#and if i. were more divisive or whatever. i wouldn't be turning my back on God. but i would be going against so many people i know

[moonmoonthecrabking]

"i love lgbtq people, i just don't support them" yet the fruit of what you call love is death.

[hoodielord]

Green eyes in the fear fog.

For half a second, Steph thought today would be a decent day. But no, not in Gotham.

Steph's current events professor, who was also the head of student affairs, had offered extra credit to help give college tours. Look, she had to take the extra credit she had to, even if it meant that she had to be a tour guide. It wasn't hard, just annoying.

The group was small, only five people, but two of them stuck out. A brother and sister. The brother was the definition of adoption bait blue eyes, black hair, vigilante tendencies withholding. The sister was at least as tall as Jason. She had orange hair just like Babs, you'd think they were related.

Anyways, Steph's new mission was to make sure the kid and Dick never met. The kid would not stop making puns. Some of them earned him a laugh but some earned him a smack from his sister.

"Aw, come on, Jazz, it was funny."

"You can do better." she shrugged.

" Sounds like a challenge." A wicked smirk appeared on his face.

" Danny, please don't."

"Challenge accepted."

Yep, I'm definitely keeping him away from Dick.

But something was off about them other than looking at the crime capital's university. They could probably be metahumans. Their eyes seemed to slightly glow blue. They carried themselves as they had already expected danger. I mean, it pays to be prepared, especially in Gotham, but they aren't from here.

If the siblings weren't already on a list B has they should be now. Jazz had been almost ecstatic when we were moving through the psychology department. Danny was practically bouncing off the walls when it was time to go through the engineering and physics departments. Definitely should keep an eye on them.

It was reaching the end of the tour in the cafeteria. Another weird thing about the siblings was their reaction to food. They seemed to have this sort of optimistic curiosity like they were happy to have food to eat, but at the same time, they were poking to make sure it wouldn't attack or something.

Talking with the siblings was interesting too. Danny was buzzing about the engineering department. He went into a great rant about a project that Wayne Enterprises was working on in the aerospace engineering division. Maybe she should keep him away from Tim, too.

The conversation died quickly when a shriek rang out from down the hall. Steph turned quickly to see green fear toxin fill the cafeteria. Swarms of people ran for the exits knocking each over. She quickly dug through her bag and pulled out her gas masks, one for her and her backup.

"Jazz? Jazz, where did you go?" Danny called. They must have gotten separated.

Damn, she needed another one for the siblings. She shoved her spare into Danny's hands.

" Put the mask on and head for the exit."

"But I need to find Jazz."

"I'll find her. Put the mask on and go." Steph yelled as she went further into the fog. Quickly, she sent an alert to Oracle. Signal is on patrol right now, but more bats might show up.

It was dense she could barely see in front of her. There was some noise up ahead. Someone was screaming. The yelling grew louder as she rounded the corner.

"Stop! Get away!"

It was Jazz. She was practically growling. Her fist slammed into the concrete wall, leaving a deep impact. She was clearly affected by the Fear gas. A meta affected with fear gas, not good.

"Stop! Don't hurt him. He's not a monster! He's my little brother!" Jazz had gone from fury to sadness as she practically begged for her hallucination to stop haunting her.

If it wasn’t the meta thing it was whatever she was hallucinating that caught Steph’s attention. Definitely on B's list now.

"Isn't it interesting what fear does to the mind?"

Steph saw Scarecrow emerge from the fog.

"I saw you in the psychology department. Your eyes lit up like a fire. But now they are clouded with fear."

A chill went up Steph's spine. She quickly checked her mask for leaks but didn't have any. Turning her attention back to Jazz and Scarecrow, she saw something. Green eyes shifted inside the fog. They looked like a predator hunting its prey. For a second, they look like Jason's.

From behind Scarecrow, the eyes stopped, and a figure emerged. A baseball bat slammed into Scarecrow's face, knocking him to the floor. The figure came into full view now. It was Danny his eyes were glowing green.

He knelt down to Scarecrow.

"You really don't have any brains. Do you Scarecrow? If you did, you wouldn't have hurt my sister." His voice was downright, frigid.

He turned and rushed over to Jazz who was still trying to convince her hallucinations to stop.

"Jazz, it's okay. Come on, I'm fine. It's okay." His voice was soft and gentle as he helped her up. Jazz mumbled a little as she stumbled down the hall.

Steph quickly caught up to the siblings slinging Jazz's arm over her shoulder.

"Sorry, I couldn't help earlier," Steph spoke quietly.

"It's fine. Not everybody can be a hero."

Steph wanted to laugh at the irony of that statement, but she just nodded.

"Sorry about the tour too."

"It wasn't all bad."

" Oh, the rouge attack and poisoning wasn’t bad?" Steph asked sarcastically.

" Our hometown is haunted and our community college is funded by my godfather. And he is a rich fruit loop.”

‘Ghosts?’

“You know Gotham University is funded by Wayne Enterprises right?”

“Annoying crazy fruit loop or weird himbo? Hmmm. Yeah, I’m going to have to go with the himbo on this one.”

Steph laughed at that one. Bruce is going to want to hear about this but she’ll keep him away from these siblings for a little while.

[justwinginglife]

may I request hoshina x reader where the reader is jealous because hoshina is not paying attention to her but more on okonogi:›

i just discovered your account and it's already my favorite

Omg I'm so honored to be your favorite, thanks so much! That makes me so happy, you have no idea. I will keep posting more!

You thought you had an understanding with the Vice Captain of the Third Division. You didn't have an official label for whatever this thing was between the two of you, but there was something, right? The chemistry between the two of you was undeniable, or at least that's what you thought.

You start to rethink every interaction you have ever had with Hoshina when you see him smiling and laughing and hanging on every word Okonogi is saying.

You grit your teeth as you watch.

Yesterday, he was just joking crassly about how good your ass looked in your combat suit and you'd retorted that it would look even better bent over for him, causing him to shut up as the blood rushed to his face and probably somewhere else too.

It was these kind of comments that you'd say to each other in passing that made you feel like there had to be some sort of connection. Or was it just shameless flirting that meant nothing??

You thought about the day before yesterday, when you'd gone out with Hoshina because your ex was harassing you and Hoshina felt the need to buy you a drink. Was that just him being a supportive teammate?

And then there was the time you injured your leg so he carried you all the way back to transport from the center of the battlefield in the middle of a fight, slicing down a safe path for the two of you. Was that just him being a good Vice Captain??

Goddamnit. He was making it really hard to distinguish what was platonic and what wasn't. Where was the line? Did the two of you have any lines? Any boundaries? You'd always felt the two of you were closer than anyone else and there was no uncharted territory for the two of you to cross into. But this, this was definitely new.

This feeling like you were losing him right before your eyes. Like maybe "crush" wasn't a strong enough word anymore for what you felt for him. You watch him run a hand through his hair as he smiles at her and you think "like" isn't even a strong enough word for the ache in your heart. You refuse to acknowledge what you might be feeling as whatever the two of you have might be finished before it's even started.

Your stomach turns at the thought.

You should be the one by his side.

You're not someone who begs, you're not someone who pleads, your ego wouldn't let you, but for a moment you feel like getting on your knees and telling him to look at you, to pick you, to choose you. Not her. Not anyone else.

You don't want to be another teammate, you don't want to be a casual fling, you want to be engraved into his skin, his lips, his heart. You want to be his air, you want to be his light, you just want to be his. You want him to want you. To need you. To desire you. To... love you.

You bite your lip. Fuck. You love him.

As this realization hits you, you can't stand there and watch anymore. You march over to him, yank on his arm, and -to both his and Okonogi's surprise- you drag him away with you until you're in a different room, just the two of you.

"What just happened?" He asks you, still stunned.

"You're looking at another woman and it's not me." You say simply, though you feel embarrassed at how juvenile and immature that sounds.

He laughs. "Jealous, love?"

He's just messing with you but you're more serious than you've ever been in your entire life. "I am, in fact."

He hears the tone in your voice and swallows as he realizes the two of you are finally about to have it out. "And... why is that?" He asks slowly, eager to hear your answer.

"Because I want you. And I feel like you want me too. Or am I wrong?"

He gulps. "I... uh..."

"Tell me. When you flirt with me am I just another woman? When you hold me, let me cry to you, let me lean on your shoulder, am I just a friend? When you give me advice, train with me in private, are you just my Vice Captain?"

His eyes lock onto yours. "No." He says firmly.

He takes a step towards you, though it looks like it takes some effort. "I... I do want you." The words come out softer than he'd wanted, he'd meant to declare them not mumble them.

"I want you." He says again, this time his voice doesn't waver, it doesn't falter.

Your heart is doing jump ropes in your chest.

"So do something about it then."

In an instant, he's closed the distance between the two of you, his lips a searing hot sensation against yours. He drinks you in like you're fresh water in a desert. You feel his desire, his passion, his love as he continues pressing up against you. He backs you into a wall and keeps kissing you hungrily, but it's not a lustful kiss, it's a desperate kiss like he needs to show you just how much of an effect you have on his soul.

"Be mine." He whispers against your ear, kissing it softly.

He doesn't have to ask. You're already his.

[c0ffee-stain]

Whispers

Five Hargreeves x f!reader

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Death wish

"You both look good," The Handler observed. "all things considered."

"It's good to see you again." My stomach churned at his response.

The woman smiled, tilting her head up slightly as if reminiscing an old memory. "Feels like we met just yesterday. Of course you were both a little bit older then." A hostile smile began to stretch across her face. "Congratulations on the age regression. Very clever." Her eyes then averted to mine. "Threw us all of the scent."

Five used whatever strength he could summon not to scoff right then and there. "Ah well, I wish I could take credit. I just miscalculated the time dilation projections and..." His lips pressed into a tight lipped smile. "Well, you know. Here we are."

I shot a glare towards the boy. The more he spoke, the more he seemed to implicate his actions with mine.

Her crimson lips twitched upwards. "Yes," She spoke. "Here you both are."

"But you do realise your efforts are futile. So why don't you tell me what you really want."

What I was promised--

"I want you to put a stop to it." Five replied.

"You realise what you're asking for is next to impossible, even for me. What's meant to be is meant to be. That's our raison d'etre, our purpose."

Five reached into his holster and pointed a gun towards The Handler, standing comfortably with a hand in his pocket. "Yeah?" He hummed, his tense shoulders contrasting the carefree tone he boasted as if he were in control. "Well how about survival as a raison?"

"I'll just be replaced," The Handler shrugged. "I'm but a... small cog in a machine." She was clearly unimpressed that even Five had settled with the naïve conclusion that all his problems would be eradicated with her demise. A thought many before him had proceeded with in the past. A thought that I had attempted to act on too many times to count, only to be slapped back into reality and be forced to come to terms with the harsh truth.

I was lucky to have The Handler. Luckier than most who were slaving away back in the confines of the Commission with the false promise of escape.

The woman began approaching Five in measured steps, facing the barrel of the gun shamelessly. "This fantasy you've been nurturing about summoning up your family and kidnaping y/n to stop the apocalypse," She paused as Five gradually began to retract the gun, his fist trembling in anger and teeth dug deep into his tongue. "is just that. A fantasy."

