#what a freakin bop

[prestoned]

#isnt she lovely #cutest freakin corgi dog you ever did see with your sleepy eyes #lgbt #gay #queer #gay man #gay stoner #stoned posts #what a beep boop bop #corgi #pembroke welsh corgi

[stevenbasic]

Growing into the Job, Post 364: That was Then, This is Now p16

A group of young women, in a back office, are huddled around a video screen, reviewing footage.

“How did we not see this coming? She basically announced it on instagram?”

“Yeah but does anyone even follow her?”

“Not me”

“Me neither.”

“I thought I did but, uh, I didn’t see that I guess.”

“Jesus.”

“So…what the fuck did we just watch??”

“We saw your girl just freakin-“

“She is not ‘my girl’! She’s a freak! She just works in my, uh-“

“You are the head of the scheduling department right?”

“Yeah basically but-”

“And she’s a scheduler?”

“Shut up.”

“She worked all last week, but she didn’t come in today. I checked the time clock.”

“Wait she still works here?”

“Apparently.”

“And she spends her Saturday nights ripping into her boss’ apartment and trashing the place?”

“To be fair, she did knock first.”

“And apparently tried calling him.”

“His phone was at the bottom of Melissa’s pool by then, Saturday night.”

“She also sniffed his clothes, broke his plates and slept in his bed.”

“Don’t forget threw his couch like ten feet.”

“Busted her fist into his wall.”

“Twice.”

“Tiggled herself off.”

“She-bopped.”

“Paddled the pink canoe. Four times”

“What the fuck.”

“She’s crazy”

“And she’s fucking strong”

“Yeah but…”

“We have to do something about her right?”

“Do we tell Melissa?”

“No way. She’ll fucking kill her.”

“Would that be that b-?”

“No. We have to figure something else out. Let’s find her.”

===================================

srrrrrry for the delay for readers here on tumblr. Life.

But, more more more, up past post 390 at:

#growing into the job

[connorswhisk]

Spiderverse: I’d love to see something with Miguel, Peter B. Parker, snd Mayday! Fully open to you pairing the guys but I prefer a poly/open relationship/amicable breakup to cheating. ❤️

hi thanks for the request! it’s not explicitly said in-fic, but peter and mj are poly here and there is no cheating :)

“Peter. Peter. Peter.”

“Yeah, what’s up?”

Sullenly, Miguel gestures to himself. Mayday has her legs draped over him, babbling happily from her spot atop his shoulders as her little pudgy hands grasp at his dark locks.

“Aw, get down from there, kiddo,” Peter says as he reaches over to literally pluck May out of Miguel’s hair. “Miguel’s trying to get some work done, you don’t gotta bother him.” Grinning, he lifts up her shirt and blows a raspberry into her tummy. May giggles, shrieking loudly.

“Thanks,” Miguel grunts. He’s never known how to act around May - Peter wonders if he was this bad when his own daughter was a toddler, but he’s certainly not going to ask Miguel that.

“She likes you, you know,” Peter tells him mildly. “I mean, she pretty much likes everyone, but that includes you.”

Another grunt. Miguel turns back to his screens.

“Man of few words today, I see,” says Peter dryly. Like Miguel ever has a lot to say about stuff like this.

“She’s sweet,” Miguel mutters. “She’s…cute.”

“Cute.” Peter smiles. “You ever think about getting a pet or something? I feel like there’s some mean old tomcat out there somewhere that would be the perfect companion for one Miguel O’Hara.”

“Too busy.” Miguel’s typing something, but he hasn’t raised the platform yet. Granted, Peter hasn’t left the platform, but since when did Miguel decide to give warning about that sort of thing, anyway?

“Mig.” Mayday reaches out with grubby little hands, squirming in Peter’s grasp. “Mig!”

“Like I said.” Peter laughs. “She likes you.”

Miguel glances back, eyebrows raised. “Why?”

“Why not?” Peter shrugs. “If you keep assuming people dislike you, you’re not going to make the important connections you need to be happy.”

“Since when did you get so profound?”

“Since I had a kid,” Peter answers honestly. He realized that pretty early on.

“Hmm.” Miguel looks lost in thought, the spot between his brows creased in concentration. There’s somberness there too, melancholy at the corners of his lips and grief in his eyes. It feels kinda private. Peter respectfully looks away.

When Miguel speaks again, it’s the softest Peter has ever heard his voice. “Could I…see her?”

Peter grins and hands the beaming Mayday over. Miguel props her up against his hip, the way MJ likes to hold her. “Mig,” May chirps happily, and Miguel doesn’t quite smile, but Peter doesn’t miss the flickerings at the edges of his mouth.

May reaches out and bops Miguel on the nose. He chuckles, mostly under his breath, but Peter can see right through that in a heartbeat.

Uh oh. Speaking of hearts. His is suddenly beating so fast Peter’s afraid it might burst out of his chest. He hasn’t felt like this since…since he first met MJ.

Oops. Didn’t mean to do that. Miguel, oblivious to Peter’s sudden plight, boops Mayday’s nose in return, finally allowing a small smile to grace his face as she shrieks with glee. Have I ever looked at him in this lighting before? Or am I so entrenched in the house-husband lifestyle that the sight of anyone holding a kid - holding my kid - makes my nerves fry over like I’m sixteen again?

Wait ‘til MJ hears about this one, Peter thinks. I’ll never hear the freakin’ end of it.

Across from him, Mayday gurgles in joy, and Peter smiles.

#across the spiderverse #spiderverse #miguel o'hara #peter b. parker #mayday parker #my writing

[inhibited-irregularity]

Since the voting was truly abysmal and the real winner was robbed by the corrupt juries, might as well make a "they deserved better" list including both semis and the grand finale and considering both juries and the general public. So, in an attempt to be as objective as I can, here's my

☆♥︎THEY DESERVED BETTER♥︎☆

In no particular order:

🇩🇪 Germany, Lord of the lost - Blood and glitter: I admit that I wasn't a fan in the beginning, and even made a post about how I wish that the rock entries went harder and that LOTL should either commit to hardcore or be more silly with the song. I found the cheesy lyrics delivered in such a serious and dramatic manner cringey, BUT, after their performance last night, changed my mind completely. First of all, I ADORE the lead singer's vocals (and he seems like a cool guy), and the song itself has some seriously good moments, not to mention how freakin catchy it is. Their energy was through the roof, the performance was flawless, and in spite of my initial reaction to the song, I bought it and genuinely loved it. It felt like watching a concert by one of my favorite bands. Not my winner, but I was really disappointed with how low they scored.

🇪🇸 Spain, Blanca Paloma - Eaea: ROBBED. Over the years, the juries projected an image of people that look for all things *artistic* in a song (even though it usually translates as a pretentious kid in art college with no real taste picking the thing they think their 50yo profesor would approve of). Well, they be blind, since Blanca Paloma brought IT, and they failed to recognize. Outstanding vocals, stunning visuals, the power of the entire performance, and all the emotion and significance packed into a seemingly simple concept. It was more like a movie scene than a musical competition entry, she transported me into another dimension and unlocked something ancient and wonderful. All the people I've talked to had different favorites, but they all had strong, immensely positive reactions to Spain. I literally teared up and had a spiritual experience with Blanca Paloma's performance, and the energy she exuded was undeniably healing, freeing and over-all cathartic. While I knew that her chances of winning were slim and I didn't count on the public vote, she deserved SO MUCH MORE from both general public and the juries.

🇦🇹 Austria, Teya and Salena - Who the hell is Edgar: One of my favorites from the very beginning. A quality pop song with a bop-y rhythm and ingenious lyrics. Under the guise of random and silly, there's quite a few things implied - the obvious criticism of the music industry and the more subtle "people are readier to believe that a ghost of a famous writer possessed me than that a woman can write quality lyrics and have a sense of humor" (shout-out to generations of men claiming Kurt Cobain wrote Courtney Love's songs and lyrics, work on your reading comprehension) While that might be a personal observation, here's what absolutely stands. They're adorable, funny, had a fun choreography, a catchy song, the lyrics that are fun even if you don't analyze them, great personalities, solid performance, perfect delivery and the right amount of quality with a dash of random that matches Iceland's Dađy Freyr and that y'all claim to respect. Shame on the audience; the jury can't recognize talent anyway.

🇸🇮 Slovenia, Joker out - Carpe Diem: Not much left to say. Good song, good vibes, all the charisma in the world. They had Måneskin's synergy, they had a good time, the audience had a good time with them, and they were confident in a non-pretentious manner. Special mention for Bojan, the lead singer, who's shown such sportsmanship, was truly an example of a perfect esc. representative. The entire band seems very fun to hang out with, and while they're goofy, they seem very smart with how they manage to balance witty and respectful in interviews. Members aside, their music is refreshing and perfect for people that find mainstream pop repetitive but aren't into anything too heavy. Perfect for a summer music festival or a feel-good playlist.

🇵🇹 Portugal, Mimicat - Ai, coração: you know she's something special when her entire home country shows such support and excitement. I wasn't a fan at first when I saw the national performance, it seemed a bit out-dated and frankly a bit too weird for my taste, but she changed my mind as soon as she took the stage in the first semi. In my opinion, a Broadway-worthy performance, and such personality! Fun aunt vibes, and one of the coolest people this year. When I grow up, I wanna be her.

🇭🇷 Croatia, Let 3 - Mama, ŠČ: The juries are such cowards, honestly. I was familiar with some of the band's history and not everything they did was exactly my taste, but what else to expect from a band so unhinged. I had some misgivings, but they won me over quickly. The punkest thing Eurovison has seen in recent years. That's how you do anti-war, Switzerland. Satire on point. Weird, meaningful, fun, grotesque. How something like that didn't do better in Eurovision is beyond me. But leave it to the cowardly juries that left Italy's Ermal Meta and Fabrizio Moro with almost no points to do just that. I'm still butthurt.

🇷🇸 Serbia, Luke Black - Samo mi se spava: Listen, I was NOT a fan. All the homophobes aside, everyone in the country and their mom was gushing about how original and unique the song is, which can be annoying to someone who's as exposed to various aspects of pop culture as I am (humble,I know), and I still think his singing could be better. At first, he was a bit awkward and seemed pretentious during the national selection. However, the performance did stand out, he amped his energy and put such effort, and there's no denying the flawless staging and production and how well it suits him, and over time, he's proved to be a funny, likeable and down to earth guy (with flawless fashion sense). I'm proud of him and how he represented the country, and he definitely didn't deserve to be at the bottom of the list.

🇮🇸 Iceland, Diljá - Power: I'm OUTRAGED that it didn't qualify and can only call lesbophobia idk. I mean, Im not familiar with her sexuality, but if I've ever seen something that doesn't give a damn about the male gaze, this would be it. Still, it's beyond me how she didn't qualify. One of the best vocals this year, not to mention she sung FLAWLESSLY while running and jumping all over the stage with zero breaks. The track itself is meh to me, but should be something that Eurovision fans enjoy; that being said, the vocal and performance can make or break a song with such a track, and she ATE. Power indeed, I was blown away. Her being super-cute is just a bonus. She has my heart and my votes ♡ Too bad people didn't agree.

🇷🇴 Romania, Theodor Andrei - D.G.T: Ok, I can't shout that he deserved to qualify, I knew the chances were slim and the song had some ways to go, not to mention the hot mess of a national performance. However, he doesn't deserve ANY hate that he's getting, and in my opinion, he was the best male vocal this year. I'm in love with his voice and he doesn't lack charisma either. I loved the re-vamp with the acoustic guitar, but at the end of the day, the stage was a bit empty. I will add D. G. T. to my playlist though, and I wish him a wonderful career and a powerful return.

🇱🇻 Latvia, Sudden Lights - Aijā; Well, this one hurts. I know it wasn't a fan favorite, but I was rooting for it so much and still think it deserved to qualify over some *questionable* entries. While it was something straight out of my high-school playlist, I didn't find it derivative and it was warm, touching and comforting. And beautiful, goddammit. I get how it's not everyone's cup of tea, but come on.

