#that'll ever stop a thief]]

[himbohotel]

☎ ahem

Put ☎ in my ask for your muses info in my muses phone:

NAME: Nightshade

RINGTONE: Edge of Seventeen--Stevie Nicks

PICTURE: 

LAST TEXT RECEIVED: [sms] Staying gone means staying gone.

LAST TEXT SENT: [sms] This is nothing but a courtesy call.

[spacedace]

hey in your tags you mentioned a “batfam leverage au” can u explain what that is

Happily! :D

So I'm not sure if you're familiar with the show Leverage, but the quick summary is that it's about a group of "bad guys" (a hacker, a hitter, a grifter, a theif and the mastermind that directs them all) that help people who have been hurt by the rich and powerful by using their skills to pull heists and cons on the bad guy of the episode to ruin them and get back whatever was taken/right whatever was made wrong.

It's an amazing show that I can't recommend enough, very clever, very funny, big found family vibes and an OT3 that's *this close* to being canon (and has been supported by the writers). The heists are amazing and it's all around an AMAZING show.

Anyway, the BatPham Leverage Au is basically just: a collection of DP & BatFam members join together to make a robin hood heist team like in the show Leverage. I have a couple versions of the BatPham Leverage AU rattling around my head, but most fleshed out right now are:

Business of Family - the Uncle Oz AU (Penguin Adopts Jazz & Danny): My plan for this story is for Jazz and Danny to decide to start running heists in Gotham on the people in the city that tend to fly under Batman's radar but who are still very much doing a lot of harm to the city and it's people. The Leverage AU part of this story is going to have Jazz as the Mastermind, Jason as the Hitter, Tim as the Hacker, Danny as the Thief/Maker (basically engineer), and Elle as the Grifter (shapeshifting Elle for the win lol).

Another Leverage AU I've been thinking about for awhile but that I haven't turned into a story yet is one where Team Phantom (Danny, Jazz, Sam, Tucker & Elle) are tasked with finding and returning various Infinite Realm artifacts that have ended up in the mortal world. And for some reason Gotham has just so many Infinite Realm artifacts in it. Like most of the artifacts in the world are in Gotham for some wild reason (it's Gotham there doens't need to be more of a reason).

They're on the run from the GIW/Fentons, so they're trying not to advertise any ghostly/liminal powers if they can help it, so they largely do heists without powers (minus Tucker doing all his hacking and everything from the Ghost Zone and some occasional invisibility/intangibility when it's called for, but they really do try and keep any power use to a minimum).

In this AU, Jazz is the Mastermind (again, because I love that role for her haha), Tucker is the Hacker, but that's when I can't quite decide who should be who.

I love the idea of Sam being a Hitter, but I think she'd be able to play Grifter pretty well knowing the rich as well as she does, Danny would love being a Hitter and being able to fuck some assholes' shit up while being completely feral but he could also still be a good Thief. Elle could go either Grifter again, but I like her as a Theif in this one, maybe running into Damian in the vents while she's trying to get into a vault or something lol. (I think it'd go with Danny: Hitter, Sam: Grifter, Elle: Thief, but I have no idea if that'll stick if/when I ever write this lol)

Whatever the team looks like, because there are so many artifacts in Gotham & because they can't just use their powers willy-nilly to grab them and run, they're going to be in Gotham for a long time, possibly years. Which means they need some kind of side hustle to pay the bills, which leads them to doing more heists, but this time on various rich assholes that deserve to lose a bunch of money.

Eventually they get on the Bats radar, and there'd be some fun cat & mouse back and forth with the BatFam trying to catch the Phantom Crew (Danny shouldn't be allowed to name things, but he already told Red Robin that was their team name before anyone could stop him). Eventually the GIW do show up and things start getting even more complicated (and maybe someone activates an artifact, resulting in a powerful entity being released in Gotham that they all have to team up to fight).

I have no name for this au other than the DP X DC Leverage Au, but I do know that'll have plenty of Anger Management, Brain Dead (or really Brain Dead + Everlasting Trio, don't know what the ship name for that is), Serious Chaos.

It'll also have Batman aggressively trying to adopt them all because he doesn't actually have anything against them stealing from these assholes as long as they don't hurt anyone. They're acting outside of the law yes but they're doing it in order to give justice to those who have been made victims by the system and he's all about that (the real final battle of the story is between Bruce & Selina who both want to adopt the Pham, who would like to know if they get a say in any of this - they don't).

[marshthemarsh]

A pjo x dc crossover that takes place before the lighting thief.

Starting with Percy Jackson who was 11 at the time when he catches the attention of the teen titans, who have started to notice that Percy was the target for almost all the recent monster attacks, because Percy keeps getting caught up in all these monster attacks the titans do a background check on Percy.

Of course the background check leaves them more concerned (what do you mean Percy attended 6 schools and got expelled from all 6 schools?) so they decide the next time Percy gets caught up in a monster attack they'll interrogate him to try and find some answers as to why Percy is a target for these monsters.

When Percy gets caught up in another monster attack he does what he always do and that's running from the monsters and to somewhere safe but this time his paths of escaping are blocked, the monster cornered him and Percy does try fighting back and during the fight the teen titans do come to his rescue and Percy who never stuck around to see the fights is immediately star struck by Robin(the only one who doesn't have powers yet was able to take a monster down by himself?!). Percy not wanting to stick around but staying because his path was still blocked ends up being walked home by Robin and Percy asks robin how he's able to fight and if he could maybe please teach him how to fight because he keeps getting attacked and he's tired of running he wants to fight back. Robin, seeing this as an opportunity to investigate Percy more, agrees to teach Percy how to fight.

Percy usually trained with robin over the weekends during summer break and thinks Robin is the coolest person ever and Robin isn't any closer to figuring out why Percy keeps being attacked but he meets Sally who asks Robin if he could protect/keep an eye on Percy (he agrees but is suspicious of Sally because he knows that she knows more than she's letting on) he does grow fond of them and ends up giving them a device that'll alert him immediately if either Sally or Percy need his or the titans help.

When Percy is sent to Yancy Academy Robin reminds him to take the device with him to Yancy just in case he needs help. While the school year started Robin did keep tabs on Percy (the mini robin as the titans jokingly referred to Percy as) and there's really nothing note worthy about Percy's school year except one of his teachers being replaced in the middle of the school year but that was all that happened. At the end of the school year Sally does ask if robin could be the one to pick Percy up from the subway station( Sally and Robin stayed in touch during the summer just in case Sally needed a quick get away from Gabe) Robin agreed and picked up Percy from the train station and sees Percy was upset about something, Percy tells him it's because he isn't welcomed back the next school year but robin knew it had to be more than just that.