She then turned to face me. "And I'm more than positive that you're tired of being held hostage by someone you despise." As Five began to open his mouth to respond, The Handler smoothly proceeded, "You're one of my most valuable assets- maybe even my most- so I'm willing to turn a blind eye and..." She paused, her blue eyes glinting in familiarity. "cut a deal with you."

"No--"

"Yes." I firmly stated, glaring at the boy beside me. "I would be more than happy to."

"What do you think you're doing--"

I snapped my neck towards him and scowled. "What I should've done from the beginning."

"Don't think we're leaving you out, Fivey. We want to offer you a new position back at the Commission." She lifted her hand towards him as if in surrender. "In management."

This caught my attention immediately, my lips parting slightly as I caught myself from protesting to her decisions.

Five sputtered in response, almost not finding his words. "Sorry," He scoffed. "what's that now?"

"Come back to work for us again. You know it's where you belong." The Handler was closer to Five now, his gun faltering ever so slightly.

"Well it didn't work out too well the last time."

"But you wouldn't be in the correctional division any longer. I'm talking about... the home office." She spoke. "You'd have the best health and pension, and an end to this ceaseless travel."

The platinum haired woman chuckled before any of us could object. "You're a distinguished professional in," She paused, dramatically inhaling a deep breath as her eyes roamed Five's figure. "school boy shorts. We have the technology to reverse the process for the both of you."

The boys shoulders slumped slightly, showcasing his eventual defeat to the Handlers flattering promises and honeyed words. Both which he knew would eventual morph into sweet nothings to trap him into her tapestry of lies. Each web sewn delicately with a careful equivocation to back up every false pretence ever spewed from those red stained lips.

"I mean, you can't be happy like this." She proceeded, her polished manicured hand clasping over the gun, gently pushing it down.

"I'm not looking for happy." He rasped.

The Handler left a trail of feather light touches along Five's cheek, her fingers just brushing his skin, as she said, "We're all looking for happy. We can make that happen."

"We can make you... yourself again."

He sighed, his eyes averting from place to place abruptly. "And what about my family?" Five countered.

"What about them?"

"I want them to survive."

I rolled my eyes, grumbling a curse in annoyance at how thick Five's skull presented itself to be time and time again. And it seemed the same thought was running through the Handlers mind as she glared blankly at the boy before looking away with a sigh, her gaze landing on the statue-like bodies of Luther, Diego and Klaus.

She puckered her lips. "All of them?"

"Yes," His eyes narrowed. "All of them."

The woman flexed her hands and reached for her sunglasses, placing them back on top of the bridge of her nose in a swift movement.

"I'll see what I can do."

There was no way in hell Five would fall for something like this so easily. The boy would be the next person after me to have witnessed the brutalness and severity of what the actions of the Commissions Handler can lead to. Especially if ones future relies soley on a deal based on a 'maybe'- an uncertainty.

She raised a hand, her lips turning into a smile.

“So, do we have a deal?”

The question lingered in the air for longer than it should have, the weight of each of the Handlers words staining the tense atmosphere like venom does to its prey.

Any wrong word or movement could result in two of, or all of us dead. And I was more than ready to make the former come true if necessary.

Five looked down to her hand, to her eyes, then twisted his neck to meet mine with brows furrowed from the constant weight of suspicion burdening him and his every thought.

"One thing." He turned away and took long strides towards Hazel and Cha Cha, placing his gun back into the holster attached to his hip, and reached down, de-assembling one of the duo's pistols and flinging it away. Hastily, he made his way back and reached towards the bullet hanging mid air aimed for Luther, repositioning its trajectory away from his brother.

Back in the situation he was in seconds ago, repeating his actions he looked down at the Handlers stretched hand, but quickly halted himself from making contact. "Actually scratch that." He licked his lips hastily. "One more thing."

This time he took a few steps towards me, his palm coming to grip my wrist in a vice-like grip and pulled me away from the woman's intruding presence.

"What is your problem?" I hissed, my face scrunched in a mixture of pain and frustration. Clenching my jaw, I did my best to hide the pain and focused on Fives gaze.

His darkened eyes bore into mine intensely as his forehead wrinkled and nose scrunched in disgust, lips pinched into a tight scowl. The pain in my wrist quickly subsided into a dull numbness as Five tightened his palm further, pulling me eerily closer.

"If find out that you've been planning this from the start," He began, lowering his voice to mask the tremor bound to shake through his words. "I will rip you apart limb from limb and watch you bleed out beneath me with a laugh on my face." I felt his spit fling onto my face, my jaw tightening further in distaste. "And this isn't some everyday threat, y/n," I raised a brow at the use of my first name. "This is personal."

"Got that?" His breath fanned against my face and his grip tightened momentarily before releasing my wrist all together and strolling back to the Handler as if nothing had happened at all, not giving me a single second to respond like the coward he was proving to be.

"Close your mouth dear." I heard the Handlers voice echo into my ears as I approached the two. "Wouldn't want to swallow any flies."

I swallowed my last bit if anger down to my gut and scoffed, not trusting myself to look at the boy beside me in fears I'd do something I'd come to regret.

At last, Five clasped his hand over the Handlers, a pleasant smile gracing her lips.

"Deal."

Date: REDACTED, 1955 Location: TEMPS COMMISSION HQ Time: REDACTED

It was strange to be back at the Commission so fast. Like a sudden whiplash, a sudden feeling that from here, things could only get worse no matter what I tried. I couldn't really explain it.

Especially now, as the Handler, Five and I walked through the Commissions front garden as if we had all the time in the world. And technically, we did. But everything I felt my gut wailing and screaming for me to understand only proved that time was the only thing I didn't have.

It was terrifying. But even fear couldn't replace the anger brewing within me. All because of some fucking man-child who decided to be selfish and save his family from their inevitable doom.

And the audacity this idiot had to threaten me as if I was the one endangering a whole timeline was beyond me.

A scoff left my lips as his threats rang in my mind. I shook my head in annoyance. I should be the one to rip his limbs apart. I should be the one to watch him bleed into the ground. I should be the one that comes out on top, laughing at his last dying efforts to merely take another breath. But most of all, I should be the one to be talking out a deal with the Handler.

As if on cue, the Handlers words rang through the air, along with the series of greetings from the Commission associates around us.

“I’ve never met anyone quite like you. Hazel and Cha Cha, for example, are talented certainly, but they can’t see the big picture.”

“And what, he can?” I grumbled, before hissing in pain. Five had thrown his heel back and kicked my shin. As I tried to respond with my own attack, the boy read my mind and swiftly moved to the side to dodge my foot.

Acting as if she hadn’t witnessed a thing, the Handler carried on with her flattery. “Your spunk, your enterprising spirit, it reminds me of myself if I may be so vainglorious.” She smiled, leading us in towards the buildings entrance.

"If things work out for you here, you could potentially make a fine successor, Five."

The moment we stepped foot inside the headquarters, the Handlers coat was swiftly taken by another worker as she led us through the familiar staircase. Once I opened my mouth to speak, the boy beside me quickly cut in front with a shove and a glare, and asked, "I'd like to discuss the logistics of my family's safety at your earliest convenience." Then added, "As well as this body replacement."

"Such chutzpah." The Handler sighed. "It's refreshing, I'll admit."

I rolled my eyes, the memories of my own 'chutzpah' flickering through my mind along with the punishments that came with it. "Don't claim to be brave if you can't handle a little pain." is what the Handler always used to say. The way the blue hues of her eyes glistened in grim satisfaction, and the way her voice reminded me of one I longed to forget would forever stick with me, haunting every reflection my eyes dared to meet.

The image of her unsettling grin, deep crimson lipstick smeared onto the unnatural white of her teeth. The metallic stench of blood that seemed to come and go with every snap of her fingers. The haze of smoke blocking whatever was left of my tear-stricken vision, and her warm breathing whispering bittersweet nothings into my ear- which were more bitter than I remembered. The memory was impossible to forget.

I mean, how could I forget such a core moment in my life?

How could I forget my first failure?

But that didn’t matter right now. As all I needed right this second, was to watch her inflict the same punishments onto Five. No matter how cruel that may be. I needed to see someone else go through the same... incidents as I did. I needed to know that I wasn't the only one who'd fell prey to the woman's actions. But from the way the Handler was treating Five, meeting his every demand with an agreement or a compromise, it seemed that I was unlucky enough to keep getting the short end of the stick.

I hadn't even realised my fists were clenched until a sting shot through my palm. My eyes averted down to my hand, crescent marks staring right back up at me with the same intensity.

"Now that you've finally agreed to work with us, we've got all the time in the world." Smug. Her voice was so fucking smug. I ran my hand over my face as if the action was going to release the tension in my jaw, my eyes- anywhere.

The woman led us through the Commission as a mini-reintroduction as if we hadn't been working there a few days ago.

"The Commission works in support of a delicate balance between the time line of events and mankind's free will." Leading us towards the briefcase storage room, she turned towards Five. "The briefcase is no longer part of your kit. Free your mind." She placed an arm around his shoulder, making sure to make eye contact with me as she uttered his name. "You're management now, Five."

She smirked at my expression. "One of us."

Before going up another flight of stairs, she paused and turned on her heels to face me properly, Five following her actions to meet my stare with his stern one.

"Since I'll be showing Five where he'll be working among the case managers, you're no longer needed." She said, looking me up and down. "Wait in my office so we can discuss the details concerning your return."

And with that, the two left without a second glance- well, I didn't miss the way the boy gave me a strange look before joining the Handler. He was clearly trying to communicate something but it'd take a lot more than an odd glance to crack through the resentment clouding my eyes and better judgement.

Maybe that's why I did what I did the moment I was no longer shadowed by their presence.

Was what I was about to do a good idea? No.

No, it was not.

But I was going to do it anyway.

Without a second thought, I rushed towards the direction of the Handlers office, receiving odd glances from analysts after practically witnessing some random teenager sprint through the hallways. I quickly entered, shutting the door behind me before I set my eyes on a painting opposite to where I stood.

The piece of art was breath taking. You could tell that every brush and stroke of the artists paintbrush was done so with delicacy and precision. Everything was perfect, from the swarms of dark red hues and smoky oranges, to the smallest spec of green that seemed insignificant when looking at the canvas up close. But when you take a step back to appreciate the big picture, you begin to appreciate the details that seem invisible to the naked eye.

You've always had a soft spot for art. Maybe that's why The Handler had chosen to place the very thing that could change the darkness of your fate into a bright one, within the hard work of another's.

You grabbed one of the knives strapped to your body and with a deep exhale, slashed vertically through the artwork you were admiring only a moment ago. The cut was swift and neat, revealing a small silver key dangling in the air with a piece of string through the key hole that was attached to the top of the canvas.

A dwindling smile began to tug at my lips as a familiar engraving of the letter 'J' caught my eye. I hurriedly snapped the rope and grabbed the key, holding it tightly in my palm as if it were going to disappear from my grasp if I loosened my grip.

As if the universe could read my mind, the door clicked open and locked shut, before a voice pierced through the air.

“It seems that the bloodhound has gnawed through her leash.” She spoke. “Again.”

