#his icon on the map is smiling but like it’s kind of an awkward smile

[goldensunset]

nemona: ‘do you think kieran’s at his house? i can’t wait to bat-uh, befriend him!’

arven: ‘i’m gonna make it clear once and for all who your REAL best friend is. just you wait and see’

[dimadimoo]

Hi. I wanna talk about this dream I had yesterday, it felt so damn real, and honestly, it was one of the most interesting dreams I’ve had in a while. Now, I’ve had realistic dreams before, but not like lucid ones cause, let’s be real, I can’t control shit in my dreams. But some of these dreams are so vivid I still remember them like they happened yesterday. And they always take place in the same reality, the same places, the same damn city every time.

Like, if I could make a map of this city I always visit in my dreams, I totally would. It’s always the same spots: a high school, a college campus, this mall that’s connected to a hospital, some narrow street, that freakin' back room bookstore that feels straight outta some liminal space, holy hell, hahaha! There’s a wide street near that bookstore with a roundabout or something, a grocery store, the college dorm and campus with a parking lot basement, and this house near the edge of a hill with a massive tree. It’s weird, but every time I have these realistic, semi-nightmarish dreams, I end up back in one of these spots. All of them feel like liminal spaces... The vibes are just off in the best way. And I know it’s all in the same city because the weather, the environment, the overall vibe is always the same. It’s like I’ve lived there but am just visiting different areas each time.

Anyway, onto the dream itself. So in this one, I popped up in the same college campus as usual, and the first thing I remember thinking was, "Oh shit, I’m back here again. Interesting..." I started exploring the building, which was packed with people for some reason. I was just kinda floating around like a ghost, but people were definitely aware of me. I think I even interacted with a few. And man, every time I talk to dream people, it’s awkward as hell. They just spew random gibberish like AI bots or something, doesn’t make any sense, and it’s kinda funny, hahaha!

But the weird part is I felt like someone was with me the whole time, like someone was following me. Not in a creepy way, though—it felt nice, like I had a friend by my side... even though I couldn’t actually see them, just feel their presence... I kept wandering around and eventually ended up in the basement parking lot, and then walked toward the entrance of the main building. And that’s when "he" started talking to me. I was a little startled cause, I wasn’t expecting anyone to be there

Now here’s where it gets interesting—but my memory was kind of fuzzy. The guy looked a lot like Leon Kennedy from the RE4 remake. I’m talking the whole look: dark blue shirt, jeans, the iconic hair. But his face was kinda blurry... Still, he sounded like Leon too, which was trippy. He said something, but I don’t remember exactly what. It was something about him being scared or maybe just relieved that I was with him? Whatever it was, I felt for him. I was like, "Aww, you’re so sweet... I’m gonna cry!"

And then… we hugged. And holy shit, it felt real. Like, I could feel everything... his body, how cold he was, and how my body was warming him up... I could feel his touch, his arms around me, the pats on my back, his chest rising as he breathed. I could even smell him... It was so real that I swear I was smiling in my sleep. The hug was so gentle, comforting, and full of love. But not like romantic or sexual love—something deeper. It felt like being truly appreciated, wanted, and loved in a way that just hit different... I could’ve cried.

That hug was so real, it actually woke me up. Man, I’ve never had a dream like that before. Most of my dreams end up turning into nightmares, where I’m being chased or hunted or some shit. But this one it was just… love. Pure and simple. Honestly, it’s probably my favorite dream ever, and I’m gonna remember it forever...

To that guy, whoever you were—thanks, man. I really appreciate you and that hug... Hope we meet again and hang out. I love you.

[rainydaydream-gal18]

(Bad Batch) Tech x Reader: The Sound of Your Voice

(Author’s Note:   Heyo, I’ve got a little something about Tech that I hope you’ll enjoy.  I’ve got a fever, and the only cure is more Tech.  I’ve been feeling it, so here it is).

   “I just hope we don’t see any of the ‘hostile wildlife’ Cody warned us about in the briefing,” you said, clutching the blaster as your eyes flickered to a spot where you thought you saw branches rustle.

   “The likelihood is rather low,” Tech replied, eyes not leaving the datapad in his hands as he walked ahead of you.  “Though, not impossible.”  You were glad to be scouting ahead with him.  The quality time with Tech was something you enjoyed, even if it was for a mission.  However, with how focused he was on the screen in front of him instead of his surroundings, you were starting to wish Wrecker had come along.  He wasn’t exactly Mr. Stealthy; however, he’d be much-appreciated in a tangle with these creatures.

   “How much longer?”  You suddenly felt the urge to lower your voice.  It was the strangest feeling, like you were being observed.

   “We’re not too far from the point,” Tech informed.  He finally looked up to see the dead end in the path in front of him.  “Huh,” he hummed in interest, eyes darting from the holo-map to the pile of boulders in front of him.  “This didn’t come up on the scan.  We’ll have to find a way around.”

   A snap of a branch caused you to bristle, instinctively pressing your back against Tech as you turned to aim the blaster in your hands.  “I don’t think we have time.”  The two of you watched as a large creature stalked out of the thick surrounding forest onto the path where you’d just come from.  It was dark and scaly with bright yellow eyes that blinked right at you as it tipped its head to the side to observe its prey.  The creature let out a hiss, and Tech pushed himself past to stand directly in front of you.

   Though touched by the protective gesture, the concern was there.  “Tech, that thing is dangerous,” you warned.  “Hope you have your blaster ready.”

   “No need.”  He tapped a few icons on his datapad, and suddenly a piercing screech sounded in the air.  You pressed your face against his armored shoulder as you shut your eyes at the noise.

   The creature didn’t seem to like it either because it slithered back into the shadows at lightspeed.  Once it was gone, you quickly pulled away from Tech as he turned to look at you over his shoulder.  You exhaled in relief at the disappearance of the creature, but your heart was still thrumming under your companion’s gaze.

   “Are you alright?”

   “Yeah,” you nodded.  “Just startled.  What the heck was that?”

   “A cry belonging to the creature’s natural predator,” he responded.  “I downloaded it as a precaution.”

   “Wow, that’s very handy.”  You peeked at the list of icons on his device, each one representing audio files that he had collected on various missions and assignments.  You knew it was a hobby of his, but had never seen him put it to use like this before.  “Can I see?”

   “Sure, but only for a minute,” he said.  “The cry might draw in the predators, and they’re even worse than what we just encountered.”

   You used your finger to scroll rapidly through the list before seeing an icon that stood out to you in particular.  Tech seemed to notice your curiosity with it, and hesitated.

   “Maybe not that one-”

   But you were already pressing the icon, and suddenly your voice rang out from the datapad.  It was the sound of your laughter and voice talking with what sounded like Wrecker.  You recalled that evening; you and the Bad Batch were enjoying a quiet evening without any missions.  No droids.  No blasters.  Just time with the squad.  The memory was a fond one among many, but you hadn’t expected to find the recording on Tech’s datapad.

   You were too stunned to speak as Tech gently tugged the device away, shutting off the sound, and tried to avoid your curious gaze.

   “We really should get to our destination,” he said, though his tone didn’t carry as much tension as you would’ve expected.  He finally met your eyes through the visor of his helmet.  It seemed that he was going to act like what happened didn’t just happen.  As serious as you were about your work, the destination could wait five minutes.

   “Tech, what was that?” you asked.

   He paused just as he had started back around the pile of boulders, turning to face you.  “It was your voice.”

   A smile crept its way onto your face at his somewhat cute attempt to dodge.  “Yeah, but why?”

   “I like the sound of your laughter,” he admitted.  “It doesn’t matter what I’m going through; it makes the situation better.”

   You flashed another smile.  “That’s very flattering.  Thank you.”

   “You aren’t offended?”

   “No, it’s quite the opposite.  To find out the person you like appreciates your laughter is pretty great.”

   Tech’s eyes widened behind his helmet.  “You...like me?”

   You nodded, suddenly feeling bashful that it was really out in the open.  “I have for a while.  I didn’t know if you liked me back or how I’d tell you.” 

   He lifted the helmet from his head, eyes still fixed on you as he took a few steps closer.  “I like you too, __________, and I also did not know how to tell you.”

   “There is one way you can tell me.”

   His brows went up at your indirect suggestion, and Tech took another step closer.  As he neared your space, he suddenly began to show signs of nervousness.  He was avoiding your gaze again, instead preoccupied with the grass.

   “Tech, you don’t have to kiss me,” you assured him.  “I know it’s kind of sudden.”

   “I do want to.  I just...I’ve never done this before.”

   “Well, we are also in the middle of a mission-”

   He cut off your sentence by leaning in and pressing his lips to yours.  It was rigid and awkward for just a moment before you guided yourself a little closer to wrap your arms around his neck and lean into the kiss.  His helmet dropped to the ground with a thud and he put his arms around your waist in return.

You felt the butterflies in your stomach as he pulled away to look into your eyes and press one last peck on your lips.  The two of you separated, and he picked his helmet up to put it back on again.

   Suddenly, Tech’s comm beeped.

   Tech, ________. It was Hunter.  Your signals show you’ve been in the same place for a while.  Everything alright?

   “Yes, Sarge,” Tech replied.  “We ran into some of the wildlife, but we’re continuing on our way.  We have to go around an obstacle, but should make it there at a decent time.”

   Glad to hear it.  Just checking in.  See you two when you get back.

   Once the comm ended, you and Tech exchanged glances.

   “Let’s get moving,” you said.

   “Oh, now you want to get moving,” he joked with a chuckle.

   “Hey, we can stop and see the sights for a minute,” you retorted, smirking.

   “I suppose so.  They are beautiful.”

[greensaplinggrace]

What Is There To Celebrate About the Darkling? (Part 4)

1 2 3 4

He’s calculating but impulsive. Gentle yet firm. Stubborn and adaptive. Just a real mess of contradictions that makes him all the more interesting.

He loves nature. He loves the forest.

Fond of luxuries and nice things. After growing up as he did, I think he deserves them.

Very socially awkward. Introvert just trying his best. Anything that isn’t manipulation and therefore something he’s planned in his head is just a social train wreck waiting to happen.

The way he pushes up Alina’s sleeve when they first meet. This man had zero compunctions about acting completely unprofessionally in front of his soldiers and I think that’s very sexy of him.

He’s constantly tired and exasperated with the people around him.

The way he says “quiet” with the softest voice imaginable and a room full of laughter instantly goes silent.

He had no interest in Elizaveta even though she was utterly obsessed with him and I think that’s hilarious.

Elizaveta: I have a plan to resurrect the Darkling Everybody Else: Oh the Darkling is so evil for trying to come back! The Darkling, who just wants a nap and is sick of this mortal bullshit: Why am I even here? This is such a pain in the ass. I should have killed Elizaveta when I had the chance.

How he asks if Alina “will have” his name like a man proposing.

Has his bedroom attached to the war room.

Constantly checking up on Alina just to know how she’s doing. Never pushing her beyond her limits as she’s training.

Very creative with his shadows and the extent of their abilities. So many of the ways he uses his powers are genius.

His ending in RoW is a tragedy and an injustice. He deserves better.

This old man pouting at Alina in episode seven as he says “please, I just want to talk to you 🥺”

There is a black kefta made for Alina after like two days in the Little Palace. He really was already planning their entire immortal futures together as Mr. and Mrs. Starkov wasn’t he?

His bed is covered in maps and notes when he’s plotting how to find Alina. Also before that, the way he’s poring over the notes at his desk and giving orders is 👌🥵

Him acting like a real General at all is simply amazing.

The fact that he trusts Luda with his life. That they have a whole intimidation routine set up around him purposefully getting himself fatally injured knowing she’ll heal him.

He looks like a vampire in the show and a fae in the books.

His favorite ABBA song is probably “Lay All Your Love On Me.”

Looks composed but that’s only a façade. Is actually an unhinged feral terror of pain and misery.

That scene where he tells the king she will remain in the Little Palace to train undisturbed and he puts his foot down. ON THE RED CARPET. the king’s carpet. and uses a commanding voice that’s just on the edge of an order…I’m surprised he didn’t get flogged for that. IMO nothing conveys the fine line he walks with those in power while wielding his own like this scene. Literally he should just be celebrated for this alone.

“‘Why won’t you leave me alone?’ I whispered one night as he hovered behind me while I tried to work at my desk. Long minutes passed. I didn’t think he would answer. I even had time to hope he might have gone, until I felt his hand on my shoulder. “Then I’d be alone, too,” he said, and he stayed the whole night through, till the lamps burned down to nothing.

Trapped a bunch of Saints in the Shadow Fold like a true amoral disaster villain. What an icon.

His barely concealed amusement and half hidden smile when Alina comes to put his kefta on. The way he finds Alina utterly hilarious and tries so hard to act like he doesn’t.

That small amused smile when Alina jokes about finding Volcra hilarious. Please he’s so adorable 😭

“‘I know what you feel when you’re with the tracker,’ he said. ‘I doubt that’ He gave a dismissive wave.” - My Malarklina obsessed self, vibrating at the edge of my seat: but what does it mean?!?

Mal and the Darkling’s entire fight in the Fold: dumbass on dumbass violence.

The way he stands with his back turned to Alina when she enters his tent the first time they meet and then does the slowest Godfather turn in history. 1999/10 - points removed for a criminal lack of cat petting.

“I may lead the second army, but the king is still the king.” - the delivery of that line. the implications, the history behind it and also the foreshadowing for his plans.

That slow turn face reveal in episode one though. Like okay we get it you’re pretty alkjsdflkj

Confused Old Man Face™ whenever Mal or Alina do anything remotely defiant in his presence.

How he tells Alina to come closer and she only takes the tiniest step and he doesn’t even react.

His little head cock whenever someone says or does something that just doesn’t vibe with him.

Darklina tumblr has now convinced me that the Darkling is a cat in human form.

“You’re an amplifier,” she said. He glanced at where Sylvi was pouncing on another helpless tree, oblivious, and gave a single, frightened nod. How could he have been so stupid? He would have to tell his mother now, and she would insist that they leave right away. If word got out, they’d both be in danger. Amplifiers were rare, hard to find, harder to hunt. Their lives would be forfeit. Even if they got away, word would spread. He could already hear his mother’s voice: Foolish, careless, callous. If you don’t value your own life, show some concern for mine. Annika touched his sleeve. “It’s okay,” she said. “I won’t tell.” Panic crowded in. He shook his head. She slid her hand into his. It was hard not to pull away. He should. He was breaking his mother’s fundamental rule for keeping them both alive. Never let them touch you, she’d warned him. - 😥 I just want to give him a hug all the time.

His strangled shout when Mal tackles him off of the skiff.

His smile when he’s summoning the sun. The expression on his face when he does so. Like I know I’ve mentioned this before but damn. If you ever needed a reason to celebrate him, this would be it.

“Shame, I’ll have to give that speech again now.”

The way he flips Mal over his shoulder in the Fold after Mal attempts to strangle him.

His little lecture on the Small Science to Alina when they’re going to meet the King. Info dump.

“You make it sound so easy.” “A bird makes flight look easy. But it was born to do so.”

When Alina looks at him for guidance on whether or not to remove her veil and he gives her a small nod.

The handhold in the throne room after Alina’s demonstration is absolutely precious, but it’s in a room full of people he should be keeping up a façade for and it’s so unwarranted and yet he does it anyway, I’m-

The way he says “welcome home, Ms. Starkov,” in the most tender voice I’ve ever heard and then goes “ok that’s enough emotions for one day” and then just straight up leaves without even a goodbye.

He has his symbol?? Sewn into Alina’s kefta??? bRo???!?!

Disaster Simp never gets tired of introducing Alina to other people or talking about how she’s the best thing that ever walked this earth.

The Darkling lying: honestly

“I have devoted my life to undoing the great sin of my forebearer, but I am never seen as the solution. Only as a reminder of the problem.” Sasha you were literally the problem. What a manipulative little shit. We love to see it.

The way he closes his eyes and kisses the coin before he makes a wish at the wishing well.

“I think the Grand Palace is the ugliest building I’ve ever seen.” - I love him your honor.

This man has the most intense lines for Alina. Like straight up I would have booked it when he said “you and I are going to change the world”. But then the head grab?! “I’ve been waiting a long time for you.” He’s so intense like sir can you tone it down a bit please I am begging you.

“I shall be right by your side.” / “We can do anything. Together.” / “For us.” / “You cannot do this on your own. And neither can I” / “I want you to know my name. The name I was given, not the title I took for myself. Will you have it, Alina?” - WEDDING VOWS

That scene in the war room when Alina comes to find him and he instantly drops his guard and lowers his arms and welcomes her with a soft voice.

“Am I bothering you?” “Not at all.” - girl you could be stabbing him in the chest and you still wouldn’t be bothering him.

This whipped disaster sounds like the proudest man on the planet when he talks about how much more his enemies fear Alina over him.

His shadows react to his emotions.

“YoUr’E nOt IvAn.” asjlkdfjs god he’s so embarrassing.

Local Dark Lord Sasha offering Alina the throne after she literally tries to kill him.

He gets so jealous of Mal.

Has a great relationship with his soldiers and his men. His men trust him implicitly and believe him to be an amazing general.

When he turns around after Alina puts the kefta on him and looks flustered/has to take a breath because she’s a lot closer than he expected. The way he’s breathless and literally can’t string a sentence together because he’s so distracted by her closeness.

His jokes are absolutely terrible.

GF: *jokes about throwing herself down the stairs to get out of an event* Sasha “no thoughts head empty only Alina” Morozova: haha I’d just have my healers heal you right back up again.

How genuinely touched he is by Alina admitting to wanting to help Grisha and Ravkans.

That scene in Demon in the Woods when he notices the intricate details of the politics in the Grisha camp after one meeting with the Elders. He has the Ulle pegged almost instantly.

Born to be a leader. Born to take care of others. Born to protect. Even in Demon in the Woods he’s protecting people. Even in Demon in the Woods he’s leading them and caring for them.

The way he cups his hands around Alina’s face when they’re kissing.

This man gets so starstruck by Alina walking into the Fete that he doesn’t even excuse himself from the King’s side to go to her.

Long haired Aleksander rights!

Ok I know the wig was kind of ugly but he looks pretty with long hair and I think it would look very good on him naturally.

The way he slams his hands together in the Winter Fete scene and instantly turns the room pitch black.

Literally any times he summons shadows is a blessing and we should all celebrate him for it. They are so beautiful. On god if I ever saw his shadows in real life I would be awestruck.

He asks Mal if he’s okay when they first meet.

The pure, barely contained fury directed at the Conductor for daring to harm Alina and kidnap his Grisha.

He always has to make a grand entrance.

This man is like a bloodhound when it comes to Nina. He is very invested in finding her and I feel like that’s never really talked about.

“I know exactly how she felt. The King’s soldiers treated me the same way. Because they knew- they knew that I was more important than any of them.” - the way he says it, like it’s something he has to remind himself of in his head constantly. a justification for the way he’s been treated, the fear he evokes in others. a way to protect himself from the hurt of being ostracized and reviled. arrogance and conceit as a defense against emotional harm.

Also the way his face instantly changes after that, like he’s said too much. vulnerability. lowering his eyes. shifting his eyes. literally just everything about this scene makes me love him all the more.

Dark carriage rides up to the Crows’ hiding place. Grisha circle the area as Aleksander steps from the carriage slowly, dressed all in black, floofy cloak high on his shoulders. Villain Entrance™

Him slowly pulling a knife out of his chest like it shouldn’t have killed him is hot as fuck and also totally badass. Big dick energy.

“I’ve had enough of your lies.” “And what lies are those?” - Alina, pulling out a fifty mile long scroll of grievances: Well, for starters-

This man is literally just an Alina Starkov compliments machine.

He cares so much about the Grisha and their protection. He loves Ravka and his people so much.

He had an entire cult dedicated to him.

“They would approach him. They always did. But he felt more anxious than usual. He’d stopped trying to make friends in the places he and his mother visited—there was no point when they moved on so quickly. Now he wasn’t quite sure how to go about it.”

Save a Villain. Murder the King.

Openly admits to staging a coup like it’s the most natural thing in the world.

He speaks so slowly. He moves so slowly. Everything he does has to have Purpose and Gravitas.

Theater Nerd™

He knew Nikolai for years and yet couldn’t recognize him as Sturmhond. We do stan an oblivious icon 💕

The Darkling after he gets his ass whooped in Siege and Storm: Mom can you please come pick me up? I’m scared!