🇵🇱 Poland, Jann - Gladiator: Was this a jumpscare? Lol. No need to write a huge paragraph, the entire world knows that he was robbed. I've never seen someone so charismatic and meant to be a performer, and I enjoyed both the song, the lyrics and the delivery, even though I immediately noticed a similarity with Judas by Lady Gaga. However, I feel obliged to say that he should work on his vocals and that y'all wouldn't be so mad if he didn't look the way he looks. Still, the true choice of Poland, and I have no doubt he would've done great in the final.

AND FINALLY .....

THE ONE TRUE WINNER

💚💚💚💚🇫🇮🇫🇮🇫🇮💚💚💚

Käärija (my beloved) - Cha Cha Cha:

Ok, he didn't lack the love or the appreciation. But the RIGGERY. The ROBBERY. THE AUDACITY.

First of all, the song is a banger. It mixes industrial rock, techno and eurodance perfectly, with flawless transitions, while managing to catch the ears of people that aren't into any of those genres. Great intro that pulls you in immediately, and the pacing done just right. Now onto Käärijä himself. He's a fucking star. A legend. It's impossible not to like him. Every video of him I've seen was so much fun. Performance wise, great energy, great delivery. The song manages to appeal so many people with staying unique and checking all the boxes. Want something for the angst? He got you. Want something upbeat? Cha cha cha motherfuckers. Want weird? "My name is Kääärijää", there's our green man. Want quality production? Boy from Vantaa's got it.

The only possible criticism I can see him receiving is something along the lines of "it's gimmicky", which is frankly a ridiculous thing to say about a Eurovision entry (insert the Maryl Streep from Devil Wears Prada meme) and if it were gimmicky, he wouldn't have become the only artist to ever have his name chanted by the entire audience while Sweden gets points, and I wouldn't have replayed it so many times since it came out without getting bored. Honestly, one of the rare songs that puts me in a good mood, cos it has that "starting from anger and angst and acknowledging bad feelings and THEN bringing you to upbeat and happy" thing going on. Eh. Fuck the jury.

This concludes my list. Special mentions.

Not my cup of tea, but deserved the praise - Norway, Italy, Australia, Armenia

Deserved more public votes, undeniable quality, but faded into the background compared to my other favs - France, Czechia

Not for me but I get it- Moldova, Estonia, Georgia

+ Acknowledging Malta for pulling that performance and getting everything possible out of a song that relies entirely on one catchy hook. Most improved entry since the nationals, good show, likeable group, fun staging.

#eurovison #esc 2023 #eurovision 2023 #eurovision song contest #liverpool 2023 #finland #cha cha cha #käärijä #eurovision austria #France #Serbia #Croatia #justice for finland #Spain #eurovision spain #blanca paloma #latvia #sudden lights #aijā #mama šč #iceland #diljá #evidemment #la zarra #jann #gladiator #esc germany #Austria #who the hell is edgar #poe poe poe

[onceuponalegendbg-rwby]

Alright let’s really listen to this soundtrack!

- Inside - Still a really good OP. Pretty hype. I’ll have to listen a few more times to decide if it beats V8 and/or V2’s. Regardless, a banger.

- Checkmate - Oh my god this is still a freakin bop. So funky. And that breakdown?! When it goes full club beat?! Too good.

- Chatterbox - The very start reminds me of the OP for season 1 of Promised Neverland. Anyway, the way Casey’s voice gets raspy on that last “out” is perfection.

- Trapdoor - I actually had that chorus stuck in my head all day. “I don’t feel like the Chosen One” didn’t need to go so hard.

- Quiet - It’s very pretty. I’m not a huge fan of the extended ticking but I get it.

- The Edge - Yeah this song still makes me emotional. I think I’ve just so closely connected it with the finale and my feelings with that.

- Red Like Roses pt 3 (Guide My Way - Wow, still fresh in my finale feels. Did not expect that intro though. “I’m what inspired the fairytale” Frick yeah!

- Worthy (BMBLB pt 2) - Probably one of the most anticipated. Oh my god it’s too pretty. Ugh my feelings. Why is this so sweet? I’m dying here! I can’t!

Now excuse me while I listen to this soundtrack a million more time.

#rwby #spoilers #yang xiao long #blake belladonna #ruby rose #weiss schnee #greenlight volume 10 #greenlightvolume10

[ghosts-and-blue-sweaters]

1, 3, and 21 for the songs ask game!

three songs that come up when you put your phone on shuffle

I’m actually super curious about this aksgajgskagsjsgs I have a very odd, wide variety of music saved, so I feel like I have no idea what to expect lol

1. Nothing But Free. Eyyyy! I really like how the singer’s voice and the electric guitar sound together :)

2. You Can’t Stop Me. OH MY GOSH THIS ONE!!! I used to listen to this a whole bunch a couple years ago. I’m really not much of a rap fan, but there’s a few songs that I really enjoy :)

3. Yellow. I genuinely forgot about this & realized partway through listening that I didn’t actually like it aksgajsgajsgajg

three songs you were recently obsessed with

1. Icarus!! Been listening to that over and over again with a Blorbo in mind hehe

2. 24! So freakin clean and nice and lyrically amazing. Yes.

3. We’re All Gonna Die. A bleak title for a bleak song lol. Very catchy though.

three songs of your childhood

1. Bible Book Bop. This one has no business being so freakin catchy.

2. The River. This is definitely more of a late childhood song though!

3. Upside Down. Curious George 2006 movie my beloved.

#ask #ask game answers

[the-drayster]

Magmortar Mail !!!

A box of salted caramel chocolates, a bag of candy hearts, a few bags of assorted snacks, including chips, pretzels, and other salty foods, as well as a plushie of a duraludon. A note came with it too, written in somewhat messy, all-caps handwriting.

"For the best boyfriend in the entire WORLD!!! Happy Valentine's day AND one month anniversary of us dating!!!! I'm genuinely so happy that I get to even spend a MINUTE with you, and I'm even MORE happy that you're my freakin' BOYFRIEND!!!! I love you so much, Drayton. I seriously don't know what I'd do without you. You're the best.

-Crispin" [@bbleague-crispin]

OGHUGOGUHOHUJ. I HAVE NO WORDS

-

[ Drayton grinned to himself, his ears turned pink, and folded the letter carefully, placing it on his desk with the rest of the snacks. He opened one of the caramels and popped it into his mouth before looking down into his pocket. A small yellow head peered up at him, and he bopped the top of it gently with a finger.

"I think this may be one of my favorite holidays, now." ]

#The Drayster Take #pokemon irl #pokeblogging #pokeblog rp

[steve0discusses]

S5 Ep 41: Shada Defenseless Against Old Man

Hey guys apparently Twitter got freakin destroyed? Everyone’s coming back to Tumblr, and just in time for me to actually update this blog in my long covid brain fog daze! (a daze which, PS, lead me to think I uploaded this yesterday. LMAO I did not upload this yesterday, you win again, Long Covid) I didn’t feel like breaking today’s episode into 2 parts today. But also, this episode is blessed for having a lot of a card fight in it, which makes these posts a fair bit quicker for me to make.

First off, Mana joins the battle basement, and she does so by just jumping down a hole in the ceiling, onto this pillar, and then onto the floor--actually baffling how she did this.

Girl, at this point just fly down.

Eventually, everyone else arrived in Battle Basement, but they did so through the door that Mana blissfully ignored.

(read more under the cut)

They took a moment to admire their dead friend floating above them, in purple cosplay spandex.

And then, seemingly miffed that Mahad was getting more attention than him, Seto decided to interrupt the welcome back party before it ever got started.

Which I dunno, Seto has seen a lot of dead people in his life, his whole village was leveled by like 3 guys with torches, so maybe he just doesn’t care to believe in reincarnated people as cards. Maybe that would bother him and he’d just rather not think about it?

For some reason, Aknadin also came on this adventure, which is something I didn’t really notice the past few episodes, and being real, it was probably very obvious but my tired ass brain couldn’t quite remember that Aknadin still exists and is a guy who is very much trying to murder the Pharaoh. So of course he’s here. And having a hard time because of the fact he’s killed everyone in Kul Elna and now they are ghosts who are not happy to see him back.

Shada, who seems to take care of Aknadin more than anyone else, was there to save him. Which leaves me to wonder if Shada was Aknadin’s caretaker. Like literally his caretaker, or assistant, or something like that. Because it sure as hell hasn’t been Seto who keeps directing this guy back to bed.

While he’s there, the ankh keyblade started to vibe.

And I was like “Oh, is Shada finally going to get it? Is he finally going to realize that Aknadin’s been possessed by evil vibes since last Tuesday or whenever he was attacked by Bakura?”

Obviously no, this is Shada we’re talking about. So instead, he beelines to some abandoned (ware)house to look for some demons.

And since I was expecting this to go to nowhere, I was surprised to see this down in the icky basement.

Like I’ll be real, did not expect Shada to pull through and be this effective at his job. Like damn. The one time we needed him to do his job he actually did it, and he found diabound. Actually a miracle.

Like either Bakura took all the skulls of his village and stuck them together, or a ghost did it. Doesn’t actually say who assembled the skull art. But I would like to believe that Bakura was the one who gave the Diabound that adorable little kitty cat frowny face.

And this next part was I think edited by 4kids or whoever is in charge of this season’s translation. Because what I saw was him go “ahhhhh” and then Shada fell forward, and Aknadin’s just holding a whole ass brick. There was no shot of him being beaned by the brick, but just trust me, he was beaned by a brick. Or Aknadin slapped him in the ass with a brick so hard Shada nearly died, it is off-screened so you can make up whatever you want.

There wasn’t really animation to this sequence so trust me on it, it was goofy, it was great, Love it when Shada got bopped by a brick and didn’t save the world.

A bunch of ghosts picked up Shada’s body, and then I guess he got shoved into the Diabound statue at this point. Honestly, I missed that somehow. Probably happened at some point in the fighting sections, I was confused, but I still have long covid so I’m always confused. Which honestly makes this show a lot more entertaining when wild stuff happens and I just don’t catch the very obvious forshadowing.

So now that’s happened, lets join in with Yugi and crew in the desert.

They would be dying but they can’t technically die in the sideways Shadow Realm or whatever this pocket dimension is. Instead they just get very, very hungry, although they cannot actually eat anything. Which does explain why Bakura is so freakin hungry for snacks and ate everything in Kaiba’s blimp when they weren’t looking at the end of S3.

Then Tristan decided “Hey guys if this is a hallucination, shouldn’t we stop taking it so seriously, and instead look for the Forbidden Memories™?”

And for some reason the person who drew Tristan this episode made him look straight up possessed. Like almost as if he’s a big 5 all over again. I have no idea why this happened, I have no idea why he even spoke so intensely this episode, but Tristan kind of went a little evil and no one cared.

And this part was mostly for myself trying to remember what the hell is going on. Like, I was forgetful before, but now I am like Pharaoh tier forgetful. Like I fully get why he forgot his own name. Guy died. Like I got the flu 5 months ago and look how forgetful I am. Pharaoh freaking DIED.

But also he did it on purpose to hide away Korbus or whatever his name is. Kronx? Krakus. Zork. It was Zork. No. It was Zorc. It was Zorc with a c to make it copyright friendly. We got there.

Still got it, yeah yeah yeah.

It is a funny thought that had Bakura not gone to jail, he would have murdered Pharaoh before Seto did it, or I dunno, maybe he would have moved on with his life. But, because he was so freaking pissed off in jail in 3000 BC, his spirit possessed a bunch of people before landing back here in a vengeance hallucination 5000 years later. 

Like we don’t know too much about the Bakura of the past, since he’s largely possessed by the ghost of the ring, but damn that kid must have had an ENERGY.

please admire how much Joey has to hunch over just to speak to Yugi in the same frame. Storyboarder’s still got it.

And I may have mentioned this before but yes, I know Pharaoh’s name, it pops up as a recommended hashtag whenever you use Pharaoh in a tag.

Bro did bring up that if we follow the Seto naming convention, however, Atem would be “Atemo.” Which is very good.

And then Past!Odion, who’s name is COMPLETELY forgotten by my brain, pulled out the millennium scales! We have barely seen these things used in this series, I was excited for something to happen!

