#and YES I know the hero corporation is sounding a lot like the one from phineas and ferb I'll have you know it was not entirely intentional

[forgetme-eternally-blissfully]

"... I was under the impression that I would be fighting someone? Impress? What, am I supposed to court the hero while I'm at it?"

The sidekick groans, pulling at her hair with a grim expression. "Yeah. That's what this is about. You- are you not going to become the hero's archenemy?"

The villain looks confused. "I can't become the hero's archenemy if I don't- court them?"

Shaking her head, the sidekick pulls off the villain's shirt aggressively. He wanted to wear a T-shirt- a T-shirt! To his first official battle with the hero. It'll be broadcast, for heavens sake!

"It's not just about courting, you know. First impressions are important, and your impression was mediocre at best. We're lucky that the hero wants to fight you again at all! Your shoes were tacky, your hair dye was fading and your roots were grown out, and your shirt! Again with the shirts, boss. The presentation saved you, with the explosions and all. This time, I'm not letting you outside until you are fit to be the hero's archenemy."

He looks confused. His sidekick has all but stripped him to his tighty whiteys, and left to fetch clothes out of the closet. What was the point of stripping him if they were going to leave? The air is cold on his skin. He shivers.

Still in hearing range, the villain speaks loudly to continue the conversation. "None of that answered my question! Why am I courting the hero?"

"Well, it isn't really courting," the sidekick calls back. "Just, you have to earn your spot as his archenemy. Otherwise you'll get tossed around between hero associations, with no one in particular wanting to fight you. That's bad rep! Since he will be your first archenemy, you've gotta get it right. No second chances, they say."

The sidekick starts to manhandle her boss into new clothes, fashioning a grey button up with a bow collar and a black cloak, whose inside is lined with red velvet that has various swirly designs inside, giving the impression that the villain is backdropped in blood. His pants are dressy and fitted to his measurements, while the waistband goes higher than he's used to. It makes his waist look small.

"I don't know about this... shouldn't I look, you know, scary? I look like I'm going on a fancy date."

His sidekick mumbles something under their breath while tying his knee high boots. They have a minor heel on them, and he'd like the extra height if it weren't for the slender appearance of his calves. He works out, but this outfit smooths over his defined muscles, and even his dress shirt has loose sleeves. They round out his arms before connecting with his cuffs.

"Look, boss, don't you want to fight him? You told me that you really enjoyed your last encounter. You even licked the blood on your busted lip when you said it. This is just what you have to do if you want him to keep coming back to you!"

The villain grumbles, sliding his palms down his legs to search for some pockets, to rest his fidgety hands in, but to no avail.

"... Can I at least have pants with pockets?"

"Your coat has pockets, boss."

"It's not the same."

"Just deal with it for today. I'd have to redo the outfit if we changed the pants now. You have to be early, so that the hero can witness your silhouette behind the setting sun, with the blood red velvet accented by the orange rays of light. I tagged where to stand on your map; it'll look amazing."

"Right..."

His sidekick finishes lacing up the boots. It took far longer than his normal pairs of shoes. They feel stiffer too, because he hasn't broken them in yet.

"Listen boss, you can flirt as much as you want today-"

"Flirt?"

They continue, ignoring the question. His sidekick points accusingly at his face.

"-but you can't reveal my existence just yet. That isn't for until we get the laser finished. I have a whole plan." She waves her hand in the air, nonchalant. "He finds the laser, you confront him in the building, and when he's preparing to escape after you defeat him, I'll swoop in and knock him out. I'll help you interrogate him while he's tied up in the cell. It'll be a great entrance for me."

"So that's what that cell is for." He hadn't used it yet. She didn't tell him why they needed this facility specifically, only that it needed a place for a laser and a dungeon.

"Yes. I'm still wondering if we should make it comfy or not. Some heroes like the brutality of it, others prefer to keep it simple. Some even want to be taken care of in a fancy room with good food during their stay- they like the demeaning nature of it."

"Should I ask him?" He asks her sarcastically.

"No need. I'll watch the footage from your hidden camera. It's in your collar, the base of the bow? The fabric shouldn't flap around too much. I'll listen to your conversations and make the judgement myself."

"Okay..." the villain feels a little under qualified for his position. His 'sidekick' is starting to feel less like a sidekick and more like an idol manager. "So, if this goes wrong, does that mean I can't fight him again?"

"Basically. The hero corp will watch the footage of your confrontation from the TV or the hero's hidden cam, and decide if they'll assign him to your case. It's phrased in a more, 'hero,' type way, but that's what it means. There's a lot of work that goes into finding a hero-villain match, but I think you two really work together."

"... This feels like matchmaking. I'm not doing this to date him."

"Right."

"You don't sound like you believe me."

"I mean, obviously it'll take a while."

"What does that mean?"

"A bond between hero and villain can take some time to form, it's okay. The frustrating aspect of being defeated or succeeding too much can affect your relationship. If you really aren't a match, we can request a new hero from the committee."

"No, I feel like you're misunderstanding me. I like fighting him."

"So you have to dress nice! To see him again."

"This is not going to be that type of relationship. Fighting and thwarting only."

"Right. I know that. Anyway, you should get going."

"You-"

"If you're late you won't get to meet him again."

The villain runs to the door. "This conversation isn't over!"

"Have fun!"

The door to the dressing room slams closed. The sidekick hums, picking up their boss's previous outfit off the ground. They catch it on fire with their ability. When it is reduced to ashes, she cleans up the mess.

"... I wonder if the hero has a sidekick."

They leave the room to go watch the fight from the villain's hidden camera.

Prompt (466)

"That's what you're wearing to fight the hero?" the villain's sidekick asked skeptically.

The villain looked down at their clothes. "Yeah. Why?"

"Nothing, it's just. . .a little basic. You want to impress them, don't you?"

[the-girl-wh0-cries-w0lf]

You're waiting for a train... (8)

A Son's First Hero; A Daughter's First Love

Robert Fischer x reader

description - Y/n's conversation with Robert is filled with more reality than should be in their dream.

word count - 3k

warnings - self-harm, physical violence (fake), tears, shitty parents, Robert Fischer's trauma.

a/n - so sorry this part is so late but I wanted it to be perfect so I've been working on it lot's and now I'm really happy with it!

Previous Part Series Master list Master list

If you want to be added to the taglist - here

-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-

I furiously wiped away the unforgiving tears. Fearing my weakness would be obvious to those around me. I had to pull myself together and set out on the task at hand. Dad said Fischer would remember me but, in your dreams…well…anything’s possible.

“Eames. I need some help.” I pulled myself up onto the table where he was busy working. He looked up at my cheeky face, already excited for whatever idea spilled out of my mouth.

“Is that so?”

“I want to show my dad that I can do this.” I spoke.

“You know you don’t have to.” His voice gave away a sympathetic lilt. But my sincerity lingering in my eyes made him abandon his qualms about my well-being. Instead, he braced himself for the details of my plan.

“We both know that he may be the one dreaming, but we control the visual.” He smirked, sensing my direction. “Yes, he saw my face. But maybe, for this moment, we could just…alter it?”

“Ah, come with me my young Picasso.” He led me to a three paned mirror he’d set up on a rickety desk which would give way at the slightest touch. He firmly pressed my shoulders down into the even flimsier desk chair. “Let me teach you the art of disguise.”

“So, he won’t recognise me at all?” I managed to whisper out. And grasped the hand heading for my face.

Eames smiled down at me and squeezed my hand in a gesture designed to evoke a feeling of security. “We’re not changing your whole face, just mushing it up.” He spoke. “It’s like when you see a face in a dream; you know it’s a face, but you can’t quite make out the features.”

“Like a silhouette.” I softly agreed. My mind flitted back to the man from my own dream. How his indiscernible features had subtly begun to meld, and I already felt their final product. His eyes were now as familiar to me as ever.

-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-

*Eames pov*

I’d offered Y/n time to psych herself up for her next role in this so-called game. She couldn’t ever throw herself in, she required prep and time to create her character which would be placed into the subjects story. But as I walked away, I chanced a glance at her form which had simply walked into the room, no character necessary.

But I needn’t dwell on it for too long; I trusted Y/n. Speaking of which my firm walk was directed towards a certain leader who I needed a few words with.

Cobb and Ariadne stood locked in thought. Cobb fiddled with an object out of sight, but his hunched shoulders betrayed his nerves. If he had been stood to my liking, he would have been destroyed in the corner sobbing his little heart out. I approached from behind, a droll cough announcing my presence and more importantly, my desire to talk.

“May we have a moment, my darling.” I shot a smile Ariadne’s way. She responded to the over-enthused expression by retreating quickly. Cobb did not meet my gaze which had tracked on to him. He grasped his object even tighter with each new hand placement. He clearly already knew the topic and could feel my reaction.

“You have some nerve.” I spat.

“She nearly put this whole mission in je—” He defended with a surprising amount of conviction.

“No don’t give me that!” I fumed at his official attitude. Scoffing at his apparent corporate nature. “She made a mistake. We’ve all made them.” I tilted my head towards him in an unspoken statement. “But for some reason she is held to a higher standard than us all.”

His mouth opened in silent argument, but his false words would give away no sound.  I went to turn, feeling my anger was misplaced due to the severity of this mission. For Cobb and Y/n. But I just couldn’t. I came back and leaned in further so I could attempt to meet him face to face.

“It’s all well and good you accusing her of being a child, but don’t you forget that she entered into our world a child.” My voice kept its hushed tones, but the severity seeped through it. “Whether it was her choice or not, you still let her do it.” My finger was shoved into his face, and he minutely flinched at this. I calmed myself, feeling relieved at releasing that before we continued on this mission. My head hung low when even I felt the sincerity of my words. I loved Y/n like she was my own sister, but I couldn’t deny how sick I felt when she was here with us. And now with this new revelation, I feared that Cobb, Arthur, and my self’s efforts at protection would not be enough.

I now leaned against the table, complimenting Cobb who had ignored his object in favour of supporting his hunched frame on the desk. I broke the tense silence between us.

“Do you know why she liked talking to Fischer and didn’t immediately run off.”

“Please enlighten me to the inner thoughts of my daughter.” Cobb huffed out in severe annoyance.

I took a beat, almost relishing in his cocky attitude.

“Because for once she wasn’t in the shadows anymore.” I stormed off away from the man in shameful realisation.

-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-

*your pov*

I had placed myself centrally in the door frame, staring unforgivingly at the locked steel door. Breathing was tricky in my emotional state but the little gasps every so often at least confirmed the living state of my body. I’d altered my clothes to seem more faded and dishevelled. Cuts and bruises adorned my body, but I had forgone the use of the dreams mechanics to create that specific look on my skin. My nails still had specs of my blood underneath from where I’d dragged them down my smooth skin. Feeling pain on my unblemished skin in this fake reality spurred on my adrenaline. The lack of numbness would work in my favour. There was something about squeezing into my flesh until it speckled with purple and blue which tricked my mind into believing this reality. Then maybe I could believe what was about to happen.

Footsteps clacked up to my frame, and I turned to see Arthur, adorned like a true criminal. Gun cocked, mask prepped. I couldn’t help but bite my lip seeing his body constrained in that that dusky brown leather. My mind was flipped back to our first solo mission and the memory of embracing him and feeling that jacket beneath my fingertips. He had delivered a swift kiss to my hairline but had left in another second hoping it would slip my mind.

His hand reached to clasp my forearm, but he faltered. His eyes instead met the side of my head and eventually his lack of movement confused me so I turned to see what was the issue. His face spoke a thousand words yet his lips delivered none of them. He eventually decided upon a few.

“You don’t have to do this.” I understood the hidden end of his sentence. We both knew it was more than the simple task at hand.

“I know. But I do.” I assured him with a little smile. Hoping it would convey enough normalcy to calm his nerves. He once again took my arm and I slightly winced at the contact. His steely gaze landed on our point of contact and look of regret spilled over his features as his thumb lightly traced my skin. His hand landed on the look but before he could turn it another though bubbled up.

“Are you okay?” He looked up at me piercing through his gaze.

“Yes.” I firmly said with a softer edge. “Do you trust me?” I teased but there was a slant of sincerity within it.

“Forever.” He stated and he punctuated the end by ripping open the door, mask on, and dragging me inside.

-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-

“Thought we’d bring you a little treat.” Arthur grunted out through his fake voice. I stumbled alongside upping the part of the damsel. The act was tied up through a calculated throw to the ground and a well-timed yelp from me. As soon as my body crashed with the floor, Robert scrambled towards me and lifted me up. We found ourselves in a position we’d been in many times before. As he took my hands to gently place me in a more comfortable position, I finally let my eyes flit up to his. But once our gazes locked a flicker of familiarity danced across his features.

My heart dropped.

The flicker burned out.

“Miss, are you okay?” He looked over my body. Took in my tattered clothes, my physical anxiety. As he landed on my various cuts and bruises, his expression darkened. It confused me to see him as he brushed his fingers over my injuries. As if willing them away with a darkened anger bubbling up. His conclusion of who I was settled on his soul.

“Yes, I’m fine.” I stuttered out. “Well, as fine as I can be.” Laying it on thick. I added a few extra shakes to the mix but he mistook this for me being cold. He quickly ripped off his jacket and softly wrapped me in it. The gesture floored me where I forgot my character as I sunk into the fabric and let my head fall to my shoulder to breathe in the unique scent.

“Why have they taken you?” Okay good, he has already assumed I’m a fellow victim.

“They’ve had me for months.” I whispered out as if trying to evade my captors wrath. “I was taken because of my father’s debt.” His face fell at the mention of my father, sensing a shared trauma between the two.

“Turns out I’m not even worth ransom.” I spluttered out a laugh amongst my crocodile tears. Seeing this he brought up his hand to wipe them away, not bearing to see me in pain.

“They could’ve killed me. They probably should’ve.” I said. “I guess they just like something pretty to look at.” My head hung. “That’s all I am; to my colleagues, to men,” My breath caught in my throat. “and to my father.” The lump in my throat dropped and I managed to muster up a sympathetic sob. Upon hearing this he carefully gathered me in his arms. Instead of waiting for permission or fearing consequences; he sensed what I needed and had relished in giving me it. I let off a few minutes to fulfil my tears and let them drip onto his shirt. But as I lay in his arms I could no longer differentiate anymore and struggled to decide whether I was lying or not.

I pulled away when I felt dried out. I giggled at the wet patch that had formed on his chest.

“I am very sorry.” I continued laughing, pointing at his shirt. He laughed once he looked down and noticed. “I dread to think how much it cost.”

“It was sacrificed for a worthy cause.” He cupped my cheek and felt the dried up tear tracks.

“It’s nice to talk to someone for once.” I spoke.

“Really?” His face fell upon hearing this.

“Yeah, even before this I didn’t really have anyone.” I shook my head to wipe away his sympathy. “I worked for my dad, but I never really felt taken seriously. Like I was a part of it. Rather just a moveable doll to be used for whatever.” I giggled out at the almost lie I had forced myself to tell.

Robert chanced a look when I had let my eyes fall to the floor. His brow furrowed at the strain of taking in my various features which were so blurry. But it was something about my voice that struck a deeply hidden part of his mind. My dulcet tones had seemed to pierce our intricate layers.

“I feel like I know you.” My heart struck cold. And the most base bodily movement ceased. “You’ve been in my mind a lot recently.” I turned to face him. My lip trembled at the possible subtext of the words he was speaking. We seemed to be locked together for an eternity, neither feeling comfortable in pulling away.

“Anyways,” I brushed off his previous thoughts by trapping him with my dozy smile. Each time I smiled he became transfixed, and it was addicting. “Apparently you’re an old hand at the father stuff.”

He nodded his head through a teeth gritting smile.

“They talk a lot when they think I’m asleep.” I feebly gestured to the locked steel door. And I turned back to see the life had left his bones once he’d considered what I’d said.

