#[ the agent — verse: fbi ]

[pohlepen]

       ❝  we don’t actually have to talk about things, y’know?  ❞    god knows she doesn’t want to.  everyone sees a dead body in the field at some point   (  or twenty or thirty or-  ),   but shooting someone is different.  killing someone is different.  it’s not her first time doing that either, though she’s not exactly plastering that tidbit on the walls of her cubicle.    ❝  i’m good, i don’t need to be cleared for duty or anything…  i mean i do, but…  it’s just protocol.  you know how that goes,  ❞    she considers sitting on her hands to keep them still, to keep them from wandering to find a slightly uneven thread on the expensive looking chair she’s settled in.  the upholstery, unfortunately, is incredibly smooth.    ❝  an easy appointment for both of us, i hope.  ❞

❛ starter call / @consumare

[melpcmene-a]

@postguilt has sent this to samson: ❝ you shouldn’t have had to. i’m sorry. ❞ Samson | last of us (show) starters

A hand reached out; a bloodied one that was previously pressed to his wound before Miecz took charge. But then Samson stopped for a short moment, contemplating before switching hands. That hand was guided to the back of his partner's neck; it was a comforting gesture and a: Don't worry about me, all-in-one before pulling Miecz forward. He brought their foreheads together, for a moment, Samson wanted to just breathe and take in his faint scent. To feel that warmth radiating against him for a brief moment. He wanted to avoid the worrisome looks that Miecz has adopted from experience. It's practically a trait now, or so Miecz has said a few times.

"I'll be fine. Don't apologize."

[hopes-memorial]

It warmed Amai's heart that he was still excited to see that they had cooked for him. Raijin enjoying their cooking was one of their favorite sights, and even now, it was high up there. After this, though, they were sure that it was only going to be even higher up there.

"Yeah, normally not, buuuut can't afford to be picky nowadays. It's no good when there's hardly enough to go around in some areas, you know." Though, if they were normal, they wouldn't consider it even then with how little they could even stomach meat after not eating it since they were 10, though it was more a sensitivity and a psychological hang up rather than a real physical inability.

They smile as they go to start on the rice as they get a bowl for him. The stew, despite them not having much experience in cooking meat, looked utterly delectable with perfectly cooked chunks of the meat, veggies, and an aroma that was utterly mouth watering to basically anyone with the way the world was.

When they got done, they put the small bowl of rice next to him as they went to go sit down across from him. "Amai hopes you like it. It may not be my best work, buuuut Amai put a lot of effort into it, just for you, my beloved." And right now, that meant a surprise at the bottom of the bowel.

In a way..he was relieved that he had already mostly given up..that means he wasn’t disappointed by the lack of a happy ending for the other..or himself. No matter how much he wished it were the case.

He remained oblivious to what the other was doing of course..he would never be able to guess that despite the others correct actions. There was a small feeling of dread that came over it..however he quickly ignores it. It was just him..overthinking right? He should..just ignore that despite his better judgement.

Upon hearing the others voice, he goes to meet them taking a look at the stew the other made. He wants to be happy to try the others cooking again..but for now he simply raises an eyebrow.

“I..this stew looks like it has meat in it. I thought you didn’t use that.” He takes a close look at it almost like he was making sure it wasn’t poisoned or anything..thankfully for the other at least..he doesn’t seem to notice.

His guard was still pretty high..but the normalcy of this was..making him slightly more agreeable as he just nods. “Yeah..rice is fine..” he couldn’t deny the meal smelled delicious..but even then the bad feeling he had wasn’t going away..

[spencerreidenjoyer]

guess | spencer reid x reader

wc: 2.3k, rating: explicit/18+

tags/warnings: slight exhibitionism/voyeurism, alcohol consumption (reader is not drunk during sex), lingerie, munch!spencer, cunnilingus, vaginal sex, unprotected sex

a/n: heavily inspired by guess by charli xcx ft. billie eilish, specifically billie's verse. yes the song dropped yesterday. yes i listened to the song once and decided to write a fic about it. i'm insane about s7/8 reid rn so :) (also posted on ao3!)

You swear you don’t mean to show off, but the miniskirt you’re in doesn’t help your case in the slightest.

Spencer had told you to join him at the bar for drinks with his coworkers, the bar just a couple blocks down from the club you were at with your friends. Your boyfriend had been away for most of this week and you really wanted to see him, so you don’t think twice about popping by to see Spencer. Besides, you hadn’t seen Penelope, JJ and Emily in a while either, and those girls treat you too kindly.

You realise how skimpily dressed you are when you walk into the bar, though, when you approach the very properly-dressed group of FBI agents at a booth in the corner. Your top is cropped and low-cut, revealing your cleavage, and you were wearing a little black miniskirt, the hem of which barely skirted the tops of your thighs.

Spencer has never commented on your fashion choices, often being the very satisfied recipient of your sometimes revealing outfits. But as you greet the BAU, his eyes are dark and hungry as they roam your figure. You smile at him with a whispered “Hi, baby,” before you kiss him chastely. The look on Spencer’s face is unreadable, other than the fact that you know he appreciates the view.

His gaze darts up at Derek from across the booth when he whistles at you.

“Looking good, mama.” Derek waggles his eyebrows at you, earning him a smack to the chest from Penelope and a hearty chuckle from Emily.

You lean over to hug JJ, Penelope and Emily in that order on the other side of the table, and you feel Spencer’s hand quickly snake across your waist, pulling you back to sit down. You glance over at him briefly, but he only keeps his gaze straight ahead.

“You are one lucky guy, Reid,” Emily laughs, and you feel Spencer’s arm curl around you tighter, pulling you in closer.

The rest of the night is pretty fun, cracking jokes and talking with Spencer’s team, but with the alcohol in your system from earlier, it only takes a few more drinks for you to get drunk. You’re extra giggly, half-sitting in Spencer’s lap, his hand not leaving your side. You feel the rumble in his chest when he speaks, saying, “I think we’re going to head home first. This one here seems a little drunk already.”

“I’m not drunk,” you lilt, rolling your eyes. You lay your head on Spencer’s shoulder, blinking hard before you meet Penelope’s gaze. You hear Emily defending you about how you aren’t drunk, but Penelope smiles at you and says, “I think boy genius is right.”

You frown deeply, almost comically so. “Penny! You’re supposed to back me up here!”

Penelope laughs, always so kind to you. “Come on, honey. Let Reid take you home.”

You huff, crossing your arms like a petulant child. You don’t notice the way Spencer’s gaze darts down to your chest shamelessly. Derek whistles, and you assume Spencer must glare at him because Derek is raising his hands in surrender, telling Spencer he doesn’t mean anything. What were they even talking about? You don’t know, but Spencer is murmuring in your ear about getting a taxi home, and after you say goodbye to all of his friends, you’re letting him guide you out of the bar and into the cool night.

You shiver, the very little fabric you have on not doing you any favours when the temperature drops. Spencer is quick to shrug off his jacket and help you put it on. His jacket is long enough on you, considering Spencer’s height, to cover your skirt.

“I swear alcohol’s supposed to warm you up,” you grumble, holding your arms close to your chest as you try to stay warm. “I’m fucking freezing.”

“You feel warmer for a bit because the alcohol is a vasodilator – it causes the blood vessels under your skin to dilate, increasing blood flow, which makes you feel warmer. If you drink more, the higher levels of alcohol actually work to shrink your blood vessels instead and make you feel cold. Do you have a headache?”

You shake your head, but take the chance to snuggle up to Spencer now. “You feel nice and warm.”

“Good,” Spencer says, holding you close. In no time, he flags down a taxi, and you two pile in and drive towards his apartment.

Spencer’s hand is drawing circles into the side of your thigh, mindless, but the touch is incredibly distracting. You ask him softly, “You’ve been touching me all night, Spence. Something on your mind?”

“You,” he whispers back. “Can’t stop thinking about your underwear.”

You squeak at his brazenness, smacking his chest. “You– Spencer!”

“I got a good look when you were practically bent over the table just now,” Spencer continues, his voice a low rumble in his throat. “Didn’t even give me a chance to guess.”

You gape at him like a fish, but Spencer smiles and murmurs in your ear, “You know how much I love when you wear that lacy black pair.”

You bite down on your lip, trying not to moan like a whore in the back of this taxi. You just look at him, silently wishing he’d do something. Spencer presses a kiss to your jaw, and you feel your cheeks heat.

Thankfully, the driver is quick to announce that you’re at your destination, and you and Spencer stumble out of the cab quicker than you’d like to admit. Spencer doesn’t even wait for his change before he slams the car door shut.

Spencer crowds you against the back of the elevator, an old, rickety thing with no camera, so you feel less bad when Spencer slips his hand under your skirt and past your panties, his finger sliding between your wet folds. “Spencer!”

“You’re so wet for me already,” Spencer groans, kissing down your neck desperately. His fingers are so tantalising, rubbing up against your clit, your hole. “You’re so sexy.”

“Spencer,” you whine. “Hurry up and fuck me.”

The elevator doors creak open on Spencer’s floor. “Let’s go, then.”

Spencer barely locks the door behind you before he’s kissing you, eager and sloppy and desperate. It’s so hot, his large hands on your waist pulling you closer to him, and you feel the growing problem in the front of his pants.

“Spencer,” you moan. You feel his hands push up your skirt, feel him wedge his leg between your thighs. You must be soaked through your underwear by now, and you shamelessly rut your hips forward to grind against his leg.

“You know I love your fashion sense, my love, but this is slutty even for you.” Spencer’s voice is dark when he says it, and you whimper. “You’re dressed like you want somebody else’s attention.”

Your eyes widen and you look up at him. “No!”

“Derek was eyeing you like a piece of meat earlier. Emily, too.” Spencer frowns.

“I only want you, baby,” you insist, holding onto Spencer’s arms. “Only want you to notice me.”

“I am the only one who knows the colour of your underwear,” Spencer hums, his fingers skirting the waistband of your panties. “And fuck, you look good in them.”

“Please, Spence,” you whine, your plea lilting off into a gasp as Spencer lifts you, getting you to wrap his legs around him. You’d seen how he looked when he was younger, so scrawny he looked like he’d get swept away if the wind blew too hard, but now, he’s got more meat on his bones. His body is a pleasure to look at, let alone feel under your hands, which you’re happy to do now.

You touch the firm lines of his body through his shirt, as Spencer carries you to his bedroom. You mumble, hands frisky, “You’re so hot.”

