#꒰ pua

[ha-ule-nalu]

after the mission accident leaving two agents in critical condition and the revelation regarding agent 021, pua, monarch, and shizuka felt like their worlds were falling apart.

pua, stricken with grief as she caught a glimpse of her best friend's body limp and twitching with electricity, felt like she was imploding. she floated between the medbay, her quarters, and the cell grimshaw was being held in, her ears limp against her head, sneakers squeaking through the halls as she dragged her feet. what was she supposed to do? what could she do?

her anger had long fizzled into a dull ache of loneliness. her eyes felt dry. she couldn't cry anymore.

"lani..."

the radiant stopped in her tracks, raising her gaze from the floor. jett stood before her, concern written in her knitted brows. pua felt her heart drop. she didn't want to talk.

"what?" nohealani muttered, the rasp in her own voice somewhat surprising her. she hadn't spoken more than a few words since the night grimshaw was detained.

"i'm worried about you," jett rubbed her arm nervously. "please.... talk to me. let me get you something to eat at least, i- lani, you've barely eaten since-"

"just leave me alone," pua aggressively shouldered past her white-haired friend, causing her to stagger. "i just wanna be alone."

the tightness in her chest was nearly unbearable. tears began welling in her eyes again, stinging her dry eyes painfully as she tried to swallow the lump growing in her throat. she would just sleep it off again. it was better than dealing with her present problems.

neon, her fest friend, on deaths doorstep. grimshaw, a man she viewed as her second father, possibly the reason why. could he really have done it? could she believe that the man who made her feel so safe, made her feel at home, have committed such a heinous crime? her gut reaction was to reject it. there was no way it was achlys. it couldn't have been. it couldn't have...

...right?

monarch leaned against the wall of the holding cell in the dark, supervising grimshaw during some of his allowed darkness hours. she didn’t mind the shifts, having promised brimstone and viper while begging them to let him have the lights turned off for a few hours that she would be the one to keep watch. while she had lobbied for complete darkness, it was only near pitch-blackness, save for the dim LED strip outlining the door. the two of them sat in silence. after a few days, it felt like there was nothing more to say.

however, there was a slight tension hanging in the air. despite having asked him questions and getting her answers, monarch knew that grimshaw was still withholding some information about the everett-linde disaster, and how it related to the current situation. but no matter how hard they thought about it, they couldn't pin down who the real traitor could be. there was an understanding between the two of them now, after monarch had confided in him about what had happened to her on omega-earth, but despite this, there was still a piece of the puzzle missing. they grimaced. what could he still be hiding?

“achlys,” their voice was soft, the broken silence hanging heavy in the air. there was no answer, but poeiva, their eyes long adjusted to the emptiness, could see the darkness slightly form the vague silhouette of grimshaw in his shadow form inside the cell. he heard her.

“i know… you’re not the traitor.”

the silence remained.

“i know it for a fact. but i need to know. please, achlys. who is it, really?” she bit the inside of her cheek as the silence continued. why won’t he answer?

“you mentioned a ‘he’ before, when we spoke earlier. who is he, grimshaw? please… i need to know-“

“i can’t tell you,” the silhouette of his head seemingly solidified.

“and why not?” poeiva protested, stepping off the wall. “you know this is important to me. if you just gave up who he is, it would clear your name, it would solve everything!”

“it’s not that simple,” achlys kept his voice even. “you must know it will only complicate things further if i implicate another man as the traitor rather than myself.”

“you don’t know that!” poeiva felt their frustration boil in their chest. she didn’t understand why he would give up the chance to solve everything and get himself out of the hot seat, with no consequence other than the real traitor going behind bars.

“i do,” grimshaw’s voice was harsher this time. absolute. “i do know that. it’s exactly why i can’t say anything.”

poeiva opened her mouth to retort, but before she could say anything there was a knock and the door slid open, golden light from the hallway spilling into the dark room. she quickly put a hand up, eyes painfully adjusting to the change.

“mon chéri,” she heard chamber step into the room, a hand gently placed on the small of their back. “brimstone sent me to retrieve you.”

poeiva blinked, looking from chamber to the shadow in the darkest corner of the room. she wordlessly let her partner guide her out of the cell, the door sliding shut behind her. grimshaw’s answers had done nothing but unsettle her. was it her close friendship with brimstone, sage, and viper causing him to withhold the information? did he not trust her? she tightened her grip on chamber’s hand.

or was it something else?

shizuka tapped the stack of papers on the desk before neatly placing them back in the file for what was probably the eighth time. she slipped the folder back into the filing cabinet, sighing through her mask as the drawer gently clicked shut. she had cleaned and reorganized the medbay and grimshaw's office at least eight times by now, unsure of what to do with herself now that her mentor and close friend was detained and stuck in a cell down the hall.

she stepped towards the patient beds, sliding back the curtain shielding neon's bed from view. she anxiously checked the woman's vitals and IV, knowing all the settings were the same as they were five minutes ago.

