#wheeler tenet | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

c-is-for-circinate · 9 months

Note

I would love to hear more mike wheeler - Steve Harrington masculinity thoughts (also whatever happened to Hopper to make him action guy my beloathed)! Also will we get a mike chapter for and they were married?

Okay yes! I am fascinated by Mike and Steve as narrative contrasts, and I always find myself looking for fic where the two of them meaningfully interact, and I keep meaning to write about them.

(Also: Mike deserves his own chapter of that fic, but he's getting folded into Dustin's. What Mike really deserves is his own fic that takes place in that universe, because I know what his deal is there and it's a doozy, but that is a very different post.)

Anyway! For starters, I don't think that Steve and Mike are intentionally meant to be foils. There's an element of it in the first season, where Steve exists to support Nancy's character, and Nancy and Mike are meant to be foils -- Steve is the Popular Kid, the antithesis of Mike and his friends' little group of nerds, he and Tommy and Carol are written into the same category as Troy but older and less actively murderous, and the fact that Nancy's dating him says things about her -- but they end up occupying oddly similar spaces and cool parallels come out of that anyway.

A core thing about it is that Steve and Mike are both the guy in their respective age group casts on the show. The Guy. The central one, the normal one, the presumed-to-be-straight one -- and yes, this is fandom and we have Opinions about that, but the Duffer brothers think they're both straight, and that matters here. They're white, they're able-bodied, they have money. They are, in a sense, normal.

Narratively, they very often act as central/POV character for scenes they're in, at least once Steve gets past the fistfight in S1 and awakens to the fact that he's a person who can make decisions. And that makes sense, because being The Guy also means they're the closest to the classic TV protagonist archetype, the guy who does the hero shit and gets the girl in the end. Hopper is also The Guy, and always has been: in S1 it's just him and Joyce, but even as we add more adults, the only real challenge to his The Guy status is Bob (which is of course why Bob had to die). Murray is a bizarre conspiracy nut, and queer-coded besides that. Owens is an affable bad guy. Alexei and Dmitri and Yuri are all Russian.

Being The Guy comes with a certain amount of baggage. All three of them have to be romantic leads, and have to be crossed in love about it. All three of them are protectors in one way or another. And all three of them are on occasion assholes who have one hell of a time with sincerity and affection.

And this is where we get into Toxic Masculinity, because again, while I don't think the Duffers intended a pile of parallels between these three guys, well. Firstly, The Guy as an archetype is built on a pile of toxic masculine stereotypes, so that's often there to begin with. Secondly, it's the same writers, so certain themes rhyme whether they're intended to or not.

In particular, one of the core tenets of toxic masculinity, not just in ST but as a thing in the world, is when and where it's acceptable to experience soft emotions of affection, care, and vulnerability. The first rule of toxic masculinity is don't. The second rule, the caveat rule, is a little asterisk saying 'except, occasionally, with a female romantic partner, if you absolutely must.'

And so we actually see a lot of unfolding of this in Steve! One thing we know about Steve, without precisely being told, is that he's deeply lonely -- for a popular kid he sure seems to only have two Actual Friends when the show starts and they hardly seem to even like each other. He has a new Favorite Person every season, and he clings to them with the joy of a devoted golden retriever. His mental image of happily-ever-after is a house full of kids with enough siblings to never get lonely, family vacations about close quarters and spending time together. We never see his parents. For all a lot of the 'horrible abuse' fanon is very much fanon, Steve is inarguably a lonely kid. And where do we see him reaching out for affection?

It's not Tommy and Carol, although until they break up he's constantly in their company unless he's alone with Nancy. They hardly even seem to like each other very much, and yet they've stayed at his empty house enough for Tommy to know about his mother's fireplace and Steve to insist he do laundry while he's here. No, the person who Steve is allowed to feel things with and for is Nancy, because she's the caveat, she's the exception. This is why Steve is consistently focused on getting Nancy back, getting a new girlfriend, getting a date. That's the rule!!!

The really fabulous thing about Steve's arc across the first three seasons, and even into S4, is that this quest for romantic affection and vulnerability is both thwarted and rewarded again and again. He tries to apologize to Nancy, to win her back: by the time he sees her again, Nancy's got a new boyfriend, but Steve has a new brother. Dustin is Steve's favorite person by the start of S3; he gets Steve's haircare secrets, he gets Steve's loyalty, he gets Steve's joy. In S3, Steve tries to pour his whole heart into a different girlfriend, and Robin turns him down flat while also simultaneously opening herself up with such vulnerability that they instantly become best friends. Robin is S4's Favorite Person, but the great thing about these relationships being platonic is that Steve gets to have more than one! He gets to have both Dustin and Robin in his life! He gets the other kids as part of the package! Bit by bit, instead of a girlfriend who Steve is "allowed" to be soft with, Steve gains actual friends who he gets to be real with whether it's allowed or not.

And the really tragic thing about Mike Wheeler is that he's doing the opposite. Mike starts out with three friends, three best friends, absolutely devoted to one another. As kids, they're young enough to be free of most of the stranglehold of toxic masculinity yet, although of course it's starting. And then there's El.

Mike charts a really interesting course over four seasons, and the shape of it is not a straight trajectory from 'Mike adores and is BFF with Will' to 'Mike thinks only about El.' Hell, from what we see of S1, the Party are all best friends pretty equally before Will goes missing -- Lucas is the one ready to break into a government lab for him, not Mike. Mike's trajectory is far more 'I derive the bulk of my personal self-worth from protecting other people, and as soon as somebody needs to be saved I go fully into Paladin Mode, making me feel worthwhile and important." It just so happens that the two people in Mike's field of vision who most generally need protection and saving are Will and El. Which leads to Mike's intense Will-focused devotion in S2 (El is gone but Will is also in really significant need, and Mike just straight-up activates, jumping immediately into solicitously taking care of his friend because Something Needs Doing And I Can Do It). And Mike's intense El-focused devotion in S4, where El needs a literal quest to come and rescue her. And just a lot of Mike in general.

The problem with all of that is the part where, unlike Steve who keeps forging new platonic relationships, Mike keeps neglecting his more and more. The S3 Will fight is so good at illustrating that, because look -- we all know Will has a crush on Mike, but at no point during that fight does Will ask, even subtextually, for romantic attention. He's asking for platonic attention, which Mike is absolutely failing to give. "Where's Dustin right now? You don't know, and you don't even care." But as Mike says, they're not kids any more -- and this is how growing up is supposed to work!

(Note: I don't want to say that it's toxic for Mike to be in love with El, or really caught up in that relationship -- he's fourteen! she's his first girlfriend! he thought she was dead! But Mike's an asshole in S3 because he's caught up enough to not notice his friend's feelings until they explode at him, and yeah, I do think part of that is because he knows he's Not Supposed To.)

S4 is a lot, because here's where we're really seeing the culmination of a lot of what Mike's been unfortunately moving towards. We've hit a point where those vulnerable feelings that Mike's allowed to share, at most, with his girlfriend, feel like too much to even share with his girlfriend. He can't say 'I love you'. He can't even talk to Will. The conversation he does have with Will is honestly mostly about Mike and his feelings of inadequacy, of not measuring up, not being special, but it has to be couched in the context of El. If there's a reverse-Bechdel test to be done on S4, past the very first episode I'm pretty sure Mike fails it -- I don't think he has a single conversation that isn't about his girlfriend in one capacity or another.

