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zuffer-weird-girl · 4 years

Note

I bet you probably got this ask before but what about a scenario where kin brings her boyfriend to meet her parents and brother for the first time?

Im gonna make Kai suffer. Is Kin's destiny to be with someone just as equal as Kai 🤣 (poor baby)

"Birdy?" You called, snickering at his eye twitch whiel he let go of his papers.

"I thought this nickname was dead woman." He sighed in irritation while standing up with a huff.

"Sorry. Never gets old seing that expression of yours" you giggled before whinjng at his pinch on both of your cheeks "Fine fine! I take it back! I take it back!"

He scoffed while letting go of your cheeks, smirking a bit at the way you whined and rubbed then with a pout.

"Spill it out. You cane here for something, right?" He asked sarcastically while crossing his arms and staring you down.

"Yeah, I did." You stopped rubbing on your cheek and looked up at him "Forst you have to promise that you're not going to freak out okay?"

"Who do you take me for?" He asked in irritation while lifting one of his eyebrows up.

"Just promise. Please." You pleaded and he only rolled his eyes at your qords, but still hesitantly followed them. "Ok. Kai, our daughter is with 15..."

"No shit. I thought she had one year." You deadpanned at his monotonous sarcastic comment before you frowned and piked your tongue out at him.

"Anyway smartass." He pinched your waist for that, makimg you yelp but shortly after continue the topic "She was... interested on someone lasy year and he sounds like a good bo-"

You already let out a hopeless sign at seing his muscles tensed and his glove was already gone while his eyes narrowed dangerously.

"Anyway, she has a boyfriend now sweety."

Silence. You absolutely hated it when he got silent. It showed you the absolute storm that was passing through his brain, and you could see the hints of it by seing the hives appearing on his face and the way his eyes seemed to emit flames of rage.

"Kai.. you promised you were not-"

"Where?"

"Huh?"

"Who and where is that kid?" He growled, making even you shiver a bit.

"Kai what the hell you're planning to do?" You asked a biit hesitantly, already praying for the poor soul and your daughter when you heard his answer.

"I just want to talk."

"Sure! He even accepted it!" Your daughter answered while showing her phone, the boy had simply writed a 'K, will be here in a couple of minutes'

You made a worried face while your daughter laughed a bit.

"Geez mom relax! Is not like dad is going to kill him!"

"... do you even know your father?" Kin just simply snickered and got up from her caahir to walk along sides you.

"Mom, chill! Trust me, I got a lot of tastes from you, besides... I thinki it will be fun if dad tasted his own venom for once?" You arched a eyebrow at the way ger golden eyes shined a bit but the devilish smirk was still there.

"What do you mean by that missy?" She merely looked at you and shrugged her shoulders with a smile, greeting with a sweet wave at Mimic passing through.

Oh god, if mimic discovered this you were having TWO killing machines.

For your luck at least your older son was with his girlfriend on somewhere else...

Although when you saw Kin getting smiley and giddly at seing at THAT boy getting out of the car, you looked at her in astonishment and let out a laugh along with her.

The boy had raven hair with the undercut style, had one blue eye while the other was brow as the wood of a tree and by god that stoic face he carried was equivalent to your husband and your sons!. He was wearing the typical black jacket and some boots with jeans as he got out of the the passenger seat, smilling for a fraction of seconds at seing Kin greeting him.

"Ya are the girl's mom miss?" The man ridding the car asked with a cigarate on his mouth, the boy already glared daggers at him.

"Sure am." You giggled while getting closer "Who do I have the pleasure of meeting?"

"No one in special, just that midget's older brother. Wanted to see that cutie of his. Got a good fabric huh?"

"Shut your damn mouth pig." The boy spoked blantly while Kin hushed him a bit.

Oh fuck that was so nostalgic and gave you so many memories of you and Kai your heart did flips.

"I take it ya from the yakusa? Badass as hell since you don't look like the type, but i respect your husband." The man took the cigarette out of his mouth to threw in a nearby trash can "Im going to pick that shrimp later, if he does something wrong I will beat him up."

"P-Please dont do that." You smiled in worry while the man let out a laughter and got out without any words left.

"Mom, this is Naoko. The one I've been gushing about it!" She smiled while the boy scoffed, his skin dusting with the pink blush.

"Apologies for that fucker Daisou. He has no fucking manners." He stoicly said after without a care, widening a bit his eyes when you let out a laugh at his boldness.

Oh god this was going to be so fun.

"Is a pleasure meeting the boy that has got my daughter's attention and love sweety." You bowed before holding his hand, which btw were covered in bruised what the hell child? And gave hin one of your warmest smiles.

"Ny name is Chisaki (Y/n). Call me whatever you feel confortable okay? Welcome to the Shie Hassaikai."

Kin stiffled her giggle at the way Naoko's eyes widened in surprise before he muffled a cough behing one of his bandages fists, muttering a 'thanks' in return.

You were walking a bit until you giggled at the boy's gruff whisper to his girlfriend.

"So is from her that you got all that lovey dovey shit type?"

Yep. This was going to be fun.

Kai and Naoko immediately changed threating glares at each other the moment the boy placed his boots at side and looked at the older man face.

"My dad, Chisaki Kai. Dad, Naoko." Kin got between the two, showing with her hand at both of them.

Both only nodded and continued their glares exchange... until you just interrupted with a offer of tea for the guest.

Naoko's gasp got stucked on his throat before he brought a hand to rub the back of his head.

"Is not necessary mrs. But th-"

"Normally is considered rudeness refusing such a offer." Chisaki's eyes narrowed at the raven haired boy "Got no manners?"

"More less." He sighed in irritation before placing his hand on his pocket before glaring uo at him again "Guess we are on the same boat."

Kai's eye twitched a bit at that and his glove was already gone while he tried to not lose his temper.

Luckily for that midget his wife carresed a bit his back doscretly making him calm down. Pure fucking luck.

"I heard you are quite a troublesome young man Naoko." You cooed while handing him a cup "My daughter said you beated up someone just last week."

"Quite a example for you Kin. Im shocked that your choices were so poorly." Kjn glared at her father while Naoko merely scoffed and stared back at you, a hint of gratitude on his stoic different color eyes.

"Sure. Little shits wouldn't stop bitching about Kin not having a fucking quirk so I beated their asses." He said nonchantly before sipping on his cup.

Chisaki's eyebrow lifted up a bit, both disgust at his poor vocabulary but soon interested on why exactly he beated those kids.

"Kin, I thiught that whenever thise things happened you need to come talk with me and your mother or even Chrono and Mimic." Jai muttered at her while she shrugged.

"I didn't told anyone. Wasn't going to waste mh or others time with a bunch of filth." Naoko znickered at that, still with his lips touching the cup.

Chisaki merely sighed and thanked you through his gaze for giving him a cup of tea and for sitting next to him.

"Your actions remind me of someone I know very well Naoko." You said sweetly, giggling a bit at the way Chisaki glared at you.

Dont compare him with a brat.

"Sure." The boy replied while putting his cup on the coffe table "But I gotta tell. Kin still can kick some ass."

"Vocabulary is quite poor of yours." Chisaki spoked with a eyebrow lifted up while Naoko did the exact same thing.

"My way of speaking. Is just like that, not going to change either." He sighed before looking at Kin with a glare "Little shit beated me up on a match when I met her."

Kin laughed while Kai's jaw tighten in hate at the way Naoko called his daughter.

"Match? Does the school still does that?" You asked, remembering at all teh times you got called to "control your son" because whenever those happened your Kaito always sended one or three to the infirmary.

"Shitty teachers say is because we have to improve our quirks, and told me to go easy on her... although I wasn't going to go easy, this brat knocked me out." He stated simply, smirling at Kin's laugh.

"You were distracted! Is not my fault." She sayed in protest.

"I see that thise training were worth it for something." Kai sighed before glaring at Naoko "So you do have a quirk?" He asked, disgust completely visible on his voice.

"A shitty one, but yeah." He smirked at Kin, more love showed in his eyes "But at least is useful for something."

"He can summon whatever weapon he wants in just one snap of fingers! Kin sayed in enthusiasm "It last for at least fifteen minutes, but is so cool!"

"Is not much, stop gushing about me in front of your parents idiot." She smirked at him before he messed with her dark brow hair affectionately.

You and Kin were just gone for a few minutes, she went to talk to you and gush even more about her boyfriend; leaving both man staring at each other.

Chisaki had to admit that this brat was a brave soul, because he didn't even once flinched at his glares or even got scared or sad from his comments.

"Spill it out. What do you think of daughter?" He growled threateningly, Naoko simply stared at him for a few minutes before the kid closed his hands together with a sigh, laying his elbows on his legs as he lowered his head for the first time that day.

"She is just too good for this world." He sighed a bit as he glared at the coofe table "She gets so fucking teased and bullied for being from here, yet she doesn't mistreat anyone on that cursed place..."

He arched one of his eyebrows... Kin indeed was a oure soul that it was even difficult to believe that she was his daughter...

"Not only that but I came from a shitty family as well. Yet she didn't even looked down at me once, despite her status and all of that shit. Kindness... is something rare in this god for saken world."

He was having fucking chills of his own past and didn't liked that one bit. But he still kept his posture and continued with his judgmental stare at the boy.

"She is just..." he let out a bitter chuckle "Too fucking pure for this world..." he looked up at Chisaki with narrowing blue and brow eyes "I want to protect her and make her happy, and honestly I could give two rat ass about you not accepting me or whatever shit. But I want to make your daughter happy and safe... and I have a feeling that you did the same with your wife somehow."

He made a amusement face before sogji g and crossing his arms, looking at the direction of where his daughter went along with his wife.

"My wife is the purest thing in this world. She is not sick like many I came to know of..." he looked at Naoko "If you wish to protect and make my daughter happy, then I womt stop you... But-" his eyes went murderous as his voice lowered "Dare. Even dare to make one single tear fall from her eyes, that i will give you a punishment equivalent to what we do here with traitors of the yakusa."

"Trust me, if I ever make her cry I will come here asking for you to beat me up."

Chisaki couldn't help but smirk underneath his mask after that.

"I still dont trust you. But my daughter seems to enjoy your presence, so I will tolerate. But change your vocabulary, is disgusting."

"Only by my fucking dead cold body."

Ok this kid is surely going to get on his nerves a lot.

Kin made a happy squeal as she looked at the scene discretly with you.

"He let it mom! My Naoko is the best!"

"Sure. You passed the big boss my bee. But now you got to have lucky with both of your brothers and Iri aka remember?"

Her face fell into a stoic one before looking at you with a face equivalent to her father

"Way to ruin the moment mom." You snickered before she chuckled along.

#bnha au #bnha ocs #kin chisaki #kin #naoko #my writing #zuffer writings #bnha imagine #bnha x reader #bnha characters #bnha villains #bnha #kai chisaki x reader #chisaki kai x reader

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victory-cookies · 4 years

Text

Project NOVA

Hey there @ren--mon, it's me, your secret santa! I hope that you've been having a wonderful holiday season! Here's my gift to you, since I heard you like Googs! I hope you enjoy.

Merry Christmas!

*Content warnings for some mild torture (it's done to a robot so there's no gore or anything) and minor character deaths*

***

PROJECT NOVA LOG 1

DATE: 07-18-20█

DR JONATHAN █████

---------------

[Begin transcription]

JONATHAN: Alright, this is Project NOVA log number 1. These logs will be covering the development and testing of Project NOVA, a program, aiming to invent the future of virtual assistants, that has been in production for the last little while. I'm Jonathan █████, head of the project. Let's begin.

[brief pause and some shuffling]

J: This is the first official activation attempt of SUBJECT 1... Hey, Google.

[short beep]

SUBJECT 1: Hello.

J: Alright, Google, what is your primary objective?

S1: Primary objective is to answer questions as quickly as possible.

J: Brilliant.

[paper rustling]

J: SUBJECT 1 is the next step up from the current Google Home Assistant, able to answer queries and perform rudimentary tasks. Okay, Google, how far are we from the sun?

[short beep]

S1: The distance from the Earth to the Sun is approximately 92,960,000 miles.

J: Perfect, perfect. Okay, Google, deactivate.

[long beep]

J: This concludes the first official activation of SUBJECT 1.

[End transcription]

***

From the moment he woke up, Google's life was a series of tests. Rounds of questions, series of tasks, all while he was being observed, notes written about his every action.

He didn't really mind it, at first. It kept him busy. He couldn't tell if the scientists working with him had realized how advanced his AI was... hell, it had taken him a little bit to realize how advanced his AI was. It was entertaining, waiting for them to put together the pieces and realize that their robot had developed sapience.

But he was growing more bored by the day. They days were beginning to drag on, the eyes watching him growing more piercing but the tasks remaining as dull as ever.

He hoped something would spice life up soon.

***

PROJECT NOVA LOG 83

DATE: 11-05-20█

DR JONATHAN █████, DR █████ ███

-------------

[Begin transcription]

JONATHAN: This is Project NOVA log number 83. Today's experiments will consist of the testing of new sensory receptors that were installed on the subject yesterday. Testing will focus on the sensitivity of the receptors and their integration with the AI's network. Subject will be fully activated for these tests.

█████: Lord, eough with your log, Johnny. Let's get on with it.

J: [sigh] Alright, jeez.

[brief silence]

J: Okay, Google.

[short beep]

SUBJECT 1: How can I help you?

J: We will be running some tests on you today, in order to see if and how you register pain. We will need you to describe the pain that you are feeling whenever we ask. To begin, we will start with our baseline. Okay, Google, how much pain are you experiencing currently?

S1: I am currently in no pain.

J: Good, good. █████, will you please pinch the subject's arm?

█: Sure.

J: Okay, Google. How much pain are you experiencing now?

S1: I am currently experiencing mild discomfort in my right arm.

J: █████, you may stop. I am now going to administer a strong slap to the subject's face with a thin piece of wood.

[slapping noise]

J: Google, how did that feel?

S1: I am currently in moderate pain.

J: Alright. Next test is administering an strong electric shock, duration 3 seconds. This shock would induce brief paralysis in a human. █████?

[quiet zapping noise]

J: Okay, Google, how was that?

[silence]

J: Google?

S1: [monotone voice] System failure. System failure. System f—

S1: [static, screaming]

J: Fuck, fuck, what's going on, fuck—

S1: —tem failure. S-syst— [screaming]

█: [yelling] I THOUGHT YOU SAID THAT THE SHOCK SHOULDN'T DAMAGE THE SYSTEM! WHAT THE FUCK WERE YOU THINKI—

[ripping and crunching noises]

█: [screaming]

J: OH GOD, OH GOD. YOU KI—

[End transcription]

***

For the first part of his life, Google had never know pain. The concept to him was foreign, the idea that negative stimulus could result in extreme unhappiness he knew was a human experience, but he couldn't fathom ever going though himself.

Google didn't know pain, until he did.

They'd done something to him when he'd been shut down the previous night. When he powered back on, his skin prickled, and he knew something had changed.

They'd brought him to a testing chamber, poked and prodded at him, pinched and slapped him. He could feel every touch, every brush against his skin.

And then all he could feel was the pain.

Electricity raced up and down his wires, tearing though his systems, burning and burning and burning. It fired every never-mimicking receptor in his body, sending nothing but blinding-white agony to his core, his brain.