she hadn't wanted to leave the medbay. she wasn't really sure what to even think. sage and skye had both come in to try and relieve her, but she would only leave for a few hours to check on killjoy and then she would be right back in the bay. her poor girlfriend had barely left her quarters after the incident. yoru and kaya respectively had come in to keep her company on occasion, but she wasn't really in a talkative mood. her thoughts were too loud, racing. she didn't know what to do.

the memories of grimshaw being dragged from the medbay while tending to artisan played vividly behind her eyes. she remembered brimstone's anger, his disgust, viper's rage as she accused achlys of his crimes, sage's conflicted gaze passing between shizuka and her mentor. but what bothered her most of all was grimshaw's complete lack of a proper reaction.

one would think that if someone were to be accused of a crime they didn't commit by people very close to them, they would react defensively, trying to clear their name. but grimshaw barely said a word, simply allowing them to take him away.

as if he was expecting this outcome. prepared for it, even.

shizuka closed her eyes, steadying her breathing. now was not the time to begin spiraling down useless thoughts. she knew grimshaw couldn't be the traitor.... he couldn't be. she was too tired to think about it.

the pink-haired woman pushed the curtain back as the main doors slid opened, a tired-looking sage entering the medbay.

"ryuujin," she greeted, offering a small, forced smile. "i can take over for awhile. you should get some rest."

shizuka nodded. "thank you." she was grateful her mechanized voice hid her exhaustion.

[ha-ule-nalu]

I READ THIS WHILE I WAS AT MY BFS HOUS TODAYSO IT TOKO ME A WHILE TO GET ALL MY THOUGHTS DOWN TO POST BNT OH MY GOD I LOVE THIS FIC TO PIECES.

PUA WITH HER FEET ON THE TABLE. HER BLINKS. HER READINESS TO PUT HER LIFE ON THE LINE FOR THIS CHILD SHE'S NEVER MET BUT IMMEDIATELY FEELS KINSHIP TOWARDS. HER OVERALL DEMEANOR THE WHOLE TIME. the little details. like o-cypher casually patting her head, a sign of their obvious closeness in that world that she doesn't quite experience in her own. grimshaw having her sit on the edge of the booth so she can easily defect. the fact that he trusts her with the safety of his real daughter as she speeds away to get her to safety.

RYUUJIN'S SOFTNESS IN GENERAL MAN. this is so her. quiet but soft and caring. AND YOU GOT HER MASK DOWN SO WELL I LOVEEEE ITTTTTT RAAAAAHHHHHHH shes so perfect in every way and i love the fact that u included her abilities as well.... ur just the coolest ever and ever

i love the synergy this whole group has like not even gonna lie these 5 would be a killer team comp in game too like got DAMN

Reunion Track ; Two ; Omega

Following Grimshaw's release, he has little time to rest, with no more time left before he has to face Omega's threat. But he isn't going to Corfu Island, Greece alone.

Pua and Ryuujin belong to: @ha-ule-nalu

Silver belongs to: @cat-buried-in-tall-grass

and the taglist is those two mains' so..

“This mission will remain strictly need to know. You are the agents Grimshaw has chosen to enact it. Understood?”

Ryuujin clasped her hands on the table, leaning forward to listen more clearly. But she gave the man beside the monitor a nod of affirmation.

Silver refused to sit, instead pacing nearby, arms crossed over his chest. “Got it.” He agreed, annoyed by Brimstone’s mere presence.

Pua had her legs up on the table, leaning back in her chair as she nodded. “Doesn’t leave this room.” She affirmed.

“You know me.” Cypher tilted his hat, leaning against a nearby pillar in the meeting room.

“All yours, Grim.” Brimstone tossed the remote to the man as he stood, the two switching spots.

Grimshaw hesitated as he situated himself beside the monitor. He wasn’t nervous because he’d just been released from the holding facility, but revealing this part of his life to other people? This scared him. The risks were near insurmountable, and any mistake could end with his death. 

“This is an extraction mission. But unlike Omega, we aren’t going for radianite. We’re going for something more important.”

“Something my counterpart has?”

Cypher’s question turned heads as he flipped his tripwire in his hand, the eyes of his mask remained focused on Grimshaw. “Yes, that’s correct. He contacted my sister and told me that.. Well. Let’s just.” Grimshaw pointed the remote at the monitor, clicking it to show a photo.

A headshot of a brunette woman with tanned skin and striking pink eyes showed on the monitor. 

“This is Vera González. She’s a researcher with Kingdom.” The attention was turned back to the screen. 

“Is she who we’re getting back? She’s pretty!” Pua complimented but Grimshaw shook his head.

“No. More accurately, she was a researcher with Kingdom.” And the man remained outwardly calm despite what that meant to him. “Several years ago she was slated to join Kingdom Industries’ research in New Mexico.” He clicked the remote and a photo of himself before radianite changed him.

“I took her place to provide Legion with information on the collider and of course, the cross-world teleportation side effects. She uh. Well.” Grimshaw rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly. “She divorced me after that.”