He’s here to manipulate sun summoners and murder cities. And unfortunately he’s all out of sun summoners.

Would absolutely get drunk on real alcohol. This man thinks kvas is strong liquor.

Has his wrists exposed exactly one time in the most skin he’s shown all season and it’s when Alina visits him at night in the war room. WHORE!

Was too emotionally slutty and fell for Alina. RIP.

He’s passionate and cold and beautiful and hurt and twisted up in ways nobody could ever hope to understand and he’s stunning.

I would literally kill for this man 🖤✨

[owaowabetch]

Uh Oh (Sykkuno x F!Reader)

Oneshot (maybe part of a series??? idk we’ll see): The Prequel to “Impasta” in which reader meets the gang for the first time and experiences a betrayal. Mainly Friendship

Warning: non-beta, I wrote this in one go and full sent it. 

You were a small time Twitch streamer that had recently befriend a streamer with a much larger audience, ValkyRae.  You had been talking back and forth for quite some time, since Rae’s dm to you weeks ago. You were mainly an rp channel where you played games like GTA, The Sims, and Animal Crossing. Though you gained a lot of your followers from playing League, though it mostly consisted of hate-followers that would only critique your gaming, even though you were pretty good at it. But it doesn’t bother you too much *que sob*

You were streaming GTA on a RP server playing an amish girl on a Rumspringa and wreaking havoc. You and your ‘gang’ had successfully finished hitting a bank truck ,causing your character to rake in a few thousand dollars, when you got a message from Rae asking you if you had wanted to play a few rounds of the popular game among us. 

“Alright guys, a friend asked if I wanted to join her lobby of among us. I know it’s different from the stuff i usually stream, but is that something you guys would be cool with?” You asked your chat and watch an influx of people messaging ‘yes’ or ‘pog’. You take a sip of your Starbucks and picked up your phone to message Rae that you’ll be joining. “Fair warning, I’ve never played among us. So we’ll see how this goes, guys” 

While you waited to be invited to the discord and into the lobby, you chatted with your viewers for a bit. “I just realized that I’m really awkward around new people. Like when I’m playing on the GTA Rp Server, I’m not myself, I’m a character you know? So it’s easier to talk with other people, cause they’re also role playing. Plus I don’t think I can call anyone in the discord a musty dusty rat bitch lol or sell them drugs, it’s not that kind of game...unless?...” You laugh as you login to your discord and accept the invite to the discord “alright guys! here we go~”

You enter the discord call and hear people talking. 

“Y/N!” Rae exclaims “Guys this is my new friend y/n”

“Hi” Responding to the various voices greeting you

“OK, so the code is in the chat and so are the bubbles, so your chat can see who is talking and what not” Rae explains

You input the code and saw your little character in the space ship. “Oh god guys look at us!” You ran your little character around the ship “How do we change colors? I’m not feeling this blue and I saw Rae with her lil creepy mask”

You read your chat tell you what to do so you went to the little computer to change the blue to white and clicked through all the hats til you decided on the pink flower. “How about this guys? Yellow is my favorite color but its taken”

“Alright, you ready y/n?” Rae asked

“Yup” you respond by running circles around her character

“OK i’m starting. Don’t forget to mute and close chat. You can open it back up if your imposter or dead” Rae sang “Good luck~”

“Alright chat I gotta close you til the game is done? I guess” You hum as the words ‘crewmate’ pop up. “Well at least i’m not imposter, i know the game. I mean who hasn’t at this point. I just never played it, seems to be to nerve wracking”

You open the map icon and run to where the closet yellow exclamation point was, which was admin. You make sure to note all the colors around you in there as you swipe your card “Alright, green, yellow, brown,red, and orange” You repeated the colors over and over again as you make your way into electrical when you notice something “Ok uh green is following me? I don’t know why but its freaking me out.” The lights turn off and you start freaking out “Oh god, this is where I die. Don’t I? You know what do it. Kill me! It’s probably a good idea. I’m kind of an idiot and it’ll help me figure things out on my own without the pressure” You follow the arrow pointing to a panel and you click on it “What am i supposed to do? You know green, this would be the perfect opportunity to murder me in cold blood... is this how you do it?” You flip the switches so that they are all bright green and the lights turn on “YAS BITCH, I did it” 

The green character kind of just circles your body as you do tasks in electrical, you do download, wires, and power diverter. “Ok BUT WHY IS HE FOLLOWING ME!!” 

An orange body had been reported and that two others had died (bright green and pink) and the person who reported the body was black or as his name read ‘Abe’ “Ok, so this body was in admin on card swipe”

“Well this body couldn’t have been me or y/n” Sykkuno says “I was following her this entire time”

“Yea, I’d like to know why lol? You were kinda freaking me out dude” You laugh a bit trying to play off how nervous you were to call him out on it

“Oh No! I was protecting you” Sykkuno explains “I promise”

“Sykkuno? Are you already simping for someone?” Rae feigns exasperation 

“No really guys!” He explains nervously “The new person always dies first, so I was just trying to protect her.”

You hum and smile mischievously “Unless, your just trying to gain my trust only to murder me in coldblood in front of my bestie Rae, to prove your superiority over her!?!”

Rae gasps “Really Sykkuno!?! I’m voting you just for that!”

“Wah? No wait! It’s not like that really” Sykkuno starts laughing as Rae votes “Oh God did you really vote for me?”

“Yes” Rae says and you start laughing 

“So anyways, Leslie’s body is in admin?” Hafu says wanting to talk more about the body and get all the sus’s and clears

Though you gasp when you realized a few things “wait I have some info to share” teasing Sykkuno had loosened you up a bit “it was me,green,yellow,brown,red, and orange in admin. Then me and green, uh Syyykkkuunnoo? Sorry if i didn’t say your name right, left and went into electrical, then lights were called and I fixed them before finishing off my tasks in there. So the body must’ve died during lights unless she left and came back into admin after lights were fixed? which doesn’t make much sense, sooo yea” you smiled “look at me chat! being all smart and shit” 

“yes” Poki agrees “I left admin also with Rae just before lights were called”

“Ok, so I know that puts sus on me, but I went straight to lights when they were called” Hafu says “Someone on the right side must’ve vented when lights were off. Like I was entering the hallway from storage with Tina when lights got fixed and we went to reactor room together. So it couldn’t have been me. Maybe Tina? I dont know which way she come from, but it was not me”

“That is true. I did meet up with Hafu at storage, but I don’t know man” Tina says “ I was doing download in comms”

“Oh god” You tell chat “I don’t know whether to believe Hafu or not. I know she is really good, along with Toast, but he hasn’t said anything”

“Well it is seven and we don’t vote on seven, so we can skip. Just putting a sus on Hafu” Rae says

“Yes please do” Hafu says as she votes to skip

“Do we know where the other bodies are?” Poki asks as the seconds start to dwindle down to zero “Also Toast? Why are you so quiet?”

“I’m trying to figure out a new strat, so don’t you worry. I’ll catch the killers” Toast starts to evil laugh and that was the end of the meeting.

“Ok we’re susing Hafu for this.Though I don’t think it’s her only cause I remember watching one of her imposter plays and it would be a too obvious kill,since so many people were there, it just doesn’t make sense, so someone venting in and killing is plausible or could be a self report? I don’t know lol It’s my first game” You run with Sykkuno and finish up your tasks together. Though lights were called when you both were at shields, you can see the vent pop open and in your little vision bubble you see a flash of red “Whelp this is where I die, I’d like to rate Sykkuno an 8 out of 10 for protecting me, but obviously I am now died” True to your word Rae killed you and you saw Sykkuno running around like a headless chicken when he reports your body 

“Oh God! They got her when I was trying to protect her!” Sykkuno exclaims 

“Sykkuno! You were supposed to be protecting her!?” Rae shouts “What happened? Did you kill her in cold blood? hmm?”

“smh Rae, you murdered me right in front of Sykkuno” You sigh “Well chat looks like I’m dead and we can speak now”

“No!” Sykkuno denies “I said I was going to protect her. I wouldn’t kill her after saying that”

“Well she’s dead now Sykkuno! Where’s the body?” Toast dramatically says

“It’s in shields. It happened when lights were off” Sykkyno says “I’m sorry y/n, I couldn’t protect you”

“Aw that is so cute” You pout at his apology, it wasn’t his fault. It was dark, so obviously he couldn’t see

“Well I don’t think Sykkuno did this, He said he was protecting her to everyone, so I can say that he’s crew” Hafu says “I’m at light panel, I remember seeing Poki and Tina there”

“I can confirm this” Poki says “So Toast let’s hear your big brain play. What’s your strat?”

It was silent for a minute, before Toast admits that he doesn’t have one.

“Ok so we can all agree that Toast is the imposter right?” Rae says “Vote him outta here!”

“Yep” Tina agrees hitting that vote on him and many follow suit

“Wait guys! WAIT! I do! I do have a strat” Toast screams out “Uhhh... wires! The wires guys!”

“Lol they’re gunna vote him off” You watch people voting “Rae is probably gunna win this”

“Yea, you’ve done that pay before” Poki laughs

“Don’t worry I’ll skip Toast” Sykkuno says 

“Why would you skip if we’re on 6?” Rae asks “Is Toast your imposter buddy?”

“Wah? I said I was protecting y/n, why would I kill her?” Trying to make his innocence obvious 

“Unless you killed her by accident or Toast did and you’re trying to protect him like the Simp you are!” Rae accuses him

Tina starts to also question Sykkuno “Wait a second, I dont think I’ve seen you do a single task this entire game! You’ve just been following y/n all around! We should vote him off next!”

“Guys, I swear it’s not me, it just doesn’t make sense” You can hear him plead “Oh no guys, how did this get twisted? It’s Rae! But how did it go to thinking Sykkuno as imposter?”

The meeting ends with Toast screaming into the abyss as he is yeeted out with Sykkuno telling him that he voted to skip.

“Ok then chat, looks like the imposters are gunna win, lets talk for a bit” You sigh and start reading the comments “ I know that I didn’t talk much with them, but I’m just awkward in general and I don’t know what to say to them. This is the first time playing with a group like this where i’m supposed to be myself and not a character.”

The words Defeat appeared on screen and there was Hafu and Rae as imposter. “I honestly didn’t think it was Hafu”

“Hafu was that you that killed Leslie in admin? I didn’t think it was “You asked when you returned to the lobby

“NO! I got framed by my own partner” Hafu explains before taking her bathroom break

“How did Rae get that kill cause I was with her?” Poki asks

“I vented from Caf back into admin when lights were off” Rae laughs “and I vented into shields and killed y/n right in front of Sykkuno!”

“Im sorry for not being able to protect you” Sykkuno runs circles around my character “Next round I’ll do better! I promise”

You laugh and start chasing after him in the ship “What if you end up as imposter?”

“Then I’ll have to look away as my imposter buddy kills you” Sykkuno laughs behind his hand and clears his throat “Im joking, Im joking, I promise”

“Wow Sykkuno” You tsk and run over to the opposite side of the room “I don’t know if I want your protection services now”

“Uh” Sykkuno splutters “I’m joking I promise! I won’t kill you as imposter”

“Wait til Corpse hears you simping over someone else” Poki says before starting the game

“Wait Hafu is still in the bathroom!” Rae exclaimed, but it was to late to stop the game from starting, so she’ll have to jump in when she comes back. Though you swear you feel your heart jump out of your chest when the words Imposter read on you screen. The 1st of the night for you and another in a row for Hafu.

“Oh God guys. Hafu is in the bathroom, but she has to carry us” You start to panic “What we do we do!?! Wait is Sykkuno seriously gunna follow us? Should we kill him or would that be to obvious?” You see the chat tell you that it would be to obvious and that it would be better to maybe frame him, but it seems to mean to you “Should we kill someone in front of him? You know to test his loyalty? It’s a terrible idea”

Though before you go on to fake tasks, you see Sykkuno standing on top of Hafu’s body, so you also go ontop of Sykkuno’s and to the outside perspective you are protecting Hafu, but really for you it’s to ensure that your imposter partner is going to be walking around and killing people,once she comes back from the bathroom. It seems that Hafu is back from the bathroom as her yellow character starts making her way away from you both. You and Sykkuno make your way to admin when lights get called and Sykkuno starts to wiggle his body around into a corner. It seems as though he wants you to stack with him in a corner, but before you do you double back when you see a body pass by and kill them, though you start to laugh when you see your character kill Rae, before ‘stumbling’ into Sykkuno’s view in the corner. You both stay there as lights turn back on and go on card swipe. You think about juking Sykkuno, but realize that it’ll look sus on you for ditching him. So you two just walk around ‘completing’ tasks as every once in a while the lights would go off and you two will stack on each other or wait for doors to open which you had been closing alot of them. 

“Honestly guys I’m at a point were I just wanna murder someone in front of him” You start to evil laugh as you both stack in the corner of medbay as lights start turning on when a body got called

“It’s toast, it’s toast, it’s toast” Hafu chants as it was her who reported the body “I saw him kill Poki”

“oh she self reported” you note and click on Toast’s name but not locking in your vote just in case. You also noticed that four people had died “She killed three people!?! Wow she is beast in this game! Holy Shit guys”

“see, from my perspective it’s hafu. I didn’t see the kill, but I did see blood splatter and Hafu immediately reported the body and blamed me, so it has to be Hafu. I’m voting her” Toast explains and votes her

“no no no no no no no. I saw you kill her when lights got fixed.” Hafu describes her side and what she did in that round “ Ok guys I was afk for like the first 20 seconds and I see Sykkuno and y/n there standing on me in caf., and I’m just doing my tasks, which I finished by the way, so I’m just going back and forth going to cams and just walking around to find any dead bodies. So if you saw cams on in the last 30 or so seconds it was me. I’ve also been fixing lights too! Peter and Leslie should be able to vouch for me on that! But on this round of lights I’m making my way to go help fix them when i see blood flicker in my little bubble and as it starts to get bigger I see Toast walking away from it. Its Toast. It is 100% Toast.” She locks her vote on him “Vote him please. If you don’t vote then you’re either imposter or just throwing”

“I don’t know guys” You start and hover your mouse over the green checkmark next to Toast’s name “I’ve been with Sykkuno the entire round and we did guard Hafu’s body. For Hafu to say that she saw Toast kill, but toast didn’t see Hafu kill? It just doesnt make sense so I’m voting Toast” You lock your vote in when Hafu reminds everyone that crew has to vote together since it is on six. Reminding Peter and Leslie that Hafu has been fixing lights got their votes, but Sykkuno was hesitant “You know I can never vote Toast guys, but I have been with y/n this entire time and I know it’s not her. So, I’m sorry Toast but uh” He locks his vote in for either Hafu or Toast? Who knows if he’s simping over Toast hard.

“Sykkuno?” You can hear Toast tremble his voice “Sy-sykkuno? Who did you vote for? Sykkuno!?!?! Do- Don’t tell me...did you really vote me?”

“I uh “ He clears his throat as the votes get out and all of us had voted Toast 

Toast gasps “Sykkuno!?! How could you!?!?!”

“I’m sorry! I just trust y/n!” Sykkuno explains as Toast’s body once again gets yeeted out into space. 

“Wow guys, looks like we’re gunna win our first imposter game!” You wiggle around happily “and we literally did nothing...wait we killed Rae! We got our revenge from the last round mwua hahahahaha”

Sykkuno and I run circles around each other before walking back into medbay. You can see Hafu kind of trailing behind and the doors get locked with us three in it, but Hafu is just standing there. “Chat what is Hafu doing? Why is she just standing there” You can see Sykkuno step on the med scan “Wait she wants ME to kill SYKKUNO! Oh god that is so evil lol but i’m so useless as imposter, so I might as well get in at least 25% of the kills” 

Once Sykkuno steps off you just murder him and you see that you had won.

“I- I can’t believe you just killed me!?! I trusted you y/n” Sykkuno exclaims

“Sykkuno” Rae sighs “she KILLED ME in caf! Why did no one NOT SEE MY CHOPPED BODY IN CAF!”

You just laugh “I’m sorry Sykkuno, but my chat was telling me that Hafu wanted me to kill you”

“Yea, cause I did like all of the kills and sabotages” Hafu recounts who and how she killed 

“Sykkuno, you giant simp. I can’t believe you vote me” Toast tsk’ed 

“I can’t believe y/n was the imposter! and she killed me!” Sykkuno shakes his head “you know what i’m no longer protecting you anymore”

“Wait Sykkuno I’m sorry. Really” You giggle 

“No no no it’s ok, it’s all part of the game” Sykkuno reassure you that he is not actually mad and that he hoped you had fun “But i wont be protecting you from now on, I have scars now”

So, you play a few more games before calling it quits and end your stream. Later on, you find that Sykkuno started following you on Twitter and Instagram, You totally did not stalk both of his pages and you totally don’t think that he’s cute.....

SideNote: You totally murdered someone in front of Sykkuno and he totally didn’t snitch on you. Instead he protected you as you ran around killing more people in front of him and like the giant Simp he is he totally went ‘I neva snitch on you Daddy, I hold a brick for you Daddy’.

[iwaisa]

class 1-a boys kissing their crush for a tiktok

pairings: kirishima, sero, and todoroki x gender neutral reader

warnings: mild swearing, a lil suggestive, tooth-rotting fluff

a/n: this wasn’t a request, but it just happened to pop into my head and i got really excited :D

part 1 | part 2 | part 3

► now shuffling...

he has tiktok but he never posts anything

he likes watching art and cooking videos

it soothes him and it inspires him to be productive

one day he’s laying in his bed scrolling through the endless stream of videos

there’s a little break in the cooking videos and he sees one person standing alone in a room

he’s about to scroll until he reads the text at the top

“kissing my best friend”

he’s about to scroll x2 but he decides to watch where this is going

he just wants to know how to kiss you because he’s been thinking about it since the beginning

the door opens and another person comes in

they’re nearly tackled as the other person throws themself on them and kisses them

the one person mouths something and another text box pops up saying

“i love you”

and he’s like…. damn…. oh to have that be him and you

you definitely don't think kirishima likes you back since he’s so protective of you that you kinda just have to see him as that big brother figure

which he would probably die right on the spot if he heard that

but you only think that because you assume he thinks of himself as a big brother figure

but you two are basically inseparable

always doing homework together

you sit next to each other in class

and you always help him whenever he gets in a really bad mood

it's the last day of class before summer break and the class is going on a trip to the beach

you’re sitting in the way back of the car with him and since the trip takes 2 hours you fall asleep on his shoulder

he’s so not ready for what he’s about to do

the class finally gets there and everyone begins to take off their clothes to go to the ocean

you slip off your clothes to reveal a pastel red swimsuit

good job. you killed him.

look, he’s dead now. you’re so hot that you killed him and he’s foaming at the mouth.

you catch him staring with his jaw hanging open and you laugh waving your hand in front of his face

he decides its now or never

but he’s also sweating bullets because this could go two ways

1. you return the kiss and both have the times of your lives

or 2. you don't like him like that and then the rest of the day is awful and your relationship is ruined forever

he shakes his head and tries not to think too much into it as he goes to prop his phone up

you’re waiting to see which dance he’s doing

he starts the video and jogs back to you and tells you to hop into his arms bridal style

you do, and now he’s spinning you

you hop out of his arms and both of you throw up peace signs

he takes a deep breath before slipping his hand into yours

you turn to face him and he pulls you close so your bodies are pressing together

he mumbles a quick “i really like you,” before pecking your lips

he sprints to post the video and you’re just stunned

he’s holding his phone as he turns around and sees you staring at him

uh oh, time for negative thoughts 😀👍👍

he slowly comes towards you asking if that was okay

you squeal and run towards him planting a giant smooch on his cheek

“s-so you like me back?”

“isn’t it obvious?”

