and three Empresses.

she’s lived a few distinct lifetimes and in the games we get to meet her at two peaks (KoD & DotO) & a low (Dh2 as Meagan).

her voice is very distinct, her dry & often dark humour is entertaining & fun to write. her perspective is really interesting - she’s had the widest variety of void-powers of anyone canonically, and she’s also lived through the highest highs and lowest lows.

she's got everything going for her :) i couldn't really pick a fav thing!

#i assume my followers are cool enough to let me give a brief measured critique on fandom trends and DotO #thanks for the anon question!! what fun!#i love billie lurk <333 #jumped on the opportunity to rant n rave #what part of billie isn't my fav! (im a guy who likes the bad stuff too. mmm interesting meta)#trying to be not unfair or mean- i'm not targeting anyone but rather trends. and it's ok to be disappointed with something you love #fuck it. make it part of the appeal! her writing sucks! plenty of room for me & other creators!#its easier for me to indulge my billie brainworms when it sorta feels like she's not getting as much love as she deserves #you know? i want stories where her history is explored and her agency is important so i guess i'll roll up my sleeves #tumblr is a terrible place for this sort of critique IMO- lots of nuanceless empathy-free guilt-trip-ish rhetoric #so i hope i avoided that. but not so much that i seem forgiving.#that said i'm not tagging this one with fandom tags! no thank you.#i am blaming arkane yes. but that is also not without games industry context #i could complain about amateurish writing but that also never happens in a vacuum. industry problem(s) for sure.#people love to blame writers for things #and yeah a couple really fucking good writers can push a boulder uphill #but its usually a company problem #hire lots of diverse people in your company. give them authority and respect and reasonable workloads. and no crunch.#ah fuck this is a separate essay in tags. again #THIS WAS A SIMPLE QUESTION #*clutches head in hands*#uh if you're still reading at this point im SO sorry and thank you and i love you

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fabuloustrash05 · 1 year

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How do you think Mona’s relationship is with Raph’s family + Casey and April?

She really only interacted with Raph from what I remember and that’s a crime, she deserved more from the writers. Splinter showing her embarrassing baby photos of Raphael is everything to me💅

Yes! I've been wanting to talk about this! I really wish the show had Mona interact with more characters. The only people she truly has a dynamic/relationship with is Raph, Sal Commander and maybe Lord Dregg (but very little). Wasted potential for her character, so I'm gonna fix that! Here we go!

Leo & Mona Lisa

Leo took the longest for him and Mona to really form a bond/friendship. Leo tends to have a hard time trusting people Raph's close with (Slash & Casey) and even longer to warm up to them. Leo was grateful for Mona, she has helped him and his brothers numerous times, they both respect each other as skilled fighters and have a mutual respect towards each other, but that was it for the longest time. It wasn't until one night when Mona came to the lair to visit Raph she ran into Leo instead. He tells her Raph is out and won't be back till later so Mona decides to stay at the lair and wait. Leo is about to watch a 24 hour Spaceheroes marathon, and not wanting to leave Mona bored and alone, he offers for her to join him and watch his favorite show. Few hours later, Raph comes home to find his brother and girlfriend sitting together wearing Spaceheroes merch, sitting inches away from the TV, watching in a amazement as they fanboy/girl over Captain Ryan. Raph realizes in horror that Leo has turned his girlfriend into a Space-Nick. The two now are really close and 80% of the things they talk about together are Spaceheroes and other sci-fi shows Leo has gotten her into, and other times they spar together and share sword fighting tips and tricks.

Donnie & Mona Lisa

Similar to Leo, Donnie took a while to really bond with Mona, but he and Mona were more quick to find something in common. She's more than just her strength, she's intelligent and handy too. There have been times Mona had to work on/repair many Salamandrian ships by herself when they were down and her and her commander were off planet. Donnie also really enjoys talking to Mona about intergalactic sciences, and Mona often shows and lets him borrow her old tech and gear for him to study and analyze, helping him improve his work and knowledge of many scientific fields. Out of all the brothers, Mona and Donnie have the most mature relationship/dynamic, if that makes sense. Sometimes they like to share a cup of coffee and catch up and chat about the latest stuff going on in their lives. I also like to think in the future Donnie is Mona's go to for medical treatment/her baby doctor when her and Raph start having a family. He also becomes their kid's personal tutor.

Mikey & Mona Lisa

Mikey is quick to befriend anyone he meets, so of course he and Mona quickly form a friendship. Mona, just like many others, adores Mikey and he feels the same. Mikey reminds Mona of all the Salamandrian children back on her home planet and she admires how positive and carefree he can be despite all the challenges he has faced in his life. Mona also really loves Mikey's cooking (I HC that Salamandrian appetites are similar to Saiyans from Dragon Ball Z,) and she will eat almost anything he makes, and Mikey wants to introduce her to all Earth's food, especially pizza. I imagine one day Mikey finds out Mona is unaffected by spicy foods (another HC of mine) so he just decides to make as many spicy foods as he can to see if he'll get any reaction out of her. Spoilers: he didn't. Mikey also likes how happy Mona makes his brother, cause out of everyone Mikey knows how grumpy Raph used to be before Mona entered his life. Now, whenever Raph is angry or Mikey wants his big bro to do something for him, Mikey just pulls the "Mona-Card". Mikey is also a big time RaMona shipper and always likes to mess with Raph when it comes to Mona, whether that's embarrassing him by telling Mona stories about Raph from past missions/their childhood or telling her about "the bug incident".

April & Mona Lisa

These two would be BFFs and you can't change my mind on this!! Think about it: April's first real best friend turned out to be a lie, being only a Kraang bot used to get to her and the Turtles. For Mona, she grew up in the military (my HC), there's no time for silly childish games and making friends, only war. April would start trying to form a friendship with Mona by using the "we're both aliens" conversation starter, which Mona thought was a sweet gesture of trying to make her feel more at home when she first started living on Earth. Eventually Mona began to ask April for dating advice and help her get ready for dates with Raph. Because of this, the two form a strong bond and become basically like sisters. Always chatting, hanging out, sometimes even training together. Two become emotional support for each other and help each other grow and improve in their fighting and skills. April is the spunky upbeat friend, while Mona is the blunt badass ("Someone will die" "Of fun!"). Also, April always tries to get a piggyback ride from Mona, because she's tall and April is small. It's cute.

Casey & Mona Lisa

This one was kinda tricky, but I imagine Casey and Mona's dynamic would be something similar to Joey and Monica from Friends. The best friend and the girlfriend team up to annoy the shit out of the boyfriend and mess with him over little things he does. April is the good influence on Mona, while Casey is the bad influence. Casey is probably the one who taught/convinced Mona to curse and is most likely the one to make the dirty jokes when he sees Raph and Mona together. He's a wingman at heart, gotta help his bro. Also, out of everyone, Casey is the only one not disturbed when Mona talks about her traumatizing violent and bloody war stories. Casey thinks they are "so metal!!"

