#i have no idea if bullet train even has a fandom or not

[greenteabelle]

watched bullet train (2022) on the plane and i have some feelings

i wonder if lemon is able to watch his favourite show the same way ever again , his initial wonder and fascination now replaced by a weary defeat . does he sit in front of the tv , slumped in a worn out sofa , long after the credits roll ? does he think about the fact that tangerine never got to hear himself be compared to thomas ?

i wonder if lemon finds himself in the kids section of department stores , not realising how he got there in the first place . if he catches sight of sticker sheets and recalls the bloodied one he has at home . if he sees nothing but the empty space where thomas should be .

i wonder if lemon quits killing altogether . does he look at his guns and see the gaping wound on tangerine's neck ? does he don his tie and pull his jacket around himself , just a bit closer than before ? or does he stop wearing dress shirts and ties entirely , because of the silhouette he sees in his reflection ?

perhaps lemon embarks on a journey of self-discovery , determined to live the life that he still has yet having no idea how to do it . maybe sometimes when he comes across a confusing subject , he'll voice his confusion out loud , only to look up and find nothing there .

maybe lemon starts preferring tangerines altogether .

because lemons are just too fucking sour .

[kino-rogers]

He is always a call away (Tangerine/Reader)

Word count: 825 (reasonably short and sweet)

Song: 0800 HEAVEN | Nathan Dawe, Joel Corry, Ella Henderson (listen, I know the vibes don't fit but the lyrics inspired me to write this aha)

Short summary: Bullet Train happens and everything goes down as it does in the film. Reader is trying to process that Tangerine won't come home again.

Warnings: Canon typical swearing, angst, (light) past trauma mention

notes: thank you @nocturnest for jumping on this to fix my broken English and being a wonderful beta!! what an intro but uh [coughs] i'm already excited to write more for this fandom (bits in which Tangie is very much alive ehehe) anywaayyy, hope you guys like this!! - 🥝

It's not been the… easiest time - it has to be said.

Since that phone call from Lemon, you've been struggling with sleep. It doesn't show in your work, of course. Keeping up appearances has always come to you rather naturally. Some of it being from your repressed trauma, that even years of therapy barely scratched the surface of, but also because of your line of work too. It doesn't sit well to be an emotional wreck after every kill you're paid to do.

The call was from a number you didn't recognise. The passing sound of traffic suggested it's from a payphone as Lemon sighed heavily down the line.

"You lost your phone? On a train?" You answered the call lightheartedly and you recognized his sigh immediately, you hoped it was just a release of pent up tension over a job well finished. Although, the fact that Lemon was the one to call, put you on edge, hoping it's not coming through your pretend jolliness.

"He's gone." His statement was simple and sudden. The tone, stone cold, as his voice was raspy, possibly from crying.

"Who's gone, Lemon?"

Your throat ran dry as you swallowed around a lump. Your chest quickly tightened as you tried to piece together what he could have meant. You couldn't- no, didn't want to think about the most likely possibility.

"Tan-" He took a pause, cleared his throat before continuing. "Tangerine, was shot in the neck, he is gone."

