#cw: trafficking mention

[angel-dust-addict]

"Molly. Doubt ya'd approve of 'er, though. Don't usually bring 'er around here," Angel replied casually. He was intentionally talking as though this was a person. As though he was suggesting something raunchy rather than something illicit. Not that anything was illicit in Hell.

He knew better. Really, he did. He'd been a heroin addict in life and it had killed him. But he couldn't die of an overdose here. He'd tried once or twice, when things were particularly bad. He'd just felt horrible for several days. So fuck it. Why not. It wasn't like any of the situations he was using to cope with were in any way optional. As for being vulnerable, he knew what was going to happen to him anyway, whether he was high or not. So why the fuck not? If it was inevitable, why not make it suck as little as possible? If he was lucky, he wouldn't remember.

That was a very dark spiral he didn't really want to get into right now. He did not want to go down that road. He didn't think much of wrapping his lower arms tightly around himself as he stared down into his coffee like it contained all the answers to the universe. And doubtless Alastor had realized what his profession entailed by now. What Val had done to him and what Val had made him do. At least to some extent. Enough to be humiliating.

He shook himself out of it quick enough, though. Pasting a small smile back onto his face, he looked up at Alastor and commented, "Ya know, feels like all we've done is talked about me. Normally I wouldn't have a problem wit' dat. But normally I ain't got the pentagram's most enigmatic man on tha otha' end'a tha couch."

He watched Alastor, waiting for him to say something. While Angel was genuinely curious about the Radio Demon, he mostly wanted out of this conversation. He didn't want to be in the spotlight anymore. He was exhausted and was more than ready to let someone else take the stage.

angel-dust-addict​:

Well, seemed like Alastor didn’t feel like talking. Fair enough. But the suggestion of Angel taking these couple of hours to rest was… unsettling. He didn’t like the idea of Alastor being present while he was asleep. He didn’t like the idea of sleeping around anyone except maybe Cherri. She was safe in a way most people weren’t. Alastor… Angel knew what the man had said. But he still felt a bit uneasy letting his guard down quite that much, simply because the deer was still intimidating. Not that Angel didn’t sleep in the presence of people he didn’t trust fairly often - he’d certainly spent enough nights in Val’s bed and Vox’s - but that was more because he didn’t have a choice if he wanted an opportunity to sleep at all.

“Nah, I’m alright, Smiles. Ya don’t gotta worry ‘bout me,” he replied, shaking his head. His voice made it clear he wasn’t alright, but he was going to try to be. There was that saying about “fake it ‘til you make it,” and Angel was a master of that. He could have himself looking and sounding just fine before such time as he needed to leave. “Besides, I got a friend ta help wit’ dat.”

He was no stranger to uppers. Be that molly or angel dust or anything else that would get him high and keep him wired. That was how he managed a not insignificant portion of the time. Not that Alastor would understand or approve. Angel was certainly keeping in mind that Alastor occupied a very similar role to Vaggie where the hotel was concerned. Besides which, Angel didn’t want to risk making him angry. However, given the conversation they had just had, maybe Alastor would understand why Angel turned to drugs to get through work. But he couldn’t be certain and he didn’t want to take that risk. He’d already said too much.

Now, now, Alastor knows Angel is a better actor than this. His tone communicates that in no way is he alright. Perhaps the performer is too tired to put on a performance for such a small audience, or perhaps he’s merely conserving his energy for eight o’clock. Either way, Alastor feels no need to call out the rather obvious lie outside of quirking his eyebrow. “Fair enough,” he says with a small shrug of his shoulders. He isn’t one to push unless it’s for his benefit. if Angel doesn’t want to rest, Alastor certainly won’t push the subject further. Maybe he doesn’t want these next two hours of relative freedom to pass by quickly, or… it may be that he took Alastor’s words to mean something different. He suggested Angel rest, he didn’t think to say he should go upstairs, to his own room, where he could lock his door and distance himself from the rest of the hotel. Could he have thought Alastor was implying that he sleep here? Exposed? Hmm… he’ll choose his words more carefully next time. 

The Radio Demon leans back against the sofa, lifting one of his legs and crossing it over the other at the knee. If Angel was going to go upstairs, he would get back to work. Since Angel seems as if he’d like to stay for a bit, Alastor will make himself comfortable. He lets his head fall slightly to the side, his eyebrows raised in interest. “A friend, you say?” He asks. At first, he thinks his fellow sinner is referring to the caffeine; however, the way he said the word indicates something slightly less obvious. 