“Says you,” Spencer smiles. “I’m going to make you feel so good, baby.”

You grin as he lays you on his bed, gasping when he slides his palm over your wet cunt through your underwear. His thumb flicks over your clit through the lace, the material dulling the electrifying sensation. you whine, “Spencer, please.”

Spencer tsks, looking down at you. “Let me take my time with you, darling. You’ve been teasing me all evening.”

He presses his thumb against your clit a little harder, making you moan loudly. While he tends to tower over you in bed, you also deeply appreciate the view of him getting on his knees so he can make a home between your thighs. His hair is wild, unruly, and you run your hand through it, admiring it. Keeping your gaze, Spencer leans down to kiss your pussy.

You feel his warm breath on you, the scratch of his stubble on your skin, pinned down simply by his gaze as his tongue darts out to lick you over your underwear. You whimper, as Spencer wraps his arms around each of your thighs, using you as an anchor as he presses his face between your legs.

You sob, because what Spencer’s giving you just isn’t enough, not when you need to feel his tongue on your cunt. He thumbs at your hole through the fabric, dipping into your wetness in a cruel approximation of the pleasure he usually gives you.

“Fuck me,” you groan. “Take my panties off already.”

“Not yet,” Spencer hums. Instead, he pushes your panties to the side, lets his fingers slide over your cunt. You gasp at the sensation, his rough, calloused fingers sliding over your wetness, and then you feel the warmth of his tongue.

The sounds his mouth makes as he eats you out are filthy, obscene. His tongue flicks over your cunt with a practised precision, familiar with what makes you tick, the wet, slick sounds too overwhelming. Your toes are curling with how good Spencer makes you feel – legs trembling, breathing heavy. You can’t stop the whimpers that leave your lips, almost helpless in the way you moan for him.

“Please,” your voice is shaky as you cry out for Spencer. “I need you so bad, baby."

Spencer hums against your cunt, the vibrations sending shocks up your spine in your pleasure. “Okay, my darling.”

Finally, finally, he’s sitting up and pulling your panties down, your little skirt still pushed up to expose your cunt. You look up at him, silently wondering why he hasn’t taken it off. He plays with the soft fabric in his hands almost absentmindedly and says, “I think we should keep it on.”

You blink up at him, not coherent enough to say anything about it. Instead, you watch him take his shirt off – you whistle at the sight, while he just rolls his eyes. He unbuckles his belt and push his pants down, his cock bobbing up, hard and red and leaky. You bite your lip, thinking about how he’ll feel inside of you.

“Kiss me,” you whine, and Spencer smiles at you. He tastes of you when his lips press against yours, and he’s quick to deepen it, his tongue in your mouth, like he's close to devouring you whole.

While he kisses you hungrily, you feel his hand between your legs, moving to line himself up with your entrance. You moan as the blunt head of his cock presses up against your hole, the sensation you’ve been craving all evening. Cruelly, he rubs up against you just like that, sliding between your folds but not giving you the satisfaction you need. You’re close to biting his head off.

“Spencer–” you start, but Spencer decides to press his cock into you right at that moment, and you sob with the way his thick length splits you open. Every time he fucks you, you feel like he was made for you, filling you up in all the right ways, feeling so perfect on top of you, inside of you.

You meet his lips and kiss him lazily as he starts to thrust into you, at the perfect pace, just deep enough to hit all the right spots. It’s too good, Spencer knowing you and your pleasure like the back of his hand.

“Fuck,” Spencer groans against your mouth, finally showing some sign of his unravelling. “You’re so tight, darling.”

You gasp, groaning his name, legs wrapped around his waist to pull him closer, feeling like you could fuse into one person with how much you’re clinging onto him. You press your forehead to his shoulder, moans punched out of you with every one of Spencer’s thrusts.

“Feels– Feels so good, Spence, love you,” you cry.

“I love you too,” Spencer groans, voice low and rumbly in his chest. “You’re so perfect, my love.”

You sob as your orgasm hits you, crashing into you like a tidal wave. You shake as you come, feeling so positively overwhelmed with the way Spencer fucks you, the way he holds you, the way he kisses you. You can’t feel your legs as you come down from your high, head spinning with all the pleasure. “Spence…”

“I’m– Fuck–” Spencer’s tripping over his own words as he comes right alongside you, your clenched pussy sending him over the edge too. He blows his load deep inside you, sticky and hot and so satisfying. You can feel how hard he’s breathing as your mind clears, his arms trembling as he holds himself up so he doesn’t end up collapsing onto you.

“You’re perfect,” you hum in Spencer’s ear, soft and gentle as you kiss the side of his head. You pull him in close, letting him rest his weight onto you, and your hand goes to stroke his hair softly. “So good. I love you.”

“Thank you. I love you more,” Spencer groans, his voice a little raspy already. “I’m sorry if I was too possessive over you in front of my friends tonight."

“All is forgiven, especially since you were sexy as fuck,” you grin up at him. “You’re always sexy.”

“Says the girl in a miniskirt and black lace panties.” Spencer smiles.

“All the more I know what I’m talking about, then,” you giggle, before kissing him slow.

[mxltifxnd0m]

having a witch s/o headcanons ⟡ s. winchester

pairings: sam winchester x witch! reader, sam winchester x gn afab! reader

word count: 1.8K

warnings: none really, no use of 'y/n', mentions of death and violence, some angst, fluff, dean being dean and not liking witches, [a part of season of the witch verse!]

a/n: ahhh im so excited for this little universe i've created and i hope you guys enjoy it as much as i had making it!!

as always enjoy the fic! please like, comment, and reblog! your feedback fuels me <3

[here's my taglist; read rules before sending in an ask]

𝘴𝘢𝘮 𝘸𝘪𝘯𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘮𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘵

⟡ before dating you/ how you met: 

the two of you didn’t exactly get off on the right foot when you guys met for the first time 

you taught at the local university in your town, trying to live as normal as a life as you could while being a witch

the boys were on a hunt in the town you were living in, and they thought that you were the witch that was killing the college students (they were your previous students, hence why they came to that conclusion) 

they had tried cornering you in your office after hours while you were working late but you managed to escape their grasp and flee. (you called in sick the next day and canceled classes) 

after the minor altercation the three of you had, you managed to track down the winchesters and confront them at their motel room, and you explained the situation to them (it was a rogue witch from your father’s previous coven that was seeking revenge on your family since they were betrothed to each other but your father had fallen in love with your mother, running away, and then having you)

you knew about the winchesters, who hasn’t? so you knew that they would be hesitant about accepting your help, but you weren’t doing it to help them; you were doing it to save your own behind and save your students 

dean outright refused your help, but sam, being the smart man he was, knew that without your help or knowledge, tracking down that witch would be difficult, so a hushed conversation later (you heard every single word that they said in that small motel room) they had accepted your help on the condition if you ever stepped out of line that they wouldn’t hesitate on killing you 

you rolled your eyes at their threat but agreed (you haven’t killed a human being in all of your years of being alive so you weren’t going to start now, though with dean’s attitude towards you, you just might break that record) 

working with the winchesters was like pulling teeth, but at the end of it all, you guys killed the witch, and the winchesters went on their merry way. 

you were hoping that would be the first and last time you’d ever see their faces, but alas fate is a mistress that you hate to serve, and they ended up at your office, posing as FBI agents once again and needing your help (it was mostly sam asking and dean standing next to him stone-faced)  

you flat out refused to help them, not wanting to be pulled into their world of crazy (your mother made sure you had as normal a life as you possibly could, and you weren’t going to give that up for the winchesters), so you swiftly sent them out of your office   but you weren’t very lucky later that night when sam had shown up on your doorstep and all but intruded on what you thought was going to be a quiet night

against your better judgment, you invited the gentle giant into your home, and you shared the pizza that you had ordered in silence before he tried once again to ask for your help 

it was either the wine you had consumed or his pleading puppy dog eyes (it was probably the combination of both) but you found yourself saying yes to help them 

you swore to yourself that this was the only time that you would help them 

but newsflash, they didn’t end up happening, after that hunt, you and sam had exchanged numbers, and you found yourself texting sam and helping them out with either research or spells that they needed for a hunt 

hell, even dean had gotten ahold of your number and texted you for help (but this was very rare and sam was typically the person to reach out and ask for help) 

then the texts with sam had crossed over from just asking for help and the two of you started to have friendly conversation with one another 

it was nice, being able to chat with him, you knew that sam was kind and intelligent in his own right so the two of you texted each other often before it turned frequent 

months had passed, and you had a tentative friendship with sam but before you knew it, you had developed feelings for the taller winchester and you were a little terrified about it (you knew that sam was generally more open about monsters, but there was a little voice in the back of your head telling you that he could always turn on you) 

you became distant with him, trying to be discrete about it but sam was perceptive and called you out on it, and you gave him a bs excuse about it 

turns out that wasn’t enough because a day later, he had shown up on your doorstep like he did when he asked for your help that night and practically confessed his feelings towards you

you were shocked by it, but managed to tell him that you felt the same, you melted seeing the grin that he gave you before he leaned down and captured your lips in a passionate kiss 

⟡ dating sam winchester 

at first, the two of you took it slow; you didn’t want to rush with sam, considering that you felt so strongly for him and sam to you

sam also had to deal with dean, knowing how his brother felt about witches, and even if you guys were on decent terms, the two of you had no idea how he’d feel if his little brother was dating a witch. 

so sam kept it from dean, but it wasn’t going to be for long, just until the two of you were comfortable telling him, but considering you lived a couple of states away, you’d hope it be soon because you knew that the older winchester wasn’t dumb and would question sam about his whereabouts if he visited you often. 

