#we're all learning right. not everyone knows everything and I try to be understanding in that regard and help where I can

[mindfulstudyquest]

❥﹒♡﹒☕﹒𝘀𝘁𝘂𝗱𝘆 𝘁𝗶𝗽𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗮𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗺𝗲 𝗽𝘂𝘁 𝗺𝘆 𝗮𝘀𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝗮 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗶𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝘁𝘂𝗱𝘆

organization: i know it's the most trivial advice in the world, but i swear it works. before doing anything, i take my planner and review everything i have to do, i divide the study by subject, amount of things to study and review spaces for exams. realistically, you can't expect to do it all in one day, but a good plan could almost allow you to sleep at night!

a clean workspace: i can't fucking concentrate if there's a mess aroud me, i get distracted easily, even by dust, so before i start studying i always deep-clean my desk. i know that not everyone can afford a personal and quiet place to study in their houses, so try to find yourself a small angle where you can really focus.

go to study in a library / café: i didn't believe it at first, but it's actually useful. if you have the opportunity to go to a library or a café after school ( or near your house ) do so. being surrounded by people who are studying like you really helps to focus, you'll be less inclined to get distracted and procastinate. i would feel uncomfortable using my phone in a library with other people who are doing their work while i'm sitting there scrolling on tumblr.

breaks: ik ik, not very blair waldrof, hermione granger, spencer hastings, rory gilmore of me, isn't it? but is it worth it. sometimes i end up having really bad headaches from studying and, even if i keep studying, the quality of my work decreases significantly. breaks are fundamental. i would not recommend using social networks for your beak, because they litteraly drain your attention, rather do your skincare, prepare yourself a snack ( eating is important! it's what makes you focus ), read 10 pages of your book, dance a little bit in your room, do stretching, go outside and buy some mint chewingum, something like that.

EAT!: girls, boys and theys, we know. i honestly think that almost every person that craves academic validation ends up developing a sort of eating disorder. it's not even the food, is the fact that you are too busy studying that you forget to eat, ignoring stomach cramps, or the fact that you didn't get that answer right and now you don't feel like you deserve the lunch. i understand bc i AM like this, like you. but think about it: you need to do it in order to survive ( but this is secondary to the grades, right? ) and to keep your brain active. you can't walk around with blurred vision because you haven't eaten or drunk for fourteen continuous hours. i swear that eating like a normal human being helps you to keep going.

sleep: same thing as eating, but with our terrible sleeping schedules. i know that school is toxic so we end up finishing our homeworks at 2 am everyday ( if we're lucky ) but when you have the chance, take a nap and recover.

repeat things as if you were explaining them to someone: this is litterally the fastest way ever to learn fundamental concepts when you're studying. imagine that you're talking to a friend that doesn't know anything about the subject that you're studying and try to explain the topic to them. finding simple words for a difficult topic will help you understand it thoroughly, on this basis you can then build an articulated and more academic speech. repeat things out loud, doesn't matter if you look crazy, you already are <3

check and organize your notes the same day: i never have time to take proper notes in class, so i review them as soon as possible, with the lesson still fresh in mind. it really helps me understand the subject and makes the further study much easier.

watch youtube videos: youtube is my favourite class. sometimes teachers are dumber than students and you, who don't have a degree in that subject and are tackling a topic for the first time, don't understand a damn thing. ofc not!! sometimes professors are terrible at explaining stuff, but fazal from pakistan isn't. i passed my physics class with a 10/10 thanks to an indian guy on youtube. documentaries and yt videos are a simple and nice way to understand better topics and do insights for extra credits.

delete social media: i'm gonna do another post specifically for this.

"STUDY!" wallpaper: last but not least, the dumbest yet the smartest advice, set as lockscreen a white / black / whatever background with a big fat "STUDY!" written on it. everytime you're about to pick up your phone and procastinate the wallpaper will scold you.

hope this was useful or at least fun to read byee

#academia #college #education #note taking #school #student #study aesthetic #study blog #study inspiration #study motivation #study notes #study tips #studyblr #studyinspo #studyspo #university life #univeristy #uni life #university #university student #university studyblr #university stuff #college life #dark academia #light academia #chaotic academia #academic validation #academic weapon #academic life #architecture studyblr

[roach-works]

for all its (apparently many?) flaws, i really enjoyed the fallout show, and i'm ride or die for maximus, obviously. but one of the things i enjoyed about lucy's arc isn't that she wasn't necessarily proved RIGHT or WRONG about her own moral code, she didn't learn that either kindness is its own reward or that niceness is suicidal in a fight for survival.

what she learned, i am pretty sure, is that context matters. you can't actually help people if you don't know anything about them. you can't enact justice if you don't know what the case on trial is. you can't come in out of nowhere and make snap decisions and be anything more than one more complication in a situation that was fucked up long before you were born.

that's what we see over and over: she comes in out of nowhere, she makes an attempt to help based on her immediate assumption of what's going on, and then everything continues to be dangerous and complicated and fucked up. she doesn't let the stoners explain that some ghouls will genuinely try to eat you the minute they get the chance, and she pays for it. she jumps to the wrong conclusion in vault 4 because not everyone who looks like a monster IS a monster, and she pays for it. yeah a lot of the time cooper is abusing her for his own satisfaction, but when she's a free agent she's a loose canon and it's not because the show is punishing her for TRYING to do the right thing. it's because the show is punishing her for jumping to conclusions.

this show gets a lot of laughs from Fish Out Of Water situations, but i think that even though cooper explicitly says "you'll change up here and not for the better, you'll become corrupted and selfish just to survive" that's not the real message. what lucy learns is how important it is to hear people out, meet them where they're at, and get the full story.

that's why the final confrontation with her father is so important. she hears everyone out. she gets the full story. she listens to all of it. and then she acts with full knowledge of situation. that's what the wasteland taught her: not to be cruel, not to be selfish, but that taking the time to understand what's actually going on really matters.

this is a show that's incredibly concerned with truth and lies. everyone is lying to each other and themselves. scenes change over and over as they're recontextualized. love and hate and grief and hope are just motives in a million interconnected shell games, not redeeming justifications. maximus's many compounded falsehoods are approved of by his own superior, who finds a corrupt pawn more useful than an honorable one. cooper finds out his wife has her own private agenda and this betrayal keeps him going for centuries. lucy's entire society is artificial and from the moment they find out they're not safe and maybe never have been, all the vault dwellers are scrambling to deal with that.

ANYWAY. i just think it's neat. sci fi is a lens to analyze our present through a hypothetical future, and i think it's pretty significant for this current age we live in, where we're all grappling with misinformation, conspiracy theories, propaganda, and deepfakes, there's a huge anxiety over how hard it can be to find the truth out about anything. i think the show suggests that it's always worth the work to try.

#fallout #ive seen critiques that it's fascist and reactionary and i can't speak to that #since i don't play the games #but for what i saw i liked it and thought it made some good points #spoilers

[gingiesworld]

Family is Forever

Chapter Nine

Wanda Maximoff x GN! Reader

Warnings: Angst.

Taglist: @fxckmiup @ginnsbaker @gb12d @angrywhisperslove @louxbloom @casquinhaa @natashamaximoff-69 @wizardofstories @canvascoloredin @wandanats-goodgirl @forthelesbians @the-ox-fan20 @marvelogic

18+ MINORS DNI

In the midst of trying to race to Billy's decathelon, Y/N had never expected they would be stuck in this position. Hanging upside down as the seatbelt kept them locked in their seat. Forgetting to put their phone on charge, and unable to get to it as it rang consistantly until the battery drained.

Hearing the sirens, screams and yells as the chaos unravelled around them. The sounds of the machines and tools being used as the emergency service worked as hard and fast as they could to get everyone out and free.

Then they soon blacked out for a moment until they come back around, hearing someone call their name.

"Y/N?" Maria called out as she knelt beside the car, looking in through the passenger side.

"Ria?" They spoke weakly as they tried to turn in her direction.

"Don't move ok." She told them as she looked around at the chaos unfolding.

"Billy." They whispered as she gave them a sad smile.

"He's ok. They won by a landslide." Maria told them as they shook their head.

"I broke my promise." They told her. "He's going to hate me."

"No he won't." She told them. "He'll understand." She looked back to see Steve on his phone.

"What?" Nat questioned as she couldn't quite hear him over the noise of the accident.

"Y/N is hurt." He yelled to her. "It's pretty bad Nat."

"Where are they?" Nat questioned as she looked inside at Wanda and the twins.

"They're still trapped in their car. It's a pile up and they a right in the middle of it." He told her as he heard her gasp. "Maria's with them now."

"What do I tell Wanda and the boys?" She asked him.

"I don't know yet." He sighed. "We're still waiting on more hands to come and help get everyone out."

"I can't just not tell her." Nat yelled which caught Wanda's attention.

"What's going on Nat?" She questioned as she left the twins. "Did Maria finally find Y/N?"

"She did." Nat answered as Wanda scoffed.

"What was their excuse?" Wanda questioned defensively.

"They're trapped in their car." Nat told her. "It's bad Wanda. The emergency services are trying to get them out but."

"What?" Wanda questioned as her heart pounded in her chest. Her legs going numb as she held the wall, Nat's lips were moving but she couldn't hear anymore.

Y/N and Wanda raced against time once they had got the call to return home. Already learning that their father had died on impact but their mother was in a medically induced coma.

They waited for hours until they had gotten any sort of word from the doctor. The words 'no brain activity' resounded in their head on repeat. The doctor had given them the privacy to say goodbye before turning off the machine.

Wanda remained by their side through the whole time. When they sobbed as they stood by her bedside, the moment the machines were turned off and she took one last breath.

Y/N stood over her as they looked at her greying face, the cuts and bruises were prominent. Wanda's hand in their own was all the grounding they needed, ensuring that they aren't alone in this time of need.

Wanda remained as she helped organise the funeral for the two. Following their parents request and buring them together. All of their friends and extended family paid their respects. Y/N greeted them all at the wake, a small smile plastered on their face although they were completely shattered inside, but they were too proud to let that show. Only Wanda knew how they truly were, she would hear them in the middle of the night, hiding away in the bathroom as they sobbed quietly. Something that Wanda never really saw, but she made sure they knew she was there for them, through everything.

"I can't lose them Nat." Wanda whispered as she used Wanda's phone to call her brother to take the twins. "I can't. I won't survive."

"Wanda, they will be fine ok." Nat reassured her. "Y/N is one of the strongest people I know."

"We don't know the extent of their injuries." Wanda told her. "Hell, we don't know how long they have sat upside down with another car crushing them!"

"They're getting Y/N out." Steve told the two as the phone was on speaker. Maria stood back slightly as she watched the emergency services work at getting them out.

"Where are they taking them?" Nat questioned as she could hear Steve ask.

"Jacobs Pres." He told her.

"We'll be on our way." Nat told him as he nodded. Maria watched as they carefully examined Y/N before getting them out. They had lost conciousness moments before which had worried Maria. She hadn't spoke a word or moved away from them, until she handed Steve her keys.

"I'm going in the ambulance." She told him as he nodded. Knowing to follow in her car. Nat and Wanda had made it to the ER, waiting until they were brought through.

"Do you need me to drive?" Maria asked as they declined.

"They're flatlining!"

"Just let me drive!!" Maria yelled. "I am a detective at the 94th."

"Drive and get us there fast." The other paramedic told her. Maria nodded as she started the journey. Saving Y/N was the only thought on her mind.

Wanda and Nat stood up as Maria helped push them through. Approaching her as Maria couldn't go in any further.

"How are they?" Nat asked as Maria shook her head, tears filling her eyes as Wanda's heart broke.

"No." She whispered as Maria started to explain what had happened in the ambulance.

"They managed to get them back but they had been in cardiac arrest for a good few minutes." Maria informed the two. Wanda covered her mouth as she sobbed, Nat led the two to the chairs as they waited for hours.

"Have you heard anything?" Iryna spoke as she approached the three.

"What are you doing here?" Wanda asked her weakly.

"Pietro told us when we rang at the usual time." She told her daughter who only collapsed in her mom's arms.

"We haven't heard anything yet." Nat told her as Wanda sobbed into her mother's shirt. Oleg stood up and approached the desk, talking with the secretary quietly.

"They are currently in surgery." He informed. "They were rushed straight there after the head CT, but that's all they can give us for now."

"I can't lose them." Wanda whispered as she held onto her mom for dear life. She knew in that moment, she wanted to keep them in her life.

"Wanda?" Pepper's voice sounded through the room. "Where are they?"

"Surgery." Wanda hiccuped as she fell into Pepper's embrace. "They can't tell us anything else."

"They will be fine." Pepper whispered reassuringly. "Y/N is the strongest person I know."

"You sound just like Nat." Wanda giggled as Pepper smiled.

"Let me see if I can get more information for you." She left the group to talk with the secretary. Talking in hushed tones before the secretary had left the desk. Moments later, a doctor had came through the double doors.

"Mrs Maximoff?" They questioned as Wanda stood up. "Y/N is still in surgery as we speak, they have multiple rib fractures, a broken collarbone and humerous. They have a collapsed lung which we have had to re-inflate. We are just finding the source of the internal bleeding as we speak." Wanda just stared at them as they spoke. "I wish there was more I could say but, there isn't just yet."

"Thank you doctor." Iryna thanked them before they disappeared back through the doors. "They will be fine Wanda."

"They will think Billy hates them." Wanda told her as Maria nodded.