Now on to the events of the lighting thief

While Percy was on his quest Robin was freaking out because what do you mean Sally and Percy went missing and then Percy reappeared causing a 10 car pile up and then disappeared again only to reappear again and blow up the st Louis Arch?? The titans are all trying to find Percy, they don't know what's happening but whatever it is it's big and Robin won't stop stressing over trying to find Percy and Sally.

After the fight with Ares on the beach Percy calls Robin for help instead of flying home ( the titans were already on their way, they saw the news of Percy in a knife/gun fight with his captor) after returning to new York (and Percy returning the bolt) and seeing Sally also returned home Robin tries to get answers but before he could he had some problems in Gotham he needed to deal with.

This is currently a brain worm I have and I might actually turn it into a full on fic later, I have a vague outline for the sea of monsters and the titans curse that I'll post about later but here's this for now.

[oliversrarebooks]

The Rare Bookseller Pt. 2: Oliver's Kidnapping

Masterlist

September 1925

TW: Kidnapping, drugging, mind control

Oliver's chest tightened at the sight of the woman who had entered his shop, given the warning Alexander had just given him. He tried to keep his breathing steady. She could very well be an ordinary patron. There was no cause for alarm.

"Welcome to Oliver's Rare Books, miss," he said genially, hoping his voice didn't tremble. "What can I do for you?"

She hadn't even glanced around at the shop itself, staring directly at Oliver without blinking. "I'm afraid you'll have to forgive me, but I'm not much of a reader. My work keeps me ever so busy." She stepped closer to the desk as Oliver took a step backwards. "You can help me out by coming quietly. Make it easy and quick for both of us."

His heart sank. "What do you mean, 'come quietly'?" he demanded, his voice sounding weaker than he would have liked. "Who are you? What are you doing?"

"Oh, do relax. You have nothing at all to fear. I'm just going to take you to sell. That's all."

Alexander had mentioned something about an "auction," and now his warning was ringing in Oliver's ears. He should have closed shop when he had the chance. "I don't know what you think you're doing, but -- I'll call the police if you lay a hand on me."

She put her hands up in mock surrender. "Oh no, not the police!" she said, laughing. "I don't mind subduing you if I have to. I'd just rather not waste time."

Oliver's mind raced, trying to assess his options. She was smaller than him, and didn't seem all that athletic. If he made a run for it, he could get past her and get some help, maybe even detain her. 

Unless she actually was a vampire. Then there was no telling what she might do. She clearly wasn't normal, but he really had no choice but to risk it.

He darted out from behind the desk, but before he could take more than one step, the woman snapped her fingers. "Freeze."

To his horror, his body responded immediately, every joint locking as he stood helplessly in place before the woman. He could breathe and blink, but he couldn't move, could hardly speak.

In that moment, the nightmare became all too real. Up to this point, some part of him could imagine that this was just some insane person, or maybe a garden variety thief -- a bad situation, but a relatively ordinary one, one that he would most likely survive. But now there was no mistaking the supernatural force at work here. She really was something otherworldly, something he was in no way equipped to fight, and he was caught up in it, trapped in her crosshairs.

"Do you like my power?" she said. She ran a hand through his hair, and he didn't have enough control of himself to shudder. "It's very useful for my line of work."

"Stop," he managed to force from his lips. "Please."

"It will wear off in a few minutes," she said. She reached into her bag and pulled out a long needle. "That's why I need to have a little extra insurance to keep you from escaping."

Still paralyzed, Oliver was unable to stop her from taking his wrist and pulling his hand towards her. She stuck the needle right into one of the veins in his elbow, only a small pinprick. "There we go. That'll help you stay nice and relaxed."

"You... drugged me...?" 

"I told you that I want to make this easy for both of us," she said. "Don't you worry, it isn't going to hurt you. You're just going to feel like taking a nap as I drive you to the auction house."

He was regaining a bit of control of his body. "What the hell is this auction house?"

"It's exactly what it sounds like." Her fingers traced along Oliver's jawline, and this time he was able to pull back. "Your blood smells delectable. You're going to fetch an extremely high price. Make me rich. Well, richer." She eyed the spot where she'd pricked his arm, with unmistakable hungry desire. "Speaking of rich..." The woman grabbed his arm again and licked the drop of blood that had welled up there.

"That's revolting!" Oliver cried out, stumbling backwards into a bookshelf. "You're insane! Help! Help..." His second cry was much weaker as he felt woozy all of a sudden. The room spun, and he grabbed a shelf to try and steady himself.

"And that'll be the nice drugs kicking in. Don't fight it, dear. This'll all be over soon. Well, for me."

His knees wobbled as he resisted the unnatural impulse to collapse to the floor. Whatever she'd stung him with was potent, and between that and her powers, there was little chance of escape. "You're a monster," he said, as defiantly as he could manage. "If you think you can sell... sell a person..."

"I don't just think it. I do it. Traveling city to city, several times a year. And I'm being honest when I say I rarely find merchandise like you. You're worth a fortune, far more than you'd ever be worth as a mere human."

"N-no..." His eyelids fluttered dangerously. He had to stay awake. Had to do something.

"It's good news for you, too, because it means no vampire in their right mind would kill you. It'd be killing the golden goose, so to speak. You might even have a relatively posh life. Who knows? As long as I get paid, it doesn't matter." Her laugh was high and cruel. "Well, I think I've stalled long enough for the drug to set in."

Before Oliver's rapidly slowing mind could respond, she'd picked him up effortlessly, despite being considerably smaller than him. He wanted to push her away, but his limbs were heavy and uncoordinated. All he could do was sink into her arms, staring up at the ceiling beams and drifting closer to unconsciousness.

He just wanted... he just needed to rest his eyes... just for a second... The ring of the brass bell above his door and the feeling of cooler air on his face caused his eyes to pop open again. He'd nearly succumbed to sleep. Now that he was out of the shop, maybe he could get someone's attention.

"Help..." he called, but it sounded more like a tired moan, looking around the deserted city street.

"Cute, but no one's here to help you," said the woman. "You might as well take a good look at the stars, because who knows when you'll see them again?"

The stars and moon were indeed bright overhead, and beautiful, the kind of night Oliver loved. The thought of never seeing them again, of spending the rest of his life in a vampire's captivity, was too much to bear.

Oliver heard the sound of a car door opening, struggled to force his sedated mind to focus. Once she packed him off in a car, she would no doubt drive her to some vampire compound and any chance of rescue would become much less. But his attempt at struggles were less than feeble as she placed him in the passenger seat and slammed the door shut. His clumsy hands pawed at the car door, which didn't seem to have an inside handle, as she walked around to sit in the driver's seat and start the car. 

"I wouldn't," she said, as though he'd made any progress. "I can just freeze you again, you know."

The car started and they began to drive.

Oliver's eyes fluttered, glassy and half-open, as his head slumped against the car window. If he could figure out how, he could still open the door and roll out, maybe when she was focused on driving. 

