#i thought we could go with a fun synth-saving mission for these two

[wandercr]

❝ you're new, ❞ she says in way of greeting, eyeing the stranger with an open curiosity. it's rare to visit the railroad hq and find it occupied by anyone other than the usual faces. ❝ well, new to me. you been working with the railroad long? ❞ / @transistorized

[detectiveidiotboy]

His Time In The Commonwealth I: Preston’s Story

so as my beloved fanfiction, The Black Widow’s Waltz, comes to an end, i’ve decided that i am going to re-release the backstory chapters as their own stand-alone fic, since they read well as their own story. before that, i thought i might do a fun little thing where i release each of the companions backstories as their own post here on tumblr under the tag #his time in the commonwealth. 

now then, without further ado, please enjoy the first backstory chapter in this new-old little series - Preston. 

Preston had known there was something off about his new friend. He liked to believe the best in everyone despite his many, many lessons to the contrary. His infallible minutemen had been whittled down to the last man, betrayed at every turn by the harsh, unforgiving wasteland. He had thought he had reached the end of his story, back against the wall, raiders ready to break down the door - and then along came Nate.

“Nate, what the hell was that?” Preston snapped, marching up to stand beside his friend. Nate stood over a pair of bleeding settlers whose lives had long since been ended by the pistol loosely clutched in Nate's hands. Nate was staring down a third man, whose fingers were wrapped around his mouth, reeling in shock at the sight of his dead comrades. The rain pattered down around them, soaking them all and leaving Nate’s long hair slicked against his back.

Nate looked at Preston, a warm smile on his face as he waved to greet him. The gun in his hand was still warm from the shots that had ended the couple at his feet. “Hey, Preston! I didn’t know you were out here.”

At the time, Preston had been too relieved to question the look of elation on Nate’s face as he slaughtered his way through a platoon of raiders. Preston found death in all its forms distasteful, but it wasn’t as though his hands were clean. As much as he tried to avoid it, there were people who just would not let others go without a fight to the death, and part of being a Minuteman meant shooting down those who were only looking for more violence and bloodshed. Nate had just saved their lives, so far be it from Preston to judge him if he was a little too enthusiastic about killing a couple of raiders here and there.

“You killed them…” The man on the ground murmured, eyes still glued to the corpses of his former friends as the rain splattered mud on their still open eyes. “Oh my god… you- you killed them.”

Nate frowned, looking back down at the man. “If I hadn’t killed them they would have shot you, you know that right?” He chastised the man in a far too callous tone. Preston grit his teeth. “You should be thanking me.”

The man on the ground seemed to falter with his words, looking at Nate as if he might just shoot him out of sheer annoyance. In his defense, Preston wondered the same thing.

It was really unlike him to be this wrong about a person. There were times when Preston would mistake a group of thieves for well-meaning settlers, or sometimes he would talk down a group of raiders only to end up being shot at the moment his back was turned. But lately, it seemed like everyone he trusted ended up being some sort of monster. First, there was Clint, who turned his back on the minutemen only to end up a part of the very gang they were fighting against - now it was Nate, a man Preston thought was his friend.

Preston stepped between Nate and the other man after a moment, unable to predict what his supposed-friend would do next. The man - Jules, he had said his name was - relaxed just a fraction now that he was being guarded. Nate rolled his eyes.

“Don’t be so dramatic, Garvey, he’s a synth,” Nate said. “He got outed to his buddies and they were trying to put a bullet in him. I decided to step in and help.” Preston narrowed his eyes.

“I know, I saw the whole thing,” Preston said.

Despite everything, Nate had managed to charm Preston. He was a bit like a kid - having just woken up from 200 years on ice with barely any memories intact. It made him the perfect blank slate to imprint the values of the minutemen onto. Perhaps it was a bit manipulative, but Preston knew it was the right choice. Even though amnesia had stolen most of his life, Nate still held on to incredible talents with guns and knives and endurance like he'd never seen before. Preston brought Nate on several of his missions, helping settlements and clearing out raiders who were threatening innocent people. Nate was ruthless in combat, yet managed to have a softer spoken side to himself that made people want to trust him. He was the perfect candidate to become the next general and lead the minutemen back from the brink of obscurity.

Except…

“Then why are you so upset, I don’t get it?” Nate said. His tone was like a toddler after being scolded and hearing the sound from a grown man unsettled Preston greatly.

“It didn’t have to end that way,” Preston said. “I’ve seen the way you talk to people - you could have easily convinced them to walk away, Nate. Why did you kill them?”

“Why wouldn’t I?” Nate asked, crossing his arms. Preston’s jaw dropped at the audacity of the statement.

While Nate was good with words, it seemed he rarely wanted to actually talk his way out of a fight. In fact, when given the choice, Nate almost always chose violence rather than peace. It was helpful when fighting raiders and gunners, but his thirst for violence became far more problematic when the infamous gray line appeared. Preston had watched as Nate put a bullet between the eyes of a young man who had made the mistake of joining up with raiders in hopes of providing for his family. Nate hadn’t even tried to talk the kid down before reaching for his gun. Even at the time, Preston couldn’t shake the feeling that something about the whole exchange was wrong .

“Nate, goddamnit, you are a Minuteman!” Preston snapped. He stepped forward harshly, splashing through puddles so that he stood mere inches away from the other man. Nate, still seeming confused, cocked his head to the side. “Do you even remember what that means? We are servants of the people - all people. You can’t just go around solving all your problems by shooting them .”

“And again I ask - why. not?” Nate said slowly, as if Preston was the one acting irrational. “Killing two assholes threatening an innocent synth doesn’t seem that far out of line from the Minutemen code.”

“They didn’t have to die,” Preston said, voice wavering. Droplets of water pooled at the brim of his hat, falling down out of time with the rest of the rain. He was desperate to make this man understand, desperate to see in Nate what he’d seen when they first met. But there was nothing in those eyes that stared back at him. No kindness, no mercy, no soul behind the blue irises that looked him over, as if calculating the best placement for a bullet in his skull.

And yet, even as doubts began to overcome all other thoughts, Preston found himself alone with Nate at the end of the day, laughing with him, drinking with him. Nate never seemed to be able to get drunk, which made him fun to have around at bars. Preston’s heart would flutter every time the man’s hand would brush his, or when he saw Nate dive in front of him to take a bullet so Preston could keep firing. Preston had gone most of his life without falling in love - he had dedicated himself so fully to his cause, the thought of romance just never appeared for him like it did for others. Was this what it was like to have a crush? When he had drunkenly pecked Nate on the lips after their first successful recruitment, had that meant something? When Nate took his hand while they were alone and walking through the Commonwealth, did that mean he liked him?

Was this what it was like to be in love?

Was this what it was like to have your heart broken?

The silence stretched between them, the only sound was that of the rain splattering against accumulating puddles. Finally, Preston couldn’t bear to look at Nate anymore. He turned around, offering a hand to the traumatized synth who was still shivering under his soaked jacket.

“I- I swear- I’m not with the Institute,” He said as he took Preston’s hand. “Please, please believe me. I just want to get to Bunker Hill.”

“It’s alright, I believe you,” Preston said, forcing himself to smile. “The name’s Preston Garvey, Commonwealth Minutemen. We help people in trouble.”

“Jules,” The synth said with a nod. “I… I could use some directions, actually.”

“Sure thing,” Preston said. “There’s a settlement not too far from here. Let’s get out of the rain and we’ll see about getting you where you need to go.”

“Thanks,” He said. Jules threw one last look at his fallen comrades, a myriad of complex emotions crossing his face. Preston felt his heart clench. He knew what it felt like to be betrayed.

“I’ll get someone to come by later and bury them,” He promised. “Do you have everything you need?”

Jules nodded, shrugging the pack he’d been carrying on his shoulder. Preston gave him a reassuring nod and turned to lead the way. “Follow me.”

Preston walked past Nate, managing to keep from meeting his eyes. He didn’t think he could stomach seeing him right then. Jules kept his head down, muttering a soft, hesitant ‘thanks’ to Nate as they passed.

“We’ll talk about this later,” Preston said, walking off towards Sunshine Tidings. He could imagine the irate look on the face of his fellow minuteman, he didn’t need to turn around to see it.

It wasn’t until he heard the resounding click of a 10mm gun being cocked that Preston turned around to face his murderer.

[aion-rsa]

How Star Trek: Discovery Fulfills Spock’s Franchise Legacy

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This Star Trek: Discovery article contains MAJOR spoilers for “Unification III,” and spoilers for Picard.

Michael Burnham has returned to her home planet Vulcan in an attempt to recover some data from a Vulcan and Romulan alliance she never thought was even possible. If this sounds like the beginning of an epic title crawl in a Star Wars movie, you’re not far off. In Discovery Season 3, Episode 7, “Unification III,” the Trek franchise has delivered one of its most epic and generation-spanning episodes in a very long time. We always knew Star Trek: Discovery’s status as both a prequel and a sequel to TOS and TNG was tricky, but for fans everywhere, it was hard to believe these time-jumping tricks could ever result in an episode this heartfelt and straight-up cool.

And yet, if the USS Discovery’s visit to the planet Ni’Var had you scratching your head, or running to Google to figure out how everything fits in, there are a few very logical answers to what’s going on here. But, that doesn’t mean these answers are simple. When there’s this much time travel involved – plus multiple, specific Star Trek shows and movies — it’s bound to get a little complicated. Let’s untangle the Vulcan-Romulan web, shall we?

Is “Unification III” a sequel to The Next Generation episodes “Unification I” and “Unification II”? 

Short answer: Yes! In 1991, during  Star Trek: The Next Generation Season 5, the two-part episode “Unification” featured the return of Leonard Nimoy as live-action Spock to the small screen for the first time since The Original Series. And, not counting archive footage in DS9‘s “Trials and Tribble-ations,” prior to Discovery, this TNG two-parter was the only appearance of Spock on a Trek TV series after the end of The Animated Series in 1974.

In 1991, Nimoy’s Spock was strictly relegated to appearing in the Trek feature films, and in fact, his final performance as Spock, was also in 1991, in Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country. Because Nimoy co-developed the story for The Undiscovered Country, he felt strongly about promoting the film through a crossover on TNG. This is why Spock gives a speech to Picard about committing Captain Kirk to a peace mission in “Unification II.” At the time, Nimoy and the Trek franchise were giving a small preview of what was going to happen in The Undiscovered Country, which was, arguably, the origin of Spock’s journey to becoming an ambassador. (Something that is funny that people forget, is that at the time this episode aired, there was a rumor that Captain Kirk would die in The Undiscovered Country. And nothing Spock says in “Unification II” confirms or denies that!)

So, what does that have to do with the Romulans? Well, if it’s been a while since you’ve seen “Unification I and II” the story is all about Picard and Data trying to track down Spock after the Federation believes he’s gone rogue. This is why Discovery, the Vulcan president, says Spock “left” the Federation. He did! Of course, he didn’t leave it to defect. He left it to live on Romulus and help bring together the Vulcans and the Romulans. 

Wait. Didn’t Spock leave Romulus — before it blew-up — and travel back in time and meet Chris Pine?

Yes! Old Spock did leave Romulus and, eventually die in the past of an alternate dimension. In Discovery, Admiral Vance says that the reunification of Vulcans and Romulans “took centuries after [Spock’s] death.” This, however, is a presumed death. As far as Vance knows, Spock died sometime in 2387, trying to pilot his experimental ship, the Jellyfish, to use red matter to stop the Romulan supernova. In Star Trek 2009, Spock tells Kirk (Pine) — via mind-meld — that he promised the Romulans that he would try to save their planet. Presumably, Spock had been living on Romulus this entire time. In other words, Spock started living on Romulus in 2368 (TNG) and flew his red matter spaceship to try and save them in 2387 (flash “backs” in Star Trek 2009). So, this means that in just 19-years, Spock’s teaching made a big enough difference to eventually get the Vulcans and the Romulans to hang-out together sometime before the events of 3188. 

When did the planet Vulcan become Ni’Var?