"They do." She told them. "They told me before they lost conciousness. They wanted to apologise to him so fucking bad and it broke my heart. They kept saying they broke a promise."

"Billy will understand the situation." Nat reasoned as Maria just looked at her wife.

"Yeah, but what if Y/N doesn't make it? They will die thinking their son hates them." Maria spat as Nat tried.

"Y/N isn't dying!" Wanda yelled as everything looked at her. "Y/N won't leave the boys." She whispered, almost wishing for her words to be true. "They won't leave us." Iryna just sat with Wanda, her arms wrapped around her in a comforting manner.

It was another few hours before anyone had come to speak with them, reaching 7am. Wanda had fell asleep on her mom's shoulder as Oleg's jacket covered her like a blanket.

"Mrs Maximoff?" A tired looking doctor spoke up, soon enough Wanda was sat up and rubbing the sleep from her eyes. They then proceeded to take a seat opposite het as the others soon gathered for the news. "We had some complications due to their injuries. The hours of surgery and the time they had been trapped had took a toll on their body." Wanda listened as they explained everything. "We did lose them for a moment but we had managed to bring them back again as I understand they had also flatlined in transit."

"Are they ok?" Wanda pressed tiredly as they nodded with a gentle smile.

"They are critical but stable." They told her. "We will need to see what symptoms they may have once they wake as their brain had went a while longer than intended without oxygen."

"But they will be ok?" Wanda questioned sadly. "They will still be here? Alive?"

"They aren't quite out of the woods just yet but we will do everything that we can to keep them here." They told her softly as she nodded.

"Can I see them?" She asked as they nodded. They led her to the room that they were recovering in. Wanda gasped as she saw them covered in stitches, bruises, casts and gauze. She hadn't really expected it to be this bad, she wasn't truly prepared as she let out a shakey breath. Approaching the bed with caution and taking their hand in her own.

"How long until they wake?" Iryna questioned as she watched her daughter fall apart internally before her.

"There isn't any telling on that." They informed her. "It is now all on them. I'll leave you be but I will be back to check on them." The doctor left as everyone slowly moved to the bed, Iryna beside Wanda as Oleg wrapped his arm around the two as Maria stared at them emotionlessly, ignoring Nat's reach to comfort her as she left the room. Only standing outside before she collapsed to the ground, sobbing into her hand.

#wanda maximoff x reader #wanda maximoff #marvel #elizabeth olsen #elizabeth olsen x reader #wanda x you #wanda x y/n #wanda x reader #wanda maximoff x you #natasha romanoff

[jellycrusher]

Wolves and Lambs: Part 4

Alpha Max Verstappen x Omega fem!driver

Genre: Series, Omega verse, Enemies to Lovers, Romance, Eventual smut

Summary: Male Alphas are the ones who dominate motor sports all around the world, especially Formula 1. It is a well known fact. Females in general nor Female Omegas are never heard nor encouraged to join the sport since the 1950s. Well, up until now...

Word Count: 5.8k

Chapter's Premise: y/n finds herself trying to come to terms on who she is and how she avoided her heat for so long.

Parts: W&L masterlist / general masterlist

"You heard the doctor. You have to stop taking your suppressants for a while." Megan takes the prescription sheet from your hands and shoves it in her bag.

Both of you just came out from the doctor's office. Megan was meticulous in giving you a disguise just in case anyone is going to spot you. You put your head down and hide in your little canopy of protection, your Aston Martin hat. A bit obvious but it's the only one you have at the moment.

"I can't. If it comes during a race weekend, I'm dead." You reply as you walk side by side with Megan, confined by the hospital walls.

"Ay Dios Mio. Your constant intake of suppressants may be the reason why you haven't had your first heat yet at 25 years old. We don't know if there's gonna be negative side effects on your health." Megan tries her best to whisper under her breath.

"Hey, that's not proven." You halt in your steps and turn to her, lifting your head up to face her.

"But the doc says it may be a factor. You can't keep it hidden forever. It has to come sooner or later. If it comes biting your ass, don't come running to me for help."

"I don't want to be confined on what biology or society dictates me to be. I want to prove to everyone first what I can do and who I am." You continue to walk.

"I understand. I just don't want something bad to happen to you." She groaned.

"Fine. If I win a race, then i'll start tapering my dosage. I'll let it come when it wants to come."

"When you win a podium, not a race. Better odds."

"Fine. A podium."

You felt like you've been basking in the sun, warm against your skin. You didn't want to look at yourself. For every second after that encounter in the elevator until now that you've stayed frozen behind the door of your room, everything was silent.

Your body was fighting your mind. You didn't want this. For so many years, your family and friends, who knew what you really are, told you that we're all bound to meet our mate. We'll know when we meet them.

No. You don't want to. Maybe just not right now. Yes, it's romantic to see couples who are mated and are having the time of their lives. But what if they fell for another person before they met their mate? And what if they refuse their Alpha? What would happen?

Right now, you just want to succeed in this career first. Call yourself stupid for going against your biological desires but there's a lot riding on this. Your parents sacrificed a lot just to get where you are right now. You want to prove that Omegas can also achieve greatness. Female Omegas can also stand in the halls of the greats.

Maybe you're just stubborn. Meeting your mate wouldn't be the end of the world. If you give in, you won't lose anything. Maybe.

Maybe you're just overthinking. Maybe you're being too stubborn.

Max is not a bad person. You've said it yourself before. He is actually a decent guy. Well, just from your text messages but there were no deep conversations yet. You don't love him to see him as your mate. You might learn to love him but it doesn't feel right for your feelings to be swayed just because your biological desires him so.

You barely slept a wink last night. The inkling that bothered you for a few weeks now since the first race have just been confirmed, and the fact that Max left you a lot of messages that you haven't read yet made your mind in a state of disarray.

Megan barged in your room to wake you up. She even had to throw the covers off the bed and furiously opened the curtains, blinding you with the beaming sun. You groan hard as she pulls you out of the comfort of your bed.

"I can't believe this. We're late! Ay Santo Dios..." Megan continued to mention a lot of words that you were not familiar with as she looks at your commitments for the day from her phone screen.

It only took a few moments and the both of you are now on your merry way to the circuit with you being the driver. Megan was still very furious at you for you haven't given her a reason for your tardiness. At the same time, your phone was still blowing up from Max's messages.

"I've had it with your ringtone. I'll set it to silent." Megan pulls your phone from the center console and sees '50 messages' beside the name 'He Who Must Be Avoided At All Times' on the screen.

"It's fine, leave it." You're barely able to look at Megan because you had to focus on the road.

"Who's this? Is there a guy bothering you? Stalking you?!" she asks.

"No. Just leave it." With eyes still glued to the road, you try to yank the phone off her hands.

"Tell me. Is it a stalker?! 'Cause if it is, i'll kill him." She warned.

"Please no. Relax, it's not a stalker." You assured in a calm tone as she hands the phone to you.

"Y/N. If you're in a dangerous situation and you're not telling me, your mom will kill me." She appealed.

Well, that's not impossible. These two are overprotective.

"Megan..." You paused. Megan patiently waits for your answer as you drum your fingers anxiously on the wheel. "It's Max."

"Oh, Max... Wait, who's Max? from Red Bull?" Megan rambles. "Why? Did he do anything to you?"

"He did nothing. It's just.. He found out last night that I was an Omega. I've been avoiding his texts since then." You confessed, tightening your grip on the wheel.

"How? You were always careful."

"That's the thing. I was. I'm still on my suppressants." You gently scratch the surface of the wheel. "Remember when you told me how you met your husband? Your mate?"

"Yes." Megan now replied slowly, now under a notion at where the conversation is going. "Oh my god! Is he..?"

"I think so." you confessed.

Megan was about to shriek from joy but she stopped for she knew how you would respond. For her, it sounds romantic. For you, it's not. She can't count how many times your rejected the idea of having a biological mate. It wasn't against the law of anybody to love somebody else aside your fated mate but for your body to act against your will regardless of what you feel. That's what you dislike about it.

"I still have to talk to him about it. I can't have him blabbering to everyone on the grid." You added. "Let's take this one step at a time."

"You still have a race later. Better focus on that first." She replies as she takes off her seatbelt when you arrived at the car park in the circuit.

Megan hauled you to the team hospitality to prepare you for the drivers' briefing. When you arrived at the briefing hall, majority of the drivers were already seated and the team principals were standing around in a circle, chatting. You stood by the door looking for an empty seat to take when you saw Charles, Oscar, and Lando calling you to take the seat they reserved for you on the third row. Your feet took a few steps when a hand suddenly but gently caught your wrist.

"We need to talk. You've been ignoring my texts." Max urged, eyes dead straight at you.

"Max, not here. Later." You scan the room for any eyes or ears that might eavesdrop as you carefully remove his hand from you.

Max takes a second to compose himself then tugs his hand through his hair. "Fine. Sit with me then."

"I'll choose my own seat. Thank you." You replied as you walk away from him, not giving him enough time to add more. Max's hand hovered uncertainly as if to stop you but he lets his hand limp

You strut farther into the hall and the three men gave you space to stride along the third row to take your seat between Charles and Oscar. Max took an empty seat on the first row beside Checo. He can't help but steal some glances in your direction during the driver's briefing.

It was hard to ignore Max as well. One good thing that your incident with Max has caused is that his scent doesn't make you cower in fear anymore. Knowing the reason why the dynamics between the two of you had changed, you mentally slap your pheromone-disturbed self from inhaling his lingering scent.

His scent wasn't really distinct before. For you, it was associated with fear or something menacing, but now he smelled so crisp like Cotton and sweet like baked Tangerine. Being that close to each other gave you a chance to actually distinguish his scent. Just remembering Max's small sniffs on your neck makes your body squirm, in a good way. It was nice and comforting. But it also felt sensual.

Alpha smells so good. Let's smell him once more. You mentally slap yourself once more, shaking off the tiny voice from your inner Omega in your head.

"I heard from Lance that you're moving. Where will you stay?" Charles' voice took you out from your trance just as the drivers' briefing just ended.

"In Monaco. It being a tax-free haven sounds enticing." you replied in glee knowing that it was the Monegasque who asked you.

Noticing the other younger drivers to turn to you after hearing your response, it took a moment for you to remember that a number of them were living there.

Lando perks up, legs bouncing. He leans forward and peeked his head across Oscar. "Do you know how to play Padel?" you shake your head. "We'll teach you. We had been waiting for another member to join our little club."

"He just wants to have the bragging right when he defeats all of us." Oscar chuckled, arms crossed on his chest.

"He even almost made Max cry. Have some mercy on all of us, will you?" Charles adds, further teasing Lando.

"I'll tell you when I've settled in. Maybe a housewarming lunch or dinner sounds good?" You ask. Lando quickly taps Alex's shoulder to tell him about your new residence and a possibility of a new member for their F1 drivers-exclusive Padel Club.

"I'm going to tour you to some of the best places. You still owe me a car ride." Charles couldn't help but smile at you, already making up a list in his mind.

When the briefing ended, all of the drivers went their own way back to their hospitalities. At the corner of your eyes, you saw Max hurriedly stood up from his seat on the first row and was about to make his way towards you. He noticed the miniscule squirm your body did when your eyes met. You almost panic in your seat but he came to an abrupt stop when he saw Megan pull you away.

Max tried his best to look for a chance to talk to you, much to his dismay. There wasn't much time for each of the drivers to get to interact with each other, especially during race day. After some of his media commitments in the morning were done, he went to visit the Aston Martin hospitality. He comes up to the small ledge when he saw Lance chatting with some of the staff.

"Hey Lance." Lance gets up from his seat when he noticed Max and greets him with a one-armed hug and a double backslap. "Have you seen y/n?"

"I think Sky Sports has her for an interview, I think. You know, the usual." Lance replies as he sits down. Max groans go unnoticed.

"Do you know when she might be free? I need to talk to her." Max asks as he leans his hand on the ledge.

"Maybe after the race? Her schedule's so full today. Haven't even seen her stay here in the hospitality for more than 15 minutes. Megan even got her shooting a lot of content for our Tiktok account."

"Megan?" Max quirks up his eyebrow.

"Speaking of..." Lance chimed in as he spots Megan behind Max, about to walk inside. "Megan!" She stops and turns to Lance's direction. "He's looking for y/n." He points at Max and Megan's eyes follow.

Megan thought differently when she saw Max right there, comfortably leaning on the ledge. It was in her overprotective instinct to assume that Max might possibly be a snitch or asking anyone in the team regarding what you are. She walks up to Max and asked him to come with her, already walking away without waiting for a response. Max was confused at first but did not hesitate to follow behind.

Max and Megan comes to a halt in an empty corner in the paddock, away from prying eyes.

"What are you doing?" Megan snaps around and narrows her eyes at him, arms crossed on her chest.

"I was just asking for y/n." Max innocently confessed.

"Were you going to tell on her? I can't believe you." She leans forward as if interrogating the driver.

Max leans back, baffled by the sudden change in demeanor. "No. Of course not... Wait, you know?" He tries to whisper.

She tries to examine his face for a minute for any sign of a lie but relaxes when she felt that he was telling the truth. "Listen, Max. I know she's been avoiding you but I need her to be at her best today. She needs to be on that podium."

"Don't we all?" Max scoffs.

"No, you don't understand. I need her to be on the podium because her health is on the line. I've let her be stubborn for too long 'cause she's in love with racing too much but I finally had her to agree, at last. I don't know what's going on between the two of you but please don't distract her too much today." She pleads with a serious tone.

