#he just wants to knock over jewelry stores and hang out with the bros

[cheshamoebadraws]

weewoo weewoo weaverdice pc weewoo weewoo

Francis Usach aka Bouncer

Power: Can lessen impacts to himself by “banking” the kinetic force of what is hitting him. Has a ceiling where it gets harder and harder to bank the full impact. Can empty the bank to use for enhanced strength/movement, combining use with more banking to get a battering ram effect. Power interacts strangely with glass, making glass become like putty if he pours power into it.

He’s got a very dog-like personality and he’s fallen in with the wrong crowd (he already had a foot in that crowd anyway). Was more than willing to throw away morals to interact with other parahumans. Kind of has crushes on both the bad-luck manipulating lady and the blacklisted boyband idol with mind control he calls team mates.

Got all those scars when he got his powers - frankly he only survived because he got powers.

[beelsnack]

Henlo!!! Just wanted to request MC getting surprised by the demon bros in the human realm! The bros miss MC a lot so they just surprise them and hang out for a bit :) it can be HCs! Thank you and I love ya work ❤️

Henlo!! Get ready for some fluff, my dudes.

I don’t know why, but this seemed better as short little headcanons as opposed to my usual scenarios.

-----

Lucifer

- He had expressly forbade any of his brothers from going up to the human world, because “they needed time to readjust.”

- But apparently Pridey McPrideface is exempt from his own rules.

- He does his research. If the human still lives with their parents or has roommates, he picks a night when they are home alone.This night is reserved for the two of them, and he will eviscerate anyone who gets in the way.

- Honestly, he wants to do some sort of grand entrance, but in the end, he simply knocks on the door.

- “Hello, my dear,” he takes their hand and kisses their knuckles. “I’ve missed you.”

- “Lucifer!” they tackle him with a hug strong enough to knock over a lesser demon. In his peripheral, Lucifer sees a neighbor stick their head out of the door and look around with a confused look.

- “You have nosy neighbors, I see.”

“Well, I mean, I did just scream ‘Lucifer...’”

“Perhaps we should go inside before someone calls a priest?”

“It wouldn’t be the first time.”

- The two of them spend the night in their living room, just talking. They ask if he wants to go out somewhere, but he declines.

“This is the most relaxed I’ve been in centuries. I’m perfectly satisfied with staying in with you.”

- He hadn’t intended to stay the night, but it was near impossible to resist the offer. And that would end up being his downfall.

- He had forgotten about that stupid game that his brothers and the human liked to play, where they got pictures of each other sleeping. And, just as he couldn’t resist the temptation to spend the night with them, they couldn’t resist the temptation to steal a picture while he slept.

- When he arrived back at the House of Lamentation, all six of his brothers were waiting for him in the entrance hall.

- “So, where ya been, Luci?” Mammon sneered. “Ya couldn’t have possibly snuck off to visit the human after makin’ damn sure you told us not to do that, now could ya?”

“It’s not like our dear eldest brother to do something so hypocritical.” Satan said coolly, regarding Lucifer with a raised eyebrow.

“...I haven’t the faintest idea what you’re talking about.” Lucifer huffed.

“’Hey guys! How many points is a sleeping Lucifer worth?’” Levi turned his phone around to show Lucifer a picture of his own sleeping face, with the human’s laughing eyes just poking out from the bottom corner.

“...Oh.”

He wasn’t living this one down for a while.

Mammon

- This sneaky little bastard straight up just climbs into their room in the middle of the night.

- You know, like he DIDN’T live in a completely different realm.

- The human damn near punches him in the face when he wakes them up.

- “Mammon, what the actual fuck are you doing?”

“Visiting, what’s it look like?”

“To my neighbors, probably breaking and entering.”

- They should kick him out, all they have to do is issue a pact command. But Mammon looks at them with his sad blue eyes and they just can’t bring themself to do it.

- “I got so used to ya...y’know...sleeping next to me.” he shuffled around like a kid waiting to get scolded. “It’s hard to fall asleep when ya ain’t there.”

“Shut up and cuddle with me, you big baby.”

- They stay up stupidly late watching vine compilations and talking until they straight up just pass out against each other. They stay like that for the rest of the night.

- And by rest of the night I mean until freaking noon the next day. And the only reason they wake up then is because Lucifer is blowing up Mammon’s phone.

- “Mammon, where are you?”

“If you’re out clubbing, be back at a reasonable hour. If you’re out scheming, don’t come back until you have something to show for it.”

“You better not have passed out in a gutter somewhere. We have a reputation to uphold, you know.”

“Mammon, please tell me you didn’t directly disobey an order and go visit the Human Realm.”

Four unread voicemails.

“Welp, you’re fucked.”

“Thanks, human, love you too.”

Leviathan:

- Social anxiety is a bitch and a half, so he just asks if he can come visit.

-Deadass just portals into their living room like “’Sup, I brought games, go get some snacks and get prepared to get rekt.”

- That’s it, that’s the visit.

- They decide to do multiplayer vs some other humans and they wipe the floor with them.

- “Eat it, normies, I’M the one playing with a hot person! Have fun in your moms’ basements!”

“Pot meet kettle, Levi.”

“I don’t live in a basement, though!”

“Fair point. Boom, headshot!”

- Levi manages to sleep over without repercussions solely because nobody is surprised if he doesn’t show up somewhere.

Satan

- Makes direct eye contact with Lucifer as he leaves the House of Lamentation and goes “Don’t wait up.”

-Times his surprise visit so he’s made himself comfortable with a book and a cup of coffee when they get home.

- They brought a friend over to study or whatever. The human sees him in the middle of the living room and just screeches “Satan, what the fuck?”

-The friend is like “Aight imma head out.” And like goes into witness protection.

- Satan comes bearing gifts of the newest installments of Devildom book series’ and a recording of the episodes of the crime dramas that they need to catch up on.

- They pause between each episode to talk theories even though Satan already knows what happens. Both of them feel proud of the human when they figure it out.

- Mammon texts Satan in the middle of the night in absolute terror.

Mammon: Satan you get your ass back to the Devildom right now!

Satan: Why?

Mammon: Because Lucifer is about to rip a hole through the dimensions to drag you back here!

Satan: That sounds like a Lucifer problem.

Mammon: It’s about to be a Three Realms problem!

- Read 2:09 AM

Asmodeus

- He just tells Lucifer he’s going to visit Solomon.

- And makes sure to tell him that if Lucifer decides to interrupt him, he will gladly let him listen to all of the naughty things they’re going to be doing.

- And Lucifer just straight up doesn’t want to deal with his shit so he lets it go.

- The human comes home to see Asmo stretched out on their bed scrolling through Devilgram.

- “Ugh, finally! You took forever!”

“Asmo? What are you doing here?”

“Well, I was planning on seducing you, but I absolutely refuse to have sex on a bed that moans louder than I do.”

- They go on a cute little cafe date and Asmo insists on going to all of the high-end fashion stores.

- “Devildom fashion trends always seem a few decades behind the human world. Honestly, it wasn’t until about five years ago that I could find a skirt above my knees! You would think a Realm full of sin and vice would be a little more up-to-date with provocative attire.”

- FASHION. SHOW.

-They spend an absurd amount of time trying on tacky jewelry and roasting it via Snapchat. Like, the employee showed up on Asmo’s story as they were kicking them out.

- They buy a bottle of liquor on their way back to the human’s place, get absolutely smashed and, depending on your preference, either have the giggliest sex ever or watch stupid beauty hack videos. Maybe both. Actually, definitely both.

- The next morning, Asmo does an Inter-dimensional Walk of Shame and no one is surprised.

Beelzebub

- Was going to lie about where he was going but felt guilty about it.

- So he just didn’t tell anyone.

-Knocks on the human’s door and immediately gives them the biggest bear hug.

- “I missed you, so I came to visit. That’s okay, right?”

- Beel wants to go out to eat, but the human flat out says no because they can’t afford to wine and dine the Avatar of Gluttony.

- They compromise by buying a crapton of snacks at the grocery store.

- Cashier: Must be a big party you’re having.

Human, grabbing a family size bag of chips out of Beel’s hand without even turning to look at him: Yup.

- They make themselves a blanket fort in their living room, watching movies and eating way too many snacks. Beel asks them questions about their family and their life up there. If the human has photos, he wants to see all of them.

-The human falls asleep mid-movie, slumping against his shoulder. Beel picks them up and tucks them into bed, planning on leaving to let them rest before they sleepily ask him to spend the night.

Belphegor

- Convinces Mammon to cover for him.

- Does this by going “Please, Big Brother?” and Mammon caves almost immediately.

- Pops into the human’s bedroom in the early hours of the morning and wiggles into bed with them.

- “Why am I not surprised?”

“Missed you too.”