And it was just monster fusion.

I guess he uh...doesn’t know it can weigh your literal soul and kill you in an instant, but it’s fine. We’ll leave that to Shada of the future when he becomes a burn out and calls himself Shadi.

Pharaoh sees his friends fall one by one (except for Shada who, as mentioned, got beaned in the basement by a brick and is currently trapped in the Diabound) and decides it’s time to do the Yami thing and beg for his attacker to kill him during a card game ghost fight.

So Bakura gladly opens the gate of hell so that Pharaoh can get destroyed by ghosts.

And we get this hard-to-cap segment where we see into Pharaoh’s mind, where he is protected by the spirit of his father.

Kids TV is great. Like if I weren’t so Long Covid I’d dive more into it, but like knowing that your ancestors may (or may not) have cried big ol tears because of atrocities of generations past doesn’t actually make your problems go away. Yet I can understand where they are coming from, where Yami can’t actually change the past, and he does have to do his job as Pharaoh, even though his Uncle ruined their royal reputation which lead to his Father’s death.

Like Pharaoh really is doubting his own ability to be a leader and to use these items, and it is partially his lack of experience, but also because he truly doesn’t think he deserves it. And he does not. He was not voted in. But, he does have to do it, because that’s how the system works in his day and age. And if he does not do it, Egypt falls to bandits and warring countries

Must be difficult to be a Pharaoh, who up until now, only knew Democracy in Japan, and then suddenly has to inherit a Monarchy he fundamentally should not really believe in, despite the jokes I sometimes make in the contrary.

So because the ghosts of Kul Elna were exorcised (except for Bakura) Shada shluuuurps out of this rock tablet and I had to pause the video and go.

“OK when did THAT happen????”

Because, again, I totally missed that he got shoved in there in the first place.

And mind you, I watch these first with my bro, then I watch it again to do these caps. This was the SECOND time I watched the episode and only just got that. LMAO I miss my brain.

And then the tablet explodes because without the ghosts, we can kill it.

And no, Shada did not die here, although I truly thought this was the episode he’d die in and become a ghost. or maybe he’s already a ghost. Either way, Shada lives to see another day, although gotta tell you this day was really freakin weird.

Anyway, next episode I guess we’ll see what Bakura does without his spooky tablet covered in skulls, since he only had one pokemon, as far as I know.

And, in the mean time, here is the link to read all of these in chrono order

https://steve0discusses.tumblr.com/tagged/yugioh/chrono

#yugioh #YGO #Yu-Gi-Oh #S5 #Ep 41 #Yugi Muto #Yami Muto #Seto Kaiba #Bakura #Theif King Bakura #preist seto #Shada #Other people were here I'll be real I just need to post this thing before I forget again #Egypt

[redpiperfox]

You know what Itzy's good at? Growth. You know what I absolutely adored? Itzy's new album. You know what I will never shut up about and be happy to waffle a whole tumblr post that's really only for my enjoyment? A freakin Itzy album, so without further ado--

An album listen-through of Kill My Doubt, an absolute gem of an album

Bet on Me

My first reactions are here but I think everyone agreed when this was dropped-- woah. This truly set the tone for the whole debut of the album, with a firm stance on who the album was for, and the confidence Itzy was bringing into the comeback.

The song itself does poetic and emotional, but unlike Trust Me (Midzy), does it from a soundscape that's uniquely and wholly Itzy. It's an emotional bop that you put on to push through the end of your workout/beginning of your cooldown. The video itself was a return to the metaphorical coding of the members that hit so close to the reality mark, I couldn't help but drawing parallels between their individual mv plots and their struggles as individual artists.

Bet on Me is a jog through the fog, it's running beside a train and beating it, and it's being on the edge of tears but turning your headphones up to walk away from the pain with your chin up.

Cake

I knew this would be a summer bop. I was prepared for a summer comeback. And I was prepared for it to be fun, but oh man!

It's Nayeon's Pop for this summer! It's a crackhead version of Stray Kids' S-Class! It's fresh and fun and bursting like a bag of starbursts, skipping down a pastel paved sidewalk, playful and teasing in a riddle that explodes in confidence!

Sononically, Cake achieves what Sneakers failed-- it fills it's soundscape completely, and does not leave it's verses to fend for themselves. Everything is fun and interesting and moves with the intention of keeping your attention and keeping you on your toes. Like Stray Kids, they defend the NMixx switch up in the second verse, and do it rather seamlessly.

Speaking of Stray Kids (and we'll be speaking of them a lot here, sorry not sorry in advance) the music video itself pulled some plot parallels-- lightning in the alley, headphones while a monster attacks, crackhead background plot while the foreground switches between a fun and dark colorscape, with the sassiness of hip hop running through. I hope and think it's intentional, as fourth gen and the generation bordering fifth gen further separate, and maybe as JYP as a company ride on the publically high opinion of SKZ and use that to bring all groups under their company who lack direction in this new corner of kpop that's being carved out, but maybe it isn't intentional, and even then (to me at least) that's pretty cool.

Now, I'm giving this more words because it's the title, and as a title, it speaks a lot for the albuma and direction of the group and I think it's important to notice: Cake is the end of a trilogy (more on this at the end). Sneakers to Cheshire to Cake has been a rediscovery of confidence, not just from their last trilogy, but within the three songs themselves. Just as they did in Wannabe, this song brings them to a peak of fun not giving a damn in that confidence arc.

And it's so fun and catchy! (Can confirm, will randomly start going CAKE CAKE CAKE CAKE CAKE XP)

None of My Business

I have done /such/ an extensive dissection of this after my first listen, so I'll just leave that here if you want to enjoy.

This is such an easy listen, and there's a raw vocal edge to it, like they're simply monologuing and we get to listen in. It's the lazy feeling of being too tired from the heat to do anything, but happy that it's summer and there's nothing to do anyway but be tired and happy with it.

The video itself is a hazy dream-like flush, with an edge of tipping into womanhood and all the icky edges of it that will come (...along with that green lighting on the bridge, very kard icky XD). It's a stepping off the student sheltered tent and dipping your toes into adulthood, while still relishing every last minute of teenagehood. A hint of childishness that only hormonal teens could pull off in pettiness, all with a ribbon thrown in the air, carefreeness in a warm summer wind.

Bratty

Freaky from their Cheshire album steps into the ocean, with it's bubbling, easy-riding waves. It's bobbing on tubes, losing the beach in the horizon, playing games in a lost cove, sticking tongues and running away from adults that try to end summer, and being unapologetic in enjoying childhood.

This song feels somewhere between the Checkmate album, in revisiting their older fun, bouncing sound with a more developed and mature vocal sound. It's a good song to chill out to without falling asleep.

Psychic Lover

This is a playfully tricksy sort of love song, with the Itzy twist of fun on it. The verses have this enticing drawing in to some mature romance, only to build up to a chorus that's full western pop, of grabbing you by the wrist and pulling you down a kid's slide in bright saturated colors, like they know we both aren't ready for that regal, diamond-studded romance we thought we wanted.

A proper hats off to @the-sunshine-dragon for recognizing the intro and instrumental motif that's sampled is from the beginning Enya's Orinoco Flow possibly (slow it down a bit, to like x0.75ish, it's pretty cool~!)

This song has a quintessential kpop weight to it, with the full-bodied color of reality in the depth of the vocals that are balanced and tempered with fun.

Kill Shot

Mafia in the Morning grew up, joined covert ops, and comes for your throat.

Absolute hit, a complete sniper that rapid shoots itself to the wall. Vocals toy the edge of lazy cockiness and powerful skill, Joker painted in childishness with a finger on the trigger and the barrel to the temple. Their voices are woven into a flawless team, the cohesiveness of five unique talents that have learned each others' strengths and weakness into a well-oiled assassin crew that's good at what they do when you step back and let them do what they do.

The pairing of this song with the nursery rhyme gives it the perfect edge of insanity, a slight stumble in it's perfect edge that pairs a maturing group with it's roots. It's golden, and a powerful end to the album, almost a threat tapered into a taunt to dare and try come for their image again and see what happens.

Some final notes and ending remarks: there's nothing that sells an album more than a group itself absolutely having a blast and adoring the art of what they do, and this era has been topped to the brim of the members having fun. I don't know what Lia's blonde hair, but all the crackheaded, goofy girl we see in hidden corners of their content has come to center stage. Yuna is a full-fledged idol personality (which yall made in telling her she's doing such and such wrong, so I better not hear another comment on how she's acting). Chaeryeong is out promoting in all her charm, and RYeji continue to be their viral scene-stopping selves, everyone get off my lawn, I'm a grandma absolutely enjoying what they do and I won't hear anyone whining about people doing what they love when they do it in such a fun and positive way. (...Enjoy what you like, and if you don't like, find something else, don't tell them to change.)

Itzy has been releasing music in trilogies, alternating between a powerful self-image concept and a powerful love concept. Their third album of each trilogy has been the culmination of the concept from introduction to end, with It'z Me, Crazy in Love, and now Kill My Doubt holding the most amount of songs of the trilogy and the widest exploration of sound scape.

I am so excited to see where they go next, as we possibly return to the love trilogy and experiment with new sounds and themes. (As I write this-- Japanese release?! {straps in for some more hype music] Second half of the year is always Itzy season yall~!)

#Red's album dissections #red's week in music #red's album listen-thru #red's thoughts #kill my doubt #Itzy album listen-thru #tldr: good album! highly reccomend! is a summer-soaked fun vibe and for people who don't care about chitter-chatter opinions! #Youtube #Spotify #red's album listen thrus

[mandareeboo]

*(reads tags)* Did Hop Pop drag Anne to Frurch? Were the Frastors like "Why yes Hopidiah. This is a splendid idea. Take the possible frog-eating monster to find frog jesus. What could go wrong?"

Alskdmcosldocksodcs it's actually a running joke in my discord! Favorite bits include:

Frog hymns are just ribbiting so when Anne gets home she has at least one "Frogs outside the Boonchuy house: RIBBIT RIBBIT RIBBIT Anne: oh hey I know that verse. It's a bop" moment

Anne burped once during frass (frog mass) and it was like saying 'goddamnit' in front of the cross and everyone lost their shit

Hop Pop teaching Anne the holy Frog Scripture

Hop Pop serves the Frurch as a Frog Deacon. A Freacon. Anne: "You could answer the phone 'Dont be freakin', this is the Freakin' Freacon speakin'."