It’s not exactly clear. We know that Ni’Var left the Federation 100 years prior to 3188, but it seems likely that the integration of Vulcans and Romulans was underway a long time before that happened. Could it have been as early as the 25th century? Sometime after the events of Star Trek: Picard? Maybe. After 2387, we know the Romulans literally don’t have a home, and by 2399 (Picard Season 1) there’s a loose government called The Romulan Free State. That said, several parts of Romulan culture seem more open to peace simply because things aren’t going so great. Could the Romulan emigration to the planet have happened sometime fairly quickly after Picard Season 1? It’s possible! In fact, considering we see the Romulan Qowat Milat order in “Unification III,” it feels possible that Picard Season 2 could show us the beginnings of the planet Vulcan becoming “Ni’Var.” Then again, it’s also possible this whole Ni’Var business didn’t start until several centuries after Picard, too. There are 930 years between Discovery Season 2 and Discovery Season 3. But, that’s still 789 years between Picard and Discovery Season 3. A lot could have happened.

Okay, how the hell does this recording of Spock even exist?

IRL, we totally understand where Michael’s brief Spock clip comes from. It’s from “Unification II,” and it’s Spock talking to Picard. But, in-universe, why does this holographic recording exist? There’s really only one answer: Picard must have been recording Spock nearly the entire time they were on the mission. The speech Michael Burnham views is (mostly) from the very end of “Unification II,” in which Spock says: “The union of the Vulcan and Romulan people will not be achieved by politics diplomacy will not be achieved by politics or diplomacy — but it will be achieved.” Spock says this to Picard, while Data is watching. So, it feels possible that Data was recording the entire conversation for the purposes of the mission. After all, Picard and Data were on a covert mission for Starfleet, meaning it isn’t insane that they would have recorded it. When Burnham accesses the file, the computer says “coordinates redacted” but also that it’s from the personal files of “Admiral Jean-Luc Picard.” So, Picard is the source, the coordinates were the planet Romulus, and somehow Picard recorded this convo, maybe with Data’s help, or maybe some other way.

There is one small wrinkle in all of that. The first part of the speech that Michael listens to actually happens in a different part of “Unification II” than the second. When Spock says “closed minds have kept these two worlds apart,” this happens way earlier in the episode when, still dressed as a Romulan, Picard and Spock have some soup together. So, this recording is actually two recordings from Picard during his covert mission, which means Data as the primary holographic recording device is probably out since Data wasn’t there during the Picard-Spock soup debate. 

This leaves only two explanations: Picard had a secret recording device on his person, that allowed all of his convos with Spock to be stored and recorded. But there’s a more fun answer.

Picard is an android now—remember? 

At the end of Star Trek: Picard Season 1, all of Jean-Luc Picard’s memories are transferred into a new Synth body, meaning, effectively, Picard’s memories have now been stored using technology. This fact actually creates a pretty easy way for a holographic file of Picard’s eyewitness memory to exist. He wasn’t recording anything at the time with technology, but later, at some point, Picard pulled out a few memories from his new robot brain and turned those into holographic recordings. Considering all the stuff that Picard has seen and his interest in preserving history, this feels legit. Jean-Luc Picard would totally turn his actual memories into curated holographic recordings. And he might do it for the very reason Burnham accesses the files in Discovery. Picard, like Spock, wanted the truth to survive. Even if it meant pulling those memories out of his robot brain, and copying them onto a 25th-century memory stick.

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Star Trek: Discovery Season 3 is streaming now on CBS All Access.

The post How Star Trek: Discovery Fulfills Spock’s Franchise Legacy appeared first on Den of Geek.

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[monochromemedic]

Change of Face

It had been a couple of weeks after the Institute had been destroyed. With the help of my friends, and a common goal the greatest threat to the Commonwealth had been destroyed. In all honesty, it was a mystery  that we managed to do it.  Without them, the Commonwealth was still in turmoil but things had began to calm a bit more. With it my friends began to go back to their normal jobs. Helping the common man, sharing the news, solving crimes, finding who they were, starting a new life. It was business as usual but  it seemed almost like everything would be ok. Except for Deacon.  A few days after the Institute was destroyed, he went MIA. No one could find him, not the Railroad, no sightings of a mysterious man lurking around, and not even I knew where he went.  In the time I knew  Deacon, we had become good friends. Thick as thieves, bonded like we knew each other  all our lives despite Deacon’s mystery about his past. Despite that  and the slow  influx of  info I felt as if it didn’t matter. We’d tell each other everything, have secret handshakes and little  jokes.  We would spend endless hours on missions  to the point where I knew his little tells when something was wrong. But he didn’t tell me anything when he left, and it scared me to no end. There was always a worry in the back of my mind despite how close we were, that he’d leave, that there’s be one more lie, that the’d be some backstabbing. It was unreasonable thinking but the fact that after all of this  He was no where to be found  made me think the gimmick was up. That he’d get bored and leave for another adventure greater then I could give him. My friends could see how worried I was. They were worried too but to them Deacon came and left like the wind. They weren’t worried, Deacon was capable, in the strange way he was. Preston made me help out settlements, occasionally stopping me to have a small talk about how I was feeling and that everything would be ok. Nick had me solve cases with him. And while I was having fun after it was done or during the lulls in cases he saw the fall in my face. He tried to keep me thinking. Danse would ask me to  teach him how to relax and pick up new hobbies. To take him to places he’d been before but never got the chance to relax and take in. He saw how I looked at every pair of sunglasses I saw on someone, hoping it would be my friend in disguise. With each passing day I became more distressed. Less enthusiastic to help, less determined to try. I’d just go to  the places I’d usually find him and stand there, waiting to see if he’d be there. I’d leave Railroad signs, guiding him back to little huts to see if even that would trick him to running into me, in the off chance I had made him mad and he was avoiding me. I stared at the ceiling one night, trying to think of things that he had said to me before he left. If there was some clue, if there was a secret meaning. I grabbed at the blankets in frustration before tossing in bed, closing my eyes as I tried to force myself to sleep.  In the silence I heard something. Creaking. I opened my eyes, reaching for the pistol I had stashed near my bed as I pointed to a figure in the shadows. There stood a man, his hair a little ruffled and in plain looking clothes.  If he wanted to attack me he was ill prepared. The man put his hands in the air giving a small huff as if it was funny to him. ��Look I know I left but is this really necessary?” The voice was familiar, and made the pistol shutter in my hands, threatening to fall. “Deek?” The man stepped closer, giving a little smirk. He looked like Deacon but... he had short red hair  and some scruff. I’d never seen him look like that before, it was a new disguise but it looked too... odd. If it was a wig it’d be a sad excuse of a wig, it looked like the hair was growing out.  He seemed to notice my confusion and walked over to the bed, sitting down at the foot with a little smile. “You like the new look? Or is is dumb, oh it’s dumb ain’t it?” “Is... is this you’re natural hair?” I asked as I reached out, grabbing hair and giving it a little tug. “Well if it was it’s gone now with how HARD you’re pulling” He chuckled, grabbing my wrist and dragging my hand against his jaw and edge of his ear, showing that it wasn’t a wig or some makeup that i could wipe or rip off. “All real.” “What... wh..where have you been Deacon I... I was worried about you! What’s with this look what’s going on. I thought you bailed, I thought...” “I know, it was a dick move but I just... I needed to think.” He somberly answered, his head ducking down to the ground. “I just... listen. When I saw the Institute get blown to kingdom come, a thought came to me. Little voice in my head said ‘well, now that that’s done, what’s next?’ I knew what I was gonna do, keep kicking ass and saving synths but the voice just kept bothering me. It felt like I needed to do something new, something big. And so I took some time off and just thought. Thought about what’s next you know... the grand scheme. And I realized that i am... tired. I’m real fucking tired of hiding. I’m getting use to looking at myself in the mirror and I... I realized that I don’t wanna go and get a nose job or a face lift. I just wanna stay, as crazy as that seems. So I did a test. I grew my hair out, grew some stubble an saw how it looked. And I looked like... him. Who I was back in the day before all of the hiding in the shadows and makeup. And I wasn’t that disgusted.  I think I wanna do that... thing.” I stared at him for a while before grabbing his hand and pulling it close my chest. “Don’t play with me Deacon, don’t tell me you wanna stick around.” “I think I will. So, if you were betting on the new face, i’m sorry to say that you lost the pool.” My smile widened as I pulled him into a hug, my hand running through his short hair and prickly face, letting out a laugh or two before planting a fat kiss against his cheek. “Ok, ok I get- ok... touching, now... ok... uh. Haha wow didn’t expect that.” He stuttered as he sat back, rubbing his cheek. “Now I feel weird.” “I’m sorry I... i’m just proud of you Deacon. I’m really fucking proud. And i’m really happy because I was so worried about you and I was always worried about the face change but... i’m happy, i’m just so fucking happy you dumb ginger asshole I thought you got eaten by a deathclaw but it’s not you’re just settling down!” “Well not... settling down but, yeah.” he huffed before pausing, “You thought i got ate?” “Well I mean... yeah. But I’m so happy. So you’re gonna stick around here and kick ass with me?” “Course, I just needed to meditate under a waterfall and take some mushrooms to find my inner self you know. But now that I found that power within, im ready to go save a few synths.” “Good... good.” “...Also I am really tired can I sleep on your couch.” “...Yeah.”

[toxickimi]

Easter 2020 Special

--Does contain a plot hole that I wanted to do but decided not to. This is from 2020 so far before any major events happen and takes place around Ch 1 - Ch 3-

It was late Saturday night, just past midnight. No shops were awake, and most of the commonwealth slept, except for the guards. Kimikyo and Kigra were the only two awake on the Prydwen. "Why are we up so late Kimi-chan?" "Because!" Kimi was smiling brightly and if the laws of nature allowed it, she'd have sparkles around her. "Easter is tomorrow!! We have to deck this place and Good Neighbor out! Imagine Maxson's face when his ship is pasteled out!" Kigra thought for a moment before nodding. "Let's do it." The two high-fived before they snuck off the ship, only telling one of the guards what they were up to. The two had went to the CIT ruins where they met up with Azumiral. "So let me get this straight. You guys want me to use Institute technology to make Easter decorations just to, one prank that dick Arthur and then to egg bomb Good Neighbor?" Kimikyo and Kigra had nodded to Azumiral. "Pleeeeease!! It's going to be hilarious and we'll send picture to you of Maxson's face." Azumiral tapped her cheek with her index finger. "Get him to wear a bunny suit and I'm in." "Deal!" Kimi had spoke up before Kigra could. "Alright I'll be back in a couple hours. Don't die while I'm gone, there are super mutants running around here." In a flash Azumiral was gone. Kigra dragged Kimi to a nearby building, taking cover there. "Are you nuts?! There is no way he'll put on a bunny suit." "No one said he was going to be awake to put it on." Kimi was grinning a devilish grin. "Oh no..." "Oh yes." Kigra rubbed her the back of her head. "Just what do you plan on doing?" "I'm glad you asked! I was thinking we use some medicine to keep him asleep, you can get it from Cade. Then we just slip it on him over his clothes. He won't notice!" "We? Kimi this is all you. There is.." She looked at Kimi who was giving her a puppy dog look. "..no way..." The two kept staring at each other. "Oh! Stop with that look, I'll help." "Yay!!"  As the  two waited for Azumiral to get back the two were arm wrestling, playing thumb wars and even tossed rocks at some unsuspecting by passers. "Just what are you two girls doing?" The two jolted in their spot before turning to see Nora. They then explained everything they were planning causing Nora to laugh. "Get me some pictures too! I have to see Elder Maxson's face and save me an egg." The three said their goodbyes as Nora left to finish her mission. Soon enough Azumiral returned.