#asavvyzavvy #asks #answered #fabtrash headcanons #tmnt headcanons #tmnt 2012 #tmnt #teenage mutant ninja turtles #tmnt mona lisa #tmnt leonardo #tmnt donatello #tmnt michelangelo #april o'neil #casey jones #tmnt raphael #tmnt ramona

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shoreleavezine · 1 year

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o7 Ahoy there! Preorders for Shore Leave, a One Piece Marines zine featuring your favorite sailors on their days off, are OPEN!

March 17th - April 14th!

shoreleavezine.bigcartel.com

CHORE BOY - DIGITAL BUNDLE: $10 - One digital PDF of the zine - All of the Ask-A-Marine doodles as seen on social media, plus extra written answers previously unshared!

ENSIGN - ZINE ONLY BUNDLE: $20 - One physical copy of the zine - All digital bundle contents

CAPTAIN - FLAT MERCH BUNDLE: $35 - One physical copy of the zine - Three prints - One sticker sheet - All digital bundle contents

ADMIRAL - FULL BUNDLE: $50 - One physical copy of the zine - Two double-sided charms - 5 buttons - Three prints - One sticker sheet - All digital bundle contents

PLEASE NOTE: Due to international regulations, we are unable to ship to Russia and Ukraine at this time. However, buyers from these countries may still purchase a digital bundle if interested! We apologize for the inconvenience.

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depressedhatakekakashi · 1 year

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A scifi AU where the Akatsuki are space pirates, Obito is their leader and there's some KisaObi 👀

Note: Did this take forever? Yes. I apologize. I have finally got a good working space I enjoy and can feel creative at <3

Space Pirates Au Words: 2098

Roles

Obito: Pirate Captain

Kisame: Quartermaster

Konan: Boatswain

Nagato: Navigator

Kakuzu: Officer

Hidan: Officer

Diedra: Officer/Gunner

Sasori: Officer/Carpenter

Kakashi: Ship Captain

Gai: Kakashi’s Quartermaster

Rin: Doctor (Kakashi’s Ship)

Shizune: Doctor (Doesn’t travel with anyone but will often supply Obito’s ship with medical supplies and take care of any injuries they may have when they’re in her space station)

Obito used to be a member of the Space expedition run on Earth. He went to the academy, took all of the classes, and even graduated alongside Rin, Gai, Shizune, and some of their other classmates.

Growing up, Obito always dreamed of becoming a great Captain. Leading his own ship to victories and earning a name for himself. In a way he has achieved that dream, just not in the exact method he had originally planned.

His first placement was on the Ship named Kannabi, under the leadership of Namikaze Minato. Rin, Obito, and Kakashi were all Minato’s subordinates, learning directly from him how to care for their ship and do their job.

During what was supposed to be a routine supply run, the Kannabi fell into a fight against an enemy ship that resulted in Kakashi, Obito, and Rin boarding the other ship in an attempt to Sabotage it. The three of them were successful in Sabotaging the ship, but during their escape, one of the enemy crewmates managed to get hold of Rin

Kakashi was ready to make an escape, but Obito refused to leave their friend so the two of them stood and fought.

During the struggle Kakashi took a hit for Obito, losing his left eye in the process.

Once the two had freed Rin from the enemy's clutches they continued to make their escape, but in the process of fighting the destination switch had been flipped and the bomb they’d placed went off prematurely. Obito saw the ground under Kakashi beginning to cave and in a moment’s act he grabbed hold of Kakashi and hurled him towards their ship (Rin had already made it over) before falling through the breaking floor.

Obito had assumed himself as good as dead. The ship was destroyed, the enemy defeated, and no one to go in to rescue him from the wreckage.

Somehow, though, he survived. A shield came up around the ship to keep oxygen in, and although injured and hurting Obito was able to get himself up (after waking) and search for an escape pod.

There was one left undamaged, so he crawled in and waited to see where it would take him, as he didn’t have the passwords necessary to change the destination.

The planet he ends up on is empty. Devoid of any life as far as he can tell. He’s not even sure why the escape pod brought him here, but it’s better than dying a slow death on a deteriorating spaceship.

Obito lived on that planet alone for three years. Fending for himself, hiding from the local animals that seemed determined to eat him, and living inside of a cave. It wasn’t the most glamorous life, but Obito was just happy to still be alive. To still have a chance.

Near the end of those three years, Obito was surprised to wake up one morning and find a spaceship sitting not too far outside. There were two workers outside of the ship grumbling about needing to refuel. Seeing his opportunity, Obito snuck his way into the ship and located a cozy corner to hide in.

Somehow (he’s still not sure exactly how) Obito goes undetected for the entire ride and is able to safely sneak off of the ship when they land on another planet. Unsure of where exactly he is, he decides to explore.

Exploring of course involves stealing some necessities along the way, as this kid has not had access to good food and items for far too long.

This is where Obito meets Madara. While trying to escape from someone who caught him stealing merchandise, he runs face-first into Madara’s back. With only a few seconds to decide what to do with this random brat who has just collided with him, Madara chooses to save him. Something he usually wouldn’t do.

It only takes Obito maybe ten minutes to figure out that Madara isn’t part of the Space expedition or even your standard merchant/traveler. Madara is a pirate who’s on the planet trying to get some supplies while not dealing with the authorities.

At first, Obito sticks his nose up at the thought of piracy. He has always dreamed of being part of the Space Explorers program and was so close to achieving that dream when everything went wrong. Pirates are the type of people who make their job even harder. He has nowhere else to go through, and Madara did save him from being picked up by the authorities for stealing, so he decides to tag along for a little while. At least until he can find his friends and rejoin them.

This ends up being the best decision of his life.

Through Madara, Obito meets all sorts of friends. Some are older than him (Zetusu, Negato, Yahiko, Konan, Kakazu), some are his age (Kisame), and some join their ship later down the line (Deidara, Itachi, Hidan)

Being a pirate is more freeing than Obito ever imagined. He spends his day helping on the ship, telling stories, attacking other ships, and stealing plunder where he can. It’s all so thrilling.

There’s a part of him that does long to find his friends again, but over time he adopts the idea that if he does find them he can always fix the friendship and make amends. Somewhere in the back of his mind, he thinks that maybe they might join him. He has done their job and lived the pirate's life now, and the pirate's life is a lot more fun.

When Madara decides to step down as Captain a few years later, Obito is his choice of successor. Every day Obito had been learning about navigation, leadership, and the skills necessary to be a pirate, but he’d never thought he would become a Captain so quickly.

With a ship with a loyal crew and a whole world to explore, Obito doesn’t waste a second. Their first destination is a little space station where they can restock supplies and gather intel about any ships that might be vulnerable to attack.

Kisame is Obito’s second in command, and soon after he became Captain Yahiko, Konan and Nagato decided to branch off with their own ship (though they often join in fights to help Obito if they’re around and then they split the treasure)

At the space station, Obito meets a new friend for life. Shizune. An up-and-coming doctor who doesn’t shy away from him when she realizes that he’s a pirate, but instead goes out of her way to secure products she knows his ship could use (particularly healthy foods that are often hard to come by for any ship, but exceptionally hard for pirate ships since only select few people will trade with them)

Shizune is also the only doctor Obito meets in his life that will happily take care of any injury he or his crew sustain and never holds judgment over them for the stuff they do (or at least never vocalizes any judgment).

