#tw: child soldiers

[jewish-vents]

Pre-October 7th, I had some ex-evangelical friends and they would always talk about how horrible their upbringing was and describe it as abuse and refer to their families and churches as cults because they were basically born and raised for the sole purpose of spreading Christianity and right-wing ideology. They would talk about how they used to have fantasies about being murdered for being Christian and going down in history as martyrs. And about their fantasies of going to war against non-Christians and converting or killing them. They readily acknowledged that the way they were raised was incredibly fucked up.

And yet they applaud the people doing the same thing to children in Gaza.

They call it abuse when American Christian children are indoctrinated into violence and bigotry from birth, but call it resistance when Palestinian Muslim children are subjected to the same thing. They call their American Christian parents and pastors cult leaders for telling kids that their greatest aspiration should be martyrdom, but call Palestinian Muslim parents and teachers and imams "freedom fighters" for raising children to be suicide bombers and human shields.

It is so fucking hypocritical it's sickening. The exact same things they say broke them and destroyed them and fucked them up for life are being done to kids in Gaza and these privileged little assholes are cheering it on.

.

[tranquil-turbulence]

SS Month ‘23 - Day 2

Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3

Prompt: Warring States Era AU

Warnings: Trauma, mentions of violence, child soldiers, child death, and war

From the age of four, hardly a day went by without a shuriken in her hands.

In such a turbulent time, any and all help was needed in the eternal power struggle between the Senju and Uchiha - and she was no different; the frail daughter of a Senju woman and a peasant from Water country, her father had immigrated to Fire country in search of a better life and had landed in the middle of a bloody standoff between the two clans.

Her father had been hesitant for their only daughter to become a kunoichi, but her mother had grown up the daughter of a ruthless shinobi and a skilled kunoichi and was determined for her to learn the skills necessary to survive in such a ruthless world.

On the evening of her fifth birthday, she found that she could manipulate plantlife with her hands. Her mother was thrilled. She had said something about studying under the famed Senju Hashirama, but little Sakura hadn’t been listening - she was too busy admiring the gladiolus under her fingertips.

It was on her sixth birthday when she truly understood the gravity of the war - her cousin was slain by an Uchiha, and her mother wept bitter tears for her aunt. Sakura had been too numb to truly process the death for a few days - and when she finally recognized that her cousin was dead, she screamed herself hoarse while her father attempted to hold her back from running out the front door.

That innocent six-year-old had grown into a cold, calculating sixteen-year-old woman under the tutelage of not Hashirama, but his brother Tobirama - the man had seen the potential in her mind and was determined to expand it. Not that the man minded; she hated fighting and preferred to spend hours reading texts from beginning to end, absorbing their words. She had a certain expertise in genjutsu, and was content to let her teacher practice on her.

Everything changed when she met fifteen, soon to be sixteen-year-old Uchiha Sasuke.

The son of a high-ranking Uchiha, he was every bit as battle-hardened and ruthless as his kin; his was a name that was whispered more in fear than reverence, and her teacher found every excuse to keep her away from battle whenever word got out that he and his brother Itachi would be fighting. It was clear he didn’t want them to meet, and she never questioned him.

But today, of all days, she found herself alone by the riverbed, getting water for her ill father. It was a beautiful morning, and she hummed a tune while she filled a bucket.

Suddenly she paused, sensing a presence for a split-second behind her.

Turning her head, she nearly dropped the bucket in surprise when another person emerged from the treeline, long dark hair draped over his shoulder. Deep worry lines creased his face, and despite his youth there was something remarkably aged about him.

She knew him immediately.

Freshly twenty-one-year-old Uchiha Itachi, son of the man they called Kyougan Fugaku, was calm and collected as he nonchalantly strolled up to the river, a cloth in hand.

“Good morning, kunoichi,” he greeted politely, seemingly ignoring the emblem sewn into the sleeve of her kimono top as he knelt on the rocks.