In contrast, S4 Steve is, yes, pretty focused on girls-in-general and Nancy-in-specific, and yeah, there's a little bit of backsliding going on there. But he's also having conversations with Robin about her fears and longings, having weird little interludes where Eddie's the one bringing up Nancy rather than Steve himself. He's hurt at the end when Nancy is clearly still with Jonathan, but he's able to move on, to go fold clothes and care about Robin's love life instead of his own -- his optimistic happy ending in S4 is that his best friend is going to get the girl, not him.

I think there's a lot more to say, which I only brushed on briefly here, about other aspects of Mike and Steve that work in parallel or contrast -- their protector thing, which feels very intrinsic but shows up very differently in both of them, the way Steve says 'I love you' so easily and Mike has trouble saying it at all, the way they are both very much extremely normal guys, at least on paper. There's so much to say. I think that has to be a different post.

I will say, in terms of Hopper: Jim Hopper is what it looks like when those pent-up feelings that you aren't allowed to express to anybody other than a romantic partner sit and fester for decades. Fuck, there were things about Vietnam he didn't even tell his wife, that sat like poison both emotional and biological between them. When we meet him in S1, he's processing grief with drugs and drinking and processing fear with rage. He has spent so much of the past four seasons processing fear as rage.

Of course Joyce is the one person he's allowed to, sometimes, on occasion, be soft with. Of course nearly his every interaction with Mike is macho dominance posturing. Of course the entire trajectory of his relationship with El is a push-pull of Hopper retreating into authoritarianism and anger instead of the terror of honesty, and then getting to see the consequences of that when his daughter pulls away. Every season has broken him down a little more that way, but then the yo-yo pulls back (Season 3 whyyyyyyyyy). By Season 4, he's been beaten and starved and frozen and shattered enough that we get maybe the most honest monologue of his life, to a Russian prison guard, because they're about to die so what do the rules matter any more. It's a clear window into an endless pit of self-loathing, because for twenty or thirty years Hopper's been letting those feelings eat in instead of out, and bit by bit they've been devouring him.

El is hope, for him, and Joyce is hope, and the cracks that broke open in Kamchatka to maybe let in a little more air that might not seal right back up again are hope. But it's hard. It's hard! It makes him an absolute asshole, including and especially towards the people he wants most to protect. (And there's that protector thing again.)

Anyway, I am on the record as liking Steve a lot and having very little patience for Mike and Hopper, but like. They're not that different, at their core. They just put the pieces together in a different order.

#stranger things #driveby meta attack #asked and answered #shit this is really making me want to write those D&D class breakdowns I keep promising #maybe I'll get to one or two of those this weekend #mike wheeler #steve harrington #jim hopper #at least a bit

79 notes · View notes

sennqu · 2 years

Text

Alright! Here we go: The Five Tenets of Mike Wheeler

a.k.a my personal foundations when I analyze our favorite conundrum

He wants to be special.

examples: when Mike says Dustin's lack of collarbones make him akin to a superhero in S1, when Mike tells Will he's like a superspy in S2. He loves pointing out what makes his people special because that's something he values.

possible origin: i mean, look at his upbringing. As averagely middle-class American as it can be.

follow through: this is why he plays DnD. this is why he gets together with El. El's biggest draw to Mike is her superpowers, the fact that she's a girl just gives us the reason why he believes his love is romantic

He wants to be needed

examples: S1 and S2 Mike displays this best.

fall-out: He despairs when he thinks he can't even be the Lois Lane to El's Superman.

follow-through: How happy he becomes when Will says El -- actually Will -- will always need him.

Love = Loss

example: "I love her and I can't lose her again!"

Possible origin: Will vanishing in S1.

Count the many times he has lost Will and El throughout the series

Follow-through: his inability to say ILY. His actual monologue. Him being weird to Will at the start of S4.

Belief that he is in the right

Example: His refusal to apologize to Lucas in S1. His contempt for authority.

Follow-through: Dilly-dallying about apologizing to El in S3. Mike "You're being ridiculous!" Wheeler, Mike "It's not my fault you don't like girls!" Wheeler

Will is his highest priority

Example: Mike in S1 and S2. Mike apologizing to Will first in S3 and S4

Follow through: Mike believing Will's words over El's in S4 (re: painting scene). This is why he believes Will when Will says El commissioned the painting and all those other things.

Link to my S4 Mike Retrospective a.k.a how I got to these tenets at all

#honestly there may be more than five but i got tired and this was supposed to be just a fun exercise lmao #ku blarghs #strangely blogging #mike wheeler #byler #i love how progressively shorter each of my points got. noticeably losing steam lmao

215 notes · View notes

sophieinwonderland · 6 months

Note

This is a warning of antisemetism and anti-black racism.

hi sophie! as a preface, im also the system who sent https://tinyurl.com/RAMCOAAnon. i think i have an excuse to get into why i feel weird about calling ourselves RAMCOA. we have memories of being programmed, but after we started doing research into the history of programming, im realising those memories are dubious at best. I'm going to start using proper grammar for ease of reading, It's a lot. To programmed systems out there who are thinking of reading this, take care of yourself first.

I also want to state upfront I think systems who believe they have been programmed do need respect and should not be harassed. I also think that the current sysblr sphere is not very safe for healing systems who think they’ve been programmed. At least from personal experience, the programmed system tag was very re-traumatizing. It might not be for others. I don't want to make things worse, but I'm also very uncomfortable with the amount of systems repeating really racist ideas without realizing that's what they're doing.

If you choose to publish this ask it’s is going to cause discourse and its a heavy enough topic to needs its own tag. I’m proposing #Ciscoursewheeler.

Getting into it…

The texts most often cited as resources for programmed systems are They Know Not What They Do and How The Illuminati Create Undetectable Total Mind Controlled Slaves, by Fritz Springmeier and Cisco Wheeler.

Links: https://tinyurl.com/TKNWTD, https://tinyurl.com/TIFUTCAUTMCS

You’re welcome to look them over yourself, I’m more interested in a third book by Springmeier, Bloodlines of Illuminati. https://tinyurl.com/BOIFRITZ

In Bloodlines of Illuminati, Springmeier names who he believes are the “13 elite bloodlines of the illuminati.” These names include the Rothschilds, a jewish banking family. I don’t know enough about the other people to really comment on them. He accuses the Clintons of practicing witchcraft in the white house and makes sure to point out that the Secretary of Labour was a jew. He remarks, “Secretary of Labor—Robert Reich -- a Zionist Jew (over 50% of Clinton’s major appointees were Zionist Jews, strange considering Jews only make up 2% of the population.” This sentiment echos beliefs that jews are overrepresented in banking and government, a common antisemetic talking point.

Springmeier’s antisemetism is not an accident. Springmeier cites Edith Star Miller, author of Occult Theocracy, and Alexander Hislop, author of The Two Babylons, as primary sources.

In Occult Theocracy https://tinyurl.co/EdithStarrMillerOccTheocracy, ESM: 1. accuses Jews of blood libel, “Serious investigations had resulted in the conviction of three Jews who had confessed to the commission of the abominable crime for Jewish ritual purposes of procuring human blood,” 2. accuses Jews of trying to rule the world, “The Russellite teaching, drawing its own arbitrary conclusions and proclaiming them as final, professes to prove from Biblical sources that all Christian churches are evil and corrupt, that the time of the Gentiles ended in 1914, and that the Jews must henceforth reign supreme over the world.”