the two of you did long distance, which was difficult, to say the least, not seeing each other for weeks at a time, and with you teaching and sam traveling the states for hunts, it left a lot to be desired, but you guys found workarounds for it  

but there was an insistence that sam didn’t respond to your texts for at least three days, which was out of the norm (he usually took a day to respond if he couldn’t find time to respond if he was out on hunts) and so you panicked and tracked sam’s phone to a hospital (which worried you immensely). you immediately high-tailed it to the location where his phone was. you burst through the hospital doors, and dean was waiting in the lobby for his brother to be discharged and was confused to see you here 

then sam came walking (limping) down the hallway, and his eyes landed on yours, and before he knew it, your lips were on his, but he sank into your embrace nonetheless (dean looked at this scene with wide eyes and when you guys broke away, you expected dean to drag you off of his brother and possibly kill you) 

lucky for you and sam, dean liked you enough that you had his permission to date his brother (but that didn’t mean that he pulled you out of the motel room that the boys were staying in and threatened you lightly) 

soon after dean had given his seal of approval, sam asked you to move in with him in the bunker after a year of dating

you almost said yes immediately, but you said you would think about it since that would mean uprooting your life and abandoning a life of normalcy

it only took a week to think it through and about a month and a half later, you were moved into the bunker in Lebanon, Kansas living with the boys was a huge adjustment at first, but you guys eventually found your groove, and you had become an important asset in helping them out on research and spell work 

speaking about spell work, since you were born with your abilities (thanks to your father), magic came easy to you, but you only worked with healing magic and light magic (you studied everything else; it was good to be knowledgeable about all facets of the craft) 

but your healing salves and magic came in handy in their line of work any time they were injured 

you had a separate workspace when working with your craft (you had cleared out an old room that wasn’t being used and they were okay with it) 

you found yourself in that room more often than not and usually sam would come in and just study you as you bustled around the room (his gaze never strayed from your focused face as you worked and found it adorable when you slightly jumped when you looked up from the book you were reading to find sam smiling at you) 

sam never really expressed his feelings about learning about the magic you used, so you were thoroughly surprised when sam came to you asking if you could teach him 

you weren’t sure at first but eventually caved (those damn eyes of his would be the death of you) 

he was a good student and a fast learner, which shouldn’t have surprised you considering you knew how smart he was

but dating sam while you lived with him was a breeze (bar from the fact that even when he was a human heater, he stole the covers often and the little spats the two of you had, which most of the time were solved in a matter of hours and led to great sex) 

it was the first time in a relationship that you felt like you could be yourself for once, having to brush off the side of yourself as a hobby or hide it from your partners 

but with sam, you didn’t need to hide it and it felt so freeing

sam was understanding, compassionate, sweet, gentle, and so many more things that you could rattle off but it would take too long to even explain, but you couldn’t have asked for a better person to be your partner 

he’d given you the pet name of jinx, and at first it sounded like a nickname that dean would have given you, but it slowly grew on you, and he was the only one who could call you that (mainly because you threatened bodily harm if dean had called you by it) 

so in return, you’d given him the pet name of “my heart” which you thought was fitting because he did have it fully and you loved the blush that crept up his neck and bloomed on his cheeks when you called him by it

there were always going to be bumps in the road, and life-ending events looming over the two of you, but you were convinced that if he was by your side and you by his, you guys could do anything 

[neysaadept]

Prometheus Chapter 4

Emily Prentiss x Female CIA Reader

Chapter 4 - Socially Blocked

Little different chapter style. Hope you enjoy. Also, I have no beta so mistakes are all me.

Tags: Limited use of y/n but established last name. Swearing, mentions of the pandemic and human and sex trafficking. Canon typical violence. Sexual innuendos. Minors DNI.

Word Count: 4.8k

AO3

Chapter 3

You had joined Prentiss in her office several hours ago to go over the forensic evidence that had come in. Laptop balancing on your thighs, you compile the data and cross reference missing persons with the families that Lewis had been gently consoling until the lab techs worked their magic. This was your nightly ritual with the section chief since joining; identification and providing closure.

What you did during the day was follow her around like a fucking assistant. You were now well versed in FBI budgetary matters, regulatory concerns, and how long new policies would be put into practice. You knew there were countless mind-numbing meetings, but this was insane. Most of the meetings could be cut in half, be done over Zoom, or just not happen at all. Just fucking email one another.

Then there were piles upon piles of paperwork to sort, sign and scan and files to review sent by local law enforcement agencies asking for FBI assistance. Just briefly glimpsing some of the cases made you wonder how one could decide which case mattered more. Go after one psycho but let the less of a psycho go free for the state to handle? Some requests had to be denied general FBI involvement due to a jurisdiction juggling nightmare that needed to be sorted first.

If this was a section chief’s life, how the fuck did Brian survive being the director of the entire CIA?

The more pressing question on your mind was why Prentiss was doing her damnedest in limiting time between you and the rest of the team. Okay, yes, Prentiss didn’t know anything about you, and yes, it was difficult to delegate work to you without knowing all your capabilities, but being a special agent in the CIA meant something.

You just gave the BAU a ton of money! Least you could do something more than be a glorified secretary! Not like you expected time out in the field, you totally understood that was out of bounds, but it’s been three days like this, and it was getting on your nerves. Why were you familiarizing yourself with FBI manuals if all you were good for was be a gopher for Prentiss?

Day 1

1145

Prentiss had given you a quick tour of the bullpen leaving the conference room for last. When you enter, excited to present your sweet offerings, you saw the team was already standing and ready to break. Introductions were made quickly, with almost every team member thanking you for the food and grabbing something.

Luke grabbed a chocolate frosted long john with a grin. “Can’t wait to catch up with you when we get back!”

You blink. Back from … what?

JJ grabbed a handful of macarons with delight, already stuffing one in her mouth as she left. “Dis isz weally nice ov ya!” she said, covering her mouth to not accidentally spew crumbs at you.

Rossi was far more debonair and rounds the choices with an index finger before plucking out a glazed twist, flashing a smile. “Thanks, kid.”

You saw Garcia slipping out quickly without making eye contact.

The hell?!

You open your mouth to say more, but he looks apologetic. “We’ll talk more later. Gotta lot going on right now, but we’ll make time.”

At least Tara had the decency to stop for a few seconds to exchange simply pleasantries. “So nice to finally meet you! Rebecca says nothing but good things.”

You raise a brow and chuckle. “Really?”

Prentiss looks unconvinced as well.

She shrugs and steals a macaron. “Yes, for real. I’ve gotta lot of family interviews and sessions lined up today, but we’ll chat more later.”

Patting you on the shoulder, Tara starts to exit the conference room backwards, pointing at you with promise. “You’re gonna have to tell me all you can about that HSC* in Saxony. Later!”

You sigh with close eyes and your head falls back. These little tidbits were not helping without context for your new boss. Even before you open your eyes to look at Prentiss, you just know she is staring at you with contempt.

Yep. There it is. Just missing an eyeroll.

Without being asked, you take a seat at the table and shove the box towards Prentiss. “We were tailing ISIS members. One decided he could get away when we moved in and learned how very wrong he was about it.”

1315

Prentiss left you to read FBI procedural manuals while she went to meet the deputy director. She had thought it prudent to delay you two crossing paths for as long as possible considering he was not happy with either of you. It was nice to hear that you had something in common with Prentiss. The tiny scrap of connection was something, no matter how pitiful. And you knew Prentiss was happy to upset Bailey.

This leaves you alone for a short time and you decide to use it wisely and check in on Garcia. It was really bothering you why she ignored you earlier today. Yeah, the team was busy with the Sicarius case, but everyone else had acknowledged you as they hurried off. Surely the bold color choices of her ensemble meant she was outgoing and not shy. You didn’t even make polite eye contact.

So, you go by instinct and grab a few left over macarons and position them with purpose on a white paper plate before heading to what you learned was The Lair.

Aware of not barging in on a tech’s work, unless you wanted to have your head bit off, you knock and wait.

“Entrer!’ you hear through the door and smile.

You open the door and poke your head in with a playful grin. “Hey, Garcia.”

The flurry of typing abruptly stops and you see her stiffen. Your grin quickly falls into a frown.

“I’m sorry.” You fully move into the room, noting the same outlandish decor that matches Garcia’s clothing. “I hope I’m not bothering you?” you say hopefully.

“Nope!” She pops the p and goes back to typing. By a cursory glance on what was on the screens, yeah, you had no idea what she was working on.

Garcia said nothing more but the stiff body language and her outright ignoring you once again, made it clear you upset her. Pushing her at this moment would only cause the divide to widen. You barely know each other.

“Well, I saw you didn’t take any treats and brought them to you. Probably hard getting away while you’re …”

“Cataloging important data,” she said quickly, still not looking at you.

“Yeah, so …” you look around and see an open spot on the table to her right. You are careful to not move anything when you put the plate down next to a fuzzy neon green turtle. “Enjoy when you-“

“Hey Garica, I’m jus-“ Prentiss’ fond tone quickly dissolves to accusatory. “You’re supposed to be in my office.”

“And I took a break. That a problem?” you challenge, taking in Prentiss confident posture, hand out before her with the other in her suit pants pocket. She cut quite the authoritative figure.

Garcia keeps typing away but slower so she can concentrate on you and Prentiss.

“No, but I’d appreciate you leaving the team alone while they’re working.” The words sound like a suggestion, but the tone was an order.

“Yeah, sure,” you concede, again, not wanting to cause an unnecessary argument. But first, you bow to the back of Garcia sitting in her chair. “Bon appetit!”

You rise and move pass Prentiss, both of you locking gazes and it ticks you off you had to look away since you were the one leaving.

“Oh, darn it!” whimpers Garcia. “Why?!”

Alarmed, Prentiss walks over to her with concern. “What’s wrong, Penelope?”

With a deeply etched sullen look on her face, she shows Emily the plate you had left. It was a macaron smiley face. One eye was pink, the other blue, and the smile was purple. You chose the bright colors on purpose.

“Why'd she have to do something this cute?!” she complains. “I’m not supposed to like her!”

1750

You roll your head working out the stiffness that settles in your shoulders from being hunched over most of the day on Prentiss’ couch going over manuals and signing off on orientation documents. You had tried various positions to find any source of comfort once joints began to ache. You sat on your ass with feet on the floor, legs on the couch, cross one leg, then the other, then had to stretch them along the couch. Then you said fuck it and placed the laptop on the cushion and laid supine while working and then to top it off, you sat on the floor with the laptop on the couch like a desk not giving any fucks what Prentiss thought.

She offered the couch, not her desk, to work on, and you didn’t want to get all up in her business setting up shop across from her. She’d probably shoot you if you decided to leave for a desk in the bullpen. And oddly enough, when it appeared you were going to get up, she engaged in questions about what you were reading or if you had any concerns. All sterile and by the book, but with suspicious brown eyes trying to figure you out.

It was only day one and you were willing to play the game, not letting her get to you. All in all, it really was a typical first day of boring bullshit. Just without a cubicle.

Eh, you had suffered far worse with even more irate coworkers and direct supervisors. But this felt different. Maybe Brian was right and you weren’t made for the general population. And yes, that meant the people at Quantico.