Pua choked, sitting up straight so hard that her chair rolled back slightly. Silver stopped pacing, eyes widening slightly at the information. Cypher chuckled watching their reactions while Brimstone did his best to shush them, even though he too was surprised by the information that Grimshaw was married.

Ryuujin typed on her bracer, finding it easier than mouthing all of the necessary words. “Is this the rose you’d mentioned during work?” Her mask’s machine voice sounded out for her. But Grimshaw shook his head no again.

“In my time masquerading as Alpha Achlys, I’ve learned that Vera died when she was sixteen, a car accident. That would have been a year before..” Click and the slide changed again.

A young girl holding a stuffed plant themed teddy bear was the next slide. Her eyes mimicked Vera’s, but a darker hue of pink. Her dark brown hair was tied into low pigtails, and the thickness matched Grimshaw’s. Plum streaks lined her hair as she grinned into the camera.

“Jacinta Hajime.”

Ryuujin’s expression softened immediately.

The lollipop Silver had acquired at some point dropped to the ground, shattering in pieces as the information in front of him came to light. “You- You have- you have a? huh?”

“A daughter.” Brimstone exhaled, he brought his hand up over his face, sighing into his hand.

“I do. And I haven’t seen her in.. Three years. Omega Cypher and I were very close, unable to tell the truth to our wives, a child. He is her emergency contact. And now she is in his possession.”

“But he won’t hurt her.” Cypher reasoned, using what he’d do as reference. Grimshaw nodded, affirming his theory.

“No, he won’t. But I can’t promise an ambush when I attempt to retrieve her. That’s why I need a team, that’s why I’ve chosen all of you.” 

Pua had been silent as she processed the information in front of her, her eyes wide as she stared at the little girl on the screen. She couldn’t have even been ten in the picture in front of them. Orange eyes blinked, once, twice. 

“We’re gonna get her back.” The bunny radiant decided, already prepared to risk limb and life for this child she didn’t know.

“I agree.” Ryuujin nodded, closing her visible eye as she smiled beneath her mask, hoping it reflected on the rest of her face.

Grimshaw smiled beneath his own mask, pleased by the reactions of those he held close. “There is one other thing, however.” He admitted, clicking the remote again, the slide changed to a video of the little girl in question but much younger. 

She was sitting on a bed of flowers, giggling as little green sprouts grew from her hair. 

“She’s a radiant, similar to Pua. But..” The flowers disappeared in the video, a man that was clearly Grimshaw when he was younger diving to catch the toddler before she hit the grass. “She never had a good grasp on her abilities. And maybe that has changed in three years, but it might not have.”

“Her abilities were often triggered by two things, one if she wanted to impress mom, another radiant, or two, if she was anxious. We cannot set her off. I don’t know what Jacinta is capable of anymore.”

“Alright, you’ve heard the man. Are you all prepared to go to Omega?” 

“Duh.”

“Let’s get her home!”

“After you.”

Ryuujin gave a double thumbs up. 

“Fantastic because I already set up a meeting spot with Omega Cypher. We leave in two hours, go get geared up.”

Killjoy looked up at the man as they all finished their preparations in front of the teleporter. “Be safe, okay?” She spoke quietly as she wrapped her arms around his waist. Grimshaw’s smile faltered beneath his mask as he brought his hand up to her back. 

“I’ll try.”

“I’m glad it wasn’t you.”

“I know, Klara.” He leaned down, pressing his face to the top of her head. 

And then just like that, they were transported to a whole different world.

“How do you know he’ll be in Corfu?”

Cypher laughed at Silver’s question, adjusting the duffel bag with their guns he was carrying on his shoulder. “Because that is where they met.” The masked man mused, looking at the man ahead of them.

“Yes.. When Kingdom Industries began construction on the island, I worked here for a short time. I got lost very quickly and that was when I met Amir. And I was recruited into the Legion not long after that. But Corfu.. It’s..”

“It was Alpha Achlys’ and I’s place too. That’s where we met as well. My my if only I had been able to recruit that one the way my counterpart did you..”

But Grimshaw merely shrugged as they walked towards the main town from where the teleporter dropped them on the island. If Valorant Protocol had recruited his counterpart, would he even be here? Grimshaw didn’t want to think of it.

“Is it that small restaurant I showed him to?”

“Anthos, yeah.”

“Great food.”

“Amir always got takeout.”

“You and Omega Cypher were really close, huh?” Ryuujin asked, moving a little quicker so she could be beside Grimshaw.

Grimshaw hesitated, but nodded. “We were. The similarities, right? I mean.. We understood each other.” 

“I can’t believe you managed to hide having a daughter! And one with flower powers? That’s crazy.” 

He snickered at Pua’s comment, turning to ruffle her hair between her ears. “Yeah I found another one. Now I get two!” He joked, the woman sticking her tongue out at him as she dodged away from his hand. 