We decided Frog Hozier sang "TAKE ME TO FRURCH! I'LL WHORSHIP LIKE A POLLYWOG AT THE SHRINE OF YOUR FLIES!:

The frogther, the fron, and the froly fribbit

Frogtestant Froeformation- someone nailed 95 complaints onto King Andrias' front door

The Frope fights the Pope

#Ask #Question Mandar #randox-talore #Amphibia #Frurch

[infinitelytheheartexpands]

Theodora (Royal Opera House, 2022): Reactions, Part I

well i guess i should finally get around to actually liveblogging this

this looks like the kitchen set from high school musical 2 (2007)

also AHHHHHHHHHHHH JULIA BULLOCK AND JOYCE DIDONATO AHHHHHHHHH

i want girl in the middle’s style

they are so freakin cute send help

what’s in the box

he may be evil but he has a good voice and a very nice outfit

septimius is low key like “uh what the fuck this is weird” lol

hey valens that was not very cash money of you to just yeet a napkin in your waitress’ face like that, especially when said waitress is joyce didonato

HIS FACE LMAO

“baby i love when you talk about murder like that”

“i’m gonna slap you with money”

“pls don’t”

“well fuck you”

violence

handel had no right to make this bop as much as it does

septimius you are not helping

didymus: pls help the christians

septimius: best i can do is thoughts and prayers

didymus: that’s cringe

“thank you for your excellent customer service”

nice lighting change (also SING IT JULIA)

OH WAIT THIS IS THE PRODUCTION WHERE THEY’RE MAKING BOMBS TO DESTROY THE ROMAN EMBASSY

which like, i get the argument for that directorial choice, but somehow it feels…disingenuous

we all want joyce to be our mom friend

okay this is really cute actually

making church happen anywhere

she’s so brave (they all are really)

this slow-mo thing just looks weird

playing out an elaborate persecution/martyrdom fantasy?

i’m so confused but at least joyce is killing it

oh so that WASN’T a fantasy sequence

GOT ‘IM IN THE NUTS

oh fuck

oof

julia is just so INSANELY good

i wanna hug her so bad

girl knows how to DIG into a handel recit

confused boyfriend doing his best

welcome aboard didymus

i have to admit this is beautiful and it’s making me tear up a bit

yeah. women can and should be faith leaders too!

okay katie mitchell i am willing to forgive the weird bomb plot because that was WONDERFUL

#opera #opera tag #oratorio #opera liveblog #theodora #handel #george frideric handel #händel #georg friedrich händel #wildly inconsistent production so far imo but this act finale was STUNNING #and the singers are all amazing of course

[empressofthelibrary]

prompt meme: Bailey x Dick

when a character is taken hostage by the antagonist, and their lover goes absolutely ballistic, doing everything in their power to protect their lover, and the antagonist has to restrain them, but it doesn't stop this character from trying to get to their lover, doesn’t matter what happens to them, doesn’t matter if they get beaten as long as their lover's safe

asdfkf I had meant that reblog more as trope appreciation but that's just too good to pass up tbh

I could go so silly with this, but I won't. I'm gonna do this right

---

It’s been two months and this is so goddamn huge I’m thinking about posting it to ao3 and linking to save everyone’s dashboards good freakin’ mike

Tagging @weirdfishy @amodnamedmel and @hollyjollydjarins because this will already ping Lavie and that’s the taglist I remember

--

    A word of forewarning, Dear Reader.  If you have been following Bailey’s story up until this point, you’ll know this is far, far ahead of where she is now.  This is a glance into a potential future, something that might be.  And what you see herein, some of these events may come to pass, and some of them may not.  The ones that do, almost certainly, will not happen in quite this way.  The future is always in flux, after all.

    So go, and enjoy the trip, but consider this something of a spoiler warning, and something of a caution sign.  Parts of this may not make full sense without full context, but that will come in time.

Bailey grinned as she walked down the sidewalk, groceries in hand.  Autumn leaves tumbled down from the trees, and the air was alive with the promise of an approaching thunderstorm.  It was a mid-October Friday in Central City and she couldn’t feel more alive.

Her boyfriend was coming over for dinner.  Her boyfriend.

Bailey skipped a few steps and giggled, twirling.  It was still genuinely hard to believe she was dating anyone, let alone Richard Grayson, of all people.  Nightwing.  Vigilante, hero, leader, pillar of the caped community, friend and inspiration to so many people, in and out of the mask.  …And gorgeous as hell to boot.

And he’d picked her.  A nobody from a two-horse town in the hills, stumbling her way through one mistake after another.  Trying her damndest to live up to the world of legend she’d tripped and fallen into a couple of years ago.  A guy who should be astronomically far out of her league…  Saw her as someone worth seeing.

Bailey paused to lean against a wall, pressing a hand to her sternum as the thought set her heart racing, butterflies zipping yellow-gold through her veins.  She bit her lip to stifle another excited laugh, bouncing on the balls of her feet.  He was hers.  He was hers!  And she was gonna prove she was worth it.

Bailey bounded up the stairs to her apartment, determination and joy spurring her along.  Chicken and dumplings, baked potatoes, and a bottle of apple cider might not be anything wildly fancy, Bailey thought, but I did warn him I’m not much of a cook.  And, she added with a smile, setting the ingredients out and swapping the chicken for the cider in the fridge, the chocolate-cinnamon cookies are gonna add something special.

Bailey turned the music on, bopping around the kitchen as she cooked.  She had just enough time to get things ready by the time Dick was due at six.  She’d cut it close, but that meant the food would be good and hot when he got here.

Bailey broke into a grin again, nose scrunching as she smiled down at the celery on her cutting board.  “I don’t care if Monday’s blue,” the radio crooned, and Bailey jumped in, swaying and bouncing along.

“Tuesday’s gray and Wednesday too,” her voice rose to nearly cover the music.  She knew she sounded bad, but she didn’t much care.  “Thursday I don’t care ‘bout you, it’s Friday, I’m in love…”  She swept the celery into the pot with a flourish, watching it join the onions and chicken.  “Monday you can fall apart, Tuesday-Wednesday break-my-heart…”

Bailey closed her eyes and drummed her fingers on the counter, trying to quell the nervous joy that had her wanting to run around the apartment and scream.  I’m gonna tell him.  Tonight’s the night; I’m gonna say it out loud.  She bit her lip at the thought, stomach flipping.  I’m sure he knows – hell, he probably knew before I finally figured it out and that was, oh jeez, almost a year ago holy shit.  But I’m gonna say it.  Finally.  Lanos was staying with Kyle for the weekend, after all, out in Metropolis.  They’d have the apartment to themselves, nobody to intrude on the moment.  It was the perfect chance, and she was gonna take it.

That was when her phone rang – “I got chills!  They're multiplyin'~"

Bailey turned the radio off and snagged the phone, grinning.  “Hey, Birdie.  I was just thinkin’ about you.  You on your way?”

The voice that answered wasn’t Dick’s.  “Unfortunately, Lady Sikri, your betrothed is going to be delayed.”

Bailey felt her blood run cold.  That voice, with its hollow cheer, still haunted her nightmares.  “...Arvak Rul?”  Memories of fire and pain, of dying, swirled at the edges of her mind.

Arin laughed.  “Oh, you honor me, Lady, remembering me.”

“You’re dead.”  Bailey swallowed hard.  This wasn’t happening.  “You’re dead.  I killed you.”  This couldn’t happen.

“And so allowed my rebirth in your holy flames,” Arvak smiled.  “You have blessed me greatly, Lady Sikri, and I shall continue to serve with grateful devotion.”

"I don't want your devotion," Bailey hissed.  "I want you to die and stay dead."

Arvak clicked his tongue in disappointment.  "Still trapped by your mortal shell, I see.  But you will defeat her, my Lady.  I will keep the faith."

"I'm going to kill you again," Bailey replied, her voice cold and dangerous as it finally sank in why he’d been the one to answer.  "And if you've so much as touched him –"

Arvak's laugh splashed cold water down Bailey's spine.  "Lady Sikri, I would never trust your… pet to anyone else.  But if you wish to see his condition for yourself, you would honor us ."

"Where."  The question felt so sharp with fury that Bailey could almost taste blood in her throat.

"The temple.  I trust you have access to an ultrawarp drive."

Bailey was taking off from the balcony before she knew she'd reached it, wings beating behind her, bearing her aloft.  How dare they use him to get to her like this.  How dare it work.  Bailey knew she was playing right into the Everburning's hands, but what other option did she have?

They had her Bluebird.  He was in danger because of her.  Because she loved him.  And wasn't that just a kick in the teeth?

She'd spent so long afraid to love him, so sure she’d hurt him.  So sure he’d hurt her.  And now…

This was all her fault.  Dick had been caught in the crossfire.  He was hurt, maybe dying, maybe already –

No.  No, Arvak wouldn't do that.  He was too smart.  He knew that, if Dick was dead, there was nothing in heaven or earth that could stop Bailey from personally hunting down every single one of the Everburning and taking them out.  She'd leave Arvak for last.  Make him watch as the goddess he mistook her for tore down his church and burned it to ashes.

And then she’d scatter him in pieces across the known galaxy.  See him come back from that, if he dared.

It was a short trip over the river to the abandoned warehouse where the Theseus was stored.  Wally, Uncle Barry, and Mr. Hal had set it up for her when she and Kyle had come home last spring.  Bailey still wasn’t sure where they’d gotten all the parts for a DIY spaceship hangar, but the way Wally had grinned when she’d asked told her enough.

The hangar itself was fairly spartan, with most of the space being reserved for the Theseus.  The walls were plain, save for a mural she and Kyle had painted on one side: four shooting stars – two green, one yellow, one violet – over a swirling nebula rippling with color.  A way to commemorate their adventures together.  On the other side, a staircase led to a small deck with a couple of couches and a minifridge, with the lockers underneath that.

Bailey sighed through her nose, lips pressed into a thin line as she opened her locker and grabbed the mission-bag she kept here.  Flying a damn spaceship around in broad daylight is the exact opposite of keeping a low profile, she thought to herself.  But enough weird shit happens in this city already; maybe I can slip under the radar.  She turned toward the ship, shouldering the bag, and flipped through her mental checklist.

Jason has the spare key to the lockbox in case I don’t come home.  I updated the letters a few weeks ago, which is good, because if I hadn’t it’s too late now.  Lanos is safe with Kyle.  Nothing else I can wait on.

Bailey moved up the ramp to the ship, stepping nimbly over the welding-seams that glued the pieces of differently-textured metals together.  She set a hand on the patchwork hull, smiling softly.  Laney worked so hard to keep this ship together, the whole time he was crossing the galaxy.  He’s such a resourceful kid, but I’m glad he’s not on his own anymore.  She rapped the hatch twice, for luck, and walked inside.  The ramp slid closed behind her.

Bailey sat down at the control panel, the ship’s nacelles rumbling faintly as she started the engines.  The warehouse’s roof split and slid down, the warm glow of the sunset spilling in through the front viewport.

Bailey set her jaw, guiding the ship up and forward, pointing towards open air and launching herself into the sky.

I’m coming, Bluebird.  Just hold tight.

—

In Metropolis, half a continent away, Connor Hawke lifted his head from the book he was reading.  “...Kyle?  What’s that noise?”

Kyle Rayner turned away from the stove, puzzled.  “What noise?”

“It sounds like…  Something tapping on glass.”

“Probably something I’m doing in here.  Dinner’ll be ready soon, by the way.”

“You’re sure you don’t want any help with it?”  Connor turned to lean over the back of Kyle’s couch.

Kyle grinned.  “I’m almost done.  But could you go ask Lanos if he wants to at least sit with us?  I know he doesn’t eat, but…”  He let the sentence trail off, scratching at the back of his neck.

Connor nodded, getting up from the couch.  “Sure.”

—

Bailey broke atmo, letting the Theseus ease into orbit while she fiddled with the controls.  “Setting these coordinates is gonna be hard without Laney,” she mused.  “But I got this.  Bad enough Dick’s in the middle of my fight; no need to drag anyone else into the muck.”

The comm system buzzed – a hail from the Watchtower.

Bailey froze, fingers hovering over the buttons.  If she answered, she’d have to lie.  If she didn’t, she’d look suspicious as hell.

She tapped the comm.

“Hey, Eagle!”  Booster Gold’s grinning face appeared in holo over the console.  “What’s up?  Just out for a joyride, or…?”

Bailey couldn’t help but return the smile.  She didn’t know Booster too well, but it was hard not to find him endearingly annoying.  “Something like that.  Actually…”  She tilted her head, thinking, as an idea crossed her mind.  “Is Skeets there?  I need ultrawarp coordinates and don’t have much time.”

Booster frowned, eyebrows knitting.  “That doesn’t sound like a joyride.  You got backup?”

“Yes,” Bailey lied.  “And I need to get to Thanagar asap, so please don’t make me answer any more questions.”

 Booster’s eyes widened.  “Thanagar?  Shit, is this when—”  He turned.  “Skeets, you got her?  Awesome, thanks, little buddy.”  He turned back, nodding grimly.  “Sending you the coordinates now.  Tell Kyle I said hi, okay?”

“Uh, sure,” Bailey answered absentmindedly, plugging the numbers in.  “And thank you both.”

“Good luck out there.  Call if you need help.”

“Will do,” Bailey signed off, punching into ultrawarp.

—

Wally smiled, snapping a photo of Irey and Jai sprawled over the couch and Jay, all three fast asleep.  “Oh, Linda's gonna be so sorry she missed this."

The back door blew open as Barry rushed into the room.  Wally turned, halfway into a glare before he registered the look on his uncle's face.  "What's happened?"

"Iris just called.  The Theseus just took off with no warning and in plain sight.  There's a fire near 82nd and Perez."