3. Praises the K.K.K as a stand against race-mixing and jewish control

“The Jewish power, in particular, recognized a challenge to its established dominion of American Freemasonry for the K. K. K. constituted an " Imperium in Imperio " in the heart of Judeo-American Freemasonry, a Christian empire sound and free and, as a masonicsect, one refusing to adhere to three of its chief tenets namely; Mongrelization of race, Anti-christianity, and Internationalism”

5. Cites the antisemetic forgery The Protocols of the Elders of Zion, a text which, during Nazi Germany, students were required to read as part of justification of the Holocaust. “The second of the aims and its method of attainment is exposed in the so-called Protocols of the Wise Men of Zion so loudly denounced by the descendants of those who devised The Secret Doctrine in Israel, Israel here meaning the Jews as a religious community, most of whom remain quite ignorant of the intricate subversive schemes imputed to them.”

As for The Two Babylons, I haven’t read it, but as I understand it it’s an erroneous history of the catholic church.

Fritz Springmeier dismisses people who point out the obvious antisemetism in his books as abuse apologists. “In example of a slide, is that the New World Order is satanic, but that only Nazis and stupid people think that Jews are involved. This is a slide, because then the Rothschilds who hide behind their jewishness, can not be mentioned as suspects without people yelling "Antisemitism." In reality exposing these abusers has nothing to do with Anti-semitism, it's simply that all abusers no matter what good front they have, need to be correctly identified as dangerous“ (Page 158, How The Illuminati Create Undetectable Total Mind Controlled Slaves)

Another source of his is “ England Under the Heel of the Jew” by John Henry Clarke https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Henry_Clarke (Page 126, Bloodlines of Illuminati.)

Beyond Springmeier, there’s Cathy O’Brin and Mark Philips, who wrote Trance Formation Of America.https://tinyurl.com/TFOAPhilips

Honestly, I’ve read this entire book, and Philips entire biography reads like self-insert fanfic about saving a hot lady. It’s uncomfortable how many of these people who “saved” programmed women married them. The also the case with Candy Jones and her husband Long John Nebel.

I’m writing this anon in a Google doc and it’s two pages long. I’ll make this short. Or try to.

Philips cites “A patriot friend, Steven Jacobson, published his book entitled Mind control in America 2 in 1985, eloquently exposing the science of mind manipulation through advertising.“ https://tinyurl.com/JacobsonMCIA

Jacobson, in turn, cites “The Decline of the West” by Oswald Spengler, a Nazi. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oswald_Spengler

Philips accuses Steve Hassan, yes, BITE model Steve Hassan, of being a cult programmer, as well as numerous miscellaneous celebrities.

Philiips also “[s]omewhere in the process of finding a referral professionally acquainted with Dr. Hammond, I telephoned dissociative disorders specialist, Dr. Bennett Braun, a well-known and published psychiatrist in Chicago, Illinois.” Bennett Braun has since been sued for abusing Pat Burgus. https://tinyurl.com/PBAMPD

So like…there’s a lot of reasons to doubt programming. And if someone who is reading this thought they were programmed and is doubting everything after reading this, I’m so sorry. I’m so fucking sorry. Everything about this awful. I hope you find somewhere safe in your future.

Well, that's certainly a lot.

I really can't comment on most of this and don't think I'm the best person to reach out to about it.

I do agree that those claims are out there and seeped in really gross racism and conspiracy theories, and that's not the best source to use as evidence of programming.

But I also know for a fact from the tulpamancy community that intentionally creating headmates with specific purposes is possible. Obviously, this isn't literally the same as mind control programming methods. There are huge differences there that need to be acknowledged. (Before anyone accuses tulpamancy of being a cult. The biggest having to do with consent, and the difference between making a headmate for yourself vs having someone else program one into you. And also the torture this process often involves.) But I think the mechanics hold up, and are at least similar in a very broad sense.

A close intermediary might be the Bambi Sleep files which are used to hypnotize and create a personality with a specific purpose in the victim. These reports seem credible to me, consistent with my understanding of how plurality and tulpamancy tend to work.

Essentially, if you ask me why I believe in programmed alters, I would break it down as such...

I know first hand that headmates can be intentionally created with certain personalities and behaviors pre-chosen and their core characteristics and beliefs can be difficult to change later.

I believe there are credible reports that headmates and other autonomous personality states can be intentionally created and programmed in adults by other people through hypnosis, in contexts that are completely removed from these cult claims.

The mind of a child, based on evidence of DID, appears to be even more susceptible and vulnerable to this sort of manipulation. Especially when paired with abuse that causes dissociation.

Is this something that's happening on a widescale?

I don't know.

Can some people have false memories?

Yeah.

Can you personally trust your own memories, especially when you notice inconsistencies?

That's not really my place to say.

Should the history of racism and dangerous conspiracy theories of these "sources" be acknowledged and better sources found?

Absolutely.

But do I believe, based on personal experience and what I understand of the science behind multiplicity that intentionally creating and programming alters as is described is possible?

100%. There's not a doubt in my mind on the possibility of this form of mental control existing.

I choose to believe RAMCOA survivors about their experiences.

#syscourse #ramcoa tw #ramcoa mention

6 notes · View notes

judgementdaysunshine · 1 year

Text

Annoucement

I now write for the following along with the rest of my fandoms!

Gears of war

Anya Stroud

Marcus Fenix

Samantha Byrne

Augustus Cole

Elizabeth Carmine

Dom Santiago

Alexandra Brand

JD Fenix

Sofia Hendrik

Anthony Carmine

Alicia Valera

New/Current Oscar Isaac charaters

New

Abel Morales

Jonathan Levy

Jose Ramos Horta

Cecil

Peter Malkin

Nick Wasicsko

Michael Perry

Jack

Nathan Bateman

Current

Santiago "Pope" Garcia

Poe Dameron

Steven Grant

William Tell

Llewyn Davis

Mikael Boghosian

Duke Leto Atreides

Marc Specter

Kane Double

New/Current Pedro Pascal Characters

New

Joel Miller

Pero Tovar

Dave York

Marcus Pike

Ezra

Pietro Alvarez

Nathan Landry

Current

Mandalorian/Din Djarin

Javi Gutierrez

Frankie Morales

Marcus Moreno

Jack "Whiskey" Daniels

Dieter Bravo

Zach Wellington

New/Current Garrett Hedlund Characters

New

Luther Fox

Don Billingsley

Murtagh Morzansson

Beau Hutton

Thomas

Mike Burden

Johnny Five

Perry Montroy

Dean Moriarty

Current

Jack Mercer

Mitch Keller

Benny Miller

Rami Malek Characters

Elliot Alderson

Akmenrah

Jim Baxter

Louis Dega

Merriell "Snafu" Shelton

Nate

New/Current Yellowstone characters

New

Kacey Dutton

John Dutton

Jamie Dutton

Jimmy Hurdstram

Colby Mayfield

Current

Teonna Rainwater

Monica Long Dutton

Rip Wheeler

Beth Dutton

Teeter

Misconsellous

Neil Tenet

Mia Toretto

Joey Coalter

Rachel

Pierre Dulaine

Echo

Bobby Hicks

Kimberly Hart

Lorenzo Do Lamberti

Trini Kwan

David Abbott

Tory Nichols

Luigi Mario

Anna Morales

Miguel Diaz

Princess daisy

Peter Joshua

Lin Mi Sheng

Dash McMahon

Evelyn O'connell

Leonhard Seppala

Polly Shelby

Hector Villanueva

Tris Prior

John Kelly

Laurel Pride

Scott Barringer

Elsa Dutton

Matt Flamhaff

Jessie Eden

Baker Dill

Julianne Potter

Perry MacKendrick

Celine Naville

Eli Moskowitz

Laura Burney/Sara Waters

Rick O'connell

Gail Perkins

Sean Anderson

Ares (John Wick)

Tobias "Four" Eaton

Akima

Robert Lewis

Mason "Mace" Brown

Sam Munroe

#fanfiction #annoucement #update

7 notes · View notes

sawtual · 1 year

Note

I had no idea Fiona was in tenet. Does she shoot gun good? In the film? I looked up clips and I only saw her talking or running.