  Standing with her were two synths holding four bags each, Azumiral holding a clip board. "Luckily for you two I was able to make virtually everything, except the candy. So we made you non-radiated fancy lad cakes but bite size so you can fit them in eggs. We also donated two hundred caps. You have everything you'll need even four pairs of bunny ears for you two, that disgusting ghoul mayor, and one extra for who ever. Arthur's bunny suit is in this bag." Azumiral pointed to one of the bags. "And I provided a disposable camera, make sure to get my picture or else I will be there to collect a test subject." "R-Right. Thank you Azumiral." Kigra and Kimikyo collected the bags from the synths before quickly making their way to Good Neighbor first.   Like shadows of the night the two quickly made work of the decorations. Azumiral had provided capsules that had plenty of supplies. The girls's giggles and soft talking could be heard, which caused Hancock to wake up. However when he walked out he was met with Kigra standing on the balcony. "Just what the hell..do you have any idea what time-" He quickly went silent when he felt something slip onto his head then a flash from the camera Kigra was holding. "What is going on?" Kimi had walked out from behind him, over to Kigra "Easter! It's an old tradition and you just got egg bombed!"Kigra and Kimi had  waved before jumping off the balcony, taking off in a run. Hancock shook his head before walking back into the state house to see there were plastic eggs and egg decor littering the building. He reached off taking the ears off his head, causing him to laugh. "Those two have completely lost it." He crawled back into his bed, going to sleep. The girls had made it back to the Prydwen, making quick work on getting it decorated. They had to explain to the guards on duty what was going on before making their way to Maxon's room. "You know when finds out we're both dead, right?" "It'll be so worth it." Kigra sighed before raising both her hands up, this made vines from plants in his room to appear. She used the vines to lift him up of the bed. "Quickly...these vines won't be able to hold his heavy ass long." Kimi nodded before she grabbed the bunny suit, putting it on him as fast as she could. Just in the nick of time the vines had snapped causing him to fall back on his bed. The two girls rushed out of the room in a panic, that surely had woken him up. They peeked around the corner to see him still asleep. "Damn...he's a heavy sleeper." "It's not that." The girls stood up straight, getting in the BoS pose. "Oh Cade...It's just you." Kimi loosened up, letting out a sigh. "I was made aware of your plans to prank our great leader and since it's been a long while since we've had any fun and since it's the two of you, I decided to help keep him 'knocked out'. He'll wake up shortly though so do finish this little plan of yours." The girls took his advice scrabbling to finish decorating. However when Kimi got to her bed, which use to be Danse's, she let out a sad whimper. "I'm sure he's fine, he's taking care of Peach right? He's got his hands full." Kimi nodded to Kigra before the two put their bunny ears on. "Why don't you visit him later. I'll cover for you if our fearless leader asks." "And so will I. Besides I need you to give take supplies to him." Haylen had wrapped her arms around the girls, taking notice of their art. "Is this some old world party?" "It is! It's called Easter and we'll explain everything in the morning meeting, which.." Kimi looked out side, taking note of where the sun was. "Should be starting soon." After about an hour of confusion everyone was gathered in the main meeting area, however Maxson was already visibly annoyed with the decorations. He hadn't yet noticed his current outfit which looked completely ridiculous with his coat over it. Many of the soldiers couldn't look at him and a few were holding back laughter. "Since I can only assume you were behind this Kimikyo, why don't you explain just what is going on." "With pleasure Elder Fluff." Maxson had glared at her as she walked up. She explained what Easter use to be about and how Easter egg hunts worked. "Right now Kigra has finished hiding the eggs and there is plenty of eggs for everyone so with Elder Maxson permission, can we start the hunt?" Maxson stared at the soldiers and scribes before sighing. "Make it quick. You all have work." Everyone began the hunt except Kimikyo and Maxson who stayed in the room. "I assume you had made contact with your sister Azumiral t o get all this." "That's right and I almost forgot." Kimi moved away from him pulling out the camera. "Say bunny suit." Maxson looked at her with complete confusion as she took the picture before turning to look out the window, only just now catching his reflection. He was in a giant white bunny suit the hood was up and everything. "What the--KIMIKYO!!" She was already long gone. When everyone was day with the hunt the day went back to normal, Maxson had changed out of the suit, red with anger and embarrassment. "Kigra, you're sister is to not leave the ship till this list is done. Do I make myself clean?" Kigra had taken the list full of meaningless tasks. Not wanting to anger him any further or argue with him she simply nodded. "And it is to be her doing them, no one else." "Right." Kigra had looked outside at the where the sun was then at the list. There would be no way to finish the list and give Kimikyo enough time to visit Peach and Danse. Kigra had sighed, reluctantly giving the list to Kimi. "I'm sorry, direct orders from Elder Maxson." "You..can't be serious..." "Kimikyo, I tried to warn you but you insisted he be in the suit." "Did you not hear what Azumiral said though, if I didn't." "I heard but still. You could have put him in the suit, taken the photo then gotten him out of the suit. You made your bed, now lay in it." Kimikyo had taken the list before she began to work on it as fast as she could. Maybe if she could work fast enough she'd have a little time to visit. However Maxson kept adding tasks to the list. After a few hours Haylen approached Kimikyo. "Kimikyo, Nora is here she said she would take the supplies to Danse, was there anything you wanted to give him..?" Kimi had nodded but never turned to look at her. "I-In my foot locker..there's uhm..there's a basket for him and meat for Peach..." It was easy to tell she was choking back tears, but was it from sadness or anger? "Right. Also Nora wanted to talk to you before she left." "I can't..I have to get these damn tasks finished." Haylen nodded before walking away, making sure to grab the meat and basket from the foot locker. Haylen explained what she could to Nora before she left. Kimi had finished the last task on the list before she made her way to Maxson. "There asshole I'm done with your list. I'm going to bed." "Not before you clean up and eat dinner. Make haste." Kimi had glared at him before turning and walking away, making sure to slam the door behind her. Just as she was ordered to she went to the showers to clean up before putting on a fresh BoS suit. "I hate this...orange isn't even my color..." "Then why don't you wear this?" Nora was leaning on a locker, holding up a laundered black dress. "Where...why..what?" Kimi was confused as she took the dress before looking at Nora. "Well Maxson sore the soldiers to keep quiet but I'm not his soldier. They were keeping you distracted long enough for a surprise on my behalf. So change into that and let's get going." Kimi had nodded before quickly changing, with some help from Nora. The two snuck and rushed to a vertibird where Haylen was waiting. "Let's get going before Maxson notices she not at the dinner hall." "Where are we going?" "You'll see, Kigra is covering for us, so are a few others." The vertibird had made it's way to Listening Post Bravo where not only was Danse out there waiting for them but so was Peach both wearing make shift bunny ears. "We thought since you worked so hard to make everyone else have some happiness we'd repay you. Go have fun we only have an hour before Maxson send out an army after you." Haylen and Nora had stayed in the vertibird as Kimi made her way to the other two.  Kimi had ran over to the tiny deathclaw, hugging it "Peachy! You look so cute with those on!" The deathclaw stared up at her before scratching at the string that was tied around to keep the ears on. "It was a pain to get them on him. I had to bait him to sit still." Kimi looked up at  Danse, smiling happily. "I'm sorry I'm late..Arth...Elder Maxson had me doing meaningless tasks." She stood up giving size to the Deathclaw. It stood about to her naval, and was a light pink almost white color hence it's name. "What your doing is very brave, Kimikyo. I know how much you dislike Elder Maxson and how he runs things. Just know I'm proud of you." "I'm doing it for you, you know." "I know." He had pulled her into a hug, with her returning the hug. Peach let out a rawr before squeezing between them, pushing them apart. Peach was defensive of Kimikyo which some though annoying, Kimikyo found it adorable. "I wish I could stay long, but I have to get going now." She scratched Peach's head, before taking the ears off him before looking at Danse. She tucked some hair behind her ear waiting for something to happen. "It was good seeing you soldier. Keep up the good work." He placed his hand on her shoulder this caused Nora and Haylen to groan in pain as they felt Kimikyo's confidence drop. Peach mimicked Kigra's normal face palm, covering his face with his claw. "Y-yea..you too!" Kimi let off a slight laugh before she went back to the vertibird, soon they were taking off. "You going to live after that one, kid?" "I can't believe Danse is so dense..don't worry he'll catch on sooner or later Kimi." "Thanks Haylen, and I don't think I will live Nora..that one hurt."  Back on the ground Peach gave Danse a 'Are you serious' look. "What?"  Peach let out a huff before turning, walking back in to the listening post. "What did I do?" Danse followed suit When the girls had arrived back at the Prydwen, the three girls got a talking to by Maxson which they were all prepared for. Nora said her goodbye to Kimi and Haylen before leaving. The other two then made their way to the dinning hall to get some left overs. "Don't let Elder Maxson get you down. He means well, and he's just looking out for you. Azumiral may not be after you but that doesn't mean you don't have enemies still." "I know Haylen. It just sucks that I'm twenty six and I still have a curfew. It's like Maxson is trying to be my dad." "Well better him then our actual father." Kigra stood behind the girls. "Kimikyo while you were gone, Maccready stopped by. Apparently he's the delivery boy now but looks like you got two letters from Goodnieghbor. I always dropped the camera off to Azumiral." Kimi took the letters from Kigra. She finished eating before she read them, one being from Maccready himself the other from Hancock.

"Hey, Hope you're doing well up there. It's been weeks since we talked. Are you still mad at me? I'm sorry, I didn't think you liked me that way...can we please talk in person I have news about Duncan. Don't worry it's good news! Plus I have something for you but I don't trust Kigra not to tease me about it. Meet up at the comic book store in two days? -Maccready" Kimi rolled her eyes, of course she was still hurt by him. He family-zoned her then rubbed salt in the wound by calling her 'little sis'. She then read Hancock's letter. "Kiddo! Thanks for bombing the town! A lot of people began to freak out though, but I thought it was funny. I explained to them what happened and they want to repay ya. Come to The third rail sometime! Magnolia wants to give you a gift for it and Fahrenheit says she's gonna knock ya one for the mass panic. Anyways got anymore holidays to celebrate?"   Kigra and Kimi giggled at the letter once Kigra had read it. "I guess we'll have to bring the rest of the holidays to the Commonwealth." "Maybe explain it to everyone before you do it this time girls." Haylen looked at them before the sisters nodded. "And no more suits for Maxson. Maybe we can convince Cade to wear the outfits next time." "Or proctor Ingram, I but she'd look cute in the bunny outfit."  The three girls had let out a laugh and soon enough they were all in their beds, fast asleep.  

[jsmulligan]

“You've got to hold those zones!” the voice of Lord Shaxx, Crucible Handler, rang through the arena, frustration evident in his tone.

Shaxx was a legendary figure, a mountain of a man who had lead famed charges into harrowing conflict, then built the Crucible as we know it to train Guardians to be ready for anything that would come their way.  He was very hands on with his creation, monitoring each match that happened.  He served as announcer for some matches, others he would just chime in from time to time with comments directed toward the competitors.  Normally, hearing him getting so caught up in a match was nearly as entertaining as the action itself.  When it was directed at your team, the entertainment value dropped substantially.

“Oh, is THAT what we're supposed to be doing,” Hunter Celeste Etain muttered to the left of me.  “And here I thought we were just supposed to dance around them and look at the pretty flags.”

As she spoke, Celeste spun out into the open, drawing her Void bow and loosing an arrow at Zone B.  The arrow pierced through one defender.  Where he fell, a ball of purple Light blossomed with tendrils of energy lancing outward to snare the other two.  I followed her action up by tossing grenade that attached to one and exploded.  The energy of the explosion transferred through the Void tethers, killing both of them.

“Maybe that's what Baruch was doing,” Titan Kana-4 chimed in over the comms, her tone teasing.  “It would explain why we lost C just now.”

She sprinted into view, performing a crisp slide into the circle that marked the Control point.  Celeste and I quickly moved into it as well, the three of us watching for approaching enemies while waiting to be awarded the capture.

“I was not dancing,” Titan Baruch Maor groused after a few seconds, his usual lack of humor evident in his tone.  “They shot me out of the air before I could land my slam.  I had them dead to rights.”

“And that is why you don't leap high in the air before you do it,” I chided.  “At least until you've managed to better control you speed of descent.  We've talked about that.”

He did not reply to that, but I could imagine the Awoken man grumbling under his breath.  Despite being newly risen, Baruch was very self-assured.  That could be a good thing, but it often turned into arrogance or just thick-headed stubbornness.  If I could manage to shape it properly, it could result in a stalwart Guardian that others would follow into anything.  For now, however, it just made me want to beat my head against the Wall until visions of prancing Thrall filled my skull.

“Tanton.  Astrid.  How are you progressing?” I asked.

“Got one,” was the Hunter's terse reply.

“We found her by A and took her out,” Astrid's young voice replied.  “About to move to capture.”

“Nice work,” Celeste complemented.

“Thanks,” Astrid said, the mini-Titan's voice full of joy.  “She never saw me coming.  Dove into the back of her knees, then Tanton finished her off with his knife.”