- Human just accepts the snuggles and goes back to sleep. Belphie makes sure they have good dreams.

- If they have work or school, Belphie convinces them to call in sick and spend the day with him.

- Lots of naps and sleepy kisses. The chillest day ever.

- The human feels so relaxed that they almost convince Belphie to stay another night, and Belphie almost agrees.

- But Mammon’s ability to bullshit will only last so long, and Belphie knows he needs to go back before someone notices that his “afternoon nap” was going on 14 hours.

- “Come see me in my dreams, okay?”

[mermaid-of-the-valley]

We’re Dynamite

My part of the collaboration with @theeternalspace. Just wanted to post it up separate from the original so it’s a bit easier to find.

Characters: Virgil, Roman, and Remus(Briefly)

Pairing: Prinxiety

Hero and Villain AU based on this prompt. 

The Dazzling Prince, scourge of the city, beauteous lord of all… Probably should have seen this coming.

“Shit, shit, shit!” Roman was racing through the side streets on his motorbike, pursuers hot on his sparkling tail. Honestly, so uncool. You turn a few minor leaguers in for a reduced sentence and suddenly You’re the traitor?! Ridiculous. “It was only a few kilos of coke lost, get over yourselves!” He yelled hysterically.

A bullet ricocheted off the wall beside him. “Okay, we’re doing this.” Autopilot engaged, he flipped around to face his assailants. “So, no one told you life was gonna be this waaay!~ ” Clap, clap, clap, clap. The lane exploded in light waves timed to his performance. The one closest to him had his front tire sheered in half and from there it was a tumble into his two cohorts.

“Woops, that’s going to leave some road rash!” Roman threw his head back, laughing wildly. “Better luck next time, sweethearts!” He twisted back around. Autopilot disengaged, he gave a sharp turn down an alley, jumped the cycle over a car and swiveled deeper into the labyrinth.

All things considered, a quiet night. He sighed. “Siri, text my shadow knight. ‘Hey, Angel. I’m about to knock off a jewelry store for an engagement ring. What cut did you want again?’ Send.”

The ‘message sent’ text bounced with every bump in the road and Roman spent a little too long staring at the screen. He might not have glanced up at all, confident in his bike’s artificial intelligence covering for his gay dumbassery, but then he heard it.

“We’re no strangers to love, you know the rules and so do I!”

Roman screeched to a halt just outside his territory. The music skipped a beat, getting louder.

“A full commitment’s what I’m thinking of, you wouldn’t get this from any other guy!” Left? Right? Where the heck was that stupid song coming from? He rolled out onto the road.

“I just want to tell you how I’m feelin’, gotta make you understand!”

And then he was hit with a truck.

——————————————————————————————

He came to in the vehicle’s flatbed. Almost certainly concussed and his nose bruised if not broken. Well, that would take a bit to heal. Roman pried open his eyes to take in the fishy smelling, green splattered warehouse.

“Never gonna give you up, never gonna let you down, never gonna run around and desert you! Never gonna let you die, never gonna say goodbye, never gonna tell you why, just hurt you!~ ”

Aw f*ck, it was Remus.

“Hey, Bro-bro! You look like shit!” His greasy face hovered over Roman’s.

The prince groaned. “Well, it feels like I was hit with a monster truck, you freaking lunatic.”

“Oh, that was just to throw you off balance! I knew you’d be fine! Want to see the tape? I caught the whole thing on the dashcam!” He yanked Roman from the flatbed by a fistful of his uniform. Roman barely managing to catch himself.

Remus cackled. “It was great! Just BANG! Right over the hood! You looked like a deer!”

“Dare I ask what you did with Maggie?”

“She’s a little banged up. The boys took her back to the shop to get better.” His grin was a little too wide.

“If you touch her A.I. again I’ll strangle you.”

“Kinky.” Remus pushed him into a folding chair. It wobbled dangerously backwards before jerking forward once again, Remus’ hands on either side of the seat. “Not that it’s surprising considering your little tryst with the mutant pigeon.”

Roman squinted. “You’re misreading the situation. It’s a heartwarming story of enemies to lovers! … With a little tequila for flavor.”

“So, you’re telling me you haven’t fluffed those wings?” He wiggled his eyebrows, but the smile was strained. “Faced assault with a friendly weapon? Done the devil’s dance?” His voice was rising in irritation. “Gone out on the town covered in feathers?!” He shook his brother’s form.

Roman brought up a foot and kicked him off. “Take several steps off, Remus!” He snapped, and then winced at his own high pitch. “Have a little class!” He rubbed at his eyes before looking up to catch his twin making lewd gestures.

“Getting whipped by a parakeet! That’s what you are! Come on, Roman, we never hang out anymore! When was the last time we set fire to a dairy farm or unscrewed the color covers on a traffic light?”

“We never did those things.”

“Oh right, that was a dream I had last week.” He tugged an eyebrow. “But we could still do it!”

“I already have plans for this evening, Remus. The first of which now requires stealing nanobots capable of repairing internal contusions!”

Remus pouted. “Oh, poo.” He tapped a finger against his side and something clicked open on his hip.

Roman pushed himself up, more than aware of Remus’ hallucinogenic proclivities and not at all keen to experience them. “You’ll get over it, you rancid swordfish. We have literal decades to do… whatever demented chores your mind conjures up!” He stumbled backwards towards the door with as convincing a smile as he could manage. “Surely one more night won’t kill you!”

“Might kill you though.” Remus muttered.

“What?”

“What?”

“…I’ll see you next weekend.” He’d just gotten the door unlocked, when he was darted in the back. “Ow! Mother of Hell, Remus!” He wrenched the needle out and stared down at what little yellow liquid was left in the vial. Wait, yellow? “Shit.”

Remus wasn’t so much grinning as he was cracking his face in half. “DeeDee said you might not be too keen on hanging out, so he offered a compromise.”

And now there were two of him, that wasn’t right. “Don’ think that means what you think it does…”

“You’ll get over it, right? Literal decades to do whatever chores I come up with?”

Echoing. Not good. Getting dizzy. Exit plan Alpha. “Remus,” Roman’s smirk was just his side of warped. “Why ya gotta be so Ruuude?~”

—————————————————————–

Virgil would like to be able to tell his friends and family that he got a good night’s sleep and was just shocked awake by a repetitive knocking on his wall. Unfortunately, he’d been awake and watching “Serial Killer Files” online when, what he eventually thought was, a large bird rammed into his window and rolled down his roof.

His first thought for the culprit was Mothman. In his defense, he hadn’t slept in over 18 hours and had a higher than healthy amount of Monster in his system.

Nevertheless, something big was on his lawn now and his heroic instincts demanded he try to help… or at the very least move it somewhere it could die with dignity.

However, he very nearly changed his mind when he saw who it was. The dastardly prince had somehow found his home and was sprawled over his porch step. His face was pinched with pain and that was hardly the last of it. Virgil glanced to his neighbors on either side, thankfully unaware of the crash.

Princey groaned and against his worse judgement, the Seraph pulled his enemy into the house. “This better be a real emergency.” He turned the man on his side in the entryway and closed the door. “Okay, no commentary or I use peroxide.” He muttered to the half-aware villain.

He didn’t see the easy nod when he stood and ran to the kitchen. The supplies in his home weren’t as good as headquarters, but they’d do for the time being.

He paused, what was the protocol for this? A known threat to the city had found his house. How did he find his house? Virgil was never drunk enough to let that slip, he made sure of it! “Ugh, the minute he’s not bleeding on the carpet…” He compromised with himself, already kneeling next to the Prince again.

“Any trips or traps I should know about?” He asked, turning his charge gingerly onto his back.

A shake of the head. “You must be in bad shape if you’re not talking.” Virgil carefully slipped off the layers of padded cloth, laying a blanket over his patient’s lower half for modesty. Most of it seemed superficial, though he did have a disconcertingly dark bruise on his side and abrasions lining his legs. Virgil set to work.

“Are you…? Well, obviously, you’re not okay, but-” Nothing but steady breathing and staring. Virgil stilled. “Okay, I know what I said before, but you’re freaking me out. Talk to me. Are you in pain?”

“Hurts a little bit.” Virgil sighed in relief at hearing his voice. “Dizzy.”

“What happened to you?”

“Hit by a truck.”

…Unexpected. “Your bike didn’t see that one coming?”

“Maggie was off.” The prince raised a hand and flapped it slowly back and forth, bizarrely fixated on it.

“You named it-? Ugh, why am I even asking?” Virgil pasted down the last bit of gauze.

“Cause you’re curious.” His floaty hand tapped the one Virgil was still using to hold pressure.

“Can you tell me who did this?” Virgil questioned, unfortunately used to the man’s weird, touchy nature.