Because of Shizune’s kindness and downright loyalty, Obito becomes very protective of her and has on more than one occasion threatened (or actually done it) to murder someone for harming her in any way (Emotionally or physically)

Shizune is also the only doctor that Obito knows who’s willing to supply him with medication free of charge for his chronic pain. She understands that he’s suffering a lot from his previous injuries and just wants to help him feel a little at least even if she gets nothing in return for her help.

At the same time as Obito became Captain of his Pirate ship, Hatake Kakashi was named Captain of his own ship with Maito Gai as his second in command, Rin as his onboard doctor, and a well-rounded loyal crew.

Kakashi’s ship quickly earns a reputation for facing off against pirates with unwavering courage. Kakashi is a tactical genius who often uses his skills to take enemy ships by surprise. With his leadership and a strong crew, they manage to take down multiple pirate ships within a short span of time.

None of this worries Obito, though. In fact, when he gets word of the ship at first he scuffs. Then he finds out who the Captain is and he can’t help but smile a little.

Obito’s dream is no longer to rejoin Kakashi and Rin or to try to convince them to join him. He has realized at this point that all of them have made their choice and they’re unlikely to allow anyone to influence them into changing sides.

Obito’s right hand is Kisame, who takes special pleasure in relieving any ship they’re passing by of their fish. Man has his own room on the ship and it’s full of fish. All sorts of fish.

Kisame is not only Obito’s right-hand man but also his partner in crime and life. Those fish Kisame steals have seen these two going at it in Kisame’s room, completely naked and making a whole scene. Thankfully fish don’t remember things for a long time or they would be scared.

The crew of Obito’s ship is top-tier people who have been gathered from all sorts of places. Some are more respectable members of society who decided to cut ties with the lives they had (Itachi). Some joined because they hated the system they were working under and wanted freedom (Sasori and Kisame) and others simply joined because they care more about plunder or chaos than they do about anything society expected of them (Kakuzu, Diedara, Hidan)

Obito’s main targets are commercial ships. He prefers to frequent the space around Uranus as a lot of ships use the space station nearby for a quick rest stop, but he never hangs around too long because there are always guaranteed to be Space Expedition ships coming around. Although he’s confident he’d be able to handle most ships, he’d rather keep out of battle when he can and simply prefers to target easy ships that will just give up as soon as they see his ship headed their way.

Obito also has a preference for pretty orange things. His crew is allowed to have any plunder that they want, but if it’s Orange it’s probably Obito’s (Kisame prefers blue things and fish so there’s not much argument between them).

As a Captain, Obito is pretty lax but also skilled. He may not have been known as a genius growing up but he has learned a lot from Madara and life and become one of the best-known Pirates without anyone knowing who he really is. Whenever he boards a ship or sees an enemy in person he makes sure to wear a long cloak and an orange swirl mask to cover his face.

If Kisame is going onto a ship to plunder, he’s almost always taking Itachi with him. Obito’s not all that fond of Itachi, but the man is smart as heck and always seems to have a plan for how to get on and off the ship as quickly as possible so that they can leave before aid comes.

Obito is also the cause of his old teacher (Minato) meeting his untimely end. When he had only just taken over as the captain of his ship, long before he had his crew, the two ran into each other while Obito was plundering from some commercial ships. Obito knew he was outgunned so he decided to make a run for it, but on the way, he made a play that upset a passing pirate ship and managed to convince the captain that it was actually Minato’s fault. In a fit of rage, the other Captain went after Minato.

Both ships were destroyed in that fight, and while Obito knows he should feel bad for being the reason his old teacher died, he finds he doesn’t. Partially because he feels like Minato never really tried to save/search for him, and partially because he stopped being loyal to the space explorers. He has found his own route in life and he enjoys it a lot more than he ever did training under Minato.

#1500 followers event #Taryn writes #Uchiha Obito #kisame hoshigaki #Space Pirates AU

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starlene · 7 months

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Titanic: the Artifact Exhibition thoughts:

Let me start by saying that I have some... let's say, ethical qualms about the whole artifact exhibition thing. Obviously, they're not severe enough to prevent me from seeing the touring exhibition (and to be clear, I have seen different iterations of it in four different countries now.) But even so – I just don't think it's super cool that these historical artifacts are owned by a company who thinks Las Vegas is a proper permanent home for them. There is something very sideshow-esque about the whole thing. While it's cool that some of the artifacts tour the world for many people to see, if I got to decide, their permanent home would be in a well-established museum in a location that figures in the story of the RMS Titanic somehow. But I don't get to decide that, so whatever, I guess!

Mostly, the exhibition is both respectful and informative, but there are some little problems. The most notable one is that they haven't updated all their info plaques and their audio guide, so there are issues like two plaques right next to each other having contradictory info (say, how much the tickets cost in today's money.)

I also don't think it's, hmm, super great how you walk by the names of everybody that died – straight into a souvenir shop stand of teddy bears dressed as captains. I mean, sure, they need to make their money somehow, and I did buy a bunch of postcards and stuff myself... but apart from a handful of replica newspapers, cups and such, the shop really has the most tasteless selection of Titanic merch known to man. The only things missing are the "Titanic Swim Team 1912" shirts and the ice cube trays.

To make it clear: I'm not saying you're a horrible person if you wear a Titanic Swim Team tee or whatever (tbh, I would buy a Vasa Swim Team 1628 one in a heartbeat myself) – these days, the sinking of the Titanic is a part of popular culture just as much as it's a historical event, so it's just natural there are joke-y products around. I just think the contrast of a memorial wall for the actual victims and the captain teddies is rather gruesome.

Also, speaking of Titanic in popular culture and the public consciousness, I don't think it's super great how the exhibition strengthens certain Titanic myths that don't really have much truth to them, or are less black-and-white than the usual story goes.

They make a big deal of the Titanic (and the Titanic alone) being "unsinkable", to the point of lifting Captain Smith's "modern shipbuilding" quote¹ out of context, which of course makes guests assume he said that about the Titanic specifically. They also claim Captain Smith was about to retire after the Titanic's maiden voyage, though there isn't really any evidence to prove that. And of course, they keep mentioning how the Titanic was the largest ship ever built – which is technically true, sure, but I think it's worth mentioning that in practice, she and the Olympic were twin sisters.

I even spotted a new piece of nonsense in the exhibition that I've never heard before: they claim that Thomas Andrews was not supposed to be on the maiden voyage at all, but he had to travel in place of Lord Pirrie when he fell ill. I believe Thomas Andrews was always meant to lead the guarantee group, like he had done on previous maiden voyages, and I have never heard anything to the contrary before. But what do I know?

Props to the exhibition for not demonising J. Bruce Ismay, though! On the contrary, they mention he helped passengers board the lifeboats before leaving on the last lifeboat to be properly launched.

