#this show was exceptionally good… so guess what they did? they cancelled it after 2 seasons 😡🤬 | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

tartagilicious · 4 years

Text

[CN] Kiro’s “Happy Catcher” date (eng) PART ONE 🍓

this was the most annoying thing to post, but thankfully, I’m able to post it as long as I break it up! I’m sorry for the long wait, Tumblr has been giving me difficulties recently — but I hope this translation can make up for it! you can find victor’s over at @cheri-translates ^^

PART ONE vv

The weather today seems exceptionally good. The sunlight illuminates the whole living room through the windows without any hesitation. Watching the green leaves on the balcony glowing in a faint golden light, my frown that was originally hard set finally loosened a little.

But then my eyes fell on the computer screen, and I couldn’t help sighing again.

MC: The project this time has really wiped out my free will…

Some time ago, I did a long-term strategic analysis . In order to make corresponding adjustments, I took over this very difficult project. Unexpectedly, after half a month, I was helpless.

I took a deep breath and picked up my mobile phone, trying to take a short break to ease my anxieties about work.

“Ding dong!” A text message appears before my eyes ---

Kiro: Come on, Miss Potato Chips! ^^

That bright face seemed to pass through these short characters, appearing in front of me. The mood became clear for a moment, but the next second became complicated. I originally made an appointment with Kiro to go out together today. But, because of work, I had to cancel the trip.

MC: Ok, see you next week!

I took a deep breath after pressing send, continuing to type the mountain of information into the keyboard. Just solve these difficult tasks, and you can go to Kiro.

Thinking of this, the speed of my typing on the keyboard has increased a lot in both of my hands.

Tap tap --- tap --

At this time, there was an irregular knock on the door, and the familiar rhythm made me react instantly. I went quickly to open the door, and found a cute teddy bear on the ground. I made the mistake of touching the recording switch when I picked it up.

Little bear: Hi, I am Little Bear! There will be surprises when you pinch my nose!

A familiar sound was emitted from the teddy bear’s body, and even though it was changed, I could recognise it at once.

I couldn’t help laughing out loud. I reached out and pinched its nose.

Suddenly, a touch of gold appeared in my sight. Not waiting for my reaction, I was quickly drawn into a passionate embrace.

Kiro: Look, I didn’t lie to you! You pinched its nose and I appeared~~

MC: It really is you! Why are you here?

Kiro released me and put his hands behind his back, looking at me with shiny eyes.

Kiro: Because I received a call from Miss Potato Chips, I want to do something for you.

As he talked, a small card was pushed into my hand. When I looked down, my eyes met a handwritten line--

Happiness Catcher -- Mr. Zhou Qiluo.

Kiro: I am now an excellent Happiness Catcher. According to my “survey”, for some reason, ___’s happiness isn’t in her home.

MC: What?

Kiro nodded. The golden tips of his hair danced up and down with his nodding movement like a faeries’.

Kiro: In order to not cause a catastrophe, we have to find it quickly. So without further ado, let’s go now!

At his urging, I quickly packed up in confusion before being pulled out.

PART TWO vv

On the way, no matter how hard I tried, Kiro wouldn’t tell me where he was taking me. A mysterious look on his face gives me high expectations for this “journey”.

Finally, we came to the entrance of Mi Xue forest. I saw him touching his chin pretentiously. His eyes squinted, and even his nose trembled slightly. He seems to be searching for something.

Kiro: According to my professional analysis, it should have escaped to here. This is absolutely correct.

MC: You said the word “Happy Catcher”... How do we get it back?

Kiro: Of course, the most primitive and concise method is used.

The next second, he showed a sly smile. His hands made a horn around his mouth, and then he took a sharp breath--

Kiro: ___’s happiness, where are you, come out quickly!!!

His voice echoed in the forest. Except for the flock of birds that were frightened into escaping, there was silence all around. I can’t help looking at him a little jokingly.

MC: This simple and concise method doesn’t seem to work, but it does at least scare most nearby birds away.

Kiro: Because I want to find her happiness quickly, little birds, I’m not sorry!

He stuck out his tongue playfully at the sky. Then, putting his hand into a trump-like shape again, he put them up to my mouth.

Kiro: I’ve found the key to the question. It seems that only you, the master, can call it. It may appear then.

MC: Still, towards…

Seeing the expectant look, I could only swallow what I originally wanted to say halfway through.

MC: ...My happiness…. Where are you?

Kiro: Only I can hear you at this volume. Let’s shout together?

He looked at me seriously, and I blinked. Seeing this gorgeous smiling face, I nodded.

Kiro: Let me count down! 3, 2, 1--

With the countdown falling, the voices of Kiro and I resounded throughout the forest. It seems that the traces of depression that had hidden before had also been vented from my heart.

Kiro: ___, look, there seems to be movement in the grass ahead!

As soon as I turned my head, I seemed to see Kiro’s hand waving quickly near the grass. I walked towards it in a few steps and commented that I saw a crumpled ball of paper lying in the centre.

MC: This is…?

Kiro: Open it and take a look. Maybe there’s a clue!

Looking at his excited expression, even if I have one or two guesses in my heart, I still look forward to opening the little ball of paper.

MC: Close your eyes and take a deep breath three times beneath the sky?

Kiro leaned over and read the contents of the paper ball with me. He pretended to be clueless, which made me laugh secretly in my heart. The acting is pretty decent….

But in order to cooperate with the careful arrangement of the “Happy Catcher”, I still closed my eyes obediently, my chest slowly lifting. I take a breath and another one, and clearly smell the fragrance of vegetation. The soil under my feet seemed to become soft, and my entire person was immersed in a comfortable and relaxing atmosphere.

I think I understand the purpose of this direction.

However, in the last breath, a soft and hot flush fell on my face. Before I opened my eyes, a soft whisper slowly sounded in my ears.

Kiro: Congratulations to ___ for triggering an additional reward.

I opened my eyes. Kiro seemed just as innocent as he had when I closed them, so it seems that the moment just now was a sweet “sign”.

Kiro: Just when you completed those instructions, I found another clue!

Kiro proudly pointed to the bushes not far away, like a playful teenager who couldn’t wait to claim credit. But, looking at his bulging pockets, I can’t help but tease him.

MC: Your pocket is bulging today, have you hidden a lot of good things?

[not me laughing at this line omg]

Kiro: No, it’s all the things that make you happy.

He nodded calmly and admitted this without concealing anything. Such a straightforward attitude stunned me, and I hurried down to pick up the second paper ball-

….%....&%¥……%¥

[that’s what the screen says I swear, it’s not just keysmash lolol]

I looked at the symbols on the paper ball in shock. Kiro quickly noticed my expression.

Kiro: Oops! I threw the wrong one!

Hurriedly, Kiro picked out a handful of paper balls from his pocket, and rooted through them one by one. I turned my head and found that each piece of paper was full of different instructions, seemingly to be prepared to deal with many different situations.

After me, Kiro turned around. He noticed my eyes filled with curiosity. Finally, one of his fingers landed on a piece of paper. He gave a satisfied and mysterious smile.

Kiro: Although it was a small accident that just happened, the clue was still “found” by us!

A wrinkled note appeared in front of my eyes -- follow me with a piece of mind!

In the next second, Kiro slowly opened his palm to me, as if to echo the instructions on the note. I clasped his hand tightly without hesitation, and held it in the air.

MC: All of my actions are subjected to Kiro’s command!

#mlqc #mlqc cn #mlqc kiro #mlqc spoilers #mr love queen’s choice #mr love queen’s choice kiro

50 notes · View notes

thebibliomancer · 3 years

Text

Essential Avengers: King-Size Annual Avengers #11: In Honor’s Name!

August, 1982

“Why do the AVENGERS battle the Defenders?”

I dunno, man. Is it Tuesday again?

“And who is the mystery woman Nebulon has fallen for?”

Nebulona? She’s clearly just him but a woman.

Oh, hey Beast. So this is where you got to after quitting the Avengers.

Soooo.... Annuals, amirite? Pain in my butt. I actually forgot to cover this one and #12 is going to be somewhat plot relevant soon so I’ll shove this in wherever.

Its a blast from the past of the previous year. Back when the Avengers were fantastic but only numbered four: Captain America, Iron Man, Thor, and Wasp.

And the Defenders seem to number many so this isn’t a very fair fight at all.

This issue starts with a PRELUDE

(J. M. DeMatteis again? Is this going to be weird?)

Nebulon the Celestial Man and damn fine dresser fades onto a hilltop shaking his fist and yelling that someone can’t do something to him.

Nebulon is mostly a Defenders villain and the major thing I know about him is that he’s supposedly exceptionally handsome but the handsomeness is a ruse and that the Squadron Sinister stopped helping him destroy the world once because they discovered he wasn’t as handsome as he was letting on.

Goes to show where their priorities lie. Also, the experience was so jarring that the evil Nighthawk decided to join the Defenders much to their chagrin.

So basically I know nothing about Nebulon. Hi, Nebulon.

An angry yelly fish head with the Rocky Horror Picture Show lips inside its fish lips shows up (I think this is what Nebulon realy looks like) and tells Nebulon that his punishment for constantly dicking with Earth is to be stranded on Earth with his powers reduced to half and stuck in his handsome-to-some-but-grotesque-to-fish body.

Okay. That clears things up.

Although I wish all of space would stop using Earth as their place to dump stuff or exile people. Its bad enough when Asgard does it. Its worse enough when there’s a whole crossover about all of space deciding to make Earth its supermax jail. And its a medium amount enough here.

But apparently the shouty fish people have a Prime Directive and Nebulon keeps breaking it, specifically on Earth. But a Prime Directive that also lets them dump troublemakers on planets where they’ve been troublemaking.