It's not like you guys were dating, no, it wasn't anything like that. Neither of you had the emotional capacity for that. What, with your jobs requiring you to spend weeks, months away from each other at a time, sometimes in different countries, opposite sides of the world. But he was the first person, in a long while, that you genuinely cared for.

~~~

You turn to your bedside table, glance at the alarm clock there. Its digital display shines in orange numbers, 01:54.

It's a month, today.

You suddenly have a stupid idea. What would happen if you called his number? Last time you checked it was still live, it'd probably just take you to voicemail. Weirdly, your therapist at your last session suggested writing letters to him, in your bereavement. Bereavement. Such a weird word. You're not even sure that's what this is. But maybe leaving a voicemail would be an equivalent. Maybe he can listen to his voicemails, wherever he is. You scoff at the fleeting thought but reach for your phone anyway.

Tangie is still in your recent calls. You tap the saved contact and wait for it to ring.

You're not expecting anyone to answer, of course not. Your grief hasn't driven you completely nuts. But as the phone rings, you can't help but think about getting to talk to him, just once more. By some divine intervention, you'd be connected through to him, in the afterlife and you could tell him everything you couldn't the last time you spoke.

"-after the beep BEEP"

"Hi Tangie," You scoff in embarrassment, not really sure why you're doing this anymore. "I uh,"

You sigh heavily, all too aware of the silence the machine is expecting you to fill. You sniffle as you start to speak again.

"I know you won't hear this. That… Isn't really the point." You draw a shaky breath. "I know who did it though. Well, knew. Lemon and I took him out last week. What kind of an assassin's name is Ladybug anyway?" You snicker. Can't avoid the tightness in your chest though.

"I just… I dunno. Apparently I should be writing letters to you, as if I could send them off with a pigeon and they'd get to wherever the fuck you are. So, this is the next best thing. If this was anyone else, you'd tell me to fuck off and to suck it up. We always were on the same wavelength, when it came to feelings." Your chest deflates with a long exhale as you realise you need to stop dancing around whatever it is you're trying to say here.

"I guess I just wanted to tell you I really fucking miss you." You sniffle again, tears gathering in the corners of your eyes. "I miss your stupid grin, your teasing, your annoyingly cocky attitude, your… The way you looked at me."

"I wish you were here right now so I could tell you I love you. I wish I didn't, I really goddamn wish I didn't care for you so much but I fucking love you. And I hate that I can't see your face as I told you, for the first time. Please call me back."

You bury your face in your pillow and you howl into it, sobs shaking your body as the voicemail recording is saved and you continue to wallow in your bereavement. You're supposed to be feeling better. You need to stop paying your therapist.

[be-the-glenn-to-my-maggie]

Your daily dose of Nocorro angst, good eats:

I'm not putting in @spicymiilk 's ideas in case he uses them, but dear god I would pay real money for my accidentally mated au to be written thank u.

-Part of me thinks there should be a fucking medieval au type thing where Neteyam is the next prince to take over the kingdom passed down via Neytiri's line. I just love the idea of Spider as a fucking Theon Greyjoy type son of the enemy raised by the family, and that’s why Neytiri doesn’t trust him or some shit it’s so juicy. Can't you all see it now it's so good, the star crossed horror of it all.

-The additional Neytiri/Neteyam parallel that comes out in nocorro. They both have forbidden alien romances, and yet Neytiri wouldn't respect or understand Neteyam's without a lot of work. THE SYMBOLIC T R A G E D Y. We could have a moment of Mo'at being like, "Get it together, I accepted your freak. I even like him better than you now sometimes."

-I am currently deeply obsessed with the bonds Na'vi form with their mates. Every author has played with bonds differently, but I feel like a lot of fics have mentioned this concept of being able to feel each others emotions. The fact that the bond is like, more raw and important in the beginning. So Spider and Neteyam keeping their relationship hidden, being separate and secret would be like almost painful. I am so so invested in that idea I want to know More. Like they Have to be near each other, like touch and shit is essential for a healthy bond at first and they’re just like fucking it up. I want to explore Na'vi bond concepts so bad, with some lovely hurt comfort of nocorro being forced apart at the worst time.

-I even like the concept of them being in a healthy, normal relationship, right? They are newly bonded, and everyone loved and supported them from the beginning or what not. They wanted to get mated before the train raid just in case, and then Spider gets fucking taken lol. Tragedy, they AREN'T SUPPOSED TO BE APART, the drama of it all.

-I made that soulmate au post where I did all the different types of soulmate aus I could think of and with the one where they can feel and take each others pain I WENT STRAIGHT TO NOCORRO RIGHT AWAY. There’s something so funny and horrifying about spider getting taken and Jake being like “alright go learn an entire new culture” and Neteyam's like on the ground half dead like “but dad I feel like I’m being brain tortured”.

-Neteyam would be so fucking angsty and reckless at Awa'atlu in this au. He feels all of Spider's pain, so he's terrified and scared BUT ALSO CRANKY. He’s saying slightly rude things to his parents and he’s beating the shit out of Ao’nung before Lo’ak can even try. Man is testy. And he's shit at learning to breathe, he is not feeling calm or patient.

-The soulmate au where you can take the others wounds, imagine Spider taking the bullet wound even after they have a (spider inflicted cause he gets hurt more often) pact to not take each others wounds and pain. Horrifying. I have been wondering about the logistics tho, because Spider's body is proportionally different than Neteyam's, would the wound appear somewhere else on his body that would help him possibly survive? I can't decide.

-Oh my god also a version where they hadn't realized yet they were soulmates. Neteyam's all of a sudden devastated and horrified that he's alive at the cost of his soulmate, one he never got to meet, only to look over and notice Spider keeling over. TRAGEDY. pLS I need comfort fics too.

-There’s enough torture porn in this fandom I’m waiting for my Spider romcom. I want to be surprised by how right things start going for my boy, it's never surprising when all the things go bad all the time for him. I want that fucking fast food nocorro au I got so into. I want my soulmate au but they notice from the beginning so they accept him and raise him or something.

-Speaking of a little modern nocorro romcom (still with plenty of angst tho) I’m telling you I’m right Neteyam is P E A K I can fix him. He clocks Spider and is like “now there’s a boy I can fix (sexual).” His sexuality is will my dick cure him? Yes.

-Spider like, coughs once and Neteyam's like that sickly little loser of a man is Mine now, wow. Wow I am going to Save him and it'll be so satisfying. The man has a savior complex you can't convince me otherwise. That meme like "if I had a lame ass boyfriend I would hype him up so hard," that's Neteyam.

-I've always thought that Neteyam and Spider's problems and fights would always be over Neteyam trying to fix all of Spider's problems. Like Spider is just venting about his dad and Neteyam is like "so I'm on the phone with CPS and we're filing a report" and Spider's like "oh my fucking god I just wanted you to listen??" And Neteyam's like but babe I can fix it.

-Neteyam's GROWTH is him like learning to grit his teeth and literally sit on his hands as he forces himself to let Spider have his own problem instead of Babygirl-ifying him. He's literally Too Pure Too Good For This World in the most annoying way possible, he thinks everything can be fixed but maybe Spider's just gotta be broke, we can't superglue this one back together.

-Then Spider's like what if he won't like me if I'm not broken anyway? And it's a whole other complex and a whole other set of issues.

I hope you've enjoyed this word vomit of terrible angst, I need help and I need fluff.

[alpydk]

🤖🚦🎁🔮👑 for fanfic writer asks!

Yesssss, let me procrastinate from writing the action scene. Thank you <3

🤖 Are non-fandom friends aware that you write fanfic?

Yeah, my partner gets asked all my random forgotten realms questions I could easily google or basic English ones. i.e. - Is it artefact or artifact? He's not even the native speaker but you can see how the UK education system failed me writing wise ^^ I also don't have a fancy literature degree. I'm just an idiot with a keyboard. My best friend also knows and regularly has me excitedly ramble on about everything I'm writing and why. She's also on my ZhentWeave train with me currently, despite not really understanding what's happening. And my sister knows because she writes stuff herself.

🚦What sort of endings do you prefer to write: ambiguous, bad, happily ever after, etc.?

Oh bittersweet, I want a happy ending that comes with loss and heartbreak. The ending of Little by Little is probably one of my favourite for this. I also love a tragic ending where you just sob. Happy endings are great but I find they just don't stick as well with me, like of all the best movies endings I think of, none are happy endings.

🎁 Have a piece of a WIP you want to share?

I want to share my entire WIP at the moment because I'm just excited about it. But you can have this - taken from the GalexRugan fic: Tattered Souls!

“Gale, not your fight…” With a frustrated sigh, the static ridden hand was lowered. “I can’t let them kill you.” Rugan felt the blood on his palm, tasted the copper tinge mixing with his spit. All that was missing was the alchemical fire and Olly’s corpse to complete the set. “I’m already on borrowed time.”

🔮 Any advice for writers working through burnout or writer’s block?

Ummmm.... Switch your brain off and write bollocks. A few weeks back, I was done writing, done with Tumblr and just all of it. And when I switch off from a hobby, that's normally it. I hadn't crocheted for around 4 years before the Gale one to give you some idea of how easily I will dump something I'm semi okay at. But with this I took a few days, no writing, no thinking of ideas, no wanting to write at all, and then I sat down with Word open and just started typing what was in my head. Almost like a journal, the little life regrets, the dreams, the mini scenes in bullet points and one stuck in my head making Gone with the Weave. It reignited me again.

👑 Do you like writing short fics or long fics?

I prefer short fics, but there has to be a limit. Around 1500 words are normally good for me, gets the scene of what I want, can fit in all the emotion and stuff I want. Something shorter seems a little pointless unless it's just a spur-of-the-moment idea. I enjoy writing a long fic but it requires so much planning and then I have to keep on top of it because I hate seeing a fic abandoned half way. To give you an idea, this is just some of Act3 of Cabinet of Oddities

[linkspooky]

You know, you should talk about your DC comic passion anyway. I’ve seen examples of when you tie it into other media in your metas and I really enjoyed it. If it helps I’d love to hear your thoughts in general about it.

Okay, so here is something I have been dying to talk about for awhile.

There's this weird sentiment in the MHA fandom that if you like the heroes, you're not allowed to sympathize with the villains or even enjoy them. This is not really the case in western comics, and in the case of DC's most popular superhero, batman IS his rogue's gallery.

Batman works well because he has such well-written, effective and sympathetic villains. The relationship between Batman and his rogues is the story. This is going to be brief but all the major rogues have a core character trait of batman.

Batman: Arkham Asylum: Sometimes, I think the asylum is a head. We're inside a huge head that dreams us all into being. Perhaps it's your head, Batman. Arkham is a looking glass. And we are you.

HARVEY DENT

What could a guy who has a case of disassociatoive identity disorder that splits him right down the middle into two personalities, who began as a prosecutor trying to clean up Gotham's Streets and then after a traumatic incident turned into a violent masked rogue out for revenge possibly have in common with Batman? We just don't know.

Two Face Year One.

In most continuities Bruce and Harvey are friends long before Harvey became Two-Face. Harvey and Bruce both represent the way your life can take a completely different turn after one traumatic incident. They both have a dual identity, but Harvey's has entirely collapsed as there is no balance between himself and Two-Face. He can't control his own life and decides everything on the flip of a coin. Bruce Wayne's future was permanently changed, and Batman is continually insecure if he could just give up Batman permanently and live only as Bruce Wayne just as post scarring Harvey feels like he can't go to his former self either but Batman at least strikes a balance between these different aspects of his life.

Batman and Harvey also represent the balance between revenge and justice, Batman is already working outside the law, there's really no checks and balances on what he's doing besides the one he sets for himself so he's walking a dangerous line between fighting for what's good for the city or punishing crimminals out of personal revenge.

SCARECROW

Scarecrow: Year One

Scarecrow represents the part of Batman that was created with the intention of striking fear into the hearts of criminals as a crime deterrent. I tend to go with Jonathan Crane's year one origin, Scarecrow was terrified throughout his entire childhood and now he seeks to control fear through his studies of psychology and fear toxin. Bruce's ideas of safety, a home, family love were all ripped away from him in that alleyway by a mugger's bullet, and Bruce is on some level that same scared little boy who watched his parents die that night.

Batman and Scarecrow both put on halloween costumes and make others feel fear, because it gives them a sense of control. Batman is literally using it to control the crimminal element of Gotham. When Juxtaposed to Scarecrow who uses fear to strike terror in the hearts of whoever he chooses, it questions Batman's own methods. Is scaring criminals really the best way of fighting crime? Does fear as a tool even work, or is it just a blunt instrument that causes more pain than it helps spare innocent people? After all batman has been striking fear into the hearts of crimminals for years now, and crime still happens.

Ra's Al Ghul

"Your parent's death is not your fault. It was your father's. Anger does not change the fact that your father failed to act." "The man had a gun?" "Did that stop you?" "I've had training." "Training! The will is everything! The will to act." -BATMAN BEGINS

Ra's canonically trained Bruce and tried to make him his heir, but the differences don't really stop there. They are both extremely wealthy men who inhabit positions of power, who use all of that money and influence they have, and leverage it in order to make the world a better place.

Ra's strongest quality is his nobility. Noblesse obliged, the inferred responsibility of privileged people to act with generosity and nobility towards those less privileged. I believe the best versions of Ra's 100% believe that their cause will make the world a better place. While Batman and Ra's can both be noble, Ra's takes a lot of Batman's good traits and twists them. Batman is determined to see Gotham CIty one of the most corrupt and crime ridden cities saved even though he will probably never win that battle. Ra'as is six hundred years old, and literally will not ever die or give up on his ambitions and will keep dunking himself in the lazarus pit.