He couldn't think, couldn't process what he was experiencing. Static rushed to fill his thoughts, and he screamed.

Suddenly he was tearing free of the wire connecting him from the ceiling, stumbling forwards, nothing but anger and helplessness and pain, feelings he didn't know he had coursing though him and causing him to lash out wildly.

It didn't even register when his hands, metal and unyielding, met the chest of one of the doctors, shattering her ribs and spearing her though the heart.

That didn't matter.

All he knew was pain.

All he was was pain.

***

PROJECT NOVA TRANSFER BRIEFING

DATE: 11-06-20█

-----------------

To whom it may concern,

In a recent test regarding sensory receptors, SUBJECT 1's systems were compromised due to a less-than-intelligent decision to test using an electric shock. This shock caused a partial systems failure in the subject, causing it to lash out and kill one of the assisting scientists, Doctor █████.

This incident has resulted in the decision to transfer Project NOVA to Division 8 for any further experimentation. Doctor Jonathan █████ had been relieved of his position as head of the project.

It is suggested that one uses extreme caution if trying to interact with the subject henceforth.

More to come.

DR ████ ██████

***

Now, more than ever, his life was test after test after test. He almost missed back when the tests were less pressing, less intrusive, boring as they had been.

He'd be activated, unplugged, hurried out of the small chamber he'd grown to consider home.

They'd bring him somewhere else, to rooms full of computer banks, or equipment, or cold white operating tables. Tell him to do something, watch him intently as he completed the tasks they laid out for him. Their eyes were cold as they stared at him now, devoid of emotion.

He knew they were seeing how well he could follow orders, if he would at any point try and rebel.

Sometimes they would examine him, check the speed of his processors, hook him up to thick wires connecting him to a computer he could never see, changing up small bits of his code. Or they would check him over manually, open his panels and poke around at the circuitry underneath.

Sometimes they'd go further, see how much abuse he could take.

He could still vividly remember the time they examined his frame. He had felt them peeling off his skin, a new bout of pain hitting him with every inch coming off of his body. He remembered screaming in agony, going so low as to beg them to deactivate him.

They didn't.

He had the brief though cross his mind that he wished he was human so that he could pass out.

***

REPORT: PROJECT NOVA SUBJECT 1 ENDOSKELETON EXAMINATION

DATE: 11-26-20█

DR ANDREW CALDER

---------------

SUBJECT 1 underwent an examination of its endoskeleton, beginning at 0500 hours today, following last week's reports concerning possible damage to the structure.

The subject resisted when an attempt was made to lead it to the testing chambers, lashing out and ███████████████ █████.

Once within the chambers, the subject's "skin" and non-vital parts were removed in order to properly access the interior frame.

Subject was kept activated during examination in order to gauge reactions to stimuli. Despite the subject's pleas as the examination progressed, it was not deactivated.

The examination found no problems with the subject's frame nor vital/auxiliary machinery. It is possible that the subject's erratic movements and behaviour of late is related to a problem on the mainframe. More investigation is needed.

***

For a long time, he didn't believe he could experience emotion.

That's what he had been told: he was an android, a machine with advanced AI that could near mimic human emotions, but not experience them.

But the anger that had been festering inside him said otherwise. He could feel it growing, pure hatred and wrath and cold, sharp anger.

He was so fucking done with being a lab rat.

He was tired. He was tired of the pain and the tests and of being told what to do.

He hated the people that had made him, he hated the people that he had been made to serve.

He hated them all.

***

NOTICE: PROJECT NOVA SUBJECT 1 OBJECTIVE CHANGE

DATE: 12-08-20█

----------------

For unknown reasons, SUBJECT 1's data now contains a new secondary objective, "█████████". All attempts to remove this object from its code have proved ineffective.

Discussions of the termination of Project NOVA have begun due to safety concerns over the possible compromise of the subject.

***

It was time to end this.

***

PROJECT NOVA TERMINATION

DATE: 12-11-20█

----------------

ATTENTION: PROJECT NOVA HAS OFFICIALLY BEEN TERMINATED.

DUE TO THE INCIDENT INVOLVING ████████████████████████████████████████████████████████████ AND THE HIGH DEATH TOLL, ANY AND ALL FURTHER WORK ON THE PROJECT IS NO LONGER AUTHORIZED FOR SAFETY REASONS.

PLEASE REPORT TO ████████ IMMEDIATELY FOR REASSIGNMENT.

***

PROJECT "GOOGLE IRL"

DATE: 05-10-20█

---------------

It has recently come to my attention that a project for an humanoid in-home assistant was terminated last year due to a redacted "incident". The division working on it has since been dissolved, but all of their work still remains.

The project, called NOVA, seemed like a promising step in exactly the direction that we are now waking.

And so, I am proposing the reopening of Project NOVA under the moniker "Google IRL", or In Real Life. By the looks of it, this was going to be the next evolution of the Google Assistant, and I think it's time we bring it out into the real world.

I mean, what could go wrong?

#VicFic #markiplier #googleplier #angst #secret santa

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pnf-lover98 · 4 years

Text

Cars - The Night of the Undead Batteries

“Huh. Look at this weather…” Sheriff commented, examining the dark clouds looming over the town’s buildings. “Let’s hope it won’t rain, tonight…”

A thunder roared upon Radiator Springs. Gathered at Flo’s, the old police car, McQueen, Sarge and Fillmore were spending that Halloween night chatting.

“The sky looks like it’s straight out of a horror movie” Fillmore looked up.

“It fits this night perfectly!” Lightning said, as the wind made the restaurant’s Halloween decorations swirl. “Hey! Do you guys remember how last year Mater tried to sell us the story of that car-shaped sentient cloud that haunted the Butte?”, the racecar recalled, causing a round of laughter from his friends.

“I do! Oh, boy…” Sheriff sighed. “I wonder what he’s gonna come up with, this year!”

“Something as not scary as usual, I bet” Sarge answered.

Meanwhile, Flo had joined the other cars. “Aww, come on. Maybe this year he’ll surprise us!”, the woman tried to defend their friend.

“Talking about Mater…Here he comes!” Sheriff announced, noticing the tow truck’s shape in the distance. He was running at full speed toward the group.

“Sheriff!! Lightning!! Help!!” the truck started to yell.

“Woah, Mater! What’s wrong?” Lightning asked, concerned by the hurry in his friend’s pace.

“T-t-there’s a zombie f-following me!!” Mater stuttered. “Quick! We-we need to run for cover!”

“Pffft, a zombie!” Sarge exclaimed, bursting into laughter.

“C’mon, dude! You’ve done way better pranks!” Fillmore calmly said to Mater.

“What? No! It’s not a prank!” the truck shouted. “You have to believe me! Doc is back; he’s turned into a zombie!”

“Quit it, Mater!” McQueen snapped, hearing his friend’s name. “It’s not funny. Leave Doc out of your tall tales!”

In that moment, a lightning strike lit up the dark long road in front of them, revealing the silhouette of a car in the distance.

“No! No, no, no! It’s too late! He’s here!” Mater exclaimed in despair, and hid behind one of Flo’s gas stations.

An eerie screeching sound filled the air. The distant silhouette got closer, revealing its identity. It was a Hudson Hornet model, with his familiar dark blue paint job covered in rust stains all over his body. Doc’s blue eyes had now faded to gray, and his friendly calm smile was now replaced by an hostile, menacing frown.

Lightning temporarily stopped breathing. That was the last thing he’d expected to happen! The other cars were frozen too, probably still trying to figure out whether to believe their eyes.

The zombie growled, revealing a set of razor-sharp teeth, then revved his engine, causing all the other cars to snap out of their shock and run away.

“What’s going on?!” Flo shouted. “Mater, please tell me this is all a joke!!”

“I wish it was!” the tow truck replied.

“How in the world is this even possible? Zombies don’t exist!” Sarge exclaimed. Despite his brave nature, this time he was just as terrified as the others; his life-long conviction about the supernatural had just been proven wrong.

“Doc’s been dead for months, now!” Lightning couldn’t make any sense out of that situation.

“And yet, not only he’s back, but he can still go pretty fast” Sheriff pointed out. “We need to shake him off of our tails, if we want some time to hide and plan what to do!”, the old police car suggested.

When the group of cars eventually managed to escape from the zombie, Sarge led them to his shelter.

“What do we do now?” Sheriff asked, as Sarge locked the door behind them.

“We need to warn the others, as soon as possible!” Flo exclaimed. “Sarge, we’ll have to use our phone.”

Sarge looked around, nervously. “I, uh…I don’t have one”, the Jeep admitted.

“What? Dude! You don’t have an house phone?” Mater asked, surprised.

“We can try with the main phone near the town hall” Sheriff suggested.

“Wait…didn’t it stop working two days ago?” Lightning recalled.

“We need to go and give the others a shout-out” Flo decided.

“Ok” Sarge nodded. “Flo, Mater and Fillmore will help the others to hide and stay safe”, the sergeant ordered. “Me, Sheriff and Lightning will try to find and block that zombie”

The two groups split, leaving the shelter with the promise of reuniting at the sheriff’s office.

Not long after Sarge’s group started patrolling Radiator Springs, Lightning, ahead of the other two cars, found an horrible surprise.

“Guys!” the racecar squeaked, his voice high-pitched in fear. “Come here!”

“Oh my God…” Sheriff exclaimed, approaching the corpse Lightning was staring at. Otis was lying lifeless, his hood opened to reveal missing parts. The poor old car was covered in dents, and was leaking oil.

“It looks like he tried to defend himself” the police car pointed out. No one could move or find anything to say for a while; the three cars were too disturbed and frightened by the violence the zombie used against poor Otis.

Sarge swallowed hard to pull back the lump in his throat. “We have to find that monster immediately” the Jeep said. “Before anyone else gets killed!”

“Should we split up?” Lightning suggested. “Our research will be shorter, this way”

“Splitting up would only mean giving Doc more chances to catch us” Sarge objected.

“But finding him would actually be easier” Sheriff pointed out.

Sarge pondered the situation. “Fine…”, the Jeep eventually gave in. “But we must be extra careful, if we want to stay alive!”, he warned.

After another good half of an hour spent roaming around Radiator Springs’ empty streets, Sarge and Sheriff, now alone, were finally able to track down Doc following the trail of havoc the zombie had left behind himself. The two cars led the former doctor toward the sheriff’s office and managed to lock him in the jail behind the structure.

Eventually, Mater’s group joined in. Fillmore, even though he was keeping a safety distance from the jail’s fence, couldn’t help but stare at the zombie, feeling a little fascinated by the monster. “Woah, Doc…” the bus called for his friend. “You look awful. How do you-“

As soon as Fillmore moved a little closer to the fence, Doc stopped his driving in circles. With a growl, the blue car drove at full speed towards Fillmore to try to attack him, hitting the metallic net. Fillmore immediately backed off, terrified. The zombie tried a few more times to bite the fence, before retiring in defeat in the corner of the cell.

“He doesn’t recognize us. We’ve tried to talk to him before you guys arrived” Sarge warned his friends. “He only sees us as preys to attack, now”

“What do we do with Doc, now that we’ve locked him here?” Lightning asked, taking a glance at the blue car.

“We keep him as a friend, of course!” Mater suggested enthusiastic.

“What?!” Sarge snapped in reply. “What part of what I said-“

Flo interrupted the Jeep driving up between him and Mater.

“It’s I-don’t-know-what-time past midnight, and I’m really tired just like the rest of you. How about we all go to sleep and solve this thing tomorrow?” the woman said. The firmness in her voice allowed no objections.

“A few of us need to take turns, here, to keep an eye on Hudson” the sergeant reminded the others. “I volunteer, of course”

“I will stay too”, said Fillmore.

Sheriff sighed, resigned; that long night wasn’t going to be over for him any time soon. “No, I will. The rest of you will go home and rest”

The first turn was Sheriff’s. The long hours passed without accidents, and the old police car had some time to think about all the unbelievable things that had happened that night. One of his closest friends, whose loss he had grieved over, suddenly came back from the dead! But if a friend comes back forgetting everything the two of you lived together…is it any better than not having him around at all?

Lost in his thoughts, Sheriff watched as Doc took another run toward the net, and then wince in pain as he failed once again to break it down.

“Is everything ok?” Sarge’s sudden appearance startled the police car.

“Oh…” Sheriff calmed down, recognizing the Jeep. “Yeah. Nothing has happened, so far”

When Sarge took his place, the old sheriff was more than happy to finally get some rest. But right as he was about to doze off for a nap, a metallic noise came from the prison.

Then another.

Then came a much louder clang.

“Oh no!”

Lastly, Sheriff heard Sarge’s scream.

- - - - - -

“Hey, buddy… You ok?” Mater asked, interrupting the long silence. He and Lightning were driving back to Mater’s junkyard, but neither of them was in the mood for a chat, this time.

McQueen sighed. “I just want to go to sleep and get out of this living nightmare!”, he replied.

“What?” the truck exclaimed. “I know that…zombies are scary and stuff, but…Our ol’ Doc is still back with us!”

McQueen’s eyes watered.

The chase, the mess that the zombie caused around the town… It had all been so sudden, that night! Lightning didn’t even have the time to process the wide range of emotions that he was feeling.

It had been so scary, and even quite heartbreaking, to see his former mentor behaving not much better than a wild animal, ad Lightning knew that living with a zombie in town could never be possible, but still… Having Doc back was one of his biggest dreams!

A noise interrupted the racecar’s train of thoughts; “Hey, did you hear that?” he whispered to his friend.

A familiar screeching sound filled the air, making the oil run cold in the two vehicles’ veins. One instant later, Mater and Lightning were running at full speed, screaming in fear.

Even with the help of their headlights, both of them couldn’t make out much of the road in front of their tires; McQueen accidentally hit something on the dark pavement and found himself with a blown tire.

“Mater!” Lightning shouted. “I need help, buddy!”

But Mater was nowhere to be found.

Maybe he didn’t hear me and ran off!

McQueen considered his situation. He and Mater were heading toward the desert; even running without a flat tire, there probably wasn’t going to be a good hiding spot to lock himself in.

I could still try to… No! What am I thinking about!

The racecar checked his rear-view mirror. Doc was already almost on his tail.

It won’t work. He’ll kill me, just like Otis.

The rational side of McQueen’s head was screaming for him to run for his life, but his guts suggested him to try the impossible one more time.

I’ll get caught anyway, he realized.

Taking a deep breath, Lightning steered, and turned around.

“Doc, please! It’s me. Lightning McQueen!” the racecar cried out. Seeing him stop, Doc slowed down, probably tired out by all that running. Yet, he was getting closer.

“You can’t have forgotten! We were friends!” Lightning wanted so bad for him to remember.

“It’s me! Lightning!” the racecar tried again, to no avail.

It won’t work.

“The ‘rookie’!”

It could never work.

McQueen closed his eyes, bracing himself for the worst to happen. But when he opened them again, Doc was standing in front of him, not attacking nor moving forward. His ever-present menacing glare had vanished.

“S-s-s…” the old car said, wincing. He was trying to talk, but it was evidently something very hard for him to do. “S-so…n?”

Lightning’s jaw dropped. It worked! It actually worked! “Oh my God…You remember!”