“Well, his ability at business could not be faulted. Absolute inspiration and a hard-working and powerful individual. But in the father department, there was a lot to be desired.” He shifted his position so we were now turned to face one another, with our knees gently kissing.

“Growing up, seeing my dad like that was transcendent.” He laughed thinking back fondly. “He was a god.” His head fell. “but I didn’t want a god. I wanted my daddy.” His voice took on the note of child as if that desire had halted the ageing of his heart.

My fingers creeped toward him, betraying any logical strategy in my head, and I linked them together in a silent show of comfort. His eyes crinkled when our hands met and he spoke his thanks through a gentle squeeze.

“You know.” The words fell past my lips before I could stop. “Sometimes, I think my dad is afraid of how much I love him.” I waited until he looked at my face before continuing. “But I don’t know how to do anything else, because it’s all I’ve done for the past 5 years.” I smiled through the pain at how foolish I could be.

“If he truly doesn’t want me in my life.” I searched around the room to find the end of my comment. “Then I don’t know how to live like that.” I gasped out through an unconvincing laugh.

“My love is wasted on him,” Robert hooked on and decided to alleviate me by sharing some of his own. “It only serves to hurt me more.”

“I get that.” I offered him another smile and I was greeted with the sweetest relief of his own cheerful face, even if it is only for a moment. “But love is meant to hurt. It is only the deepest wounds which have the most lasting pain.” I spoke inwardly, forgetting the conversation I was supposed to be having.

“I don’t think I’m capable of love.” He shocked me back to him with this statement. My brow furrowed at the lifeless face he beheld. He met my concerned face. “Well, those are the traits you learn. You watch from a young age, your parents and their displays. I don’t think my parents ever gave me that.” I shuffled closer so our sides met. I hoped the proximity gave him comfort. I knew my next move but I doubted everything about it. Finally conceding I lifted my hand to grasp his chin, and tilted his face towards my own. And I met it with my other hand.

“I see your capability.” I began with a whispered tone. “I see it in your eyes.” My sincerity seeped even further through my disguise. “That longing desire to be loved that only comes when one has a great amount of love to offer.” Our lips were inches away and with a slight lean we would be locked in a kiss. My neck strained to go further but I had to stop. I was being risky enough as is it is.

“Maybe we both need to realise the burden of our love for our family.” Robert softly stated and as soon as those words hit my ear, the world stopped. We’d both felt it too. The tiny sparks dancing between each point where our bodies met.

The door was ripped open and Arthur stormed in. He grabbed my arms and began to drag me away. Robert firmly protested. Trying to run after despite the threat of being shot. He pleaded with them for my safety and as I was forcibly thrown out, I noticed something in his eyes. Something I’d seen before but never this intensely.

“just do what they say.” I spluttered out before I was safely behind the door with Arthur.

-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-

Once Arthur had removed his mask, we both stood as I caught my breath from the stressful exit. He placed his hand on my shoulder in a bid to calm me down.

“You okay?” He asked.

“Yeah. Perfect.” I gasped out.

“You sure?”

“Yeah.”

“Not hurt, or he didn’t –” His eyes ran over me during his uncertain questioning.

“No. Course not. All fine.” I half-way grinned up at him. We stood in silence, as Eames walked past all ready for his role as Browning. He opened the door and went in.

“I heard you in there.” He said through a small laugh.

“Oh really?” I tried to tease but my heart wasn’t fully in it.

“Yeah. It was a bit flowery, no? Bit poetic.” He laughed out. I joined in the humour but my eyes remained stoic.

“Yeah, I guess.” I became uncertain in my skin and my erratic hand movements betrayed this. “I don’t know he liked it.” I tried to show Arthur the humour behind my words and he seemed to buy it’s surface. After the laughter died out we walked back to the group. Despite the insincerity of our discussion, it felt like I had Arthur back. I liked it.

Once we reached the group, Dad immediately ran to meet us.

“Sweetheart, well done. Thank you for that—” He reached out for my arms but I never broke my stride and simply brushed past him. Arthur followed my lead.

Cobb was left standing aimless, before grasping his rejected hand into a tight fist.

-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-

a/n - What do you guys think of the chapter? Is Arthur redeeming himself? What about Eames defending poor y/n? Are we liking Robert and y/n's interactions?

taglist: @jonsncws @h-l-vlovesvintage @theethy @fashionki11a @felicity1994 @bearchermer @idkyoutellmesmh @mimimarvelingmarvel @butterfly-lies-chase-them-away @neotanpopper @deliriouslybi @folklorde24 @thefandomdiaries07 @viarosemcmissile @noirrose21-blog @thepoeticfirefly @xoxo-gothic-girl @skeletonwrite

[tempkiriri]

Tiger & Bunny Week (Day 1)

Technically I'm late but uhhhhhhhhhhhhh

April 2: Favorite Character, Episode, Movie, and/or Song

Most people seem to be doing them all, but I'll be skipping movie since there's only 2 of them.

Favourite Character:

MY CRINGEFAIL SON IVAN!!!! I relate to him immensely, even his dynamic with Edward I'd say I can somewhat relate to with someone in my life. It's uncanny. He tries his best to be outgoing but anxiety and self esteem issues sure are fucking bitches, so he can only really do it behind a mask. Even in S2 whilst his whole outlook may have taken a bit of a rollback, that's honestly realistic, not everyone can just keep marching and continuously improving themselves, there are setbacks and holes you can fall into at times. I wish we knew more about his personal life beyond his backstory of getting bullied as a child + what vague stuff we have of his hero academy days, a lot of heroes suffer from this, however. His passion for his hobbies is also just like me. He's cringe but he is free, just like many of us wish to be. Runner up is Keith I love the Autistic dog man

Favourite Episode:

I gotta go with Sky's The Limit. The title is a very OH GEE WHOS FOCUS EPISODE IS THIS kind but genuinely it doesn't prepare you for the content. There's a wholeass lore drop, an intense fight scene with a robot, and of course Keith being Keith. It also puts into focus just how much pressure heroes are put under when it comes to the rankings, and second place apparently not being enough for Poseidon Line is a very corporate reality. It's go big or go home. The ending is also like OH MY GOD IM CRYING???? Like, we know Cis isn't very capable of behaving like a human, but Keith doesn't realise she's not human at all, he treats her as any other person and falls harder than an anvil for her despite their short time in contact. It makes me think that Cis had a potential to be something, someone more than she was initially made for. And these two are a bit of a guilty pleasure ship that me and like 2 other people in the west side seem to ship and yes I will be taking those "Keith is still lowkey in love with her even in S2 era" crumbs thank you-

Favourite Song:

Oh shit this is where it gets tricky. I have so many, so I'll split it into categories:

OP: Earth Diver ED: Pilot Character Song: GHHHAAAAAA DONT MAKE ME CHOOOOOSE Other supplementary Song: Orion Wo Nazoru Hero Cover

I can't really put to words for Earth Diver, but I really like how it starts and kinda soothes you into the song before it really kicks. The lyrics are also very passionately sung.

I really like the calmer tone of Pilot and even though the explicitness of the shippyness isn't as heavy as Aida, the subtlety honestly fits them more. The credits themselves are also just beautiful; the visual aspect of them hits immensely hard in ep 14 especially since you saw what could happen to their suits in the fight the episode prior, and they're both no longer in their prime. Closing it out as they stare at the sunset makes me emotional and Proud Fiesta I love you but goddamn why did you return for Episode 25 that was a fucking mood killer I stg.

I love a lot of the character songs, with the ones from Best Of Hero very enjoyable romps, especially Mikirezakura and Thanks and Thanks Again, the energy these two songs have makes you wanna coreograph something. Some other highlights are POWER OF JUSTICE and Aaa Hero Suit. (Also Hidden Heroism actually kinda sucks it tries to be Mikirezakura 2 and thus loses out on an identity of its own which is very disappointing).

I love the harmony of the heroes cover of Orion, I can really picture them all in recording booths singing next to each other...who's the cheering guy, though? I've listened to this cover so many times and the line the cheering guy seemingly sings just sounds like Hirata's Kotetsu, I don't get it. I get wanting to balance the lyrics between groups and characters evenly but that was an awkward way to do it.

[cranb3rryb3rry]

I saw your post about the hero of auras!! And why he’s called that. If you don’t mind elaborating on him a bit more?

You said something about him using his spirit to push out the evil (auras??) that were starting to corrupt the people? How did he find out he could do that? Was it a folklore based thing or was it a “…well shit”

I would never mind elaborating

in fact, I love elaborating actually

me onw to dump so much info about him onto you

1. Why he's called that:

so he's called the hero of Aura's because of his special hero power (ex. time and his masks, wind and his wind).

he has the power to see and manipulate the auras of others.

(Also an aura is basically the person's spirit!)

For example, let's say that he's being overcharged for an item (lmao), he would be able to go into the shopkeeper's aura and play with the different emotions/consciousness in there to sort of tug on heartstrings for them to lower the price.

However, he can not make someone do something that they wouldn't do. he can only push someone to do something that they have already been considering!

2. How he uses his own aura

so his aura is very (god how do I describe it)

smothering/dominating

in like an unsettling way

like you can tell he's here to help but god that (his aura when it is in use) feels so awful

it's like the aura of an animal always on edge

His aura is so powerful that it can actually manifest enough for normal hylians to see it and for it to be corporeal

when uncorrupting people, he sort of works like a purifier

he takes in the bad stuff and breathes out the good stuff!

like a tree!

and yes it does kinda burn for him to take in the bad stuff

considering he's been blessed by Hylia and is technically some sort of holy creature

but eh

3. How he found out he could uncorrupt people with his aura:

it was actually during the beginning of his adventure

like the beginning beginning

like he didn't even know he was the chosen hero beginning

it was when he was on his way to the church of Hylia with his family

when he was inside he was going to pray like usual when he was accidentally pushed into the statue by his little siblings

this contact with the holy statue was the catalyst for the beginning of his adventure

Hylia spoke with him when he touched the statue and he couldn't really hear her at all (imagine gods talking to you but they lowkey sound like they're underwater)

anyways when she stopped he was just kinda like what

and nothing happened at first

but throughout the day he started to see little mist-like tendrils coming out of people

like they were covering the people's eyes, ears, and mouths

and all the mist was the same color, a dark and murky red mixed with black and a sickly shade of plum purple

and to skip a lot of not-really-important stuff about him freaking out

all the villages then turn on him and try to sacrifice him to Ganon 🤗

and of course, he starts freaking out like his entire circle of family and friends just started actively trying to kill him

and that's when it activates (like at the moment he's about to be killed by his older brother)

he basically does a mega-purification on his brother who stops and just kind of looks at him before the other villagers start attacking him instead

and as his brother is being like mobbed, he looks to Auras and tells him to run

and that's the last time he saw his brother

and the game (if he had one) begins with him in a forest after he just ran away from the village

so it was more off a 'what the fuck' moment, instead of a 'well shit' moment

Fun facts!

Hylia was actually trying to tell him that this would happen if he didn't leave the village and she was the one who gave him his Aura powers

and the reason he didn't hear her is because of how close he was to his family who were already corrupted (like one of his siblings was holding him while she was tryna tell him and this fucked up the connection lmao)

chocolate makes him sick!

he's adopted! and the family taking care of him are very very very very VERY distant descendants of Time and Malon!

I hope you enjoyed my little rant about him

feel free to ask about his Zelda too!

I'll draw her as well and include her in the next post!!

[shsl-heck]

So because I've seen it compared to Worm, I started reading The Boys by Garth Ennis. It's bad! Like really bad! It feels like what would happen if you let an edgy anti-feminist atheist youtuber from 2015 write a comic book. I finished the first volume of the omnibus in large part because it was a train wreck I couldn't look away from, and am debating starting the second since I hate myself. The most interesting parts are actually the little forewords. Through them I learned both that it was supposed to be a comedy, and also a critique of the military industrial complex/police (or at least that people read it as one). This was surprising to me since it is neither funny nor incisive. Anyway, now I want to ramble incoherently about my problems with it because this goddamn comic broke my brain.

Okay, so one of the most common ways it shows you which characters you aren't supposed to like is by having them do comically "gross" sex stuff. Notable examples include cocaine fueled orgies, mentions of shitting during sex, bestiality, masturbating in public to the sight of disabled people, and a little person using sex toys. One that shows up repeatedly in this context is characters being bisexual or gay. Now, I don't wanna get controversial, but I think any claims that your work is a critique of capitalism, police, the military, or whatever are rendered moot when your villains are a group of secret hedonistic sex-freaks. Like we can't pretend that doesn't sound a lot like regressives and their obsession with "degeneracy". Sexual assaults, misogyny, and slurs also appear pretty often, mostly as the punch line for jokes. Victims are rendered down into objects and denied any sense of interiority so we can instead focus on what really matters (gore porn, and middle school 4chan posters' sense of humor). Never once does Ennis deign to explore the actual impact and trauma of these things, or ask why he views these things as material for jokes.

That incuriosity is I think the real problem with The Boys. There is no actual coherent thought about why things are bad. Superheroes hurt people and are wrong because of their personal moral failings as selfish perverts, not because their whole job is to violently enforce the will of the state. It's like if someone agreed that all cops are bastards, but only because all cops just so happened to be "bad apples". The main characters literally work for the fucking CIA, and yes, I know the titular Boys are at best meant to be anti-heroes a la the Punisher. My issue here isn't that they're hypocrites who are frequently also horrible. It's that this premise for is absolute nonsense if you think for half a second. Superheroes do not function without the legitimacy granted to them by the state and it's monopoly on violence, so why would the CIA need these 5 randos with zero oversight working to take out the supers? Is the force Homelander and the others can bring to bear so great that even the apparatus of that state can't deal with them? If so, why does this group of assholes change that? Normally I'd be willing to give the story a lot more of a pass when it comes to questions like this, except I'm being told that this story has things to say about systemic problems involving the government and corporations! So I have to ask, where? Where is the commentary? What does it actually have to say about the state of the world circa 2006-2012? The only answer I can come up with is "not a whole lot". It's a story which dares to ask the tough questions like "what if the world was made of pudding" and then ignore answering those questions so it can instead recite Ellis' favorite slurs in alphabetical order while showing you a woman's tits.

On a lighter note, it's also just not very good. The plot (as mentioned) falls apart under any amount of scrutiny, pacing is bizarre in a bad way, the characters aren't compelling, themes remains stubbornly unexplored, and Ellis is allergic to doing anything interesting or creative with the premise he's decided to base a whole comic around. I genuinely do not know what people enjoy(ed) about this comic.

[wouldduskwood]

Jake's POV Descendants of Despair Part 82

"You're a smart guy, you work it out," Alan smirked, obviously still irked at my deliberate manipulation. "Or, I could always find a way to bring your little lass back in, if that would loosen your tongue."

"I think you know as well as I do that would be a big mistake on your behalf. I simply meant, where do you want me to start my story." I glared, my mind drifting back to her. Did she know? Was she safe and warm? How would all of this end for her? As if unbidden, thoughts began to creep into my mind. Her future, unencumbered by my presence, free to have a future. Maybe she would find someone else, marry and have a family.

My throat ached and I swallowed hard. She was free, but only to an extent. I still had not been able to free her from the troubles that she had before she met me. She would be no better off. Maybe worse. I had failed her. I shook my head a couple of times, then clenched my fists. No, calling off Alan's pitbulls would not be the last act I would do for her. I would find a way for them to investigate whatever was chasing her and, just like that, I had a hunch that I knew exactly how to do just that.

"What I am about to tell you is a long and complex and large scale situation. I know it sounds cliché, believe me, I do. But, this whole time, throughout it all, I have done nothing more than try and do the morally right thing. Legally right, maybe not. You will get to be the judge. But, along the way, as I tell you my story, I want you to find out some information for me. Information on another type of crime." I paused, breathing slowly.