Thank you.

TENET IS MY 1 MOVIE ON LETTERBOXD THATS AVAILABLE THAT I HAVENT SEEN YET. but im going to watch it tonite actually. so i will report back on how much she either slays or doesnt slay as wheeler o7

#asks #SHE LOOKS VERY GOOD IN THE MOVIE #it just. its not my kind of movie so ive been putting it off so badly. i literally ordered an unfindable film and mailed it to my friend-#so they could download it on their computer and we could watch it together. before i watched tenet #IM . NOT NORMAL!!!!#if youre reading this hi fox thank u for all u do with me. little chenier sweep

2 notes · View notes

tyretechinsider · 4 months

Text

Analyzing the Costs of 2 Wheeler Tubeless Tyres: An Insightful Comparison of Dunlop and Its Rivals

When it comes to two-wheeler excursions, the selection of tubeless tires is a critical factor that has an immediate impact on the overall cycling encounter. Before embarking on the quest for the ideal set of tubeless tires, it is critical for cyclists to have a comprehensive comprehension of the pricing dynamics. This extensive examination seeks to elucidate the complexities surrounding the pricing of 2 wheeler tubeless tyres, with a particular focus on Dunlop in comparison to other reputable manufacturers including CEAT, MRF, and Apollo. This authentic investigation is intended to assist riders in making a well-informed choice that will result in a more balanced and improved riding experience.

A Commitment to Excellence: Dunlop

Long regarded as a dependable and high-quality brand, Dunlop has been the companion of choice for motorcyclists in search of a harmonious combination of performance and security. The pricing strategy implemented by Dunlop demonstrates an unwavering commitment to providing motorcyclists with tyres of exceptional quality that surpass their expectations.

Dunlop's dedication to excellence transcends mundane artistry and encompasses the fundamental tenet of the brand—providing riders with tyres that augment the overall experience of riding. Due to the rigorous scrutiny exhibited during the production phase, every Dunlop tire embodies the brand's dedication to ensuring safety, longevity, and peak performance.

CEAT: Achieving Equilibrium

Amidst the extensive array of tyre options available, CEAT establishes itself as a reputable brand renowned for its varied selection and astute equilibrium between affordability and excellence. The assortment of options provided by CEAT accommodates a wide range of rider preferences, including those that are well-suited for distinct cycling styles and terrains.

Dunlop, on the other hand, ensures a sophisticated equilibrium while CEAT prioritizes affordability without sacrificing quality. Through its methodology, Dunlop guarantees that motorcyclists not only obtain an economically viable resolution but also a product that upholds the brand's elevated criteria.

MRF: Innovation Meets Tradition

Combining contemporary technology with a profound respect for traditional craftsmanship, Dunlop exemplifies its illustrious heritage. The outcome of this synergistic collaboration is a collection of tyres that are not solely dependable but also pioneering, providing motorcyclists with an unparalleled journey. The enduring reputation of Dunlop serves as a testament to the company's unwavering dedication to producing wheels of exceptional quality.

When compared, MRF is an epitome of technology, renowned for its state-of-the-art functionalities and exceptional performance. MRF's commitment to research and development has resulted in tires that challenge the limits of innovation, appealing to cyclists in quest of the most recent progressions in tyre technology.

Apollo: Performance Enhancement

Designed with a particular emphasis on improving performance, Dunlop's tyres feature exceptional traction, enhanced fuel economy, and a steadfast dedication to ensuring safety. Every Dunlop tire is painstakingly crafted with the intention of augmenting the overall riding encounter, instilling in motorcyclists a feeling of assurance and authority while traversing the road.

Although both Dunlop and Apollo place a premium on performance, Dunlop distinguishes itself by offering riders a comprehensive experience that incorporates safety and fuel efficiency. Performance optimization involves more than mere speed and agility; it encompasses every facet of the ride experience to serve the best interests of the rider.

Acclaim for Dunlop

Upon conducting an authentic investigation, Dunlop is revealed to be a brand that adeptly combines performance, tradition, and quality. Dunlop's steadfast dedication to safety, extensive industry heritage, and unwavering pursuit of improving the overall riding experience establish the brand as a dependable option for motorcyclists in search of premium two-wheeler tubeless tyres.

Dunlop's recognition extends beyond the quality of its tyres; it signifies the brand's comprehension of the requirements of its customers and its steadfast dedication to surpassing those requirements. When riders opt for Dunlop, they are not simply selecting tyres; rather, they are selecting a companion for their expeditions, one whose foremost concerns are the riders' well-being, comfort, and overall gratification while riding.

conclusion

Exploring the realm of two-wheeler tubeless tire prices entails a myriad of factors to take into account. Dunlop stands erect as cyclists search for the ideal tire to complement their bicycles, offering a selection of tires that not only fulfill but surpass anticipated performance standards. Dunlop goes the extra mile to guarantee a rewarding experience for motorcyclists who place a premium on safety, comfort, and enjoyment during their journeys.

#tyre #bikes #dirt bikes #tubeless #mtb bikes #tyres

1 note · View note

rabbittstewcomics · 2 years

Text

Episode 358

Comic Reviews:

Batman/Catwoman 12 by Tom King, Clay Mann, Tomeu Morey

DC vs. Vampires: Killers 1 by Matthew Rosenberg, Mike Bowden, Eduardo Mello, Le Beau Underwood, Livesay, Antonio Fabela

Deathstroke Inc 10 by Ed Brisson, Dexter Soy, Veronica Gandini

Teen Titans Go! Undead?! GN by Michael Northrop, Eric Owen

Marvel

Iron Cat 1 by Jed MacKay, Pere Perez, Frank D’Armata

Iron Man/Hellcat Annual 1 by Christopher Cantwell, Ruairi Coleman, Triona Farrell

Marvel’s Voices 5: Young Avengers infinity comic by Anthony Olivera, Jethro Morales, Dijjo Lima

Mech Strike: Monster Hunters 1 by Christos Gage, Paco Diaz, Dono Sanchez-Almara

Thor: Lightning and Lament 1 by Ralph Macchio, Todd Nauck, Rachelle Rosenberg

Variants 1 by Gail Simone, Phil Noto

Image

Public Domain 1 by Chip Zdarsky

Sins of the Black Flamingo 1 by Andrew Wheeler, Travis Moore, Tamra Bonvillain

Dark Room GN by Gerry Duggan, Scott Buoncristiano, Tamra Bonvillain

Dark Horse

Hellboy and the BPRD: Old Man Whittier 1 by Mike Mignola, Gabriel Hernandez Walta, Dave Stewart