Nebulon tries to defend himself that, hey, Earth makes you do crazy stuff. But the yell fish is hearing nothing of it and just tells Nebulon to kill himself if he doesn’t want to be on Earth so bad.

... Eesh.

In his rage at being stranded on Earth, Nebulon teleports inside the Sanctum Sanctorum and starts yelling at Wong.

Wong tells him, dude, Dr Strange isn’t even here. So Nebulon starts beating up Wong.

How dare you, sir. Wong is a great guy!

Nebulon: “Then Wong shall die -- just as your master shall soon die -- and his accursed Defenders with him! They shall all pay for bringing this tragedy down on my head! For, if they had not risen up to thwart me. If they -- if they... Listen to me. Listen to the words of -- a fool! Forgive me, Wong! Neither you, Strange, nor the Defenders are responsible! The blame belongs solely to -- NEBULON!”

And then he teleports away, no doubt leaving Wong very confused.

CHAPTER 1: IN HONOR’S NAME!

Later, Thor flies over the Himalaya mountains and over the chapter title.

He has come for some peace and quiet sitting on a mountain away from the bustle of mortals but what does he find but someone already in his thinking spot!

Thor lands to see who would be sitting on a mountain with no pants on and its Nebulon, of course.

But I have to say. He’s sitting and hugging his knees. That’s advanced brood. That’s, in fact, verging on pout.

Although lets not let the fact that Thor flies out to the Himalayas to be alone sometimes slip on by uncommented.

Thor asks what brings the guy out here and Nebulon has a dramatic exile speech ready to go.

Nebulon: “For hours now I have sat, lost in thought, pondering that very question! What is it that brings any creature to the depths of despair, the edge of doom, but... himself?”

And since he senses a kindred spirit in Thor, one who is as different from the Earthly masses as Nebulon is, he unloads his full story onto Thor’s ears.

Upon hearing all about this dude who tried to take over or sell the world multiple times, Thor is like ‘this guy has got to meet the Avengers!’

Nebulon thinks Avengers sounds like Defenders and he’s not into that but Thor says that the Avengers are way cooler than the Defenders.

(Ooooh, shots fired, Thor)

Thor: “No, my friend -- there are none in all creation to compare with the Avengers! A hardier band of warriors hath ne’er been assembled! Where else could a god walk among mortals and find -- his equals?”

If Nebulon has truly repented of his past deeds, the Avengers will help him make a home on Earth.

And with a manly armclasp, like the one from Predator, Nebulon accepts and Thor takes him AWAY!

While the person who looks like Nebulon but a woman and with better boots watches them go and disappears in a bright flash of light.

CHAPTER 2

Yes, already.

“Avengers Mansion... Over the years, many fantastic beings have walked through the doors of this august Manhattan townhouse: Gods, mutants, androids... even a were-woman. But, of all these unique individuals, few -- if any -- have been more honored, more respected... More willing to serve the cause of freedom, wherever the place, whenever the time.. than the living legend whose only powers are his wits, his daring, and his years of hard-won skill... Captain America!”

And we see Cap leaping and gamboling about the exercise room, exercising.

Cap: “Ah -- there’s nothing like a good workout to make a man feel truly alive! It might pay to run through it once more, though --- my timing was a hair off on the parallel bars!”

Wasp comes in to... well, its Wasp. She comes to eye the eye candy and flirt a little, in a friendly fashion.

Wasp: “I see you’re here early for our meeting -- as usual! Don’t you ever slow down?”

Cap: “I seem to remember catching a few winks back in 1942 or so!”

Wasp: “Why, Cap -- that was two jokes in a row! I didn’t think you had it in you!”

Cap: “Oh, come on, Jan -- I’m not really that serious a guy, am I?”

Wasp: “I was just kidding, handsome.”

Cap: “Oh.”

Heh.

So, Thor called a super special emergency meeting of the Avengers to introduce his cool new friend.

Iron Man (secretly Tony Stark, true believers) is a little tense about the meeting because he had to cancel three business conferences, an address to foreign stockholders, and two dates.

Geez, for one meeting? You ever consider your calendar is way too packed, Tony?

Thor arrives with his cool, new pal and introduces the Avengers to NEBULON -- THE CELESTIAL MAN!

And Iron Man lunges out of his chair to get into better pointing distance.

Thor: “What irks thee, comrade? Why art thou so angered?”

Iron Man: “What irks me, Thor? He does! Haven’t you ever bothered to study our computer-file on alien threats? Your ‘newfound ally’ almost totalled the Earth -- several times!”

Nebulon: “Don’t you see, Thor? They react as I predicted they would!”

Also, geez. I know Tony is frustrated about all the schedule juggling he’s had to do but in this and the Black Knight two-parter he’s a lot ruder to Thor than you’d expect considering how close they are.

Some writers just don’t get the Avengers, I guess.

Cap and Wasp try to get Iron Man to calm down.

Wasp: “I’m sure there’s a darn good reason why Thor brought Nebulon here -- isn’t there?”

She’s downright staring daggers at him when she asks that.

We’ve jumped back in time a little from where I was covering but Jan is still the chairperson of the Avengers. It happened right when she returned from her divorce related hiatus and this four person group has to take place post-Tigra leaving and pre-membership drive.

So, she’s the boss and she just gave angry boss eyes at Thor. And Thor did his default squinting always-looks-pissed look back at her.

Thor tells Nebulon’s whole sad story off-panel.

And damn if it doesn’t hit the Avengers right where they live.

Wasp tells him that they all know what it means to lose something precious “whether it’s an entire world... or the love of one person -- it makes no difference! It hurts to suddenly find yourself -- alone!”

And Captain America sympathizes because when he was defrosted after twenty years, it was like a strange new world!

They’re both on team ‘give Nebulon a chance!’

Iron Man is more reluctant but decides to give Nebulon one chance.

Then the Defenders bust in.

Beast, Valkyrie, Silver Surfer, and Gargoyle who is not Etrigan at all.

And they’re here to kick Nebulon’s ass. Which is entirely fair considering that they’ve been the ones who keep having to stop Nebulon’s planschemes.

Since the Avengers seem to not be beating up Nebulon, obviously they’ve all been mind controlled. Nebulon is clearly planning to blow up half the Earth and use the Avengers to control the rest.

Cap: ‘what’

Silver Surfer: ‘HE’S MAKING A HOSTILE MOVE!’

And then Silver Surfer blasts the floor, sending all of the Avengers sprawling every which way.

MEANWHILE, IN SPACE

There’s a huge spaceship, in space. And within the huge spaceship in space, the lady who looks like a lady Nebulon watches the fight on a screen and cries.

Hey, I get it. Doing the Avengers vs Defenders Again But Worse makes me sad too.

CHAPTER 3

See, that’s more of the length for a chapter. You could learn something from chapter 2, chapter 1.

Anyway, the clock winds back a little for the Defender’s side of the story.

Valkyrie returns to the Sanctum Sanctorum in a good mood and also on a flying horse.

For a long while, Valkyrie’s status quo is that she was inhabiting the body of Barbara Norris, a woman that Dr Strange accidentally drove insane. But she’s gotten her original Asgardian body back so she’s stronger than ever and also not bodyjacking someone else.

She flies into the window, alarming Gargoyle, Beast, and Wong.

Gargoyle tearfully flies up and hugs Valkyrie saying that he thought she was leaving for Asgard forever.

Hey, um, who dis?

-wiki- Ok so he’s an elderly man who was trapped in a gargoyle body by some demons who he broke an agreement with. Cool, cool, cool. I would have guessed much younger based on how he acts here.

Valkyrie also smooshes Beast’s hand when he gives her a handshake hello, because she’s much buffer than she was when she left. Also, she talks more like Thor.

Valkyrie: “I am, at long last, the true Valkyrie! What more need be said?”

Then the Lady Nebulon teleports in and introduces herself as Supernalia. She tells the Defenders that she’s here to save the world from the evil of NEBULON!

Beast doesn’t recognize the name but Valkyrie definitely does. What with all the existing history that I keep alluding to.

Supernalia: “Indeed! I am a bounty hunter from Nebulon’s homeworld come to bring him to justice! He has fled to your Earth, taking sanctuary among the so-called Avengers! Using celestial mind control, he has usurped their will, and -- after decimating part of your world with four pre-set anti-matter bombs -- he plans to use the Avengers to take control of the surviving population!”

Beast goes ‘uh cool story but i’mma verify this real quick by ringing them up’

But then he remembers he already did do that and they were very rude to him!

He remembers this interaction very clearly even though it didn’t happen at all.

Ironically, the Defenders are the ones who are being mind-controlled into accusing other people of being mind-controlled. Yes, I’m pretty sure that’s irony.

Wong suddenly remembers that Nebulon rushed in the previous night but he can’t remember how that interaction actually went.

AH HAH, decides Beast. Clearly proof that Nebulon mind-controlled Wong. Lets go half-cocked everyone.

No, no. Beast decides they’ll need more than just the three of them and wonders who they should call to bolster their numbers to a whole four Defenders. Dr Strange is busy chasing Daimon Hellstrom and Namor soooo...

Valkyrie suggests Silver Surfer because he kicks ass but they have no way to get in contact with him.

Supernalia goes hey allow me.

Supernalia: “Although my planet’s laws forbid direct involvement with alien cultures -- and thus my need of you Defenders -- I can help!”

And she baps Valkyrie in the forehead and instantly transmissions Silver Surfer right to the Sanctum to his existential annoyance.

Silver Surfer: What force has swept me halfway ‘round the world? Who toys with -- the Silver Surfer?”

Valkyrie explains off-panel because this is very much “let me explain! No, there is too much. Let me sum up” kind of day.

CHAPTER 4

We cut back to right after the Silver Surfer knocked everyone on their ass with a warning shot.