But he was so drowsy. He knew he'd feel so much better if he slept for a while. His confused mind told him to shut his eyes, falsely reassured him that he could deal with this problem in the morning.

"G'night," he mumbled as he curled up in the car seat and finally allowed his eyes to close and his mind to drift.

"Good night, dear," said the vampire with a laugh. "Sweet dreams."

Part One >> Masterlist >> Part Three

[thedeviljudges]

kang yohan's a hitman for hire who runs into petty thief kim gaon, who overhears a deal going down. with gaon attempting to unsuccessfully stop it, yohan kidnaps gaon so he won't go running to the police.

but gaon's got no money to his name, so even if he attempted to run away, who's going to believe him? and yohan's got enough power to kill him and make it look like an accident.

instead, they evade the law together, made even more difficult when they visit yohan's home and learn he's got a whole family he wishes he had. isaac, heejin and little elijah welcome gaon.

that's when he knows the only way he'll ever survive and be a part of a family he's always wanted is if he helps yohan rather than find ways that'll ruin him and this lovely family maybe he can have too if he can learn to befriend a killer. -based on good behavior (tv).

[fruit-salad-ship]

star wars au things that wont leave me alone.

grey giving peach a flower (something no ones ever done), walking away playing it cool, too red cheeked to look back at her to notice she is SO flustered. Thats not something she gets??? ok its a weed from a crack in a stone floor but still, she doesnt know what to do.

Plum and Grey a little drunk with Peach, using the classic "you show us yours and we'll show you ours" noticing she's got way more curiosity about their tattoos, seeing actual Zabrak work is interesting to her, her tattoos werent chosen or earned, they were decoration to make her look the part in the arena, and not a choice she got to make. Plums are a whole other races style, and shes fascinated. goes beet red when they say that they'll show her if she does the same.

soft dom Plum being the gentle touch needed with this situation.

VERY drunk and VERY touchy feely Peach. inhibitions dropped.

Grey being a totally different person, smitten with this new rescue case who makes him nervous, she's throwing him off his usual charming suave game, and he is a fumbling idiot. Its sweet, it works for her. Plum doesnt know who Grey is when he's like this, and it is VERY endearing for her to watch. Where'd his confidence go??

Peach being the eye opener both needed, she humbles both, and they live through all her discoveries like theyre new through her, her joy is infectious, her fear is something they jump to stave off, she's brought them together. The littlest things matter the most to her, so frivolous events and fancy gear stops mattering so much. Look how happy she is with just, a big open field and some sunshine?

Plum in a seedy bar not at a fancy party, drinking with staff, not with other higher ranking nobles. She finds her people, they were right there the whole time.

the fancy bar leads plum to getting her first scar, a thief pulls a shiv on her, and the others arent close enough to act until she's already injured. Peach uses the force for the first time ever to lift someone up and throw them like 30ft away into a wall, they scamper off, her only concern is her boss, she feels terribe she wasnt on the ball, wasnt paying attention. meanwhile Grey and Plum have their first conformation that Peach is in fact force sensitive, a little drunk, asking some dumb questions while she gets them back to the ship for care.

The ease into getting that big woman out her gear, and into their arms- like coaxing an angry street dog closer bit by bit.

shower time where they can feel the damage on peach, get to run hands over scars that'll never fade fully, all the expencive medical work in the galaxy wont fix it, reduce maybe, but it'll never go away. She is very cautious about this at the start.

The trust it'd take towards Plum and Grey to put her in any kind of bedroom orinetated restraints. She's been confined a long time, to let them put her back in a vulnerable state would be a sign that she's put her faith completly in their hands. They do not take that lightly.

[askknuckles]

heres a fun question (maybe?) rank your rivals, worst to best :p if you can hehehe

That "maybe" is right. This is a question I never thought I'd have to answer... Hm. I'm not sure how we're supposed to be ranking them exactly, so I suppose I'll just be ranking them by how much I like having them as my "rival".

Let's see. I guess I could start with Sonic.

I've said before in another answer that I don't hate Sonic. We started off as rivals, mainly through Eggman pitting me against him back when Sonic and Tails first discovered Angel Island.

We've maintained something like a rivalry over the years, though I'm typically paired with him on adventures since he needs my super-strength. There are a lot of times where we butt heads, especially when he wants to be on my nerves.

Yet... he helps me out. He does seem to care, and I can actually call him a friend. Any friendly competition is purely that, just rivalry. I don't think he's my real rival, Sonic has a bunch already- but he's definitely high on the totem pole in terms of "power level" as I've heard Charmy mention before.

Now if you wanna talk about real rivals that get on my nerves... *sigh* let's talk about Rouge.

She's been after the Master Emerald for a while. The master jewel thief who wants MY emerald because it's massive. Though she could also want it for its power, as she does remember my explanations about the Master Emerald being the only thing that can neutralize the Chaos Emeralds. Either way, it's annoying.

But I guess she does have her good traits. She's very honest about her intentions with the Master Emerald, even as a secret agent. Our rivalry, though full of fighting, is mainly friendly. I wouldn't want to see anything really bad happen to her, I just want her to stop coming after the Master Emerald. She's high on the list for her persistence and ability to hold her own in a fight alone.

Who else... Well, I guess there's Shadow.

I guess he could be considered a rival, since he's fought me a few times. I've talked before about how I feel about him. Nowadays he's nothing but some kind of brooding loner because he's become as bitter as the guy who created him.

He's powerful, but we just steer clear of one another. In fact, I don't really think he's my rival more than he is Sonic's. In terms of him being my rival, I'd have to put him at the bottom of the list. Both because he's not really my rival and because, well, he's not that thrilling to me.

I remember having a pretty major rivalry with that big bird from the Babylon Rogues. His name was Storm, right?

That guy was annoying, but I'll give him one thing: he can pack a punch, and that's what I like in a "rival". Rouge has her legs, but Storm can sucker punch you. The only downside to him is just how dumb and gullible he can be. That and he's part of a trio of thieves.

He would probably be pretty high on the list. I haven't seen those guys in a while, but the last time I saw Storm was when the Rogues were contracted to take a few Echidna artifacts from Angel Island. We didn't get our proper rematch, but I know that'll be a fight for the ages.

Anyone else...? Well, I guess Bark deserves a mention.

That hooligan and his crew haven’t shown their faces in a while, but when they did, Bark was always who I went after. Like Storm, he's someone who can pack a punch, and I like that. Another thing I like is that he's quiet. What a refreshing change of pace.

He's pretty high because of strength and silence alone. I haven't seen him in a long time though... Last I remember, him and that green duck-bird-whatever split from Fang the Hunter before me and the others fought Fang on the Northstar Islands... I don't remember if anyone ever mentioned if those three got back together again.

So, my final ranking would probably be...

Rouge

Sonic

Bark

Storm

Shadow

And that should just about do it.