I turned to face her. "One of the things you trained me in is debt collection." I replied, a tired grin on my face. "I'm just doing my job."

The Handler laughed, making my eyes narrow at the hollow sound leaving her lips. She reached for a pocket watch on her desk and snapped it open. "I'm sorry to inform you, dear, but the deadline's not up yet." It snapped shut.

"Now," The woman sighed as she gracefully sat on her chair, holding a pipe between her fingers and crossing her legs. "be a good girl and give me the key so we can get on with--."

"No."

Silence

The Handler cocked her head to the side and exhaled a puff of smoke. An exasperated burst of a chuckle escaped her lips and I watched the way she poked her tongue against the inside of her cheek. “I’m not sure I heard you right. What was it you said?”

“I thought I made it clear.” I sneered. “No.”

The next few moments were like watching a snake shed its skin and bare its fangs. The women in front of me was ridding herself of the many faces she wore over her true one, finally confronting me with those same cold, ruthless eyes that had began this never ending hell, and the same lips that uttered the command that allowed for such pain to be inflicted on me all those years ago. In a place I held as my safe haven, nonetheless.

Forcing my expression to remain neutral, I spoke. “It’s refreshing to finally speak to the real deal instead of those millions of personas you’ve harboured over the years. It gets exhausting.”

The women stood, her floral dress flowing with her every movement before she finally towered in front of me. She licked her thumb and began rubbing something off my cheek in a rough manner- in a painful manner. Slim fingers danced across my youthful skin and curled around my jaw, angling my head to look up at her. The pads of her fingers made sure to hold me tightly in place, a way for her to declare her never ending control over me. "Such a pretty face." She cooed, "Such a shame you're not the obedient little thing I raised you to be."

I attempted to pull away from her grasp, only for it to tighten. My lips twisted into a scowl. "I was trained to kill. What, did you expect me to turn out like one of those little ‘50s housewives? Ever-so ignorant and docile?”

She smiled.

"You want to see Jasper?" Her voice was hushed, making sure not to break the suffocating pressure of power, and my lack of, she knew I was drowning in despite the best I did to not display a hint of it on my face. But I could never get anything past the woman in front of me. Now was no exception.

I didn't dare to respond no matter badly I wanted to scream 'yes'.

But she could read the desperation in my eyes and answered for me with her following actions.

After finally releasing her grip and holding out her palm for the key tightly held in my palm, I gave in and placed the precious metal back into her possession.

I followed the woman through the door and down the main corridor. My body tensed at the amount of peering eyes averting towards us but I couldn't dwell on the feeling for long as a new anxiety began to rise within me. It was unnatural, something I've never felt before. Sure, I was anxious and practically filled to the brim with stress like never before, but I felt something else too- hope.

I was going to see the very person I swore to protect after three years of not seeing him and I was closer to ending this chapter of my life.

Ever since I was forced to work with Five, The Handler had prevented me from seeing Jasper, in fears of me "getting distracted" and "not paying Five enough attention."

Three years she had kept me away.

Three fucking years.

Finally, the clack of her heels came to an abrupt stop and a familiar ding of an elevator rang. The doors opened.

"You're the first person to come down here that isn't an executive." The Handler lifted a plastic case with a biometric thumbprint scanner and pressed onto a button that sent us plummeting through the Commissions deep underground. "Except from darling Jasper, of course."

The doors finally opened to a corridor that looked identical to the one above surface. I walked quick behind The Handlers heels until she spun to face me.

My heart was beating faster than I thought it would've. The anticipation and suspense felt like a side affect of a drug. One that could only be cured if The Handler would open the large metal door that stood ahead of me so I could finally see those amber eyes that I'd only been able to stare at in my dreams.

The woman laughed mockingly at my expression. "It'd be cruel to make you wait any longer."

The sound of a key twisting and metal screeching open made my heart leap up into my throat and crash down into my stomach.

That's when I saw him.

Thick black curls, tired honey brown eyes, and full lips that I'd sometimes catch myself staring at for a beat too long.

"Jasper."

Thank you all for the supportive comments- I'm not able to respond to comments on this account but please know that I am reading ALL OF THEM <33 I hope you all enjoyed this chapter! After a little under a year, I am finally back and I've got a lot planned for this fic so stay tuned...

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[dejwrld]

talk about our future, like we had a clue. never planned that one day i'd be losing you.

tybw spoilers, angst, sadness, pls i'm sorry you guys this is just something short that popped up in my mind, let me know if you guys kinda want something else with this ship on like how they met or whatever, after reading this go listen to build a home by the cinematic orchestra ft patrick watson & the one that got away by katy petty, other creations | jūshirō ukitake

You didn't enjoy how Shunsui Kyōraku was looking at you. His eyes reeked with sadness and sorrow while you lean forward to pour the steaming tea into his cup. You purposely chose lavender tea because it helped with stress—he was the newest commander of all the divisions after all. You can only imagine how stressful that new role was pushed upon him so suddenly amid a war. The silence between you two made you nervous, but you had a feeling that your husband's best friend was here across the Chabudai like old times for a reason.

A reason that you didn't want to accept just yet.

"I'm sorry, Y/N." Shunsui breaks the avoidable sound of nothingness. A void that you didn't want to break because you knew why he was apologizing.

He places the folded white captain coat you've seen your husband wiggle his frame in before the sun has risen many times on the Chabudai and slides it closer to you.

Your chest tighten so harshly that it felt like you couldn't breathe. It felt like a tight chain was wrapped around your chest and limbs and only growing tighter with each passing second of your own silence. Your shoulders lowered and your body couldn't help but slouch at his words. You blink a couple times thinking that maybe this was a nightmare. That if you blinked just five more times, you'll wake up and he'll be right next to sleeping peacefully. But your fifth time blinking, Shunsui still was there.

Your hands shook as you pick up your own cup to sip the warm liquid before speaking, "For what Shunsui? Say it. What exactly are you apologizing for?"

You thought that maybe Shunsui ripping the bandaid off fully would be better. That you can surpass the emotions that were currently attempting to break through this strong barrier you've built up since being married to him. A barrier that you had to build since you knew something like this could happen.

Shunsui's perfectly sculpted jaw clenches, but not in frustration. He didn't want to admit this to you because he still couldn't believe it. He knew this would break you.

"He's gone, Y/N. Jūshirō is gone."

Your eyes graze downward at the white fabric in front of you and finally, the tears you were holding back finally came tumbling down your heated cheeks. A shaky sigh passed by your lips as you were trying your hardest to process this. Your thoughts were swirling around your mind so loudly and quickly that you wanted to turn your brain off. You wanted to climb back into bed and weep until you ran out of tears. But you couldn't.

He wouldn't want that. But gosh, this hurts. It felt like you just received a knife to the heart. Because that's what was taken from you. Your heart. Your moon. Your soulmate.

You went to ask how did it happen. You deserved to know but weren't quite sure if you could handle the truth of that. Your lips went dry parts to speak, but the door of the area you and Shunsui were in was slid open and your head turns to see who was coming in. Your heart cracks in your chest seeing your little baby crawl into the room followed by one of your friends whose been hear with your since Jushiro hasn't been home. He hated when you were home alone.

"I'm so sorry, Y/N. Haru is such a busybody." Your friend jokes but her lips form a straight line when she realizes the tension in the room.

"It's okay, he can stay. But do you think you can pack some things for me? I think I'm going to be staying at my family's estate for a couple of days." Your arms open up so little Haru could climb into your lap.

Your friend didn't question why the suddenness of you needing to go be with your family, but she only nods before excusing herself to do what you asked.

Your head rests on top of Haru's head briefly. His white locks of hair that were beginning to grow faster than you expected tickled your chin. Your eyes met with Shunsui's and the look in them grew darker. Haru's curious hands reach forward to attempt to grab at his father's captain coat which still was like a haunted artifact that you didn't want to touch in the middle of the table.

"Did he die in battle? Fighting?" You asked.

"Sacrificed." Shunsui's answer was short and brief. He sips from his cup despite the fact that the warm liquid didn't calm his nerves at all.

A sad chuckle erupts from you and you give Shunsui a sad lopsided grin, "Of course he did."

Silence overcame you and Shunsui again. You couldn't quite understand how silence couldn't be heard. But it could be considered the loudest sound a person can hear. A deafening void that left a nasty pit in your stomach that was tied into the nastiest knots at the moment.

"Are you going to be okay?" Shunsui leans forwards closer and his large frame leans against the wooden table.

"No, but we'll get through it." Your fingers run through Haru's hair to push some of it out his face.

Shunsui's eyes looked at the infant in your lap and now his stomach was the one churning into abhorrent knots. He was staring at a reflection of Jushiro in the baby. From the curious doe eyes, the crystal white hair, and even down to the way his face scrunched up in frustration due to him not being able to reach Jūshirō's captain coat. His best friend made the same exact face when he was frustrated.

"Will you though? You lost your husband, Y/N. It's okay to break down."

"And you lost your best friend Shunsui, but you must stay strong too because you have commanding captain duties to do, right? The war isn't over yet." You hugged Haru closer because it felt like alongside the memories you shared with Jūshirō that Haru was the last thing of him left.

"Haru and I will be okay because Jūshirō's best friend will not leave me alone until he ensures that I am. Plus, I'm positive that's something he told you to do before he made his decision. Am I correct?"

[redfurrycat]

🤠🤵🥷🐓Spies & Secret Agents Fic Recs🐓🥷🤵🤠

Check the Top Gun Masterlist post for the latest updated version. 💕

Ao3 Authors: FlowersOnMyMind, Nimuetheseawitch, OfTheDirewolves, Whimsicule, Winterbucky.

Daily Heroes > Organised Crime > Vigilantes, Superheroes & Supervillains

Say you'll be my darling by FlowersOnMyMind {E}

Rooster and Hangman have to go undercover as a married couple in this Mission Impossible AU fic. Feelings happen.

as the daytime is stirring by whimsicule {M}

Goose will drive a hundred and forty miles north, back home to his wife and unborn child, and Pete will take his bike back to his impersonal, agency-issued apartment that’s not a home and never will be. Goose has his family, a lifetime of love and happiness waiting for him in Philly. Pete has his Kawasaki, blank walls, and the memory of a man he would, under any other circumstances, happily chase to the ends of the earth. or: it starts in berlin in the winter of 1986. but that's not where it ends.

coffee court dates by winterbucky {T}

An assignment in a coffee shop isn't what Special Agent Bradshaw dreamed about, but it's not half-bad. The only downside (aside from the mafia meetings that take place there) is a particular blonde mafia member who can't seem to take a hint that Bradley is not interested Though, it turns out, that maybe it's not all as it seems and it's Bradley who can't take a hint or coffee shop au with special agents and mafia (but not really) and stupid bradley who should really learn to read assignment files

Jake Seresin, 007 by nimuetheseawitch

A View to Kill {G}

“As you know, 007, we’ve had some rearrangement of the Q-division since you were last in London, but I am sure you will do your best to ingratiate yourself to the department, as you will be working quite closely with them over the next few months.” Jake turned his most winning smile to his disapproving superior. “M, you know I always do my best. I always return my gear to the Quartermaster fully field-tested with notes for improvement. Q always appreciated my feedback.” Despite himself, M seemed to be amused. “Right, well, I’m not sure our new Q will have the same appreciation for your feedback, so do try to make a good impression Seresin.”