Thor: “Surfer -- art thou mad?! Thy ‘warning’ came close to slaying us all!”

Thor gets up to kick Norrin’s rad ass but Valkyrie grabs his arm. She tries to convince him to trust her that Nebulon is controlling the Avengers. She appeals to their shared history, their shared love.

Thor: “Brunnhilde -- thou art truly the one blinded... by thine own prejudice! Because, once, Nebulon stood as thine enemy -- thou takest him for that again!”

Valkyrie: “Thunderer -- once I loved thee -- but now I see -- that thou art -- A FOOL!”

Then she just up and tosses him.

It’s pretty great.

Thor just rights himself midtoss by helicoptering his hammer and tells Valkyrie that she’s the fool. And also that because she fucking threw him, now he knows that its her group that are under some kind of control.

Nebulon starts yelling too because he’s not going to sit by while other people fight his battle so he’s like ‘come on if you’re hard enough, dickfenders’ and Beast is like ‘ok.’

Wasp, team leader, thinks Thor is onto something re: the Defenders being against some kind of influence and asks Iron Man to create a distraction so the Avengers can skedaddle.

Iron Man has the perfect distraction and fires the UNIBEEEEAM. At his own roof, collapsing it on the Defenders.

Iron Man: “Wait till Tony gets the bill for this!”

... so depending on the time frame, either only Nebulon or both him and Wasp are the only ones who don’t know Iron Man is Tony so who are you putting on a show for, Tony?

Or maybe you’re just so used to grousing about the Avengers breaking your shit that you do it even when you do it.

Anyway, since Thor has a hunch that the Defenders are being controlled, he decides that the best thing is to teleport somewhere safe and make a plan.

So Nebulon teleports himself and the Avengers to the Himalayas where he and Thor first met.

The effort nearly kills Nebulon, since his powers have been curtailed by the yell fish. But now they have some space.

Wasp: “And don’t think we don’t appreciate it, Nebulon! But couldn’t you have zapped us to a more temperate climate -- like the Bahamas... or the French Riviera? It mean, it’s COLD here!”

Cap hopes that the Defenders won’t find them somewhere so remote and isolated but Thor, whose idea this was by the by, isn’t so sure because they don’t know who is pulling the strings.

Iron Man: “Good point! Are we dealing with one of our old foes -- one of the Defenders’ -- or perhaps someone out for Nebulon’s head! Let’s face it: we’ve got a wide field to choose from!”

Annnnnnd thennnnn, the Defenders just show up anyway so trying to get some breathing room was a waste of Nebulon’s efforts.

Beast: “Cap, Thor, Iron Man, Jan! You’re all my friends... more than that -- you’re family! So why won’t you believe me when I tell you that this nut’s gonna wipe the whole planet out in a matter of hours! Please -- hand him over or --.”

Nebulon: “Or... NOTHING!”

Then he shoots an energy blast at the Defenders.

Which sadly arcs to the ground with a SHOOOM! and does little more than splash some snow on the Defenders.

But awwww, Beast considers the Avengers family! Shame that once the X-Men pull him back into their orbit, he only hangs out with them and decides never to ask the Avengers for help, either when Professor X gets shot by Stryfe or when trying to solve the Legacy Virus.

I think that social group is a bad influence on Beast. He never broke time or pretended to be gay to dunk on his ex when he was an Avenger. He just got high, practiced polyamory, and yukked it up with his bffsie Wonder Man.

Anyway, Silver Surfer gets up and disses Nebulon for his sad laser blast.

Silver Surfer: “Like all who seek conquest, Nebulon -- you refuse to recognize truth! You alter reality to serve your own malefic ends! But the power you no wield, tyrant, is as nothing compared to that which you once had! You are weak -- as Supernalia said you would be!”

Nebulon is aghast to hear that Supernalia is the one behind all of this. And also aghast when Gargoyle shoots a bio-mystic bolt at him.

Apparently, Gargoyle can shoot bio-mystic bolts. Are there mystic bolts that are not bio? Shrug.

CHAPTER 5

Hey, some of these chapter divisions feel arbitrary. We go from the fight to the fight. At least some other chapter divisions had scene or temporal shifts.

Cap begs the Defenders to fight off Supernalia’s influence. Or the Avengers will fight off Supernalia’s influence for them. Probably via punches.

For whatever reason, this makes Valkyrie go stickycaps.

Valkyrie: “The hour of Earth’s doom draws ever closer -- and, to prevent that doom, we will do whate’er we must! wHaTeVeR wE mUsT!”

Mystifying.

Anyway, with both sides thinking the other side are dumb easily mind-controlled doodoo heads, they both get to the slugfest that neither side wants but thinks there’s no other way to reach the other side but by punching some sense into them.

This panel feels like a microcosm of a lot of Marvel events.

And as this goes on Nebulon just watches the fight with calculating eyes.

I’m sure that’s fine.

Thor and Valkyrie continue sparring verbally, as well as with punches. Valkyrie asks how Thor can let Midgard be destroyed when they both love it so much. And Thor is like ‘for the last time, there’s no danger except from your mysterious new golden pal’

Meanwhile, the Defender’s mysterious new golden pal Supernalia is monitoring the fight from her spaceship. And monitoring the Defenders’ brainwaves.

Thor is actually making Valkyrie doubt. And Supernalia can’t have that.

Supernalia: “I cannot afford to lose control of the Defenders now! For honor’s sake, their rage must grow! And more -- they must retain a psychological surety that cannot be breached! In Valkyrie’s case, the introduction of something... familiar -- something to increase her confidence -- would seem appropriate!”

So Supernalia teleports Valkyrie’s sweet flying horse Aragorn to just. Appear on the Himalayas. Between Valkyrie and Thor.

Valkyrie doesn’t know how her horse suddenly appeared but she’s not going to look a gift teleporting winged horse in the mouth. She jumps on his back and takes to the air.

Thor gets pissed and hammerflings himself after her.

While Thor is chasing Valkyrie around the sky, Iron Man squares up with Silver Surfer.

Silver Surfer tells Iron Man that “you see to halt one who has outraced comets! Soared faster than light itself!” and basically that he rules, Iron Man sucks. And then to prove it, he blasts Iron Man with the power cosmic.

Just that one attack nearly tore Iron Man apart and he’s pretty sure that Silver Surfer was holding back. Oof, that’s some power gap.

BUT MAYBE just maybe if Iron Man puts all of his might into one staggering punch...

It’ll do jack shit to the Surfer.

Well, damn.

Gargoyle fights Wasp but says its not proper for a man to fight a lady. Wasp points out ‘hey you’re fighting me anyway so maybe someone is making you do it.’

Gargoyle: ‘.... NUH UH’

Cool. Good talk.

Supernalia: “This Gargoyle is too... soft! His mind accepts -- but his heart rebels! These beings are not like us! Their minds are filled with too many questions! Their souls overflow with conflicting emotions!”

I can’t believe humans (and Asgardians) have too many feelings and emotions to be easily controlled.

Well, I can believe. It really checks out.

So Supernalia increases the celestial mindwaves to shore up her control, even if it means burning out the Defenders.

Rude.

Thor blasts Valkyrie off of Aragorn with lightning and then catches her, saying he won’t let her fall. So, reasonably enough, Valkyrie elbows him in the face for treating her like a damsel.

They both fall toward the ground. Aragorn catches Valkyrie and Thor catches... a cosmic bolt from Silver Surfer.

You had one job, Iron Man.

And that job was to sneak up on Silver Surfer while he’s self-flagellating for doing a shameful opportunistic attack on Thor.

Iron Man uses those... hip... power pod... things. To zap Silver Surfer’s temples and siphon off some of his power.

And with that power, Iron Man tips a chunk of the mountain on top of Silver Surfer.

This doesn’t keep the Surfer down for long. Despite the fact that trying to contain the incredible surfing energies he absorbed threatens to damage his armor, Iron Man absorbs more when Silver Surfer blasts him, to try to turn the energy back at the Surfer.

Instead, they both explode.

Double KO.

Elsewhere in the fight, Gargoyle blasts Wasp with his bio-mystic bolts, knocking her into the snow.

Gargoyle panics because his bio-mystic bolts are supposed to drain off a fraction of a person’s life-force, not up and kill them.

So Gargoyle shouldn’t have been surprised when Wasp pops back up and zaps him in the chin. And Wasp shouldn’t have been surprised when Gargoyle zaps her back.

She passes out. But so does Gargoyle, to his confusion. His hide should be tough enough to take a truckload of punishment, yet he suddenly feels so weak.

I mean. Wasp is strong enough to blow up a house with her own zaps. But this is probably intended to be Supernalia’s mind control burning him out.

I choose to believe that its Wasp’s cool house-blowing-up might. She’s kicked bigger ass than Gargoyle.

Wasp’s defeat scream momentarily distracts Cap from where he’s fisticuffsing with Beast.

Beast: “Holy cow! I hope she’s not badly hurt!”

Cap: “You hope she’s not -- ?! You can still say that after all you’ve done today? After all the pain this Supernalia has driven the Defenders to cause?”

Beast: “We’ve caused? You’re the ones harboring the lunatic with the anti-matter bombs --.”

There’s no guilt-tripping some people.

Cap throws his mighty shield but Beast must not have heard the song because he not only doesn’t yield, he also catches the shield with his feets.

Then he sleds on it down a snowy incline and tackles Cap.

Beast: “It’s time we quit all this clowning around!”

Cap: “That’s right, Hank! This is serious business -- so hit me! Hit me, blast you! HIT ME!”

Beast: “Hey! wHaT tHe HeCk Am I dOiNg?”

Cap: “Coming to your senses, I hope!”

Beast realizes that Cap dropped his guard and let Beast beat the shit out of him on purpose, let Beast almost kill him.