They both seek to use their resources to try to make the world into a better place, they both have families who they wish to pass down their ideals onto (the batfamily and the demon's head) but Ra's once again will never give up control, not only will he never die and simply let the title pass on but he also twists his daughters and grandson around his finger and doesn't let them be their own people. Bruce is also a huge control freak there's a famous storyline called "Tower of Babel" where Ra's steals a bunch of plans that Bruce made to take down members of the Justice League if they ever went rogue and then uses them against them. All because Batman was too paranoid to trust his teammates.

Harley Quinn

"I had a bad day too, once." BTAS.

I probably do not need to tell you Harley's backstory, because she is one of the most popular comic book characters ever but a lot of Batman villains start out well-intentioned gone wrong. The thing about Arkham Asylum is that it does not function as it should, a lot of the crimminals sent their aren't prisoners, they are patients, and they are meant to be treated. If a lot of them don't show any improvement then obviously there is something wrong there.

Harley Quinn is one of the few doctors who came to Arkham actually interested in the idea of making these patients better (depending on the story, in the original mad love she wanted to write a book but you know characters change over time), and like yes she's been suckered by the joker but if Joker is sent to the asylum for treatment then his doctors are supposed to try to you know... treat him. Not just go "Well, he's evil so there's nothing we can do about it."

Harley represents Bruce's desire that these costumed crimminals can reform, which is what a lot of people miss about Batman. Bruce acknowledges that the line between him and his rogues gallery is so thin that 1) he never kills any of them because it is his job to stop them from hurting people, but it's not his job to decide whether or not they are worthy of redemption. 2) In a lot of cases Batman reaches out to those same crimminals, because he wants them to get treatment and be better. In the animated series alone Bruce continually believes in people like Harvey and their chance at recovery.

JOKER

The Killing Joke

Joker's different from a lot of these rogues because rather than having one of Bruce's character traits he is his ridiculous and absurd opposite. In a way, Bruce and the Joker kind of represent the tug of war between costumed crooks and costumed heroes in Gotham.

"And you're wearing a mask, jumping off rooftops. Tkae this guy. Armed robbery, double Homicide. Got a taste for the theatrical like you. Leaves a calling card." Batman Begins

The Joker isn't really meant to be redeemable like some of the other rogues, or even have noble character traits like Ra's, but the connection between the two is undeniable. The Joker ties most closely to Batman as his shadow.

On the surface, it is easy to suppose that the JOker himself is the personification of the Shadow archetype: Lustful and aggressive, he is a mass murderer who relishes the macabre. These are impulses that Batman generally rejects for himself. At the time Batman matures, he gains more awareness of these SHadow elements within himself, eventually facing the shadow that lives within his personal unconscious. Alfred drives this point home when he says "Death and chance stole yourparents. But rather than become a victim, you have done everything in your power to control the fates. For what is Batman if not an effort to master the chaos that sweeps our world? An effort to control death itself." (Batman #3) (THE JOKER PSYCHOLOGY) Travis Langley

If Batman is trying to control death by saving lives in Gotham, then Joker is the embodiment of death, and lack of control that Batman himself is fighting against.

If batman rejects chaos, then what can the joker do but "introduce a little anarchy, upset the established order." (THE JOKER PSYCHOLOGY) Travis Langley

That's the Jungian perspective, but if you were to take a Freudian perspective then you could say Batman represents the life drive. This is why I put such an emphasis in Harley's section on batman wanting to reform his rogues, and see to their healing not kill them. Batman's ultimate mission is the preservation of life, he is an idealistic as superman he's just goth. The life drive represents the drive of people to live, heal, grow, fall in love, have children, it's generally our positive urges. It's no coinidence batman frequently adopts children and has a big interconnected Bat Family he works with. Then, there is Joker who represents the death drive, generally our self destructive urges. In a way Joker is death himself, he has killed batman's allies (even one of his children) he kills his own henchmen, if Batman is trying to heal Gotham, than Joker is trying to hasten it's death.

If you're curious for more, send me more asks because I could literally go on all day long.

[blorbologist]

heyooo I just started writing fan fic and I really have no idea what I'm doing haha, can you explain how you draft and edit and write you long fics? i don't know what to do besides just starting at the beginning and writing to the end. (also sending this to multiple writiers so I can get lots of opinions)

Hi anon! I’m really flattered you’ve reached out <33

An amorphous list of advice from someone who has written over 300k words in under a year:

Make sure to note all your ideas for the fic down. You will not remember your plot twist thought up on the walk home in a few hours - *write it down!* It could be gushing to a friend about it or a notepad or whatever - and then make sure to compile it wherever you’re keeping your ideas for that fic. 

Be kind to yourself! Sometimes it takes weeks or months to write a scene the way you want it - maybe you aren’t inspired, maybe you can’t get it to Work, maybe, maybe - don’t beat yourself up about it. It’s art. There is no timeline. 

Likewise, if you’re new: I’d really recommend against a longfic! Do some oneshots first - seeing a work to completion and posting it will really help your confidence. A longfic is a long commitment, and if you end up changing plans or abandoning it it can be very discouraging for you to have that incomplete work be one of your first. It’s like training for a marathon :D

Get a bullet point list if you can of scenes you want to do or information/things that need to happen for those scenes to make sense. Even if you don’t have the details - I have the note ‘they find Tary in hell, because he overheard them and thought it was an adventurous place to be’ in my main fic doc. I didn’t know *how* they were going to meet him, or under what context, and figured that out as I wrote. You don’t need to break it up by chapter, just timeline. 

Speaking of timeline, here’s a neat trick: muse is a fickle thing, you don’t *have* to trudge through content you don’t want to write to get to the good stuff. I usually prefer to - I like having the full emotional context for scenes clear in my head - but when writer’s block gets me I’ll often jump to self indulgent writing something fun I’ve wanted to get to. You can always go back and edit things and add in a scene later, so long as you haven’t posted yet…

… which is why I strongly, strongly, strongly recommend having a buffer when you can, or at least letting a chapter sit overnight while you sleep on it. I get the urge to post something you just made, hot off the press, but you would not believe the number of typos or inconsistencies I find after reading things over with fresh eyes. This is true for both oneshots and longfics - the chapters y’all are seeing for Two for joy were mostly complete around November during NaNoWriMo! It also means you have room to go back and edit things - if you stumble on a cool plot twist you can foreshadow it more effectively, or if a character arc changed in ways you didn’t expect you can lay more groundwork for it. It’s less stressful knowing that if gradschool goes to hell I’ve got… hang on… 13 weeks of wiggle room while still keeping to my schedule. And even if it did run out - this is free content, people would understand if I went on hiatus for a bit. You have all the time in the world - use it!

BUT, in a similar vein, feedback and encouragement are super important to keeping your muse up. Which is why I strongly recommend having a friend or two in fandom you can bombard with snippets and spoilers and ideas! One for sorrow / Two for joy would likely have sputtered and fizzled out without @rightpastnowhere, @katia-dreamer, @burr-ell, @essayofthoughts, @romeoandjulietyouwish - and the fandom community I found early on that were so excited for the fic! Engage with your commenters, they can make for really great friends, betas and/or tormented souls when you offhand chuck your most evil plot twists at them >:D 

Remember that fanfic is supposed to be fun. You’re having fun. You’re writing, for free. I’ve mostly written for Critical Role as a fandom, but I promise you it’s not as scary as you might think it is. I haven’t gotten a single nasty comment or anon yet, despite, uhhhh, breaking up my OTP and piling angst galore on people (and making Vax trans). By in large, it's a supportive space - but don't be afraid to curate it to your needs. Writing is for you and whatever you want to get out of it: validation for your ideas/HCs/skill, new friendships and a sense of community, improving your own skill, self-indulgent things you want to see in fiction, working through trauma, hella hot porn, etc. We’re all allowed to look to fic for different things, If it stops being what you need, if it feels like work, like a chore? You can drop it. 

Hope this was of some help!

[shewasverynice]

Fandom: 僕のヒーローアカデミア | Boku no Hero Academia | My Hero Academia (Anime & Manga) WILL CONTAIN SPOILERS

Rating: Explicit 

Major Warnings: Graphic Depictions Of Violence, Major Character Death, Referenced Child Abuse, Implied/Referenced Self-Harm, Implied Childhood Sexual Abuse, Non-Consensual Drug Use

Additional Warnings: Canon-Typical Violence, Blood and Injury, Alcohol Abuse/Alcoholism, Drug Use

Categories: F/M, Multi 

Relationships: Takami Keigo | Hawks/Original Female Character(s), Original Character/Other(s) 

Major Characters: Original Characters, Takami Keigo | Hawks, Hero Public Safety Commission, Aizawa Shouta | Eraserhead

. . . . . ╰──╮꒰ Halcyon - Part 5 ꒱ ╭──╯ . . . . .

Hawks groggily propped himself up in bed, his eyes struggling to stay open. Three. It was three o'clock in the morning. His phone was ringing loudly, even though it was supposed to be on silent. It must be urgent, he thought, squinting at the caller ID.

Just a number. No name. The area code he didn't recognize though, at least not in this half-awake state.

"...H'lo?" He mumbled, answering the call.

"Good evening, Hawks." A male voice said, "I'm a secretary from Genius Agency and--"

"Genius?" Hawks asked through a yawn, "Best Jeanist's agency? You're over in Tokyo aren't you?"

"Yes, sir, we are." The man answered, "And I'm calling this evening on behalf of Eraser Head."

"Eraser Head?" Hawks muttered, wracking his brain for a moment, "He's... The guy that can erase quirks if he's lookin' at them, yeah?"

"Yes." The man said, sounding annoyed now, "As I was saying, I'm calling on behalf of Eraser Head. He's captured a vigilante acting in his area and our records indicate she resides in Kyushu, an area under Nest's jurisdiction."

"Vigilante from Kyushu in Tokyo?" Hawks grumbled, running his hand down his face, "So why are you calling me about it? Just arrest..." His voice trailed off as the news finally circled in his brain enough to make sense.

"Halcyon?!" He shouted, his feathers spreading in a loud whoosh, "Is it Halcyon?!"

"I'm not sure, sir." The secretary said, "But Eraser Head has asked for you to come and speak to him on this matter. As for this vigilante, we have her secured here. Please come at your earliest convenience."

"Uhh... Yeah. Of course." Hawks answered, his wings folding back down as he hung up.

Tokyo was 6 hours away by bullet train. Halcyon could fly as Phoenix, sure, but even Hawks himself couldn't make that flight in six hours and even then it would be exhausting. Tiger was fast, but not as fast as a bullet train. It couldn't be Halcyon, right?

"She." Hawks muttered, standing up and walking to his dresser to grab a pair of soft shorts.

It couldn't be, right? She wouldn't... Right?

He pulled open his door, quietly making his way down the stairs and up to Chickadee's. Standing there in silence, his thoughts were still swirling. If she was inside, barging in would definitely be awkward, but at least he'd have confirmation. It would be worth the conversation.

He swallowed, composing himself for just a breath before he pushed it open.

"Damn..." He muttered, starting at the immaculately made and untouched bed and the open window letting in the night breeze, "Chickadee... Seriously?"

· · ────── ·𖥸· ────── · ·

Hawks couldn't wait until morning. He'd considered trying to sleep more, but there was no way he could. No way. This was way too much to sleep through.

After he'd spoken to her before bed his head had been filled with an idea of how to test her. He'd been so sure it wouldn't be her. She wouldn't be the one leaking the information. Before leaving for Tokyo he'd even searched the whole agency for her with his feathers, just desperate to prove he was wrong.

But she wasn't there.

So he'd checked the cameras. And wouldn't you know it, there was a convenient blind spot just by her window. Who could have predicted that?

He sighed heavily, his head resting on the window of the train as it rushed towards Tokyo. Somehow he was still hoping it was a misunderstanding. Maybe he'd just missed her, maybe she'd snuck out for some other reason. Maybe she had a secret nightlife as a secretary that didn't include being the very vigilante causing havoc for her own friends.

Hawks groaned, rubbing his tired eyes with the palms of his hands. This was not what he'd expected at all. It really did seem weird that she was quirkless at a hero agency. It was so rare to be quirkless and on top of that she chose to work with heroes anyway? It's not impossible, but just unlikely. He'd let his little crush blind him to the things that had been so suspicious in the first place.

It was nearly ten thirty when he hovered over Genius Agency, landing as gracefully as ever at the front door before wandering in. He had to keep up appearances, the canned coffee in his hand hopefully keeping him awake enough to look professional. Striding confidently up to the counter he gave the receptionist a little wave.

"Hey, the name's Hawks. I'm here to collect my vigilante." He said with an easy smile with one arm leaned on the counter.

"Ah, yes. Hawks." The receptionist said, typing on her computer before she pointed ahead, "Down that hall and through the double doors. I'll buzz you in."

The hallway was long and dimly lit, a narrow, utilitarian passage in the heart of the hero headquarters. Along both sides, cells constructed from thick, reinforced plexiglass lined the walls, each one holding a villain captured in the relentless fight for justice. The villains varied widely, from menacing brutes with bulging muscles and wild hair to sly, cunning figures with sharp eyes and sinister grins. Their powers, though formidable, were contained by the high-tech barriers, rendering them harmless but no less hateful.