Nobody Does It Better {T}

The first time really wasn’t Jake’s fault. He was explosively tossed from an oil rig, and whatever pieces remained of the cell phone, they now lived at the bottom of the ocean. Apparently, a concussive blast combined with full saltwater immersion also generally had the effect of disabling all of Q’s trackers except the one in the diving watch. And that he mailed to Q, shattered and nonfunctional, with a note asking him to look into making it a little more bulletproof. He was grateful, really – the watch had saved his life. After a lovely vacation on the island he’d washed ashore on, Jake came back to MI6 headquarters tanned and smiling. Q did not look happy to see him.

Lights, camera, bitch smile (even when you wanna die) by OfTheDirewolves {M}

Agents Bradley "Rooster" Bradshaw and Jake "Hangman" Seresin are the best at what they do. Now they have to go undercover as couple to uncover a secret plot that could save millions of lives. The only problem? They haven't talked in 6 years. or Jake and Bradley have to go undercover with each other which wouldn't be a problem except for the fact that they're still stupidly in love with each other and neither of them wants to admit it. Can they complete their mission and get out of this unscathed or will hearts be broken once more?

[bullet-clubs-bitch]

Can i request a Billy Gunn fic with some NSFW? Possibly he and reader were old friends when he worked for WWE but they reconnect after a long time and get close to each other again and maybe a wrestler cuts a promo on him and says something about y/n and he snaps and kinda confesses his feelings he has for her.

Old Flame

An: This ended up to be way longer than I thought it would be. I decided to play a different route with this request

Summary: Billy and Y/n "dated" (really just sex) a while ago and Billy hates how he let Y/n slip through his fingers all those years ago because he was afraid of commitment. What happens when she shows up in AEW and he relies he still loves her.

Word count: 2K

Warnings: SMUT (18+) Billy Gunn X Female reader, Mentions of Sex and sexual acts, mentions of alcohol and spiked drinks, 18+ themes

Main Masterlist Billy Gunn Masterlist Part 2 Part 3

I had mixed feelings about having Y/n in AEW, sure it was great to see her after all these years but it was strange since how much we had both changed. I remember when I first saw Y/n after all our years apart. I was backstage at dynamite when I saw her, jokingly said to my sons “That chick over there looks like Y/n” and once she turned around I noticed it was indeed her. I felt my stomach drop. She looked different, older, well of course she looked older we were both way older now but she aged like fine wine, still gorgeous as ever. When I asked what she was doing backstage at Dynamite she explained that she was there to help the young talent in the women's division, along with teaching her daughter how to wrestle. I was happy for her but for some reason I was nervous.

The first few weeks went by fast and I barely ran into Y/n which I was secretly grateful for. That was until my sons, The Gunns joined bullet club gold. Although we didn’t work on screen together at the end of the day they were still my children. I guess the boys did some digging and found out about the little fling Y/n and I had all those years ago. I tried to explain to them that it was years ago, way before they were even born, for them to leave it alone, but they knew I obviously wasn’t over it since I had been practically avoiding Y/n. The boys thought it would be funny to ask Y/n to train them even though I already taught them everything they needed to know. So here I am sitting across the ring from the woman I let slip through my fingers years ago. 

“So Y/n, I heard you and my dad used to date back in the day” Austin said. I store daggers at him, but he didn’t care, instead he gave me a smirk, wanting to see how far he could push me before I broke. 

“I wouldn't say we dated necessarily” Y/n said, as she corrected Colten’s grip, making the choke he was practicing on his brother more effective. “Sure we went out on a few dates but we didn’t date. Your father didn’t want to commit to a relationship” Her words stung, the story she told had no effect on her but I still hated myself for it even if it was 30 years ago. “So you guys were just fuck buddies then?” Colten asked. “COLTEN!-” I yelled but Y/n cut me off. “I guess you could say that, but your father was a gentleman and always bought me dinner first” 

To say I was embarrassed would be an understatement. I was just about to leave when Y/n called out “Come on Billy, don’t be such a baby. They are just messing with you” I continued to walk pretending not to hear her, she came up to me and grabbed my arm, forcing me to turn and look at her. As I towered over her, I felt like I had gone back in time. Back to the time where I fucked everything up years ago. 

****

“Y/n I’m sorry!” I yelled out to the poor girl who stood beneath me with tears in her eyes. “I should have known you were only using me to get your dick wet” She yelled back, her words laced with venom. I knew it was only a matter of time before she would ask to be more than whatever it was we had going on but the truth was I was so scared to mess things up between us I didn’t even realize the hole I dug myself into until it was too late. I was trying to protect her but instead I hurt her. 

This little buddy system started a few months ago when a very drunk Y/n admitted that no guy she had been with had made her cum. One day after a PPV we all went out for drinks when Y/n’s got spiked, luckily for her it wasn’t too bad but boy did she say some crazy things. 

Being a good friend I took her back to my hotel room before she could embarrass herself too much and she ended up passing out right as we stepped foot in the room. Carefully I placed her on the bed and removed her shoes before tucking her under the covers. 

When she came to, she was confused. “Did we fuck?” was the first thing she asked me, noticing she was in my bed. “No, but you wanted to” I told her, Y/n looked at me confused. “Someone spiked your drink at the bar. I took you back to my hotel room to keep you from embarrassing yourself” I told her truthfully. “Oh god, what did I say?” “Nothing much, just that you have never had an orgasm before” “Great” “Don’t worry, I'm sure I can help you with that problem” I told her with a smirk.

I couldn't deny the effect she had on me, she was perfect in every way. Seeing her in my bed didn’t help my crush on her. As we made our way back to the hotel she kept rambling about random things and even suggested that we sleep together. I knew that wasn’t her talking, she was drugged and wouldn't remember a thing in the morning. Even though I liked her, no way would I take advantage of her in such a state. I wanted to get with her when she was fully sober, wanting to have something real not just an impulsive booty call or being so fucked up we woudn’t remember anything in the morning. 

So I waited until the time was right. I sat in my private locker room fantasizing about Y/n when I heard someone knocking at my door. “Who is it?” I yelled through the door. To my surprise it was Y/n herself. “It’s me! Are you almost ready to go?” She asked me “Yeah, just give me a minute!” I said before opening the door to let her inside. When I opened the door I saw the shocked look on her face. “Well someones excited to see me,” she said as she looked me up and down. I was confused for a second until I looked down noticing I was fully hard. “Shit!” I could feel my face get red. “Don’t worry, it happens to everyone. You don’t have to be embarrassed” She told me reassuringly. I quickly grabbed all my things, changing the subject. “Do you want to get room service tonight instead? I don’t really feel like going out tonight.” 

The two of us sat in my hotel room in silence. Y/n was first to break the silence. “Does it hurt?” She asked, referring to my still hard cock. “It doesn’t hurt, just uncomfortable” I told her, the effect she had on me still being shown. “Do you want help with it?” I almost choked when the words came out of her mouth. “What?” I asked in disbelief. “Do you want some help with that?” She repeated as she got up from her seat, deciding to sit on my lap. “We could help each other out?” I couldn't believe what I was hearing. 

Everything happened so fast, before I knew it we were tangled in each other, frantically taking off  the others clothes fighting for dominance. “You have no idea how long I have wanted this,” I told Y/n. I could tell by the look on her face she was shocked by my size. “Don’t worry I’ll take good care of you” I told her reassuringly. I wanted to take my time with Y/n. I placed delicate kisses down her body before settling between her thighs. Kissing and sucking her inner thighs before inserting myself in her. I started with slow thrusts, trying to keep my promise of being gentile but she just felt so good, I needed to feel more, I needed to make her cum, I needed to make her have an orgasm so good, she could never be with anyone else, and that’s exactly what I did. My thrusts were hard, the grip I had on her hips as I pounded into her would bruise but neither of us cared. The two of us a moaning mess, my ears where filled with praises that left her lips. “Fuck, you feel so good, you fill me up so good” I could tell by the way she fluttered around me her words were true. “Fuck Y/n” I called out. I could feel she was close. “That’s it baby” I praised “Right there, You're close. Just relax baby. I need you to relax for me, don’t fight it” I told her as I continued my assault on her pussy. I reached my hand between us to play with her clit. That put her over the edge. “That’s it baby, I got you, let it out, let it all out” I told her as I continued to fuck her through her orgasm before I pulled out, cumming all over her chest. 

That became our routine. After shows we would either go out for dinner or order room service then have some crazy sex. As the weeks went past I found myself falling in love with Y/n and it terrified me. I was scared I was going to hurt her so I pushed myself away. I didn’t even realize it but I had become distant with her. Looking back on it I was kind of a jerk, I was never one for aftercare but with Y/n it was different, I almost found it better than sex, it was more intimate. That was why I fell in love, so, I became distant after sex, I acted like I didn’t care but I cared too much. When she asked what changed I avoided the question, when she asked to be more than just sex I turned it down without thinking. By the time I realized what I did it was too late. 

“I’m  Sorry Y/n!”  I yelled out to the poor girl who stood beneath me with tears in her eyes. “I should have known you were only using me to get your dick wet” She yelled back, her words laced with venom. I knew I fucked up. “Y/n wait! I didn’t mean it.” I yelled but It was too late. She was already grabbing her clothes that were scattered around the room and left before saying “And to think I was in love with you” 

****

Since that day at the training facility I couldn't get Y/n out of my head. She was all I thought about 24/7. That day replaying over and over again. But tonight I had a Trois match with the acclaimed against top flight and action andretti and I knew I needed to focus on the match, not Y/n. The match went well, another successful title defense until we were interrupted by bullet club gold. Austin and Colton were obviously still not over how I picked the acclaimed over them, the two of them alongside Juice Robinson requesting a title shot. I was going to say no until they brought up Y/n. “Of course you would say no Billy. I’m honestly shocked you are still with the acclaimed, I know how you are with commitment. I mean you let the love of your life slip through your fingers because you were scared of commitment. I wonder what Y/n would think if she knew you still beat yourself up about it 30 years later. Now you are all alone, still wrestling when you should be retired because you have no one to go home to”  Their words stung but they were true “You want a title shot? FINE, Next week Bullet Club Gold Vs The Acclaimed and Daddy Ass!” I yelled back at them! 

I sure hope Y/n didn’t hear any of that. 

[stillxnunpxidintern]

Had this thought when I was doing my normal Sunday cleaning.

You and Marco have been a relationship awhile and you work in whatever division deals with laundry and you mainly deal with mending/stitching different items of clothing.

You had just gotten back from a supply run and was dreading the pile of clothes that piling up, that are going to need mending and knew you were had some long hours a head of you.

With only a quickly moment Marco, you headed to the laundry room and to began the task of mending the clothes. You turned the pile upside down to start on the pieces that had been waiting the longest.

You had also grabbed a pair of ear plugs to block all of the noise out, knowing if someone came into the room and started talking to you, you wouldn't get any work done.

While you spent hours in your own little world, mending clothes and humming to yourself, you were unware of the issues that was happening on deck, that someone in the crew said they saw someone changing in to a different crew member.