Sakura stared incredulously at the man for several hesitant seconds. Why wasn’t he attacking? She had heard of his tendency for small mercies - on the battlefield he was like a machine rather than a man, cutting down Senju no more coldly than he ate or drank, but supposedly there were rumors afloat that he wished for peace more than war.

Truthfully, there was a certain softness to the way he carried himself. Minutely, she relaxed her rigid stance, seeing no sharpness in his shoulders nor steel in his gaze.

“You’re an Uchiha,” she finally spoke up, almost accusingly.

He paused in cupping his hands around the water. “I am.”

“Why aren’t you attacking me?”

That finally got him to look up, and for a moment she felt a guilty chord for the way he gazed at her with mild surprise.

“Why should I attack? You’ve no weapon and at the moment neither have I,” he pointed out, and she sheepishly looked away, feeling quite chastised. “I am merely here to wash my face, and no more.”

“Forgive me, I meant no offense.” She shook her head and went back to her bucket. “I’m not used to sitting near one of your kin without a sword in my hand.”

Itachi was quiet for several long moments, staring at the cool water. Then, he replied, “It would be a grave offense to my honor as a man if I deigned to strike you unprovoked. You’re no harm to me, and so I am not to you.”

Though his words were meant in good faith, his casual admission bristled her, and she barely held back from shooting him a glare as he dipped his head near the water’s surface, splashing his face.

The silence between them was awkward, and as she went to get to her feet, a sword to the side of her neck immediately raised her hackles, and she belatedly reached for her pouch.

There came a sigh, and Itachi looked up with a disapproving, “Sasuke.”

“Brother,” the younger Uchiha tersely greeted. “What are you doing with a Senju?”

“She was here first, and neither decided it was prudent to begin a quarrel where there is none.”

“Have you forgotten how many of our number hers have callously murdered?” He demanded. “Have you forgotten how they desired to strike down Cousin?”

“You’ve killed just as many, if not more,” she spat with a nasty glare over her shoulder. “My own cousin was murdered in cold blood by one of your kin. I was six; she was eight.”

“Please.” Itachi raised his hand, rising from his knees in one smooth motion. “Sasuke, sheath your sword. Do not shame our father in this manner.”

For a couple of seconds, the young man looked like he would argue, but one sharp look from his brother made him reluctantly pull back, and the katana glided back into its sheath.

Itachi sent the girl an almost apologetic glance as he extended a hand. “Forgive my foolish brother - though our father has raised us with peace in mind, I fear old habits die harder than they must.”

She stared at his hand before her eyes traveled up to his face. She searched it for a long moment before she sighed through her nose and accepted it, allowing his sure grip to guide her to her feet.

“All grudges forgiven, Uchiha,” she answered, letting go and stooping to retrieve her full bucket. “For your sake, I do hope this feud ends soon. I too grow weary of the fight.”

Itachi nodded simply, bowing at the waist before turning. “Come, Sasuke. Mother is expecting us.”

Sasuke stared at her, gaze sure and dubious. He was handsome, despite his blood - a slender nose, high cheekbones, regal brow, soft dark hair - had she not been a Senju, and he not an Uchiha, she might have fancied him.

He nodded dismissively and turned, hand on the hilt of his sword. “Good day, Senju. Be cautious when you make your way back.”

“And to you… Uchiha.” She managed to answer, clutching her bucket to her chest.

[poorly-managed]

It wasn't that war hadn't always had its casualties. But only warriors came to Valhalla.

He noticed it first in the Valkyrie. They had always been smaller. With a complexity of viciousness and softness that would befuddle any self respecting war god. But they had gotten smaller. Less rounded and more angles. And then smaller and rounder in a different way. Still vicious but in the way only a little girl who only knew battle would be. Vicious in the way of someone who was on the verge of death and called to the gods for strength, not mercy.

