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lakewoodtrash · 10 months
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Stone Exterior in Atlanta Inspiration for a huge timeless brown two-story stone exterior home remodel
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bullet-prooflove · 2 years
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Morning After Starters
“  you know, if you moved in we wouldn’t keep having to say goodbye like this.  ”
Brian Otis Zvonecek x fem reader
"Okay seriously, I love the two of you, but we should probably be packing right now instead of... well whatever it is we're doing." You reasoned from underneath the silk scarf that Brian had tied over eyes on the drive through the city.
When Brian had woken you up with a cup of Starbucks and a kiss on the forehead, you'd been all for pulling him back into bed for a little early morning fun, but he'd had had other ideas. He'd roused you just enough to get you out of bed with the lure of chocolate pastries before informing you he had a surprise for you today. You weren’t sure how Gabby factored into it. She had met you in the lobby of your building and had driven the rest of the way.
"We have six hours until we have to leave for the cabin. That is more than enough time pack." Brian told you, his hands squeezed your shoulders lightly, as he guided you from what you assumed was an elevator.
"Is she always like this?" Gabby teased from in front of you as you took slow easy steps. "You're sure you wanna marry into this?"
"Hey, you're the ones that pulled me out of bed at eight-thirty in the morning. I got off shift three hours ago." You griped.
"She's always grumpy when she's tired." Brian said, pressing his lips to the back of your head.
You relaxed as his thumbs dug into tense muscles at the nape of your neck and began to massage just the right spot. It marvelled you how he knew exactly where you needed him.
"Hmm, I like it when you do that." You muttered as you heard the scrape of a key in a lock, before a door was pushed open.
You felt Brian's fingers loosening the knot at the back of the scarf before it fell away from your eyes leaving you blinking in the bright light that streamed in through the open window in front of you.
"Tada!" Gabby sing-songed as you rubbed your hands over your eyes and took in your surroundings.
The room you were standing in was entirely empty, except for cream painted walls and beech coloured hardwood floors. In fact, you realised as your gaze shifted towards the spacious kitchen area, the whole apartment was empty.
"Wow..." the word slipped out of your mouth as you took a step further into the room surveying everything around you before you went on your own tour of the apartment.
The apartment rivalled both of yours in terms of size and structure. The living room gave away to an open plan breakfast bar and kitchen. The bathroom was a decent size, and the bedrooms...
There were two of them. The master bedroom was vast and spacious.
"So what do you think?" Brian asked you, stepping into the centre of the room.
You remembered his words from the other night. His lips pressed against yours as he whispered “you know, if we moved in together we wouldn’t keep having to say goodbye like this.”
"Is it wrong that I am thinking this would make a good nursery?" you said quietly raising your eyes through lowered lashes until they met Brian's.
Brian wrapped his arm around your shoulders and turned you until you were facing the window with the light that danced upon the laminate.
"Crib in the corner, right?" he said, pointing to the space alongside the window.
You nodded, swallowing hard. Your future was coming together. You could imagine the two of you living here, raising a child together, maybe two.
"After a year or two, I don't see why not." you responded eagerly.
Brian drew back, his expression boyish making all the years drop away from his handsome features. He was excited by this venture; he was happy to be taking this step forward with you. He'd never lived with a woman before but when he was with you the thought of waking up without you by his side seemed alien to him.
"We are doing this aren't we?" he asked you.
His arms were crossed over his chest, as he dipped his head trying to figure out your thoughtful expression before a smile blossomed across your features.
"We are definitely doing this."
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drapekings · 1 month
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Creative Ways to Use Wedding Drapery for Your Ceremony and Reception
Wedding drapery is a versatile and enchanting element that can elevate the ambiance of both your ceremony and reception venues. With its soft, flowing fabric and romantic appeal, drapery adds a touch of elegance and sophistication to any setting. In this blog, we'll explore creative ways to incorporate wedding drapery into your wedding day, from enhancing your ceremony space to transforming your reception into a magical celebration.
Romantic Ceremony Backdrop:
Create a captivating focal point for your ceremony by framing the altar with billowing drapery. Whether you opt for sheer panels for a dreamy, ethereal effect or rich, textured fabrics for a more opulent look, drapery sets the stage for exchanging vows. Consider adorning the backdrop with floral arrangements, fairy lights, or personalized signage to add a personal touch to your ceremony space.
Elegant Canopy or Chuppah:
Add a touch of tradition and symbolism to your ceremony by incorporating a canopy or chuppah crafted from wedding drapery. Whether you choose a simple, draped structure or a more elaborate design adorned with flowers and greenery, a canopy provides a romantic and intimate setting for saying "I do." Choose fabrics and colors that complement your wedding theme and decor for a cohesive look.
Dreamy Aisle Decor:
Enhance the beauty of your ceremony aisle with creative drapery accents. Line the aisle with fabric swags, garlands, or fabric-wrapped pillars to create a sense of grandeur and elegance. For an extra touch of romance, consider adding floral arrangements, lanterns, or candles along the aisle to guide the way to the altar.
Transformative Reception Space:
Transition seamlessly from ceremony to reception by using wedding drapery to transform your venue into a magical celebration. Drape fabric over ceilings, walls, or pillars to soften harsh lines and create a more intimate atmosphere. Consider incorporating drapery into your head table or sweetheart table decor to add drama and sophistication to the reception space.
Statement Ceiling Installations:
Make a bold statement with dramatic ceiling installations crafted from wedding drapery. Whether you choose a cascading canopy, a canopy of fairy lights, or a canopy adorned with flowers and greenery, a ceiling installation adds a wow factor to your reception space. Create a romantic ambiance with soft, diffused lighting and floating fabric for an unforgettable visual impact.
Photo Booth Backdrops:
Create picture-perfect moments for you and your guests with creative photo booth backdrops crafted from wedding drapery. Whether you opt for a simple, elegant backdrop or a more elaborate design adorned with flowers, greenery, or signage, drapery provides a beautiful backdrop for capturing memories with loved ones. Consider incorporating props, frames, or chalkboards to add fun and personality to your photo booth experience.
Elegant Room Dividers:
Divide your reception space into distinct areas with elegant room dividers crafted from wedding drapery. Whether you're creating a lounge area, a dance floor, or a dining space, drapery provides a stylish and practical solution for defining spaces within your venue. Choose fabrics and colors that complement your wedding theme and decor for a cohesive and polished look.
Conclusion:
Wedding drapery offers endless possibilities for enhancing both your ceremony and reception venues and creating a truly memorable wedding day. Whether you're exchanging vows under a romantic canopy, dancing the night away beneath a dramatic ceiling installation, or capturing memories with loved ones in front of a creative photo booth backdrop, drapery adds elegance, romance, and sophistication to every aspect of your celebration. Consider incorporating wedding drapery into your wedding day to create a magical and unforgettable experience for you and your guests.
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maddogbackdrops · 1 month
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Transform Your Event with Shimmer Wall Hire: The Ultimate Guide
 Planning an event that leaves a lasting impression requires attention to detail and creativity. From weddings to corporate gatherings, adding a touch of glamour and elegance can elevate the ambience to the next level. 
One sure-fire way to achieve this is by incorporating a shimmer wall hire into your event décor. In this comprehensive guide, we'll delve into the world of shimmer walls and why hiring one could be the key to making your event truly unforgettable.
What is a Shimmer Wall?
A shimmer wall, also known as a sequin wall or sparkle wall, is a stunning decorative feature that consists of thousands of small, reflective panels. These panels are typically made from sequins or metallic material and are arranged in such a way that they catch and reflect light, creating a mesmerising shimmering effect. Shimmer walls come in various sizes and can be customised to suit any event theme or colour scheme.
Why Choose Shimmer Wall?
There are several reasons why opting for shimmer wall is a wise decision for your event:
Wow Factor: Shimmer walls instantly captivate the attention of guests and provide a glamorous backdrop for photos and videos. Whether it's a wedding, gala dinner, or product launch, a shimmering wall adds a touch of sophistication and luxury.
Versatility: One of the greatest advantages of hiring a shimmer wall is its versatility. It can be used as a backdrop for the main stage and photo booth or as a partition to define different areas of the venue. The possibilities are endless, allowing you to unleash your creativity and design a truly unique event space.
Customisation: With shimmer wall hire, you have the freedom to customise the design according to your preferences. Choose from a range of colours, sizes, and patterns to complement your event theme and décor. Whether you prefer a subtle, understated shimmer or a bold, eye-catching display, the options are limitless.
Ease of Installation: Professional wall hire services typically include installation and setup, saving you time and effort. Experienced technicians will ensure that the shimmer wall is installed securely and looks flawless, leaving you free to focus on other aspects of event planning.
Memorable Experience: Ultimately, incorporating a shimmering wall into your event creates a memorable experience for your guests. It sets the tone for an unforgettable evening and provides the perfect backdrop for capturing precious moments.
How to Incorporate a Shimmer Wall into Your Event
Now that you're convinced of the benefits of wall hire let's explore some creative ways to incorporate this dazzling feature into your event:
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Photo Booth Backdrop: Set up a shimmering wall as a backdrop for your event's photo booth. Guests will love posing in front of the shimmering panels and snapping memorable photos.
Main Stage Accent: Use a shimmering wall as a stunning backdrop for the main stage or podium. Whether it's a wedding reception or a corporate awards ceremony, the shimmer wall will add elegance and flair to the proceedings.
VIP Lounge Divider: Create a VIP lounge area at your event and use a shimmering wall as a stylish divider. Not only does it add privacy, but it also adds a touch of exclusivity to the space.
Entrance Décor: Make a grand entrance by framing the doorway with shimmering panels. This instantly sets the tone for the event and leaves a lasting impression on guests as they arrive.
Themed Installations: Get creative with themed shimmer wall installations that reflect the essence of your event. Whether it's a winter wonderland, Hollywood glamour, or futuristic chic, there's a shimmer wall design to suit every theme.
Final Thoughts
Incorporating a shimmering wall into your event décor is a sure-fire way to create a magical and unforgettable experience for your guests. With its versatility, customisation options, and stunning visual impact, a shimmering wall adds a touch of glamour and sophistication to any occasion. 
So why settle for ordinary when you can make your event shimmer and shine with shimmer wall hire? Contact a professional event decor company today to bring your vision to life and turn your event into a sparkling success.
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groovybearwinner · 2 months
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15 Best Blogs to Follow About
Stylish Nardi Omega Ideas
Interior designer Laura Hodges gave this complete her stamp of approval because its items feel modern and stylish. Discover discounted furniture sets around Labor Day. Additionally, request free fabric swatches on-line thus that you can see how they will look in your house before purchasing anything. When buying out of doors furniture, your high priorities ought to include its ability to stand up to varied varieties of weather and matching your aesthetic. As an example, if you like entertaining guests frequently then an ample patio set would make an ideal solution contemplate Wayfair as they sell numerous brands and provide twoday shipping as a perk of membership! Before getting furniture, it's essential to set up out its layout and live several times. Additionally keep in mind that totally different materials suit bound climates higher; metal furniture tends to be a lot of sturdy than wicker or wood however requires additional maintenance as it's inclined to corrosion. Wood furniture offers larger versatility whereas being easier to maintain as its cleanup needs simply damp cloth cleaning; additionally it's less likely to rot than its metal counterpart.
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One in every of the key trends for 2024 is using neutral colors and natural materials for garden and patio furniture. Beige, gray and charcoal hues are currently trending for frames; while materials like wicker, rattan, teak and aluminum have become popular choices for cushions and upholstery as these materials are simple to keep up and clean making them appropriate for outdoor use.
Serena & Lily's beachinspired styles exude that soughtafter "wow issue," while not going over the top or being too themed. Their collections offer masses of musthave coastal items that will bring a relaxed, vacation vibe into any backyard setting.
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If you prefer ancient aesthetics, contemplate teak wood patio furniture sets. Their natural patina can age to an enticing gray over time or they'll be given protective coating. Unfortunately, though, such pieces of patio furniture will be quite serious.
At any movie night or appetizers party, snug bean bag chairs give intimate conversations or sipping wine in front of the hearth. Indulge yourself with this relaxing expertise for Valentine's Day dates or unwind after long workday. Additionally ideal for garden parties and barbecues where relaxed conversation takes place; simply rearrange and wipe clean for quick patio makeover.
Addition of a firepit with seating will enhance the resort experience for visitors. It can enable guests to sit, converse and soak up the scenery while not distraction or fatigue; whereas out of doors games such as shuffle board or corn hole will keep guests engaged and entertained for hours on finish. Providing shade such as cover tents or permanent umbrellas to shield guests from the sun will further elevate this upgrade.
Some pool users need to just lounge around and unwind, which makes having lounge chairs around an important piece of furniture. It permits guests to commence their shoes, lay go into reverse and absorb some sun while not ever needing to leave the water! Lounge chairs conjointly build an glorious place for reading, napping or merely having conversations several designs exist that float while others should be placed on deck or patio to be used.
Householders want to consider many factors when purchasing out of doors furniture, including its durability under extreme weather and sunlight conditions. Resin wicker furniture stands up extremely well against each parts.
Homecrest assortment furniture offers longterm quality with poly outside pieces designed not to rot, splinter or attract wood bees. Their durable chairs, tables and loungers can withstand even extreme climate conditions whereas boasting stunning color options that arise against nature.
the best patio furniture can create all the difference in a backyard house. Whether or not it's hosting friends for a crawfish boil or relaxing on your deck, outdoor furniture creates welcoming environments where family and friends will unwind along and take pleasure from each other's company. At Brian's Furniture in Port Allen, there's an array of options that are sure to fit into any lifestyle perfectly! Selecting outside furniture needs careful thought of both comfort and vogue, but our extensive choice will create the task much less complicated. Nardi Omega Chaise for Wineries: Designing Outdoor Tasting Areas From folding chairs that fold and stack to full patio dining sets and lounge seating arrangements plus tables and umbrellas that add color or shade you're sure to seek out specifically what you need for your backyard!
Versatility
One amongst the numerous advantages of outdoor furniture crafted from recycled resin is that it can stand up to all forms of weather it resists rusting, staining and mildewing while having the ability to face up to extreme temperatures and sunlight without warping or rotting over time. Recycled resin furniture makes an wonderful various to wood out of doors furniture that typically needs regular repairs for best performance and pleasure. Recycled plastic furniture offers another advantage over its counterparts: it's entirely recyclable itself. Several manufacturers utilize this material in the production method, guaranteeing ecofriendliness. By recycling this material and continuing production with quality furniture pieces from it, manufacturers reduce oilbased polymers that may contribute to pollution problems.
The proper pool lounge chairs will rework your backyard into an idyllic haven, ideal for tanning, reading and napping. Plus they make great storage containers for sunscreen bottles and towels! When looking out for lounge chairs that meet these criteria, look for ones created of weatherproof materials with sturdy construction that may waiting against regular outdoor use and cushions that quickly dry thus they don't become saturated with water.
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Textilene
Nardi Furniture for Summer Parties
We have a tendency to love this toptier complete for their incredible quality and a focus to detail in each piece they turn out, along with their intensive expertise in furniture business that ends up in highend patio furniture meant to stand the take a look at of time.