Anyway!! I think I have been negative enough here. I may have a lot of nitpicks, but even so, as a whole, I think the exhibition is a good introduction to the story of the Titanic, and it's interesting and touching to nerds like me, too. I like the interactive parts such as the changing soundscapes. I feel the sound design has gotten better since the last time I saw the exhibition, I especially enjoyed the soundscape near the 3rd class cabin reproduction that demostrated how you could hear the engines all the time in those cabins. The touch the iceberg thing is good and very sobering too, it really helps you to understand how hypothermia was only a matter of minutes on a night as cold as April 15th, 1912.

And of course, there are the artifacts themselves! I assume they keep most of the flashier ones in Vegas, but there were some good ones. My favourite was a golden chain with three lucky charms: a clover, a star, and a lucky pig. The lucky pig obviously didn't make it, but I do wish its owner did. I also liked the Extra Moist Cherry Toothpaste jar just because that sounds so silly. There were reproductions of that in the souvenir shop, but I couldn't justify buying one – maybe I would have if it came with some of that moist paste, but nope!

ETA: Something I found interesting was that pretty much every single artifact that was a part of the ship's decor, from dishes to lamp holders, was stamped with the White Star Line logo, even the fancy first class tableware. Was that all about boosting their brand recognition, or were they that worried about things being stolen? Or did they want to show off that everything was custom-made just for them, no off-the-shelf items from any generic manufacturer? Maybe it was a little bit of each?

I also think it's interesting to think about the weird journey the artifacts have made. Someone put them in their luggage to cross the Atlantic, they sunk along with the ship and spent about 80 years in the darkness... and then someone else came along with an underwater robot that has little hands and picked them up. The people who originally owned them could never have imagined the journey their everyday items would go on – or, if they briefly saw a vision of their trousers ending up in a glass case in a Swedish mall with some Finnish nerd staring at them, they probably thought they're just about to lose their mind.

All in all, Titanic: the Artifact Exhibition in Täby, Sweden, was a thought-provoking experience for me in many ways. I'm glad I got the chance to go.

¹ "I cannot imagine any condition which would cause a ship to founder. I cannot conceive of any vital disaster happening to this vessel. Modern shipbuilding has gone beyond that." (Said by Smith after the RMS Adriatic's maiden voyage in 1907)

#this is very stream-of-consciousness-ish but I needed to get these thoughts out of my head #RMS Titanic #Titanic #Titanic: the Artifact Exhibition

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nek-ros · 2 years

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oc explanation post, so my oc posts sound less confusing adlfkgjdsl

will be added to the pinned post

alix:

he/she/they

barotrauma/ror2/sunless sea oc who became his own thing lol

aquatic shapeshifter demigod, child of a human and “some unknown divine monstrosity”

born in 2072

psychic

captain of the MOREIA submarine, leads a crew on expeditions in the alien seas of the icy moon of jupiter, europa

unspeakably powerful and a creature who likes creaching

eats people

at some point ascends to godhood (upper image)

rhonda:

she/her

alix’s most loyal companion

medical officer on the MOREIA submarine

mostly sticks around bc she wants to study alix and use him for world domination or smth

kinda deadpan most of the time but desires Love

vasilis:

they/she

engineer on the moreia

not very different from alix. silly and goofy

very interested in alien artifacts

likes to Know Things

very good friends with michel

michel:

he/they

mechanic on the moreia

quiet guy who never reveals his face

likes welding and burning stuff

hiding old scars under mask

very good friends with vasilis

val vidus:

she/they

warframe oc

passenger on the ZARIMAN ship. the void-jump incident split her into two beings. one being the operator and the other being the drifter

operator val goes on to become a horrifying infested flesh-abomination

drifter val fights for the corpus to fund her mad science projects

horny

murmur

he/they

val’s loyal companion and assigned warframe

former orokin era warrior who was used as an experiment for the warframe project

extremely narcissistic. loves to make merch of himself and sell it to the corpus

also loves to eat people

sanctus

he/she/they

god of the nothingness and holes

formerly a wizard who ascended to some other plane of reality

self insert lol

interacts with all of the ocs

omnipotent and enjoys messing with people

body is infinite and made out of sentient black slime

object of worship in many cults throughout many universes

pyrus

he/him

one of sanctus’s angels

sanctus’s former bodyguard when they were humans once

was cursed in life and later killed gruesomely, before joining sanctus in eternity

loves sanctus more than anything

doesnt talk much

would love for his eldritch god bf to sweep him up and kissie him. maybe even do all the thinking for him,

ozbald boneheart:

he/him

bugsnax oc

bad journalist and expert bugcatcher

has unbreakable determination

frowns constantly (his default expression and he does this no matter what)

friends with everyone in snaxburg

leandre:

he/they

cookie run oc

unfortunately i dont have a lot of lore on him besides that he’s a king, a were-hound, and he also creaches

#marceedraws #ocs

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ragnvinedr · 2 months

Text

march comms.

hey y'all, I'd love to get diluc involved in some of these commissions this month, so I've written out a few thoughts for ones I think he can get involved in. please let me know if any of this jumps out at you with a reply to this post and I'll message you on here or on discord to plot! I'd like to try to take on two to three new interactions.

MONDSTADT: hey! hey, did you know? diluc was a cavalry captain once upon a time? hmm?? did yoU KNOW, DILUC IS GOOD WITH ANIMALS, NOT JUST BIRDS BUT HORSES TOO, and lmao i mean springvale is basically his backyard. totally happy to hop on this one with as many people as needed lmfaO LIYUE: god he's trying SO hard to get the hell home already after hanging out for lantern rite but.... unexploded ordinance sounds pretty dangerous. probably shouldn't be just anyone who deals with those ( do you need a guy with a big flaming claymore? ) OPEN REGION: do you know how much dawn winery merch goes through the harbors? mmmm...... sinking ships in dornman port, or any other harbor for that matter, is probably worth looking into soon. OTHER IDEAS? if you think diluc might fit into the other regions' comms in ways I haven't thought of, please hit me up and we can talk about it!

#letters ( ooc. ) 🔥

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xhibitur · 8 months

Text

The Intriguing Dance of Content Sharing and Freelancing 💼📣

Introduction

🌐 Welcome to the digital realm, where creativity knows no bounds and opportunities are as diverse as the content that fills our screens. Let's embark on a journey into the intriguing interplay of two seemingly separate worlds: Content Sharing and Freelancing. 🚀

Exploring Content Sharing

📝 Content sharing, my friends, is the art of spreading digital goodness across the vast expanse of the internet. Think articles, videos, images—anything that captures attention and sparks conversations. This is where content creators shine, crafting captivating material that resonates with their chosen tribe.

Unraveling Freelancing

💼 Now, let's shift gears to freelancing. Imagine a realm where your skills, your talents, your sheer awesomeness, get put to work. Freelancing is about offering those skills—be it writing, design, coding, or anything else—to clients on a project basis. You're the captain of your ship, navigating your own journey.

Finding Common Ground

🤝 As we navigate this digital playground, we find some intriguing overlaps:

Skill Showdown: Both content creators and freelancers are masters of their domains, wielding unique skills to create and conquer. Freelancers might dazzle with coding prowess, while content creators conjure words that paint pictures.