While Alastor is far from an expert on drugs, having never experimented with anything other than nicotine, he’s hardly naive on the subject. In fact, it’s because he’s relatively learned on the subject that he never dabelled. He saw the effects, he saw how it left others vulnerable, and vulnerable was the last thing he ever wanted to be again. At the same time, he can understand the pull. That feeling of euphoria and invulnerability must be intoxicating… pun completely intended. 

[howlsofbloodhounds]

canon vs fanon colorkiller,,, thoughts?

also what do you think they’d be like in a modern adjacent au? like in a normal city, no murder or anything. i think they click regardless of au or timeline but i wanna know your thoughts

Quick warning: brief talk about abuse, cults, and trafficking.

To be honest, I’ve mostly seen a fair mixture of “fanon” and “canon” colorkiller lately, and I think the fanon bits can actually be done pretty well. I remember reading a fanfic where Killer decided to stay with Nightmare, but that was only because Nightmare had gradually began to realize what he was doing and began to care about his Gang gradually.

But that didn’t erase Killer and Nightmare’s past even if Stage 2 had forgiven him, because Stage 1 always still avoided him and was terrified of the rest of the Gang at first and would always run to Color for safety. And of course Color didn’t trust Nightmare yet. And I remember like an argument between Stage 2 and Color about Nightmare, about how in the past Color just wanted Stage 1–a Sans—and would often just look through Killer as if he weren’t there, so of course he clung to Nightmare.

The fic ended pretty great when they managed to talk it out, but I absolutely think both can be done pretty well in AUs where Killer chose to join Nightmare, or otherwise decides to stay. Because ultimately the two just understand eachother, and Color offers Killer something he hasn’t had in a long time and something he needs. A somewhat normal life, a safe life, not to mention just the good friend Color is. (Or tries his best to be.)

As for in a modern au, I’m going to project my own experience on them because I was once someone’s Color and I need things to go better for them.

I will say, Color is Killer’s online friend in a modern/high school AU. They met through a common interest, and immediately clicked right off the bat. Killer trusted him in a way he usually didn’t with anyone else, online or otherwise.

I will say that this gets even more vital and important if Killer lives in either an abusive home, or something more similar to his canon situation—either a cult or being labor trafficked, and he managed to be “good enough” to earn phone privileges—even if highly monitored and Killer has to hide Color’s existence, and it’s Color that makes Killer realize that his situation that he might’ve been born and raised in is strange.

And they make a plan for Killer to escape, gather information to call the police, and a year or two later, Killer is finally free (maybe even adopted/taken in by a kinder version of Nightmare, or perhaps Nightmare managed to physically save Killer.)

And so the only ones who know about Killer’s situation are Nightmare and Color, who Killer excessively tries to always talk to whenever he hears a single notification.

He gains a rep for being addicted to his phone, but it’s really just because he doesn’t want to miss a single message from Color (even hearing the ping has a tendency to almost cause him switch him into Stage 1 if he isn’t careful. It gets better but it often still happens because Killer gets too excited)—not to mention ingrained instincts from having to hide Color’s existence for both their safety. They talk all the time, have thousands of messages and pictures sent back and forth and follow eachother on every piece of social media.

They haven’t met in person yet (perhaps Killer is still adjusting to being around others so often, and doesn’t feel ready for meeting Color), but Killer is often stuck on his phone until he meets other pals such as Dust and Horror and Cross, even if he does often blatantly refuse to ever ignore Color’s messages. (Despite Color’s reassurance that it’s okay and he should be focusing on other things too.)

(And because Color’s whole thing is traveling, maybe they even eventually meet in person because Color is a transfer student or studying abroad at Killer’s school.)

( @wickjump ).