“The Duke.” He grumbled, eyes firmly on their hands.

Virgil was confused, the name seemed familiar, but he was usually fighting Princey and Logan’s patrols ran deeper underground than his. “Who’s that?” The man’s teeth clacked with how fast he closed his mouth, lips pulling down into a tight line. “Don’t be difficult now. Otherwise I can’t help.”

“M’brother.”

Now Virgil was confused and very freaked out. He blinked hard, trying to process all of the things wrong with what he just heard. “Are you concussed or something?”

“Nooooo.” He whined. “’M drugged, you silly birb.”

“That’s better?” Virgil hooked his arms around the villain and started to heft him upstairs.

The prince rubbed his arm thoughtfully. “Maybe.” He squinted at his rescuer. “Where’s your feathers?”

Virgil only just realized how dressed down he was compared to their typical interactions. “They’re not always visible, I have to live some kind normal life, right?”

“No, you don’t.” It was a surprisingly serious statement for how he had been acting. But Virgil had heard similar comments from him before, usually followed by rhetoric on power and the freedom it offered. A lot of times it was hard to tell what was just repeated and what was true to the Prince.

“Table that discussion for when you’re not loopy.” He stepped into the guest room at the top of the steps and lay the man on the bed. “Was your brother the one who made the drug?”

“No. His friend.” Virgil waited for any other information, but none was volunteered.

Then he had a thought. “What’s your name?”

His foe smiled in the same dreamy fashion. “Dazzling Prince.”

“Tell me your real name.”

His face pinched again, but Virgil’s suspicions were confirmed when he let slip: “Roman.”

“I think whatever you were dosed with makes you susceptible to suggestion.”

Roman kept up the mopey expression, eyes now slightly clouded. “Guess so.”

“Sorry. I didn’t want to accidentally make you move and agitate your injuries, but by the time I thought to ask a question that was the only one I could think of and it felt like the silence was getting awkward, so it just kind of fell out, and by that point it was too late to back pedal.” Virgil rambled out in one breath.

And with that Roman huffed what might have been a laugh under better circumstances. “Guess that’s fine then. Needed a reason to go full supervillain anyway. Might as well make it a petty one.”

“What? No! Don’t do-” Virgil cut himself off, remembering the predicament they were both in. He looked away, glaring at the floor. Roman rubbed his arm with a sloppy smirk.

“You’re too good.”

“For you? Obviously.”

“In general. You’re soft on a lot of crooks.” He leaned back into the bed, eyes drooping. “I’ve noticed how you act to the cops when you hand us over, Softy Seraph.”

“Few crimes are committed by hardened criminals. A lot of them just need help.” After all, where would he be without Patton?

“Sounds fake, but go off I guess.” He mumbled.

The hero sat at the edge of the bed. “You’re making it hard not to throw you out.”

Roman closed his eyes, seemingly content to let Virgil have the final say.

At least that’s what he thought before a foot prodded his back, almost exactly where his wings were painted. Virgil turned to tell him off when he heard the humming.

And saw the room sparkling. Little balls of light, opaque and floating, spawned around his room in time with specific notes in the song. Roman directing their appearance without looking, extending a pinky one direction and then his index finger another. They would follow his lines, streaking like stars and for once, completely harmless in action.

He took a breath. “Cherry lips, crystal skies. I could show you incredible things. Stolen kisses, pretty lies. You’re the queen, baby, I’m your king. Find out what you want, be that boy for a month, wait the worst is yet to come.~”

Virgil grimaced. “Oh, no.”

Roman grinned at the commentary, but didn’t stop. “Screaming, crying, perfect storms. I can make all the tables turn. Rose garden filled with thorns, keep you second-guessing like: “Oh my God, who is he?” I get drunk on jealousy, but I’ll come back each time I leave. ‘Cause darling you’re a nightmare dressed like a daydream.~”

“I’ll smother you with a pillow.”

“Doubt it. I’ve got a blank space, baby. And I’ll write your name.~” He slid in, quieter than before. His eyelids cracked opened the barest bit, hands still outstretched to maintain the glowing orbs. “You’re really pretty when you multiply by the way.”

Virgil rolled his eyes. “How many of me do you actually see?”

“Three.” He dropped his arms and the lights dimmed away, leaving spots in the hero’s vision where they were. “Four, if you count the outline.”

“Outline?”

Roman gestured at him vaguely. “The sparkles hiding your wings, they make up your shape.”

“What are you talking about?” Virgil sputtered, resisting the urge to glance around at whatever figment Roman’s mind conjured. “Can you actually see my wings?” Had he always seen them? “Answer me.”

Roman blinked a few times, getting drowsy. He hummed noncommittedly.  That floaty feeling was coming back threefold without the adrenaline, and every other word started to reverb. There was a snap near his face.

“Hey, focus, Princey.”

It was like falling asleep when you’d been trying to stay up on spite and caffeine. Something pressing down and disconnecting him from reality. It wasn’t awful, almost the opposite in fact, but he wasn’t super excited about what it took to get there. Fighting was easier without orders, but Seraph seemed slow on that uptake.

Roman locked eyes with Virgil, completely under his sway and only distantly aware of it. Virgil sighed in agitation. Just looking at the prince proved he’d screwed up again. His pupils were totally blown and unfocused. He tugged his hair in frustration. “Dammit, why do you always do this to me?!”

He curled over the edge of the bed, trying to regain a sense of calm. Stupid energy drinks. Virgil was totally out of depth with this one. The villain beside him was slowly sinking into the sheets and Virgil found himself questioning how regularly he got the chance to sleep.

Resigning himself to postponing his planned night of horror for a different one, Virgil carefully maneuvered the man under the comforter and then left to change into pajamas. He couldn’t exactly leave the man unsupervised in his house anyway.

He found himself humming a half-remembered tune as he brushed his teeth, keeping an ear trained on the room. Almost unthinkingly, he laid out an unopened toothbrush and paste.

“…Break all the rules, slippin’, runnin’ hot, baby ‘cause we’re dynamite. Gonna let the world…”

Walking in again he saw Roman had slid himself lower into the bedding, nose barely visible and hair tossed across the pillow. Virgil propped himself against the headboard, on top of the comforter, but a quilt tucked around his legs. He closed his eyes, resting, not sleeping. Not with the Prince next to him.

Roman’s breaths rumbled slow and deep in his chest. It was so weirdly rhythmic, Virgil had to wonder if it was a side effect of his powers. “You could do more you know.” He whispered to the room. Not for the first time, the idea of simply telling his enemy to give up his criminal ways while he was primed crossed his mind.

Instead, he took a heavy breath, crossed his arms and hunched over in a light doze.

Downstairs, Virgil’s hero-line phone buzzed with a delayed text from the man he saved.

[authorazumarill]

Hey so remember that one anon that asked what Archie and Maxie would do if they worked in a mall? Yeah, well, I made a one shot because I liked the idea and wanted to make our lord and savior Paul Blart proud in less then 3,000 words

"You're going to end up getting someone killed if you keep on ignoring your duties, you know that, right?"

Archie could only roll his eyes at such a blunt and completely false claim.

"Relax, Max. I know how to do my job just fine. You gotta put a lil' more faith in me."

"Then why are you always hanging around my store and not patrolling the other parts of the mall, you know, like how a security guard should?" Maxie countered, leaning against the glass display that protected dazzling gem stones attached to golden chains.

"Simple logic. All the big names jewelry stores in this place have their own types of security. That, and there's more security guards in this place than just lil' ol' me. A small, family shop is more likely to be robbed than that fuckin' 'Every kiss begins with Kay' place."

"And if something like that were to every occur, which it won't mind you, I can take care of myself. My mother can take care of herself. We don't need someone to barge into our lives in the hopes of being our knight in shining armor." At this point Maxie couldn't have this conversation with hellfire in his voice like he used to. Instead, he raised his hand to cover his mouth as he yawned. The mall was twenty minutes from closing and it was wedding/anniversary season, so people were coming in all day in the hopes of finding the perfect gift for their significant others. He has been dealing with moronic men all day. It didn't look like he was going to get a break any time soon.

"Hey now. I'm not sayin' I want something bad to happen to your store. I'm just sayin' that I'll be here just in case somethin' does happen to your store." Archie shrugged and pushed himself off of the display case. "Y'know there's been a lotta talk 'bout some Team Rocket assholes runnin' around Hoenn as of late."

"And if any of them come here they will be met with a cranky Camerupt. You're about to meet the same fate. Leave," Maxie said boredly. Archie could tell that the poor man could practically go to sleep right here and now. He very well could since there wasn't a soul in this wing of the mall at this time on a Wednesday night. Wednesdays were always rather dead in the mall to begin with. Who goes out on Wednesdays? No one, apparently.