[swanno-arts]

👀 🤲 any details about your fallout au gamer

GRIPS YOUR SHOULDERS. can i talk about cygnus and formes' downfalls? can i talk about them being what they once HATED???

okay so this got WAY TOO LONG, I have to splice this into two so here's Cygnus' bit under the cut first!! I'll reblog this and add Formes' after!!

[CW mention of gun violence/injuries and suicide]

Cygnus and The Balancing Act SO, Cygnus! He's the sixth courier from the Mojave Express tasked to deliver packages to Mr. House. Only he has the actual package, the Platinum Chip and because of that he got fucked over by Benny and his gang and was almost left for dead. Thankfully Doc Mitchell saved him even though he has to live with losing one eye and a dreadful amnesia.

Cygnus goes on a wild goose chase to retrieve the package he lost and ends up later in New Vegas. Though he HATED New Vegas as someone who had to survive the hard way and see people die just trying to live while these people are getting high off their asses gambling everything the have. Meeting Mr. House did not make anything better. Distraught and overwhelmed, he told Swanno and Axon (his companions, Swan once being a thief in Primm and Axon being Courier Two) that he'd need some time alone to walk off the stress and that he'll deal with Benny when he's in the right mind to talk things through.

Though, on his lonesome, Cygnus just ends up stumbling into MORE problems. Such as having his entire spine, heart and brain swapped with cybernetics in Old World Blues (though he did get a cool new cybernetic robot eye just because one of the Think Tank guys didn't like an empty face hole?). Got in an entire argument with his own brain and decided to LEAVE it. He's growing more and more distraught and exhausted. My GOD he just want to get this all over with.

THEN, the big kicker, Lonesome Road. Cygnus stumbled into the Divide, and although the place seemed familiar to him, his amnesia just couldn't pin it down. Though, you can IMAGINE the amount of emotions going on in him when he learned that the entire destruction and the creation of the Divide was HIS FAULT. He gave birth to its community, he kept the community alive and YET, it was also him to bring it to its demise. He caused so much hell and he WALKED FREE AWAY FROM IT. Cygnus grew so distraught that he couldn't convince Ulysses to not fire the missile without going down in a fight. As if killing a fellow courier wasn't enough, having to see ED-E sacrifice itself to stop the missile just broke him entirely. He fled the Divide a changed man completely. With the Old Glory in his hands, he decided he'll right the wrongs.

Cygnus returned to New Vegas and stormed into The Tops. Getting access to Benny's room, he waited before he ambushed the poor guy and starts to beat him up senselessly. When Benny begged for mercy, Cygnus shot him twice, on the forehead and on the eye. Snatching the Platinum Chip (and one fun little encounter with Yes Man) he returned to House, demanding his pay (curse his People Pleaser perk, he can't bargain beyond 1000 caps). When House elaborates his plan with the chip, Cygnus simply did as told as he later activated the Securitons (and maybe fuck over Caesar while he's at it). Returning to New Vegas however, he betrays both Yes Man and House, killing House with the strike of the Old Glory. Manipulating his cybernetics, he gains control to House' systems and uses it to control his securitrons in the Battle of Hoover Dam. New Vegas, now independent... sike! Manipulating his cybernetics even more, Cygnus literally wires himself into the system ala House, taking over completely. He enacts what he calls The Balancing Act, a rule for all of New Vegas and the Mojave that EVERYONE is going to live an equal life. There won't be a poor nor a rich, SOMEHOW, everyone has to be in the middle grounds of it. He though YEAH that'll fix everything and everyone's gonna live happily ever after!

Except, no, it can't work that way. The act was so vague and this imaginary middle ground is even vaguer. The Balancing Act was a complete failure and people were MAD about it, but Cygnus... ahem, Mr. Six, had grown oblivious about it while he played dictator and House Part 2. The more people protest or slightly go off the balance, Six would sic a bot on them. Swanno and Axon got wind to the whole crap and when they learned it was CYGNUS that's behind all this, oh boy what the HELL and HOW THE THE HELL did that happened. They tried confronting him once, and Six was kind enough to offer them to stay in the Lucky 38 for several months because hey we're friends and I love you both dearly wanna be my second and third in commands? No? After everything I did for you two? Get out. They both got booted out and oh boy this cannot go on. So both Swanno and Axon planned to confront Six once more.

Axon created a rouse to distract the securitrons while Swanno sneaks his way back into the Lucky 38. Fucking around with the terminals, he finally gained access to where Six was expecting him. Six will threaten Swanno to back out, saying it was for her own good. After debates of the Balancing Act's failure and lots of emotional hell, Six decided that if Swanno won't listen, she can just try to kill him if that's what she wanted so badly. From here, there would be several options.

First Bad End, Swanno chooses to attack Six, initiating a fight. Swanno kills Six and severed his connection to the system, bringing New Vegas and the Mojave back to independence. ... Though, with Six dead, so was Cygnus.

Second Bad End, Swanno tries to reason with Six but failed to pass the needed checks. This will end up with a fight that would also end in Six's death.

Through difficult checks, Swanno manages to reason with Six and convince him to see what he had brought upon. Seeing the reality of the Act, Cygnus snaps back and drops the Six facade. Falling back, he broke into a break down, completely distraught that he was (once again) bringing destruction, this time by his own choice. Swanno attempts to comfort him, but Cygnus insisted that she shouldn't be near him as he tries to sever himself off the system - tripping the security systems as it registered himself being attacked. After disarming the security (through combat), Cygnus finally severs himself off the system, cutting off his control over the securitrons. Swanno attempts to comfort Cygnus once more as he broke down into a sob. Cygnus mentions that what he had done cannot be fixed and he should pay for what he had done. There was no righting his wrongs anymore. Again, Swanno would be given several options to end Cygnus' dilemma.

Third Bad End, either by allowing him or failing to convince him otherwise, Cygnus would commit suicide, claiming death was the only way he could repay everything he had done (referring to not only The Balancing Act, but to the Divide as well).

The Good End, Swanno convinces Cygnus not to take his own life. Instead, he tells him that if he really wanted to disconnect himself to his deeds he could leave (read: exile himself from) the Mojave altogether. Cygnus takes the suggestion but tells Swanno that he'll be going alone, unable to bear the possibility of hurting them again. Swanno refuses and insist that she and Axon would travel with him. Cygnus finally relents and the three of them would make their escape out of New Vegas and the Mojave completely. (Who runs New Vegas now? Who knows, maybe Yes Man came around lol)

The three would end up as wanderers in the greater wastelands with no real destination in mind. Cygnus still finds it hard to disconnect himself from what happened... but he's trying. Really hard.

On their mile long journey across what's left of America... they encounter a peculiar man with his Mr. Handy companion... and a strange feeling of an always lurking gaze.

