#for the record it's not even about free hospitals or whatever nah nah it;s about the ones u pay for

[eldritchsurveys]

669.

What is the wallpaper on your computer screen? Why did you choose it? >> You know, it’s set to shuffle but I feel like it’s always on the same thing every time I get this question. It’s a shot from the movie Interstellar. Is there a pattern on the pants you’re currently wearing? Which one? >> No, there’s just a NASA logo on the left thigh. Do you like going to baby showers? Do you go only for the cake? >> I’ve never been to a baby shower and I can’t imagine a reason why I’d ever be at one. Who is the person you text the most in your life? What relation are you? >> Sparrow. She’s my spouse. Mexican food, Chinese food, Italian food, French food or American food? >> Mexican food is my favourite of the ones listed.

Has there ever been a time in your life, you felt sexually undecided? >> Sure. My sense of sexuality has gone through several states of flux. It’s never been set in stone, for whatever reason. Does your mother annoy you when the holidays come along in the year? >> --- What is the color scheme of your absolute favorite fast-food restaurant? >> --- Do you think tattoos and piercings are sexy on the opposite sex? >> I don’t think of them in terms of sexiness. A lot of people have had tattoos or piercings that I found nice to look at, though. Do people ever ask you to do things they’re too short to accomplish? >> No, because most people I encounter are taller than me. Do your siblings bring people around that your parents don’t approve of? >> --- Is there carpet or hardwood floor in your bedroom? >> Carpet. Do you check the texture of things first or the smell of them? >> It depends on what the thing is. Have you ever broken the arm or head off of a trophy? How did you do this? >> No. Do you believe in superstitious things such as breaking a mirror? >> No, but I do believe in not breaking mirrors because they’re a pain in the ass to clean up. Do you get sick of people who call themselves bipolar all the time? >> I mean, I haven’t heard anyone do this in years. Ever have an ultra-sound performed on you? What was it for? >> Maybe they did one when I had an abortion, I don’t remember. Do you like those ‘end of the world,’ ‘Armageddon’ movies? >> Nah. They’re very “seen one, seen ‘em all”. What color are the headphones you have at this moment in time? >> Black. Ever been choked severely on something during lunch at your school? >> I don’t think so.