[bluntforcespatter]

Why the new account?/genq

short answer: i had a mental lapse, deleted, saw posts i wanted to reblog & people i missed and remade. (missed everyone!!!)

long answer: i was stalked online and in real life. it unravelled my mental health to the point where i leave my house less than once a month. my groceries are delivered or bought out of town by my caregiver, whom drives 2 hours away to do this. (she's fine with this, she visits her mom on the way.) i have STPD or schizotypal personality disorder - it is a mental health condition that comes with severe paranoia. being stalked worsened this, i already had paranoia that i was being stalked by the people who trafficked me, but then i really was very tangibly provably stalked and it unravelled me. i was diagnosed (newer, 2020) with this (STPD) after being diagnosed (older, 2016) with dissociative identity disorder - this often means i have amnesiac episodes. (amnesia can be as severe as DO NOT REMEMBER AT ALL to DO NOT REMEMBER HOW THAT FELT [EMOTIONAL] OR WHAT I WAS THINKING.) having DID and STPD means all of my alternative states/dissociated states/"multiple personalities", (outdated, don't use that terminology) ALSO have STPD.

i have an introject of Simon Henriksson. (if you know, you know.) he doesn't handle paranoid thoughts well at all. he deleted my accounts (more than ONE sideblog!!) because he was convinced Rani was still stalking us. he kept any blogs that didn't have a mention of the area i live in.

so basically i got blackout paranoid, deleted my own account out of fear, knew i did it because the same time my blog went offline Si was online messaging his friend Josie, and realized i am some sort of genuinely insane freak that nobody likes for good reason. i didn't want to lie and say tumblr nuked me because i hate liars and i never ever tell lies, so i am explaining as best as i can even though it all sounds certifiably insane. i'd rather be an honest crazy weirdo than a lying passably-normal person. sorry this is so long i am trying to be thorough. i am also sorry for deleting my account, i have something wrong with my brain. i was not trying to freak anyone out or cause concerns or tell my mutuals i don't like them or anything like that!!! i apologize if this is worded condescendingly - not intentional, i just never know what other people know and often over explain trying to be understood - i often get tones wrong because of my mental illnesses. i am not trying to be rude, my brain just doesn't work right but i swear i'm not mean or scary or cruel i am just traumatized.

[toontownjusticedepartment]

Wanted for human and toon trafficking.

I.M. Coachman, after playing the part of a slaver transforming children into donkeys in Pinocchio was caught being involved in a real-life trafficking ring off-set. Director Ben Sharpsteen reported him acting suspiciously behind the scenes, and his involvement was discovered in the middle of production before the scene showing his defeat could be filmed.

While many of his cohorts were arrested, Coachman was able to flee the scene and is currently on the run. 15 humans and five toons were rescued from the operation.

Please contact Judge Doom or the Toon Patrol for any information regarding his whereabouts. There is a $230 dollar reward for information, and a $2,500 dollar reward to anyone who captures him.

He faces execution via Dip

(ooc notes under cut)

Ooc: I thought while making this post it'd make sense to also use it to explain why he doesn't have any comeuppance in the film. If he got caught committing real life crimes in the film, he would have fled to avoid the law.

[syn0vial]

so convenient for me that the bad guys in this game keep giving astarion perfectly IC reasons to murder their asses

[bebatzelbub]

So this is absolutely batshit, and not to minimize it but it is also one of the most Jason moves I can imagine. (CW CSA, Diddy is a monster, etc)

Just like this entire case is one horror after another, but "I draw the line at minors" and then performatively suing over lost business is certainly something

[angel-dust-addict]

"Mammon really let it get dat bad?" Angel asked. He knew the answer. Fizz had said Mammon was like Val. And Val would absolutely let things get that bad if it didn't threaten his profits.

But the other thing that bothered him about that was, "An' he just sold ya? Didn't ask ya or nothin' just... told ya you belonged ta somebody else?"

It was, in essence, what Val did to him all the time, but Angel found this instance even more disturbing. Perhaps it was the permanence, but it made him feel sick just thinking about it.

"Nah. Not wit'out payin' anyway," Angel replied, moving on to the other hip. He paused, though, when Fizz asked about the bruises. It was only the briefest of pauses and he didn't look over, but he did hesitate. A little less nonchalantly, he answered, "Nah, these ain't from custamahs. This's all Val. He, uh, pissin' him off ain't a real good idea."

[howlsofbloodhounds]

Tik tok link

ITS LITERALLY THAT AND I CANT TAKE IT ANYMORE

UTMV fandom stop romanticizing trafficking, kidnapping, what amounts to basically mind control, and abuse just because it’s your “hot” little blorbo that does it challenge. Failed continuously over and over.