[happiness-of-the-pursuit]

9 favorite books

Thanks for the tag @daisymae-12!!! Much like you I have read more fanfic than books as of recent, plus I have the very bad fun habit of re-reading books I love rather than starting new ones. So a lot of these I read in middle school/high school but continuously come back to. Apologies in advance for the length. Also, this isn't in ranking order, this is in reverse chronological order of me reading them I've decided.

Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston - pretty obvious, but long story short: I've never seen myself so much in a character before meeting Alex Claremont-Díaz. I held out on reading this book when it was first popular b/c I didn't know what it was about and it was "trendy." When I learned what it was about I was like wait, duh, I'd love that. So that'll teach me.

Tattoos on the Heart: The Powers of Boundless Compassion by Father Greg Boyle - Read this my senior year of college for a class and was literally lying on the couch crying reading some of these stories (I don't cry often from books either). These are stories of a Jesuit priest who runs Homeboy Industries, a gang intervention program in LA.

The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver - I haven't re-read this since my senior year of high school but I absolutely devoured this book, which is saying something because it was summer reading. This author is blowing up for writing Demon Copperhead, which I haven't read yet, but this story about a missionary family who moves to the Belgian Congo in 1959 was impossible to put down.

Life of Pi by Yann Martel - Also read this in high school for class when I was struggling with religion and figuring out my relationship with it. I found a lot of comfort in this book and the beautiful storytelling.

The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini - The second book on this list that made me absolutely SOB when reading (still vividly remember sitting and cyring while reading the chapter at like midnight on a school night alone in a dark kitchen). Beautiful, not sure a book has ever made me feel so much (also loved learning about a different part of the world), don't think I could read it again (but you should absolutely read it once if you're cool with the contents).

Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card - First up: this author is a huge bigot, full stop, way worse than JKR. So don't read (or if you want to read but don't want to support the author don't buy the book). However, I read this as a middle schooler before knowing his background and it is an all time favorite because of one of its messages: "I think it's impossible to really understand somebody, what they want, what they believe, and not love them the way they love themselves." Aka this idea about empathy and that to truly understand someone you have to love them - too bad the author missed his own point.

Psion Beta by Jacob Gowans - A favorite dystopian series that's super niche (I think he originally self-published on Amazon before it was common). A plague, super powers, world governments, the Western Hemisphere are the bad guys in an unusual role reversal for books written by Americans, what more could you ask for???

Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart - If you are a nerd and want to feel like a bigger nerd/be proud of that nerdiness this is the series for you. Seriously one of the best YA series out there, plus there's a recent new addition (2019) of them grown up if you missed it!!!

Percy Jackson/Heroes of Olympus by Rick Riordan - I love these books so much and could go on forever about them, probably the books I've read the most in life outside of HP (exception being The Lightning Thief-I was a teacher and taught this book so I've read this book like...a minimum of twelve times). I can't wait to bring #1 and #9 from this list together for our massive WIP, "Super Six and the Siren's Call" for the fan fic of the century lmao (co-writing with @read-and-write- and @inexplicablymine).

Wow, I had so much fun choosing this list, thank you!!! If you love one of these books lmk let's talk :)

Tagging @mudbloodpotter05 @read-and-write- @kiwiana-writes @inexplicablymine @14carrotghoul @littlemisskittentoes and anyone else who wants to do this!!! I'm sure some/most of y'all have already been tagged and maybe even posted, I just want to know what y'all are reading :)

[luxmaeastra]

//civil war//

He was 19, everyone kept congratulating him, that it was a big deal. That he'd come of age, that he had survived this long.

He followed Samkiel and Odysseus into the temple, half listening as they discussed Odysseus children. How Samkiel kept teasing that he'd steal Ctimene from him.

Odysseus laughed, and his reply was lost as the doors opened to him.

He stared up at the darkness within, the silver fire that burned bright even at a distance.

His brothers look of concern he ignored.

He hated that, hated that he couldn't engage.

That all he thought when he saw his niece and nephew was all the horrible monsters past their doors.

How could Odysseus think to have them now?

How could he think they'd be safe during a war?

Why would he ever want to bring such innocent lives into this world?

"You coming Thurr?"

Odysseus question snapped him to the present. He exhaled, and walked up the steps to follow them inside.

The doors locked behind him, sealing them inside. He shifted antsy.

"What's exactly meant to happen?"

Samkiel shot him a look.

"Didn't father tell you?"

"Do you think I was actually listening?"

Samkiel snorted and nodded to the silver flame.

"We are meant to give our blood to it, and it will choose us."

"Apparently the fire can read our souls."

Odysseus shuddered, taking a step closer.

But neither he nor Thurr pulled for thief daggers. Samkiel rolled his eyes at him, reaching for his blade.

"The order doesn't matter, it'll choose once everyone has given blood."

"Still, let's not insult you now. Maybe that'll look bad on us."

Samkiel glared as Odysseus grinned at his own joke. They both knew Samkiel would rather cut his own hand off than be named King.

"You think you're funny don't you Odysseus?"

"Oh I know I am, Poppy tells me so all the time. Doesn't Ayla tell you how funny I am Sami?"

Thurr twitched, his own smile forming. He could guess they were stalling for him, to get him to smile at least. There was a day he'd desperately wanted this.

How excited he'd been.

"Sami?"

Odysseus snickered and Samkiel ignored the both of them. He walked to the fire, slicing his palm deep and letting the fire drink it all.

He stepped back, Odysseus was next, twirling his blade in his fingers. Everything was a show with him, and he only cut it when Samkiel growled at him.

The cut was fast, flashy, a twist of metal. The blade a gilded bone dagger Poppy must have made for this occasion.

Thurr didn't move, staring at the flame. He reached for his dagger, the enormity of this moment finally slicing through him.

"I shouldn't have come with you two."

Odysseus shifted uncomfortable, Samkiel huffed, gruff if only to keep him grounded.

"The ritual wouldn't have worked without you. You'd have to be -"

"Samkiel."

Samkiel stiffened and looked away. But Thurr knew what he would have said. It would have only worked if he'd been dead.

How he desperately wished for that.

But every scrimmage and battle he'd been a part of hadn't been enough. Even when he'd tried with his own hand his brothers had somehow found out.

Thurr exhaled, stepping closer. He was quietly surprised that the fire didn't burn hot, it burned cold.

A freezing cold that reminded him of the Void, of the apathetic touch of Death. What would happen if someone jumped in.

"Thurr?"

Odysseus had stepped closer. Samkiel had reached for his blade, maybe to stop him from doing something stupid.

Thurr exhaled, raising his hand as he slowly cut his palm.

He wanted to feel the pain, the sting of it.

He watched the blood roll, and hiss as it touched the fire. He stood there, only stepping back when no more of his blood would be taken.

He stepped back, dizzy - how much had he given? How much had it taken from him?

Odysseus steadied him, worried. But he didn't speak, all three turning to the fire as it turned red with their blood.