Once he saw that he couldn't look away. Boys only five who knew swords and guns but not their letters. Who chased Freya around in their war play and knew not if they wished her to be a mother or a conquest. Not that they had known either in their short time.

War had always had casualties.

His gods who fought on the fields more recently than him were reminded. But the gods hold was weakening in the mortal world. Resources were more precious than life. And if you could walk and follow an order you could battle. Men less and less cared about the age of the whole. And girls more and more realized they would rather fight and die.

There were children in Valhalla because what they had once considered casualties. Off shoots not from his domain had become warriors.

Because if they were going to die, they were going to die fighting.

A cold, steely anger permeated Odin's voice as he asked a single quiet question: "Why are there children in Valhalla?"

[sacrifical-lamb-core]

Imagine being little Jason Grace and being screamed at for not being able to see something and you get struck across your face for being a’useless little wretch’ and being yelled at constantly for something you really can’t help because it’s not my fault I can’t see but he doesn’t know that and he thinks he’s just being lazy or not trying hard enough and then he finds out he just needed glasses all along

[kadextra]

[one-time-i-dreamt]

I was being trained to be a child super soldier and after my first tour of duty at 16, I met Danny DeVito and I just stood there flabbergasted by his grace and magnificence.

[universallydepressed13]

kakashi has what appears to be multiple panic attacks throughout the show, and he takes the same stance every single time, and i only recently noticed this, so i wanted to point it out bc idk if anyone else has noticed this. you can visbily see his shoulders quickly rising and falling, meaning he is breathing quite heavily.

1st screenshot: After Gai uses the 8th gate, and Kakashi presumes he did not survive the action

2nd screenshot: Kakashi choking up while using Chidori soon after the incident with Rin

3rd screenshot: Obito takes Kaguya's rod to the stomach and begins to fall apart

4th screenshot: Soon after Kakashi exited the 72 hour genjutsu from Itachi

(in the second screenshot, that was a canon panic attack, as we see his eyesight get blurry and stuff, but the other three are me simply implying with context clues such as his heavy breathing.)

[holly-mint]

sasha dump over this year

[dr-lizortecho]

sometimes I wonder how many of the ghosts from the Lockwood and Co universe are from the initial attempts to combat The Problem. Like how many are the soldiers and special units sent out after an unidentified unknown coma at any? How many are the scared and traumatized eighteen year olds losing their abilities to clearly discern visitors? The adults who never had a chance?

How long it took for the government to legalize child soldiers- if parents noticed first that their little ones were more inttuned and kept it whispered about, soft warnings to their friends to keep their children away from windows, to not let them talk about the apparitions they saw, or the strange things they heard. How quickly that got up to the cruel people in charge who made the decision to let seventeen and sixteen year olds combat the Visitors? How many of those children in bids for steady jobs to support their families died bloody and terrified and added to the ghost count? How quickly it took the government officials to bribe parents to let their fourteen and fifteen year olds “train” for the positions they’d have in the future- while giving them a small sum of money. How quickly thy turned to thirteen and twelve and even younger. How many of those lost children died before they had a good understanding of what the Problem was. How many neighborhoods started as a horrible trip down the stars and got bathed in the blood of the unprotected and the innocent. How quickly a few instances of violent deaths grew higher and higher and more and more violent and traumatic. Because not only did children die- but from the express consent of their government and their parents ignorance and detachment.

How that makes the series as a whole a discussion on in society- given the amount of times are governments of committed genocide (or attempted genocide) through children, all in the name of protection

[the-catboy-minyan]

a man has committed suicide, set himself on FIRE, BURNED HIMSELF ALIVE.

and people are making fanart.

what kind of dystopia are we living in?

[this-earlobe-is-naked]

I’m so torn on this, because Percy especially doesn’t mention the ages of most people. The ones he does mention are at least 12/13 during the Battle of Manhattan. Obviously these are still children and it’s super gross of the gods to allow/require them to be their army (even more disgusting to think of an entire city of adults in New Rome, letting children protect/ die for them), but there’s something even worse in my mind to imagine an 8 year old in those fights. Let me know what you think, and please expound in the tags or reblogs.