“She’ll be surprised to see you as a radiant, are you worried?” Silver questioned, well aware of what it’s like to suddenly not be human.

“Always.” 

He looked up at the main street into what was once a beautiful quaint town, now overrun by his former employer. “Position’s everybody.” He reached behind him, taking the ghost that Cypher slid into his hand, he hid it within his cloak. 

“Pua and I go in alone. Cypher I want you providing constant updates on the location outside the restaurant. I don’t want anybody sneaking up on us. Silver you’ll be ready to act on Cypher’s intel, nobody gets close to us. Ryuujin, I need you to control the citizens in the surrounding area as best as you can. Remember, Legion is famous here. Your task is to make sure nobody gets too excited.”

“I’m the only outlier, my team became famous after I left. We’ll use that. Pua if you have to defect, do so.”

“Got it.”

“Alright, team. Operation Overhaul is go.”

And the team split off from one another, Ryuujin stayed on the main road while Silver and Cypher took to the rooftops. Pua nodded at Grimshaw and the two entered the side street the restaurant was situated in. 

The sun of Greece burned his visible skin but he did his best to ignore it as they approached carefully. Pua kept careful guard, ears alert to any strange sounds as she walked beside him. Upon hearing fast steps, the radiant was prepared to react, but she was caught off guard by a child running towards them.

“Papa!” 

Grimshaw crouched down, catching the girl and picking her up. “Other me is approaching.” The comm crackled and Pua looked up in time to see the Cypher in question approaching leisurely. Grimshaw narrowed his visible eye, holding onto Jacinta protectively as the man closed the distance.

“Achlys.”

“Hello, Amir.”

“Papa!” He looked down at her as she stared up at him. “You’re hurt.” She brought her hand up to her eye, bringing attention to the bandages over his on the reflecting side.

He smiled softly, leaning down to gently press his forehead against hers. “I’m okay, sprout. Let’s go inside, okay?” 

“Okay!! Come on Amir!” She wiggled out of Grimshaw’s arms to grab Ω-Cypher’s hand. Pua looked at Grimshaw behind the girl’s back, raising an eyebrow as the man stood straight. She didn’t like this, and he knew just by her expression. But they had to play along.

Inside of the restaurant was quiet, the building was empty sans one waitress and the chef visible through the window. “In you go.” Ω-Cypher released her hand so she could slide into the booth before he slid in beside her. Grimshaw slid into the booth followed by Pua, allowing the woman to be on the outside just in case. After all, she was faster than him.

“Do you know about mama?” 

Grimshaw didn’t expect her to get into it so quickly, she was only twelve. But then, she’d been abandoned and now her mother was dead. It was no surprise she grew up too quick. “I’m sorry I wasn’t there.” He spoke softly, reaching his hand across the table. A hand the girl was quick to take.

But she shook her head at him too.

“Amir said you got hurt too. And you couldn’t come home until you were better.”

Pua did her best to control her expressions, but she was an expressive woman, eyebrows furrowing at the mere idea one of their omega counterparts could have so much heart. 

“I did get hurt. I was in an accident.” He explained, tilting his head somewhat at her. “Did mama tell you where papa went to work three years ago?”

“New Mexico!”

He smiled beneath his mask. “Poor naive girl.” Cypher’s voice in his comm made him twitch slightly.

“Shut up, Cy.” Silver hissed, the sound of the younger agent smacking the older man’s arm clear as day through the communication device. Pua bit the inside of her cheek so as not to snicker.

“Right, but not our New Mexico.” She looked visibly confused, and Pua saw when she tilted her head, the resemblance between father and daughter was uncanny. “This is Nohealani.” He introduced the woman sitting beside him.

“Pua! I have an action figure of you cause you’re like me!”

“Oh- aw.. I’m- that’s cool kid!”

Grimshaw nodded. “But she’s not your Pua. Nohealani here is from a different world, a different earth entirely. Isn’t that cool?”

“Whoaaa, really?!”

“Yeah! I’m from Alpha Earth.” 

“And I got stuck in Alpha Earth after the accident. But my counterpart didn’t make it. So..”

“Is there another me?!”

“No, you’re the only you, sprout.”

“Awww..”

“She’s taking the whole two worlds thing pretty well.” Ryuujin observed as she diverted another person from entering the side street.

“Yeah, she’s a hella smart kid, Grim.”

“I have to go back to Alpha Earth. And Amir brought you here so that you can come with me.”

Jacinta blinked, straightening out again. “Why can’t you stay here? Why can’t we stay with Amir?”

Grimshaw reached up, pulling his mask off his face and setting it on the table beside their hands. “Because my life there is very important to me. But not as important as you. That’s why I want you to come with me.” 

“Is.. Mama there?”

“No, mija, I’m sorry. It’s just us. Auntie Hemera is there though. You always thought she was so pretty.”

“She is?!”

He nodded. “Amir, can I really go?!” She looked up at the man who had been taking care of her for the last few months, her eyes wide and shiny. 