Max hated knowing that it wasn't his place to pry. All he wanted from you was answers but it seems that even more questions are piling up. What does she mean? Your health is on the line? Are you sick? Are you injured? How is it connected to you getting that podium?

His inner Alpha was trying to fight himself.

Our omega... She's hurt or sick. Ask for more information. No, we're clearly told to stay put. She's not ours. Isn't it clear that she's avoiding us? Than ask her directly. Let's smell her again. No. Just shut up. Stay.

"Understood?" Megan asserts herself, taking Max out of his trance.

"Yes ma'am."

Megan waited for a bit to see how Max would take their conversation but left quickly when she saw that people are now starting to crowd the paddock. Max stayed in that quiet corner for a few seconds before going out into the paddock. There he saw you, sitting just outside your team's hospitality with Alonso and surrounded by a few cameras and staff. Probably completing a challenge with your teammate. His eyes locked onto you, taking in your smile. It was invigorating for him to see you having fun.

He used to feel so foreign around you. When he sees you having fun with his friends, it irritated him. His face used to turn sour when Lando or Alex hype you up.

There was something about you that intrigues him. You weren't able to race with most of them back then. Charles was a bit familiar with you because you got to race alongside his brother. Oscar and Logan had only met you once or twice and they had raced with you in a few Grand Prix but usually a lot of drivers keep to themselves and stayed in their own garages.

Then there's the big elephant in the room. You were an Omega, no doubt. After the incident in the elevator, he did scour the internet after his haze faded when he got back in his room. There were only articles about you stating that you were an Alpha, your achievements in F2 and F3, and also the highlights of your racing career. No scandals, not much haters. There were no articles claiming you have a bad beef with any driver.

For a public personality, you kept pretty quiet. Maybe that's why no one has discovered your secret yet. But that would be an extreme feat. To conceal your identity. What about heats? The horrendous and taxing schedule of Formula 1 isn't really ideal for Omegas. He recalled when Lando had to deal with Oscar's heat every month. When they were still unmated, Lando had to tiptoe around Oscar and avoid him when his pheromones were on the highest setting. How the other drivers reacted to him when it came around race weekend. It took them at least 5 months to come to the truth that they needed each other.

It was a bit easier for Oscar because everyone knows that he is an Omega since the start. They knew they had to avoid him when Lando or Oscar gave them a heads up. It scares him thinking that it will be much harder for you but it was also amazing how good you hide it.

Questions for another day, he admits to himself.

You were having a blast going against Nando in a PR competition when you spot Max walking through the paddock. Your eyes met and it made you nervous that he might come up and wait for you but no, he avoided your eyes and continued to walk. Your eyes followed his figure, relieved but also worried. Fernando had to call your attention to continue the challenge.

Your PR and media commitments were finally done and then, there was the driver's parade. The crowds in the grandstands were almost full and it was deafening. Everyone was screaming each of the drivers' names when they were called and when it was your turn to be introduced, it was heartwarming to hear their warm welcome. A smile so wide painted your face as you greet the driver while stepping in the convertible car and sat on the surface of the rear end near the deck lid.

You waited for your car's cue to go but you see it got delayed. There were a slight commotion amongst the staff that were on standby on the track and they were pointing to something behind you. You turn around and they were checking the car behind yours that was supposed to be for Max. Apparently, the engine of his parade car won't start again.

Fernando's car already left way before you and also Checo's. The staff are now pointing at yours and you see that the people who were talking to Max assisted him to get off the car. They were ushering him to your direction. Someone slapped Max's car number onto the side of your convertible. You now realize that they're letting you and Max share a car so that this problem won't delay the program.

The car shook slightly as Max climbs up the convertible. Max sees you scooting to one side trying to avoid his eyes so he quietly sat down on the other side of the convertible's rear. Both of you started to wave to the crowd as the engine of the convertible purred. Max would steal a few glances when you're not looking. Your body was stiff and awkward, in contrast to what you were showing the crowd, smiling and waving.

"Relax. It's not like I bite." Max spoke up just loud enough for you to hear under all those noise. "Just concentrate on the race later or else, you'll be an easy target for these guys."

You snap your head around and glared at him. He had this smug smile while still waving. "They wish." You scoff.

With just a few words from him, you find your shoulders loosening up. Slightly offended by his insinuation but you knew that he was just riling you up. It was also surprising that Max didn't bother to disturb you since the briefing. You would be at shoulder's length but still, he'd just nod when your eyes met.

The drivers' parade ended quickly and every driver headed for their respective garages to prepare. You spent the remaining time training with your physio and getting enough rest. The last program was for the national anthem. You make your way onto the track and answered a few questions for a Sky Sports presenter who was roaming and interviewing some of the drivers. You stood behind a grid kid to take your place and kept quiet. Right before the anthem was played, you noticed the female grid kid trying to steal a look at you. You smile back at her and she quietly squealed as she swiftly face in front. When the anthem finished playing and as you follow the other drivers exiting the track, your grid kid raised her hand to request for a high five. You gladly pressed your palm on hers and the other grid kids also eagerly raised their hand as you pass by them, catching the attention of the other drivers and the cameras.

You find yourself gritting your teeth and hands clenching the wheel as you drive the car in your grid position at the track during the formation lap. You look up at the red lights above.

"It's lights out and away we go, here at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit! and it's Max Verstappen who takes the lead of the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix."

With a good reaction time, you were able to overtake three places from 15th. You were able to fend for your position well in those crucial first few laps of the race. You attacked, you defended, you attacked, you defended. It was a constant cycle.

Max, who had started in pole position, lost the lead to Charles on the third sector in the second lap, won it back by the fourth lap and slowly and methodically pulled away for his second win of the season.

It took you only eight laps to move into 10th place, and only eight more to rise to sixth. By the halfway point of the race, and helped by the fortuitous arrival of a safety car that allowed you to make up even more ground, you find yourself in fourth.

"Y/n had played down her chances of victory from the moment a broken drive shaft ended her qualifying early Saturday and left her in 15th place. But that did not mean she had any intention of staying in the back of the field. Look at her picking her way through the pack behind her with ease"

Your driving style was aggressive and clever, a total beast on the offence. The journalists have also made note of your tyre preservation prowess. They have published a few articles after the first race mentioning that with your pairing with Alonso this year, Aston Martin can gain considerable confidence that it will be regularly able to take on the red cars and the black ones fielded by Mercedes too.

At around lap 46, Ben informs you through the radio that Lewis who is in P3 at the moment incurred a 5 second penalty. With Charles on P2 just 2 seconds ahead of Lewis and you tailing behind just a second away, there might be a chance for you to end up on the podium at the end of this race. You just have to maintain the gap behind Lewis and also for Lewis to continue battling with Charles.

Ben: "So, one more lap y/n, just bring it home." Y/N: "Think something happened to my left tyre." Ben: "Ok, copy. So Sainz, 30 seconds behind, battling with Russell."

You peek at your front left tyre and it was starting to wobble. You may have hit something on the track, possibly puncturing the tyre.

Ben: "If you go Diff-Mid 12, Sainz 20 seconds and gap to Lewis is 2 seconds." Ben: "Now 17 seconds. Now 16 seconds."

The car was already slowing down and the left tyre was tumbling around on its rim. Ben was constantly updating you but you did not bother to respond.

Ben: "So use Strat 5. 10 seconds to Sainz and 3 seconds from Lewis." Ben: "7 seconds to Sainz. 6 seconds to Sainz." Ben: "Maintain this gap to Lewis. 4 seconds."

You've passed the last corner and about to go on the straight where the chequered flag should be when you saw Sainz closely tailing behind you. With your feet instinctively pushing flat out, your car zoomed past and hopefully closing the gap with Lewis in less than 5 seconds for P3 position.

Y/N: "Do we have it?! TELL ME BEN, DO WE HAVE IT??" Ben: "That's it, y/n! You've done it, P3! YOU'VE DONE IT! Wow, you've done it y/n." Y/N: "Was there a flag? I did not see it." Ben: "There was a flag. You've done it though. Just stop. You can pull the car over. We'll come and get you." Y/N: "Fuck that was close! Sorry for the profanity." Ben: "Yeah, I was about to say the same thing. That was a close call. Too close for comfort. But awesome work, mate." Y/N: "LET'S GO!!!!! BEN, WE DID IT!!!"

Your team radio is now being broadcasted across all tv screens worldwide. As Max and the other drivers complete their slow lap around the track after they've crossed the line, they catch a glimpse of you in the screens. Throwing your hands in celebration, still inside the cockpit. When you got out of the car at the side of the track, you knelt down and pats the damaged tyre aggressively as if thanking the car.

You had to do your best as not to cry from overwhelming joy. You felt like you won the race for P3 but you didn't. It was as if you were soaring through the clouds right then. The crowds at the grandstands were screaming your name, fireworks were setting off in the background. That was for Max, of course, but it couldn't hurt to imagine that it could be for you too.

You were picked up by a safety car and your car was towed to the parc ferme. When you got out of the car, Oscar jumped at the moment to wrap you in a hug, Lando following behind.

Warm and sincere congratulations, pats on the backs and helmet taps too, were sent over your way when you threw yourself to your team of mechanics and engineers who were waiting on the other side of the barricade. You took off your helmet and balaclava so you could properly breathe and to revel in the sounds of your victory.

You were the first one who had to do the post-race interview, followed by Charles in P2 and Max in P1. You couldn't contain your smile, choking on your words yet again.

"Y/n!" David Coulthard calls out your name in joy. "That was an amazing race. You had your maiden pole last race and now, your maiden F1 podium after just 2 races in this season. Could you tell me more?"

"With the information of Lewis' 5 second penalty, I had to give everything on the table. I've never had a race like that before. We tried to maintain the gap but also had to monitor Carlos behind as well. It was a team effort and I couldn't have done it without them."

"Your last lap had us trembling in our seats. You managed to bring home your car across the line in that state. How did you do it?" David asked with such enthusiasm.

"I don't know how I've managed to be cool in that period but I just... I had no choice. Survival instincts came over me and I've come all this way. I'm not gonna pull over and back off to let anyone drive pass. I was thinking 'How can I get there with taking as much risks as possible without losing the car altogether?'. I still can't believe I did it." You try to take a few deep breaths after you finished your interview, still reeling in from that feeling of accomplishment.

Max and Charles pats your back as the three of you walked towards the cooldown room. The huge screen showing the highlights of the race, including your tyre mishap and struggle to cross the finish line for P3. Charles hands you a water bottle and you took it, not peeling your eyes away from the screen. If you only had your phone, you would take a photo of the small pillar with a huge number 3 and a small screen playing your driver intro bit.

The three of you are now ushered to prepare for the podium ceremony. Your feet was quick to move after your name was called. The crowd roared with applause and cheers as you made your way up the podium. You stood patiently on your step as you hear Charles' and Max's name. Despite feeling a bit flushed due to the adrenaline from winning P3, your cheeks felt a bit cold as you place your hands on the side of your face.

Your race suit now wet from the champagne being sprayed amongst the podium placers. Charles and Max were having fun targeting you, spraying the champagne at your face. They both admired your blissful smile and eyes filled with euphoria.

"Champagne suits you. Congratulations y/n!" Max can't help but admit to himself that you were an excellent racer. Your expression softened when you heard him and it's like Max's heart skipped a beat.

"Thanks Max. Congratulations on winning!" As if the champagne rain slowed down, it was just you and Max. The stage lights made the champagne sparkle, trickling down on both of you. He never saw anyone be so ecstatic in getting P3 but you made celebrating look so beautiful and graceful.

You watched Max's face as he shared a smile with you but not a second later, you could clearly see the horror in his face as his body stiffen.

"Y/n, your nose." Charles cocks his head to the side of Max, inconspicuously pointing to his nose, prompting you to do the same. Your hand crept up to your face and it was met by a warm liquid oozing down your nose. When you swiped it off, you saw blood on your fingertips.

Max was quick to turn you around, shielding you from the cameras. You try to wipe your nose with your arm but the blood can't seem to stop.

"Are you okay? What's wrong? Do you want us to call the medics?" Max whispers in panic, still spraying the champagne at Charles and towards the crowd below as he shields you behind him. To the people below and in the crowd, it was as if you're just wiping the champagne off your face.

"Relax. It's just a nosebleed. This will pass." You whispered, still trying to wipe off the remaining blood. The sleeve of your green suit now tinted red. "What the heck, it's not stopping."

"Y/n, I think the cameramen are now noticing." Charles' eyes darted to the cameramen below and above.

"I've been a bit more anemic lately. I think that's why." You murmured.

"When Megan told me that your health is compromised, is this it?" Max leans to your side a bit, still facing front and waving to the crowd.

"You talked to her? What did she tell you?!" You glared at Max, surprising the two men.

"Y/n, Max, can you two talk about it later? We're still on the podium." Charles cleared his throat.

You slightly nudged Max away from you, not noticed by the crowd, while you pinch your nose and cover your face. Max can't help but stare in concern at your figure. His inner Alpha wanting to carry you and rush to medic's tent.

Then the ceremony ended.

"Y/n, come on. I haven't told him much, I promise. I just told him to leave you alone that day." Megan pleaded as she follows you while carrying a large box filled with your household items.

You open the door to let Megan in but you avoid her eyes. She darts across the empty unit, footsteps echoing along the walls, to place the box labeled 'Kitchen Items' down on the floor. You sighed, accepting defeat, as you drop the huge bag of items that you were carrying.

"Fine, but next time, stop telling him unnecessary information."