I think the worst part about it is when they use killers masochism to justify the abuse with “well he likes it!”

Pretty soon I predict some people in the fandom may tip to the other side of the scale and make killer start hating nightmare so much and sexualize that too.

Just let bro do one simple thing and breathe without constantly sexualizing him. like would you like it if you start sharing how much you hate your abuser and have violent thoughts about revenge only for someone to claim you want to fuck and have sexual tension with your abuser.

[jiraiconfessional]

(reassurance?) sometimes I feel like I don't belong in the jirai community cause my only real problem is suicidal tendencies and I engage in no self-destructive behaviors, but at the same time, I do resonate a lot with it, and I feel welcome here

-💜

✦ . 　⁺ 　 . ✦ . 　⁺ 　 . ✦

i think that's okay. i think everyone has some feeling of not belonging, you know? even in spaces like these where you finally feel like you truly do belong, doubt can still creep up on you. but struggling with mental health is kind of the only defining factor here. (￣ω￣;)

i think it's not useful to "shrink the circle". i'll try to explain what that means. having it be "if you're mentally ill and therefore struggle in an ableist society" is what jirai is, what it means. but then adding on "but only if you're self destructive" shrinks the circle. then adding "only if you have been homeless before" shrinks it further. then "only if you drink and smoke" to "no, actually, only if you do illicit drugs" then "only if you do sex work to survive" then "only if you are currently homeless" then "only if you are a victim of trafficking". i think it's gatekeepy and weird. ヽ(‵﹏´)ノ

i myself am a victim of human trafficking. i fled that situation and wound up homeless, literally sleeping outside, for a year. i was in and out of shelters because they had a 3 day stay cap and you couldn't come back, so i had to buy a tent. the original jirai scene was started by victims of human trafficking, those seen as unfavorable to talk to or about, because of their life circumstances or the way trauma made them behave, and often they were young individuals fleeing abuse only to wind up in worse situations. that's why jirai resonates with me, i see myself in some of the movement.

but at the same time, the insult is hurled on a basis of "you're mentally unwell!" it's predicated upon you having mental illness and other people shunning or abusing you for it. so i don't "shrink the circle" by insisting only survivors are allowed to be jirai, because that's simply not true. jirai means "we think you're too crazy to be around! we think your mental health makes you dangerous, or weird!" jirai is "you're a ticking time bomb, and nobody wants to be around you in case it goes off!"

think of it like this: every subcul has "factions". post modern UK punks look different and has different music styles from cowpunks. UK punks and cowpunks look and sound different from crustpunks. but all of them are different and the same. they're all punks, just of different varieties. different backgrounds, different experiences, but all in favor of rebelling against an oppressive society, whether that be a belief in your own authenticity in the face of the mainstream, a desire for a sense of community under capitalistic hyper-individualism or a rejection of corporate culture. all of these movements i mentioned here believe community > capitalism, authenticity > following the mold of normalcy - but they look entirely different style wise, and make entirely different music inspired from various genres!

or, for example, hikikomoris. they don't never ever leave the house, many of them have jobs, or must go shopping or to laundromats. there are some who haven't left their room in years, but there are some who organize events through locations like New Start in Chiba and have meetups or an annual NEET convention. because hikikomori isn't exclusively never going out, but is instead the social isolation that comes with the struggle to connect & the struggle to see the world at large as something worth participating in, let alone something you're able to participate in.

what unites us is our struggle in an ableist society. what brings us together is our understanding of each other's issues/struggles. and what i love, is that this community isn't focused on needing to get better. you can just be, and it's okay. nobody's going to come rushing to tell you to stop "wallowing" or "try therapy" (stay away from twt and reddit, they're cesspits for that sort of shit) and rather we can speak openly and be supported without an undertone of "well, why don't you just go get better!" it's acceptance and understanding from people who struggle similarly to yourself. and that's life changing.

i hope this made sense, i know it might be confusing, i tend to not make sense even when i think i do. but i am deeply obsessed with subcultures from a sociological standpoint! i think they're very important and each subculture has a reason for existing, a place or way it started, and an evolutionary path, you know? so what i am trying to tell you is that being jirai is about your experience with mental health, much like punk is about DIY. both aren't a look you can buy and wear, it's about who you are - and if you say you're jirai, i welcome you, landmine angel. (´-ω-`( _ _ )

✦ . 　⁺ 　 . ✦ . 　⁺ 　 . ✦

[nando161mando]

Does that make sense to you?