Cap: “You’re no killer, Hank! And no force, however great, could make you kill! I counted on that fact to snap you out of it!”

Wow, good going, Cap!

Out of everyone here, you’re the only one who successfully snapped anyone out of anything. Although I think Wasp coulda if she had played possum and let Gargoyle think he killed her instead of popping up to zap him.

But Cap has insight into Hank. That probably helped.

Me and Jan know jack about Gargolye.

CHAPTER 6

With exactly two people conscious but not fighting anymore, Nebulon is like ‘hah eat shit Supernalia’

So Supernalia appears.

Beast feels like he’s about to keel over even though he beat the shit out of Cap and Cap feels weaker too. They blame Supernalia because its very easy to blame someone whose fault everything is.

But Supernalia blames Nebulon.

Nebulon slams a drama bomb in response.

Nebulon: “Do not seek to reclaim the upper hand with more lies, Supernalia! Such sophistry is unbecoming in... my wife!”

I heard that in Borat voice and I hate myself a little.

But now that Supernalia’s relation to Nebulon has been established, Nebulon is like ‘but why are you trying to ruin my exile?’

Supernalia: “You were convicted of high crimes, my husband -- and the sentence was a choice of honorable death by your own hand... or ignominious exile! In 500 generations, none of our people have ever chosen exile! All have proudly faced extinction! But you, lacking courage, brought shame upon your wife and children!”

HE HAS KIDS??

Anyway, she came to Earth to just. Kinda. Kill him. To restore honor to their family.

But when she got there, she found that he had already made friends and decided well I need some pawns of my own. So I can kill him.

Nebulon isn’t really impressed because in his one day as an exile, he’s had some epiphanies.

Nebulon: “Unlike you, I have traveled far across this universe! I have learned to see in new ways! Our concepts of honor are archaic! Our laws are cruel! I now dare to dream higher dreams, for I have learned what it means to have -- friends!”

Supernalia: “I have been your friend... and much more! Since our childhood betrothal have I stood by you -- despite your constant avoidance of responsibilities! Despite your failure to achieve glory or rank!”

Oof, imagine if your childhood friend and spouse told you that being exiled on Earth taught him what friendship really means.

I have to imagine that Cap and Beast are just listening to this like ‘god why do cosmic people always have to dump their relationship baggage on Earth?’

Supernalia then tries to tell Beast and Cap that Actually Nebulon is up to no good.

Beast is like yeah nice try.

But this time Supernalia has actual proof evidence.

She dispels the invisibility cloak hiding the Ennui Device that Nebulon left on a prior trip to Earth and is now using to drain energy from the Avengers and Defenders to beef himself up.

Now, Cap and Beast turn to Nebulon like ‘but buddy, why?’ and also to punch him a little bit, in a friendly manner.

Nebulon: “I did what I had to -- to survive! Believe me -- I truly wanted the friendship you offered -- but observing the unfolding battle, I realized I could never find peace on this or any world -- without the POWER!”

And this rude boy who doesn’t understand what friendship means punches both Cap and Beast.

Beast sprawls right at Supernalia’s feet completely burned out and goes hey feel like stepping in??

Supernalia: “I can do nothing directly, Beast. I am not permitted to interfere!”

Beast: “You... stupid... self-deluding... idiots! Don’t you understand that all this has happened... because you already have... interfered?!?!”

Supernalia: “So I have!”

And since now she’s done the big bad transgress of the Prime Directive, she decides that unlike her shitbird husband, she’s going to do the honorable thing and kill herself.

I. Have no words. At this entire exchange.

Its too much.

Nebulon is distraught so slaps the gun out of her hand and begs her to instead of killing herself, not do that. She could stay on Earth and rule at his side!

This latest bout of cosmic interpersonal drama gives Cap the opportunity to muster his strength and throw his mighty shield.

It deflects the ray emitter of the Ennui Device so it hits Nebulon instead of the Avengerdefenders.

Except, oops, the Ennui Beam was calibrated for “humanoid physio-psycho energies” so instead of draining his energy, the Ennui Beam just straight up starts killing Nebulon.

Amazing how you can stretch vocabulary to encompass humans, Asgardians, mutants, power cosmic imbued Zenn-Lavians, and whatever demonic biz is going on with the Gargoyle.

It sure is amazing how it affects all these different things as intended but its accidentally fatal in a way that will help wrap up the story.

Beast wet noodle jumps to try to redirect the beam and save Nebulon but Supernalia shoves him out of the way and then jumps into the beam herself.

Supernalia: “Thus, I join my husband -- in oblivion!”

Geez, when she sets her mind to killing herself, she sticks with it

.__.

Nebulon agrees that Actually This is the Right and Correct Course for them, I guess because couple counseling is a hassle.

Then the Ennui Device overloads and explodes and Nebulon and Supernalia turn to their true forms of giant weird fish people with Rocky Horror Picture Show lips inside fish lips.

Beast laments that Supernalia didn’t just let him save both of them but she’s like ‘HONORRR’ and then dies.

Thor: “I called Nebulon friend and he decieved me! Yet now -- Thor mourns his passing!”

Silver Surfer: “What manner of beings were they, to cherish honor so much... and value life so little?”

Cap: “Perhaps, Surfer -- not so different from us. Not so different -- at all!”

Okay, shut up your face, Cap.

First off, I don’t think much of an honor code that says its okay to mind control and lie to people and use them as pawns in a way that could kill them but then also goes ‘this is an honorable death’ when you stupid yourself to death.

And neither should you! Don’t put a poetic, poignant spin on things! This whole affair was a weird couples spat that two space weirdos forced you to participate in!

Follow @essential-avengers because I went back and covered an inconsequential annual and now I can’t go back and not do that. I wasted my time for you. Also, like and reblog. I need positive reinforcement. It makes me happy.

#Avengers #Defenders #Nebulon #Supernalia #Thor #Iron Man #Captain America #the Wasp #Beast #Valkyrie #Silver Surfer #Gargoyle #whoever that is #essential marvel liveblogging #essential avengers #this is like when a couple tries to get you to choose sides in a very public fight they're having #its unnecessary and uncomfortable and awkward for everyone

13 notes · View notes

hollandsdisney · 6 years

Text

Pumpkin Patch part 2

Requested: Yes(ish)

Pairing: Tom Holland x Best Friend!Reader

Part 1

a/n: so i wasnt going to do a part 2, but i realized my first one shot kinda left it on a cliff hanger soo..here we are!

Getting back to Tom’s flat, you gently nudge Harrison awake.

“Wake up sleeping beauty, we’re back,” you whisper.

His eyelashes flutter awake and he stretches his arms.

“That was a bloody good nap,” he yawns.

“I’m glad you had a good rest,” you reply wittily.

The three of you walk into Tom’s apartment, each of you carrying your medium sized pumpkins.

You set them down on the kitchen table and rub your hands on your jeans.

“Oh! My big and small pumpkins!” you gasp, going back to the car to get them.

“She’s not going to be able to carry that big one back in here,” Tom recalls, smiling towards the front door.

Harrison notices his stare and smirks.

“So why don’t you go help her out?” he offers.

Tom looks at him bewildered and quickly shakes his head.

“Tom, you’ve got to start making moves, you wanker,” Haz chuckles.

“M-make moves? For what?” Tom fidgets, crossing his arms.

“Don’t make me say it. Anyway, you’re losing daylight!” Has points towards the door, causing Tom to raise his arms in defeat and make his way to you.

When he got to the front door, he took in the sight of you trying to carry both pumpkins. You were leaning on your left leg for balance, carrying the bigger pumpkin and slowly reached for the small pumpkin.

He shuts his eyes and chuckles, shaking his head at your attempt to carry both.

“You know, you could have asked for help, love,” he says, jogging down his front steps.

You turn to see Tom and let out a sigh.

“Oh thank god, I’m starting to lose feeling on my left side. Here,” you place the bigger pumpkin into Tom’s arms.

Your fingers lightly graze his arms, and you quickly look away. Even though he was wearing a sweater, you don’t want to be distracted by his toned muscles and unbelievable strength.

You grab the small pumpkin and lead him back into the house.

“So, pumpkin carvings; want to do them tonight?” Harrison suggests.

“Absolutely!” you shout.

“Perfect, I’ll get the knives and cutters out. Tom…you can just hang around,” Harrison jokes.

“Are you implying I can’t handle myself with a knife?” Tom scoffs.

“Tom, you can barely handle a scissor,” you laugh.

“Anyway, let me go change into something less cute so I don’t get pumpkin guts all over me,” you say, running upstairs.

Harrison grabs the utensils needed and brings them to the living room table.

It’s better to cut the pumpkins there considering you’ll all have more room to maneuver.

Tom grabs towels and lays them on the floor and on the wooden table.

“So, what's your plan, hm?” Harrison asks after a few minutes of silence.

“Plan..?” Tom furrows his eyebrows.

“You know, how are you going to tell Y/N you fancy her?” his teeth graze his bottom lip.

“Oh, fuck off, Haz,” Tom swats the air and straightens out the towel on the table.

“Did you really not think I’d notice?” Harrison asks, offended.

“Well, no, I-I guess not. But I thought you liked her?” he questions.

“I did, but I don’t like her nearly as much as you do. You practically drool over her when she does the slightest thing as look your way!” Harrison adds.

Tom shakes his head, grinding his jaw.

“Don’t pretend like I’m not right,” Haz raises a brow.

But he was right, and Tom knew it. Tom loved absolutely everything you did, and found the smallest things adorable and admirable. You had him insanely whipped.

“And I think she might like you, too,” Harrison spoke up again, plopping on the couch.

“Right, and my name is Bob,” Tom rolls his eyes, sitting on the floor.