Freedom Vibes: The autonomy factor is strong in both realms. Content creators curate and share on their terms, while freelancers pick projects that light their fire.

Greenbacks Galore: Ah, the moolah! Freelancers bag cash for their skills, while content creators cash in on ads, sponsorships, and merch sales.

The Journey to Content Sharing Freelancing

🚀🖋️ So, what if we told you that content sharing and freelancing aren't just pals; they can do a pretty epic fusion dance too?

Niche Maestros: Imagine content creators who've conquered a niche. They can morph into freelancers, their content acting as an alluring portfolio.

Super Skillset: Content creators often rock diverse skills—writing, design, video magic. These superpowers transition seamlessly into freelancing gigs.

Portfolio Power: Content sharing evolves into a living, breathing portfolio. Potential clients? They're impressed by this digital testament to your awesomeness.

Conclusion

🌈 So there you have it, folks: the captivating universe where content sharing and freelancing swirl together in a mesmerizing dance. While they each have their own rhythm, this fusion offers a unique path to success, happiness, and all the good stuff. Whether you're a content conjurer, a freelancer extraordinaire, or a delightful mix of both, this digital adventure promises thrills, opportunities, and a canvas as vast as your imagination. 🚀🎨

#content creation #content creator #earning money #share #content sharing #freelancing

0 notes

deanfriedman · 1 year

Video

youtube

'American Lullaby' is the title-track off Dean Friedman's new album, 'American Lullaby'.

'American Lullaby'

Words & Music by Dean Friedman

Don’t you fret now. Don’t you cry. It’s an American Lullaby.

Manifest Destiny’s a lie. It’s an American Lullaby.

Half Moon sailing through the night. Crack of a musket fired, first light.

Always keep your powder dry. It’s an American Lullaby.

Rest your head, in dreams you’ll fly. It’s an American Lullaby.

Blaze a trail across the sky. It’s an American Lullaby.

A drinking gourd will point the way. Stealth by night and sleep by day.

On Peg Leg Joe you can rely. It’s an American Lullaby.

Unclench your fist and dry your eye. It’s an American Lullaby.

Judgement’s served from up on high. It’s an American Lullaby.

One fine night in Paradise, The god of thunder rolls the dice.

A thousand rounds light up the sky. It’s an American Lullaby

In restless dreams we shall defy, While TV pundits prophesy.

Our best laid plans have gone awry. It’s an American Lullaby.

He said, “I cannot tell a lie. Cross my heart and hope to die.”

He still won’t look you in the eye. It’s an American Lullaby.

Close your eyes, now, sleep is nigh. It’s an American Lullaby.

Cross the shallows, do or die. It’s an American Lullaby.

Headlights shining in the dark. Coyotes howl, the bloodhounds bark.

You can hear the angels sigh. It’s an American Lullaby.

Human kindness in short supply. It’s an American lullaby. ...................................................................................

About the Song: This is the title-track off of Dean Friedman's new album, 'American Lullaby'. Like all lullabies, it’s filled with tales of dark deeds and disaster, but couched in soft, gentle tones, meant to soothe and comfort the listener, while gently bracing them for potential terrors that await.

It would be impossible to reflect on America’s current state of turmoil and disarray without acknowledging some of its origins, including our original sins - indigenous genocide and slavery – along with our uniquely enduring addiction to guns.

‘Half Moon’ is the name of a Dutch sailing ship, captained by Hendrick Hudson which, on a September morning in 1609, seeking the legendary Northwest Passage, sailed into the mouth of what’s now called the Hudson River; originally called Mahicantuck – the river that flows two ways - by the indigenous Lenape inhabitants.

The ‘Drinking Gourd’ refers to the ‘Big Dipper’ constellation, a celestial signpost relied on by escaped slaves as a directional guide on their perilous journey north to freedom. ‘Peg Leg Joe’ is a semi-mythical figure said to provide assistance along the way.

Paradise is the name of an area adjacent to Las Vegas, site of the deadliest mass shooting in modern American history.

We didn’t get here overnight.

The entire album, ‘American Lullaby’, of which this is the title-track, touches on a broad range of topics, including: the calamitous pandemic, looming environmental disaster, racism, sexism, and an intractable culture war… all exacerbated by our inane and disastrous politics. All these things really happened – and continue to happen. But, hey! I promise – the album is not all gloom and doom; it’s filled with optimism and faith – not in any god, but in our humanity. I’m insistent on hope, laughter and joy. Our shared emotional trauma is palpable and requires tending to, so some serous silliness is called for. And for those of us lucky enough to have survived the recent cataclysms, it seems to me it’s incumbent upon us, to not just work to heal our wounded world but, to seize every chance we get to celebrate wonder… and propagate joy. - Dean Friedman

.....................................................................

You can order the full album, 'American Lullaby', on CD, USB card, and digital download, direct from the Artists website: http://www.DeanFriedman.com where you'll also find most of Dean's studio albums, 12" vinyl LP's, books and miscellaneous merch. And you're invited to join Dean's email list by sending an email (plus a message, if you like) to: [email protected] And stay in touch via all these websites:

http://www.deanfriedman.com http://www.youtube.com/deanfriedman https://twitter.com/deanfriedman http://www.deanfriedman.bandcamp.com http://www.facebook.com/deanfriedmanm... http://www.soundcloud.com/deanfriedma... http://www.instagram.com/dean.friedman https://www.tiktok.com/@dean.friedman copyright (c) 2021 Dean Friedman Music

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celtfather · 2 years

Text

Folk Yeah! #557

Folk Yeah! There’s a lot of great folk music on the Irish & Celtic Music Podcast.

Poitin Band, Matt & Shannon Heaton, Preab Meadar, Plaid Menagerie, Liesel Wilson, Telenn Tri, Karen Matheson, The Fretless, Three Weird Sisters, Gaelynn Lea, Colleen Raney, Willowgreen, Jeremy Spencer, Jesse Ferguson, The Jeremiahs, Joe Travers/Adam Alexander

I hope you enjoyed this week's show. If you Heard music you loved, share the episode and tag the artist on social. Include the show time so they can quickly listen and enjoy.

The Irish & Celtic Music Podcast is here to build our diverse Celtic community and help the incredible artists who so generously share their music with you.

Musicians rely on your support so they can keep creating new music. If music in this show inspired you, you can buy their CDs, digital downloads, shirts, album pins, and other merch. You can follow them on streaming and see their shows. More and more Celtic musicians are on Patreon, just like this podcast. And of course, I always appreciate it when you drop artists an email to let them know you heard them on the Irish and Celtic Music Podcast.

GET CELTIC MUSIC NEWS IN YOUR INBOX The Irish & Celtic Music Magazine is a quick and easy way to plug yourself into more great Celtic culture. Subscribe and get 34 Celtic MP3s for Free.

VOTE IN THE CELTIC TOP 20 FOR 2022

This is our way of finding the best songs and artists each year. You can vote for as many songs and tunes that inspire you in each episode. Your vote helps me create next year's Best Celtic music of 2022 episode. Vote Now!