[thesolaceofsunlight]

The Truth (after clinging to lies)

Thank you, Apollo For showing me the Truth I wish that I could be more grateful. I wanted to know. I didn’t. You know the way I felt About this particular man

I’ve clung so long to loving him That I don’t know how to not. But I’ve known something’s wrong For a while now.

—

You showed me more of the Truth I am grateful I am. It has made it easier to cast him aside But what now? I can’t ignore what happened. My mother cannot either. Will the Truth be a thing that tears my broken family further apart?

—

It did. I have suffered it a while. But I did not have to see his face I did not have to hug him Or laugh at his jokes While aching in my heart and dying inside

I have lost most my family. But I am free, and I am grateful.

You showed me the Truth. Thank you.

————

This poem was written at three points in my life over the last year as I recovered traumatic memories I’d repressed and navigated what to do about them. I don’t usually talk about it here, and I won’t go into detail, but Apollo first came to me when I was being trafficked as a child. His presence was the safest I’d ever felt. I clung to that feeling during the worst parts of my life.

I always wondered how the logistics of that situation worked, but was afraid to find out, as it couldn’t have happened without family involvement. I know now, at least part of the answer to that question. Consequently, I am now estranged from my mother’s side of the family.

I have suffered. It was a hard loss.

But I am grateful to Apollo for helping me start to heal.

If you enjoyed this poem or just want to help, my Ko-fi is in my description. Any support helps.

[schrijverr]

Tomorrow Will Be Different 10

Chapter 10 out of 26

Instead of managing to meet up later, Oliver has to keep running with Akio. The only way to keep them safe is to go public with Oliver being alive, leaving him back home in charge of Akio, while Tatsu and Maseo are still in the wind

In this chapter, Oliver gives a press statement about his time away, answering some questions for reporters. He also starts to figure out to what extend he can trust Diggle.

On AO3.