"Fine, fine. I can take a hint." Archie took a single step forward before turning around to meet Maxie again, prompting the other man to groan in frustration. "But I got a proposition for ya."

"If I hear you out will you leave?"

"Yep."

"What."

"If I ever have to come and save your ass, you have to treat me to lunch."

"No. Bye."

Honestly, Archie should have seen that one coming. He did see it coming but that didn't mean the dismissal hurt any less. "Alright, alright, fine. I'll leave ya alone, cranky ass. I gotta make my rounds anyway," he grumbled. Much to Maxie's delight, Archie left the store.

Archie understood pretty well that he was really blunt and not subtle at all by spending all of his time near Madeline's, a jewelry store ran by a Kalosian who didn't have a firm grasp on the Hoenn language and her son, who could tell anyone to "fuck off" in at least eight languages at this point. Madeline herself was a delight to be around. She was so sweet and nice. Despite the language barrier, she always tried to give Archie a compliment every time she saw him. Maxie, on the other hand, was her complete opposite. He wanted nothing more than for his mother to stop being so friendly so Maxie could finally go a day without seeing Archie's face, but even without her involvement Archie still found himself bugging the tired sales manager as if it was his favorite pass time, which it was. Now, Archie was no creep. He could understand "no" just fine. However, being able to release some of the pent up anger Maxie felt toward some of his customers toward a man with bulletproof skin seemed to help him out a lot. Over the months Archie has seen the man go from being on the verge of throwing a man out a window to being moderately annoyed with the world at worst.

Archie whistled a tune as he walked down the lightly populated tiled floors. He had to say, he did have a fun job sometimes. He was always a fan of breaking people up in fights. Most of what he dealt with was petty theft. When he could turn a blind eye on it he did, but that didn't mean he always could. With ten more minutes until closing time, a lady made the announcement over the intercom and some of the smaller stores were already beginning to close up shop. People were beginning to head toward the doors and he had to poke a gentleman sitting in one of the mall benches to wake him up.

Finally, the closing announcement was made and he could feel such a relief wash over all of the workers ready to go home. His fellow security guards were calling in, telling the others that their section was clear. After doing a quick check of the shops in his section Archie was able to give his all clear as well.

Archie himself only had two more hours before he could call it quits for the night. He wasn't on night watch, after all. He shouldn't even be staying this late to begin with. He was covering for one of his buddies who called in sick when in reality he was on a date with a cute girl who worked in one of the tech accessories stores. If Archie wasn't such a bro he would be home right now eating a TV dinner and watching a Kalosian film. He has been picking up on a few phrases by hearing them over and over again. Madeline gets absolutely thrilled when he butchers her language. He's at least trying and Madeline knows that. It's more than what everyone else has done.

An hour after closing proved to be just as boring as he remembered when he was regularly stuck on the night shift. Only a few store owners were left in the building. Madeline's was locked up with a barred wall behind the door, but Archie could still see a light on in the back. Maxie must still be in. Archie stifled a yawn with the back of his hand.

This was going to be a long night.

He whistled as he walked past Madeline's and down the now dimly lit section of the mall. The mannequins in the windows would be the only thing remotely human he sees until the end of his shift. It was possible that he could run into one of the other security guards, but knowing them they're probably just standing around in one spot, watching the monitors, or asleep. All of those actually sounded like good ideas, but Archie also liked to get his exercise in. Tonight's shift is cutting in with his home workout routine.

Right as he was thinking this was going to be a boring night, he heard barking followed by the crashing of metal. His head immediately whipped over to the sound. There was clearly something going on here. Without much hesitation, he threw out his own Mightyena who immediately pounced on him, wanting some love after being cooped up in a ball all day. Archie sputtered but still ruffled the creature's fur before pushing him away.

"You'll get to go home and eat here in a while. Right now we got a battle to win. Probably. I'm not entirely for sure what's goin' on, ol' boy. Let's go."

Following orders, Mightyena charged ahead of him. His happy release quickly faded as bared teeth and pointed ears became apparent on his features. The sounds weren't close to him, but they did sound like it was in his section.

And Madeline's was at the very edge of his section.

Not bothering to call for backup, Archie ran with Mightyena only to see that his suspicions were correct. The barred wall that protected Madeline's was ripped apart thanks to an aggressive looking Arcanine and Arbok. Two men clad in black stood in front of the store. A large red "R" was the only color their uniforms held. They no doubt would have been in the store already if it weren't for a Camerupt, Mightyena, and a very angry red head blocking their path. Between the three of them, the skinny man in the middle was the one to be feared the most. He was wearing his coat so it looked like he was getting ready to go home. Any person who takes the bliss of leaving for the day away from Maxie is a dead man.

Without taking an order, Archie's Mightyena leaped into the standstill, initiating the battle by lunging for the Arcanine's neck. Maxie grit his teeth and ordered for his Pokemon to attack while the men were surprised with the sudden Pokemon attack.

Archie was quick to move to Maxie's side. "You okay?"

"I'm fine. I can't say the same for the front of my store though," he grumbled and shouted another order for his Pokemon to follow. Camerupt was making quick work on the Arbok while the Mightyenas were going after the Arcanine. The Arcanine was much larger than the two of them combined, but it couldn't keep up with defending all of its sides. One Mightyena would take the hit from the enemy Pokemon while the other would lunge in attack.

"Arcanine, forget them!" the taller of the grunts shouted. "Use Take Down on those bastards!"

With a mighty roar, the large Pokemon charged right into Archie's Mightyena, knocking the Pokemon off to the side, but it didn't stop there. It kept on charging in Archie and Maxie's direction. Even though Maxie was a mere second away from jumping out of the way, Archie grabbed his wrist and threw them out of the path of danger. They slammed into the floor and Archie was quick to shield Maxie from the shattered glass and other falling debris as the Arcanine kept going and slammed in the remains of the front of the store. Archie could feel his chest burning, not from something stupid like injuries or emotions, but rather, from the rage radiating from Maxie's body. The man was quick to push himself out of Archie's grip and got back on his feet.

"I hope you two are ready to face the consequences for messing with me, the great Maxie!"

"Cocky bastard!" the shorter of the grunts shouted back. "We'll be taking what we want, including the keystones you got!"

"Keystones?" Archie mumbled under his breath, shaking the glass from his back. Surely they weren't talking about the keystones that could trigger a mega-evolution. Not only were they rare, but they were also illegal for anyone other than government and research facilities as well as skilled trainers to posses. Why would they think Maxie had something like that?

Unless...

"I have absolutely no idea what you're talking about. What I do know is that you two will meet your maker tonight. Camerupt-!" Steam blew out of Camerupt's nostrils as lava erupted from his back. The grunts were barely able to miss the attack. Archie got back on his feet just in time for a flash of fire to catch the corner of his eye. Maxie's back was turned to the still threatening Arcanine. Fire covered its fangs.

Letting his instincts take over, Archie shoved Maxie to the ground. He was on his way down to do gravity's bidding as well, but sharp, burning fangs buried themselves into Archie's shoulder before the large creature tossed him around like a ragdoll. Now, Archie liked to pride himself on his macho manly man toughness, but the pain was enough to make him shout in anguish.

"Archie!" Maxie shouted. Instead of staying down and watching with fear, he quickly grabbed a piece of metal debris and got to his feet. His mother must have known what she was doing when she signed him up for baseball as a child even though he hated everything about the sport. He twisted his hips and smashed the metal against Arcanine's face, forcing it to release Archie and stagger backward, only to be met with Maxie's snarling Mightyena.

Archie hissed in pain as he held his wound. Blood was quickly soaking his dark shirt. The world was fuzzy and he wasn't entirely for sure if he blacked out for a few seconds. One moment they were dealing with a vicious Arcanine, the next it was gone and the grunts were making a break for it. He could have sworn that he was standing too, but he soon became aware of his kneeling state. Maxie's hand on his not injured shoulder was probably the only thing that kept his upright.

"Archie! Archie, stay with me here," Maxie demanded as he patted Archie's cheek in the hopes it would prevent him from blacking out for another few seconds. His normal, irritated eyes were instead showing concern in the most extreme way possible.

"Team Rocket..." Archie mumbled, trying to get back on his feet but Maxie's hand kept him down.

"One of your fellow security guards is currently chasing them with a Manectric. Don't worry about them. Focus on me like you always seem to do," Maxie said and snapped his fingers in front of Archie's face just to make sure he had the man's attention.

"You're actually givin' me permission?"

"You better not waste it."

Maxie whistled and a brief moment later Archie felt a warm and fuzzy beast by his side. Maxie forced him down into a sitting position, leaning him against Camerupt's overly warm side. Archie tried to protest and get back on his feet, but Maxie was persistent.

"Stay down," he ordered. "You don't need to be moving with that injury."