“Of course, ayouni. Your dad will keep you safe.” He brought his hand up, poking her nose gently.

Jacinta turned her attention back to her father, nodding eagerly in anticipation. “Can we go home to get my things? I wanna show Pua my action figure!”

“You can call me Lani if you want.”

“Yay! Can we?” 

Grimshaw lifted his head to look at Ω-Cypher, even with his mask, even with all the technology that went into it to obscure his face, obscure his identity and feelings. The man could read him to such a worrying degree, and Ω-Cypher knew that.

“It’s too dangerous, sprout, I’m sorry.” 

“Wait, how can you tell?” Silver asked over the comms, confused at Grimshaw’s decision.

“They wouldn’t set up an ambush here, Legion doesn’t want to look bad attacking a man with his child. Inside their house though…” Cypher reasoned.

“Damn, that’s fucked up.”

“Language, Silver.”

“She can’t hear me!”

“Anything you need from home we’ll have Amir send over, okay?” She nodded, that seemed reasonable. “Good girl, now are you hungry? Let’s eat while you make that list for him.” He leaned back, waving the waitress over.

“Are you sure that’s smart, Grimshaw? What if they use the time to ambush us here?” Ryuujin questioned.

“I’m going to feed my daughter, Ryuujin. Hold your position.”

“Do you have an earpiece!?

“Sure do, sprout.” He pulled something out of his cloak and tossed it towards her, the girl catching it with glee. She put the earpiece on, tucking her curly hair back so she could listen in on their conversation.

“No swearing, Silver.”

“That’s rich coming from you, Pua.”

Jacinta worked on her list while the four waited for her food, Pua too nervous to eat, Ω-Cypher unable to, and Grimshaw ordering a single glass of coke. “Man can we go in there for grub? I’m starving. Did anyone bring any snacks?”

“You sound like Iso.” Cypher muttered, but judging by the rustling and Silver’s ecstatic noise, he did in fact bring a snack of sorts. Jacinta giggled as she listened, finishing off her list with the waitress’ pen, she handed it to Ω-Cypher who took it.

“I will have it sent to our safe spot in your world.” Ω-Cypher slid out of the booth, but leaned into it to press his face against the top of Jacinta’s head. “Be good for your father, ayouni.” And she nodded excitedly as he stood straight. “Take care of her, azizi.” He looked to Grimshaw who smiled at him.

“Thank you, Amir.” 

“Until next time, my friend.” 

He gently smacked the top of Pua’s head, almost playfully, with the paper list as he walked by her. She scowled at him but he had already walked on by, unbothered by her response to his casualness. 

“Papa?” Jacinta drew the man’s attention to her as she picked her fork up. “Are you a radiant like me now too?”

“Sort of. Not like you or mama. More like frankenstein’s monster.” He laughed, and Jacinta lit up when she realised he remembered her favourite book. He let go of her hand to hold it up, the limb dissolving into shadowy wisps. Her eyes widened, fork and food a mere inch from her now gaping mouth.

“Whoa! You’re a shadowman!”

Pua laughed. Loudly.

“S-Sorry- hehe..”

Silver was also audibly laughing on the other end, with small huffs of mechanical sounding air signifying Ryuujin’s giggles.

“I.. Yes, sprout, kinda. I can do a lot of cool things. Nohealani, do you still have that scrape from when you fell out of the teleporter?”

“I didn’t FALL- it was a tactical landing.”

She shifted in the booth to bring her knee up, pulling her baggy pants up so she could show him her scraped knee. Grimshaw’s hand reformed and he formed a small shadowy ball in his hand, the darkness leaching into Pua’s skin. She shuddered, it was always so cold when the heat of battle wasn’t getting to her.

When the darkness dissipated off of her skin, the scrape was completely gone. “I like healing.” He announced to his daughter who was stuffing her face with chocolate cake, nodding with big wide pink eyes.

“That’s so cool-” She spoke with her mouth full.

“Chew, mija.” And she nodded, closing her mouth and chewing.

“The background check on that waitress just came back, she has ties to Legion, you have to get out of there.” 

Pua’s eyes widened and she slid out of the booth. “Come on kid, we gotta go. Bring your plate.” She looked over her shoulder, where was the waitress? Or the chef for that matter? Jacinta nodded, but she just stuffed the rest of the cake slice in her mouth as she bounced out of the booth with her backpack.

Grimshaw slid out of the booth calmly, picking up his full glass of cola. Pua dodged when something sharp was thrown at her. “Hey we have a kid here!” She growled, grabbing Jacinta’s arm and tugging her behind her. Jacinta clung to the back of the woman’s shirt as another icicle came their way. 

The waitress came into view, a radiant with ice abilities no doubt. But before she could throw another sharp blade of ice at the bunny radiant, Grimshaw threw the contents of his glass into her face. The waitress yelled out, bringing her hands up to wipe the cola from her eyes. But the trio were gone before she could.

“How did you know?!”