Liebestrasse GN by Greg Lockard, Tim Fish, Hector Barros

Summer Fires GN by Giulia Sagramola

Boom

Buffy '97 1 by Jeremy Lambert, Marianna Ignazzi, Mattia Iacono

Power Rangers Unlimited: Countdown to Ruin 1 by Marguerite Bennett, Giuseppe Cafaro, Anna Kekovsky Chandra, Sara Antonelli, Fabi Marques, Sharon Marino

IDW

Canto: Tales of the Unnamed World 1 by David Booher, Drew Zucker

Dungeons and Dragons: Ravenloft - Orphan of Agony Isle 1 by Zoe Quinn, Bayleigh Underwood, Casey Gilly, Corin Howell, Cris Peter

Dynamite

Vampiverse Presents: The Vamp 1 by Tom Sniegoski, Jeannine Acheson, Daniel Maine

Behemoth

Redman 1 by Matt Frank, Goncalo Lopes

Vault

Mindset 1 by Zack Kaplan, John Pearson

Verse Book 2 GN by Sam Beck

Ray’s OGN Corner: Gender Queer

Additional Reviews: Ms. Marvel ep4, Baymax, Stranger Things 4.2, Minions 2, The Bad Guys, The Black Phone, Paper Girls, Spree

News: Ghostbusters Afterlife sequel, new sci-fi movie by the Russos starring Millie Bobby Brown, Eight Billion Genies optioned by Amazon, Nexstar buys CW, new flagship Spidey title from Dan Slott and Mark Bagley, Despicable Me 4 announced, Tenet sequel, new Stephanie Phillips Comixology famous fictional detective series (Beatrix Rose), Nate Stevenson, Marvel/Ultraman crossover

Trailers: Hocus Pocus 2, Paper Girls

Comics Countdown:

Seven Secrets 18 by Tom Taylor, Daniele Di Nicuolo, Walter Baiamonte

Department of Truth 19 by James Tynion IV, Martin Simmonds

Eight Billion Genies 2 by Charles Soule, Ryan Browne, Kevin Knipstein

X-Men Red 4 by Al Ewing, Juann Cabal, Andres Genolet, Michael Sta. Maria, Federico Blee

Public Domain 1 by Chip Zdarsky

Liebestrasse by Greg Lockard, Tim Fish, Hector Barros

Swamp Thing 14 by Ram V, Mike Perkins, Mike Spicer

Canto: Tales of the Unnamed World 1 by David Booher, Drew Zucker

What’s the Furthest Place From Here 7 by Matthew Rosenberg, Tyler Boss, Josh Hixson

Sins of the Black Flamingo 1 by Andrew Wheeler, Travis Moore, Tamra Bonvillain

Check out this episode!

#comics #podcast #podernfamily #rabbittstew

0 notes

whats-rambled-rambled · 3 years

Text

Long Nights - part 4

Neil x Reader

Chapter 4: World gone mad

(see chapter 3, 2, 1)

summary: inverted heist calls for inverted training

warnings: 18+, explicit language, gun mention, crackheadery, and possible whiplash

author’s note: Hi, yes, I know, took me ages, but hey, I hope it's worth the wait! 5.2k words, how even--

Anyway.

The song for this part is Bastille - World Gone Mad

Enjoy! All feedback is greatly appreciated, let me know what you think?

——————

Tag list: @cxnnienikas @neutron-stars-collision @ergunbilge @invertedneil @wanderedaway @mellifluous-cosmos @wonderwoman292 @buckysgoldenheart @townmoondaltwistle @theriverbeneaththeriver (please let me know if you want to be added/removed from the list)

-----

The fact that you knew how to handle guns wasn’t equal to you being very good at it. Or enjoying it, for that matter. Sure, you could more or less hit the target, especially with some useful tips you got from Neil regarding a trigger finger discipline, but still - you’d rather avoid reaching for a pistol altogether.

You put back the weapon you’d been training with and Neil handed you another one. You couldn’t really tell the difference, at least until you checked the magazine. The lack of ammo meant you finally got to the fun bit that Neil teased in The Protagonist’s office and you smiled, looking back at your companion. He grinned at you, the gaze sparkling behind yellow-tinted safety glasses as he pointed at the wall next to the targets you used for practice.

“Just aim and pull the trigger. ” Seeing your nod, he added, “Okay now, be careful, it might feel--”

The bullet whizzed back into the chamber of your pistol and your eyes widened.

“Oh fuck me sideways,” you hissed under your breath.

“-- a bit weird, yeah.” Neil chuckled at the shock painted on your face. “All right?”

“Yeah, just processing.” Trying to blink the consternation away, you asked, “How do you make these? You put it into that...turnstile and voilà?”

Neil shook his head. “No, it’s not that simple. We receive a stash every now and then, we don’t know how to manufacture those,” - he smirked - “at least not yet. I do have a few theories I’m working on in my spare time, but...” hesitating for a moment, he raked a hand through his hair and sent you a nervous smile. “Wouldn’t want to bore you to death, though.”

“Dude, come on, with that smooth and soothing voice of yours? You could read the yellow pages to me and I’d still listen like that--” you mocked a dreamy heart-eyes expression, watching with satisfaction as that remark pushed Neil further into a flustered state.

Apparently, when explicit teasing got a little-to-no reaction now, you could still make him blush with a more wholesome compliment. As you started laughing, he rolled his eyes and scrunched the nose slightly, joining you with a stifled giggle. Grinning, you continued a little softer, “I’m not gonna lie - I probably wouldn’t understand a majority of the physics jargon, but I’d still want to hear all about that.”

A thankful look you got in return made your chest clench painfully, and your mind wandered off to those breaks near the river, and Neil’s animated rants. You knew one thing. Anyone who had ever ridiculed him for his passion for even the nerdiest things could rot in hell, and you’d gladly see to it personally.

A disgruntled huff coming from behind made you both snap out of the moment.

“Oi, lovebirds, I’d appreciate it if you could leave all that to after I prep you for the mission.”

Bottling down your annoyance, you batted your lashes at the commander, who’d just come back with keys to one of the conference rooms near the range.

“Oh, I’m terribly sorry, you have my full attention now.”

Ives nodded, waving at you to follow him. Meanwhile, Neil’s small smirk let you know that he noticed that faint undertone in your voice, but he said nothing, patiently waiting for the events to unfold.

Another person was waiting for you at the door. You recognized the woman who’d driven you to that abandoned factory on your very first day - you’d never gotten properly introduced, but you remember asking Neil about her once and he called her Wheeler. To be honest, with these guys you never knew if they used their real names, nicknames, codenames, or whatever. Not that you cared, quite used to it in your own line of business. You exchanged a court nod with her and went into the room.

As you sat down at the big table and Ives booted a projector, your eyes bore into the man. Definitely one of those types who enjoyed his beret and the paramilitary structure of the field branch of the organization. Probably a bit too much. You bit back a smug grin.

Those were particularly fun to mess with.

Ives caught your piercing stare and stopped the brief of the location.

“What?”

“Nothing,” you said, propping the chin on your palm, a polite smile on your lips. “It’s fascinating.”

He furrowed his brows, perplexed.

“What is?”