Do you remember who you sat next to in Kindergarten? Who was it? >> I remember nothing about kindergarten...... Has anyone ever compared you to an animal? Which one(s)? >> Maybe. It probably wasn’t a flattering comparison, though, so I’m glad I don’t remember. Has anyone, including yourself, forgot it was your own birthday? >> I don’t think so. I mean, obviously people who aren’t especially close to me are going to forget, but they’re not expected to remember, so I don’t care. Chocolate or strawberry birthday cake? Choose one. >> Neither, thanks. Do you eat more vegetables or fruits? What’s your favorite fruit/veggie? >> I eat more vegetables than fruits. I don’t have favourites. Do you abbreviate things way too often? Do you get called out on it? >> I abbreviate things when I feel like abbreviating them, idk. Why would anyone “call me out” on it, it’s not fucking illegal. Ever been in one of those church Christmas plays before? Why/why not? >> No. Because...? Obviously it just wasn’t a part of my life. What is the funniest conjunction you use throughout your day? >> I’ve... literally never heard of a funny conjunction. How do you even... Have you ever thrown a roll of toilet paper at someone before? >> No. Does the dentist calm you or does it tend to stress you out? >> Of course it stresses me out, it’s invasive and involves strangers touching me. If you had to choose, which is the worst movie you’ve ever seen? >> I wouldn’t bother choosing. Have you ever found yourself talking to an inanimate object? >> Sure, I talk to my plushies and my computer all the time. Do you like movies that are originally based on children’s books? >> Sure, sometimes. Is your hair more thick or thin? Is it more curly or straight? >> Thick and curly. Something on the human body that grosses you out the most: >> I’d rather not even think about it. Do you like meeting new people? What’s your most common greeting? >> I don’t mind it, if I’ve got the energy for it. I don’t have a common greeting, I just say hi or whatever? IDK. Ever think of what it would be like to be a mermaid or merman? >> Not extensively. If you had to choose, which celebrity would you date out of all of them? >> --- Do people feel sorry for you for no reason? Have they ever? >> I don’t know? What is something that bothers you about most surveys in general? >> I’m not really bothered by anything in surveys, aside from maybe an occasional flash of irritation (like when I get a bunch of questions disparaging slang usage or so-called “internet speak” or whatever). Who would you take with you on a stranded/deserted island? >> Bold of you to assume I have any interest in being on a deserted island. Do you have your own personal boom box in your bedroom? >> No, but I have a record player. Would you survive if zombies were to take over the world? Why or why not? >> Probably not. Because reasons. What would you say is the worst part of high school period? >> The social hell, in general. For me specifically, also my inability to, like... do schoolwork in some classes. I can’t really explain exactly how/why I was so bad at school, which is also partly why I couldn’t get any help. What is your favorite color of apple? Red, green or yellow? >> Red. Ever want to be a doctor? Is it because of all the hospital shows? >> I’ve never wanted to be a doctor. What do you think of all these reality shows that try to alter personality? >> I don’t know what you mean. Where are your favorite pair of shoes in the whole world right now? >> --- Do you live anywhere near a mall? >> Yeah, there are two malls that are both a relatively short drive away. Do you like drawing smiley faces or do you think they’re overrated? >> I literally have no opinion. If you were dying who would you say goodbye to first out of everyone? >> --- Are you someone who actually likes to babysit children? >> I’ve never babysat a child. Do you ever have those ‘ah ha!’ moments? Do those annoy you? >> What kind of moment is that? Do you hardly ever remember where you put things at? >> I usually remember, but sometimes I don’t. What’s your favorite lunch meat, if you even like any in the first place? >> Turkey or chicken. When is the next time you’ll eat a cupcake, if you know when? >> I don’t know when. I don’t usually eat them. Where did you last buy socks from? What do those socks look like? >> I don’t remember. Do you ever lay in the grass and look up at the sky, just because? >> I’m sure I’ve done it on a few occasions. When do you normally go to sleep on the weekends? >> The same time I go to bed any other time -- around 10p. Have you ever met someone with the same ‘biggest fear’ as you? >> --- Do you ever have movie nights with your significant other? >> Not really, because she doesn’t often have the mental energy or... desire to, I guess? watch movies. I’m the big movie watcher in this household. But occasionally we’ll go out together to see one. Would you rather write with a pen or a pencil? Why is this? >> Pen. I just like the way it feels more. Do you like candy bars? Are you trying to slack off of them? >> No. What is your favorite number? Is it significant with your life? >> 9/19. I mean, I guess, yeah. Are you afraid of being kidnapped if you go outside at nighttime? >> No. Has your mother ever called your school because of your grades? >> My father has. Which of course then led to two people teaming up to berate me about my “laziness” and “not living up to my potential” or whatever the fuck they assumed about me. In the next twenty minutes, what will you be doing and where will you be? >> As long as this survey is, I might still be doing it 20 minutes from now. If not, then I’ll be making/eating breakfast. Do you like showers or baths better? Why did you choose your choice? >> Shower. I just hate baths. Are you a controversial person? Do your views oppose others? >> I don’t think I am a controversial person. Of course my views oppose others’, not everyone thinks alike... Have you ever thrown a surprise party for someone? Who for? >> No. What would you say your average word per minute time is on the keyboard? >> I’m not sure. At least 60, I’d assume. What is your least favorite class in school? Why is this? >> --- Do you bite your fingernails or tap them on desks? >> No. Have you ever wanted to be in a band? What position exactly? >> I did when I was a teenager, but like... not seriously. I just was really into rock music, lol. (I wanted to be the singer.) Who is your role model or hero in life if you have one? >> --- Do you ever call your cousins just to talk to them randomly? >> --- Do you find any of your friends’ parents creepy or really mean? >> --- Do you ever have to wash your clothes at someone else’s house? >> Well, we do our laundry at Sparrow’s parents’ house because we don’t have a washer/dryer in-unit. (There’s a laundry room in the building, but they’re coin-operated, and doing laundry at the Wayland house is free...) When is the next time you’ll go to the library? Why is this? >> I don’t know. I usually borrow e-books. Do you like fiction or non-fiction books more? What’s your favorite? >> I like both. Do you constantly have to be told to shut up? By who? >> If someone constantly told me to shut up, I wouldn’t fucking hang out with them. Do you know how to play pool? Are you any good at it? >> I know how to play, but I am not skilled at it. Do you treat others as you’d like to be treated? Have you always? >> I try to treat others with at least basic respect and compassion. Sometimes I miss the mark, because I’m not perfect (and I have a lot of issues), but I try. Were you a really mean kid or a sweet and quiet kid? >> I was a quiet kid, but more on the sullen side than the sweet side. Are you someone who likes to get in arguments or fights a lot? >> No. Conflict is very taxing for me physiologically, so I try to pick my battles accordingly. How do you make sure people know you don’t like them at all? >> I don’t bother making a big deal out of it. It’s just not necessary and leads to more issues/drama. Also, who cares? Would you say you’re someone who likes to cuss a lot? >> I mean, maybe. I don’t think I cuss a whole lot, but maybe I do, idk. Do you keep secrets from your parents that you don’t keep from your friends? >> --- What is your father’s best friend’s name? Do you know them personally? >> --- If you had to, where would you get a tattoo at? Why? >> Anywhere. How much was the cell phone you have at this moment in time? >> A couple hundred, I think. Would you say you hang out with people the majority of your life? >> No? What would you do if you woke up randomly with purple hair? >> Be really confused? Do you ever look in the mirror and name all of your flaws for no reason? >> Sometimes, if Can Calah doesn’t stop me. Are you getting sick of the reality show Survivor? Why? >> I mean, I don’t watch it, so. Do you usually explain to people why you do the things you do? >> I’ve stopped with this for the most part, unless they explicitly ask. I’m tired of making unnecessary justifications for myself. If you don’t like something I do, you don’t like it. That’s fine. Ever submit a video to America’s Funniest Home Videos? >> No. The most painful medical procedure you’ve ever had? >> I don’t know. Are you someone who likes to eat Poptarts? What’s your favorite flavor? >> No, I am not someone who likes to eat Pop-tarts. Ever have a dream you’re being abducted by aliens? Was it scary? >> No. Do you like people who are loud or people who are quiet? >> I like quieter people. Does personality weigh out the sense of ‘good looks?’ >> --- When is the next time you’ll see someone who is pregnant? >> I don’t know. Do you hate it when people copy the things you do? >> This doesn’t happen to me. Where is your favorite piece of electronic equipment? >> I’m using it. Where is the person who ‘owns your heart’ at this moment in time? >> --- Has anyone ever told you that you’re good at cooking? >> I don’t think so. Would you say you’re a fast texter, or are you pretty slow? >> I guess I’m fast enough. What is your favorite flavor of Doritos? What do you drink with them? >> I hate Doritos. Do you have any enemies who you think are dangerous? >> I don’t have enemies. Do you ever try to squeeze information out of people? >> No. Does it freak you out when the police drive by your house? >> The cops aren’t usually driving around this apartment complex. Are you someone who tends to take a whole lot of naps? >> No. What is your favorite nickname you like to be called? Why do you like it? >> “Rev”. I have no idea why I’m attached to that, I just am. Do you already have your outfit for tomorrow planned out? >> I don’t plan my outfits. What is the color of your favorite pair of pants? What brand are they? >> --- Has your favorite song ever been featured on a commercial? >> No. Do you ever promise pc4pc on Myspace then never return the favor? >> No. What is one song right now that really gets on your nerves? >> --- What would you say was the best year of your life? Why? >> --- Do those annoying infomercials ever draw you in to buy things? >> Nope. Have you ever been pulled over by the cops for speeding? >> I don’t drive, so. Is anyone in your family a firefighter? Who is it anyway? >> ---