"What? With this lil' scratch?" Archie tried to laugh, but the slight movement was enough to make him wince in pain. He doesn't think he's felt a pain like this since the attack that lead to him getting an "X" shaped scar on his face.

Maxie bit the bottom of his lip as he rapidly thought about what to do next. He tugged off his coat and pressed it against the wound, causing Archie to shout in pain again despite his macho manly man wishes.

"I know, I know. I'm sorry, but it will help the bleeding while we wait for an ambulance. At least, I hope it does."

"Ambulance? I don't need a damn-" Archie was quick to cut himself off when he caught Maxie's glare. Without leaving his side, Maxie pulled out his PokeNav and explained the situation to the operator on the other end before ending the call. He looked to Archie, then over at his completely destroyed store. At least they had good insurance, he kept on telling himself.

"So," Archie started, wincing as he readjusted himself, "what's all this talk 'bout keystones?"

"I'm just as curious as you are," Maxie replied coolly. "As much as I've dreamed about it, I have never seen a keystone up close and in person, let alone sell them in bulk. Besides, my mother would kill me if I were to use our store for illegal activities like that."

Honestly, Archie didn't have a reason to doubt Maxie. He was cold and liked to keep his distance, sure, but he has always been an honest man that customers trust. Archie wouldn't like him if he didn't have that quality to him. "Well...maybe we could theorize this shit over lunch sometime?" he offered because now was as good a time as ever. Maxie seemed taken aback.

"Is now really the time to be asking me out?"

"Well, I did have that proposition earlier today."

"Which I turned down. Besides, I think I did most of the work in protecting my store, thank you very much." Archie wasn't going to dispute that because Maxie was right. He didn't really do much to help in the fight other than throw himself in harm's way just to protect the man not once, but twice. Yep. Archie didn't do shit. He actually felt kind of offended at the claim.

However, he did notice Maxie's face soften up a little bit. "But...I'm sure that you will be given some time off to recover. Perhaps instead of lunch we can get dinner sometime when I have all of this mess sorted out?" he suggested, vaguely gesturing to the remains of his store.

Now it was Archie time to be taken aback, but he was quick to recover from his shock and smirked. "Sounds like a deal to me. Just please don't make me shake on it."

"I have enough of your moronic blood on me. I wasn't going to."

[bussanbaby]

It’s barely past eight in the morning when Izzy unlocks the door to her own little corner of the Institute, a hybrid of a workshop and an office. It’s a recent development, entirely of Alec’s doing after she mentioned wanting to get back into weapon engineering. So far the immersive work has been a great source of joy and pride for Isabelle, allowing her to focus, reinvigorate despite the difficult tasks, grow even stronger in her recovery.

She loves the space he’d put together for her under her guidance - one part of it includes a large desk, a loveseat in the corner and a couple of shelves with all the books she could list. The other half is comprised of a work bench currently cluttered with misshapen pieces of metal that in the end will come together as her double-arrow crossbow, as well as her tools and materials, most of those safely stored away in large cupboards tucked against the stone walls.

Hanging her jacket over the back of the swivel chair, Izzy sets her hands on her hips, mentally compartmentalizing everything that begs for her attention - finishing all the budget amendments for the Head to include in this month’s report, finally getting done with that stubborn blueprint for tracking arrows, and if she’s feeling extremely productive - kicking Clary’s ass in double-handed staffs training.

She sets to work after putting her hair up into a messy bun, but she barely gets a few sentences into the report, when there’s a knock on her door - three quick raps, easily recognizable as her older brother.

“Come in,” she answers, a subtle sort of excitement blooming through her chest. She hasn’t had the chance to see him properly lately, as they’ve both been busy with respective work; it would be a lie to say she doesn’t miss him.

The door creaks open and Alec pokes his head into the office, cell phone trapped against his ear, his other hand busy with a tray holding two coffee cups to go. He hums to let the person on the other side of the call know he’s listening, eyebrows drawn together in focus.

“Are you busy?” he mouths to Izzy and she shakes her head ‘no’ vigorously, causing a couple of rebel curls to slip out, messily framing her face. There’s an almost imperceptible quirk of his mouth, a smile anyone not aware of Alec’s habits would miss entirely.

He shoulders the door closed and wraps up the conversation after everything seems to be confirmed, perching on the edge of her desk as he does so. Izzy rounds the piece of furniture, also choosing to lean against the sharp edge, since it feels less professional and just more like the two of them talking.

It’s when she notices the outfit in its full glory - dress pants patterned with dark green plaid, cropped above his ankles and tapered at the bottom - a definite statement piece if Izzy knows anything about fashion (and she does). The rest of the outfit is black - polished wingtip oxfords, a dress shirt buttoned to the top and a long coat thrown over his shoulders.

While it’s still elegant in a way that fits Alec’s personal style of comfort and practicality, it makes her brother seem like he stepped off the runway no more than two minutes ago. There’s a presence to him, the confidence of a leader, quiet control alongside his usual sternness and the watchful way he holds himself; all of it is softened by his ruffled hair and the subtle silver glitter of jewelry.

“Look at you! You’re giving me a run for my money as the best-dressed Shadowhunter in NY, big bro,” she greets him with a quip, oxblood-colored lips stretching into a cheeky grin. “Note that I graciously said ‘Shadowhunter’.”

A full smile blooms on Alec’s face as he casts down his eyes in almost unconscious modesty, but she can feel him settle comfortably against the words. Just a while ago, at any personal comment she would make, he’d curl in on himself and bristle the spikes stuck in his armor; he’d snap and huff and roll his eyes, anxiety moving through him in jagged ways. The ever-famous eye roll is still a popular classic, but now it’s usually directed at Jace or Clary after some sort of reckless shenanigans, at Izzy when she gets into trouble, and often at all the Shadowhunters he’s got to keep in check.

He’s different these days, yet somehow the same.

“Oh, I know, nobody’s taking Magnus’ crown on that front,” Alec answers with a quiet chuckle, then stretches the arm holding the coffee towards her. “Got you your favorite one.”

Izzy takes the cup with her name messily scribbled on it in black marker, recognizing the logo from a small hole-in-the-wall café that makes the best lattes. Just one sip warms her from the inside, all of the rich flavors making her eyes dip closed for just a moment.

Alec’s watching her already when she opens them again - there’s a pleasant expression on his face that she can’t fully interpret, the edges of all the emotions blurring together. She raises her eyebrows in a silent question, but Alec just takes a gulp of his own coffee, eyes drifting towards the work table across from him.

“So, how is my favorite sibling doing?” Alec asks nonchalantly as he crosses his ankles with a sly smile, clearly in no rush to leave; Izzy doesn’t want him to anyway.

She laughs into the lip of her cup and leans over to lightly smack him on the shoulder.

“Better not tell that to Jace, huh?” she teases, taking another sip of her coffee.

Alec pulls his shoulders into a shrug, one corner of his mouth curved up. “What the ears don’t hear, the heart doesn’t grieve over.”

“Mister Lightwood, that’s mean!” Izzy feigns offense in the name of her other brother, hand poised over her lips in mock-shock.

Alec laughs at that, throwing his head back, eyes crinkling into adorable crow’s feet at the corners.

“‘Mean’ is my middle name, according to some people around here.”

“No, that’s Gideon.”

The joke earns Isabelle a slow look of disapproval, then Alec sighs theatrically and reaches for her drink as if he has no other choice. “I got you coffee because I love you, but now I need to rethink that decision.”

“No!” Izzy slips out under Alec’s arm in fits of laughter and he gives another half-hearted attempt at pulling her back, fingers snagging in the collar of her shirt. She lets herself be drawn closer until she’s able to wrap her arms around Alec beneath his coat, careful of her drink she’s still holding onto.

She tucks herself up against her brother’s side, just the perfect size to rest her head on his shoulder. Alec’s arms come up around Isabelle and she feels the safest she could ever be, in the embrace of the person that was always stood by her, even in her darkest moments when all she could think about was yin fen and the pain it caused. He never judged her for anything, instead took care of her and loved her all the same. Truthfully, she probably wouldn’t even be here without him.

It’s nothing she didn’t know already, but the realization makes her chest hurt with all that she feels - love, gratitude, faith, so much more than that. She’s always looked up to him; from the very first day she remembers, Alec was right by her side, holding her little chubby toddler hand, training with her when they were big enough to do so, always listening to her even when he was worn down himself. She knows he would do anything for her - give up all that he has to keep her smiling.

She’d do the same for him without hesitation.

Alec’s been miserable until Magnus came into his life - frustrated, terrified, stuck inside the cage this society built around him. And perhaps she wasn’t able to be the one to pull him out of that, to help him realize he’s so much more than a soldier and a son - someone who deserves his own happiness and the space to spread his wings; she’s still glad to be there for him, watch him flourish and grow into the person he was always meant to be.