[aftgficrec]

Do you have anything for settings outside of cannon?? Like au's or completely different universes

(Preferably neil centered but not exactly a necessity)

Ahhh there are many amazing AUs in our fandom, and of course a high percentage star Neil Josten. Generally, canon themes are still woven throughout the stories. Also check out AUs on our tags page where you can explore by theme. -A

a small sampling of AU themes:

single parent aus here

more band aus here

sitcom/romcom vibes here

long no exy aus here

new Hogwarts aus here

staff recs Mermay here

florist/tattoo artist andreil here

andreil enemies to lovers here

some Neil-centric AUs:

famous Neil (no exy) here

Neil as barista/waiter/bartender here

Neil with wings and lots of magic here

Oblivious ace-disaster Neil here

quirky Neil like ‘WUTBF’/‘Quicksand’ here

fics like ‘A Different Matter’ here

‘Neil’s Guide to Stalking Your Neighbor’ here

‘Dear Advice Guy’ here (complete)

‘The bittersweet between my teeth’ here

‘Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger’ here

‘Point Nemo’ here

‘still’ here

‘12 Ways to Woo a Minyard’ and ‘Deadly Affections’ here

Perennial by notyouranswer [Rated T, 11373 Words, Complete, 2023]

Neil downloaded a dating app (at Matt's insistence) to make some friends, but accidentally rejected a stranger right in front of him. Mild chaos ensues leading to conversations over coffee and a walk in the park.

tw: implied/referenced child abuse, tw: bullying

Into The Deep by Fortheloveofexy [Rated E, 21435 Words, Incomplete, Updated June 2023, Locked]

Part 1 of Tales From Foxhole Aquarium 

Neil Josten stares at the large building in front of him, his mouth twisted into a small frown. Yesterday, Browning had handed him a manila folder containing his new name, his new life. Included in that file had been a note, the same slightly crumpled note he’s holding in his hand now, with the name of his new employer. Foxhole Aquarium. Ask for David Wymack.

tw: implied/referenced rape/noncon, tw: implied/referenced self harm, tw: implied/referenced torture, tw: implied/referenced abuse, tw: implied/referenced child abuse, tw: animal abuse, tw: implied/referenced character death, tw: blood, tw: panic attacks

NB: fic art of merAndrew by @fortheloveofexy

Only Fools Fall. by Random2002 [Rated T, 19789 Words, Incomplete, Updated Feb 2023]

Neil tests how faithful his clients partners are. Roland is a client; he's worried about his boyfriend. It isn't long until Neil notices some serious rifts in the relationship he is meant to test.

tw: child abuse

White Hands by doodlingstuff [Rated T, 23308 Words, Complete, May 2023]

Neil's life isn't exactly a life except for Stuart, trying to cheer him up, and his paintings, whenever he's inspired. Andrew's life isn't exactly a life except for his family and his volunteering work, keeping him afloat as the time goes by. When Andrew stumbles into Neil's life unwillingly, both will learn one day at a time that they still have reasons to fight and dreams to fulfill. --- Another take on Artist!Neil and Bartender!Andrew full of soft and fluff.

tw: implied/referenced csa, tw: heavily referenced abuse, tw: implied/referenced child abuse, tw: implied/referenced self harm 

If Neil, Then Fox by AlrightDarlin (WhoopsOK) [Rated T, 12838 Words, Complete, 2023, Locked]

Neil Josten’s machine warns him Aaron Minyard needs his help, but Neil isn’t prepared for the way Andrew Minyard is about to turn his life upside down.

tw: murder, tw: canonical character death, tw: implied character death, tw: drug use, tw: violence

Professor Neil series by HalfpintPeach [Rated G/T, Collection with 2 complete works, updated Feb 2023]

Part 1: Necessary Losses [T, 9783 Words, Complete, 2023] Neil's grad students invite their Exy-obsessed professor out to one of the most anticipated matches of the Exy Season, the Dallas Palms vs the Denver Yellowjackets. Neil is excited to join to watch his husband and one of his best friends battle it out on the Exy court.