Pua asked, Jacinta on her shoulder instead as it was faster to run away. “Her hair was down, not proper attire for a waitress really.. Okay, team. Like we discussed. The extraction is the most important part.” 

“I’m on it.” From above, Silver leaned over the edge of the roof, throwing down several of his mats to block anybody from following the trio from the sidestreet into the main road. Ryuujin followed suit in blocking areas, disappearing in her phased world to set several water orbs.

“Jacinta, stay with Nohealani no matter what, got it?”

“But what about you?”

“She’s faster and stronger than me. But I’m right behind you. Pua get her home.”

“Got it, Shaw.” 

Grimshaw stopped suddenly, turning quickly, his cloak blew softly in the wind as Pua carried the girl away. He brought his right hand up, the glowing tattoo changed in hue from a navy blue to a deep red as shadows wisped off of his skin. “Knock knock.” He mumbled, sending forth the dread call in range in front of him.

And with the area between his daughter and Omega’s forces blocked by metal, water, and shadow. The Alpha team was able to get away.

[namsoek]

Power Rangers Ninja Storm | There's No I in Team

[jacarandaaaas]

GUYS GUYS OH MY GOD THE ONCE UPON A STUDIO TRAILER IS OUT

LUISA!!! I MISSED U GIRL AND I THINK BRUNOS IN THE BACKK

also sobbing over how cute antonio and the animals are

[angelshizuka]

The irony for me when it comes to "marketable characters" is that those are usually the most boring to me. Specifically the "cute for the sake of cute" kind, because you can FEEL when they're designed with that, and only that, in mind.

Which makes me mourn Star's scrapped shapeshifting form even more. I never liked Star's design, at best I think it's okay, because it does it's job of looking like a star. But I am literally unable to look past the "it's designed like this to sell toys and literally no other reason" lack of substance.

If there's anything in Wish's final version that I do not care about since seeing the concept art, it's definitely Star. For this one I prefer to stay in my little concept art delusion.

[stickeriffic]

Disney Princesses: Retro Cute

Check out the Disney Princesses, brought to you in style of '90s Japanimation! Use these in your chats to give them a hint of nostalgia.

[milksockets]

julie strain's greatest hits - heavy metal books (2001)

[alelelesimz]

evil women. like if you agree

[bs-fangirl]

Maui asking the real questions because the lack of Pua the pig was my biggest complaint about the first film!

[devilsrecreation]

Beautiful

Beautiful

Beautiful

🎶Beautiful boys~🎶

Beautiful

Beautiful

Beautiful

🎶Beautiful boys~🎶

[ha-ule-nalu]

fun fact pua canonically has 3a hair but straightens the shit out of it

[ha-ule-nalu]

STOPPPPPPPPPP NO ONE TOUCH ME THIS FIC IS EVERYTHING TO ME

Reunion Track ; One ; Headquarters

Grimshaw has finally been released from his cell, and he has three months of time to make up for, and a new looming threat to worry about.

Monarch, Pua, and Ryuujin belong to: @ha-ule-nalu

Silver belongs to: @cat-buried-in-tall-grass

and the taglist is those two mains' so..

Grimshaw left the holding cell with Hemera on one side of him and Monarch on the other. They were discussing next steps while Brimstone went to shoot off emails to the team. “Where do you want to go first?” Monarch inquired as they helped him move, he was still so weak.

“My room? I would like to change.. Shower.” 

“Always so cleanly, Achlys..” Hemera teased as she followed the two agents’ leads. Grimshaw chuckled softly, more of a soft exhale than anything else. “We’ll get you cleaned up, fed, some sleep. Then we can discuss next steps.”

But Grimshaw shook his head.

“Hemera.. You have to go home.. You’ve done your job.” But she frowned up at him.

“I haven’t seen you in two years, Achlys..” 

“I know..” He hesitated, chewing the inside of his cheek. “I’m sorry. But this is too dangerous. I can’t see you hurt again.” Again. She noted, and she grew quiet as she passed by a very shocked blond man who stood still, watching them pass him to get to the dorm wing of the headquarters.

Monarch was quiet as she swiped her key on his door, the door unlocking so they could push it open. “If it means anything, Hemera. I’ll take good care of him.” They promised as the two helped him sit on his bed. Grimshaw fell back on the mattress, sighing deeply as he sunk into the soft material.

“Promise me, Poeiva.” 

The agent smiled, their confidence beginning to return since the start of all this. Since the reminders, the reminders of what they went through, and how they survived, the one thing that got them through on Omega-Earth. That those people were not her people. Hemera had no way to know what Monarch knew.

“I promise.”

Hemera nodded, swallowing thickly as she turned to her brother on the bed. His bandages and mask were given back to him thanks to Monarch, covering a good portion of his face as he laid on the bed with his other eye closed.

She crawled onto the bed beside him, burying her face against his shoulder. Like she had done when they were young and their parents fought. His arm dissipated and then reappeared underneath her, to hold her closer. 