He may seem different, but he’s the same Alec she’s known forever, just happy.

Of course, they’ve had good moments where they laughed together and sassed each other, and had days where everything seemed alright, but there was always an underlying current of something missing. Alec would never mention it, but she could see it in the slouched angle of his shoulders, in the way he stood rigidly with his eyes trained on the floor each time their parents spoke to him, in the way he’d come from training with bruised skin and reddened eyes.

Now, he talks to Izzy more - about his life, about himself and the way he feels, even if some details stay forever a secret, huddled close to his heart. She’s completely okay with that - she’s just glad he knows he can confide in her whenever he needs to. 

He tells her about his dates and life with Magnus, promises to take her sightseeing in Rome with them the next time they go, gossips about Clave executives and all the dumb laws he has to try and fix with the Council’s help; he mentions his better contact with mom and laughs about somehow lucking out again to find himself friends with people like Luke, Cat, Maia, and Simon.

Izzy talks too - she mentions the mundane meetings and how sometimes it gets hard, but she pulls through, for herself and for others. She talks about hanging out with Maia and Simon as well, about training Max to be the best he can. Once she confesses how strange it is to be back in the swing of things, yet how ecstatic that makes her.

She tightens her grip around Alec’s chest, swallowing around the cluster of emotions stuck in her throat, just as he drops a kiss on top of her head.

“What are you thinking, Iz?” he asks, affection and genuine curiosity easy to spot in his tone, low and rumbling beneath her ear.

She glances up at him, smiles wide and honest, considering all the words wanting to be said, all the ‘thank you’s and ‘I’m sorry’s and all the secrets he doesn’t know yet, but someday will.

“I’m glad to have you by my side, big brother.”

His expression softens, becomes vulnerable in the way he allows himself to be only around those who mean the world to him. Setting his cup on the edge of her desk, Alec kisses her forehead, his hands warm against the sides of her face.

“It’s always been us against the world, hasn’t it?” he hums after a moment of quiet.

And he’s right; it’s always been them, Alec and Izzy, a brother and a sister who disagree on everything, except how much they love each other.

[hot-mysticc-mess-blog]

rfA and minor trio react to mc being falsely accused of a crime?

Casual disclaimer that I found it not nearly as easy to locate South Korean arrest process and law details as I did American and UK arrest laws (thanks uk.gov) and so, uh, this head canon set is lowkey in a fantasy land where the only thing fantasy about it is the mishmash of arrest laws

My Masterlist

Yoosung

You’re, humiliatingly, with the entire RFA when a police officer arrives, arrest warrant in-hand

Yoosung immediately gets vocal about your innocence

“Causing a scene isn’t going to help her, Yoosung.” Jumin tries to explain. Needless to say, it doesn’t work

Zen has to physically restrain Yoosung just so that he doesn’t get arrested as well

He believed Rika was innocent, and she actually started a cult. No one would ever be able to convince him that you of all people did something bad.

Looking back on his experiences with Rika, he could at least see some of the bad things in his memories, now that he knew what to look for

But you? Not possible.

Is the most obnoxious and insistent that the RFA do something to help

Everyone is in agreement on this, but any effort they make is deemed as not enough by Yoosung

Zen snapped at him on more than one occasion for acting like a brat, but everyone else is, mostly, forgiving because of the circumstances

Showers you in affection constantly once you’re released (thanks to Jumin’s lawyer), and only lets up when your name is cleared

Jumin

He tries to quietly diffuse the situation on site, but it doesn’t work

He is skeptical that you would do a crime at all to begin with, at least not one bad enough to warrant public arrest

So he calls a lawyer immediately, and has Driver Kim take him down to the station

After some evidence gathering, he is able to confirm for sure that you  had not committed the crime

You are out of the police station with all charges dropped in less than an hour

He then sues them for all the trouble they caused

Jaehee

The neighborhood your cafe is in is up-and-coming. The crime rate is a little higher than ideal, and there’s a lot of new building construction and re-modelling going on

You get the occasional cop in the cafe on their break, and you guys are more than happy to serve them.

…until one pulls you aside and arrests you

At first she is horrified that you’re being arrested, watching with wide eyes as you plead your innocence

She convinces you to go quietly out the back, but assures you she will have you out as soon as possible, instructing you not to say anything until you have a lawyer present

Turns out you match the description of a masked robber who hit up a nearby jewelry store…and the same watch Jaehee had given you for your birthday was among the items stolen.

She has to take a minute to compose herself. You two were just building your reputation with the cafe. Would this hurt your business?

She calls Jumin for a lawyer recommendation and advice

Jumin takes over the process entirely, insisting that it was merely his duty to keep the RFA name from being tarnished.

Your name is quickly cleared by Seven and C&R’s resources

When they let you out of the holding cell, Jaehee yanks you into a suffocating hug

The two of you run a couple of drink specials at the cafe, just to be on the safe side with your business

She gets skittish whenever a cop comes into the cafe now, and insists that she serve them instead

Saeyoung

You were late coming home from the store

…so he hacks into the security camera footage to try and check up on you

Most of their store isn’t actually videoed, there are about 10 cameras total in the entire supermarket

He nearly misses you, assuming the camera named room_1 wouldn’t have you in it

But there you are, wide eyed with horror and trying to explain yourself to the manager

They thought you stole something?

He runs back through the footage as quickly as he could, following you back from the entrance to the store

Luckily, the moment some dumb kid got scared and slipped a stolen set of headphones into your purse is on video.

He sends an email to the manager with the video, and then gives you call. You answer with a shaky voice, but he persists despite the pang in his heart.

“Defender of Justice 707 is here MC! He wants you to tell the manager to check his email!”

It took some convincing…and the manager was suspicious about how you had gotten access to the security camera footage

Saeyoung made you put the manager on the phone with him. Whatever he said had you out the door with $10 worth of store credit less than five minutes later

Zen  

You get stopped by police just as you are about to enter the backstage area after one of Zen’s shows

Reporters and cameras are everywhere. What a scoop!

The door had just opened for you, and the extra commotion draws Zen to look out. Your eyes are wide with panic as two uniformed officers escort you away

He parkours over the velvet ropes to get to you, just in time to watch an officer guide you into the back of the police car, hands cuffed behind your back

He wanted to make a big scene…but everything happened so fast, and among a sea of fans and reporters it would have been career suicide.

He watches all the way until you’re out of the sight, when the reporters start getting particularly rowdy. Security guards usher him inside quickly, and he is left pacing frantically in the green room

He went through a bad boy phase and had a couple of close calls, but you? You were perfect, you would never commit a crime so serious you would get arrested

Should he call Jumin? No way in hell is he calling Jumin.

He calls Seven and does an absolutely terrible job of explaining the situation to him. Luckily, Seven is a genius.

“I’ll take care of it,” Seven assures, sounding more sincere than Zen had ever thought possible.  

“Great I’m heading down to the station–”

“You need to stay right there! Jaehee and I would never forgive you if the paparazzi got photos of you outside a police station.”

Zen growls in response, hanging up the phone before falling back onto a nearby couch, torn between wanting to protect you no matter the cost and the reality that Seven was right, he couldn’t be seen down there. It would make everything worse for both of you.

His phone rings with a call from Yoosung not two minutes later. Zen reluctantly takes the call. Yoosung starts talking before Zen can say anything, panting and out of breath as though he’s been running

“I’m on my way to the auditorium! Seven let us know what happened! We’re gonna get MC out of there, so don’t worry.”

Yoosung stays with Zen at the studio, keeping him from rushing off to the police station and ruining his career, just in case.

They do face masks while they wait and neither of them will ever admit to it for completely different reasons

You are released from police custody in the early hours of the morning and walk out to a sedan with heavily tinted windows

The driver rolls down the nearest window so you can see him, letting you know he was sent from C&R to bring you back to your home

As you hesitantly open the backdoor and slide in, a hand reaches out and pulls you close. You recognize the scent of Zen’s cologne.

“I’m so glad you’re safe, Jagiya. We’re going to get this taken care of. I’m sorry I couldn’t be there sooner.”

Saeran

He handles the actual phone call you give him from the holding cell pretty well. He is clearly a little nervous and stressed but he says he’ll figure out a way to help you.

Then he hangs up the phone, and the panicking thoughts at the back of his mind become his only thoughts

Was this Rika’s doing? Was Mint Eye coming back to haunt you after it had already put you through so much?

Or did the police know about your brief and unintentional involvement? Were they out to get you? How dare they arrest you in the first place

Or maybe you had done it? Maybe you lived a secret life he never knew about, the way Rika had, the way his mother, and Saeyoung, and everyone else in his life had

He was sad and he was angry and he was…afraid. So many feelings. All at one time. He couldn’t take it. He didn’t know what to do.