Part 2: Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day [G, 3640 Words, Complete, 2022] Neil has one of the worst days and Andrew is able to make it a little bit better. Welcome to my Professor Neil and Professional Exy Player Andrew world! 

I'll be a Brand New Day by especiallythezefronposter [Rated T, 15519 Words, Complete, 2017]

Neil meets a man who looks a lot like his least favorite teammate, Aaron Minyard, and it ends up changing his life. (A Winter Soldier AU, because this fandom deserves a Winter Soldier AU)

tw: self harm, tw: implied/referenced rape/noncon, tw: implied/referenced child abuse, tw: gun violence, tw: blood, tw: murder, tw: nightmares

Unlucky Lies by Winterlynne_Norvic [Not Rated, 26365 Words. Complete, 2019]

Neil hates being a demon. Andrew hates Neil. Their lives are hell, but maybe with each other it doesn't have to be.

tw: graphic depictions of violence, tw: temporary major character death, tw: implied/referenced rape/noncon, tw: implied/referenced child abuse, tw: demonic possession, tw: bullying, tw: assault, tw: attempted rape, tw: blood, tw: murder, tw: car accident, tw: canonical character death, tw: eating disorders

Neighbours series by transjorts [Collection, Rated T, Complete, 2021]

Part 1: Cat Burglar [6393 Words, AFTG Exchange Spring 2021] Neil has settled into his quiet life in Palmetto with a job at Barnes and Noble and a friend called Matt. But someone was breaking into his apartment and stealing his stuffed animals. What kind of fuckery is this?

tw: implied/referenced child abuse 

Part 2: Foxes and Fruitcake [12819 Words] Neil dives deep into Minyard-Hemmick family drama, plays exy and eats fruitcake.

tw: involuntary outing 

You're different than the others by Kml19 [Rated M, 21024 Words, Complete, 2017]

Neil works for the Moriyamas from inside the prisons as a guard, he doesn't think much about his own life, he is just glad that he is alive. That is until he meets a new prisoner that may change how he sees things.

tw: graphic depictions of violence, tw: implied/referenced rape/noncon, tw: implied/referenced murder, tw: assault

NB: inspired by @requiemofkings’ artwork of prison guard Neil and inmate Andrew

Allurement by sundowne [Rated E, 20323 Words, Incomplete, Updated May 2023]

"You think I would use my allurement on you?" "You're not?" - A vampire AU in which Neil needs a new goalie and Andrew needs someone to feed from, so they strike a deal.

tw: blood, tw: implied/referenced abuse, tw: implied/referenced torture

Remember! Proplifting is Shoplifting! by Mystrana [Rated T, 3697 Words, Complete, AFTG Summer Exchange 2022]

Neil works at the garden center. He hates his job. Andrew is an amateur gardener who enjoys tormenting garden center employees. Somehow, he makes Neil's job better.

If You Knew What I Know by interstellarflowers [Rated G, 12361 Words, Complete, 2021]

Neil runs a relationship advice column, and Andrew is a skeptic.

Whiskey Sour by maqicien [Not Rated, 6,870 Words, Complete, 2022]

In which Neil is a bartender and Andrew is the crime lord that owns the bar.

tw: graphic depictions of violence, tw: assault, tw: blood/gore, tw: murder

jellyroot and many other causes of catastrophy series by jeanmorexu (papencuts), papencuts [Rated M, Collection with 2 complete works, AFTG Reverse Big Bang 2019]

Part 1: (a comprehensive guide to princes and knights and how not to acquire jellyroot) [10959 Words] Neil is a young prince of Palmetta. When he was just a boy, he was saved by a mysterious kid from a thug. Neil isn't sure who he is, or why he did what he did. That is, until he sees him again and this time, he's going to get some answers.

tw: homophobia, tw: assault

Part 2: united under kingdom, and unto each other [​​2099 Words]

“Can you imagine what this would do the crown? Backwater boxing matches, associating with drunkards, and criminals… These bruises, Andrew, gods… People are going to think I beat you.” “No one is going to think that. It’s almost assumed that you like me to beat you.”