[comicgirl08]

Supergirl recap: Lena and Supergirl go all caged heat

One day has passed since the world believes it saw Supergirl attack the White House, and Kara is horrified to realize how sharply public sentiment has turned against her. President Baker himself addresses the nation to announce a sundown-to-sunup curfew and to urge Supergirl to turn herself in.

Even though she’s America’s most wanted, when Supergirl hears someone calling for help from a burning vehicle, naturally she flies to lend a hand. But her efforts are interrupted by a man with a gun trying to make a citizen’s arrest. Her attempts to deflect the bullets end up causing an explosion in the car and even the man she pulls to safety says his daughter was crushed to watch Supergirl turn into a terrorist.

To rectify things, Alex and Lena set out to help Supergirl in their own ways. For Alex, that means subverting Lockwood’s demand that the DEO turn over the signal watch and any weapons that could capture Supergirl. Haley sends him away to secure proper presidential approval, but while he’s gone, she sets about gathering the goods he asked for because “orders are orders.”

Alex hands over the watch and instructs her to press it twice to summon Supergirl. (Ah, but once summons Supergirl; twice is the Akbar warning.) To get her chain-of-command-loving boss fully onboard, Alex asks for Kelly Olsen’s advice on what to do. Kelly tells her that you can’t change people, but you can appeal to what they care most about.

So Alex tries to convince Haley that following an immoral order makes you complicit and begs her to think of her daughter. Haley is furious at having that bit of personal information leveraged against her. Also, she knows that Alex lied and it’s actually a single press to summon Supergirl.

Brainy, too, is facing a conundrum after he and Alex agree that Lockwood’s next step will be to use the alien registry to start rounding up aliens. Declaring that “no one is more clandestine than I. NO ONE!” Brainy sets out to delete the registry, relying on the subterfuge techniques of Ethan Hunt, “master of the impossible mission.”

But when the time comes to delete, he realizes that there’s a 50/50 chance that deleting it will cause more harm for the alien community if he’s discovered. He freaks out and finds Nia at CatCo, even though they haven’t spoken since their “incredible yet devastating romantic encounter at the hospital.” Since he can’t use logic to decide, he asks her to dream the future to find out what he decides so he can just do it.

Then she plays him by pretending to dream that he doesn’t destroy the registry. He says that’s ridiculous, and she explains that she tricked him into listening to his gut. But that night, she for-real dreams that he’s apprehended by the Children of Liberty for destroying the registry and calls him in a panic to warn him not to do it. Too late, though; he deleted it but downloaded a copy of his brain, calling the potential danger “the cost of being a hero.”

Okay, now, to Supergirl and Lena, who follow up on Lilian Luthor’s tip that Lex has been coming and going from his prison cell for months. They strong-arm the Stryker Island warden to let them toss Lex’s cell by promising to keep his husband out of his Lex-related legal mess. He agrees, and Supergirl takes the long walk past a row of penned inmates chanting her name and calling her a terrorist, with a supportive Lena by her side. Lena, after all, knows all about how awful it is to be a good guy accused of being bad.

In Lex’s cell, Lena declares his Hannibal-crossing-the-Alps etching pretentious and solves his puzzle to unlock their childhood chess board to reveal stacks of Lex’s journals, including one recording all of her faults and mistakes since she was four. What a monster he is. Lena settles into the painful task of reading her brother’s journals, even though just looking at his handwriting is like needles in her eyes, while Supergirl talks to his cell neighbor, Steve Lomeli (Willie Garson, a welcome presence in whatever show he pops up in).

Steve, who’s locked up for stealing classified DOD documents about illegal drone warfare, calls her a malignant narcissist, taunting that, “Everything you touch, you ruin.” Then things get worse when Otis shows up to kill the warden and free all the inmates from their cells to help capture Supergirl.

Knowing that Otis has Metallo’s powers, Lena gives Supergirl a Kryptonite shield for her S-insignia. Wait, so Lena made a K-shield and brought it with her on the off chance that Supergirl might need it? That’s certainly thoughtful of her.

Then Supergirl turns to fight her way through a long line of inmates, none of whom stand a chance against her, and honestly, Supergirl effortlessly batting around a cellblock full of numbskulls is exactly why I watch this program, so thank you every so much, writers.

Then Otis appears to sneer, “if it isn’t Lee Harvey Supergirl.” They blast each other through walls and hit each other with prison gym equipment, but eventually, his Kryptonite blasts destroy her shield, and Supergirl’s forced to change into Kara Danvers. In her human guise, she tells Otis she saw a red blur going that-away, and for a second, Otis looks suspicious. C-could he possibly be…?

Nah, he just wants to know what a woman’s doing in an all-male cellblock. She tells him she’s a journalist doing a story on prison reform. But he doesn’t care to give her a comment: “I don’t trust the press. They always parachute into crises like this without any context for the larger systemic issues at play.” Y’ALL. I may be a little in love with Otis now because, by God, he’s not wrong.