Nardi Omega Chaise for Summer Parties
When shopping for outdoor furniture, a group consisting of a table and four or six chairs could be your ideal solution. This sort of seating permits for meals and conversations and creates an intimate seating area on your back porch or Enhance Your Outdoor Retail Space with Nardi Furniture featuring the Omega Chaise for Stores balcony. Furthermore, tables that include builtin drinks coolers could additionally prove convenient relaxing Adirondack patio chairs or hammocks could even add vacation vibes whereas encouraging family and friends to pay additional time outside! RentACenter of Greenwood makes your backyard or deck the ultimate summer hangout with topoftheline out of doors furniture, from Nordic inspired patio sets and trendsetting loveseats made with Acacia wood to resilient resin wicker chairs with weatherproof cushions upholstered with weatherproof cushions upholstered in weatherproof cushions. Plus we tend to carry relaxing Adirondack patio chairs for relaxing vacation vibes or add four piece lounge sets complete with low tables to your condo porch Nardi Furniture featuring the Omega Chaise for Residential Parks: Creating Outdoor Recreational Spaces so friends can gather and chat for hours without creating an expensive down payment with our easy rent to own rental furniture! Whatever your need may be, our rentable rentals create making out of doors oasis without making a commitment or large down payment simply what you wish!
Outdoor Furnishings Materials and Durability
Your business pool furniture should be designed to stand up to constant use by multiple guests. Search for quickdrying construction materials like aluminum, wicker, recycled plastic and teakwood as these supply lasting performance in wet environments. Cushion, sling and strap models provide resistance against fading in wet conditions while powdercoated frames defend from rusting and corrosion injury.
Nardi Omega for Beachside Lounging
At any movie night or appetizers party, comfortable bean bag chairs provide intimate conversations or sipping wine in front of the hearth. Indulge yourself with this relaxing experience for Valentine's Day dates or unwind once long workday. Conjointly ideal for garden parties and barbecues where relaxed conversation takes place; simply rearrange and wipe clean for quick patio makeover.
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Manmade synthetics became an increasingly common selection for out of doors furniture thanks to their versatile styles and affordable prices. Most are treated against weathering and ultraviolet radiation exposure to assist retain their color while not fading over time, and some come woven in wicker patterns for vogue and texture.
Rustic Nardi Omega Inspirations
Make a budget plan before shopping for pool furniture. Higher price tags sometimes indicate higherquality items; however, this does not necessarily require emptying your checking account so as to urge these top pieces for your poolside patio. Many retailers supply financing and payment plans therefore it is easier for shoppers to afford such luxury outside items for his or her poolside oasis.
Nardi Omega Chaise for Scandinavian Style
When purchasing patio furniture, it is wise to seem for things that can face up to adverse atmospheric condition. If you live in an space liable to frequent rainfall, choose weatherresistant fabrics or furniture with protective umbrella bases and canopies as this can provide additional rain protection. Similarly, considering galvanized steel is additionally an option as this material provides extra durability against corrosion or rusting. Additionally to tables and chairs available from Costco, Costco additionally offers patio furniture covers that feature fitted styles to permit air circulation therefore mildew does not develop; these covers return in numerous colours/ sizes creating this a useful addition for any patio area!
Outdoor Furnishings for Summer Parties
Selecting the perfect balcony furniture for your condo is key to creating it actually your own house. Your choice should replicate each your taste and personality whereas simultaneously increasing its value. Outer furniture offers trendy and durable patio items created with highgrade materials and come complete with lifetime warranties in addition to money back guarantees, making them a sound investment.
Outdoor Furnishings for Sustainable Living
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Nardi Omega Brands and Manufacturers
Resort Life Extendable Table made from premium Eucalyptus Wood with a light-weight aluminum frame is another fantastic possibility, featuring natural organic options including cracks and color variations that enhance its beauty. Treated with Duragrain waterbased end to guard its surface while displaying natural grain options of wood surface.
Nardi Omega for Solo Relaxation
Choosing Outside Furniture For Your Hoa. Take into account how residents and guests can use your hoa's outside furniture when buying it for them. Weatherproof tables and chairs bring indoor comfort outdoors while rockers or Adirondacks give relaxing lounging options.
If you would like to create an impressionful statement with your patio lounge chairs, choose fashionable patio lounge chairs that stand out from the standard plastic or metal deck chairs. Opt for designs featuring comfortable cushions and fabrics plus options like reclining options and adjustable height settings for optimal comfort. And, there is certain to be chairs of various sizes to suit each need of your guests!
Making a Poolside Paradise With Out of doors Furniture For Pools
Search for chairs with ottomans that provide enough comfort for one person, good for relaxing afternoons within the garden. Additionally, rummage around for ones created from easytoclean materials and that can stand up to outside parts.
Nardi Omega Chaise for Pet-Friendly Spaces
LBO is the premier wholesale supplier of aluminum metal patio and pool furniture for public swimming pools, non-public swimming pools, water parks, YMCA's, residences, home owners associations (HOA's), hotels and resorts. Their high quality industrial grade patio and pool furniture product are manufactured using superior materials like Marine Grade Polymer that resist warping, fading or chemical breakdown perfect to be used at public and private pools alike! Contract Furnishings International provides stylish yet snug outdoor furniture to any business, perfect for restaurants, hotels or clubs alike. Our big selection of patio furniture matches any theme or vogue with styles designed to withstand rain, snow and sun an important consideration when selecting outdoor seating for any restaurant, hotel or club.
Omega Chaise for Mountain Retreats
Artie's outside furniture is highquality and longlasting, designed with sustainability in mind. Their products are created using recyclable materials like recycled woods and ecofriendly fabrics; additionally they employ inexperienced producing processes that have minimal environmental impacts an wonderful approach to add fashionable contemporary decor into the home.
Some of the simplest pool furniture ideas for out of doors spaces embody chaise lounges and different chairs crafted from longwearing materials like teak or resin wicker. Though additional expensive than alternative patio furniture items, these chairs will rise higher over time and create a better aesthetic in your pool space. Furthermore, adjustable backrests may add comfort.
This furniture piece mimics the sound of waves rolling in, making it the ideal piece for relaxing on your porch or deck. Opt for from an array of colours, designs and designs to find one that best complements your patio.
the perfect patio furniture can build all the distinction in a backyard area. Whether or not it's hosting friends for a crawfish boil or relaxing on your deck, out of doors furniture creates welcoming environments where family and friends can unwind together and take pride from one another's company. At Brian's Furniture in Port Allen, there is an array of choices that are positive to suit into any lifestyle perfectly! Selecting outside furniture needs careful thought of both comfort and style, however our extensive selection can create the task abundant easier. From folding chairs that fold and stack to full patio dining sets and lounge seating arrangements and tables and umbrellas that add color or shade you're certain to seek out exactly what you wish for your backyard!
Add further options to your pool chair expertise with something like the Safavieh Newport's easy nevertheless purposeful pool chair, featuring soft foam cushions supported by an enticing, durable eucalyptus wood frame with clean lines, in addition to an innovative slideout table to store drinks and other necessities. Poolside furniture plays a necessary half in providing recreation and relaxation at public swimming pools, from casual chairs to dining tables. When making this selection, it's essential that every piece be durable enough for repeated use, while reflecting the style of its surrounding.
RentToOwn Outside Furniture in Mississippi. Make your backyard the final summer destination with highquality outside furniture from renttoown patio dining sets or two oversized lounge chairs from renttoown patio dining sets, perfect for hosting big barbecues with all of your family, or rent two to make the ideal spot on your condo porch for relaxation together with your partner.
To stay out of doors furniture beautiful and in smart condition, it's crucial that it is often cleaned and guarded against the elements. Regular soap and water cleaning will do simply fine, while adding protective coating such as varnish or wax can keep items trying whole new for an extended period. Alternatively, water repellant spray can conjointly work effectively; just be certain it's been specifically created for out of doors furniture as using regular household cleaners will damage its surface. One in all the most popular trends in outside furniture design is mixing materials. Furniture makers typically combine wood, metal and plastic into trendy styles that face up to weather components giving consumers additional choices so as to pick items that best match their personal designs and add texture and depth to a house.
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horwathgolf · 4 months
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BOB’S EXTREME LAGOON COURSE DESIGN | Horwath Miniature Golf Courses
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We call this our dream course. If you have the bigger budget, this is the course to build. We start with a big luxurious lagoon filled with fountains splashing water everywhere to get the attention of the roadside. We then add island shots crossing through the lagoon with fog misting up from everywhere inside the lagoon, we can even have frogs chirping if you like. We then have a retaining wall with a waterfall cascading over it. On each side of the waterfall, we add two more waterfalls that are about 10′ high and 8’wide. On the top elevation, we add a 20′ wide by 16′ high waterfall dumping its water into again another lagoon with a crooked dock bridge running through it. If that isn’t enough we add another waterfall on the back side running down to a large catch pond with more fountains. We are putting about 1800 gallons of water a minute over this front wall. This miniature golf course gives you all the WOW factor you will ever need and still with a budget you can live with.
All of the plans are concepts and can be priced and built as you see them or custom design to fit your property and your budget. At Horwath Miniature Golf Courses you get the big builder experience without the big builder price. Lower overhead means lower prices.
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balloondecor · 9 months
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Elevate Your Celebrations with JayElleCee and Company: Balloon Bouquets DC and Yard Signs Washington DC
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Are you planning a special event in the Washington DC area? Whether it's a birthday bash, a graduation ceremony, a wedding, or a corporate gathering, adding a touch of uniqueness and festivity to your celebrations can make all the difference. That's where JayElleCee and Company comes into play. We're here to transform your events into unforgettable moments with our exquisite balloon bouquets and eye-catching yard signs in Washington DC.
Balloons that WOW: Balloon Bouquets DC
Balloons have an innate ability to infuse any event with color, joy, and a sense of celebration. JayElleCee and Company understands the power of balloons, which is why we offer a wide range of balloon bouquets tailored to suit every occasion.
Birthday Celebrations: Is it your child's birthday, or perhaps a milestone year for a loved one? Our birthday balloon bouquets can be customized with age-appropriate colors, characters, and themes to create the perfect atmosphere for the party.
Graduation Parties: Celebrate your graduate's achievements with a spectacular balloon bouquet that reflects their school colors and accomplishments. It's an excellent way to honor their hard work and dedication.
Anniversary Surprises: Show your love and appreciation with a romantic balloon bouquet that sets the mood for a memorable evening. Choose from elegant color schemes and designs that match your partner's style.
Corporate Events: Impress clients, partners, and employees with our corporate balloon bouquets. They add a touch of professionalism and festivity to your business gatherings, product launches, or office parties.
Our balloon bouquets are not just about helium-filled balloons; they're a work of art. We can incorporate custom messages, shapes, and even LED lights for an extra wow factor. No matter the occasion, JayElleCee and Company's balloon bouquets in DC are sure to leave a lasting impression.
Make a Statement with Yard Signs: Yard Signs Washington DC
While balloons add flair to your event's decor, yard signs can effectively convey your message to the world. Whether you want to celebrate a special event or convey important information, our yard signs in Washington DC are the perfect solution.
Birthday Yard Signs: Surprise your loved one by decorating their front yard with a personalized birthday yard sign. We offer various designs and colors to match your theme and style.
Graduation Yard Signs: Proudly display your graduate's achievements with a graduation yard sign. Add their name, school, and even a congratulatory message to make it extra special.
Welcome Home Signs: Is someone returning home after a long trip or a hospital stay? Our welcome home signs are the perfect way to express your happiness and warm wishes.
Business Promotions: Promote your business or event effectively with our eye-catching yard signs. Whether it's a grand opening, a sale, or an important announcement, we can create signs that grab attention.
At JayElleCee and Company, we understand the importance of creating memorable moments. That's why we offer top-notch quality in both our balloon bouquets and yard signs. Our team of skilled professionals is dedicated to delivering stunning decorations and signs that exceed your expectations.
Conclusion:
When it comes to adding an extra dose of magic and excitement to your celebrations in the Washington DC area, JayElleCee and Company is your trusted partner. From enchanting balloon bouquets that fill the air with joy to captivating yard signs that convey your message loud and clear, we've got you covered. Contact us today to elevate your events with our balloon bouquets DC and yard signs Washington DC services, and let's turn your vision into a reality.
For more info, visit our site https://www.jayellecee.com/
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Elevate Your Home's Elegance with Residential Stained Glass in Denver
New Post has been published on https://www.denverstainedglass.com/company-news/elegance-residential-stained-glass/
Elevate Your Home's Elegance with Residential Stained Glass in Denver
Stained glass has long been revered for its timeless beauty and ability to infuse spaces with elegance and natural light. If you’re seeking to add a touch of sophistication to your home, consider incorporating residential stained glass. In Denver, stained glass adds charm and character to homes while also providing practical benefits like indoor illumination, privacy, and more.
Below, we will explore some exquisite stained glass ideas that can enhance your entryway, bathroom, and home without compromising on style. Discover the versatility and allure of stained glass as we delve into these creative applications!
  Elegant Residential Stained Glass Ideas for Denver Homes
Residential stained glass transforms Denver homes. It adds an unparalleled level of sophistication and visual intrigue while also enhancing your home’s functionality. From the grandeur of the entryway to the tranquility of the bathroom, stained glass offers a myriad of possibilities for your home. Here are a few examples:
  Enchanting Entryway Designs
Your entryway is the gateway to your home and sets the tone for the overall ambiance. Adorn your front door or sidelights with stunning stained glass panels to create an instant wow factor. Choose intricate patterns, vibrant colors, or artful designs that reflect your personal style and complement your home’s architectural features. Whether it’s a grand floral motif or a captivating geometric pattern, stained glass in the entryway adds a touch of elegance and leaves a lasting impression on guests.
Luxurious Bathroom Features
Transform your bathroom into your own private sanctuary with the addition of stained glass elements. Incorporate stained glass windows, transoms, or decorative panels to infuse the space with natural light while maintaining privacy. Explore various designs inspired by nature, such as delicate flowers, tranquil forests, or graceful birds, to create a serene and relaxing atmosphere. Or opt for a more versatile look like Mission Stained Glass or Prairie Style. Whatever you choose, you’re sure to appreciate your newly transformed bathroom. The interplay of light passing through the stained glass creates a soothing ambiance and adds a touch of refinement to your daily routine.
Privacy for Your Home
Stained and leaded glass can be excellent options for adding privacy to specific areas of your home without sacrificing aesthetics. Consider using stained glass partitions, interior doors, or room dividers to create distinct zones within larger rooms or open floor plans. Or opt for a custom-designed entryway piece to give your family privacy from solicitors and strangers who approach your home. There are countless ways to integrate privacy stained glass into your Denver home and we’re here to help you with the process!
  Schedule a Consultation with a Designer
Speak to a designer about residential stained glass in Denver. Call our office today to schedule an appointment or get more information.
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careeralley · 1 year
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Why Should We Hire You?