THIS WEEK IN CELTIC MUSIC

0:09 - Poitin Band "Boatsmen/Firemen's Reel" from Banks of Red River

4:10 - WELCOME

5:04 - Matt & Shannon Heaton "Mountain Rambler" from Lovers' Well

7:24 - Preab Meadar "Captain Rock" from Preabmeadar

10:39 - Plaid Menagerie "Captain Horne/In and Out the Harbor/Dinky Dorian's" from Plaid Menagerie

14:08 - Liesel Wilson "Sheain Bhain" from The Path

16:03 - FEEDBACK

19:36 - Telenn Tri "Cup of Tea / Ships are Sailing" from Macquarie Street

24:45 - Karen Matheson "Orphan Girl" from Still Time

29:40 - The Fretless "Holton Alan Moore’s" from Live from the Art Farm

33:23 - Three Weird Sisters "Pole Star" from Hair of the Frog

37:38 - Gaelynn Lea "Swinging On a Gate" from All the Roads That Lead Us Home

40:56 - Colleen Raney "Stand Up for Love" from Here This Is Home

44:32 - THANKS

46:45 - The Gatehouse Well “Madness Never Leaves” from Undone

51:06 - Jeremy Spencer "Jigs: The Solstice / The Crow's Caw" from The Lion's Head

54:22 - Jesse Ferguson "Peter Street" from Sailor Songs

57:13 - The Jeremiahs "Plough and Stars" from The Femme Fatale of Maine

1:01:00 - CLOSING

1:02:12 - Joe Travers/Adam Alexander "Weeping Moon" from The Perfect Pint

The Irish & Celtic Music Podcast was edited by Mitchell Petersen with Graphics by Miranda Nelson Designs. The show was produced by Marc Gunn, The Celtfather. Subscribe through your favorite podcatcher or on our website where you can become a Patron of the Podcast for as little as $1 per episode. Promote Celtic culture through music at http://celticmusicpodcast.com/.

WELCOME CELTOPHILE TO CELTIC MUSIC

* Helping you celebrate Celtic culture through music. I am Marc Gunn. I’m a musician and podcaster. I want to introduce you to some amazing Celtic bands and musicians.

The artists in this show need your support, which you can do by buying their music. You can find a link to all of the artists, show times and chapters for each song when you visit our website at celticmusicpodcast.com. You can also support this podcast on Patreon.

WHAT’S NEW IN IRISH & CELTIC MUSIC: BEST OF 2022

Two weeks after the episode is launched, I compile the latest Celtic Top 20 votes to update a playlist on Spotify, Amazon Music, and YouTube. These are the results of your voting. You can help these artists out by following the playlists and adding tracks you love to your playlists. Subscribe to our newsletter to find out who was added this week.

Listen on Spotify, Amazon Music, and YouTube.

START PODCASTING

Podcasting is a fun way to share a message and spread ideas. I’ve hosted my podcasts with Libsyn since the start. It’s the best place to host your podcast. So why not share your love of Celtic music and culture.

Oh! And drop me an email if you’d like some hints on how to make a successful podcast.

BUY SELCOUTH BY MARC GUNN

My latest CD features Sci F’Irish music. That means it is original songs fusing pop culture themes with Irish drinking songs. There are some traditional music on the album. But mostly, it features songwriting by Marc Gunn with guests including: Screeched Inn, The Muckers, Jamie Haeuser, Sam Gillogly, Nathan Deese, and Mikey Mason.

Selcouth means, “when everything is strange and different, yet you find it marvelous anyway.”

The album is not completely Celtic and it’s not just science fiction and fantasy. It’s a fusion of the two. It’s heartfelt and a lot of fun.

It’s now on sale in my Bandcamp store. Check out Selcouth now.

THANK YOU PATRONS OF THE PODCAST!

Because of Your kind and generous support, this show comes out at least four times a month. Your generosity funds the creation, promotion and production of the show. It allows us to attract new listeners and to help our community grow.

As a patron, you hear episodes before regular listeners, vote in the Celtic Top 20, and a private feed to listen to the show. That’s for as little as $1 per episode.

For higher pledges, you can also get music - only episodes, free MP3s, and stand - alone Celtic Stories when you become a Song Henger.

A special thanks to our newest Patrons of the Podcast: Danna H and Samuel S

HERE IS YOUR THREE STEP PLAN TO SUPPORT THE PODCAST

Go to SongHenge.com. That takes you to our Patreon page.

Decide how much you want to pledge every week, $1, $5, $10. Make sure to cap how much you want to spend per month.

Keep listening to the Irish & Celtic Music Podcast to celebrate Celtic culture through music.

You can become a generous Patron of the Podcast on Patreon at SongHenge.com.

TRAVEL WITH CELTIC INVASION VACATIONS

Every year, I take a small group of Celtic music fans on the relaxing adventure of a lifetime. We don't see everything. Instead, we stay in one area. We get to know the region through its culture, history, and legends. You can join us with an auditory and visual adventure through podcasts and videos. Learn more about the invasion at http://celticinvasion.com/

#celticmusic #irishmusic #celticmusicpodcast

I WANT YOUR FEEDBACK

What are you doing today while listening to the podcast? You can send a written comment along with a picture of what you're doing while listening.

Email a voicemail message to [email protected]

Kerry Berry emailed: "Hi Marc, thanks for your latest update. Thank you for all you do for Celtic music.Just letting you know Highlander - Celtic Rock Band Australia have just released a new album called “Start The Fire” I believe it is able to be heard on both Spotify and also on Youtube."

Rey Glunt emailed: "Hey Marc!! Just want to let you know first of all that I love the show!! I walk our dog a lot and it’s about all I listen to on our strolls. My dads side of the family is predominantly Scottish and my moms side is all Irish so the Celtic blood runs deep in me. I love so much variety it’s hard to mail it down to five favorites but I’ll do my best and in no particular order. Cherish The Ladies, Across The Pond, The Pogues, The Cheiftains, and The Dubliners.

I also help a friend of mine with his entertainment company, Shenanigator Entertainment. It gives me a chance to be behind the scenes to promote Celtic music and help out at festivals and concerts."

Check out this episode!

#celtic #Irish #Scottish #music #Ireland #Scotland

0 notes

acidwidow · 2 years

Text

BITTERSWEET

a/n - This is my first avengers fic! I’m gonna make it into a mini(?) series, I wrote this in my notes at 3am lool, I hope you guys like it

Warnings - Angst, short haired bucky (yes it’s a warning bc that man is too fine)

Summary - After a bad breakup you’re forced to move in with your brother Steve at the avengers compound, will old relationships rekindle the fire in you that was once lost?

You cannot be happening. You had just woken up way too hungover and not at all prepared for the confrontation waiting for you downstairs. Drinking for 4 days in a row does a number on you and your mom was sick of watching you drown your sorrows and has finally found a way to ‘help you’.

“You can’t just ship me away because you don’t wanna deal with me anymore!”

“Y/N I cannot keep watching you destroy your life, you’re going to stay with your brother, it’ll be good for you. I know how you feel. It’s final.”