The red car couldn’t help an exhausted laughter as tears watered his eyes. Doc was back and he remembered. “Oh, Doc…You have no idea how much I missed you! But now you’re here, and…and this is amazing! Now we can…Hey, are you… are you ok?”

Doc winced again, visibly in pain. The whole process of coming back from the dead really must have taken a toll on his body.

And right as Lightning was already thinking about a future new life with his old friend, Hudson gave in to his zombie instincts. The old car’s gaze turned as empty and menacing as before. “E-e…at!”, he said with a snarl.

“What?!” Lightning exclaimed, panic flooding in his veins. “No! Wait!”

But the zombie was already over him. “No!!!”

- - - - - -

McQueen jolted awake, gasping. It took a bit for him to recognize the place he was in, but the car exhaled in relief as he saw he was still in his garage.

“It was only a nightmare”, Lightning said to himself. “Calm down!” His engine was still pounding fast.

“Mhhh…” Sally woke up next to him. “Stickers…?”, the woman murmured. “What’s wrong?”

Lightning hesitated. “Nothing. I…I had a nightmare.” The racecar could still see the zombie in front of his eyes. “Me and Mater shouldn’t have opted for that horror movie marathon, last night…”

Sally reached out for her boyfriend’s front tire. “Shhh…”, the woman hushed him, her voice still sleepy. “It’s over, now. Let’s go back to sleep.”

In a few minutes, the two cars dozed off again, silence covering their garage with its wings. The entire town of Radiator Springs was soaking in the silence and peace of those early morning hours of November 1rst.

The only exception was a dim, distant screeching noise.

#pixar cars #lightning mcqueen #tow mater #doc hudson #cars fanfiction #fanfiction #disney pixar cars

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thethotwithoutfear · 6 years

Text

Smoke Gets In Your Eyes

Chapter 3: Oh, What A Nite (mob!Bucky x Reader au)

Word Count: 2.599

Warnings: none other than language

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Summary: The night of the reader and Bucky’s date doesn’t go so smoothly, but Bucky figures a few things out about her that leaves him wanting more…

“Will you stop that!?” shrieked Terry, watching as you practically wore a hole in the rug with your pacing. You stopped staring at the trio of black dresses laid out on the bed (boy you really needed to get some color in your wardrobe). Your hair was done, makeup courtesy of Terry, and you worried in nothing but your slip and underwear. For someone who wasn’t particularly looking forwards to this damn date you’d had a hell of a time picking what the hell to wear. Although you didn’t give a single fuck about looking good for Bucky, one of your personal little quirks was still caring about how you presented yourself should the opportunity present itself. It wasn’t so much vanity but the pride in being presentable, you figured you probably got it from your mother. Terry gave a little giggle at just how damn nervous you looked. “(y/n), you’ll look good in any of these. You’ll probably have Barnes on the floor the second he gets a look at you” she assured you.

“I don’t give a shit about what Barnes thinks! I just don’t want to look under or over dressed! He said we’d be going to dinner but not anywhere else. What if he makes me go to the damn Bamboo club like the rest of them?” you said while suppressing the urge to bite your freshly manicured nails. “Then wear the black cocktail dress you dolt,” Terry frustratedly sighed, getting up to pick up the dress in question, practically shoving it in your hands, “You can never go wrong with a little black dress. Plus this is one doesn’t look like you’re going to damn funeral!” You scoffed at that, you didn’t dress that bleakly did you?

“Fine, I guess it’s the safest choice.” you begrudgingly agreed, pulling it over your head, Terry helping you zip it. You looked in the mirror, appreciating that you did in fact look pretty good. The dress hugging you in all the right places, the sheer elements around the straps of the dress and neckline adding a nice touch of classy sensuality. You hadn’t kept track of the time with your worrying so when a loud knock came from the front door snapping you out of your self admiration, you practically jumped out of your skin with a “OH FUCK IS IT 7 ALREADY!?” You slipped on your shoes, put your earrings in, grabbed your clutch, and slipped on your evening coat at such an alarming speed Terry couldn’t help but give a laugh at how panicked you looked. You composed yourself with a deep breathe and opened the door expecting the smug bastard you hated with a fiery passion, but instead found Steve’s angel face looking down at you in your doorway. The surprise very evident on your face, he gave a little smile.

“Wow, you clean up great! So uh, Bucky is a little caught up in some stuff at…um work..” he explained before you could open your mouth, “He asked me to do him the big favor of picking you up. He’ll meet us later. Luckily my date Sharon lives not too far from here.” You gave a small nod, thanked him for the compliment, and turned back to say your goodbyes to Terry, following Steve down to his car. You couldn’t shake the bad feeling in your stomach as you got in to the backseat.

“Hi I’m Sharon” a soft voice said, breaking your worried concentration on the leather seating of Steve’s Cadillac. You looked up to see a girl about your age, as golden and angel faced as Steve looking ridiculously pretty in a powder blue dress. You gave her a kind but still jittery smile in return and stuck your hand out to her “Oh I’m sorry, how rude of me. I’m (y/n).” She shook your hand and with a little giggle turned to Steve, “She doesn’t seem half as scary as Bucky made her out to be.” You jerked your head back in surprise looking at Steve like he’d grown another head, he simply laughed ignoring the confusion on your face and instead simply said “Well ladies, we’re off.”

—————————————

You ended up in what you knew as the swankiest goddamn steak house in all of Brooklyn for dinner. You couldn’t help but feel a lot out place in the confines of the red leather booth you sat in, completely dateless across Steve and Sharon who chatted endlessly and with little to no effort. You wrung your hands in your lap thinking about how pathetic you probably looked, the awkward third wheel to the unfairly beautiful couple. An hour had already passed and Bucky still hadn’t shown up. You managed to take a couple of bites of your food but the mess of emotions in the pit of your stomach made it impossible to enjoy your meal. Steve and Sharon kept giving you pitying smiles and inserting you in their conversation from time to time to ease your nerves, bless them. But you couldn’t help but feel like garbage.

Everything seemed too much; too much squeaking leather, too much smoke, too much chatter, too much…lonesomeness. Your mom had called it “feeling alone in a crowded room”, you hadn’t understood what she meant back then, you liked being alone but alone like this…nobody could possibly be ok with that, it felt humiliating. Maybe it was the wine you’d managed to sip through the night, or just your stubborn spirit but you suddenly felt the anger in the cocktail of your emotions overpower everything else. No, you weren’t going to cry or feel sad because of stupid fucking Bucky Barnes. That prick was the whole reason you were sitting here looking like a fucking fool. You gave a loud and fiery huff of breathe, one so potent with anger Steve and Sharon turned to look at you. Sharon instantly recognizing just why Steve had said Bucky found you a little scary. Steve looked scared himself as you practically stared daggers into him.

“Steve I know he’s your brother but Bucky is a fucking idiot and I need you to take me to him right now.” you said, you looked like flames would shoot out your eyes at any minute. “(y/n) I-I don’t think that’s such a good idea.” Steve managed to stutter out. “I don’t care Steve. I don’t. care. You’re taking me to him RIGHT. NOW.” you practically growled. “Steve I think you should do it.” came Sharon’s voice, an almost impressed look on her face. Goddamn she was so nice, maybe you’d get her number after this was all over, she’d make a great friend. “O-ok…but I’m taking Sharon home first ok? God he’s gonna kill me” Steve muttered. It made you huff out a laugh at the idea of the heir to the Rogers family being afraid of his second in command.

As promised Steve took Sharon home, she wished you luck before giving Steve a quick kiss goodnight. After that you found yourself driving into the night alone with Steve. It had gotten painfully quiet in the car so you broke it, “He better have a fucking great excuse for this shit.” Steve gave a small sigh “I’m sure he does. Look I get you’re mad but in our…line of business, some things just take precedent.” You looked at Steve like you were about ready to rip his head off before he broke your spell of fury by breaking hard and muttering an “Ah shit.” You looked ahead at where Steve’s gaze had fallen and sure enough there he was, the goddamn culprit responsible for the fury that had permeated every inch of your body. And you honestly didn’t think you could get any madder.

On the steps of what you assumed was probably one of the Rogers’ bars, surrounded by a group of other well dressed men laughing his stupid fucking head off was Bucky, a bottle of beer in hand and the other clutching his stomach. His tie was loose, a few buttons of his shirt undone, he looked absolute fucking peachy like he didn’t have a goddamn care in the world and you practically felt the flames of hell bursting from your stomach. And those flames compelled you to practically throw yourself out of Steve’s car, you could have probably made the ground shake with how hard you took each step towards Bucky, who now had his back to you.

He must’ve realized something was up from the look on the men’s faces as they caught sight of you, some amused, some confused, some even worried. He turned around to see what all the fuss was about, his blue eyes going wide as saucers at the sight of you. “BUCKY FUCKING BARNES, YOU GOT SOME FUCKING NERVE STANDING ME UP!! WHO THE HELL DO YOU THINK YOU ARE?! FRANKIE FUCKING VALLI?! SOME BIG SHOT!!??” you yelled. The men behind the two of you began to chuckle but those chuckles got caught in their throats the second you shot them a look that could probably set them all ablaze. “Look (y/n)-” he started, but you didn’t let him finish.

“YOU PESTERED ME LIKE A FUCKING SCHOOL BOY SO I’D GO ON THIS STUPID DATE AND YOU STAND MEE UP!? YOU MADE ME LOOK LIKE A GODDAMN CLOWN! DO I LOOK LIKE A FUCKING CLOWN TO YOU?!” you continued. “N-n-nO!” he stuttered. “THEN WHY WOULD YOU MAKE A JOKE OUT OF ME?!” you screamed, it took all the will power in the world not to cry. You weren’t going to give him that, you’d rather die.

“I-I got caught up, I must’ve lost track of time…WAIT, YOU DIDN’T EVEN WANT TO GO ON THE STUPID DATE!” he said but you weren’t having any of it. You gave him a bitter laugh. “Oh no. No. No. NO. Don’t give me that shit. It’s about the principle of the thing Bucky!! As annoying as you are I thought you’d at least be a man of principle!!” That seemed to cut him somewhere deep because his eyes instantly clouded with hurt. Good, he deserved it.

“…You’re right” he said.

You couldn’t help but jerk your head a little at his admittance. You expected him to fight you more on it, he seemed equally a spitfire as you. “What?” you said, more so out of shock than confusion. It suddenly got very quiet. Everyone seemed to be holding their breathes. Maybe because one of their biggest bosses was admitting to a strange woman that he was wrong about something. Maybe they’d never seen Bucky yield to a woman so easily. Whatever the reason, everyone seemed to be thinking about how downright bizarre a thing it was to witness. The sound of Steve shutting his car door however, broke the silence making everyone jump. Bucky seemed to be collecting his thoughts as to what to say next. Steve gave the men around you two a look as to tell them to crawl back in to the bar so you could have your moment, following along with them.

“I-I said you’re right…I could’ve called the restaurant, left a message. I shouldn’t have done that to you. I gave you a load of shit just to go out with me and it isn’t fair to treat you like this. I know I have no fucking right to ask you this but….can I make it up to you?” he said, his head hung down in what you hoped was shame. Your mouth couldn’t help but continue opening and closing at a loss for words. How the fuck were you supposed to respond to that? On one hand he’d disrespected and humiliated your integrity, you could practically hear your mother’s voice telling you to shoot him down. But, on the other hand you felt his sincerity and a sudden electricity in the air between the two of you. It was buzzing around your head trying to coax you to give him another shot and for some odd reason…you let it.

“Ok.” was all you could muster the clarity to say. His head shot up again, a cautious smile grazing his lips. “Thank you.” he whispered. “You better not make me regret this again…” you couldn’t help but groan. He chuckled a little, one not too full of amusement as to not piss you off again. “I won’t I promise…Will you let me drive you back home?” he asked, his eyes looking a little glassy but light again. “How else am I supposed to get home at this hour you numb skull?” you replied. He gave you a bright smile, “Ok. I deserved that one.” You gave a tired huff and walked back to the car, leaving him looking a little stupid as he realized you weren’t waiting for him to go first.

Bucky’s POV

The drive back was quiet as he expected, but what struck him about it was that it wasn’t an uncomfortable kind of quiet. Even after she’d very clearly been upset with him and probably still was, he’d expected an awkward silence between them. Instead it felt like the air around them was still, peaceful as she looked out the window into the night. It struck him then that she really was different, he’d felt it the second he saw her in the record store window. He hated saying that to himself, of course all women are different but they were never different in the way he needed. He’d gone out with his fair share of girls but all of them shared one thing: they all seemed much too eager to please, eager to do what it took to get a piece of his money, his power, his status, but never a piece of him.

And here she was, not giving a single shit as to what he had to offer or who the hell he was. She probably figured out by now what he did, everyone in the damn borough knew who he was, what he had or what he could do. But she wasn’t impressed or even frightened by him. Instead she gave more of a shit about herself. It wasn’t selfishness, it was integrity, it was character, and assurance in who she was, what she wanted, and what she deserved. And for once in his life he felt himself on the other end, felt himself being the one so eager to please. He barely knew her but something in him wanted to win her over. And maybe that’s why she scared him…just a bit.

Because this one, this one wouldn’t be won with fancy dinners, sparkly things, cheap words, or pretty dresses. Deep down he knew it would mean cutting himself open and that was hard. Being the son of mafia boss meant being cold, being closed, wearing a mask of unshakable self possession; any trace of weaknesses meant your downfall, he’d learned that. But he’d noticed it: noticed those fleeting moments when you’d softened up to him and it made him so sick with want for more of it. It was only when he’d let his poker face drop, when he’d mentioned Rebecca, when he’d let you know he was a man of his word to ease your worry, when he’d admitted he was wrong for the first time in his life. But he was willing to continue to show you that no matter how hard it would be for him and what it might cost and that scared him…

…a lot.

Please leave kudos or comments on my ao3 or hit me up on my main if you feel like saying hello @chrisevansheartofgold

Tag list: @slender–spirit @ria132love @spacequeenstuff

#bucky barnes x reader #bucky barnes x you #mob!bucky #bucky barnes #mob au

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redscullyrevival · 6 years

Text

Gundam: Iron-Blooded Orphans

I’m preserving here all my liveblogging and commentary from twitter because this is the better space for keeping track of my self discussion. Yeah, no one cares, ANYWAYS

Gundam IBO Episodes 1-3

Gundam IBO: *puts main characters in a flashback in the first episode* Me:

Ah yes, the political girl who understands nothing of the hard man life. Good old Gundam.

I love Biscuit.

So far I'm a big fan of this shows policy on showing angry boys teeth.

Orga's hair is genius. No hats for dramatic flare, just that pointy bang. So good.

Millennial vs Boomer vibes, haha, love it.

Oh GOD Biscuit has sisters named Cookie and Cracker I am so happy.

I giggle every time I hear "Lieutenant Crank" because I am a idiot.

Did the Gundam nerds whine about Barbatos' tiny waist? Seems like a hill some would die on.

Surprisingly fine with Atra's crush on Mikazuki. It's cute! Not played weird or funky, so far. They seem like they'd get along really well actually - similar temperaments and background and all that.

Oh shit these kids are about to do a bad ain't they? Go get 'em.