The Commanders and Pops thought that they most likely of came back on the latest supply run, that you had been on, so they went around talking to the crew that had been on that run.

Pops sent Marco to talk to you as he would know you the best and tell if you weren't you.

Still lost in your own world, with you back to the door humming you away, you didn't know that was Marco was standing there calling your name and when you didn't answer him it made him eye you with caution, so when he called you by your nickname that only he called you and when he didn't get answer that made him feel irritated, so came he stood behind you.

Seeing the shadow suddenly looming over you, you put the piece you were currently working down and turned to see what was causing it. Upon seeing that it was Marco you smiled at him and stood up to greet but noticed that something wasn't right.

You found yourself being pushed against the wall, with Marco looming over you and his hand pressed over your neck, stopping you from moving. You stared up at the blonde with confusion as you tilted your head to side as he began to speak, but due to ear plugs you heard nothing at all.

Trying to read his lips just made you even more confuse as could only make your name out. You moved your arms to take the ear plugs out which made Marco pressed his hand a little firmer against your neck, which made you move even slower and took the ear plugs out.

Marco looked at you with surprise when you took and took his hand away from neck, as you asked him what hell was going on and what he was doing.

So the 1st Division gave you a sheepish smile and apologized as he explained what had happening about the someone being able to change their appearances, and it was thought that person came back on supply you had been on so he came to check you out and you weren't answering even when he used your special nickname, so had act on that.

Hearing that you crossed your arms over your chest and gave him unimpressed look, so Marco lent down thoroughly kissed you making your brain go blank as you get caught up in it before he pulled away. Coming back to your senses you told him that he wasn't off the hook but it was a step in the right direction.

He smiled at you and gave you another kiss before leaving you, letting you go back to your mending, this time you left the ear plugs out.

[shy-urban-hobbit]

Huskerdust!!

C/W implied suicide via extermination.

Angel took another drag on his cigarette as he leaned his top set of elbows on the wall, the red light that passed for daylight in Pentagram City turning the smoke pink in a way which was momentarily far too reminiscent of Val. He didn't usually come up to the roof but he just needed to be somewhere that wasn't inside right now and Charlie's 'no smoking indoors' rule which everyone usually ignored provided the perfect excuse when the streets were currently more dangerous than usual. 

The atmosphere had been tense ever since the girls had returned from Heaven with the news that the hotel was now target number one for the next extermination but now with just hours left, it had become unbearable. 

The fighting hadn't helped either. Husk had had the nerve to call Angel fake but even a blind man could see the only thing those two could actually agree on right now was the need to keep the hotel safe. Angel never thought he'd say it, but it was unnerving not seeing Charlie and Vaggie presenting a genuine united front on every single little thing.

 

"And here I was thinking this would be the perfect place to get away from you clowns for a few minutes."

Angel rolled his eyes and threw up a one fingered salute he wasn't really feeling, "Fuck you, Whiskers." 

"Maybe if we live to see the end of the week."

Husk leaned on the wall an arms length from the spider, giving him that assessing stare that Angel both loved and hated. It was as gratifying as it was annoying to have someone who could see right through any and all defences he put up, "How you doing, Kid?" 

"Oh, I'm just peachy, can't ya tell? Practically dancin' on the inside." Angel snarked, meeting Husk's gaze in a silent dare to call him out on it. Husk merely stared back (why the fuck did he think it was a good idea to get into a staring contest with a cat?), "Just thinkin' is all."

"What Charlie said about-" Husk jabbed a claw upwards. That had been one of the main sources of division between the princess and her (ex?) girlfriend for days after they got back until they broke the news to the sinner in question. Charlie had been adamant that Angel had a right to know, whilst Vaggie was of the opinion that at this point it was just adding insult to injury with the extermination so close. In the end, Angel had made the decision for them after cornering Charlie and demanding to know why she looked like she was about to start crying whenever she looked at him. Husk had privately been in agreement with Vaggie though - maybe it would have been kinder to let Angel live out what might be his last few days in blissful ignorance of the fact that Heaven would basically rather see him perma-dead than admit they'd fucked up. 

"About me apparently bein' this close to gettin' into Heaven? Nah." Angel threw the remaining half of his cigarette over the edge with an elegant flick of his wrist, suddenly he wasn't in the mood any more, "Can't miss what ya never had, right? Was just thinkin' about how six months ago I wouldn't have given a crap about any of this. The six month extermination, makin' Heaven's personal shit list. None of it." He pulled a fresh cigarette out of the pack in his breast pocket and lit it without taking a drag as he began to pace, giving Husk the impression it was more so he had something to do with his hands, "Even back when I was alive I used to -what'd you call it - self destruct all the god damn time and when I got down here, if it weren't for Val lockin' every soul he owned in the studio durin' the extermination I would've taken my chances outside every time."

He gestured in the air with one of his free hands, "Before this goddamned fucking hotel and every fucker in it, I didn't give a crap what happened to me but now, for the first time in my god damn fucking life, afterlife. Whatever-" he paused to take a long drag, the cigarette trembling slightly in shaky fingers before Angel let out a laugh like the one when he'd torn Husk a new one in the bar that night - disbelieving bordering on hysterical - before looking away like he was about to admit something shameful, "I really. Really don't wanna die tomorrow, Husk." 

"And you ain't gonna." Husk snapped out as his wings spread, causing Angel to startle slightly at the harshness of his tone, the cat demon took a breath to try and calm the swell of emotions Angel's confession caused to rise up, "I mean. I've seen you shoot, you've got some serious skill. Vaggie knows any possible tricks the exorcists might try, Charlie is the literal princess of Hell with all the powers that come with it. Alastor sees this place as his territory now, trust me, if anybody knows how much that creepy fucker doesn't like other people coming after his things..." he gave a small shudder he hoped the other didn't see. 

"...and you?" 

Husk would be lying if he said the question didn't catch him off guard but Angel had been honest with him. Only fair he returned the favour, "I ain't letting any of those winged fuckers touch you."

And there was that smirk Husker hated (loved) so much, "'Cos you wanna be the only winged fucker who gets ta-" 

"Don't even finish that sentence, asshole."

Husk moved to stand next to him, draping a wing over the other to shield him from the wind that had picked up during their talk, "I got your back, kid." 

Angel shifted his weight to lean against the shorter demon, giving a small mental cheer when the other didn't move away and let him kiss concrete, "Back at ya, Husky."

[tellthemeerkatsitsfine]

Good news, everyone! Excellent news. It turns out Ed Night is good at stand-up comedy. I have been waiting several years now to find this out, suspected but with no way to confirm it. But now I can finally say, I have found a way to artistically justify my decision to watch Roast Battle. Wouldn't have heard of Ed Night otherwise as he's not been on anything else I've seen, and therefore I wouldn't have have seen a very good stand-up show last night. Success! It was all worth it!

Anyway, yesterday was probably my most perfectly planned day if this festival. Look at this:

What a solid few hours. Kept exiting the venues and then going right back in, didn't have to travel anywhere, and four really really strong shows in a row. Eleanor Morton's took a little while to get going and at first I was a bit disappointed in it, but it really built up from a routine about seeing the Edinburgh Fringe as an Edinburgh native, then just kept going, second half better than the first and I loved it by the end.

The other 3 were pretty well perfect, all 3 of them. I'm so glad I saw Sarah Keyworth, after almost skipping them because I saw it filmed for Access Festival. Firstly, it was more than good enough to be worth seeing in person even though I'd heard the material before, same as Nish Kumar and Tom Ballard. Secondly, it's been 8 months and a major Australian championship win since I saw the show, obviously the material has developed. It was so, so much fun to actually see.

As was Laura Davis, they're another one who's so compelling it's just worth getting into the room to experience it up close. This started strong but was another one that really built and by the end was... look, I try to be very sparing with a word like "Kitsonian" and not just compare anything good to him, but that was all I could think of with the way they got complex and poetic in throwing everything in the show back at us at the end. Reminded me of the ending of Impotent Fury of the Privileged pr Something Other Than Everything, in the best way (not in a "Laura was being unoriginal" way, Kitson doesn't talk nearly this much about dead birds so safe to say they carved their own territory). And Tom Ballard was also doing stuff I'd heard before but it sure was worth being in the room for that. Being in the room made me both enjoy it even more, and better understand why a different person might dislike it so strongly. A divisively shouty presence.

I even managed to briefly speak to Tom Ballard after the show, if nothing else just to prove to myself that I could, after the disaster of last week. And it went okay! I wasn't smooth by any means, stuttered at the ground about how I loved his show in Montreal last year and thought this one was even better and big fan of his older specials too and all his stuff, and I absolutely could not look at him while I spoke, but I think I managed to make the words I was saying understood. Managed to sound like a very nervous person who likes him, rather than whatever I sounded like when I met Kitson last week, which was nothing, because I could not remember any words. So I'm glad I managed that improvement. He was very nice, asked me my name, said he appreciated it, a sort of amusing contrast to the on-stage shoutiness.

Then I ran off to the Assembly Rooms to see Josie Long's husband (if the genders were reversed it would be problematic to define her by her relationship to him but I'm pretty sure it's fine this way around, also I'm not 100% sure they're actually married) meticulously document the destruction of arts funding and the NHS across 14 years of Tory rule, via the medium of a musical performed in what appeared to be a circus tent. That's what we some to the Fringe for, isn't it? That is exactly what I wanted out of the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. It was a lot of fun.

Then back to the Monkey Barrel to see Ed Night, a guy I'd been Googling ever since I saw him on Roast Battle in 2021, convinced that I like this guy and I just need him to release something so I can see to prove it. I've said several times on this blog that I'm supporting his career like it's a sports team, wanting him to get big just so I can see his stuff from Canada. He didn't so I had to go to him, and finally, decision to watch an awful thing like Roast Battle has been justified! I found Ed Night out of it! Seriously I thought he was fantastic, dark and sharp and packed with jokes that you could miss if you didn't pay attention because they fit so clearly into the narrative. And it helped that it was my sort of thing in terms of subject matter, he covered OCD and queer identity and some political stuff and the frustrating mental health system, talked shit about content creator algorithms. At one point he got a Pokemon reference into what I think was a suicide joke - how perfectly tailored to my comedy taste is that? He also picked some more specific targets, like (spoiler alert, I guess, spoiler alert for everything on my blog all the time) going after Tom Binns for a while, earning every bit of that edgy material (edgy, to be clear, just because it's an intense topic to bring up - he didn't try edgily defending him or anything) by being very funny about it.

He hung out somewhere in the general vicinity (not nearly as far, but the vicinity is still impressive) of Dan Rath levels of presenting himself as a fucked up low status character (though it didn't seem like a that much of a character). I remember seeing someone compare his stuff to Frankie Boyle once, which I think is apt, though more personal than I've heard Frankie Boyle get, and obviously not as developed in the craft, but it was that level of dark. I also think Chortle robbed him, with only 3.5 stars, given some of the stuff that's got 4. I'm just relieved that he was good. I got so invested in the idea of him being good, based on so little. Picked one non-famous comedian, several years ago, to decide I bet that guy is good, based on about 8 minutes of the TV show Roast Battle. And it was by no means a guarantee that I'd like him. I feel like this blog must make it seem as though I like pretty much all comedy because I mainly write about stuff I like. When in fact I hear or see plenty of comedy that I dislike, I just try not to be a dick about it online too often. So I'm glad this wasn't like that, because I really hate being wrong.