It began to burn hot and hotter, till he couldn't breath, till he felt like he was melting.

He screamed feeling the icy brand wrap around his wrist. The heat vanished, his brothers kneeling with him.

But they didnt speak as he slowly came to. He stared at the mark of their house. He -

He wrenched his wrist from them, stumbling back and back.

"No. No I refuse it. I -"

It was a weight that they were always worried their brother wouldn’t be able to carry if the choice came, Thurr had pulled himself in after that eventful day. When the loss of the one he cared for had shattered his word.

Odysseus could only imagine how he felt, he could only imagine how he would have felt if he had lost Penelope. His children. There was always the concern of the madness that some whispered happened when you lost someone, especially a potential mate.

His hand reached to grip his brother’s shoulder, a frown crossed his features as he searched his face. “It choose you Thurr, I don’t know if you can refuse…” He looked to Samkiel, hoping he would say something that could maybe help.

They didn’t need their baby brother losing himself further.

[deathiscoldbatman]

Any thoughts about Matt Hagen being the Clayface DC reforms?

This post may be a bit longer than my usual affairs, as I feel he's deserving of analysis both on the comics side and the [major] animated appearance side of things. So, since I mentioned comics first, let's break it down by comics to start. That'll be a lot shorter. Also my dog is giving me a migraine rn because the air conditioner cleaner people have come over.

In the pre-Crisis comics, Matthew Hagen is a petty art/jewel thief who decided to keep thieving when he found out he could shape shift for limited amounts of time before needing to refuel himself. There's...really not much I can say about comic!Matt, as that's literally his entire character. Sure, I've personally expanded upon him in fic, but fanfiction isn't canon and that's kind of the entire point of fanfiction. Literally this man was so irrelevant that DC killed him off in the 1980's and no one batted an eye. Afaik, they never brought him back either, except in tie-in material for the Young Justice series. In which his origin is entirely different, but we'll talk about that if/when I can get Rue to stop screaming at the repairman because she's getting on my nerves. In short, I guess you could redeem comics!Matt, but there's no canon evidence that he would ever want to stop committing crimes. Maybe that would be different if he was brought back and his origin reinvented. But I don't always deal in hypotheticals.

I'll be going over his animated appearances next.

- Batman: the Animated Series/The New Batman Adventures/Justice League: first of all, I fucking hate BtAS as a whole and could barely stomach my way through Feat of Clay pts 1 and 2. It makes me ill, and not in a good way; about the only episode I tolerate is the Mr. Freeze origin. But, ignoring the fact this version of Matt's backstory is entirely lifted from what the comic books and other media would do to Basil Karlo as there was no canon basis for Matt ever wanting to be an actor [although I guess you could swing it, Matt's greatest flaw is his greed], it's a decent enough introduction that doesn't fail to make the character it's introducing sympathetic; note that I haven't watched any of the later episodes of BtAS where he appears, but I've heard things. It's not awful within the context of the canon it comes from, and I could definitely see that version of Matt becoming a hero if not some normal guy again. The accident wasn't his fault, and in later appearances he still didn't seem to be all that thrilled about the crime thing. Also what was up with "Growing Pains" as an episode. At the very least, it showed his desire for a normal life, even if he had to create an entirely separate person [who became her own thing] to experience it.

- Young Justice: first off I've never personally watched this show. My knowledge of it is still fairly comprehensive though, thanks to my friend Conner being a walking encyclopedia. And I actually really like how Matt is in this show. His relationship with Talia is dare I say almost cute if extremely one sided [as he's just using her to find a cure for his terminal cancer], and the concept of him being part of the League of Shadows is one I feel should transition into the mainline comic series proper as there's really a lot you could do with that. I like how he redeems himself, not quickly but gradually. Re. Young Justice: Targets #1; he's working as a security guard and bodyguard, and seems genuinely content with his life.

In summary; redeeming Matt can work, you just have to know what you're doing as an author. Don't hijack some other Clayface's origin to do it, because people will notice. Maybe not many people, but people will notice. I'll notice.

[ya9amicide]

The End of the World In a Woman’s Hands [Newsies]

chapter nine

♡ newsies masterlist ♡ previous chapter ♡ next chapter ♡

summary: Being a girl in the everyday world is difficult. Being the leader of the Manhattan Newsies and a girl? Even more so. Especially when nobody knows you're a girl and the truth is the closest kept secret you have ever had. For Jack Kelly, keeping the truth of her gender a secret is one she's found easy after doing so for many years. Unfortunately, having close encounters with the iron fist, Pulitzer, and a new Newsie who seems determined to get to know her, that secret might just become the opposite.

pairing: fem!jack kelly x david “davey” jacobs

warnings: none

The next morning, all of the captured Newsies are brought to a courtroom for a hearing. “Arise, arise, court is now in session, Judge E.A. Monahan presiding,” the Bailiff announces.

Weasel is in the gallery as Judge Movealong Monahan takes the bench and glances down at a group of battered Newsies, including Spot, Race, and Boots. “Any of you represented by counsel? No? Good. That'll move things along considerably.”

“Judge Movealong, ya honor, I object,” Spot pipes up,

“On what grounds?”

He grins proudly. “On the grounds of Brooklyn, ya honor!”

The Newsies congratulate Spot and Monahan bangs the gavel. “I fine you each five dollars or two weeks confinement in-”

“Five bucks!” Race blanches. “We ain't got five cents!”

Denton stands to defend them. “I'll pay the fines. All of them.”

“Pay the clerk. Next.” The Judge moves them along as the Newsies hound Denton with gratitude. Suddenly David gasps, seeing Jack led out in shackles, her face bruised and swollen. Everybody stares, horrified.

She smiles at them like everything was okay. “Hiya, fellas! Hey, Denton. Guess we made all the papes this time, huh? How'd my picture look?”

“None of the papers covered the rally. Not even The Sun.” He watches her solemnly as her face turns to disbelief. The Bailiff shoves Jack in front of the bench and Snyder slips in from a side door.

“Case of Jack Kelly, inciting to riot, assault, resisting arrest,” the Bailiff lists.

Snyder walks forward. “Judge Monahan, I'll speak for this young man.”

Jack mocks surprise. “You two know each other? Ain't that nice.”

“Just move it along, Warden Snyder,” the Judge tells him.

“You see, Jack Kelly isn’t Jack Kelly at all. In fact, he is really a young woman named Francine Sullivan. Mother deceased, father a convict in the state penitentiary.”

Jack’s care-free facade cracks and she stares at Snyder with wide, startled eyes. The Newsies all watch her with confused and shocked faces.

“She is currently an escapee from the House of Refuge, where her original sentence of three months for theft was extended six months for disruptive behavior-”

“Like demandin' you give us the food you steal from us!” She yells at him, face red and overcome with a tearful anger.