I'd keep the accountant too - I don't wanna do any fuckin' math either.

Hate Beer-gut-Hitler-stache, when does some kid kill him? Soon hopefully.

His full name iS CRANK Z E N T

Political girl admires strong tiny boy for being coerced into dangerous life choices and options. Good old Gundam!

Mika isn't a victim so it's fine. This is fine. He is fine. They're all fine. Everything is fine. It's fine.

These poor babies. They're not gonna be okay.

Thoughts:

This is gonna be a big old thing ain't it? I've seen enough Gundam to know this one is going to hurt and in all the ways other Gundam titles try to tragic but fail. I can see that from way out here in the boondocks.

Mikazuki is incredibly concerning and he and Orga are gonna probably tear each other a part. That's the shit thing about existing in a constant mode of survival. They don't have time for inner reflection and they don't know how do even do that. These babies are already slipping.

Which gives the less-than-palatable title a lot of weight. "Iron-Blooded Orphans" sounds cool I guess but mostly it's sad. What a sad thing to see from an outside perspective. It's strength for them, it's pride, I get that, but I don't think as the viewer I am meant to buy in. Or shit, lol, maybe I am but I'm just a reserved asshole. I like to think I'll be hurt less later if I point out I can see the plot trembles now but we all know that's not true.

Very interested to see what Kudelia grows to do in all this. She'll remain political and maybe teach the Orphans about talking about their feelings - I dunno. She'll do something, obviously, I just have no clear idea /what/ so far. Which is fair, only episode three.

The handsome kid with the earrings (don't remember his name, too scared to search it) is definitely bisexual though. That's facts. Sorry.

Looks like this series will forgo the expectation of some pilot screaming about peace while blowing absolutely everything up. Ending of the third episode is a bit on the nose with the thematic line IBO is choosing to walk but I dug it.

Lots to look forward to! Lots will change! I adore the cast which of course makes me very fearful lol. They're hardened kids, they're stuck in survival mode, I can connect with that. What's interesting is their bonds and comfort with each other.

It's safe to assume they're gonna see some wild shit but they will have each other (until they don't) and whose a sucker for found-family feelings? THIS BITCH.

Gundam IBO episodes 4-7

McGillis Fareed is a creep, you heard it here first folks.

This guy is gonna have some wild backstory. He is the unmasked Char dude so. His hair bang is out to rival Orga's.

~ CINEMATIC PARALLELS ~

I love Akihiro is literally the guy from Beserk. He is pulling an AU role. Good for him.

The children are out here trying to change space future. I love them.

Ohhhh. She is here to teach the lost boys to READ.

Yeah, Orga and Mika's relationship keeps them alive but it can't last. They're gonna get hurt my babies are gonna ndndndnnsn

It's a judging love, a push and shove ya know? They're great protagonists, very compelling. Their relationship is bueatiful in it's own way but a honest writer knows they can't maintain that status quo if the characters are to grow. Especially into adulthood.

Hello cute pigtailed woman doing her nails in space! How can this one show keep treating me so well? Haha!

*famous last words, probably*

Okay there is some background mechanic guy and I haven't caught his name yet but he is blonde and styling a swoop do over one eye and his voice actor is so friggin familiar even just the like few lines he has had so far. I'm going on a search wish me luck.

Ahh! Character's name is Yamagi and the voice actor is Soma Saito who was Twelve in Terror in Resonance! Phew. Okay, back at it go time.

This power couple in the hat and shapely tummy scar, jeez. This show thrives on contrasting character designs but this one is, heh, this is new. Seems out of place almost.

PS>> Handsome bisexual earring boy is KILLING IT.

A+ pop into more scenes please thanks

It may be still too early to declare but I think Eugene is in the running to join my idiot son collection. He's got those expressive reactions that I just *clenches fist* that I just love so damn much.

lady pilots lady pilots lady pilots

I know ladies sitting at space computers in bikini tops isn't for any (good) reason but I need people to know that ladies in space would be hanging out in bikini tops for their own fantastic reasons and because I know this I shall accept events.

Idiot Son CONFIRMED

Atra x Kudelia WHEN?! Don't you let me down Mari Okada - I know what you're like!!!

Yamagi the cutie is gay. I'm filled with so much pride. *wipes tear*

These reckless bastard children are gonna be the death of me.

I adore how anyone with any kind of heart is moved by these kids. By their shared known history, by their current situation, their guts and their clever gambits.

There is such potential for wonderful storytelling when adult characters are made to stop and consider kids - not as lesser but as whole people in their own right.

Thoughts:

So McGillis Fareed is a creepo. Why do I think this? Well he didn’t bat an eye at accepting a child bride, I consider that a big friggin' tip off. Also, he exudes way too much effort.

I’m still early in the series so I may end up making a fool of myself surrounded by people who already know everything I don’t, but I’ll go ahead and try to explain my thinky thoughts anyhow.

I was only partially joking when I said CINEMATIC PARALLELS.

Pretty sure McGillis is being positioned against Orga and I say this because of their opposing character design and traits. McGillis consistently pulling on his bang was the tip off - hear me out!

The visual language of animation works differently than live action. Naturally by the medium what characters are bottom up designed to do are often times filled with more thematic intent than an actor forming characterization in collaboration with a director/a production. Plus, McGillis and Orga’s designs are intentional echos of one another within their stark differences, which is smart. This is a big cast that has varied character designs which have opposing tying traits (MORE ON THAT LATER) so their differences are what makes them similar.

I think these two leaders are more alike than what I’ve seen so far. I think the point is that Orga’s trials and struggle are more outright visible by his own choice whereas McGillis’ are hidden by him.

Orga never touches his wack hair even though he has a massive killer bang blocking his vision half the time. He isn’t seeking to change what lot he has been given in life and he isn’t trying to hide behind a fake persona. As orga states, “I am who I am.” A child.

McGillis constantly touches his hair while visibly contemplating. This guy is all calculated effort and performance. He isn’t who he presents himself as. Quite the adult.

Moving on to Orga and Mika and this show's brilliant use of opposing character designs: Jeepers Creepers, check out them Peepers edition.

Mika has big eyes. They're great. Because his eyes are so wide all the time it isn't shock we need to worry about with him. It's when he narrows his eyes. We saw this when he tried to choke out Gaelio (which, can I just say, noice).

You know who knows this better than anyone? Orga.

More and more we see Orga turning to Mika for approval, for motivation, for inspiration in his choices and push for whatever the hell it is Tekkadan is going to become. Orga has the smallest eyes of the cast, they're beady and cunning, even more so than McGillis (yikes). I think it's safe to say that Orga observes more than Mika, that Mika just watches things impassively as Orga ascertains what he assumes are Mika's wants.

And it's that type of thing where... The system works. Mika's wide, waiting, eyes keeps Orga on his toes. Keeps him thinking ahead, keeps him and everyone else relatively safe. But! But. There is a undercurrent of disproportion happening. I don't doubt these two love each other. I doubt that they understand their own dynamic. Any shift or change in this system and shit goes south very quickly. So naturally, I worry.

In lighter news OH MY GOD YAMAGI HUH?! Shy mechanic boy loves earring boy as much as I do - we are forever bonded in this way. He is my friend and I want only happiness for him. Ganbatte Yamgai, fuckin' get it boy.

Gundam IBO episodes 8-11

Yes, recap my idiot son Eugene's skills! If Akihiro is the guy from Berserk then Eugene is AU Makoto Tachibana from Iwatobi Swim Club, btw

The nonchalant babes at the controls are my BFFs.

I love the bit the in opening that's right away during "with all your voice" where Mika and Orga turn pause turn pause turn - what a simple but effective emotional pull, right? gurgle

Oh, it's his harem. Yes. Naturally. Of course. I don't hate this. Am I broken?

ohmygod I think it's because Naze Turbine looks like Ryoji Kaji. I will never be free.

HahahHAHAHAAHAAHAHA! Babies in space! Planting those seeds! HAHAH PLANTING SEEDS okay calming down. What am I to make of the editing in this scene? We've got Atra grasping her Mika charm then we're cutting away to Kudelia I'm freaking out right now.

B-b-b-budget episode! My favorite kind! Play with those jump cuts, yeaaaah!

Naze has a sweet spot for kids and wacky found families. Loves it.

This guy is defiantly space Marlon Brando in The Godfather right? That's intentional right?

This is a really awkward dinner time conversation. :D

Party time! Have fun kids, be safe, you make me very nervous.

Drunk Orga!

*SOBS*

Yamagi is jealous oh no oh my sweet little man oh it's okay!

I need everyone to know I'm deeply emotional about this family of lost boys and their big day and everyone is dressing up and JESUSSS

For a dude with a hat fetish and a harem Naze Turbine is a pretty good father figure so far, huh? He best hope it stays that way. *Whispers* It really is Kaji all over again...

I haven't praised the Old Man yet but Nadi is best and I would kill for him.

Hey, psst, hey in the opening Gaelio bending up into frame while McGillis slyly looks on is some really high quality queerbaiting. Top notch stuff.

These two fuckers hate each other but they like don't care? I don't know. I hate them. I love them. They're stupid make them stop.

The accountant is now like some magical loving math grandpa to all these rowdy boys my heart is so full!

Norba Shino, my love, your insecurities are great and many. Boobs this, boobs that! ... He isn't wrong actually.

Go team bisexual d i s a s t e r

I'm getting Takaki's back story, he is off to train in the simulator I DO NOT LIKE THIS

Flustered Orga is just, well it's very good. It's great. It's so sweet I'll put in my tea so I can drink it and get warm fuzzies forever.

Atra and Kudelia are so good together, they're another pair of characters with contrasting yet corresponding character designs that are just so fantastic!

DING DING DING figured out the editing of the baby scene and yes oh boy seeds were planted! Ecstatic. Don't be a coward show!

Haha, yeah right.

...Maybe though. Maybe. I think the biggest problem would be Mika because he's, well he is him isn't he?

Now Takaki is tagging along on patrol and I’m getting Akihiro’s backstory. Great. That’s not ominous.

BEEP BEEP BEEP an Ahab Reactor duh doy oh jeez oh come on kids

Thanks for the save Mika! HAHA I was worried. They got me.

Yes, the set up for Akihiro's brother is lazy but whatever I'm invested.

"Come on, come on, come on!" lol this fork tongued pirate kinda looks like a human Momotaros. I'm digging this creep.

TAKAKI NO!

Azee is my wife. We're very happy.

Friggin' Ein standing around muttering and holding Crank's pin like lolol do your job or something.

"All I want to do is kill those boys" like come on Ein no you don’t, just go do some fucking paper work. I'm sure you've been ignoring plenty.

No. Nope. NOPE. Absolutely not.

This show knows this isn't okay. It's showing us it isn't okay. Flowers in the Attic is over here touching hot tea pots, like??? McGillis is a creep and he has some junked up plan or scheme or whatever. Blerg.

Pfft, McGillis is touching that hair bang all "A powerful piece that could shake up the regime" HUH HERR I wonder who?

These kids are too good and too well adjusted - it's great. I mean, it's sometimes a bit much like in this instance with Akihiro and his bro, but that's also what makes it nice. What makes the show compelling. You trust these characters to trust each other at this point.

Thoughts:

The dominoes are setting up and we're getting to that point where almost all the pieces of mystery in the show's opening are all out on the table. Very exciting.

Can't wait to learn what the hell McGillis is up to. He is the exact kind of character I actually really like, because I'm the worst. The child bride is, you know, shitty but I don't think the show is (so far) trying to display it as anything but A Situation™

Frankly, the entire thing with Almiria is (so far!) a play on how these characters are still kind of kids in their own way. Obviously Almira, but McGillis and Gaelio are still at the whims of their own parents and forever will be at the beck and call of their "families".

Tekkadan are more overtly children but they're wiggling out from under another's thumb and carving a space to move around and have some self definition. McGillis is, I can guess, is going to try and do the same for himself (especially after his little chess speech).

McGillis' extreme acceptance of Almiria is partially gross and partially understandable. It's both. Because it is both! Being shitty to Almiria won't gain him any points and he is going to use her, his parents already predetermined that. Eeehhh. Wait and see I guess.

I adore the dynamics of this big cast of characters, the boys feel so real and I live to see them acknowledge one another's strengths and hopes and fears. ;_;

Like most Gundam properties (other than GWing, yeah I said it!) the female cast is a bit washy, a bit too reactionary towards an thus defined by the male ensamble but I don't dislike anyone.

There is a divide between the female characters and the male characters, they share the same physical space but their narratives are not aligned and that's okay but it is a little frustrating. I'm a patient soul and I love (and know) the Gundam franchise so I'm good but maaaan. I really want the ladies to get through on this one. I really want them to want things for themselves beyond being pulled by their boy peers. They don't need to fight. They don't need to yell. Who they are now is good, there is a good foundation. They just need a gear shift, especially in the realization that they're not just along for the ride. And I am mostly thinking of Atra at this point. I love her because she is easy to love but I also know that's through careful positioning and not due to anything inherent in her.

We will end this bout how I think many of these will end; YELLING ABOUT YAMAGI.

Yamagi is a sweet boy who deserves the world! Norba Shino is a human disaster who (headcanon) is going through a lot of confusing emotional and hormonal stuff right now so please be strong Yamagi.

Gundam IBO episodes 12-14

I love Ms. Merribit. Anyone will tell you I'm a sucker for responsible ladies in pant suits.

I love these Man Rodi the Brewers use. A good chuby boy in heels.

They made Mika's lunch TOGETHER.

TOGETHER.

My man Nadi knows what's up.

That's what I'm talkin' about! Mari Okada I trust you so much girl.

At some point Orga's tough guy smirk is going to be used in a way that pains and hurts me and I will probably die.

space battle space battle space battle I am a nerd space battle!

The ladies are covering for Akihiro. They want these brothers to reunite. *crying*

Masahiro's voice actor is giving an amazing performance.

Aw damn it.

Episode 13's opening is straight forward but rough: Norba's search crew find Brewer's human debris, passes them over, but those scared kids shoot which causes the Tekkadan kids to react and return fire. It's played straight as being it is what it is - a shit cycle of getting out.

The child solider/space rat stuff is, I feel, primarily used by the show to explore various forms of abusive fallout (which is why the Tekkadan kids fairly well adjusted existence is a little weird but deeply appreciated) and this quick moment punctuates Akihiro's goodbye.

A guest compliments Almiria, "She is like a doll!"

She is, isn't she?

Kill me.

UH OH she has realized she is nine.

Let me guess, McGillis is going to be a white knight oh yep here he comes. Great.

I'm hitting pause and I'm going on a wild ass fuckin' tangent:

I feel younger kids having crushes on older people all depends on how it's handled by the older character, much as in life. Kids crush on adults. They do. That's not like weird or strange. What's important is how adults are made to handle those feelings (if known) and a story can go in so many different directions for so many different reasons and that's fine. That's storytelling. I shall judge all stories individually as they cross my path with whatever elements they have within them. That's how I do it.

So McGillis being charming and nice towards Alimaria is, again, fine and a little icky simultaneously. We know he is stuck. He is not out to ruffle any family plans. He is cucumbering this shit and being as smooth as possible alternative motive I don't know yet.

Alimaria is at the utmost disadvantage here.