Then I ran off to the other side of the castle for the first time, to see Natalie Palamides at the Traverse Theatre. This was one I booked because it seemed important to take the opportunity to see in person while I can. I've seen her previous shows - Laid and Nate - on video, and I liked them, could see they were very good, but I also knew I was missing parts of it, because it doesn't translate fully to film, and I just don't have the theatre kid background to appreciate that level of clowning. Also the puppet in Dave freaked me out. I don't like puppets. Also, you know, nudity. Sex scenes (only with puppets). Artistic violence. It left me feeling weird and uncomfortable and wanting to curl up into a ball, in a sort of good but probably overall more bad way. But that left me feeling like I should try harder to develop the ability to appreciate this sort of thing. And I think it's the sort of thing that really needs to be experienced live.

So I went to see Weer live, and I had a great time. It was so much fun, probably helped that the subject matter was lighter, at least at first. More nudity (spoiler alert, I guess, for all of this, in the unlikely event that anyone planning to see Natalie Palamides is reading this) but I was prepared this time! Managed to not turn into quite such a prudish teacher from a movie, at the sight of a body displayed in the name of art. I mean it was still weird, but not quite such a shock as I'd seen it before. The violence was a bit more difficult, but it very quickly got too absurd to be scary. And the puppet stuff was mercifully extremely short.

Otherwise, I thought it was incredibly impressive. I don't have the theatre knowledge to really understand how impressive it was, but I can still recognize something really cool and incredibly complicated done very well. It was fun, it made me laugh, I could not believe the number of (literal and figurative) layers that went into it. It was very, very cool to see, definitely worth taking the chance to go in person.

So that was my day yesterday. Woke up early this morning and thought I'd go through the day. About to go back to town for my last day of shows. Which is fine, I'm not feeling any predictable rising anxiety that the only thing I've been looking forward to for a year is almost over. It's okay, I'll have another little bit in London after this and that's nice as meeting my London friend in person has been one of the best parts of this, sorry that's a weird thing to say given that he reads this. But it's hardly the most overly personal thing I've ever communicated via a Tumblr post because I don't know how to actually talk to people. Except Tom Ballard, I did a great job of talking to him.

And aside from talking to Tom Ballard, yesterday was a slower day for comedian spotting, which was probably for the best (talking to Tom wasn't so much comedian "spotting", as comedian "awkwardly waiting around until everyone else had left after his show"). Jordan Brookes was in the audience at Sarah Keyworth's show. And here's a left-field one - Dominic Maxwell, the dick from The Times who once called Andy Zaltzman "[John Oliver's] left-behind sidekick", was in Natalie Palamides' show making notes for a review. Which I only know because she called attention to that when giving him an audience participation part, she turned it into something quite funny.

Okay, now I'm going into town for the last day. I've saved some of the established Fringe veterans for last - Seymour Mace, Mark Watson, David O'Doherty. Mat Ewins, another one where I thought it important to take the chance to see in oerson since he doesn't translate to recordings well. I didn't divide it up this way intentionally, but the identity-based demographic diversity of my Fringe schedule looks a lot better if you leave out the last day.

[infinibab]

back at it again with my knuxadow hadestown au

only this time,,, with a more divisive cast list!! + some explanations too! this might be a little confusing to those who aren't familiar w/ the plot of hadestown/the myth of Orpheus and Eurydice, so i'll try to expand on it as much as I can.

(also would you guys believe me if i said i've actually been thinking about this au for like 6 months?)

Knuckles as Orpheus - I dunno this casting just feels like clockwork to me. Orpheus and Knuckles are both bold, earnest, and dedicated. They're both incredibly duty bound-- though they show it n different ways. Orpheus' dedication towards finishing his song parallels how Knuckles dedicates so much of his life to the ME. Hence why I can easily see Knuckles in the same situation Orpheus finds himself in. I also think it'd be fun if his Orpheus has the reputation of being naive and gullible. Like, just walk with me here. The weather is out of wack: spring isn't spring anymore, winter's lasting longer than it should, and summers are getting hotter and hotter every time. Now all of a sudden, some orphan with a guitar comes around saying he's working on a song that'll fix everything? Crazy talk-- but what they don't know is that he's telling the truth. Knuckles' Orpheus is a bit of a recluse. He does his job over at Hermes' place, and goes right back to working on his song. Nothing more, nothing less. He doesn't have time to argue with people about the legitimacy of his gift. He doesn't have time for anything. That is, until he meets Eurydice.

(Bonus: Also, also!! Performance-wise, when I think about Knuckles' Orpheus, I like to think of it as a mix of Jordan Fisher's and Justin Vernon's performances. Very nice and subdued, soft voice, but also also throw in a very fiery determination when things get rough (all this to say you guys should listen to Jordan Fisher's rendition of Wait For Me) I also draw a lot of inspiration from Hadestown's orginial concept album for Knuckles' take just in general!

Shadow as Eurydice (just as a heads up, I'll be using he/she pronouns interchangeably for Shadow & Eurydice here. sorry if you don't see the vision but it's simply mandatory) - Again, this is like clockwork to me.... Shadow's Eurydice is one that's gone through countless losses. She's wandered this world for a long time now, and she's seen how vicious and demanding it can get. He's seen the weather grow more and more extreme as the years passed by, and the only thing he could do was watch as the harsh conditions claimed everything/everyone he's ever cared about. So, just as Eurydice does, he turns his back against the world. Rather than live, Eurydice survives. I like to think that in true Shadow nature, his Eurydice comes off a liiiiittle (read: very) arrogant. I mean who wouldn't be? Especially if you were in her shoes? Still, despite his accomplishments, Shadow's Eurydice always hungered for more. He wanted to see the world the way the old folks and gods described it. Balanced, harmonious, and just, y'know. liveable? So when she meets Orpheus, she gets to see a sliver of that world. Shadow's Eurydice greatly respects Orpheus and his dedication to his song. He tries to play it off as the respect one would have for like, a good business proposal or whatever, but in reality, he's completely enamored with Orpheus' song (and Orpheus as a whole, obviously. why else would he agree to marry him?)

more under the cut btw. this got longer than i planned

Rouge as Hermes - My GIIIIIIRRRRLLLL!!! Sorry, I will cling onto this casting choice for ages it makes sense to no one but me. Rouge is like, the one piece holding this story together. She serves as the narrator in most cases, and she's the one most familiar with all of the characters. She knows the tragedy of Orpheus and Eurydice better than anyone else. Yet despite it's tragic ending, it's still her favorite story. Rouges' Hermes isn't too different from how she usually acts. Though with Rouge, her compassion shines through the most in Hermes' character. ALSO! Another change is that Rouges' Hermes is a lot more vague in her motivations. It's never too clear why she loops the story over again, or why she hopes for better ending. But one things's for sure-- she cares for Orpheus and Eurydice dearly. It's not often she meets a soul bold enough to bicker with the Gods-- let alone two! Hermes is a dear friend to the main two. Between them, she's known Orpheus the longest, and she has quite the sweet spot for him. That's actually why she offered him a job at her little pub, which will temporarily be named The Emerald for now.

Sonic as Persephone - It's a little fucked up when you think about it. But like, it's a really fun match in my opinion. To those unfamiliar w/ the plot: Persephone is only allowed 6 months of freedom each year. Otherwise, she's stuck alongside Hades down in the underworld . Sound a little familiar? (COUGH forces COUGH). Each year, the return of Persephone marks a fun celebration. It's a sign that spring is finally returning, and that times are gonna be a little easier, just for a while. Sonic's Persephone is very lax and approachable. Everyone tends to forget that he's one of the Gods. He gets excited every time spring comes around because he finally has the freedom to stretch his legs and mingle with the living! Persephone seems to know everyone, which is a damn near impressive feat considering how much time he spends underground. But hey, don't sweat about the small stuff! Sonic's Persephone knows how to make the best of an awful situation. When he's around, it's easy to forget the situation he's fallen into. It's like a fun party, whenever spring comes. But every party has it's end. Sonic's Persephone is a lot better at hiding his discontent with the deal. He only really gives an attitude to Hades. Down underground, he tries to lighten up the mood as best as he can, but it's a little difficult when everyone down there is a mindless husk. (Another issue to take up with Mr. Hades, it seems.)

Infinite as Hades - HEAR ME OUT, OKAY. It just works I think. Infinite and Hermes are similar in the sense that when they grab a hold of power, they latch onto it with an iron grip. Hades & Infinite are both powerful and imposing figures, but behind all that bravado, there's a weakness they refuse to let anyone see. After all, if that weakness were to come to light, everything they've built would come crumbling down. I think if I were to make any changes to Infinite's Hades characterization, I think I'd make his Hades a little more outwardly cunning. Someone who seems a little more untrustworthy and slimy, despite their words and logic being perfectly sound. A sweet talker who doesn't sugarcoat their words y'know? Seems a little contradictory, but it makes sense to me. Either way, he's incredibly proud of his growing empire. It's a testament to strength and resourcefulness. Hadestown is the city of his dreams-- the city he deserves, and he refuses to let anyone ruin his chances at bringing it to fruition. Still, Infinite's Hades has gotten awfully lazy. Relying on his workers to build his empire for him. He used to value a challenge, hell, he used to seek out challenges for himself. That's how he met Persephone. But then he grew overzealous. He took it a step to far, and when Persephone lost that final challenge, that fire quelled. They were no longer on equal ground, and there was nothing else that could reinvigorate that spark.

Vector, Espio, and Charmy as The Fates (Atropos, Lachesis, and Clotho respectively) - I was actually really torn on whether I wanted the Chaotix or the Babylon Rogues as the Fates, so this might be subject to change. EITHER WAY. I like to think these three serve as a more sympathetic version of the fates? They each have their own varying opinions on the characters and the actions they take (some being more optimistic, the other being more cynical, and one serving as kind of the middle ground-- but it's never all the same). If I di stick with the Chaotix... they are gonna get up to a lot more mischief in the background. i simply won't have it any other way.

YEAH. Woah that was may longer than I thought it was gonna be, and it doesn't cover everything I have in mind about this au. this is just the tip of the iceberg tbh. also!

I don't think I'll make a lot of BIG changes to the story. except for one. S0nfinite isn't my cup of tea so I don't think I'll make Hades and Persephone's story a conventional "love turned twisted/bitter" story. I'll find a way to make it parallel Orpheus and Eurydice's story in a different way. I've got some ideas, I just have to flesh them out a little bit more.