"Hey, your health was not an unnecessary information. I'm just glad you're fine now. I told you that your prolonged use of suppressants will eventually bite you in the ass." She rambled.

"Yes, yes. You gotta stop scolding me. It's been like a thousand times already." You groaned. "I got the podium and I'm on a suppressant detox. Happy?"

"Yes. I'm working on your schedule just in case it came early." Megan skips across the unit and stopped near the door. "I'll get the last box. You can stay here just in case the delivery company calls through the intercom." She exits the unit after you nod your head.

The empty huge apartment unit was now filled with unopened boxes. There were no furnitures yet but the anticipation of decorating your new home is making you excited. Wood and cured paint scent filled the air. It was relaxing for you but after a while, it's actually nauseating so you open the door to the balcony.

Coldness of the elegant granite greeted your arms as you lean against it. Your apartment is located in a spot overlooking the marina where you can spot plentiful yachts. With just a soft breeze, you could almost smell the sea. Even with your eyes closed, you could vividly visualize the city below you from its sound. The hustle and bustle of Monaco.

Closing your eyes for a few seconds made you yawn. You are still recovering from that horrific anemic bout during the podium ceremony in the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix. The team had to recommend you to a local hospital for a check up and was just given a prescription. You took a flight out the next day and went straight to "Moving Out" mode. It hasn't been two days since the race but here you are, renting a luxurious apartment in Monaco, about to live your best life.

"Looks like you could fit a head in your mouth." You heard a familiar warm voice coming from above your balcony. When you opened your eyes, there was someone peeking their head out of their balcony and looking down below at you, apparently still yawning. You closed your mouth in embarrassment.

"Max?!"

"Hi neighbor!"

Next part: Part 5

Taglist: @laura-naruto-fan1998 @fanboyluvr @giffywiffy3408 @notyouraveragemochii @cmleitora @exotic-iris13 @topguncultleader @mirrorball-6 @barcelonaloverf1life @silscintilla @aquangxl @whyamireadingthis @imaddict

#max verstappen x reader #max verstappen #mv1 #mv33 #f1 x female reader #f1 x female driver #f1 omegaverse #f1 enemies to lovers #f1 imagine #f1 fic #f1 x you #formula 1 #f1 romance #f1 drivers #f1 fanfic #f1 #f1 x reader #oscar piastri #charles leclerc x reader #op81 #cl16 #lando norris #ln4

[idk-bruh-20]

Tony, the futurist

Buckle in folks, I've had some thoughts and I'm about to make it ✨everyone's✨ problem.

Been thinking about Tony Stark, the futurist who saw the end of the world.

Tony, who in IM1 escapes kidnapping and torture and says, "I shouldn't be alive. Unless if was for a reason."

who, in The Avengers, has this exchange with Bruce Banner:

Tony: You know, I've got a cluster of shrapnel, trying every second to crawl its way into my heart. This stops it. This little circle of light. It's part of me now, not just armor. It's a… terrible privilege. Bruce: But you can control it. Tony: Because I learned how. Bruce: It's different. Tony: Hey, I've read all about your accident. That much gamma exposure should've killed you. Bruce: So you're saying that the Hulk… the other guy… saved my life? That's nice. It's a nice sentiment. Saved it for what? Tony: I guess we'll find out. Bruce: You might not like that. Tony: You just might.

Right after this, Cap tells Tony, "You're not the guy to make the sacrifice play, to lay down on a wire and let the other guy crawl over you."

And then Tony flies a nuke into a wormhole, tries to call his girlfriend because he thinks these are his last moments, did not go in there expecting to survive.

Although he survives, he witnesses an alien army so terrifying, so unbeatable, it gives him crippling PTSD nightmares and panic attacks, knowing they are not prepared to defend the earth.

I'm thinking about Tony who, in AOU, gets manipulated by Wanda into witnessing his worst nightmare.

Which, by the way, involves losing all of his newfound friends.

Later, he has this exchange with Nick Fury:

Tony: And I'm the man who killed the Avengers. I saw it. I didn't tell the team, how could I? I saw them all dead, Nick. I felt it. The whole world, too. It's because of me. I wasn't ready. I didn't do all I could. Fury: The Maximoff girl, she's working you, Stark. Playing on your fear. Tony: I wasn't tricked, I was shown. It wasn't a nightmare, it was my legacy. The end of the path I started us on. Fury: You've come up with some pretty impressive inventions, Tony. War isn't one of them. Tony: I watched my friends die. You'd think that'd be as bad as it gets, right? Nope. Wasn't the worst part. Fury: The worst part is that you didn't.

Tony's worst fear is to survive in a world he's failed to save. He has to "do all [he] could" or else the future he's terrified of will happen and it will be his fault.

(Not to put too fine a point on it, but there's a reason why Tony and Peter are so compatible as mentor and mentee.)

Tony's seen what's coming, and he's willing to do whatever it takes.

Here's the thing, though:

Tony doesn't actually want to die.

In AOU, when they're arguing about why he created Ultron, Tony says this to Cap:

"Isn't that the mission? Isn't that the 'why we fight'? So we get to go home?"

He tells Bruce that the reason they should create Ultron is to have "peace in our time."

He tells Pepper that his constant tinkering, his inability to ever, ever rest is because he needs to keep her safe from the oncoming threat.

Tony has a life he wants to protect, people he wants to keep safe. And, unlike the other Avengers, he knows exactly how impossible this will be to achieve.

Tony is the only Avenger who understands how severely outmatched they are. Maybe Thor understands the threat, but he has no ability to imagine losing.

Tony tries to get them to understand:

Tony: Recall that? A hostile alien army came charging through a hole in space. We're standing three hundred feet below it. We're the Avengers. We can bust arms dealers all the live long day, but, that up there? That's… that's the end game. How were you guys planning on beating that? Steve: Together. Tony: We'll lose. Steve: Then we'll do that together, too.

Well, they do lose. And they don't do it together.

And it turns out Tony was right about everything.

He was right that he would survive to face his world that he'd failed to save.

He was right that the Avengers would not be enough.

He was right that Bruce's powers would be worthwhile someday.

And, apparently,

some people think he was right that he was only alive for this reason.

Because, obviously, the only "reason" for someone like Tony Stark to be alive is to eventually sacrifice himself, right?

A character so traumatized can only find peace in death.

Right?

No.

Stop that.

Tony Stark may have been willing to risk his life for his family, but that doesn't mean he wanted that to be his end.

Remember when this happened?

Bruce: Saved it for what? Tony: I guess we'll find out. Bruce: You might not like that. Tony: You just might.

Bruce gets to live long enough to like his ending.

Remember when this happened?

All Tony ever wanted to do was make the world a better place.

And, what about this?

You're telling me that Yinsen didn't value family above all else?

That he thought Tony should die and leave them behind?

No.

Tony Stark is a futurist.

He is the Cassandra of the MCU. He warns the others constantly of the oncoming threat that only he, apparently, can see. (Even Thanos calls him "cursed with knowledge.")

No one believes him. Alone, he tries to prepare for the threat that he has witnessed. He sits with his nightmares and tries to find a way around them, constantly.

He builds a life worth living, finds people worth protecting, just like Yinsen told him to.

To protect the future, he does all he possibly can.

Tony deserved to be part of the future too.

#this is messy as hell but I'm UPSET and I need ALL OF YOU TO BE UPSET WITH ME TOO #say it louder for the people in the back #TONY STARK DESERVED A HAPPY ENDING #FUCK THE RUSSOS #thoughts #tony stark #he just. he knew he was going to die. that whole time! #and he was fine with it but also he was NOT FINE WITH IT. #GOD. #let tony be with his fucking CHILDREN. his FAMILY. #you're saying CAP got to be with his family??? WHAT FAMILY??? peggy already HAD A FAMILY #never going to be over this #peace out y'all I'm going to go stew on this in silence again #just had to cause pain to others and as usual I shall now depart #irondad #spiderson #irondad and spiderson #iron dad and spider son #peter parker #ironfam #tony stark deserved a happy ending #avengers #endgame

[teeny-tiny-revenge]

No, but they'll be complimenting each other so well going on. One of Ed's big problems is that he just gives up so easily. Plan with the fog failed? We're going to die; I'm gonna get drunk while waiting for death. The fishing isn't going so well? Obviously he's not meant to fish. It's like Ed's spent his entire adult life being really really good at stuff (sailing, piracy, etc) that he's completely unused to failure and doesn't know how to go on from it. But that's an important thing to learn, and in a way it's a joyful thing to learn, too. You can try something and it can go wrong and you suck at it and then you can try again and learn from your mistakes and get better (either at the thing or at failure).

Meanwhile Stede is absolutely amazing at this. He says it himself, he's been a failure all his life, he got used to it. Stede doesn't give up. That's probably his biggest strength IMO. Stede is tenacious as fuck. Something went wrong? The cards are stacked against him? Whatever! He wants to do the thing, he's committed and determined, he's going to do the fucking thing if it fucking kills him. Stede is not going to let Ed give up whenever he gets discouraged. He'll be there to pull him back to his feet and they will try again.

And one of Stede's big problems is that he doesn't think anyone admires him and likes him. Meanwhile Ed has thought Stede is the coolest guy on Earth since meeting him! He's probably the only person to ever think that. Other characters grow to like Stede for some of his qualities, he has a huge impact on everyone around him, but he doesn't see that, and nobody genuinely admires all the quirky Stedeisms about him. Nobody except Ed. Ed thinks the library is awesome. Ed thinks the secret closet full of fancy clothes is the coolest shit he's ever seen. Ed loves Stede prioritising marmalade over gunpowder. Ed loves Stede being extra and bitchy and a complete lunatic.

And they're both seeing it now. They are already complimenting each other like this by the end of season two. Ed gives up on fishing, but it was never actually about fishing anyway. He doesn't give up about Stede and their relationship. He digs out his leathers and goes back into the very fray he's been dying to leave, because he's not giving up about Stede, he's going to fight for him. That's kinda the first time we actually see Ed choose to fight for something? All his ofher fights and violence are reacting to threats to his own person. One way or another, pretty much everything we see Ed do as Blackbeard is him either trying to protect himself, or to actively make someone else kill him. He chooses to live in the gravy basket mermaid scene, but he keeps running from problems after. He keeps running from Stede. And then he turns around and doesn't give up and goes to save his boyfriend and his relationship. It looks hopeless! The odds look terrible! But Ed's going to fight for it anyway, and look, he succeeds! And Stede is waiting for him, Stede knows Ed loves him, Stede doesn't doubt Ed.

And Stede is so desperate for people to think he's cool it makes him stupid and makes him make an ass of himself, but his crazy plan works, and this time when he's recounting his cool adventure Ed is sitting right next to him, all starry eyed and admiring and saying "yeah, it was cool, babe, I saw that". Saying "I see you". Ed's beginning to understand Stede needs to be told how cool Ed thinks he is, and Stede's starting to hear it.

They're going to be okay, guys. They're going to be happy. :)

#ofmd #ofmd meta #ed teach #stede bonnet #teeny rambles #s2 ep8 #ofmd season 2

[cipheramnesia]

also, i really don't understand your followers dogpiling on me for asking a question. again, if everyone takes it personally every time someone doesn't know how to do something or realize there is an option, no one will ask questions or learn everything. there is no need to shame people for that. with that, i'm going to unfollow, don't worry. it's just disheartening to see people acting like this instead of choosing to be kind.

I choose to set one boundary and you have interpreted that as being unkind. I am doing all I can with everything I have right now, and you have also made the decision to interpret it as unkind. You don't know about my spending every day wrapped up in hopeless anxiety, thoughts of suicide every few hours, no idea how or if we're ever going to get back the home we only have because of my mother dying, or me being curled up crying on the basement floor a few hours ago.

Which is fine. You're not even seeing this. I don't know you, you don't know me, but I do my best with whatever I have that day. Sometimes it's not enough for everyone, it's not enough for you I guess, but you've now sent me two long paragraphs describing other people as unkind, letting me know that you did not like my brief response, telling me you don't care to interact with me because this made you feel bad about asking a stranger to resolve a problem which you had the ability to solve independently, where a cursory review would have shown I already try to make my longer posts avoidable, and realistically placing the responsibility of the whole of Tumblr's general culture on a stranger.

I am trying my best, and that is all that I can do, but I cannot do all of these things, and I am genuinely sorry that you feel the need to use whatever function you had remaining today to take a momentary interaction online which will never reflect back on you directly in any way, and use that time and capability to try to make other people feel bad about themselves.

I expect that whoever you are, your behavior in normal, person to person interactions outside Tumblr is pleasant and even something people enjoy being around. And probably that is because when you experience brief moments of feeling rejection, like me, you understand not to immediately verbalize those feelings and act on them, but to give yourself time to process the feeling and, in many cases, discover it was not only not worth reacting to, your feelings stemmed more from receiving a minor but deserved chastisement.

We accept these things, and move on. I have also fucked up, maybe I'm doing it right now. And I'll accept it and admit it and try not to fuck up again and move on, but I don't particularly feel like that's the case for me here. And honestly not the case for you, whoever you are. This is all brief and immaterial and hardly worth the time spent writing. But here we are, neither of us mattering much in any way, together.

#anon hate #i guess #anon is off now

[loveyourownsmiilee]

Hints That Buddie Is Going Canon!!

Ok after last nights wonderful episode, I went back and reread every single interview Oliver and KR have given since the start of 6b and oh gosh, I think they’ve been hinting at Buddie this entire time. Here are some important takeaways from Oliver and KR!!