Hawks walked down the center of the corridor with an easy confidence, his feathered wings slightly spread, brushing gently against the air in a display of casual power. His sharp eyes glanced briefly at the inmates, acknowledging their presence but not their threats or taunts. A sneer from a hulking figure, a hiss from a woman with snake-like eyes, and a roar of rage from a beastly creature with claws like knives—all of these he met with an unwavering smirk. His steps were steady, the soft tap of his boots on the hard floor the only sound beyond the muffled, angry voices.

As Hawks neared the end of the hall, the figure of Eraser Head became visible. Standing with his usual stoic demeanor, arms crossed and eyes sharp, Eraser Head seemed unperturbed by the cacophony of villainous fury surrounding them. His scarf coiled loosely around his neck, ready to spring into action if needed, and his tired eyes watched Hawks approach with a mix of relief and expectation.

Hawks gave a slight nod of greeting, his smirk widening into a genuine smile as he stopped in front of Eraser Head. "Hey there, Eraser. Guess they still don’t appreciate good company, huh?" His tone was light, but there was a steely edge beneath it, a shared understanding of the gravity of their work.

Eraser Head uncrossed his arms, giving a brief nod in return. "Let's get to it," he said simply, his voice calm but firm, cutting through the noise. Together, they turned and walked further into the depths of the headquarters, leaving the jeering villains behind.

Eraser Head stood stoically, recounting the capture to Hawks as he opened the door to an interrogation chamber. "She was difficult, but once I activated my Quirk, she couldn't maintain her forms. The capture cloth did the rest."

Hawks, leaned against the wall with an air of nonchalance, hiding the hint of embarrassment behind a forced smile. "Yeah, well, you’ve got a knack for making it look easy, Eraser. Guess I'll just have to step up my game next time."

In the dimly lit interrogation room, a woman sat in a reinforced chair, tightly bound with a formidable combination of restraints. Her short, disheveled brown hair clung to the sweat on her forehead, and her piercing forest green eyes darted around the room, their sharpness undiminished despite her predicament. The restraints were clearly designed to counter shape-shifting abilities, preventing even the slightest transformation.

The shape-shifter glared at both heroes, her eyes filled with a mix of resentment for the man who so effortlessly neutralized her powers. Despite her current state, there was a dangerous aura about her, a reminder of the threat she posed if ever given the chance to break free.

Hawks shifted uncomfortably, the gravity of the situation weighing on him as he looked more closely at the bound woman. "You really are Chickadee, aren't you?" His voice was softer now, a mix of disbelief and disappointment. The woman, her fierce green eyes now tinged with regret, didn't respond, but her silence was confirmation enough.

Eraser Head, ever perceptive, picked up on Hawks' change in demeanor. "You know her?"

Hawks nodded, running a hand through his tousled hair. "Yeah, she's... she was my secretary at the agency. I didn't want to believe it when the suspicions first came up. Thought it was just a mistake." His gaze fell, and he chuckled bitterly. "Guess being right doesn't always feel good."

Chickadee's eyes finally met Hawks'. There was a flicker of something there—apology, maybe, or an acknowledgment of the unspoken connection they shared. Hawks felt a pang in his chest. His crush on her, that harmless infatuation he never intended to act on felt hollow now. Knowing that the same person who brought brightness to his office was also the vigilante causing him so much trouble, it twisted something inside him.

Eraser Head placed a hand on Hawks' shoulder, a rare gesture of camaraderie from the stoic man. "Sometimes, the people we least suspect are capable of surprising things. You couldn't have known."

Hawks nodded, but the conflict within him didn't ease. He stepped closer to Chickadee, "Why, Chickadee? Why go through all this?"

To his shock, she glared at him. The kindness he knew in her eyes completely lost. "Because you pro heroes are disgusting." She muttered, "All of you. Strutting around like you're hot shit. Leaving us to rot. Ignoring the ones that you decided don't deserve protection."

"Chickadee I--"

"Don't you "Chickadee" me," She growled, "Chickadee was never real. She was never a girl you knew. It's always been Halcyon."

"Halcyon." Hawks corrected himself softly, "You know that I want to fix it. You know that and you know that we're not all like that. Mistakes happened but--"

"Mistakes?!" She chuckled darkly, tugging on her restraints, "You son of a bitch! It wasn't a mistake! My whole life, not a single fucking Hero ever once did me any good. All of you assholes left me to die and the only ones who protected me were the people you left behind just the same."

"That's not true and you know it." Hawks said, his eyes betraying his hurt, "You know that everyone cares about you at Nest, me included. They all feel awful about the situation down on that side of town. This whole month we've made so much progress too. Don't just throw out everything we've done to hold onto your grudge."

"Fuck you." She spat, sinking back in her chair, "And I'm sure all those interviews and shit are just for helping us, right? Your hero rating is skyrocketing too. Does that make it all better? Does that fix it all up or--"

"Enough." Eraser interjected, "Watch your mouth."

"Fuck you, too." She glared at Eraser Head, "Your city isn't doing much--"

"I said, enough," Eraser stepped forward and hissed out, "You don't get to make accusations when you know nothing about this situation." He straightened up again, looking down at her, "This isn't even my jurisdiction, did you know that? Best Jeanist called me specifically to capture you. I won't let you disrespect a hero of his caliber."

She rolled her eyes, "Oh, excuse me. Did I hurt your feelings?" She smirked, "Well, Best Jeanist or whatever should get his shit together." Looking at Hawks again she tilted her head back defiantly, "Stop looking at me all sad and shit. I'm not Chickadee, remember? That little cutie you were crushing on never existed. You're a fucking moron if you believed that was real."

Eraser Head sighed, tying the restraint across her mouth again to silence Halcyon's cruel words. Her eyes flared worn rage as she pushed and flailed, trying to escape her bonds.

As Eraser Head watched Chickadee struggle, his expression hardened. "You know, I can't stand vigilantes like her. They operate with complete disregard for the heroes who maintain order in their cities. It's disrespectful and rude, considering some of us allow them to operate with us in the first place."

Hawks raised an eyebrow, surprised by the intensity of Eraser Head's words. "You seem to have strong feelings about this, Eraser. Did you know about Halcyon before today?"

Eraser Head gave a slight nod, his gaze unwavering. "I'm more in the know than most other heroes. After I became a teacher at UA, I started getting called in for special cases only—cases where my Quirk is particularly useful."

Hawks blinked, processing this new information. "So, you knew she was working as a vigilante?"

"Yes," Eraser Head replied, his tone matter-of-fact. "I've been tracking her activities for a while now. Halcyon has been on our radar because she walks a fine line between helping and causing trouble. Her methods might have had some positive outcomes, but they also created chaos and confusion that we had to clean up."

Hawks felt a mixture of relief and frustration. "Why didn't you tell me?"

Eraser Head's eyes meet Hawks', calm and steady. "Because you were too close to her. Sometimes, when you’re emotionally involved, it clouds your judgment. I needed to be sure you wouldn't tip her off, even unintentionally."

Hawks clenched his fists, a wave of conflicted emotions washing over him. "I get it, but it still stings. I didn't want to believe she was capable of this. Part of me still doesn't."

Eraser Head's expression softens slightly. "It's never easy when someone you trust turns out to be different than you thought. But it's part of our job to face these realities and do what needs to be done."

Hawks nodded, taking a deep breath. "Yeah, you're right. It just... sucks, you know?"

Eraser head places a reassuring hand on Hawks' shoulder. "It does. But we move forward. We learn from it and we keep doing our job."

Eraser Head and Hawks walked out of the interrogation room, the heavy door clanging shut behind them. Eraser Head turned to Hawks, his expression unreadable. "Next steps are straightforward. Chickadee, or Halcyon as she's known in her vigilante identity, will be officially arrested. The news will announce her capture by you tomorrow."

Hawks raised an eyebrow, still processing everything. "They'll credit the arrest to me?"

Eraser Head nodded. "Yes. The higher-ups decided it would be best. You’re a public figure in Kyushu now, a symbol of hope for many. The public needs that reassurance right now."

Hawks looked skeptical. "But it was your quirk and your capture cloth that brought her in. Why not take the credit yourself?"

Eraser Head's eyes softened slightly, "Because the kind of fame that comes with this sort of arrest isn't something I need or want. My techniques work best in the shadows, away from the limelight. You, on the other hand, thrive in it. It plays to your strengths and keeps people inspired."

Hawks considered this, a mixture of pride and discomfort swirling within him. "I get it, but it feels like a lie."

Eraser Head shook his head. "Not a lie. A strategy. You're acting as the face of this victory, but we both know it was a team effort. That's what matters."

Hawks nodded slowly, accepting the logic. "Alright. I'll play the part."

Eraser Head offered a rare smile. "Good. But remember, just because she’s captured doesn’t mean it’s over. There’s still a lot we need to understand about her motives and connections. Stay sharp."

Hawks smiled wryly. "Sharp is my middle name."

They walked in silence for a moment before Eraser Head spoke again. "One more thing. This isn't just about you. The agency will also be scrutinized by the slums that you're cleaning up. Give them the warning they deserve before the announcement tomorrow. If she's as important to them as it appears it's going to be difficult for them to accept if they don't hear it from you."

Hawks hesitated before he said, "Hey, Eraser. I need to ask you something."

Eraser Head turned, his expression as inscrutable as ever. "What is it?"

Hawks paused again, choosing his words carefully. "Look, I know Chickadee—Halcyon—is going to be arrested and all. But before I knew who she was, I promised Halcyon I'd help her. I feel like I owe it to her to at least try to understand her motives for hiding at Nest."

Eraser Head's eyes narrowed, "She's a vigilante who's broken the law repeatedly with aggressive and dangerous tactics. You can't let personal feelings cloud your judgment."

"I get that," Hawks replied, frustration creeping into his voice. "But she's not all bad. She's done some good, too. Maybe there's a way we can help her, work something out."

Eraser Head crossed his arms, his tone firm. "People like her, with that kind of attitude and disregard for the law, are dangerous. They think they can do whatever they want because they believe they're in the right. That's a slippery slope, Hawks."

Hawks stepped closer, his voice earnest. "I know it's a risk, but I can't just ignore her. She had reasons for what she did, and I want to at least hear her out. Maybe there's something we can do to help her see another way."

Eraser Head sighed, his resolve unwavering. "Hawks, I've seen this before. Getting too close to someone with a mindset like hers can be dangerous. You need to keep your distance and let the system handle her."

"But—"

"No buts," Eraser Head cut him off. "She's going to be arrested. It's the only way to ensure she faces the consequences of her actions. You need to let this go."

Hawks clenched his fists, struggling with the conflict inside him. "Fine. But I'm still going to talk to her. Maybe I can't stop the arrest, but I can at least try to understand her. Maybe I can make her see there's another way."

Eraser Head looked at Hawks, a mixture of concern and resignation in his eyes. "Do what you need to, but remember my warning. Don't get too close. People like her can be very persuasive, and not always in a good way."

Hawks nodded, determination etched on his face. "I understand. Thanks, Eraser."

As Eraser Head walked away, Hawks felt a renewed sense of purpose. He knew the risks, but he already knew that there was more to Halcyon than met the eye. He wanted to find a way to reach her, to understand her motivations, and maybe, just maybe, help her find a better path.

With a deep breath, Hawks headed back to the holding area. He needed to talk to her again, not as her boss, but as someone who once made a promise to help. For a moment he even considered sharing his real story with her... Maybe she'd be more keen to talk to "Keigo Takami" rather than Hawks? That was dangerous and a direct disregard for his orders from the HPSC to never share his real name, but still...

Hawks approached the holding cell once more where Halcyon was being kept. The guards stepped aside, and Hawks took a deep breath before entering. The room was as stark as the interrogation chamber, with only a small table and a chair. Chickadee sat restrained still, her eyes burning with defiance.

He removed the gag from her mouth, and almost immediately, she snapped, "What do you want, Hawks? Here to gloat about your big capture?"

Hawks shook his head, trying to remain calm. "No, I just want to talk."

She scoffed, "Talk? Really? What could we possibly have to talk about? You and your professional hero buddies only care about fame and fortune, clearly. You don't actually care about helping people."

Hawks felt a twinge of guilt but pushed through it. "I get why you think that. But you know me better than that. Remember all the time we spent working in the slums together? All those nights trying to make a difference for people who had no one else to turn to? I came to find Halcyon myself. You trusted me then, didn't you?"

Her eyes narrowed, suspicion and anger flaring. "That was before I knew what you really were. Just another hero looking for glory."

He sighed, frustration creeping into his voice. "It's not like that, and you know it. I've always been about helping people, and you were a big part of that. I thought we were on the same side."

Halcyon's lip curled in disdain. "You're deluding yourself. You live in a fantasy world where the system works. But out there, in the real world, people suffer because of that system."

Hawks clenched his fists, feeling his own anger rise. "I'm not blind to that, but breaking the law and becoming a vigilante isn't the answer. You need to trust me, to work with me. We can find a better way together."

She laughed bitterly. "Trust you? That's rich. You're just another cog in the machine. You think you can fix everything with a smile and some fancy moves. It's pathetic."

Hawks stepped back, feeling the impact of her words. It wasn't just her defiance that struck him, but also the pain and protective barrier he recognized from his own past. As a child, he had built a shield to guard himself, but over time it had faded enough for him to start to trust others. However, she must never have found someone she could truly rely on to let her guard down with.

He softened his tone, trying one last time. "I know you've been through a lot, Halcyon. I can see it. But pushing everyone away won't help. Let me in. Let me help you."

She met his gaze with cold eyes. "I don't need your help. I don't need anyone, and I especially don't need a Hero."

Hawks sighed, recognizing the pattern of someone who's been hurt too many times. He knew pushing her right then would only make things worse. "Alright. I'll give you some space. But this isn't over. I'm not giving up on you."