Anyways... I hope you guys like it. Listen to hadestown and you too, can fall down the rabbit hole with me. Take your pick:

Broadway Cast Album / Orginal Cast [Live] / Concept Album (It's a completely sung-through musical so you don't have to scour for scenes for extra context. That being said, I DO reccomend finding a stage performance if you have the time. The way the set comes to life... mwah. 10s across the board.)

ok bye fr now

[discotenny]

I woke up this morning thinking about how,we don't truly know ramuda's lifespan... his metabolism is clearly differdnt than ours because, at this point, eating mostly vandy would get to him in some way. I know health is not always observed in hypmic (i.e. hifumi never realistically having time to sleep, required drinking habits as a host, or how often dostuhon goes out drinking) but with ramuda, it's important, it's aknowledged to some degree

If his body was only meant to sustain itself until he had fulfilled his mission, what would come next? they really wouldn't need him, if the party of words had their way, entirely, if the divisions had torn each other apart and ramuda never diverged from the path they set for him...

So what now? Has loving you really become his purpose?

If he falls in love with somebody, anybody, truly falls in love and let's himself be vulnerable with them... protecting them at all costs would certainly be on his mind. So is this is new mission?

What happens when you die, safely in his arms, maybe of old age. You walked through life hand in hand and he saw to it that you were always safe, always happy. and now you're gone, and now his mission is complete, Maybe he passes away as well.

IS THIS TOO SAD I DON'T KNOW. IS IT EVEN SAD AT ALL IDK. I AM ALSO REALLY NOT VERY ELOQUENT SO SORRY LMAO

NOOOOO THIS IS SO GOOD ANON THIS IS SOOOO GOOOD!!! kicking my feet at the “has loving you really become his purpose” that was so hard ommgmgmgmgmgmggggg. Anon ur brain is so big ur brain is so eloquent I love this.

———

Ramuda, a being born to deceive turning into a man living to love. His whole purpose, his reason for existence turning into making you happy for the rest of your days.

Ramuda wakes up with a smile every morning because it’s a sign he’s doing his job right. He sees you by his side and nothing more than love and relief shapes his smile. Every day he sees the sun is another day he’s going to love you right.

Following the end of Chuoku’s reign, Ramuda takes on a more domestic role. He wakes up first, and after convincing himself to stop staring and get up, he makes breakfast for you to share in bed ;_; Being a fashion designer he spends most of the day at home and in his studio, so he has a lot of time to do whatever errands or chores you ask of him!!

If you’re a homebody too, he’ll make most of the money for your household, don’t worry about it!! If you’re working, Ramuda will send you off with a kiss and greet you back with a hug.

Your routine is perfect, he thinks. Every day he makes it a point to make you smile at least once and he always succeeds. Even if you fight, even if you have a bad day, he’ll always be sure to put a smile on your face at least once.

He thanks you every night before you go to sleep. “Why do you thank me all the time?” you asked him once.

“It’s cause you truly saved me,” he says, kissing your nose before snuggling closer to you.

When it comes time to spend your last day with you, Ramuda asks for more time. After days, months, years of loving you right, Ramuda can’t help but ask for more. He’s greedy and desperate, not wanting to be alone again for the first time since he was made.

But you do pass and he can’t do anything to stop it. But be doesn’t have any regrets, he doesn’t regret anything leading up to this, from his creation to your meeting to the years and years of loving you- he’d do it all over again if it meant another day in your arms.

He may pass, just as you say anon, but maybe he’ll wake up to another sunrise. Maybe he’ll get another lifetime to love you right.

———

;_;

Hypmic plot spoilers under cut so I can talk abt Ramu more KANDKDBDKJS

I was always under the impression that the candies were the actual thing keeping him alive, which is where that whole plot beat of him almost dying (?) and confessing to GenDice and Dice going to his mom to beg for more came from. She says no and I’m unsure of where they got more (maybe from Rei???) but he’s still kicking!!

HUT UGH !!! It’s portrayed that the battle with his clones was LITERALLY life or death for Ramu cause he was so weakened trying to portion out his candies. Like it’s implied he wouldn’t have made it if Dice and Gen didn’t pop in and just ekenkfnkmlmkmk I love him I love Ramu sm my baby

Also I never realized Hifu probably never sleeps LMAO. Maybe Doppo absorbed all the tired energy so Hifu can survive the day.

[v-cain]

Hi this is just an idea I had that you might be able to do something with I just had a thought that logan is probably really good with dogs

And I just thought maybe could you do a Wolverine x daughter reader or just teen or just platonic whatever where they bond over their love of dogs and get a gog together idk

Its just and idea so if you do want to write it totally change it up however you like anyway thank you !

"Wouldn't Have It Any Other Way"

A/N: hello! thank you anon for requesting this cool as fuck fic <333 i had fun writing this :)))) fun fact, Edo is a german name that means protector. remember that ;)

Fandom: X-men

Warnings: Swearing, Dogs

Pairings: Platonic! Logan Howlett x gn!teen!reader, platonic! Charlves Xavier x gn!teen!reader

----

"Aw, c'mon Professor!" you whine, throwing your hands up in exasperation. Professor Xavier sighs and places his hands on his desk, "Y/N, a dog is a huge responsibility, and considering you haven't been keeping up with your classes-" "Didn't know you knew about that.." you mumble. The Professor raises and eyebrow at you, continuing "I don't think you've shown that you can handle taking care of a dog."

You tail swishes as you think. The Professor looks as you say "Ok, what about a compromise?" He nods at you to continue. You fiddle with your hands, "If I did my studies, would you let me get a dog?" The Professor wheels out from behind his desk to be closer to you, "If you can prove that you're responsible enough..." You perk up and look at him. "..Then yes, you can get a dog." You jump up and let out an excited squeal, running around the room. The Professor chuckles at your antics while wheeling towards the door and openingit for you. "Now, you have a class to get to soon. I suggest you hurry."

You nod and run out the hall, calling over your sholder "Thank you, Professor!"

----

Over the course of the next two months, you and Logan worked hard to teach you basic subjects- Maths, English, and sometimes History. It was a frustrating process but you were determined to get a dog. Sometimes you're friends would stop by and help too, mainly Scott and Jean as they both went to school. Scott would always make you more motivated to study, and Jean knew how to help you understand how to learn the material. By the end of the two months, you could read, write and do long division! Logan was so proud, and so were you. You could finally get a dog!

----

You and Logan walked through the halls of the animal shelter, your cape dragging on the ground. Most of the dogs would flinch away from you, and it was a little upsetting. Logan kept sending sympathetic glances at you and saying you'll find one soon, which wasn't really helping but you appreciated it nonetheless.

As you walked and look at all the dogs from under your cloak, one caught your eye. It was a German Shepherd standing at the fence, wagging it's tail. You stopped beside it and Logan stepped back a bit. You bent down to eye level with it, staring into it's eyes. It stayed where it was, maintaining eye contact with you. You smile and put out your hand to pet it and it happily rubbed it's head on your palm. You grin at it and coe "What's your name, buddy?" The shelter owner walks up to Logan, "That's Edo. He's been here for nearly a year now. I've never seen him warm up to someone like this."

Logan huffs and looks back at you, "Same goes for the kid." The shelter owner smiles at him and watches you and Edo. "Hey, Logan" you say, and turn to face him "He kinda looks like you." Logan rolls his eyes as you laugh and continue petting Edo. Logan turns the owner, "Can we have the paperwork for the adoption?"

----

You run through the field with Edo running behind you, barking happily. Some of the younger kids were running around too, throwing a ball for Edo to chase. Xavier and Logan watch from a balcony, the latter sipping a beer. "Hey, Professor.." Logan starts, taking a moment to think of how to word what he wanted to say. "Thank you. I don't think I've ever seen the kid happier." Xavier smiles and says "You should be thanking yourself, Logan. Y/N only started to warm up after they met you, after all." Logan tilts his head a little and sips his beer again. They both chuckle as Edo jumps on your tail and you try and get him off.

----

You fall into bed, exhausted from staying up the previous day. As you watch Edo curl up at your feet you know that it was entirely worth it. Your tail circles protectively around him, and you then pass out for the next 14 hours. You wouldn't have it any other way.

[doomxdriven]

DRABBLE: THE HEARING (PART I)

The Bakkoto, parasitic organisms that take the shape of weaponry, these days forged in secret by a process remembered only by the Kumoi (a cadet branch of the more prominent Kasumiōji Clan). Thanks to a bit of clever thievery long ago, Amagai was the owner of such a weapon, and had kept the true nature of his Bakkoto hidden for ages now with the help of Kido, having successfully passed the weapon off as a Zanpakuto.

However, Amagai should have figured that eventually, Central 46 would take notice, the nosy bastards.

"With exception to the Greater Nobility and their Ancestral blades," one judge starts rattling off, "it has never come to pass that a Shinigami could wield two different Zanpakuto, which means that you are--"

"I don't get why the Nobility is always an exception when it comes to anything and everything," Amagai cheekily interrupted, "I think we should be talking more about that, all the leeway they get over everyone else, it never seemed fair."

The presiding judge glares at Amagai, and then without addressing his statement (because of course they wouldn't talk about that) they pick up where they left off, "which means you are one of two things, Captain Amagai, special, or a liar who is hiding something."

"Special sounds about right for me I'd say," Amagai replied in a jestful though arguably flippant manner, "I don't do the whole lying thing, unless my seated officers are asking me how much paperwork I've done, but only then, honest!"

Many of the surrounding judges grumble in the wake of Amagai's remarks, none too pleased with his attitude. The judge who has spoken before seems especially annoyed, however, they continue on, pointing at Amagai as they sharply say;

"Mind yourself, Captain Amagai-- we will prove here today whether or not you truly wield a second, unique Zanpakuto, and if it turns out you do not, we will also uncover the true nature of whatever that weapon truly is."

The nerve of these verminous geezers, these leeches, Amagai wished he could light this whole chamber up in flames right now, take all of these bastards out… but it was too soon for that. The day would come when Amagai put Central 46 to the flames, but for now, he needed to keep a leveled head and bullshit his way through this hearing.

"I really feel like none of this is necessary," Amagai replied, giving a casual shrug, "we could all be spending our time on more important things if you ask me, but alright, how are we going to do this?"

Amagai goes to draws his second 'Zanpakuto', which to everyone in the room, would appear as a tanto-like blade, and he then waves it around for all to see, while half-jokingly and half-contemptuously saying, "do you all want to hold it? Pass it around maybe? Give it the old taste test? Be my guests."

The presiding judge sighs deeply, and then motions to the chamber doors, before announcing, "we have brought three experts to weigh in on these matters today; 11th Division Captain Zaraki Kenpachi, Grand Kido Chief Bansui, and his Excellency Ōetsu Nimaiya."

As the doors to the Central 46 Assembly Hall begin to slowly open, Amagai turns to glance at them, and then back at the presiding judge, replying, "why those three specifically?"

Ōetsu Nimaiy, they were the creator of the Zanpakuto, if Amagai remembered correctly, so he understood why they might be called here. That was going to be a massive problem in and of itself, but why did they call Zaraki, and the head of the Kido Corps? Nimaiya was probably all these Central 46 bastards needed to unravel the little scheme Amagai had been running here with his Bakkoto, so were the other two just insult to injury?

"Kenpachi Zaraki," the presiding judge went on to reply, "has crossed blades with you multiple times in the past, and can provide firsthand, reliable testimony as to the nature of your supposed second 'Zanpakuto', the Grand Kido Chief can ensure there is no interference from high level Kido-related machinations during today's proceedings, and his Excellency Ōetsu Nimaiya will--"

The doors to the Assembly Hall fully open, but only one figure is standing there, hunched over, cloaked, and yawning as they finish the presiding judge's sentence, "--not be… joining us, for today's, proceedings."