“This is all about Buck learning who he is and embracing that he’s enough as he is.”—literally the one person who always supports and embraces Buck for who he is has been Eddie. We saw that last night as well. We saw with the whole “I know you did” in 4.04. Now it’s about Buck learning who he is and maybe uncovering things about himself that he hasn’t before. That’s not even mentioning Eddie’s and Buck’s parallels of wanting to be enough for someone.

“I think the main thing for him is that anybody that he is to become romantically entwined with has to meet him where he is.”—Who literally met Buck at the door yesterday when he was trying to escape everyone? Oh yeah, Eddie. Not only that, but Eddie is the one person who wouldn’t have a problem in meeting Buck where he is in his life and being completely fine to start up a relationship. He’s so supportive and understanding of Buck and his decisions. It’ll be the only reasonable partner for him.

“He’s becoming very settled in himself, and if that person that he ends up partnering with isn’t ok with that, then they’re just not the right person.”— Love the gender neutral terms he always uses and we know Buck’s partner in the show is Eddie. He also was very settled on Eddie’s couch in last nights episode when he fell asleep so comfortably. Eddie opened his home to him and accepted what he needed without pushing for more. It was his own way of proving to Buck that he’s ok with everything Buck throws his way. He’s accepting of it and I think we’ll see more of that in upcoming episodes.

“He’s going to be comfortable with who he is.” —something about this seems like he’s going to come to some realizations about himself and be completely ok with that.

“The show is certainly gonna make some experimental choices going forward.” —Experimental choices?!? We all know people who are curious or questioning something about themselves, such as their sexuality, that they tend to experiment and see what results it yields. So I think it’s possible we’ll see some sort of experimental choices when it comes to Buck and Eddie and their relationship.

“But then I think following the struggle, there’s potential for peace and for him to feel a little more grounded.” —This was in midst of his character’s recovery process. We saw Buck struggle last episode but when did he feel most grounded? When he was in Eddie’s presence. Eddie grounds Buck and we even got that distinct parallel with Bobby and Athena in the same episode. Need I say more?

“He is in his early 30s, and he’s figuring things out about himself and using them as chances to upgrade who he believes he is.” —Figuring things out? About himself? If that’s not queer coded then idk what it is. The man is gonna figure out things about himself, such as possible feelings for his male best friend and use that as a chance to better himself. So that he can be a better version of himself and be ready for that potential next step with Eddie.

“So him being in a position of such peril, I think is really going to affect them, and is really going to bring out all kinds of emotions, and even the characters that we don’t necessarily get to see that emotional side of so much.” —This can only be about Eddie because we’ve seen all the other characters show their emotions when it comes to other things. The one person who really struggled with showing his emotions has been Eddie. We saw him yelling for Buck and running up to save him. We even got him struggling to keep it together while Buck was in a coma.

“I really like something that we're in the middle of right now. I think the finale is a really fantastic episode. I think it's really, really high octane but really offers a lot in terms of moving these characters forward and putting them in good places.”— There’s been a lot of talk from Oliver and KR about the finale. The fact that Oliver emphasizes the he really, really likes the finale means something great is going to come out of it. Especially considering how he mentions “moving these characters forward”. Like that’s all meant to tease that his character will be in a good enough place in the end right? And he’ll be moving forward. Now let’s look at everything else that’s been said.

“I think the finale is something that people are really going to respond to.”—Ok so he mentions how people are going to respond to the finale and I don’t think this is in a negative context whatsoever. So whatever does happen is going to get a rise (in a good way) out of us.

“I’ve seen some speculation that it might be in a romantic sense. I’m very happy to be clear on that, but it’s not and in fact, I would say it’s very much the opposite of that…He’s very much not pleased to see her.”—We know big things are happening in the finale and that Lucy will be back. He immediately and happily shuts down any “love interest” talk and implies that the reason he sees her may have something to do with someone else. We know from BTS she’s an air medic now. So whatever happens in the finale has to be connected to her reappearance. Well if a certain someone is in danger and they need Lucy’s help to get them out, it could be a reason as to why he’s not too pleased to see her.

“There will be a new couch. And spoiler alert, the new couch might be in some danger before the season is over.”—This is from KR and like sure it can be about anyone m, but let’s really look at what we already know. Buck went to Eddie’s house and safely fell asleep on Eddie’s couch. We know Buck has a new uncomfortable couch but it’s only temporary. We’ve also gotten tons of BTS for the finale and Eddie has been missing for a good chunk of it. I don’t think it makes sense to think there’ll be a new love interest who is this metaphorical couch, who will be in danger before the season ends. The only thing that makes sense is that Eddie is the couch who’ll be in danger.

“I love that the fans have picked up on the symbolism of the couch. Buck is attached to this symbolism of couches being related to relationships, and that's not something that's actually going away anytime soon. Up until Buck's very last scene of the season, we'll see that symbolism at play.”—Oliver once again being one with the fandom and recognizing what we all know. This was done after the couch scene at Eddie’s house and I don’t believe for one moment he would’ve said all of this when he knew that deliberate choice of having Buck on Eddie’s couch existed. This further confirms thet there’ll be no other love interest and that Eddie is the couch in question here. So with everything we know that’s been said about the couch, it’s easy to connect the dots and come to the same conclusion which is that Eddie will be in some kind of danger in the finale. Not only that, but according to Oliver, Buck will be thinking about what that metaphor means to him and we’ll see it all unfold as the season progresses. That last sentence tells me that the last scene we get of Buck will be him accepting who his couch has been this entire time. Which means we’re most likely gonna get a final scene of Buck on Eddie’s couch, making it very clear where their storylines are heading and that’s in a romantic direction.

“Building towards a finale we've been planning since the beginning of the season."—KR literally mentions that the finale has been something they’ve been planning since before the season. What was the very first episode we saw??? The Buckley-Diaz family dinner scene right?? And the first mention of the couch metaphor?! With everything else that’s happened since the beginning of this season, it makes sense that they’ve known from the beginning how their storylines were gonna end by the finale and that’s with us all knowing that Buck and Eddie are heading towards the romantic relationship we’ve all been waiting for year for. These next few episodes leading up to the finale will be crucial to the final outcome and I can’t wait to see how they develop their relationship towards one of romance.

“Eddie is going to start dipping his toe back in the dating waters. We just wanted to have a little bit of fun with it, and he goes out on a date or two and makes various attempts at finding the person that he wants to date seriously, and he has mixed results.”— I wanted to include this too because KR could’ve worded this in numerous ways but she chose to say “mixed results”. I’m firm in my belief that Eddie has to know, at least to some extent, that he has feelings for Buck. So maybe he tries some random dates and comes to the conclusion that he rather be at home or with Buck. And we have that damn poker scene to still look forward to so like maybe he accidentally ends up on a date with Buck and realizes how much better it went compared to the others. The word choice is so loud and compared with everything else, everything just adds up together.

I mean, there’s just a lot that’s being said that really does hint at Buddie going canon. Now whether we get actual love confessions or feelings realization or what, I don’t know. But I do know come the finale, we will all be left in certain terms that Buddie will be going the romantic direction come next season. I am really excited to go on this journey with them because I just know it’ll all be so worth it in the end!

#buddie #911 spoilers #911 speculation #oliver stark #jujus having thoughts #I’m back with another detailed deep dive analyzing shit #it is what it is #I can’t help it #long post #sorry y’all #911 on fox

[tearskillstardust]

how do these genshin characters handle little children?

itto, hu tao, kaveh, lyney, venti, xiao, neuvillette

ITTO

in hanamizaka, a very famous word goes around the market— 'if you're ever unable to look after your children, hand them to itto!'.

although he has reprimanded many guys who tried making fun of him because of that, and so has shinobu, perhaps to a greater extent, it is no lie that when itto looks at a child, his eyes glimmer with adoration for the little one. it seems that babies really enjoy the cushion of his muscly arms and generally warm body and even warmer smile— the gentleman does not mind spending hours with babies in his arms, going from place to place in the market and making the baby happy with so many sights and sounds.

taking proper care of the baby is entirely another thing however, and the women know of his inability in the matter so when they hand him the child, they look at shinobu with a very obvious gaze that seems to say, 'i trust you,' and shinobu smiles back, her own version of, 'yes, you can.'

HU TAO

there is a very beautiful word known as idol in the english dictionary, and if you slowly move your finger down the meaning and towards the antonym, you'll find hu tao's photo in it.

thing is, she treats everyone the same. friend, elders, children— everyone expects nothing from this prankster and she likes keeping it that way because that's real! she simply can't take responsibility of others, however hard she may try. as such, it would be hard for her to bear the responsibility of being a guardian or even an elder figure for a child. she wouldn't understand why she has to be any more ideal to a child than she is to a friend, it just doesn't register in her mind. she can entertain a child for hours on end— but she can't take care of them or even keep them safe anyhow.

KAVEH

we're all aware how sympathetic and kind kaveh is, and it translates perfectly in the way he looks after children. he knows how to look after them and make them be at peace— he isn't an expert at this but years at the akademiya mean that he has definitely learn a tip or two about child psychology from there so he knows how to implement that too! it's nothing much, but children feel safe around him. he manages to portray an ideal figure to look up to and somebody children could want to talk to for hours on end. he is very patient with them and sets them right when they might wrong.

my opinion? he would make it to the top five genshin characters who can look after children in every meaning of the word, along with tighnari.

LYNEY

another figure children would really admire! i think that he's more superficial with that actually, not that he dislikes children or anything, but he just puts up a persona that children would fall in love with and removes that mask when he's out of their vincinity. he is a free spirit who dances on the wind, so children could be a bit time-consuming and tiring for him, although he wouldn't cut back in any form of care and concern for them, he'd rather not take the burden.

what i mean is his love does not come as naturally to him as it does to itto and kaveh, he just does it because he was assigned the responsibility. i don't think this has to be said, but children would find him very fun too. even if he wasn't a magician, he just has a very fluid and attractive way of talking and children would love listening to stories they've heard before once again from him just because he tells them in a fun way.

VENTI

much like lyney actually, just much more mature with children. where lyney could come to a dead end in certain things with children, venti can infinitely trap them in conversation and get them to do stuff that is good for them even if they don't want to do it.

i'd say his love for children would also be more natural. he could just find their optimism and love for everything as sweet and innocent and feel an inexplicable need to protect them anyhow and that would make him very patient in dealing with children. he could very well dislike the caretaking part but he'd quickly just accept it as a favour he did to the child's mother by taking care of her kid a bit longer than need be so that she can rest. very kind with children overall, though his affection is shown by making funny faces at the child until they laugh.

XIAO

very well, surprisingly? or not, actually. even though it seems that he is cold, aloof and shut off, he actually cares a lot and is very observant by nature, it's simply that he doesn't act where he sees that the person can deal with it themselves. he doesn't have a single selfish bone in his body— and the same applies to children too.

he may not know how to take care of them, but he would love to learn it from anyone who might teach him, all with a very straight face but a warm heart. he also wants to protect them because they can't fend for themselves, and he's excellent at caretaking because of that. very good attention to detail and that keeps the child safe in every aspect. i see him also making sure to check which foods can be eaten or not eaten together and keep that in mind before giving the child anything to eat. he would also take care of the tiny stuff, like not startling them awake, being hyper-sensitive to their cries, not touching them with cold hands, and just being very kind to them.

that, of course, does not mean that he does not keep a scarily straight face while doing all that, making the child fearful and loving of his guardian at the same time. children would definitely find him boring and dull, but xiao wouldn't mind it.

NEUVILLETTE

i think he would view children in a very positive and soft light in the sense that he really likes their way of looking at the world and could just want to hear them talk because the way they just say touching or overly random things either strike a chord to his heart or make him crack up, and he likes both these feelings. he would want to keep the child very safe and secure to make sure they don't face anything that could scar them for life. not that he makes them dependent, no the tough love factor is definitely present, but he makes sure he is always there when they're learning to swim in deep waters so that he can pull them out should they drown.

he would also know caretaking and babysitting pretty well. and if he wouldn't, he'd be eager to learn. he would make sure of the child's comfort and talk to them for hours on end without getting bored and teach them about many things too. he would be a very safe and ideal figure for children. (un)surprisingly enough, his expression softens in a way it never does when he looks at children and his eyes seem to glimmer a bit.