She didn't respond, her eyes hardening again as he turned to leave. As the door closed behind him, Hawks felt a mix of frustration and resolve. He couldn't break through today, but he wouldn't stop trying. For now, he'd let her be, but he'd be back.

· · ────── ·𖥸· ────── · ·

Around the meeting table, the Nest members remained quiet. The information regarding Chickadee had a profound impact, particularly on Kiwi. Her typically cheerful demeanor was overshadowed by the tears she gently wiped away with tissues. Heron sat quietly next to Kiwi, his eyes also welling up with tears. Owl's mouth was tightly shut, his hands clenched into fists on the table. Hawks, on the other hand, was still struggling to come to terms with the news, and his exhaustion from working late into the night was evident.

"So... It really was her." Kiwi sniffled, "I never would have guessed."

Heron shook his head, "She was so nice too... Like... Why would she do this to us?"

Owl sat back in his chair, looking up at the ceiling. After a moment he said, "I think it's best that we have a talk with Kingfisher."

Hawks nodded, "Yeah, I was thinking the same thing. He and Halcyon have some kind of history."

"They do?" Heron asked as Hawks slid a folder on the table in front of him in his direction. Heron looked through the papers as Hawks explained.

"She has no official birth certificate or anything to identify her. Wherever she came originally from has been erased completely for some reason." He said, "The only thing that we have is a few odd hospital records that identified a Mrs. Antoinette Allard as her guardian."

"Miss Toni. That has to be her." Kiwi sniffled, "I knew she was close to Halcyon."

Hawks nodded, "I want to talk to her as well after we make the announcement about Halcyon's arrest. We need as much information as we can."

Owl smiled a little at Hawks, "So you can't just let her go like that either, huh?"

Hawks shrugged, a lopsided smile curling on his lips, "Nah. I really just can't let it end there."

The sun was setting over the city, casting a warm glow on the rooftops and alleyways. Hawks soared above the skyline, his sharp eyes scanning the streets below. He was not alone in his flight. Beside him, Kiwi, Heron, and Owl kept pace, their wings cutting through the air with practiced ease. The team was on a mission now, one that required the utmost care and finesse.

Hawks landed in the slums first, his wings folding behind him as he touched down in a small, dimly lit square. Kiwi waited nearby on a street corner, keeping watch. Heron, tall and steady, took his place beside Hawks, while Owl, silent and observant, moved to the shadows to monitor their surroundings.

A crowd was already gathering, drawn by the sight of the well-known Pro Hero team. Whispers and murmurs rippled through the people, their eyes flickering with a mix of hope and apprehension.

Hawks stepped forward, raising a hand to call for silence. "Thank you for coming," he began, his voice steady and warm. "I know many of you are worried about Halcyon. I want to assure you that we didn't want her to be arrested, but she has. She's done a lot of good here, and that doesn't go unnoticed."

A man in the crowd, his face lined with worry, spoke up. "Then why did you let it happen? She was protecting us!"

Hawks nodded, understanding the man's frustration. "I understand your anger. Halcyon crossed some lines in another city that forced the authorities to act, but it doesn't change the fact that she's a good person. I didn't want her to be arrested, and I'm working to get her released. I want her to join our team officially, where she can continue to do good work without fear of being hunted down."

There was a murmur of surprise and skepticism. Another voice, this time a woman's, called out. "How do we know you're telling the truth? Why should we trust you?"

Kiwi, from her spot, chimed in, her voice clear and ringing. "Because we've been here, helping and protecting you too. We've built something together. Hawks and all of us believe in Halcyon, just like you do. We wouldn't be here if we didn't mean what we're saying."

Heron stepped forward, "Halcyon has shown that she's on your side. Now, we ask you to trust us as well. We're not just here as heroes; we're here as your allies. We promise to do everything we can to bring her back."

The crowd was silent for a moment, digesting the words. Hawks could see the conflict in their eyes, the tug of loyalty to Halcyon battling with their wariness. He took a deep breath and continued.

"I've seen the good Halcyon has done. She's saved lives, kept this community safe. I need you to believe that we're on the same side. Together, we can make sure she continues her work, but within the law, where she won't have to look over her shoulder."

Finally, a young boy stepped forward, his face earnest and hopeful. "You promise?"

Hawks knelt to look the boy in the eyes. "I promise. We won't stop until she's free and back where she belongs—here, with all of you."

The tension in the air began to dissipate, replaced by a cautious optimism. The people nodded, some even offering small smiles. They didn't have all the answers, but the trust that Hawks and his team had painstakingly built was holding strong.

"Could any of you please direct me to Miss Toni?" He added, "I want her input on Halcyon as well. I think she can help us plead a better case for Halcyon's release."

As the crowd began to disperse, a young woman approached Hawks. She was one of the many people Halcyon had helped, her admiration for the vigilante clear in her eyes.

"Mr. Hawks," she said hesitantly, "I'll take you to her."

Hawks nodded, grateful for the suggestion. "Lead the way."

The woman guided the team through a series of winding alleys until they reached a small, makeshift shelter nestled between two buildings. Sitting in front of it was Miss Toni, the nearly ninety-year-old woman with a kind face etched with the lines of many years. Her large overcoat, though worn, hinted at its once high-quality fabric. She looked up as they approached, her eyes twinkling with recognition and delight.

"Well, if it isn't Hawks and his wonderful team," Miss Toni said, her voice warm and welcoming. "Come, come. Sit with me for a while."

Hawks knelt down beside her, his team forming a respectful semicircle around them. "Miss Toni, it's good to see you again. How are you holding up?"

"Oh, you know," she replied with a soft laugh, "these old bones are still kicking, dear. I've heard the news about Halcyon. It's a real shame, but I trust you have a plan."

Hawks smiled, comforted by her unwavering faith. "We do, Miss Toni. We’re working to get her released and to have her join our team officially. She’s done so much good here, and we want to make sure she can keep doing it without fear."

Miss Toni reached out, her hand surprisingly steady, and patted Hawks' arm. "I knew you were good people. She's always thought highly of you even if she didn't want to admit it. This community trusts you, and so do I."

Heron, standing nearby, added, "We wanted you to hear it directly from us, Miss Toni. We know how much Halcyon means to you and everyone here."

The old woman nodded, her eyes glistening with emotion. "She's like a daughter to me. Always looking out for the little people, just like you. I'm glad you’re on her side."

Kiwi said with a grin, "We won’t let you down, ma'am. We'll bring her back, and we'll make sure she can keep protecting you all."

Miss Toni smiled broadly. "I believe you. You've all done so much already. Just keep doing what you’re doing, and we’ll be alright."

Hawks felt a wave of relief wash over him. Miss Toni's approval meant the world to him and the team. Her trust was proof of the bond they had forged with the community, a bond they were determined to honor.

"So, then," Hawks cleared his throat, "Would you mind telling us about her? About the real Halcyon?"

The old woman smiled, "Of course. Get comfortable, kids. It's a long story."

⤶ Prev Main Next ↪

[whatiswrongwithpeople]

Helloo!! I hope you're able to sort out your schedule soon and your university studies go well! Remember that it's ok to take a break and focus on other stuff, the fandom will still be here ❤️❤️❤️

In terms of things that I'd love to see, this has lived in my head rent free since you first posted it. I LOVE how you write intimate moments with Tangerine!! The pining looks and soft touches really send me into orbit 😍

So, maybe some soft moments in the middle of a stressful job when Tangerine is upset and Tabasco tries to comfort him? He could be worried about getting everyone out safely (since he's a Gordon and he feels like that's his responsibility). I could see Tabasco being his center of support and he's just so in love with her for it.

Just a thought I had. Excited to see what you come up with! Have a good day!! 🥰🥰

A/N: Thank you and everyone else so much for all your ideas and prompts! I’ve taken note of all of them and will try to write something whenever my schedule allows it. Once again a big fat thank you to all of you for being so patient with me!!

Summary: A fight broke out , not only on the Bullet Train but also in Tangerine’s mind. His medicine? Tabasco.

Warnings: Description of panic/anxiety, not proof read

Hope you enjoy!! 🍊🧡

He felt trapped. Not physically no, he felt trapped within his own mind. This was not something Tangerine was familiar with. Usually his anger would just overtake his body , immediately shutting down any other emotions or thoughts, but seemingly his body decided to try something else today. At some point , and Tangerine was not able to tell when exactly for the sake of Thomas , a thought manifested itself in the contract killer’s mind. ”Get them out of here. You have to get them out of here alive.“ kept repeating itself like a broken record, steadily building up like an orchestrated symphony of agony.

Making sure to keep a tight grip on the vest of her attacker, Tabasco glanced over at her partner. She always kept an eye on him , but tonight he was acting very out of line. His usually angry ,steady strikes seemed to be a bit more unsteady, somewhat unsure and he would occasionally shake his head as if he was trying to get rid of something. Keeping her focus on the man who occupied her mind way more often than she���d like him to, Tabasco forcefully slammed her knee into the head of her opponent and carelessly discarded his body on the train wagon‘s floor. She was fully aware that the mission should always be her top priority , but even with multiple armed men charging at her , her focus was set entirely on getting to Tangerine. Quickly avoiding a fist swinging her way ,the female assassin scanned the rather tiny space with calculating eyes. Tangerine was located at the far end of the wagon, switching between fighting in the aisle and the corridor. Right in front of her was Ladybug, who was currently suffocating a man with his bucket hat. And guarding the door right behind her back was Lemon. The latter turned to her, a sincere tone accompanying the usual grumpy expression. “You better get over there and bring my brother back on track. He looks like he is applying for a job in a haunted house and I don’t like that at all.” Throwing a suitcase to knock out an approaching attacker, Lemon threw her one last urging glance before turning back around and continuing his mission. Not wasting anymore time, Tabasco took off towards Tangerine. She could swear that she was hearing Lemon angrily explaining Thomas the Tank Engine lore whilst beating someone up behind her. Swiftly making her way through the aisle , she reached Tangerine’s end of the carriage. Mentally noting to ask Ladybug about his bucket hat technique as soon as all of this was over.

Tangerine on the other hand was not noticing anything, his senses too high on alert and his mind to confused by the panicked sensation climbing its way upwards his spine. At this point his body was completely relying on muscle memory to take out any threats and he swore he has never been more grateful for the exhausting and quite frustrating training sessions ,he has put himself through. In fact, the unfamiliar feeling of anxiety had a grip so strong on him that he didn’t notice the pull on his arm , until he found himself in the corridor ,Tabasco standing directly in front of him , searching his frantically roaming gaze. “Hey, Hey!” the constant ringing in his ears got replaced with a soft voice. Snapping his head in her direction, he tried to answer but his breathing got thrown off its rhythm, words replaced by quick , shallow breaths. Breaking out of her shock at seeing the usually anger driven Tangerine so confused and lost by his failure to function , Tabasco took his face in her hands locking her eyes with his baby blues. “Hey! It’s okay.” She reassured the distraught man. Reaching down with one of her hands ,she got a hold of his colder one and placed it onto her cheek , so that he could feel her warm breath skimming the skin of his palm. “Here , breathe with me.” she utters, making her breath match a rhythm Lemon had taught her a while ago when he had found her awake one night after a mission which she had failed horribly. Slowly Tangerine’s throat started to open up again.

The proximity of their bodies as well as Tabasco’s thumb still tracing his cheek, spread a fiery warmth across his cold skin. Her breath gently blowing away the troubles plaguing his mind , like a fresh summer breeze after a thunderstorm. His eyes clung to her form like a religious man would to his sacred scripture. “There you are.” the woman chuckled softly, her tracing fingers noticing how the hardened features of his face softened. Tangerine was not a man of any believes , but in this moment , surrounded by utter chaos, he was convinced that someone has sent him an angel.

“You’re fucking magical , do you know that?” he mumbled, eliciting a laugh from the woman. The sound of it a lullaby to his inner demons. “Might as well call me Houdini then.” She teased back , a grin plastered on her face. Leaning forward, Tangerine pressed his forehead to hers. The look in his eyes serious and genuine. “Thank you ,love.” he breathed out, briefly pulling her into his chest and placing a kiss on her hair, before taking a step back and squaring his shoulders. “Let’s get back to business then , shall we?” Tangerine asked , his accent laid on extra thick, an outstretched arm gesturing towards the door. “Oh we definitely should!” Tabasco exclaimed, making her way through the door. “ I don’t think beating Thomas the Tank Engine lore into someones brain and choking someone to death with your bucket hat are sufficient techniques for this mission.” Straightening out his vest and adjusting his cufflinks, Tangerine followed Tabasco back into the other section of the train. His head snapping up in confusion, the familiar tinge of anger back on his face. “Wait , what did you just say?”

Tag list: @spookyspecterino @peachydoesstuff @shittingonyourgrave

[soartfullydone]

Rufus: 8, 12, 21. Bastion: 4, 5, 18

Rufus (shut up)

8. What's something the fandom does when it comes to this character that you despise?

I genuinely try to avoid learning what the fandom does at all buuut anything that paints Rufus as being domestic when he has no concept of what a normal life looks like, never mind a functional family. This man has no idea how to balance a checkbook and wouldn't have an instinctual interest in putting your feelings first. I'm not saying he can't have moments of vulnerability or being soft, but those moments are ephemeral. This man has walls around him. He distances himself from others as a rule. He has personas he shows to the board, to rank and file employees, to the general public and keeps his true self and intentions carefully hidden. He's manipulative and it comes second-nature to him. He loathes not feeling in control of a situation and isn't going to sub for you.

12. What's a headcanon you have for this character?