“It’s quite amazing how smart and talented you are, yet your common sense is lacking,” Haz laughed.

Tom frowned, shooting him a glare.

“Oh, take the piss once and a while mate. Even though it’s true,” he smirked.

Meanwhile, you were upstairs getting changed into something more comfy. You grabbed a black sweatshirt that might’ve belonged to Tom and snaked it over your head.

The scent lingered in your nose, and you knew right away that it was, in fact, Tom’s.

You smile at the thought, but quickly shake your head.

You can’t like Tom. He’s your absolute best friend, along with Haz. You all have a great thing going, you don’t want to ruin it with false feelings. Besides, he didn’t like you back anyway, right? Right?

There was that one time his hug lasted a little longer than it had; and that day you all went to breakfast and he insisted on sitting across from you. You could have sworn his eyes were burning a hole through you, yet you didn’t mind.

But all those feelings were pushed back when you were set into reality.

It simply wouldn’t be possible to date Tom, with him in the spotlights and expanding his career.

And you’d never hinder his growth with your selfish wants.

You slide on leggings and throw your knotty hair up in a bun. It was about time your hair got out of your face.

You jog down the stairs and see the boys in the living room.

“You ready to carve some pumpkins?!” you exclaim.

The boys yell “Yeah!” making you gush and smile wider than you had been.

You sit on the floor next to Tom, and he scoots over to give you more room.

“Shall we make this more interesting? Maybe hold a contest?” Harrison asks.

“I like it! But wait, there’s three of us here, who’s gonna judge?” you ask.

Harrison pulls out his phone and points it towards the table of pumpkins.

“Okay, so Tom, Y/N and I are about to carve pumpkins. It’s up to you, the viewers, to vote on who’s pumpkin turns out best!” He points towards each pumpkin and when he’s finished recording on what you assume was his instagram video, he begins to frantically tap on his screen. Tom pulls out his phone as well, situating himself in front of the pumpkins and turning his phone facing him.

“So, as you saw in Harrison’s story, or if you’re just viewing my story, Haz, Y/N and I are carving pumpkins. When we’re done I’m going to show them all and you get to pick your favorite!”

Just then, you feel your phone vibrate, signaling a tag from Harrison on his story, and Tom’s follows shortly after.

“I better win...wait, what does the winner get?” you ask.

“Bragging rights..” Harrison says, beginning to carve the top of the pumpkin and remove the seeds.

“No! It should be something legit,” you shake your head and start to ponder.

“Bragging rights AND this pumpkin seed,” Harrison holds up the insides of the pumpkin, causing you to frown.

“Agh, I hate this part of carving!” you yank the top of you pumpkin off and begin to carve inside to remove the slimy seeds.

“How mad would you be if I just put all of this in your hair?” Tom asked cheekily.

“Very mad, Thomas, don’t you dare!” you screech, sliding away from him.

Tom laughs and throws the remnants of the pumpkin into the garbage.

You all decided on carving a traditional face into the pumpkins, but the true test was who’s would look more professionally done.

There was a silence in the room, concentration at an all time high.

“There’s a reason why I’m an actor,” you hear Tom whisper sing-song-like, and you giggle.

He looks over at you and smiles, proud of himself for making you laugh.

He sneaks a glance at your pumpkin, and notices you are doing exceptionally well.

“Well damn, Y/N, when were you going to tell us you had a keen eye for art?” Tom asks.

“A true artist never reveals her secrets,” you wink at him.

Tom could feel a blush creeping up his neck, and quickly looks away from your stare.

Harrison watches your interaction unfold in front of him, baffled at the fact neither of you knew each other’s intentions.

It was about an hour later, and Haz and Tom decided to post pictures of all 3 of the pumpkins on their story, along with a poll.

In the end, your pumpkin came in first, Harrison’s came in second, and Tom’s came in third.

“Rubbish! You guys are supposed to be on my side!” Tom cried on his instagram story.

“Don’t be mad! Your fans recognize true talent!” you taunt, shooting the camera an award winning smile. Tom made a mental note to save that story to his camera roll later.

You and Harrison start cleaning up the mess while Tom adds his finishing touches to his instagram story.

“Your fans are going to go nuts over all the new content,” you note.

“Good, now you won’t be canceled, Tom!” Haz sneers.

“I don’t even know what that means,” Tom folded his arms, “so your words mean nothing.”

“Why don’t you two put the pumpkins on display out in the front? I’ll wash up everything,” Harrison insists.

“You sure, Haz?” you pout.

“Yeah, yeah. Go on,” he shoos you two away.

You look at Tom and shrug, grabbing your pumpkin.

Harrison nods your way to Tom, as if to say “now’s your chance.”

Tom follows you outside with his pumpkin.

The night sky is illuminated by the stars and waning moon, the cool breeze sending shivers down your spine.

“Is this my sweatshirt?” Tom asks, lightly pulling at the hoodie.

“Oh, yeah. You don’t mind, do you?” you ask hesitantly.

“No, course not. What’s mine is yours, darling,” Tom assures you.

You give a cheeky grin and sit on the steps. You pat the spot next to you and Tom complies.

You sigh, looking up at the stars.

Tom takes this time to take in your profile, his eyes darting from your eyes to your lips.

“You’re awfully quiet, Tommy,” you whisper, eyes still glued to the stars.

Tom clears his throat.

“Just taking in the view is all,” he admits.

You bring your attention to the brown eyed boy and smile.

“Y/N...there’s something you have to know,” Tom trails off.

“Oh my gosh, you’re pregnant?” you gasp teasingly.

“No, seriously,” Tom averts his eyes and turns his body to you.

“What’s up, Tom?” you ask, growing concerned.

“I haven’t been able to stop thinking about you for..quite a while, actually,” he laughs breathily, “and I feel like if I don’t tell you now, it’s just going to consume me. Your presence consumes me, Y/N.”

You blink at him, slowly letting out a breath you didn’t know you were holding. Did Tom just confess his feelings to me? You thought. The corners of your mouth quirk up.

“Well, that makes me feel better about feeling the same way, then,” you confess.

His face perks up at your words and you can see his boyish smile shine through the moon’s light.

“I was hoping you would say that,” he said.

You smile up at him and lean your head on his shoulder.

Harrison watches from the living room window and sighs out, “Fucking finally,” chuckling to himself.

Tom owed Harrison big time for this one.

tags: @hazsterfield @greenarrowhead @toms-darling

#tom holland #tom holland imagine #tom holland au #tom holland blurb #tom holland headcanon #harrison osterfield #harrison osterfield blurb #harrison osterfield imagine #harrison osterfield headcanon #told you id do it #hazsterfield

61 notes · View notes

anghraine · 7 years

Text

“waking up in a minefield” - fic (3/4)

The thing I’ve been whining about! Well, more of it.

fandom: Star Wars

characters: Jyn Erso, Cassian Andor, Leia Organa; Jyn/Cassian

verse: script AU (follows from threshold of a dream and part of the past, but now you’re the future, and overlaps with in tongues and quiet sighs)

length: 4.5k my god why hast thou forsaken me

stuff that happens: picking up from part 2, Jyn, Cassian, and Leia finish catching each other up, while Jyn struggles with her ambivalent feelings about Leia and accidentally drops a bombshell on Cassian.

Out of exhaustion or shock, Cassian stared at Princess Leia. “Dissolved the Senate? Then who …”

“Regional governors,” said the princess. “Not that it matters, really. I already broke cover above Scarif.”

“You were at Scarif?” he demanded.

Princess Leia lifted her chin. Heading her off, Jyn said,

“She’s the one who received the plans, Cassian.”

He just blinked, as if unable to process it. Maybe he knew something about Leia that Jyn didn’t. Not that Jyn knew anything about her at all, except her identity, and her role as courier, and … the other.

Slowly, he replied, “I don’t understand.” Turning a new frown—puzzled rather than indignant—on the princess, he shifted slightly nearer to Jyn. She couldn’t see why, considering the confinement of the bed and her own bruising grip on his wrist. He wasn’t going anywhere.

“I already had an errand on Tatooine,” Princess Leia said, not even pretending to patience. “We couldn’t chance our odds with the battle even before the Death Star showed up, so—”

“You didn’t know that I was alive,” interrupted Cassian. “You didn’t know about Jyn. You can’t have been here long. You’re—”

Okay, that was faster than she’d expected. Now he held himself as stiffly as Jyn, eyes narrowed at the princess. Jyn didn’t have his information, the familiarity that would let her catch some significant change from the usual. But she was a good judge, regardless.

“Why are you here?” Jyn asked. She’d blurted it out, but now that she mentioned it, she did wonder. It took no effort at all to look as if she found it suspicious. “Did the Council send you?”

Leia seemed about to say something, but paused. “More or less.”

Definitely hiding something, Jyn thought. Cassian gave no hint either way; sitting in a hospital gown, upright for the first time in days, fingers curled towards Jyn’s hand on him, he managed to exude professional neutrality.

She loosened her grip just enough to rest her fingertips over his pulse. Not quick and thready, like at first, nor the sluggish beat she’d felt when they drugged him. His blood thudded a steady, even rhythm through his veins, just as the droids had assured her it would. But Jyn trusted the things she wanted to believe even less than the ones she didn’t. This, she could feel with her own senses, the thrum of life under her fingers.

Mine, she thought involuntarily. No, she didn’t mean it. Did she? She’d saved that life, first on Jedha, and then when she all but single-handedly carted him out of the Citadel. Of course, he’d saved hers too, and probably more times. If either might have incurred any debt, it had to be cancelled out by now. He owed her nothing but respect and some amount of loyalty, but—it was just—

“Well, whatever they want, it’s going to have to wait,” Jyn said. “He’s still recovering.”