Alan eyed me sceptically. "It is her, isn't it?" He asked with a knowing look. I wondered if he was trying to upset me, but he had no idea of the complexity and depth of my feeling for her. His mockery did nothing more than settle my resolve further. "Yes. What can I say," I shrugged, "Her situation mirrored mine in many ways, maybe not to the extent, but it did. She has something following her too, from doing the right thing. Maybe that is why we are so well suited." My voice had taken on an almost dream like quality. Partially sleep deprived and partially because I was forcing myself to focus only on her, not the situation I currently faced and the lifetime I still faced without her.

Alan, for his part, widened his eyes briefly but then sat back in his chair and watched me with steepled fingers. "So, you are the hero in your version of the story. I wonder if you still will be in my version." He mused, leaning back slightly further.

I lifted my head and met his eyes, properly for the first time since this situation began. "That," I announced, "is a very good question." I crossed my arms and closed my eyes as I let my mind drift back to that fateful day. The day I had been forced to disappear. A day that had for so long been a burden to my existence, until she came along. Now, in a weird sort of way, the day that was now one of the best things that had ever happened to me. It was a day that led me closer to her.

"It all began when I was working as a programmer and bug fixer for a large corporation. We were hired out to different companies, performing security updates, virus checks, that sort of thing. A lot of the time it was mundane, for someone of my skill level anyway," I gave a wry grin and shook my head slightly. "I had no idea then the type of situation I would find myself in when I was asked to perform a network check of a computer network that had experienced an attempted breach earlier that day." I considered my words carefully, trying to give enough information to keep him interested but not enough that I wouldn't be able to barter for better treatment for her.

"As I was doing the routine checkup, I stumbled upon something. Something I knew I shouldn't access...which is how this whole tale begins..."

Part 83

[crystalninjaphoenix]

With Friends Like These

A JSE Fanfic

SepticHeroes AU: Part 13

Previous Part

Not sure what to put in the description for this one. It’s a small chapter, just establishing some things. Jackie’s preparing to be an official Hero. And he also stops by JJ’s shop and sees a familiar face there. Yeah, not much to it, so I’ll keep this short. Enjoy :)

===============

So far, being an official League Hero was just the same as being an ordinary hero. Jackie still went out on patrol. He still stopped break-ins and robberies and the occasional whole heist—though there hadn’t been many of those recently. And he still searched for information on the Specter, and kept an eye out for any sign of the Puppeteer.

The only difference was now he was receiving constant texts and calls from Leapfrog and other League members. He must’ve spoken to three separate people in the League’s massive HR department about various paperwork. It was, apparently, quite complicated to get onto the League’s payroll. Which made sense, as Jackie knew there were cases where villains had managed to figure out Heroes’ identities by hacking various bank statements. 

Leapfrog mainly called him to talk about the logistics of the welcoming ceremony. She’d already told him about the date (October 31st: Halloween), but she also told him it would be held at the central SepTech location, which had a big empty space perfect for the occasion. And she told him what he should wear (his supersuit), what he would be expected to do (give a small thank-you speech), who would be there (League people, SepTech employees, and city officials), and how long it would last (three hours with a one-hour lunch afterwards.)

“You know, I really appreciate the ceremony and all this,” Jackie said on his latest call with her. “But I’m more concerned with what happens afterwards.”

“Well, you just keep doing what you’ve been doing,” Leapfrog replied. “But now you’re being paid for it!” She chuckled.

“Ha ha yeah.” Jackie nodded, despite being totally alone in his room. “But I mean like—I’ll get the occasional assignment from the League, right? A-and I know about how Heroes get assigned to regional teams, sometimes. Does that start right away? Has it already started?”

“No, all that will start after the ceremony,” Leapfrog assured him. “And don’t worry about the teams part yet. We’re going to give you some time to get used to Hero status before asking you if you want to join one. But, off the record, are you interested?”

“Uh...kind of. I mean, it’s not high on my priority list, but it’d be cool.” Other Heroes were considered his coworkers now. That was strange to think about. He’d heard about a lot of other supers in the surrounding area, but now he’d be meeting with them. Probably interacting with them regularly. That was weird. “What about the, uh, equipment and stuff?”

“Your Red Line is fully upgraded now, right?”

“Yeah, I sat through like five hours of download time.” And corporate-style training videos. So many training videos. Really, how hard could it be to use a database? He was so glad that he didn’t have to take them in an office somewhere, and could have the videos on in the background while he played the Portal games on his laptop. 

“Okay, after that...” The clacking sounds of Leapfrog’s mechanical keyboard drifted through the Red Line’s speaker. “Ah. We will need to know if you want another supersuit.”

“Really? You only gave me this one a couple months ago.”

“True, but that’s a very basic model. You can still keep it, of course, but if you want anything else—camouflage, heavy-duty bulletproofing, heating and cooling—you can get a second suit with those features.”

“How... how many features are there?” Jackie asked, already overwhelmed.

“I don’t know the exact number. There’s a list in the Equipment document, you can access that through the new LeageDocs app on your Red Line.”

“Uh...in that case, I’ll just wait until I can look at that,” Jackie said. “Do I get any other equipment? Like... neutrinalin?”

“Yes, you’re now approved to carry that, as well as power-suppression cuffs. Do you want to put in a request for those right now? I can fill out the form for you.”

“Yeah. Yeah, I guess.” Being able to actually handcuff criminals would be so useful. It was really annoying to keep them cornered until the police arrived. That, or try to improvise restraints. But Jackie tried not to do that unless they were being actively hostile.

“Oh! Wait, I just remembered something,” Leapfrog said. “See, we’re planning on giving a Semi-Autonomous Machine to every registered Hero in the county, starting November 5th. If you’re willing to wait, we can package the neutrinalin and cuffs with your Machine.”

Jackie paused for a moment, processing this. “A Machine? One of those new SepTech things?” He did remember that the League had gotten an early shipment of them. And he thought he heard on the news that they were being commercially released really soon. But he never imagined he’d have one. “But...I feel like I keep repeating this, but I haven’t been a Hero that long.”

“Well, you’re in the county,” Leapfrog said nonchalantly. “And you’re registered.”

“I know, but... I guess I just didn’t expect it,” Jackie said. “But, uh, no, I’d like the other stuff first. It’ll be helpful.”

“Still trying to find the Specter, huh?”

“Someone has to. Not only because he’s a thief, but also because he could be linked to the Puppeteer. And I really don’t like that guy. He’s already proven to be dangerous.”

“Well, I wish you luck,” Leapfrog said. “The League will provide any resources you need.”

“Thanks. I know.” Jackie just hoped he wouldn’t need them.

===============

Something was bothering Jackie. It was probably nothing, but he couldn’t stop thinking about it. When he and Chase had gone over to Schneep’s a few days ago, Schneep mentioned that he and JJ met someone else who looked like them. The “fifth clone,” he’d called them jokingly. There was a chance it was just some random guy. But also... Jackie had already seen another clone. Spitfire Cat.

He didn’t like the idea of Spitfire finding his friends. Sure, they were working together, but that didn’t mean Jackie wanted a supervillain in his personal life. Who knew what he could do, if he knew the people Jackie cared about?

So, Jackie texted JJ. Asked him if it was true that he and Schneep saw someone who looked like them. It took a while for him to reply, but when he did, it was telling. Yeah, he walked into my shop while Hen was visiting. Hes also shown up a couple times since then! Looks around and sometimes buys trinkets.

When?

So far, on Tuesdays, and Fridays. But that’s just me assuming he’ll keep showing up on a regular schedule, lol. He’s only been here four times.

Jackie didn’t like that. If this new stranger really was Spitfire Cat, he could be planning something. What other reason would a villain have for visiting the same location repeatedly?

So, that Tuesday, he told Chase that he was going to go visit JJ in his shop for a chat, and maybe see if he wanted to go get lunch or something. He also texted JJ that he was coming, and got a thumbs up emoji in response.

“Oh, hey, uh... you mind if I come too?” Chase asked. “It’s been a while since I’ve seen JJ.”

Jackie hesitated. If Spitfire was there, he didn’t want anyone else in the line of fire. But there was no guarantee, and he also didn’t want Chase to feel left out, so... “Yeah, sure. If you’re ready, I mean. We have to catch the train.”

“Hang on, I’ll get my shoes and Frosty’s harness.”

So, about half an hour later, the two of them walked into Jackson Legacy Crafts. The bell by the door chimed as Jackie pushed it open. “Is this place ever busy?” Chase muttered. “Well, at least there’s another guy here.”

Jackie nodded quietly. JJ was behind the counter, talking with a man whose back was to the entrance. He took a deep breath and called out, “Hey, JJ. We’re here.”

JJ glanced over at them and smiled. One moment, he signed to the man, then waved at them. Hello Jackie. And Chase, too. I wasn’t expecting you.

“Is that okay?” Chase asked. He began walking to the back of the shop, and Jackie followed. “I wouldn’t want to barge in on anything.”

No, it’s not a problem at all, JJ reassured him. Well, since you’re all here, I might as well introduce everyone. Jackie, Chase, this is Ned. Henrik said he told you about him.

“He did?” Chase said, confused. “I don’t remember.” He took out his phone to look at notes.

Yes, he’s the other one who looks a bit like us, JJ signed. Maybe it’s destiny that we all met. He gave a little silent chuckle.

The man—Ned, according to JJ—turned around to look at Chase and Jackie when they got close. Jackie’s stomach immediately dropped. He had seen this man’s face before. Only once. When he’d taken Spitfire Cat to his apartment to remove the Puppeteer’s strings and removed his mask.

His suspicions had been right. The new “clone” they’d found, the one who’d been visiting Jameson’s shop regularly, was Spitfire Cat.

The two of them stared at each other. Jackie quickly took in Spitfire’s appearance, trying to see what he could learn from his outfit, searching for any sign that he was here to somehow hurt Jameson or Jackie’s other friends. Spitfire’s outfit was casual enough. A brown jacket with fur on the inside, perfect for the fall weather, with a dark blue shirt and jeans. And gloves. Plain black ones that entirely hid his hands. Definitely not the ones with metal claws, but that didn’t mean they weren’t hidden in a pocket. Not that Spitfire ever really needed the claws. Jackie was pretty sure they were just for the theme. After all, why bother with weapons when you could conjure deadly energy with a flick of your wrist?

“So, uh...” Chase coughed. “Do you two know each other?”

“Uh, yeah,” Jackie said. “We...work together.”

JJ raised an eyebrow. You don’t sound too certain about that.

“Well we don’t see each other that often, it’s mostly emails and stuff.” Technically not a lie. Jackie glanced at Spitfire. “Right?”

Spitfire nodded.

I thought you said you didn’t know Jackie, JJ says.

“No. I mean, I wasn’t sure if the Jackie you knew was the one I knew,” Spitfire explained. “But now I know. You know?”

Chase laughed. “Yeah, bro. We know. Anyway, nice to meet someone from Jackie’s work. He never talks about it, I was half-wondering if he was actually unemployed the whole time.”

Jackie made a face at him. “You don’t talk about your work. And I pay rent, don’t I?”

“Ha. That’s fair.” Chase grinned. Frosty, meanwhile, trotted up to Spitfire, getting as close as his leash would allow, and started sniffing.

“Wh-why’s your dog getting so close?” Spitfire took a step back. Jackie was half-surprised, half-amused to hear the nervous edge in his voice. He’d certainly never heard that before.

“He’s just sniffing you,” Chase reassured him. “Don’t worry, he’s not gonna bark or jump or anything. He’s working.”

“Working? Oh.” Spitfire glanced down and noticed the ‘Service Dog’ label on Frosty’s harness. “Oh. Are you, um... okay? Can I ask that?”

“Yeah, it’s fine.” Chase nodded. “And I’m fine, don’t worry. Frosty just helps out. And if something happens, he can go get someone. You know, I’ve never seen him get all up in someone’s face like that. You must smell really interesting.”

For some reason, this conversation was putting Jackie on edge. He didn’t like Spitfire learning more about Chase. “Hey, uh, Ned?” he said, the name feeling weird in his mouth. “Can I talk to you, uh, over here? About some work stuff?”

You don’t have to worry about bothering us, JJ said.

“No, this is kind of—um...” Jackie paused for a moment, struggling with his excuse.

“There’s security and stuff,” Spitfire said.

Chase raised an eyebrow and glanced at JJ, who looked back and shrugged. “Well, uh, sure then. We’ll just hang out and stuff.”

You can go into the stairwell. JJ pointed behind the counter at a door. Chase, do you need to sit down?

“No, I’d prefer to keep standing, but thanks.”

Jackie quickly walked over to Spitfire and grabbed his arm. He felt Spitfire stiffen, but that he let Jackie guide him behind the counter and through the door. Once they found themselves in the dark wooden stairwell with the door closed behind them, he immediately shook free. “Don’t fucking touch me,” he said, his usual snappish tone appearing.

“Oh, I’m sorry, forgive me for not wanting a villain around my friends.” Jackie felt around the wall until he found the light switch. Flicking it turned on the bare light overhead, which glowed with the dull yellow tint of a dying bulb. “What are you doing here?”

Spitfire crossed his arms. “Am I not allowed to buy things?”

“Not in my friend’s shop.” Jackie narrowed his eyes.

“Oh, relax, Jackie.” The way Spitfire emphasized his name made Jackie grit his teeth. “I’m not the type to go through someone’s friends and family to get to them.”

“That’s not as reassuring as you think it is,” Jackie said. “You could be lying.”

“I could,” Spitfire admitted. “But I’m not.”

“Why do you keep showing up in JJ’s shop if you’re not—not staking him out to see if he’ll lead you to me?”

“It’s a nice place. This whole area. I’ve lived here for a long time, and I’ve actually never really been here.” Spitfire paused. “Though I...will admit I was curious if they knew you.”

“Ha!” Jackie poked him in the chest.

“But I wasn’t going to drag them into our super business!” Spitfire protested. “I just thought it was funny, that I would stumble across people who knew you, Jackie Skye.”

“Oh, for fuck’s sake!” Jackie barely managed to keep his voice somewhat quiet. After all, the stairwell door wasn’t that thick, and JJ and Chase were pretty close by. “They told you my last name?”

Spitfire smiled smugly. “You’re not very good at this. I’m surprised you weren’t found out within a month of your heroing.”

“Well you’re a special case. I don’t go around taking random criminals to my apartment.” Jackie sighed. Then looked up at Spitfire and matched his smile with one of his own. “At least I know your first name now. Ned, huh? Doesn’t really fit you.”

“That’s because it’s not my real name,” Spitfire said, grin only growing wider.

Jackie blinked. “What?”

“It’s not my real name. You think I just hand that out to anyone? No. Anyone who knows me at work or in the shops knows me by a pseudonym.”

“Oh come on, you don’t need two secret identities,” Jackie groaned.

“Maybe you don’t, but some of us prefer to be extra careful,” Spitfire said. “Which you clearly are not. I hope you’re comfortable with the League having your real name linked with your super identity in their files. Are all those Hero benefits really worth it? Well, I guess it’s too late to ask that. You’ve already passed the trial period, it's unlikely you’ll turn back now.”

“...wait.” Jackie took a step backwards. “How do you know that I’ve passed the trial period?”

“I have my sources.”

“What sources?!”

“The news.”

Jackie shook his head. “No, I specifically know that the press isn’t aware of that yet.”

Spitfire paused. “Well, the League hasn’t told them officially,” he said slowly. “But leaks happen all the time, especially with new Hero announcements. Sometimes I wonder if they happen on purpose to help drum up hype.”

“I...” Jackie wasn’t sure what to say to this. “Well. You know, now that I’m an official Hero, we’ll have to be even more careful about letting our alliance be found out. It could do so much damage to the League if people found out a Hero was working with a villain.”

Spitfire chuckled, as if he was pleased with the idea of the League’s reputation being hurt. Oh, who was Jackie kidding? He was definitely pleased with that. “Do you think you’re the first Hero to team up with a criminal?”