“Followed by an additional six months for an attempted escape.”

Her voice is panicked and desperate now. Almost deranged. “Last time wasn't no attempt, remember, Snyder? Me and Teddy Roosevelt. Remember, Roosevelt an’ the carriage?”

“Therefore, I ask that she be returned to the House of Refuge-”

“For my own good, right, Movealong? And for what Snyder kicks back to ya!”

“And that the court order her incarceration until the age of twenty-one.” The Newsies stand and yell in outrage. “In the hope that we may yet guide her to a useful and productive life.”

The Judge bangs his gavel again. “So ordered. Next.”

Jack seems to give up at this, body going limp as she’s dragged out of the room.

That night she’s brought into Pulitzer’s office, cuffs jiggling on her wrists in front of her. “Afternoon, boys,” she says as she comes to a stop.

“And which Francine Sullivan is this? The charismatic union organizer, or the petty thief and escaped convict?” Pulitzer asks.

She narrows her eyes at him. “Which one gives us more in common?” Her expression turns cheeky. “And please, Joe. We been business partners long enough. You can call me Jack. Jacqueline if you’d prefer that, I s’pose.”

“You know what I was doing when I was your age? I was in a war. The Civil War.”

“I heard of it. You win?”

“People think wars are about right and wrong. They're not. They're about power. You know what power is?”

“Heard of that, too. I don't just sell ya papes, Joe. Sometimes I read 'em.”

He ignores her and continues on. “Power means that I could see to it that you serve your full sentence at the Refuge. Or I could pull strings and have you free tomorrow. It means I could give you my pocket change, and you'd have more money than you'd likely ever earn.”

“You bribin' me, Joe? Thanks for the compliment, but I ain't got the power to stop the strike.”

“I disagree. You're the spirit of the strike, without you, they'd fall apart in a few days.”

Jack stops listening, not thinking he’s serious. “Ring for my coach, willya? It's past my bedtime.”

“Shut your mouth and listen!” Jack looks up, startled at his outburst. “You're going to do exactly as I say.”

“Or what? You'll send me back to the Refuge? I'll bust out again.”

“And be a fugitive who's pursued and caught and returned.” He steps around his desk to stand in front of her where he towers above her frame. “You return to your old job–as Newsie for The World. Speak against this hopeless strike, and I’ll see your criminal record expunged and your pockets filled with enough cash to carry you, in a first-class train compartment, from New York to New Mexico and beyond.”

“There ain’t a person in this room who don’t know you stink.”

“And if they know me, they know I don’t care. Mark my words, girl. Defy me, and I will have you and every one of your friends locked up in The Refuge. I know you like playing Mr. Tough Guy, but it’s not right to condemn that little crippled boy to conditions like that,” his voice drips in mock sympathy. “And what about your pal Davey and his baby brother, ripped from their loving family and tossed to the rats? Will they ever be able to thank you enough?”

Jack’s head whips up and some of Snyder’s men have to hold her back as she tries to go after Pulitzer. “Don’t you touch ‘em! You don't’ get to lay a hand on my boys, you hear? Don't even talk about ‘em!” She’s snarling at him, causing Pulitzer and his associates to step back slightly in fear.

Pulitzer signals to Snyder. “You go back to the Refuge. Think it over in your cell. Let me know in the morning.” Snyder grabs her by the scruff and escorts her out of the room.

[pastafossa]

Is there anything that we (your readers) can do about the fic thief? I had an art thief steal a selfie of a cosplay I did and claimed they came up with the picture. People can be real shitty sometimes

They really can be. Like, this is someone who's clearly read so much of TRT, and she's borderline quoting me on her own blog as if this is all stuff she's come up with herself, or talking about how hard it is to create an original character and how you should never, ever base yours on another character. And I realize now she's saying that because she knows she took my characters, but the audacity is breathtaking.

And honestly? If she doesn't take her work down soon or apologize to the message I sent (I know she's active rn since she blocked me, so I have a feeling I know which way this is gonna go), then I'll make a callout post with evidence. What I'd want then is not hate mail or death threats, because I'm not looking to form a pitchfork mob, as satisfying as that would be.

Mostly what I want is pressure for her to take down her fic and the posts where she's claiming all these characters, and for her not to be able to do this to another author. I'd love an apology but I doubt that'll happen. If we get to the point of a callout post (something I'm currently making so I'll be ready to post it), I'd ask you reblog the callout post, and tell your DD author friends about it so they can block her from following them or potentially stealing her content (I've also got her wattpad account now, so if you're a fic author, you'll be able to check if she's stolen something from you for her wattpad fic). If you can, send her firm but not insulting asks or messages, requesting she take the fic down, since I can no longer do so. If you see someone talking about the fic, tell them it's stolen. I won't be able to see what she's saying since she blocked me, but I've got friends keeping an eye on her blog now, so I'll know if she takes it all down.

That's literally all I want. I just want it down, and for her to stop pretending that all of the work and blood and life I've poured into this story is hers. And I don't think that's too much to ask.

[childrenofthelab]

Top 5 song associations:  share  the  top  songs  in  your  playlist  that  most  inspire  /  represent  your  muses  the  most.  bonus  points  if  you  include  lyrics  to  go  along  with  it. 

(Saddle up I'm doing more than 5, because it's 1:30am, I'm on night shift and I'm bored. Also yes I primarily listen to musical theatre

~010~

In My Own Little Corner - Rodgers & Hammerstein's Cinderella: I'm as mild and as meek as a mouse. When I hear a command, I obey. But I know of a spot in my house where no one can stand in my way. In my own little corner, in my own little chair I can be whatever I want to be.

True Colours - Cyndi Lauper: You with the sad eyes, don't be discouraged, oh I realise it's hard to take courage in a world full of people, you can lose sight of it all. The darkness inside you can make you feel so small.

~002~

Surface Pressure - Encanto: Under the surface, I'm pretty sure I'm worthless if I can't be of service. A flaw or a crack, the straw in the stack, that breaks the camel's back. What break's the camel's back? It's pressure like a drip, drip, drip that'll never stop.

The Last Day Of Summer - The Lightning Thief: I've been here since I was a kid. I did everything they ever asked, yeah I did. And for what? You know this world will never be ours as long as our parents rule over the stars. So I'll do anything. I don't care if I hurt anyone. It doesn't pay to be a good kid, a good kid, a good son.

~Eddie~

We're Not Gonna Take It - Twisted Sister: We've got the right to choose and there ain't no way we'll lose it. This is our life. This is our song. We'll fight the powers that be just don't pick on our destiny cause you don't know us, you don't belong.

~Jamie~

If Only You Would Listen - School of Rock: You know I try, try, try to explain I'm not the kid you want me to be. And yet it's all, it's all in vain. You just don't want to see the real me. You think you know what I'm all about and yet you just keep shutting me out!