A then-unnamed Darkstar was a failed genetic enhancement canine experiment that was going to be terminated. The breed was meant to follow its owner's orders without question, but Darkstar exhibited significant aggression and behavioral issues. When Rufus interceded on the experiment's behalf, it wasn't to plead mercy from his father. Instead, Rufus made a bet with him. If he could train the animal, he could keep him as his personal guard dog.

President Shinra agreed, on the condition that if Rufus failed, his son would be expected to plant a bullet in the dog's head himself. Rufus named his dog the very next day, a defiant vow to them both that he would succeed.

21. If you're a fic writer and have written for this character, what's your favorite thing to do when you're writing for this character? What's something you don't like?

Whenever Rufus is in a scene, it feels like everything has suddenly been placed under a microscope. He's observant and calculating, the emotions he expresses wavering between bored, cool, muted, and amused. But the play of emotions, while subtle, are there if other characters are observant enough to clock them. Focusing on body language is a must and a nice challenge for me because so much about Rufus is what he isn't saying. Other characters have to be on their A-game while dealing with him, and that's impossible for some to manage. Since characters making missteps is always a possibility, scenes with him tend to feel alive and interesting to write, even if they're not full of action. Walking on a knife's edge just does it for me.

I guess what I don't like but I willingly do to myself is that I don't write from his perspective, at least not yet. I don't want his every thought and action to be transparent to the reader or the other characters, but that means I, the writer, have to keep track of what he verbally notes and what he mentally files away for later. And that means making a lot of side notes. A real pain in the ass, this rich boy.

Bastion (i'm being harrassed)

4. If you could put this character in any other media, be it a book, a movie, anything, what would you put them in?

Does pymary get to come with him? Because if it doesn't, I think it would kill him. This is hard, though. I've not thought much about it, so I don't have a serious answer for you but. The Gentlemen Bastards series because that's what Locke and Jean need. A pansexual necromancer bastard in desperate want of money and whose unsettling, otherworldly patron won't leave alone. Locke and Bastion would be so bitchy at each other as they try to prove who's more clever. Jean's just the right side of ugly yet fuckable that Bastion would seduce right off, and Locke would hate that, actually. He'd go for Sabetha, too—good luck to him. But Bastion's offsetting and pymary would be so useful to the thieves, and maybe, just maybe, Locke and Jean's slightly better moral compass would inspire Bastion to be the better person he wants to be but is too scared to commit to. They'd still murder people as needed, though.

5. What's the first song that comes to mind when you think about them?

Funeral by Reaper and Prison Sex by TOOL, it's instant. (They're side-by-side in my playlist for a reason.) The former captures the Black Tongue lifestyle, the swagger, glamour, and ultimate self-destructiveness of it all. And the latter is about the cycles of abuse started by Delicieu and perpetuated by Bastion onto others, coupled with his over-reliance on sex as both stimulant and escape.

18. How about a relationship they have in canon with another character that you admire?

I deeply adore Bastion's relationship with Rahm Ripa. The genuine friendship between them. The mentorship Rahm tries to give Bastion. The mutual respect of an accomplished compeer. How these two can absolutely level with each other and call each other out on their bullshit. How they go along with each other's unwise endeavors anyway, for knowledge, for pymary. And of course, there's the fucking. I genuinely mourn its loss every day, but it's a hurt that hurts so good, so it's fine. It's fine. I'm fine.

[dont-call-me-algernon]

Ty @circeancity for the tag!!

RULES: Reveal the titles of the documents in your WIP folder and tag as many people as there are documents. Let others ask questions about the ones that interest them and post snippets or explain the contents as you see fit!

The thing is, I don’t have a single wip folder, but a different wip folder for each fandom. Meaning I have something like 20wips at a time, in various states of abandonment… yeah. So I think I’m gonna stick to the ones I’ve edited/added to at least once in the last month, for this one!

1. dead ringers

A pre-canon first meeting one shot about the citrus killers from Bullet Train, written by me for me basically, given the almost non-existent fandom for this book. Unfortunately a case of “I have everything written and more or less edited EXCEPT the last few paragraphs, how do you even end a fic”.

[...] "It's a bit freaky from up close, isn't it?"

"I beg you pardon?" He scoffed, affecting annoyance for being suddenly addressed by a stranger.

"Too bad there can only be one," the other man said, a small grin beginning to form at the corner of his mouth. Tangerine almost expected him to laugh and exclaim something along the lines of ‘oh, I always wanted to say that!’. How cliché. "And that would be me. You can save your energies. If I could be killed, I would be already dead," but then he backtracked, "Then again, if you went down without a fight, it would be kind of a bummer. So try to put up a little resistance, yeah?"

2. fishbones

I recently made a mistake, and that mistake was getting into Funger (Fear & Hunger). Now everyone must put up with my rare pair shenanigans over there too. I’m prooobably gonna keep the title, unless I come up with anything better by the time I've finished writing it (very unlikely). Also – small warning for people chit-chatting during an impromptu autopsy, I guess??

[...] "Much obliged," the doctor said, offering him a thin smile that looked almost as out of place on his gaunt features as the rest of him, with his eccentric slacks and silken bow tied around his collar, did in a devastated village turned warzone. "Henryk, was it?"

"At your service," he replied mechanically and regretted it at once. He didn't want him to get any creative ideas about his willingness to help with his current task.

"Let me tell you, Henryk, you'd make for a terrible pickpocket," the other remarked as he drew another cut along the dead man's sternum.

3. bank time babyyy

Incredibly silly working title for an incredibly self-indulgent Death Note fic about “what if some of the corrupt yotsuba execs had lived long enough to be able to react to the events of the 2020 one shot (re: the new Kira using yotsuba bank for his plan)???”

[...] "Somehow, the board still believe it’s an elaborate publicity stunt."

"And you decided you’re going to let them," Mido concluded for him. "They must think we have the strangest concept of guerrilla marketing."

"Only until I'm able to fix this…" he seemed on the cusp of adding something – situation, debacle, utter trainwreck – before likely resolving that no Japanese word could do justice to the absurdity of their predicament. "I never thought I'd be grateful for the depth of human stupidity, but here we are," he gave way to another pause, marked by an almost solemn intake of breath preluding to what, from his perspective, must have been a pretty humiliating admission. "I'll need your help. And your spirits."

Besides @bespectacled-bookwyrm I’m… not really sure who else among my mutuals has any active wips, so I’m gonna tag them and anyone else who may want to do this little game, as usual.

[piracytheorist]

Macabre Theme and Variations (5/15)

Fandom: Spy x Family Word count: 3k for this chapter | 15.7k so far | 65k in total Rating: T Warnings: Non-permanent character deaths, graphic violence

Summary: Twilight wakes up. He works on his mission. He dies. He comes back and does it all over again. Each time a little different. (Inspired by the film Happy Death Day)

AO3 Read from the beginning: Tumblr | AO3

Warning for this chapter: Graphic death and mentions of suicide

Note: Again, big thanks to @samatedeansbroccoli for their very quick beta cause I forgot to send them my questions until last moment XD Any mistakes left are my own.

~

Chapter 5: Morendo

morendo = dying away (in dynamic and/or tempo)

~

Borf!

Twilight opens his eyes with a heavy groan. He punches the bed in frustration.

Damn it. That man is dodging bullets now?!

Who the hell is he? How is he that good? He was hiding from hours ago in the building, he knew where Twilight was and what disguise he was in, and he could avoid getting shot? From that up close?

Could he be a specially trained spy?

What kind of spy would take so many innocent lives along with his just to take down his target?

He's pulled out of his thoughts by the sound of Yor bumping into the corridor wall. He bites his lip. Perhaps he should start getting up immediately and save the poor woman from colliding with the wall every single morning.

He gets up to fill Bond's food bowl. He throws a glance at Yor when she comes out of the bathroom. She sleepily raises a hand to greet him and walks back to her room.

She and Anya were too far away from the bombs that time. There would be a commotion, but they would survive. And then his spy colleague would have to make an excuse to leave, and they'd never see Loid Forger again, having no idea that he was actually blown off by the bomb.

He shakes his head. The day was reset. None of that matters. He's still here, given yet another chance.

He sighs and sits down on the sofa, going through his plans. He had expected the killer to look around for him in the small chance he went past his colleagues, but he hadn't expected him to spot his disguise. He hadn't expected him to dodge bullets!

And Twilight hasn’t even seen his real face!

He can hardly believe it, but he'll need to ask for real back-up from WISE. This is nothing like he's ever faced before, and the benefit of reliving the day over and over is limited; the moment he spots his killer is only seconds away from his death and the reset.

He contemplates asking them for a thorough search of the theater, but that might alert the killer and lead him into changing his plan. And currently, Twilight’s only advantage is knowing the killer’s usual routine.

He needs to use space to his benefit. Every single time the murderer appeared, the detonator was already pressed in his hand; the moment the pressure is relieved, the bombs go off. Which means that Twilight cannot take him out while they're still inside. He has to lure him outside and have snipers at the ready. If he's to stop the resets, the bombs must detonate outside, limiting the innocent deaths. Ideally, the bombs shouldn't detonate at all.

That's his plan for tonight. He works out, steps outside to buy Anya and Yor's favourite delicacies, has breakfast with them as a happy family man, and then sets off for his real work. The hospital will wait today.

It's a good thing he memorized the news reports of every hour the day before. It makes convincing his Handler of his predicament much easier.

“Fine,” she concedes, setting her coffee cup down. It’s too early in the day and she couldn't change her schedule quick enough to meet in a safe house, so they had to resort to meeting in a cafeteria in disguise. “Let's say I believe you, because I cannot imagine what reason you'd have to trick me with this.”

“I don't care for comfort, Handler. I simply need you to believe me about the man who's been trying to kill me.”

“From your descriptions he sounds very dedicated, very well-trained, and disciplined enough to use his despair and death wish as a weapon rather than a hindrance.”

“What motives would such a man have?” he asks. “What would lead him to not care if Desmond goes down with me?”

“It sounds personal. A revenge plan? If he knows about you, he must know how crucial you are to the agency.”

Of course. Being an agency's top spy and asset is nothing to be proud of. For most professions, being the top usually comes with fame or fortune, sometimes both. In his line of work, the higher a position one has, the bigger the threat of being killed at any moment.

“A revenge plan against WISE. From an enemy organization?”

She shakes her head wearily. “There's no point in making assumptions now. Rip that mask off of him next time you meet him. Get a good look on his real face and then–”

“And then die. And come to you after the day resets and tell you about it all over again.” His eyes drop to the table. How will he even get the chance to approach him and live long enough to rip his mask off?

She looks at him, her thumb running over the ring on her index finger. She kept it on despite her disguise. “Are you alright?”

The question gives him pause. It's unbecoming for people like them. “I told you, I'm not here to seek comfort.”

She looks at him, her face betraying words she's holding back.

He straightens his shoulders and prepares to leave. Keeping his head low he says, “You won't even remember this tomorrow.”

“But I will be here tomorrow,” she offers.

He pauses. He has to admit, he expected it would be way harder to convince her, or Franky. And though they both exhibited a tiny amount of doubt for his words, he was still surprised by how comforting it was, to be understood.

He clenches his teeth.

He may not be seeking comfort... but that doesn't mean there's no part of him that craves for it.

“Try to compile a list of possible suspects. I need the snipers ready and in place by 2002 hours exact,” he says, standing up.

“Understood,” is the last thing she tells him.

He takes a slow walk to the hospital; he takes notice of the people around him. Those who work, those who rest, those going to work, those coming back, those running errands... and he wonders if their everyday routine could resemble what he's been experiencing. Minus the deaths, of course.

There must be a certain kind of comfort in being able to expect most of their day-to-day. The shopkeeper will get customers; the mailman will deliver letters; the bus driver will follow a specific route. Deviations are to be expected too, major or minor, but they're just that; deviations.

His life is full of changes and turns and surprises – all of them supposed to be expected and prepared for, and each one with its own separate change of plan. It's how he's managed to survive that long. This current time trap is the first time in a long, long time, that things are so stable that the only way they can deviate is if he forces them to.

He's not used to that. His focus was always his targets and his missions, never himself. He's not used to such immediate results of his own actions.

Every person that catches his sight here has a life full of that. Though it certainly isn't pleasant for everybody, this routine offers them a sense of safety, that unless they're just very unlucky, things will go as expected and they won't have to worry about a new threat or danger.

And for the first time, he might be starting to realize what that safety feels like. Even though he knows that this evening he still has high chances of dying again.

The safest he's felt since he was a child is a day where he expects to die.

He snorts a laugh at the irony.

The list he gets from Handler is not helpful either. Some names are the same from yesterday’s list, some are new, and none of them give him any confidence for today.

By early evening, Anya's excitement feels almost unnerving. He just wants to end the loop, and the realization that he's starting to relax isn't helping.

He starts wondering what it'd be like if this was his everyday life. If the norm was that his biggest worry of the day would be whether Anya would do well at the play.

He still doesn't let Anya wear the prince costume before they leave.

It's starting to feel like letting her wear it would mean he's expecting to die that day.

His life hasn't allowed him long periods of safety. From living through a war to working as a spy, he'd accepted that death is always lurking in the corner. Why is it now, when chances are he'll come back anyway, that he's starting to feel anxious about dying?