You weren’t kidding that Prentiss was a legend when you made that quip. Faking her own death to protect that kid and her team was a brilliant self-sacrificing move that you deeply respected. Then as you dug deeper into the team’s background, you gained a deeper respect for the BAU’s work, dedication, and the trauma they’ve been through to keep the people of your country safe.

Of course, you honed in on Prentiss’ work since she was your superior. One assumed if you were CIA or former CIA everyone knew each other and that simply wasn’t the case. While Prentiss was infiltrating Doyle’s criminal organization, you were gathering intel in Afghanistan on al-Qa’ida's operations. You two worked very different operative circles.

Despite your specializations never intersecting professionally until now, on paper, you two should at least get along and have something to talk about then just … whatever this was in her office right now. You both were driven, intelligent women who were dedicated to the people on your team and would protect them at all costs. Your skill sets were complementary and overlapped with being seasoned international operatives, you spoke several languages, focused on counter terrorism, and were awarded many commendations for mission successes and demonstration of skill sets.

But here you are, sitting on the floor of her office like you were her kid finishing homework.

“You should probably head home.”  

You glance over your shoulder and scowl, seeing Prentiss was looking down at a file and not you.

“I don’t mind staying and catching up with all this. Same thing I’d be doing at the apartment. The lab reports are important to review ASAP.” You didn’t want to correct her about what home was and wasn’t.

You look at the files cluttering the desk and cross your lips in thought. “Need any help? Granted, I’m not savvy enough yet on all the FBI lingo but paperwork’s still a bitch however you cut it.”

That made her look up at you. She was motionless as she considered your proposal and your earnest face.

“Thank you, but no.” She looks down again. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“Aye, aye, Cap’n.” After you salute, you stand up and stretch, hearing your knees pop. You then grab your laptop and manuals, tucking them under your arms securely.

Note to self, bring a backpack.

You are polite as you walk by, offering a nod she didn’t appear to see. “Night, Prentiss.”

She hums noncommittally but as you drag your eyes away from her desk, you notice something that provides a glimmer of hope.

On a napkin that had been tucked out of view near one of the file stacks was a half-eaten red macaron.

Day 2

0630

You came to Quantico early with a bottle of Diet Coke in hand and your black and grey backpack secure around both shoulders, ready to tackle the day before anyone else got here.

Yet you see a movement coming from Prentiss’ office window and have to stop. She was already here? You squint in thought and presume she had stayed late and came in early – basing this assumption on her work ethic and how every good leader worked themselves ragged on little sleep.

You down some more pop and climb the stairs to her office, gently knocking. She opens the door and you raise a brow at her because she was wearing yesterday’s clothes.

“What are you doing here?” she asks with surprise accusation.

“Wanted an early start. What’s your excuse?” you probe gently.

She thins her lips and steps aside as a silent invitation to come inside. “Sicarius.”

Prentiss didn’t have to say anything further for you to understand the unspoken. She had no one to go home to, so why worry about time and just bury herself in work. And by the time Prentiss realized what time it was, she might as well stay in her office and sleep. She probably had a change of clothing in the closet, and it was easy to freshen up in one of the locker rooms. It was a more productive use of her time than driving home to do the same thing and come right back here. Avoid all that traffic.

You should know. You’ve done it yourself many times.

“Fair enough,” you say without judgement as you drop your backpack on the couch. “Does the team know?”

She reaches for the white FBI seal decorated coffee mug on her desk and frowns. “Know what?”

“That you stay here sometimes.” You knock back several gulps of pop before setting the bottle down on the side table.

After a moment of consideration while sipping her coffee, she looks to you with a narrowing gaze. “No.”

You nod, understanding the silent request. “Secret’s safe with me.”

1233

You were grabbing a cup of coffee for an afternoon pick me up, when you hear slow purposeful footsteps coming closer.

“Like a little coffee with your cream there, kid?” Rossi jokes, coming to stand beside you.

You chuckle. “I do. Bonus if it’s French Vanilla.”

He regards you with wizened eyes, but you could tell he was exhausted with how often he blinks. “How long have you been CIA?”

Oh here we go.

“Long time.” It wasn’t a precise answer, but it also wasn’t a lie.

“Sounds like me and the FBI.” His eyes twinkle with mirth.

“Hey, I’m not that old,” you answer with a grin before taking a sip of coffee.

He laughs as you swallow and continue. “You know, it’s probably not a surprise I know your work, Mr. Writer.”

Rossi acknowledges with a nod. “No, this does not come as a surprise at all.”

You hum, nodding. “Broken Child was the first one I read. Though, I did follow your work with the Gideons closely.”

He smiles with delight. “Really?” Rossi pauses and gestures for you to follow him to continue this conversation elsewhere. You could tell he was fascinated by this. “How far back?”

“Oh, pretty far. As you know, your guys’ work wasn’t all BAU related.”

“True. The CIA did take part of our research for profiling training. And to use for psych evals on operatives.” He smiles. “Am I getting close?”

“Definitely warm.” You smile back. “It was part of my training.”

“You’ll have to tell me more.”

And just as things were becoming interesting with a non-Prentiss member of the BAU, she has to come and ruin it. It’s like the woman had a sixth sense when you were getting too close to one of her teammates.

“Hey, Dave. I need you in the conference room. JJ and Luke have an update on our unsub in Texas.”

“Right.” He holds out his hand, which you take, and he gently squeezes. “I look forward to continuing this later.”

Your smile was bright. Working with Rossi was a perk of agreeing to this. You never thought you’d have the chance to have face to face time with someone who wrote the blueprints for training you, again.

“Yeah, me too.”

He keeps your hand for a moment longer before letting go and looking at Prentiss. “You sure the kid can’t just listen in?”

You try not to look eager and utterly fail. You just know you got the sad puppy dog eyes going. Which, of course, doesn’t work on the leery section chief. “Whitlock has promised to help me with paperwork. Isn’t that right?”

Fucking hell! She’s using generosity from last night as an excuse to keep me busy. ARGH!

Of course, you’re not going to call her out on it as you really did offer to help and meant it. You manage to keep the disappointment hidden from your voice and raise your cup to her. “Indeed, I did.”

“You can start with scanning the reports on top of my desk calendar.”

“Yes, Ma’am,” you salute carefully with your coffee hand and wander off.

As you are leaving, Rossi looks to Prentiss with a knowing look. “You do know she might be able to help us with the case. You just don’t want her to.”

Emily heard the unspoken question of why. “We barely know anything about her. I don’t need a wildcard fucking anything up.”

“Emily. Come on. She’s a seasoned CIA operative. We could pick her brain while she’s here instead of hiding her away in your office. Actually use her as a consultant.”

“You just like her because she read your books,” she fires back sarcastically.

“Well, yeah, but that’s not the point…”

1435

Whitlock: I hate this place

You were chatting with Brian on the CIA secure network on your laptop instead of your phone to avoid making Prentiss press as to what you were doing. You even silenced the chat notifications

Korogoth: It’s only the second day.

Whitlock: All I’m doing is reading and paperwork :(

Whitlock: Prentiss keeps socially blocking me!

Korogoth: What does that even mean?

Whitlock: I’m stuck in her office all day and when I need to go do something, she’s always up my ass. And when I’m free and have time to chat the team up, she magically shows up and stops it. It fucking sucks!

Whitlock: Stuffs coming in with the big case and I get to know nothing.

Whitlock: So all I do is read the FBI shit, which I know I need to do and scan in shit. I’m a over qualified secretary

Whitlock: UGH

Korogoth: Regretting it?

Whitlock: Yes

Whitlock: No

Whitlock: Maybe. Helping the families find closure is important tho.

Whitlock: And … I got to speak to Rossi for a sec

Korogoth: … and?

Whitlock: I told him I was a big fan :D

Korogoth: LOL really?

Whitlock: Why is that so funny?!

Whitlock: :P

Korogoth: What did you talk about?

Whitlock: That I read his books and papers.

Whitlock: With the Gideons

Korogoth: *facepalm*

Korogoth: Tread carefully missy.

Whitlock: ;)

Present Day

1145

JJ had returned earlier this morning with Luke and was now sitting with Garcia at her desk in the bullpen. They were focused on whatever was on Garcia’s computer and were animatedly discussing something about a message app behind a weather one.

You start to head over there but Prentiss comes in with Bailey and the deputy director makes a bee line right for you.

Ah, fuck.

You beat him to the introductions and hold out your hand towards him. “Hello Deputy Director Bailey. Special Agent Whitlock.”

“Yes, I know who you are.” He does not take your hand, and you curl it into a fist before dropping it. “I’m surprised it’s taken us this long to be formally introduced.” His tone was dripping with malice as he scrutinizes Prentiss.

Before Prentiss can react, you jump in to defend her. You hate high profile dickwards like him. “Well, there’s a lot going on with orientating me to FBI standards. Can’t go all CIA on your protocols.” You smile patronizingly. “Gotta be by the book, right?”

“Despite her unorthodox addition to the team, it’s prudent her training remains up to FBI standards,” Prentiss adds while Bailey attempts to stare you down.

He wasn’t even pathetically cute. Just … pathetic. The deputy director’s appearance was far too clean cut and pristine. He didn’t have that disgruntled tone that revealed years of field work that jaded an agent. There was no desensitized look in his eyes, just bureaucratic contempt.

“I’m glad to hear that. It takes months for an agent to go through training at Quantico, Whitlock. You wouldn’t want to diminish their hard work with the quick pass you’ve gotten.”

You smile sweetly.

What an asshole.

“We’re all on the same side, even though we’re on different teams, Deputy Director.” You lean forward with promise. “I won’t besmirch the good name of the FBI.”

Then your eyes drag over to Prentiss’ and soften. “I’m here to help.”

1345

You see the team assembled in the bullpen and have no idea what they’re talking about because you are in Prentiss’ office sorting paperwork. Your sincere invitation for Prentiss to trust you when Bailey was here was ignored.

1437

You are slowly dying inside sitting in on a budget meeting with Prentiss …

1634

… and then an advisory meeting with the DOJ. Too bad Rebecca wasn’t here but then that would be socializing.

You two chatted briefly after your first day and made a promise to properly catch up when you could. With your schedules, it’ll be difficult but with how things are going. Well, more her schedule than yours …

1930

You come back from your introspection that had occurred over the last few days and try to focus on the unfinished email you were drafting for Lewis. The problem is that the words remain blurry, and you are unable to concentrate to type the rest of your thoughts. Your thoughts are swimming around the fact that in the three days you have been at Quantico all you've been is snubbed by the woman currently ignoring you at her desk.