Cassian tensed. “If the Rebellion needs me—”

“It doesn’t,” said the princess, with unconcealed exasperation. Not much of a spy, was she? “Not today, at any rate. Can you walk?”

Jyn’s discomfort thawed, slightly. “We don’t know yet. He just came out of bacta, and his fourth surgery before that.”

“Surgery?” Leia regarded Cassian with a mix of respect and displeasure. “More than one? Then you’ll definitely need recovery time. I thought it was like—” Her face tightened. “You won’t be doing anything for awhile, Andor. You’d better get used to the idea.”

He scowled. “Your Highness, you know that’s not a possibility.”

“What, do you think you’re irreplaceable?” demanded Leia. “The only injured soldier here? Don’t be ridiculous. We’ll treat you like anyone else.”

Torn between relief and annoyance, Jyn said, “See? I’m right.”

“Anyway, you’ll be given what work you can manage,” Leia told him. “The same as anyone else. I’m sure Draven will find something that suits your … uh. Talents.”

Jyn didn’t really see how useful spying could be in the heart of the Rebellion. To go by his face, neither did Cassian.

“Yes, there are so many people to recruit here,” he said.

“Not into the Rebellion,” said Leia. “But into Intelligence? Sure. Derlin’s wife, say.”

His expression instantly went from disdainful skepticism to alarm. “Major Derlin has a wife? Since when?”

“Yesterday,” she said smugly. “I only heard about it on the way here. Apparently, he eloped with Maru Issa out of Central. That is, moved to shared quarters on the other side of the base.”

Cassian, usually so contained, looked completely baffled. “Derlin?” He paused. “And Issa? Isn’t she …”

“Maybe twenty-five,” the princess confirmed. “Force knows what she sees in him. Except the moustache, I guess.”

Jyn, not understanding above a quarter of this if that, frowned. She certainly would never have envisioned Cassian and the princess of Alderaan gossiping about a superior officer. Maybe all the spies were like that, but it was … difficult to imagine, even with it happening in front of her.

“Moustaches aren’t exactly rare,” she pointed out, with a meaningful glance at Cassian. After one surprised look, he bit his lip, and Jyn shifted her eyes.

Leia snorted. “Believe me, Derlin’s is exceptionally rare. He isn’t that bad, himself—”

“He’s a tyrant,” said Cassian coldly.

“I can’t believe you’re holding a grudge over something that happened before you could shave.” Leia shook her head. “Let it go. Well, they must have hidden the relationship very well. Doesn’t seem like Draven knew. He’s already plotting how to poach Issa, so I’m sure you can make yourself useful.”

“Hm,” he said.

To Jyn, that approach seemed as bizarre as it was trivial. Saw always split up couples. Even if a relationship lasted longer than most of them did, the intensity couldn’t begin to compensate for distraction and jumbled priorities.

Cassian looked up at her and winced. “Ah, sorry, I didn’t—we try to keep spouses together.”

“In the Rebellion?” Jyn said. “That’s a bad idea.”

“Obviously, for military operations,” replied Leia, with the edge of impatience that Jyn was already finding familiar. “This is Intelligence.”

Brows raised, Jyn didn’t bother responding to an answer so blatantly inadequate. It was Cassian, instead, who filled the gap.

“Lone operatives are vulnerable, and some objectives require partnerships,” he said in his low, level voice. She vastly preferred it to Leia’s harsh one. “Those are safer if the partners trust each other, feel comfortable, know each other’s strengths and weaknesses. And the leadership’s view is that keeping spouses together can strengthen their … investment in success.”

“Investment,” repeated Jyn.

Leia gave a short laugh. “An agent who loses their nerve is much more likely to find it again with a”—she slanted a glance at Cassian—“companion at stake. So I hear.”

Jyn didn’t know whether the princess meant that she’d never had a lover or never lost her nerve. Either seemed entirely possible.

“Huh,” she said, remembering Draven’s open hostility when she admitted to her hesitation in the vault.

Interesting.

After five minutes of dull nothings, Leia had yet to explain her presence. Was it about Alderaan? She hadn’t appeared to recognize or expect Jyn, but that didn’t have to mean anything, with a spy. Still, she seemed very much more focused on Cassian, and she hadn’t outright denied that Command sent her here, even if she didn’t bring immediate trouble with her.

“I’m a patient, not a visitor,” Leia said abruptly, as if reading her mind, though her attention stayed on Cassian. “You can stop trying to figure out some secret purpose, Andor. Draven insisted on an examination and I’m waiting on the droids, that’s all.”

Jyn felt slightly more suspicious. “Glad we could help you pass the time. Right, Cassian?”

“Right.” He met her glance with a slight upwards twitch of his brow, cooperation flowing as easily and naturally as it had on Scarif. “Did you tell the droids to meet you in my room, or …?”

The princess rolled her eyes. “They won’t have trouble finding me. I was curious about seeing a dead man and a strange woman in the next room.”

“Thanks?” said Jyn.

“How did you two make it out, anyway?” Leia folded her arms, her back steel-straight. “Never mind that, how did you make it through?”

She didn’t look particularly interested. Intrigued, perhaps—somewhat. Mostly just talking for the sake of talking. Jyn didn’t go in for that, as a rule. But it took no great leap of imagination to guess why Leia Organa might want a distraction.

Beside Jyn, Cassian shifted. He didn’t know, she didn’t want him to know yet, but Jyn felt certain he meant to respond with the same terse summary she herself would have offered in other circumstances. If she would have offered anything at all. Now, though … Jyn could give the princess of Alderaan her moment’s diversion.

“I’m sure I’ll be briefed eventually,” Leia added. “Unless it’s classified?”

“I don’t think so,” said Jyn. She looked quizzically at Cassian, and he shook his head. “Well, we had disguises to get into the facility. Cassian passed as an Imperial officer, and I was a technician, and of course K-2SO …”

She swallowed, Cassian’s arm tightening beneath her fingers. Jyn didn’t see anything in his face, nor expect to, but his nails dug into his palm. When he forced the hand straight, the curved impressions lingered in his skin.

“Kaytoo was Kaytoo,” she finished.

Even here, packed into the tiny room with Cassian, awkward and uncomfortable around the princess, she could hear his screams as Kay died. Like her own, when her father—Papa—Papa, who’d—it wasn’t his fault. He was a prisoner. There’d be no hope at all if he hadn’t seized the chance for sabotage. Just Jedha and Scarif and Alderaan, over and over and over.

Had Princess Leia screamed?

Jyn shoved the thought out of her mind, and felt a moment’s unexpected gratitude that she’d been forced to recount her actions so many times already. By this point, she could do it without thinking, almost detached from the rise and fall of her own voice. The only hesitation came from Cassian’s presence at her side: or rather, her consciousness of it, of his separate perceptions, since he corrected nothing and only interjected here and there.

“—Cassian took out two of the deathtroopers, but he got shot and fell.”

“How far?” Leia demanded.

“A bit,” said Cassian.

Jyn scoffed. “A few levels, with some beams to hit on the way down. You’re lucky you’ll walk.”

“I’m lucky I’ll live,” he said, which she couldn’t really disagree with.

“Back there, I didn’t realize you had.” With a deep breath, Jyn focused back on Princess Leia. “I thought about climbing down to him, but I—”

Cassian’s arm jerked. “You what?”

He was staring at her in what looked like utter horror. With a twist of his wrist, his fingers gripped her hand. “You thought about dropping to that platform? With the plans?”

“Only for a second,” she said dismissively.

“You could have died. The fall alone—”

“You’d know,” said Jyn.

“I did not fall on purpose!”

“You’re still being a hypocrite.” At his disbelieving expression, she lifted her chin, and dug her own fingers into his hand for good measure. “How many times have you risked our mission? I’m sure General Draven would love to hear about you getting tossed into a cell for shooting one of Saw’s people to protect me. Or about you going back for me with Jedha crumbling above us.”

Colour crawled up his cheeks, which Jyn counted as victory. “Keeping you alive was a requirement of the mission, Jyn.”

“Only to contact Saw,” she retorted. “You’d already found Bodhi, and somehow I don’t think your mission parameters included getting crushed in a bunker. Or blown up by Alliance bombs on Eadu. You didn’t just consider taking a risk, you actually did it.”

Jyn remembered pulling the plans out of the archives, the unexpected force propelling her arm with the weight of the data tapes, body swinging and Cassian crying careful! His fingers instinctively reached towards her—for the tapes, she’d assumed, though without any possibility of reaching them. But no do this-do that followed the fumbling outstretch of his hand, no urgent warning, just you okay?

Settling into a comfortable sense of righteousness, she decided that he had no moral ground whatsoever. Or pragmatic ground, at least.

“Those aren’t the same,” he insisted. “There were others to send ahead, and no certainty. You had the plans.”

Words aside, he sounded much less indignant, face calm again. His grip had relaxed but for the aimless pressure of his thumb on the side of her hand. Under her skin, her blood seemed to track it, a stream of warmth flowing back and forth.

“Not that this discussion isn’t fascinatingly insane,” said Leia, eyeing them, “but I still don’t know how you got out.”

With a final vindictive clench of her fingers, Jyn withdrew. “Well, Cassian was completely still by the time his body hit the bottom, and—the angles were wrong. I assumed the worst and kept climbing.”

The rest of the story only took up a minute or two, with almost the entire battle passing beyond her own observation. After all, though she and Cassian had been soldiers from childhood, they left that to others on Scarif. They split off as thief and spy: by now, the roles that fit them best. With only a glimpse of the battlefield as she and Cassian hobbled into their stolen shuttle, neither could recount anything beyond the merest details. Jyn didn’t even know how her friends had died, if it were blasterfire or explosions, something lingering or that terrible wave of light. Selfishly, she hoped for one of the first; she hated the idea of anything protracted, all the more a creeping, remote death that could not be fought or resisted. As it was, too many must have died that way. She would let herself believe that three men in that vast battle had found quicker ends.