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"Why should we hire you?" is a common question that is often asked during an interview (as are the variations - Why are you the best candidate, How would you fit into our team, etc.).  Most job seekers consider this one of the most dreaded questions. So how on earth do you answer that question adequately? The key to this is to frame your job search as an answer to this question. So what, exactly, does that mean? Focused Career / Credentials review: It will be easier to answer this question if you've done some homework (on yourself). Make Some Lists: - Your strengths and weaknesses - Jobs you are qualified to apply for based on your experience and education - Your accomplishments (including statistics, such as "saved $10,000 for the company" - Promotions (and why you were promoted) - Problems you've solved at work - Review Your Lists: Take the key components from each of your lists - these are some of the reasons why you should be hired. Create Your Elevator Speech: Your elevator speech is your short marketing speech (your job search objectives) and can be used in a variety of situations including your answer to why you should be hired (and yes, even in an elevator). Convincing a potential employer why you are the right person for the job is a sales job. Your sales pitch should include (from the lists you created): Focus on the core of your experience (why a hiring manager should consider you for the position). Speak to your top 3 accomplishments in your career (include the benefit-cost savings, etc.) and how they relate to the position. Define the purpose (what are you trying to achieve). Include a “wow” factor, keep them interested and listening to you, and focus on your strengths. Body Language and interview skills: You know the saying - "you don't get a second chance to make a good first impression". First impressions are important; therefore make it a good one. Smile, maintain eye contact, and offer a firm handshake when meeting your interviewer(s). Maintain eye contact during your interview (but don't stare). Keep your posture upright and neutral. Don't lean forward when questions are asked, but also do not lean back as if you are in a lounge chair. Minimize how much you use your hands in the interview (but don't keep your hands on the table or in your lap the entire time). Practice Makes Perfect:  Practice for your interview at home in front of a mirror. Notice your hand gestures, posture, and eye contact. Get friends or family to help you practice. Speak with confidence (and don't forget to smile). Keep positive (no matter how tough the interview). 'Why should we hire you?' is a common question that is often asked during an interview (as are the variations - Why are you the best candidate, How would you fit into our team, etc.). So how on earth do you answer that question adequately? Click To Tweet And the Answer is (to why they should hire you) . . . . - Your experience is a great match for the job description - Your skill set is exactly what they need - You've always wanted to work at (name of company) - Your accomplishments support your experience. You need to remember that you should be fully prepared for the interview. While this is a difficult question to answer, the interview will have other difficult questions as well. Some Must-Read Books: What Color Is Your Parachute? What Color Is Your Parachute? by Richard N. Bolles is a classic job search book that provides valuable advice on interviewing techniques, among other things. This book is updated annually and covers all aspects of the job search process. The interviewing section of this book is particularly helpful because it provides guidance on how to prepare for different types of interviews, how to answer common interview questions, and how to negotiate job offers. What Color Is Your Parachute? 2021: Your Guide to a Lifetime of Meaningful Work and Career Success $19.99 $17.45 This completely updated edition features the latest resources, strategies, and perspectives on today’s job market Buy on Amazon.com Buy on Walmart.com We earn a commission if you click this link and make a purchase at no additional cost to you. 04/11/2023 09:59 pm GMT Cracking the Coding Interview If you are applying for a technical job, Cracking the Coding Interview by Gayle Laakmann McDowell is the go-to book. This book is specifically designed to help programmers and software engineers prepare for coding interviews. It provides over 150 programming questions that are frequently asked in coding interviews, along with detailed solutions and explanations. The book also includes tips on how to approach coding interviews, what to expect, and how to ace them. Cracking the Coding Interview: 189 Programming Questions and Solutions $39.95 $35.95 Cracking the Coding Interview, 6th Edition is here to help you through this process, teaching you what you need to know and enabling you to perform at your very best. Buy from Amazon We earn a commission if you click this link and make a purchase at no additional cost to you. 03/01/2023 10:38 pm GMT Sweaty Palms: The Neglected Art of Being Interviewed Sweaty Palms by H. Anthony Medley is a comprehensive book that provides guidance on all aspects of the interview process. It covers topics such as how to prepare for an interview, what to wear, how to answer common interview questions, and how to negotiate job offers. The author also includes examples of successful interviews, as well as interviews that did not go well, to help readers learn from the experiences of others. Sweaty Palms: The Neglected Art of Being Interviewed $13.95 $12.99 A newly updated edition of the comprehensive guide to job interviews that has over a half million copies in print, SWEATY PALMS teaches readers everything they need to know in order to land the job of their dreams.Whether a first-time job seeker searching for that elusive entry-level position or a seasoned e Buy from Amazon We earn a commission if you click this link and make a purchase at no additional cost to you. 03/01/2023 10:41 pm GMT Interview Like a Boss Interview Like a Boss by Hans Van Nas is a comprehensive book that covers all aspects of the interview process, from preparation to follow-up. It includes advice on how to create a strong resume and cover letter, how to research the company and the interviewer, how to answer common interview questions, and how to negotiate job offers. The book also includes tips on how to handle difficult interview questions and how to deal with nerves. Our Pick Interview Like A Boss: The most talked about book in corporate America. $14.95 Buy Now We earn a commission if you click this link and make a purchase at no additional cost to you. 02/21/2023 02:24 am GMT Read the full article
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houseofsigns · 2 years
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7 Benefits of Channel Letter Signs in Las Vegas and North Las Vegas, Nevada
Channel letter signage can be an excellent solution for those looking to make their brands or business stand out. Other than business, these letters are used in churches, schools, parks, and other places for their aesthetics and features. Following are some plus points of investing in channel letters: Increased Readability Channel letters are a 3D lettering solution that may be installed on various surfaces. Adding dimensional letters helps improve the visual impact and readability of any signage. Endless Design Options Channel signs in Las Vegas and North Las Vegas, Nevada, are ways to inform customers about a business or brand. A promising sign must be aesthetically pleasing and satisfying. Channel letters are available in various sizes, fonts, colors, and other options. One can speak to an expert regarding the advantages of adding a business logo or emblem to the sign. Multiple Lighting Options Additionally, channel letters come with lighting options. This feature makes the organization’s sign visible day or night. The LED options include: Front Lit: The most popular type of channel letter is front lit. They can draw attention both day and night. Front-lit channel letters are typically used to illuminate the face of the letters. This is achievable through a translucent acrylic face and lights that emanate from the letter itself. Reverse Channels: Reverse channel letters, also known as halo-lit channel letters, are individual letters with illumination behind their shape. They are perfect for large graphics or letters where casting patterns are too expensive. Combination-lit: These dimensional letters with a combination of front and back lighting may take a sign to the next level with a wow factor. They also allow for a bold mix of colors to create a clear distinction between the front with a glow and the backlighting with a halo effect. Back-lit: High-quality custom backlit channel letters are the best instrument for making a company stand out. Backlit channel letters elegantly display one’s brand name, motto, and other short messages. 4. Perfect for Upgrading Old Signage: Using channel letters to rebrand outdated signs or other vertical surfaces can help businesses stand out. Thus, adding channel letters can elevate the signs, making them look impressive. 5. Variety of Mounting Options: Channel letters are suitable for various organizations due to their numerous mounting and installation options. The letters are firmly attached to the sign or supporting surfaces when flush mounted. In raceway installation, the letters are attached to a metal rectangle that may house wires or other sign-related elements. A raceway mount enables direct mounting while requiring fewer holes to be bored into the structure. A sign specialist can help in determining the best mounting option. 6. Cost-Effective: The contemporary lit channel letters feature energy-efficient LED bulbs, which help decrease energy costs for signage. The modern LED channel letters can hold up to the environment without requiring routine maintenance. ​ For more benefits, businesses can use electric signs in Las Vegas and North Las Vegas, Nevada.
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pureavcanada · 2 years
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CREATIVE DESIGNS FOR EVENT STAGES
Rendering to Reality
What separates a regular corporate from an extraordinary one? The attention given to the smallest details and prominent consideration for Creative Designs for Event Stages . Since that is where the audience will be looking most of the time – it needs to be spot on. Pure AV can help you take advantage of every inch of stage area available to give you a unique appeal for your event. A combination of different types of media screens with different truss structures can play a huge role in how your stage can look different. Small details like arranging stage decks and positioning speakers can also add to this design. Think outside the box for your next event!
Digital Banners And Widescreens
Everyone wants that wow factor for their event. A simple way to make it all fantastic is simply incorporating digital stage banner and widescreen in the stage design. A stage set traditionally comprises the elevated platform affixed below a large screen. With the said banners, you can creatively position them to cross the stage and present any multimedia content in the most stylish way.
The widescreens – can be very effective when it comes to displaying from a large stage. You can use projection blending for larger surface areas for highly immersive imagery. Digital banners and wide screens mostly are the medium through which event planners can invest in exciting themes and designs.
Event Backdrops
A visually striking and flexible branding tool, an event backdrop is necessary for your event. It is basically a high-tech frame that is illuminated and wrapped in photographic-quality printed nylon. This simple yet effective solution is an excellent way event planners can quickly deliver messages about the event, promote any product, and generally enhance the theme of the event or build recognition for the recurring brand.
These backdrops come in various sizes, catering to anything from small room meetings to large ballroom events. When possible, an organizer can place a small stage in front of preexisting video walls or other elements that are visually rich within the event space. This does not only save on cost but increases overall production value.
Lighting
Ample and well-tailored lighting makes the stage come alive. When the time comes to make some dramatic change, professional illumination has what it takes to transform a blank canvas into an entirely new environment. Lighting does many things, from controlling the mood of the stage to building up the energy when needed. Not just that, but it also creates an event atmosphere that is eye-catching just so it can be unforgettable.
The lightweight LED alternatives will assist in creating an immense impact in small spaces taking away the wary of heavy lighting fixtures. Since they weigh a lot less than the regular luminaries, such installations allow for more options and flexibility for a setup. Lightweight lighting can easily be rigged to points in the venue rather than having to worry about overload trusses.
Booking Creative Designs for Event Stages from Pure AV
Pure AV will help you use your space, lighting, and visuals properly to make it become its own key part of the event experience. With our unique blend of talent and innovation, we offer plenty of options to help boost your event’s themes and add a whole new element to audience engagement.
Give us a try; you won’t regret it! To get in touch, please do not hesitate to contact our sales staff by filling out the form below, emailing [email protected] or calling 1-800-929-7089. You can expect a response in 24 hours or less. But while you are waiting, head over to the Pure AV social handles to see some of our previous work – Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube. We promise you will be intrigued!
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deadbiwrites · 4 years
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a video of supergirl grabbing lena luthor's ass starts circulating and it's very embarrassing for sc but extremely funny to their friends
(I am SO sorry. Where do these hide? Why do I never see them? How long has this been here?!
Anyways, have some cute nonsense!)
The day starts like any other, honestly.
Like, sure, Kara’s never thrilled when she wakes up 20 minutes late and has to use superspeed to get through her morning routine and into the office on time, but it happens regularly enough that she’s just sort of used to it by now. Like, the sky is blue, the grass is green, she manages time poorly. Whatever.
But she does get to work on time, with just enough to spare that she can make a brief detour to Nia’s desk for the coffee her protege has already bought for her, thank her profusely (with perhaps minor promising of firstborn children), and slip into the morning meeting just as Snapper, James, and Lena start handing out assignments for the day.
“Well, well, good of you to join us, Ponytail. Let me guess, a family emergency kept you out all night again?”
‘I mean, that Abraxian wasn’t my family, technically, but someone’s family, so…’ “Something like that. Sorry.”
Lena catches her eye and quirks a brow in question, but Kara just shrugs easily and sips her coffee, pulling a silly face at her friend when Snapper’s attention moves away from her. When her eyes uncross, she can tell Lena is fighting not to laugh, eyes sparking with mirth as she bites her lip. Kara takes another sip of coffee, feeling a bit smug that she can get Lena to smile without even having to say anything to her. That’s real talent, right there.
Especially since Lena has to stand up at the front with James, who has been by turns cold, dejected, and surly toward her since their breakup (a big, real, final one) a few weeks prior. Lena had said that the whole thing was a mistake, that she should’ve never gone for it in the first place because she’d been right the first time- they’d had some chemistry, after all, but it certainly wasn’t compatible long-term. 
Which… Kara can certainly relate. Like, a lot.
Especially about the whole… James being kind of wounded about it part. That part had really sucked- when he’d done it with Kara, who he’d gone on like, a date with, it’d resulted in him deciding to become a vigilante. Rao only knows what he’ll do when it’s someone he dated on and off for over a year...
“Ponytail!”
Kara jumps, realizing too late that her wandering attention hasn’t gone unnoticed. “Yes, sir?”
Snapper rolls his eyes. “Great, now that you’ve stopped orbiting Saturn, you wanna go get that article started?”
Kara’s eyes widen slightly in a panic as she realizes that she has no idea what he’s talking about. “Uh…” Behind his back, Lena catches her eye and nods subtly. Thank Rao. “Yes. I super do.”
Lena snorts, James sighs deeply, and the meeting is adjourned.
**
“So what exactly am I supposed to be doing today?” Kara asks Lena as they stroll out of the conference room together.
“Well unfortunately for you, you have to interview a big-time CEO. You have a meeting scheduled with her in three hours.”
“You?” Kara asks hopefully.
“You’re very sweet,” Lena chuckles. “No, Elena Watts. She’s a real estate developer, and she runs a nonprofit organization for homeless youth. It’s one of the articles we’re doing for next month’s spread. Contrary to popular belief, Cat and I weren’t the only women with high-profile jobs in this city. ”
“Oh, that’s pretty cool! Have you met her?”
“Not personally, no, but I have donated to her charity- it’s a very good cause, especially the outreach they do with queer youth.”
Kara elbows Lena gently. “You’re such a softie.”
“Mmm, maybe. But if you tell anyone, you’re fired.”
Kara clutches a hand to her chest, feigning horror. “Why Miss Luthor, what a blatant abuse of power!”
Lena shrugs. “I’m a Luthor, darling, I have to keep up appearances somehow.”
“Ouch,” Kara laughs. “See you at lunch?”
“Only if lunch includes a milkshake- I have a teleconference with both boards today. Unless you feel like joining me?”
“Wow, well as fun as that sounds, I’m gonna go do literally anything else.” Her comms crackle to life, alerting her of a hostage situation downtown, and Kara sighs. So much for a work day. “Alright, well, I’m, um, gonna go… see what I can find on Elena Watts. Maybe over another cup of coffee at Noonan’s.” She widens her eyes a bit, trying her best to convey that she’s going to be on Super-duty for a little while.
Thankfully, Lena picks up on it and grins. “You just want sticky buns.”
“Lena, I always want sticky buns. They’re like, my second favorite thing to eat.”
“Oh? What’s the first?” Lena asks, voice just a bit lower than usual. 
Kara opens her mouth and closes it, flushing slightly as she averts her gaze and adjusts the laptop bag on her shoulder. Stuff like that has been happening more and more, and she’s not 100% sure what to do about it. Because on the one hand, it makes her stomach do flips and tie up in knots and makes her brain do this… staticky thing where nothing filters in or out, just a pleasant buzz of how funny and smart Lena is and how much Kara likes hanging out with her and being flirted with (because that’s definitely what’s been happening, even if neither of them is really ready to address it) and just generally looking at Lena.... who is currently biting her lip and grinning up at Kara, and that buzz makes her kinda dumb, which is just really unhelpful. But on the other hand, it’s also kinda awesome and Kara really enjoys it, and-
“Kara?”
She spaced out again. Crap.
“Um. What time are you free for lunch?”
Lena sighs, seeming slightly disappointed that Kara isn’t flirting back at the moment (and thank Rao Lena can’t read minds), but she smiles back easily enough as they step off of the elevator. “I should be done by two.”
Feeling emboldened, Kara turns so she’s walking backwards in front of Lena and grins. “It’s a date,” she says with a grin, ducking forward to press a quick “friendly” kiss high on Lena’s cheek. She whirls and jogs out the double doors, leaving Lena smiling exasperatedly after her.
**
It is genuinely baffling to Kara that people still commit crimes in National City. It’s not even an ego thing, really, since Kara tries to keep herself humble (even when she manages to wrap up a hostage situation within twenty seconds of arriving on-scene without injuring any of the criminals or damaging the building too badly). Like, yeah, she gets that there’s a certain element of crazies who just sorta gravitate to places with a local hero, the big-bads who have their own suits and geek-toys and abilities. Them, Kara gets. Kinda sorta. But the regular ones, who are armed with like, pistols? Or knives? Just regular man made stuff without even the benefit of magic or kryptonite or something?