You close your laptop and rise to take a seat across from Prentiss. Her mouth hangs open, with what you presume would be a line of questioning as to where you were going to go, and instead found you seated before her. Your boldness took her by surprise.

“Ah, yes?” she asks cautiously. “Something wrong with the lab reports?”

She was well aware if you had an issue with the reports, you would have said something from the couch. As you have done before.

“No. Just, you.”

You know you should be more patient like Brian encouraged you to be. Let Prentiss take the lead and integrate you into the unit. But you weren’t stupid. You can read the room, and the room wanted you far away from the members of the BAU.

Prentiss straightens up with wide eyes at the audacity of your words. “Excuse me?”

“No, you’re not excused. Not unless you can tell me why you’re keeping me all to yourself,” you respond flippantly.

She licks the back of her bottom teeth before it drags along her lower lip. Oh yes, Prentiss is ready to throw down with you. You see how her pupils blow wide at being provoked and she caps her pen before her. “All right. You want to do this? Let’s do this.”

The pen drops, as does the pretense before you.

“I don’t know you. But I do know I can’t trust you. Anyone I can’t trust is a danger to my people and therefore, you get to stay the hell away from them.”

You throw your hands up in celebration. “Finally! A real conversation.” You lower your arms and lean back, resting a leg over the opposite knee. “I’m sorry I can’t be completely forthcoming about everything about me. But that’s not my call. My shit’s sealed for a reason but it’s not because I did anything illegal. I'm sure that's what you're worried about."

“Then why did you need a lawyer?” she presses.

Fuck.

“I can’t say.”

She shakes her head with displeasure. “Of course you can’t. Because good agents don't need help covering up their messes.”

“Oh come the fuck on, Prentiss. Wilson’s a good person. A good lawyer. She helped me because …” You grit your teeth because you need to collect your thoughts before you say too much. You inhale deeply and uncross your legs to lean forward, gesturing with open hands for understanding. “… because it was a call I had to make. Follow orders and have people die. Or I did what I did. Which I was absolved of, ya know. That's gotta count for something?"

Without knowing the exact circumstances of what you did, you weren’t sure if Prentiss would care or not. You could have disobeyed orders because they were truly the wrong call or your superior was compromised in some way, or this was a cover up because you fucked up. You are hoping that she thinks the former because of dropping Wilson’s name as a good person and lawyer. Which is all true!

You watch as she subtly shakes her head, at war with her thoughts. “But there’s nothing about you. You barely exist. I can’t just accept you if there's nothing to back up your claims. So, you’re a means to an end for me. For the BAU.”

Wow. Pretense is so gone now ...

“You know, I’ve been thinking of myself as your highly paid secretary, but hey,” you roll your eyes, “let’s go with CIA sugar mama.”

“See that,” she points at you with indignation. “That right there’s why I can't take you seriously. You’re fucking lack of respect. Making jokes that are way outta line.”

“Oh fuck you and your wine addiction.” Yeah, you went there, gesturing to the half empty bottle. The woman downed a one a night and that was only what you saw. You wouldn’t be surprised if she had more. “Least I use humor to mask the trauma of my past instead of drowning it with alcohol and work.”

“How dare you make fucking assumptions about me,” she snaps, voice raising to meet yours.

You audibly scoff and rise, Prentiss doing the same. “You’ve been doing it the whole time since we met, let alone profiling me. Which I get, since you don’t know shit about me. But at least I was trying to get along with you despite the fucking cold shoulder. I ain’t expecting to be best friends but you don’t need to be a bitch about the situation.”

You turn around to grab your things, knocking over several empty Diet Coke bottles that you balanced on the couch arm.

“And where do you think you’re going?”

“Leaving your delightful presence.” You stuff your backpack with your laptop and books. “I’ve had more than enough of this shit.”

You miss the moment of panic on Prentiss’ face since your back was turned. Her mind was reeling with the ramification of what this could mean. Are you leaving for good? If you weren’t working with the BAU on paper the contract would be in breach. Pride kept her from asking you to clarify as she watches you storm off and slam the door behind you.

Emily grits her teeth as she leans over her desk, trying to stop her hands from shaking. She gives up, the anxiety of the situation she finds herself in too much and pulls the top left drawer open of the desk to get the pack of cigarettes stashed there. She quickly lights up and takes a long drag off the cigarette, unable to fight her trembling lips as she blows the smoke free.

“Fuck…”

What was she doing to do?

*High Speed Chase

Chapter 5

[forthewinn]

"What just cause I'm a nerd? I could totally rock it at a cowboy bar." Winn spoke as if he were offended. "As long as you don't expect me to dance because I am actually terrible at that and I think it would put everyone in the area in danger." Taking the helmet from TK, Winn nodded as he held onto it. "Let's get this show on the road."

@forthewinn asked: ❛ do you really think i'm going to let you do this alone? ❜ (idk why but Winn and TK could be troublemakers together and it sounds fun)

↠ 𝐑𝐈𝐃𝐄 𝐎𝐑 𝐃𝐈𝐄 . | Accepting

"well no but I also didn't think you'd want to tag along," TK says with a small shrug and a small smile. He slings his backpack onto one of his shoulders and motions for Winn to follow him as TK starts toward the motorcycle he had borrowed from his dad. He slips his other arm through the backpack strap after taking out two helmets. He holds one out to Winn with a grin. "Ready to go to a cowboy bar?"

[ifwebefriends]

My brain wouldn’t stop nagging at me until I made this so here you go

Song: Everything Is Not What It Seems (Extended) by Selena Gomez (some verses cut by me)

[Video ID. A fan edit of Stanley Pines from Gravity Falls to the song “Everything Is Not What It Seems (Extended) by Selena Gomez. Many of the clips are Stan working on the portal, some clips are revealing his dishonest past, and some clips are of his escape from the FBI Agents. As the second part of the chorus picks up, various clips are shown of gravity anomalies as seen in the episode “Not What He Seems.” The final shot before cutting to black is Stanford Pines revealing his face right after coming out of the portal. The lyrics to the song are:

“There's always lot of people that you need to see

But you got a quick way to get from A to B

Just be careful who's aware of your reality

You'll know what I mean

There's a whole other world that you'll only know

When you can make yourself invisible from head-to-toe

But understand, that's not the status quo (Oh)

Careful what you show

Everything is not what it seems

When you can get all you wanted in your wildest dreams

You might run into trouble if you go to extremes

Because everything is not what it seems (Oh)

Everything is not what it seems

When you can have what you want by the simplest of means

Be careful not to mess with the balance of things

Because everything is not what it seems” End ID.]

[starshinegarcia]

Don’t Blame Me

Aaron Hotchner x BAU Reader Part 2!

Part 1 Here

(Based on Season 4 episode 9)

“If you walk away, I’d beg you on my knees to stay”

TW: Mentions of Sexual Assault (Marked if you need to skip)

It had been a full day since your.. less than a professional encounter with Hotch, and it’s safe to say that you had been left reeling. Not only was it unbelievably unprofessional- you enjoyed it and wanted more of it, and that was what made you the most angry. You had never even considered being attracted to him- aside from the occasional dream fantasy- and now? You were all in your head about what this meant, not focusing on the task and case at hand. Your teammates had taken notice, and had all tried to inquire in their own way- Emily bluntly, Garcia by sweetalking, Morgan by flirting- but you had pushed aside every effort and kept to yourself- making an extra effort not to make direct eye contact with Hotch, if you could help it. And that had been successful- until now, that is.

“It’s possible that we need a decoy. Someone to see how his methods work, up close and personal.” Reid offers to Hotch, and Hotch nods, his gaze shifting to your desk, where you were chewing on the tip of a pen, eyes glazed over and deep in thought about- something. “Someone he knows, someone he’s comfortable with. So he can feel like he’s winning.” Reid follows his gaze, pausing, “Sir, if I may- __ seems to be distracted at the moment and it may not be best for her to-” Hotch is ignoring him, closing the case shut and motioning in your direction. “Agent __, Agent Prentiss, I’d like to speak with you two.”

Emily snaps her fingers in front of your face- but you had already come to the sound of Hotch saying your last name. You rolled your eyes at her, trailing behind her and positioning yourself out of Hotch’s gaze. “We need you two to go undercover, in order to fully grasp the methods our unsub is using, adapted from Viper’s.” “So, we need to get Viper to try his moves on us.” Emily sighs, nodding. You talk softly, gritting your teeth slightly, “Yes, sir.” Hotch’s eyes find yours, finally, “Agent, you can sit this one out, if you feel unsafe-” “No. I can do it.” Your voice comes out bitter and sharp, so you hastily add a “Sir.” at the end to cover your tracks. You follow Emily into the women’s locker room, grabbing your go bag and angrily digging through it. “You okay?” Emily raises her eyebrow at you, well versed at reading women by now. “Fine. Let’s just get this over with.”

The familiar lights of the, once again, still sleazy bar hit your face as you walk in, carefully trailing behind Emily, with eyes alert. You had both changed into less FBI-agent like clothes, grabbing a drink from the bar as you found a seat n the corner. Before long, the familiar sharp scent of cheap cologne met your nostrils as Viper emerged behind you. “Well, well, well. Look who’s back for a taste. Who’s your friend?” You see Emily swallow a snarky remark, “Emily Prentiss.” “Enchante.” Viper smirks, bowing dramatically as his eyes find you. “So, tell me, did my methods work?” “You could say that, I suppose.” You hear Hotch’s voice in your head, Agent, you can sit this one out, and you grit your teeth, leaning in closer and continuing to banter with him.

SKIP HERE FOR SA TRIGGER!! At a certain point, you feel Emily tugging on your shirt, and you whip around to see her slyly following a man in a fedora. You turned back to Viper, “This has been.. Nice, but I have to go now, I’m afraid. Look me up on Facebook- unless you’re too off-grid for that.” Viper’s eyes change, grabbing onto your arm and pulling you to him quickly. “I don’t think so.” He growls, dragging you back into the depths of the bar. You freeze, going limp as you realize the danger you’ve put yourself in. You fumble for your gun- shit, you had gone in unarmed and unwired. You found yourself in the same dark corner you had been in earlier, just in daylight- it was much scarier now. Viper’s rough hands found your body, as you shook your head, trying to protest, or fight back, “Stop, please-” “Don’t fight it.” His hand found your mouth, muffling your protests.