“hah. right. so,,, will you please be my s/o?”

he can't ask anything without adding please because he thinks its manly

you nod while grinning and he pecks your lips again before taking your hand and running to the ocean

it wasn’t until the class got back to the dorms when he noticed his video got thousands of likes with people calling you two cute in the comments

ANOTHER BABIE 🥺🥺

on your first day at U.A., sero was the one to help you get accustomed

he showed you around the school, helped you with homework (if it was something he could understand because if not then you needed bakugou there too)

he helped you find your dorm

he even helped you move furniture into your dorm

he always complimented you and your quirk and you did the same

you noticed that he tended to shy away from talking about his quirk

until you asked him about it

“i just… don't like my elbows”

“what?? i think they’re awesome! honestly they’re kind of cute”

did he? hear you right?? did you just call his elbows cute?

damn. he straight up just fell in love with you.

for someone to compliment the part of him he was most self conscious about is HUGE for him

from that point on he trusts you with his life

he's also basically like a puppy trailing you everywhere

he's in puppy love 🥺🥺

him and kaminari are hanging out in sero’s dorm

sero’s on his hammock using the foot he has sticking out to push him back and forth

kaminari is on sero’s bed leaning against the wall until he jumps up and excitedly talks about this tiktok he just found

sero isn't all that familiar with tiktok, and he's just like ‘if y/n has it then i'll get it!’

kaminari gives sero his phone so he can see exactly what he got so excited by

he watches as two people run around in a field of tall grass while smiling and laughing

at first, he's like, kaminari… are you trying to make me jealous of two people i don't even know?

but then he continues watching as one person tackles the other

and now they’re both laying on the ground, one person on top of another

said person on the top leans down and captures the other in a kiss

sero feels his face getting hot when his mind goes to you

“uh… what are you trying to tell me?”

“what i’m saying is, you need to confess to y/n. like right now.”

sero just nods, but wonders if he could do a video like that

the next day sero asks if he can meet you at a certain address and you accept because just like sero, you would do anything for him

you plug the address into your maps app and realize that it’s a hill with a cherry blossom tree atop

you feel the pink tint in your cheeks and ears continuing to grow as you visualize sero confessing to you on top of that hill

as you make your way up the hill, you can see sero clad in nice dress pants and a half sleeved button up, showing off his elbows

you blush as you notice how formal he is, before looking down at yourself

he notices you and waves you over with his signature grin

you two stare at each other for a while before he pulls his phone out of his pocket

“i want to do something with you”

you nod as you watch him set up his camera

the countdown starts and sero waves to the camera awkwardly

he asks you to stand back, and as you do, sero shoots his tape into the tree and begins to climb up

it takes a few seconds for him to get into an upside down spider-man position, and when he does he asks you to come forward

you take a tiny step towards sero, who’s hair is now falling due to gravity

he looks like such a dork 🥺🥺

hes giving you a giant goofy grin as he says “i’m getting kinda light-headed, so can you please let me kiss you?”

you nod and bend forward as you take his face in your hands

due to your position, it's an awkward first kiss

both your eyes are staring directly at each others’ necks, and you aren’t exactly able to coordinate when to move your lips against each others’

he pulls away a few seconds after the video ends

but before he can say anything, the branch snaps and he comes falling down

you yelped as he landed on his back, rubbing his head

he smiles up at you sheepishly

“sorry for the failed first kiss…”

you shake your head, sitting next to him

“i wouldn't have wanted it any other way”

you grab his face and connect your lips with his, this time more desperate

“did i tell you that i’ve been in love with you since day one?”

you plopped your head on his shoulder and he laughs

“will you please be my s/o, f/n l/n?”

you accept and you two lay down on the grass interlocking hands and watching the clouds

your video went viral because everyone was astounded that someone was able to recreate one of the most iconic scenes in movie history

this man…. has no chill

he also doesn’t have tiktok

“what is a ‘tiktok’”

oh todoroki you beautiful beautiful idiot

you describe tiktok and how you once saw a video of someone clowning endeavor

he never got an app so fast

his first and only video is him flipping off a green screen photo of his dad and nothing else

lmao

uraraka is the one to tell him about the trend

she shows a video to midoriya, iida, and todoroki that shows two people sitting on a couch and it seems that they’re watching a movie together

todoroki and iida assume that they’re dating since they look really close

they don’t even notice the caption that clearly says ‘kissing my best friend challenge’

they’re just kinda bored of it until one person turns to face the other

when they’re both facing each other they just… start making out

like its mutual

and iida and todoroki are still like “why are they posting their make out session on tiktok???”

uraraka has to explain and midoriya is just kinda indifferent about it

a few hours later and the whole class is hanging in the common area

bakugou, sero, kirishima, and sato are in the kitchen making snacks for the movie everyone is about to watch

everyone else is littered around the room - some people on couches, some on the floor, and some just standing around talking

you and todoroki are awkwardly talking and you’re laughing at something that wasn’t really that funny but that’s okay!1!

cuz todoroki wants to see you laugh all the time 🥺

ever since he first saw you he’s always harbored some crush towards you but his childhood trauma and scars keep him back from saying anything

but he’s really so touch starved

he WANTS to be with you and he REALLY wants to kiss you

uraraka catches everyone’s attention and asks todoroki if she can borrow his phone

he questions it before handing it to her

she opens tiktok and tells everyone to just start dancing

she whispers something into todoroki’s ear and he just goes stiff

literally will not move even when the video is going

suddenly he remembers what he’s supposed to do and he very quickly grabs your face and kisses you

remember when i said he has no chill? yeah, cuz he doesn’t.

he just kissed you in front of your whole class

even the four in the kitchen who came out just in time to see you two ‘eating each others’ faces’ as bakugou yelled out

you look at the ground and todoroki just assumes the worst

he asks if he can talk to you and you say yes

so he pulls you to the kitchen and asks if that was okay

you can very faintly hear the concern and worry in his voice and you look into his eyes

“i just didn't know that you liked me back”

he processes this for a moment before giving you a soft smile

“of course i like you, how could i not fall for you?”

with this, you two wrap your arms around each other and stay there for a few moments

then you two kiss again. this time, todoroki is fully aware of the intimate action you two are doing so he accidentally freezes and burns you at the same time

he apologizes and you assure him that it's alright and that the pain will subside

once you two go back to the others everyone starts cheering as they see your interlocked hands

you’re holding his left hand and he's super hot and sweaty

uraraka congratulates you two and hands todoroki his phone

you two watch the video and you convince him to post it

he finally does and that's when you see the endeavor video

you two laugh it off and sit down on the couch to cuddle as the movie begins

the video went viral since he was viral from his last video but most of the comments are saying how pretty he is (which made you jealous but he never goes on tiktok so he assures you it's alright)

[aion-rsa]

Mortal Kombat and the Man Who Gave Sub-Zero a Soul

https://ift.tt/3rEA11N

Mortal Kombat’s Joe Taslim (aka Sub-Zero) is one of the hottest martial artists on screen right now. It’s been a decade since his breakout film The Raid took the world by storm, and Taslim has consistently delivered high-octane action with dashing panache ever since. As movie martial arts masters go, few others are on Taslim’s level. While most action stars have some martial arts training in their bag of tricks, Taslim is more invested than most.

Prior to The Raid, Taslim was a professional Judo athlete and a member of Indonesia’s National Judo team from 1997 to 2009. He won gold medals at the Southeast Asia Judo Championships and the Indonesian National Games. No other actor can boast a competitive record like this. What’s more, Taslim is also trained in Wushu and Taekwondo, and he picked up Pencak Silat for The Raid, so his combative range goes far beyond Judo throws and falls.

The Raid was a game-changer for the martial arts genre. It placed Indonesia firmly on the map when it comes to action films, delivering relentlessly unflinching action and intensely complex fight choreography, held together with a threadbare plot. If martial arts movies are compared to porn films, The Raid was hardcore. The film spawned a sequel which picked up the action right where it left off in the original. In addition to Taslim, the franchise also introduced a stable of Indonesian action stars to Hollywood including Iko Uwais (Mile 22 and the upcoming Snake Eyes: G.I. Joe Origins) and Yayan Ruhian (Star Wars: The Force Awakens, John Wick: Chapter 3).

Taslim moved on to Hollywood too. Two years after The Raid, he landed the role of Jah in Fast & Furious 6, followed by an appearance in Star Trek Beyond. But he never abandoned his country and continued to deliver films made in Indonesia specifically for that market. Most notable was The Night Comes For Us, which reunited Taslim with Uwais. Although an Indonesian production, The Night Comes For Us gained worldwide exposure after it was picked up by Netflix. He also starred as the villain in the South Korean film, The Swordsman, and became more recognizable to Western audiences audiences by playing the conflicted Tong hitman Li Yong in the Bruce Lee inspired series, Warrior.

Now Taslim is at the forefront of another predominantly Asian cast for the new Hollywood feature film, Mortal Kombat. And he is donning yet another villain mask as Sub-Zero.

“Sub-Zero is just an amazingly powerful, iconic character,” says director Simon McQuoid. McQuoid’s film explores the inbuilt rivalry between Sub-Zero and Scorpion coming out of the original video games. The connection between Sub-Zero (real name: Bi-Han) and Scorpion delves deep into Mortal Kombat lore, and within the film, McQuoid says this is symbolized by a bloody kunai (ninja ring dagger) which plays a critical role throughout the film.

“Blood is such a [vital] ingredient in Mortal Kombat,” explains McQuoid, “but we wanted to make it feel more than just blood splurts. We wanted it to have a blood line and lineage meaning to blood as well. We liked the idea that we could tell an emotional version of that blood story.” Just like the fighting game, Mortal Kombat is evenly split between good guys and bad guys, but ultimately Sub-Zero becomes the standout villain in the film.

“Once we got Joe,” beams McQuoid, “then we knew he was going to be a pretty kick-ass character because Joe’s so fantastic.”

Den of Geek had a video chat with Joe Taslim while he was home in Indonesia.

Den of Geek: Was the Mortal Kombat video game popular in Indonesia?

Yeah, I think it was 1995 when the first one released. I was actually not in the capital. I was born on the small island in South Sumatra, in Palembang, that’s my home city. So, I remember when the game came out and people talked about the game because it’s unusual because it was so violent. And it’s still violent now. So it was popular until now. But unfortunately, MK11 got banned because Indonesia is very sensitive of the violence level in that game where it’s just like funny now. The censorship here is like, “Oh, this is too much for Indonesia, so probably not.” So a lot of people played the game by downloading it. They know how to do it.

Did you play?

I played MK11, MKXL, yeah.

What challenged you the most about taking on Sub-Zero?

Well, the fans know Sub-Zero is badass, kick-ass, so much swagger, and a lot of attitude. But as an actor, the challenge for me to be in his shoes is to give him more soul, to give more heart, to make this character live. The fight is a visual. People enjoy the fight. But to bring people to feel inside the fight is something else, it means that you got to give more. You got to give the intention. You got to give a story, without delivering any lines, that people can see. Is he losing? Or does he know he’s going to die? Or is he very confident?

Jet Li did an amazing job in his movies to deliver those attitudes—the story of the fight. So I learned from him and I learned from The Raid, The Night Comes for Us, and I just bring everything to Mortal Kombat. There’s a lot of stories in that final fight. You can see the character is just dynamic—what he’s feeling, the way he fights, he’s just getting slower and slower. He’s just catching his breath.

So that’s the most important thing in fights, in my opinion. Because a lot of people think a fight scene needs to be badass, kick-ass. That’s number two. But number one is you got to be inside the shoes and know what’s going on inside this character first. Then when you visualize the fight, it makes sense.

How was it working with the mask?

Ooh. Well, it took me a while to adapt because it’s a heavy costume. And the mask, kind of like, well I have the mask. [Taslim holds up his Sub-Zero mask]

Ooh.

Well, the awkward thing about the mask, because when you move, the mask doesn’t move because it was a solid mask. So it was quite technical. If I have to move really fast, sometimes my face moves with like a delay. You see the mask kind of follow in slow-mo. We did a lot with this—put a lot of straps here just to make when I move really fast, so the mask could follow. A lot of technical stuff happened in the process, but yeah, it was a fun journey to just discover the best look, the best fit for the mask, the costume for me to be able to fight the best.

How was your experience fighting with all those special effects?

I think this is my first [movie] that involved the supernatural. The superpower stuff in previous movies, it was like a man versus a man or a man versus five men. But in this one, a lot of imagination is involved for sure. I’m glad I’m a gamer myself. I played a lot. I’m used to being a daydreamer. I’m still daydreaming until now. I have this mind that I like to have fun with. So during the shooting [when] it’s involving something they’re going to add in post, they ask me just to imagine, which I love imagining things.

I had so much fun just imagining the sword and creating the icicle—the ice sword—because it wasn’t there. Everything is in post. So I was just like, “Sure, believe that it’s there. It’s there.” You don’t see it, but I know it’s there. When the camera captured that moment, and if I believe in it, then I think everybody’s going to believe in it as well.

Read more

Movies

Mortal Kombat: The Challenges of Making the Movie Reboot

By Gene Ching

Movies

Mortal Kombat: Why the Movie Created New Main Character Cole Young

By Gene Ching

I really loved your role in The Swordsman. And I got to be honest with you, because I’ve been following you, and I was surprised that I didn’t recognize you for quite a long time in this film.

Really?

It wasn’t until I recognized your eyebrows. You’re playing a lot of villains now. Do you like playing villains?

I was a good guy in The Raid and The Night Comes for Us, but yeah. Playing villains is interesting. Because as an actor, you know when you play a villain role, almost there’s no limitation because there’s no rules. [There’s no] you cannot do this, you cannot do that, because you’re the protagonist. “You have to speak this way because you cannot be evil when you speak—you’ve got to be polite.”

When you play a villain, there’s so much freedom. In The Swordsman, I remember I had so much freedom. And the director, he was just like, “What do you think about the role?” I say, “I don’t want to sound like this. I’m going to change my voice.” I’m going to do that because he’s a nomad and he’s from Qing dynasty. He’s Manchurian, and their language is like almost from the throat. I want to deliver that. I want people to see that genetically, when people speak through the throat, they’re going to sound different. 

So all those freedoms that you have as an actor, and the director gave you the freedom to do those stuff, it’s a blessing. Because it’s just so easy for the director to just say “no,” and now you’re in trouble. And you’re just a puppet. “Do this, go there from there. And don’t smile. Don’t do anything.” That’s the nightmare for an actor to work in that condition.

How was it for Mortal Kombat? Were you given a lot of leeway with Sub-Zero?

A lot! Simon [McQuoid], he’s amazing. With almost everything, we’re on the same page. I came up to him almost every morning because we stayed in the same hotel, and he’s actually on the same floor with me. So before, I bothered him a lot. And I know he was busy. I need to ask something. I want to do this. I want to do that. I want to have this layer of him when he’s doing this, he’s doing that. So he was like, “Do that. I love it. It’s brilliant. We’re on the same page.” So it reached the point, I think half of the movie, he just looked at me, I just looked at him. Sometimes we just looked at each other, and we understand we’re on the same page. It was a beautiful relationship with him.

Do you feel that you captured Sub-Zero in a way that you wanted to represent him? Was he a character that you played when you played the game?

Probably different because in a game, people probably like more Kuai Liang, the brother. I think the Mortal Kombat 11, it’s more about Kuai Liang [the original Sub-Zero’s brother], and Bi-Han’s already a new cyborg. But I’m happy with what I saw. I’m happy that this anti-hero character, even though it’s a very thin layer here and there, but I gave it on screen. I gave [a lot to] Bi-Han/Sub-Zero. And probably people don’t know, but there are a lot of layers that I gave to this character. People need to see the pain of him. In the beginning of the fight, when he’s inside the house, for me, I look at this boy and it reminds me of my brother, Kuai Liang. That’s why I smile at him.

And then I just realized that my destiny for this family is to wipe them all. So those small thin layers here and there that I gave in this character, it’s there. They didn’t cut it. Everything is there. I’m so happy that I know when people watch it the second time, they will probably pick up a little bit of that here and there. 

I remember Jax—Mehcad [Brooks]—said “You’re a bad guy. You killed a boy. But somehow I feel you. Somehow, I feel so weird, but I feel empathy for your character.” And then I was like, “Okay, that’s it. That’s the goal. That’s what I wanted to do.” Because Sub-Zero/Bi-Han is a dark character. But tragic things happened to him when he was a kid. He got abducted. It’s by force, to become an assassin, to be part of Lin Kuei assassins, because he didn’t choose that path.

It was destiny [that chose to put him on] that path. And then for him, well, while a lot of people probably look for the light, he is just the kind of person to say, “It’s too late. I’m just going to be who I am.”

Mortal Kombat premieres in theaters and on HBO Max on April 23, 2021

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The post Mortal Kombat and the Man Who Gave Sub-Zero a Soul appeared first on Den of Geek.

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[thethoughtsfromthreeam]

California

Pairing: Agent Whiskey/Jack Daniels x OC

Warnings: None, Fluff

A/N:  In a shocking turn of events (for me), I completed California last night, topping this bad boy out at 15 chapters.  While I’ll likely keep tweaking it and making sure all my plot holes are closed, the storyline itself is done.  I also set up for a possible one shot (or more, I dunno how much writing mojo I got left in me) for another pairing if y’all want it.  So y’all be seeing me for a while yet.

Also, this is a pretty short part because its original version didn’t flow well, forcing me to split it with Part 6.  Sorry!

Reminder: I haven’t seen Kingsman: The Golden Circle, so I’m just using the Wikia, IMDB.com, some gifs, and my own weird ass brain to make up this whole ass story.

Tag List:  @zeldasayer , @romanticgumchewer, @tarrevizslas , @coolmaybelateruniverse , @the-feckless-wonder, @lavenderl3mons , @pascalisthepunkest [please message me to be added or subtracted]

[PART 1]  [PART 2]  [PART 3]  [PART 4]

Part 5

Mission: Rescue

In the coming dusk, agents from HQ and the West Coast office stood a thousand feet from a squat, industrial looking building deep in the outskirts of Sacramento. The unassuming nature of the building wouldn’t even garner a second glance from any passersby, but for these Statesmen, it was the end of the line. Sirah had been gone almost a week and very soon she’d be back among her fellow agents.  Or at least that’s what they believed.  No one could bring themselves to think otherwise.

---***---

On the flight into California, Jack sat silently in the back of the plane in a brooding manner watching everyone else.  He felt helpless in the moment as the Statesmen plane buzzed with activity as agents and support staff worked in the air and on the ground to coordinate possible leads on Sirah’s whereabouts.  Ginger and Tequila spoke remotely with Kefir to review any possible changes between the files still in the cloud versus what he had printed out originally.  Behind them Champ sat at a table with the three junior agents who were pressed into service.

The tables were covered with maps, paperwork, and the sound of pencils scribbling notes.  Occasionally they argued quietly amongst themselves and Champ chimed in with a question or comment.  Statesmen recruited brilliant minds and Champ couldn’t help but feel pride at the hard work these agents were doing at the last minute.  Slowly as they worked, a bigger picture began to form.

After signing off with Kefir, Ginger continued to read the backend of the digital files, including the last report allegedly sent in by Sirah.  Her and Tequila agreed it didn’t sound like her, even though everything else, including the transmission time, matched the pattern she set at the beginning of the case.

“T?”

“What is it, Ging?”

“We both know someone did this in her place, but I’m not finding anything wrong with the file signature.  Nothing suspicious, everything follows like it should.”  She turned at looked at him.  “As a general guess, I’d say these were uploaded by a Statesmen.”

He looked at her with wide eyes and she nodded.  While she didn’t come out and say that a fellow agent was behind this, the idea remained unspoken between the two of them.  If Ginger was right, the game was going to change quick and Tequila wasn’t sure, given their current state of mind, if they were able to go head to head with one of their own.  They continued to review the digital files when suddenly Ginger turned around.

“Saki, what did you say?”  She asked him.  

“It’s the maps.  Sirah created a few to track activity in the area and everything looks like it points to Sacramento.  Somewhere here in the southern part of the city.  Obviously, we’re missing stuff that could confirm this as I assume not everything was uploaded.”  The young agent waved her over and pointed at the map.  Champ stood up and looked Ginger, who looked back.  For months, Malbec and Sherry had insisted that the serial killer they were tracking was out of northern California but had little proof. West Coast believed them and sent in the request for help from HQ.  Clearly, after bringing her in, Sirah and her fellow agents found something that was a break in the long running case.

Tequila shot up from his seat and Ginger joined him at the table as they looked at the maps.  Sirah’s notes indicate that a center of activity could be either in the Valley Hi or Meadowview neighborhoods.  It was a lot of area to cover and there was the possibility that all this information was wrong.  Suddenly, a beeping noise sounded from Ginger’s computer.

“Her tracking device is back on!”  Everyone came over as Ginger began pulling up coordinates.  Smack in the middle of the suspected zone of operations was Sirah’s icon.  They found her and now they were coming to get her.  Tequila spoke to the junior agents on what was coming for them and Champ got on the phone with West Coast to coordinate plans.