Why? 
She’s sure that if she asked, Lena would have some sort of statistical thing about large cities and poverty and all sorts of other factors that would end up making Kara feel like a jerk for being uncharitable to the criminal element of her city, but at the moment she’s mostly too annoyed by the fact that she has to spend her weekdays chasing them around instead of chasing stories.
Once all the hostages are freed and the cops secure the scene, Kara departs, flying into the alley behind Noonan’s and changing into her regular clothes before she heads inside to do a bit of research before her meeting with Elena Watts in a few hours (just because she’d used it as a cover doesn’t mean it was a bad idea…). She finds her favorite little two-person booth tucked into a quiet corner, plugs in her laptop, and gets to work, asking the waitress to please keep both the coffee and the sticky buns coming.
She gets a surprising amount done by the time she needs to leave for the interview, having a good foundation for what she wants to write and who Elena Watts is.
Ms. Watts turns out to be a pretty nice lady around Eliza’s age, if a bit busy and distracted by the steady flow of people in and out of her office. She answers all Kara’s questions with aplomb, happy to elaborate on most every point and eager to draw attention to the rising issue of homelessness among children and teens in the US.
“When I was young, my dad lost his job at the auto plant. It was supposed to be a temporary layoff, but the factory never reopened. We ended up losing the house, and we lived so far from our extended family that staying with them wasn’t much of an option. We lived in our SUV for six months, sleeping at shelters every now and again, if we could find one that allowed families to stay together. We showered at the local YMCA. Five people and a dog, living and sleeping in an old station wagon- even now, it sounds ridiculous. Eventually, we got back on our feet, but I never forgot that. It was just six months, but it was- and remains- the scariest, most uncertain time in my entire life, and it shaped me in a lot of ways I didn’t expect. And there are kids and families who do that for years. I just want to help them the way I wish that someone had been able to help us.”
At the end of the interview, Kara thanks her profusely for her time and for sharing her story before hurrying off to CatCo to type up a draft for Snapper (“What’s wrong with you, Ponytail, why is everything you bring me sappy and sentimental?”), which she finishes an outline of just in time to send it off before running to Big Belly and L-Corp for lunch with Lena.
She greets the newest in a series of secretaries (Anna? Amy? Ava? Lena’s really missing Jess, these days, but from what she’s told Kara, Jess is kicking butt in her new role as VP of Operations and will probably take over for the COO when he retires in a few years), and the girl waves her in distractedly.
And that’s when Kara’s day goes from normal to not, because inside the office are two masked men holding a stone-faced Lena at gunpoint on her balcony and demanding… something, probably. Kara’s a bit distracted by the loaded gun aimed at Lena’s head.
“Hey!” she yells, attracting both their attention. They whirl on her and Lena’s eyes widen in alarm, and Kara suddenly realizes three things- 1) she’s in her Kara Danvers clothes, not the supersuit, 2) she can’t speed into the suit now that they’re both looking at her, and 3) she has no plan.
Crap.
“Who the hell are you?!” one of them demands.
Kara… doesn’t have a good or snappy answer for that, and instead does the only thing she can think of- she throws the large milkshakes she’s carrying at them as hard as she can.
Which, in retrospect, is too hard, apparently because while yes, it is both funny and gratifying to see two grown men get absolutely leveled by a tasty dairy treat to the face, the one closest to Lena manages to elbow her in such a way that she falls backwards over the rail with an instinctual scream that makes Kara’s heart fly into her throat. She whips off her glasses, and by the time she’s out the window and speeding toward Lena’s flailing form, the suit is materialized. She gets under Lena, catching her carefully and dropping a bit further before slowing down (because she’s been made aware that when she doesn’t, the people she’s saving may as well be hitting the pavement), finally coasting to a stop about 20 feet from the ground.
Lena’s face is screwed up in a forced sort of focus, her hands clutching tightly at Kara’s shoulders and cape as she holds her breath.
“Are you okay?” Kara asks quietly.
Lena swallows thickly and nods, eyes still firmly closed. “I’m alright. Thank you- I’ll admit, I wasn’t quite sure how to get out of that one.”
“What was that? What did they want?”
Lena cracks an eye open. “Oh. you know, just my quarterly assassination attempt. I think my mother was starting to miss me, so she wanted to reach out.”
Kara snorts. “That really shouldn’t be funny.”
“Maybe not, but here we are.” Lena shifts a bit in Kara’s arms, cheeks a bit flushed from the adrenaline rush, and clears her throat. “Not to be rude, Supergirl, but do you think that perhaps we could continue this conversation… on the ground?”
“Oh. Oh! Yeah, sorry. I forgot we were, uh, flying.”
Lena chuckles as they ascend slowly back up to her office. “You forgot you were flying?”
Kara shrugs with an easy smile. “I guess you have that effect on me.”
Lena huffs a laugh against Kara’s neck, eyes squeezed shut again. They alight on the balcony, finding the two men still unconscious, covered in Kara and Lena’s lunch. Lena sighs as Kara sets her down, pinching the bridge of her nose. “What a mess.”
“Yeah, sorry, I sorta… panicked.”  
“I was so looking forward to a milkshake too…” Lena laments playfully.
“Well, then I have good news and bad news,” Kara says. She reaches out and gently wipes a bit of her own chocolate shake from Lena’s cheek with the pad of her thumb, tucking it into her mouth on instinct to get a taste of it. “The good news is, you do, in fact, have some shake on you!”
“Whats the bad news?” 
“Also that you have some shake on you.” Kara laughs, gathering the two men in her arms and hefting them a bit so they’re easier to carry. “I’ll get you another one. Be right back.”
She drops the men at the police station with a brief explanation before flying back into the office. Lena hands over her discarded glasses with a wry grin.
“I figured you’d need these before the police arrive.” She’s putting on a brave front, but she’s clearly still more than a bit rattled, if her too-bright eyes and thundering heartbeat are anything to go by. Kara steps closer and opens her arms in invitation, and Lena doesn’t hesitate to step into them. “Thank you,” Lena says fervently, tucking her face into Kara’s shoulder and wrapping her arms tight around Kara’s waist. 
“Always,” Kara promises, daring to press a reassuring kiss to Lena’s temple (and getting a bit of Lena’s strawberry shake for her troubles) before wrapping her up even tighter in her arms. “Are you actually okay?”
“I mean, my fear of heights has been reaffirmed,” Lena jokes, “but aside from that, I’m not hurt.”
“Good. I don’t like, love people pointing guns at you. Just so you know.”
“I’m not a fan either, for the record,” Lena drawls, burrowing even closer. “Even though I know you’ll save me, it still puts a damper on my day.”
Kara huffs a laugh. “Same.”
They stay like that for a few minutes, until Lena’s calmed down enough to stop shaking and calls her assistant (Audra, apparently) in, telling her what’d happened and that the police would be arriving shortly to take her and Kara’s statements, and please advise the security team to let them up discreetly. After the cops arrive, it’s a blur of questions, and Kara has to concentrate on telling the story of how she’d panicked and thrown the milkshakes at the men, and one of them had knocked Lena over the balcony (all true), and Kara had yelled for Supergirl, who had knocked the men out on her way to Lena (also technically mostly true. Technically. Mostly.). The police are sure to tell Kara that next time, she shouldn’t throw things at people with guns, and also to tell them both how lucky they are that Supergirl had shown up when she did.
“She’s always there when I need her,” Lena agrees, throwing a sly wink over the officer’s shoulder at Kara.
Kara just shakes her head and smiles. Even almost dying isn’t enough to make Lena not flirt with her. The woman is truly a marvel.
Kara’s comms crackle again, accompanied by Alex’s custom ringtone on her cell, and after assuring the police that she has no issue with giving another statement if they need her to later, hurries over to the DEO (making a quick stop in the back alley to change into her suit).
**
When Kara arrives, she’s told that J’onn and Alex are waiting for her in the Directors’ offices. She makes her way there, waving to the agents and scientists she knows. But it’s very weird, because every time one of them sees her, they start giggling before quickly hurrying off in the opposite direction. Like, literally everyone is whispering and pointing and giggling, and it’s giving Kara such visceral flashbacks to high school that it’s all she can do to not check her cape for a taped on sign that says ‘Kick me’ or ‘Freak’.
(Kids are mean.)
By the time Kara gets to her destination, she’s fully paranoid, sure that someone’s playing a prank on her, somehow, and that everyone but her is in on the joke. She opens the door with more force than intended and catches it just before the handle puts a hole in the wall, throwing Alex and J’onn a sheepish smile. She closes the door extra gently and leans against it heavily. J’onn and Alex just stare at her, looking thoroughly unimpressed.
“Busy day, Supergirl?” Alex asks, and after half a lifetime of spending time with her, Kara recognizes that she, too, is trying not to laugh. 
Kara’s had enough. “Okay, do I have something on my face? Or on the suit? Is someone messing with me?”
J’onn’s brow furrows. “No.”
“Then what’s the deal? Why is the entire DEO like… laughing at me? Did someone accidentally vent the lab fumes out into the main hub again?”
“No.”
“Did someone see me crash into that billboard last week?”
J’onn’s frown deepens. “What?”
“No,” Alex answers.
“Then why is everyone laughing at me?!”
“I mean, if I had to guess, I’d say it’s because of that,” Alex muses, nodding toward the big TV on the wall beside Kara.
She steps back to watch the news coverage of her dealing with the hostage situation this morning and frowns. “What, those guys? That was routine, what’s so funny about tha-”
“No, no, not that. That,” Alex clarifies, cranking up the volume.
“...reports are saying that the CEO of L-Corp, Lena Luthor, experienced an attempt on her life early this afternoon. Sources claim that she fell from a considerable height-”
“Hey, she was pushed,” Kara corrects.
“Shh!”
“...caught by Supergirl, who may have gotten a little… familiar with her.”
And there’s a video (clearly recorded on a cell phone but not the worst quality Kara’s ever seen) of Kara catching Lena and slowing to a stop above the sidewalk, of them talking quietly, of Kara’s hand definitely on Lena’s-
“Oh. Oh no.”
“Oh yes,” Alex drawls, clicking the TV off with relish, a large, evil-big-sister grin spreading across her face. “Congratulations, Supergirl- the world just watched you grope Lena Luthor’s ass.”
“But I’m not- I wasn’t groping, I was catching! My hands weren’t… If it was groping, I’d be all up on her, and I wasn’t!”
“Camera begs to differ. It’s already trending on Twitter in National CIty.”
Kara puts her head in her hands and groans. “Why?! I was trying to save her!”
“You were definitely trying to save part of her,” Alex agrees. “Granted, it’s a very nice part...”
Kara’s head pops up, and she shoots Alex a look that’s between a pout and a glare. “You’re not helping.”
Alex feigns confusion. “Am I supposed to be helping?”
“Alright, enough,” J’onn cuts in before Kara can retort. “We just wanted you to be aware. I don’t think that this is going to be taken for anything more than it is- a humorous moment in the middle of a successful rescue. You shouldn’t worry about the press.”
And truth be told, Kara isn't worried about the press- she’s worried about the fact that she’s going to have to face Lena after this. Lena, who she knows for a fact has google alerts set for herself, Kara Danvers, and Supergirl, a gesture which is normally actually sweet and kind but is right now definitely gonna bite her in the-
“Okay! So, is that all?”
Alex blinks, looks over at J’onn, and shrugs. “I mean, yeah. Try not to make a habit of groping your crush when you’re in the suit.”
“I wasn’t groping her-”
Alex grins. “So you admit you have a crush? Interesting…”
“Alex!”
**
J’onn’s prediction is mostly right- no one seems to be taking the shots of her grabbi- saving Lena as anything other than a funny blip of a moment in their coverage of it.
He was wrong about the sheer scale. The clip had gone totally viral in a matter of hours, and seemingly every major network in the country has run the clip at least once as a bit of filler-fluff, and almost every major network anchor (including the ones at CatCo, the traitors) has made at least a passing joke about Supergirl being ‘Super-Handsy'.
Which means that Kara is very late getting back to Lena’s office with replacement food. But like, she’s been busy, okay? It’s not like she’s avoiding Lena, or something, because she’s embarrassed- which she isn’t, because she didn’t do anything bad or wrong and-
Anyways, it’s well past sunset by the time Kara gets to Lena’s office door again. She hesitates outside it for just a moment before shouldering the door open and knocking tentatively.
Lena’s attention jerks from whatever she’d been absorbed in to Kara, and a relieved smile blooms across her face. “Hey there.”
Kara finds herself equally relieved to not experience a repeat performance of earlier scary situations. “Hi,” Kara says, unable to resist smiling back. She raises the bags and cup carrier. “I bring grease and milkshakes. Again.”
“Oh thank god, I’m starving,” Lena says, rolling her chair away from her desk and rising into a deep and probably much-needed stretch. Kara very determinedly does not stare at the slight sliver of soft tummy that appears between her blouse and skirt at the motion. “I’ve been staring at this screen for several hours. And Sam called to yell at me- she says hello, by the way- she and Ruby are in town next weekend.”
“Good!” Kara crosses the room to the couch as Lena does, easily spreading out the veritable buffet of fast food she’d brought over the coffee table. “I mean, not good that she yelled at you, or that you’re still at work, Miss Luthor,” she says pointedly, receiving only an unapologetic shrug in response. “But good that, um-”
“I get it,” Lena chuckles, resting a hand lightly on Kara’s knee and boy, if that doesn’t make Kara’s brain go fuzzy and dumb again… “Thank you, for checking in.”
“Of course I was gonna check on you, Lena,” Kara huffs. “Plus, I know you probably didn’t get lunch, so…”
Lena hums around a mouthful of burger, chewing until she can politely speak again. “Well it’s delicious. Did you make it yourself?” she teases with a sly grin.
“Oh, yeah, totally. Slaved away over a hot stove for this- I just wrapped it in Big Belly wrappers so you wouldn’t feel bad about it.”
“Very clever.” Lena pops the lid off of her milkshake and drags a fry through it (an advanced culinary delicacy Kara had horrified her with initially but had eventually become a bit of a guilty pleasure). “Although I have to say, traditionally you’d have to buy me dinner before you grabbed my ass.”
Kara chokes on a pickle. “Oh no,” she groans, dropping the burger onto the wrapper on the table and dropping her very red face into her hands as Lena laughs beside her. She peers out from between her fingers. “I am so sorry, I was just worried about you hitting the pavement and like, catching you in the least jarring way and I wasn’t paying attention to where my hands were and I didn’t even notice until I got back to the DEO and-”
“Well I have so say, I feel a bit offended that you didn’t even realize you were copping a feel...” When the only response is another groan and a deep flush spreading from Kara’s neck to the tips of her ears, Lena relents. “Kara, Kara, it’s fine!” she laughs, pulling Kara’s hands away from her face and giving them a grounding squeeze. “Nia’s been sending me memes about it all day, which has improved my mood significantly. On the grand scale of fallout from assassination attempts, this one was at least funny.”
“I know that’s supposed to be comforting, but all it makes me wanna do is wrap you in bubble wrap forever,” Kara informs her.
“Pass on that. But seriously, don’t worry about it- I know it wasn’t on purpose- unfortunately for me, you’re too noble to do something like that,” Lena laments playfully.