Ships: none

Warnings: mentions of human trafficking

~~~

Chapter 10: Press Conference of Oliver Queen

Shopping for Akio goes pretty well all things considered. Oliver is good at fitting in to a crowd and his new appearance is enough to throw people off for now. Plus, with Diggle being verified as trustworthy, he has an extra set of eyes to get them out, before they can get swarmed.

Diggle’s presence also means he has one other person he can leave Akio with, which is useful when they get to Queen Consolidated after their shopping trip, since Oliver is making a statement to the press about his return.

Thea is still in school for today, but his mom is there. She gives him her most reassuring smile, before gesturing to the podium. “I’ll be there the whole time.”

He smiles at her, turning to Akio to check if he’s okay staying with Diggle and making him promise to stay close and in sight. Then he follows after her, taking a deep breath when a wall of noise hits him the second he steps on the podium.

Oliver gives them all a second to scream their questions, before quieting them by promising that he’ll answer their questions after.

“As you have probably heard, the Queen’s Gambit went down in a storm and I was picked up by a freighter,” Oliver starts giving them the story he prepared with Lyla. “I had been drifting on the rubble for some days by then. No one else made it on there with me. The crew along with my father, Robert Queen, and Sara Lance drowned.”

“Unluckily for me, the freighter wasn’t interested in returning me home. It wasn’t a normal cargo ship, but part of a human trafficking ring. They didn’t want to risk me telling anyone, so I was transported alongside a group of others to a remote island somewhere,” Oliver continues.

“There I worked for the next two years on a plantation. I think drugs, but despite my history taking them, I’m not sure what kind.” It’s a weak attempt at a joke, but he gets a few pity laughs.

“The operation on the plantation got busted – or at least that is what I assumed happened… There was a lot of gun fire and everyone being rounded up. Those that didn’t make it onto this other ship were left behind.”

“We spend a few days at sea, before a few of us were transferred to another ship. Here I met Tatsu and Maseo Yamashiro, along with their son Akio. They were held in the cell next to mine and we spend the following year on that ship next to each other.”

“My cell was the one with a window. I spend months tinkering with it until it could be opened and then waited until we touched land to resupply, so I could escape. I wished I could’ve freed everyone there, but those cells were robust. I was able to take Akio because he fit between the bars.”

“As you all have heard and seen, Akio is still with me today. I promised his parents to take care of him until I could get help back to everybody and that is exactly what I will be doing. He is my responsibility and I take that seriously. However, he has been through a lot this past year, so I ask you to respect his privacy and leave him alone. Should anyone try to speak with him without my permission and his consent, I will be taking legal action.”

After that, Oliver makes sure to look everyone there in the eye. He means what he just said and he doesn’t want to explain to Tatsu why he let her kid go through the horrors of paparazzi, so he’s preemptively avoiding it the best he can.

“The two of us ran, but were spotted and chased by the men who held us. We were lucky to run into the reporter, whose footage from the CNN most of you will have seen. I want to thank her for not turning us away, the fact that we were seen and people cared saved our lives.”

“I also want to thank the American embassy in Hong Kong, the local authorities, my family and Tommy Merlyn, for doing everything to get me here so swiftly. It is good be home. Thank you.”

The moment he’s done, the noise starts up again with everyone clamoring to be the one to get their question answered. He doesn’t really want to, but it’s important that a story gets out, that Shrieve doesn’t suspect he’s doing anything but covering his own ass.

Oliver points to a reporter, indicating he’ll answer his question and the man immediately asks: “What happened on the last ship you were on? Your occupation of your last year being lost has not been disclosed.”

“And it will not be disclosed,” Oliver replies curtly. They have a story for him to tell people close to him, but it feels realistic to keep some things from the press.

“Why?” the reporter presses.

“It was an incredibly traumatic time and I do not feel comfortable talking about it. On top of that, the ship and its crew, alongside the other hostages are still missing and I do not want my statement to interfere with the investigation into it.”

Immediately more hands shoot up and he indicates a different reporter, who asks: “Do you think the ship will be located and your captors be brought to justice?”

“I can only hope they do, but I have complete faith in the Hong Kong authorities and their ability to do everything they can to reunite Akio with his parents and set the others free.”

Another reporter gets to speak and asks: “What will happen to Akio Yamashiro if his parents are not found? Do you have guardianship over him? Are you planning to adopt him? Do you feel like you are capable of taking care of a traumatized child?”

Okay, so they’re going there. Not unexpected, but still not great.

“I do have guardianship over him now and should the tragedy occur that Tatsu and Maseo Yamashiro cannot be located, I will continue to take care of him. However, I do believe that they will be found and I ask everyone not to lose faith either.”

“You did not answer my final question,” the reporter presses. “Do you feel like you are capable of taking care of a traumatized child?”

Oliver takes a breath. He has prepared everything to ensure their cover doesn’t get blown and the target on their backs doesn’t get bigger. This line of questioning is throwing him off slightly, though he fortunately has gotten good at thinking on his feet and undercover work.