“How your commanding presence literally adds you inches,” you said, using all your willpower to keep a serious face. “I wonder if it works only for your height or--”

Neil’d futile attempts at masking an amused snort with a cough didn’t go unnoticed. Ives shot him daggers and then glared at you. “For fuck’s sake, would you focus?”

Your eyes flared up at the threat in his voice and you pouted, taunting him further.

“Or what, you’re gonna spank me?”

“No, I’m gonna shoot you,” he deadpanned.

You raised a brow.

“Kinky.”

Ives groaned, turning to Neil.

“How you survived this long without choking her is beyond me.”

Neil puffed his cheeks and gestured vaguely, but as he opened the mouth to answer, you chimed in, with a shit-eating grin plastered on your face.

“Oh, he very much did so, all right.”

The awkward silence that followed was pretty satisfying.

“Can we keep her?” asked Wheeler casually, leaned back in her chair, fiddling with a bullpen.

Ives gaped at you all, then slumped his shoulders in defeat, sliding a hand through his features. He was so done you could almost hear The Sound of Silence playing in the distance, but apparently, his sense of duty was stronger than the urge to leave you without finishing the briefing, so he just drew a deep breath and continued.

“...anyway…”

You caught Neil’s glance and you couldn’t help but poke the tip of your tongue out at him. The mischievous sparks in his eyes reflected your own as he shook his head, tugging the bottom lip between the teeth. Wheeler’s curious gaze flitted between you two, and as you didn’t feel like drawing too much unnecessary attention to yourself anymore, you focused on the plan that Ives was persistently going through.

Time frames. Blueprints. Entry points. Exit routes (you spotted at least one additional way he left out, but you weren’t sure if you could drag Neil through there, judging by that alley performance, so you didn’t bother to mention it out loud). Everything seemed clear enough. You still had no idea how being inverted would affect the lockpicking, but when you voiced that, Ives promised you some time to figure it out before the mission.

The mission. Huh. It wasn’t that much different from your usual assignments - at least if you forgot about that tiny insignificant detail like moving backwards in time - but something in this paramilitary and/or espionage vibe made your heart beat faster with excitement.

It had been quite a long time since you had company at the job. Working alone had its perks, but you wouldn’t mind a trusted partner in crime having your six for a change.

Another thing that you certainly wouldn’t mind - seeing Neil in tactical gear. Not that either of you would need one, but the image got planted in your head and suddenly you wished you’d had a bottle of water.

You realized that everyone was looking at you expectantly. Shit, was there a question or…?

“I’m good,” you said, shooting in the dark, hoping that would be enough to cover your distracted ass.

Ives squinted, but fortunately, that was an acceptable answer.

“Well, as you two can proceed straight from here - Wheeler, they’re all yours.’

“Okay,” - she smiled and stood up - “we don’t have any turnstiles on-site, but there’s one in the base outside the city, I’ll talk you through the basics on the way.”

So that little daydream cost you a chance to come back home to prepare? Grand. The problem was - you needed your heavy-duty tools, but you’d rather eat rocks than back away in front of Ives. Luckily, he called on Neil to wait for a moment, so that was your chance.

“Umm, Wheeler?” you asked quietly, following her outside.

She glanced at you curiously.

“What’s up?”

“I know I said I’m good, but could we stop by my apartment for a second, please?” An awkward grimace ran through your face. “I gotta pick up my tools. You know, just in case.”

She wasn’t surprised by your request. Moreover, she sent you a knowing smile.

“Sure thing,” she said and winked, and then it was your turn to present a slightly flushed face. “I’ve got you.”

----

You didn’t know what to expect from the whole inversion process.

The first time your brain stuttered was when Wheeler pointed at something she called the proving window, just in time for you to see the three of you coming out on the other side. You caught inverted-you glancing back at your present self; the schooled expression, but with the gaze shining with anticipation.

The second time was when it was you on the other side, looking at your wide-eyed past self. Feeling the incoming headache, you took a deep breath and followed Wheeler and Neil to the stand with oxygen masks.

“How are you feeling?” asked Neil, handing you the equipment.

“Weirdly normal.” You shrugged. “Or maybe not more backwards than usual, if that makes any sense.”

He smiled lightly.

“It’s the airlock. When you see the outside, you’ll get a whole new perspective.”

Wheeler nodded. “What he said. And to recap: you’re inverted, the world is not - all forces will be pushing back on you. Besides gravity.” She double-checked the oxygen bottle secured to your belt. “Just mind things that might be rising instead of falling.”

You furrowed the brows.

“Wait, didn’t Ives mention the rain?”

Neil smirked from behind the mask.

“Afraid of getting wet?”

“Never.” You grinned, meeting the sparkling blue eyes. “Should know that by now.”

Wheeler snorted and shook her head, walking to the panel near the exit.

“You’ll have plenty of time to finish the job before you move far enough to catch up on that. Although, if you ever find yourself in the inverted rain, here’s a tip: pop your collar.”

“Why would you--” Oh. The sole thought of the water going up from the ground to the sky made you nauseous. You swallowed with effort, leveling your breath in the mask. “...right.”

Wheeler opened the door and you almost gasped at the view. The golden rays of sunset (...or was it technically a sunrise now?) flickered on the training grounds’ equipment as the sky painted the scarce pools of muddy water with greyish violets and reddening oranges. Leaves shuffled in the wind, their dance almost satirical with that inverted spin.

Wheeler’s voice stopped your mind from wandering further into the landscape.

“Okay, ready? Ives asked me to remind you not to try any cowboy shit, you need to be in one piece at the end of the training.”

“Yes ma’am,” you mocked a salute and stepped outside, stretching your limbs, readjusting to the reality being slightly off. Neil stood right beside you watching you warming up, ready to take you to the obstacles section.

But as soon as the airlock’s doors closed behind you, you spun around, tapping his shoulder - “Tag, you’re it!” - and without waiting for his reaction, you leaped towards the assault course.

Surely that turned out overly optimistic. You counted on the element of surprise and a head start, but Neil had an experience with running while being inverted, while you… well. You tried.

“B+ for effort,” laughed Neil, catching up on you even before you reached the first obstacle and tapping you back. “But you can do better than that.”

“Just you wait!” you retorted and vaulted over a low hurdle, the mild confusion caused by the dumbfounded senses slowly eased up as you tuned out the brain and let the muscle memory guide your movements. Because hey, in the end? Yes, the natural forces were acting up against you. Yes, Neil had years of inverted training behind him. But you’d been challenging different obstacles your whole life, and courses like this one were your favourite playgrounds.

You caught on him by the next wall, playing dirty and tugging at his leg, pulling him down before he could jump to the other side. The exasperated huff he gave you in protest got lost in the squelch of mud under your feet, the sound more like a suction instead of the much-expected splash. Shuddering with disgust at such abomination, you rushed to the set of monkey bars, hearing Neil following up closely. You gritted your teeth, swinging your body to help yourself get through the part, and that’s when you felt a light tap on your foot.

You glared to your left, where Neil was gaining an advantage over you.

“Damn you and your infinite legs, man! It doesn’t count!”

“Losing looks good on you,” he said, landing and then instantly ducking under your reached out hand.

“Too bad it’s not gonna stick,” you scoffed as you ran after him to jump on one of the parallel logs. Balancing was easy enough, even with inversion; it gave you the perfect opportunity to plan ahead, while Neil had to maintain full focus. “Must say - all that sass definitely makes you like... ten percent hotter.”