When he heads out, Kara recharges in the sun and then bumps into Steve, who turns out to be the editor of Stryker’s one and only newsletter. He’s delighted to meet the famous Kara Danvers, who writes the Aliens of National City column, and apologizes for having his muscle pull a shiv on her.

Then the National Guard pulls up outside and makes plans to come in shooting if Supergirl doesn’t give herself up. Steve predicts that the prisoners are acceptable collateral damage in this scenario and drops to the floor, placing a comforting hand over the trembling fingers of his scared bodyguard, which was a nice little character moment.

To minimize the casualties, Kara changes into Supergirl again and uses a super-clap to knock all of the rioting prisoners off their feet and out of the line of fire.

Then she races back to Lex’s cell, where Lena has discovered that the etching isn’t of the Alps, but the mountain peak where a young Lex promised a young Lena that he’d build a house to keep them both safe forever. (Is…is that a touch of humanity, or another long-ago Lex trick?) When she touched that section of the drawing, the wall lifted to reveal his secret prison lab.

But before the women can explore its secrets, Otis steps into the cell as he talks on the phone with Lex, who directs him to the center of the room. Once he’s there, Lex engages a device that revs Otis’s Metallo implant and causes him to explode. It destroys the lab, and Lena and Supergirl barely escape thanks to Supergirl punching through the back wall.

But the danger isn’t over yet; Lockwood arrives at the DEO with the proper presidential order and starts handing out big guns to his men. He tells Haley to summon Supergirl, and Haley. presses. twice. Heck yeah, scary boss lady!

A frustrated Lockwood realizes that Supergirl’s not coming, so he takes all the big guns with him and leaves. Haley tells Alex that she didn’t do the double-tap for Alex but for her daughter, who’s scared of the martial law and is sad that her favorite alien teacher has gone into hiding. Suddenly, the complicit thing didn’t look so appealing, huh?

Also unappealing? The president allowing Lockwood to deputize the Children of Liberty, which should make everybody’s blood run cold. Oh, and Eve’s able to put Humpty-Otis back together again after his detonation.

Finally, when the news (but not CatCo, of course!) spins the Stryker Island visit as Supergirl’s attempt to free prisoners, Supergirl realizes she’s doing more harm than good right now and flies away to lie low. And in her Kara Danvers duds, she heads back to Stryker to interview Steve, who’s honored to help bring Lex Luthor to justice. He slides her a jump drive with the contents of Lex’s secret prison lab hard drive before it was destroyed.

“The pen is mightier than the sword,” he says, and she replies, “Maybe even mightier than a cape.”

Snaps of the cape

Tonight’s important Olsen development: James is suffering from something more than PTSD. Although the therapist he’s working with teaches him about bilateral stimulation, a widely used calming tool, his eyes and veins turn black when he’s upset, giving him super sight, strength, and hearing. Stay tuned for the possibility of a turbo-charged, midnight-eyed Guardian.

Not only did James fill Kelly in on what’s going on, but didja catch that smiley little moment she shared with Alex? I bet they’re both glad she stuck around National City.

My word, but Otis is a pop-culture quip machine: It’s easy being green, his heart growing three sizes, heeeeeere’s Otis. Supergirl is killing it with the recurring villains this season!

Gosh, remember when both Alex and Lena were not at all Supergirl’s biggest fans? And then Supergirl won them both over through her bravery, loyalty, and friendship? A million heart emojis forever, show!

[drawingsdrawingseverywhere]

Trollhunters Dadswap AU part 18

It’s finally time. Sorry this post has taken so long to write out! My brain has been fighting me every step of the way.

BUT HERE WE GO! TIME TO TIE UP SOME LOOSE ENDS BEFORE THE PLOT GETS HEAD OF ME

FIRST THINGS FIRST, with a short moment of calm among all this madness, Toby still takes time to help his new roomie learn about his new life. This includes convincing Strickler to bargain with Dictatious to find information on AAARRRGGHH!!!’s breed, taking him out of late night adventures with the team so he can get used to this new world (Angor Rot is far better at explaining things to him than Strickler, but hey at least Strickler tries), and even making Flash Cards with Jim and then later quiz the big guy on them.

Speaking of, that’s where we begin.

Toby reads off the cards while Jim reads the answers. For every question right, Toby’s gotten some old VHS tapes no one in the house watches anymore and has them as incentive. AAARRRGGHH!!! sits across from them.

“ok, this is an easy one. You’re walking through the market, and realize there’s a gnome climbing in your fur! what do you do?”

AAARRRGGHH!!! is quiet for a long minute.

“you can do it,” Jim assures him. “almost any answer will work.”

The boys both nod to the troll as he continues to think, until eventually he makes a motion with his hands that could translate to crushing the gnome.

“no no! You can’t kill it! That little guy might have a family to worry about! or he might be another troll’s groomer!”

AAARRRGGHH!!! looks a bit disappointed.

“It’s not a bad answer! I’m pretty sure I’ve seen some trolls who do crush gnomes!” Jim stretches a sec before continuing. “But if we’re going to convince Vendel to let you into the Market, you have to be on your best behavior!”

“yeah! Just try again. I got a copy of a bootleg Jurassic Park with your name on it if you’re willing to try~”

The troll thinks it over and nods.

“ok, so one more time: in the market, spot a gnome in your fur, what do you do?”

Another silence as they wait for an answer. Eventually AAARRRGGHH!!! reaches up to his shoulder and makes a brushing motion.

“You’d just brush it off?” Toby leans in to make sure he recognized the gesture clearly.