When things used to get like this he would check out. Someone else would take his place. Now he was here feeling everything all at one time again and he would give anything to ‘dissociate’ as his therapist had called it.

He slowly makes his way to the computer room. He’s supposed to knock, but he just opens the door, causing Seven to whirl around with wide eyes, expecting the worst.

“M-MC is in jail.” Damn it, he hadn’t meant to stutter

“She what!?” Seven looks his twin up and down, trying to find some hint of a joke. Instead of humor, he finds his brother on the edge of a breakdown, fingers trembling and unable to make eye contact.

“MC. is. in. jail.” Saeran repeats, voice sharp and harsh, lashing out against the rising anxiety in his chest. “We need to get her out.”

He has no idea how to do that though. After a minute of silence, Saeyoung figures that out too and motions his brother over.

“Grab a chair little bro! Defender of Justice 7-0-7 will fix this in no time!”

Saeyoung shot a quick text to Jumin, jubilantly narrating all of his actions to try and help Saeran calm down. If he was a good enough actor, maybe Saeran would be convinced this was just him being obnoxious rather than an attempt to soothe. You were the only one who got away with outward coddling without one of Saeran’s tongue lashings.

It was not no time, but Saeyoung was able to get the police data from your arrest warrant and track down evidence to prove you had not done it.

Jumin’s lawyer takes care of the rest, and Saeyoung takes Saeran to get you. You have to hug him first, trembling hands grasping at his sweater, but it takes all of a second before he is returning the hug, squeezing you so tight it feels like you can’t breathe

You let him keep going, because you can feel his entire body shaking.

V/Jihyun

When the police come to the door for you, he makes sure to ask for the charges on the arrest warrant

Does his best to keep the situation quiet. The entire apartment complex seeing you get arrested could end up being far worse than actually being arrested.

He calls his own driver the moment you’re gone to take him to the station. Then he calls Jumin on the way.

Jumin has no problem taking care of the legal side of things to make sure you’re able to get out as soon as possible, as well as updating the chatroom on what happened.

Seven is the next call, to make sure none of the remnants of V’s involvement in Mint Eye would be able to come back to bite you.

He waits in the precinct well-into the early hours of the next morning for your release. He goes into the chatroom all of once, interrupting Yoosung in the middle of complaining about V not coming to tell the RFA himself.

I see you’ve all heard about MC by now

Please, do your best for them

I know they appreciate all the support you are giving them

When you get let out, he puts one hand on the small of your back and leads you immediately out of the precinct

He spends the next several days doting over you, and tries to keep you from any of the legal business you do not absolutely have to be involved in.

Vanderwood

Technically, you did commit a crime. It was a minor traffic violation.  Except when you got to the police station, the questions you were asked seemed entirely unrelated.

He answers the phone call after you’ve been arrested, thinking it’s a contact or someone from the agency

“Hello.” Sometimes he could be curt or cold with you, but it was nothing compared to the complete and total apathy, bordering on displeasure that he answered the phone with now.

“V-Vanderwood?” Your voice cracks and tears prick at the corners of your eyes

“MC?” His tone warms up immediately.

Genuinely relieved when he finds out you’ve just been arrested. Given his old life, and his old connections, he’s terrified you’ll end up in the hands of people he used to work for.

He’s too deep in the agency to help you via legal means, but the cops are a lot less dangerous than some of the people he knows

He comes to get you as soon as he can. In the car on the way home, his first attempt at conversation is unusually professional-sounding.

Oh no? Is he angry? Why would he be angry?

“Do you have someone to cover up the evidence? I have a contact who can help if you need it.”

“I…What?”

“…You really didn’t do it?” His eyes flick from the road to you for a moment, wide with surprise.

“When would I have possibly started up a criminal enterprise you didn’t know about!?”

He gives a non-committal grunt

The entire incident seems to disappear entirely once you pay your traffic ticket, though Vanderwood will never tell you if he did something in order to make that happen

[latitudelongitudegratitudein]

A COLLECTION OF MISSED CONNECTIONS

About 4 months ago a guy friend of mine sent me a screenshot of an add on the missed connection section on craigslist and asked if I had been grocery shopping the night before. This is what the add read:

You were the tall brunette with the near perfect body that farted in the bread section last night. I was the tall guy next to you that looked over and asked, “Was that you?” You quickly replied “No … Wasn’t me!” You almost seemed insulted I would ask. As the stink grew you continued to deny your flatulence, but it was evident. I tried to get rid of the stench by waving 2 loafs of ciabatta bread. You proceeded to storm off in an angry manner. You are beautiful and even if you are a liar and fart like a Clydesdale, I’d love to meet up sometime.

I had no idea that such section even existed on Craigslist. Basically,if you meet someone, get some feelings and you don’t get a chance to say anything you can post an add on craigslist; In the hopes the other person sees the add, contacts you and you live happily ever after. Unfortunately, the night before I was working and not farting at some grocery store. I figured I had lost my chance of finding true love, I didn’t meet the one guy who could handle a flatulent Clydesdale.  

However in India I had many missed connections with boys.

I want to start by saying the last thing I came here for was to find a guy, I am (was) on a break from boys. I even put a song called “Time to be Alone” on my India Playlist. I came here to focus my attention volunteering, on myself and travel al little. But life had other plans and lessons for me.

When you travel the unexpected happens and well there you are laughing at the irony. I spent months telling my therapist that most men, or at least in LA where superficial, egotistical, selfish jerks who only wanted one night stands (Maybe not all but a good 70%).

“How am I going to find a nice one, Michelle?! They are all the same”.

Michelle, who has been granted with the patience of a saint, looked me in the eye the way a school teacher looks at a spastic 7 year old,  took a deep breath and said something really wise (She always does) Maybe something about not generalizing. I was not paying attention so I couldn’t tell you what she said.

I probably told her “ Yeah, I know Michelle.”

I could only think “Fuck, I am are screwed for sure. Good luck finding this fucking nice guy”.

I traveled 8,150.95 miles to learn a very important fact: There’s plenty of nice guys out there. They are everywhere in the world.

I don’t know how much God loves math but I met 10 …. 10 out of 10 very nice guys with whom I had “Missed connections” with ( No guys, I did not make out with all 10 of them!) Only 9, just kidding! I know that’s what you are thinking, I know I could have been capable in the past but no, I am just telling you this story tell you what I learned from them.

( I just made out with 1)

#1 Germany

We shall call him Marx, in the honor of Karl Marx. I met him on my 4th day in India, he is really cute, quiet and chill.

I usually don’t go for that type, they are “too nice”; When he looked at me I wanted to smile and hide at the same time.We talked and hung out with our other friends and then one day we kinda had a date. Not planned but dates and things just happen here.

I had to go run errands and he offered to come with me, then he suggested a walk, we went for candy ( He paid for it, the full $20 rupees haha) and then tricked me into a dinner.

He was really really fucking nice and it made me cringe to have someone so interested in my life and stuff. We had Chai tea like 10 times and then he said he would like to have Chai’s with me for a long time. I wanted to pour the scalding Chai on my face to make it disappear but I just smiled like an idiot.

Nothing happened between us. We hung out a couple times more before he left for Sikkim ( He invited me but I went to Bangalore for the wedding) and when he came back, he found out my new room number and went to knock on my door to hang out one last time before he left.

What did I learn: I learned to relx. Even though I don’t always show it, when I am remotely interested in a guy I suffer from Chronophobia, fear of passing time. Millions of questions pop into my mind the first one being What if he just wants to fuck me? (like in LA) What if he tries to kiss me? What if I like it? What if I don’t? What if he wants to hold my hand? What if? What if? What if?.

With him I learned to relax, I stopped freaking out and lived in the moment. I accepted the fact that yeah,  he might have been attracted to me but he also liked drinking gallons of Chai Tea in my company because I’m really cool and Chai is awesome. Thanks Marx.

#2 Chile

“Pablo Neruda”

 We became really good friends, he had a girlfriend, we backpacked India and shared many beds.

Now, nothing happened. We got really close, as close as only backpackers can become after experiencing everything together. He was super nice and told me I looked beautiful a couple of times ( Not trying to get anything from me, just a geniuine compliment). It felt strange. 

 He is good looking, funny, cool and … nice. Did I feel a little anxiety about sharing a bed with him after going for drinks, yes. Was there a brief moment where we shared a strange connection, yes. Did we act on it. No (I’m proud of both of us).

Instead of acting on it we looked at each other, laughed at the ridiculousness of the moment and went to sleep. Towards the end of the trip we had a conversation and he said he had never cheated on his girlfriend, that he had been tempted a couple of times … “ Very recently, Actually” (Oops!) He said :

“If you are with someone because you love them, you are with them wherever you are and that’s it. If you want to fool around with many others, then you break up. I want to be with my girlfriend.”