You sunk your head against the brick wall, closing your eyes as tears streaked down your face- until a sharp voice broke through the dark. “FBI, Freeze, hands behind your back! Now!” You blinked quickly, seeing the blurry vision of Hotch aiming a gun at your attacker through your tears. Viper scoffed as Morgan cuffed him, and you fell against the wall, your knees crumbling underneath you. Hotch immediately put his gun away, moving towards you- but you summoned every bit of strength left in you and threw your arms around him. He stiffened at first, but just as quickly wrapped his arms around you, tightly holding you and using his free hand to stroke your hair. “It’s okay, sweetheart. I’m here.”

“Don’t blame me, love made me crazy”

(if it doesn’t, you ain’t doing it right)

𝐀/𝐍 𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐭 𝐬𝐨 𝐢𝐭 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐛𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐲 𝐢𝐬𝐧’𝐭 𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐢𝐭 𝐢𝐬!! 𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐤 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝐬𝐨 𝐟𝐚𝐫 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐢’𝐥𝐥 𝐬𝐞𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐧𝐞𝐱𝐭 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭,, 𝐢𝐟 𝐢𝐭’𝐬 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐬 𝐚𝐥𝐰𝐚𝐲𝐬 ;)

[melpcmene-a]

@postguilt has sent this in: “  i can’t get it off—  i can still feel it on me!  ” samson, he’s panicking :( | BLOOD RELATED PROMPTS. ( accepting !! )

Samson acted without thinking, reaching out to grab Miecz's hands; both of them, squeezing them tightly to reassurance him. To anchor him. "——Hey, oi. Miecz. Look at me. Look at me right now, and focus on me. It's gone. It's all gone. All that blood is gone. Now, just-- just breathe with me, okay? Follow along with my own breathing and just-- just relax yourself."

[justsurvival]

hellaur.... interact for a starter from one of the muses under the cut that i am really into right now.... specification of muse + verse would be nice, but i can spin a wheel.

jaya kasturi : psychiatrist for superpowered people (main verse is science fiction / superpowered. can work in crime, slice of life, & fantasy settings)

vierna naerth : knight / assassin / right (left?) hand man. loyal to the end. (main verse is fantasy. can work in crime, science fiction, & superpowered settings)

ashton haynes : classic lit professor who was involved in Not Great things in grad school. (main verse is dark academia. can work in horror, crime, science fiction, super powered, & fantasy settings)

bianca lovelace : time traveler & physicist. co-dependent with jaejin. (main verse is science fiction. can work in horror, crime, super powered & fantasy settings)

jaejin yang : time traveler & surgeon. co-dependent with bianca (main verse is science fiction. can work in horror, crime, super powered & fantasy settings)

shion iwasaki : half-ghoul medical examiner. (main verse is supernatural (not the show). can work in horror, crime, super powered, & science fiction settings)

naomi furukawa : former fbi agent, current private investigator. (main verse is crime. can work in horror, super powered, science fiction, & supernatural settings)

[mx-information]

Do you see? It’s important that you see.

To my fellow fans of The Silt Verses, if you’re looking for something to fill the void after the finale, might I humbly recommend a favorite comic series of mine: The Department of Truth.

On its face, the premise is simple enough: Cole Turner, an FBI agent who studies conspiracy theories attends a Flat Earth for his research. There he is approached by a pair of expies for the Koch brothers, who invite him to board their private plane to the edge of the world. He accepts the offer, watches footage of the moon landing being faked, runs into an eyeless woman in a red dress, sees the ice wall with his own two eyes. But the world isn’t flat, that’s the truth. Easily tested, easily proven. But the ice wall wasn’t faked either, and that’s because of the other, stranger truth: the world as we know it is not stable beneath our feet. The truth is only true because people believe it to be so.

Enter: our titular Department, a secretive branch of the U.S. government whose purpose is ensuring that conspiracy theories stay conspiracy theories, lest they find their way into reality. Cole Turner, as it turns out, has just been recruited. They could use the expertise, and they can hardly let him out of their sight after what he’s encountered.

Cole finds himself dropped in the deep end of a hidden world, hungry to make itself real, a world of secret and invented histories, of people who become subsumed by the idea of themselves, wild animals made of pure belief, night terrors made real, and that bizarre eyeless woman in a red dress watching over it all.

I think it’s a great series for people who liked the more eldritchy, existential horrors of TSV along with the rather unsubtle social criticism. I especially recommend it to people who really enjoyed Val and The Last Word. It’s much more of a spy/conspiracy thriller than something like TSV obviously, a lot more steeped in the cultural memory of the Cold War and the Satanic Panic and such, but it shares pretty similar themes of the powers and dangers of narratives, of the monsters our ruling class makes coming back to haunt all of us, great and barely-comprehensible powered handled with catastrophic irresponsibility, that sorta thing.

Also the art style just absolutely fucks. Like seriously just google it and scroll through some of the images.

Content warnings for just about anything you can imagine being associated with a comic series entirely about how destructive conspiracy culture is. There’s all sorts of discussion of Qanon and the Satanic Panic and that comes with discussions of sexual abuse and child exploitation by the media. It goes into the militia movement, the Waco Siege, all that stuff. The villains are fascists trying to impose their horrible, racist beliefs upon the very structure of reality, and the DoT itself isn’t that much better. Issue #3 goes very in-depth on school shooting ‘truthers’ and does not pull its punches. Basically, just know what you’re getting into, it treats its subject matter with what I consider appropriate gravity, and as such is very much not a lighthearted read.

[quillandqueer]

Happy Pride Month! | Favourite Queer Books

The Most Dazzling Girl in Berlin: A novel in verse set during the Weimar Republic, this is a story set during a time that could have changed the course of Queer history, had it not been lost.

Stars, Hide Your Fires: This is a sapphic heist mystery set in space, very fun and very campy.

Bianca Torre Is Afraid of Everything: A non binary teen bird watcher with anxiety attempts to solve a murder mystery while falling in love with a girl in their birding group, while trying not to get murdered.

Burn: a speculative fiction story, set in an alternate America in the 50s, except there's dragons, a prophecy, and two FBI agents.

Loveless: The first book about aromantic, asexual identity I ever read, showing the confusion of finding yourself in the chaos of college perfectly.

The Black Flamingo: A novel in verse about a mixed-race gay teen, finding joy as a Drag artist.

This Poison Heart: A sapphic romance with plant magic, this has such a strong family bond that I loved.

Teach The Torches To Burn: A Romeo retelling where Romeo instead falls in love with Valentine. This is not a gender swapped Juliet - she makes an appearance in this story too, and there's a bit of a Found Family Vibe.

Milo and Marcos at the End of the World: the closer Milo and Marcos get, the more disasters seem to befall them. Is there a larger, unseen force at play, trying to keep them apart? And if so, is their love worth risking the end of the world?

[gerec]

weird ask, but is there any cherik fic hannigram coded ?

Not a weird ask at all, Anon! Here are a few fics that are inspired by Hannibal (the character and/or show):

Charles Xavier's Design by not_who_we_are

Dr. Erik Lehnsherr is concerned for the well being of his patient, and friend, Charles Xavier. His desire to do "good" has left Charles vulnerable, and Erik is waiting in the wings.

Vi et animo by zombieboyband

Erik and Hannibal on the hunt, on the run.

Mizumono by sugabyun

They know," Charles whispers into the phone. He thinks he hears Erik breathe before the call disconnects.

In the final showdown, Charles wants to surprise Erik. Erik wants to surprise Charles.

-----

And here are some of my favourite serial killer fics!

Serial Killer 'Verse by ninemoons42

Playing With Fire by professor

Charles is a detective determined to catch a serial killer.

If the serial killer doesn’t catch him first.

Rampage by wallhaditcoming (uvcatastrophe)

When police uncover evidence that notorious serial killer Magneto is obsessed with Professor Charles Xavier, they immediately move to put him into Witness Security. Only Xavier refuses. The police come up with trumped up charges to arrest him and thus keep him safe until they can apprehend the killer. Erik is not happy that the police have chosen to drag Charles into this and are now trying to keep him from him, and shows his displeasure the best way he knows how – an increased body count.

Charles’ Killer by luchia

When detective Charles Xavier finds himself hunting down a vendetta-driven serial killer, it doesn’t take long for him to realize he’s in over his head. It only takes a little longer for him to realize his killer is, too.

I Walk The Line by Bellator

"The best part of it all is that Charles is only one who can see Erik like this, being undone by his cock. He's the only one who can strip Erik bare, body and soul. The only one who can touch Erik. Every moan, gasp, whine and breath is his. Every cry, tear and emotion belongs to him. He's the only one that can make Erik feel - from pain to pleasure, from melancholy to ecstasy, from odium to love."

Thirty Years by marourin, ourgirlfriday

Thirty years ago, Charles was rookie FBI agent working working the case of a serial killer. Little does he know, this mysterious new killer is Erik Lensherr, the man he saved from drowning one day when he first got started.

[thenationaltreasuregazette]

National Treasure: The Musical

Previously, we hallucinated the first act of a National Treasure musical.

And now:

ACT II

INT. ROTUNDA - NIGHT

The curtain opens with AGENT SADUSKY and the other FBI AGENTS —JOHNSON, HENDRIX, & DAWES— and facing the audience. He addresses the audience as if we’re the gala guests ensuring us that everything is fine.

The ensemble is additional FBI agents.

Then he and the agents regroup by themselves. Agent Hendrix admits that they received a tip but it wasn’t recorded.

Sadusky: How ‘bout now?

SONG: Every Second Counts

The song starts on a very sassy, staccato note just after Sadusky says his sassy line. Its melody is urgent as he and the other agents try to figure out what happened.

They question:

MIKE, the guard that Ian and co knocked out. He doesn’t remember anything.

HEAD GUARD WOODRUFF, who tells them that a copy of the Declaration is on display and that there were no other guards in the vault hallway.

STAN, who says Abigail is missing but there’s no way she was involved.

CASHIER, who relays the weird interaction she had with Ben.

Different cast member come forward to meet them as the agents do basically a walk & talk around the stage.

↳ Btw Disney has generously paid for us to have one of those in-stage treadmill things so let’s use that for the blocking here to help the scene feel dynamic. Do your best Aaron Sorkin impression, you know?

That’s how the agents get Ben’s name: Benjamin Franklin Gates.

Now the song quiets down for Sadusky to have a verse alone thinking about Ben. This element is in the final movie, but it’s one of the things that stands out to me most from the 2003 script as well (at least, of things that aren’t ridiculous): the other agents are quick to assign roles and motivations to Ben. He must be an anti-american terrorist, etc. Sadusky waits and analyzes.