Jim and Toby both smile and Toby tosses the tape his way.

“Good Job, AAARRRGGHH!!! That’s a good answer!” Jim holds up the card to show him that’s what they had written down.

“you’re getting better and better every night, big guy!”

It’s then that Toby and the Troll fistbump.

“What’s that all about?” Jim asks.

“oh this? I taught him how to fistbump! He uh... didn’t know his own strength at first but now he’s gotten pretty good at it! 

Meanwhile Strickler and Nomura’s search for clues about the bridge’s location continues. Blinky and Dictatious provide them with all the books they have on the subject, including the book edited by Angor Rot. Many of the books lead to dead ends, but the pair remain vigilant. After all, the bridge being opened could spell the doom for all escaped changelings as well as troll and human kind.

Needless to say there’s a lot at stake. Blinky and his brother offer assitance when they can, but with their limited knowledge of the darklands there’s only so much they can do to help. Dictatious soon begins searching through books that even mention the bridge, and Blinky often disappears for days on end before reappearing fresh out of the Gyre tunnels with new books to offer.

until one day

“you will not find the answers you seek in these books.”

Strickler and Nomura look up to see Angor rot and Vendel entering the library.

“the sort of thing you require is a book from the darklands itself that speaks of the bridge.”

Strickler rises, eyes gazing hopefully towards Vendel. “do you... know where we may acquire such a book, Vendel?”

“perhaps.”

There is a silence as Angor Rot looks over at the elder along side the others in the room. His face is as hard and suspicious as ever.

“Though you know I would not trust even knowledge of it’s location in changeling hands.”

Strickler sinks back into his seat in defeat. Nomura reaches over and takes his hand in hers for support.  “I.... I see.”

“First, I shall have a look at this troll your soulless friend here has been gnawing at my ear for the past few days over.”

Strickler and Nomura both look back to Vendel who is already beginning to leave.

“then we shall see if I have the information you so desperately seek.”

Lastly, and the most important of all, While Jim has been training with Bular outside the forge, and Strickler within the forge, he’s also taken note of his mother talking very highly about a new coworker at the hospital.

“He’s a miracle worker” she says, “I don’t know how one man could have so much knowledge about the human body, and how he can remember all of it without fail! Thanks to him, patients have been able to go home so much faster than before he arrived.”

“That’s good to hear, mom! I’m glad you’re finally getting some extra help down there.”

“hey, speaking of which, you have some free time after school on Friday? I’d love to take you with me to work and introduce you. Dr. McLaine tells me he’s heard a lot of good things about you!”

Jim hesitates while he’s washing the dishes.

“Sounds... good! I’ll have to make sure my instructors know I wont be able to make it to practice first, but I’d like that.”

“Are you talking rehearsals for the play or Chess club?”

“Well uh... both, actually. I don’t think the director will kill me for missing a rehearsal so long as I let her know in advance, and Strickler-”

“if you need it Jim I can ask Strickler if he’d care to join us. Along the way you can discuss your.... chess... club things, and I can introduce everyone to each other.”

“.... to each other, mom?”

“what?”

Jim gives her a playful smirk.

“Just what have you and my teacher been doing behind my back, young lady?”

Barbra laughs and puts the last plate into the sink before giving him an equally playful bump.

“I respect your teacher, is all. Nothing serious!”

“Mhmm, sure.”

“Jim!”

“Hey, no worries, mom. If you and my teacher decide to run away to vegas it’s your decision!”

That friday, Barbra does just as she said and brings Strickler and Jim to work with her. She walks towards the exceptionally big doctor as he’s going over a patient’s records, and as soon as he looked up to her she gladly introduces him to her companions.

“Doctor, this is my son Jim, and this is his teacher, Professor Walter Strickler. I wanted to bring Jim to work today to introduce you. I figured since it was the night shift things would be calm enough that he could help me out too- if you’re ok with that.”

Bhaltair takes Jim’s small hand into his own massive one and gives it a firm shake.

“It is good to finally meet you face to face, my boy. Your mother has told me many good things about you!” He laughs heartily. “never expected you to be so small, though!”

A warm smile stretches across Bhaltair’s face as he and Strickler shake hands. He seems to be a very warm fellow. 

“And you are Walter Strickler!” As Bhaltair shakes his hand, Strickler’s entire arm seems to buckle under his strength and is trapped in the handshake until he finally finishes. “I have heard many a good thing about you as well!”

Jim laughs lightly at the sight of his thin teacher standing beside this mountain of a man, now trapped in his strong grip. Barbra leads him off to help with something and he gladly agrees.

Meanwhile Bhaltair and Strickler continue with their talk.

“You teach at.... Arcadia High, yes?”

“indeed. I am the history professor. it’s... always been a calling of mine.”

“I hear ya! I have plenty of hobbies of my own that I can’t do away with no matter how hard I try.”

“well, such is human nature!”

the men share a laugh before Bhaltair wipes a jovial tear from his eye.

“by the way, you remind me of someone I used to know!”

“Oh?”

“yes! An old business associate of mine. He had a similar love for history and books.”

“whatever happened to him?”

Bhaltair straightens his posture and clears his throat.

“Well he just.... ran off one day. Didn’t leave a note, didn’t tell anyone where he was going... he just... vanished.”

Strickler feels a growing unese as this conversation continues.

“I’m sorry to hear that.”

“nah, don’t be. I’m sure he had his reasons. Just wish I could see him again.”

Strickler dares to ask:

“Do you... remember you friend’s name?”

Bhaltair glances away and watches Barbra and Jim before laughing to himself.