But you’d taught him well, apparently, and instead of losing his pace, he only shot you a quick glance accompanied by an arched brow.

“Only ten?”

“Dunno, come over here and let me take a closer look,” you teased, getting a short chuckle in response. “No?” - you sighed - “Alrighty then.” And you leaped to the side straight into Neil, pushing him off the log. He yelped and grabbed you by the shirt, the momentum sending you both straight into the mud. You landed on top of Neil, collapsing into his arms for a moment to catch a breath and to stop laughing.

You leaned back to look him in the eyes.

“Okay, maaaybe fifteen,” you panted, booping his mask as you would do to his nose.

Neil snickered and nodded.

“I’ll take it.”

When your gazes met, his features softened, and he tucked a strand of hair behind your ear gently. You smiled behind the mask and sat up, straddling his waist. Neil was studying you closely, his hands grazed your sides and rested on your hips. Nibbling at your bottom lip, you leaned over him again and slowly reached out, and--

“Simba…” you choked out with reverence, brushing a muddy thumb across his forehead.

Tears from the held-back laughter threatened to spill any second as you observed Neil blanking out in utter confusion. The five stages of grief ran through his expression and then he closed his eyes and sighed theatrically.

“The fate of the world is in the hands of a complete madwoman.”

...the what now?

You tilted your head, grinning.

“Aren’t you a little dramatic?”

Then, without a warning, Neil shifted under you, rolling you off him and pinning you down.

“Birds of a feather and all that,” he said, clearly enjoying the way you squealed and squirmed as the mud got under your shirt. “You think you got a hang of the inverted movement already?”

“I don’t know,” you shrugged. Neil realized your intentions a second too late. A handful of mud splashed on his face and you chuckled with satisfaction. “Yeah, now I think I’m ready to go.”

You turned up at the airlock soon after, looking like something that cat dragged in, but beaming widely. Dreaming of a hot shower and a clean set of clothes, you put down the mask and the oxygen container and headed to the turnstile.

Wheeler was waiting for you near the machine, and seeing the state you were in, she just gaped at you both, trying to come up with an adequate question.

As you noticed her quizzical look, you gave her a thumbs up and smiled.

“If you ain't dirty, you ain't here to party! Wooo!” you whooped, throwing your hands up and trotting past her straight into the turnstile.

Right before reverting yourself back to your original state, you heard Wheeler’s hushed question.

“You two all right?”

And then Neil’s answer.

“Don’t worry, we’re good.”

--------

The truck’s engine hummed steadily, which could only mean you were on some sort of highway. At least the container stopped wobbling, so you could practice in peace.

No wobbles meant no excuses, though. You sighed, readjusting your grip on the tools.

Neil had fallen asleep some time ago, after making sure you figured out the locks and hearing your solemn promise that you would follow him soon.

One day after that eventful night, then inverting and going straight back without proper sleep. You knew he was right and you needed at least a nap. But you couldn’t. Not before you were absolutely sure you got it. The usual locks weren’t that bad. The inverted ones were a whole other story.

It’d taken you long enough to crack them in the safety of your own apartment, without the weird physics, ever-present even within the air-locked container. Without the pressure.

The fate of the world.

What the fuck was that supposed to mean?

You didn’t even know what was that thing you were supposed to retrieve soon. It was okay, you didn’t need to. It was a quite common situation in your work history. That kind of knowledge could be dangerous, after all.

The pin clicked and you sighed again, squeezing your eyes shut to stop the burning sensation even for a moment.

Besides, you were doing it for Neil. The memory of that panicked look on his face when he’d seen the documents was enough to keep you going.

But did he have to say that?

You had to do it. Not only because you felt responsible for him, in a way. What you’d told the boss was true and you weren’t the only one at fault for Neil not being fully ready for that assignment. He was your friend, wasn’t he? And there was no way you’d leave a friend in need.

You pressed your lips together, forcing yourself to breathe.

Probably a stupid joke, nothing more.

But what if he was being serious? What if that thing out there was really that important? And you were about to fuck everything up because you couldn’t get your shit together fast enough to figure out the bloody inverted mechanism again. And with every minute wasted and not spent on resting there was a higher chance of messing up at the actual location.

Hell of a locksmith you were, huh?

The feedback from the tools came with a final warning like a sobering slap. If you were to continue, they would snap any second now.

You let out a shaky breath and retraced from the lock, hiding your face in the palms.

A gentle touch on your shoulder almost made you flinch. Of course, he had to wake up in the middle of your breakdown.

“Go back to sleep, we still have a few hours left,” you muttered into your hands, trying to collect yourself.

“Not before you talk to me,” said Neil as his fingers slid down your arm. He was crouching right beside you, the blue eyes boring into you with concern. “What is it?”

You sighed and shifted in your seat to face him.

“Wanna make sure I got it, that’s all.”

Neil’s brows knitted together.

“But I saw you open that lock once, why--”

“Once! And that’s exactly the problem!” you fumed and glared at the table. “I can’t crack it again, I--” your voice wavered and you gritted the teeth in frustration. “What if it was a stroke of dumb luck? Should I start praying for another one to happen there?”

Another delicate touch, this time on your knees, was enough to make you look back at Neil. A shade of smile tainted his lips as he searched your gaze.

“Someone used to tell me all the time that if you did it once, you can do it again.”

You hung your head and huffed, “Maybe that someone was full of shit.’

“I know for a fact that she wasn’t,” he chuckled, taking the tools out of your clenched fists and putting them back at the table. “She was utterly brilliant,” he continued, reaching for your cramping, trembling hands and taking them in his, ”and always reminded me to take a break instead of agonizing over a stubborn lock.”

That you did, all right. Your laugh sounded awfully close to a sob. God, if you weren’t exhausted.

Mustering enough strength to look him in the eyes, you squeezed his hands, trying to convey all the gratitude in the gesture. And hide that bit of embarrassment, too.

“I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay,” he said and his thumbs brushed over your knuckles. “Scoot over.”

You moved back on the provisional bench, making enough space for him to sit next to you. And so he did, not letting go of your hands even for a second. He started rubbing small circles into them and you grunted softly. Neil gave you a knowing smile and soon enough, his fingers glided between your forearms and fingertips, applying pressure to the tensest places, careful strokes and precise moves bringing a much-needed release. You couldn’t help small groans escaping your mouth, every one of them adding to the self-satisfied grin hiding in the corner of Neil’s mouth. But then, instead of teasing you, his features softened and you caught his glance, warm and sheepish.

“I don’t think I properly thanked you for offering to help me with this mission.”

“I couldn’t let you have all the fun,” you laughed and winced as Neil’s thumbs worked on your wrists. “Don’t thank me yet, we still need to pull it off first.”

“Well, maybe we already have, from the typical point of view,” - he pondered, lighting up - “seeing that we are moving back--”

“Neil, please, I’m all for discussing it later, but right now it’s about to give me a pounding headache.”

When you met his eyes, you noted with relief that he didn’t mind you cutting him off like that. He knew that you were tired, nothing more.

“Right, sorry.” Then he looked at you with determination, suddenly serious. “Whatever happens… thank you. It means a lot.”

“Of course,” you said quietly as your heart ached with unexpected fondness.

Neil smiled, shaking off the sentimental moment. His hands cupped yours and gave them a light squeeze.