Multiple gasps and surprised grunts can be heard sweeping across the Assembly Hall as the various judges and wise men all turn their attention to the newly arrived Bansui, the Kido Corps Grand Kido Chief.

"Captain… Zaraki Kenpachi, has gotten lost, on his way here, and shall not… make it, in time. Whereas… Lord Ōetsu Nimaiya has… declined, today's summons, and sends his…" Bansui reaches into his cloak and pulls out a piece of paper, presumably a letter from Nimaiya themselves, which he then reads from and says imitative, " 'coolest apologies'."

Listening to all of this, suddenly Amagai doesn't feel as worried about this hearing, but Bansui was still here, the Grand Kido Chief, supposedly the strongest Kido user in the entire Soul Society; they could still be a problem if they started poking around the illusions he had set up around his Bakkoto.

"It's just going to be you then, Grand Kido Chief?" Amagai asks, briefly turning to look at Bansui before turning back to the presiding judge, "or does this mean we can call all of this off and go home?"

The presiding judge, clearly frustrated beyond belief and rubbing both of their temples, stands up and steps away from their podium for a moment, where they begin to congregate with a few other judges in the background.

In the meantime, Bansui languidly descends the stairs that led to the Assembly Hall stage where Amagai currently was, eying the 3rd Division Captain closely, and their supposed 'second' Zanpakuto.

Amagai, at this point, turns around and spots the approaching Bansui, feeling a little uneasy with every step closer they took, wondering what their actions here might be today if this hearing was to go ahead. More than that, Amagai simply didn't like the vibe of this guy-- he had heard rumours about Bansui and the Kido Corps over the years, none of which painted a pretty picture, and he started wondering if some of those rumours might be true.

"Hey now, no need to come all the way down here, you can stay up there, it's fine," Amagai jovially called out to Bansui while waving at them, "I don't think these guys are going to follow through with any of this now, anyway."

Bansui, in return, is silent, continuing downward toward Amagai, their one visible eye now meeting his, staring right through him.

Amagai went to continue, "er, uh, or you can come down here I guess, if you really feel like it--"

The presiding judge would suddenly return to their podium and announce, "it has been decided that today's hearing shall go forward as planned despite the absence of two experts; Grand Kido Chief, please begin your examination, you have the floor."

Amagai, turning slowly to look up at the presiding judge and all the others who had also returned to their places, mouths under his breath, "damn it."

[siriannatan]

Undeniable Pull Chapter 2

Chapter 1

It's much faster than I anticipated but I simply got excited I guess :}

Hunter Sung remained at the edge of Jin-Chul's awareness since the incident. Three sizeable incidents having only one man in common could not have been an accident. Keeping him in mind in case something else happened seemed like a smart idea. Hwang Dong-Su's landing in Korea brought the thoughts of the E-rank back to the front of his mind. Maybe he should have broken a couple of rules to warn him…

Hwang Dong-Su was probably the worst S-rank Jin-Chul had to ever deal with. And having to deal even with Korean S-rank hunters was a predicament.

"How long do you plan on staying?" Jin-Chul asked struggling to stay professional.

"Not long. I'll be returning as soon as I finish some business. Don't worry."

How was Jin-Chul not to worry about a response like that? Even if it was expected from an S-rank. "It wouldn't have to do with hunters Sung Jin-Woo and Yoo Jin-Ho?" he could not help but ask.

"As expected from the director of the monitoring division. Asking something he already knows about," Dong-Su almost growled. "What? Will you try to stop me for the sake of measly E and D ranks? You stop me?" he glared a glare that would have most dropping to their knees. Woo Jin-Chul though was used to S-Ranks looking at him like an annoyance trying to limit them.

"I'm just doing my job," Jin-Chul almost shrugged. He was already over this accursed 'visit'.

"I like you," Hwang Dong-Su said slowly, arm landing on Jin-Chul's shoulder. "How about you join the Scavenger guild? We can treat you better than that old geezer," he offered and it took a lot of Jin-Chul's self-control not to scoff and turn him down politely.

Jin-Chul could never accept such an offer. Dong-Su was why Dong-Suk could get away with very obviously either killing himself or sacrificing to monster filler hunters his team hired to fill member requirements. Like a lizard losing its tail. Dong-Su didn't even have to get involved in any way to stop any investigation. Real brothers bound by blood. Both at all not caring about murders. 'Despicable trash' he thought as he led the S-rank to the association car. He could only hope the two hunters were not in the city.

Hwang Dong-Su was not immediately interested in Yoo Jin-Ho. This could be due to his family's influence. But highly unlikely. The bastard was not even interested in his brother's mortuary. And dared to clearly plan a murder inside a gate in front (or behind as they were in a car) of Sung Jin-Woo. Not that Jin-Chul could do anything about it whether he'd like to or not.

The gate Sung Jin-Woo entered was another curious case. A C-rank gate in mostly deserted due to frequent gate areas. A gate belonging to the White Tiger guild. How did he manage to pull that out? But even worse. Baek Yoon-Ho was there. And the gate turned to a red gate. How did the C-rank gate turn red? At least it meant that Sung Jin-Woo was safe from Hwang Dong-Su. But not from whatever was inside the gate.

Why was he feeling confident hunter Sung would be fine? Was it all the recent incidents involving the man messing with his logical thinking? Must be… Not that he had time to worry. Hang and Beak were ready to jump each other and that would be too much damage and paperwork for Jin-Chul.

Baek seemed to have no clue why Sung would be inside the gate.

"Man. I came all the way to Korea and that bastard went and got himself killed inside a damned red gate before I could even get a glimpse.

"What business do you have with an E-rank to come all the way to a dungeon entrance?" Jin-Chul was more than happy to let Baek Yoon-Ho talk to Hwang Dong-Su. As long as they weren't fighting that is.

"None of your business. It's just entertainment." American hunter waved the question away. "What a pain. I wish I could see what's inside. But also so troublesome. I can't wait for it to open."

It would seem Sung Jin-Woo might really be lucky. He just needs to come back alive to be really lucky.

Despite his apparent lack of interest, Dong-Su stayed outside the gate for a long time. Until Baek assumed everyone inside had died three hours (three days inside) since it opened. At least he seemed to lose interest until he realised one thing.

Why was an E-rank with seemingly no connection to White Tiger inside one of their gates? "Then how did he end up in there?" he asked glaring at Beak and his clerks. One of whom explained.

"He's an old acquaintance. He asked if he could see a C-rank raid so I reluctantly introduced him here," he explained and all hell broke loose.

Before anyone could blink the clerk was held up in the air with one hand by Hwang Dong-Su. And before Jin-Chul could do anything Baek intervened. What a mess.

Jin-Chul ended up having to step in between the two to stop their fight. Luckily they both reduced their strength so his arms were fine. "I was the first one to suspect hunter Sung Jin-Woo of reawakening. However, after being tested with the highest grade measuring device he was still an E-rank," he explained. No need to include how long ago it happened. "It's unfortunate that hunter Hwang Dong-Suk have passed away but hunter Sung Jin-Woo doesn't have the power to wipe out an attack force," he continued feeling some doubting looks from the White Tiger clerk.

"Then the culprit must be from Yoo Jim Architectures. But it's just an excuse… to kill another human."

Jin-Chul really wished he hadn't heard it. He didn't have to be that aware of what kind of person this man was. At least he finally left. At least he was happy with a ride with a lower rank agent from the association. As he S-ranks argued Jin-Chul called the office to send someone to handle the incident. But was more than happy to deal with it himself. Baek was one of the more reasonable S-Ranks even if not by much.

In the end, the red ate remained open for seven days. With only five survivors. Including Sung Jin-Woo and another E-rank. Was the device wrong? Or did other hunters die to finish the boss?

Seeing Sung brush and S-rank like Baek away as he did was rather amusing. Jin-Chul saw no reason to stop him from leaving. He had ways of contacting the man. Even if just to tell him about Hwang Dong-Su thinking he's dead. Just so he doesn't worry too much.

And was it just him or did he seem even stronger than sat time he met him?

[homegrownkel]

GERMINATION: greeting the world

Introductions are the worst part of meeting new people. Having to think about making a good impression - reading whether or not you gauged correctly, not realizing when you've missed the mark. It's the culmination of the worst part of being of a social species. Trying to move from the other to becoming part of the group. It means Kel knows from the first moment of consciousness that today will be Rough. Luckily the crockpot did its job and there's fresh minestrone for his thermos. Less luckily, half the soup spills on the way to the car.

It's just another blemish on an already rough morning. Kel hasn't had a reaction to any sort of mental influence like this in so many years that they're not the only one caught off guard. Someone will figure out how to mitigate the fog - they can already hear chatter about it in the group, which is much more attention-grabbing than poor Kato. Nice guy, but maybe there will be a better second impression. One that sticks.

And then every thing that needs to go wrong will - apparently the camera used to take the first ID photo wasn't the proper model, or was missing whatever coating the Foundation used in the past to take his ID photos. But the security department needs a new one. Kel can't blame them - if they were a guard and someone handed over a picture of a flower arrangement as a security card, he wouldn't let them in either.

The one in charge seems just the type the commission would pick, observant, experienced, just friendly enough to inspire some level of loyalty. Small flashes of the man in action - usually from a distance, add depth and color to his form, old memories overlaid on a fresh face. They fall into place for some of the others in the room as well, though at least one face is so familiar there's nothing new to learn at a glance.

"Good morning," Kel bobs a nod at their new boss in an attempt to be less... ominously looming, and gives him a perfectly average handshake before moving towards a seat in the back. Then it's time for the parade. And what a show it is. The team is clearly hand picked for something, but even Kel can tell that more than a few people have history of some sort and still others won't mesh well despite the rigid hold an MTF's commander usually has. For at least one that might actually be the problem.

There is something to be said about going in the middle of a set though. Avoiding the nerves of being the first, but also knowing you aren't the last first impression somehow relieves some of the pressure. Or at least it does for Kel. It's easiest to see everything from the metaphorical middle of the pack anyways.

"My turn then?" They smile quickly and straighten up before swallowing down the worst of the brogue they'd never gotten rid of. "Some of you may already know me as Kel or Engineer Trebond, but I guess I'm going by Garden Variety here. Bit of a nod to my hometown, I think. Small place, big on uh... agriculture. I've been working in the foundation research divisions almost 3 decades now. My work's mostly in the actual building of things, more practical application and testing than the theoretical stuff, so I'm a bit excited to see how these things actually run in the field. Fun fact, um..." He sits back in his chair, smile turning nervous. "I'm 209 centimeters tall. Yes, really. Oh I think that's six foot.... ten inches? Math might be a bit off, but I'm past the threshold where people try to say it makes a difference. Anyways - if you need me, send me a page. I like to wander and this campus seems a bit large, so it's better to not pass each other while searching."

And with that, the worst was over. The members of the team grow more and more interesting as they go down the list, but maybe that's just the relaxed nerves speaking.