“I believe that I am the right person to take care of Akio, yes. After what we have been through, I do not want to leave him in the care of strangers and he has indicated he feels comfortable with me. I am using every resource I have available to give him the best childhood he can have right now and to help him adjust.”

He indicates a different reporter, hoping the topic will be dropped. Alas, no such luck. “Given your past as party boy with multiple arrests, are you qualified to be responsible for a child?”

This is getting tiring, but Oliver answers anyway: “I have been deemed qualified by those that gave me official guardianship. So, yes. I won’t be answering any more questions about my qualifications as a caregiver at this time.”

That last part makes some reporters very disgruntled, he notes. With his reputation as irresponsible, the presence of Akio has been controversial and it seems that most were hoping to find a scandal today.

He points to another reporter, who asks: “Do you have a comment on the rumors from Hong Kong that there was a trail of bodies left in your wake?”

Oliver is now glad Lyla warned him this might happen, since it allows him to keep his poker face. It is odd to be thankful to Amanda for the training she put him through, but right now, he is.

“I’m afraid I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he says as plainly as he can into the microphone.

The reporter is more than happy to clarify: “There were eyewitness accounts that described your run through Hong Kong. They stated you were seen with a bow and arrow, shooting down gunmen following you and Akio. These witnesses have retracted those statements now, but some are claiming it is a cover up. So, is it a cover up, Mr. Queen?”

“That is quite the story,” Oliver says, forcing himself to chuckle. “As much as I appreciate the badass picture that is painted of me, I’m afraid those accounts are likely people trying to make a quick buck off the notoriety of the story, who thought better of it. I think I would remember magically obtaining a bow and arrow and shooting people with archery training I don’t have.”

With the way he frames it, it does sound a little ridiculous and he is pleased when the reporter looks a bit embarrassed. Another mine in the minefield cleared.

Yet another reporter gets to ask a question now: “You stated you don’t know the name of who captured you. How is it you don’t know a name after a year of being their captive?”

Oliver’s face becomes blank. It’s a deliberate choice that he puts on by remembering all the times he has been tortured, calling on the emotion he felt then. He bites out: “There wasn’t much speaking involved in our meetings.”

The colder tone is a good way to end, he decides. He clears his throat and makes sure the politeness in his voice sounds as forced as it is when he says: “That will be all. Thank you for your time,” before leaving the stage without another comment as his mom does the rest of the talking about how glad they are Oliver is home, etcetera etcetera.

He doesn’t pay attention to what she’s saying, eyes searching for Akio the second he is out of sight from the podium.

Akio is waiting patiently with Diggle, though he tosses aside his game the second Oliver comes into view, running up to him.

Oliver doesn’t waste a second in pulling him into his arms and lifting him up. Akio is at that age where he is just becoming too old to be carried, but Oliver doesn’t care, he’s strong enough to lift the boy, so why not.

After situating him properly on his arm, he asks: “Have you been okay back here? What’s the verdict on Diggle?”

“I have been okay. Diggle is too. He is very serious,” Akio answers.

“Well, as long as you’re okay, I guess Mr. Grumpypants can keep his job despite not being fun,” Oliver smiles.

“Mr. Grumpypants?” Akio repeats, reminding Oliver he’s not a native English speaker. It’s easy to forget with how well he speaks the language.

Oliver explains what it is to him as Diggle watches them. Oliver trusts the man isn’t there to capture them and to protect them, but he doesn’t know how dedicated he is, so it’s good to try and gather as much information about him as he can.

Right now, Diggle looks amused and mildly surprised at the two as he observes them. He must have known a bit of Oliver’s pre-death reputation, however, he also got a brief from Lyla that paints a different picture of Oliver. Oliver figures Diggle must be making his own judgments of him now, much like he is of Diggle.

It seems his mom will be busy there for quite a bit and Oliver doesn’t envy her. But with the reporters being busy with her, now is the perfect time to slip away.

“You know what I missed?” he starts. “A proper American burger. Have you had one of those yet, buddy?” he asks, rocking Akio slightly in his arms.

“No.”

“Then you’ve definitely missed out,” Oliver says, putting him back down. “We should rectify that right now, wouldn’t you say, Diggle?”

“That is a very serious matter to attend to,” Diggle smiles and Oliver guesses he must be an uncle at least, maybe a father. “I know just the place.”

“Lead the way, you know the city better than I do right now,” Oliver gestures for him to go first, even though he and Akio will be going first, since the whole point of a bodyguard is to have a shadow.

Diggle drives them to a burger joint downtown. It looks cozy and on the right side of busy without being crowded. Perfect for fitting into the masses without feeling surrounded. Diggle knows what he’s on about.

Oliver can’t help but be curious when Diggle greets one of the waitresses there and she greets him back. It seems too familiar for him to just be a regular here. “You two look friendly.”

“Carly’s my sister in law.”

“She’s not wearing a wedding ring,” Oliver observes. “Is your brother out of the picture?”

“You can say that,” Diggle says vaguely, before walking off to order.