NB: knight and prince art prompt by @requiemofkings

CVS by anxietycorner [Rated G, 38689 Words, Incomplete, Updated May 2023]

Neil had always worked the night shift alone. A co-worker couldn't hurt, right?

tw: graphic depictions of violence, tw: abuse, tw: child abuse, tw: torture, tw: implied/referenced rape/noncon, tw: ptsd, tw: flashbacks, tw: implied/referenced murder, tw: suicidal thoughts, tw: vomit, tw: alcohol, tw: bullying 

Art

Dirtyhands Neil art by @prince-peachie

spiderman au art by @rainbowd00dles

tattoo artist!neil comic by @jordanshenessy here and here 

the little siren au art by @allfortheslay25, wip 1, pre render

jellyfish Neil au comic by @emry-stars-art, also here

pirate Neil art by @heymrstargazer

winged Neil art by @mistykaru here, here, here, here and here

escaped single father Jean with baby Neil art by @estavs

[askmafiabobvelseb]

no offense, but I remember the creator calling Beka a veteran. Beka's under 18, therefore, not a veteran.

anon IS correct, by the way. as Beka is a "child soldier", therefore she is unable to consider herself a veteran.

recrutting a minor into a battle field/war zone (which beka is.), is illegal and if someone is to commit the act of recruitting a child into war is either faced with 20 years or the death penalty!

[drekkavac]

𝐓𝐖𝐎  -  𝐅𝐀𝐂𝐄  ;      ‘  y’were  dreamin’.’  The  familiar  look  in  their  eyes  lacks  HARVEY’s  soft  watery  gaze  ,  voice  too  hoarse.  ‘  go  back  to  sleep.’  Far  be  it  from  TWO-FACE  to  hesitate  in  anything  but  a  hand  comes  to  run  through  her  hair  briefly  before  he  pulls  away  .   ﹐   @halfdent.

             Had  they  been  awake  ,  they  would  have  seen  the  𝐒𝐈𝐆𝐍𝐒  that  they  were  safe.   They  would  have  seen  the  signs  of  𝐇𝐎𝐌𝐄  surrounding  them.   But  instead  ,  stuck  in  their  own  nightmares  …  They  weren't  in  Gotham.   They  weren't  with  them.   Trapped  in  their  head  ,  all  they  could  see  was  that  base.

❛❛  Keep  going  Anya!  Again!  ❜❜

             Sharp  commands  rung  through  the  room  ,  echoing  like  it  was  coming  from  someone  𝐔𝐍𝐃𝐄𝐑𝐖𝐀𝐓𝐄𝐑.   When  eyes  shifted  to  focus  on  the  other  asset  in  the  center  of  the  ring  with  her  …  It  wasn't  just  another  asset.   It  was  𝐉𝐀𝐌𝐈𝐄.

             A  scenario  they  had  been  forced  into  time  &  time  again.   Project  Legacy  couldn't  𝐓𝐎𝐋𝐄𝐑𝐀𝐓𝐄  decent.   Defection  couldn't  be  tolerated.   A  lesson  needed  to  be  taught.   One  that  would  work  for  Anya  at  least  for  a  very  long  time.   Twin  eyes  looked  up  from  a  battered  face.   Blood  covering  any  other  features  that  might  reveal  the  identity  of  the  child  cowering  at  her  feet.