“You and knees,” I muttered, not necessarily intending to be heard.

“It's fun,” she said.  “No one ever expects it.”

Motion to my left.  I turned and fired, three rounds leaping from my Parthian Shot pulse rifle.  They found their mark, striking a Guardian who had tried sneaking up on us.  Kana reacted and fired an inaccurate spray from her auto rifle.  It was not the best bit of shooting, but enough rounds found their mark to finish off the enemy combatant.

“Heavy ammo inbound,” suddenly sounded through the arena.

“We'll get the close one here,” I said.  “We'll do out best to wait for the rest of you to get here before opening it.”

“Not me,” Baruch stated.  “I've still got a Fist of Havoc that I need to hit someone with.  I'm going after the other drop.”

The heavy ammo crate trasmatted into its designated spot.  I erected a Ward of Dawn around it, giving us protection while we grabbed the ammo synths and loaded our weapons.  Across the bottom of my HUD, I saw several notifications scroll by in rapid succession:

BRAVO has picked up heavy ammo.

Baruch Maor killed Baris-7, Fist of Havoc

Baruch Maor killed Lee Christoph, Fist of Havoc

Baruch Maor killed David Ryn, Fist of Havoc

ALPHA has taken the lead.

Jarus Corbin killed Baruch Maor, sniper rifle

“Four of them got the heavy ammo, but I took out three,” Baruch said moments later, after being revived and transmatted back into the arena.

“Nice work,” I replied.  “Let's finish them off.”

Having five members of our team with heavy weapons available, versus only one of theirs, gave us a strong advantage.  We stuck together, working to take out approaching Guardians before they could pick us off or unleash their Light.  This let us stretch out the slim lead Baruch had gotten us, and we were able to hold on for the victory. It wasn't the prettiest match I had ever been part of, but a win is a win.  The team seemed to be coming together nicely.  Well, the team and Astrid, the irrepressible “Wild Child”.

Once the match was called, Celeste made her way to the nearest control point and was started dancing near the flag.  Kana cheered her on while clapping a beat.  Baruch, Tanton, and Astrid gathered nearby and were watching the two of them.

“Alright everyone, let's call it a day and get out of here,” I said.

“Aww, but I'm holding the zone like Shaxx said,” Celeste jokingly pouted.

“Yeah, someone has to show Baruch how it's done,” added Kana, casting a glance at the other Titan.

“Try it out next time we're in a match and see how it works for you,” the other Awoken man grumbled.  

“Well, if you want to stick around, that's up to you,” I replied, “but Fireteam Painted Truth is officially off duty for now.”

“Fireteam?” a familiar voice questioned behind me.  I turned around to see Jarus Corbin approaching.  He had already removed his helmet and a broad smile was creasing his dark features.  “Claney Beamard in an honest-to-goodness fireteam?  And here I thought I'd seen everything.”

“Jarus,” I nodded, extending a hand which the Hunter shook. “It's been a while.”

“Yes it has,” he responded, glancing past me at the other five Guardians.  “I thought you'd sworn off fireteams.  In fact, I remember you making a big deal about it when Iniko tried to get you to join ours a few years back.”

“It's a long story,” I said.  “But the short version is that it was something that I'd thought about for a while and the Vanguard assigned three kinderguardians to work with me and Celeste.”

“And the half-pint?”  Jarus asked.

“Whoa, whoa, whoa,” I said quickly, holding a hand up.  “Don't let her hear you say that, unless you feel like eating a Hammer. What's the phrase?  '… though she be but little, she is fierce'? And to answer your question, she's not fully part of the team. Astrid is still only allowed to participate in the Crucible. Officially.  Unofficially, I'd be willing to wager just about anything that she manages to slip out and get herself more field experience than anyone would guess.”

A warning appeared on my HUD just then.  We had remained too long and needed to clear the arena before the next match.  I'd seen people ignore those warnings and had no desire to be cleared from the arena by the Redjacks.

“Let's finish this conversation back at the Tower,” I said to Jarus before turning my attention to my team.  “Now it's really time to go.  Clear out, head back home.”

…

I changed out of my armor into something more casual while on transit to the Tower.  Jarus, the team, and I all transmatted into the Courtyard about the same time, and it looked like they all had the same idea.  We briefly discussed heading to the Hangar bar or the City, but decided to continue the conversation at the fireteam quarters.  Astrid opted to head back to the Anusky's.  We reached our destination and the Hunter paused at the door where Celeste had painted the team's name in large letters.

“Painted Truth?” he asked, glancing at me.

“Celeste picked the name,” I replied with a shrug.

“Don't be jealous your team didn't think of something as interesting,” she smirked and passed through the doorway.  

Jarus just shook his head and followed her in.  I let Kana, Baruch, and Tanton enter as well before stepping in last.  By the time I entered, Jarus and Celeste had each found seats in the common area. Baruch and Kana were looking for seats, and Tanton was disappearing into his bunk.  I watched him go and then dropped heavily into an empty armchair.

“Jarus Corbin, this is Celeste Etain, Kana-4, and Baruch Maor.  The one who disappeared into his room is Tanton Holter.  Team, Jarus.” I indicated each member of the team as I said their names, and they each nodded or waved in turn.  “I've worked with Jarus a few times in the past.”

“Yep.  And I saved his life every single time, regardless of what he tells you,” the Hunter said.  “So, I take it we have time for the longer version now?” Jarus asked.

“I suppose we do,” I said, then took a moment to gather my thoughts.  “Well, it starts with a woman...”

“The best stories always do,” Jarus commented, winking at Kana who gave an impressive roll of her optics.

“... named Zillah Arvid,” I continued, ignoring both him and the sound Celeste made at the mention of Zillah's name.  “An Awoken Warlock.  She, Celeste, another Warlock named Scott-20, and I went on a mission that turned into something much bigger.  She suggested we form a team.”

“I can't help but notice there's nobody here that matches that description,” he said.  “Is she...”

“Dead?  No.  She left shortly after making the suggestion and hasn't been seen since.  The other Warlock suffered some injuries during the events and decided he preferred life in his study to the field.  He is our unofficial sixth member, acting as an information maven as well as facilitating communications and tinkering with gear.

“That left me and Celeste.  We work together all the time, but two people do not a fireteam make.  It seemed like the end of it.  I've spent the better part of the last year stationed at the Tower helping to mentor and train newly revived Titans.  Celeste stuck around for a time, but then ventured back into the wilds as you Hunters do. Still, I couldn't seem to shake the idea of putting a team together. Eventually I convinced Celeste to come back and brought the idea up to the Vanguard.  They assigned Kana, Baruch, and Tanton to us to make the team, though there wasn't a sixth at the time.”

“Dad and I...” Celeste began before Jarus interrupted again.

“Wait.  Dad?”

“I was there when she was resurrected,” I said quickly.  “Right after helping you and Iniko, actually.  Have you seen any old cartoons where the baby bird hatches and thinks that whatever the first thing it sees is its mother?  Same basic concept.”

“Shush,” Celeste laughed, tossing a throw pillow at me.  “Anyway. Yes, my dad.  We agreed to the assignment and have been spending way too much time in the Crucible ever since to, as the old man put it, 'build team report.'”

“Well that just sounds super boring,” Jarus remarked, smirking at me.

“Oh, it is,” Kana agreed.

“Well, if you get tired of it, Team Tosia could always has room a few extra members.  We'd actually let you out to shoot stuff.  Just ditch the 'old man' here and come on over.”

“Poaching from my team and inciting mutiny.  Remind me to not invite you back,” I said, shaking my head.

“What can I say?  I like to stir the pot,” the Hunter replied.

“I'm well aware of that.  Speaking of Team Tosia, how are things?”

“Knew they had a boring name,” Celeste muttered under her breath. Jarus either did not hear or just ignored it.

“Not bad, not bad.  Broke in a new member not too long ago when someone left the team.  We've been keeping active; taking strikes from the Vanguard, doing work for the factions, the usual.  It is getting a little weird out there, though.”

“How so?”

Jarus shifted as he spoke, leaning forward, “The numbers of enemy combatants we're seeing and the way they're moving.  I mean, given everything that has happened over the last few years, taking the Black Garden, killing Hive Gods, stopping the Devils and SIVA, it would stand to reason that we would see changes.  But... I don't know.  Something feels off about the way it's going down.  I can't really put my finger on it, though.”

I nodded, thoughtful.  Baruch and Kana seemed to listen intently with a definite hunger in their eyes.  Maybe it was time to get them out in the field instead of just drilling in the Crucible.

“I will say one thing for sure,” Jarus continued, “there is something going on with the Cabal on Mars.  Something seems to have lit a fire under them and they are starting to push harder against us and the Vex.  Mobilizing in a way I haven't seen since they were right before Oryx wrecked them on Phobos.  Tosia has recommended to the Vanguard that we increase our presence there.”

“You think they're planning to try to move against us?”

“Maybe.  Or maybe they're a canary.”

“A what?” Baruch questioned.

“A canary,” Jarus repeated.  “Back long before the Golden Age, when people would mine underground for minerals, they would sometimes have a canary with them in order to detect lethal gas.”

“Did the birds offer some sort of warning?” Kana asked.

“No,” Jarus replied, “they just died faster than people.  So if the canary dropped dead, they miners would know there was a deadly substance in the air and get out.”

“Oh,” was the only response the Exo offered.

“And you think that the Cabal are reacting to something big coming that we haven't detected yet?” I asked.

“They were like an ant hill someone kicked over before Oryx came in, they're starting to get that way now.  One doesn't necessarily mean the other, but...,” the Hunter shrugged.

“You may have a point.”

Just then, my Ghost Elgan materialized and floated over to me.

“Sorry to interrupt, but the Vanguard are calling for you.”

“Okay.”

“They want to speak to you in private,” he said.

I excused myself from the conversation and crossed the room to my bunk.  I closed the door and sat on the far side of the small room. Elgan flittered over to hover just in front of me, the pieces of his shell rotating in opposite directions.  I looked at him, and he connected me to the Vanguard.  The calm, deep voice of Commander Zavala emerged.

“Claney?”

“Yes, Commander?”

“There is an urgent matter that the Speaker wishes to discuss with you.  He is requesting that you come to his study alone.  He says it is something of a sensitive nature and would prefer no one else know that you are coming to speak with him.”

“Any idea what so I'm not going in blind?” I asked.

“No,” the Commander replied, a slight hint of annoyance creeping into his voice.  He did not seem to be thrilled to have the Speaker keeping him in the dark either.

“Fair enough.  I will head there right away.  Claney out.”

The connection severed and I sat still for a moment.  For the life of me I could not figure out what the Speaker would need to speak to me about.  No point in keeping him waiting, however.  I emerged from the room and all eyes turned to me.

“I have to go deal with something.  I'll be back in a few minutes.”

Celeste gave me an inquisitive look, and I shook my head then headed out the door.

...

AN:

This is the first chapter of my recently started fic over at fanfiction.net.  I saw posts about Destiny week, and that it was fireteam day.  I hadn’t contributed up ‘til now, but better late than never?  The story itself is a sequel to A Not So Simple Patrol and lead in to Destiny 2.

As always, Astrid is the property of @yourspunkpunk

[adapted-batteries]

The LiTs Go Clubbing

Fandom: The Librarians

Rating: Teen and up (only for a bit of language)

Ships: Jassekiel

A mission leads the trio to a club in NYC, where Stone gets to rescue both of his co-workers, and possibly save most of Manhattan from being sucked into a void.

This is set in the Land Pirates AU that my other story “You Sultry Land Pirates Ruined My Dig!” is set in. This story may make more sense if you’ve read that beforehand in terms of previous interactions and such.

Also posted on my Ao3.

Edit on October 14th, 2017: I realize that I never explained how they got to the Portland Annex or how they met Jenkins, so I added a bit in to kind of fix that. To clarify, in this universe, Flynn actually knows about Jenkins and the Annex already, so Jenkins shared the backdoor technology years ago with him (I'm not sure why he didn't know about Jenkins in the show, kind of odd he didn't know after 10 years). The Portland Annex is the LiT's and Eve's main base of operations, while Flynn works back in New York City, but he's only a door away to get to their Annex.