And whether it’s the knowledge that Lena is not, in fact, upset, the overall weirdness that has been this day, or this delicious burger fueling it, Kara feels a bit emboldened. “Hey Lena…”
“Yes?”
“What if I wanted to grab your butt? Just, y’know, as a hypothetical. For future reference.”
Lena quirks a brow at her, fighting a smile as she contemplates this. “Hmm. Strictly hypothetically?”
Kara scoots a bit closer on the couch. “Sure.”
 “Well, you’ve already bought me dinner…”
“And lunch, technically. Even if I gave it to the bad guys.”
“True. Plus you saved my life, so that gets you some points, probably.”
Kara pauses in her sly scooching. “Oh, hey, wait, no, that’s not-” 
“Kidding, Kara. I know you’d never use that to your advantage. I, however, have determined that strong moral fibre and nobility do, in fact, earn you more points, which is my choice on the matter and you get absolutely no say in it.”
“Oh. Um, alright, I think.”
Lena stares off into the middle distance, tapping her forefinger thoughtfully against her chin. Finally she shrugs. “Yes, I think you’re fulfilled the prerequisites for a bit of grab-ass today.”
Kara snorts, Lena laughs, and soon enough Kara takes her up on the offer.
**
“Hey Kara, remember that time you grabbed Lena’s ass and it made international news?” Nia asks around a mouthful of mushu pork.
“You mean last week? Yes, I remember,” Kara drawls. Beside her/halfway sitting on her lap, Lena snorts.
“That was the best.”
Alex glares. “Um, excuse you, no. No it was not. I had to sift through so much thirsting over my sister on like, every social media platform. It was the worst day of my life.”
Brainy’s brow furrows. “Surely that cannot be correct, Alex. Statistically speaking-”
Alex holds up a hand, cutting him off. “Trauma can’t be measured, Brainy.”
Kelly chuckles and presses a consoling kiss to Alex’s cheek, and it makes the tough agent melt into a doe-eyed puddle of mush that Kara snorts. And she says they’re gross... Kara sneaks a glance at Lena from the corner of her eye, and she catches Lena looking at her. She leans close and jostles her gently as she drops her head onto Lena’ shoulder. “We’re never gonna live that down, are we?”
“Probably not.”
“We have the worst friends.” When this elicits nothing but a chuckle, Kara tips her head back to see Lena still looking at her, a soft smile playing at her mouth and shining in her eyes. And like, this whole thing they’re doing is new, with the kissing and the actual dates and the... everything else. But the thing where Kara catches Lena looking at her and she doesn’t look away? That freakin’ knocks her out, every single time. “Hey,” she manages.
Lena grins down at her. “Hi.”
So yeah. Maybe the initial circumstances weren’t ideal, and she doesn’t love the mockery that’s been heaped upon her by all of her friends and loved ones (including Winn, who’d sent a missive from the future that literally just said ‘LOL’). But the fact is, Kara muses as she surges up just enough to kiss the corner of Lena’s mouth, that she doesn’t regret a thing.
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Midorima Shintarō: How Strong Is He?
So, I’m making this post in response to a couple asks I got (one by @taigaakagami and another anonymous one) asking some questions about Midorima:
Do I think Midorima is underrated in the GoM? This question includes Midorima being unable to go into the Zone/analysis on if he even needs the Zone.
What would it would be like if Midorima did enter the Zone? I’ll also talk about why Midorima hasn’t entered the Zone/if he even can enter the Zone.
Do I think Midorima is the best shooting guard in the series, despite the fact that characters like Hyuuga, Tatsuya, and Mibuchi are also strong shooting guards?
I don’t know that this post will be super long, but I’m going to try and answer these questions thoroughly. I’ll say upfront that I do think Midorima is the weakest of all the GoM members, excluding Kuroko. I’ve said this before in my posts, and the reasoning goes beyond the fact that Midorima is the only member of the GoM starters that hasn’t gone into the Zone. Let’s break down Midorima’s skills first, and then we can get into the comparisons.
TL;DR in bold
P.S. For the sake of argument, just know that when I say “GoM members” in this specific post, I never mean to include Kuroko. No offense to Kuroko, but on his own, he isn’t in the same league as the GoM starters.
Midorima’s Abilities & Weaknesses
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Midorima’s basic abilities include his shooting accuracy, his defense, his intelligence, and his physical strength. He also improved his endurance over the course of the series to enhance his ability to shoot physically draining shots for longer periods of time. Of course, Kuroko no Basket is famous for naming every advanced ability a player has, so Midorima also has a few of those. His Super Three Point Shot allows him to shoot accurate three-pointers from the half-court and full-court lines, and the Sky-Direct Three Point Shot is a combination shot with Takao where Takao will pass the ball to Midorima’s hands--as he’s already in a shooting form--and Midorima makes the shot. This prevents any opponents from blocking the shot as Midorima can throw it off before the opposing team realizes what’s happened. Unless it’s Akashi, but we don’t need to get into that.
Though Midorima’s endurance isn’t a weakness for him anymore, like it was at the beginning of the series, he is still weak when it comes to the physicality of his GoM skills. Yes, he can make incredible shots that no one else can make, but it will definitely tear up his body in the process. If he’s able to make it to adulthood without seriously injuring his joints and muscles, he’ll be unstoppable, but until then, Midorima has to put limiters on his ability to remain healthy. Additionally, he can’t enter the Zone. Whether he needs to enter it or not is something we’re about to get into, but for now, it’s considered a weakness.
Is Midorima Underrated?
Asking if Midorima is underrated is kind of a subjective question, so really, this answer is up to whoever is reading this, but if I’m trying to be as objective as possible, I’m going to look at the comparisons between him and the other GoM members. How do fans of KnB react to Midorima in comparison to the other members? Do they generally think his abilities are weaker? Are his abilities weaker?
Here’s the thing: from what I know of the fandom surrounding KnB, it seems that people simply find Midorima’s abilities boring. Yes, everyone loves the Sky-Direct Three, but that’s because it’s a Midorima/Takao thing. It’s an awesome skill because it needs both of them. I think the mystique that comes with Akashi, the overwhelming awe that comes with Murasakibara, the amazement that comes with Aomine, and the surprises that come with Kise are too difficult to compete with. Midorima doesn’t have the same wow factor that they do. So, to that end, I don’t think Midorima is underrated because he is what he is. Some people really love him as a character and a player, and some people probably dislike him. But I don’t think people are underestimating his abilities. I think it’s perfectly clear to most people that his abilities are the most vanilla, if you will, despite potentially being the most useful. Plus, there’s the fact that he can’t enter the Zone. So, you’d be forgiven if you thought Midorima was the weakest based on that since the other members have all gone into the Zone.
Does Midorima Need the Zone?
Is Midorima underrated on the grounds that people think he’s weak for not being able to go into the Zone, despite him not even needing the Zone to being with? That is a possibility, yeah. I’ll talk about what a Midorima-in-the-Zone playstyle would look like in a minute, but I’ll agree with the notion that Midorima probably doesn’t need the Zone at all.
When players enter the Zone, you’re basically looking at the enhancement of all basic abilities. You’re faster, your more accurate, you’ve got more power. The downside to the Zone is that it drains the stamina of the player significantly. The requirements for entering are vast amounts of talent and passion for basketball.
The way I see it is that Midorima may actually be hindered by going into the Zone. The endurance training he completed to be able to use his abilities for an entire game would be wasted by draining his stamina in the Zone. Also, Midorima isn’t a very mobile player. He can be swift, and he does use power on defense, but his position as a shooting guard means constant movement isn’t necessary. Aomine, for example, needs to be able to drive and jump and dodge and pivot, so an increase in his physical abilities would only make those things more precise. Akashi needs to outmaneuver his opponents at the top of the key and make the correct passes to get the ball through, so being more agile benefits him. For Midorima, though, those improvements would go to waste.
What if Midorima did enter the Zone?
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What would it look like for Midorima to be in the Zone? Why can’t he enter it already? Let’s answer that second question first. If Midorima meets both of the requirements for being in the Zone, why hasn’t he entered the Zone? Is it because he doesn’t have the talent? Well, no, because he’s a GoM member. And we know he loves basketball. So, what is it that keeps him away? I don’t think there’s a clear answer to this, but if I had to reach for one, it would be that Midorima doesn’t go one-on-one with people enough for him to focus in the way you need to if you’re gonna get into the Zone. I know that Midorima did go one-on-one with Kagami, but that showdown never had the same high-energy, high-movement feel that the Kagami/Aomine showdown did, or the Kagami/Kise one did.
As a shooting guard, Midorima is basically getting the ball to throw it off right away. He’s not in a position that favors one-on-one moments. I mean, of course, there’s always going to be some moments like that because shooting guards still have defenders, but it’s nothing like a power forward trying to make it past a center or a point guard trying to shake his defender so he can drive. It’s mostly just a.) the shooting guard gets the ball and b.) the defender tries to block it or knock it out of their opponent’s hands. Without the sense of rivalry being enhanced with one-on-one play, Midorima never really focuses hard enough to enter the Zone.
There is also the possibility that he can’t enter the Zone because he relies on his team more than the other GoM members. Which would also explain why Kuroko can’t go into the Zone. All of the GoM members rely on their teammates--well, Aomine is a work in progress, but he’s open to it, so we’ll leave that there--but Midorima is dependent on his team to perform at his best. Before meeting Takao, this wasn’t the case, but his skills elevated with the Sky-Direct Three, so his best now includes that. Meaning, he needs someone else to achieve it. Maybe that’s a stretch, but nonetheless. Look at it this way: Midorima is the only GoM member that hasn’t done the whole, “No offense to my team, but this moment is just about me” thing. Like, even Kise, who is super pro-teamwork, expressed his immaturity during his match with Seirin because he wanted to carry the burden of winning on his own. Midorima doesn’t do that, though, so maybe his lack of selfishness is why he can’t enter the Zone.
But what if he did?
I honestly don’t know that I can imagine a Midorima-in-the-Zone playstyle. It’s not like his accuracy can increase in the Zone if his accuracy is always 100%, right? I really think the only thing that would be different about Midorima in the Zone would be his speed. Which would, essentially, equate to him being able to throw shots off faster. I guess, potentially, he may step out of his traditional role as a shooting guard if he were in the Zone. Like, maybe he’d steal the ball back after a turnover or something. Takao definitely wouldn’t be able to keep up with him in the Zone, though, so I’m sure a game with Midorima in the Zone would end up like any other GoM-in-the-Zone game: Midorima running the whole thing by himself. I really don’t think it would look much different than the games we’ve already seen with Midorima, though. He’d just be sharper. I guess that’s why he was never written to go into the Zone because his abilities don’t really lend themselves to superhuman improvement. Probably because they’re already pretty superhuman.
Is Midorima the Best Shooting Guard in KnB?
Can I answer this with a short answer? Yes, he is. I’m not gonna front and say that the other incredible shooting guards in the series wouldn’t give Midorima a good fight. Tatsuya and Mibuchi, especially, but Hyuuga has also proven that he’s a worthy opponent for him. But it really comes down to accuracy. Midorima could be tricked by Tatsuya shots or foul off of Mibuchi’s, but they can miss. Midorima can’t. Actually, if it came down to a battle of accuracy, Hyuuga is probably the one I’d pick to go up against Midorima. And we’re talking individual abilities here, okay, not a team verses Midorima. One-on-one, Midorima’s basic abilities as a shooting guard outweigh anything else. That’s what they were designed to do when Midorima was written as a character, so I think it’s accurate to say that Midorima would win against any other shooting guard in the series 9 times out of 10. Now, that tenth time may be an interesting discussion to have, but that’s another post for another time.
Well, sorry this took so long to post. I meant to post it about a month ago, but hectic lives don’t leave room for KnB blogs. Anyway, please let me know your thoughts on this topic as I’m sure there are some of you reading that think Midorima is the strongest GoM player or that he’s so weak, any other shooting guard could beat him. I will try to make time for the pile of asks in my inbox in the future, so please bear with me and keep an eye out for what’s to come!
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victoria-daydreams · 3 years
Text
Of Vices and Virtues
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AN: This story is being crossposted from my Fanfiction account. I figured I might as well post it up here, there’s not enough black!oc X-Men fanfictions to be honest. If anyone wants to be added to the taglist for this story let me know.
Summary: Claudia Walker created the perfect facade she had a simple life, a simple job. There was nothing remarkable about her. Until two men offer her the chance to do something with her powers to stop a war looming on the horizon. In a fight between good and evil, loyalties strain and relationships grow. The world's changing for better and worse, and Claudia is right in the middle of it.
Disclaimer: I do not own X-Men just the OCs in the story.
Trigger warnings: none I can think of
Word Count: 4.3k
Chapter One: The Queen of Hearts
The music started up, with the sultry tango beats of "Whatever Lola Wants" by Sarah Vaughn. Her colorful voice lit like a spark in the air, and with it, the seductive lyrics of the song. The air seemed to crackle as I spun away from my dance partner, but a strong hand ripped me back into his grasp. With glittering eyes I pressed myself against him, his hand tenderly slipping over my back. We side-stepped as the singer continued to croon the audience with her hypnotic lyrics.
"Whatever Lola wants, Lola gets,"
"And silly man, Lola wants you," I sung to the man, who was completely entranced.
He stopped dancing to trace along my curvy figure slowly, extracting a long breath from my lips. He rejoined my hands smoothing his over my fingers. I crossed my left foot seductively in front of the right, while cocking my head mischievously to side. He smiled and placed his right hand dangerously low on my back. Before he could change direction again, I elevated my right foot, kicking it behind me, and situated behind his right leg, coquettishly hooking around his toned calf. I smirked, savoring the attention I was getting from my dance partner and the men who were watching me dance.
The man copied me by kicking his right leg between the middle of my two. He was daring, and he pressed my chest into his.
"I always get what I aim for. And your heart and soul is what I came for,"
The song finished up and I pulled away from him, creating space between us, "You may go now, I've had my fun," I instructed, trailing my index finger up over the man's tie.
He nodded and shuffled off of the dance floor. I made my way off of the dance floor, to order another drink. It was Saturday night, and the nightlife was at its height. I took my seat on the bar stool, signaling for the bartender to pour me another drink. I grabbed my clutch that was hiding underneath the chair and opened it, pulling out a compact mirror.
I looked at my reflection, my eyes were a brilliant almond shape, with dark brown irises that held knowledge and wisdom beyond my years. My lashes were long, dark, and thick. My lips were red with lipstick, but full and perfect. My wide nose curved in a delicate slope and I could clearly see my defined cheekbones. I combed my fingers through my hair making sure that every hair was in place and checking that my makeup hadn't smudged. I snapped my mirror shut and placed back it back into my purse, a sigh escaping me.
I had always known I was different since I was a child. I always felt out of place. I never blamed my parents for that. They loved me and they always did what they thought was the best for me. Well, at least what was good for them I suppose.
It was at the age of eighteen when I left my home, leaving my past in Pennsylvania far behind me. My memories from there were unpleasant, to say the least, and I needed to leave. To start a new life elsewhere, in central New York. Money was never a problem, I had a decent paying job as a psychologist's assistant at a private practice and a well furnished apartment. But I still found myself drinking away my sorrows. At this point in my life, I had to every reason to be happy, but I knew deep down I wasn't. There was always that loneliness, biting at my insides.
Someone cleared their throat next to my ear, something I wasn't all to fond of.
I glanced at them, raising an eyebrow, "Something I can do for you, stranger?" I asked, barely masking my annoyance.