“Well I’ve never heard of it,” Jackie mumbled. Then he straightened, pumping confidence into his posture and voice. “But now that I’m an official Hero, I can access all their databases to find out if you’re right about something like that. It’s one of those ‘benefits’ you were talking about earlier. And if you ask me, yes, the benefits are worth it. Not only is there great pay and leave, but also I’ll be getting all these cool new gadgets. Have you heard about SepTech’s Semi-Autonomous Machines? I’ll be getting one, after the welcoming ceremony.”

“Really?” Spitfire’s attention seemed to sharpen. “They’re giving one to a newbie Hero?”

“They’re giving one to every Hero in the county. It’s just lucky that Daindover is SepTech’s home turf, otherwise I might’ve missed out.” Jackie stared at Spitfire. His eyes narrowed in suspicion. “You sound pretty interested in this.”

“Of course I am.” Spitfire hesitated, then pressed onwards. “Listen. Windstorm. Jackie. I know you have no reason to do this, and I fully expect you to deny my request, but at least hear out what I’m about to say.”

Jackie wasn’t sure he wanted to, given the suddenly intense look in Spitfire’s eyes. But he relented. “Okay, what is it?”

“When you get your Machine from the League, I need you to bring it to me,” Spitfire said. “Before you turn it on, or even—even take it out of the box. I don’t want to keep it. I just want a friend of mine to look it over.”

“Oh hell no.” Jackie shook his head. “I’m not letting you or your ‘friend’ touch anything.”

“She won’t need to touch it,” Spitfire corrected. “Just look at it.”

“...that doesn’t change my mind.”

“I don’t want to steal it or copy the design or anything you’re thinking,” Spitfire snapped. “Those things will be commercially available, you know. The release date isn’t that far off. And the ones in the League aren’t that different. Why go to the trouble of copying yours when I could wait to buy one?”

That did make sense. But Jackie still didn’t trust Spitfire. Granted, he trusted him more than he did a few months ago. Not that much more, though. “I’ll think about it,” Jackie said. “Are you going to tell me why you want your friend to look at it?”

“I will afterwards,” Spitfire said. “I promise. But, you know, ( won’t mind if you won’t let us see it.” He paused. “I think it will be better for you if you do, though.”

Normally, Jackie would’ve taken that as a threat. But Spitfire’s tone was... different. Somehow softer. What was that? Was it... worry? A strange feeling curled around Jackie’s chest at that idea. Something that was also soft. “I’ll think about it,” he repeated.

Spitfire nodded once. “I’ll take that. Now. We should probably leave this stairwell before your friends start wondering what we’re talking about.”

“Right.” Jackie reached over and opened the door, and the two of them reentered the main body of the shop.

Chase and JJ were right where they left them. JJ was leaning on the counter while Chase talked. “—nice, I just didn’t think you’d wear something like that. Don’t they clash with your whole ‘old-timey gentleman’ look?”

JJ shrugged. I like them. He noticed Jackie and Spitfire and waved. Welcome back.

“Hey.” Jackie returned the wave. “What’re you talking about?”

“Oh, you didn’t notice JJ’s bracelets?” Chase asked.

“Huh? Oh, uh, no.”

Jameson straightened, holding up his hands. Fastened around each wrist was a bracelet, made of simple braids slid onto a string. The one on his left was rainbow-colored, while the one on his right was shades of blue and purple. Chase was right: they didn’t exactly match his usual style.

“Cool.” Jackie nodded. “Where’d you get them?”

Oh... you know, JJ said, taking the time to spell out the whole phrase in sign.

“No, I don’t know,” Jakcie said, confused.

JJ paused, then explained, One of the artists who contributes to the shop gave me a bracelet-making kit. Apparently a relative bought it for his daughter, but she didn’t want it, and he didn’t want it to go to waste. Not sure why he gave it to me, of all people. But I figured I should try it.

“Did you stay up late making them?” Chase asked half-jokingly. “Is that why you look so tired?”

I don’t look tired, JJ protested. I’ve been sleeping better lately!

“Really? Uh... sorry, then.”

“I’m uh... I’m gonna go,” Spitfire said, walking around the counter and heading towards the door.

Are you sure? JJ asked. Don’t let these two kick you out.

“No, I was going to leave anyway. I have stuff to do.”

“Hey, maybe we’ll see you again some other time!” Chase said cheerfully. “That’d be cool. Right, Jackie?”

Jackie hesitated. “Right,” he said, trying to sound enthusiastic. He wasn’t sure he was quite managing it, though, because Jameson gave him a puzzled look before glancing away.

“Maybe,” Spitfire said vaguely. “I’ll email you if anything about that project comes up, Jackie.”

“Yeah. I’ll do the same. See you then.”

“See you.” Spitfire nodded, then left, causing the bell by the door to ring cheerfully. 

There was a moment of silence after he left. “Well, he seems nice,” Chase finally.

Jackie made a face, and JJ laughed silently. I can tell you don’t like him, he said. What’s the story?

“Nothing. We just... disagree on a lot of stuff,” Jackie said carefully. “He’s actually not as bad as I used to think. But, yeah, you’re right. Uh...this might sound weird. But can you guys...try not to hang around him that much?”

JJ tilted his head. Well I’m not going to kick him out of my shop without reasonable cause. He’s a well-paying customer. But I won’t go out of my way to meet him, if that’s what you mean.

“Yeah.” Chase nodded. “I still think he’s nice enough, but whatever. I trust you.”

“You might not need to,” Jackie said. “But...just in case.” He exhaled slowly. How was he supposed to deal with this? He never imagined a supervillain would find his secret identity. Well, sometimes he did. When he was awake at night, mostly. And worrying about that only kept him up later. But... he never thought up a scenario where he’d have to work with that villain.

For a moment, he considered breaking off the alliance with Spitfire. Then he decided against it. He needed as much help as he could get with this case of the Specter and the Puppeteer. And Spitfire had already been useful. For now, the alliance could stay. But if he thought that Spitfire was getting too close to his friends, he had to cut him off.

“Anyway,” Jackie said, changing the subject. “I was thinking about lunch. Are you guys hungry?”

===============

Marvin didn’t make phone calls often. He didn’t like them. They could be easily tapped with the right equipment or the right superpowers, and stuff like that was becoming more common every day. But this was important. So he fought past the edge of paranoia by reminding himself that people had no reason to listen to his secret identity’s calls and dialed the number. Though the nervous energy still compelled him to walk in circles around his living room.

The other end only rang twice before it was picked up. “Hello?”

“Kanchana? It’s me,” Marvin said.

“Hey, cat man. Another call, huh? Only a couple per year, now twice in the past three days? Is your email broken?”

“No, it’s fine.” Though he wasn’t so sure about that. This villain, the Puppeteer, knew about at least one of his email accounts. There was a chance he knew about them all. But at least he reset all their passwords. “I want to talk to you about the six missing henches.”

“Oh?” The single syllable was laden with expectations. Probably. Marvin wasn’t too good with tone, but he’d known Kanchana for long enough to be reasonably sure. “Does this have to do with why you asked me for their information?”

“Yeah.” Marvin stopped pacing, though he rested a hand against the wall and tapped it with that same nervous fidgeting. “You know SepTech’s Reformation Program?”

“Of course I do. I suggest it to any henches who want to try being legit.” Kanchana gasped. “You’re saying you found them there?”

“Yeah. I can email you screenshots.” Marvin started heading to his office (really, it was just a small room where he kept his computer and some knickknacks.) “They changed their names, but SepTech has pictures of each of them on file, for IDs and stuff. It matches up with the ones you gave me.”

“That’s... really odd,” Kanchana said carefully. “I mean, if they wanted to stop doing henchwork, I could’ve helped them. And why did they leave their flats? None of them were having trouble paying the rent.”

“It was probably because of the new villain,” Marvin said. “The Puppeteer.”

“Okay, but why would they make some former henches join the Reform Program? Especially if they made other ones commit crimes. Those are very different goals.”

“They are, aren’t they?” Marvin mused. “It’s weird. You want to know what’s weirder? There’s no mention of these guys being henches anywhere on their files. And there’s an option for that, visible right at the top of the forms.” He paused. “You know, it’s kind of disturbing that SepTech has people’s criminal records in the first place. I know the whole purpose of Reform is to help cons with jobs, but I don’t like how just anyone with a SepTech password can access all these people’s pasts.”

“How did you find them, then?” Kanchana asked. “If it needs a password.”

“Uh...I got one.” It was one of the benefits of working at a news channel. The station had elevated access to a lot of stuff, and SepTech really liked to share stuff with the news. Anyone who worked at Channel 5 was given the station’s password, even if their job didn’t require it. They were very trusting. It was one of the reasons he’d chosen to work there.

Kanchana laughed. “Of course you do. Are you going to tell me why?”

“No.”

“Ah, figured. Well, as long as you use it for good.”

Now it was Marvin’s turn to laugh. “I’ll try. Though that’s impossible, according to certain groups.”

“You have to calm down with the League stuff, cat man. It can’t be healthy to hold onto all those negative emotions.”

Probably not. But what was he going to do, tell a therapist his whole backstory? He was pretty sure they would be legally obligated to call the police. “I’m fine,” he simply said. “I’m working on stuff. Anyway, do you want the screenshots?”

“Yes please.”

Marvin was in the office by now. He sat down at his desk, spinning around in his chair a couple times before booting up the computer. He kept talking to Kanchana as he prepared to send the screenshots. “I also got ones of all the other Reform people, just in case you recognize them. I’m going to try and look more into this program. I don’t like how everything about these guys is fake except the pictures.”

“What do you think it means?” Kanchana prompted.

“Well... either they have someone who can cover up identities as well as you can, or someone at SepTech purposefully entered wrong information. Either one is bad.” He attached the folder of screenshots to the email, waited for it to load, then sent it. “There. This should be going to your new email now.”

“Great. I’m not at my computer now, how about I get back to you if I find anything in those pictures?”

“That’d be great. Oh! By the way. I keep forgetting to ask you.” Marvin leaned back in his chair. “Have you heard anything about the Specter recently?”

“I’ve heard that they’re being more active,” Kanchana said. “Gwen’s dad got an offer for some old super tech that might’ve been from them. Anonymous offer. No weapons.”

“Hmm.” That might’ve been the Specter. He probably stole a bagful of stuff from the U-Storit, that one night when Marvin and Windstorm tried to confront him. “Thanks. I’ll talk to him about it. Maybe I can... convince him.”

“You sound so ominous when you say it like that,” Kanchana said jokingly. “What are you going to do? Bribe him?”

“I don’t know. Maybe I’ll threaten to tell his daughter about some of his business details. He wants to keep those from her, right?”

“Not that she doesn’t know already, but yes, I believe so.”

“Ha.” Marvin grinned tiredly. “Well, uh. I’m gonna go nap now, or something. Good luck.”

“Have a good one, then,” Kanchana said. “I’ll email or text you if anything develops.”

“Thanks.”

“Goodbye.”

“Bye.” Marvin hung up. He leaned his head back against the chair and closed his eyes. It had been an emotional day. He thought back to meeting Windstorm in that shop and the conversation they had. Windstorm had seemed really angry. He didn’t blame him of course, but he still got angry at him in turn. Yes, he was a villain. But sometimes Windstorm treated him like he would snap and kill everyone in the room at any moment. The thought caused a defensive indignation to fill his heart.

Even so, he understood where Windstorm was coming from. Marvin knew he’d proven—to the world and to himself—that he was willing to kill. Even if he’d only actually managed it once. And Windstorm had friends to be worried about. People he cared about. Who cared about him.

Marvin felt an old familiar ache in his chest, and he stood up. He was going to sleep. He was going to forget about the world and rest for an hour or two. Forget about Kanchana and her order, forget about the Specter, forget about Windstorm... forget about the League of Heroes.

It was a temporary solution. But right now, it was one he needed. So he left the office and headed upstairs, ready to fall into his bed and forget.

[starlightrows]

Hello everyone! Happy Star Wars Day!

Welcome back to Krax Watches. Today we’re watching Tales of the Jedi

Episode 1 —

Ashoka’s mom is gorgeous

The baby noises are so precious oh my god stop

I don’t know why the accents threw me off a bit, but it makes sense that Ashoka might not have an accent since she was raised in the Jedi temple

This animation and imagery is beautiful

Baby Ahsoka is fully unphased by the blaster shot right by her head

Ahsoka’s mom being a hunter in their society is awesome

Pav Ti talking to baby Ahsoka like a little adult is wonderful

Pav Ti is my fucking hero. Roaring at the saber tooth tiger

Whatever those cat panda thing are, I want one

I did not except the saber toothed tiger to take baby Soka with it

How to Train Your Saber Toothed Tiger

I literally can not handle her teeny tiny little lekku and her chubby wubby cheeks and her big sparkly eyes

It’s giving Diego from Ice Age

8/10 great mini story

Episode 2 —

Dooku’s hair is… something

Starting off kinda creepy ghost town vibes huh

That was a dog. Like a regular ass dog

Yee old saloon

Young Qui Gon looks like the cave man from Ice Age… wtf

Ooh a moral quandary

Cone heads

Blue light saber Dooku, I thought for sure he’s be a green

It’s interesting to see how far back it goes, the opinion that Jedi serve the senate and not the people

Dooku fully yeeted Qui Gon, I was not expecting that

Based on Dooku’s dark brown robes, he’s in the beginning to turn to the dark side phase like Anakin

Damn I was really hoping Dooku had a last name… or a first name? Idk I wanted a full name

7/10 though provoking but I wanted a little more

Episode 3 —

It is so strange to think that Dooku and Mace had an actual friendship

Of course Mace Windu would be a stickler for the rules

I’m sure these Raxus guys are bad guys or something, but their uniforms are cool

I feel like these people definitely killed Master Katri, but like why?

Dooku is in his fuck around and find out era

Ah yes, the beloved purple light label

“I will have the truth” … and the thing from the last episode about irradiating people like the evil senator. Dooku is every bit as blunt and rash as Anakin but like way more graceful about it

Uuugh how things could have been different if Mace was more open minded about the corruption taking root in the Jedi Order

Fun to see some of our favorite Jedi again… too bad it’s at a funeral

I don’t doubt that Mace did not know he was up for Master Katri’s council seat… but also he could have had an idea that he was in consideration

8/10 I love a good murder mystery with question authority undertones

Episode 4 —

How the FUCK would you find anything in that archive

Ooooooh Master Sifo Dias … Kamino???? Deleted?

Jocasta!!!

Yaddle!!!!

LIAM NEESON

Dooku’s been warning them about coming darkness… irony is so painful

Ahhhhhh Dooku hasn’t even met his grand-padawan yet

“You’re always singing his praises”

“They grow up so fast”

Qui Gon’s like… hey I’m concerned about this. Council is like… sounds fake but okay. We’ll do “something” about it…. Corporate mentality. SMH

Oh my god… Why did I not realize when he said Sith Lord on Tatooine that this was happening right after episode one

AAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH no no no no no

Dooku wanted to turn Qui Gon to the dark side

Is…. Dooku going to fight Yaddle….

Fuck this is such an ugly situation

Can you imagine if Yaddle had used The Force to yank Palpatine’s hood off and exposed him early like this

AAAAAHHHHH Yaddle is so wise. She is stepped down from the council

Oh my fucking god…….. she got smooshed!

Oh just kidding! Fuck ‘em up Yaddle!

Fuck that just hurts my heart so much

10/10 made me understand a lot about Dooku and broke my heart

Episode 5 —

All of Ahsoka’s dads in the same waiting room

Oh mullet Obi Wan, how I’ve missed you

Love this outfit, the white leggings are everything

CALEB!!!!! Dippa!!!!

I feel like Jedi are supposed to have a somewhat parental relationship with their Padawan, and Anakin goes straight to antagonistic older brother

REX! MY BOY!

How did this conversation go? Hey Rex, you and the guys wanna fire some blasters at Ahsoka for no reason? ugh… sure I guess

Fuckin Jesse “Sorry Commader!”