“I think you’d find it odd if I told you, Mr. Strickler. You two... even have similar sounding names.”

Strickler’s heat freezes in his chest. He nervously laughs and takes a drink from his water bottle.

“I’m sure it’s fine. As you recall I am a history professor. There have been plenty of strange names spanning generations of humanity.”

Bhaltair laughs.

“Alright alright. you convinced me.”

Strickler holds his breath, fearing what this man says next.

“He went by a few different names, back in the day. But we all knew him as ‘Stricklander.”

Strickler is silent a minute as it sinks in, and Bhaltair raises an eyebrow.

“Does that name sound familiar to you, Mr. Strickler?”

The teacher is mute for what to him feels like an eternity before he can come up with a strong enough answer.

“I was trying to recall if i had read it in a history textbook once before. It... sounded like someone I had once read about... Unfortunately I don’t think I have met this ex-coworker of yours.”

Bhaltair hums to himself, slightly narrowing his eyes and nodding. “I understand.” He laughs and, while it would sound humored and hearty to a passerby, Strickler could then clearly hear a venomous twinge of wicked joy in it.

“After all, it’s not like he would just suddenly reappear after eons of searching for him, now would it, Mr. Strickler?”

Strickler tries to laugh and then takes another drink of his water.

“you’re absolutely right. The chances of that occurring are-”

Bhaltair strongly pats his back-almost making him choke on his water- and then puts his hand on Strickler’s shoulder. His laughter grows darker as he leans in.

“It’d be preposterous!  Am I right? I mean... To go through all that trouble to vanish... just to show up here of all places.... while I’m visiting on business? The odds are far too out of my favor for it to be at all possible.”

Bhaltair laughs one more time before again standing tall.

“Anyway... I enjoyed our chat, but it is time for me to return to work. You take care, Mr. Strickler.”

Strickler nervously clears his throat.

“yes well... you take care too... Dr...?”

“Bhaltair. Bhaltair McLaine.”

“Dr. McLaine.”

Strickler leaves without another word. Bhaltair watches before returning his attention to Jim. The boy is happily helping his mom tuck in a patient for the night. Bhaltair smiles. His eyes narrow. His nimble fingers lightly trace the engraving of his cane handle- almost as if eager to do something with it.

Mark one rogue history teacher onto his list of traitors.

The game begins.

[quietlyhereshhh]

In the Twilight Rain (Chapter 27)

Fandom: Kuroko no Basuke Pairing: AkaFuri, others implied Rating: M Warnings: Language, violence, drugs, sexual situations Other: Yakuza AU Chapters on Tumblr: [Previous] [Next] AO3

Seas are wild tonight Stretching over Sado Island Silent clouds of stars

- Matsuo Basho

“No word yet?” Seijuurou asked Higuchi as they walked down the hall of the manor. He opened his office door as the man followed, bowing respectfully before sitting in a seiza.

“None. As far as we know, there is no indication of an ‘IW’ in Seiho’s past records and we can’t find anything with those initials indicated by the Kirisaki,” Higuchi replied with the papers in his hands.  “The 600 could be time. It’d be too cheap if it was the price, so if we deduce that it was at six ‘o’ clock, Hayama-san has been going around the market during that time to test it out. So far, we have nothing.”

‘What a pain in the ass,’ Seijuurou kept to himself as he leaned back in his seat. He was aware of these nightly and morning trips Hayama has been taking to the black market and getting no results. Hayama’s got more important things to do than to wander around aimlessly, looking for something they don’t know a thing about.

“Get Terasaka to taking over Hayama’s search,” Seijuurou stated as he took the papers from Higuchi. “He’s got his own projects to work on and is already losing focus on those. He needs to be in better shape than that.”

“Yes, sir.”

“How’s business back at Mibuchi’s?” Seijuurou asked as he flipped the pages.

“Average. I believe he mentioned that people are still wary to return after what happened,” Higuchi explained.

“Of course.”

Seijuurou was silent as he sifted through the pages but could feel Higuchi trembling. He looked up at the man with confusion – Higuchi has been working with him for a long time; he wasn’t scared of him anymore.

So something must be wrong.

“Higuchi,” Seijuurou was calm. He leaned across his desk, watching the man look at him nervously. “What’s the matter?”

“I-I apologize, sir, but with everything happening, I wasn’t sure how to bring it up,” Higuchi bit his lower lip. “We thought it was just a mistake at first and went through all the calculations again just to be sure but…the numbers do not match.”

He narrowed his eyes.

“What do mean the numbers do not match?”

“The profits do not correlate with the estimate,” Higuchi announced. “Even with Blue Bar and Club Kaijou’s temporary close, the profits we have are much lower than what we expected. At first, we thought it was just an accounting error so when we checked again, we realized that the gap in sales is much wider than expected.” Higuchi visibly swallowed under Seijuurou’s narrowed gaze. “It is believed that…someone has been taking our funds.”

Seijuurou tapped his fingers on the table.

Higuchi flinched.

This was the last thing Seijuurou wanted and needed; someone from the inside damaging their profits. He could possibly narrow it down to the lower associates – an excess amount of drinking had happened therefore they had to dip into it, Mao somehow weaseled their members into paying extra for whatever reason, or even praying that whatever program the accountants were using was faulty.

But Seijuurou didn’t pray.

“Find the culprit,” Seijuurou leaned his chin on the back of his hands and smiled to Higuchi. He saw the stout man shiver and Seijuurou could feel his left eye twitch. “Bring him to me. Alive. We’ll have to question this perpetrator and get them to talk.”

Higuchi nodded. When he finished his report, he bowed and stepped out only for Hayama to enter in his stead. Hayama looked back at the anxious Higuchi as he disappeared and turned to Seijuurou – eyes dull and lifeless.