---***---

Jack held back from the group as his heart stopped and started rapidly beating with hope.  He silently willed the plane to go faster as he shoved his hand into the pocket of his jacket. He let his thumb rub over the stone bear nestled in the corner.

About a year after they first started working together on cases, Jack and Sirah had been sent on assignment to the Jackson Hole office.  While they worked hard, there enough periods of down time that she felt it was being wasted staring at the office.  For once, instead of him, it was her begging to go play.  

Sirah insisted they bander about town and enjoyed themselves while they waited.  One day in a tourist shop, she bent down over a small display of hand carved animals. Her long braid fell over her shoulder and her eyes sparkled behind her glasses.  Jack’s breath caught his throat as he looked at her.  Hand to god, he never flirted with her again, but all the same, he found himself more and more drawn to his friend.  Someone he wanted to be more than a friend to.

“Jack look at them!  They’re so cute!”  She pointed to them as her face turned toward his.

“Yeah moonshine?”  That became her nickname, one that she rolled her eyes at the first time she heard it.  But now it made her smile and her eyes shine.  It was hers and no one elses.  He watched as she reached in and pulled two of them out.  A small beaver and a small bear.  He looked at her with a questioning face.

“It’s us.” She said simply but expanded her thoughts when he looked even more confused. “Ginger always says I’m busy as a beaver.  And you’re the bear.  Very cuddly looking, but very dangerous.”

He smiled and she smiled back.  There was no tension, no worries, and no awkwardness in the moment.  It was just two people so very comfortable with each other; the kind of comfort that comes with being in love with the right person. Not that they would have admitted it at the time, but it was there all the same.

She took them over to the cashier and paid for them.  She slipped the beaver into her pants pocket and walked back over to Jack.  Without a word, she slipped the bear into the pocket on the inside of his jacket before patting the cloth down.  She looked up at him and smiled.

“Grrr.”

[grassreads]

Postman Potter

Lily Evans is very sad to say she hasn't made many friends since moving to Dublin.

Sure she's only lived there for a month but Lily always the planner had planned for many cool activities with her new friends.

That don't exist.

So the very few friends Lily has made are held very close to her heart and that includes Lilys postman Remus.

Lilys family who love writing letters will write an excessive amount and when it comes to the youngest Evans daughter they are more then willing to pay the extra pound to send her love. Well maybe not Lilys sister.

This along with her newsletters, parcels and her monthly glossybox beauty box means Remus is an frequent visiter.

And Lily adores Remus. He always knocks on her door to deliver her post instead of leaving them in the hallway of her dodgy apartment full of even dodgier people one of which is called Druggy Drew need she say more.

So anyway on a rare Friday Lily happens to have off she was excited to talk to Remus as long as she could keep him. So you can imagine her shock when she opened the door and it wasn't Remus.

Instead standing in his place was a handsome stranger. In Remus's uniform and glasses.

"Where's Remus?" Was the the first words out of her mouth.

"Hullo."

"Hi…" behind his glasses the new postman looked amused.

"Moonys sick so me and another lad are-"

"Moony? Is that Remus?"

"Oh yeah sorry childhood nickname you know how it is. "

Lily didn't but she nodded none the less.

"Is he okay?"

"Oh yeah he's grand. Remus is always a little sickly."

"Oh okay. Well who are you?" Asked Lily bluntly.

That made the handsome stranger laugh "James Potter I would shake you hand but well" he fumbled a parcel before handing it to Lily who placed it behind her.

"Well anyway Remus told me keep you till last because apparently you get lonely without his lovely presence" said James but he put air quotes around lovely making Lily laugh.

"I'm not lonely" Lily complains but really she is rather lonely and as depressing as it sounds is rather enjoying this chat with a random stranger .

"No offense-" he started.

"No sentence that ever began with no offence was ever not offensive."

He smiled and wow did he have dimples. Big beautiful ones.

"Oof you're quick. But as I was saying I would believe you only Remus is the smart one in our friend group."

"Ah and not yourself?"

"Surprising I know."

Lily giggled and realised maybe this James was rather funny.

"Not to be nosy-" started Lily but before she could finish James butted in.

"No sentence that ever started with not to be nosy wasn't nosy" teased James in a high pitched voice supposedly an imitation of Lily or perhaps a boy before puberty hit.

"I don't sound like that" complained Lily.

"No you just have a fancy English accent.

"Well anyway as I was saying before I was rudely interrupted what part of Ireland are you from? Your accent is different to Remus.

"Oh that's not nosy I was born in Cork down south you probably never heard of it."

"That is actually one of the few counties I have heard of would you believe." Lily lied she knew every county practically in Ireland. The second she found out she got the job she pulled up a map and began studying the island.

"I'm not surprised you've heard of it considering its the best county " said James as he puffed out his chest dramatically making Lily laugh.

"Nah I heard Galway was the best county."

"Off who? Ed Sheeran." James immediately began singing Galway Girl slightly out of tune but still surprisingly well.

"How rude" said Lily doing her best Stephanie Tanner impression "I am very well cultured in all things Irish." Lily faked a frown while acting offended.

"Now dont take this the wrong way but-"

"James I thought you learned by now every sentence that ever started with dont take this the wrong way will be taken the wrong way."

"Lily I'm starting to think this is becoming our thing."

"Wait how do you know my name?"

James started laughing loudly before pointing at his uniform and the pile of letters behind Lily. Ah postman right.

As I was saying I seriously doubt you are cultured in all things Irish but I will forgive the lie because you made an excellent Full House reference ."

"Didn't think Full house would be your kind of show not going to lie."

"Please it's iconic but I have a confession" he looked around him dramatically as if this confession was too secret to be overheard. "I only watched it when it came out on Netflix."

Lily faked a gasp acting all offended but before she could give any witty comeback James's phone rang in his pocket.

"2 seconds there" he said while stepping back.

Lily watched him pace the little hallway talking to someone she thinks he calls "Padfoot" what ever that is. She feels extremely awkward just standing in her open door watching him take a phone call but before she decides to move James is back over.

"Sorry that was another childhood friend who says he needs me right now."

"Oh that's fine." Says Lily feeling disappointed he had to leave.

"But I was wondering if you'd maybe like to do something sometime?" James asked while stepping closer.

"Like- like a date?"

"Yeah exactly like that. Only if you want-"

"Oh no" she replies as she watches his face fall "No no I mean yes I want to" Lily stuttered feeling her face grow hot.

"Tonight?"

"Perfect" Lily all but shouted.

"See you later Lily Evans" and he rounded the corner and walked away.

Wow. Maybe Lily won't be lonely for much longer

[elane-in-the-shadows]

Drabble #56 Fade

#56 - “I don’t do hugs”

A/N: This story takes place during Steel Scars (I hope all of you have read it, now that it was released again in Broken Throne) after Farley’s camp is raided and Shade reveals his teleporting to Farley and is sworn into the Scarlet Guard. You might remember this moment:

“What is your name?” […]Shade looks on, expectant. I realize he’s holding my hand, not minding the blood coagulating beneath my fingers.“My name is Diana.”For once, his smile is real. No jokes no mask.“Are you with us, Shade Barrow?”“I’m with you, Diana.”“Then we will rise.”His voice joins mine.Red as the dawn.“ 

A truly iconic Fade moment. The fic starts after this.

Find this on wattpad and on AO3

To Not Get Lost

“Do you knowwhere we’re going?” Shade asked. “Or why are you staring at the sky likethere’s a map and compass to be found?”

Farley stoppedin her tracks. “There is,” she deadpanned, “a ‘compass’ in the sky. It’scalled the sun.”

He shrugged. Shewalked on, threw back her braid and was disappointed its wet weight didn’tallow it to swing like a whip. Inwardly, she cursed the enduring squeaking ofher soggy boots. “If you need to know, I’m looking for Tristan – in the treetops. Don’t want him to shoot us.

“And,” she addedsharply, “I do know the way. I’ve planned for a meeting point farther down theriver in case of emergency.”

“Of course youdid,” Shade agreed, sounding way too amused. She couldn’t tell if it was praiseor tease. Yet he followed her. After a few steps, she dared to glance at himagain – and promptly found his sparkling golden eyes.

Definitelyteasing, she figured when she noticed his smirk.

“I could makethis quicker, you know,” he said. “Like before.”

By “jumping”. Sheshuddered at the thought, and not just because their last jump landed them inthe river, which was why they were both still dripping wet. While the heat ofthe Nortan July kept her from freezing, she was unsettled by the other sideeffects of Shade Barrow’s mysterious, not-Silver ability.

“I don’t havetime to get sick again,” she said, stopped and turned to face him. “Why are youeven coming with me? My team is leaving this area. You should return toCorvium, to your unit. It’d be danger – “

“Dangerous todesert without preparation? Well, I can always get away quickly.” Hestepped up to her as he spoke until he almost bumped into her. She backed offjust in time, but couldn’t avoid their arms banging. “Sorry,” she mumbled.

Shade wincedconspicuously and Farley remembered how she’d cut him just half an hour ago.“Sorry,” she repeated, louder this time, and took his hand. Their eyes met. “Itwas a bit … harsh to demand this brutal kind of proof.”

Shade titled hishead and smiled amicably. “No, I understand perfectly well, Di – Captain.” Helaid his hand on top of hers. “You have to be certain and careful who to trust,I’ve always known that. And anyway,” his smile became broader, “it was bound tohappen sooner or later.”

Frowning, shepulled her hand away. “What?”

He tried tocross his arms nonchalantly but failed to manage that without flinching. “Youthreatening me and shedding my blood, I mean.”

Farley was aboutto nod and apologize – again, what was wrong with her to do that so often? –when she realized Shade was still having fun. Suddenly, she saw the dotsconnecting. Shade seeming too eager at rebellion. Shade talking back to andteasing her. Shade sneaking up on her, urging her instincts to point a gun tohis head.

Her face burnedat the revelation. “What, is that your kink or something?!” sheexclaimed. “Getting yourself into danger by the woman you – ” she bit her lipsto stop herself from insinuating anything more. This was embarrassing enoughalready.

At least hissmugness had evaporated a little. “I wouldn’t say it like that,” he muttered,rubbing his arm and sounding awkward.

He didn’t dareto say more, either.

Her hands on herhips, Farley turned away. To catch a few breaths without him in sight. To getaway with the increasing heat between them. It calmed her, to an extent, buthis presence behind her remained as a shiver, an itch, an urge on herback she was unable to forget or ignore.

After a moment,she spun on her heel and almost stumbled as she lacked grip in her wet bootsand on the muddy ground.

He grabbed herby the shoulder to stabilize her. She swatted his hand away.

She refrainedfrom adding a remark. She couldn’t think of one, either way, and only listenedto their mutually heavy breathing. “I could take care of your wound,” sheoffered, and finally managed to meet his eyes again.

He nodded,looking relieved. “I’d appreciate that.”

They sat down, lessclose to the river and farther into the forest. Pine needles littered theground and gave the place an odour less reminiscent of the battlefield severalkilometres off. It had to be for the slight breeze coming from the otherdirection. Farley began to rummage through her backpack. It was her emergencybag, readily crammed with essentials like a first-aid-kit. But as the rest ofher and Shade’s things, it was absolutely soaked. She frowned at the bandagesshe finally fished out, now humid on the outside.

“It’s gonna beokay as long as it’s clean,” Shade encouraged her and outstretched his injuredarm. She hesitated to oblige and searched for another few seconds, before shegave up and sighed in resignation.

“It’ll have todo,” she admitted, touched his arm and found his gaze. That prompted an unsuresmile from her, because it was still awkward to be this near.

Cleaning andbandaging his wound didn’t improve that. Golden rays and shades of sunset fellthrough the woods, conifers and foliage, onto the soft brown skin of his arm.Farley operated deliberately carefully and with concentration yet she stilllonged to touch more of him. Suddenly, she was very aware of how their dampuniforms clung to their bodies and brought out his and her shapes. And despitethat, Shade’s skin was warm to the touch, and a part of her had some veryunprofessional thoughts of getting rid of the fucking clothes to let them staywarm by laying down skin on skin.

Farley bit intoher lips and cheeks and fixed the bandage a little too tightly. “Done” shestated, and leaned back onto her palms.

Shade blinked,both for the last tuck on the bandage and as if waking from a dream. Again, shewanted to but wouldn’t look at him. It was wrong to have such desires, afterthe raid, after the probable deaths of some of her comrades which she onlyescaped because Shade seemed to … fancy her.

And taking offtheir clothes wouldn’t get them dry any quicker either way, unless they made afire which was an even sillier notion than the fornication she was imagining.

In the end, itwas anathema she wasted time with a lover when her comrades where running fortheir lives. She straightened into a squatting position and focused on herbackpack. “You really need to get going now,” she said, shoving thefirst-aid-kit inside the bag. As she did, she came across her radio device.Like everything else, it showed sighs of the river episode.

Cara will knowhow to fix it, she thought. If Cara makes it to the meetingpoint.

Shade clearedhis throat.

Right, this wastaking too long already. She got up. “You have your radio, Operative Barrow?”she asked in her captain voice.

He flashed her acrooked grin accompanied by a tilt of his head. “You know how much care I havefor important things.”

What’s thatsupposed to mean?

“Or,” hecontinued as he rose, “you want to be certain you can call on me for help oncemore?”

That was toomuch. Frustrated, she blew air into her cheeks and yet there was enoughseriousness in his voice she wasn’t certain he was only joking. If hewas further trying to provoke her, she had to cut this short.

She sighed andlifted her hand, for a second intending to pat his shoulder, before she settledfor a handshake. “Do your best, Operative Barrow. I’ll remain your handler evenwhen we leave this area.” Now it was no longer so awkward to meet his eyes; itwas mere proof of their trust in each other.

Shade kept hisgaze on her face as they shook hands. “Rise red as the dawn, Diana,” he said,and moved closer as if to add an embrace to their goodbye.

Farley sidledbackwards. “I don’t do hugs,” she claimed.

He blinked, buthis arms were down as soon as they’d been raised. Stepping away, he cleared histhroat. “Goodbye then,” he said, “and good luck with finding the rest of yourteam.” The words had started somewhat bitter, but ended on a soft, concernednote, as if to comfort her.

It made her ownbravado take flight. Her usual smirk, pinned on her face to demonstrateconfidence and determination fell off and while she felt relief when shestopped to hide her worries, she was glad Shade had already turned around togo. Or to jump, to make this quicker and easier.

Yet hehesitated.

He tried anotherstep, only to hold back, to ponder on something, Farley assumed. Did theyforget something? Something vital or dangerous?

But she wasn’treally occupied with that and rather with him. Before he’d take his leave, shelooked him over as she liked to do when she had the chance. Shade Barrow washandsome, probably for many, but especially for her. His face was one thing,though he was appealing all in all. His hair, cut short for the army, had grownlong enough to bend under the persisting sogginess, like plants after the rain.And then there were his lean shape, the quick legs, slim hips and slight butdefined shoulders.

Usually, hisgait, his whole posture, was too spirited for a conscripted soldier, remindingher of something as subversive as hope. There had been many times when she’dalmost chided him for that, for giving away the look of a rebel, and the ScarletGuard couldn’t need that. Every time she’d refrained from speaking up. Becauseshe knew she probably appeared the same way, and more so because she enjoyed tosee Shade like that, as if she, no, the Scarlet Guard, had given thisconfidence to him.

Although healways had it in him. Without my encouragement.

But not now. Hisshoulders had fallen, and he seemed downcast, if not frustrated.

It was how shefelt, too. She had every reason to, even when she concealed that. Her teamhad had to flee camp, in haste and pursuit, because she, their captain, hadstayed in Corvium too long. Stubbornly so, for – because of Shade’sintelligence.

She swallowed. “Idon’t do hugs”, she’d said to keep up her image and not to linger anylonger in this moment. But did she mean it?

Just let him go

Let him go, letboth of them think they were mere comrades, that telling him her name meantnothing, that her heart hadn’t fluttered when she did.

He sighed, andhis frozen stance melted. It sent a shiver down her spine. He was about to leavefor good and that would be it.

Nothing. Nothingwas between them.

The air feltcold and too sharp when she opened her mouth, like it was too much, like afinal reminder to abort mission. Sheignored it.

“I don’t dohugs,” she repeated, with her arms crossed and withholding any intonation, “butyou could kiss me.” Her voice sounded neutral after all, and that was all shewas able to control, as she wasn’t so sure about her face. She didn’t know whathe saw when he spun on his heels. He seemed as feeble as a deer, cheeks redwith the same flush that heated up hers.

“That is anorder,” she deadpanned, in a last attempt to make it a joke, playing on thekink she’d accused him off. It wasn’t a joke, and Shade had to know it.

The second she’dsaid it, she rued it. She had to sound like an abusive Silver, an officermaking undue advances, or the worst, like the colonel who’d already forgottenthat love couldn’t exist only hidden behind coldly uttered orders.

It was the worsttry at flirting imaginable. She swam in her embarrassment, she couldn’t evenlook at him, nor hear what he was muttering now. So she was without defensewhen he strode toward her and he almost swept her off her feet if he hadn’tgrabbed her arms.

Fingers brushedher cheek, testingly, and finally, she looked up, getting lost in his ambereyes. There was a spark in them, a wish fulfilled. He asked nonetheless.

“Yes,” shebreathed, because she was too still to nod. But not for long.

His lips methers and she gave in, her whole body angling toward his. His kiss was hungry,and showing he knew what to do. After the first, sweet touch, their mouthsopened to let their tongues play and explore. She could taste the salty blendof sweat and water on his face. This time, her nipples didn’t tighten from thesogginess, while in another place, something loosened and melted in her. Itwould be too simple to call it desire, although it wasn’t wrong. It was alsomore than that.

She was glad forthe let soaked layers of rough clothing separating them, weakening theintensity she felt as his fingers splayed on her back and waist, because shefeared she’d never stop otherwise. She couldn’t help leaning closer to him,ever closer, but she kept her hands fixed on his belt. She wouldn’t do more,not now, but she’d neither let go.

Shade provedfreer there. With both his mouth and his fingers. Once, after tipping over herchin and neck, he pulled gently on her braid and made her moan. His response tothat felt like a giggle that quickly infected her as well.

It was thelaughter evolving from this giggle that finally pulled them apart, forcing themto break away and gasp for a few, deep breaths.

She grinned like she’dforgotten what had happened today, only rejoicing over his palm on her cheek,his fingers tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.

His hand was softerthan hers, with lesser calluses.

“That was nice,” hesaid, making her crack an even bigger smile. Insatiable, she leaned forward tosteal another light kiss and it was obvious Shade would’ve loved to go on asmuch as she.

Ifonly we could.

“This wasn’t a mistake,”she said, as if she was making a confession to herself.

An emotion ran overShade’s face, too fast for her to decipher. He swallowed it down but somethingstill lingered on his tongue while she, slowly, began to slip out of theirembrace.

He pondered, and his headinched forward. “Diana,” he whispered into her ear, and she wished to hear him sayher name a million more times.

“Will you still bearound tomorrow?” he asked.

She startled for asecond before she regained her composure. A captain’s composure. A frownwas her only reply.

“I have a favour toask,” Shade said.

She raised hereyebrows. “Another?”

He lifted a chidingfinger. “That was a favour to you, if you remember.”

She cursed under herbreath because she was blushing again. “Right, So, what is it?”

“I … well, I learned ofthe raid while searching through an office. And I’ve found something, somethingvery useful to the cause. But I need to retrieve it.”

A switch flicked inher. He isn’t only a good kisser, but an ever better operative. “Excellent,”she said and considered. “We’ll leave from Rocasta’s outskirts tomorrow, but we’llhave to wait for the right time. Can you make it there?”

He didn’t display ashred of doubt. “I will,” he assured her, and she was about to tell him thetime and place when he added, “but now to my favour.”

“Yes?” She crossed herarms and smirked.

“Will you go to the Stiltsagain?”

She shrugged as shecouldn’t be sure, but she’d find a way. “We rely on the Whistle network,” shesaid, “and it’s close to Summerton. We’ll return there sooner or later.”

Shade took a breath. “Willyou deliver a letter to my family?”

Oh.She lifted her shoulders to hide her surprise. “Sure.” As long as he doesn’twant to introduce me to his family. Farley shouldn’t have been astoundedthat Shade thought of his family, he talked often enough of them. Of Mare.

“Consider it done,” shepromised lightly, “if you bring me that letter in time. Any further thing Ishould check on in the Stilts? Another message?” She laughed, but Shade tookhis time to think about this seriously.