#genshin headcanons #genshin imagines #genshin x reader #genshin impact #genshin #genshin impact lyney #genshin lyney #lyney #neuvillette genshin #neuvillette #neuvilette genshin #hu tao #hu tao genshin impact #arataki itto #genshin itto #kaveh #genshin kaveh #genshin impact kaveh #venti #genshin venti #genshin impact venti #venti x reader #lyney x reader #itto x reader #xiao genshin impact #anti-percabeth

[littlematchagirlll]

as someone raised mormon who is still deep in the trenches of trying to disentangle religious teachings from who i am and who i actually want to be, i feel very seen by aziraphale.

i, too, have struggled with black and white thinking due to religion. and just like aziraphale, it has impacted my relationships with people i love, even when i didn't want it to.

here are some of the things i've personally experienced that i feel like i've seen some form of in aziraphale in s1 & s2:

- internalized homophobia (i know i experience this, but idk if i can say for certain whether this is is why aziraphale makes some of the choices he does);

- categorizing certain behaviors as good or bad;

- struggling to accept that what you thought was good and bad isn't actually good and bad;

- seeing the bad of your religion but still wanting it to be good;

- coming to terms with the fact that the people you thought were "good & right" might not actually be;

- learning about the complexity and nuance of everything but still wanting it all to be simple, black and white, because it's easier;

- still seeking the approval of your religious leaders, even when you know you shouldn't care;

- trying to convince yourself that the good of your religion outweighs the bad;

- hoping you can single-handedly change things;

- going through the motions of the religion, even when you don't truly believe, because that's just what you do;

- when you grow up being taught that you are right, others are wrong, you inevitably think that it's in everyone else's best interest to join you;

- "we're the true church, why would anyone not want to join";

- trying to bring people back after they've chosen to leave, because you've been taught to believe that's what best for them, and you think you're looking out for them;

- not being able to properly fathom an existence outside of the religion you've been raised in, even if you wanted to...

long story short, i get aziraphale. i understand why he did what he did at the end of s2.

and i will forgive aziraphale, because i know exactly what he is going through. not right away, because i am grieving for crowley...

but i have to forgive him, because if i want to ever forgive myself, i have to forgive him too

#go2 #good omens #good omens 2 #good omens 2 spoilers #go2 spoilers #aziraphale #religion #religious trauma #spoilers #it's 4 am and i should really sleep #but how am i supposed to sleep after that?

[sgm616]

A Whole Year!

Wanda Maximoff x Fem!reader

BlackHill x Daughter

A/n -> I have a learning disability so if there are some misspelled or a sentence that doesn't make sense that's why.

________________________________________

Mila and Wanda, we're sent on a mission to retrieve Hydra files. Unfortunately, things went downhill. During their mission, they were caught stealing their secret information. Many hydra goons were attacking them left and right. There were too many of them. Without their acknowledge some kind of gas was seeping threw the vents. The next thing they see is darkness.

Natasha POV- I was about to take off my wife's shirt when we both got a message from FRIDAY.

Miss Romanoff-Hill. Both of you are being summoned by Captain Rogers.

MEETING ROOM 1

"What is it now Rogers? We- I mean I was about to 'relax'."

"Wanda and Mia have gone MIA.(Missing in action) here is their mission file. Completing this mission is crucial into getting ahold of Hydra's secret weapon. Find it and you may be able to find Mia and Wanda. You both have 10 minutes to get ready. Dismiss."

HYDRA BASE LOCATION: CANADA

I made my way through the hallways making sure it was all clear. Once I made sure everything was clear I let everyone understand that there was no one left in the building but that's when I heard, crying. How can there be someone here? I checked all the rooms in this building.

For some reason, I felt this urge to follow the cries. I walked through three rooms when I heard another cry. That's when I started running through all the rooms. Till I reach the second to last room. The crying was much, much louder. I searched the draws when I encountered a baby it was wrapped in a Hydra coat. I carefully pick up the small child to try my best to soothe the poor babe. After a few minutes, I calmed them down. But I can still hear the other child crying. The other baby's cry was echoing throughout the room. It sounded like it was coming through the vents. Immediately I got down to the vent gate and found another baby. It was only wearing a thin adult shirt.

I carefully readjusted the child I was currently holding so I could pick up the other baby. Immediately the baby stopped crying and looked into my eyes. Strangely enough, their eyes looked exactly like Mila's. 

Once they were safely secure in my arms I bolted toward the Quinjet.

Location: Avengers Compound

Who are these kids? And where are Wanda and Mila? As we waited for the results on who these girls were, Maria and I were holding them. It's just another reason for how much I missed my daughter's growth. Sure she was born out of science when I was twelve but still, I would have loved to have taken care of her when she was a baby.

(She didn't give birth to her, science used her blood and her father's blood to create Mila.)

After waiting for the results to come back, Tony and Bruce come into the conference room. "Good news and bad news. The good news is that know where Mila and Wanda are located."

"That's fantastic! Where are they?" Said Maria.

Bruce looks down and fixes his glasses. "You're holding them." We looked down at the babies. I knew this child looked familiar, it was Mila. Maria spoke up. "What the bad news?"

"The bad news is that it looks like Hydra injected them with some kind of serum that turned them into babies and well, it looks like it's going to take a year for the serum to wear off" A WHOLE YEAR!!

Meeting room

"All right teams looks like we are on baby duty for the next year till both Wanda and Mila are back to normal. So who's going to be the main guardian for Wanda?" Steve raised his hand. "I'll take her." That's when Clint speaks to Steve. "Do you even know how to take care of a baby?"

With his head down Steve said. "No."

"Laura and I can take care of her. Stark is that alright if my family can come over till this whole thing is over?"

"Yeah, sure whatever. Just keep them away from the lab."

No One's POV-

Day One Age 7 Weeks Old

The first night with baby Mila was hard on Natasha and Maria. They never had any experience in taking care of a baby. She had been crying for the past 4 hours. They tried feeding her...she was not hungry, they tried rocking her to sleep...that failed, and don't even get started on how terrible they were when it came to changing her diaper. Clint had to show them how to do it the right way.

Know matter how hard they try to calm down she just won't stop crying. "She has been crying for 4 hours now how is she still awake?" Maria said tiredly. That's when she thought of something. She goes into the closet to grab something that might help calm Mila down.

She grabbed her old ukulele and started playing it. Natasha slowly joins in.

"I'm lying on the moon My dear, I'll be there soon"

Mila's crying was slowly calming down

"It's a quiet starry place Time's we're swallowed up"

Maira walks over to Nat and Mila and places a binky into Mila's mouth. Mila surprisingly accepted the binky.

"in space We're here a million miles away"

Mila finally falls asleep. When Natasha sees this she stops but the minute she stops Mila starts to steer awake, so Natasha continues on finishing up the song.

"There's things I wish I knew There's no thing I'd keep from you"

Natasha carefully places a sleeping Mila into her bassinet. She slowly and carefully pulls a blanket over Mila so she doesn't get cold.

"It's a dark and shiny place But with you my dear, I'm safe we're a million miles away"

The moment Mila fell asleep both women were too tired to lay under the covers.

The Barton's had no trouble with getting Wanda to bed. After all, they had plenty of practice with their two other children. Plus Wanda was easy to put sleep. That girl loves to sleep.

Four Hours Later (Feeding) Mila cries wakes up both women

"Why isn't she talking the bottle!"

"I don't know Nat. I don't fucking know!" Mila continues screaming.

"I know Mila I know. If you just take the bottle you will feel better." Natasha continues to try feed her but after some time she finally takes it.

Day 150 Age 5 months Old

Today was going to be a hard day for Tony. He was on babysitting duty for both Wanda and Mila. Both Mila's moms had a mission they couldn't get out of. Clint and Laura both had a teachers' conference for their other kids and couldn't take Wanda with them.

So both families had no choice but to leave the two girls with Tony since he was the only one available. Since Tony was not babysitter material both families would call any chance they could get.

Tony had both babies lying on both sides of the couch while he was in the middle.

*RING* *RING*

"We're fine, just like we were 30 minutes ago and 30 minutes before that. Are you going to keep this up all day? Wait aren't you and Maria on a mission right now?.....well stop calling because now it's getting old. First you and now the Barton's?......"

He looks away from the girls to turn on the TV

"Yeah they had some teacher thing so I'm watching both."

He turns to look at Wanda.

"OH NO."

Wanda was not there.

"OH GOD."

He turned to face Mila, but she wasn't there either. This made Tony drop his phone. He's looking behind the couch under the blankets, the pillows, he looked EVERYWHERE! He knows if he doesn't find them soon he's going to not live to see them the next day.

Nat on the other hand was freaking out. Tony didn't answer what was happening. She kept yelling at the phone in hopes that he could tell her what was going on.

After a few minutes, Tony looked under the table only to find Mila and Wanda. Mila was rolling around while Wanda was staring at Tony with a huge smile on her face.

Tony grabs the phone and puts it on speaker. "Everything good here." Natasha doesn't believe him. "Guess who just rolled over for the first time."

Let's just say after this event, Tony will never babysit a child ever again or in this case children.

Day 161 Age 6 Months Old

The Barton family

Laura walks into Wanda's nursery room quietly. She knows Wanda isn't a morning person even if she's a baby. So figured out a way to wake up and girl without having her get all cranky. She knew from Wanda's past that her mother would always sing this song that would help Wanda wake up.

She gently rubs the back of the wands back. Slowly Wanda starts waking up but not enough to have her open her eyes. "Rise and shine and give god your glory, glory. Rise and shine and give god your glory, glory. one two three four give god your glory, glory children of the lord." Wanda opens her eyes and lets out a big yawn before giving her the grabby hands, letting Laura know she wants to be held. "Good morning my sweet angel. You ready for breakfast." Wanda responded with a nod and tucked her head into Laura's neck.

Kitchen

Once in the kitchen, Laura hands Wanda off the Clint so he can feed her. For breakfast, Wanda was having her favorite mango banana. "Here comes the Quinjet." he makes noises that sound somewhat like the Quinjet.

The Romanoff-Hill family

For waking up Mila was a bit different from Wanda's morning routine. Every morning Nat or Maria has to play the song Pink by Lizzo. How she found out that song, that's something both mothers would most likely never find out.

But let's just say Kate, her new babysitter, was watching the movie Barbie on her laptop and thought Mila was sound asleep.

Once the song was over and Mila waved to all her stuffed animals a good morning, it was time for her to get her morning started.

Kitchen

For breakfast, Mila had apple zucchini peach. It wasn't her favorite but it also wasn't something she hated. All Nat had to do was distract her daughter and boom she'll eat anything that's in front of her. "Here comes the Chitauri chariot." Natasha scoops some baby food into Mila's mouth. "Did you know Mama flew in one once?" Mila smiled at her mama and was making cute baby noises. "Yes, I did." She then realized what time it was. "Shit. Hey babe can you finish feeding Mila for me? I'm going to be late for work."

"Sure thing." She kissed her beloved wife on the lips before Nat had to leave. "Mommy's going to feed you now. How does that sound?" Mila let out a confused expression and sound. If she was saying why? "Mama has a meeting with Grandpa Fury. But that's okay because you get to spend time with me. Would you like to go to the animal shelter and buy Mama that kitten she's been dying to have?" Mila responded with a happy squeal. "Yeah? But first, we need to finish eating your food." She scoops a bit of the baby food. "Here come the helicarrier." She flies the spoon around the air before putting it in her mouth.

Day 284 Age 1 years old

The Romanoff-Hill family

Mila faced Natasha trying her best to speak to her "M-ma...m-ma... mama, mama" "That's right baby it's mama! Can you tell me who she is" She pointed to Maria. Mila looked at Maria with a smile "Mama!"

Maria scopes her up and spins her around. "Good job Mila!" Nat then hugs both of them. Mila was in the middle. "Mama and Mommy are super-duper proud of you!!" Both women kissed Mila's chubby cheeks. Mila graciously gave both of them a slobbery kiss on their cheeks while making giggling noises.

The Barton family

"mm...mm..." Wanda was struggling and getting frustrated. She let out a screech. Laura picks her up calming her down. "Shh, it's okay baby take your time." "Mma-mma. Mama" "Good job Wanda! Good job! Clint come here!" He bolts out of the bathroom, his face is half-shaven. "What happened? What's wrong?" Wanda gave clint grabby hands for him to take her into his arms. "Pa-pa!" Clint's mouth was wide open with shock. "Did-did you say, papa?"

Later that day when the kids got home they told them about Wanda's 'first' words.  "Wanda who's that?" Laura points towards Cooper. "Ooper" the four of them laughing. "That's right I'm Ooper. Your brother" Wanda clapped her hands as if she was showing how proud she was of herself. Clint then speaks. "Can you tell who she is?" Wanda looks at Lilia. "ia"

Luckily both families had FRIDAY to videotape the whole conversation.

Days Later...

Family Room

Today was a very boring Friday for the Avengers. No meetings, no missions, nothing. Nat, Clint, and the babies were in the family room. Both adults were reading their books. While the babies were doing their own thing.

Mila was on the floor playing with her blocks. While Wanda was watching The Wiggles. [The OG, not the new version] They were singing about fruit salad. This got an idea for the little baby witch. She was hungry and since the wiggles were singing about fruit salad maybe she can make some for herself and maybe she can share it with Mila.

She slowly stands up from her spot. Nat and Clint notice this and dropped everything they were reading. "FRIDAY are you documenting this?"

Yes Sir.

Wanda takes one step forward only to fall. They were waiting to see if she'll give up and cry. But to their surprise, she didn't. She got right back up on her feet and tried again. This kept happening for a while till she finally made it to the kitchen without any trouble.

Mila sees this and gets jealous of Wanda getting all the attention. So she too tries to stand up and walk but falls down the minute her foot took one step. She burst into an angry scream. This got Nat's attention. "Oh baby. there is no reason for that." She tries to calm down Mila but to no avail. Thank goodness Maria heard this. The moment Maria come into Mila view she imminently wanted to be in her mommy arm and not her mamas.

Once Maria gets ahold of her baby girl she gently pats her back and bounces her. "Aww what happened my love? Hmm?" She looked over to her wife seeing if she knew what's wrong with their daughter. "Someone got a little jealous of Wanda and wasn't happy that mama wasn't forcing on her."

Maria turned Mila around so she can see her face. "Is this true baby girl. Did you get jealous of Wanda?" Mila nods her head. "And did you not like when mama was giving Wanda attention and not you?" She nods again. "Oh I'm sorry to hear that."