 I learned form Pablo that there are decent guys out there, decent guys that are good looking, funny and cool. Through him I learned that as humans we are all tempted but we always have a choice. We choose to act on impulse or pause.

 I am not proud to say in the past I have kissed guys, guys who are someone’s boyfriend. I had no remorse, I have always been a person who acts on impulse and I never gave a shit…  I am learning to pause.

 Thanks Pablo!

#3 Argentina

EL CHE

We met in our backpacking trip, we only hung out for a couple of days. I was traveling with 5 more people by then and we had activities planned out for everyday.

 He dropped his plans and joined us, we rented scooters and drove to a few villages. I had no clue there was any interest from his part until I said I was going to Town to do some jewelry shopping and he offered to come. ( I also thought, he might be gay) He wasn’t.

 We talked and turned out to be really smart, cool, nice and reserved. Passionate about many things but about food, he spoke of how much he liked cooking and that I should go visit him in Argentina and he would cook for me. Then he looked at me “weird” and I saw it for a second like the “like” look, it was totally unexpected and I was confused more than anything.

 After an hour in Town, the girls arrived and we all went for dinner together. He left that night.

 I learned from him that sometimes we don’t pay attention and pass on smart, nice guys that are interested in us. That maybe not all guys will come up to you and flirt. I learned to pay attention to the quiet guys too.

#4 INDIA

Karan 

That is his real name, he was a really nice Indian bro I met. 

Long story short, I was told a guy hurt 2 of the puppies that lived outside Mother house ( We played with them and I knew those puppies). I went to take a look and both of them had, had their arms broken by a fucking guy …. Like why?

Juliette (another volunteer) and I picked up the dogs and started walking on the way to the vet canine, or so we were told. We walked for like 30 minutes trying to find the clinic, the puppies where whimpering and we could tell they where in too much pain. I didn’t know why I was carrying a stray dog, I didn’t know what was going to happen, I didn’t know if the area was safe,  and for a moment I thought the one I was carrying might die. The people on the street don’t understand how people can care for animals so they laugh and look at you weird.

I tried my best but when I thought my puppy was dying I felt the tears streaming down my face. I know I am a loser and the thought of having her die on my arms made me want to faint. I didn’t , instead we found Karan who took us to the vet and waited 5 hours for the doctor to look at the dogs. 

The dogs are okay now, the vet probably felt bad for us and didn’t charge us and Karan wanted to spend more time with me and see me again.

Indian men are not my cup of tea when it comes to looks but he was the good looking kind an all, but I didn’t feel it. He invited me to bars and concerts and well I was not too interested in those activities in Kolkata. 

I learned there are guys out there that care about the same things as you do ( Like puppies) and that are good and willing to help strangers. 

P.S The puppies are okay now! 

#5 INDIA II

Good Night, “Nasheeli Ankay”

This was a very quick missed connection with another Indian guy, whose name I don’t remember. We where in the hostel lobby, I picked up a book, eyeing the pages to see if seemed interesting. This guy introduced himself and started telling me about it.. In Hindi. After I clarified I wasn’t Indian he re-introduced himself and told me about the book. 

He was very passionate and if I were a complete Sapiosexual I might have found it super hot. Even though he wasn’t my type at all he was super nice though so I paid attention to him, then when he talked a little and I excused myself to go to my room. I was exhausted. 

Before I left he asked if I knew what “Nasheeli Ankay” meant in Hindi and I guessed good night. He laughed and told me you should google it, it’s what you have.

I thought he couldn’t possibly know about my venereal diseases ( Kidding!) I smiled and said good night. 

I googled it and I found this in a blog:

“It does mean intoxicating eyes. that means your eyes are so beautiful that I could get lst in them. like when people drink booze, they get soo lost in it they become drunk. kinda the same concept”

Maybe he was drunk haha. Maybe that’s why my eyes seemed extra glassy to him or something

I learned from him that: Compliments still make me a little uncomfortable haha and I learned that it doesn’t matter I am not interested  in someone, I should never be mean, rude or arrogant. I have said some very nasty things to guys in bars that have tried talking to me. No one deserves to be treated like shit, no matter how the look like, dress like or talk about. They deserve attention and to be treated politely. Maybe they turn out to be really cool, maybe you end up becoming friends with them. 

Don’t judge a book by it’s cover. Im trying not to.

#6 MEXICO 

VOLDEMORT, The one who shall note be named.

You probably know who he is already. I have known Voldemort since I was 13, I had a crush on him for about 12 years. He is the guy my family would like me to marry, his family would like me to marry him too. ( He lives in a different City btws)

Problem? He never showed any interest, for pride reasons neither did I. At 18 we kissed and it was not good and I was a bitch after -_- hehe and then at 21, on a very honest, drunk moment on NYE I told him I had always liked him. 

He told me he had always liked me too but sometimes I was a bitch and a little finicky. I laughed and we kissed. He said maybe one day he would come visit me in LA and I said “Cool”. 

One year later he moved to Thailand for his MBA. It has been about 4 years. Guess what Country is 2 hours away from Thailand …India. I talked to him before going to India and said I might go to Thailand ( I have always wanted to see Thailand and well, two birds with one stone). 

I planned the trip with one of my friends to spend NYE in Thailand and talked to him before so he would recommend a hotel etc. He offered his house and I said yes.

We went the trip was super cool, Thailand is beautiful, the food was amazing but this post isn’t about the place.

Voldemort was really nice, he did everything right and behaved like a gentleman but I realized I was no longer attracted to him, and unlike The Beauty and The Beast there was nothing there. It had vanished, at least from my part but I feel from his too. 

We spoke and a few things he said where kind of a turn off because we think and see life differetly like the fact he works as the manager of a restaurant and hates it ( I know I work in the service Industry) but it’s because I have auditions and shorts to shoot. He does it because it pays okay and he can travel. 

His concept of traveling in Asia and Pakistan include lots of partying, too much alcohol and women. Not a lot about getting to see the cool things about other Countries. 

He has no plans for his future, no inspiration or aspirations. He seldom talks to his family since he left and drinks probably 4 days out of the week. I don’t think we want the same things in life and well, that’s life. I was not disappointed or anything, the trip was great regardless and it was cool because we had been friends before anything happened. 

#7 FRANCE

NAPOLEON

This is a very short story , he was super cute and not into me at all. In the beginning I was kind of annoyed. Like, Why? Then I remembered that I was not there for the guys and not everyone has to be into you. You get over it, you did nothing wrong, there is a reason for everything.

#8 SPAIN

Pablo

The one I did make out with and had a 14 hour date. I learned from Pablo that I can be myself in a date and survive. Of course didn’t show the psycho parts, those come later once they guy is hooked ;) No but seriously, I was able to share personal things about me. I didn’t die.

 I learned he had our wedding planned out, and all guys talk shit at some point. It’s part of the game and it is important to find the humor in it.

 Lastly, I didn’t feel awkward when I told him I wouldn’t sleep with him. It didn’t matter how “Romantic” it sounded, our last night in India together etc. Yes, it was nice and if I had felt like doing it I probably would have ( I listen to myself more now) but I wasn’t feeling it. I told him, he understood. He texts me till this day.

#9 BELGIUM 

I met this guy on new years, we started talking and we hit it off. He said some nice shit and I thought “ Huh … interesting”, I mean I was in Thailand and it has been soooooo long since I have had a casual encounter with a stranger. Maybe about 2 years.

I was tempted, really. I could either give him the look and grab his beautiful face or I could pause my thoughts and talk to him a little longer. Surprisingly, I choose the latter. 

Later I realized that he was a little desperate to just hook up with anyone, I wasn’t and so I left. 

I realized I have learned to respect myself and my body ( Not that casual hook ups are wrong) I think it’s just better when there is at least a connection and not just desperation. 

#10 POLAND 

The same night I met the guy from Belgium I met a Polish bro. I was on my way back from the bathroom when someone put a hand on my arm, I turned an there he was. The guy who had helped me start the scooter when I had trouble with it earlier that day. 

Not a looker, but a very nice bro. We talked for a while but I was sleepy and ready to go home. After half an hour I told him I was leaving and it had been nice meeting him. I could have stayed and talked because of guilt, but I��didn’t feel bad I wasn’t interested in him, I had been nice to him and I was really tired. 

I learned that you can still be polite and“reject” people in ways the don’t feel rejected or hurt. 

Thanks to this 10 bros, my faith in the opposite sex has been restored. I believe there are many decent guys out there and they are everywhere in the world. Im thankful I learned from this really nice ones, I no longer believe that they are all vain, superficial, cheaters who just want to get laid.