-----

Just three weeks after Dr. Stone, Ezekiel, and Cassandra received their invitations, they found themselves off on a mission, this time without Colonel Baird to guide them. She had been training the trio to be Librarians like Flynn, with the help of Jenkins in the Portland Annex, where Flynn had booted them to for training. Of course said Librarian was off chasing down some lead on Dulaque hopefully, and had dragged Colonel Baird with him.

Dulaque was a sore subject for the two land pirates. Ezekiel and Cassandra had been hired by him to take the book of Serhem from Dr. Stone’s excavation. At the time they didn’t know any better, but since their enlightenment to the world of magic, and consequently Dulaque’s troubling gathering of magic artifacts, both felt guilty for working with the man.

Today, thankfully, the clippings book sent them on an unrelated mission to New York City. Apparently some “strange happenings” had been going on near a specific set of blocks, and after Cassandra’s mental mapping of locations, in a pentagram-like pattern around a particular building that housed a club on the first floor and basement. After spending a day investigating the various sites of the magical incidents (namely people disappearing or things appearing in puffs of purple-black smoke) the Librarians-in-Training (or LiTs as Flynn liked to call them) decided a visit to the club that night was in order.

Ezekiel and Cassandra were well-equipped wardrobe wise to go clubbing, however Dr. Stone walked into the main room of the Annex looking like he was about to visit a country bar in rural Oklahoma. “Seriously? A cowboy in NYC, that won’t stick out one bit,” Ezekiel scoffed, leaning against the table while he waited. He had on a pair of low cut black boots, slim, black pants, a blue and yellow plaid sports jacket over a striped shirt, and a mustard colored ascot with a broach to tie it all together.

“Hey, I don’t have all the new ‘threads’ in my closet like you two do,” Stone retorted, looking down at his maroon and tan plaid shirt and dark blue jean combo self-consciously. “I think my outfit is just fine, thank you very much.” Stone was secretly glad he decided to leave his black stetson in his truck.

“You don’t get out much, do you Mr. Stone,” a booming voice said behind the cowboy, making him jump slightly. Jenkins had just walked through the same door Stone had moments before, a worn book in hand. “Unfortunately with this one, I have to agree with Mr. Jones. In a New York club, you will stick out like an ent would walking down the street.” Ezekiel’s eyebrows arched for a moment.

“Really? That’s the analogy you go for?” Stone replied, annoyed. “And how do you know what’s in to wear?”

“I may not be up to date in this century’s fashion, but I do know that clubs haven’t changed that much since I last went,” Jenkins explained.

“Jenkins...clubbing...I just can’t picture that,” Ezekiel chuckled.

“I’ve not been in the Annex for that long, Mr. Jones,” Jenkins replied coolly, looking down at him for effect. “I’ll have you know I frequented the Cotton Club, among other places.”

“Pretty sure the club we’re goin’ to isn’t gonna be like the Cotton Club,” Stone said, stifling a laugh from the thought of Jenkins clubbing. Jenkins narrowed his eyes at Stone like he knew what the cowboy was thinking, so Stone looked back down at his clothes. “It’s not like I’ve got anythin’ else to wear anyway,” he mumbled. Jenkins shook his head while rolling his eyes, then continued to his desk.

“Mate, you’re in a magical library. I’m sure we can find something more...modern,” Ezekiel laughed, amused by Jenkins’s expression.

“Oh boy,” Cassandra’s voice rang through the Annex. Both men looked to the door as she walked through. She had on some high-heeled, leather boots that went just over her ankles, black leather-like leggings to match, a dark blue pea coat with gold hemmed edges, and a white scarf with a different broach than Ezekiel’s. “A trip to the costume room, before we go?” She nodded to Ezekiel, then turned back on herself to go to said room.

“Ya’ll know how to make a man feel inadequately dressed,” Stone mumbled as he followed her out.

“At least we actually help you fix it too,” Ezekiel replied, play-elbowing Stone in the side as they walked behind Cassandra.

    Twenty minutes and a few outfits later, the trio returned to the main room in the Annex with a freshly made-over Stone. Cassandra had found a black sleeveless jacket and a grey waistcoat, Ezekiel found a navy undershirt that tastefully highlighted Stone’s biceps, and a leather chest strap thing that he insisted looked “cool” over the waistcoat, and Stone, feeling left out in the neck department, found a navy and dark blue dotted scarf with a little black brooch on it. They let him keep his dark jeans and tan workman boots, now that he wasn’t a flaming cowboy.

Jenkins glanced up from another book he’d acquired while they were busy. “Much better,” he commented. He grabbed a piece of paper and stuck it in the book to keep his place while he dialed up the backdoor for them again. “Now don’t have too much fun while doing your reconnaissance,” Jenkins added.

“Yeah yeah, we know,” Ezekiel said, dramatically looking up at the ceiling. “Hurry up and open the backdoor already.” Jenkins huffed, but within seconds the magical blue glow seeped around the doors.

“Call when you’re ready to come back. It should open in the same place, hopefully,” Jenkins said, holding the door open for them. Without hesitation, Ezekiel lept through the door; Cassandra and Stone looked at each other like mildly exasperated parents before doing the same.

It was around ten at night, but the street itself was lit as bright as day from various neon signs and street lights. They were down in Greenwich Village, on a Friday night, so many people were wandering from bar to club to food or other places that young people go on Friday night.

“Alright, Club 10 should be just around the corner,” Cassandra stated, pointing towards a group of people going the same direction.

“What an original name,” Stone remarked sarcastically as they started walking.

“It's at least accurate, considering it's on 10th street,” Cassandra replied. Stone just shrugged in response. “So what do you think we should be looking for in there?”

“I dunno, anything magical,” Ezekiel answered distractedly as he looked around them.

“Gee, I hadn't thought of that,” Stone smirked. “I’d look for any sigils, repeating patterns, runes, et cetera. The magic seems to be more European than anything else.”

“I’ll be sure to check the bar,” Ezekiel quipped, jumping back into the conversation.

“Actually that’s not a bad idea,” Cassandra started. Both men looked at her, confused. “I mean that would be the best place to hide potions in plain sight, or use them on people.”

“With that in mind, it’d be best to not drink anythin’,” Stone added, eyeing Ezekiel.

Ezekiel sighed dramatically and stomped a foot. “You guys are no fun, I swear.”

“If ya want to drink something that may turn ya into, oh I dunno, a stone statue or magically dissolve your insides, be my guest,” Stone replied with shrug. “Though if ya find something like that, I bet Jenkins would like it if ya brought it back to him.”

As the trio rounded the corner, they saw a fairly good sized crowd filling the sidewalk outside a brick building adorned with a simple white neon sign that said “CLUB 10” in blocky print. A bouncer stood a couple feet above the crowd on a concrete platform leading to the entrance, frowning at no one in particular. People filed in regularly, suggesting there wasn’t much of a wait to get in. A driving bass line and synths escaped through the opening door, but all evidence that a club was housed inside the brick walls disappeared once the simple looking glass door shut.

“Ugh, lines,” Ezekiel said as they neared the mass of people. “I bet there’s a backdoor somewhere.”

“Or we could just wait, like normal people,” Stone retorted. “Course a thief like you probably wouldn’t understand that concept.”

Ezekiel narrowed his eyes at Stone. “Mate, you can’t steal anything good if you don’t have patience.” He glanced up at the slowly moving queue, scrutinizing the people like he was a king looking down on peasants. “A thief knows when it’s worth it to wait.” He then looked back to Stone with a mischievous look in his eyes and a smile on his face. Stone countered with a scowl of his own, knowing Ezekiel was planning something. Remembering Cassandra, Ezekiel glanced at her, getting a look that told him it was pointless. “This time, we wait,” he said, surrendering with a sigh.

Much to Ezekiel’s approval, they only spent about ten minutes waiting before they got their chance to enter. Though the building looked old, the walls seemed to be totally sound proof, as the bass unexpectedly hit them. The atmosphere was characteristically “clubby”: various colored lights flicking around an open space, a dj booth towards the front, dimmed lighting with somewhat comfortable looking seating against the walls, a bar to the right set into the wall. The crowd mainly clustered towards the dancefloor, but a fair few people dispersed around the edges, and some entered and exited two glass double doors on the left, wisps of smoke puffing out when they opened.

Stone was going to tell the other two he thought they should split up, but of course Ezekiel was already gone. He gave Cassandra the ever frequent look of “Why does he have to do that?” to which she responded with the only answer anyone ever did: a shrug of the shoulders and a small, pitying not-quite smile. Not feeling like yelling over the music, he simply pointed opposite directions with his thumbs, and Cassandra nodded back, then strode towards the mass of people. He thought he saw a glimpse of Ezekiel’s head over by the bar, so Stone decided to cover the left side of the room, and whatever lay behind the double doors.

Following the wall, Stone found nothing unusual about the rather plain decor. No hidden runes, no magical circles in the floor, nothing that would suggest magical happenings going on in this building. It looked just like a club, nothing else, except for the tinted double doors. Though he may not be familiar with club layouts, he didn’t think many regularly had smoke emitting basements. Going down the L-shaped steps that lay just behind the doors, he guessed correctly that it was a sort of designated smoking room, though he smelt more than just tobacco and weed smoke. If anything there were floral notes, herbal even, like someone was also burning a variety of incense too.

It was just as dark as the floor above, but there were no strobe lights to give extra light. Unlike outside, the bass thudded through the ceiling, mingled with the low murmur of the twenty or so people talking amongst themselves as they sat on various couches, chairs, and the rug covered floor. A little bar sat in the corner nearest the stairs, selling overpriced cigars and such, staffed by a bored looking attendant. He skirted the room, sticking to the old wood-paneled walls, trying to get the layout, but he knew for a fact this room was only half as deep as the floor above, something that wouldn’t be very unusual for a basement if it hadn’t been for the door hidden behind some fake plants where the rest of the room should be.

Deciding that the others should know about the mystery door, Stone returned back to the main floor. Instinct took him to the bar, where he found Cassandra talking to a girl fairly intently at one of the couch and coffee tables nearby and Ezekiel being chatted up by some guy with gelled up hair at the bar. He hadn’t known Ezekiel for long, but he could tell Ezekiel didn’t care for this guy’s advances. Stone couldn’t see the stranger’s face, but Ezekiel was having a hard time hiding his discomfort with weak chuckles and eyes darting to and fro. It wasn’t long before that darting zeroed in on Stone, eyebrows moving up ever so slightly and eyes widened. The stranger said something that got Ezekiel to look back at him, but Stone was already on the move.

The somewhat muscly white guy didn’t seem to have volume control anymore; Stone could hear what he was saying even though he was still ten feet away. “So like, I waz thinkin’, m’place izn’t far, maybe we cou’ ditch thiz dump,” the stranger slurred, sloppily grabbing at Ezekiel’s shoulder like he aimed too far over. Ezekiel shrugged it off and mumbled something Stone couldn’t hear, which apparently pissed off the drunk dude as his grip returned tighter to Ezekiel’s arm. “Hey, I bought you a drink babe, leazt ya can do iz come wi’ me.”

“Hey, Ezekiel, I’ve been lookin’ all over for you man!” Stone butted in, purposely bumping into the stranger’s outstretched arm so he could be as in between the two as he could without being super obvious. It worked enough to make the drunk drop his grasp as he looked over Stone.

“Oh, hey Stone,” Ezekiel said faux nonchalantly, a hint of relief slipping out.

“Hey, I got here firzt, I get dibz,” the guy said, narrowing his eyes at Stone before standing up from where he’d been slouching against the bartop. Stone could still take him on, no problem, but now the guy went from maybe an inch taller than him to a good half a foot at least. “Beat it before I beat you.”

“Well that’s funny ya think you got ‘dibs’,” Stone started, doing air quotes, “‘cos this one here is mine.” He saw Ezekiel’s eyes widen slightly at the statement, and apparently so did the dude.

“I don’t believe you. Yur just tryna take ‘im from me,” the drunk snarled, forcefully shoving himself against Stone to move him out of the way. Stone stumbled back a bit, not expecting the drunk to assault him, but quickly returned the hip check. That brought him more room than he’d lost as the drunk stumbled back towards the counter for support, his legs not quite getting the whole “standing up” thing.