Natasha explained what Wanda did and how Mila wanted to walk too but kept failing and was getting frustrated with herself. "Why don't we go on our room and we can pass/walk her to each other?"

And that's what they did. After many falls and crying, Mila finally walked. Now they kinda regret teaching her how to walk cause now she won't stop chasing Liho.

Day 334 Age 1 3/4 years old

Maria and Natasha were relaxing on top of their bed when all of a sudden they heard a horrible stretching noise and then crying. Liho bolted out of the room. Both mothers turn to see Mila running towards them crying. Maria bent down to Mila's level. "What's wrong why are you crying, baby?" Mila was choking on her air so Nat and Maria helped her calm down so they could understand what was going on. "детка can you blow on my face?" Mila eventually listened to her mama and blew on her face just enough for her to talk. "Good girl. Can you tell Mommy and me what's going on?" Mila yelled, "She said she wants to marwy me!"

"Who детка? Who wants to marry you, baby girl? Could it is Wanda?" knowing those two were together before this crisis happened. "mhm" Natasha was good at hiding her smile since this whole conversation was hilarious. "You're crying 'cause you don't want to marry her?" Maria said while trying her best to hold in her laughter. "Yeah!"

Wanda comes running in our room "I WILL MARWY YOU!!"

"NOOOOOOO!!!"

Mila runs away again with Wanda hot on her tail.

Day 364-365 Age 22 years old

That night the parents lay the children on their adult beds. They quickly changed them from toddler clothes to adult-only shirts.

The Next Day...

Mila wakes up only to find her room all childish. "What the?" she slowly gets out of bed only to notice she's only in a shirt. At first, she was a bit wobbly but got it together. She takes a nice long shower. Flashes of what happened came into her mind. She was so confused. Was this all dream? If not how the hell did she turn into a baby? And how long?

2 months later...

Lactation: Paris

"Mila Romanoff, will you do me the honor and becoming your wife?"

"YES!! Absolutely Yes!!!"

#mama nat #natasha romanoff #black widow #maria hill #clint barton #wanda maximoff #wanda x you #wanda x reader #wanda x fem!reader #marvel #avengers #marvel mcu

[am-i-the-asshole-official]

WIBTAH for sending my (21NB) SIL (20F) stuff to help with her pregnancy when her mom said she doesn't want us to?

✨️✨️✨️❣️✨️✨️✨️ <- so i can recognise the post

so for some context, SIL didn't tell us she was 2 months pregnant until last night. She'd been planning on moving across the country (we live in the USA so across country is 3000~ miles/4500~ km) to go live with her boyfriend (22M) for a while now. None of us wanted her to go regardless but now that we know she's pregnant we wish she were here even more so we could help with anything she needs. She left this morning for her flight across country with a guy our family barely knows - some of us only learned his name last night.

my MIL - her mom - says she was gonna send her a car before finding out about the pregnancy but since SIL said she's gonna go to school and work online cus she wants to stay home with the baby, the mom doesn't want to send her a car that the idiot who got her pregnant (and was the one who convinced her not to tell us about it) is gonna end up using instead of her.

so, i brought up sending her some stuff to show her that she has people here who will help her (even if she is across the country) and show she's not alone. MIL was worried it would convince her to stay there. My worry is that not giving her any help will push her to stay over there where she doesn't know anyone instead of staying with family or, at least, someone she knows better than her bf of a few months.

I know she doesn't like it here, and at first I supported her moving out before I found out it was across the country with a guy she met *This Year* (2023 when submitted - idk how long thisll take to post). I don't think she should have to stay in this house, I understand she has trauma here and I fully support her moving out but the thought of her alone and pregnant on the other side of the country where she has absolutely no one other than her bf (who doesnt seem to be taking this situation seriously At All) and his family - who none of us have ever met - is just terrifying.

I dont think what I want to send her is something that would end up being a present for the boyfriend instead of her like the car. I have a pregnancy pillow from a surgery I had last year and thought even if she ends up not wanting it, sending it to her would at least show her that she's not alone and we still love and care about her from all the way over here. It isn't much and I don't think it's anything that would convince her to stay over there so I don't see why it should be a problem.

For full transparency, I *do* hope sending her support might convince her to come back, even if she doesn't move back into the house, I hope she doesn't stay in a place with a guy who clearly isn't ready to help, people she doesn't know, new rules, new everything. It all just seems too stressful under regular circumstances, let alone during her first-ever pregnancy. That being said, her staying or going is her choice, all of us agreed that trying to force her to stay/come back would only stress her out more and would be bad for her and the baby.

for extra context- when i say we dont know the bf at all, i mean it. i met him yesterday, the rest of the family has met him 2, maybe 3 times. he made a speech last night at dinner that only made me worry more, "I may not be the best for her", "Yeah, I'm in school but I'm not studying anything right now" (wtf does that even mean????), apparently he wants to be a cop (which i dont like personally) but isnt doing anything to accomplish that? and when FIL asked if we could visit her, he completely waffled as if he had never thought of the fact that we would like to go see her?? and her child??? Everyone throughout dinner made it very clear to him that we Don't know him and we're entrusting the baby of the household, the Princess of the household, with him - all of this was before we even knew she was pregnant. He didn't even tell the dad about the pregnancy before they left, he made MIL do it.

tl;dr- SIL's bf convinced her not to tell her family she was pregnant until the night before she moves across the country to live with him. I want to send her stuff to help with her pregnancy & show her she's not alone & we're here to help with whatever she needs but MIL worries sending her things will convince her that she doesnt need to come back home, i worry that not sending her anything at all will make her not want to come back at all.

What are these acronyms?

#aita #am i the asshole

[apoptoses]

🚨 what do you think is the best and worst thing Armand ever did?

Oh anon strap in, this is gonna get heavy.

Disclaimer: this is my personal read, my own meta, everyone else is entitled to their own takes etc etc

We're gonna start with the worst: everything he did with Louis in iwtv.

Let me explain.

Something that is very common for survivors of trauma that was more psychological in nature and required betraying oneself in order to stay safe is to enter the fawn response. Aka people pleasing. Someone who has learned that they have to pretend to be someone else in order to keep others around them happy and keep themselves safe doesn't just shake that when the threat has ended. They then go on to feel as if they must do that in all future relationships in order to be loved and cared for, and if this goes unchecked then it can manifest into some really damaging behavior.

Things like lying about personal beliefs in order to tell the desired companion what the traumatized person thinks they want to hear, trying to control outcomes of certain situations in order for things to happen that they think will keep the desired companion with them. Someone who is people pleasing ends up saying "Yes I love the thing that you love" to one person, while saying deep down (or to another person) "I actually hate this thing so much".

And while it's understandable why someone who is people pleasing believes they have to act that way, it leads to their companion feeling manipulated when they find out that all the things that were said and done to 'please' them were untrue or done simply to control the situation and keep them around.

(And if it gets really out of control, subconscious behavior can become conscious acts of manipulation)

So with Louis we meet an Armand who says that he cares nothing for god, that if he met a mortal who inspired a lust for life in him once again he would turn that mortal immediately, that he would have turned Madeline himself. As readers we find out this isn't true later, that Armand struggles with his faith, that Armand would rather suffer anything than turn someone else into a vampire. But if we look at his words from a perspective of someone in a fawn response, he's saying those things because he believes that's what Louis needs to hear in order to accept his love and love him back.

And in more overt ways he forces Louis' hand with Madeline by using his influence, because Armand has decided it would be 'good' for Louis to turn her, that this will help him accept the loss of Claudia and come be with him. It's an act of controlling the situation to try to control for Armand's desired outcome (Louis loves me and will leave Claudia behind for me) but he's doing it under the people pleasing lie of 'this is what Louis needs, this is what will make him happy' when really it's about what will make Armand happy and safe. In that act subconscious fawning has become conscious manipulation.

While Armand's emotional detachment and lack of reaction to the burning of the theater and death of Denis is in many ways related to his self-admitted inability to feel anything at that time, there's also an aspect of fawning there: in order to people please one cannot offer their real feelings for fear of upsetting the companion. So really it just leads this situation where Louis doesn't know how Armand really feels about anything. He never shows Louis a moment of hurt or anger or outage, which we readers know he is capable of, because in order to feel safe and continue to 'please' he cannot let himself feel anything at all except that which his companion feels.

And that's why their relationship crumbles, because Louis is right: they cannot offer each other real love because Louis is mired in grief and Armand is incapable of being fully honest. He can't cultivate a true sense of self and show Louis that self because he's too swept in fawning for him and 'pleasing' him. Even when he and Louis break up he doesn't show his hurt, doesn't articulate having felt neglected. He just walks away, holds it all in, and fawns away his own feelings.

So that's why I think the best thing he did was that moment of sincerity with Daniel right before he turned him: admitting that he felt like a coward, and that he loved Daniel far too much to let him die.

In his explorations with Daniel Armand stops pleasing and swings to far other end of the spectrum for a time: he is so utterly absorbed in exploring the world and figuring out who he is and how he fits in that at times he doesn't consider Daniel's feelings much at all. But by the end of things when the running begins, he doesn't chase Daniel until Daniel calls for him. He becomes honest about his feelings and desires, despite the layers of shame he's heaped upon them. He stops detaching and fawning and gets real.

Which in the end is the key to him re-uniting with Louis and building a healthier relationship, creating his own home, opening the door to future reconciliation with Marius and having Daniel move back in with him. Armand had to learn to be himself fearlessly so that he would have genuine love to give.

#pls i am not an armand/louis hater at all don't take it that way lmao #and i don't believe his relationship with daniel was 100% healthy either #it's just that he hits rock bottom on both ends of the spectrum with excessive fawning and excessive selfishness #before he can find his way to a middle ground and honesty #and that's growth baby!!! #i think this is why in the vampire companion anne said armand was a good person with daniel #because by daniel's turning he's learned to stop chasing and manipulating and fawning and be genuine instead #and trinity gate couldn't exist if that arc never happened #apoptoses answers #vc meta

[skibasyndrome]

hi i just have to say! that i think the writing for wille is perfect this season. kinda annoys me that this is a hot take but! i think it makes SENSE. everyone wants wille to be this perfect boy but he actually doesn’t have the foundation to be that person. he had a sterile and isolated upbringing where he has never had any agency while at the same time having obscene wealth and anything he could ever want except for LOVE. like cmon the only people who have probably ever said no to him were his parents!! and they were absent and loveless! and then he loses the closest person in his life only to find out that he wasn’t who he thought he was and AND that maybe he wouldn’t have accepted him. and for so long wille kept erik’s love close to his chest and used it as a life raft. his parents can’t accept him his classmates can’t accept him the world can’t accept him simon can’t see his side but erik. erik would love me through all of this even if my parents won’t. but that comes crumbling down! and i know i am just rehashing the plot of the series but BE FOR REAL EVERYONE. he was set up to be a cold, selfish, privileged asshole and the fact that he fighting back against this and having this deep internal struggle of just wanting LOVE and wanting to be with the boy he loves but he can’t and no one understands is! brave and really hard! the isolation he must feel!!! and also like!!! HE IS A PRINCE HE IS SURROUNDED BY YES MEN!! ofc he has an attitude. also he’s a teenager hello??? the writing makes sense it’s so goooodddd to me personally and edvin Understands wille and portrays this insane struggle so so well. anyway i felt the need to step in and say my piece bc everyone always gushes about how they love that wille isn’t perfect but when they portray all this internal struggle coming to the surface in unhealthy ways everyone throws a fit and turns on him. justice for wille!!!! yeah he’s an asshole but he is trying!!!!!!!! (sorry this is long no one i know irl watches this show so i have opinions)

don't apologize for this anon, THANK YOU for your great points!!!!

I agree 100% with this. Wille has always been this very flawed, very sheltered character and I LOVE what they did with him in s3 even though it really, really hurt to see it, naturally, because I just want these characters to be happy together (and I still think they will be, after some work and more talking and Wille making some decisions). But yeah, this isn't new for Wille, Wille wasn't "ruined" this season, that's the Wille we know and love and yeah, that makes a bunch of questionable decisions because of the fucked up way he grew up. But I mean that's the beauty, right, he found a guy who can finally show him that that's not something he has to be stuck in, that change is possible, that working on himself and getting better for himself and the people around him is not only important but possible. I mean Wille literally told Simon he learns from him. This id anything but easy and anything but a linear process, but he's there and he's willing to do the work!!!!!

I really try not to get too deep into any of the discussions, especially about character morality, just because we're still one episode short and also because the onslaught of theories and opinions and everything is nerve-wracking as is and I try to guard a last piece of sanity, but seriously THANK YOU for this. You put into words what I haven't been able to 💜

and feel free to come discuss YR with me any time! I know the struggle, so please, let those thoughts out :)

#anon #answered #wilhelm #young royals season 3 #young royals season 3 spoilers. #yr s3 spoilers #yr s3 #young royals #young royals analysis

[matchalovertrait]

Dulce did train with the help of her brother, so timing shouldn't have been a problem, right? However, once she was praised for the specific skills she possesses, she decided to throw all her eggs in one basket. That decision cost her everything.

Previous (Transcript under the cut)

(1.) [Mia] This was a difficult decision to make.

[Carlo] Even for me. Everyone made a delicious dish.. but they all came with their major faults.

[Mia] And unfortunately, Dulce is being diced in this round

(2.) [Alex] I'm sorry, what?

(3.) [Rubiya] I'm trying to understand this.

(4.) [Mia] Dulce, you made us a terrific entree, but you have to keep in mind you who are cooking for. There are many people who do not tolerate spice well.