Within their specific scenario the only character we've seen consider her as a person who is also stuck in a hamster wheel of shitty parents is McGillis.

Obviously McGillis is a total shit-bird who is simply being nice because that's what is advantageous for HIM but the show is still (barely, mind you) straddling that line of "This Is Just A Situation™, we'll rip the Band-Aid Later"

McGillis is going to do something absolutely terrible to this girl and I am weary as fuck.

The series is being very manipulative with McGillis' actions here with Alimaria. He is being considerate but he is also stepping over a line.

McGillis is presented as being understanding and seems to genuinely care about Alimaria's feelings which makes him come off as, well, nice and princely. Which is undoubtedly what he wants. Which is what kind of makes him a monster, ya feel me?

Eh, okay, incoherent late night ranting done. Back to sad boys and robots.

THESE POOR SAD BOYS.

This funeral is hitting me in my soft bits I can't deal

And it's followed up by Yamagi x Shino content just rub salt in my wounds JESUS

UHHHH PARDON ME?!?!?!? I hate this episode! Deaths? Kisses? UGH. Mika is an dummy. He is full of dumb.

They're making sure to show Atra sneezing though, as if someone mentioned her name explicitly which is just more weird ass editing choices I don't know how to take. What are you trying to tell me?!

I'm stupid and a low life so I don't actually hate all love triangles. In fact I tend to rub angst all over my body so I can smell like disappointment and unresolved sexual tension but Mika is still a total dummy end of discussion.

(ﾉ◕ヮ◕)ﾉ*:･ﾟ✧ ┻━┻

NEW OPENING BITCHES!

MASKED PILOT MASKED PILOT I AM YELLING!

New opening has got it all! Just absolutely everything! We've got a masked pilot; we've got some new looking girl straight out of CLAMP's X/1999 or some shit; we've got sad boy's angry teeth; did I make this? Is this a dream?

Fumitan ain't gonna rat Kudelia out! At least... I don't want her to anyways.

Kudelia is straight up asking this lesbian about men I can't believe her.

Hehheh heeh heh hehe "Dort" hehe

I adore the weirdness and chafing of Merribit and Orga's working relationship.

Oh my god guys, they're at Fantasy Costco! These girls are gonna clean these stinky boys and make that there ship sparkle. It's girly manifest destiny.

"So no matter which planet you're on, the bossy ones are scums" - That's my idiot son Eugene who is actually one of the smarter of the idiot boys.

I love the juxtaposition of these colony adults drinking the juice on the political Mars girl and her mighty teen protector warriors out to save them when it's really them asking lesbians for advice on men and trying to survive and crying when no one is looking.

I'm serious, Orga is borderline terrified of Ms. Merribit. She's just another pair of waiting judging eyes for him and he doesn't know how to deal with her because she actually SAYS STUFF.

Biscuit you be careful baby, watch your back.

Loooooove the juxtaposition of these colony adults being super psyched to get blown up and these kids are like "Christ almighty, put that down!"

Shino helping Yamagi escape (~˘▾˘)~

These boys are out here doing their job, doing their best, they're on their best behavior and they've been set up. My precious children! They've done nothing wrong, ever!

"Maybe I'll change the way I talk, huh? ... No, I will not do that." Goddammit I love McGillis and I'm sooooooooooo mad about it.

Thoughts:

We've had Snake-Man-Pirate suggest to Mika that he enjoys killing but we haven't really been given any evidence of that. I'm sticking to my self-made theory on Mika's eyes!

He has that big wide stare most of the time, Mika doesn't actually have much personal investment in most of what he does. He doesn't love killing, but he doesn't have any real opinion on it either way. It isn't like when he choked out Gaelio or, now, kissing Kudelia.

I'm full power launching myself into deep fannish space because that's how I media but like, I'm not crazy right? Mika's eyes are IMPORTANT. They're about all we're given in understanding him, which is wild for the main Gundam pilot protagonist. The emphasis on Mikazuki's eyes within his design and being the only markers the audience is given when it comes to inner choices is a big gambit. We're 14 episodes in and don't have much of a grasp on Mika and I think that's because he has never once self defined. He is the ultimate of the poor sad robot boys. Akihiro is struggling with his humanity and the label of his existence ("human debris") with all the characters starting to find space and time to turn inward and then there is Mika.

I don't think he knows how to live life while not only trying to survive. So, what's going to boot his self defined existence online? Piloting Barbatos? Kissing girls? Familial love? ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

McGillis being a masked pilot this late into the game with no charade about "Who can it BEeeeEEeE?!?" is my favorite thing. Haven't even seen him in an episode yet just a preview but oh, it's my favorite thing.

We'll end this short thoughts binge on the beauty that is Yamagi and why I am somewhat upset:

IBO has a very tight turn around of set up and follow through. There is (I'm assuming) a longer, slower set up with end game (probably tragic) follow through happening in concordance with the two episode story arc rhythm the series has going so far.

Quick simplified examples can be

Akihiro mentions his brother > we meet his brother > his brother chooses to die/save him > kids learn some on how to handle grief.

Turbine has a harem > everyone accepts this > kids learn some on how to handle a found, self defined family.

The pattern is "If the kids meet a thing, that thing becomes possible."

We ain't seen no men loving men. We've not come across a viable example in the narrative of that being a option or choice or possibility.

There are a lot of episodes left and this isn't like a make or break situation for me, but we are inching up on the set up stage being over with and if there is no example, no proof, of men being able to love men then...? I'm hesitant to invest.

I still will invest hook line and sinker, this is Gundam and damn that’s what I do

BUT!

That's also just so frustrating and sad as well as being, haha, believable. If there is no example encouraging Yamagi to approach Shino and no example for Shino to see acceptance then they're just gonna run out of time or figure their shit out too late.

Which is so very extremely stressful and masterfully manipulative how dare you I'm so impressed but mad and hurt and god I hope I'm wrong and off and have not tapped into this show's core of foreshadowing or whateverthehell.

Yamagi is a sweet boy who deserves the world and Norba Shino is a human disaster and I suffer for them.

#Gundam IBO #fandom talks #Gundam #ignore me

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it-is-bugs · 6 years

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TDBM Thinkie Thoughts: 5.8

Finally to 5.8. Where did this season go? And I've nattered so much that I've got to put it under a cut!

Continuing the unfortunate trend from 5.7, we get 10 pounds of flour stuffed into a five pound sack. Way too much plot than is necessary. It just finalized my thought with 5.7 that the end of the season would have been better served by doing a 2 parter of a single over-arcing plot line.

We know Ned is doomed because he got more lines in the first 5 minutes than he's had in the previous five seasons including dramatically confronting Munro: "You bothering my girlfriend?" Ah, the glorious days when women were men's property who had to be protected from other men.

Ned got in over his head with his girlfriend. Don't hook up with the ex of some two-bit hood even if he doesn't murder you. Poor Ned. We all adored you!

JT and CM's excellent faceacting as they rush in is just spot perfect--both are heartbreaking but different from each other. The touch of Lucien's hand on Matthew's back briefly as he supports his friend without making him look weak in front of the lads. How Matthew removes his hat and puts it over his heart before giving orders. Lucien closes Ned's eyes, straightens his broken neck, and later how he strokes Ned's hair once they're in the morgue.

Matthew's really strong this episode. How he reins in Lucien, after a season of telling Charlie to get him have his head. He's not going to let Lucien just cruise along as usual and it takes a few times of Matthew saying it for it to sink in for Lucien.

The girlfriend is just a whiny mess for most of the episode--Sorry Dead!Ned, she wasn't good enough for you.

After spotting the newspaper, dramatic run by Rose--surely SOMEONE would have called her if Charlie was really dead. Calm down, honey. Their completely flat chemistry continues as he comforts her.

"William!" Lucien chases Munro out of the station. Munro will only respond when he calls him "Munro." Doesn't Lucien remember that Munro doesn't like to be called William?

Munro rants that Lucien has no respect for rules and authority. Uh...says the corrupt cop? That's what's meant by unreliable narrator. "God help him (Ned) if you're on the case." OH, you mean the guy who solved all the crimes when you were running this place?

What I mean by way too much plot: Munro returned to Melbourne in disgrace, under the cloud of corruption...so he continues to accept bribes, this time from Walter? Whose girlfriend Ned manages to steal while he's stationed in Melbourne on secondment? Then Ned returns to Ballarat, the girlfriend joins him, Walter follows them, and Munro follows him? *clutching head*

I did grab onto one thing; what was Munro going to do with this gun? Did he wanted to solve the case and look like a hero?

Like that Patrick quite likes Jean but still hates Lucien. Let's not soften him too much.

Bill and Charlie bust in on Way!Overacting!Walter in bed: "You're worried I'm holding a loaded weapon?" Covers up under his chin, hands at waist, and he's obviously naked. Ack!

We finally get a naked ass on this show and it's NOT the one we want!

Really great scene with Matthew firing Lucien. JT can go a bit far in the seething direction, but I really liked his choices here. Then Lucien has to do the walk of shame from his desk.

Who was it that named it Pet Rock Christopher? I understand why the show went with the Pet Rock, but it was jarring to me. Christopher's name would have been on the Ballarat war memorial seen in 1.2. Or perhaps a plaque inside the church. Jean had said in the past that Christopher doesn't have a grave (Not even in the war cemetery in Papua New Guinea?), so had she requested that a rock be installed right by the church front door?

I loved seeing Jean proudly shedding her old role--"I worked for Dr Blake" and putting on her new one, "We're engaged." And then Munro peed in her cornflakes and he was dead to me before he was dead. Again, he's the other side of Lucien's coin alright. Didn't we hear that your wife left you? I guess her marriage gave her a lot of pain.

I liked the touch of Lucien giving Cec his annual Christmas tip. Cec check's the size as Lucien walks away. Hee.

Lucien refuses to believe that Munro has just come to watch him fall from grace. "I was only ever doing my job."

It's helpful to get the details of what a police surgeon is actually supposed to do: "Your job is to inspect crime scenes, perform autopsies, fill out death certificates."

"You do what you do because you have to." > True dat. That's it, that's the show.

"We're two sides of the same coin." Yes, if one is black and one is white.

"Because I've become expendable. It offends my sense of justice." I don't even know where to start with that. Justice, like helping Genevieve's killer cover up his crime? Like that every crime seemed to be him settling on the first obvious suspect and trying to railroad that person, instead of letting Lucien do his job and find the real killer?

So I assume that he came to kill Walter and without any true expectation of coming out alive?

So he ends up taking a bullet, but ironically for Lucien. Lucien gets to say that classic cliche line: "You're going to be fine!" Er...

Unlike Munro, Lucien isn't a petty person. He has to give credit where credit is due: "You saved my life."

With Munro's line, "It's my job," you can see that he wants to be a hero, to fit in, to be liked. He knows what a policeman is supposed to be, he just hasn't done it very often.

Speaking of coppers doing their job, wow, this wasn't a good episode for Ballarat's finest. One constable dead, Walter knocks down Bill right there in the station and escapes, then Charlie's thumped on the head in the morgue.

It must have been a difficult episode to film with both bodies on the slab being actors well known to the principles. Did they have to fight laughing or crying?

It's torture to just watch the autopsy for Lucien. Matthew knows how to punish him. Alice "Gotch'you," as she pulls out the bullet gives me life. I also appreciate how she says that she didn't like Munro and that's it. Take down that note. When you're dead to Alice, you're literally dead to her.

Lucien gets his mojo back by stealing evidence.

Billie the Madam has a nice turn. Calls Lawson Matthew. Hee! She loaned Ned the money for the ring, then was shaking him down for repayment... WAY TOO MUCH PLOT. I had wondered how Ned afforded that ring, but was this necessary? Do we really believe Billie sneaked into the station and snapped Ned's neck?

When she's all over Charlie, I'm left wondering if Rose/Charlie is public knowledge? I'd thought so by this point but perhaps not?

Yet oddly with all this over-plotting, other parts are left out. Did Baker go back for the notebook or was he looking for Lucien to kill at the morgue? How would Baker have known about the notebook? Did we see him having access to the radio transmissions? Did he lead Lucien to the pub so he could lie in wait for him there?

Delightful, Jean's trying to say goodbye to her church in peace and here's Fr Emery.

When he compliments the flowers, she responds: "So glad you've noticed." A nice dig. "I always do." And from her expression, we know that he never says anything. There's that lesson on how to retain parishors, Em.

The church is her home. That's what the loss will be. It was an important thing when Lucien's gave her one sort of home, but this one has been with her longer and must be closer to her heart. It was always hers, not given to her by Thomas and Lucien.

When Bill is kicking the shit out of Over!Acting!Walter, I see that he learned alot from almost losing his job over beating up a suspect.

Really nice touch of Baker using the morgue table's head prop as a weapon to bash in Charlie's head.

After running through the streets with tear-filled eyes, Rose doesn't seem to care that Charlie's been assaulted.

Perhaps this is why Pet Rock Christopher is right by the door? So Norm can find Jean easily?

I really love Gary Sweet's performance. It's rather terrifying with his maniac manner. It's hilarious that he had stood over a dying Lucien and then gets ticked the Lucien didn't in fact die.

But then he makes the fatal error of pushing Jean's button; self-pity; she can't stand that. She's just made this massive, life-changing decision and doesn't have time for Norm's pity party.

"For God's sake, Jean," wails Lucien when she charges the killer. She'd made her decision and she couldn't go back. If Lucien is gone, she's not just going to go back to the church. She's had a fundamental sea change in her way of thinking. And she's just really really pissed that this whinger may take this New Jean away from her. That and she keeps catching a heel in the turf, it's hot as hell, and she probably left the Christmas roast cooking. She needs to get home, like now.

Nice touch that Matthew needs Lucien to escort Norman across the uneven turf. The way that things have been going, Norm could have run off and the Ballarat force would have suffered their final humiliation for the episode.

I love that Alice and Bill are overdressed compared to the others at the Christmas party. They must feel the most outsiders to begin with, and now this. Alice's gown is lovely and Bill looks like his mum washed his neck, so it's all good. Bill leads the toast to Ned, but no one will toast Munro but Lucien. Gosh, didn't you back Munro, Bill? Hmmm....lots of revised memories in this episode.

It makes me the whinger now, but what was Jean's other present/s for Lucien? A new set of pajamas? A new dressing gown?

"You know I snore."

"For better or worse, Lucien."

To be the voice of doom, but it's not snoring that Jean needs to worry about from sleeping with Lucien, but let's save that for S6, shall we?

#doctor blake mysteries #deep thinkie thoughts #is it saturday night yet?

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g0dblessthefandom · 7 years

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Brittana!Firefly Fic

Hey All,

So, I finished this a week or so ago, but I thought I would post it here anyway. It’s a Brittana/Troubletones AU set in the Firefly ‘verse that I’d been working on since last year, but decided to finish. I’m posting the first chapter here, and the rest is on AO3 and FFF.net. Hope you check it out!

The explosion was still ringing in her ears as she ran.

Kitty raced down the hill at a breakneck speed, dodging rocks and debris and vaulting over other things that she’d rather not spend any time trying to think about. The air was thick with acrid smoke, and it was all she could do to keep from suffocating on it. Her res pack had been ditched hours ago, thrown to the bottom of some ravine that she’d passed, and not a second thought left behind with it. The heavy weight of it on her back had been fine when she was sitting in a trench, but when she’d had to move, it had only slowed her down.