Wally's face paled.  "That's where Bailey's apartment is."

Two bolts of crimson slammed through the front door and down the street.

—

Bailey paced the bridge of the Theseus, unable to sit still a moment longer.  It wasn’t far to the Polaris system, not by ultrawarp, but anything short of already being there was too long.  Her hammer hung heavy at her hip, and she glared out at the rippling rainbow of warpspace, willing it to part and let her through to Thanagar.  To Arvak.  To Dick.

At long last, the prismatic void split into a burst of light, and Bailey found herself staring at Thanagar – or more acurately, at its moon.  She flitted along the console, turning on the cloaking device before turning the ship towards Kalmoran.  In and out, quick as I can, she thought.  Get him free, get him safe, and get the hell outta Dodge before Her Imperial Majesty knows I’m here.  Simple as pie.

The Theseus came to rest on Kalmoran’s surface, nestling into the shadow of a stony ridge.  Bailey slipped quietly out of the ship and kept low to the ground as her eyes adjusted.  These assholes are expecting me.  As much as I want to storm in and start busting heads, that’ll just get us both killed.  I need to be careful about this.

Her fingers tightened on the hilt of her hammer.  Every muscle in her body screamed to lunge forward, to destroy everything in sight.  It was getting harder and harder for Bailey to contain herself.

The Temple of The Lady Everburning was a cluster of spires, twisting up from the sandy soil like a crown of flames.  Starlight turned the golden stone to silver, dancing across the points.  In another life, it would have been beautiful, but the sight of it left a cold knot of fear and nausea in the pit of Bailey’s stomach.

“Guess you guys rebuilt,” Bailey muttered, taking note of the new plume of towers in the center, where she’d left a gaping hole and pile of rubble the last time she was here.

The last time she was here…  The memory hung at the edge of her mind.  Cuffed and bound to the altar, the drugged wine scattering her thoughts like dandelion seeds.  Arvak looming over her, the torch in one hand and the Eye in the other.  Feeling her soul come unmoored from her body.

The battle with Sikri.  Watching Rashel, her great-grandmother, her mentor, bear the brunt of the cosmic phoenix’ attacks, protecting Bailey as well as she could.  Rashel using her own spirit to seal Sikri back inside the crystal in a way Bailey still couldn’t quite wrap her head around.

The blur of destruction and manic high of power, fuzzy memories that made Bailey’s stomach turn.  Watching her hands snap Arvak’s neck, his body slumping to the ground.  Rubble raining down around her.  The knowledge that Thanagar was broken, fundamentally.  That the whole world, from one end of the universe to the other, was broken.  The need to wipe the slate clean so something new could be built.

Bailey shook her head, teeth clenched.  This is no time to get wrapped up in my memories.  Focus.  Keep your head level.

That was when a pained scream cut through the air.

Bailey was moving before she could stop herself, caution thrown out the window in favor of pure fury.  Two guards on either side of the Temple’s entrance – Two tawny-feathered piles on the ground, dropped by her hammer.

Up the steps, through the door.  Three more acolytes, caught by surprise, but better prepared.  One ducked Bailey’s swing and caught her by the wrist, twisting until her hand opened and the hammer dropped.  He stepped to pin Bailey’s arm and her wings behind her back, twisting painfully.  Bailey threw her wings open, one catching him in the face and making him stumble.  Another drew his mace and took a swing.  It connected with Bailey’s sternum, driving the breath from her lungs.  She fell backwards a step, gasping as she fought for air.  The third took the opportunity to pounce from the shadows, something bright and sharp in her hand.  Bailey had just enough time to twist to the side, but the taloned gauntlet raked painfully over her shoulder.

But the pain brought focus.  The mace-wielder tried to take another swing, this time at Bailey’s ribs.  She let it connect, snarling with the impact, but slammed her elbow into her opponent’s head.  He stumbled, stunned, and Bailey snatched the mace from his hands as he fell.

She had just enough time to bring it up and block the first guy’s incoming blow with an axe.  The hooked blade caught on the mace’s head, and Bailey used the leverage to sweep the weapon out of the way.  Both axe and mace went clattering to the floor, and Bailey closed the distance before the acolyte could adjust.  Her fist connected with his jaw, and he was down too.

Bailey spun, trying to find the lady with the claws.  She was standing in the torchlight, eyes wide and confused as she stared down at her gauntlets.

She stood with her back to a pillar, narrow frame dwarfed by her wings.

She looked so small, so… lost.

She can’t be more than a teenager, Bailey realized.  Suddenly Bailey’s anger shifted, and she found herself enraged on behalf of this girl, taught to fight and die for someone else’s cause.

“I don’t understand,” the girl managed weakly.  “You…  You bleed.”

Bailey blinked, shaken from the adrenaline haze enough to feel the blood running down her arm, hot and wet.  She glanced down at her bicep, twisting a little to examine the wound.  “Reckon I do.”  She started to turn and move further into the temple, but stopped.  “...You got a name, kid?”

“...Azra, my Lady.  Azra Shar.”  She looked at Bailey with wide amber eyes, hands curled against her sternum.

Bailey took a deep breath, forcing her voice into something calm.  “Well, Miss Shar, I don’t know my way around this place.  Can you point me to wherever they’re keeping my friend?”

Shar nodded, slowly, coming out of her confused daze.  “Straight down the hall to the fork, then take the left path.  Through the dining hall, into the kitchens, then turn right into the garden.  They’ll be in the Grand Hall – the doors are hard to miss.”

Bailey nodded and picked her hammer up from the floor.  “Thanks, kid.  Now get the hell out of here and go somewhere safe.”

“Y–yes, my Lady.  As you command.”  Shar turned and rushed from the foyer.

“I’m not –” Bailey sighed, shaking her head as Shar’s wingtips disappeared around the corner.  “Whatever.”

Bailey stepped through the halls, vicious anger burning low in her stomach.  Arvak’s using child soldiers now.  She’s what, fifteen?  Relatively, at least.  Just a kid.  I can’t believe he’d stoop so low, the vile bastard, but I shouldn’t be surprised.

She leaned harder against the wall as pain spread through her ribs, hissing softly between clenched teeth.  Kidnapping innocents, dragging people into the crossfire, getting kids involved in his war…  All because he wants to see the world burn.  Bailey shoved away from the wall.  It was true that there was so much broken, on Thanagar, on Earth, everywhere.  But ripping it all down in some kind of divine apocalypse wasn’t the solution.

There’s hope, Bailey thought to herself, forcing another step.  Her lungs were starting to burn.  There was probably some internal damage from the mace.  Had one of the guards at the door managed to score a hit, too?  She didn’t remember.

There’s hope, she repeated.  No matter how broken and bleak and screwed up things get, I know there’s a light to keep fighting for.  And I know that because…  A series of images flashed through her mind:  Dick, as Nightwing, helping her out of the museum window.  Wally’s arm slung around her shoulders, both of them laughing about something stupid.  Standing with Nelle, Kyle, and Donna at the art gallery, talking and having fun.  Watching Wally and Roy argue over the grill at the annual Titans cookout.  Learning to fence with Jason and launching into Tybalt and Mercutio’s duel just because.

Laney’s gigawatt smile when he’d reclaimed his memories.  The way he’d been so proud to show her the physical body he’d built for himself, and so eager to learn about Earth firsthand.  How determined he had been to find Aya, how shy he’d been to reunite, and how excited they both were to build a siblinghood.

Dick building a blanket fort with Lian and the Tornado Twins when he’d been put on mandatory injury leave. His fingers sliding down her wrist and over her palm, twining with her own.  The way he leaned into her when he was tired, pulled her against him when she could hardly hold herself up.  Dancing through the air together, turning the city into an improvised trapeze act.  Soft words whispered into scalps and palms, gentle kisses and strong arms that let her feel like it was safe to fall apart.

Bailey grit her teeth, pushing herself forward.  I can have hope for the world because they’re in it.  As long as the people I love are here, there’s nothing we can’t fix.  Nothing we can’t do.  Nothing we can’t create.  Bailey exited the kitchens, glowering across the garden at the massive, shining doors of the Great Hall.  They were shaped like two upswept wings, the feathers shaped into stylized points like flames.

And that is why I will never let Arvak or Sikri take anyone else from me.

—

Connor set his fork down, looking over his shoulder in confusion.  “Okay, please tell me one of you is hearing that.”  A sharp tnk-tnk-tnk sounded from the wall, growing steadily louder as it continued.

Beside him at the small table, Lanos turned to peer in the direction of the noise.  “I can hear it, yes.”  He looked to Kyle.  “Lantern Rayner, is that not the wall-safe where you keep your power battery?”

Kyle’s brow knit in concern.  “Yeah, and a couple other – Wait, how do you know where I keep my battery?”

“I took note of its placement in case of emergency,” Lanos bluffed, looking for all the world like a child caught with his hand in the cookie jar.  “I know the Captain’s orders – no vigilantism until I have acclimated to life on Earth.”

“Mm-hmm,” Kyle replied, one eyebrow raised, as he pushed away from the table and stepped to the wall, taking down the painting that hung there.  “Anyway, the battery isn’t the only thing in here, and – Gah!”

All at once, a violet light ripped out of the safe in a plume of drywall dust and blew past Kyle’s head, hanging a hard left and smashing through the window.

“Well there goes my deposit,” Kyle joked, turning to watch it go.

“Captain Adler is in trouble,” Lanos stated, his normally chipper tone fading into something serious.  The humanoid hologram he wore dispersed in a flash of emerald.  “We need to follow that ring.”

Connor looked between the two, already turning for the bow and quiver he’d left by the door.  “Fill me in later.  I’ll be suited up as fast as I can be.”

Kyle nodded, already in his green-and-black.

—

Bailey pushed herself towards those massive, shining doors, feeling bile rise in the back of her throat.  Time was running out.

Another shout cut through the air.  Bailey threw herself across the sand.

The double-doors slammed open, an Everburning acolyte landing in the dust and skidding.

Bailey snapped her head up to see Dick, shirt torn, bruised and bleeding, breathing hard as he caught himself on the doorframe.

“Hey, Angel,” he managed, that crooked grin spreading over his face as he made eye contact.  “I was starting to think you were gonna miss the party.”

Bailey jumped forward, grabbing Dick by the waist and spinning to pull him out of the way as another of the Everburning swung a hammer at him.  “And let you have all the fun?  Never.”

Dick laughed and leaned in for a quick kiss before pulling away and turning to face the fight.  “Feel like dancing?”

“Always, Birdie.”  Bailey shifted her grip on the hammer, lightning crackling across the head.

"What do you know about these guys," Dick asked, ducking a mace and swerving to trip the guy swinging it.

"Is 'evil space cult' not obvious?" Bailey slammed her elbow into an acolyte's exposed throat, then grabbed him by the breastplate and turned, using him to block an incoming blow.

Dick jerked to the side, managing to get his head out of the way of an Eveburning blow, but taking it on the shoulder instead.  He grunted in pain, and Bailey turned, driving her hammer into the opponent’s helmet with a snarl.

"Is that all?" Dick caught one of the Everburning in a hold and twisted, followed by a pop and a pained shout.  "You’re out for blood."

"They kidnapped you."  Bailey's hammer came down in the soft space under an acolyte's ribcage.  "They dragged you halfway across the galaxy."  A wing snapped under her hands.  "And they were going to kill you."  Bailey spun, wrenching an axe from a dropped opponent's belt and swinging it at another.

And suddenly Bailey's arm was frozen, Dick's hand wrapped around her wrist.  His other arm looped around her waist, pinning her against him.  The axe-blade hovered an inch from the acolyte's neck.

"I'm okay."  Dick's voice was strained, rough.  But his face pressed close against her temple, breath stirring the hair that slipped from under the helmet.  "I'm alive.  And we're gonna get out of this."  Gently, he pulled at her arm, guiding the axe away from the Thanagarian's neck.  "We're gonna go home."

Bailey closed her eyes, letting herself feel his presence, his body against hers.  Let herself breathe him in, vanilla and amber.

He was here.  He was alive.  She could still keep him safe.