“Be forceful all ya want, but like I said, he’s mine, and some drunk kid ain’t gonna take him from me,” Stone replied, almost growling the last bit of his statement. The drunk was already back on his feet, about to get rid of Stone once and for all, so Stone wrapped his arm around Ezekiel’s waist and in a mild panic, kissed him as soon as Ezekiel looked at him in reaction to the arm.

Stone wasn’t sure how long they stayed like that, but the two pulled apart as they heard the drunk slur out “fuck you,” and watched him stagger off towards the mass of people on the dancefloor.

“I, uh, I think he’s gone,” Ezekiel stuttered. Stone remembered he was still holding on to him and that their faces were very close, so he released his grip and put a good few feet in between them.

“You alright?” Stone asked, watching Ezekiel carefully.

“Yeah. It’s not the first time I’ve had to deal with those types of people before,” Ezekiel answered, brushing it off like he totally had it under control. Stone decided not to patronize him about it. “He actually gave me some info, before he decided to show me he couldn’t hold his tequila worth shit.”

“Wait you drank something?” Stone interjected, eyes widening in concern.

“I’m not that stupid, Stone, God,” Ezekiel retorted, back to his normal self. “The floor is probably gonna be sticky in the morning, but Piss-Brain wasn’t exactly paying attention at all.”

Stone literally sighed with relief, earning a curious look from Ezekiel. “Ok, so what info did he give you?” Stone asked, hoping something good came out of Ezekiel’s suffering.

“There’s been word on NYU campus that some students were in a cult, somewhere in this area,” Ezekiel said, moving his arms around like he was trying to make a semicircle in front of himself. “And apparently the weird magic things started up just as those rumors started going around the school.”

“Well that makes what I found more fun then,” Stone started, leaning closer to Ezekiel so no one would hear. “Half the basement is behind a rather poorly hidden door.”

“That can’t be a coincidence,” Ezekiel said.

“I’ve got the bad feeling it’s not,” Stone added. “If we’re gonna find what’s causing it all, it’ll be behind that door.”

“We need to find Cassandra and check it out,” Ezekiel began, searching the vicinity for her. “Well shit.”

“What?” Stone asked, turning on his heels to see what got Ezekiel’s attention. Sure enough, the asshole from a few minutes ago had invaded where Stone had seen Cassandra before. The other girl was nowhere to be seen, and Cassandra was quite obviously sliding down the small couch away from him, quickly running out of space. “Well I guess I do get to punch someone tonight,” Stone huffed, rolling his neck and moving his shoulders like a boxer.

Ezekiel grabbed his arm before Stone could charge over to them, spinning the cowboy in disguise around to face him. “Wait, if you make a scene you’ll get thrown out,” he said, eyes pleading, a look Stone hadn’t seen before.

That look took a mere three seconds before it broke Stone’s anger. “Alright. I’ll handle it civilly,” he relented. “Go downstairs and check out the far wall, where a cluster of fake plants are. No one will pay you any mind down there. I’ll bring Cassandra down in a couple minutes.”

“Please, don’t make a scene,” Ezekiel said.

“I promise I won’t, don’t worry,” Stone chuckled, amused by Ezekiel’s concern. Noticing a pressure that had been there for awhile now, Stone glanced down at Ezekiel’s hand wrapped around the middle of his forearm. “Though I can’t do anything if you don’t let me go…”

“Oh, sorry. Alright, door badly hidden, got it. Was it locked?” Ezekiel asked, quickly changing the subject.

“I don’t know, I didn’t try it while I was there incase it was trapped or something,” Stone replied. “I figured you could best handle that.”

“Right, I am the best,” Ezekiel smirked, even adding a wink, before making his way to the double doors.

Cassandra seemed to be holding up better than Ezekiel had looked, however she also looked like she was seconds away from slapping the idiot. Just as before, Stone swooped in, grabbing the hand about to make a speedy connection with the drunk’s face and pulling her up to him. “Hi Cassie,” Stone drawled, trying to sound as infatuated as he could. “This punk givin’ you trouble?”

“You again!” The drunk yelled, but his yell didn’t get over the din of the club. He stood up to attempt to intimidate Stone again. “Now I know yur fakin’. Where’z th’ twink, I liked ‘im better anyway.”

“Where he went is none of your damn business,” Stone replied coolly, still holding onto Cassandra.

“Hid ‘im frm me, did ya? Well she’ll work too,” the drunk said, taking a step towards them. “If you’d been nice ta me, I wuld’ve invited ya too.”

“Nope,” Stone started, pulling Cassandra with him a couple feet back, making the dude stumble forward where he thought he was going to grab her. “She’s mine too.”

“If he’z yurz, Sh’ can’t b’ yurz too,” the drunk reasoned out loud. “Go on, kiss hur thn if she’z actully yurz.”

Stone did exactly as the drunk demanded. Cassandra didn’t seem near as shocked as Ezekiel had been, and in fact she pulled away first to play her part. “Have you never heard of polyamory before?” she asked, voice dripping with venomous sweetness as she stuck to Stone’s side.

“You people are sick!” the drunk yelled yet again, this time backing away from Stone and Cassandra like they were diseased animals. Unfortunately for him, he didn’t remember that there was a coffee table behind him, and took a rather ungraceful trip to the floor.

“Serves ya right,” Stone laughed, turning himself and Cassandra to meet up with Ezekiel. It was easy enough for them to disperse into the crowd and leave the drunk half awake on the floor. “There’s a secret door down below, probably where we’re looking for,” he whispered into Cassandra’s ear while they navigated through the stuffy room.

“What was the whole 'he’s yours' thing about?” Cassandra asked, curiosity getting the best of her.

“I had to rescue Ezekiel from that asshole,” Stone replied, shouldering his way past some people.

“I assume you probably did the same thing as you did for me?” Cassandra asked, piecing it together based on the drunk’s reaction.

“More or less, yeah,” Stone answered. “I was gonna just punch him for you but Ezekiel practically begged me not to make a scene.” Cassandra looked at him, waiting for him to explain why he suddenly listened to Ezekiel. “That boy has puppy dog eyes and he knows how to use them,” Stone added, trying to explain himself.

“He normally uses them on...sources of information…” she said, hoping Stone would get what she was saying.

“So he manipulated me?” Stone asked as they neared the glass doors.

“Well I can’t say that for certain, since there’s those eyes and then there’s Ezekiel being real with you eyes too, and he could’ve been concerned about what would happen to you if you got in a fight, soo…” Cassandra started, backpedaling.

“We can talk later,” Stone said, grabbing the glass door and opening it for her. “He can explain himself then.”

Like before, a wave of smokes greeted them as they descended the stairs. He saw Cassandra wrinkle her nose a bit out of the corner of his eye, but for the most part she walked calmly, taking in as much of the surroundings as she could with her eyes and ears. Only a few less buzzed people and the attendant glanced boredly in their direction, but most people still kept to themselves.

“Why do I smell sage burning?” Cassandra asked, leaning towards Stone to whisper.

“I gotta feeling it’s coming from behind the door, ‘cos there’s no incense burners in here that I could find,” Stone answered, scanning the room for Ezekiel. “But the sage is new, it smelt more like lavender before.” The dim light didn’t help at all; anyone not standing near a lamp or low overhead light were silhouettes more than distinguishable faces. He figured Ezekiel would be watching for them wherever he was, so he gently tugged Cassandra by elbow towards the most direct route to the back of the room.

A shape leaned against the wall next to the door, arm bringing a hand to a face. A faint glow flared as the person inhaled, then the hand returned to near the hip as they breathed out a cloud of smoke. Stone wasn’t sure how he was going to get this person away from the door so they could get in, however person didn’t let him have time to think up a plan.

“Took you long enough,” Ezekiel said, stepping into the light in a rather dramatic fashion. He took one last draw from the stump of a cigarette before leaning over to a nearby table and sticking it in the bowl of sand. “I almost had to start another one.”

“You smoke?” Stone asked, keeping his voice quiet.

“Only when I need to, like now,” Ezekiel replied with a shrug. “The door’s not locked or trapped that I can tell.”

“So how are we going to get in without people noticing?” Cassandra asked, glancing around the room.

“Easy, I just need to disable the lights in here for a bit, let them clear out, then viola, no one’s in the room to see us sneak in,” Ezekiel explained.

“Ok, how are ya gonna do that?” Stone asked.

“Lucky for us they’ve got an alarm setup I’ve hacked numerous times before, so I can set off the fire alarm in a few seconds,” Ezekiel explained, waving his phone for effect. “It will most likely get the fire department though, even if I can successfully block the signal, and there’s a chance management does like they’re supposed to and call the alarm company.”

“Sounds like we gotta work fast, disabling or preferably taking whatever’s behind that door,” Stone concluded, glancing around the room for himself. No one seemed to be paying any attention to the trio at all. “I say go for it.”

“Ok just give me a minute to bypass the trigger for the emergency lighting, ‘cos that won’t help...alright let's hope that block holds...and,” Ezekiel pressed a button on the screen and within a few seconds, and alarm blared overhead.

“Dammit the lights didn’t turn on, ugh, Alright everyone needs to go upstairs immediately, follow the crowd,” the attendant yelled over the alarm, annoyance filling his voice. The crowd, though slowly and with reluctance, got up as he instructed, filling up the stairs in a not particularly rushed fashion. While the crowd hid them and occupied the sole employee, the trio quickly moved all the plants out of the way, revealing a simple wooden door that matched the panelling around it.

Ezekiel reached for the doorknob first not bothering to open it quietly. Sure enough it swung open easily, revealing the rest of the room with unfinished walls and a concrete floor, a few electric lamps dotted about, and most disconcertingly, a large circle on the floor with things sitting in what looked to be specific places with a startled group of five or so college-age looking people standing around it.

“Y...you’re not supposed to be here,” the one nearest them stammered. He looked fresh out of high school, still not quite grown into his body, and he wore an obnoxious looking dark robe that was several inches too big in all directions. He also held a notebook with scribbled handwriting all over it.

“Yeah? Well you’re not supposed to be doing magic!” Stone shouted, getting his desired effect of startling the kids more, except for one, who seemed annoyed more than anything. Her robe fit her better, and she looked like she knew exactly what she was doing, or wanted to do anyway.

“Brett it doesn’t matter, just finish the ritual!” she shouted at the lanky boy, who frantically looked back at her, then at the intruders, then to his notebook.

Stone was moving before he even finished the first word. “Oh no you don’t!” he roared, closing the space between himself and Brett faster than he anticipated. This also meant that instead of merely grappling the boy, Stone sent the boy flying to the ground and about gave himself the same fate. The kid, very much afraid of the wall of man that just tried to flatten him, tried to scurry back into the circle and away from Stone, smudging some of the runes. The kid wasn’t paying attention to holding onto the notebook either, letting Stone easily pluck it out of his hands. “Collect whatever they’ve got here,” Stone commanded, turning his head slightly to Ezekiel and Cassandra behind him.

“What is this stuff?” Ezekiel asked as he neared the kids, who all backed away from him slightly like they were afraid he’d do the same thing Stone had.

“Well, if I’m reading this scrawl right, I’d say it’s Latin, and the circle’s probably something out of a 16th century Germanic folklore book,” Stone answered, squinting down at the notebook.

“You can’t do this!” The girl from before shouted, trying to be more intimidating than she probably felt.

“I’m sure as hell not gonna let you suck up the people in this building into wherever people and things have been coming and going,” Stone retorted, narrowing his eyes at her. “Do you even know what you’re dabbling with?”

“Actually yes I do,” she replied, putting her hands on her hips defiantly.

“If you actually knew you wouldn’t be messin’ around with this stuff,” Stone said. The girl had a quick eye conversation with Brett, who cowered next to her. Then without warning, the kids shot towards the back of the room, pushing a panel aside that revealed stairs that probably exited outside in the alleyway behind the building. Ezekiel started giving chase but Stone called him off. “Let ‘em go, I’ve got their spell book and based on the wear, is the only resource they had for information.”

“Are you sure?” Cassandra asked, peeking over his shoulder at the notebook, arms holding a few snuffed candles, a foot of some animal, and some bundles of herbs partially blackened.

“If anything, we’ve put a halt to their activities for a few days at least,” Stone responded, glancing around the room. “Take a picture of that circle, I’m sure Jenkins will want to see it.”

“Already on it,” Ezekiel said, holding his phone above himself to get the whole circle in the picture.