So this verse is a little bit more intimate as Sadusky wants to understand who Ben is and what’s making him tick before he makes any judgements.

Ends with the lead toward Patrick. “Closest relative first.”

END SONG

INT. GATES FAMILY HOME - NIGHT

Ben asks Patrick for the Silence Doogood letters.

Riley asks what the magic numbers mean. Ottendorf cypher.

Patrick explains that he donated the letters. Ben will absolutely still give his dad the finger in the way he pulls off his cotton gloves. Iconic.

Abigail says she can’t believe all this time no one knew what’s on the back.

Patrick: The back of what?

SONG: Too Far

Let’s have Patrick get a little angrier, yeah?

In this brief song Patrick will criticize Ben for taking things too far. He’ll say that he’s tolerated all of Ben’s treasure hunt shenanigans, him wasting his potential, but this is too much. The worst insult will come when he says Ben has let his grandfather down.

Patrick: And you’ve dragged me into all this

Ben: Well we can’t have that.

END SONG

Ben and the gang tape Patrick to the chair before leaving. They mention that they’re going to take Patrick’s car.

INT. HOTEL - NIGHT

Ian and the gang puzzle over the riddle. It’s a little more banter-y than in the movie but it’s clear Ian is in control. He’s the kind of guy where they henchmen will laugh if he laughs and stop if he stops.

Maybe we learn a bit more about each henchman here?

And they’re playing poker or something. Pretty chummy.

Ian figures out the “Silence is a name” clue.

INT. CLOTHING STORE - DAY

Although the scene in the car is one of my favorites, it won’t really work here, so we’ll have the Common Sense/how do they have cash discussion in the store while Ben and Abigail pick out clothes.

We’ll watch them make the plan to have Riley go and get the cypher clue because he’s the one least likely to be spotted.

Riley leaves and Ben and Abigail head into the questionably designed dressing rooms.

SONG: Cavalier

Oh we’re definitely doing a song for this one.

Abigail asks Ben about Patrick’s comment. Ben explains his dad’s philosophy on love.

Since we have time to get a bit more introspective here, let’s dig into this a little more. As I’ve discussed elsewhere, I think this whole “cavalier in your personal life” says way more about Patrick than it does about Ben.

So Ben will explain a bit more about who his dad is, what Patrick expects Ben to be, and how Ben actually lives his life.

Superstar bonus points if we make it canon that his mom is dead in this version.

This song is mostly Ben’s with Abigail popping in here and there. Subtextually it makes it clear that actually Ben does have a one true love just like his dad wanted, but it’s the treasure.

The song ends with Ben and Abigail doing a nice little harmony now that they’re falling more in sync. And yes, some of Ben’s old-time-y poetic phrasing will be used in the lyrics.

END SONG

EXT. FRANKLIN INSTITUTE - DAY/INT. CLOTHING STORY - DAY

The lights go down on the clothing store but it’s still visible. Ben and Abigail finish any quick changing they need to do.

Riley is on a bench downstage waiting for the the SCHOOLKID. (This can be the same kid who plays young Ben for double casting reasons, or not).

The kid walks in and gives Riley the next letter paper. Riley adds the letters to the riddle. We can use the same scrim projection deal to show the almost-finished puzzle. Super extra bonus points if we watch Riley erase part of it in time with the projections when the kid criticizes his handwriting.

Riley sends the kid in for the last letters.

He reads the end of the riddle to himself again and…

[what inspires his breakthrough here? A salesperson selling something liberty bell related? idk]

Riley jumps up and runs off stage. The lights go down on the bench and come up again on…

INT. CLOTHING STORE

Ben and Abigail come out of the changing rooms as Riley runs in with the next clue.

All of the same bits with the CASHIER, decoding the riddle, and daylight savings time.

The trio heads off to Independence Hall.

EXT. BENCH - DAY

Lights come back on the the bench and the kid comes out again looking for Riley. When he doesn’t see him, the kid walks part way across the stage looking for him, turns around…and walks right into Ian and the crew, who have taken Riley’s place.

They get the kid to give them the last four letters, and announce that they’re also heading to independence hall.

INT./EXT. INDEPENDENCE HALL - DAY

A NATIONAL PARK RANGER leads a tour group across the stage. Ben, Riley, and Abigail break off of it and climb up the scaffolding, which will now playing the role of Independence Hall. A bell has been raised above it.

They spot the shadow as Ian and co enter on stage level looking up at the hall. “Idiot.” “Who?” “Me. It’s not here. It’s there.”

↳ Also can we talk about Shaw’s reaction here? “Who?” It’s really encapsulates their dynamic.

Team Treasure climbs down while Ian and Shaw climb up, leaving the rest of the henchmen on the stage. Ben’s team heads to the signing room (downstage) while the other henchmen move around and accidentally miss them.

The blocking here should feel as close to a Scooby Doo doors sequence as is possible in real life.

INT. SIGNING ROOM - DAY

The set changes slightly so it’s clear we’re inside Independence Hall and the henchmen are outside. Ian and Shaw are still up in the belfry. Some old time-y desk push in from the edges.

Ben shows off the glasses and Riley and Abigail help him unroll the Declaration. When he gets to the bottom, Ben pauses.

SONG: In the Company/Great Company/Great Minds

“The last time this was here, it was being signed.”

Ben envisions the scene, with a little bit of context for how the convention was actually going. He elaborates on his thing about being in the same place as historical happenings and what it feels like for him.

We’ll use Patrick’s line from later in the movie about being in the company of some of the greatest minds in history by understanding what they left behind.

Abigail is charmed by this, and Riley is affectionately annoyed. There’s another tour coming.

Then Ben spots some of Ian’s crew out the window. The song shifts to more of a “we’ve got company, uh-oh” bent. Ben, Riley, and Abigail split up with the artifacts.

Ian and the henchmen get a verse as they split up to pursue. Their verse uses “we’ve got company” in the sense of “we’ve found them”/“we have eyes on them.”

The ensemble floods in as the crowd outside of Independence hall. Team Treasure acts cool until all at the same moment they break into a run. Powell and McGregor chase Ben off in one direction and Shaw and Shippen follow Riley and Abigail in the other.

INT. READING TERMINAL MARKET - DAY

Riley and Abigail run back onto the stage as shop counters and patrons move in—one row in back and one on each side to create an aisle. She beckons for him to follow but they get split up (one gets pulled in the wrong direction by the treadmill?).

Everyone is still singing btw.

Abigail jumps behind the meat counter, which is facing the audience. Everything FREEZES and the lights all focus on Abigail and the woman behind the counter.

I’d love to do that thing where this song stops the previous one cold and takes over, so:

END SONG

SONG: Stick Around

This song is trying to cover a lot of ground so let’s see if we can make it work.

It starts with MEAT LADY behind the counter looking at Abigail. She’s trying to decide whether to let Abigail stay or not.

Behind the counter, in the aisle of the market, Shaw is prowling and doing a creepy “here kitty” kind of thing with the idea of “stick around and find out”

Abigail—frightened by this—is starting to wonder why she is sticking around. For the Declaration, yes, but she’s literally holding it. Once they’re clear of the immediate danger she could turn it in. Not Ben necessarily, but this song will explore why she still wants to be a part of the treasure hunt.

We’ll also see what Riley is doing. I’m thinking some comedic shenanigans pretending to be part of different families/groups? In his part he’ll explain why he is sticking with Ben. Maybe we'll learn that his interest in conspiracy theories comes out of a desire to be part of something that matters. And with Ben and Ben's mission he feels like he matters.

→ don't come at me Emmi, I'm trying to fix this ☺️

Meat Lady tells off Shaw, who leaves. Abigail and Riley both reaffirm their decision to stick with Ben.

END SONG

The lights come up, the crowd starts moving again, and Abigail runs back into the fray. She reunites with Riley and they run out. The market setting follows them as…

EXT. ROOFTOP - DAY

Ben backs onto the top catwalk, held at gunpoint by McGregor. Ben tries to reason with him, remind him they knew each other. Maybe a few extra lines about playing poker with the guys or whatever the crew did when Ben was with them.

Ben throws the document case and runs down the far staircase. McGregor sees that its empty and leaves in a huff.

EXT. STREET - DAY

Below, Riley and Abigail run through a crowd. Riley gets held up and Abigail gets knocked down.

She drops the Declaration case then dives after it. Riley pulls her back to the sound of a TRUCK HORN. Then the treadmill brings the case right to Ian’s feet.

Shaw and Shippen run in after them, but Ian lets Riley and Abigail go.

They call Ben, who comes from the other side of the stage, and tell him they lost it. Ben says to meet him at the car.

When Ben arrives at the car, Sadusky and his team are waiting. They arrest Ben.

Riley and Abigail backtrack before they can be spotted.

EXT. PARK - DAY

Riley and Abigail wonder what they’re going to do now.

SONG: One Step Short of Crazy (Abigail’s Reprise)

In this song, we get to see Abigail make the decision to call Ian and work with him to get Ben back, something she would never have dreamed she was capable of or willing to do 24 hours earlier.

But now she’s open to the idea of doing what’s considered wrong, in order to do what she knows is right.

We get to hear just the first few lines of their her and Ian’s conversation.

END SONG

INT. FBI FIELD OFFICE - DAY

The FBI team drag Ben in and handcuff him to a desk. We get to see a little more of the interrogation here, because I think the way Ben chooses to summarize the story thus far is probably funny/interresting.

SONG: Door Number Three

Sadusky lays out for Ben that he has two options, Door Number 1 and Door Number 2.

When Ian calls Sadusky has a line like “Door Number 2 just called” or “Door Number 2 is closing.”

Ian—from an aside at the front of the stage—tells them to meet at the Intrepid.

I’d love an extra line or two about how Ian and crew plan to get there.

EXT. USS INTREPID - DAY

The ensemble is once again the crowd, with the FBI agents in plain clothes but distinguished by light cues as Sadusky does roll call so we can see where they are.

Ben enters and quips about the agents being spotted. Sadusky and Agent Johnson sit in a van at the back of the stage with headphones.

The helicopter interruption is accomplished with sound effects, light cues, and a big fan. Shaw enters and talks to Ben, but we can’t hear them, only static and:

→ What we do hear is Shaw reprising the line “2000 ways this could go wrong/but only one way it needs to go right”

The ensemble moves around in the chaos, misdirecting so Ben can slip off stage.