Slowly, her grip loosened on the axe, and it fell into the dust below.  The acolyte scrambled away, taking off.  Bailey didn't give a damn – she turned, burying her face in Dick's neck, tangling her fingers in his hair and trying to muffle the sobs bubbling up around the lump in her throat.

His arms twined around her lower back, under the base of her wings, as he pulled her close.  "Hey.  It's gonna be okay."

"I don't want them to hurt you," Bailey whispered.  "I won't let them hurt you like they hurt me."

"Well this is a beautifully tender moment," a new voice drawled.  "But I'm afraid I have to interrupt."

Bailey whirled, pushing Dick behind her, wings flaring protectively.  Arvak stood on the steps to the Hall, a serpent’s smile spreading across his face.  His hair had warmed from brown to red, and two golden-feathered wings stretched from his back; all physical evidence that what he’d told Bailey was true – He had died.  And Sikri had brought him back.

I only legitimized him, Bailey realized.  I fucking tied him to me.  I gave him exactly what he wanted.  I’ll never be free now.  Oh, god, what have I done?

Dick’s hand tightened on Bailey’s arm.  “Give.  That.  Back.”

Bailey blinked, gaze refocusing.  Sitting over Arvak’s heart, holding his tabard over his breastplate, were three golden feathers fixed to an amber cabochon.

The feathers she’d given Dick.  The favor she’d placed in his hand, trying to tell him how she felt.  The pin he’d made from it, to tell her he finally understood what she meant.

And the wrong man was wearing it.

“That isn’t yours,” Bailey hissed.  “And you have no right to it.”

“Oh, but I have every right, My Lady.”  Arvak’s voice dripped with false sweetness.  “Far more than he does, anyway.  I was the first you chose.  The first you blessed.  He –” Arvak jabbed an accusing hand forward “-- is nothing.  Mortal.  Powerless.  He isn’t even Thanagarian – he’s worse than the Wingless.”

“Bailey, what the fuck is he talking about,” Dick asked in a whisper.  She didn’t answer, too focused on Arvak coming down the steps.  More of the Everburning fell in beside and behind him, silently surrounding the scene.

“I have no aspirations of courtship, Lady,” Arvak continued.  “I know my station as your humble servant and vassal.  But if you’ll allow me –”

THOK!

Bailey drew her arm back, knuckles stinging.  “How dare you,” she spat.  “This man is everything to me.  He is a source of comfort when I have none.  The light that brings me out of my darker days and guides me home.  The example that inspires me to be my best, the person who reminds me who I want to be.  I can keep fighting for each new dawn because I know he’s right there beside me, fighting for the same thing.  The same dream of a better tomorrow.  He is the reason I have a future to hope for.”  She drew back, glaring down at Arvak in disgust.  “I love him.  And you will never.  Touch him.  Again.”

Arvak pulled himself to his feet, one hand still holding his jaw.  A bruise was already forming, and blood colored the space between his fingers red.  Likely a split lip or a broken nose, Bailey thought.  Maybe she’d gotten lucky and managed both.

Arvak lifted his hand away from his face, wiping away the blood.  He stared at his hand, contemplating, as he assessed the cut in his lower lip, the missing tooth, and the crimson still running from one nostril.  “I… See,” he said, clicking his tongue.  “I know that’s simply the shell talking, Lady Sikri.  I know that isn’t you.”  He motioned to the Everburning around them, and the circle tightened.  “But we will hear your truth soon enough.  And then this world will meet the end it deserves.”  He turned, hands behind his back, and started to walk away.

“No,” Bailey snarled, lunging forward.  Her hand closed on his wing, but the acolytes grabbed her and pulled her back.  There was shouting behind her, and a too-familiar voice in pain.  “Dick?!”  Bailey swerved, trying to get to him.  But there were too many to fight, was too much pain under her ribs.  She screamed, half raging anguish, half futile warcry, as hands forced her to her knees in the dirt.

The cuffs came down around her wrists with a sharp click, arms now bound around her own wings, behind her back.  A rough hand jerked her up by the shoulder, forcing her forward.

This is all my fault, Bailey thought to herself.  We can’t beat them.  And now they’re gonna kill us both, summon Sikri into my corpse, and destroy the goddamn universe.  And it’s all because of me!  I’m literally gonna be responsible for the end of everything!

“So,” Dick whispered as the Everburning shoved him into step beside Bailey.  “Somethin’ you wanna tell me?”

Bailey blinked, dragging her thoughts out of the downward spiral to replay the last few minutes over again.  Her eyes went wide when she realized what she’d said.  “Aw shit.  That…  That wasn’t how I wanted to say it.  Fuck.”

“I was talking about you being worshipped by some kind of apocalypse cult, but sure, let’s focus on you using the L-word.”

“Right, bigger things to worry about.”  They climbed the steps and were marched into the temple proper.

“We are talking about that later, though.”

“If we live to later,” Bailey hissed back.

“Oh, don’t worry, Angel.”  Even beaten half to hell, Dick’s crooked little grin was infectious.  “We’ll live.  Trust me.”

“Always.”  Bailey could feel hope sparking in her chest again, dim though the light was.  “If there’s anybody that can come up with a plan to get us out of here, it’s you.”

“You’ve beaten them before, right?  How?”

Bailey’s stomach churned, seeing the stone dias under the skylight ahead of them.  Arvak standing at it, waiting.  “I lost, actually.”

“...Ah.”  Dick looked away, gaze fixed on some indistinct point in the distance.  Something bitter twisted into his grin.  “Y’know, Angel, when I said I’d meet you at the altar one of these days, I don’t think this is what I meant.”

Bailey blinked, stumbling over her own feet as she was shoved down the steps.  “I – gah – What?!”

Dick turned, something akin to a laugh in his voice, as they were both forced to their knees again, in front of the altar.  “Had I not said that out loud yet?”

Bailey’s mind was spinning, struggling to keep up under the emotional whiplash.  He wanted to marry her?!  They were about to die – everything was about to die – and he was talking about getting married?!

“You picked a helluva time to bring this up!”

Dick shrugged with one shoulder.  “We might not get a better one.”  He shifted to look at her, cornflower-blue eyes burning like stars.  “I love you, Bailey Adler.  And I wanna marry you one of these days.”

    Bailey’s heart leapt into her throat, tears stinging in her eyes.  “I…  I love you too, Bluebird,” she whispered.  “With all my heart.”  A moment’s pause, followed by a half-hysterical laugh.  “But please tell me this isn’t how you’re actually proposing.”

“If you two are quite done,” Arvak drawled, “we have our own ceremony to complete.”

Bailey snapped her head up to look at Arvak, already holding the Eye in his hands.  It pulsed and flickered with an orange glow, filled with Sikri’s fire.  But then something over Arvak’s shoulder caught Bailey’s attention.

“No, actually, I’m not,” Bailey quipped, dragging her gaze back down to Arvak.  “I’m not done talking and interrupting your ceremony.  You really think I’m Sikri?  Really think I’m your Everburning Lady of Holy Destruction or whatever the fuck?”  She shoved herself to her feet.  “If that’s true, why do you need to force me to be here?  Why do you need to kidnap my boyfriend and use him as bait to drag me across half a galaxy?  Why do you need to bind my wings?!”

Dick glanced up, watching with cautious concern.  Meeting her gaze, he nodded once, barely perceptible.

Bailey stomped up onto the altar, spinning to face the crowd.  “If I’m your damned goddess, why does your high priest have to fight me?  If he’s Sikri’s chosen mouthpiece, why doesn’t he listen to me?!”  The words left her chest in a roar, righteous anger filling her lungs.  “I know you are all so tired, so angry and jaded with the world.  I know what Thanagar is like!  I’ve walked the lower levels!  I’ve seen your pain, your misery!  But there is hope, and it isn’t in the form of some – some divine doomsday!”

“Don’t listen!”  Arvak snarled, gripping Bailey’s wrist and trying to yank her off the altar.  “This isn’t Sikri talking, it’s the shell she’s trapped inside!  There’s only one way to make things right, and you all know it!”

“I know what it’s like!”  Bailey ripped her arm free of Arvak’s grip.  “I know what it’s like to feel alone!  To feel like there’s nothing you can do to fight against the evil in this world!  To feel like there’s nothing worth fighting for!”

A faint violet light started to spill into the room as Bailey continued.  “Things are bad.  I won’t deny that!  You wouldn’t be here if they weren’t.  You look ahead and all you can see is more of the same, more pain, more sorrow, more lonliness and suffering.”

“Because that’s all there is anymore,” Arvak argued, trying to take control of the crowd.

“No,” Bailey cut him off.  “No, that isn’t true.  You all came here because you were hungry for something, for some shred of hope, connection, community!”  The violet light was brighter now, radiating from behind her.  “Alone, we can’t find our way out of the dark.  We need friends, family – we need love to guide us out.  To give us hope, a reason to fight, to make things better.”  Bailey glanced down, meeting Dick’s wide eyes, and smiled.  “I found my star to follow.”

There was the faintest clink of metal, and the flicker of a grin across Dick’s face.  Bailey closed her hand around her prize.  Perfect timing.

Arvak snarled, grabbing Bailey with one hand on her wings, the other pulling her leg out from under her.  She hit the altar with a grunt, but kept her fists clenched at her back.

Dick sprang over the altar, slamming his knee into Arvak’s face with a wordless growl.

Bailey dragged herself up to one knee, spitting out blood from where she’d bitten her tongue.  How did Gigi start this again…?  Right, I remember.

Taking a deep breath, Bailey started the oath.  “For hearts long lost and full of fright.”  She shoved herself upward, climbing to her feet.  “For those alone, in blackest night!”  She could feel the power surging through her hands and up her arms, making a beeline for her heart.  Fitting.  “I accept the ring and join the fight!  Love conquers all, with violet light!”

And suddenly Bailey was suspended in a glowing crystal cocoon.  Power flowed around her, through her, melding the broken rib, burning away her exhaustion and fatigue.  She smiled, bright and joyful, as she pulled her hands free from behind her back, the shackles long gone, and drove her fist into the crystal wall.  The gauntlets she wore now were pink and sliver, knuckles studded with red-violet crystals.

Fractures spiraled out from that point of impact, and with a loud KR-KRACK, the cocoon shattered, fragments spiralling away and dissolving into light.  Bailey threw her arms out, pale pink wings stretching, as she leapt into the air.  Her breastplate and the skirt of armored plates were the same rosy red-violet, detailed in silver, and with the starburst of the Violet Lanterns encircling Sikri’s upraised wings on her chest.  The helmet was gone, replaced with a winged headdress, violet, pink, and silver.  She grinned, whirling.  A brilliant, giddy feeling poured through every vein, inescapable and enrapturing.  And there was someone Bailey needed to share it with.  Where is he?

Arvak had Dick pinned against the altar, a knife in his hand.  Suddenly all the joy in Bailey’s heart turned to something else, something violent and vicious and sharp.  With a wordless snarl, she dove, catching Arvak’s wrist and shoulder, wrenching the limb backwards.

Arvak screamed as something snapped, but Bailey didn’t relent, snatching him up by the back of his robes, driving the both of them into the air with a powerful beat of her wings.

“I told you,” Bailey hissed, “what would happen if you hurt him.”  She carried them higher and higher, through the skylight and up into the air.  The ring gave her speed, and soon they had left the ground far behind them.

“Let me go,” Arvak howled, arm hanging uselessly at his side while he thrashed.

“You sure about that,” Bailey asked, feeling the manic grin spread across her face.  She held out her arm, letting Arvak feel the distance to Kalmoran’s surface.  “I’ll do it.  Ask nice.”

“Bailey, no!”  A streak of emerald light shot up from below, and suddenly Kyle was hovering in midair beside her.

“Hey, Glowstick.”  Bailey didn’t take her eyes off Arvak.  His eyes were wide with terror, his one good arm wrapped around hers.  His wings flapped behind him, one bloody and pierced with a green-fletched arrow.  “Connor’s here too, I take it.”  If Bailey dropped Arvak, it would be to his death.  Something in Bailey enjoyed that thought, enjoyed this sight.