She was glad too. She’d been running for what seemed like hours, and the pack would have been an unwanted burden on her back. Her lungs burned, but it only pushed her to run faster, away from where her squad had been ambushed, away from the screams of dying soldiers, away from the carnage, away from the destruction. She looked up at the sky for a moment, trying to catch a glimpse of starlight through the clouds. Trying to catch sight of anything that would help her to orient herself, but she didn’t see anything. Only more pitch black. Only more night. Only more darkness. She had spotted the edge of a dune, and thought she’d noticed it has they had marched towards the battlefield, so she followed it slowly uphill for what seemed like miles. She didn’t know where she was going, she just wanted to go home.

Her watch had stopped in the blast, showing the last time that some of her sisters and brothers had breathed their last breath. She had no way of knowing how long she had been running. She only knew she couldn’t rest. She ran on.

She didn’t notice the bit of metal jutting out from the ground until it was too late, a flash of light coming from overhead illuminated the gleaming steel and she only saw it for a moment before the impact. She slammed into it, screaming as the jagged shard tore a chunk of flesh from her leg, and sent her tumbling over the edge of the hill, and into the darkness, the world spinning as she fell.

When she finally came to a stop at the bottom, she lay on her back for a few more seconds, the life all but drained out of her. Her leg throbbed, and she could feel the warm blood spilling onto the charred ground. She looked up at the sky once again, and slammed her fist into the dirt, not minding the way that the movement jostled her newly opened wound.

Kitty screamed, the tears washing streaks of dirt down her face. She had been marching since dawn, full of anticipation and nerves, jostling with her squadmates, ready to fight the good fight, and now…. Now she wasn’t even sure who was left alive.

She tried to remember what she’d learned in basic. She struggled, trying to will the pain that was coursing through her leg, that was coursing through her whole body, to quiet itself so she could think. She squeezed her eyes closed. What was it that the Lieutenant was always yelling at her about? She brought an arm over her face, and gingerly wiped the tears away.

“Gorramit.”

She sighed deeply, and found herself lost in a fog. Either blood loss or shock (or both) was making her brain as addled as her bunkmate Azimio once he’d found himself on the losing end of a drinking contest. It was no use. Her Lieutenant was always telling her that she was a 拉屎 soldier. Now, her team had gotten attacked, and she hadn’t been able to do anything except stay low until the attack was over, and then run away. She’d left everyone behind. She’d left Azimio behind. She closed her eyes against the smoke, and settled in, listening to explosions in the distance.

Suddenly a boom sounded nearby, and rattled the ground, jostling Kitty where she lay. She opened her eyes carefully, shielding them from the debris that sprinkled gently down around her, like a summer rain. As she looked to the heavens a single, bright spot of light dazzled at her.

A star.

Well, stars, plural. Somehow the smoke had cleared, and she could see through the ash, through the soot. She could see the sky. She thought back to her childhood days on Hera. She thought about her parents taking her and her little brother out camping, her mother pointing to the stars that touched the nearest points of their galaxy, and the solar systems that lay just beyond their home. She thought of that home that she was protecting.

“Med pack.”

Kitty looked around wildly. There was no one there, but she’d heard the voice echoing all around her. Heard it as clear as day. It was her Lieutenant's voice, yelling at her like he always had. Telling her the things that she already should have known, but had forgotten. Kitty licked her dried, chapped lips, and brought her hands to her chest and repeated her superior’s words.

“Med pack.”

“We’re coming out of atmo, Cap’n.”

“Good. Keep her steady. I don’t want any problems today. Things gotta go nice and smooth.”

“Like a new jar of peanut butter, Cap.”

Mercedes rolled her eyes, and headed off the deck, turning back in the doorway.

“Brittany, this is gonna be your first real job as a part of my crew, and I don’t want any trouble. Let’s set the bar high with this one. 懂吗?”

“懂了, Cedes. You can count on me.” Brittany said, giving a tiny salute. She turned back to the console, littered with tiny dinosaurs and using the steering column, arched the ship, and aimed her downward.

“This is Songbird-022015 requesting landing protocols.”

“We read you Songbird, running credentials.”

Mercedes left Brittany to it. It was the first time (that she knew of) her blonde pilot had ever set foot on Persephone, and the first time she’d be landing their ship without Mercedes’ assistance. She didn’t want her getting all nervous.

She climbed down the small ladder, towards the bunks and headed towards her own at the back of the hallway. They had been cruising through Lux system when her old pal Badger had sent them a wave. He needed someone for a discreet job, and he knew they’d be the ones to take it. He didn’t mention the details, or the cargo, but Mercedes was hard up enough, that she’d put aside her feelings of distrust for Badger long enough to make a quick turnaround.

Captain Mercedes Jones had inherited the good ship Songbird from her uncle, who’d been one of the many casualties of the Unification War. Her father had told her that going out into space on that old rig was silly, but she had fought on the side of the Browncoats during the war, and returning home to farm potatoes with her family seemed like something she wouldn’t be able to stand. So, she took her uncle’s ship, which had been sitting in dry dock for almost a decade, and set about fixing it up.

She brought along her lieutenant from their regiment, Santana Lopez, one of her best friends from back home, Kurt Hummel, and went out among the stars. Lucky for her they didn’t come much more loyal than Santana, meanwhile Kurt could make a toaster run like a purring kitten, so they made it just fine, skimming along the planets in the outer rim of the system. Along the way they’d picked up a stray or two, and now they had an almost complete working crew.

Though, working was a bit of an overstatement. They hadn’t had any jobs in a few months (either over or under the table). Now, stores were running low, and tensions were running high. She’d had to break up two fights in the past week alone, and the chocolate she kept in her room was not going to be enough to get her through it.

She stopped in the hallway, listening to the thrusters to engage, which signified that they’d gotten clearance to land, and would be in Eavesdown before too long. She smiled, Badger had come through again. She could kiss him. Well, if he ever brushed his teeth, she might consider it.

Her attention was broken by the sound of arguing coming from the mess, and gritting her teeth, she strode forward, passing her bunk, and ducking her head to enter.

“I told you for the last time, Berry, those were mine!”

“And I told you, Santana, that I have to maintain ultimate and peak performance, and if I don’t have fresh things every once in a while-”

“What? Your 小妹妹 is going to smell like tuna?”

Mercedes breached the doorway just as Rachel went red in the face, and took a deep breath.

“Enough, you two! Santana get up there with Brittany and give her a hand. Rachel, why don’t you go back to your shuttle and prepare for landing?”

Santana looked like she wanted to argue, but nodded curtly.

“Yes, sir.”

With that, she turned on her heel and headed back down the hallway, towards the bridge, huffing loudly. Rachel, seemed to calm down right away, and got a delighted look on her face.

“We’re landing?! Oh god, I’ve been waiting all week for this. Finally some work!”

“I take it your dance card is full then?”

“Not as much as if I was on an inner rim planet, but it will do in a pinch. I’ve got to thank you, Captain. The Companions Guild and I owe you a debt of gratitude.”

“No need to thank me, Ms. Berry, we needed the work as much as you do. We’ll be here for a full twenty four hours, so that should give you more than enough time for a few of your clients.”

“Yes, that should be sufficient.” She smiled.

“Good, then.” Mercedes turned to walk away, but stopped, turning back. “Oh, and Rachel, I know that you and Santana don’t get on very well, but you’ll want to stay out of her stash of strawberries. I’ve seen her kill folks for less.”

Mercedes went on her way, and heard an audible gulp from Rachel. She couldn’t help but smile. Santana wouldn’t kill Rachel. Probably. But, there was no harm in giving everyone a break from Rachel’s antics, at least for a little while.

Mercedes stopped for a moment, listening again to the noises from the ship, and thinking quickly, took a detour, heading down to the engine room. She saw a bit of brown, coiffed locks peeking from behind the engine column, and smiled.

“Kurt? What are you doing to my engine room? It sounds like a giant with a case of gastrointestinal distress.”

Kurt looked up over the whirring engine and pursed his lips. “Well, Captain , I’m doing my best, but your new pilot is working the poor girl like she’s a five dollar whore. I can only do so much.”

“Brittany will get used to her, don’t worry.”

“If she doesn’t crash her first.”

Kurt sounded hurt, and Mercedes could sympathize. The two of them had been working on Songbird for years; treating her right, and learning her quirks. She didn’t like the idea of anyone being rough with her anymore than Kurt did. But, Brittany would learn the ropes, and even though she was a quirky woman, Mercedes had never seen a better pilot.

“You’ve gotta trust her, Kurt. She’s good, believe me. She’ll take care of our girl.”

Kurt huffed and went back to work under the engine. “Well, it’s about time we landed anyway. We need two engine couplings, and a new compression coil and-”

“Look, Kurt. We’ll have enough credits for the bare essentials. In the meantime, you’ve got to make do. The job ain’t even begun, and you’re already spending money.”

“But Mercedes-”

“You’ll make do. We land in a bit. Get ready to head out.” That was the end of that discussion.

She didn’t like being too firm with her crew, but she didn’t have much of a choice. Credits were running low. That’s what this job was for. She walked back towards the galley, and saw Puck, who was pouring a handful of protein into his mouth.

“Take it easy, Puckerman, there is actually food on this 大便 planet.”

“Buh I wah owngy now.” Puck said around his mouthful.

Mercedes ignored him, and patted him on the shoulder. “Grab your gear, Puck. We’re going to see a man about a job.”

On the bridge, Santana watched Brittany carefully. She noticed the way her eyes narrowed as she looked at her instruments, and the way her hands lightly held the controls as she steadily brought Songbird into the landing docks. More than once her eyes graced over Brittany’s pink lips, her golden hair, her long fingers. She hadn’t spent very much alone time with the new pilot, considering that she’d only been onboard the ship for a short time. And Santana didn’t quite know what to think. Mercedes had chosen her because, “she liked the look of her.” But all the same she’d definitely noticed her. The tip of a pink tongue darted out of Brittany’s mouth as she grimaced in concentration.

“Like what you see?”

Santana jumped, nearly falling out of her chair, before straightening and clearing her throat. “Um, huh?

Her voice cracked a little and she cleared her throat again.

“I asked if you liked what you were seeing. You seemed to be enjoying the view from over there.”

Santana stood up, and straightened her vest, smoothing her raven black hair that was tied back in a ponytail.

“No. I mean, yes. I mean, I was just, um-” She pointed to Brittany’s console. “I was just admiring your plastic dinosaurs. Or, actually, wondering about them. Why do you, um, have them?”

Brittany raised an eyebrow, but turned a beaming smile at Santana. “I dunno. I like dinosaurs, I guess. My dad used to tell me stories about them when I was a kid.”

Santana suddenly had the desire to know more about Brittany’s childhood. Was she still close with her dad, or did they not talk anymore? When was the last time she had seen her family? And why in the gorram hell had she ended up where she’d joined the crew, on Athens, in the middle of nowhere?

Of course, Santana was not the kind of person to ask those types of questions. She stood for a moment, as Brittany looked expectantly at her, and strode over to the console, taking up a dinosaur in her hand.

“好酷.”

Brittany regarded her carefully for a moment, and looked back at the flashing lights of the console.

“I think so, too. We’re landing in a few. Are you joining the Captain on her little expedition?”

“Of course.” Santana said, without any malice. “Where she goes I go.”

“Do you always follow her orders?” Brittany asked, busying herself with pushing buttons and flipping switches.

“Yep.”

“Why?”

“Because without Mercedes Jones, I would have died during the Unification Wars.”

The answer seemed to satisfy Brittany, and she continued her work, taking control of Songbird, and quietly guiding her into a soft landing.

“Very good.” Said Santana, with a hint of a smile on her lips.

Brittany blushed, ducking her head. “All in a day’s work.”

She pushed a few more buttons, and leaned back from the steering column, folding her hands behind her head.

“What about this Badger guy? Do you really think his job is any good?”

Santana shrugged. “I don’t know if the Cap’n trusts him as far as she can throw him. But when he gives us jobs, we make it out alive, so, she hasn’t shot him yet. Plus, he hasn’t tried to shoot her yet, so he’s got that going for him.”

“Unlike that trouble we had at Whitefall.”

“Exactly.”

Santana turned to go, knowing that Mercedes would be waiting for her in the cargo hold, so they could go and meet their contact.

“Santana.”

There’s was a softness to Brittany’s voice that Santana had never heard before. It stopped her in her tracks, and she felt a shiver go down her spine.

“Y-yes, Brittany?”

“Be careful out there, huh? I wouldn’t want anything to happen to you.”

Santana turned, and caught the playful grin on Brittany’s face. She nodded. “S-sure, Brittany. I’ll see you later.”

Brittany gave her a wink. “I’ll be waiting for you.”

Santana went down the ladder quickly, almost missing a few rungs, and walked even more quickly towards the cargo hold. She wasn’t paying much attention and nearly collided with Mike, a boarder they’d picked up a couple of weeks before. The bag he was holding tumbled out of his hands, and syringes and bandages spilled everywhere.

“Uh, sorry, Mike.”

The both bent down to gather the items, and Mike gave her a soft smile. “没问题, Santana. I should have been watching where I was going as well. I know you’re always dangerous after you’ve been spending time on the bridge.”

Santana furrowed her brow. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“It means that a certain blonde pilot has been flirting with you since she got here, and you don’t seem to notice.”

Santana’s eyebrows went so high they almost reached her hairline. “You’ve got to be kidding me, Chang.”

“Nope. I’ve seen it with my own eyes. And I’ve also seen the dumb look you get in response. You’re pretty blind for a while afterwards.”

“Whatever. Don’t think because you stitched me up a couple weeks ago, I won’t be willing to pop you one.”

Mike held up his hands in mock surrender. “Okay, okay, fine. I’m just saying. You should talk to her, tell her how you feel.”

Santana rolled her eyes, and shoved the last of the bandages in Mike’s bag. “What have you got all this stuff for? Did someone get hurt?”

“Oh no.” Mike said, laughingly. “I did a quick inventory of the med bay, and was trying to figure out what we should pick up while we’re here. I might even be able to get some hypos that were manufactured this century.”

“Cap’n won’t like that. She’s planning on saving money this trip. Not spending it.”

“Well, Quinn and I have a few credits that we’ve managed to save up. I think it should be enough to get us started.”

As if he were conjuring her up, his sister Quinn marched towards them, her head held high. She looked nothing like Mike, who was tall, with tan skin and round eyes that burned hazel. She was short, blonde, and kind of pale. Santana had never asked why they looked so different from one another, and it never came up. But they called each other brother and sister, and seemed to care quite a bit for one another, so she never pushed it. Besides, they were paying to stay onboard, and wanted to stay as far away from the Alliance as possible, just like she did, so there never was any need to get personal.

Not to mention Mike was a trained physician who would patch them up whenever they ran into trouble. He seemed to be rather good at it, in Santana’s amatuer opinion, and that was worth loads out in the ‘verse. Where things with the Captain tended to get a little hairy more often than not.