Cassian stayed silent through the end of Jyn’s recital, no longer offering even his slight additions and asides. He looked a bit like he had under the drugs; not dazed, but certainly distracted, almost puzzled. Some idea must have caught his attention. Maybe Derlin of the moustache and marriage and long-ago offense.

Although she had no idea what the man had done, Jyn couldn’t help but respect Cassian’s decade-long grudge. She herself did not easily form grudges, but when she did, she kept them well-polished for years on end. If other people wanted to be weak and inconstant, that wasn’t her problem. Or Cassian’s, apparently.

Leia was asking him something about his climb to the roof, which Jyn had never really wondered about, beyond the fact of it. There was only one way up.

“But if you’ve got spinal injuries, then I don’t see how you climbed a vault.”

“The same way I climb anything,” said Cassian. “Just more painfully. You’d do the same.”

“Yes, but you’re not—” The princess’s limited supply of tact snapped off the end of the sentence.

“I’m not you,” he agreed. “Speaking of which, did you do the same?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” said Leia.

She could hardly have sounded more unconvincing. It was rather like watching a speeder crash, Jyn thought, resigned. You could see it coming, but nothing you might try would actually stop it from happening.

“I’m talking about your escape from the Empire,” Cassian said.

The princess’s jaw tightened. Otherwise, she gave no sign of surprise. “No. A Jedi apprentice broke me out of prison, and we swung over an abyss, not out of one.”

All right, Jyn hadn’t known about that. How could a Jedi apprentice even exist? Weren’t they all … maybe she meant someone like Chirrut? But some might have escaped, surely. There’d been so many, once. If so, she could only imagine how thrilled Chirrut would have been. And her mother—

She stiffened, holding herself firm against the heavy, twisting sensation in her gut.

“An abyss?” said Cassian. “What sort of prison were you in?”

“I’m sure Draven will tell you.” Then, seeming to reconsider, Leia shrugged. “The Death Star.”

“A Jedi broke you out of the Death Star?” There was, at least, some small pleasure in seeing him so utterly flabbergasted. The princess actually smiled.

Not that Jyn felt any different. Trapped inside the Death Star was—she couldn’t imagine it. Escaping it, still less.

“How did you get away?” Cassian demanded. “What did you do with the plans? Has the Empire seen them?”

Leia gave a long-suffering sigh. “Obi-Wan Kenobi and a smuggler helped us escape in his ship. I’d hidden the plans in my astromech droid, ejected him in an escape pod, and sent him to find General Kenobi before I was captured. He was never found by the Empire, so I can’t see any way they might have discovered the plans. We’re analyzing them now.” She rose to her feet, rubbing one hand against a clenched fist. “It’s got to be nearly done. Where are those damn droids? I need to get back to Command before the Death Star arrives.”

“Arrives here?” Cassian’s face went expressionless. Without warning, he swung his legs over the edge of the bed, and was on his way to his feet by the time Jyn could react. She reflexively pressed her arm against his chest.

“You don’t have permission to get up yet.”

“Since when do you care about permissions?” said Cassian, in his most reasonable tone.

Jyn scowled. “Since I picked up a partner with all the self-interest of a five-year-old.”

She wouldn’t have believed him capable of real embarrassment, but a flush ran up his cheeks again, even as he grasped her wrist. Still, he didn’t look embarrassed beyond that, just startled and uncomfortable, wetting his lip as he looked down at her arm. Well, if he was searching for weaknesses, he wouldn’t find them. Certainly not in his current state. Maybe he meant to catch her off-guard; his own grip had lightened as soon as she spoke.

“That’s an insult to children,” Leia said.

“Thank you, Infanta.” Ineffectively, he tried to push Jyn’s arm away. “You’re sure the Death Star is coming?”

“Yes,” said Leia. “That idiot Solo—the smuggler—well, the ship was bugged. I figured that we’re doomed if we can’t take out the Death Star, anyway, so we might as well bring it into a convenient range.”

She said this as matter-of-factly as she might have explained hair-braiding techniques. This tiny girl had bet the survival of the Rebellion on a message that the Rebellion itself had rejected. They’d backed Rogue One on Scarif, to be sure. Eventually. Jyn’s transmission would never have reached anyone without the fleet above them. Even so, a battle above an Imperial station was not at all the same as risking the entire Rebellion on faith in—in her father. In Jyn’s own account of him, and his execution of his planned sabotage. Within the day, she would live to see him vindicated, or join him in the Force. She and Cassian both.

And every single person here, of course. But she knew them only as components of the Rebellion; it was as components of the Rebellion that she dreaded their deaths. Should she survive, Jyn would continue on her path, with or without them. If Cassian died—

“Jyn?” He was frowning up at her, instead of down at the arm restraining him. His expression had gone from uneasy and impatient to something softer, eyes steady and concerned. “What is it?”

Behind him, even Leia studied Jyn’s face. She couldn’t quite care, except to wish that the princess would go away. Unfair, but Jyn would rather not contemplate her death, Cassian’s death, with a stranger looking on. All the more because it was a stranger to whom she owed gratitude. A great deal more than gratitude.

“Nothing,” she said, returning her attention to Cassian, and relieved at the steadiness of her voice.

Jyn didn’t want to die. She supposed she could still escape it: abandon this place where she’d never truly been welcome, even do it in the hope of fighting another day. There were many ways to fight. But she had no more intention of leaving now than she had when she spoke with Mothma. She’d stayed with Cassian on Scarif for a reason, hung onto him when he could offer nothing but a burden on her shoulders. If he died, she had meant to die with him, fighting the Empire. She still did.

Put that way, it sounded like—she didn’t want to think of what it sounded like. She’d spent fifteen years trying to forget.

“Shouldn’t the doctor be here by now?” Jyn said, grasping at the first thing to come to mind. “I don’t know how long we slept, but the droids could be conducting tests, or something. How is the pain?”

Plainly undeterred, Cassian ignored this to examine her more closely. His dark eyes had widened, concern ratcheting into alarm.

“Is it your leg? They might have missed something.”

“That was a sprain,” she said irritably.

“Obviously it wouldn’t be a sprain if they did miss something,” said Leia, with every appearance of indifference.

“Thank you,” Jyn grumbled. “No, they didn’t.”

Cassian’s frown deepened. “Some other injury, then. Your shoulder?”

“No,” she said, both aggravated and warmed. “I’m fine, except for my father’s monstrosity coming to destroy all life.”

“Jyn—”

She was not going to have this conversation around Princess Leia. Jyn dropped her arm and turned towards the door.

“I’m going to see where those droids are.”

By some luck—amazing that she had any left—the door whooshed ope. A 2-1B droid, perhaps the one that Jyn had already dealt with, stalked in.

“Speak of the Sith,” Leia remarked.

The droid swivelled to study her, unimpressed. “Leia Organa. You are not medical personnel. You have not been authorized—”

“You’re here to test Captain Andor?” she said. “I was just leaving.”

“Your treatment will be administered in four and a half minutes,” it informed her. “Captain. Please remove your outer covering for the examination.”

“I’ll be outside,” Jyn said hastily.

She and Leia escaped with remarkable speed for two women under a hundred and sixty centimeters. Almost as soon as they did, however, Jyn realized that she had no idea what to do next. She couldn’t go anywhere until the examination finished; she couldn’t order the princess away; she didn’t want to talk. Leia, for her part, seemed no more comfortable; nevertheless, she didn’t return to her own room.

Jyn refused to fidget, but the impulse was there. However little she’d wanted to be around Leia with Cassian, still less did she want to be around Leia without Cassian.

Finally, she said,

“What is your treatment for?”

“Minor nerve damage,” said the princess.

Jyn inhaled. There were only so many ways that someone in Imperial custody would end up with nerve damage. Minor or not.

“I’m sorry,” she blurted out.

“What for?” said Leia, her entire body facing straight ahead.

That came as a relief. Jyn would have had to meet her gaze otherwise, unflinching, and—it was easier, this way, to say what she knew had to be said.

“About your planet.”

Leia’s voice only grew harder. “Thank you.”

For another minute, they stood in an even more intensely awkward silence. Then the princess said,

“I don’t blame him.”

Now Jyn did look at her. It wasn’t particularly enlightening; Leia didn’t move, her face as stony as her voice.

“Sorry?”

“Dr Erso,” she said, glance flicking in Jyn’s direction. Just a moment. “He didn’t order the attack, and he’s dead in any case. The Empire did this.” Her right hand curled into a fist. “And the Empire will pay for this.”

It was nothing Jyn didn’t know already. She certainly didn’t consider her father responsible for this, never had. Nevertheless, the tight ball of tension under her ribs unravelled, a little.

“Yes,” said Jyn. “They will.”

The door opened again, and 2-1B emerged—with Cassian, fully dressed, behind it. He walked with a cane, presumably extracted from one of the medical cabinets, and a slight limp. But he was walking, and with no signs of pain.

Jyn grinned, wide and unhesitating. She didn’t even try repressing it. He smiled back, the unsteady curve of his mouth as quick and thoughtless as her own.

“Cassian! You’re—” She’d already taken an eager step forward, but self-consciousness caught up with her, and she rocked back. “You’re discharged?”

“Against my advice,” said 2-1B.

“I’m not waiting in a bed,” Cassian retorted, which was so precisely what Jyn would have said that she almost smiled again.

The droid gave an annoyed click. “You’ll be expected back for tests every day, Captain, or we will send a very stern message to your superior officer—”

“Yes, yes,” said Cassian. “Are you ready to go, Jyn?”

Leia regarded them both thoughtfully.

“Yes,” Jyn said. “Yesterday.”