“Nobody needs to die.”  His hands were out, palms up, trying to reach her.  “C’mon, look at him, he’s not worth it.  Let’s just go home.”

“...He killed me, you know.”

“What?”  Kyle’s tone was one of disbelief.  “You, uh, look pretty good for a dead woman.”

“I came back.  It’s fine.  I’m fine.”  Liar.  “But he was gonna kill Dick.  And I can’t let that happen.”  Bailey relaxed her grip, just for an instant, and bit down on a laugh as Arvak screamed, his nails digging into her exposed arm.

“It’s not like I didn’t warn him,” Bailey continued.  “Told him at the start I was gonna kill him again.  And that I’d make him suffer, this time, if he hurt him.”

“So why haven’t you dropped him yet?”  There was something cold in Kyle’s voice now.  Almost like his objections were withdrawn.

Bailey shrugged with the shoulder that wasn’t holding Arvak.  “Dunno.  Figure Dick’d be pretty pissed about it, I guess.”  She drew her arm back in, leaning down into Arvak’s face.  “Speaking of?  You have something that doesn’t belong to you.”  Bailey reached forward and ripped the brooch from Arvak’s chest, the torn fabric sliding off and spinning away into the air.

“My – My Lady, please –”

“Not your anything, creep,” Bailey snarled.  “How many times do I have to tell you that?”  She drew back, holding him out again.  “Doesn’t matter.  You did ask politely.”

“What are you –  No!”  But Arvak’s protests were cut off as Bailey let go – catching Arvak in a crystalline bubble.

Kyle let out a breath.  “I’d have understood.  But I’m glad you didn’t.”

Silently, Bailey turned, diving back towards the temple.  Arvak, in his hamsterball, followed behind.

The sound of combat rose to meet the three of them as they neared the ground.  Diving through the skylight, Bailey realized the entire temple had been thrown into chaos.

The rest of their party was still trapped at the altar, slowly trying to carve their way through the crowd to the door.  Around them, the Everburning seemed to be fighting themselves, voices shouting and blows flying.  Dick was leaning on Connor’s shoulder, the two of them trying to dodge and defend, aided by the figure hovering above them.

“LANEY?”  Bailey’s tone was outraged.  “Kyle, what the fuck–!  Why is the kid here?!”  Turning, she smacked her friend upside the head.  “What is wrong with – Ooh, we are gonna talk about this when we get home.”  Without waiting for a reply, Bailey dove into the fray.

“Yes ma’am,” Kyle snarked, rubbing the back of his head and following.

“Greetings, Captain!”  Laney’s greeting was chipper as ever.  “Are you well?”

Bailey braked in midair, wings flaring, as she caught the little android by the shoulders and held him out at arms’ length.  “Forget about me, kiddo, are you okay?”

“I am operating at optimal capacity,” Lanos chirped.  “Minor surface damage, but nothing worth concern.”

Bailey wrapped a hand around the back of Lanos’ head and pressed his forehead to hers.  “Good.  I need you safe.”  Letting go, she turned and dropped to the ground.  “Dick!”

Dick turned, pushing off of Connor’s shoulder, a strained smile on his face.  “I’m here.”

Bailey wrapped one arm around his chest, pulling him into her, sinking her fingers into his hair again as she dragged him into a searing, hungry kiss.  Something surged up from her chest, flowing forward, through her and into him.  Pulling away, Bailey wrapped herself around Dick, folding her wings around his shoulders and burying her face in his neck.  “I love you.”

“I know,” Dick replied, pulling away and holding Bailey’s face gently, thumb tracing an arc over her cheekbone.  “I love you too.”

THWAK!

Connor winced, turning, as the Everburning member dropped to the ground.  “Sorry, didn’t mean to interrupt the moment.”

“No, we need to get out of here,” Dick acknowledged, and then paused as a puzzled look crossed his face.  “Bailey?  Did you…  Heal me?”

“Mmmaybe?”  Bailey blinked, letting her eyes skim over Dick’s chest.  The cut that had crossed from his left shoulder to his sternum was gone, as were the bruises that had formed.  “I, uh, don’t know everything this thing can do yet.”  She held up her left hand, indicating the ring with a wave.

“The Star Sapphire rings have the strongest healing capabilities of all the Lantern rings,” Lanos offered, pushing the battle back with a wall of green light.  “A Sapphire with a strong enough love can even bring their loved one back from death’s door.”

“The Princess Bride jokes write themselves,” Kyle chimed in.  “Can we skip to the part where we get the hell out of here?”  A winged horse leapt from his ring, galloping in a downward spiral and landing in front of Connor with a whinny and a toss of its head.

Connor laughed and swung onto the horse, grinning.  “So sentimental.”

“So dramatic,” Bailey corrected, words eased with a fond grin.  She closed her eyes, smiling, tapping into the warmth lodged in her chest, letting it expand until it felt like her ribcage would burst.  Violet light burst from the ring in a flare, coalescing into a sleek, angular motorcycle.

Dick raised an eyebrow, throwing one leg over the seat.  “Now who’s being sentimental?”

Bailey shrugged wordlessly, swinging on behind him.  “I have far less hesitation about holding on, this time.”  Her arms wrapped tight around his waist, pulling herself close against his back as she pressed her cheek to his shoulder.

A low chuckle rumbled through Dick’s chest as he pressed a hand against Bailey’s clasped ones.  He revved the bike’s engine, and Bailey could almost feel the grin on his face.  “Laney?  Can you clear us a path to the door?”

“My designation is Lanos,” Laney corrected, the note of cheer in his voice turning hollow.  “And yes, I can.  Lantern Rayner?  I am handing crowd control over to you.”

“On it, bud.”  Kyle raised his hands like a conductor, and a platoon of skeletal emerald warriors surrounded them, forming a shieldwall.

Laney turned, and bright green energy flowed from his hands, forming a plow.  Smart kid, Bailey thought, pride swelling in her chest.  Just push ‘em aside, minimize injury.

“GA, you got the door?”

“I think I can handle that,” Connor said, already nocking an arrow.

“Alright then.”  Dick’s voice was level, focused on the mission.  “We move on three.  One.  Tw–”

“Three,” Laney interrupted, shoving forward.

The rest of the party stumbled into action behind the android, Kyle’s shieldwall breaking and moving along to hold the gap as they moved.  Two shafts flew from above, landing in the joints of the door’s hinges.  A faint beeping rose into the air, and a moment later, twin explosions erupted from them.  With a creaking groan, the doors dropped from the wall, falling to the ground with an echoing boom.

The room fell quiet for a moment, as the riot stilled to look at the remains of the door.  And then, slowly, everyone turned to stare at Bailey and her companions, wreathed in emerald and amethyst light.

“Go faster,” Bailey urged.  “Go go go go go go now go –”

Shouting erupted around them again, louder this time.  Some were calling out to Bailey – “Lady Sikri!” – others calling for blood – “Liar!  Pretender!”  Bailey tucked her head against Dick’s shoulder and willed the bike to move faster.  The five of them tore through the doorway in a blur of green and violet, Arvak trailing behind.

“I left the ship over there,” Bailey yelled, pointing over Dick’s shoulder.  “Behind that ridge!”

The team hung a hard right, and they tore across the landscape, sand and gravel flying up behind them.  They shot over the open space, the bike roaring up and over the ridge.

“Hold on,” Bailey yelled, the bike dissipating as her concentration shattered.  Dick’s arms locked around her neck, her arms sliding underneath him.  Swooping down into a landing, she raised an irritated eyebrow.

“There were safer ways to get to the ship.”

“I thought a straight line would be faster,” Dick replied, head tilting as he grinned down at her.  “And you can’t tell me we’re not both enjoying this.”

Bailey’s grip on Dick’s thigh tightened.  “Y’know, if you wanted me to scoop you up like this – “

“Hey, lovebirds!”  Kyle was standing on the Theseus’ boarding ramp, hands thrown up in exasperation.  “Get your asses in the ship before we leave without you!”

“Right, escaping, sorry!”  Bailey kicked into the air, Dick still in a bridal carry.  “He’s just.  He’s very distracting,” she managed, setting him down as the hatch hissed closed behind her.

“Yeah, well, save the honeymoon for when we get home,” Kyle sighed, the fond smile taking the bite out of his words.  “And preferably when I’m not around.”

“They’re as bad as Ollie and Dinah,” Connor teased, leaning on the wall.  “Can’t blame ‘em though, being newlyweds and all.”

“What.”  The word came out of Bailey’s throat in a strangled cough.  She’d blame the way she half-fell into Dick on the Theseus’ rough takeoff.

“They’re joking,” Dick reassured, rolling his eyes at the commentary and easing Bailey back to her feet.

“I do remember an altar and vows,” Kyle pointed out.  “And a ring.”

“We even have a priest," Connor added, gesturing towards Arvak, slumped in the corner of the brig, unconscious.  "Almost lost him when you dropped him a minute ago, but he's here."

Bailey sighed hard through her nose, crossing her arms as she glared into the cell.  "He sure is.  Question is, what do we do with him now?"

"Well," Dick said in a half-drawl, "in my experience, crazy bad guys usually go to the authorities."

"No Earth court has jurisdiction over this dirtbag," Bailey replied.  "What authorities do we take him to?"

"The Lantern Corps can take authority," Kyle offered, face scrunching.  "There'll be, like, paperwork and stuff.  But he was, technically, arrested by a Green Lantern and a Star Sapphire."

Bailey felt her own face mirror Kyle's.  "Ew, paperwork."  She shook her head.  "I'm gonna go check in on Laney.  I know he said he's fine, but the way we jerked just there, I don't like it."

Dick nodded as she stepped away.  "We'll give you two a minute."

Bailey turned and caught Dick's hand, pressing her lips to his knuckles.  "Thank you, love."

"And I thought the pining was bad."

Bailey shoved Kyle's shoulder as she went by.  "Aw, shuddup, Glowstick.  You ain't got room to talk."

Kyle stammered, caught off-guard, as Bailey swept onto the bridge.  She grinned as she heard Connor behind her: "Kyle?  What did she mean by that?"

The doors hissed shut before she could catch Kyle's reply, and Bailey found herself striding towards the Captain's chair.

"Hey, Laney-bug.  You doing alright?"

Lanos turned his head to glance sidelong at his Captain.  "I believe I have answered this question already, Captain Adler."  All the false cheer was gone from his voice.  "I am in optimal condition."

Bailey sighed and turned to lean against the console, peering out the viewport at the stars.  "Physically, maybe."  She turned back and set a hand on his shoulder, thumb running back and forth over his pauldron.  "But something's bothering you.  You... don't have to talk to me about it now, not unless you want to.  But if and when you do, I want to listen."

After a long moment, Lanos looked up at Bailey, his eyebrows knitted.  "...Thank you, Bailey."

"Hey, what are starship captains for, if not that?"  Bailey wrapped a hand around the side of Laney's head and kissed the top of his helmet.  "I take care of my crew."

Laney's expression shifted into a smile as he laid his hand around Bailey's wrist.  "What's our course, Captain?"

"Oa.  We're dropping our guest into a sciencell and throwing away the key."  Bailey crossed her arms over her chest, jaw set in a grim line.

Laney drew back, shocked.  "Are you certain, Captain?"

Bailey shrugged.  "I know it sounds harsh, but believe me, Arvak's getting off light.  If it were up to me, he'd be in the airlock, not the brig."  Her tongue clicked as she sucked on her lower teeth.  "Which is why, I suppose, it isn't up to me."

"Oh!"  Laney heaved a sigh of relief.  "The prisoner.  I had thought you were referring to the young woman in the ventilation system."

"The who in the what."

Skreee-THOOMPH!

Bailey spun on her heel to find a pile of brown feathers and lanky limbs picking itself up from the floor.  A panel hung loose from the ceiling, dangling by one bent screw.

"Azra?!"  Bailey could feel the headache building behind her eyes.  "Kid, how the – what the hell are you doing here?!"

Azra bit her lip and pushed a lock of long blonde hair out of her face, shoulders high.  "You told me to go somewhere safe, My Lady."