“Promise me you’ll come home, Achlys.”

And his heart stirred in his chest, home. This was his home. This would always be his home now. 

“I promise, Emmy.”

Hemera sniffled, clinging to his waist as if he’d disappear again. Monarch’s confident expression softened as they watched. This is what they fought so hard for this entire time. First they were worried, then they were scared, and finally they were angry. Angry at watching the only other person who got it experiencing what she did. 

But this, this is what Monarch had been fighting for, lobbying for. She won. And maybe they weren’t as fast as they would have liked to be, but they still won, and she had to accept that as enough. But watching Hemera cling to her brother, watching the strong facade crumble to reveal exactly what she truly was.

A younger sister deathly afraid of losing her only brother. 

Monarch was only further reassured. 

Grimshaw turned his head, bonking his head against hers. “They’re here for you.” And as if on cue, somebody knocked on the doorframe. Hemera lifted her head slightly, surprised to be met with a.. Robot? Android? “Cybernetic.” She nodded in understanding as she sat up in the bed.

“I have been sent to return you to Toronto.” Kay/o stepped into the room, grabbing the suitcase she had left beside the door. “Grimshaw, Brimstone has ordered me to issue you an apology.” The cybernetic turned towards the man in question, watching him also sit up in the bed.

Hemera raised an eyebrow, a soft sound of surprise escaping her at the audacity of Kay/o’s sentence. But Grimshaw smiled beneath his mask. “Thank you, Kay/o. I really appreciate that.” He slid off the bed, rising to his full height, he then pulled Hemera up with him.

He wrapped his arms around her properly and she hugged him back. “Stay safe out there, okay? I can’t protect you anymore, ma biquette.” Hemera audibly groaned at the petname, pushing him away and taking a step back.

“Yeah yeah, I’m going home, frérot.” 

She took her bag from Kay/o and stepped into the hall, but she paused, turning to look back at Monarch and Grimshaw in the room. “Call me this time, Achlys. Please.”

“I will.”

“Come this way, ma’am.”

And the two were left alone in the room. Grimshaw sat back down on his bed, reaching up to pull his mask off, he set it aside. “Thank you, Poeiva, for everything you’ve done for me.” He spoke quietly, so as to not be heard.

Monarch ran their tongue over their bottom lip as they looked at him, sitting on the edge of his bed, head hung low. “You would have done the same for me.” She moved closer, slowly sitting down on the bed beside him. “We lost everything that day.”

“We did, and I would.”

“And we can’t get any of it back.”

Grimshaw lifted his head to look at her, the same calm expression he wore the entire time. But Monarch knew better. Their face reflected in his.

“We can only move forward from here. You can move forward with the knowledge that your team is better than mine.” 

Her eyes moved to the side momentarily as she considered his words. “But they wanted to do worse.” 

He exhaled softly, akin to a chuckle, but not quite. 

“They didn’t, Poeiva. I’m fine.”

“You don’t have to lie to make me feel better, Achlys. I know what it feels like, you know I do. That.. Trauma.. It doesn’t go away.”

And he’d give that to her. He would have to live with this, the same way they did.

Her eyebrow raised when he held out his hand, pinky finger up while the rest of his fingers were curled in. “Then we have each other to rely on.” Grimshaw reasoned, and the agent’s lips curled upwards at him. Their pinky wrapped around his.

“We do. Us eights gotta stick together.”

Grimshaw made a face and she laughed at it. 

“You can keep that number! I like twenty one.” Despite the tattoo on the back of his neck, the barcode that now held context to all who’d seen it. 

“Then it’s our team that chose to do things better.”

Monarch was smart, he’d give them that too. The way they effortlessly backed him into that corner. Their team. It wasn’t him versus them. It was them versus Omega. He squeezed her pinky finger gently with his.

“Our team.”

He pulled his hand back suddenly and when she went to ask why, she heard the footsteps. Two sets, rapidly approaching. “Oh no, here come your kids.” She teased, standing up to get out of the way preemptively. 

Grimshaw steeled himself, getting ready.

In mere seconds, Silver and Pua burst into the room, almost fighting each other to get in the doorway. “We got the email!” Pua announced, using her Radiant abilities to move quicker, bouncier, throwing herself onto his body and forcing him to fall backwards against the mattress.

And soon after, Silver was also on the bed, on top of the older agent.

Grimshaw exhaled beneath their combined weight, but carefully brought his arms around both of them. “I missed you both as well.” He let himself enjoy the affection, the care. But he felt Monarch’s presence recede quietly. He’d talk more to them later.

“Is it true? You’ve been cleared?”

“Not exactly.” He admitted. “I’ll still be under a sharp eye, but I’ll be allowed to resume some of my duties.”

Before either could say anything, the familiar flip of the tripwire was heard.

“Yes, your duties.” Cypher’s voice cut the moment. “Grimshaw has a mission for us.” 

“You do?” “We both get to go?”

“If you’d like. Amir.”