(5.) [Sofia] Dulce, tell us, what exactly do you want to be when you grow up? A restaurant owner? A food critic? A freelance chef?

(6.) [Dulce] I'm not sure yet, but I do know I want to be a celebrity chef.

(7.) [Mia] Celebrity chef. I remember you saying that in your audition tape. Well, Dulce, I want you to share your gift with the world, so I want you to remember what we're saying.

(8.) [Carlo] It's all love, but I think you need to balance your time-management skills with your creativity. I know you were thinking "go big" but you didn't remember the "or go home" part. That brain of yours is probably in constant motion, but don't ever forget timing.

(9.) [Mia] I also want you to learn more techniques. What really separated your soup from Alex's soup were the techniques they used. They spiralized the jicama and cut the meat into cubes. Those small details make a big difference.

(10.) [Carlo] Those techniques aren't always just for show either. Cutting the meat into cubes probably would have made the meat more tender. That is just one of the many reasons why we utilize them.

[Mia] Right, but thank you, Dulce. We enjoyed having you here.

(11.) [Dulce] Thank you, judges. I will always remember this day and the advice you gave me.

(12.) [Rubiya] Oh, Dulce! I'll miss you. Please don't let this be the last time we talk to each other.

[Dulce] It won't be. Bye guys, and good luck.

[Alex] Bye, Dulce. It's been fun.

(13.) [Dulce] This totally sucks, but they're right. I'm good in the kitchen, but I still have a long way to go. I'll get there, though.

#tjolc #tjolc gen 1 #alegria legacy #matchalovertrait #dulce alegria #alex marino #rubiya jabal #mia d'angelo ramirez #carlo mancini #sofia bjergsen #she looks so sad :(( #last official part of this episode!! we'll see noemi and erick and angel in the next post. they'll meet her in the room next door #2 posts today btw

[12pt-times-new-roman]

IT'S MIGHTY NEIN DAY LET'S GOOOO

god, the SET, the COSTUMES, travis in full half-orc makeup — fucking gorgeous. but I do have the sneaking feeling that Matt is dressed as young Ludinus.......

The time: seven years after the peace treaty that ended the War of Ash and Light, immediately after the ignition of the Malleus Key. The level: 20. The setting: the Encanter's Rest, Blightshore, where Caleb and Beauregard have landed.

In the midst of this, Caleb has a terrifying realization: if his own collar has been disenchanted, what others have been, too? But Beau's priority is to get to Yasha, who was with Caduceus, and Caleb teleports them there with a chipped piece of gravestone.

The Blooming Grove is healthier than they've ever seen it, and the curse of the Savalirwood has been driven away slightly. Caduceus' hair is a vibrant pink again.

"We made it to the Malleus Key like we planned, but nothing ended as we planned. Da'leth brought down a champion of the Matron, into the heart of the dig site, and he did something — our vision went white, we woke up in a different part of the world —" "Long story short, everything's fucked. I think we need to rally the troupe."

Next stop: the deck of the Nein Heroez, docked in Nicodranas.

Fjord update: his level 20 multiclass is warlock 14/paladin 6, and holy fuck his new art—

Stone's Throw has acquired multiple new ships, including the Rumblecusp Express and the Sapphire of the Sea.

As they travel through Nicodranas toward Veth, they catch wind of something having spooked sea-beasts into the streets.

"I'm sorry, the place is a mess, the world has been turned upside down—" "Wait, something happened here too? What's wrong?" "I have a teenager!"

They sit down to have a conversation, alongside Yeza.

"Uh... Cerberus Assembly, global fuckery, the moon is not where it's supposed to be, Trent may not be imprisoned anymore — and we're getting the Nein back together to deal with it."

Jester update: she took flash recall as her 19th level feat.

Jester attempts to scry on Trent and it doesn't work. They immediately assume that he's broken out and has an amulet, but it could still be that the entire prison is warded against scrying.

"Caleb, do you need an amulet so he can't look in on you?" "Let him come." that's what we call character development!

The Nein, in true Nein fashion, decide to tackle the immediate problem first, rather than trying to push the moon back into space when they don't really know anything about it. Trent joined with Ludinus is far more dangerous than Ludinus on his own, so they'll take down Trent first and play whack-a-mole with the rest of the Assembly later.

Veth isn't sure if she should go with them, but Luc slams his door open — "mom, don't be a coward! You do this every time! You have to be an adventurer for everyone, that's our calling! You can ground me all you want, but I learned it from you!"

Caleb cuts in. "Young man, you do not take your mother's love for granted. Do you understand me?"

They start to leave, but Veth doesn't want to. Caleb draws the circle to the Cobalt Soul archive in Rexxentrum, he steps through, the last to go — and Luc, rogue 5/wizard 3, dashes through at the last second!!

The way the entirety of the Mighty Nein turns on Luc the second they realize he's there and are so protective of him is fucking adorable. Beau challenges him to hit her with a spell, but ol' uncle Caleb counters it and puts him in a wall of force. "We are dealing with people who could kill you with a blink. You are not ready. You are talented, and I'm proud of you, but you're not ready." Luc is out here using Sam's 22 charisma to convince everyone — including Caduecus — to let him stay. Caleb agrees, too, on one condition: that Luc will stay under his eye at every moment, and that he reserves the right to teleport Luc back home the second it becomes too dangerous.

On the upside, it appears that the teleportation circles in the Cobalt Soul are still working.

Since the solstice, the Cobalt Soul has closed its archive doors. They discovered that the master vault has had its wards interfered with and has actually been infiltrated and trapped from within — with Yudala Fon meeting with the king, they ask the Nein to investigate.

Caleb update: Fortune's Favor is his second-level spell mastery choice.

The hallway to the vault leads to a massive adamantine door covered in runes — though it would usually glow blue upon approach, the runes are cold and lifeless. It creaks open without issue.

Inside is a storage room filled with various chained crates, tomes, display cases, and other such things.

In the middle of the floor is a toothy mouth. "Welcome, Bren. You are nothing if not reliable. It feels good to be free — have had so much time to ponder. I can now see how solitude forged you, I now know the greatness that can come from endless quiet and conjecture. At the edges of my mind, many seek me in silence. I wonder If any partnership would meet my standards. I have much to thank you for, my exemplary pupil. It is only fitting you have now taught me, and I return renewed. I must confirm my theories, for they keep many secrets beneath this library. You are welcome to learn what I have, Bren." The magic mouth spell vanishes.

At the far end of the room is a figure, crouched — Aggy, a dwarvish monk (way of the drunken fist, presumably), level 5, played by Wembly Arena's announcer Daniel! The monk was sent into the archive ahead of them, but got caught in some kind of explosion. "Without being too rude, who the living fuck are you?"

Beau update: She got promoted to High Monk!

Fjord uses see invisibility, revealing a handle on the wall that was previously hidden. Aggy goes and headbutts it, inadvertently turning the lever and opening a secret door in the wall.

Through this new door, another mouth appears. "We have all done terrible things, Bren, and we all must be punished for them. I still pay the price, and so too shall he. The Shadowhand must step into his own might. I will tell the Bright Queen of his betrayal, and in this, he shall be made free to follow your path of pain. Only in suffering are we made paragon, and I will make you better; you will be my proudest achievement."

The passage leads to a series of terraced platforms that then lead to a room covered in lockboxes. Each is hidden with invisibility, and protected by various wards.

Aggy, brazenly running down the passageway and sticking his hand on one of the lockboxes, gets instantly killed by a disintegrate.

One of the lockboxes is slightly ajar, and no longer has a trap on it; the inside is empty except for a piece of paper, and another magic mouth appears. "To bleed is to scab, to break is to mend stronger, to hurt is to learn; but recklessness will only leave you dead and forgotten. I was called here to take of its blessing and release one of its forgotten nightmares; arrogance thinks it can use me, but I am the master here. I am he who feeds on ambition, he who drinks of promise and leaves nothing unearned." He tells Caleb to meet him at the ruins of his childhood home — "dinner will be waiting."

Beau comforts Caleb in the way that she does. "You've worked really hard to overcome this. You are above this." "You are right. I don't care that he taunts me. But he doesn't need to be breathing anymore."

With at nat20 plus true seeing, Beau can see the name of what each lockbox contains. The two that were ajar read "adrenus sap," a rare unholy ichor distilled for use in abyssal rituals to bind servants of the abyss or undeath to their domains, or to ensnare such creatures; and "afterimentahl," an arcane binding stone used to capture powerful beings for study, syphoning, or experimentation. The ones known typically contain an entity from the Calamity or before, but the process of creating them has been lost.

back from break and so ready to watch them finally kill this motherfucker—

They put up the tower to sleep for the night, and cast a heroes' feast preemptively.

Caleb uses wish to cast simulacrum on himself to create a copy. He then gives Luc his luck stone, re-attunes his ring of evasion, and casts mind blank on himself before going to bed.

And with a night's rest, Caleb can prepare another 9th level spell or can keep wish — he didn't even have to roll for it because he duplicated a spell! 20th level wizards are a hell of a thing.

With potions drank, fog clouds created, and a heroes' feast had, the Nein plus Luc teleport to Blumenthal.

As they approach, Caleb feels the ghost of his grief, but he has come to terms with it. The house that stands here looks exactly like his childhood home. "I have done what I have needed to do in this world. If I don't walk from this, I need you to get that boy to safety."

Inside, there is laughter — Una's, followed by Leofric's, mingled with Trent's. Caleb walks in, followed by Jester and Fjord. With divine sense, Fjord reads both Una and Leofric as undead. Caleb's simulacrum is polymorphed into a sabertooth to protect Luc. The rest flank the house and watch through the windows.

Breakfast is set at the table. There are seven empty chairs.

"Mother, don't you think it's strange, you haven't changed one iota?" "Not at all. He has given us a second chance." With an insight check, Caleb sees them for what they are: just bodies, reanimated.

Jester leans, says "I'm sorry" to Caleb — and casts turn undead. Both parents fail their saves, fall back. Trent's face falls. "Wery well, then. Perhaps the lesson should start with me." The entire house explodes, but their preparation reduces the damage significantly, and before them is Trent Ikithon, floating up in the air — and where Una and Leofric were are two ghoulish corpses.

time for initiative and combat updates!

Trent's spell save DC is 22. That's just about on-par for a 20th-level wizard with money; a 22 INT plus a robe of the archmagi gets him there, and an arcane grimoire can compensate for no robe or a 20 INT.

Trent can use 2 legendary actions to cast a spell.

Caleb Prime: *downed* Caleb 2: immediately turns into a fucking t-rex

Luc casts see invisibility and reveals that Trent's avatar is an illusory duplicate, and the real Trent is crouched behind a tree like a little fucking creep.

After a chain lightning, a meteor swarm that did higher-than-average damage, and a massive house explosion, everyone's back to full with a mass heal! So with two clerics in the party with a 9th level each, plus a guaranteed divine intervention that can duplicate a mass heal, these fuckers have a latent health pool of 2800 hit points.

Beau update: Her 19th level feat is mobile.

In an antimagic field, Trent is cowering — "but this is why the intelligent prepare. Omentis, be unleashed." The field doesn't suppress artifacts, and he breaks the afterimentahl against his chest. From where he stands, an orb of pitch darkness grows, and a 40-foot entity made of purplish and black shadow, with four arms and glowing purple orbs begins to stalk toward Blumenthal itself.

Seeing that, Caleb plants one palm, two palms on the ground — and uses shapechange to transform into Gelidon, the Nightmare in Ivory.

KAIJU FIGHT!!

and then, just to top it all off, Luc casts enlarge on the fucking t-rex!

"Arty, if there's ever a time we needed you—" Jester uses gate to pull Artagan out of the feywild and right into this fucking kaiju fight. "Don't worry, Jester, I've got y—oh, what have you brought me into?! Really?!"

An archfey, an ancient dragon, a giant t-rex, and the avatar of an abyssal archfiend tethered to the soul of a 20th-level archmage walk into a bar...

With holy weapon active, Yasha does 168 damage in a turn without a crit.

Its full name is Omentis, Scion of Ruin. Everyone within 60 feet gets hit with its "void hunger," automatically takes necrotic damage at the top of its turn. It also has "aura of oblivion," a beam that emits from its face and deals massive (as in, 150 points on a failed save) force damage. Its AC is 24, and it is considered undead.

With his passive perception, Caleb notices that the crystal that Trent shattered is still visible in its chest.

Luc notices and targets the artifact, which causes the shadow holding the creature together to flicker.

Caduceus uses divine intervention (which automatically succeeds) to cause the creature's shadow to become translucent, so that they can see the artifact clearly within it. In the center, with the crystal at his heart, is the shadowy echo of Trent, hanging like a puppet.

what is it with live shows and nat20s at crucial story moments???

With a nat20 strength check, Beau rips the heart from the creature. All the shadows swirl around it and get pulled back into the egg, and as it reforms, Trent himself gets pulled, screaming, into it — Beau tosses it up, Gelidon catches it and smashes it into the ground.

As the dust settles, the people of Blumenthal gather, and the sun begins to rise.

The heart remains intact, but sealed forever with Trent inside it.

Caleb uses demiplane — which opens into a familiar nine-sided tower — to seal the heart away for..... future use.

They decide that after all this, Luc deserves a party — not least of all to celebrate Fjord and Jester's engagement!

At the end of it all, Caleb uses the tower to cook a feast for all of Blumenthal.

"While this was a singular victory, it is still the beginning of much work to be done."

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