"I just meant – I didn't mean – Argh!"  Bailey dragged her hands down her face and sighed, trying to calm down.  "Kid, you need to go back to Thanagar.  Your parents–"

"Are dead," Azra interrupted.  "I'm an orphan.  No family to speak of."

Bailey opened her mouth, then closed it.  "Friends, then.  School?  A life!"

Azra's eyes were downcast.  "...I was just a child when Arvak found me.  The Everburning was all I had."

There was a full marching band playing between Bailey's temples now.  "...Well.  I can't really send ya back there, now can I?"

Azra looked up at Bailey, expression uncertain.  "My Lady, I–"

Bailey held up a hand.  "We can sort this out after we deal with Arvak.  But hell if I'm gonna drop you off at some spaceport, so don't even ask.  You are too damn young to be out on your own."

"Captain?"  Laney had moved to the navigator's seat.  "Shall I set course for Oa now?"

Bailey nodded with a sigh, falling into the Captain's chair.  "Roll out.  And tell the boys they can come in whenever they're ready."

#Bailey gets kidnapped enough as the story goes along it's Dick's turn okay #i'm posting this at 12:30 at night so please forgive any typos this is 100% a rough draft #i decided halfway through that this isn't how i actually want to handle... pretty much any of these plot points #but it's way the HELL in the future so we'll see what happens when we actually get to this point #oh wow by the time the formatting got fixed it's 1:15 in the morning #wheeeeeee i hope you guys like this

[shinadog]

helloooo~ for the rgg ask game, could you answer: A9, B3, C3, C10, D6, E2, F4 ^-^

Favorite game location(s)?

Do you have a comfort character in the franchise? If so, who is it?

Compilling two questions in a single drawing is allowed because I said so. ANYWAY. Favourite place is Morning Glory, especially the beach ! And I supposed Daigo could fit the comfort character spot? He hates it :DD

Which character(s) deserved better?

Not doing a drawing for this one but ! It's a tie between Mirei Park and Rikiya. Park because I feel like she could have brought so much more to the story, and that I really hate the way she was just discarded by the plot before she could reach her full potential (I wanted her to be the villain so bad. let her destroy the clan :////) and Rikiya because he did nothing wrong ever and I wanted him to be happy and safe.

Which game do you think should get a remake?

NONE ! I'm not a remake person, I want new content !! (that being said, I wouldn't say no to an Ishin or Kezan remake if that means we get to play those, but... Ishin is already so freakin pretty I'd really hate to get a shiny Dragon Engine remake instead)

Do you think Kiryu was a good father figure to Haruka and Daigo?

I think Kiryu would have been great if his saviour/"I must sacrifice my own hapiness immediately and at all times" complex didn't get in the way.

Also I really love how this question is worded. It's Haruka and Daigo and that's it. I can almost pictures all his other kids glaring at me in the BG as I answer this.

Bops: Haruka Sawamura, T-Set or Dream Line?

I hate idols and pop stars with all my heart but I love my daughter so I have all of Haruka songs on my MP3 she's so good ;.;

What is your Smile Burger order?

ANYTHING BUT A SMILE. God I felt so bad when I asked for a Smile in (K2? I think?) and the poor worker had to smile like. Uuuurgh x-X

#no art for all the questions BUT it makes me feel so happy to draw morning glory again #it's home #weird art of mine #ask #yakuza #rgg

[bbboar]

@boogerwookiesugarcookie asked me to answer ALL of the end of year asks so here we go! Thanks Naja!

Going to put it under a readmore bcs long

1.Song of the year? Dream Girl Evil by Florence and the Machine So nice of Miss Florence to make a song thats not only a bop but also specifically the theme song for my oc Hydrangea

2.Album of the year? I don't listen to many full albums but for me it would have to be a tie between Give me the Future by Bastille and Impera by Ghost 3.Favorite musical artist / group you started listening to this year? Ghost 4.Movie of the year? Everything Everywhere All At Once! Like i don't even need to think about it. Unlike anything ive ever seen, so interesting and heartwearming. Excellent performances and costuming 5.TV show of the year? Oh man this one is touh bcs i had 3 shows ive been obsessed with this year…. Our Flag Means Death, Severance or Interview with the Vampire 6.Episode of tv or webisode that defined the year for you? Not defined the year but the best ep of anything ive seen this year was the the season finale ep of Severance. It was so excellent at keeping up the tension for the entirety of the ep. I was pacing and yelling and restless for the full length of it. Just amazing storytelling of everything coming to a head and the editing...my god!!!

7.Favorite actor of the year? I don't care that much about actors to have a fave of the year 8.Game of the year? I was a teenage exocolonist. Just finished my 4rth playthrough and i think i may have 2 more in me bc i want to see different outcomes/choices 9.Best month for you this year? Idk they sorta all blend into one? But December is when i have 2 weeks off work and also the weather is beautiful and sunny so im going to say that and not think about it too much.

10.Something that made you cry this year? A friend was never available to see me despite my multiple attempts to meet up and even though i didnt mind for a lot of it, eventually it started hurting my feelings. 11.Something you want to do again next year? Go on a mini vacation. I took a week off work to visit friends in Tasmania and i think i would be nice to visit some other place next year as well. 12.Talk about a new friend you made this year? I think we'd chatted a little on twitter and also possibly met irl once? But anyway yeah i formally met and befiended the partner of a friend and we rly got along! 13.How was your birthday this year? I went to this super expensive viking themed restaurant ive wanted to go to since 2019! Food, drinks, service, all excellent. I was dressed to the nines in my sequin dress and after i went for a little night walk around the city. It was gr8! 14.Favorite book you read this year? A nobleman's guide to scandals and shipwrecks by Mackenzi Lee. The Montague siblings series is such easy reading for me so i had a fun time! 15.What’s a bad habit you picked up this year? Forgetting to take my acne medication but i also took steps to prevent that so were good now 16.Post a picture from the beginning of the year Actually the first pic i took in 2022

17.Post a picture from the end of the year

Food from yesterday (27/12/22)

18.A memorable meal this year? Oh i already mentioned my birthday dinner so instead ill mention the brunch i made for my friends when i visited them in Tasmania.I was going to make eggs, bacon, homemade flatbread and some other stuff but my time management was off and it took me sooo long to make everything.In the end it was more like a lunch than brunch^^; But everyone was so patient with me and in the end the food was yummy and everyone liked it and we played dnd and had a great time :) 19.What’re you excited about for next year? Going to be getting a new phone and also....idk i havent made any big plans but i look forward to the little moments of joy and indulgence that will come. 20.What’s something you learned this year? Im sure theres life stuff i learned but what im psyched about is learning how to make scones. Its so freakin easy!!! 21.What’s something new about your place of residence (room, home, or general location) now vs the start of the year? After living here for about a year,i decided to finally put shit up on the walls of my room.Paintings and fairy lights and i plan on having a little colection of magpie prints too.It rly lifted my mood and brightened up the space. 22.Favorite place you visited this year? Oh man i was just stoked to visit Tasmania and see friends! I need to travel more bcs i love seeing new places. 23.If you could send a message to yourself back on the first day of the year, what would it be? Do not catastrophise when someone upsets you. Just sleep on it and then act. People sometimes are stupid and thoughtless,not secretly malicious. 24.Did you keep any New Year’s Resolutions? I usually have a few and some years i end up completing them, other years i dont. This year my only resolution is to comment on people's art more. Thats fucken it. 25.Did you create any characters (in games, art, or writing) this year? Describe one. Many actually bcs aside from various ocs, i run some trp games where i make 10+ npcs for. I guess one would be Winnie an npc i made for a game who i put so little thought in. Like i needed a character to fullfill a certain role so i recycled an old oc design and gave her like 2 personalty traits. Then though as we played, we all ended up liking her way more than id planned so anyway now she's in the queue to be an upcoming pc for a dnd campaign (with a slight redesign)

#boblabla

[moprocrastinates]

1, 4, 6 and 10, for the movie asks? If you feel like it?

hell yeah I do!!! (movies (and books) are my love language!!!))

what is the first film you remember seeing?

The first movie I remember seeing in theaters was 102 Dalmatians. I was three, and my grandma took me because I had older cousins who liked the original animated and live-action versions. I was OBSESSED for months with it, particularly Oddball, leading my mother to buy a lot of Dalmatian toys. It's still the dream dog today.

Ever seeing? Tarzan. I saw it at a friend's house on VHS. (Also, my weird, mental IMDb is kicking in: did you know it's the last Disney movie ever to be fully released on VHS?)

4. what film is TERRIBLE but you love it anyway?

George of the Jungle starring Brendan Fraser. I rewatched it recently and it's a GEM!!! It's a freakin' goofy movie and it's star-studded. Plus, it has Johnny Clegg and Savuka's "Dela," in it, which is an absolute BOP of a song if you haven't listened to it!

6. what is the film that means the most to you? Not because of the film itself, but because of the memories you have of it.

TRIGGER WARNING: MENTIONS OF SUICIDE/SUICIDAL IDEATION

Probably two: Forrest Gump and Stand by Me. I watched SBM at age 11 and FG at age 15, and I was incredibly depressed and... suicidal during those times. Those movies made me feel as though life was worth living for-- both movies are about how love comes in different forms and places in our lives, and I wanted that for myself. I remember laughing so much at both movies and just feeling like my heart had cracked open, and I felt like I was finally SEEN. I just love them both a lot!!!

10. what film have you seen the most?

It's-- again (surprise, surprise)-- a tie! Although there are four: Spaceballs, The Sound of Music, The Shawshank Redemption, or Ice Age. Both Spaceballs and Ice Age are family favorites, and The Sound of Music (one of my personal favorites) and The Shawshank Redemption are movies that were always on on otherwise sleepy, boring Sunday afternoons.

But I think everyone's seen Shawshank, because at least one station plays it repeatedly!

#thanks for asking lu!!! #moprocrastinates #kenna yaks #great questions!!!!!!!!!! #you're too kind lu!!!

[mtnkat3]

10.39am. Balance my loves.....? Yes. And not hibernate.

Even though when any piece of you goes quiet & it doesn't feel like it's to recharge, but like I did something wrong. It throws me & can't think of anything but wanting to make amends. I just don't know what I did so I'm confused & upset.

I'm just not dealing well. Think it's time to get out some elderberry because I feel congested.

Yes my loves..... I am out of balance, off kilter. I need to find balance.

Because I'm starting to feel cranky as a kat woken up repeatedly & listening to a ground hog I wanna bop on the head like a whack a mole but make sure it never comes back.

This ground hog has had too much sway. And needs its day over.

I mean freakin seriously!

WHACK!!! Ugh.🙄🙍‍♀️🤦‍♀️🤷‍♀️

Anyways. Fighting my body's desire to hibernate & feeling like things magically resolve whilst I sleep. They don't.

I have to put forth effort to make things work.

Just like figuring out where my pouch of adhesive patches for my cgm has gotten to. It's freaking me out!

And trying to calm myself & pray & let God talk to my soul...

I keep falling asleep.

Embarrassed kat.

Blushing beet red bowing head.

So I need to breathe. Focus. Calm down. Listen. Relax. Endure. Repeat.

Until I get it right.

With God. Because that's when He reveals things.

And with you . . . . .

Whatever I do wrong I have to fix. Even when I don't know what I did. So I need clues.

Please?

Chewing lips.

But chin up. Back snapped. Popping too. Grimace.

And get to it.

I love You . . . . .

& I want your marks.....more than anything else.

Only God is before you.....

Blushing shyly.

I. Am. Yours . . . . .

~Tijgeress kat Phoenix. ⛅☔🙊🙇‍♀️🙈✝️☸⚓🙏🤲👣🐾⛓🧰⚙👩‍🏫🕵️‍♀️👷‍♀️🏋️‍♀️🧗‍♀️⛏⚒🥽🔍🥾🧤🏔⚖🔐🧘‍♀️🐯🦉🐢🐐🐛🌱🌺🌳🌹🌻🌷🌳🧶🧵🧣🎓⌚🌟⚡🌠🗝🔱⚜💝🐻🦌🧩♠️❄💫♾🧭🕯

Fr.2.3.2023 11.13am.est.

whack a freakin mole!🙄🤨🤐🙊