Finally, he shook his head.“That’s it,” he decided and stepped forward to grab her by the shoulder and pullher close. “Just stay alive without me looking after you, Diana,” he whispered,let go of her, and vanished.

Diana Farley fell to herknees and choked with laughter – or sobs – because of the wave of emotion thatrolled over her and couldn’t be held back, now that she was alone. Allowingherself to relive this small moment of happiness, she cursed at the dramatic,showy jerk she was falling for.

A/N 2: Please tell me if I use too many commas and subclauses here. If it’s annoying to read, I’ll do my best to avoid it in the future. 

@elliemarchetti @lilyharvord @maudthebookeater @mareshmallow @clarafarleybarrow @wessanade @redqueenfandom @inopinion @marecalrandomstuff @marecalforever @selenbean-beany @carstairsjames @mvaen @choosemarecal @gisabarrovv 

[courage-a-word-of-justice]

ID: Invaded 3 - 4 | Magia Record 2 - 3 | Eizouken 2 - 4 | Iruma-kun 15 - 16

All tags should be rolled out by now.

ID: Invaded 3

Whoop, I haven’t been with this show in a while. I had some life-changing crap to do and so held my anime back…let’s jump right back into it.

Narihisago’s daughter looks like Hondomachi!

What’s this K logo on the back of Narihisago’s shirt?

Why did you make Sakaido a detective then, Momoki? Update: That wasn’t Momoki, it was the old guy.

Based on the #include, I believe the code is C.

Does the blood stain behind Kaeru match the hole in her chest?

Oh, the people are all facing down, Kaeru is facing up.

The K seems to stand for “Kura”.

“You bask at the centre…”

This OP – well, it’s the ED right now – is just screamo. I thought I’d love all of Miyavi’s music based on Flashback…(disappointed)

In the credits: “Special Thanks: Ido Follower”…hmm.

ID: Invaded 4

Oh wow…Anaido (Sakaido, but with the word for “hole” instead). Does this mean Sakaido’s murder has to do with alcohol…?

I noticed there are a lot of toruses in the OP…hmm. Donuts…*drool*

Looks like a tower building game.

That angle…it panned up to Keiko’s face in a weird way…*shakes head* Men.

Is that a Deliveroo icon on young!Keiko’s shirt…? Update: No, it’s not. The real icon faces the other way.

Hondomachi’s back!

BlueTube, LOL.

Update: I found descriptions of each ID Well on the website: ep 3’s is “the world of the waterfall” (taki no sekai).

Magia Record 2

The signs with the eyes on them say “no running in the hallway”…something Iroha is clearly ignoring…(LOL)

The bit above “Satomi Medical Centre” says “North ____ Territory” (Kita ____-ku). I can’t make out the middle character. Update: It appears, from ep. 3, to be Hokuyo-ku.

Rena Minami…(Minami can mean “three waves” with the right kanji.) Hmm. Update: It’s actually the character for “water” and then “wave”, so it’s even worse than I thought…

I saw a sticker in the back say “disgusting”. In a restaurant…that seems almost ironic and offensive.

Rena has red heart earrings. Update: They’re pink and have smaller studs next to them…and they’re only in one ear, so I shouldn’t be talking like there’s two of them.

“I don’t know what to do” appeared in the background whil Rena and Kaede were fighting.

“Forget what I just said now.” “It was just a slip of the tongue.” These backgrounds are much better than thought bubbles.

“My wish” “an important thing”

The stuff in the background when Momoko encourages Rena to fix the friendship with Yui is a “friend campaign” (“Share it [the campaign]with your friends!”. There was also “to encourage” as well.

Gauche Burger = Apparently this means “unsophisticated and socially awkward.” So it’s Awkward Burger…?

An apology is an attempt to be mature and reach out…but I know they never work. *eyes glaze over with darkness*

Magia Record 3

When did Shaft start using CGI…?

I feel kind of dull inside. I’ve been holding off on anime a bunch because I needed to get some real life stuff done, but being on high alert all the time combined with early mornings for almost 3 weeks… it’s ruined my emotions.

I read on the wiki that there’s a map of Kamihama that appears under the pendulum and it disappears after ep. 2. Sure enough, it isn’t there anymore.

I-I feel uncomfortable (almost forced…?) yuri vibes…

There’s a Mocha Rabbit near the TV.

Part of the subs explaining Rena’s mindset got cut off…darn.

The two characters that comprise the word for “stairs” are in the background a lot.

Mami? Oh dear…no head chomps, please!

Eizouken 2

Kanamori-kun, huh?

“It’s Leonidas I” – LOL.

This OP…don’t think I’ll ever get used to it, but it’s so great and psychedelic…

Omoshiroi means “interesting”, not ha-ha “funny”. I think I made a similar mistake as a rookie Japanese student.

The yellow (or was that orange…?) character that appeared was “light” (noun).

Win-yep, thought so.

Yay! We get to see ep. 1’s efforts in action again!

I had to stop to read the overlord bass description.

LOL, so someone bought the footage of Asakusa falling after all…

Eizouken 3

The walking thing reminds me of the Nihon Animator Project (which created Gridman and LWA).

I’m smiling dumbly at these anime-making gals. It’s great!

I wonder, is Kanamori near or far-sighted? These are the details Asakusa likes so much!

“Why do you have your bag?”

Can't the Eizouken shave the advisor's beard off or something???

Asakusa likes ramen, huh?

Shibahama Station.

Eizouken 4

Nick (Bobduh) wrote there's clapping hands before the title card...he's right. The 1st time, anyway.

Why do I get the feeling Kanamori is angry? She's harder to read than Mizusaki...

Iruma-kun 15

I noticed Clara went “Su-ki-ma?” today.

Iruma-kun 16

This yakisoba is made up of characters for “night”, “demon/ogre”, “mouse” and “to break”.

Just seeing Kiriwo without his glasses is enough to make me squeal. It’s so refreshing and he’s so hot, y’know???

LOL, bubble tea, demon version.

“…works hard for his goals.” - Aw, it’s nice that Iruma is so pure.

These demon girls! They only ever seem to talk about boys!

[vagrantblvrd]

Coming in Like Lightning (1/1)

Summary: The whole thing with Los Santos starts as a dumb bet, which should tell you everything you need to know right there.

Notes: Based off this fic idea I had a while back. (Because reasons.)

AO3

Geoff’s shooting the shit with Burnie in his office late one night. Sharing a bottle of whiskey between them while they reminisce about the good old days back when they were stupid kids just starting out in this life.

Bright-eyed and bushy-tailed and no idea what was ahead of them in their futures, but fucking hell were they determined to get there as fast as they could. Convinced they were headed for greatness and intent on making it happen no matter what it cost.

Looking back on it, it was pretty stupid of them. Should have gotten them killed, but somehow they made it work. Went from being a group of mismatched individuals to the driving force behind a criminal empire spanning the country, its reach growing longer each day.

“God, we were stupid,” Burnie laughs, some gray starting to slip in his beard, peppering his hair.

Creases at the corner of his eyes and lines around his mouth because the fucker laughs like no one else Geoff knows.

They’re not old, but they sure as hell aren’t young anymore.

“Christ,” Geoff says, grin on his face. “We still are.”

They really, really are.

Geoff watches the city skyline through those ridiculous windows of Burnie’s, and makes the mistake of telling the fucker there are times he feels like he might as well retire now.

They’ve got the next generation set up to take over now, hard-earned experience under their belts and this hunger to them they’ve lost along the way. Traded it for things, people, here and there as they grew the fuck up and realized money and power will only get you so far. That if you wanted to have anything worth keeping, you had to give something up for it.

They’ll learn that too one day, these kids. They’re smarter than the four of them ever were, and they’re not alone. Have the Founders standing behind them if they need it, but something tells Geoff they won’t. (Smart kids, after all.)

Burnie snorts and pours Geoff another round, eyebrow raised as Geoff reaches for it, corner of his mouth quirked.

Old bets made by stupid kids, and the whiskey burns as it goes down. Geoff knocking it back like it’s nothing because he used to have money riding on it, but now it’s more of a pride thing.

Burnie’s laugh fills the office, and a moment later Geoff’s joins it because it’s hard not to.

“That so,” Burnie says when his laughter trails off a while later.

Geoff shrugs, because hell if he’s done anything meaningful when it comes to the Roosters in a long while.

Burnie hums, and something to it reaches through the pleasant haze of alcohol, sharp enough to make him pay attention because he knows that thoughtful little hmm too damn well.

“Burns?”

There’s a thing, about the Founders.

About Burnie and Geoff in particular and all the stupid bets they’ve made over the years. From the stupidest shit to things that rocked the foundations of their city until everyone knew who the fuck the Roosters were. (Hullum and Gus and goddamned in the mix there somewhere, but for the most part they liked to stand back and wait until the dust settled before they made their move.)

“Los Santos,” Burnie says, and pulls out a shiny little tablet to bring up a map of the city. Spins it around to face Geoff with that same fucking smirk he gets when he thinks he’s about to get one over on someone. “You’ve heard of it?”

========

“So,” Jack says, so goddamned amused as he sits on the side of Geoff’s bed. “I hear we’re headed to Los Santos.”

Geoff rubs a hand over his face and tries to remember what the fuck happened the night before. His head hurts – hell, his everything hurts – and he feels old and wrung out. (Hangover, his old friend.)

Jack sighs, and for one small hopeful moment when he gets up, Geoff actually thinks he’s going to let him sleep it off, but of course he doesn’t.

This is Jack, and he’s a monster.

Geoff actually recoils with a hiss when Jack pulls the blinds up to let sunlight in. Tries to burrow under the tangle of blanket but Jack is relentless and merciless as all hell, ripping them out of his hands.

“Oh, fuck no,” Jack says, super nice and pleasant and anyone who says the man doesn’t have a mean bone in his body doesn’t know him half as well as they think they do. “Our flight leaves tomorrow, you need to fucking pack, you asshole.”

Geoff presses his face against the mattress in the vain hope he can smother himself because bits and pieces of the night before are coming back to him, but it doesn’t work.

“Up, Geoff,” Jack says, dumping the blankets on the floor beside the bed as he leaves. “You have a lot of shit to get done.”

Geoff sighs when he hears the door shut behind him, and flops over on his back like a fish out of water because -

He made a bet with Burnie, and those have always felt like making a deal with the devil. Chipping off another piece of his soul and handing it over in the hopes he’d win this time.

A soft chime fills the air, and Geoff turns his head towards the end table. Reaches over to snag the stupid tablet Burnie gave him as a going away present. When he unlocks it, the map of Los Santos is still up, and there's an email notification.

Common sense tells him not to open it, but Geoff’s shit at that, so he taps the icon.

It’s from Burnie, because of fucking course it is, and there’s an attachment.  A video with last night’s date

No guesses as to what’s on it, but Geoff hits the play button anyway because he’s a glutton for punishment.

His dumb face comes up, drunk as fuck and throwing Burnie’s original bet in his face. Telling him he can make Los Santos his bitch in under a year, because Geoff is an idiot but drunk Geoff is a million times stupider.

“Oh, Christ,”Geoff mutters, tablet falling from hands to hit him in the face, video still playing if a bit muffled now “I’m so fucking stupid.”

And because the universe hates him that much, Burnie in the the video starts laughing.

========

Geoff decides to swear off drinking, because all it’s ever done for him was get him in trouble, and this stupid bet he’s agreed to is looking to be much the same.

========

The airport’s crowded as always, bustling crowds and harried people trying to get wherever the hell they’re headed with a minimum of fuss. Most manage to do so, others get the short stick and the rest just get shit on.

Geoff and Jack are somewhere in the middle at the moment. Flight delayed due to inclement weather and Jack’s on top of it.

Speaking of, Geoff looks over at Jack, knot of guilt eating him up because Jack’s got a life here. A good life, nothing like what they had when the Roosters were starting to gain a foothold in this city.

And because Geoff is an idiot with a big mouth, he’s uprooting Jack and dragging him halfway across the country on a fucking bet.

“Jack - “

“Shut the fuck up, Geoff,” Jack says, not unkindly

Geoff shuts the fuck up, waits patiently until Jack’s done with whatever he’s doing and looks up at him.

He doesn’t look angry or annoyed, or even particularly troubled at this sudden upheaval in his life, and more like fondly exasperated.

“Uh - “

“If you think,” Jack starts, mild tone of voice that’s honestly terrifying because Jack. “Geoff, if  you think I’m going to let you head off to goddamned Los Santos on one of your stupid bets alone, I will straight up fucking murder you.”

Strangely touching, if a bit alarming.

“...okay?” Geoff tries, and breathes a sigh of relief when Jack smiles at him.

“Good,” Jack says, and clears his throat, eyes skipping away from Geoff’s as he goes back to his phone.

Geoff fidgets, shifting his weight from foot to foot before he deiced the hell with it and grabs Jack in an awkward little side hug.

“Thanks Jack,” he murmurs, relieved more than he can say.

Jack huffs in annoyance, and pulls Geoff into a proper hug, complete with super manly back slapping because he’s a brute.

“You’re welcome, asshole. Now let’s never talk about this again, the way men are supposed to.”

Geoff snorts a laugh, shoulders shaking as Jack breaks down laughing as well because they’re a pair of idiots and it’s kind of awesome.

========

To be fair, Burnie didn’t send the two of them to Los Santos to die.

He sent the two of them to Los Santos to handle the expansion of the Rooster’s criminal empire, which might look a hell of a lot like the same thing from the outside, but it is not.

Mostly not, anyway.

They have an old warehouse renovated with living spaces. A small support team to make sure once Geoff and Jack get things rolling they stay that way. A list of reliable contacts who Geoff is going to have to schmooze properly to get things rolling. Requisite funding from the Roosters until they’re turning a profit out here.

Not exactly starting from scratch, but in a city like this, it’s still a hell of a challenge.

The parameters of the bet are for Geoff to set up a crew of his own out here, grow its operations until they have the city under their control, and that -

“Holy shit,” Geoff murmurs, watching the news. “This place is worse  than back home.”

Which makes sense, because the Roosters have been running things there for a long time. Stamp out trouble before it starts and keeps everyone in line. Actually made the city safer for everyone there, and for whatever godforsaken reason drunk Geoff told Burnie he could do the same in Los Santos.

“You’ve got meetings today,” Jack says was he wanders over to set the tablet Burnie gifted him with down. “A lot of them.”

Reluctantly, Geoff picks the tablet up and scrolls through the appointments. Scrolls.

“Jesus dicks,” he mutters, because he hates meetings.”How much shit would Burnie give me if I backed out now?”

Jack hmms as he strokes his beard like he’s thinking about it.

“Well,” Jack says, like the bastard he is. “The answer you’re looking for here is a metric shit-ton, I believe? But you’re also forgetting all the shit the rest of the Founders will give you. And myself, among others.”

The entire fucking organization, Geoff knows, because everyone in the damn crew is an asshole, and Geoff hates them all.

“Okay, yeah,” he concedes. “Point.”

========

After the first full day of meetings, Geoff wants a goddamned drink.

“I want a goddamned drink,” Geoff groans, chin resting on his folded arms as Jack organizes Geoff’s meetings for tomorrow.

Sure, he’s sworn off drinking, but Geoff really fucking hates meetings and there’s a hell of a lot of them in his foreseeable future.

Driving all over the damn city to meet paranoid, greedy fuckers to make sure they don’t accidentally kick off a gang war.

“That’s nice, Geoff,” Jack mumbles absently. “There’s diet soda in the mini-fridge.”

Geoff feels his mouth pull up in a tired smile as he gets up to grab one, and grabs a beer for Jack while he’s at it.

========

Geoff’s schedule over the next few weeks is pretty much the same old same old.

Get up, make himself presentable, charm the fuck out of people so as not to get himself and the people relying on him not to fuck this up killed. Maybe, if he’s lucky, strike a deal of two that’ll bring in come money, allow them to expand their operation out here.

Catch shaky camera footage of himself and Jack on the news and see reporters and so-called experts debating what it means for the city of Los Santos for a Rooster of his standing to be here.

Call Burnie up and demand to know why the fucker didn’t tell him they’ve broken up after a decades long love affair in which Geoff turned angry and bitter and left to start his own crew.

“Torrid, asshole. Our torrid love affair,” Burnie corrects between gasps of air, and Geoff grins as he pictures that idiot laughing himself sick over the tabloids Geoff sent to him. “And also, fuck you for breaking my goddamned heart.”

Geoff leans back in his office chair and kicks his feet up on his desk because it’s been a long couple of weeks and he kind of misses the son of a bitch.

“It’s what you get for breaking mine first, fucker.”

Burnie’s laughter peters off after a bit, but Geoff can still hear the smile in his voice.

“Gonna give up?”

Geoff’s office is the old manager’s office overlooking the main floor of the warehouse. He can see his support crew down below, hard at work while Jack troubleshoots. All of them talented people with the kind of hunger to them that’s going to make this city his – theirs – soon enough.

“Nah,” he says, “I’ve got this.”

========

The next day someone tries to break into his fucking car when he goes to a more or less legitimate meeting regarding some real estate he’s looking at, so there’s that.

“Nice,” Geoff says, because whoever tried to break into his car broke the driver’s side window and left the twisted up coat hanger on the driver’s side seat along with all the safety glass. “Really. Thanks a fucking lot for that, asshole.”

There’s a cough a little ways down, the sort that tends to cover up a laugh.

Geoff turns his head and there’s a guy leaning against a building smoking a cigarette. Light brown hair pulled up into man bun - man bun - collar of his coat pulled up against the wind and hand with the cigarette hovering in front of his mouth.

“Hey, you see anything, buddy?” Geoff asks, not expecting much, because Los Santos and all.

The guy shakes his head and flicks ash from the end of his cigarette.

“No, sorry,” he says with an apologetic shrug, and Geoff doesn’t go weak at the knees at the sound of his voice because he’s not a goddamned teenager anymore, but it sure as hell didn’t not affect him because Geoff is still very human. “Just stepped out for a smoke.”

The guy’s watching him curiously, blue, blue eyes, and it really must have been a long time since Geoff gave any thought to finding someone if some stranger is getting to him like this.

“Thanks anyway,” Geoff says, because he’d figured as much, and reaches for his phone to call Jack.

========

Things start to pick up after a few weeks of Geoff shaking hands with people and making promises that won’t cost him too much of what’s left of his soul.

Jack brings him a list of names. People he thinks would be a good fit for the crew.

“You come up with a name for us yet?” Jack asks, flipping through the files the support team put together on them.

Geoff shrugs, attention on the news and the latest piece about his presence in Los Santos. Old mugshots from the early days, and goddamn it’s weird seeing himself without all the tattoos.

One of the “experts” seems to think the idiot in the short video clip of Geoff someone took isn’t actually him. That it’s an actor or someone trying to capitalize on his reputation here in Los Santos to scam morons out of money before running.

It’s insulting and amusing at the same time, watching them try to figure out what’s going on.

“I dunno,” Geoff muses. “They seem pretty convinced I’m a fake, don’t they?”

There’s this pause, sound of papers being shuffled before Jack laughs, Geoff joining in a moment later because he kind of likes the way it sounds.

========

Geoff’s heard of Brownman before. One of the best snipers around who hasn’t committed himself to crew or gang. Likes the freedom of being able to pick and choose his jobs, and a reputation for coming down hard on anyone who tries to double-cross him.

He didn’t expect the fucker to be so damn young, though.

Skinny kid in a purple hoodie and this wary look in his eyes when Geoff drops down in the seat across from him in some hipster coffee shop.

Not his ideal place for a meeting like this, but he can work with it.

Jack’s in line for a coffee, and Geoff smiles at the way Brownman tracks him, searching the other coffee shop patrons to see which ones are Geoff’s. (The answer is none of them, by the way, because Geoff didn’t come here to make an enemy of Brownman.)

“I’m looking for a guy with your particular talents,” Geoff says. “If you’re interested, that is. Contract work, that kind of thing.”

Brownman isn’t looking for a crew, but Geoff wouldn’t mind working with him from time to time. Let the kid know he won’t have any problems from them, and who knows? Maybe something good will come of it.

Brownman studies him for a long moment, eyes narrowed behind his glasses, and snorts. Tension bleeding out of him.

“I don’t put out on the first date,” Brownman says, head tipped to the side. “Just so you know going into things.”

Oh, Geoff likes this kid.