             Hands  𝐐𝐔𝐈𝐕𝐄𝐑.   Shaking  at  their  sides  until  they  chance  to  look  away  from  their  brother  ,  the  other  half  of  them  ,  &  instead  looking  to  bloody  hands  ,  only  for  them  to  turn  into  a  fist.   It's  hard  to  see.   Hard  to  𝐀𝐂𝐂𝐄𝐏𝐓�� even  though  they  know  how  this  plays  out.   They  know  how  this  ends.   They've  been  here  before  …  Many  times.   Hesitation  kicks  in  …  Her  head  shaking  at  him  when  he  begs  her  to  do  as  they  ask.   Tears  that  had  been  held  in  her  heterochromatic  hues  since  they  started  this.

❛❛  I  said  NOW  Asset.   Attack!  ❜❜

             There's  a  stabbing  feeling  in  their  head.   Like  a  𝐍𝐄𝐄𝐃𝐋𝐄  being  driven  into  their  temple.   It  hurts  ,  enough  to  knock  their  focus  from  the  defiance  ,  head  shaking  with  the  sharp  headache  now  clouding  their  senses.   It  didn't  matter  now.   Gone  were  the  days  where  a  Soldier  would  come  to  rescue  the  lost  children.   The  Soldier  was  gone  ,  it  was  all  over.   That  switch  𝐖𝐎𝐑𝐊𝐒  though.   Doing  exactly  as  intended  ,  blocking  everything  except  the  main  directive.   Attack  the  other  asset.   Angry  eyes  stalking  toward  the  badly  beaten  teen  …  Before  eyes  open.

             Eyes  open  ,  &  the  room  they  had  just  been  in  was  𝐆𝐎𝐍𝐄.   The  cold  ,  gym  like  room  traded  for  the  space  she  called  home  now.   It  wasn't  the  building  that  made  it  home  …  It  was  them.   Cold  didn't  feel  cold  when  they  were  with  them.   Not  like  it  used  to.   It's  not  the  𝐅𝐈𝐑𝐒𝐓  nightmare  they've  had  since  meeting  Harvey.   He  was  always  there.   Ready  to  𝐇𝐎𝐋𝐃  &  𝐂𝐎𝐌𝐅𝐎𝐑𝐓.   Ready  to  protect  against  the  demons  of  their  past  coming  back  to  remind  them  of  their  wrong  doings.

             Except  this  time  …  It's  not  Harvey.   In  the  dark  ,  it  could  be  hard  to  tell.   Often  times  they  have  to  rely  on  𝐂𝐋𝐔𝐄𝐒  ,  little  tells  at  who  has  the  driver's  seat  in  any  given  moment.   Sounds  are  the  main  clue  though.   Micro  expressions  being  something  you  have  to  read  just  to  know  who  you're  talking  to.   Harvey's  called  her  an  enigma  before  …  But  he  &  Two  bring  a  whole  new  meaning  to  the  word.   It's  beautiful.   That  𝐆𝐑𝐎𝐖𝐋  ,  small  &  soft  ,  but  present  …  Tells  them  all  they  need  to  know  who  it  is.

             Shoulder's  tense.   Waiting  for  some  sort  of  comment  that  will  𝐔𝐍𝐃𝐎𝐔𝐁𝐓𝐄𝐃𝐋𝐘  pull  Harvey  to  come  to  their  defense.   Something  about  being  𝐍𝐈𝐂𝐄𝐑  ,  but  instead  there  are  few  words  ,  as  gentle  as  they've  ever  felt  the  alter  ,  combing  a  hand  through  disheveled  brown  locks.   A  hand  reaches  up  ,  feeling  his  hand  𝐑𝐄𝐓𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐆.   Not  yet  ,  she  still  needs  that.   A  weathered  hand  grabs  for  his  ,  a  bit  of  insistence  in  the  pressure  used  to  squeeze  his  ,  but  all  she  can  do  is  shake  her  head  while  tears  attempt  to  fall  unseen  under  cover  of  darkness.    ❛❛  𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝𝐧'𝐭  𝐜𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐞  𝐦𝐲  𝐞𝐲𝐞𝐬  𝐢𝐟  𝐈  𝐖𝐀𝐍𝐓𝐄𝐃  𝐭𝐨.  ❜❜    No  surprise  there.   If  he  had  a  peak  into  her  mind  he'd  understand.    ❛❛  𝐈'𝐦  𝐬𝐨𝐫𝐫𝐲  𝐈  𝐰𝐨𝐤𝐞  𝐲𝐨𝐮.  ❜❜