He smiled, and I made a note to admire it. He was pretty handsome it, but he was overly cocky, I could tell by the way he made himself comfortable next to me, leaning forward and resting his elbows on the bar, and getting way too into my personal space. Not to mention he was easily in his mid-forties. I had just turned twenty-two
“Fucking creep, I thought.
"Michael, my name is Michael, Mike for short. You can help me by maybe letting me buy you a drink,"
I raised an eyebrow at this, he moved pretty fast. He must do this all the time to women he thought were drunk. Too bad for him, it took me more than a couple of drinks to have lost my common sense. Pushing my shoulder length, curled black hair out of my face. I faced him to reply as two other men approached, I didn't want any trouble, but the audacity of the man made my blood boil.
"And what do you expect in return for this drink?"
He smiled and leaned in closer to me, placing a hand on my thigh.
"The bastard thought he was in, didn't he?" I thought.
"Well, maybe just a friend," he smirked.
I rolled my eyes and smiled lightly at him, leaning in until our lips barely touched.
"With you? I'd rather watch the grass grow," I replied dryly, eying him up and down, as if he was something I'd find on the bottom of my shoe. "My mama didn't raise me to accept drinks from men I barely know, and my daddy taught me how to break a hand in seven different places, so remove it or I'll do it for you, Mike," I punctuated my sentence by grasping his middle finger in my fist and slowly bending it back, until I heard the pop that let me knew I dislocated it. "Next time I'll break it," I threatened.
"You bitch-" He began, but was interrupted mid-word by me.
"Run along, before I make you gouge out your eyes with a butter knife," I commanded boredly, putting effort into making my words go through the older man's head. The man walked away dutifully and I smirked. "There's a good boy," I cooed, turning away from him and took a sip of my vodka martini.
I heard a chuckle of laughter behind me, causing me to turn around again and examine the new arrivals behind me. The two men who I saw previously were now directly behind me, they appeared to be in their early thirties or late twenties. Despite being slightly tipsy, I couldn't help but gape a little when I properly looked at the two men.
The taller of the two had his thick and muscled arms crossing themselves in front of his broad chest. Clad in a short navy trench coat over a pair of long, black pants and a black turtleneck, his perfectly slicked back hair was the ultimate factor that completed the dangerous, rugged look he was probably going for. He looked like a mafia member, or something.
His icy blue eyes were fixed onto my wandering brown eyes unflinchingly, as a dark brow rose to mock me, to tell me that he had seen me appraising his impressive form. I raised my eyebrow and smirked saucily before I turned my gaze away from the taller man and shifted it to the other one, now standing in front of me.
Unlike Mr. Mafia Man and his dark attire, this man was significantly more professional looking. With his sharp pressed grey blazer jacket, a white button up shirt worn inside, the matching dark grey pants and his polished shoes, this guy pretty much screamed 'successful businessman'. He, along with the other man had sharp masculine features – sharp nose, strong, angular jaw line, and the clearest blue eyes I have ever seen. His eyes were so blue they resembled crystals, and were framed by his dark brows. His short, dark hair was tousled casually.
"Your quite clever," the shorter man complimented, with a thick British accent.
"So I've been told, but I've done nothing tonight that would warrant such a compliment," I replied, looking at the man as I lifted my glass to my lips, taking another sip of my martini.
"I think you have, actually. The song, 'Whatever Lola Wants', it fits you," the man remarked.
I raised an eyebrow in confusion, although I had an inkling to know where this was going, "How so?" I asked curiously, tilting my head slightly.
"Has anyone told you that you have an excellent mutation?" the shorter man asked abruptly, a small smile on his face.
"Mutation? You call every woman you meet a mutant?" I snorted, widening my eyes and let out a chuckle that matched my expression, disbelief. "Wow! This must be the night, where the worst pick-up lines are thrown at me," I drawled, before taking another sip of my drink. "I'm sorry to tell you this, but I am just me. I am normal," I laughed, and the taller man just huffed annoyed.
The shorter man smiled at me, then I noticed that his fingers were pressed onto his temple and he was still looking at me. I frowned at the slight nudge in my head. It didn't hurt, but it was very irritating. I focused on strengthening my shield against the nudges. I felt the nudge grow stronger, it was attacking my shield before it finally gave up and left.
The man looked mildly surprised and my mouth turned into a small frown. I really didn't know why he was surprised. Unless.
Mutant.
I glared angrily at him, "I don't know who the hell you are, but stay out of my head!" I snarled. "You have no right!"
I always thought I was alone, that quickly changed only a couple years ago, but ever since that encounter...well I'm uneasy around other mutants, my own mutation was something I kept to myself, only select people in my family knew about it even.
He put his hands up in surrender, "You're right, my apologies. But how? No one has ever been able to feel me before. Are you a telepath?" he asked, studying me with curiosity shining through his eyes.
"No, I'm just highly aware of myself and those around me," I answered with a slight growl, slamming my glass down on the counter nearly breaking it. "You have your tricks, I have mine," I added, glaring at him.
"My name is Charles Xavier," the man introduced in an irritatingly friendly tone. "And this," he said, gesturing to the other man, "Is Erik Lehnsherr. We're like you. We're different. And we need your help. We are-"
"Is there a private place where we could talk?" Erik interjected hastily in a strong German accent, looking mad and broody, as he looked from one side to the next.
I didn't particularly want to know what, if anything at all, they were to offer. I sat there in silent for a few seconds, first looking at Charles, then at Erik, then back at Charles. If this was a game, it certainly wasn't funny in the least.
"Why should I even try to talk to you two? The first thing Mr. Xavier says to me is that I have a mutation and then he follows that up by trying to intrude my thoughts," I argued. "It has been a long and trying night gentlemen, and I'm over it. So, I'm going to try and scavenge what little fun I can find," I concluded, flashing them a faux smile just as a saxophone moaned through the opening of "I Put a Spell on You" by Screamin' Jay Hawkins.
"What do you know, my favorite song," I added grinning, and shook my head beginning to walk away from the two men, only to be stopped by Erik gripping my arm tightly. I leveled him with an icy stare, "Let go of me right now, or I will make you feel pain that you thought was unimaginable," my voice low and threatening.
"Erik..." Charles called warningly.
Erik loosened his grip, freeing my arm slightly, but he made it clear I wasn't going anywhere, "We know you know exactly what you are, and we know what you're capable of. Stop playing coy with us," Erik stated coldly.
"Two strange white men walk into a bar, approach a black woman and accuses her of being a mutant. Forgive me, but you expect me not to find that a bit suspicious," I sassed, before yanking my arm completely out of his grip. I spotted a booth occupied by two men and I walked towards the two men, I gently grasped their chins and looked them in the eyes. "Due to your undying love for me, you two are going to give up your seats," I demanded, manipulating their desires so they reflected my own wishes.
"Of course," one man said eagerly, sliding out of his seat.
"Your wish is my command," the other man stated, getting out of his seat as well.
"Hmm, I know," I smiled, lightly laughing. "Now leave me be," I commanded, shooing them away and the two men nodded their heads and kissed the back of my hands before their departure.
I looked over to Erik and Charles, to see Erik roll his eyes in annoyance and huff before he whispered something to Charles, whose expression was unreadable. Charles and Erik sat in the seat across from me, Erik sat a stiff as a board while Charles seemed relaxed.
I interlocked my fingers together, "Ah, now that is how a gentlemen should behave. I think you should learn from them, Mr. Lehnsherr," I suggested my lips curving into a smirk.
Erik scowled at me, "You never told us your name," he remarked irritated.
"You never asked, Mr. Lehnsherr. Maybe if Mr. Xavier, greeted me properly, you would know," I countered, looking between the two men. "Although, something tells me that you two already know," I added, arching my brow and leaning forward.
"Miss...Claudia Walker, am I right?" Charles asked.
I quickly glanced at Erik and it seemed like he had one eye concentrated on me whilst the other was focused at the crowd in the club.
I focused back on Charles, "You would be correct," I replied, lapsing back into an easy lean. "How exactly did you two find me?" I asked curiously.
"Well, I was in Cerebro-" Charles began.
"Cerebro?" I interjected, scrunching my eyebrows together in confusion.
"It's a machine that helps me locate people like us," Charles explained, he was way too excited to answer my question. He was almost bubbling with excitement. "I was surprised to find you. Your signature was so strong, powerful, which intrigued me. I quickly got your coordinates and here we are," Charles finished happily.
"You certainly didn't make it easy," Erik mentioned, in a slight annoyed tone.
"Hardly, you two are here now aren't you?" I questioned, my tone was playful and I could tell that it was grating Erik's nerves.
"Really? So my eyes weren't playing tricks on me yesterday?" he questioned, as he leaned forward slightly.
"Depends on what you saw," I quipped, a small smile beginning to show.
"I saw you start that brawl. The way your hand curled and your eyes narrowed, you made that skinny man kick the fat, bald one in his groin," Erik remarked, his own mouth curving as he smirked. "You nearly got us entangled in that predicament," he added, looking at me with his piercing eyes.
Not looking away I smiled dangerously, "Yeah that was me," I admitted with a shrug. "I had an inkling that was someone was following me yesterday, I just didn't know it was you two. Whoops," I commented, my voice dripping with sarcasm and shrugged my shoulders again.
"Well, speaking of powers, you know my power. And we would very much like to know all about yours, Miss Walker," Charles started.
"Please, call me Claudia," I started. "I'll demonstrate my powers, but Mr. Grumpy over there has to show me his first," I proposed, flicking my chin out, motioning towards Erik.
Erik's eyes met were now fully focused on me again and I returned his stare.
Charles smiled and leaned forward, his elbows on the table, "Erik has the ability to manipulate metal,"
I narrowed my eyes at Erik and he glared at me in return. He would be very powerful, even with the tiniest bit of metal he would be able to kill someone with the flick of his hand.
"What's that old phrase again?" I asked aloud, tilting my head up as if I was pondering the question. "Oh, that's right. Seeing is believing," I finished, looking back at Erik, raising my eyebrow in challenge.
Erik raised his eyebrows as well, before focusing his eyes on the cutlery in front of him. Nothing happened for a while before they started shaking and eventually they lifted off the table. My eyebrows raised as I stared at the floating knives and forks.
"Do you believe now?" Erik asked, and I could see a ghost of a smirk.
"Well, I'll be damned," I gasped smirking, as I watched the utensils gracefully land back on the table.
"There you go," Erik said. "We showed you ours, now show us yours,"
I sat up in my seat and reached a hand across the table and turned it palm up, "Mr. Xavier, would you be so kind to give me your hand?" I asked.
"Call me Charles, please," Charles replied, sliding his own hand into mine without a moment's hesitation, and out of the corner of my eye I saw Erik grimace.
"You’re too trusting by half, Charles," Erik commented, shaking his head.
I closed my fingers gently around Charles', and slowly a broad, blissful smile stretched across his face as I channeled sensations of contentment into him.
"An empath," he breathed. "My, that's...mmm, that's lovely," Charles laughed, I smirked as I slid my hand back across the table, and Charles took a moment to compose himself.
"Want to see something else?" I asked grinning.
"Yes, please!" Charles exclaimed, grinning back excitedly.
I focused my gaze on one of the knives on table, and narrowed my eyes in concentration. A purple aura surrounded the knife as it raised itself off of the table and floated in mid-air and I maneuvered it to have the blade facing Erik as Charles watched, fascinated at the display I was putting on.
"Remarkable," Charles breathed.
"You’re telekinetic," Erik stated boredly, snatching the knife out of the air by the handle.
"I am," I replied, looking at Erik. "Now, you two are going to tell me why I've been performing tricks like I'm in some circus show," I demanded, glancing between the two men in front of me.
Charles laughed, "You have amazing gifts, a mutation, an ability. Erik and I are recruiting people to help us and in the process you get to learn how to control your powers,"
"Recruiting?" I asked confused, looking at them suspiciously. "For what?"
"That is what we're here to talk to you about," Charles said, sensing the sudden guarded tone in my voice. His eyes held mine in an intense stare. "A war is upon us, Claudia,"
"Yes, I know. The one between the Soviets and America, everyone knows that," I stated, now leaning back into my seat. My mind was reeling at where the conversation was going. Charles nodded firmly. "But what has that got to do with mutants? Or me, more specifically?"
"One of the agents at the CIA discovered a plot, the spark that lit the fire for the nuclear war," This time, it was Erik that had spoken. His soft yet gruff voice flooded into my ears with its tough resonance. "She had gone undercover to see one of the American Colonel's getting pressured into installing missiles into Turkey. That was the first step to angering the Soviets, and they are planning to retaliate. From what she had described, it had been a mutant who was threatening the Colonel,"
"A mutant?" I questioned. "But why?"
"We have no idea as of yet," Charles offered, leaning back into his seat as well.
It was obvious to me that Charles was troubled by the fact that a fellow mutant would want to start a war between two powerful nations.
"Well, do you know who the mastermind is behind all of this?" I asked again, raising an eyebrow.
"Sebastian Shaw," Erik spat, the venom clear in his words. A frown was etched deep into his forehead and his eyes were glaring at the coffee table, as though willing it to break under the hatred burning in his cold blue orbs.
By the way I could sense the hatred coming from Erik's emotions, he was an enemy. A big one.
"So that's why you're recruiting people? Like me?" I asked.
"We're planning to stop Shaw before he could escalate this conflict any further. He has got his own army of mutants to help him," Charles replied. "We need ours," Charles finished.
I ran my hand down my face, closing my eyes and breathed out deeply. This was not how I planned my night going, these two men walk up to me, telling me how they are like me and need my help to prevent World War III. This was a lot for me to take in, in such a short period of time. I mentally made two lists, negative and positive. Positive points: Learn to hone my powers, meet other people like me and this was probably the only chance for me to fit in and have something. Negative points: This could be a trap and if it wasn't a trap my powers could probably kill someone else.
"Give this a chance," Charles' voice urged gently, breaking me out of my thoughts.
I opened my eyes and staring at the two men, Charles and Erik staring back at me. Charles looked at me patiently and Erik looked like as though he had just proven something to Charles.
I pushed a strand of hair behind my ear and took a deep breath, "While this sounds very dire and adventurous, I can't," I answered shaking my head. "Why should I come? I have a perfectly good life right now, with a decent paying job. I don't want to be involved in any war,"
"What?" Erik started, raising an eyebrow. "You don't just charm your way out of everything?" Erik asked mockingly.
I looked at Erik pointedly and glared, "No, actually. Having everything handed to you, makes life quite boring," I retorted.
"We've already spoken to your boss about it," Charles chimed in. "He's willing to grant you an indefinite period of leave from work. Or at least until the whole thing is over," he explained.
"He agreed?" I balked, thinking back to the measly, overweight doctor who had many a times refused to grant me my annual break, unless I used my powers on him.
Charles smiled, "The words 'government' and 'CIA' can be very convincing in situations such as these,"
"He must think me to be some criminal or spy now," I muttered more to myself, before scowling up at the two when I realized what they had done. "You guys move fast. What if I didn't want to join your little team?"
"You'll get your job back," Charles shrugged his shoulders. "Your boss wouldn't even remember meeting anyone by the names of Charles Xavier or Erik Lehnsherr," He tapped his fingers against his temple with a proud smile.
"How convenient, but even if I agree to join you, my life will never be the same. I will be ostracized even more than I already am," I reasoned.
"You don't think the public will accept you?" Charles questioned.
"Charles, please tell me that you’re not this naive?" I asked back. "I don't know how you folks do it across the sea. But Charles, look at me, I am a black woman in America, I'm barely accepted now and I live in the northern part of America. Why would they accept me? Black people are being murdered for the color of their skin since this country was founded. People in the past have been killed for being different. Just look what happened with the Jews and Hitler," I pointed out.