========

After a few months the hard work the support team’s been putting in allows Geoff to sign the lease for a place close to the Dell Perro Pier. It gives him his own space back and lets the support team take over the warehouse the way they’ve been itching to since the beginning.

It’s not quite a penthouse, but the only other apartment on the same floor is Jack’s, which is nice.

“We’re going to have a penthouse bigger than Burnie’s one day,” Geoff tells him, taking in the view through the living room windows. “Show that fucker what class looks like.”

He can hear Jack rolling his eyes, but the asshole doesn’t say a damn thing which means he’s in agreement with Geoff on that one.

========

Geoff’s apartment’s a good ten stories up, give or take, and someone tries to get in through the windows.

The windows.

Geoff’s checking his texts before bed when he hears noise coming from his living room. Being the kind of idiot he is, he grabs his gun out of the nightstand and goes to investigate, and then -

“What the fuck.”

It’s the middle of the night and there’s a guy on a window washer platform on the other side of his living room windows. He’s dressed up like a burglar in some terrible made for television movie and using a glass cutter to get in like this is some kid’s cartoon.

The guy freezes when he notices Geoff. Slowly releases the suction cups on the glass cutter and tucks it away in his bag like he’s hoping Geoff won’t notice.

“No, seriously,” Geoff says, because what the fuck?

This has never happened to him before, what the hell does he do here?

He’d feel bad about shooting the guy because he’s very clearly an idiot, but he should probably do something about this, right?

Geoff doesn’t, though. Too fucking confused by what this idiot even thought he was doing, and watches as he slowly raises the platform until he’s out of sight.

Any other time, and Geoff would head up to the roof to catch him. Get some answers from him, but with this guy it feels a little like kicking someone when they’re down.

========

“What the fuck is that?”

Geoff looks over to where Jack is staring at the marks the would-be burglar left on his living room window, and right. That was a thing that happened.

“Hell if I know,” Geoff answers, because he doesn’t even know where to start with that one. “I thought you wanted to talk about getting more people for the crew?”

Jack shoots him a suspicious look because he knows Geoff too damn well by now. Years of friendship and dealing with Geoff’s bullshit, but he lets it go for now, which is a hell of a relief.

“We need someone with demolitions expertise,” Jack says, and the window incident is forgotten as they go through the candidates.

========

Mogar turns out to be a kid who might have a few years on Brownman, but not much.

Geoff likes him from the start, and from the way Jack’s looking at him, so does he.

They’re in an all-night diner where the owners turn a blind eye to this kind of thing.

“This is fucking stupid,” Mogar mutters, picking apart the half-assed plan Geoff and Jack put together as a test. “You’re going to get everyone killed if you use this much C4. Who the fuck thought this would work?”

Geoff shrugs, watching Mogar pull a napkin out of the dispenser to draw out a feasible plan that won’t get anyone killed, bitching about whatever idiot came up with the original plan.

“I like him,” Jack says, grin in his voice because Mogar’s too lost in his work to notice. “We’re keeping him, right?”

“Motherfucker,” Mogar hisses, finding some new fault in their shitty plans to be angry about.

Geoff laughs, because they sure the fuck are.

========

Geoff runs into Man Bun a few days later. Back at the real estate agent’s office with Jack, and there he is, taking another smoke break

“Hey,” Man Bun says, sounding happy to see him. “Fancy seeing you again.”

Geoff hesitates before he waves Jack to go on ahead as he goes over to talk to him.

Because manners, yes.

Jack gives him this amused smirk, which is in no way appreciated at all before he gets the fuck out of there.

“Uh,” Man Bun says, and Geoff should not find the his frown as adorable as he does, he’s an adult for Christ's sake. “I didn't interrupt anything, did I?”

“Nah, Geoff says, feeling a little like an idiot, because what the hell is he doing?

Man Bun looks at him for a long moment before he shrugs, little smile tugging at his mouth.

========

“Does your boyfriend have a name, Geoffrey?”

God, Jack is such an insufferable asshole.

“...his name is Ryan,”Geoff says quietly.

He tries not to think about the scrap of paper in his coat pocket or the number on it he’s never gong to call.

In another life, maybe, but in this one?

Geoff’s one of the Founders. Helped build the Roosters from the ground up and he came to Los Santos to do the same all over again with his own crew, and it’s not going to be easy.

He already has enemies, people who’d be fucking delighted to use Ryan to get to him. Break him down and send whatever is left to Geoff just to make a goddamn point.

Geoff’s not so selfish that he’d put him through that just because he likes the sound of his voice or can’t get over how fucking blue his eyes are.

He can feel Jack watching him.

“Geoff - “

“We’re going to be late for our appointment,” Geoff says, cutting him off because he doesn’t want to talk right now. “And Lindsay is going to kill us if we don’t get her more warehouses for storage, so hurry the fuck up, Jack.“

========

With Brownman and Mogar on board, Geoff figures they’re ready to make a little noise.

Pull everyone’s eyes to the assholes blowing shit up and robbing banks and all that shit while the support team quietly goes about the real work of expanding the crew’s operations throughout the city.

Lindsay and Trevor have things in hand there, and Los Santos has been waiting for him to make his move, so why disappoint?

========

“Fucking Christ!” Michael yells, ducking back into cover as bullets whiz past. “This was the shittiest plan in the world!”

Dozens of cop cars puled up in front of the bank along with a few news vans. Choppers in the air and to be fair to Michael, it does look pretty bad.

Geoff hands Michael fresh ammo and reloads his own assault rifle, unable to help his laughter.

God help him, but he’s missed this.

The chaos and noise and he’s definitely a little fucked in the head, but damn it’s nice to get back to basics.

There’s adrenalin's zipping through his veins, lips stretched into a wide grin as the cops order them to put their weapons down and come up with their hands up.

Ray’s out there keeping the cops off them and Jack’s inbound with a Cargobob. He and Michael have the money and they’ll be home scot-free in a few minutes.

“Everything’s fine Michael, just stick to the plan,” Geoff says, patting him on the shoulder as he pops out of cover to fire off a few rounds.

Behind him he can hear Michael bitching about Geoff and Jack and how goddamned stupid he was to sign on with their fucking crew, and grins as Michael stands up beside him to fire towards the cops trying to flank them.

“Take that, you fuckers!”

========

The news outlets go nuts for weeks afterward, buzzing about the Fake AH Crew and their daring daylight bank robbery.

The city’s in an uproar and Geoff is riding high on their success, so of course he comes across the hapless would-be burglar again.

This time it’s at the support teams main warehouse as he’s seeing to paperwork and goes to investigate (still that kind of idiot) when he hears a loud crashing noise downstairs.

“Seriously,” Geoff says, coughing on dust that came down with the air vent the idiot was crawling through. “What the fuck.”

The would-be burglar doesn’t say anything, which is fair because he just fell out of the vent on his back.

“Is - “ Geoff stops, frowns down at the guy as he starts to sit up. “Are you okay?”

The would-be burglar nods, reaching up to fix the balaclava he’s wearing to hide his face that’s been twisted around a bit, and Geoff catches a glimpse of his hair before he tucks that out of sight.

When he looks at Geoff, he notices that the would-be burglar is wearing glasses of some sort – goggles, maybe? - under it all that gives the whole thing a vaguely skull-like appearance.

Eerie and unsettling and some half-forgotten memory in the back of Geoff’s mind.

The would-be burglar sighs, shoulders slumping as he looks at the mess around him.

Watching him, Geoff gets the impression the would-be burglar is more concerned about how his brilliant plan has somehow failed him than being caught in the act.

“Not to be that asshole,” Geoff says, but he’s absolutely going to be that asshole. “You do know who I am, right?”

Geoff’s never ever actually said that in his life, because yeah, no, but -

The would-be burglar just looks at him, startling a laugh out of Geoff.

His face has been plastered all over the news on and off for months now, and after the band robbery it’s all anyone’s talking about. Trying to determine what his next move will be like they have any idea.

“Fine,” Geoff huffs, and then frowns, because he has no idea what to do with this idiot.

Kill him, probably, because he’s not the best burglar out there, sure, but he did get past the warehouse’s security measures. He’s already made a try at breaking into Geoff’s apartment, and he has a sneaking suspicion he might be the guy who tried to break into his car that time. (No proof, but his gut is telling him it’s connected.)

“Are you here to kill me?” Geoff asks, because he probably should, just to be safe.

He’s been making enough waves in Los Santos’ criminal underworld to warrant a hit being put out on him.

The would-be burglar shakes his head, and Geoff decides to believe him, because it would be even sadder to find out this idiot is just that bad at killing someone.

“Alright,” Geoff says and figures since he’s down here anyway he might as well grab himself a can of diet soda. On a whim, and since he still feels bad for the guy, Geoff gets one for him too.”Jack’s going to be in at nine, you might want to be gone by then.”

That said, Geoff heads back up to his office to finish his paperwork before Jack gets in to nag him about it.

========

“Geoff.”

“Jack.”

“The fuck happened downstairs?”

There’s badly hidden worry in Jack’s voice, which makes Geoff feel like a guilty kid keeping secrets from his parents.

He never actually told Jack about the attempted break in at his apartment, although he must have figured it out by now. Especially with the mess downstairs the would-be burglar made a token effort to clean up.

“Don’t worry about it,” Geoff says, and tries not to laugh at Jack’s long-suffering sigh.

========

When Geoff gets home that night there’s a case of diet soda on his kitchen table with a note.

Sorry about the warehouse, but thanks for the drink.

There’s a drawing of a skull in place of the signature - eerie and unsettling, especially with no signs of a break-in to speak of.

Geoff shakes his head as he takes a can for himself and puts the rest in the fridge, because only in Los Santos.

========

After the bank robbery they talk about going a little bigger. Bringing in more muscle, another gun, and not too long afterward Michael drags a kid to Geoff’s apartment.

Both of them more than a little drunk and looking like they’ve been through hell. Fresh bruises and blood on their faces like terrifying war paint and fucking grinning like idiots.

“Geoff!” Michael says (yells), “I got us a guy!”

Geoff squints at Michael.

At his buddy.

At the ugly designer clock on the wall Gus sent him as a apartment warming gift because he’s a bastard and hates Geoff more than anyone else and calls that friendship (Which it is, but like. The worst kind.)

“Michael,” Geoff says, in what he hopes is a reasonable tone of voice. “It’s four in the fucking morning.”

Michael looks like he has no idea what that has to do with anything, face scrunched up in an exaggerated frown. His friend(?) isn’t even paying attention, looking around and making faces at the décor – which is a motley blend of questionable interior decorator choices and “gifts” from his terrible friends who have clearly been waiting all this time to let him know how much they hate him.

Like Gus.

“So? You said we needed more muscle,” Michael says, almost a full minute later, brain obviously on some kind of delay. “Li'l J’s got those.”

‘Li’l J’ looks at Geoff and flexes, and Geoff’s hard pressed not to laugh because what the fuck is his life these days?

“He does have those, yes,” Geoff agrees. “You want to stay here for the night? I don’t think you’re going to make it back to yours with the state you're in, buddy.”

Michael chews on that for a while as Geoff watches, and eventually decides that yes, he is indeed too goddamned drunk to get halfway across the city and lets Geoff herd him and Li’l J to his spare bedroom.

He’s got two, but they insist one is fine and Geoff doesn’t press because what business is it of his?

=========

Geoff wakes up to the smell of cooking bacon and when he wanders out to the kitchen sees Li’l J wearing Michael’s shirt and his pants from the night before cooking breakfast.

He looks like death warmed over, and the bacon smell can’t be helping but he seems determined to keep on trucking for whatever reason.

“Good morning,” Geoff says, keeping his voice down because the poor kid looks like his head’s killing him.

Li’l J looks at him, and opens his mouth to say something when his face goes green and he mumbles an apology before rushing for the nearest bathroom.

Geoff gets up to save the bacon and while he’s getting eggs out of the fridge Li’l J comes back in.

“Uh,” he says. “So that could have gone better, I guess.”

Geoff shoots him a look and the poor kid blushes, what the fuck.

“Nah,”Geoff says, grinning a little, because he’s not wrong. “You’re doing great.”

He gets a skeptical look for that, because hey, Geoff’s a sarcastic bastard, but whatever.

“There’s aspirin the cabinet over there,” Geoff says, pointing.”If you want any.”

Li’l J hesitates before deciding going over to get the bottle, and Geoff watches him from the corner of his eye as he shakes a couple into his hand and dry swallows them. Pause, and then shake a couple more out before he looks for a glass.

“The one to your right,” Geoff says, and smiles to himself as Li’l J gets a glass and fills it with water, setting both on the table for Michael when he comes out.

“Thanks,” Li’l J says, kind of awkward now that he doesn’t have anything to do since Geoff stole cooking duty from him.

It occurs to Geoff that the kid is nervous as hell, which is fair, he supposes. Geoff’s face is pretty recognizable these days, and waking up to find he stayed the night in Geoff’s place after getting as drunk as he had would be a bit of a surprise to anyone.

“Michael seems pretty insistent you’ve got muscles,” Geoff says, because along with being a sarcastic bastard he’s also a regular old bastard.

“...I mean yeah?” Li’l J says, and then his brain seems to catch up to him because his eyes widen as realization hits. “Oh, fuck. He was telling the truth, you really are looking for more people?”

He looks horrified, glancing down at himself and running a hand through his hair that’s dyed bright green. Like someone who’s just realize they’re underdressed for a job interview and it would be funny as hell if he also didn’t look a little like he might start crying.

Geoff slides a plate of food in front of him and pats him on the shoulder because this fucking kid, okay,  what the fuck.

“Relax, Li’l  J. We can have the proper job interview some other day.”

Not that there’s an actual process to it, but he’s a little worried the poor kid’s going to lose it if he doesn’t, so.

“Okay,” he says, looking grateful for the reprieve, and runs out of the room to throw up again.

========

“You traumatized him,” Michael says when he finally wakes up and comes into the kitchen. He’s wearing Li’l J’s shirt with this look in his eye daring him to comment, which. Geoff would never. “I don’t know what you did, but you fucking traumatized him.

Li’l J, whose actual name turns out to be Jeremy is off...somewhere. Geoff doesn’t know, and Michael seems unconcerned, so Geoff's going to take his cue from him.

Geoff shrugs and finishes his coffee.

“Is he a good fit?”he asks, and doesn’t realize he isn’t just asking if Jeremy’s right for the crew until the words are out of his mouth.

Michael looks at Geoff like he’s an idiot, fond little smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.

“Yeah,” he answers. “I think he is.”

========

They hit a few banks after that. A jewelry store or two. Flashy things that catch people’s attention and draw it away from the real work being done.

Jeremy turns out to be what the crew was missing, a spark of bright energy and sheer chaos that would honestly be a little terrifying in anyone else. (Not that it isn’t in Jeremy, because Jesus Christ, but he’s got a good heart and is so fucking gone on Michael it’s not even funny. Which is good, because Michael’s just as stupid for him.)

Los Santos is in a tizzy and whatever the fuck else while the Fake AH Crew’s hold on the city grows and grows and grows.

Burnie calls him to congratulate him on making back to the top of the most wanted list again and Gus sends him the original copy of his first mugshot as a gift.

Because friendship.

Hullum sends him chocolates, because Hullum.

Joel -

The less said about that, the better.

And then Geoff catches the would-be burglar sneaking around his building in a delivery courier's uniform. The guy’s wearing a trucker cap, fucking mirrored Aviators, and has a bandanna wrapped around his face, and how the hell he ever expected his disguise to work Geoff will never know.

“Really?”

The guy shrugs as he shoves a clipboard at him, and Geoff knows he’s grinning at him.

“Fucking weirdo,” Geoff mutters, but goes along with it and signs his name, accepting the box the idiot hands him as he mimes tipping his hat to Geoff and saunters off like this is in any way normal.

(Spoiler: it fucking isn’t.)

When he’s gone, Geoff looks down at the box he’s holding, because why, and goes inside his apartment.

He puts the box down o his counter and eyes it suspiciously for a long moment because it’s the right size and weight to be a case of diet soda, and considering his would-be burglar is the one who gave it to him…

Yeah.

Shaking his head, Geoff pulls out a knife and opens the box.

(Spoiler number two: it absolutely is a fucking case of diet soda.)

========

Things have been going so well for them that of course it all goes to shit.

Not unexpectedly though, since Geoff knew something like this was coming, he just hadn’t thought it would be so soon.

“So you’re Ramsey,” someone says, snide and far too arrogant for anyone’s good. “You don’t look like much.”

Geoff would roll his eyes at that, but there’s a strip of fabric tied way too goddamned tight over his eyes and what feels like a burlap sack over that.

For the aesthetic, probably. Can’t have a good kidnapping without one.

The speaker steps closer and rips the burlap sack off Geoff’s head, taking a few hairs with it as he does. Before Geoff’s done swearing about that, the blindfold comes off, and Geoff starts wearing again because they've got a fucking floodlight in his face. (Goddamn kidnapping aesthetics.)

The asshole’s laughing at him, all high and mighty because look at the great Geoff Ramsey now, and Geoff tunes him out because he’s heard it all before.

Eventually his eyes adjust, and he gets a good look at his kidnapper.

“Jesus,” Geoff says, “I’m so sorry.”

The guy’s laughter stops abruptly, a scowl coming over him.

“What the fuck - “

“I mean,” Geoff says, talking over him. “Your face. I’ve never seen anyone as ugly as you are. It’s gotta suck.”

Yeah, Geoff’s kind of an idiot because the moment the asshole processes Geoff’s words he goes red in the face with fury and the next thing Geoff knows he’s getting punched in the face again and again and again until everything goes black.

========

Geoff comes to when some dickhead throws a bucket of cold water on him.

“Awake, now?” someone asks while Geoff’s sputtering.

Geoff shakes water out of his eyes and looks up to see the punch-happy asshole from before with a dripping bucket in his hands standing next someone new.

All dressed up in a fancy suit and this look on his face like he despises not being surrounded extravagance. The dirty little warehouse they’ve taken Geoff to so far beneath him it’s sad, really.

Geoff doesn’t recognize him, but assumes he’s the leader of a crew here in Los Santos. Not a major concern for them, or something would have been done about him by now.

It takes a moment for Geoff the realize he’s talking, tuning in to the usual spiel about Geoff and his crew moving in on his territory and what a terrible mistake it is. How the asshole can’t let that stand and Geoff tunes him out again, paying more attention to his surroundings and the henchman setting up what look like traps.

Honest to God traps like something out of a Vinewood movie. Spy or superhero, they’re kind of the same in the end because the villainous monologue Geoff isn’t listening to and the ridiculous deathtraps.

“What the fuck.”

“ - Pardon?”

Geoff shoots Suit a look

“Are you an actual super villain?” he asks, because really.

That seems to throw Suit off-balance because he just stares at Geoff.

“I mean, come on,” Geoff says. “There’s a fucking laser grid? Who does that?”

There is a laser grid, super intricate and no possible way anyone could hope to navigate it without setting off the explosives and whatnot. There are also other, less complicated traps, and all of them designed to kill Geoff and anyone who tries to get him out of here.

“No shark tank though,” Geoff says, and feels a little disappointment about that. “Couldn’t get the permits?”

Suit glances at Ugly, and seems to realize he’s not going to get much help on that front.

“No,” he says. “You understand how bureaucracy is.”

God, does he ever.

“Maybe next time,” Geoff says, and waits for that to sink in -

“There won’t be a next time,” Suit says, literally looking down his nose at Geoff. “I expect you - “

“ - to die?” Geoff finishes, because he’s been hoping for this day his entire fucking life.

Geoff is a petty bastard, absolutely loves the flash of pure, unadulterated rage that flashes across Suit’s face before he locks all away again, nice and neat.

“I see,” Suit says, not seeing a goddamned thing at all. “I believe we’re done here.”

Geoff watches as Suit and Ugly leave,  henchmen trailing after them, and laughs himself sick.

========

Geoff’s not worried.

It can’t have been more than a day since they grabbed him, and Jack and his boys will come looking eventually, and between them they're smart enough to figure the stupid traps out.

No, Geoff is annoyed.

His head hurts, and he thinks Ugly knocked some teeth loose. His suit is ruined and the chair they tied him to is uncomfortable as all hell.

Geoff’s thinking about that when he hears footsteps.

At first he thinks it’s Suit and Ugly back to gloat or posture, or maybe Jack and the others.

It’s not though.

Really, really not, because -

“What the hell are you doing here?”