Oliver decides not to pry. It’s common courtesy, especially because he doesn’t want anyone prying into him either. Diggle has probably realized that Oliver still doesn’t fully trust him, introducing them to a loved one equals the playing field slightly. He’s done Oliver a favor with that, least he can do is not push when it’s not welcome.

“Can we sit in a booth?” Akio asks excitedly.

Next to the windows and hard to get out of isn’t the best place to be. However, Akio looks so excited about it and no one has shown up to try and kidnap them yet, so Oliver decides it’s worth the risk to make Akio happy. “Course, buddy. Wanna pick a spot?”

They get some looks from other patrons as Akio skips ahead, dragging Oliver behind him, but this isn’t the best part of town and there is an unspoken agreement to mind your own business. Diggle definitely knew what he was on about when he took them here.

Eating a burger with Akio and Diggle is the most normal Oliver has felt in a long time.

Sure, living with the Yamashiros in Hong Kong meant having some semblance of an everyday life, but since he had no other obligations and Amanda wanted to make as much use out of him as he could, he spend most of his days torturing people for information or infiltrating places. And on top of that, leaving the house was discouraged by A.R.G.U.S., who didn’t want another Tommy incident on their hands if they could avoid it.

Now that he’s home, he thought he would have a normal again. But home has changed and so has he. Everyone is still treating him like a mirage that will disappear in a moment, walking on eggshells, or they treat him like a curiosity, wanting answers he can’t give them.

So watching Akio’s eyes widen at the burger, before attacking with gusto, much like any child would, makes him feel good. Normal. Like he can give Akio some happy memories of the time he was forcefully separated from his parents.

[swagging-back-to]

the biggest line in the sand for me concerning snow isn't even the killing of kids it's that he's sex trafficking them, too.

like we seriously do not talk about it enough bc WTF???

and tiktok teens call him daddy :despair:

[emiliosandozsequence]

as someone who is a survivor of trafficking, i really hate that one organization's slogan that is something to the equivalent of 'slavery still exists' because it....really isn't a good descriptor of the problem.

[gcldfanged]

❛ what is worse than death? ❜

The B Division Turk arches a dark brow and rolls his shoulders.

"Just where you goin' with this?" he states rather than genuinely asks, squinting with a crooked half-smile.

It's all too easy to think- To see, to taste, to smell.

The moon waxing crescent and leering down at you with it's broke-jawed grin. Smoke hazed air and bloodstained velvet cushions. Girls with track marks and hollow stares, the smell of burning hair and flesh as his cigarette leaves it's cauterizing kiss against the inside of your thigh- still plump with pre-teen fat.

It's not even a loss of 'innocence', there'd never been the illusion of such a quality existing. You'd had purpose as a commodity there was a demand for, but it wasn't even THAT which enflamed your boundless hatred and spite-fueled survivalist mindset.

It was the glaring lack of basic dignity as a human being. No agency. No hope left- No childish dreams of being rescued or witnessing justice. What did those words even mean, anymore?

It's not the dying at all, dying was a release. A cheat code to your long awaited happy ending. Quick and merciless and blissfully finite. It's not the running, or the torture, or the knowing that you can't even take it all back- It's the same way you can't kick a junk habit. You'll never go clean once you know how it feels to have the gong being rung.

It's the longing- For a quick drop and a sudden stop- that'll kill you.

But he'd still taken the bait, he'd made his Leap of Faith when more scar tissue and mistakes than man wearing a sleek suit pulled back the curtain and gave him a choice.

Maybe that made him a masochist, then.

Maybe they all were.

"Compared to living? Death isn't anything more than an end to pain."

[eventheodds]

derringer meryl — outlaw au

Meryl’s parents died when she was young, so it was her father’s best friend, Roberto de Niro, that took her in and raised her. Roberto worked for the Bernardelli’s (actual profession tba), and he made enough to support himself and Meryl.

He kept many photos of her parents and made sure she never forgot them.

Then, one evening, Roberto never came home. Meryl, who was just about to leave for school in the city of November, left their apartment and found his body in an alley. He’d been shot several times in places where the murderer made sure that he’d not be getting up again.

The authorities were of no help, or chose not to be. And anyone who wanted to help turned away, knowing that this was the work of the Bernardelli’s—though they were connected well enough to make sure nothing would be traced back to them.

Back home, after she’d given Roberto a modest funeral, she found his work on what he amassed on the Bernardelli family; they were a crime family whose roots went deep in corruption, trafficking, coercion and anything they could sink their fingers into that would ensure they remained unchallenged.

Meryl never went to November City, she never enlisted in school, and instead found her father’s derringers and vowed to avenge Roberto’s death.

Her hits started on the outskirts of smaller cities and she would eventually make her way towards bigger areas where the Bernardelli’s influence was more potent.

She knows this isn’t a lifestyle where she comes out unscathed on the other side; she knows the risks, but Meryl Stryfe has made her decision and she means to honour her promise.

Important addendum: Because @full-of-mercy mentioned this, Meryl writes angry letters to the news agency whenever her title gets mistakenly written or said as Dillinger Meryl as opposed to Derringer Meryl.