The salty taste of your tears on your lips make you somehow feel more nauseous than you already do. The partying, drinking, drugs, all of it is a way to cope with the man that broke your stupid heart in two.

He knew how much you loved him, he finally admitted he was with you purely because your brother was Captain America. Your high school sweetheart was a lie, are you meant to be frolicking through daisies?

“You have no idea how I feel right now, NO GOD DAMN IDEA! I’m not going, I’m an adult, and I’m not leaving.”

She sighs, exasperatedly running her hands across her face. You know this is coming from a place of love and worry on her behalf but right now all you feel is betrayal and anger running through your veins like fire.

A small brown envelope addressed to you is slid across the table, looking down you snatch it, turning away to storm out towards your car.

Head against the steering wheel, you wonder how you got to this point in your life exactly. How does one man manage to pull the wool over your eyes the way Ryan did, usually you can read people like a book.

“Stupid! Stupid idiot!” You scream and bang your fists against the wheel until your hands go numb. A feeling you’re well accustomed to these days.

You rip open the envelope, terrified for what could be awaiting you inside.

Y/N L/N

Flight NY-2287

From Boston Logan International Airport

To Manhattan Regional Airport

One way ticket

A dry chuckle left your lips, the salt hitting your tongue from the tears shed in the screaming match that had just occurred in your dining room. One way ticket?

“I can’t believe she’s getting rid of me.”

—————————————

Packing your bags proves to be slow and torturous, your mom standing in the door way, throwing suggestions towards you as you chuck a handful of underwear into the open luggage.

“You know, this is for your own good, you’ll be able to see Steve and James again. I know you miss them too, you need this.”

“It seems like you know what I need so there’s no point giving my opinion on this anymore, you’ve already made your decision mom.”

Out of the corner of her eye you see her hang her head. Shame maybe? No, she made her bed and she has to lie in it now. Maybe once you’re gone she’ll realise she made a mistake. Being around Steve will be just another reminder of your heart ache.

You close your eyes as the sound of her footsteps dissipate down the stairs.

You know you can’t blame him, or mom, but that doesn’t stop the rage surging through your body every time something reminds you of what’s happened.

The Captain America T-shirt staring at you as it sits on your bedroom floor. You bought it the day Steve’s merch came out officially. You bask in the memory of how proud you are of him for a moment before the memories of the last two months come rushing back to you and leave a fiery pit in the bottom of your stomach.

Trudging down the stairs, suitcase in one hand, your phone in the other and a bag clinging to your left shoulder that feels like a ton of bricks.

Your mom eyes you from the kitchen table. The same place you seem to be screaming at each other every morning. Closing her book she stands up and walks towards you, a small smile on her face before she opens her arms, signalling you to hug her.

You swallow your pride and wrap your arms around her, tears welling in your eyes for the second time this morning.

“I’m gonna miss you, try not to sass your brother too hard and give him a massive hug from me. I love you Y/N/N.” she mumbles into your hair. Pulling back and placing her hand softly onto your cheek, wiping a couple stray tears that managed to escape your eyes .

You nod curtly, adjusting your backpack and walking through the door towards your car. You feel her eyes lingering on you as you chuck your belongings into the trunk. The thoughts of ‘accidentally’ missing your plans are cut off by your phone buzzing in your back pocket.

Dumbass: see you soon dude

Dumbass: You’ll see us when you get off the plane, hope you appreciate the sign. It was a group effort

You roll your eyes at the message, imagining the Avengers with glitter and sharpies, making a cardboard sign to welcome you back into New York.

You: Better be great considering i’m being forced against my will to come

————————————

“Y/N Welcome back!” The sign reads, accompanied by swirls, bright colours and what seems like steve’s shield, alas badly drawn. Steve and Bucky stand with the sign above their heads, grinning from ear to ear when they spot you in the crowd of people clambering to get to their respective families.

Bucky takes a couple steps forward and flings his arms around you, picking you up in a bear hug for what seems to feel like a life time.

“Let me down you oath!!” You squeal, wiggling around in his super human grip until he finally lowers you to the ground.

“Good to see you too kid.”

You groan at the nickname. “Ugh don’t call me that, I’m an adult now Buck.”

He lets out a chuckle as Steve walks towards you and claps you on the back, the famous Steve Rogers smile still on his face as he takes your bags.

“I missed you Y/N/N”

“Oh and by the way, you’ll always be our little sister.”

The word ‘Our’ leaves a bitter taste on your tongue. Your childhood crush on Bucky never left, only simmered once he moved away, faded even more so into the background when you were infatuated with Ryan.

This is going to be a long trip.

#avengers x platonic reader #steve rogers #mcu #stucky #bucky barnes x reader #avengers #captain america #bucky x reader #bucky barnes #marvel #natasha romanoff #iron man #bucky fluff #bucky angst #bucky smut #bucky barnes fluff

161 notes · View notes

dregstrash · 2 years

Text

on this very day i officially enter mid 20s. and just for that here’s the start of a fic that i think about a lot, and hopefully will finish one day

aka: i only seem to post fics on my birthday

She was following him again. He could feel it like the smell of coming rain. The silence of her footsteps is as sure as the drop in pressure. The taste of lightning on his tongue was present just as he knew that her eyes followed him as he dodged through the regular partiers and revelers in the Barrel.

Kaz wanted nothing more than to tell her to do something else. Usually, he wouldn’t have minded Inej’s propensity to shadow him on his night business-- it just meant that there was at least someone watching his back, and just another set of ears listening for any snippet of conversation that could prove useful to them later. But tonight was different. He wished that he had assigned her to the Crow Club for the night despite the already full staff keeping the business running. He wished that he had her stakeout some merch’s mansion with Jesper to keep her busy.

He wished a lot of things, and even if he did just order his Wraith to turn around and go back to the Slat, he knew it was useless-- Inej was the one who told him about the ship that docked in Fifth Harbor, and she knew same as him, that where there was a storm there was usually trouble. And if she learned anything from being part of the Dregs, it was usually better to face problems head on--there’s a lower chance of getting stabbed in the back.

Kaz’s nostrils burned with salt just as he caught sight of the harbor. The wind carried the smell of rotting fish and unwashed bodies, and even that wasn’t enough distraction from the one flag that was blowing peacefully in the wind.

Inej materialized at his shoulder, and kept pace as he continued on his mission.

“How long has it been?” She whispered.

Two years. He thought bitterly.

“It doesn’t matter. I just want to know why he’s back.” Kaz muttered.

The dark wood of the ship--the Wandering Albatross-- gleamed against the full light of the moon, casting the entire vessel in an ethereal glow-- as if it needed any more embellishments.

“It looks like he made some additions.” Inej commented.

Kaz snorted, but just as he stepped on the gangplank, his attention snagged on a small detail.

“Is that a new shirt?”

The question must have caught her off guard, because a sort of choking noise came from the back of her throat before she said, “No. Don’t be ridiculous.”

Liar.

“Don’t lie to me, Inej.” He growled.

She crossed her arms, and lifted her chin up to him in defiance, “I’m not a liar. And even if it was, what’s it to you?”