[drekkavac-moving]

𝙽𝙴𝚆  𝚅𝙴𝚁𝚂𝙴.    𝙲𝚛𝚒𝚖𝚒𝚗𝚊𝚕 𝙼𝚒𝚗𝚍𝚜.  " i was hurt by bad men. now i hunt them down.    //    criminal minds. "

Anya & her brother had been taken from their parents when they were very young , being taken from a 𝙳𝙰𝚈𝙲𝙰𝚁𝙴  𝙳𝙰𝚈  𝚃𝚁𝙸𝙿  when  they  were  no  older  than  four.  They  were  sent  through  a  𝚑𝚒𝚍𝚍𝚎𝚗  𝚞𝚗𝚍𝚎𝚛𝚐𝚛𝚘𝚞𝚗𝚍  𝚛𝚒𝚗𝚐  that  specialized  in  training  child  soldiers  to  be  sold  off  to  the  𝙷𝙸𝙶𝙷𝙴𝚂𝚃  𝙱𝙸𝙳𝙳𝙴𝚁.  The  questions  as  to  what  they  wanted  them  for  not  being  something  they  typically  asked.  Anya  &  Jamie  were  put  through  the  program  ,    𝚙𝚎𝚛𝚏𝚘𝚛𝚖𝚒𝚗𝚐  𝚑𝚒𝚐𝚑𝚎𝚛  𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚗  𝚝𝚑𝚎  𝚘𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚛  𝚌𝚑𝚒𝚕𝚍𝚛𝚎𝚗  ,    &  being  among  the  few  graduates  &  survivors  of  the  program.  But  that  han't  been  the  end  of  it  for  them.  Being  among  the  𝙶𝚁𝙰𝙳𝚄𝙰𝚃𝙴𝚂  ,    they  were  separated  &  sent  off  to  other  assignments  around  the  world.  Praying  they  wouldn't  end  up  having  to  fight  one  another.  Salvation  came  in  the  form  of  a  group  of  FBI  agents  ,    that  had  been  looking  for  𝚊𝚗𝚘𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚛  𝚕𝚒𝚝𝚝𝚕𝚎  𝚐𝚒𝚛𝚕  ,    &  stumbling  on  the  entire  operation.  Anya  &  their  brother  Jamie  were  𝚁𝙴𝚂𝙲𝚄𝙴𝙳  &  𝚁𝙴𝚄𝙽𝙸𝚃𝙴𝙳  with  their  family  when  they  were  fifteen  years  old.  She  lived  a  normal  life  ,    with  the  exception  of  the  𝚌𝚘𝚗𝚜𝚝𝚊𝚗𝚝  𝚒𝚗𝚟𝚘𝚕𝚟𝚎𝚖𝚎𝚗𝚝  𝚘𝚏  𝚝𝚑𝚎  𝚐𝚘𝚟𝚎𝚛𝚗𝚖𝚎𝚗𝚝  ,    &  the  countless  requests  to  interview  them  or  help  publish  a  book  ,    she  decided  to  put  her  skills  to  good  use  ,     enlisted  in  the  FBI  Academy  ,    &  climbed  the  ranks  to  the  BAU.

[hunter-the-sad-skeleton]

*Leans in close to mic* would.(Reblogs appreciated!)

Closeups under cut!