Honestly I feel like Anakin is just taking out some weird emotions or aggression out on Ahsoka

Okay sure you want to protect her by teaching her to protect herself, but there are almost certainly better ways to do that… like giving critique to what she’s doing or modifying the challenge with each round

Damn Rex, face shot

I swear to god if they make me watch Order 66 again

7/10 was a good episode, kind of irritated me because Anakin’s teaching style rubs me the wrong way

Episode 6 —

Not the cold open with Padme’s funeral….

NO Ahsoka was there

Sometimes I forget that Ahsoka didn’t have that many female figures in her life….

“She was my friend”

AAHHHHH the Corrie guard….. but now the Empire is in control…. This is like Bad Batch era

The Corries are like….. uh okay?

REX!!!

I love that Ahsoka did a stint as a farm hand after dropping out of Jedi school

Ooooh she used The Force…. are they gonna nark on her??

Ashla…. That’s such a pretty name

Do I smell….. a love interest???

This is… not going to go well

Ooooooh that fucking brother is a squealer

Oh my god… man fuck the Empire

Who the fuck is this?

Cowboy stand off, love it

I forgot she doesn’t have sabers anymore

Fuck that was cool!

OMG this is how she gets her white sabers!

I wonder how much time has passed?

Woooooo! REBELLION!!!

10/10 it always hurts, but like in the right way to be reminded that the Empire fucking sucks and there is always hope.

Since this was pretty short, I’m gonna watch more stuff. Might not do a reaction post though.

Happy Star Wars Day!

May the Force be with you!

[fayesdiary]

Hii can I ask about your OC ideas for your fe game concept? Ooo and do you have any ideas for an overall story? 🤗

(Follow-up to this post)

First of all I AM SO SORRY ANON FOR TAKING SO LONG TO ANSWER THIS

I don't know what is it about my OCs and concepts, I want to talk about them but every time someone asks me about them I just procrastinate answering until the end of time😭

Anyway, here's all my main concepts, but they all have their posts where I go more into detail about them!

No. 1 - Gaia

The first OC I ever made is Gaia, a princess able to wield earth magic!

Her whole deal is that she constantly tries to hype herself up as this larger-than-life hero of legend (like the one she was named after) complete with theatrics... But it's all a facade to hide her massive impostor syndrome.

Basically, she'd be the comedic rival in a shonen.

But it turns out her impostor syndrom is kinda justified, since she's adopted. Which wouldn't be a problem if she didn't live in a world where the right blood gives you suoerpowers. And yes, this means she doesn't naturally have access to her earth magic and only does so temporarily because her parents secretly infused her with some of their blood without her knowing, which is not a viable solution for the future since bloodlines play a massive role in politics and basically every noble has access to some special blood. And if word got out that Gaia was adopted and her parents were infertile all along...

Gaia's whole story is about her whole world crashing down in multiple place, and finding her place in a world of demigods.

I don't have many ideas for her world yet save from being so reliant on bloodlines like Jugdral, but a few other ideas I had in mind were of it being a world where all dragons have gone long extinct but their legacy heavily influenced human culture, and the main villain trying to transfuse within himself every kind of Divine Blood in existence and using all their powers to become a new god and remake the world.

No. 2 - Sci-fi vs fantasy

The second main idea for an FE concept is one about fantasy vs sci-fi, where your typical FE world is invaded by a corporation from outer space, and the whole game would be about that dichotomy.

Two different cultures shown in a way very similar to Fates, with its separate sets of classes and weapons, two different campaign that take place in the same continuity where you play as a magic scholar trying to fight back against the invaders and a rogue engineer who becomes part of a rebellion, and a third final campaign to wrap the story up.

Basically the entire game would be about discussing the differences between the two worlds but most importantly the unlikely similarities, the fact magic and technology might secretly be connected and whenever the two can exist in symbiosis with each other.

Also a loose idea I had was of the local Divine Dragon being the descendant of a space tribe (because fuck yeah space dragons), where its monarch has been seized by the corporation and either has been turned into their ship they use to conquer planets or turned into an AI, and having the final fight be a confrontation between the two.

No.3 - Global turn count and time loop

Third and final main concept is one where you have a global turn count that affects the world and story, complete with a time rewind mechanic where the protagonist Kayla teams up with the local Dark Dragon to figure out what caused the end of the world and stop it, with a lot of context-sensitive dialogue in the style of Undertale and Hades. I went more into detail about this concept in a previous post.

And as a bonus small idea, I pictured an FE game that takes place in one of those cozy post-apocalyptic worlds where nature has taken back modern society, if only because a Fire Emblem with that setting sounds cool as shit

[alvadee]

This is what I want from articles about him, updates on his hobbies, favorite dishes and what dreams and aspirations he has! I don't know why it says he plays a the villain in the movie but he and his two other co-stars play more morally gray misfits.

-Houston Post 07/13/1972 He's known for bad man roles on film and stage. He's played in "Batman" and other television series. He weighs 312 pounds, and his voice, while firm, is as gentle as a summer zephyr. But that gentleness has a point to it as well. For his conversation is laced with comedy. It's the quiet thrust of the unexpected turn of thought. It hits a moment later than the obvious comment would. Of course he has portrayed comic roles, "Falstaff," for instance, and other Shakespearean characters at the Globe Theatre in San Diego. Now he says, "Everything I play is based on comedy." It's as well to remember that now "The Wrath of God" has opened. Robert Mitchum, Ken Hutchison, and Rita Hayworth share the screen with him in this drama of the 1920s when Mexico was torn by revolution. It is based on James Graham's book, and was filmed around Taxco and Vista Hermosa. In the course of the picture, Mr. Buono explained, he pulls someone out of a burning mine. However that might sound, "I am not a hero, in fact I die in the end," he said. This is the old, old formula: The hero survives, the villain does not. Offscreen, Mr. Buono indulges interests far from the dramatic roles he plays. He likes to weld sculptures, to paint impressionistically, to cook -he calls himself a good cook even while he laughs that he left home recently "to get away from my mother's cooking. Mother always cooked for 20 or 30 people even when there were only two or three in the house." One of his own specialties he says, is making soups, mushroom, asparagus ..."From scratch?" he was asked. "Yes," he assented, "and from asparagus." For a few months each year he travels to 25 or more colleges performing a one-man show he puts together based on famous writings. This season (November to March) it will include "a lot of Emily Dickinson." He writes verse, too. In July "I have a book coming out called 'It Could Be Verse," he said. It is under the imprint of the Nash Publishing Corporation. He also has made a record entitled "Heavy!" a collection of bitter-sweet humorous poetry and dramatic readings. Naturally, roles for big men ("I have always been heavy." he said) are uppermost in his thought. "Henry VIII and Nero have been done, of course." Nevertheless he still thinks about Nero. "I might want to do it, but my own way." he explained. "I don't think we have seen the real Nero yet." Time and again, however, he returned to the subject of Shakespeare and his stints at the Globe Theatre in San Diego. Next summer, he said, he would be doing "Hen-ry IV." Parts 1 and 2. And, "I may do "Falstaff" on the West Coast next summer," also.

[maguro13-2]

New Beginning ~ Ink Demon Apocalypse Prologe (4/7) ~

"2015 A.D."

Woman on Radio : Good Evening everybody. We got orders from the Drawcia Family Corporation executive office. Hours ago, Intel informs us that one of our members Claycia, head the Claymation R&D unit, went missing during her discharge from the facility and we discovered that traces of ink have been sprawled out from the remains of the Ohkuboverse. Hardly, this is a covert mission, and I have given out a global task to find the remains of ink that have scattared across the globe. They are demanding the Ink Demons have turned over the remains of former Ink Demon King Bendy since his son Inky Jr has become the new Lord Inky. Intel also informed that the colors of Dreamland have been stolen by a mysterious entity known as Dark Crafter, the sworn enemy of the Drawcia Family. I want you two to infiltrate the mess is what is left from Nevada after it's real world was broken free from the Ohkuboverse's curse. Rendezvous with the rest squad and begin a quick search to find Dreamland's missing colors. Good luck out there, amen, and godspeed.

Vividria : This is a new start for me. Me, that is a new artist on the block.

Paint Roller : Well, you're lucky to be around here, no way that you did something wrong, I'm sure that the new you is perfect to be a star ally.

Vividria : A star ally, you say? You're the son of Lololo and Lalala after all, I hope you find prove useful that you got the brawns to think of, well, no special reasons included.

Paint Roller : I did had a major head start pointing to think on the suggestions of the early days of singing Kumbaya together at boy scout bonfire.

Vividria : Don't be ridiculous, Paintra is at the canadian province of British Columbia, she's taking someone to the Queen Charlotte District for a dream to fulfill. It's actually a kid from a rural Maryland town near the Mason-Dixon Between that and Pennsylvania. I heard that the girl used to live in Pennsylvania at age 4 before she was abandoned in Maryland. What was the girl's name?...Ah, yes. Tamaki, Tamaki Kotatsu. A japanese-American born in Tokyo and resides in the rural town of Emmitsburg, an 18th century town nestled in the Catoctin Mountain range of Maryland's Frederick County.

Paint Roller : Frederick County? Isn't that place the home of the Blair Witch, I heard that it took a huge role in the state. But the actual is one of the main group of Soul World, the world created by the legendary hero Shinra Kusakabe.

Vividria : Yes, Paintra requested him to restore his original body that was annihilated by the attacks of the Ohkubo-verse's invader and destroyer of all worlds, the Time Eater. It was the name of that entity who scolded Shinra and his people after Demon Vibe sabotaged his world for trying to conquer the galaxy and was banished to a dimension where he would never be forgiven. But they're now saying that Shinra Kusakabe has been brought back as a human that is a new one for him.

Paint Roller : Sounds like all he needed was a little rock and roll. Anyways, let's never fail the missions, we got an important job to do.

Vividria : Understood.

Paint Roller : So once we're done we can finally hit the spot, how I create myself a fine cuisine we will have three squares a meal and call it for the day.

Vividria : Geez, this is hardly kind of a mess. Don't believe in anything, but this is the mission that we have to covert? I mean, this was from the aftermath of Darkside Death's defeat when tries to keep the planet into the clutches. Don't believe in anything?

Paint Roller : (sighs) Not much. There's lots of reboots, hey, Sailor Moon Crystal finally got the upgrades since the last show ended with a movie all those years ago. I had no reason to come all the way here.

*something moves*

Paint Roller : !? Woah! Vivid, do you hear that?

Vividria : I know it. It's them.

Paint Roller : It's those guys again haven't they?

Vividria : I thought Maka Albarn got rid of that Heartless jerk two years ago, can't be they had the nerves to comeback! All in fair's shares. Are we in?

Paint Roller : We're in.

Vividria : Get ready...

(the heartless appears at gun point)

Vividria : Now!

(scene goes in slo-motion)

*gunfiring*

(neoshadow yelling in pain)

*DBZ SFX : Collapse*

Paint Roller : Phew! That was close. These guys always keep coming back. Some heartless may never know their place.

Vividria : Yeah..Yeah. That's what I always do, the 24/7 business got my back hanging around. Not a total loser of who I was, but indeed a great prodigy. I did do a little research during art class. I've been using a lot Drawcia's Techniques made me qualified of becoming a prodigy and I will master the skills of everything, but I still need proper training. Come on, let's get going.

Paint Roller : Right!

*Tire Screeching*

Paint Roller : That can't be a Good sign.

Vividria : Good thing they had backup.

Neoshadow : Alright, muchachas! Listen up, I got a class assignment for you. There are some nasty witches waiting to get caught in our tracks. Bring them to me as usual.

[Binary Domain BGM : Seawall Combat]

Vividria : Time for a basic maneuver, get rid of these heartless and do as what I say!

Paint Roller : Got it!

Neoshadow : Awesome! This is what I needed for action! Let's kick and kill their asses and we'll see they like it! Simple as that!

Neoshadow B : With pleasure, boss!

Neoshadow : It looks like we have no choice, but to kill this little prick!

*DBZ SFX : SLASHING+SLICE*

Neoshadows : (deathly grunt)

*DBZ SFX : Collapse*

Neoshadow : No way! This girl! Wha...What are you!?

Vividria : (chuckles) I'm no little girl, I'm a little lady who is going to kick your butt!

Neoshadow : (gasping and yelling) HUAAAAHHH!!!

*DBZ SFX : Slash*

"After the battle..."

Paint Roller : Man, that was one heck of a party. Looks like we never got a grip from those heartless, it's all what were in for. They never had the chance to beat us do they?

Vividria : No dice, I can handle out with this one.

Paint Roller : After all, you're the rookie of the corporation's Para Sorceress Force.

Vividria : Don't sweat it. I've been using my hair as a stylish weapon of choice, but creating weapons with my powers of art and magic.

Paint Roller : That's your way of saying "Excellent choice". If there are lot of more enemies to come from, I should reconsider that. If they had the guts to break our spirits, we should becoming flat out like burger patties, but I do not mind about burgers and fries.

Vividria : This ain't a barbecue to start your day, we got a lot ways to make our way through. I hope you'll find successful in the mission.

Paint Roller : Right, which is why we only have few steps to rendezvous with the rest of the squad.

Vividria : Good, stay on my six. Things are about to get nastier.

Paint Roller : Okay, partner. Let's keep on moving!

"There's a new artist Block similar to Drawcia and Paintra..."

"And that artist's name is Vividria..."

"She's the truest heir to the Drawcia Family..."

"She's like the newest Drawcia that I've ever seen in years at life's best."

[scolek]

ive done it. ive made in universe fandom monikers for everyone.

so because of the corporate structure status quo i think alkakurei would have the most unimpeachable fandom monikers.

ibara is also a producer so he'd be the one to decide i think but hes ibara so it would be something not obvious. their fans would be HEX. capitalization required. like from the hexagons of the honeycomb that the bees produce. cospro never says anything about whether or not HEX is plural so fans are always debating HEX is already plural or going like. HEX達.

alkaloid. see unlike at cospro eichi would have no hand in this. its some like, random marketing consultant. newly hired. possibly even poached. but, alkaloid are a rookie unit fresh off MDM, theyre not the highest priority. the marketing person takes one look at a picture of them, goes, oh they have a card motif, and goes ok your fans are called Suits. sign up for the fanclub.

eden probably also has a pretty solid one because ibara. but. ok i think nagisa is the one who came up with it. do you have any ideas, your excellency? and this is early days so nagisa doesnt know what the hell is going on so after being explained the concept hes like... maybe something to do with apples? and then hiyori is like mmm you know i could really go for some apfelkuchen right now, oh juuun-kuuun and nagisa goes oh i like that word. it sounds interesting. our fans will be called that. and ibara goes. can we perhaps. explore other options. your excellency. but at their next live nagisa does the God Thing and calls the audience apfelkuchen so it stays. and theyve told a version of that story like 5 times to various outlets.

adam and eve probably have separate names but idc, so

everyone else from the scrappier yumenosaki era is a lot less set in stone. aside from knights, ofc.

i think ryuseitais fans are called extra heroes, but someone at starpro is like 'thats really really bad SEO and also we dont even want to risk toei suing us even if its really not an official term on their end either' (its not, right?) so. but rst has already been done so dirty by starpro. the same marketing consultant was probably slaving away after spending 2 seconds to come up with alkaloids trying to find something that would work actually. theyre called. cometics. not COSmetics, cometics, like comet but with チック at the end because it was trendy at the time. hey sam are you taking this from the song cometic silhouette from kiratto prichan? yes. but it would be something like that. and im already getting tired of being 21st century idol don draper so dont come for me. but i think nobody actually uses it.