Anya is staring at him, eyes wide and mouth slightly open – the worried look that's been getting slightly more worried the more resets he experiences – and he wonders if the answer lies there.

He sits in the audience, paying attention to everything but the play, at least until Damian freezes and Anya looks at Loid, where he urges her in his mind to help him, which of course she does. He then looks at the audience, and he starts wondering why his murderer chooses the time he chooses to kill him. What is convenient about that time? What's the worst collateral damage he can accept even knowing he's going to die?

Last time, knowing what Twilight's disguise was, he opted for minimum damage and attention, and also getting close to Desmond. He most definitely hadn't expected Twilight to immediately know what he was up to, and instead was trying to, once again, kill both him and Desmond with one stone. Though he'd accept Desmond surviving if it meant Twilight was certainly dead.

So Desmond is the exact opposite of a usable fail safe. Similarly with Anya or Damian... but the theater audience is. Or would be, if Twilight's mission wasn't to be as inconspicuous as possible.

Loid sighs quietly. The fact that he's aware of his murderer's plan and intention against the latter's knowledge doesn't help much when he's that unpredictable. And strong, and determined.

He focuses back on the audience. The infiltrator usher from two days ago pretends to dust off something from her vest.

Snipers in position.

Best case scenario, the bombs explode outside, killing only the murderer and no-one else. Worst case scenario, Twilight dies without any new knowledge about him other than how good he apparently is, and the day resets.

No, he forces himself to think. Worst case scenario, the day doesn't reset. He cannot afford that self-assured confidence.

At least, with the bombs detonating outside, no-one else has to get hurt.

The play ends, and a small part of him realizes how there's only minimal effort to smile as applause erupts for Anya.

She's beaming when her eyes turn to him.

The audience takes their leave. Out in the foyer, at the appropriate moment, the usher from before, holding almost empty coffee cups, “accidentally” stumbles when passing by them.

Yor shifts around, managing to grab the young woman from the shoulders before she falls, causing even more coffee than Twilight had anticipated to spill on her dress.

“Oh, no!” Yor exclaims, but focuses on the usher. “Are you alright?”

The corners of his mouth turn up.

“I'm so sorry, ma'am!” the usher starts.

“Ah. Don't worry about it. As long as you're alright.”

“I can pay for the dry cleaning–”

Yor shakes her head. “It's nothing to worry about.” She then looks around at the people watching, adding, “It was my fault anyway,” before she smiles kindly at the woman.

Oh, Yor. You have no idea you don't need to protect this woman from being fired – she doesn't really work here either way.

After giving a few more apologies that Yor politely dismisses, the usher picks up the fallen cups and walks away.

Yor takes a good look at her dress. “Oh, that's quite a big stain.”

“Why don't you try washing it off a bit? I'll go pick up Anya,” Loid offers.

Yor nods. “I'm sorry for the inconvenience.”

It's there again, that feeling in his stomach weighing him down like a stone. “What are you apologizing for? You saved that woman from falling in the spilled coffee.”

She smiles, lowering her gaze.

He looks at the stains on her dress and recalls how she'd ripped her new clothes trying to peacefully de-escalate the situation right before Anya's admission interview.

If, or when, the real tomorrow comes, he owes her some recognition for all that.

He gestures towards the door to backstage with his head. “I'll see you at the front door, our star actress in hand.”

Whoa there. Where did that last part slip out from?

He turns away, hiding the blush on his face from her.

He spots him when he's right next to the door to the dressing rooms from the inside; far back in the hall, a set of eyes fully trained at him through the crowd and distance.

Damn it. The fire exit he was planning to use is too close to the killer. He could try for another fire exit, but the killer might try and shoot him. Twilight can dodge bullets on his own, but he's not daft enough to underestimate the aim of that man.

The closest exit is through the backstage door, so he sprints for the dressing rooms. He runs through the corridor, avoiding every child jumping into his way, and bursts the backstage door open. He runs a little further outside, enough to allow the man to spot him when he comes out. A quick check on the trees and buildings around him as he gives a low whistle; the snipers are at the ready.

Let's see how many bullets you can dodge now.

The door to backstage has swung closed, and his eyes are fully trained on it. He has to lure him far enough outside for the blast waves to not reach the inside and harm people.

Only seconds have passed, but a cold shiver runs down his spine when the killer doesn't come through the door.

He takes one single step forward. The door is still closed, then–

Boom.

The ground shakes under him. His arms raise automatically to shield him from glass shards from the shattering windows.

Now it's his blood that runs cold. He hurries to the door, opening it wide and stepping aside, shouting, “Get out! There's another bomb!” at the top of his lungs.

The only thing reaching outside is the sound of screams.

“GET OUT–”

Boom.

His arms raise again, though this time he's also thrown back by the blast. He grunts as his back hits the ground.

One, two breaths. Get up!

Still no actual humans coming out the door; only heavy smoke.

Screams, fire alarms.

Crying.

His insides feel empty, though his feet are heavy as he runs inside.

His eyes start tearing up from the smoke; through his blurred vision he only sees red.

Crying. So much crying.

Children, screaming for help.

It feels like knives stab his knees when he spots a familiar pair of shoes.

It takes less than a split second for his eyes to scan the figure up, though it feels like an eternity.

The brown boots. The red breeches. The blue overcoat and the matching red ribbon on her collar.

The once pink hair, now almost indistinguishable from the pool of blood her head lies on.

The same blood stains his pants as he kneels down next to her. His hands tremble as he reaches for her helplessly.

“Papa...” she whispers.

He can't speak. He can't seem to find the breath to do so.

He looks into her eyes. They shine with tears that don't fall even as she blinks weakly.

And then she stops blinking. Her eyes stop moving.

The blood seeping into his pants feels hot, and the room is still warm from the two blasts.

Yet a cold emptiness sets in his chest, like a hole that's trying to suck him from the inside.

He's made it. For the first time, he's alive and his killer is dead, the bombs gone off.

Surrounded by children crying, children screaming for help, children dying... it doesn't feel the least bit like a win.

He stands up, looking around for the killer. His remains lie closer to the entrance of the dressing rooms than the exit.

Even if he still had a face left, Twilight wouldn't see any point in identifying him anymore.

He feels like there's no point in anything anymore, as another stab runs through his chest when he hears a familiar voice screaming.

He can see her black hair and her pale pink dress. The coffee stains on it are now completely overshadowed by the blood inching its way up the fabric as she leans over Anya, trembling hands hovering over her frozen face. His mind registers each piece of information like a singular dot, but it cannot connect them. It refuses to.

He turns around and walks away, the sound of children wailing being slowly covered by adult cries.

Somehow, those are even more effective in making him shut off.

He finds a security guard. He's young and new to this job, appearing uncertain on how to handle such a crisis.

That is why Twilight chooses him. Someone with more experience would've known that it's such moments where they need to take extra care no-one will steal their gun.

The pistol slips easily from the young man's holster. Before he can even turn, Loid has cocked the gun and placed the muzzle right under his own chin.

There's no fear and no instinct to pull away when the cold metal touches his skin. There's no trace of discipline keeping his finger away from the trigger.

The bullet seems to immediately mess up his brain's connection to his ears, as he feels the sound of the shot shock his body more than he hears it. He feels the pain in his skull and he sees the blood trail in the air above him as he falls backwards.

Blood trickles down his throat like the coldness that spreads through his limbs.

Darkness fills his vision through his still-open eyes.

BANG!

[questforgalas]

16, 19, 33, 29 for TBB ask game!

Hot picks babes hot picks

16. Gush about your favorite batcher

What's the character limit on this because there is no limit to how much I can say about Crosshair. I have loved toothpick legs ever since he stepped on the Marauder steps, cracked his neck, and crossed his arms at Rex and Cody like there were 8000000 other things more interesting than what they're about to tell him. I think his skill is the coolest of the Batch and the most fun to watch. He's emotionally reserved while wearing his heart on his sleeves. He keeps everyone he loves at an arms length while poised to take a bullet for every one of them. He bonds deeply and hurts easily. He's a cocky exterior with an insecure interior. He's a snarky asshole with the deepest heart.

19. Which batcher is the first to fall asleep at a sleepover

My brain went immediately Wrecker. He gives me the vibes of the guy who's a ball of energy until it's his bed time and then he's out like a light. Tech's brain keeps him up for all hours. Omega doesn't know how to turn off her energy until 2am when she finally just crashed. Hunter's senses keep him going until he's decided everyone's safe and he can turn it off. Crosshair's trained to sit in a perch for who knows how long (assuming there were times when maybe he did solo recons or the Batch were deep in something so he had to chill in a spot for days) without falling asleep so he's a sleepover champ. Echo is the second to fall asleep, happy to chill with everyone until the yawns start, and then usually follows shortly after Wrecker

29. Tell me a random headcanon you have about Crosshair

Crosshair designed all of the tattoos for the Batch. I think he's hiding a very artistic side and because of his enhancement he picks up details no one else even dreams of which he hones by doodling them or sketching during down time. So, the batchers went to him with their tattoo ideas which he'd sketch out and once they approved what he comes up with, he passes it along to Tech who handled the application

33. Tell me you number one conspiracy theory about how Tech survived the fall

I actually don't have a well thought out theory on this other than pure denial and terrible writing if he is actually dead so home boy hit some trees the right way and made it 🤷‍♀️

Thanks for the asks, Morgan! Questions below the cut for anyone who wants to distract me from studying and the terrible burn out I'm experiencing

If you had to marry a member of the Batch, but it couldn’t be your main crush, who would it be?

Which Batcher would you most want to be trapped in an elevator with?

Which Batcher would you want to be your BFF (not SO)?

Which Batcher do you think would be cutest with a pet?

Which Batcher would you take camping with you?

Which Batcher would you want to be your coworker at your irl job?

Which Batcher would you want to be rivals with?

Which Batcher would you have taken with you to your High School Prom?

Which Batcher are you getting to help you when you need to fake your death?

Which Batcher is going to become a hermit in the woods with you?

Which Batcher are you having a sleepover with? (painting nails, gossiping, watching movies, the whole shebang)

Which Batcher are you taking with you on an undercover mission?

Which Batcher would you have crushed on in high school? (Not who you’re crushing on now, unless you genuinely believe your tastes in men are the same)

When you first entered the fandom, who did you think was gonna be your main man? (and were you correct?)

If you had to pick one Batcher who most needs to be given a boquet of flowers (not who you most want to give it to), who would it be?

Gush about your favorite Batcher

Which Batcher do you think would be a YouTuber irl?

Which Batcher is most likely to fall up the stairs?

Which Batcher is the first to fall asleep at a sleepover?

Which Batcher has the ‘weirdest’ taste in music?

Which Batcher is the best cook?

Which Batcher do you think had the most awkward first kiss?

Which Batcher(s) know how to braid hair, and how did they learn?

Which Batcher is the prettiest? (I want DETAILS!)

Tell me a random headcanon you have about Hunter

Tell me a random headcanon you have about Echo

Tell me a random headcanon you have about Tech

Tell me a random headcanon you have about Wrecker

Tell me a random headcanon you have about Crosshair

Tell me a random headcanon you have about Omega

What is your favorite episode?

What is your least favorite episode?

Tell me your number one conspiracy theory about how Tech survived the fall

What are you using to beat up Nolan? (Chair, a stick, bare hands, etc)

What is your favorite ‘inside joke’ from the fandom?

Shoutout your favorite fic writers in the fandom

Shoutout your favorite artists in the fandom

What color do you associate with each Batcher?

If you had to eliminate one Batcher from canon, who would it be?

Who is your least favorite Batcher?

What fan-favorite episode (if any) do you just not get?

FMK, dealers choice

Tell me an angsty headcanon you have about Hunter

Tell me an angsty headcanon you have about Echo

Tell me an angsty headcanon you have about Tech

Tell me an angsty headcanon you have about Wrecker

Tell me an angsty headcanon you have about Crosshair

Tell me an angsty headcanon you have about Omega

What is the worst possible outcome you think is plausible for Season 3?

How do you hope the series will end (as basic or as detailed as you want)

[elis-exists]

I've had either the worst or best idea ever for an AU

I finished watching the entirety of "The Umbrella Academy" and I'm currently waiting on Season 4. So, scrolling through Tumblr like the procrastinator that I am, I had an idea: What if the JSE egos were in The Umbrella Academy?

There's four parts to this:

Explanation of the AU (proposing two scenarios)

JSE characters as The Umbrella Academy based on powers

JSE characters as The Umbrella Academy based on personality/vibes

JSE characters as their own academy

Obviously, this contains spoilers for all seasons, so yeah. This is also pretty long and I might be expanding on this if I like it enough.

Explanation: There are two scenarios that can happen for this AU. Either the characters are The Umbrella Academy and the actual Umbrella Academy members are out living their lives or it's a separate timeline like in Season 3 where the original UA (I'm calling the Umbrella Academy UA to make it easier) got trapped in the 1960s, lived their lives, and messed up the timeline and resulted in not the Sparrow Academy, but the Septic Academy. I'm addressing both options here regarding who is what. First is sorting by powers. Some egos have confirmed powers (Marvin and Anti), some have speculated powers (Jameson and I guess Jackieboy?), and some don't have any at all (Henrik and Chase). Anti as Viktor:

Viktor's (or Vanya's if you haven't caught up yet) powers can be described as "supersonic", able to manipulate the space around the user. Anti's glitching powers have the same feel as supersonic abilities. According to the official wiki, Viktor has the following powers:

Sound Manipulation

Energy Manipulation

Telekinesis

Atmokinesis

Enhanced Hearing

Power Distribution

Being a glitched alter ego of Sean, Anti would most likely be able to possess these powers since his fall along the same lines, being able to manipulate certain things.

Chase as Diego:

Chase having projectile precision would've boosted his show by a lot. Considering his experience with a Nerf gun, he'd be able to train himself to control the projectiles/bullets to go where he'd want them to go.

The fact that Diego can manipulate the projectiles that come for him also play a part in the situation as well

Henrik as Klaus:

Klaus' ability to communicate with the dead (as primarily seen with Ben/Number Six) seems like something Henrik would have, especially considering that Klaus thinks of his ability to be a curse. Having the dead surrounding him whenever he's sober would lead to Klaus drinking and getting high, which could (in some sense) apply to Henrik.

The surgeries failing over time and his performance slipping along with the accumulation of the dead coming around to "haunt" Henrik would lead to him trying to fix everything with drugs and alcohol. The fandom occasionally describes Henrik as an avid coffee drinker and coffee has caffeine, which is addictive.

I feel like Henrik has been in scenarios that would've led him to die, but he's come back to life through his abilities (Klaus can revive after some time), which would probably lead him to be "fit" for his job. Never having to really have the hospital treat his wounds from anything and he's basically immortal.

Jackieboy as Luther:

Strength is a trait that is popularly associated with superheroes, so it would make sense that Jackie would have it. Especially during combat, it would fit the best.

Jackie would be the one who uses his strength the most out of the others. I'm sorry I literally have no other explanation for this.

Jameson as Five:

I've associated JJ with time, especially the transition part in the first JJ video. Five's ability to time travel/wrap through time fits into JJ presumably having time travel powers.

These time traveling abilities would've been put to use by The Commission, leading to everything that occurred, primarily teen Five finding the older version of himself and trying to take the briefcase from him to send his family home.

Even though we don't know exactly how long Sean was transported into the past and "turned" into JJ (in the first video), it can be assumed that it turned into a similar situation like Five's where he tried to jump into time and went too far, getting stuck in the future after the apocalypse and then getting his siblings separated into different times in the 1960s of Dallas, Texas.

Marvin as Allison:

Allison has the ability to rumor people into doing whatever she wants them to do. Marvin would have most likely used this to his ability in gaining whatever he could get, but using it sparingly like Allison. If he ever has to, then he will.

Later on in Season 3 when Viktor and Harlan were trying to use the powers Viktor gave him to take them away and Allison went in too far in the dome that the supersonic powers created, she developed these supersonic powers, but for her voice. Either through this or another method, Marvin would've found a way to "enhance" his ability, even by accident.

Now, it's time for the personalities/vibes matching time!

Anti as Five:

Five and Anti have this "Fuck it, I stopped giving a shit years ago" attitude to them that fits their characters. Five basically experienced 3 apocalypses, did every calculation known to man, and killed more people than suggested and things still went sideways. Anti (besides the calculations because I feel like he can't do math to save his life) would be the same way, pulling all kinds of strings (sorry JJ-) to have things go his way and still things go to shit.

Even though nobody's insignificant, his actions appear to be. Well, in the context of if he was in Five's place.

Chase as Allison:

Allison loved and lost twice confirmed and who knows how many more attempts she had to go through. Chase losing the people that mattered to him (Stacy and his kids) is the same with Allison (Patrick, Claire, and Ray).

Along with this, they both do their best to help their siblings and stand for things they want, but there's a limit. I feel like Chase would get into the most arguments with his brothers relating to morals and ethics, especially behind decisions that really have an impact. It's what Allison has going for her.

Henrik as Viktor:

Viktor feels like everything is his fault and although the apocalypses are, most things really aren't. He was just the wrong person in the wrong time. Everything shitty that happened, Viktor would blame himself for.

Henrik would be the same way, especially with the deaths of his patients. Some would be in his control (surgeries/wrong medications) and some if not most wouldn't be (didn't receive help in time/doomed to die anyway/sudden accident).

They'd both try to make up for their heavy mistakes and mostly, it wouldn't work. Although Anti would be more of the scapegoat like Viktor, Henrik would actually feel the guilt and weight of his choices and actions unlike Anti.

Jackie as Diego:

Both want to be the hero that they aspire to be, even going as far as taking stupidly grand measures to do so. The want to be Number One because they think they deserve it more than the actual Number One (more like wanting to be the one calling the shots). The possible feeling of people thinking they're insane because of their mindset.

Yet, despite what feels like the world being against their wishes of being vigilantes, they still do it anyway. They could possibly break a few rules (or laws) in the process, but they go head in and hardly think about what comes next until it happens.

Jameson as Klaus:

Klaus has tried his best to fix the wrongs that he sees, but has basically given up after his powers were used against him by Reginald. Although I don't think that JJ would have the same thing happen (it better not happen-), he'd still give up after doing everything to fix things, especially with the JSE lore.

Klaus has a carefree attitude that basically wants chaos, and I feel like JJ would be the same but just toned down a bit.

Marvin as Ben:

For the sake of the argument, I'll be referring to the Umbrella version of Ben (in case that wasn't really clear-).

The only reason Ben hasn't left Klaus is because he was afraid of going into the light (I assume that means that going into the light would make someone officially dead instead of a ghost). Marvin has probably been in a death situation or has felt like he has the choice to leave, but just can't.

Both decide to keep it real, even if it's irritating to the other(s) to listen to. They serve almost as a lesson on what to do and what not to do.

Now for the actual powers. Some have confirmed powers, but I'll still briefly talk about them as a review of their powers.

Anti:

His powers would be similar to Viktor's, being able to manipulate matter, energy, and/or sound, but in the use of glitches instead like virtual glitches. Static/brown noise would follow his powers as sort of an aftermath of using his powers.

Chase:

Similarly to Diego, he'd be able to manipulate the trajectory of projectiles either directed away or towards him.

Henrik:

Like Julieta from Encanto, he'd be able to heal people. Instead of food, he'd do it through minimal operations with the use of medical supplies. So, he'd still have to use whatever the hospital provides, but way less of it.

Jackie:

He'd either have super speed, super strength, or both. I know that the X-Ray vision is mentioned, but I think of that as being a perk that he built into his mask.

Jameson:

Like Five, he'd be able to time-travel. He just has to use his pocket watch or something since it's related to time.

Marvin:

I feel like Marvin would be able to do a watered down version of whatever everyone else can do along with whatever magic his spellbook has. His mask enhances his magic and allows him to do insane and grand scaled magic.

Surprise: Sean is Sir Reginal Hargreeves!

I'll add more things later on

[spookyspecterino]

Hey everyone!

Just to give you all an update-

I'm 90% moved into my new apartment and I'm hoping that things will settle down now. For a while I was on that 9-5 grind and then going back to my new home and just unpacking, setting things up, and sleeping. It was rough and I had no energy to write at all.

That being said, I'm still working on my Tangerine fic. Chapter 7 is pretty much the halfway point in the story, and I want to finish it out strong. It may be delayed a little longer, I want to write out a few chapters at the same time and post them on a schedule (like I should have done at the start-- but you live and learn, right?).

I'll be 100% honest with you all... the Tangerine hyperfixation has been slipping, my attention span can only hold onto things for so long.

My current plan is to finish out my ideas for Tangerine while writing other short stuff on the side that I personally have more of an interest in. I'd feel super guilty if I didn't finish my fics (even though this is a free hobby, that's personally how I feel).

This update, in part, is to let everyone know that you'll be seeing different stuff from me at the same time.

Now, lets address the House of Dragons shit posting...

It's safe to say that this show is my new obsession. I love me some Harwin Strong and that tall freak Aemond Targaryen. I have ideas and I have plans. (If anyone wants to see some fics for them I could possibly make that happen...just let me know.)

As I get more time, I'd like to explore many different fandoms and even return to a few. (FC5 still eats at me--those Seed boys won't leave me alone and it doesn't help that it's my comfort game. I'm also playing cyberpunk for the first time...some of you can already guess as to who I like...)

I wish I could, but unfortunately I can't limit myself to a single fandom, my brain will shrivel up and I'll hate it. This is always how it's been and I really don't want to just abandon my blog altogether if it means staying exclusively in the bullet train fandom.

If multi-fandoms aren't your thing, I totally get it, and that's ok! Thanks for spending time with me and reading my stuff! <3

Anyway, that's all. Thanks for all the love and support, you all really inspire me to do my best! Here's to many more fics in the future!

<3 <3 <3

[brandwhorestarscream]

Oh! and the au I mentioned where Star faked his own death:

Okay, this one took some time to form(And in the end I decided to use some elements from IDW jettwins au): It's scenario takes place when the MegaStar relationship is already unstable enough for the star to have suicidal thoughts (yes, it is IDW, because it was the only universe that had this plot ), one day the seeker feels his spark chamber acting suspiciously and goes to a neutral colony to make a diagnosis, the result still catches him:three plotforms but only two sparks,he ends up blaming both megatron and himself for this but not before realizing that, regardless of the leader's reaction, there's a good chance Tarn and his group will see the new sparks as "unnecessary/unwanted distraction ".

But then what is he going to do? The answer comes during a mission, when a huge explosion occurs and, unable to find him, they declares him as dead.He wasn't and he was even captured in the process, but I managed to escape (not without killing the squad in the process upon realizing they found out) and simply walked out to the neutral zone,heading to one of the planets most likely to go unnoticed.

Unbeknownst to him, TC ended up finding the ultrasound and the air force, that were already pissed off, went completely berserk. Megatron now has the emotions + consequences of his actions hitting him in the face with the force of a bullet train .

It's full of holes, but I did my best on this plot

I've somehow been in this fandom for over a decade and yet this is somehow the first time I've encountered the idea of a carrier producing more bodies than sparks in a gestation cycle

And I love it

It opens up such a fun conversation about Cybertronians. To them, their bodies are often more or less replaceable--if part of you breaks, you just get a replacement. You're still you; what vessel your spark is in matters not, because your spark is what makes you you, not your body. In cybertronian culture, would an extra produced protoform be mourned? Is it just seen as a 'haha oops made too many there' moment? Or is it indicative of an extra doark that ignited by re-absorbed into the carrier for whatever reason? Henceforth, are they then mourned because a spark could have potentially been there at one point?

Idk but I love thissss thank you for making me think about this 🤩

[blackbeardsemophase]

tag 9 people you want to get to know better!

tagged by @thermoskind

three ships: listen....idk if these are my top three but these are the ones i’m feelin most rn I think

gentlebeard. ofc. who are we kidding. i know everyone keeps saying this but this ship has altered my brain chemistry. any other ship i have ever shipped has only led to this i swear. i started watching ofmd on a whim because i liked taika via WWDITS and jojo rabbit. i really had no idea this ship was going to happen and i didn’t even watch in real time y’all. i just didn’t see any spoilers because i’d been out of fandom spaces for....idk, legit years until this show

destiel. i know. i know. but this ship feels like its in my dna at this point; i spent so long on supernatural you guys. that show did me and everyone so fkn dirty but man. it’s like...imagine what could’ve been?

wayhaught. i never see anybody talking about this one but!!! i really enjoyed watching wynonna earp and waverly and nicole are so good together....such a feel good ship. i think i may rewatch soon because i honestly don’t think i’m caught up due to streaming service issues i was having.

my honorable mentions are going to be laszlo/nadja because i love them SO much but who doesn’t ship them - they’re literally married. and marriage goals too lbr.

first ever ship:

“peterick” i can’t believe i am admitting this lol please don’t judge me but i got into fanfiction and shipping so young that the first people i can remember shipping were pete and patrick from fob. which is super embarrassing lol. but hey....that’s what happens when you’re a tween i guess. i thought much differently about RPF at 12 than i do now obv....

last song:

tearin’ up my heart by *NSYNC which is really funny because i don’t necessarily listen to *NSYNC much and when i do it’s one of their singles, but i’ve been very much into 90′s pop lately while i’m driving or working. 

last film:

i jusr rewatched suicide squad (the good one) tonight, but the last movie i watched for the first viewing of it was bullet train i believe. and it was fuckin fire.

currently reading:

this is going to sound terrible, but i haven’t read a book in ages. i just don’t have the attention span to concentrate sadly. i also have to read a lot for work so that doesn’t help.

currently watching:

i’ve been watching abbott elementary as it airs, and i enjoy it. it’s an easy watch and kinda reminds me of parks n rec, which is one of my all time favorite shows. i’ve also started watching doom patrol and that’s decent as well.

currently consuming:

i am addicted to the luigi’s lemon flavored italian ice. the ones you buy at the grocery store? yeah. i just had that.

currently craving:

if we’re talking food? i’ve wanted a dairy queen blizzard for the past week. otherwise, i ********************

anyways, thank you for the tag!

let’s see if i can come up with ten folks here to tag: @red-sky-in-mourning @dirtgrub @blackbeardskneebrace @forest-sprites @taikawaititisbellypudge @appleteeth @mossknit @stedesparasol  @ourflagmeansgayrights @pradelle

this was a bit of fun but no pressure to anyone to do one :)