Jyn and Cassian both said their farewells to Princess Leia—Jyn thought with very admirable cordiality—before 2-1B ushered her off. Then they were something like free, walking side-by-side out of the medical bay and into the sunlight.

After all her annoyance, now she almost felt uncomfortable not having someone else around. Ridiculous.

She cast a sideways glance at him, as brief as she could make it. His clothes hung on him more than ever. That was ridiculous, too.

“Have you eaten today?” Cassian said abruptly.

Jyn prickled. “Why do you ask?”

“You’ve been there almost every time I woke up,” he replied. His fingers twisted on the cane. “It’s hard to imagine that you’ve been eating regularly on that schedule, but I wasn’t sure, with you wearing my clothes and all.”

“That still doesn’t explain why you want to know,” said Jyn, doubtful.

Cassian gave her an incredulous look. “You considered climbing down the vault and you’ve been hovering for days. I think I can ask if you’re hungry.”

Oh.

“Are you planning on holding that against me forever?” Before he could answer, she added, “Besides, I don’t have any other clothes to wear.”

“I don’t mind.” Cassian’s voice sounded off. He cleared his throat, but didn’t say anything else.

It soothed her, some, that he was so obviously as uneasy as Jyn herself. It soothed her in a different way that he wasn’t trying to hide it, that he never did.

“Except Kay,” Cassian started to say.

She didn’t have to wonder at the edge in his tone, this time. Just hearing Kay had her own mind spinning back, and he’d been incalculably less to her. She had no idea what he was aiming at, though. Or what it had to do with anything else they’d said.

Jyn waited, silent. Words did not often come easily to her, and she knew better than to risk them when she didn’t understand. Cassian, though, always found something to say; he’d find words sooner or later.

He turned his face away, tongue darting out to wet his lips. Jyn wasn’t sure if she wished he’d stop doing that, or … not.

“No one’s ever—”

Oh, she thought again. And it wasn’t hard to say,

“Me either.”

Cassian turned back to her, his smile slight and hesitant this time, but no less warm. His eyes did the work of that—a nonsensical idea, but it caught her as she looked and looked back, her own eyes held wide open under the Yavin sunshine. Without a word or gesture, they’d stopped their aimless walk.

“All right,” Jyn said. “I’m starving.”

#anghraine's fic #script au #rebelcaptain #/#//#///#////#/////#jyn erso #cassian andor #leia skywalker organa #otp: welcome home #star wars #i kept trying to check for continuity but at this point i'm going to stab myself in the eye if i re-read this again #so feel free to point out mistakes i'm just #aghdfjak;#waking up in a minefield

34 notes · View notes

pelztells-blog · 7 years

Text

Paris

We went to Paris for five days, to bring in the New Year. Our original plan had been to go to Italy, but the visa drama was going on, and it didn’t seem like a good idea to risk a plane trip. The train from Brussels to Paris is pretty cheap, so it was a good happy medium. We had a good time overall, despite it being miserably cold and me doing a bang up job of booking our lodging (again).

*Our train was meant to leave at 10am on Friday from Brussels. We arrived at the train station with 20 minutes to spare, only to be met with an onslaught of crowds. People were teeming everywhere. Turns out a deep fog had descended on Paris and was stopping the trains. No one spoke any real English nor could they tell us where or when to pick up our train. After a lot of confusion and stress, we finally were on our way over two hours later.

*I booked us the World’s Worst Airbnb, that happens to be run by the Sweetest Guy, which makes for a very difficult time writing a review. It was a studio, and managed to make the one in Madrid seem plush, which I hadn’t thought possible. There was a single bed. Like, a bed meant for one person, that Jason and I would be sharing. Dishes were washed by a sprayer that connected to the toilet (we didn’t use dishes--there wasn’t a kitchen anyways, just a microwave and toaster oven). The shower was roughly the size of a coffin, and I’m not sure it had been cleaned prior to us getting there. The entrance door was all metal, and looked like it was a former bank vault door, or possible prison cell, as there were at least 5 different locks on it. There was no wifi. NO WIFI. Usually, I guess people are able to access the coffee shop next door’s wifi, and that is what our host uses when he checks off that he has wifi. We were never able to connect to it. Needless to say, we spent as little time there as possible, which was unfortunate being that it was below freezing in Paris and walking around all day was a feat in itself.

*Paris was exceptionally cold. Like, bitterly, hurts your bones, cold. It was also covered in that deep, dense fog for days. We only found the Eiffel Tower the first night because it lit up with sparkling lights every hour and we happened to see them when they were going off. Once they stopped, we lost the Tower to the fog again. We ended up walking 7 or so miles in 5 hours that first night, which left us hurting pretty badly and with that came a realization that we are getting older. And maybe need better shoes.

*We went to the Louvre and stood with 500 others to get a glimpse of Mona Lisa. So many had to get the perfect selfie with her. I was reaffirmed in my hatred for selfie sticks, despite the fact that we have one. We spent a good 2 hours there, during which time Jason took some liberties in renaming some of the art on display. We left to take the Metro to our next stop. Some of the Metro stations have glass doors in front of the tracks. When our train got in, so many people got off that by the time we were able to get on, the warning bell rang, and the glass doors as well as the train doors started to close. It wasn’t in my plans to have my arms ripped off my body, so I jumped back onto the platform. Jason was on the train. We stared at each other as the train pulled away with him on it and me on the platform. I lost my phone a month ago and still haven’t gotten a new one, and Jason had our backpack with the iPad (and everything else functional like maps), so I had no way to get ahold of him. Panicked, I reasoned I would get on the next train and hope he was waiting at the next stop. He was, and that was the end of the train saga. We did make a plan for if that were to happen again, ensuring that it didn’t.

* Saint Chapelle was up next, which Jason called Dave Chapelle most of the time we were there. It’s older than Notre Dame and has all these amazing stained glass windows. We found Notre Dame afterwards, where we stood in a line wrapped through the square to get in. We stayed an extra long time once we got inside because neither of us could feel our feet and it was slightly warmer in there.

*We brought the New Year in in a bar called The Moose, a Canadian bar that was showing the Alabama game. I’d wanted to go to the Champs-Elysees to watch the fireworks, but we’d read that they were cancelled due to the terrorist attack in Germany a week prior and heightened security in Paris. However, it seems from videos we’ve since seen that there were in fact fireworks. I was okay with not going because it was stupid cold, and if there weren’t fireworks, a cozy bar was preferable to 600,000 of our closest strangers. Regardless, it was a nice night, and we got to try the closest thing to buffalo wings since moving here.

*The next day, being New Years Day, meant most things were closed except churches, so we went to Sacre Couer. I wish it hadn’t been so miserable outside so we could have wandered a bit more around Montmarte, but Sacre Couer itself is beautiful! I loved being there, and the surrounding area was really cute. We’d read rumours that from the top of Sacre Couer it’s possible to see out to many of the sights of Paris. Thanks to the never ending fog, that was largely impossible. We ended up leaving and going to the Arc de Triomphe, the Place de la Concorde, walked through a Christmas market, had a crepe, saw the Grand Palace, wandered over a bridge, and when it hurt to walk because my feet felt like ice cubes waiting to shatter, we went to a restaurant where we drank some wine and then went and saw Star Wars: Rogue One. When in Paris, right? Mainly it was cold and we were out of things to do and trying to avoid going back to our prison cell. Also, Jason really wanted to see it.

*Monday, we went to Versailles, which I had not looked into enough because upon completing the hour long train ride, we got there to find out it was closed. Fortunately, the gardens were open. We spent enough time there to make the trip worth it, and both agreed it was probably an exceptionally beautiful place when it was above 30 degrees and not covered in tarps.

*After Versailles we went back to the Eiffel Tower. The fog had lifted enough that we could see the top of the Tower, the first time in 4 days. Our goal had been to go to the very top of it, about 1,000 feet up. Being that I’m both claustrophobic and afraid of heights, there didn’t seem to be any kind of flaw in the plan. We waited in a pretty long line, during which time, despite my three pairs of socks, my feet went numb for the 437th time this trip. By the time we bought tickets to the summit, I was ready to get in an elevator that would take me to dizzying heights as long as it was indoors. We made it to the second floor of the tower, and as a result, I had a difficult time not sitting on the floor and clinging on to a pole to ensure I didn’t get blown over, despite all the protective barriers. It was far colder up there and the line to make it to the summit was pretty long. Between the freezing winds and my fear of being up there, we decided to wait until warmer weather to make the full trip. Plus the fog was still hovering around, so we concluded it probably wasn’t super worth it. I closed my eyes and held on to Jason as we made our descent down in the elevator. We rewarded our efforts in the cold by going to a small Irish bar, where we had a great conversation with two Irish teachers. I was in Irish heaven.

*On our last day, we went to the Catacombs. After descending beneath the streets of Paris, we walked through the labyrinths of limestone, the bones being the last part to see. And what a sight they were. Bones were everywhere (like about 6-8 million of them). The architect of the bones had created some pretty exceptional designs, including a rainbow of skulls, a church of skulls, a cross of skulls, a heart of skulls, a large vase like structure decorated with skulls, and a variety of other skull pieces. Skulls on skulls on skulls. Not my preferred style of decorating, but then again, I have frames hanging on my walls with the pictures they came with still in them, so I’m no expert.

*We went to Lock Bridge, which apparently doesn’t actually exist anymore. Something about the 45 tons of locks weighing the bridge down causing part of the railing to collapse. Ugh.

*No train delays meant that at 11:45pm, we arrived back in Antwerp, where it was a balmy 41 degrees, we got to sleep in an actual bed, and wash our dishes in an actual sink!

Despite the near hypothermic temperatures and terrible Airbnb, it was a nice trip. We’re looking forward to doing Paris Part 2 when the weather is warmer!