I could feel Erik's mind radiating with anger. I frowned and when I looked up and saw Erik's face. He looked like he stuck in between an inner battle with himself.
"I think humans will accept us sooner or later," Charles stated optimistically.
"Perhaps, that remains to be seen. They don't even accept humans with a different skin color," I countered. Momentarily, a silence fell over us before I spoke up and broke it. "Just to be clear, this isn't some sort of a trap? You two aren't trying to experiment on me?" I asked in a serious tone. "And the CIA and African-Americans do not have the best history, so promise me that they won't try to assassinate me and label me as some black radical," I added.
Charles looked slightly amused, but shook his head, "No, we won't hurt you and the CIA won't hurt you, I promise," Charles reassured, and I nodded then stood up.
I was probably going to regret this.
"I'll...help you guys," I began.
"Thank you, Claudia," Charles interjected gently.
"But, let's be clear that doesn't mean I trust you. We've only just met," I explained, glancing at the two of them.
"Completely understandable, Claudia," Charles replied, nodding his head.
"One more condition, if you want my help," I stated, and Erik scoffed and I glared at him.
"This should be interesting," Erik drawled.
I looked back at Charles, "You have to promise me, if I occasionally let my mental shield down, you will not look inside my mind," I demanded.
Charles looked quite stunned, "Of course. But can I ask, how can you block me out? You're not a telepath,"
My gaze hardened again, "I once knew someone who was,"
Chapter Two: Division X
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lofitojii · 4 years
Text
PART [I] Guardian Angel
*★*――――*★**★*――――*★**★*――――*★*
Summary: You are a new sidekick to the number two hero of Tokyo, Hawks. You team up with another sidekick, Bakugou, in an ongoing investigation on a serial killer. Unexpected interactions happen that flip the whole case around causing new, confusing feelings which alter your relationships in ways you never saw coming. 
Word Count: 4.6k
Warning: Minor Swearing 
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A/N: It’s HERE!!! The new series I’ve been working on for the last month is finally planned out and I’m super excited about it! Please let me know what you think, there will be posts made for discussions before the new part is released. 
NOTE: This is not following the current story at all. The League of Villains do not play any part in this at all, only Dabi. 
Guardian Angel Master List
*★*――――*★**★*――――*★**★*――――*★*
The fall air was crisp, every inhaled breath chilling your body from the inside out. The leaves looked as if they were on fire, the deep crimson, the burnt orange, lighting up the grey world they resided in. This was your favorite time of year, when you could visibly see the seasons change. Despite the fact the darkest part of the year was right around the corner, you were looking forward to all of it. This year was going to be different, you could feel it ridden within you.
It was your first day at your new job, completely unaware and new to the area. You had moved in the weekend prior, receiving the job through a simple phone call interview. You had no idea who or what your new boss looked like. All you knew is that you were hand picked from a group of qualifying sidekicks to the number 2 hero, Hawks. Apparently he is a very busy man, and the only thing you knew about him was that his quirk was similar to yours. Except he can’t put his wings away. 
How can you not know who the number 2 hero is? Well, coming from a rather small town where you worked 7 days a week kind of took up most of your free time, and when you did get a moment to yourself, you were either reading or spending time with the locals. You didn’t care much for TV or the news or social media. You enjoyed quality time and company, something most people didn’t really understand. 
Your quirk was known as the ‘Angel Quirk’ meaning you had white wings that grew in size under your control, whenever you pleased. You also had a healing factor to your quirk, using your feathers as a type of medicine as well. You were a Pro Hero’s sidekick back in your home town but received an email one morning that read: 
Dear Y/N,
After doing intense research and speaking to your most recent employer and university teachers, you have been chosen to accompany Japan’s number 2 hero, Hawks, as his personal sidekick with the goal of becoming one of Japan’s very own perosnal Pro Heroes. According to your employer, he has said he feels you have greater potential that you can’t utilize in your small town. Please give us a call or email us back. Thank you!
-Hawks Agency
You had no idea your previous employer had reached out until you received that letter. You didn’t mind doing small hero work here and there in your small town but when your boss stressed to you that you could be and do more, you decided to reach out. You didn’t know what you were expecting but you had received the job within the first 10 minutes of your interviewl. 
So that’s where you are now, downtown Tokyo, trying your best to understand how the train systems worked. Yeah, you could’ve just flown there but you didn’t want to make a scene before debuting with your new boss. It was just something you had decided, thinking that maybe an article would be released about a new hero coming to town rather than being seen with Hawks himself first. You didn’t want to come off as rude or arrogant, even though you knew you were probably overthinking the situation. 
You just wanted to make a good impression, regardless of what your old boss had said about you. They already have this idea of you, and you wanted to live up to that idea. Your boss did speak highly of you, you didn’t want to let anyone down, mainly yourself. 
“Damn, this city is huge,” you cursed out loud, looking up from the city map you had picked up at the subway stop before you hopped on. “So if that’s the coffee shop, then I still have about a good mile or two before I get to the agency building. Maybe I should use my wings to get the- OOF!” you were hit in the back, causing you to choke on your words and stumble over onto the cement. 
“Sorry!” You looked up to see a man, his red wings casting a long shadow over you. “Didn’t see ya there! Sometimes I’m too fast for my own damn good.” He reached his hand out, letting you tightly grip it as he helped you up. 
“You’re good, I was the one standing there like a mindless idiot,” you joked, reaching down to pick up the things you had dropped due to your collision. When you stood up, you noticed that he was already gone. Wow, so much for being polite. He said sorry but what does that mean when he just flies off without saying anything else? Whatever, you had to get to work so you just decided to brush it off. 
You expanded your white wings, trying your best to fly higher than the city clouds in order to keep people from seeing you. You thought to yourself that maybe this was the best route to work, clear yet cold skys. Not to mention you would cut your full trip in half. You landed in front of the office building, retracting your wings back to its original, small size before entering the building. You approached the girl that was sitting behind a desk, tapping away at her keyboard. You cleared your throat before interrupting. “Hi, I’m the new sidekick Y/N. Just wondering where I need to go?” You asked the front receptionist you guided you towards the elevators. 
“It’s the top floor,” she smiled. “Good luck, Miss Y/N.” You let out a sigh of relief as you stood in the elevator alone. Your day had just barely started and yet you could feel yourself already growing tired of everything. Your temper was rather short today, that man setting something off in you when he left without saying anything. Thank god you didn’t have to worry about him anymore. Tokyo was a rather large city, what are the chances of running into him a second time? You tried your best to shake off the incident that took place this morning, not wanting it to ruin your full day ahead of you. 
You walked up to the giant wooden doors, knocking twice before opening them. You were greeted with a huge open window, a single desk sitting in the middle of the room with a beautiful view behind it. There were bookshelves lined with literature you had read or had planned to read. “Similar tastes,” you whispered as you traced along the backbone of the books. The room was empty, leaving you alone to examine the things you found interesting to you. 
“You like what you see?” Wait a second… That voice... “You must be the new sidekick. How’s it going? I’m Hawks.” You turned around and were faced with the man that had knocked you over earlier. For some reason, dread took over, your actions visible to the man standing in front of you. “Why the long face?” 
“You’re kidding me, right?” you scoffed, the man giving you a blank look. “You literally knocked me off my feet earlier? I dropped everything?” He was still giving you that stupid blank look. “You’re joking…” 
“OH! I remember now. Yeah sorry about that,” he scratched the back of his head nervously. “I was in a hurry.” Wow...
“Obviously.” You rolled your eyes at his comment, unimpressed with the lack of remorse that came through his tone. You felt as if this relationship would be decided here, right now, just based on the way you were feeling as he stood there, a stupid grin plastard on his face. You let out a deep sigh, trying to regulate your breathing so you wouldn’t lash out on your new boss who was standing inches away from you. “I guess I’ll introduce myself since we’ll be working together. My name is Y/N L/N, I’m from a small town about 4 hours out of Tokyo. My quirk is known as the ‘Angel Quirk’ meaning I can do anything you can but better.” 
“Woah, woah,” he stopped you, waving his hands in the air. “That’s a pretty bold statement, newby. What do you mean ‘better’?” 
“I mean I can hide my wings if I want to, and also can expand them when I choose. They regenerate within the hour, I can use them to heal both internal and external wounds depending on how severe the injury is. I can also use them as weapons, hardening them as I please.” 
“Okay but can you use them to listen to things? Do you have the ability to use them as an extension of you? As in, can you use them to listen or to track?” He was grilling you with questions, almost as if you struck a nerve with him. It was quite amusing to see him all flustered like this.
“I can use them to track things within a certain radius, the further away from the feather, the harder it is for me to make things out.” He furrowed his brows, crossing his arms over his chest with a huff. 
“Okay yeah, your quirk is better in some parts but that doesn’t make you better than me.” 
“I never said I was better than you, I only said my quirk was better. You’re the number 2 hero for a reason, I have no doubt in your skill at all.” He really got his feelings hurt that bad by your comment? Talk about a fragile ego. 
He let out a sigh, sounding a little grumpy in his words as he went through the paperwork with you. “Oh and take this,” He handed you a bag, his cheeks flushed red. “I don’t know what it looks like but the design team came up with it since we do have similar quirks.” 
“A new costume?” You raised an eyebrow, looking at the fabric with the paper bag. It was a body suit, like an actual teddy style body suit, a pair of sheer tights, and some knee high boots. There was also a pair of yellow goggles, matching the ones Hawks were wearing. “What if people think we’re dating?” You didn’t really think about it much until Hawks gave you your new costume that was almost identical in color to his. It was balck and gold, just like his shirt, the cropped jacket being a deeper shade of brown, just like his jacket. 
“And? So what if they do? I wouldn’t mind faking it,” he smirked, winking directly at you. He began to laugh as you reached your hand to hide your crimson cheeks. They were warm, you knew his comment made you blush, and so did he.
“Shut the hell up,” you responded, biting your lip. “I’m going to request a new jacket at least. I’m sorry but this color is hideous with the black.” 
“You really think so?” he asked, looking at his own jacket. “Well in that case, I’ll ask for them to give us black ones.” 
“White,” you stopped him. “I want a white one.” 
“White it is, m’lady,” he bowed, getting up from his seat. He leaned over his desk, transitioning from his bowed state, coming face to face with you. He was so close you could smell the lingering fragrance of mint coming from his breath. “I’m excited to work with you.” You quickly got up, bowing in response all in one quick motion, knocking your head with his. It was loud, painful, and embarrassing all within the 30 seconds that it took place. “Ow ow ow ow ow,” he rubbed his forehead, exposing the red bump that was getting ready to form. 
You were quick to pluck two white feathers from the right side of your back, leaning over the desk and pressing it to his forehead. “Hold still,” you struggled to get out as Hawks winced in pain. You let out a deep breath, focusing on the feather in your hand. It was quick to dissolve, leaving Hawks in awe with what had just happened. He sat back down, watching you apply the same treatment to yourself. 
“Wow,” he breathed, still in shock from what just took place. “Your quirk really is cool.” 
“The only downside to my healing is that it’s only possible with the right side of my wings. The left side doesn’t have the same ability,” you admitted while sitting back down, your wings returning to their smaller size so you were able to sit more comfortably. Hawks just sat there, gobsmacked with the events that just occurred. “To be honest, we gotta get this whole bumping into each other thing under control.” 
“You’re telling me,” he whispered, leaning back in his own seat. He finally snapped back into reality after being lost within himself. “Go change into your new costume and I’ll put the order in for the white coat. You’re going on patrol today with one of my other sidekicks. He’s newer to the team so it will be good for you two to get comfortable with each other. I will warn you though, he’s a bit of a hot head. Short temper, super egotistical. Great guy though, you’ll love him.” 
“He sounds wonderful,” you noted sarcastically. You were soon interrupted by the sound of the door opening, being greeted with a blonde haired man with quite the aggressive scowl. 
“What the hell did you say, you damn bird?” You turned your head, taking notice to his rather large grenade equipment covering his forearms. Those have to be super heavy, the look like they weigh more than the man himself. 
“There you are! Bakugou, I’d like you to meet your new partner, Y/N! You guys are going to be working together from here on out. You’re still my sidekicks, so we’re still a team here but when it comes to the more lowkey stuff, like investigations and patrolling, you guys will be working together.” Did he really just say ‘lowkey’? How old is this guy? He’s got to be older than you, having started his own agency, right? 
“Yeah, whatever,” Bakugou growled. Hawks wasn’t kidding when he said this guy was a hot head, the vibe he was giving off really intimidated you. But then again, you weren’t one to take shit, not even from some punk coworker with a short temper. “I’m leaving in 10. Better hurry you noob.” 
“Noob?” You questioned, grabbing your things and following Bakugou out the room. You stopped before you reached the door, turning around and bowing towards Hawks. “Thank you!” 
“Good luck, kid!” He waved back, his smile sweet and reassuring. You had experienced something rather unpleasant that morning with Hawks, only to find out he was your new boss. He seemed to be quite the air head, or at least spacey in some aspect. He was interesting to you, and for some reason you wanted to know more about him. The fact he had asked for you specifically out of all the other applicants was even more interesting to you. Did he choose you for another reason? Was it because you had a similar quirk to his? As time goes on, you can only hope that you’ll uncover these hidden secrets you were so focused on. He didn’t need to tell you he was hiding anything, you could just feel something in his aura. 
You followed Bakugou who led you to the women's locker room, telling you he would wait outside the door for you to be finished. He actually told you to ‘hurry the fuck up’ but you just rolled your eyes at his demand. You thought to yourself that if anyone else would have been paired up with this guy, you were sure they would resign due to his attitude. You weren’t one to give up, though. You were here for a reason, having a set goal that wasn’t about to be ruined due to some smart asses comments. Not to mention, the children in the foster home you grew up in were mean as hell. 
When you put on the outfit, you were flustered by how revealing it was. You did mention that you needed flexibility in your costume but you didn’t think it was going to be some kind of lingerie set. Hopefully the coat you requested is available soon, thinking that maybe it would help cover up some of the more revealing parts. 
You exited the locker room, only things on you being your Hero License and your outfit. Bakugou handed you an ear piece, letting you know it’s used for the both of you, two other side kicks and Hawks himself. “So what exactly are we doing today?” You asked, exiting the building with Bakugou by your side. 
“We’ve been asked to investigate the west side of town. Rumor has it that some dick head guy has been spotted frequently in the area who has been linked to a chain of murdered victims. All the bodies have similar burn marks, as if it’s this guys sick way of marking his work. Our job is to try and see if we can narrow down his exact location.” You had read over the file prior to moving to the city, being asked by the agency so that way you weren’t too behind on what was going on. 
Description: Black hair, scars covering majority of his body, black coat, black shoes, distressed jeans. Last known location: West Tokyo. Number of bodies linked to crime: 12. 
“Well then,” you started, letting your wings grow to their full capability. You reached your hand out towards Bakugou, signaling for him to grab on. 
“What the hell? What are you doing? I don’t need your fucking help.” 
“I get that but if you let me carry you, we could cut our trip time in half and with it being fall, almost winter, it’s going to get dark soon. I have no doubt that you can get there by yourself but if we want to play it smart and more efficient,” you sang, reaching your hand out again for him to take, letting your actions finish your statment. He wasn’t happy about the idea but he knew you were right, making it obvious by his aggressive huff. 