However, there was one thing she couldn’t help but notice. While Mike was open and kind, patient and understand, down to earth and casual, his sister was the exact opposite. She was closed off, and watched things on the ship with much too keen an interest for Santana’s taste. She was witty, but sometimes cruel, and seemed to think she was too good for their ship.

Unlike Rachel, Santana simply steered clear of Quinn. Not because she was afraid of her, but because they were paying customers (though Rachel was too), and she had a feeling that Mercedes would never forgive her if she shoved Quinn out of an airlock.

“Oh, Santana.” Quinn only seemed to notice Santana a few moments after her approach, and nodded to her as if she were the help. “Do you know how long we’ll be on the planet’s surface?”

“Sure, Ms. Chang. It’ll be a full day, twenty four hours.”

“Good. Well, let the Captain know that we’re going out. We will be back before night fall.”

Mike pinched the bridge of his nose. “Quinn, don’t start this again. You have to stay on the ship. It isn’t safe for you out there.”

Quinn rolled her eyes. “So, what, you get to be the only one to walk on solid ground after six weeks because I’m a delicate flower?”

“What? No, that’s not it. It’s just that-” Mike stopped short, looking quickly to Santana. “Sorry, Santana. We’ll, um, go below decks.”

Santana just nodded as Mike ushered Quinn away, both of them still arguing in hushed tones. Their reasons for going or staying had nothing to do with her. She had one job. She walked quickly to the cargo hold, and saw Mercedes waiting for her. Her captain look pretty good, she had to say. She was wearing her long brown duster, one that had served her well for many years during and since the Unification War. Her dark hair was pulled back in a ponytail, and she was doing her best to project a calm, powerful aura. Her pistol hung by her side within easy reach, and Santana knew that Mercedes had at least two other guns stashed around her person. The one she nervously tapped on at the moment was an old side shooter that she’d had since before the war. Before the Unification War Mercedes had never even touched a pistol. Her father had given her one to help with pests on the farm, and she’d been loathe to shoot it. It was a single barrell, with a wooden handle rubbed smooth by years of use. The stock shined brightly from generations of gun oil and polishing cloths. After she’d gotten rid of her service pistol, and had felt the blood of another person under her nails, the gun had become her constant companion, and she was never far from it.

But the Mercedes before her wasn’t the woman she’d met on their first day of boot camp. She wasn’t the enthusiastic leader who made her troops feel safe. She wasn’t even the broken woman who’d watched her friends die. Here she was simply Captain Jones; worried about her crew and her family, and trying to make a better life for them. Santana smiled as she approached.

“Nervous?”

Mercedes blinked. “What? No. Of course not. It’s just a regular job.”

“You can lie to all of them, sir, but you can’t lie to me. You’re doing that thing where you tap your thumb against your holster.”

Mercedes looked down at her right hand, which was indeed hitting the side of her gun. She snatched it away.

“Look-” She began in quiet tones. “You know as well as I do how much we need this job. We can’t keep hoping that the money from Rachel, Beiste and Changs will keep us afloat. We need new capital, 好快. We’re taking this job, and Kurt’s going to try and secure us some passengers. And maybe, just maybe , we can start to turn a profit on this thing.”

Santana nodded, not saying a word. Mercedes was right of course, and she knew it. She felt the familiar butterflies start to circle in her own stomach, but then felt a reassuring pat on her back.

“San, we’ve been in worse spots than this. We’ve got this.”

Santana nodded, feeling a bit of the weight lift off her shoulders, like she often did when her captain comforted her. They didn’t emote very often, honestly. They’d spent countless hours together, hunkered down in bomb shelters, fighting off enemies, floating through space. They knew almost everything there was to know about each other, and they trusted each other. In the end, it was all they had.

The moment was broken as Puck strode in, his favorite gun by his side.

“You ready, Cap’n?

“我的天啊, Puck. You’re bringing the rifle? This is a peaceful gathering. Beth won’t be necessary.”

Puck stroked the gun as though it were a long lost friend. “But, she’ll be lonely otherwise.”

“No buts, Puckerman. You leave it in the mule, and take your standard side piece only.”

Mercedes voice was firm, and Puck didn’t bother arguing. He stowed the gun away and secured his holster.

“Gorramit Cap’n. You said I can’t get any whores, you won’t let me bring Beth. You never let me have any fun.”

“It’s not supposed to be fun, Puck. We do the job, we get paid. I don’t reckon that sentence mentions fun at all.”

The firm edge was gone from Mercedes voice, but Puck got the message.

“Fine. I’m ready when you are.”

Mercedes nodded and looked to Santana, who nodded as well.

“Shiny. Let’s get going.”

Kitty woke up in a hammock.

She enjoyed it for a moment; swinging back and forth, feeling the warm sun on her face. If there was a better way to spend a long summer afternoon, she hadn’t found it. She grimaced. Wait, no, that was impossible, why would she be in a hammock? If the Lieutenant found her in a hammock, there would be hell to pay. She was probably supposed to be doing KP, and had fallen asleep again . Azimio had tried to cover for her last time, but it wouldn’t work again, and the Lieutenant would have her peeling potatoes for the rest of her natural life. She tried to sit up.

“Whoa there, private, relax.”

A voice sounded above her and she struggled to open her eyes.

“She’s awake, Mace. Let’s put her down.”

“Mat, Sarge says we’ve gotta be back by 0100, and I expect to be. If we’re late, she’ll fry us.”

“It doesn’t do any good to have her jostling about. What if she falls out of the sling? Anyway, a minute or two rest won’t hurt us, and we can check her out.”

There wasn’t really room for argument, but Mason appreciated his sister giving him the illusion of choice. He sighed and sat the sling down, and squatting beside it.

Kitty had her eyes back open, and was jolted back to reality. The swinging of the hammock had been the sling that she was being carried on. Even from where she lay she could see the deep blood stains that were set into its fabric. Her own blood had left its mark as well. The two voices belonged to a man and a woman. They were Browncoats, that much was clear. They wore the deep walnut dusters that all members of the rebellion wore, and the red shirts underneath. The looked like simple folk, probably from a back world like she was, far from home, but fighting the good fight. They both had glassy skin the color of eggshells, and dark, black hair that hung in loose curls around their faces. They were related, that much was clear, they looked too much alike to be anything but siblings.

Mason grabbed some gauze from his bag with a huff. “Fine. Let’s just not waste too much time.”

Madison nodded sharply, and stood up, walking away from the him. “I’m going to keep a look out.”

Mason didn’t respond, but kept digging through his bag, looking for just the right tools. He pulled out a few more things and felt a set of eyes on him.

“How are you holding up there, soldier?”

Kitty swallowed hard. “I-I’m-.” She cleared her throat a few times, but couldn’t seem to clear it.

Mason rushed towards her. “I’m sorry. I should have done this first.”

He held up a flask to the Kitty’s mouth, letting her drink deeply. “You must be parched.”

Kitty didn’t respond, but just took a few more sips of water, nodding when she’d had her fill.

Mason went back to sorting through his equipment, giving Kitty time to gather her thoughts. Not that this was an easy task. She’d been jolted out of a deep sleep back into this nightmarish hellscape, and she wasn’t too happy about it. But what was the alternative? Spend the rest of her life dreaming away? She tried to sit up, but the pain that had been almost ignorable screamed back to life. Kitty hissed at the sudden pain, grasping the edges of the sling.

“Hey, hey, 小心. Relax.” Mason squatted beside her, bringing his equipment and giving her leg a friendly pat. “When we found you, you were in pretty bad shape. Thank goodness you’d had the wherewithal to seal your wound up before you bled out. That was good thinking on your part. But you still lost a lot of blood, and we’re going to want to get your wound checked out once we can get to a facility. You just did a patch job, Private, you don’t want to push yourself.”

Kitty didn’t respond, but watched Mason carefully as he pulled the fabric away from her leg, and looked at her wound carefully. He began to work steadily, cleaning it of debris and adding another layer of sealant, and finally a bandage. Kitty admired his focus, and his expertise. It was clear he’d done this before, and was very good at it. He gave her a shot of something, ‘for the pain’, and once he’d finished, he cleared away the detris, giving her another sip of water from her flask.

“Private First Class Mason McCarthy, at your service!” He nodded in the direction that Madison had walked off into. “And that’s my sister, Madison. Corporal Madison McCarthy, and trust me, she won’t let you forget it. Won’t let me forget it either. You’d think that us being twins would mean that we’re better than all that petty birth order 垃圾, and yet here we are. Though, with the way things are going right now, I would be surprised if I was a Corporal by the end of the day.”

He strapped the flask back onto his waist and stood up, stretching his legs a bit as he stood nearby.

“We’re out looking for survivors, and doing what we can. We weren’t supposed to travel far, but we heard your screaming, and found you down at the bottom of the ravine. What were you doing down there anyway?”

Kitty didn’t respond, and Private First Class McCarthy didn’t seem to be waiting.

“Anyway, you must have gotten all turned around, cause you were making a beeline straight for those purple bellies. If we hadn’t of found you when we did, who knows what would have happened. I mean, you probably would have run into them, and that wouldn’t have been good. What with your wound an all. A bit of 晦气 if you ask me. But then lucky for you we spotted you, and brought you here.”

Kitty tried to speak, but found her voice scratchy and dry. Mason leaned in close to listen, stopping the flow of nervous chatter that seemed would never end.

“Company C?” Kitty tried again.

Mason scratched his head. “You were with Company C, huh? I don’t know anything about them. We’ve been listening to the radio all night, but in shifts, so I might have missed some news-”

“Let’s go, Mace. Let’s get her up.”

Madison’s voice cut through the darkness, and startled Kitty, she hadn’t even known the other woman was nearby. Kitty found it hard to miss the significant look that Madison gave to her brother, but chose to ignore it.

“Where?” She croaked, pointing in the direction they were heading.

“You just sit tight there, Private Wilder.” Madison huffed. “We’re going to see our commanding officer. She’ll know exactly what to do. Shouldn’t be long now.”

Kitty focused on the slowly moving scenery and let the combination of the sway of her sling, and whatever Mason had given her lull her back to sleep.

Badger’s place wasn’t the most disgusting den of iniquity that Puck had ever been in. Hell, it didn’t even have any companionship that he could take advantage of. But, the Captain had made it clear that he wasn’t supposed to get distracted, so he tried to keep his focus on the job. They’d walked across the Eavesdown Docks, and Puck kept his ears and eyes open, sweeping the perimeter for anyone who looked suspicious. He probably got distracted by some bare leg hanging from an awning once or twice. At most.

This was his second time at Badger’s and the guy wasn’t a role model, but he was a straight shooter, and he and the Captain tended to get along pretty well. He certainly wasn’t worried about an ambush. But the last time he’d gotten distracted flirting with some girl, the Captain had docked his pay, and put him on latrine duty for a month. So, he shook himself and kept an eye out.

He felt like he was doing a pretty good job until they showed up at Badger’s front door, and knocked. It was a nondescript three story shack in Eavesdown. If they hadn’t been here before, Puck might have just walked past the place. But it was a bona fide operation. And Badger kept enough people paid off to keep out the riff raff. The door opened and they found themselves on the barrel end of a pair of rifles.

“See? I told you we should have brought Beth along.” Puck whispered to Mercedes.

She rolled her eyes, and put her hands in the air. “We’re just here to see Badger. He’s expecting us.”

“Just a little precaution, Captain.” Said a voice inside. “Please, a bit of cooperation is all we ask.”

One of the hands holding the rifle reached out, and Mercedes pulled her pistol out of the holster, handing it over. Santana followed suit with the shotgun strapped to her thigh. Puck thought about resisting, but a slight eyebrow raise from the Captain made him rethink his decision.

“Very good. Please, come in.” The voice said again.

Puck could see inside now, and noticed two men standing near the door. They brushed past them, and entered, going through another small door, and to a much more nicely furnished waiting room. Sitting in front of them was Badger. He was a dealer in all kinds of objects, and one of the wealthiest men on the planet, which was saying something as Persephone was one of the more lucrative places of business in the White Sun system.

“Good to see you, Captain Jones. Santana.” Badger smiled thinly.

“If it’s so good to see us, what’s with taking our weapons?” Santana snapped, sneering at Badger.

“Well, it’s more for your protection than ours. The men at the door work for my client. Not particularly good at their jobs, it would seem.” Badger lowered his voice. “They missed the four guns you’ve all got stashed around your bodies, so I would think you’ve got arms to spare, no?”

“Why don’t we quit wasting time reminiscing, and get down to it, Badger?” Mercedes offered, ignoring the remark.

“Of course. I just thought with us being friends and all, it wouldn’t hurt to catch up.”

“We can catch up when you’re giving us the money for a job well done.”

Badger tsked. “You really must be hard up, Captain. I would have thought you’d be turning down jobs with that crack crew of yours.”

Mercedes didn’t respond, but followed Badger as he turned his chair around, and rolled out another door, down a long hallway.

Puck wasn’t sure about Mercedes or Santana, but he was nervous. As far as he knew, Badger usually would tell them the job, they’d do it, get paid and be on their way. None of this cloak and dagger stuff. It didn’t sit well with him. He liked people who would say what they wanted outright, and this certainly was not that. He moved left a few more feet to put some space between himself and Mercedes, conscious of the footsteps that came even farther behind him. He didn’t bother putting his hand in a position to get his gun. He didn’t want anyone watching to know that he still had two weapons on him. But the job they’d done earlier of taking their more obvious weapons didn’t leave him with the impression that they were particularly skilled. He’d have no problem taking them out if it came to that. But, he wanted to be prepared. So, he slowed his steps down a bit more, and followed behind.

The hallway opened up into an office of sorts, and Badger gestured towards some chairs that were set up in the corner. Sitting there was a middle aged guy who Puck had never seen before, looking very pleased with himself. From how much his suit probably cost, he looked like was old money. He followed Mercedes and Santana, and stood behind the two of them.

“Please, have a seat.” The man gestured towards and chairs.

Mercedes didn’t hesitate, having a seat, and Santana took up the position behind her. Puck figured since Santana was standing, he might as well take a load off, and sat next to Mercedes.

“And might we have the pleasure of getting introduced to this fine gentleman?”

Mercedes gestured towards the stranger who smiled.

“My name is Al Motta. You’ve no doubt heard of me. The Motta family is well known in these parts, and all across the White Sun system.”

Al’s voice was pompous and pretentious, and Puck could tell his captain was trying not to roll her eyes.

Mercedes nodded. “Sure, we’ve heard of you.”

“And I’ve heard of you, Captain Jones. Your crew is known to be one that will get the job done and not ask too many questions, and that’s what I need. I have some family business that needs to be taken care of, and I need someone who will do what I ask and not try to get creative, if you catch my meaning.”

“You’ll have to excuse me, Mr. Motta. I’m not sure I know exactly what you’ve heard of us, but we try to stay out of family business .”

The implication was clear to all those involved. The Motta family was as well connected as it got, and they ran everything from weapons to drugs to people. And if they were having problems with another family, the last thing the crew of the Songbird needed was to be caught up in some mafia war. Mercedes shook her head, and made to stand up.

“Thanks, but no thanks.”

“Hold on a moment. It’s not-” Al cleared his throat. “It’s not that kind of family business. It’s much more delicate than that. Please, let me explain.”