i think a similarly fraught situation is with valk fans. you know the xkcd comic about competing standards? every time someone tries to come up with one, it just gets added to the pile. people have lost friendships over what they want to call themselves. the thing that doesnt get you in trouble is just saying youre a valkyrie supporter. and after valk signs with cospro, ibara comes knocking, and shu and mika, who KNOW about the debate, are. on the one hand we could settle this nonsense once and for all. but on the other hand, a lot of people are very attached to the monikers theyve created, and we aint out to hurt their feelings, and the communities theyve created. it goes on like this for a while, to the point where every other idol group at cospro has merch out for preorder and official fanclub signups and the valk fans are starting to make conspiracy theories. shu tries to calm the rumors without poking the bear, but the bear kind of pokes itself at this point and a huge drama breaks out over social media, a few more competing standards are added to the pile, and not even 12 hours after shu posted trying to allay everyones concerns, sign ups for the official valkyrie fan club, called the 公式Valkyrieファンクラブ, are out.

so if youre a cospro girlie, you could be an apfelkuchen, a HEX, a twinkle-star, or A Member Of The Official Valkyrie Fan Club.

the twins were being Good Boys about the fan club thing, and anything else people were calling themselves was similar to what got picked in the end.

i think trickstar are also in a lawless position. but the thing is, nobody in trickstar can agree either. mao likes Plaids (because its unique and also sounds cute), hokuto likes Starlights (mao also likes this one but thinks it might be too generic, but hokuto does not care about SEO), subaru likes Jokers and makoto starts sweating when asked his opinion due to choice paralysis. in times like this, they all turn to anzu. so i think trickstar fans will literally have all of the above in their twitter bios, and also the official one, Revolutionaries.

fine fans are just called angels. nothing special, just the most obvious thing. eichi gets told its bad for SEO? no. thats fine. we're one of the big three, you know. tbh eichi might legit try to copyright エンジェル. i wouldnt put it past him.

rhythlin is an old-school agency so, officially, their fan clubs are also just called fan clubs, but thats not the actual reality of the situation. akatsuki is written with red moon but its a homophone for dawn, as we all well know. so its night, due to the moon, but also not night, because its dawn. so theyre called night glories. like morning glories/朝顔 (asagao, lit. morning face), but at night. 夜顔 (yorugao, yogao, yokao, im sure akatsuki fans know how to pronounce it, akatsuki fans have probably never even seen a yojijukugo they cant handle, and this is only half that)

ra*bits fans are called bitty. another HEX situation where the plural is not super clear, im sure english speaking fans are like lol we're old biddies, but in japanese its just kind of taken for granted. idk nazuna came up with it, and he regrets it every day because hes afraid that one day the other shoe is going to drop and hes going to say ビチー instead of ビティー, oh my god i dust cawwed ebbeyone bitchy nooo my careew is oberrrr

undead fans need to be called something perfect. every single fandom name wants to be as perfect as what undead fans are called, what rei one day declared they were called. its the perfect moniker, its unique but not esoteric, its easy to pronounce, not too long or too short. obviously i dont know what it is. i cant come up with the perfect name. ive been sitting here for an hour and i havent had lunch yet and its three thirty. why havent i had lunch.

natsumes a little computer boy so hes thinking about a strong concept but hes also thinking about SEO. they're terabolts. like terabytes, which is the main way file sizes in SSVRS are spoken about so he uses it a lot, but also lightning bolts, because switch. its pretty perfect. not as perfect as the one rei-nii-san came up with, of course.

and finally, what do you call all seven mam fans who exist in universe and out. double face fans are called agents so when double face broke up some of them liked mam still and started calling themselves magents, originally as a joke. idk. idk man. you tell me what mam fans are called. fucking unicorns, probably.

theyre going to start beef with knights (or vice versa, because knights) immediately because their fans are going to want to call themselves princesses but thats already a fan-group name. unofficially, i guess, we dont have weirdly esoteric-sounding corporate-endorsed fandom monikers like a lot of irl idols (kpop in specific) do

actually it would be interesting to have those. just a bit of in universe flavor. youll take the P suffix from our cold dead hands, out here like we all got some miku software or something.

[carewyncromwell]

Tonks 🤝 Carewyn

requested by Anon

Everyone knew Carewyn Cromwell was talented at Charms. She was considered only second to Charms prodigy Ben Copper among her peers, when it came to mastering the subject. Therefore no one was particularly surprised when she learned and mastered the Patronus Charm in only her fourth year. What a lot of people didn't realize, though, was how difficult it truly was for Carewyn -- one of the only people who did was the person who taught it to her, Nymphadora Tonks.

Carewyn and Merula (who'd sort of forced her way into Tonks's lessons for Carewyn) had both attempted the spell and hadn't been able to manage it. Tonks had reassured them that that was typical -- that the spell was hard for anyone to master -- but after the fact, she actually pulled Carewyn aside.

"Carey...can I talk to you?"

"Of course," said Carewyn.

Tonks's mouth twitched as she considered her words carefully.

"I know I said it's normal for people not to get it right away," she said slowly, "but...I feel like your happy memory isn't happy enough."

Carewyn's eyes drifted away. "Because I can't make a corporeal Patronus?"

"No! I mean, yes, but..." Tonks bit her bottom lip. "You can't cast a full-bodied Patronus, and that is normal, but...well, when you're casting the spell, there's...well, there's something weird in your face, when you do it."

Carewyn blinked.

"It's happy," Tonks persisted, "but it's...I don't know how to describe it...sad too? It's not like someone laughing and having a grand old time. It's like someone remembering how delicious ice cream is, on the hottest day of the year. It's...longing, I guess."

Carewyn went very quiet. Her face was stoic, but she was unable to look Tonks in the face. Instead she shifted her gaze skyward.

Tonks watched her friend for a moment, her eyes rippling with concern. Then, thinking quickly, she very abruptly grinned and then changed her hair, nose, and height, growing over Carewyn --

"Cromwell."

Carewyn abruptly stiffened up, startled, to see her Head of House standing over her, looking particularly sour.

...Except her Head of House was still dressed in Tonks's classic yellow jumper, jeans, and black ankle boots.

"Head drifting off toward the atmosphere again, I see," said Tonks in a perfect sardonic imitation of Snape. "At this rate, you'll lose it faster than I lost my sense of humor."

Carewyn brought a hand up to her mouth as she fought to bite back her laughter. The Prefect trying not to laugh egged Tonks on.

"Now where is my hairgel? It was a bottle of extra greasy -- on loan from Mr. Filch -- "

Carewyn giggled behind her hand despite herself. It made Tonks grin from ear to ear as she turned back into herself.

"There you go!" she said brightly. "That's the kind of smile I'm looking for."

She brought an arm around her shorter friend and gave her a squeeze.

"I know you want to stop the Vaults' curses and all, Carey," said Tonks with a broad smile, "but you know, you are allowed to have a bit of fun, while you do that. Even heroes deserve to laugh and smile once in a while."

"I'm not a hero, Tonks," said Carewyn.

"Some in this school would beg to differ."

Carewyn shook her head. "I'm doing all this just as much for myself as anyone. I'm not trying to get attention or praise -- I'm just trying to help the people I care about."

"Sounds pretty heroic to me," laughed Tonks.

She cut Carewyn off before she could argue further.

"Look, Carey...you're talking to someone who trips over her own feet constantly and only just managed to keep her nose from growing weird sizes at random times right before starting school. A lot of things haven't been easy for me -- but hey, why let that drag your mouth down into a frown? And I don't just mean grin and bear it, I mean really smile. There's a lot of fun to be had and a lot of things to laugh at, if you just loosen up."

Carewyn's lip curled up in a dry smile. "Ah, but if I did that, you and Tulip wouldn't be able to complain about how much of a stick-in-the-mud I am."

Tonks grinned. "Maybe -- but maybe we'd acquire a new co-conspirator in pranks, in the process?"

"No way."

Tonks burst out laughing. Carewyn herself was smiling a bit more fully now herself.

As much as she wouldn't say it out loud, Tonks had been right. Her memories hadn't been happy enough...because they had all been of Jacob. The happiest memories of her life...all stained with regret, pain, and longing, now that Jacob was missing.

I'll have to think of something happy without that kind of shadow over it, Carewyn thought to herself, as she and Tonks headed back inside together. Something happy and happy alone...

Friendship Drabble Prompt!

[deifiliaa]

I'm going down a Cho rabbit hole rn!! Do you have any Cho fic recs?? I'd love to read more Cho

hello anon, welcome to the rabbit hole, just wanted to let you know that this is one of those asks i dream about getting because cho chang? oft-overlooked-and-underappreciated-in-fandom cho chang?? why yes i would LOVE to stand on this soapbox and talk endlessly about her and my favorite writings that feature her <3

i get that a lot of the pairings featured in these fics/drabbles are very not mainstream lol but please don’t let that scare you off because honestly?? these are all a mix of fun, brilliant, stunning, transcendent stories and i have spent approximately a million hours thinking about each one of these because the character building and emotional payoff and dimensional portrayal of cho is overwhelmingly just so satisfying. so capable of filling that void canon left. so chef’s kiss.

gonna do my best to pick a line from each fic/drabble that i think does a good job of capturing its ✨ essence ✨ so. here we gooo. (mature/explicit fics noted with an asterisk * ).

record scratch * by @provocative-envy — modern, best man and maid of honor au (cho x marcus flint)

“You and Cho—my best and dearest and most precious friend in the world, Cho—you know each other, don’t you?” Marietta asks, just a bit too sweetly.

There’s a beat of awkward silence, then, and Cho very responsibly avoids the heavy, frantic weight of Marcus’s gaze, which has suddenly—coolly—intently—snapped over to her.

“so it starts at the tail end of the war...” by @provocative-envy — canon divergent au (cho x marcus flint) 

“i don’t want to get away,” she tells him, wincing at the strain on her vocal chords. “this is–this is it, can’t you feel it? this is how it ends.”

good behavior by @provocative-envy — canon divergent, postwar au, also the sequel to the above drabble (cho x marcus flint)

Well, his “muggle integration counselor” needs to be able to find him.

“marcus flint knows a lot about destruction...” by @provocative-envy — high school au (cho x marcus flint)

“I’m bad at math,” he blurts out, jaw working as he folds his arms over his chest. He feels defensive. Frustration prickles a familiar dance across his scalp. “This is, like, my third time taking trig. They always—I get lost when that fucking—when the circle thing with the dotted lines shows up.”

tick tick boom by @provocative-envy — superhero au (cho x marcus flint)

Cho Chang now works for the nonprofit across the street, a legal defense fund for superheroes who aren’t lucky enough to have corporate sponsors or full-fledged PR teams.

Marcus sees her, occasionally.

heads or tails * by @provocative-envy — thief acquaintances au (cho x marcus flint)

“We aren’t jack shit, sweetheart,” she mimics obnoxiously. “Yes, I know.”

His nostrils flare. “What’s the fucking problem, then?”

flying before falling by andtheyfightcrime — canon compliant (cho x cedric diggory)

Cho sniffs, "Maybe we just think there's more to hello than sticking your tongue down someone's throat." Cedric groans at that and says, "You shatter my illusions, Chang. We could have been in Hufflepuff together."

fifty ways by andtheyfightcrime — canon compliant (cho x cedric diggory)

Being in like with Cedric is a lot like being friends with him, only with more private smiles and demure nods.

big head boy by @cocoartistwrites — university au (cho x percy weasley)

She makes him nervous, with her shiny hair and her firm, straight brows and her piercing dark eyes and the haughty way she argues with him, and how she slams everything he says, how she sounds like his sister, Ginny, sometimes, when Ginny hears him talking, how assured she is, how angry, how sometimes she argues with their tutor – their brilliant, famous tutor – once, memorably, calling him an outdated sexist pig and –

“the thing about cho chang...” by @provocative-envy — zombie survival au (cho x cormac mclaggen)

Out of everyone? Back at camp? That he could’ve gotten trapped in a fucking abandoned Bass Pro Shop with? While a horde of fucking razor-talon zombies mashed their rotting gray faces up against the tastefully organized display windows?

Cho Chang would not have been Cormac’s first choice.

the sweet spot by @provocative-envy​ — modern, celebrity au (cho x cormac mclaggen)

His smile is authentic in ways that she doubts he’s aware of, in ways that she doubts he’s even capable of understanding, and it unnerves her a little bit, having all that energy, all that intensity, all that smug, self-fulfilling excitement directed right at her, totally unfiltered.

hiding in plain sight by @mxrcusflint — high school au (cho x cormac mclaggen)

Cormac McLaggen, she thinks, has probably broken more hearts than earned A’s.

descent (or how to stop being a national hero) by watername — canon divergent au (cho x viktor krum if you squint, but also not really)

At the second task, when the competitors dive beneath the lake, he drums his fingers against the railing and wonders what kind of person inspires such loyalty.

when the lights go out by thatdarkhairedgirl — second war resistance au (cho x viktor krum)

He missed her. He’s known her for less than a year and he missed her.

flights of fancy by namelessamelie — canon divergent au (cho x draco malfoy)

“You don’t have to defend him,” he interrupted, cutting her off. “Potter’s not as wonderful as he’d have everyone believe, and you know that better than anyone.” Then, before he’d fully thought it through, he added impulsively, “One hero isn’t a replacement for another.”

caught by blood sugar love — canon divergent, postwar, rebellion au (cho x draco malfoy)

Cho blinks. "I mean... I-I sit, and I think about it. How much you've ruined everything. It's really amazing, when I tally it all up. How much you owe. Especially if your father dies."

the sporting life * by blythely — canon divergent au (cho x pansy parkinson)

Cho wins but it's probably because on the last match point Pansy is looking at Cho rather than at the ball.

seeking * by Gelsey — postwar, ministry au (cho x charlie weasley)

“Fucker,” she said, righting her clothes in quick, economical movements, though her hands were trembling. She tossed her hair.

a moment’s silence (happens grace, happens sweet) by disinclinant — second war order au (cho x charlie weasley)

“I’ve no idea who you are,” Charlie replies, amused and vaguely charmed by this explanation of how she knows him through the process of elimination.

moon walk * by @provocative-envy — modern au (cho x antonin dolohov)

She stares at him for a minute, blatantly astonished and visibly apprehensive, and then she blushes. Hard. Gnaws on her lower lip and sweeps her eyes from his face to his chest and—very, very quickly—even lower.

even the score * by themidnightguardian — olympics au (cho x ginny weasley)

It’s a tepid rivalry at best—something that’s fierce on the field and almost entirely absent off it—and they’ve only spoken a handful of words to each other since their college days, but when it comes to women’s soccer, the Chang-Weasley rivalry is the hot gossip because it’s the only gossip.

Which is why twitter loses its shit when they both make the Olympic team.

that’s what she said by @provocative-envy — hockey au (cho x ginny weasley)

“Hey, why don’t you like me?”

Cho’s face twitches oddly. Defensively. “Why don’t I—excuse me?”

playing favourites by Slumber — postwar, healer au (cho x oliver wood)

The first time Cho catches Oliver Wood wandering St Mungo's ward nowhere near his own, he at least has the grace to look embarrassed.

[dragonrajafanfiction]

Caesar and the MC should be Best Friends - Hear me out

This sounds really strange at first to hear. But the game did a terrible job of summarizing the story and showing the characters. The MC should be Best Friends with Caesar, check out why, below the cut.

Act One: The Premise (The MC will be referred to as Female because my character is female and I’m too lazy)

The MC has been trained to fight and use her abilities since she was a child. She’s been competing against others for the privilege of being the best as well. By the time she’s arrived at Cassell, she’s seen horrors that not even the Cassell Trio can boast of seeing.

Caesar in the meantime is planning his wedding. But Nono is AWOL. He’s getting no feedback from her and it leaves him just shooting in the dark for what ‘sounds cool’ For all of Caesar’s big talk, he realizes that he’s not really reaching Nono’s heart and he’s feeling a bit lost.

In the game: You save Nono in the game. 

Why you would grow closer to Caesar: This is not easily reconcilable with the novel’s opening scenes, so if we stretch and pretend you arrive before Nono goes on her Walkabout, that would make one HECK of an impression on Caesar. He would have seen immediately that you are a step far above Luminous. Being a self-described ‘maniac’ he would not have been shy about approaching you and telling you you’re 10x what Luminous is.