“Now would you please get some rest?”

“Will you tuck me in?” you grinned and batted your lashes at him, earning an amused snort in return.

“I can even sing you a lullaby if that means you’ll fall asleep faster,” he said, standing up and tugging at your hand.

“Ah, I’m afraid I’m gonna crash too fast to properly appreciate it,” you giggled as he kited you all the way to the resting area at the front of the container. “But I’m definitely taking a rain check on that.”

“Sure.” One final brush of his thumb over your fingers and he let go of your hand, smirking. “Now sleep, I’ll wake you up when we get there.”

-------

Neil proved to be an excellent companion.

You disabled the alarms simultaneously, paying attention to all the possible silent traps. Forcing the main locks went smoothly, almost surprisingly so. For having something of such importance hidden there, the owners of the place seemed strangely old-fashioned; it shone through the antique decor of the lofty apartment as well as the security choices. Too easy. Tuning out an intrusive thought rattling in the back of your head, you scouted the dark rooms, careful not to leave any traces of your presence.

There.

The office you saw in the photos.

...but they’d redecorated.

“That’s one fancy safe they got there,” you said nonchalantly, eyeing the ornament piece of metal lit by your flashlight, “Too bad it somehow got left out at the briefing.”

Neil’s face dropped when he followed you inside the room.

“Christ, and what now?”

Good question. You’d worked with safes before, hell, you’d cracked a fair share of them using simply manipulation. But never going bloody backwards in time. How would that even work? Was it normal or inverted?

Well, there was only one way to find out.

“I’ve got this.” And that’s how you felt, despite the initial panic. There was a method to it, and you had most of the things you needed with you. Perks of overpreparing. The only issue was-- ... “It might take a while, though.”

Neil nodded.

“Let me know if you need anything.”

“Keep an eye on the time for me, I gotta focus,” you said, reaching into your backpack and accidentally pulling on the thin tube. Right. “...and maybe on the oxygen levels as well?”

“Will do.”

Your brain switched into the challenge mode, and your fingers tingled to give it a try. Armed with a sound amplifier and a little notepad, you sat down next to the safe and got to work.

Figuring out your way in was meant to be a hit and miss, doubly so with the goddamn inversion. But minute after minute, click by click, you determined the first contact points, and the years of experience took you from there. You scribbled numbers and variations in the notepad, fully focused on the task. Almost there.

Another combination. Inhale. Exhale. Pull.

Gotcha.

“Neil?” you called out in the hushed voice as the beam from the flashlight landed on a small metal box of a peculiar shape.

He was next to you in no time.

“That’s it,” he said, kneeling down. He reached inside and took out the box, then carefully placed it inside his backpack. The blue eyes glimmered in the dim light. “Good job!”

“Thanks,” you smiled and closed the safe. “Now let’s get out of here.”

You gathered and packed all your stuff, double-checking for any leftover signs of your entry.

Then you heard it. A faint, slightly off patter against the huge windows. You froze in place as your mind tried to grasp the view of trickles of rain coming up the glass.

Neil glanced outside, not mindful of the absolutely bonkers scene that wiped any coherent thought from your head. Although judging from how quickly his face lost all the colours, the view he got was even more disturbing.

“Christ…” he uttered, shooting you a panicked look. “We’ve got company.”

You dashed to the window to see for yourself. A group of people was crossing the empty street, moving pretty much normally, and that only meant...

Fuck.

“The owners?”

Neil shook his head. “Impossible. The third party, probably.” With his hand already on the holster, he hesitated, considering the options.

But there were only two: fight or flight. The problem was - the numbers didn’t look good for you to try pushing through the crew downstairs. And as for the second one, your initial exit routes seemed to be cut off already.

Although, there was still one path left. You almost smiled to yourself. He was not going to like it.

“Let’s go through the roofs.”

Neil’s eyes widened. “Are you sure?” he asked, scanning your face for any sign of doubt.

There was none.

“Yes, but we have to leave right now.”

He swallowed with effort and nodded.

As soon as you bolted out of the apartment and rushed up the stairs, the footsteps coming from the lower levels quickened. Time was running out.

You were about to barge outside when Neil grabbed your hand as if he sensed what was going to happen next. The doors opened and you lost the momentum, startled by the view. Heavy showers replaced the drizzle you saw through the window, intensifying the nauseating effect.

The last strands of sanity threatened to leave you, but Neil’s touch was like an anchor, grounding you and keeping you from spiraling further.

“Which way?” he shouted through the hammering, almost deafening rain.

You blinked rapidly and looked around to match the data from the brief to the actual location.

“Over there!”

Wishing you’d had a goddamn collar to pop, you leaped to the side, guiding Neil through your only escape route. You let go of his hand to vault over the vents, and just as your feet touched the surface again, you heard distant yells behind you. Shit.

The high density of the area was working in your favor, but only for so long. There was meant to be a gap between the buildings sooner or later, and one of them was coming right up. The jump was doable, even for Neil - all you needed was speed and a decent launch.

But when your companion noticed the edge of the roof, he slowed down and stopped by a low parapet wall, cursing.

“No fucking way!”

“Yes fucking way, Neil, come on! We don’t have time!” you urged him as the voices behind you grew louder.

He swallowed with effort, too transfixed on the gap. You bit back an impatient groan and grabbed him by the shoulders, forcing him to look at you.

“Neil, listen to me. You can do this. All you need is a run-up.”

He didn’t seem convinced. You gritted your teeth, trying to keep your own rising panic in check.

“Do you trust me? Yes or no?”

He met your eyes and his features hardened. There.

“I do.”

And when you opened the mouth again, the first bullet whizzed past you. You flinched, but maintained the eye contact, afraid to lose Neil’s newfound confidence. “Then go first, I’m right behind you.”

Neil nodded and backed away quickly. Watching him jump, your heart skipped a beat, but he landed on the other side without too much trouble. Good. Your turn.

You dashed towards the rim and another bullet missed your legs by a hair’s breadth, hitting the parapet wall right ahead of you. A little close to the top, as you noted, jumping on it to leap across the gap.

But the realization came a moment too late. The wall crumbled under your feet.

Enough for you to not make it to the other side.

Someone screamed.

Was it you?

It didn’t matter.

The world dissolved in a flash of agonizing pain.

And darkness.

----

Static beeping. The smell of disinfectants. And your every particle throbbing in dull pain.

Somebody was having a quiet conversation nearby. The Protagonist… and Neil?

A wave of relief flooded over you. He’d made it.

Grunting, you opened your eyes and squinted, waiting for your sight to readjust to the poor light. Weird. Why would they keep you in such a pitch-black room?

“Gents?” you called out, carefully shifting upwards, wincing. “Would you mind getting the lights?”

The conversation stopped and you heard a gasp.

“Lights? But it’s the middle of the day?” said The Protagonist, but Neil cut him off.

“You’re awake!” Footsteps and a sudden touch on your hand. Neil’s voice trembled slightly, as well as his fingers. “Are you okay?”

You bored into darkness, hoping to see the familiar face.

To see anything.

To see.

(next chapter ->)

#neil tenet #neil tenet x reader #neil x reader #tenet #robert pattinson #neil tenet fanfiction #tenet fanfiction #neil tenet imagine #the protagonist tenet #ives tenet #wheeler tenet #long nights

83 notes · View notes