Tagged by: I stole it from @firstcurse

Tagging: Everyone xD

[mercyprevaild-a]

THE THIEF

@betaofthedead

The day is coming to it's end when they finally make it back to the clearing they call home. Much of the day had been spent gathering resources from a distant town, a task they've put off for too long. Since their hellish experience in that forsaken settlement, Rick's more hesiant than ever to wander into any place once populated. But, with the change of season coming quickly and much of their belongings lost after their time in the community, it was necessary for them to brave a place that would attract other living people. Thankfully, the streets of said town had remained quiet and empty during their scavenge and they came away with a few high priority items that'll help them make it through the winter.

They haven't yet broke into their clearing, though they recognize the area and soon, they can just make out their home through the pines. It's silent, as it often is between the two of them. Their foot steps are light, a practiced way of moving that allows them both to move swift and quietly. It's only because of their quiet nature that they hear able to hear the curious rustling sound come from the direction of their nest.

They both seemed to recognize the noise at the same time, their bodies dropping low to the forest ground in unison. From where he crouches, Rick can make out their nest, all it's branches and brambles and tufts of leaves, but he can't find the source of the sound through the bushes and undergrowth. It's alive... that much he knows. But from here, he can't distinguish if it's animal or human.

Sideglancing the behemoth at his side, he grunts softly and reaches out, placing a hand on his shoulder in gesture for him to stay put. Though Beta's size and appearance would usually be enough to send most living hightailing it in fear, Rick's curious enough to sneak closer before they run off whatever or whoever might be raiding their nest.

From the very edge of the treeline, but still well hidden in the lengthened shadows, Rick gets a better look of their home. It doesn't look to be touched, despite the rustling that continues from inside. Blue eyes narrowing on the opening of their burrow, he silently moves forward on his hands and feet but stops at the sudden appearance of a small person creeping out from the nest. He shuffles back, careful of his footing, mindful of the noise. With wide eyes, he takes in the small trespasser who remains entirely oblivious of him.

It's a child, without a doubt, short and lanky. Their clothes are too loose, worn and dirty. The sandy brown mop on his head is long overgrown, knotted and as filthy as the rest of him. What skin Rick can see is stained like his own with dusty layers of dirt and grime. He has a bag over his shoulder that Rick quickly recognizes to be stuffed with what he can assume to be stolen food and supplies.

Frowning to himself, he inches back a little more as the kid continues to look around, but seemingly in no rush to leave. He might assume their home to be abandoned, with the sun setting quick it would be smart to find vacant shelter for the night. Under the safe idea that the boy is going nowhere fast, Rick disappears back into the cover of the trees, back to where he left Beta. He can see the Giant's earthy eyes watching him as he approaches, how tense and alert he is. It must be the look on his face, because he can read the puzzled look once he's close enough.

He's quiet for a moment, biting on his lower lip, glancing over his shoulder before he gazes up at Beta, "It... it's a ch..child." He whispers, eyes flickering back in the direction of the nest then returns to Beta's masked face.

It's one thing to attack the strangers who stumble onto them, but a child poses little threat to either of them. They're hungry, maybe lost? From the look of them, they've been on their own for a while. Rick makes a quiet, questioning sound low in his throat. His expression shows his worry and uncertainty, looking to Beta for what they should do about the little thief.

[bllakcat]

GREAT, : JUST GREAT. she does not even fight back the audible exhale, heavy ( if not slightly made dramatic with intention ) by the frustration of this moment ; added effect by the roll of her eyes, daring to have her attention away because there is nothing sharp senses of a cat would not capture. ... ❝ seriously? ❞ gaze returns to him from beneath the signature mask &. goggles, a single brow raised as a doubtful look. ❝ you think that'll work? ❞ EVEN WHEN WORDS SPILLED ARE LACED WITH A MOCK, there is that playfulness to them. ( mischief ever so enchanting when it comes to this thief. )

ANOTHER SIGH, : ONE HAND LANDING ON HER HIP, while the other is slightly extended before her, as a means to gesture while she speaks. ... ❝ look, it's better for you and me, if you just get out of here. ❞ WHY DOES SHE BOTHER? because she is the in - between ; while there is no stopping her from reaching her goals, ( grey as they might be colored ) she would prefer not to infect those who don't exactly deserve it by the misfortune she brings. sharp claws reflect the light that reaches them through the windows, &. they perform a little gesture, as if to physically shoo the heir away. ❝ so go on then golden boy, get your ... ❞ BUT WORDS ARE CAUGHT IN THE CAT'S THROAT ; she sees red light flicker from distance, laser pointed at them. shit. without warning, the cat's claws reach for his shoulder, &. she brings him to his knees, as she too crouches, ... at the perfect time, because just that moment, the glass window shatters. the maggia clearly not wanting to waste time either, whether because of their own purpose, or they suspected the cat might ruin their plans right before their eyes. &. THAT, SHE STILL HAS FULL INTENTION OF DOING. &. felicia isn't known for failure.

STARK  INDUSTRIES,  THE  CENTER  OF  ALL  TECHNOLOGICAL  DEVELOPMENT.  Robb  thought  he  had  an  idea  of  what  to  expect  when  he  arrived  after  accepting  his  uncle's  offer.  After  all,  he  had  overseen  its  main  facilities  in  England  on  numerous  occasions.  Yet,  everything  here  seemed  different,  almost  indescribably  so.  It  was  as  if  everything  had  been  taken  a  step  further.  And  perhaps  because  adapting  proved  more  challenging  than  he  anticipated,  or  perhaps  due  to  his  determination  to  prove  that  he  would  not  disappoint,  Robb  often  found  himself  staying  late  (  THE  CAPTAIN  IS  THE  LAST  TO  ABANDON  THE  SHIP,  WASN'T  THAT  WHAT  THEY  SAID  ?  ).  It  was  during  one  of  these  late  nights,  as  he  ensured  everything  was  in  order,  that  he  noticed  something  unusual.

The  number  of  ID  badges  didn't  match  with  the  number  of  workers  there  —  ONE  WAS  MISSING.  Suspecting  it  was  no  coincidence,  he  decided  to  check  the  places  it  gave  access  to  before  heading  out,  just  to  be  sure.  Nothing  seemed  out  of  place.  At  least  until  he  found  her.  For  a  moment  he  simply  looks  at  her,  impressed  by  how  she  had  bypassed  their  advanced  security  and  the  precision  of  her  movements.  She  is  a  professional;  that  much  is  clear  ❝  There's  always  a  lot  to  be  done  around  here,  as  you  can  imagine  ❞  he  replies  with  a  shrug  of  his  shoulder,  matching  the  cat's  casual  tone.  Though  it  soon  turns  firm  as  he  crosses  his  arms  across  his  chest  ❝  Unfortunately,  the  tour  ends  here.  Leave  whatever  you’ve  taken  and  go.  ❞