Caesar is mischaracterized in the game to a great extent. While his misogynstic leanings and need to be ‘tHe LeADer’ is played up probably for laughs, he’s not that over the top. Here’s how he’s portrayed in the Novel.

Anjou put the two of them (Caesar and Chu Zihang) together and actually wanted them to sincerely cooperate? The move was similar to keeping lions and tigers in a cage, with Lu Mingfei stuffed between them like an innocent red panda. But Caesar decided to do his best, because this time he is the team leader. The success or failure of the task related to his honor, and for honor, he can bear anything. Along the way, he repeatedly warned himself to be generous, to have a leadership style, to be a corporal... Take Chu Zihang as a corporal to "victory", Caesar's heart is much more comfortable. This time he is immersed in the pink mood of preparing for the wedding, and he is feeling very charitable, even to Chu Zihang this serial killer looks more appealing.

There’s no way Caesar would ignore you as the MC. You would be of utmost interest to him. Far more interesting than Chu Zihang and Luminous. He takes responsibility for you as part of the team, he owes you one for Nono, and wants to see you succeed, probably more than anyone else there.

Act 2: Your arrival in Japan

The game skips the whole opening sequence introducing you to Chisei and Sakura. In the novel, those fancy Kimonos were given to you by Anjou and yes they all come with umbrellas. The whole scene is supposed to be funny. Chisei is mistaken for a tour guide, Lu Mingfei compliments Chisei’s Chinese in his own broken Japanese and fantasizes about cute maid cafes, Chu Zihang freaks Chisei out with his golden eyes by accident. So I imagine the MC stumbling and falling trying to walk in Geta.

But things get serious when the police show up and you realize that you’ve entered the country illegally and are now about to get arrested. The MC might voice that this make sense “Because I don’t have a passport or any identity. There was no way I’d ever get into the country.”

After Chisei loses the police, you’re taken to your rooms to stay for the night.

I wrote a little piece about this ‘here’

Why the MC and Caesar would grow closer: At the end of this scene, Caesar is completely isolated, drinking in his room and texting a silent Nono. This scene would change with you as the MC there. This would turn into an opportunity for you to bond. Perhaps you would notice him texting, talking about his love of Nono. You could touch on your past with him for the first time, or not, depending. He’d probably say something enthusiastically fiery and confidence building. He wants you to trust him and trust in yourself. For all his flaws, Caesar is very LIKEABLE and easy to understand. You don’t get into positions of power like his without some level of Charisma.

Act 3: The Mission Details

In the Game: This whole scene goes missing. 

In the Novel: You take a whirlwind tour of Genji Heavy Industries. It’s an engineering marvel that is practically embedded in the central infrastructure of Tokyo (The building is seriously impossible and amazing but that’s for a nother post.). 

You sit down with Masamune for tea. Immediately, something jumps out at Caesar.

“Are you Japanese?” Caesar gave Masamune Tachibana an examining look..

"I'm only half Japanese and the other half Russian." Tachibana said.

Caesar frowned, which made him think of the soviet icebreaker Lenin involuntarily.

"I've been in Japan for many years, and a lot of people don't see that I'm half Russian, Mr. Gattuso.” Tachibana said, inquiringly.

"Accents, your accents have Slavic characteristics, and you'll distinguish between hard and soft consonants, which are typical Russian pronunciations." Caesar said, "You're not just Of Russian Descent, You've Lived In Russia." 

This is Lu Mingfei and Chu Zihang have no say in the matter since their two mother tongues are Chinese. But Caesar was aware when he heard the first words of Tachibana Masamune. He grew up as a different kind of man who could speak English, French and Spanish fluently in addition to Italian, and he could tell the language characteristics of every language spoken in Europe.

Even the wind demon villain Lang and yuan child in this seat are showing a surprised expression, it is clear that other owners do not know this matter.

Why this would bring you closer to Caesar: Not only would you pick up on the exact same thing, but he would speak with the same Russian accent as the MC. Languages are regional, Russia is a HUGE FREAKING COUNTRY. It would be no mistake that the Russian accent - Tachibana’s Russian accent - would match the MCs regional one.  Depending on how much your MC would have told Caesar, Caesar would have picked up a whole lot. Why you were awakened now, why you were sent on this mission... but that’s not even all!!

Later on, Chisei shows up after Tachibana leaves. He’s given you more information on the Lenin and why its sinking seems suspicious. But then he says this.

"Yes, the Lenin passed through the nameless port of northern Siberia, took a precious dragon embryo, and the port was destroyed in a fire. No one knows where the embryo is going to be shipped, the final destination may be Japan, or it may just pass by, but apparently it failed to reach its destination and the dragon embryo fell into the depths of the trench. Embryos have been hatching slowly over the years, but we haven't been aware of them. ”

Now depending on how much your MC might tell Caesar at this point he may or may not notice more parallels between the story of the Lenin and your story. You’re a hybrid, from Siberia who survived not just a fire but a bombs and getting shot. Heck imagine being the MC listening to this and realizing that this mission is intimately connected with you. In the game this happens way late, but in the novel it’s right at the start!

Why this would bring you closer to Caesar: At this point none of this would have been shared between any of the others. This is something only Caesar and you would know, shared knowlege that would likely mentally bond you two as allies.

The next scene is just more obvious bonding time. They all discuss likes and dislikes, their personal goals, dreams, loves, and ideals. The MC would still have Caesars favor but Caesar would fall more and more for Chisei’s charms. He’s bored and wants to see some ‘real gangster’ stuff. So Chisei obliges and takes Caesar to an operation between two rival gangs fighting over turf. 

This would be the first time you’ve seen Caesar actually get serious for once intimidating some gangsters in a comic store. But after that’s all over, he immediately gets interested in the comics. This is very important to note that Caesar is rarely serious about anything. And if he is it doesn’t last long. He tells a long story about wanting a PS2, staying up all night to play Star Ocean when the housekeeper smashed his console. So he purchased 200 consoles, gave the housekeeper an axe and every time he smashed a console he replaced it immediately and kept playing. Finally, they let him play video games 2hours a day after his riding lessons.

This is important. Caesar is pushy and insistent and confident because he HAS to be to be himself and defy his family.  This is is something even Chu Zihang can respect and he makes up with Caesar after, realizing that Caesar’s way towards him wasn’t personal, good or bad, he’s always acting out towards his family.

With you, Lu Mingfei and Chu Zihang closer than ever, it’s time to actually go on the Mission.  So lets recap: Caesar the Leader has pulled the team together, taken you off on entertainment, on adventures, and now just now, on the way to the mission. cooked for everyone while speedreading the the instruction manual for the Lenin.

Why would this bring the MC closer to Caesar? Uh, maybe because he seems pretty freakin’ competent? Almost effortlessly so? As Chu Zihang so succintly puts it:  “Sometimes I admire Caesar. Whenever and wherever there are goals, he’s rarely afraid and never discouraged. In a group of people he will always be the one who inspires fighting spirit. People can choose how they live, Caesar is the kind of man who asks himself to live like a hero." The MC who has never felt so helpless in her life, could have easily been inspired by Caesar. That maybe she CAN get back to the Lenin, figure out who killed her friends and give him exactly what he deserves.

[wordynerdygurl]

Seven Minutes in Heaven

Author’s Note:  Well hello my friends!  Since hitting 1000 Followers in July (WHAT?!  STILL UNBELIEVABLE!!!) I’ve been working on the requests sent in by my amazing troop of readers!  This is another one of those stories which I’m pleased to share.   As always, help my unending need for validation but re-blogging or liking the story!  Also, you can send asks, make your own request, follow me, or be added to my tag-list! Last, @sammy-jo1977 is my beta... and my ride or die home girl!  Thanks lady! Pairing:  Loki x Female Reader, appearances from most of the Avengers

Summary/ Request:  @queenofmischief asked for a story where “Loki and you guys are friends growing up and you realize you like him and try to hide it but somehow at a party or something or another, maybe Seven Minutes in Heaven is involved, it comes out and really hot smut ensues?”

I used some of the ideas you gave me, dear reader, but made it a little more mature, so I sincerely hope you enjoy!

Warnings:  Lots of 80′s references... music, movies, clothes, etc.  References of smut, heavy petting and kissing

ENJOY!

"But, like, I really don't want to go."  Your cellphone, pinned between your ear and shoulder, pushed your earring into the tender flesh behind your lobe.  It probably didn't help that the jewelry in question was a pair of huge hoops, fluorescent in color and hard plastic.

You heard Wanda sigh, "Yea… I know.  It's just, we all are… and you know it'll be worse if you don't show up."

"I really hate it."  Using a sing-song voice didn't change the feelings behind your words.  Going up to the main floor of The Avengers Tower for a theme party was not a thrilling idea.

"I know you do-", pulling open the door between your room and hers, you palmed your phone, frowning at your friend, "-But you look great!"

"Radical… or wicked… or tubular would be more 80's appropriate."  Still, her compliment made you smile.  It really was a great outfit, totally encapsulating the MTV generation's vibe, complete with hot lime colored leg warmers. 

 Your cropped REO Speedwagon t-shirt was cut off at the neck, dripping low enough to expose one whole shoulder, and a wide stripe of the magenta colored tank top underneath.  Having tucked the camisole into your acid washed denim micro miniskirt, you finished the ensemble with a pair of black pumps, and the obligatory scrunchie of cheap yellow satin.  It pulled your hair into a low, side ponytail.

For makeup you'd painted your eye-shadow on, bright turquoise with pink under your brows.  Lipstick in a shimmery rosy hue brought extra attention to your lips.  And you stored your cell phone, lip gloss and keys in your iridescent fanny pack.

Wanda couldn't help giggling at the sight of you and your collection of clashing colors.  For her look tonight she'd dawned a pair of skin tight leggings, an over-sized button down shirt with a stretchy black belt that was about four inches wide.  Ballet flats, teased out hair and stark makeup had Wanda looking like a video vixen.  It was impressive.

"See, you went sexy… and I went silly."  Pouting now, you flopped onto your bed, "Can I just not?"

Sitting down next to you, patting your knee, "You don’t look silly, but you do look like you could be a hair band groupie!  That’s sexy!” Shrugging your shoulders, unconvinced, Wanda added, “Besides, tonight… It may be fun.  And, worse case?  You get blitzed like a teenager on prom night."

"No… that's not the worst case.  Worst case?  He's there."

Sighing, Wanda shook her head, "He does still rub you the wrong way, huh?  And, yes, he may be there… but-" standing, taking you with her, "-it would be a shame to waste all your wicked cool work!"

Hearing her use the dated vernacular made you grin.  She was right.  Tonight could be a blast, if you were able to get out of your head.  Jumping off the bed, unsettling one of those fashionable leg warmers, you hugged your friend tightly.  You could do this.  You wouldn't be alone.  And if Loki was there, he'd just have to get over it.  You weren't going to pay him any attention.

---

"Mr. Loki… can we please go?  We're already stupid late."  

Bending to straighten his red suspenders, Loki smirked at himself, "Greed is good."

Sighing, exasperated and edging into anger, Peter pulled open the front door, "I don't know what that means, but you look… greasy."

"Like I could steal your company in a corporate take over?  Maybe steal your woman too", Loki questioned, excited at the idea.

Crossing his arms over the red puffy vest he had bought specifically for tonight, Peter grunted, "Uh… I… I guess.  I meant more like one of the assholes in Wolf of Wall Street."

God, you had better be there tonight.  Loki was putting a lot of hope on Stark’s little shindig and he wanted to make sure that all of the little details were absolutely perfect, giving him every advantage.  Standing now, slicking back his long dark hair, "That, my young spider friend, is exactly what I am going for… Evil 80′s CEO."

"Great."

Loki heard the frustration in the young man’s voice.  Someday he would understand, Loki thought, turning to the youthful Avenger beside him, "You certainly make a dashing Marty McFly, Peter.  Truly."

"Aw!  Really, Mr. Loki?  Ya mean it?"  That made the Spider Boy preen, popping his collar, and standing a little straighter.

"I do!  Now-" flashing a rakish smile to his reflection as he passed, "-let's get upstairs and see how everyone else is doing!"

---

Everyone else was ready to party.  The last mission, a particularly difficult one, involved Hydra agents banging it out against our heroes along the rough terrain of the polar ice cap.  Draining the physical and emotional resources of everyone, including you and Loki, Tony had planned a little party to kick off a period of rest and relaxation.

As soon as the elevator opened you knew it was going to be an insane night.  Everything was brightly lit.  Paper streamers were strung up haphazardly along the walls and ceiling.  Big plastic buckets of chips and cheese curls were put out on the counter along with a huge punch bowl that reeked of rum and sugary fruit juice.  On the floor in the kitchenette was a garbage can, freezing, full of ice, only the keg tap visible.  A stack of red plastic cups was at the ready.

Someone had ordered pizza.  Well, dozens of pizzas.  The boxes were piled along the table already crammed with pretzel bags and Doritos.  

Steve was being instructed on the basics of Beer Pong and, you decided, definitely being hustled by Sam.  Bucky looked on with curiosity, quietly sneaking closer to the chips and dip, hoping no one would notice.  Rhodey was watching them both through the reflective lenses of his aviator shades, doing a great job of looking like a Top Gun cadet, including the tight jeans and broken-in bomber jacket.  Grinning as he drank down a bottle of beer, Rhodes shouted, "Hey Stank!  Is all of this really necessary?"

"Don't come for me Rhodey!"  Wearing a pair of neon leopard spotted knit pants, a green polo shirt and white sneakers, Tony was clutching a glass bowl filled with little slips of paper to his chest.  No one had managed to figure out what they were or why he held them.  Drinking two beers from his plastic, can holding helmet, Tony would answer only with a slightly slurred, "It's my trashy 80′s party and I do what I want!"

And Tony had thought of everything.  Sounding like a mixed tape pulled from the radio, the tunes didn't let up!  Ratt, Foreigner, Cindi Lauper, Madonna and Tom Petty all took turns blasting through the room.  So many hits from the past pumped through the sound system, getting people on their feet and keeping them there.  You were swinging and swaying along, having a blast, but when Bon Jovi hit the group of Intergalactic Warriors went wild.

Clint, rocking a mullet wig and a vest with no shirt, jumped onto a table making the motions of an air guitar champion.  Singing into a beer bottle like it was his microphone, "Whoooooaaaa we're halfway there…"

Guffawing, you hid behind your Bud Light filled cup, already red cheeked from the non-stop laughing and alcohol in your system.  At some point you had given up Wanda to Vision in a varsity jacket, doing his best jerk-off jock impression, and not quite pulling it off.  It wasn't his fault that he was too polite to put people down in the way of Eighties movie bad guys. Alone, feeling flushed, but happy, you needed a break and some quiet.  Flinging yourself onto the soft sofa, watching the frat house style antics unfold all around, you couldn’t help laughing.  Tony always found a way to knock the group out of their post mission funk.  Sometimes that meant week long Caribbean vacations and sometimes that meant dressing up in retro attire and scream singing with a cold beer in your hands.  Either way, it seemed to bring everyone closer together, and the pictures were certainly worth framing. The couch dipped as someone joined you.  Swiveling, not quite drunk but not quite sober, you couldn’t help the groan that left you.  “Oh.  It’s you.”

Not exactly the response Loki wanted, he was just grateful that you spoke to him at all.  Lately you seemed to flee any room he entered, a hurt and heavy sigh escaping you before you'd make your exit, never looking back.  Loki couldn't understand why.

After all, it had been two months since that night.  The one where he'd stumbled on you, glowing blue in the light of the television set, alone and in the darkness.  You asked him to join you, he had accepted.

The movie was called "Say Anything" and Loki had to admit, as far as romance on film went, this story was very moving.  But that was an unexpected bonus to being so near to you.  Before the credits rolled, you had burrowed against him, snuggled under his arm with your head on his chest.  