“You wouldn’t happen to have found anything else useful at the bar, did you?” Stone asked as he looked around the edges of the room for anything else the kids may have left behind.

“If by useful you mean this,” Ezekiel started, pulling a small, dark rectangular bottle out from his coat’s inner pocket, “then yes, I did. I noticed the bartender giving it to people who asked for a drink called “forget-me-not” and decided to nick it after I saw someone drink it and suddenly...well...change demeanor way quicker than alcohol ever could.”

“They probably have more things up there,” Cassandra suggested, walking towards the door. She leaned against it, listened for a moment, then abruptly stood up straight and pointed towards where the kids ran. “People coming, we gotta leave now!” she said in a hushed whisper. With quick nods of understanding, the men followed Cassandra into the staircase. Stone grabbed the discretely hinged board and pulled it closed behind them, but stopped to listen to the voices that echoed off the concrete.

“See I told you someone was snooping around here, Carl was right when he texted you about the people hovering by the door before the alarm went off,” a voice said, sounding uncomfortably familiar to Stone. Ezekiel poked him in the shoulder to get him moving, but Stone waved him off, still listening. “I bet you it was the same guy who was fucking with my game earlier.”

At that bit of information, Stone glanced at the two with wide eyes. “Drunk guy from tonight is in on the magic, and not actually drunk,” he whispered, leaning back towards the door.

A new voice talked now, this one sounding like a lady. “I’m sure Freisha got them all out before whoever it was could get them. She’s my apprentice for a reason. Go on and occupy the firemen while I shroud the door so they don’t go snooping where they shouldn’t.” The man mumbled something and Stone heard footsteps and the door shut.

“Ok, they left, let’s go,” Stone said, turning around and ushering the two up the stairs. Sure enough, the stairs brought them to a slanted door that opened into the alleyway, which thankfully was empty. To the left, red and blue lights reflected off buildings, making weird shadows.

“We can go the long way to get back to the backdoor’s last location,” Cassandra said, shifting the things in her arms. Stone realized he only had the notebook so he grabbed the candles from her to lighten the load.

“I’ll call Jenkins and let him know we’re ready,” Ezekiel said, pulling out his phone and typing on it.

Fortunately for the LiTs, the firemen had no desire to look in the alley, so they easily put distance between them and Club 10. Stone caught them up with what he heard while they walked to the location they originally arrived in NYC. The backdoor mostly stayed there, only moving a couple doors south of where it had been.

“I assumed you would be longer,” Jenkins greeted them as they stumbled into the Annex.

“We kind of had to leave before some crazy witch found us,” Ezekiel said casually, pulling out the bottle and ignoring Jenkins’s look of confusion. “I think this is a potion that does something.”

“What an astute observation,” Jenkins quipped, before turning to Stone and Cassandra who had dumped their items on the table. “So what exactly did you find?”

“I thought it was kids messing around with magic, but I think someone’s teaching them...though poorly,” Stone said, handing Jenkins the notebook. “The stuff in here is hastily compiled, like they were taking notes from someone, and I think their teacher about found us.”

“This teacher I take is the ‘crazy witch’ Mr. Jones referenced?” Jenkins clarified, flipping through the notebook.

“Yeah, and one of her goons may have gotten on our trail,” Stone mumbled, glancing at the other two LiTs.

Suddenly Jenkins’s eyebrows furrowed, his expression almost grave. “Did you see the lady?”

“Uh, no, I only heard her,” Stone answered, glancing towards Cassandra. “Who were you talking about before Asshole came over?”

“Um, I’m not sure, she just told me about what had been going on in the club, the rumors,” she started, thinking hard. “Nothing about her struck me as ‘magic’ or anything, and she didn’t sound the same as the lady I heard before we hid in the stairway.”

“Based on this,” Jenkins held the notebook up and pointed to a series of notes, “I have reason to believe this may be Morgan le Fey.”

“Morgan...le Fey...like Arthurian legends?” Stone asked, hoping he was wrong.

“Yes. Which could be very, very bad,” Jenkins confirmed, setting the notebook down on the table.

“Wait, how do you know it’s her?” Ezekiel asked, looking down at the notes.

“When it comes to old magic, such as hers, there are things that get...invented, or discovered, by those with great skill. Now as people use it, the wording or techniques change, and especially over a thousand years, the originals don’t exist in their pure form anymore. However, this method of summoning,” Jenkins paused, pointing at the passage, “that is something Morgan developed a long time ago.”

“Ok, but she wasn’t doing the magic, she couldn’t have been, unless she got sloppy,” Ezekiel thought aloud.

“I don’t think she was, I mean those kids were about to do something before we burst in the room,” Stone said.

“So she’s training kids, but for what?” Cassandra asked.

“What indeed,” Jenkins hummed. He grabbed the bottle of potion Ezekiel had set down on the table. “Was this the only bottle there?”

“It was the only bottle the bartender used regularly, that I didn’t recognize, and that made people act different,” Ezekiel answered. “I would’ve liked to hit the bar before we left, but our hasty exit didn’t exactly allow for it.”

“And what exactly do you mean by ‘different?’” Jenkins asked, looking at the bottle intently, slightly swishing the liquid inside.

“Uh, well, they seemed almost like glowy, like after they drank they were more, I dunno, important or something,” Ezekiel attempted to explain.

“More prominent in your field of vision, perhaps?” Jenkins suggested.

“Yeah, I guess,” Ezekiel confirmed. “Why would people want to drink that?”

“Well, as their clever name suggests, the potion is meant to make a person be more memorable, or unforgettable, presumably to get laid or whatever you kids do nowdays,” Jenkins explained with a roll of his eyes. “It used to be something struggling dukes or brash princes would buy to enhance their reputation artificially.”

“So we not only have potentially dangerous rituals to deal with and a legendary sorceress, but potion selling as well,” Stone said.

“Unfortunately yes, and this needs to be shut down or at least mitigate whatever she’s intending to do,” Jenkins confirmed with a look that suggested he was none too pleased about this development. “Morgan is extremely dangerous. I’ve not heard of her whereabouts in at least a century, so I don’t know what she’s planning, but it must be big enough to jump on the Library’s radar.”

“Should we wait for Flynn and Colonel Baird?” Cassandra asked, glancing to the other LiTs. Ezekiel gave a look of disapproval, but Stone looked more apprehensive.

“Regardless whether you want to wait, it would be wise to do some research before going back there,” Jenkins suggested, pointing up above them. “What the Library has of magical literature on European magical practices will be upstairs. While you do that, I want to make sure this is the potion I think it is, and mix some common antidotes and cancelling potions as I have the feeling they will come in handy.”

“Can we actually take her out?” Stone asked, not thinking highly of their chances against her.

“Oh no, Morgan’s about as powerful as it comes. We’ll only be a minor setback to her, but as long as that setback saves people, then we will have done some good,” Jenkins answered, a faint, pitying smile on his face. “I suggest finding safe ways to dismantle activated circles, potential locations for wherever they are summoning things from, other things they may summon, and so forth.” With that, Jenkins nodded to the LiTs and strode through the double doors to his lab.

“I’m gonna look over this notebook we got, try to make some more notes of my own, though I’ll make sure to be more readable,” Cassandra declared, collecting the notebook and her own notebook that had been sitting nearby on the table.

“Guess that means we’re stuck on reading duty,” Stone said, lightly whacking Ezekiel in the arm before he walked over to the desk he had claimed as soon as he arrived at the Annex to grab his own well-used notebook and a pencil. Cassandra had already settled in at the main table, busy writing something down.

It turned out the Library had a lot on European magic, a whole bookcase-full in fact. “Uh, I guess I’ll take the bottom three shelves, and you can look through the top three,” Ezekiel suggested, squatting.

“Sounds like a plan,” Stone replied, pulling a book out from from the shelf above Ezekiel’s head. “I think we’ll be here for awhile.” Ezekiel had grabbed an old looking book and sat with his back against the shelf, next to the balcony railing. Stone sat down next to him, balancing his book on his left leg and his notebook on the right, flipping through the first few pages, but his mind drifted back to the club. “So what was that face back in the club?”

“What?” Ezekiel glanced up from his tome, eyes squinting slightly in confusion.

“You know, that face you made when you begged me to not sock the dude to get him away from Cassandra,” Stone said, tilting his head down slightly. “I’ve seen a fair few of your faces by now, this was new.”

Ezekiel opened his mouth, closed it for a second while he reconsidered his statement, then spoke. “Am I not allowed to show concern about you getting thrown out by the bouncer while we were in the middle of an important mission?”

“Sure, but you don’t strike me as one to actually show pure concern like that,” Stone shrugged. “You always joke around or laugh it off or use sarcasm, but you looked at me like I was about to walk into my doom or something.”

“Maybe you were a little past diffusing jokes,” Ezekiel suggested, turning the conversation back on him. “To me anyway you seemed really aggressive, and I needed to stop you before you acted on it.”

“So you used your manipulation eyes on me?!” Stone retorted, not sure why he felt so worked up.

“Wha-manipulation eyes…” Ezekiel paused, leaning against the railing and looking down at Cassandra, “did you give him that?”

“He asked, I answered with the information I had available,” Cassandra replied loudly.

Ezekiel sighed and leaned back against the bookcase. “Look, yeah, I know how to manipulate people, that’s old news. I didn’t want you getting in a fight, making a scene, getting hurt, so I used what I thought was the better of my two options,” he explained, suddenly finding the top of the bookshelf across from them very interesting.

“Other option?” Stone inquired, raising an eyebrow at him.

Ezekiel looked back at him, and Stone swore he saw a faint blush on Ezekiel’s face. “Uh, well, I mean right after your little scene with Asshole, I thought I could, um, shock you like you did me.”

“I wasn’t actin’,” Stone mumbled under his breath, looking back down at his still empty notebook.

Ezekiel wasn’t letting him escape, eyebrows raised in curiosity. “You weren’t?” he asked, feigning ignorance.

“Uh, I mean, well,” Stone stuttered, suddenly flustered at Ezekiel’s attention. Ezekiel couldn’t help but laugh at him a little.

“Don’t worry, I know you’re the jealous type,” Ezekiel added. Stone started to object but Ezekiel cut him off. “It was easy enough to notice when you rescued Cassandra.”

“Am I not allowed to care about the well-being of my friends?” Stone retorted, throwing Ezekiel’s earlier statement back onto him.

“Uh, sure, but you’re the one that not once, but twice, asserted we were ‘yours’ to defend us,” Ezekiel replied. Stone bit back his comment; Ezekiel decided to get in some banter. “I totally understand why you’d want us for yourself, we’re both super hot.”

“You’re right,” Stone said with a straight face, besides the slight raise of his eyebrows. From down below Cassandra choked on something, coughs echoing through the Annex. Ezekiel was just as caught off guard, mouth hanging slightly open. Stone shrugged, pokerface broken as he snickered a bit, unconsciously running a hand through his hair. “It’s not like I could deny it, especially when we first met. I figured it was pretty obvious.”

“Um, well, I didn’t know you felt that way,” Ezekiel stammered, not sure how to respond.

“I had my suspicions,” Cassandra called up to the balcony, now recovered from her cough attack.

“Ya know ya don’t have to yell, ya can just come up here,” Stone called back to her. The squeal of a stool sliding on polished floor, along with the patters of what sounded like bare feet, signaled Cassandra’s hasty ascent to the balcony. Within a few moments she appeared at the top of the stairs looking the same as she had been when they went up, albeit lacking her boots. For a moment she looked quite giddy, but Stone’s glimpse behind the personality he normally saw faded as quickly as she had ascended the stairs. He saw her and Ezekiel look at each other, full on eye conversation going on. After several seconds of awkward silence, Cassandra eventually broke it.

“Based off how you acted, and tonight,” Cassandra continued her statement, now a lot less loud and echoing. “I wasn’t for sure, but it felt like a pretty good guess.”

“You weren’t gonna say anythin’ about it?” Stone asked, glancing from Ezekiel to her.

“I didn’t to...disrupt...our work-relationship,” Cassandra explained. “You weren’t exactly friendly to us at first, but then you relaxed, and then tonight…”

“I didn’t actually agree with her, but tonight made me reconsider,” Ezekiel added.

“Ok, so what does this mean? Are you guys sayin’ you feel the same way?” Stone said.