You wrapped Bakugou up in your arms, taking off the second you knew you had a secure grip on him. With flying to the west side of town, it really did cut the travel time in half, leaving you an extra hour or so to investigate, much longer than what the estimated time stated. “Land there!” Bakugou yelled, pointing at the roof of a mini mart that was placed in between two rather tall buildings. You released your grip on him, his immediate reaction being annoyed and bothered by the ‘wind’ and you ‘flying too damn fast’. You just ignored his remarks, letting him take the lead on the investigation so he would stop complaining. 
“How long have you worked for Hawks?” You asked, taking a seat next to Bakugou. He lowered his glasses that matched both yours and Hawks’, using them to enhance his sight towards the ground below. 
“Why do you care?” He growled, avoiding any sort of eye contact with you. 
“Well I don’t but if we’re going to be working together, I think it’s important that we have a bearable relationship, don’t you agree?” 
“No I don’t. I don’t care who you are or where you come from. We’re co workers, that’s it.” You didn’t expect Bakugou’s words to hurt as much as they did. You barely met the guy and he’s already made his decision on how the relationship was going to be. A part of you wanted to just let it go, to just accept the fact that he didn’t care for personal relationships, but the other part, the part of you that always got you into trouble, wanted to know and be more with him. 
“Well I care,” you finally blurted out, causing Bakugou to finally look over at you. “I’m not saying that we have to be friends but if we want to be a strong team, we have to get to know each other on a more personal level. I can see you’re very strong and I also know that we could be really good together. So ignore me all you want but I’m not going to stop asking.” He looked puzzled, as if no one had ever bothered to speak to him like this. It was as if he was thrown into foreign territory and had to figure out how to navigate to the sudden outburst. 
“3 months,” he answered, immitadly turning away from you. You couldn’t help but smile at the small achievement you had accomplished. It wasn’t something drastic or something to celebrate, but you took it as a win regardless.  
After sitting on the roof for a good half hour, you had decided to take street view, letting Bakugou keep the high ground. You were told that the suspect wore a black coat, had dark features, but the main identifier being his scars. He wore the black coat to hide his arms and body and wore a face mask to hide the scars that are suspected to be on his face. 
After mindlessly walking for what felt like forever, Bakugou finally came through the ear piece. “Angel, there’s a man fitting our description on the other side of the street, walking towards your direction.” You were quick to react, trying to spot any signs of a man in a dark coat. You thought you were going to lose him in the crowd, having to make your way through groups of people walking in your opposite direction. 
“Bakugou, I don’t-” You were suddenly cut off, being pushed back by the force of colliding with another person. You lost your balance, falling straight onto the concrete sidewalk below you. “Ouch…” You winced in pain, the collision of your bum hitting the hard concrete rattling you a bit. You looked up to see what it was that you had bumped into, Bakugou screaming in your ear before you could put the pieces together. 
“THAT’S HIM!” You made eye contact, complete shock written across your facial features as you stared directly at the man you had been looking for. 
“Here,” he reached his hand out, offering to help you up from your fall. “Sorry about that. It’s easy to get caught up in these crowds.” You were hesitant to take his hand but did it anyways, knowing that you had to diminish any sort of suspicion. His hand was rough to the touch, as if it was scared more so than dry skin. You noticed his stitches that held his scars together, slightly grazing over them as you released. “Oh uhh.. I got these cause my quirk is too strong for me to really handle.” The man seemed to be around your age, his whole appearance matching the description you were given. 
What do I do? 
“Oh I wasn’t meaning to stare,” you hesitantly assured him, trying to awkwardly laugh off the situation. 
“I haven’t seen you around here before,” he finally changed the subject, the new topic being just as stressful as the last. 
“Oh yeah I’m new to town! Just doing an internship so I’m still kind of new to all of this. I’m just out patrolling the area, making sure nothing bad happens. Ya know, the normal hero stuff.” You awkwardly scratched the back of your head, avoiding eye contact as best as you could. In all honesty, you wanted to cut this conversation short and let Bakugou track him to wherever he was planning on going, but your mind had gone blank. You were unable to think of an out so instead, you had to let the conversation carry on until you found an opening. 
“Well I bet people will feel better having such a pretty hero like you around to keep them safe.” Woah woah woah… Did he really just call you pretty? And are you actually blushing right now at his comment?? Get it together Y/N! 
“Eh- haha. I mean I’m just doing my job, just like any other hero.” Please leave. Please go away. Please give me an opening to get out of here.
“I guess I’ll be seeing a lot more of you then?” His smile was everything but welcoming. You could see that this man wasn’t someone who found heroes pleasant to begin with. The uneasy feeling you had when you made eye contact the first time started to grow, causing you to internally panic. “Cute wings. Reminds me of another Pro Hero I see flying around here sometimes.”
“Uh… Who?” You asked, trying your best to play dumb. He furrowed his brows, your response coming off more suspicious than before. “I’m sorry. Like I said, I’m new here and I don’t even know who I work for. I was just sent here as soon as I got there so I haven’t really met anyone.” 
“Huh. Well I’m sure you’ll meet him soon. Especially if you have wings like that,” he said, pointing to your enlarged wings. “He’s a pretty big fan of people who have similar quirks to his.” 
“I’ll definitely have to keep an eye out then. Sounds like we’d get along.” 
“The names Dabi, by the way. And you are?” Did he really just tell you his name? Was the whole ‘play dumb’ act really working? Could this be some kind of message that he wants to send to Hawks since he was the one who mentioned him? 
“You can call me Angel,” you responded, knowing it was better to offer your hero name rather than your real one. You chose the hero name ‘Angel’ because it could be taken as either a hero name or even a birth given name. 
“Angel,” he repeated, barely above a whisper. “Fitting.” You didn’t respond this time, wanting to let the conversation end there which Dabi caught onto. “Well I’ll let you get back to work Angel. I hope I see you again.” And with that, he was gone, disappearing from your view into the crowd of people.
You were quick to make your way around the block so that way you could communicate with Bakugou without having to worry about Dabi overhearing anything if he had happened to still be in ear shot distance. “Angel what happened!? Did you get anything?” 
“I’ll come find you! Just keep tracking him! I’m on my way!” you told Bakugou before lifting off above the city. You were quick to spot Bakugou who was jumping from rooftop to rooftop, keeping a steady pace and decent distance between him and the suspect. Once Bakugou stopped, you took that as a sign to land on the closest building and follow Bakugou’s actions so that way you could keep a low profile since the suspect now knew who you were. You mentally kicked yourself in the butt, knowing that you should’ve just left after he helped you up. 
“What did he say?” Bakugou barked, his vision focused on the cluster of buildings in front of him. 
“Well I got his name.” 
“And?” He looked over at you, his expression completely unreadable. Were you going to get in trouble for making contact? And on the first day too? 
“Dabi.” Bakugou’s face went white, his expression telling you that maybe they knew more about the suspect than they were telling you. “Bakugou, who’s Dabi?” 
“I pinpointed the location. Let’s get back to the agency and report to Hawks what we found.” 
“I’m not taking us anywhere until you tell me who this Dabi guy is!” 
“Suit yourself you dumb bird.” He was quick to blast off, making his way back in the direction of the agency. You were in shock by his sudden outburst, creating quite the distance between you two. What is going on? You were so confused, only being left more in the dark as Bakugou ignored your multiple questions. 
Snap out of it Y/N! Follow him! 
“What- Bakugou!!”
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Text
Bang Bang
Magnus flipped a coin between his fingers, showing off to his friend, Pamille. The girl watched in awe, as he did seemingly impossible things with the coin. He tossed it in the air, spun it on his middle finger, and made it dance.
"Cool, huh?"
She nodded and leaned against Magnus. He smiled at her and pushed a hand through her hair. She was adorable to the teenager. He smiled at her and kissed her forehead before continuing their walk.
The large building was easy to point out to the two. It was their workplace and it was hard to miss. A huge pink and white building with "GlitchTech Industries", very hard to miss.
"It's such a nice day! Maybe we should go to a park later!"
"That would be nice," She signed.
Magnus looked around the area. It really was a nice day. He sighed and closed his eyes. There was a stinging sensation in his brain that he was trying to ignore.
'There's nothing wrong. Everything's fine.'
"Stop that man!"
There was a man who ran past the two. Magnus' eyes widened and tried to grab Pamille's arm, but she took off. She ran after the man and reached down to grab his pant leg. She was able to and pulled on it, making the man trip and fall. When he turned around and glared at her. Pamille backed up and looked around, hoping someone was pursuing him.
"You bitch! I'll get you!"
The man pulled out a gun, and Magnus' face paled. He wasn't thinking when he ran over to her when he heard the gun cock. He moved in front of Pamille and tried to activate his quirk, but it was too late.
BANG BANG
The man ran away from the scene and left the two. Pamille's eyes opened and looked at her friend. He was keeping himself upright on the wall and turned to smile at her.
"Hey... you're okay..."
He slumped against her and she held him, before turning him around. There were two bullet holes in his side. Pamille gasped and quickly picked him up.
"Pamille- no... you shouldn't carry me..."
Pamille frowned deeply and pulled him onto her back. He'd done so much for her.
---
"Alright! Time for two worlds to meet! Purcell, Pamille, this is Magnus and Rento. Rento, Magnus, this is Purcell and Pamille."
The two duos nodded at each other and Glitch bit her thumbnail.
"The sucky thing is there's a language barrier. The girls speak French and the boys speak Japanese."
"Parlant français? Alors, je m'appelle Magnus!"
Pamille and Purcell's faces lit up at Magnus' French. Glitch's eyebrows raised and smiled at him.
"You really are a genius, huh?
"Heh, yeah, I am. Pamille's a pretty name, y'know."
Pamille was taken aback by the compliment. As the others, the ones who were able to speak, talked amongst themselves, Pamille was focused on Magnus. Suddenly, she walked over to them and hugged Magnus.
"Hey-" Rento objected, but Rento was taken aback when he saw Magnus' reaction. His best friend was crying. Silently, like normal. But... the tears were just slipping from his eyes.
"Magnus..?"
"I... I can't remember the last time I got a hug... that was like this."
The memory was saved in both their minds.
---
The first time he let her into his lab was about 2 weeks after they were introduced to each other. Pamille looked around at the lab.
"Y'know, if you were to bring me into a lab a while ago, I'm sure I would have broken down into tears... however..." Magnus smiles at the room, "This is a tech lab. It's amazing and doesn't remind me of where I used to be."
Pamille cocked her head and walked over to him. She pulled a notepad off of the counter and wrote "What happened at another lab?" before handing it to him. He read it over and frowned.
"I... have been friends with Rento for a long time. Through our friendship, there was a time when we were the closest we'd ever been. When we were kidnapped by these scientists."
Pamille gasped and covered her mouth. Magnus snorted at her reaction.
"Yeah, it was awful. They prodded at my brain and made me 'smarter'. That's why I know so much French. How're you doing with your Japanese lessons?"
Pamille gave him a thumbs-up before grabbing the notepad and writing something in Japanese. When she handed it to him, a smile broke across his face.
"As a certified genius and Japanese citizen, I approve."
The memory was saved in both their minds, but it was a turning point in the trust factor in their relationship.
---
It was about 4 months since the two duos had met, and it was a special day. Pamille's birthday. She got a "Happy Birthday" from Rento, a card from Glitch, and a kiss and a few knives from Purcell. However, she hadn't received anything from Magnus. She went to the lab and looked around. Magnus was putting something in a box before he noticed her.
"Ah, Pamille! You know you can't sneak up on me! My ears are too strong!"
Pamille frowned at him and pulled on his lab coat sleeve. He knew from her face and the way she pulled on his sleeve that she was upset. He patted her head and smiled.
"You thought I forgot? Don't worry, I didn't~"
He handed her the box and she looked at it. She opened the box and pulled out the contents. It was... a giant lollipop.
"Oh, and a membership for a candy shop nearby."
He handed her a card and she directed her attention back to the giant lollipop.
"Click that button right there."
She clicked a button that was on the stick of it and when she did, the lollipop transformed into a giant battleax.
"Tadah! Your very own battleax! I made it special for- Oh!"
Pamille hugged him and he hugged her back.
"Glad you like it, Pam."
---
This was the least she could do. She carried him to the building and when she got into the lobby, she couldn't see anyone there. Why would she, the lobby was her job.
She wanted to scream out. Let anyone know what had happened. She couldn't use her phone, since she needed both hands for carrying Magnus. He might be dead. She wasn't strong enough, and now Magnus could be dead.
"Pam..."
She heard his weak voice, letting her know he was still alive. She carried him to the elevator and desperately mashed the floor the lab was on. The doors finally closed and the elevator was silent. On any other day, it would be anything but silent. Magnus would be talking about a new invention or an update on his favorite anime.
Pamille didn't like the silence.
The doors opened and she lumbered out, dragging him into the lab. Pamille was a strong girl, but natural strength can only take a person so far. When she entered the lab, her legs gave out and she fell to the ground.
"Pamille?"
Thank god Rento was in.
The young boy went to check on her and gasped at the scene. He quickly picked his friend up and carried him in and placed him on a table. He then carried Pamille into a chair before working on his friend.
---
Magnus was stabilized. Rento and Pamille looked at him in his hospital bed. They each had downcast expressions.
"What happened?"
"A thief I think. He had a gun and Magnus' quirk didn't work fast enough."
Rento nodded and looked at his friend, "You're always putting yourself in danger, Magnus."
"It's my fault."
"It is not your fault. He chose to save you."
"I went after the thief."
"You did the right thing."
"I don't even have a quirk."
"That doesn't mean anything-"
Pamille slammed her hands down on the table. She was breathing heavily and wheezed.
"Pamille... you can say anything to me."
"No, I can't."
"Why not?"
Pamille grabbed the notepad and began scribbling angrily. She shoved the notepad into his hands and crossed her arms. She watched his eyes as they scanned across the page and watched as they widened.
"...I see."
That was a response she'd never heard. Most people said, "I'm sorry" or "That's so sad". She knew Rento wasn't the best with feelings and past experiences due to his own.
"So... you really can't."
She shook her head. He looked back down at Magnus who was still in his coma.
"This is the most peaceful he's looked."
"Really?"
"Yeah. Even when he was asleep, he wouldn't be this peaceful. He'd be moving, he'd be talking. Sometimes even shouting. I can't blame him, he went through some awful things."
"You did too."
"So did you."
Pamille nodded and watched Magnus. His chest rose and fell; up and down. He really was peaceful.
---
It was a week.
A week since he was shot. Pamille spent all day every day, by his side. She wished each day for him to wake up.
"He kissed me once, he kissed me twice, and kissed me once again..."
Pamille was asleep in the chair, an old portable radio.
"You'll never know how many dreams..."
That was a different... yet familiar voice. Pamille opened her eyes and saw Magnus with his eyes opened. He was softly singing along to his favorite song. Pamille's eyes widened and she stood up, wheezing.
"Don't strain yourself."
Rento ran in and ran over to the bed, "Magnus! Your thing sensed a spike in your heart rate!"
"Wow... I made you forget a word. Impressive."
Rento teared up and cried, a smile breaking out on his face. The two friends hugged Magnus carefully, and he hugged them back.
"So, uh, what did I miss?"
"Does that even matter? How're you feeling?!"
"Uh, it so does matter. Were we attacked? Did Percy get a boyfriend? C'mon, guys, I need answers!"
Pamille pulled on Magnus' sleeve to get his attention.
"Yes, Pam?"
"I want you to promise me something."
"Yeah?"
"Never change."
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