When the wind clears, Sadusky is asking if anyone sees Ben, and the FBI agents come forward to say no, they don’t.

Ben enters on the catwalk. Fishing. Bait. He tells Sadusky he’s found door number 3, and he’s taking it. Then BEN JUMPS OVER THE SIDE OF THE CATWALK.

END SONG

The easy version is that he jumps onto a platform concealed as part of the Intrepid set, so he jumps somewhere we can’t see only a few feet down and a SPLASH sound effect does the rest.

The $$$ version is that Ben is on wire from the time he enters on the catwalk, and he actually jumps from it. Maybe even some strobe light to make the fall feel slower/farther/more dramatic. Perfect pencil position of course.

EXT. UNDERWATER - DARK

The stage goes dark. SPLASH sound. Ben is FLOATING near the stage because he’s already on wires so why not.

McGregor “swims” up (also on wires), hands Ben scuba gear “under water” and they get pulled out by the wires as if by the little torpedo propulsion device.

EXT. USS INTREPID - DAY

The lights come back up with FBI agents looking over the edge of the catwalk. “You first.”

Agent Dawes can just be standing there to say “Sir, it’s the Hudson. Nothing is visible.”

EXT. NEW JERSEY DOCK - DAY

Ben and McGregor climb up from the trap door. New clothes. Had to guess your sizes.

The phone call between Ben and Abigail happens before they get into the car, because blocking.

The henchmen just kinda push Ben along to…

EXT. TRINITY CHURCH - DAY

Ian waits for them. He offers Ben the Declaration and the pipe in exchange for the treasure.

Ian: Oh Ben. You know the secret to running a convincing bluff? Every once in a while you’ve got to be hold all the cards.

SONG: All the Cards

Yes, Ian’s big Act 2 villain song will focus on the poker theme and the idea that he’s holding all the cards. Each time he says it, one of the henchmen will tow in another “card”—Patrick, Abigail, and Riley.

INT. TRINITY CHURCH - DAY

It will also take some time to explore Ian a little more. What makes him tick? He’s wants money, sure, but he’s planning to get it in a pretty wild way at the start of the movie (funding this crackpot treasure hunter).

The song will pause for Ben and Ian to examine the map. Same effect with the scrim showing what they’re seeing on the document. Ian orders everyone down to the basement.

Patrick and Ben will have a verse and they discuss how to keep the status quo or overturn it, also framed as a poker metaphor.

END SONG

They progress to the tunnel. Ian leaves two men behind and everyone else goes in the tunnel.

Characters will enter the tunnel in the middle of the stage. Ben pulls Abigail aside for the kiss here before they go inside, and this can buy some time for other actors to get where they need to be.

INT. STAIR CHAMBER - DAY

They reappear on the top level of scaffolding, walking trepidatiously across it.

Okay. Now we’ve come to the stairs sequence, and we have some choices to make as far as how we do this.

I have a personal broadway-related philosophy that I’m all for effects, but I don’t think that actors should also be expected to be acrobats, because it limits the pool of performers, makes the show less accessible to future lower budget productions, and most importantly endangers people unnecessarily.

That said, we have this scaffolding-like set that’s been on stage the whole time, as many a show does, and it sure would be pretty damn cool if it collapsed right now, right?

Not a lot but like one end of one of the catwalks drops a foot in one direction and the other in the other.

Two elevator platforms hang in front of them. Patrick, Ian, and Powell step from the lower catwalk to the lower elevator. Riley finds safety on the least collaps-y point of the set.

Ben and Abigail, however, are still on the top catwalk and have to go for to the higher elevator.

Remember what I said a second ago about not wanting to include acrobatics? well…this is fictional, after all, so…

Ben and Abigail are now on the same to wire rigs used for the Intrepid sequence. They jump onto the elevator, which lurches and tilts dramatically, leaving Abigail to hang off the end.

Ben drops her to safety before grabbing for the Declaration.

Oh and we just drop Shaw off into the wing curtains. Sorry. but we’re not using a big effect on him.

Ben gets to working elevator, which picks up Abigail and Riley and then descends to the stage while the broke one ascends into the fly, which, along with possibly a moving projectiony background create the illusion that we are moving down.

INT. ANTECHAMBER - DAY

Once we reach the bottom the scaffolding resets to signal that we’re on solid ground again.

The same deal here. Ben and Patrick fake a clue and Ian leaves them behind.

SONG: Treasure is a Myth

Ben apologizes to Riley. A joyful, victorious song barely gets going before—

INT. FALSE TREASURE ROOM - DAY

—it cuts off for a sad musical interlude as they step forward into the empty treasure room.

Everyone apologizes to Ben as he stands in the center of the stage dumbstruck (fake torch in hand).

Then Ben sings a heartbreaking reprise of “Treasure is a Myth” in which he concedes that his father was right. He wasted his life, his freedom, risked his friends lives all for something that everybody else already knew: the treasure is a myth.

Patrick tries to convince him otherwise, that by finding this room he has made a great accomplishment. “For your grandfather, and all of us.”

The ensemble member who is John Gates returns to pat Ben on the back and tell him he’s proud of him, that Ben accomplished more than he ever imagined. The Gates Family Ensemble returns one by one/couple by couple to tell Ben the same.

The family, led by Patrick, tries to get Ben not to give up on the hunt. Abigail is in.

Ben lists various times he thought he’d found something and decides he can’t do it again, that he can’t take another heartbreak.

↳ Yes, we are diverging slightly from the movie here, where Ben agrees pretty readily to keep searching. It’s a quick turnaround in the movie, but I think it works largely because of Nic Cage’s performance. Ben is genuinely crushed/empty/broken and even when he says yes he’ll keep going it’s clearly something that is hard for him to agree to.

On stage that nuance might not come across as well, so I like the idea of making this beat a little stronger by making Ben’s ‘all is lost’ moment a little longer. What if he had to truly give up before he solves the final puzzle?

END SONG

Riley reminds them that they’re all stuck. Where’s this second exit?

SONG: Charlotte’s Riddle (Reprise)

This isn’t a full song as much as a haunting line or two from the Charlotte voice as Ben examines the room.

END SONG

Ben: Could it really be that simple?

We make a nice production of ‘the secret lies with Charlotte.’ Ben’s a bit more vocal about what he’s seeing and doing, again because the details will be less visible.

When he pushes the button all the torches flicker as a door opens on the side of the stage with a nice stone sound effect.

One by one the characters enter, Ben last.

INT. TREASURE ROOM - DAY

The lights go dark.

Patrick, Abigail, Riley, and Ben enter one by one from the back of the stage. They start out in a halo of light that’s just around the four of them.

A spotlight illuminates the oil podium.

Ben says something profound about all the places the treasure has traveled and all of the hands it passed through (replacing/bolstering the beat with the medallion, which, again, might not read as clearly on stage.)

He touches his torch to the oil and holy shit, holy shit—

Channels of fire spread across the stage…

…and down through LED lighting strips that have been placed/taped/embedded along the aisles of the theater.

The familiar National Treasure score swells.

As the haze of warm light rises on the stage we can see that they are surrounded by treasure items—Egyptian sarcophagi, Chinese terracotta warriors, Greek marble columns and statues. Piles and piles of treasure.

They look out on us, the audience, who form the rest of the treasure cavern, and cheer.

↳ I think it’s important the the treasure room reveal happens all at once because the rest of the cavern won’t read that impressively on its own. Instead we’ll use the stage’s unique relationship to light/dark/spotlight to achieve the reveal.

↳ Option to have the Gates Family Chorus lining the scaffolding, maybe doing some choral harmonies to the score.

Riley has his Bluish-green man moment.

Abigail geeks out over her scrolls.

Ben and Patrick share a more direct moment of celebration. (to bolster the arms on each other’s backs)

Riley: Look. Stairs.

Added beat: they discuss that they’re ready to head up to the surface and face whatever consequences await.

INT. TRINITY CHURCH - DAY

Ben emerges from the tunnel mouth and calls Sadusky on his cell phone.

Sadusky and the FBI swarm in. Agents in FBI windbreakers help the others out of the tunnel as Sadusky slowly, ominously approaches Ben.

Ben offers up the Declaration. Not a bargaining chip.

SONG: Just Like That/Finale

Ben lists his requests.

The theme here is “it belongs to the world” and the idea that the treasure is bigger than any of them.

Everyone states what they got out of the treasure hunt. Ben got validation. Abigail got adventure. Riley got to be part of something. Patrick got his son back.

Armed guards come to take the Declaration to the National Archives NYC branch, and then back to D.C.. Abigail is welcome to come.

Before she leaves she goes up to Ben and they decide to get a cup of coffee after this is all over.

Riley pats Ben on the back.

Sadusky comes in to spoil the mood because someone has to go to prison. Ben offers up Ian instead. The FBI arrests Ian and the gang.

What now? Everything is about to change. But not the things that matter. Bla bla, the power of friendship; maybe the real treasure was the friends/found family/polycule we make along the way.

The score swells and we end on a big triumphant chorus.

END SONG

END ACT 2

[renegadetulis]

In honour of clearing my drafts on Christmas Day, I am putting out a starter call for the following muses (under the read more) of mine who need more active threads! This call is open to mutuals (will be given priority) and non-mutuals (although based on past experiences, I will be extremely HIGHLY selective with non-mutuals).

You can refer to this excel sheet for a short info for all. Only some of their bios / pages are ready in the fancy muses page.

Please specify muse! Thank you ❤️

Alexander - guitarist / serial killer

Akira - chemist / drug supplier

Athena - cellist

Caleb - firefighter

Elizabeth - Literary Cafe Resource Manager

James - Accountant / underground MMA fighter

Elora - pastry chef / culinary student

Jac - Night club manager / Owner of Escort Service / Dominatrix

Jordan - Phytologist / Assoc Prof of Botany

Layla - Photographer

Lunara - Interpol agent

Huzair - paramedic

Matthew - famous model / actor

Mason - FBI agent / Hacker / Thief (verse dependent)

Mia - emergency unit / maternity nurse

Miles - writer/ screenwriter

Nadine - Lingerie shop owner / Dominatrix

Nate - ER Surgeon / on call doctor for mobs

Noel - Astrophysicist

Nyla - Paralegal

Silas - Psychologist / Assoc Prof of Psychology

Vince - Assoc Prof of Astronomy

Zain - General Practitioner Medicine / Cleaner (crime verse)