It’s Geoff’s would-be burglar.

He’s wearing normal street clothes.

And a mask.

A goddamned raccoon mask, like the ones that store in Vespucci sells.

The would-be burglar looks around pointedly, and Geoff sighs.

“Look,” he says, not wanting to hurt the guy’s feelings since he took it upon himself to track Geoff down and seems like he plans on getting him out of here, but he doesn’t really have the best track record. “Not that I don’t appreciate it  - “

The stupid fucker steps toward the laser grid and Geoff loses his shit, just a little.

“Jesus Christ! Do not - “

Would-be burglar turns his head to look at Geoff and pulls a throwing knife from...somewhere.

Throws it with lazy grace, and – horrified because he’s about to fucking die thanks to this idiot – Geoff watches as it arcs through the air to hit the button release at the end of the laser grid maze.

A second later, the lasers flicker and die.

“...the fuck.”

The would-be burglar chuckles, and Geoff watches in silent (mostly) amazement as he methodically disables the traps one by one, humming some cheerful little tune under his breath the whole time.

After what feels like an eternity, he’s standing in front of Geoff, not a mark on him and both of them miraculously not amazingly dead, and so goddamned pleased with himself.

“No offense,” Geoff says, as his would-be burglar moves to cut him free. “But what the actual fuck?”

He gets another little chuckle as the asshole helps him stand, broad hand braced between his shoulder blade until Geoff’s sure he can move on his own.

Adrenaline, Geoff thinks, when he leans into his would-be burglar’s touch a little too eagerly. That’s all it is.

The guy leads him through the disarmed traps and out of the warehouse where Suit and Ugly and the henchmen are trussed up all pretty like.

Geoff stares at them, and then at the idiot with the cartoonish Raccoon mask.

“What - “

Would-be burglar holds a finger to the lips of his mask, and Geoff stiffens as the sound of sirens reach him.

Another chuckle, and he’s being pulled over to a nearby building and gently prodded up the fire escape until they reach the roof. Follows the idiot to the edge where they watch several cop cars pull up in front of the warehouse, officers spilling out of them to stop short in confusion, because yeah.

Someone must get their shit together because they start bundling everyone int the back of the squad cars and more cops show up to investigate the warehouse.

Geoff snorts. He would have liked to deal with Suit and Ugly himself, but this is more entertaining.

“Pretty impressive,” he says, looking back at the guy, who shrugs, seeming almost bashful at the praise. “You wouldn’t happen to be looking for a job, would you?”

Previous bumbling attempts at burglary aside, his performance today was astounding. And there’s the fact that while his attempts up until now have been laughable, he did get past their security without alerting anyone every time.

Pure luck or actual skill, either way it’s worth a shot.

========

He says no.

Or, okay.

He doesn’t talk so much as shake his head, but Geoff understands all the same.

========

“Geoff, what the fuck.”

Jack’s worry sometimes looks like anger.

And exhaustion, because as it turns out Geoff was missing for three days and they’d been looking for him the whole time. Michael and Jeremy tearing the city apart while Ray put out feelers to his contacts,  and Jack -

“Hey, honey,” Geoff says, pulling Jack into a hug because he seems to keep doing this to him. “I’m home.”

========

Geoff sics Lindsay and Trevor and their terrifying little army after what’s left of Suit and Ugly’s people  after the cops got done with them, and the Fake AH Crew’s territory gets a little bigger.

Burnie hears about the whole mess and sends him Gavin, like he really thinks that’s going to help.

“Burns, what the hell?”

He likes Gavin, he does.

Burnie’s little protege and a genuinely good kid under all the trouble making bullshit. (Funny as hell and so damned smart, all this potential to him that Geoff’s afraid he’s going to ruin if he keeps him.)

But if Burnie thinks having Gavin around is going to cut down on incidents like Geoff’s recent kidnapping, he’s barking up the wrong tree.

“He asked to go,” Burnie says, like it’s just that simple. “Fucker missed you.”

Well, when he puts it like that.

========

Geoff’s well on his way to winning the stupid bet with Burnie, and it feels goddamned good.

The crew is going strong, Geoff and his idiots putting on a show for Los Santos while Lindsay and Trevor cement their hold on the city, nurture the growing empire that’s taken root.

Ray comes and goes, secure in the knowledge he has a safety net with them if he ever needs it. (He won’t, though, Geoff knows. Kid’s too good, smart about things, to get in trouble like that, but if he ever does, they’re there for him.)

Michael and Jeremy keep circling Gavin who doesn’t seem to notice, and he and Jack look on in amusement because their kids are real fucking dumb.

Lindsay and Trevor throw some kid they found at Geoff and the others. Idiot with a sweet smile and sly sense of humor, and everyone loves him right off the bat.

It helps that Alfredo’s so easy-going, willing to go along with whatever trouble the Lads come up with, which is going to be trouble one day, Geoff just knows it, and looks forward to it because he’s a little fucked in the head.

Jack’s happy here, seems more settled than Geoff’s ever seen him and it finally quashes that last seed of guilt at dragging him halfway across the country thanks to a stupid bet.

Speaking of, suck it, Burns.

========

There’s a knock on Geoff’s door.

Not unheard of, but Jack and the others tend to let themselves in, and he’s not expecting any deliveries.

Probably not someone looking to kidnap him, because those people don’t bother with social niceties like knocking, so.

Geoff opens the door.

“Hey.”

It’s Ryan.

He has a case of diet soda in his hand and a sheepish look on his face and Geoff is having a fucking aneurysm, because there’s a raccoon mask in his other hand.

Geoff swears he hears a record scratch as his world tips slightly on its side, pieces falling into place.

“Oh my God,” Geoff says, and the temptation to shoot Ryan in his stupid, perfect face is nearly overwhelming. “Oh my fucking God.”

Ryan winces, eyes darting to where he has to know Geoff’s gun is and back to Geoff’s  face.

“I can explain?” he says, small and uncertain.

The worst part is that Ryan sounding like that (all wrong) yanks so fucking hard at Geoff’s heartstrings that for a moment he honestly think he’s having a heart attack on top of the aneurysm.

“Geoff?”

“Get inside, idiot,” he says, scowl softening at the relieved look on Ryan face.

========

Ryan talks.

And talks and talks, and Geoff lets him, only interrupting him once or twice in the process.

“Murder break.”

Ryan nods, like this is a thing normal people do. Take breaks from killing people because they do too much of that.

“Jesus fucking Christ.”

And then, to explain why he needed to take a ‘murder break’, Ryan pulls another mask out.

It’s a black skull.

Geoff recognizes it, because it belongs to one of the assholes he and Jack considered recruiting for the crew way back when. Everyone they talked to about the Vagabond said that no one had heard about him for a while. Figured he’d finally gone and gotten himself killed, or managed to retire from the business, and they’d set aside their disappointment and looked at other prospects.

“Wait, what?”

Ryan shrugs, suddenly unable to make eye contact.

“It’s. Yeah.” Ryan coughs to clear his throat. “That’s. I’m him.”

So eloquent.

Also, yeah, Geoff kind of figured that, context clues being what they are and all.

“Hand me a diet soda,” Geoff says, and watches as Ryan opens the case and pulls a can out for him.

Geoff thanks him and takes a thoughtful sip while Ryan fidgets, waiting to see what Geoff’s going to have to say about things. (Expecting the worst, from the way he’s holding himself, and it’s breaking Geoff’s heart.)

“So this,” he says, waves a hand at the dumb raccoon mask sitting beside the Vagabond’s. “What was this?”

Ryan shrugs, watching Geoff from the corner of his eye.

“I heard about you and Jack,” he says, hands making this aborted gesture before he folds them up in his lap. “I heard about you two coming to Los Santos, and I got worried.”

Two Roosters coming to Los Santos out of the blue the way they did, and one of them being a Founder? Yeah, Geoff can see that.

“About?”

Ryan turns his head to look at him, frowning a little like he doesn’t know where Geoff’s going with this. What he hopes to get from it.

“People like you come to Los Santos all the time,” he says, twist to his mouth. “Most of them make things worse. I didn’t know what you had planned, so I decided to find out for myself.”

That. Okay, that almost makes sense.

“You tried to break into my car.”

From what Geoff knows about the Vagabond, he doesn't just try.

“Murder break,” Ryan says, and shrugs helplessly.

Putting aside the fact that Ryan could have looked into things as the Vagabond without killing anyone, sure, why not.

“You really take those seriously, don’t you.”

Another little shrug.

“After a while I realized you weren’t here to start trouble,” Ryan says. “So it kind of turned into a hobby?”

What.

“What?”

Ryan laughs, a surprisingly dorky sound, and rubs the back of his neck.

“I mean,” he says. “There’s not a lot for me to do on one of my murder breaks, and it was just. Fun.”

Fun.

It was fun.

Acting like the world’s most inept burglar was fun.

Fucking hell.

“So why tell me now?”Geoff asks, not that he doesn’t appreciate it, but why?

And oh, wow. If Geoff thought Ryan was nervous before, was he ever wrong.

Ryan’s blushing.

The fuck.

“You, uh,” Ryan mumbles. “You never called.”

Geoff has to take a moment to process that, really think about it.

“To be fair,” he starts, perfectly aware of how fucking bizarre all of this is. “I thought you were a civilian at the time. I didn’t want to get you involved in this life.”

And Ryan had been spying on him, but maybe it hadn’t been some kind of ploy on his part to get closer? Maybe he had given his number to Geoff in the hope he’d actually use it? (God knows Ryan’s everything since Geoff opened his door to see him standing there backs that theory up.)

“Um.”

Holy shit.

Geoff gets up, ignoring the way he can feel Ryan’s eyes on him as he crosses the room to get his phone. Picks it up and turns around to very deliberately make eye contact with the moron as he unlocks it and brings his contacts up.

“What - “

“Shut the fuck up,” Geoff says, and scrolls until he gets to DO NOT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES CALL. THIS MEANS YOU, ME.

Geoff never called Ryan, it’s true, but he couldn't bring himself to just throw his number away either. Ryan’s still watching him, and Geoff hits send.

Ryan startles when his phone starts ringing, eyes widening when he looks back up at Geoff.

“You should probably get that,” Geoff says, feeling stupid giddy because they’re so ridiculous. “It might be important.”

========

The looks on everyone’s faces when Geoff strolls into the briefing for their next heist with the Vagabond behind him is goddamned priceless.

Aces Up Every Sleeve

[wristic]

Now You’re a Real Criminal (Part 3)

Pairing: Edward Nygma X Reader Word Count: 2900 Warnings: I feel like Ed being a jerk in an adorable way should be a warning

-Part 1- -Part 2- -Part 3- -Part 4-

The precinct was about as awkward as you imagined. He did, in fact, kill a few people there not a year ago. It was almost comical watching Ed stride in with a smile, relaxed around so many that wanted to choke him. Yet his threats were anything but funny. In a few words the room was helpless under the power of his authority. It was a wonder how awkward and bright you appeared, left behind after he spurred off to the forensics lab. Reluctant to break the screaming intensity of the room, you gave a small cough. Holding the clipboard close, the grumpy detectives Edward had threatened personally snapped their heads to you. With a glee you smiled and introduced your name, and more importantly, “I’m Mr. Nygma’s secretary!” Their glares raised into confused glances toward one another. “I got promoted this morning.” you added with a chipper tone. They both gave an even more confused smile. Jim was the first to cave, holding out his hand with a demeanor so polarized from the way he spoke to Ed. “Uh, Jim Gordon. Is there something you wanted?” “Oh! That’s right!” you gasped, “Mr. Nygma wanted me to collect any files on those hooded people?” “The Red Hood Gang?” Bullock asked, a hint of judging you in his tone. Your whole department should be talking them, with it being attacked by the crooks after all. “Yeah! I think so!”

The two shifted, Jim glancing away in Ed's last direction. When he came back to face Harvey, there was wide-eyed apology there. Harvey’s face fell annoyed but pleading, only for Jim’s face to twist into a sorry frown. Turning back to you with a bright smile, Jim offered, “If you don’t mind miss-”

“No-no-no-” Harvey begged under his breath. “You can follow Detective Bullock here and he’ll give you everything you need.” “Jim! Jim-no-” In a swish Jim was gone, stalking fast to catch Ed. Left alone with the defeated Harvey, you tilted your head in innocent expectancy. Harvey forced a smile before motioning for you to follow. Pattering to keep up, you decided to start some digging. “It’s hard to imagine Mr. Nygma working here. Was he always so… you know,” “Arrogant? Homicidal? A dick?” Holding back a smile you could only offer a nervous, “Uhh-” “No. Ed was a geeky little worm not six months ago. Annoying to boot. Always going off with his riddles…” He grumbled. “Yeah the riddles, what's all that about?" “Who knows. Ed’s always been a little screwy.” He opened the door and gave a little bow for you to come in. Seeing the file room, a chill ran up your spine remembering the graphic details of Ms. Kringle's death. 'Dismembered' was the favored description. Walking down an aisle, Harvey stopped and leaned on a cabinet. “Hey, how did you come into employment with Ed? You seem so…” He struggled to find a way of pointing out you appeared to only have a small fraction of Edwards intelligence. After a pained few seconds he saved with, “Nice!” You smiled wider trying not to laugh, “Thank you! A lot of people tell me that!” “They’re not wrong.” He pointed. “But Ed isn't the type that works well with others. He’s treating you alright, isn’t he?” “Well we’ve been working together for a little while but we’ve never had much interaction before. We would pass off the numbers for the campaign, you know, like all the stuff we have to buy to look good and sell the election. It’s a lot of work and it takes a lot of money. People might think it’s easy but it’s busy-busy all the time! One time, while I was hanging the bows-” “Is he treating you nice? Like, he doesn’t yell at you a lot does he? Or... make you do thing you’re uncomfortable with?” You bit your lips, looking off. Now was your chance. You could whisper how Ed was threatening you into playing his underling. How he was planning to kill people. How he wanted you involved and would kill you if you backed out in any way. Yet, Ed was Chief of Staff and could no doubt hire his own jury. Also he was a murderer and would be overjoyed to kill you on the slightest provocation you weren’t faithful. Down the road, after a lot of careful consideration and set up, you could come out. But right now this one old time detective wasn’t enough to bet on. “Mmmm-nope! He’s no different from any other boss I’ve had!” Harvey hummed to that, looking off almost disappointed. “But I only started working close with him this morning, if I see anything, I’ll know who to call!” Harvey nodded, not taking the veiled cry for help to heart and instead held out the thin folder. Turning the file over, disappointed with the lack of beef, you followed him out. Ed's gravel reached your ears and you lifted the file, waving it childishly, “Oh Mr. Nygma! I got the thingy!” Unimpressed with your act, Ed patted his knees and cheered like you were a little puppy, “Good job! Look at you! Shaping up to be a spectacular employee!” Offended he’d play so petty, it was hard to keep your glare back, the smile straining not to turn into a snarl as he walked by and ripped the file from your hand.

Bare feet kicked up on the couch, you flipped through what little there was to know about the Red Hood Gang and it’s previous affiliations. All the associates were dead, leaving this copy-cat gang dry on leads, even more so on motives. Ed was at his own large desk with maps and pictures and a notepad he scribbled all over when something connected, boiling down the places the gang hideout could be. Peeking at him, it was strange seeing Ed out of his suit and hat. You dare say he looked like a natural born person in a white t-shirt and plaid pajama pants, hair falling in disarray the more he combed through it in frustration. “I find it interesting they’re not a true copy-cat. The group before was nothing but a bunch of bank robbers. Terrorizing the mayor wasn’t exactly on their list.” Ed gave a vague hum. “Makes me think someone hired them, know what I mean, using the icon as a front?” He gave another uninterested hum. “Come on Ed, motive’s important.” Thinking about it you started mumbling to yourself. “Which is why mine is always kind of embarrassing. ‘I did it cause it’s fun.’ isn’t as exciting as ‘I did it for vengeance!’ or ‘I learned it from watching you!’-” “Motive takes a backseat and can be misleading when the evidence comes to surface. It’ll be easier to put everything in place once we find out where they are.” Glancing over his shoulder he pointed out, “If I got caught up in motive I might not have found you.” You tipped up the papers, ignoring his self-bloating. “I don’t know, this has all been really personal. They decapitated his mother for crying out loud.” “They’re thugs. They’ll do anything for name recognition.”

You gave an opposing hum. “Has he pissed anyone off recently?” Edward scoffed, “He was a crime lord that brutalized everyone he had to climb by. There are plenty of criminals who would want him dead or terrorized.” You looked back to the pictures of the past exploits that had nothing to do with Oswald. “This is why motive doesn’t mean much when you gather evidence. Evidence narrows it all down to an absolute, motive is too broad a scope and half the time relies on a gut feeling.”   “Have you pissed anyone off recently?” Edward shot a glare over his shoulder before turning back to his work. “I’m serious.” You chimed. “Did you step on anyone’s toes to get into your position? Maybe someone who would want to make you look weak to Oswald in an effort to get it back?” Ed spun around in his seat, his mouth opening to no doubt demean you in some way. Instead he halted, tilting his head away as he thought allowed, “Butch has been staring me down a lot lately… but it couldn’t be. I know he’s an idiot but to attack Oswald in that way, he would at least know the anger to erupt from Oswald-.” You hopped up excited, stalking and dramatic as if it was your plot. “Would taste so sweet if it turned on you should someone, say, a spurred lackey came to save the day instead.” his features softened in realization. With a smirk you leaned on his chair, teasing with a down-tilt of your giant glasses. “If I were you, I’d throw out the idea of underestimating someone just because you think they’re stupider than you.” His eyes side glanced you, returning the smile. “Still,” He pushed his glasses up and turned back to his map. “Motive means nothing without evidence.” But you didn’t leave, hands still fastened to the chair as you looked off in thought. It started distracting and annoying Edward, making him huff. “Could you go think somewhere else please?” “Is there anything coming up soon? Something with a lot of people or media presence?” “Oswald is having a party and inviting some of Gothams richest.” “Oh the gang is definitely going to hit that party-” “Obviously. That’s what I’m trying to prevent.” Ed grumbled, still agitated with your looming presence. You mocked him behind his back, tipping more to look at the map with black circles and lines all over it. “So what evidence do you have?” “The only thing out of place was potassium-chloride found on the abandoned vehicle.” You started putting your weight on the chair, making its front feet tip despite his weight. Just as he was about to snap at you, you asked, “Like the stuff they use in laundry detergent?” He was struck silent, spinning back to his map and crossing out a few circles before doubly circling a foundry in the Narrows. Sitting back with a clap and a laugh, Ed's voice dripped in satisfaction. “I know where they are.” He shoved the chair back, no mind for your stumbling to not get your toes bashed. “Get your coat!” You tip-toed the cold floor to slip on your shoes by the couch. “Wha-why?!” “We’re going to pay the Red Hood Gang a visit!” You gave a tiny helpless, “What?!”