“Right on time,” Seijuurou didn’t say anything about those blank eyes. Hayama has been like this since their last trip to the hospital and has, in fact, brought down the morale of the group. Hayama had always been prone to mood swings so Seijuurou thought he would bounce back.

He didn’t and he was the reason why.

He squashed down the feeling of his stomach coiling and his face remained impassive.

“After your report, I need you to move on to more…important matters,” Seijuurou announced. The blond didn’t react as he continued. “Terasaka will take over for you. You’ll move onto the assignment we discussed earlier albeit a little early. My patience is running thin and I’m sure Kasuga wants some peace of mind.”

Hayama nodded obediently and looked down at his paper. This compliance unnerved Seijuurou but he didn’t say anything.

“There is a lead outside of Kirisaki’s usual district,” Hayama announced flatly. “They’re trying to build traction in Yamanishi. The branch that’s setting up there is still fresh though defensive. It’s apparently headed by Hara Kazuya, someone who has been rising in the ranks recently in Kirisaki and Hanamiya decided it was time for him to test his abilities. Since my assignment is going to change, giving Terasaka permission to engage will be next.”

“Noted,” Seijuurou nodded as Hayama handed him the report. “Excellent work. I’m glad that you’re concentrating fully on this.”

Hayama didn’t say a word.

It’s not in Seijuurou’s style to empathize with people – he had developed an underwhelming sense of that, able to separate himself from others. Even so, he could feel the pain radiating from the other man.

If he had told himself that he couldn’t see Furihata again, he would probably be conflicted. His moral code told him to stay away, keep civilians out of this, and move on. He was yakuza and knew that he brought upon death to everything he touched. The complexity of the situations, ranging from his businesses to shunning himself from society to becoming the next head – no matter what, it was not a path for anyone to take.

But Furihata made everything ridiculously simple. Even when Seijuurou knew he should push him away, he brought with him something free and straightforward. There were no hidden motives in his eyes or movements; he could be read so easily. Yet everything he does makes Seijuurou baffled, wanting to unwind and twist at the puzzle that is Furihata’s mind, needing to know more.

They had known each other for a few short months and this was how he felt.

He looked at Hayama’s tired face. Dark bags were under his eyes and his face was thinner and paler. Hayama had been burying himself in work and getting more than great results if being able to track down a lead in Yamanishi was anything to say about it. However, he was unsettling others without his usual energy.

And it was only going to get worse from here.

Seijuurou leaned back and stared.

“You leave tomorrow.” Back to business as usual. He couldn’t break his word. “If you run into trouble, contact Higuchi as soon as possible.”

For the first time since he entered the room – and perhaps since he returned from the hospital – there was a flicker of surprise.

“Not you?”

“I will be absent for the next couple of days,” He wasn’t going to reveal how he was going to a mountainous location alone with a civilian that he happened to be dating. “It was suggested by Mibuchi to have a short break. Higuchi will relay to me a summary each day so I am not completely off but if you feel the emergency is dire, do not hesitate to contact me.”

Hayama stared at him evenly and Seijuurou had no choice but to look back. There was a muted silence that Seijuurou could sense something was off about.

“Okay.”

Shoichi didn’t know how he got dragged into a guys’ night out by the station, but somehow he did.

He sat in this little bar with a sharp silver and forest green palette, mixing with modern and traditional Japanese-style floors, slowly drinking his shochu. Aomine was downing whatever beer had been brought to him in high spirits after managing to bust a small (but impactful) drug deal going on in the Sogo district where he and Wakamatsu were patrolling.

Turns out that they were just young juveniles in the end but they were selling drugs, claiming it to be the new miracle drug on the market. They were naïve and stupid and it was nowhere as potent as what the King Drug is, but the fact that they were able to find someone who has heard of it in their own hometown – well. Aomine definitely though he deserved free drinks.

Which he didn’t but he probably wouldn’t remember paying for them in the morning.

“He’s going nuts,” Kasamatsu snorted from across from Shoichi. He had a bottle of beer in his hand as he watched Aomine swinging his arm around Wakamatsu like they were best friends. The yelling from Wakamatsu said otherwise. “Control your guys.”

“Nah,” Shoichi had a grin on his face. He lifted up his phone and took a picture of his subordinate’s drunken state. “It’s more entertaining this way.”

“You’re awful.”

“I need some sort of material to use against him, you know.”

“You’re some crooked cop,” Mikoshiba landed next to him with a chortle. Yamazaki had taken a seat next to Kasamatsu, stern-faced like normal. Mikoshiba clucked his tongue but it sounded more amused. “You’re gonna give us a bad rep.”

“I think that lies in Aomine’s territory,” He said as he watched Aomine slur something to their sketch artist, Sakurai, before a red-faced Wakamatsu slammed him down to the floor. He was glad they got a private room.

“S-Satsuki!” Aomine groaned, his arm reaching out as Wakamatsu sat on his back. “H-Help! Get this gorilla off of me!”

“She’s not here!” Wakamatsu scowled. “For fuck’s sake. Get a grip!”

“Start blocking the drinks from him!” Kasamatsu took command and raised from his spot. Sometimes, Shoichi wondered why he was just a vice-captain before remembering that Riko was his boss.

More alcohol was placed next to Shoichi. He glanced up to see the smiling face of the bar owner, Kiyoshi, rather entertained at the rowdiness.

“Some water for the drunkard over there, please, Kiyoshi.”

“No problem,” He nodded and walked out of the room, closing the sliding door behind him.