It means you’re just one of them, Kaz thought. He flashed to the gaggle of his own Dregs talking over each other at the Slat, about the ship and her captain, and then giggling when he walked by. And his hand started to close into a fist. But what came out was, “Just thought you’d be more focused on buying back your freedom, instead of looking pretty for the captain.”

Her look turned murderous, and he forced himself to turn back towards the gangplank and climbed uninvited into the sleeping vessel. He didn’t think too much on the realization he had just unintentionally called Inej pretty. He hoped that maybe she would be too furious to really process what he said. He might have even taken it back if it wasn’t for the sword unceremoniously shoved in his face as soon as he took one step on the deck.

“Didn’t know you had a death wish, Brekker.” A low voice said. Kaz sighed and put both hands on his cane. The sword tip was right on the tip of his nose, but he looked at the woman holding the sword and simply shrugged.

“There’s a lot of things you don’t know about me, Makeba.”

There was a tense moment where neither party said anything, but eventually the sword lowered, and Makeba grinned. Her braids fell down over one shoulder, showing off the dark tattoo of a flight of birds displayed proudly against the rich brown color of her skin.

“I believe the last time we met, I thought I told you to keep him in line, girl.” Makeba’s attention turned to Inej.

“He doesn’t listen to anyone except his pride.” Inej sniffed.

The first mate of the Wandering Albatross only grinned wider at her response, and winked at Kaz, “Better keep that one close, Brekker. I suspect she’s saved your hide more times than you can count.”

You have no idea, Kaz thought.

“I’m assuming he’s down there.” Kaz said as he started to walk towards the stairs that led below deck.

Makeba nodded as she sheathed her sword, “He’s been waiting for you. Though, I’ll warn you not to break anything this time, if I have to hear him gripe again about how much it's going to replace his one of a kind blah, blah, blah I’m gonna run him through with his own sword.”

Kaz gave a small smile, “I’m surprised you’ve held out this long.”

Mischief danced in her dark eyes, as she gave him another wink, “He pays me too well for me to really complain. Have fun, Kazzie.”

The nickname grated against his ears, and he tried to hold his breath to keep him from retorting. He’s been known to be reckless, but even in the face of the former Novyi Zem merchant heiress, he knew when to shut his mouth.

He felt Inej by his side, and he tried to take another deep breath. This was just a business meeting. No more, no less. He’s done business meetings. He’s faced the worst of the Barrel-- he was the worst of the Barrel. He wasn’t going to be cowed by a pirate captain.

Even if it was his brother.

“Kazzie! I was wondering when you’d drop by.” His voice was light and jovial as always, and while Kaz had promised himself he would maintain a cool composure, it disappeared like the morning mist as he stepped into Jordie’s quarters with Inej following close behind.

His brother grew a beard. It was a light dusting of hair that accented his cheeks and drew more attention to the old scar that rested right on his cheekbone. His hair was long and parted to the side in roguish fashion. And even worse was the way his shirt was left carelessly unbuttoned to reveal the expanse of his torso.

Prick.

“And you brought the lovely Inej with you, how delightful.” His smile turned towards her, and it took all of Kaz’s effort to not turn to her and read her reaction.

“What are you doing in my harbor, Jordie?”

Jordie raised an eyebrow as he got up from his seat, all the while his smile never leaving his face. “No hello for a brother you haven’t seen in a while? No ‘where’s my present’ or ‘how have you been’?”

“What. Are. You. Doing. Here.” Kaz repeated. Slower this time. Careful to keep the mask of indifference settled on his face.

But Kaz wasn’t the only Rietveld in the room who could keep up appearances, because Jordie continued to smile good-naturedly as he stepped around the desk and approached Inej. He doubted Inej could see the practiced ease in Jordie’s steps. His expression was more bemused and wondering than welcoming.

“I’m wondering, Miss Ghafa, would you mind giving me and my brother a moment alone? It shouldn’t take more than a few minutes.”

Before Inej could respond, Jordie’s hand moved quickly and produced a lily seemingly out of nowhere.

But surprisingly her focus wasn’t on the annoying display his brother just had to do, her eyes found his and an understanding passed between them.

Inej didn’t take the flower, but she did shut the door behind her.

“It really is good to see you, Kaz.” Jordie said as he settled back in his chair and gestured for Kaz to sit.

He didn’t.

“Answer my question.” He said instead.

“Can’t an older brother just sail into town and see his younger brother?”

Kaz leaned forward and growled, “Maybe if the older brother wasn’t so full of shit.”

There was no longer any warmth in Jordie’s smile. The facade of carelessness had been stripped away, and Kaz was finally staring at the man that had left him, an eleven year old boy, recovering in a sick bed to play pirate.

“I hear you’re second in command at the sorry lot Per Haskell calls a gang.” Jordie said casually. “I also hear that you were responsible for single-handedly rebuilding this harbor and turning a profit at the Crow Club. I also hear they start to call you Dirtyhands.”

“What’s your point?”

He shrugged.

“When I started sending you money to go to school, I didn’t intend for you to be a wannabe crime lord.”

“Is it too late or too early to say ‘takes one to know one’?”

Jordie sighed, his smile dropping completely.

“I wanted better for you, Kaz. I’ve told you that.”

“And your idea of better was leaving me?”

“I was giving you a chance. After what Rollins did to us, finding honest work was impossible, and you knew it. The least you could have done is try to make something of yourself.”

“I think I’m doing just fine. According to some of my sources, I’m making more than you are these days.”

“I’m being serious, Kaz. Mom and Dad wouldn’t have wanted this.”

Kaz felt the heat of anger roll over him in waves. This argument wasn’t new to either of them. The familiar cadence of veiled anger and guilt ladened sentences were a rhythm that both knew how to navigate.

But bringing up their parents was a blow Kaz did not expect, and despite his earlier thought of keeping this a business meeting disappeared entirely.

“And they would have been proud of you? An ass with an ego that barely fits into this ship?”

Jordie’s nostrils flared as his frown deepened.

He’s had it told to him, against his will, multiple times, by Jesper that his brother was seen by most people around the Barrel as someone that might be the best tumble of their lives, and each time he wanted to strangle his friend just to get him to shut up. But he wondered what Jesper (or anyone who agreed with him) would think if they saw his brother without that stupid as hell smirk.

Without that charm that named him the most dashing pirate that Ketterdam has ever seen, his brother seemed to have aged years and all was left was a hardened young man that didn’t look like he knew what he was doing.

“I’m not standing here all night,” Kaz continued his tone going down to a growl, “I’m gonna ask you one more time: What are you doing in my harbor?”

His brother regarded him carefully, and looked up to the ceiling before answering, “I’m looking for someone. And since you saved me the trouble of going to the Slat, you just might be the person that can help.”

Kaz struggled to keep the surprise off of his face.

“You’re asking me for help?”

“Keep your cane down,” Jordie said, “Just tell me if you have anything on a man named Xander Mantel.”

Silence dropped between them.

#Kaz Brekker #jordie rietveld #inej ghafa #kaz x inej #kanej #jordie lives au #pirate!jordie #soc fic #six of crows #will i finish this? maybe one day #maybe next birthday #who knows

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