Deep in the night of the foundry, some lights were on where they shouldn’t have been. You two crept up to the building echoing with distant voices, the car far behind. Edward stood up straight and adjusted his coat as soon as the entrance was at his feet. “You called for back up right?” You whispered, curled up behind him. “Not yet.” “What do you mean not yet!?” You rasped, smacking his shoulder. “I want to ask them a few questions first.” He argued, turning amused by your anxiety over the situation. “You can’t just walk in there Ed! You said it yourself, they’re thugs! They’ll probably get spooked and shoot you on the spot! I know you want to find out what this is all about but you can’t honestly think-” Smiling, he placed a single finger on your lips. “I can never be stolen from you.” You deflated and glared at him. “I am owned by everyone. Some have more, some have less. What am I?” You rolled your eyes with a frustrated sigh. Hands on your hips, you were stern, “What does knowledge have to do with walking into a death trap?” Ed only held his smile, his eyes searching in yours in a dizzy way before tapping your lips and ordering, “Watch, and learn.” With that he straightened his back and waltz headlong into the abandoned foundry. You stuttered a bit, far too frightened with following but came to break, charging in to stand behind him. “Hello gentlemen.” His voice reverberated off the steel walls. Ed held his hands up as they all jumped from their card game and drinking, pulling out weapons. “Easy now, I only want to talk.” He eyed the red masks all scattered on the table and smiled wider. “I see I found the right place.” Guns of every kind pointed at you two, the leader tilted his nose up, “What do you want to talk about?” “The routine. Who you’re working for, what they want, how much I need to pay you to tell me all that such n’ such?” They scoffed among each other. Ed turned to you, “I’m gonna assume you have a couple thousand on you, yes?” Caught off guard, you looked wide-eyed at him, at the men all perked by the sound of currency. You’d ask him how he would know you kept emergency cash on you but, of course he’d know. Finding your character you announced to them, “I do!” With your innocent facade you lifted your purse and pulled out a thick bundle of cash bound in a rubber band. “Probably a couple thousand more if we leave here happy!” Stealing a glance of Ed, wondering if you’d played your part right, you found him smiling gleeful at you. Turning that smile to the goons, he shrugged, “Couple grand doesn’t sound too bad in exchange for some answers… does it.” The leader leaned back to his group, the five huddling and whispering to each other. The guns started lowering as they wrapped up in heated and hushed debate. You clutched the money a bit close like it was your body armor, hoping they’d not realize they could shoot you both and take it. You didn’t realize Edward leaned into your proximity until you felt his breath on your neck. "This might be a pretty nice dynamic.” You gave him a questioning look and he explained with a big smile, “It’s often the woman as the wise guide while the man is a bumbling buffoon. It’s kind of cute we have the reverse of that.” Ed looked back at the five while you seethed up at him. “You know, I honestly can’t tell when you’re insulting me on purpose or insulting me on accident.” Taken back, he countered your glare with an accusing, “Why are you so defensive about your caricature?” The question flustered you, made you shift as you tried to defend, “She’s doing her best, okay, she doesn’t deserve to be mocked by you.” huffing the frustration, you snapped at him, “Just, stop making fun of my persona. I don’t make fun of yours.” Edwards jaw set and the air around him prickled. You stepped on a nerve, and that idea after all this brushed away bickering made your skin cold. “I don’t have one.” He growled. Swaying on your fears, gambling how to treat the situation, you murmured, “That’s not what Harvey Bullock had to say.” “Oh?” The smirk he gave had such a bitter edge you could taste it. “Asking around about me were you?” Ed shifted, looming over you and pointing at your chest like he wanted to rip out your heart. “Now you listen, the man I was before-” An insistent cough grabbed the tension. Ed’s glower crawled to the thugs, chests puffed with consensus. With a last warning look, he pushed his glasses back up and faced them with an impatient smile. “Butch Gilzean.” All your fear rushed out with a hard victorious clap of your hands. “HA! CALLED IT!” A reluctant smile made its way on Ed, some of that angry air slipping. “Two thousand for the name, but... would another five be enough to hire you for myself?” The whole room raised a brow to that. The leader gave an impressed upturn of his lip, “Buddy, for five thousand I’d even tap dance and sing for ya. Though mind ya, the vocals might shatter some windows.” “Noted.” Ed tried to give you the okay to hand over the money but you were hesitant, leaning in and whispering out the corner of your mouth. “Five thousands a lot don’t ya think? I only managed to steal like eight.” That earned you a look of indignity. “We’ll plan to rob a bank when we get home, would that make you feel better?” Your face shifted as you thought. Giving an agreeable shrug you walked up to the big men with big guns, plopping the roll of cash in their hands. Rushing back to Ed, the leader unwound and flipped through the bundle. “They’re all twenties and tens.” He was downright disgusted by the scene. With your cheery ditsy aura, you explained, “Oh! When you pull out a hundred in public, people want to get in your business wondering where you got hundreds. But when you pull out twenties and tens, well that’s business as usual!” The leader hummed in surprise, looking down at the bundle before offering you a flirty smile, “That’s awful smart of you little lady.” You twisted, bashful and cute, finding Ed frowning at you in disbelief. How many times did you break out of character tonight, and they wanted to believe in the ditsy persona instead? A chuckle escaped you at the irony you saw so often, bubbling one up from Ed after he got over the shock.

[alicedoessurveys]

50 Questions

1. And you are? Alice

2. One thing a guy needs to know about you before you get into a relationship. I overthink a lot and I can come across quite needy because i need reassurance 

3. Don’t you think that running around through revolving doors is fun? no I do not, I hate them revolving doors

4. What’s something about other people that drives you crazy? inability to reply to texts

5. What are you doing? watching telly and doing this 

6. What are you thinking about? everything, my head is spinning right now

7. What are you wearing? a marauders map sweatshirt and Mickey Mouse leggings... im a style icon 

8. Baseball is the best sport hands down…right? nope

9. Do you need to go see a counselor? probably, but I dont like going to them

10. It’s 3 in the morning… do your parents know where you are? yeah, cause im more than likely in bed 

11. Favorite flower? I am not good at naming flowers so idk 

12. Do you like chocolate? YAS

13. Ideal date? something fun, something that makes us laugh a lot and gives us stuff to talk about. 

14. Like the movie Elf? tbh, ive never watched it all the way through, I always get distracted or fall asleep 

15. Ok let’s talk travel, do you like to travel? um.. I think I like the idea of travelling more than actually travelling. my anxiety goes a bit mad when I travel 

16. Where have you been? Paris, Tunisia, Australia, Majorca, Cyprus, Finland

17. Next place you want to go? Italy

18. What is something you MUST take with you when you travel? camera

19. How do you like to travel? whatever gets me there fastest 

20. With someone, or alone? with someone 

21. Do you dance in your car when there are other people with you? yes

22. Say you’re having a bad day… what makes it better? a good ol’ chat with my mom, the knows what to say to make me feel better 

23. Best feeling in the world? when something makes you laugh to the point you cant breathe and theres tears rolling down your face. I love that pure joy

24. Worst? regret

25. If you’re quiet what does it mean? tired, sad, nervous or day dreaming

26. Something that makes you smile? nick and rhys always make me smile 

27. Do you have trust issues? yes, I think I put too much trust in the wrong people which then makes it hard to trust the right people 

28. Do you mind watching chick flicks? no I like a good chick flick

30. What about … movies like…. Gladiator or The Last Samurai? ive not seen either 

31. Favorite scent? vanilla

32. Favorite store? dont really have one tbh

33. Say you wanted coffee.. what kind is your favorite? I dont drink coffee

34. Favorite kind of pizza? just a simple cheese pizza

35. Do you get embarrassed easily? yes

36. Do you feel awkward easily? hell yes

37. Do you mind people asking you personal questions? nope, if they genuinely care and are asking because they actually want to get to know you then I think its nice

38. You have a tank of gas, $50, and the day off… what do you do? pick up nick, rhys and Addison and drive to bournemouth and spend the day on the beach and have a nice meal or something

39. When’s your birthday? 11th June 

40. Favorite tv show? I have too many favourites

41. Song you turn the volume up all the way to listen to? honey by nick galitizine.. his voice is ughhh I cant even describe 

42. Something you keep in your car? I have a basket of things I keep in my car. theres de icer, ice scraper, washer fluid, a torch, gloves, hat, and a couple of tennis balls for the dogs 

43. Highlight of your day? getting to laugh a lot

43. If you need a hug at 3am, who would you ask? mom

45. Something you do everyday that you wish you didn’t have to do? wake up

46. What do you do when you like someone? I do nothing :’) 

47. Do you mind if people just show up at your house unannounced? nope, I think its nice. the only issue is that the house is normally a mess

48. What do you do when you disagree with someone? talk it out, agree to disagree 

49. Do you enjoy rain? occasionally yes, I quite like a walk in the rain 

50. You love Jesus, yes? honestly, I dont know if I can say yes. im really struggling with my faith at the moment. I still believe in God, im just.. I dont know I cant really explain what my head is doing im just struggling 

[jungnoir]

college boyfriend!wonwoo;

my first piece for wonwoo!!! for this request

for some reason i was kinda struck with this idea of wonwoo while i was plotting and i can’t really get it out of my head

so in college, wonwoo is... elusive

he’s the kind of guy that could be in a class of eight and you still wouldn’t recognize him if someone showed you a picture

but that’s bc of himself and no one else

he doesn’t really like taking all the spotlight and by going to a huge university, he can blend in pretty well

despite having a lot of outgoing friends, their personalities have never really rubbed off on him

despite his best friend mingyu trying to bring him out of his shell all the time, wonwoo is pretty fine being confined to his dorm in between classes and staying home from rowdy parties on the weekends

and it’s not a problem to him. he loves solitude

some of his friends don’t really understand how he could be so chill with just spending all this time alone by himself but they never pressure him

however, one night after they all ace their exams, wonwoo is inevitably dragged out to party bc “you gotta celebrate that close call!”

wonwoo’s only reason for going is free food 

so the guys take him to a bar and they’re all getting drunk off their asses, chasing around pyt’s and having the times of their lives, when wonwoo decides he’ll head home early

he’s not even halfway out of the door when he feels off

it’s like the happy atmosphere from inside is hosed off and all he can feel is danger danger danger

he turns this way and that, expecting some wannabe gangster or thug to be lurking around, ready to nab his stuff, but instead he sees you on the other side of the street, walking home and obviously alone

when he sees you’re the only person out in the open he just turns and starts his trek home, but then he gets a really nasty feeling in his gut and it keeps telling him to turn around

and when he does, he sees him

it looks like a pretty shady guy, somewhere in his late forties, dressed way too heavily for barely cool weather

the guy is keeping a pretty good distance from you too, so good that wonwoo, if he hadn’t been so instinctively inclined, might’ve went back on his merry way

but wonwoo knew better, and soon he was slinking across the street and tailing you two

as soon as an alleyway appears, the guy ahead starts sprinting, and wonwoo does too, his legs keeping him close behind until he’s right on top of the guy

the guy tries to grab your arm and when you hear the commotion behind you, you peel back just in time 

wonwoo rams into the guy’s back and throws him to the ground, using all his force and knocking the guy’s breath out of his lungs, sending a kick to his side and making the guy cough in pain

“what do you think you were about to do?” wonwoo growls, and the guy on the ground shrinks back and quivers bc he definitely wasn’t expecting a real fight tonight

the guy keeps shaking helplessly and glances at you before he goes “m-man, she’s not even worth it” and runs off

wonwoo is still standing, watching and making sure the guy doesn’t come back, when you grasp his upper arm

he jolts bc he’s still kind of riled up, but when he sees you, soft and gentle, he finally takes a peaceful breather

“thank you, wonwoo”

wonwoo kinda rears back in shock bc??? you know his name?? how???? he only talks to like twelve idiots and they’re all currently drunk in a bar half a mile back

when you see the uncomfortable look on his face you immediately pull your hand away from him, telling him your name as you start blabbering “i’m not a creeper or anything i swear! you’re just in one of my classes and i remembered you”

and again, wonwoo is still in shock

bc this is the guy that blends in on purpose, and never tries to make conversation unless absolutely necessary, so why had you said his name like you were both old friends?

“your... class?” he asks, racking his mind for where he might’ve seen you, and you tell him that you both have chinese history together and he’s like ohhhhh, the class he always falls asleep in

the only reason he’s passing is bc of jun and minghao, two chinese transfers who always begrudgingly help him with his homework

“i remember you from hearing the teacher yell your name every fifteen minutes. are you... narcoleptic or something? should i walk you home just in case you pass out?”

and you actually mean it seriously, even going as far as to take his arm in your hold

but wonwoo is just so endeared by your look of concern that he splutters between laughter, turning his head away from you in disbelief

bc really, a pretty stranger like you wouldn’t speak to him longer than they had to, so why were you still here?

“i’ll be fine. if anything i should walk you home, in case that punk is waiting around the corner or something” he says, casting glances here and there to make sure the coast is clear

finally you just take his arm fully and drag him along with you, taking him by surprise as you hum, “for the sake of both of us, then”

the walk home is quiet and while usually it’d be awkward for wonwoo, he actually doesn’t mind it in your presence

he can focus on the sounds of cars on the street, dogs barking in the distance, and your soft breaths in the cold air

he watches as you take forced deep breaths and exhale just to watch the air steam before you, as you take pride in the crunch of leaves under your boots, as you tug your scarf just a little tighter

and when you two finally make it to your dorm, you’re reluctant to pull away, your fingers twiddling as you give him a small smile “thanks for walking me all the way”

wonwoo just nods, stuffing his hands into his pockets, ready to leave, when you randomly call his name

when he turns, you’re shoving your phone into his chest faster than he can think, his hands fumbling to catch it before it falls

“put your number in”

it’s not even a question or a suggestion

you might as well be holding a gun to his head lol

(but you wouldn’t need one, wonwoo would do it anyway :D)

with freezing, nimble fingers, he puts his number in and watches as you smile at it

he’s about to ask what you need it for when you raise the phone and snap a picture of him, his eyes blown wide as he attempts to assess the situation

“cute. I think i’ll keep that.” you mumble to yourself, setting his picture as his icon before tucking the phone away in your back pocket and heading back inside, offering him a quick wave before you disappear from sight

wonwoo ends up walking back to his dorm a little slower, the only thing on his mind being the brief flash of light in his eyes before you snapped his picture, and the prideful smile you held when you looked it over by yourself

he didn’t even have your number, but you had his

walking home, he could only think “what a strange girl”

and strange indeed, bc the next day after class he’s getting a call from you

you don’t say much, just that he should meet you out front, near the building where you two share a class

he’s like pshhhh. nah. im not going........well. idk im gonna walk past it to get to my next class..... i guess i could go see her...... maybe

his class is the opposite direction but shhh

when he gets there, he sees you holding two coffees, wrapped up in your scarf from the night before, looking cheery as he nears

“here!!” you shove a black coffee into his hand and he stares at the cup in confusion, popping the lid like???

“you assumed my favorite coffee is black coffee. you assumed wrong.”

and then you’re shoving like ten packets of sugar into his free hand with a pout “i had a feeling black coffee was presumptuous so i got you lots of sugar in case. you’re welcome.”

there’s a metaphor hidden in there you know

you start walking away and he stares at your back, unsure what to do until you twist and beckon him, and for whatever he reason, he finds himself following after you like a dog on a leash

you two stroll across campus, you chatting away and attempting to make him a laugh

and a few times you actually succeed

in between your rambling wonwoo focuses on you, attempting to decipher exactly why you’ve bothered to get him coffee, or to walk with him so casually as if both of you had been friends for years

it’s like you see more of him than he thought he had been showing

to his surprise, you two end up where his next class is with ten minutes to spare, the route you’d taken getting him there far quicker than the one he usually took

he mentally maps it in his mind before giving you a glance over and a small “thank you”

“no prob. see you later!” 

and wonwoo is like yeah lol that’s just a simple, normal parting

but you actually see him later

guess who’s childhood friends with boo seungkwan???

when wonwoo comes over to see seungkwan at practice for the upcoming musical he’s in, he sees you joking around with the cast and playing with seungkwan

as soon as you two make eye contact, you’re shuffling over with a big grin and seungkwan is not far from behind, the look in his eyes

seungkwan: (    ͡ °  ͜ʖ   ͡° )

wonwoo: Do Not

seungkwan: (    ͡°   ͜ʖ   ͡° )!!!!!

“so, you two know each other?” and there he goes

before wonwoo can even try to save his ass from what he knows seungkwan will royally misinterpret you’re butting in “oh yeah!! he walked me home”

and seungkwan is like oh??? did he now?? :)

“right after he fended off some creep. honestly, if he wasn’t there, I would've had to get my hands dirty”

but all seungkwan can hear is love! love! love! loVE

“wow, wonwoo doesn’t step in for just anybody. you must be special” he says, to make matters somehow worse

and then you’re looking, eyes wide, before glancing between him and seungkwan like no!!! no. no. what? no way.

but seungkwan is Convinced and there is no unconvincing mr. boo sorry i don’t make the rules

“it’s not like that, seungkwan” wonwoo pleads

“probably not. any decent person would step in if they saw something going on. i just... ya know... think it’s funny how wonwoo didn't really have to walk you home. like not really. like that didn’t have to happen.”

and wonwoo wants to defend himself but also he... cannot?? like normal wonwoo would not go through that much effort

normal wonwoo would have beat that guy’s ass way worse too, but you had been there and he didn’t want to frighten you

which... is another thing he can’t tell seungkwan

instead he’s silent and seungkwan is like point? made

finally, seungkwan has to go bc some kid needed help learning runs

so when it’s just you two standing backstage you suddenly become quiet, even looking a lil

bashful?

and he’s like isn’t that my thing

“sorry about seungkwan” you both say at the same time, and then you two make eye contact, right before you break into laughter

there he goes again, laughing because of you

his heart even swells a bit when you beam at him, proud that you’ve made him laugh

“you have a really pretty laugh. you should laugh more often” you tell him, and his cheeks BLARE red

instinctively he covers his mouth, up until you grab his wrist and pull it down “don’t hide your smile either”

and wonwoo on the inside is like “this girl is dripping in grease... i like it....”

you two just look at each other, gazes locked, neither of you knowing if the other should speak first or not

and then wonwoo breaks the silence to your surprise, “wanna go get something to eat? seungkwan looks like he’s gonna be a while”

he takes you to a sushi place and while wonwoo starts off really reserved, you manage to open him up a significant amount

by the end of the night he’s laughed more than he has since starting the school year, and you’ve just made him feel really happy and what is this feeling??? omg??

when you two are walking out, you’re about ready to do something bold but

he beats you to it

“this is probably really soon and i don’t want to freak you out but... wanna do this more often? like... go out, i mean. not like friends but you know as... something more.”

and you’re immediately like “of course!!! yes let’s do that!!!” and it’s just so cute

both of you are blushing, giggling messes going home

and from that moment forward, the cutest relationship ever begins

you’re much bolder in the relationship so it’s expected for wonwoo to have you come over unannounced often, or have you call him late at night just bc you want to hear his deep voice

he usually sounds tired and done with you but in reality his heart grows even fonder every time

he loves that in your spare time, when you’re away from him, you’re thinking about him still

you always send him cheesy texts and silly puns to make him laugh bc “even if i’m not there to hear it, you should be laughing wonwoo”

he is a gentleman and a little awkward about it

like he pulls your chair out a little too far for you and you nearly fall on your ass

he opens the door for you when you’re like fifteen feet away

his hands rarely drift farther than your shoulders

but it’s bc he doesn’t know how far to go, or how far you’ll let him go, so he’s always super cautious and tries to stay in tune to how you feel

he’s deeply emotional but he doesn’t like showing it

he’d rather bottle it all up until he’s so thinly stretched he implodes

so you learn that when he gets quiet and doesn’t really react to you when you ask him how he’s feeling that he’s bottling up something

you stop everything you’re doing and force him to talk to you

at first, he really despises doing it, but then he becomes a lot more open

you won’t even have to ask, he’ll just tell you how he feels right off the bat

he can simply text you how he feels and vice versa and you two take care of each other

wonwoo: feeling shitty. inadequate. please tell me you love me

you: coming over with ur fave movie and some takeout. i’m wearing the sweater you like to snuggle up on. i love you to the moon and back

or

you: i said i didn’t care that you were acting close with that girl from your class but in reality i was jealous :/

wonwoo: dummy, who else would put up with an emo dweeb like me besides an emo dweeb like you?? i don’t want anyone else either

like your relationship is so healthy

wonwoo feels safe with you

like he doesn’t have to tie himself up and restrict himself in front of you. he can just be

he loves you so much he takes you home to meet his family, and that’s a big deal for him

his family means the world to him so you meeting them is like... monumental

from then on, everyone knows he’s smitten with you

seungkwan has also deemed himself yall’s mediator and/or therapist

so if you two get into a particularly heated fight he’s always first to try and repair 

he knows you two like the backs of his hands, so it’s easy for him to see where one of you has gone wrong

he scolds you both when you act childish and ends up ending fights way quicker than the two of you would end them on your own

the other guys are also deeply invested in the relationship

at least one of them knows where either you or wonwoo is at all times

wonwoo can trust his friends to look after you when he’s not around and you can trust his friends to be honest with you when wonwoo is feeling out of his element and not telling you

surprisingly, wonwoo is the first to say i love you

it just slips in the middle of a fight, when you two have come to each other’s ends and all the stress from school and friends has hit with a vengeance

he screams it, tears welling in his eyes 

the room falls silent and he thinks that he’s really fucked up now

but then you come closer and pull him into a hug and he freely breaks down in front of you, holding onto you like dear life

“i love you too, idiot... i love you” is all you whisper to him, rubbing his back and letting him let go until he’s feeling better

just

wonwoo is actually very sensitive and he sometimes doesn’t say what he means but he loves deeply

and he’ll be loyal for a long time

all he wants is the same thing

so yes love this boy pls