“Achlys.”

Grimshaw sat up, even with Pua and Silver on his chest, he still held onto them though. “Has Brimstone briefed you?” Cypher shook his head no, and Grimshaw nodded. “Good. We’ll head-”

“No way.” Pua used all her strength to push him back down. “You’re getting some rest! A real nap!”

“I concur.”

“Don’t use words like concur.” Grimshaw snorted, only to laugh softly at Silver’s faux gasp. 

“I agree. If we’re to go there, we will all need our rest.”

“Dibs on the memory foam pillow!”

“Lani!”

But it was too late, she was off of his chest and on the best pillow in the base. 

And as annoyed as he pretended to be while the two playfully argued over the pillow while Cypher walked away. He could only feel soft. Those he held closest, those he’d go to hell for. They were still by his side. They chose to be by his side. He laid down properly in the bed, listening as the argument went from the pillow to the television remote.

He would do anything to protect them.

He still had to talk to Shizuka too though. But the exhaustion of the months began to get to him, his eyes closed before he knew it. He'd shower in the morning..

[morbidology]

This is the last photograph that Daylenn Pua of Oahu, Hawaii, sent his parents. There is a blurry figure behind him, and some speculate, this is Daylenn's killer.

On February 27, 2015, Daylenn Pua set out on a solo hike up the Haiku Stairs despite warnings from his grandmother about the dangers of the trail. Daylenn, who had travelled from the Big Island of Hawaii to Oahu to visit family, was an experienced hiker but unfamiliar with the perils of the Haiku Stairs. He documented his ascent on social media, sharing photos from the trail with his family. These photos, later recovered from his phone, would become crucial pieces of evidence in the search for him.

As the day progressed, communication with Daylenn ceased, and he failed to return from his hike. Concerned, his family reported him missing, sparking a massive search operation involving the Honolulu Fire Department, police, and hundreds of volunteers. Despite extensive efforts, including aerial searches and ground teams combing the area, no trace of Daylenn was ever found.

The disappearance of Daylenn Pua has left investigators and the public with more questions than answers. The final photos Daylenn took before his phone died show him on the trail, but none indicate distress or danger. Some speculate that he may have ventured off the path and fallen, while others wonder if he encountered foul play. The dense vegetation and rugged terrain of the area have made it nearly impossible to recover any definitive evidence of what happened.

Over the years, various theories have emerged to explain his disappearance. One theory suggests that he may have fallen victim to the treacherous conditions of the trail, which is notorious for its steep drops and slippery steps. Others believe that he might have encountered someone else on the trail, possibly leading to a dangerous situation. There are even those who propose more outlandish explanations, such as paranormal activity or a hidden military presence in the area.

Despite these speculations, no concrete evidence has been found to support any particular theory. The case remains open, with Daylenn's family and friends continuing to search for answers.

[namsoek]

Power Rangers Ninja Storm | Prelude to a Storm

[jacarandaaaas]

🦋moabel doodles!🌊

it’s valentines so I couldn’t resist drawing them again!

“but they’re from different universes and time periods” dw about that 🙏

[ntls-24722]

Mostly music man on the mind. here's djmms to stave you off

I wondered if the robot version of hanging by a silk thread would just be his butt hatch opening up to hang on by a rope contraption like this.

And then we just have him as a discord kitten (don't even know what possessed me to make it). That and Sindeer and her mom, Nawi, getting excited about someone getting executed for adultery

Brainstorming Regse and figuring out my least favorite part about character design: clothes. I at least got down a particularity about zebrapeople's clothes - the fronts are usually kept open. Since they keep their arms in a mantis posture, there's not much pressure to cover your chest most of the time.

I figured it out eventually though, and actually remembered to make their(?) facial structure the way it's supposed to be, that and I figured out some of the facial particularities of the other two:

This is Regse, Pua, and Mauli, they're 3 zebraelf mailmen and they keep getting into dumb situations, be it with their own species or when they're off in the wilderness. Zebraelf genders are just their jobs - the reproductive caste is usually two genders for the drones and queens, but are sometimes wholly one gender whether you're either, and the workers are seen as the "in-between" third gender. Masculinity and femininity within workers are usually determined by your job description: Work in nurseries, obstetrics or as parents are typically seen as feminine because of their resemblance to/working alongside the egglaying queen, and most jobs with a lot of travelling or work in hospitality/entertainment is seen as masculine due to its resemblance to drones and their travelling fraternities. With the very drone-like travelling of being mailmen, these are zebraelf butches!

Regse is Pua and Mauli's grumpy boss, but they're all best friends. Pua is a nervous wreck who is unfortunately also an accidental agent of chaos and keeps making mistaken mischief. Mauli is a lot more laid back, and while she outwardly appears as a goody-two shoes, they purposefully cause mischief. Regse sees through her facade though, and chews them both out for whatever dumb shit they did this time

More of the secret music man AU.

It's secret because I can't talk about it, because even I, the creator, don't know what it's about