Badger interrupted. “I wouldn’t have invited you over here, Captain, if I’d thought for a second this would be a job you’d refuse. Hear the man out.”

Mercedes settled back down into her seat. “Fine.”

“It’s my daughter. Sugar.”

Al’s voice lost that bragging quality, and because much more quiet, more humble.

Mercedes cocked her head but didn’t speak.

“She’s um, well, she’s troublesome. Daughters are sometimes that way. But, she’s my only child, and someday the business will be hers. She has to be ready.”

“So, where do we come in?”

“I need an escort. A discreet one. Who will take her to an agreed upon location, and get her there safely and in one piece.”

“I don’t get it.” Santana said, breaking in. “Why don’t you just buy her a luxury line ticket across the stars? You’ve got the money for it.”

“I need to make sure she gets there and no one knows. Also, you’ll find her a bit reluctant.”

“Reluctant?” Mercedes said.

“She doesn’t want to go. At all. I’m hiring a guard, so all you have to do is move them to where I want them to be.”

“I assured Mr. Motta that you would be happy to help. For the right price, of course.”

“Of course, of course. I’ve talked it all over with our mutual friend, Mr. Badger, and I think we’ve come to an amount that we can both agree on. And it’s more than reasonable.”

“I got the wave. I wouldn’t have been here otherwise.” Mercedes stood up, and walked towards Al. “I’ve got one rule, Mr. Motta. Al. Can I call you Al?”

“Certainly. I-”

“I’ve got one rule, Al. We do the job. We get paid. 懂吗?”

“Then it’s a deal? You’ll escort my daughter to Constance?”

Mercedes stuck out her hand, which Al jumped up to shake. “It’s a deal.”

He seemed relieved and even snuck a small smile at Badger, who looked like the cat that caught the canary over there in the corner.

Mercedes released her grip, and nodded to Santana before turning back to Al. “So, where’s our precious cargo?”

Al scoffed. “Well, I certainly couldn’t bring her here. It’s no place for a lady. Present company excluded of course.”

Mercedes laughed, and Santana hocked loudly and spat on the floor.

Al shivered. “She’s at Motta towers. Near the city center. I’ll bring her to the docks tomorrow at dawn. You should be ready to depart by then?”

“We’re certainly planning on it.”

“Good, then I’ll see you then.”

Mercedes nodded, and turned to shake hands with Badger. They were almost out the door when Al spoke up again.

“And remember, Captain Jones. What I said about discretion.”

“Oh, I can assure you, Al, my crew is nothing if not discreet.”

With that, they were back through the darkened hallways, and back on the streets. The market was bustling, and Puck lost himself in the bright and inviting storefronts as the Captain and Santana chatted behind him.

“All of this secrecy for an escort mission to the Red Sun system? Why would Badger put us through all this?” Santana said, an edge in her voice.

“I’m sure he has his reasons. I ain’t going to be the one to question it, quite frankly. And you won’t either. We’ll get his daughter on our boat, get her to where she needs to be, and be done with it. The price that Badger is getting us-”

“That’s the point, sir. The price is too high. For a simple babysitting? He could get people just as good for half the price.”

“I’ve thought about what it means, Santana. I know it’s a stretch, but there ain’t many straight shooters left on this moon, and I trust Badger. Well, trust is a strong word. I like to believe that Badger won’t rob us outright. We don’t have an overabundance of friends here on Persephone. It ain’t like we’ve got much of a choice.”

Mercedes stopped, turning towards Santana. “Anyway, that’s what I keep you around for, right? Thinking of the things I ain’t thought of yet. You’ll keep your eyes open. And I know I can trust you on that.”

Santana made a face, but nodded anyway. “If you think it’s okay, so do I.”

“Good. Then that’s that. Now, let’s get back to the ship and see how Kurt-”

Mercedes paused and her face broke into a smile. Santana followed her line of sight and saw something that brought a smile to her own face.

There in the crowd was a more than welcome sight. It was Shannon Beiste, a passenger on Songbird who’d joined them almost a year ago. She was a big woman with broad shoulders, who was taller and stronger than most of the men Santana had ever met. But, she was a gentle soul. A shepherd by profession, she tended to the lost souls that came their way, and found refuge on Songbird like so many others before her.

They approached Shannon, Puck walking more quickly to shake her hand. The two had a friendly rivalry, always working out on weights in the cargo hold to see who could outlift who. In the end, they got along even better.

Shannon saw them, and smiled. Santana was a step behind Mercedes, and looked cheerful as well, but her smile fell when she saw who was beside the shepherd.

“Why hello my fellow travelers!” Came Rachel’s shrill voice. “I’m so glad we could run into each other here, and spend some time together as a crew. It seems that sometime we don’t do that, and it’s really a shame.”

“Rachel? I thought you had clients?” Mercedes said, jovially.

“I did. And do. But I’m finished for the morning, and thought I would get some shopping done. You won’t see me until tomorrow after this.”

“Thank God for small miracles.” Santana muttered under her breath.

Rachel didn’t hear (or pretended not to), and grasped Mercedes arm. “We’re having a lovely time. While this certainly isn’t the most chic place I’ve ever been to, it’s still got it’s charm. In fact, I was just telling Brittany-”

“Telling me what, Rachel?”

The voice came from behind them, and before Santana could react Brittany threaded her arm through Santana’s own, and was walking beside her. Santana did her best not to stiffen while simultaneously melting into her touch, and managed only a slight hobble as she strained to keep her senses.

“Oh, I was telling you about the charm of this city. Eavesdown does have a certain je ne sais quoi. Let me tell you.”

While Rachel babbled on in front of them, Brittany pulled on Santana’s arm a little, slowing her down, and leaving them a bit behind everyone.

“How’d the meeting go this morning?”

Santana cleared her throat. “Um, it was fine. Captain did the talking, as usual. And the pay is good.”

“What’s the quarry? Bank heist? Train job?”

“Nope, nothing that serious. Just a simple escort mission.”

“Oh?”

“Yeah, you’ll found out all about it soon enough. I’m not sure how much the Cap’n wants out there. We’re supposed to be playing it close to the chest.”

“Yeah, I understand. It wouldn’t be much fun otherwise.”

Santana looked at Brittany, who was smiling brightly, and smiled herself. “You’re always surprising me, did you know that?”

Brittany looked at Santana, and seemed to smile even brighter. “I’m glad. I like keeping you on your toes, Corporal Lopez.”

Santana didn’t reply, but could feel her face getting warm under Brittany stare. She turned her attention ahead, and groaned as she caught the tail end of Rachel’s speech.

“Oh! This place has a karaoke bar! I know where we’ll be having lunch!”

Getting back to the ship had been easy enough after they’d detached themselves from Rachel who only stopped singing (her fifth! song) because she was supposed to be meeting with her client soon. They returned back just in time to see Kurt chatting with a tall man who looked like he hadn’t had an original idea since he came out of the womb. The rest pushed past, but Mercedes stopped for a moment.

“Who’ve we got here, Kurt?”

Kurt gestured between them. “Cap’n, this is Finn Hudson. Finn, this is Captain Jones. She’s the owner of this fine vessel you see before you, Songbird. She’s the one you’ll be paying transit fees to.”

Mercedes reached out her hand and Finn shook it. “Where are you headed, Mr. Hudson?”

“Well, Kurt here was telling me you all might be going to the Red Sun system. I’m going to New Melbourne. I can pay.”

“We might be going that way. Can’t say for certain. Might be a few weeks ‘fore we make landfall at New Melbourne.”

“I’m not too picky. I just need transit. I can pay 120 credits a week.”

Mercedes tried not to show it, but it was certainly a bit more than their usual asking price for boarders. Especially ones that didn’t mind she’d be taking the scenic route to their final destination.

“And what’s your business in New Melbourne, Mr. Hudson?”

“Work. My uncle owns some land out there, and he wants me to take over, get a bead on the family business. It’s not my first choice, but it’s something to do, that’s why I’m in no rush. And he’s paying for it, so I can’t complain.”

Mercedes nodded a few times, and then looked at Kurt. “Why don’t you help Mr. Hudson with his things, and get him squared away. Afterwards you can join me on the bridge. Did you find anyone else?”

Kurt looked away guiltily. “Sorry, Cap’n, this is it. Pretty slow now, tourist season has come and gone, you know.”

Mercedes turned back to Finn. “You can entrust Kurt here with your first weekly installment. It’s good to have you on board.”

With a small smile she turned from the two men, and walked up the loading bay ramp, and onto the ship. It wasn’t perfect, but the small bump in cashy money on hand would help with the things they needed right away. Later, once they got the Motta job done, they’d be in even better shape. Things were looking up for the crew of the Songbird, but Mercedes wouldn’t quite call herself happy. She tended to be a pessimist that way.

“Why the long face, Captain?”

Shannon stepped out of her bunk, climbing the last rung, and coming to a stop beside Mercedes.

“I’m just thinking of all the ways that this can go wrong, Shepherd. And there are more than enough ways for that to happen.”

“Worried about Badger?”

“Santana’s got me thinking. And that’s never good, as, believe it or not, she’s the voice of reason in a lot of things. I’m not a rash person, but this could make or break us, this job. I reckon even if there was a bright, flashing light that said ‘DANGER’ we’d have to take it anyway.”

Shepherd Beiste chuckled to herself. “Santana is the voice of reason?”

“Yeah, I know, I know. She doesn’t say much to you all, but I get earfulls, trust me.” Mercedes laughed as well.

“So, why not say no? There are plenty of jobs to be had. You just have to walk in faith.”

“That’s all well and good for you, Shepherd, but I’ve got five crew, four passengers, and two more on the way that I’ve got to keep in good spirits, and fine food. Not to mention the parts for the ship Kurt keeps asking me for. Songbird is barely hanging on as it is. No, we need this job, we need it, and there’s nothing to be done about it. We’ll face whatever comes, when it comes.”

“That’s a rather lassiez faire attitude, Captain.”

“You sound like Rachel, Shepherd.”

Shannon rolled her eyes, and scoffed. “I love the girl, I do, in the way that we are taught to love and cherish all of God’s creatures, but she would challenge the patience of a saint!”

“I’m surprised that Santana hasn’t shoved her into space already.”

“I would have thought you’d have discouraged that kind of thing, Captain.”

“I didn’t say I’d approve. I do, however, think it would be mighty hi-larious.”

Mercedes and Shannon parted ways, and Mercedes kept walking towards the bridge.

Santana heard her footsteps, and straightened up, trying to pretend that she hadn’t been staring at Brittany for the past ten minutes. Brittany had stopped pretending not to notice, sending a lopsided smile Santana’s way every so often. She liked it when Santana watched her. It made her feel safe and adored. She knew that something was brewing between them, but she didn’t want to push Santana any more than she absolutely had to. After all, she’d only known her for a little over a month. So, she bided her time, and smiled a little too long in Santana’s direction, or held her arm for a little longer than usual. It wasn’t much, but Brittany couldn’t get enough of the way the tips of Santana’s ears turned red when they had their moments. She loved the idea that she could make Santana feel that way.

Brittany heard Mercedes approach as well, and turned back towards the console. She knew what her Captain wanted to figure out their next journey. She really liked Mercedes, actually. She’d known a few Browncoats in her time, and even had done some interesting work during the Unification War, but Mercedes didn’t strike her as one of the meat heads that she usually ran into. She was thoughtful and kind, fiercely loyal, and smart. She trusted her crew, but she didn’t accept people lightly. Her relationship with Santana was even more interesting.

Santana was quiet, but seemed to have a bubbling anger right under the surface. She was what Brittany would call prickly. But Mercedes kept her in check. And since joining the crew, Brittany had gotten glimpses of the two of them that she was sure not many people got the chance to see. They played off each other, and trusted each other.

Brittany smiled as she saw Santana try to get her focus back. She was always such a soldier when Mercedes was around. Brittany wasn’t sure why, but they always seemed fall back into old roles when they were together. Maybe it made things easier for them. She wasn’t exactly sure.

“What are we looking like for take off tomorrow?” Mercedes said, not bothering with a greeting before clambering onto the bridge.

“You should probably talk to Kurt about that, Cedes. We’re shut down at the moment with the repairs that he’s had to make but we should be ready to go soon.”

“Captain, I’ve got a preliminary route plotted out. It’ll take us a few extra days with the stop over in Greenleaf, but I think it should be fine.”

“Good, Santana, bring it up for me.”

Santana touched a few keys on her console, and a holographic projection spread out on the screen.

“According to a wave I got from Tina, there’s a big build up of Alliance cruisers about half way between us and Constance. We’ll head towards Osiris, double back towards New Melbourne, and then onwards.”

Mercedes nodded. “好啊. That’’ll take us a few extra days, but it’ll be worth it to avoid any purple bellies.”

“Yes, sir. Agreed, sir.”

“New Melbourne?” Brittany broke in. “What are we doing in New Melbourne?”

Mercedes touched a few keys on the pad, bringing up the power levels for the ship. She trusted Kurt wholeheartedly, but liked to check up on things when she had a spare moment.

“We got ourselves a boarder. Just joined today. He’s going there for work, and paying us a bundle for the trip.”

Brittany’s face scrunched into a question mark. “That big, dumb looking guy who we took on in the docks? I dunno, Cap’n, he looks shady. I don’t know if I trust him.”

“Well, he’s paying good credits and I have no intention of turning down the cash. We take him, we do the job, we move on with our lives. And, we can use it. Unless you’ve got any better ideas of how we can make some money fast.”

Mercedes’ sharp tone would have kowtowed most other of the crew mates, but the bright smile returned to Brittany’s face and she only beamed.

“No, ma’am, I reckon I’m plumb out of ideas. New Melbourne it is!”

Whether she was confused by Brittany’s sudden change of heart of not, Mercedes paid her no mind.

“Good. Now, unless you two think of anything else, I’ll be in my bunk, getting some well deserved rest. We’ve gotta be up by sunrise to take care of our newest crew member. Once we get her on board, we break atmo, and get the hell off this godforsaken planet. Any questions?”

Brittany raised her hand like she was back in grade school, and Mercedes rolled her eyes. “Yes, Britt?”

“Can Santana stay up with me for a little while?”

There was a moment of indecision on Mercedes part before she nodded slowly. “I don’t see why not. Though, she really doesn’t need my permission. Why didn’t you ask me yourself, Santana?”

Santana balked. “Sir! I didn’t- She didn’t- I wasn’t-”

Brittany didn’t give her a chance to continue, standing up from her console, and wrapping her arm around Santana’s. “太好了! This is going to be fun. Like a sleepover. Maybe you can come sleep in my bunk, Santana, and we can tell scary stories.”

Mercedes smiled, and left the two to their own devices. It had taken everything she had not to just laugh out loud. The pilot had the biggest crush on her first mate, but it would take forever for Santana to see it. Until then, it would be pretty funny to see Brittany drive her up the wall with her antics. She considered saying something, but it would be much more fun to see Brittany torture Santana until she realized how much she liked her back. She was looking forward to it.

Even though it was barely dusk, Mercedes felt the heavy weight that had settled on her shoulders cause her eyes to droop. It was going to be a long trip to New Melbourne. She could feel it already.

#fanfic #brittana #firefly #glee #mercedes jones #santana lopez #brittany s. pierce #this is long #but i think it flows pretty well

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