“Wakamatsu,” Shoichi called out to the detective. “Try not to knock him out.”

“Are you sure? It might be easier to do so.”

Luckily for them, it wasn’t too long until Aomine fell asleep, lying on the floor against the wall. Everything else resumed smoothly (if not for the slightly drunken wails of Fukui as he challenged Wakamatsu to arm-wrestling) and Shoichi was only slightly tipsy – but it was enough for his tongue to slip.

“So, Imayoshi…” Mikoshiba was slurring a bit, looking pleased with his bottle of beer in his hand. “What’s yours and Aida’s deal?”

“Hmm?” Shoichi immediately noticed Yamazaki flinch and he could feel a dark gaze on him. He tried to hide his smirk but knew he was failing as a slithering feeling emerged in his chest. “What do you mean?”

“Like…” Mikoshiba paused, placing his chin in his palm. He waved his other hand absent-mindedly. “Are you two dating or something? You guys flirt around the office so much, it’s sickening.”

Ah. Of course Mikoshiba was interested in discussing this. He was a fiend when it came to this kind of information, always looking for the latest gossip. And based on how he kept glancing over at Yamazaki, he had an inkling to why this was being brought him.

“Riko and I have a very…special relationship,” He watched from the corner of his eyes as Yamazaki tense. He took a sip of his shochu and tried to not to snigger. “We’ve always been together. Can’t recall a time when we haven’t.”

“Hmm,” Mikoshiba sounded amused. “Even with that trip to Osaka a couple of months ago, you took her along even though she was given other stuff, yeah?”

“She was helpful during the trip,” Shoichi said as he filled his small cup again. Maybe he should stop drinking soon. “It’s not like I brought her just to be with her.”

“Oh ho, but that was a reason?” Mikoshiba’s eyes sparkled at the news and Yamazaki’s fist clenched on the table.

“If I say such a thing, she’d skin me alive,” Shoichi made it seem like he was laughing at the joke rather than Yamazaki’s reaction. It was just too easy. “But I can’t deny that being with her makes me feel…good.”

“Masochist,” He looked over at Kasamatsu who had his brows furrowed. There was also a hint of disgust that Shoichi cackled at.

“It’s true,” He took one last swig of his shochu before grabbing one of the untouched glasses of water on the table. “I don’t know how many times my ass has been saved by her. Of course, it’d probably be better if we were in the same division, but who am I to stop her from doing whatever she wants?”

“Even if she dates some other guy?” For the first time since the conversation started, Yamazaki spoke up. Shoichi looked at him and saw the challenge in his eyes. “If she was swooped off her feet and taken by some other guy?”

“Now, now,” Mikoshiba sat up when the tension suddenly got thick. “Don’t plant those things into her boyfriend’s head, Yamazaki—”

“That’s not what I heard from her,” Yamazaki leaned on the table with his forearms, eyes staying on Shoichi. “From what I know, she only considers you as a friend, Imayoshi.”

“Ah, really?” He knew better than to lie in a room full of cops. The alcohol may be affecting his brain but he wasn’t stupid. He clucked his tongue. “That hurts, Riko.”

His body moved on his own as he took out his cellphone without a word. He could feel curious stares as he pressed the number ‘2’ and it immediately rang. He lifted the phone to his ear, waiting for the other person to pick up.

“What the fuck, Shoichi?” He immediately grinned at her irritated voice. “It’s one-thirty in the morning and I’ve had a long day. Someone better had died!”

“Riko-tan~” He whined and heard her groan. He made sure to raise the volume louder. “You love me, right?”

“Get off the phone and get some water.”

“Not until you say it,” Shoichi’s eyes met Yamazaki with a taunting grin.

“Don’t force her to say something against her will,” Yamazaki growled and Shoichi heard Riko’s voice rising in his ear.

“Who are you with?” He could imagine her narrowing her eye. “Was that Yamazaki? Shoichi, what are you trying to do? I’m going to hang up—”

“Riko,” He interrupted with a much more serious and sober voice. For some reason, the cold water didn’t cool him down. His body became hot as if he was still drinking and his heart was thumping against his chest. His breathing became shaky. “I love you.”

There was a collective silence from both sides of his ears that he could only conclude was blood rushing through. Something settled and unsettled in his stomach, flopping around irritably after he said those words.

He heard her sigh from the other side. He knew he had put her in a rough spot and was taking advantage of that.

She couldn’t say no to that.

“I love you, too,” She sounded exhausted and Shoichi concluded that it must have been due to her long day. “So hurry the fuck home so I can beat you up.”

“Roger.”

He hung up, almost forgetting that he had an audience of at least ten officers. Even Aomine had somehow woken up from his drunken slumber, looking more alert than before.

He ignored their gazes and slowly got up. He threw a few bills on the table before walking up to Yamazaki with an arrogant smirk on his face.

“If Riko chooses to date another guy, she’s free to do so,” His smirk became much more cheerful though the unsettling feeling in his stomach remained. “However, he’ll have a lot of problems coming his way – her pride, her father, and me.

“So,” He made his way to the sliding door, still smiling but he opened his eyes slightly to look down at Yamazaki, “They better be ready.”

Note: This was supposed to come out earlier but I came home late and fell asleep so I didn’t really get a chance to post it.

Something is afoot on Akashi’s side and Imayoshi is showing some...possessiveness?

There was a lot of things I wanted to include but I didn’t feel like this would be the right time. I’m also changing a little bit of how I’m writing because it’s pretty stressful to cram everything I want in one chapter.

The scene with Imayoshi was supposed to be different but I ended up with this instead? I guess that’s how the flow of things work. And I want to advance their relationship a bit more, whether platonic or not.