Stroking your hair, Loki pressed a kiss to your forehead, thoughtlessly, naturally.  Pushing away, looking up at him through hooded lashes, "You… you kissed me?"

Words failed the silver tongued devil, something he still pondered all these weeks later, so a nod was all you got for a response.  Kneeling, your sleep shirt riding over your thighs, Loki watched your small hand rising to cup his cheek.  Feeling your lips against his own was the beginning of the best night of his life.

And then, nothing.  It was like a switch had been thrown and no matter how many ways he tried to reach out for you, Loki wasn't able to connect.  Not like that night.

So, he was going against his nature tonight.  Joining the group, drinking a bit of his brother's mead, wearing a dated but pristine business suit.  All done in the vain hope that something would shift in his favor.

He had already lost too many nights to memories of you.  Soft, full skin under his broad palms.  The tiny moan you exhaled when Loki’s tongue met your own.  How your wet, willing body accepted him, without question or stipulation.  And in the afterglow, when your head rested in the crook of his neck and your cherry cola scented breath circled him, you let Loki hold you close.

But he buried it all.  Tonight he was the embodiment of all things slick.  Nothing could stick to him; not when he had a goal in mind and this much gel in his hair.  Loki Odinson would be taking you home tonight, come hell or high water. Wolfish, Loki’s grin was wicked, “Yes.  Your dream has come true.”  Sitting back, he crossed his designer suit covered knee at the ankle, exposing socks with little golfers on them.  He let his right arm rest along the back of the sofa, not around you… not yet, but inching closer. “What is that cologne you’re wearing?” “Don’t you like it?  I’m told Drakkar Noir was quite the scent of the 80′s.  I did my research.” Twisting, you looked him over, impressed despite yourself.  The suit was totally of its time.  Black, pinstriped and you were sure the jacket that came with it was draped somewhere safe.  His shirt was shiny but soft and bright, blinding white.  Suspenders of red matched the tie that draped down the center of his chest. With his hair combed straight back and held in place with some kind of product, Loki looked like he was capable of eating a six course lunch at Sardi’s, complete with dirty martinis, then jetting back to the office in time to defraud a corporate spending account.  The kind of executive that blackmails a co-worker with pictures of a mistress.  The kind of douche bag that tries to take over a rec center to build a mall.  In short, an avarice little asshole.  So, why was it so hot? “It’s… overpowering.”, boy, was that an understatement.  Loki’s whole aesthetic was overpowering right now.  And, was he moving closer? His bent knee brushed against your own as he leaned near enough to be heard at a whisper, “You look adorable, you know that?” Scrunching into the corner of the couch, eyeing him suspiciously, “Oh?  Really?” “Really.”, his hand brushed over your exposed shoulder, making you jump at his touch.

Uh uh.  No way.  You would not be so easy to seduce this time around.  Even if those wide hands sent goosebumps growing all over your body, Loki would not charm his way into your panties again.  Not like last time.

It had been spontaneous.  Genuine, at least for you.  And in the moment, it felt like Loki had given you a little piece of himself, a tenderness that no one else ever saw in the far flung Frost Giant.  

Maybe that's why Clint's words hurt so much.  He had told you so casually, holding up a spoonful of Cheerios, "Loki said his last girl was a drag.  Basic bitch?  Is that what the kids say?"

Thinking about it now made your heart hurt.  You had given yourself to someone who thought you were beneath him.  Loki couldn't want you.  You would never be good enough.

But that night haunted you.  His soulful kisses that stole your breath.  The drag of Loki’s hands over the swell of your bottom as you straddled his hips.  His solid chest under your own hands, dark head curved against the couch cushion, but those burning eyes never leaving your face.  “I thought you said I was plain.  Simple.  Boring.”  

Leveling his own words back at him made Loki straighten in his seat.  How could you think that?  Unbalanced, stammering, “Uh… I… I’d never…” “Never expected me to find out?  I believe that.  And, let me tell you this-”  Pushing yourself up with the help of the couch’s arm, you rose on unsteady legs, “-I’m not nearly drunk enough to fall into your arms again.”  Spinning away, you made a dash towards the people in the kitchen, without looking back. Watching you go, Loki could do nothing but stare after your retreating form, flummoxed.

“That was… painful.”

He knew that voice well enough, frustrated, confused and unfit for company, “Go away, Tony.”

“I don’t think I will.  In fact-” sitting down in your empty spot, patting Loki’s knee, “-I’m going to make myself comfortable.  Now, tell Uncle Tony all about it.”

Rolling his eyes, unable to find you in the crowd, Loki risked a sideways glance at his replacement companion.  Was he really going to indulge in this?  Tell his almost friend about you… about your one night together?  Loki raked his hands through the pomade in his hair, growling low, “If you breathe a word of it Tony, I’ll-” Lowering his wrap around sunglasses, peering at Loki, Tony smiled, “Your secret is safe with me.” ---

Thinking less and less about Loki as the night went on should have been a relief but it seemed like the scent of him followed you everywhere.  Unable to get free of him, you busied yourself with drinks, dancing, and munching like you were a kid again.  Anything to keep your mind from wandering.

It's not like the party was boring.  Not at all!  There was plenty to distract you and you let it.  Natasha made you her partner for beer pong and somehow you successfully won against Rhodey and Sam.  

Next, Wanda needed you, which is how you wound up sitting on the bathroom sink listening to her go on about Vision in that wistful, loving way that made your own heart ache.  Being a little drunk, you had to fight the urge to cry because you were lonely and hurting. “I saw you talking to Loki… what was that about?”  She was reapplying ruby red lipstick, studying herself in the mirror, not looking directly at you.  

Wanda's voice cut through your self doubt spiral though, something you were thankful for, and with a casual tone you countered, “He was trying to get something started, I think.” Eyebrows lifting, Wanda’s interested piqued,  “Really?  Loki was hitting on you?” “Yea… I mean, I think so.  Was coming on awfully strong too.  But… he’s been a jerk, right?”  

Wanda cleaned up her eye make-up taking a minute, after washing her hands she looked at you, “I mean, he is here.” “So?” “So, you know he’s not really a joiner.  More of a lone wolf.  In fact, I think this may be the first of these little parties he’s come to.  Maybe he’s changed… grown a bit?  And, honestly, you never asked him about-”

Hopping off the counter, cutting her off, more than a little huffy at her good sense, “No, I didn’t and I don’t plan to.  Loki thinks I’m a bore?  Too basic for him?  Fine.  I have better things to do with my time.” Laying her hand on your shoulder, Wanda stopped you, eyeing you in the mirror once more, “I know his words hurt… but you’re going to have to clear the air eventually.  Especially if we’re all going to work together.”

Shrugging, you offered your friend a small smile.  There was truth in her sentiment, even if your slightly drunken brain rebelled against hearing it, “Yea, you're right… plus-” looking around the small washroom, just to make sure no one could hear the pair of you, “- he looks really hot tonight!”

Giggling, Wanda hugged you close, “I didn’t want to say anything, but… yea he does!” The pair of you were still laughing together, standing at the back of the crowd as Tony turned down the music, announcing, “Gather round children, Uncle Tony needs your attention!”  There were a few groans, mostly from the beer pong table, as apparently Bucky was unhappy about forfeiting his winning match.  Everyone else, in all their high haired glory, were congregating near their host, curious and more than a little drunk.

“Tony, what the hell, man?  You killed the tunes!”, Clint shouted, spilling Bud Light foam as he joined the tightening circle. “Patience, my drunk friend.  You all remember this?”  From the table nearby, Tony picked up his glass bowl, triumphant, “Our Destiny!”

Pepper, sighing with a smile, “So dramatic!” Shaking the bowl in her direction Tony smirked, “Ok smarty, then you pick first.  Go on… Pick!” There were oohs and ahhs from the assembled Avengers.  Rolling her eyes, Pepper reached in, grabbing the first slip her fingers found.  Pulling it free, she grinned, eyeing Tony, “It says ‘Loki’...” Hearing his name, Loki snapped his head up, surprise registering on his face, “Excuse me?” Holding it up for his examination, Pepper waved the slip under the regal nose of the junior Odinson, “See… your name.” “Yes, but why?”

Butting in, Tony snatched the scrap from the hand of his lovely fiance, practically dancing with glee.  Turning to Loki, “Now you, Gordon Gecko, pull a slip.” Aware of all eyes locked on him, Loki reached into the jar, digging around a little more than necessary.  Finally satisfied, the thin paper pinched between his fingers, Loki opened the folded note.  When his fierce gaze met yours, you knew without a doubt.  It was your name he had grabbed. Throwing a thick arm across Loki’s broad shoulders, Tony hugged him close, “Well?  What’s it say?” It all made sense in that moment.  The tacky costumes, flat beer and endless music.  A drunken moment of clarity had descended.  Tony, waving his arms, eating up the crowd’s reactions, heads turning to gauge your response.  Swallowing hard, your hearing failing you, you just faked a smile. You and Loki were going into the closet for Seven Minutes in Heaven. Only there was no way you were going to do that.  Not after what he’d said.  Not after your one night together, right?  But you felt a gentle hand pushing your forward, into the center of your circle of friends and for some reason, your feet followed.  

Refusing didn't enter your mind.  With everyone ogling you and Loki, making a scene would only cause more speculation, something you weren't keen to do.  Instead, you stepped next to Tony, outwardly eager to play along.  

You just shouldn't have dared to look at your proposed make out partner.  Laser focused, Loki’s lusty look hadn’t wavered.  No, the light in those thundering blue eyes was carnal, darker than you had ever seen, matching your own.  Against your better judgement, you wanted Loki, too.

Whatever Tony was saying was a blur, merely sounds, because you were utterly stunned by the nearness of Loki.  The roaring laughs of the rest of the group were drowned out by your pounding heart.  A door opened to a dim room, the pantry maybe?  You didn’t know and in that moment you didn’t really care. 

With a small smile, Loki ducked into the cupboard, lacing his fingers with yours, offering a bit of his strength.  Dragging you inside, your body pinned between a shelf of snacks and the hard body of your frenemy, a whimper of want passed your lips.  Loki still smelled so good and now he was so close.  “Have fun you two!”, Tony’s words were accompanied by the door shutting you and Loki inside, in the dark.  Surrounded by silence, Loki’s sharp pants were the only sound louder than your racing pulse, which was saying something. Afraid to move, afraid of spooking you, Loki struggled to search your stare in the low light.  He had already experienced your angry dismissal of his attention tonight.  It wasn't something he wanted to relive, not when you were so close with sweet and speedy breath, your chest brushing against his own at each exhale.

Lifting a hand, grazing over your uncovered shoulder, Loki's touch was electric.  You moved towards it, towards him, needing more of his energy.  Craving it.

Bold in the dark, you grabbed at Loki’s suspenders, tugging him closer.  Rising on your toes, covering some of the distance between your mouth and his, you pressed a hot kiss to those soft, pink lips.  Under your fluttering fingers Loki shivered, "Darling-"

"Shut up.  I… I don't care."

"But I never…"

"I told you.  I don't care.  Now kiss me like you mean it, because we only have about six more minutes!"

Not needing any more encouragement, Loki found the flare of your hips in the shadows, molding your curves to the rigid planes of his body.  Desperate, needy, you felt his tongue move against your own.  Want, plain and simple, led your own fingers to the collar of Loki’s starched shirt and the tangle of his raven hair. Fisting it, tugging against those luscious locks, you couldn’t seem to get close enough to the tall God sharing your cupboard.  Whining, his name on your lips, you drew Loki tight enough that the press of your breasts was edging towards pain.  Demanding, true to your word, with every pass of Loki’s magical mouth over your own the last few weeks were forgotten. Hungry for more, Loki roughly squeezed the flesh of your ass, grinding you against his wool blend covered crotch.  Stuttering, his arousal was so stiff, for a minute Loki worried about making a mess.  But that feeling was replaced with unbridled ecstasy when your lips found the tender skin below his ear.  

A nip, enough to make Loki hiss, was soon soothed by your sucking on the same spot.  Resting your butt on the nearest shelf, you didn’t have to stand on tip-toe to reach the soft, sweet sections of Loki where you longed to lavish attention.  He took advantage of your new position by sliding a free hand along the swell of your separated thighs.  “I just need to feel you, dove.  I need to know that you want me as much as I want you.”  It was a husky whisper, directly into your ear, and it sent an arc of icy fire to your core.  When his long fingers skimmed over the silky slick of your panties you moaned in unison, bucking into Loki’s touch, lost in the moment. Stepping between your legs, Loki took one of your hands into each of his own, pinning you wide open against the boxes of cereal and granola bars that lined the pantry walls.  Devouring you slowly, Loki kissed along the column of muscles at your throat, across the exposed line of your clavicle.  You could do little more than take his delicious torment as more and more of your sweat dappled skin was serviced by his silver tongue. “Yes… Loki…”, tumbling out of you, just like the night when you first came together, you crooned his name in delight.  Breathless, boneless and broken with need. CLICK!  The sound made you both freeze.  Snapping swiftly, Loki’s head swung towards the door where the bright light and noisy crowd of the party was intruding into your private pantry. “WHOA, WHOA, WHOA!  What do we have here?”  Swinging into the tight space, Tony’s shrewd look took in the scene in seconds, “What were you two doing in here?  It was a very quiet seven minutes!” Straightening to standing, Loki stood, blocking you from sight as you readjusted your clothes.  Smoothing down his tangled strands, sarcasm dripping, “Talking.  Very quietly.”  When he was sure you were decent, Loki offered you his hand, and blinking you stepped back into the wild and raucous party still in full swing.  Tony, flashing a knowing grin your way, nodded, “I hope you didn’t smush the chips!  We still need those!” Giggling, you locked onto Loki’s arm, letting him lead you towards the keg and away from the shouted questions of your friends.  You knew there was no mystery about what happened in those seven minutes.  Hair mused, makeup smudged, lips swollen and shirts twisted, the pair of you were walking neon signs for getting to third base.

Silently Loki poured you a beer, taking a small glass of Asgardian mead for himself, before raising his glass your way.  Returning his gesture, you downed the frothy ale fast, feeling a little parched after your spit swapping time in the hall closet.  Boring into you, his eyes followed each of your movements, searching for a sign of your feelings. Dropping your empty cup on the counter, you turned and jumped onto the marble ledge, feet dangling.  “Loki?” Placing his own glass down gently, Loki took his position between your bent knees, looking down at your darling face, “Yes?” “Did you say those things?  That I was… boring?  Basic?” Shaking his dark waves no, Loki bit into his bottom lip, “Never.  What I said was, my last girl, ages ago, was those things… but my new lady-” tracing along your jaw, tipping your chin his way, “-she is everything I could ever want.”

“Am I… am I your new lady, then?” With a fierce flicker of fire in his eyes, Loki nodded yes this time, “Absolutely.” Leaning into him, arms around his neck, you tugged him down to meet your waiting lips.  “Good.  Good to know.  Because I think I’m going to watch a movie tonight.” “Really?  I recall really enjoying the last one.” “Hmm… me too.”  Sliding off the counter, ducking under Loki’s long arms, you turned back to face him, “My room… say, an hour?”

Snapping his suspenders, smirking, “I’ll be there.”  Watching you skip away made Loki’s pulse pound in anticipation.  Pouring himself another glass of clear liquor, he chuckled, amazed at the change seven minutes had created.  

“You’re welcome.” “Ah!  Yes, many thanks Tony.”  

Leaning against the counter, Tony knocked into Loki’s shoulder, “You’re cute together, Rock of Ages, but don’t make me regret helping you tonight!  Treat her right.”

“Of course.  I... truly, thank you.”, sincerity seeped from Loki at the favor from Tony. “No worries!  No worries!”  Waving away any additional gratitude, Tony looked over the group of half cocked, and totally cocked heroes before him, “Of course the real bitch was getting Pepper to pull your name from the bowl…”

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