“I mean…” Ezekiel started, glancing from Stone to Cassandra and back to Stone.

“Yes,” Cassandra responded for the both of them. “Though I think we have a very pressing mission and if we’re alive afterwards, then we can figure out whatever this is.”

“Sounds reasonable,” Stone added, glancing down at the books still open on his lap. Motion in the edge of his vision made Stone look back up; Cassandra closed the distance from where she had been standing near the staircase to them, kneeling down next to Stone.

“However, that rescue was fun, and I didn’t get a chance to thank you for it,” she said with a smile on her face. Cassandra then leaned in and kissed him, quick but not quite chaste, before pulling back and standing up.

“Uh, y...you’re welcome,” Stone stammered, smiling back up at her. She gave him a smile back before turning on her heels and descending the staircase. Remembering Ezekiel, Stone looked over at him with a mild look of expectancy.

“What, are kisses the standard unit of thanks now?” Ezekiel asked with exaggerated exasperation.

“No, but I figured-” Stone started, thinking he had to explain himself, but Ezekiel cut him off with his own thank you kiss. In the back of Stone’s mind, he wondered if Ezekiel was trying to one-up Cassandra. Ezekiel pulled away before he could think about it any longer.

“There, happy now?” Ezekiel taunted, smirking at Stone’s mildly dazed look.

“Yeah, very,” Stone hummed, smile making his eyes squint. “Is that how you’re gonna thank me from now on?”

“Depends on what I’m thanking you for,” Ezekiel toyed, enjoying himself way too much.

“Before you two end up making out up there, can you at least find some useful things so we can prevent the potential destruction of the lower portion of New York City?” Cassandra called, annoyance mixed with amusement in her voice.

“Fiiinnnee,” Ezekiel sighed dramatically at the ceiling. He then winked at Stone, who got considerably more flustered by it than he should have, and resumed reading the book in his lap. Stone wasn’t exactly focused on his work now, but he figured with that looming promise, he could find something useful in the bookcase of information at their disposal.

-----

So in terms of the outfits, I couldn’t really think of anything so I opted for the Club Effigy outfits mostly for both Stone and Ezekiel. For Cassandra I modified hers to match her edgier personality she has in this au. Also, the club is fictional, that I know of it doesn't exist.

I intended for the focus to be the jassekiel, however my brain really liked the plot I had and went wild with it, so much for that I guess. Though if you’ve read my other works, it’s fairly obvious that I do this a lot. I have no clue if the plot regarding Morgan le Fey will get resolved, I didn't really write with a resolution in mind, but who knows what I'll end up writing over the summer.

[standuphippy]

February Favorites

Every December I have a ritual. First, I try to compile a list of records, movies, and shows I’ve enjoyed the year. I wait until the last minute and then struggle to get it posted before the first of the year. I dump something half-assed on New Year’s Eve, then sit back and cluck my tongue at anyone who posts a “Best of the Year” list after Jan. 1.

I always resolve to do something sooner (and better) so this is a first step in that direction. The world has changed since I started this, but fuck it, here’s what I enjoyed in February. Here’s a link to a playlist for the music: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7ucvCNnCuT4ZZVCyz2ddKM

NEW MUSIC: 


Agnes Obel “Myopia” 
 Her fourth record of fine orchestral pop. 

 Arbor Labor Union “New Petal Instants” Four years ago I went to see them at the Bootleg and I’m pretty sure I was the only person in the audience who wasn’t in one of the opening bands. It was a great show. Southern fried guitars. I like Bo Orr’s yelp.

Califone “Echo Mine” Happy to finally get a new Califone record, though it’s a companion work to a dance piece and some tracks leave me wondering what I’m looking at. There are some great songs that anchor it as a whole. I love the sound of Tim Rutilli’s voice and guitar, and I think he’s a master of weaving abstract lyrics and melody in a way that makes his phrases land emotionally true.

Cold Beat “Mother” Synth pop that has the hooks.

Eyelids ”The Accidental Falls” Three years ago I visited a friend in Minneapolis. Woke up and made coffee and he put the “Or” record on the turntable, and Oh! that riff in “Slow it Goes”… a pretty great intro to this band. They’ve really put in a lot of work with collaborators recently, including an EP with John Cameron Mitchell. “The Accidental Falls” has lyrics furnished by poet Larry Beckett. (Related recommendation: Eyelids “Or”)

Frances Quinlan “Insight” 
 Hop Along started out as Frances Quinlan’s home recording project, then grew into a band so successful that she has to qualify her new record as a solo album. The distinction makes sense when you hear it, though, it’s pretty stripped down. I love her voice. (Related recommendation: Hop Along “Painted Shut”)

Greg Dulli “Random Desire” 
The Afghan Whigs are one of my all-time favorite bands. On his first “official” solo record, Dulli sounds energized and tries some interesting vocal tricks. 
(Related recommendation: The Afghan Whigs “Gentlemen” and “Black Love”)

Grimes “Miss Anthropocene” I like this record.

Heart Bones “Hot Dish” Sabrina Ellis and Har Mar Superstar are two of the best performers out there. They got together a few years go and toured playing songs from the Dirty Dancing Soundtrack; now they’ve got their first full length and it’s just as catchy and funny as I’d hoped.

The Innocence Mission “See You Tomorrow” 
I loved their first self-titled record back in 1989 and I’ll check out anything they release. Their arrangements are pretty spare these days but Karen Peris’ voice has always been the draw. 
(Related recommendation: The Innocence Mission “The Innocence Mission”)

The Men “Mercy”
 Over their career they’ve gone in a lot of musical directions and made several outstanding records. They’re incredible live but they haven’t been to Los Angeles in years.
(Related recommendations: The Men “Open Your Heart” and “Tomorrow Hits”)

POLIÇA “When We Stay Alive” 
This may be their best record yet.


Sarah Harmer “Are You Gone”
 Sarah Harmer played at Spaceland (now Satellite) in support of her excellent record “Oh Little Fire.” I’d had a long week and skipped it;  I’ve had to wait ten fucking years for a follow up record and tour. If Kathleen Edwards is the Zoë Records version of Lucinda Williams, Sarah Harmer is the label’s version of Shawn Colvin.

Soccer Mommy “color theory”
 Haven’t been much of a Soccer Mommy fan in the past but this record is one of my favorite records so far this year. Ride the mid-tempo wave.

Squirrel  Flower “I Was Born Swimming” Could easily sit on the shelf between Mitski and TORRES. It’s a great debut.

TORRES “Silver Tongue” 
I happened upon Pitchfork’s review of her debut back in 2012 and have been a fan ever since. Her debut is a classic to me. She signed to 4AD, put out two ambitious records and then got dropped. Now she’s on Merge and produced “Silver Tongue” herself. I think it’s her best since her debut. She’s fire live.
(Related recommendation:  TORRES “TORRES”)

OLD MUSIC (record store finds and new discoveries):

Dry Cleaning “Sweet Princess EP/ Boundary Food and Drink EP” 
I was listening to Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs in anticipation of their show here and when the record was over, Spotify played a Dry Cleaning track and I loved it. Both of these EPs are great, filled with spiky guitars and dry, spoken lyrics about the numb horror of modern life.

Guided By Voices “Live From Austin TX” 
Found this one at Soundsations. Double vinyl, recorded in 2004 before a hiatus. Sounds good. Lots of “Bee Thousand/ Alien Lanes” classics alongside tracks from “Half-Smiles of the Decomposed,” the record they were touring at the time.

Rosie Thomas “With Love” 
I liked Rosie Thomas’ Sub Pop releases, I didn’t know about this one but I found it at Amoeba. Happy to find out about it, it’s one of her best.

NEW MOVIES (theatrical):


Emma. 
It’s fun and it’s gorgeous. Every frame of the film is carefully considered and it shows. The performances are excellent and when the sparks start to fly it’s a thrill.


Beanpole 
It’s soul-crushing and gorgeous. The characters struggle to put their lives together in postwar Leningrad and find that any act of kindness or mercy can be manipulated or subverted. It’s not a cruel film, but it can be hard to watch. I’ve thought about it quite a bit since I watched it: about what writer/director Kantemi Balegov showed onscreen versus what he didn’t, how the characters’ histories are revealed, and about the performances that brought them to life. The film stayed with me, which is one of the highest compliments I can give. The trailer is a fine piece of work in and of itself.  

OLD MOVIES:



Ad Astra
 I don’t know how this got made and that’s not a slight but a registration of genuine bewilderment. The film is a juxtaposition of emotional emptiness and the void of the universe. An internal character study wrapped in first-rate sci-fi set pieces. I marveled at it on an XD screen last year and recently watched it with my wife. If anything, I wish it had leaned even harder into its art house impulses and cut the voice-over narration in half. 
 Doctor Sleep (Theatrical) 
I tried to see this in the theater but I couldn’t make it happen.  It wasn’t that my wife gave birth a week previous or that the film got middling aggregate reviews, as either of those factors by themselves would not have dissuaded me. I simply couldn’t get past the fact that I’d already wasted two and a half hours in the execrable mire that was IT: Part II two months beforehand and the experience left me gun-shy. Wish I’d checked it out on the big screen, looking forward to diving into the Director’s Cut.

The Gold Rush (1942 Version) I’d never seen this version of the Charlie Chaplin classic: it runs a few minutes shorter than the original and has voice-over narration. Started watching it with my daughter while we were home sick and realized that the sight of Big Jim, especially in a jittery frame rate, is pretty unsettling to a six year old.

Hacksaw Ridge Mel Gibson gets away with a lot of things, as a director it’s graphic violence. Andrew Garfield plays a conscientious objector who joins the army to be a medic and refuses to touch a weapon. The second half of the film is grueling but the WWII combat looks incredible. 

House by the Cemetery 
Your enjoyment of this movie will depend on your love for Italian horror cinema and all of its idiosyncrasies. The value is in the modes of death and the sound design. House by the Cemetery is not a great movie, but I love the scene where Bob is trying to get out of the basement. For a split second I felt genuine panic, as I realized that Fulci might be willing to take the events of the film further than I was willing to follow them.

Old Joy 
I saw Old Joy when it was originally released and I loved it. Two old friends at different turning points in their lives go on a camping trip. Kelly Reichardt’s made a lot of great films since then, but Old Joy has a special place in my heart because when I saw it I had just entered my 30’s and still had friends like Kurt. 


BOOKS:

Ad Nauseam by Michael Gingold It’s a collection of vintage newspaper ads for horror films from the 80’s. Reading it brought back a lot of memories. I admire the effort of saving these for so many years.

The Guardians by Sarah Manguso 

I picked up 300 Arguments a few years ago after the AV Club recommended it and read it on a flight to Chicago. It’s made up of 300 short passages, some only a sentence long. I admired the precision and thoughtfulness of those focused lines.

I sought out some of her other work and found her very relatable, in part because we’re the same age, suffered from similar medical conditions, and spent time in Iowa City.  I’ve read Ongoingness: The End of a Diary, and The Two Kinds of Decay.

The Guardians is a memoir about her close friend, written following his suicide by train.

Reading her books creates this expansive image of Manguso as a person, in that some of the events of the three books overlap. I realized that her reflections in The Guardians were those of the person who had also overcome the prolonged health issues described in The Two Kinds of Decay, and was writing about all of it in the diaries described in Ongoingness: The End of a Diary. They are all great reads. I’d start with 300 Arguments.

SHOWS:

Imperial Teen Zebulon 02/28/20 When I see Imperial Teen I think about all the other times that I’ve seen Imperial Teen. I think about all of those times in my life and the different highs and lows that the band has been through. All the different times that they seemed poised for great success that never materialized. Despite those disappointments, they still put out a record every few years and occasionally play a few shows. They have a deep catalog of excellent pop songs. It’s as great a pleasure to see them today as it was twenty years ago. 
 Califone The Hi Hat 02/29/20 I love Red Red Meat but I’ve never seen a great show by them. I like Califone and I’ve seen some good shows, but the last one I caught (2017) turned out to be a Tim Rutilli solo show and that’s not what I wanted. The show at The Hi Hat was the best Califone show I’ve ever seen. They sounded excellent and Rutilli seemed  enthusiastic. He kept thanking the audience for coming out on a Monday night (it was Saturday.) The set stretched close to two hours with no encore.