#what about like I dunno archery I was also surprisingly good at that

[imperatorrrrr]

Pick an Olympic team sport you and Mike Matheson have to compete in together. How does it go? ❤

okay, so this is between I think mixed doubles tennis and fencing, but I think I'm going to go with mixed doubles tennis.

And honestly, given his shot and size, and given my delusions of grandeur and my prowess when I was pre-teen/early teenager, we'd probably make a good run of it.

Some upsets against some favorites.

We wouldn't end up medaling, but we'd shock the world with our dominance and end up on some morning breakfast talk show.

He is Canadian and I am not, so dunno which country we would compete for? I could probably get away with competing for India through some circumnavigation, but I doubt my best friend, Michael Matheson, has any South Asian ancestry, though you never know! He did go to Boston College, but I don't think that automatically means he has any like ties to the States.

A conundrum we will face together just like our tennis matches.

Also, pls picture, Michael Matheson, 6'2 and me, T, 4'11 and 3/4.

[project-sekai-facts]

What's ur fav piece of trivia for every* character?

(*or at least as much as you can recall off the top of ur head)

my favorite trivia for characters is usually just whatever i think is funniest so just keep that in mind. that's not always the case but you might see it become a pattern. oh the other thing is whatever is most soul-crushing so yeah.

Ichika - either the fact her name comes from how her parents met (because i think it's really sweet) or that she accidentally discovered miku when she was watching videos on her dad's tablet and opened a recording of a miku concert

Saki - she used to listen to the song Time Machine when she was in hospital (at Ichika's recommendation) to remind her of family and friends. It's the in-universe reason why she is featured on the cover. This is actually one of my favorite facts in the game overall.

Honami - she is surprisingly good at flirting

Shiho - not one I've posted before, but in Run! Sports Festival! she couldn't bring herself to throw any of the balls in the ball toss because they had cute animal designs on them

Minori - she once passed out because Haruka wished her happy birthday.

Haruka - she likes penguins because she thinks the way they waddle is cute and she likes how round a lot of penguin merch is

Airi - she followed all of Shizuku's campaigns and bought all the magazines she was featured in when she was still a member of Cheerful*Days. She insists it was just research.

Shizuku - either that she usually has a thermos of miso soup on her to eat after practice or archery club or that she isn't good at texting. i haven't posted either of these before

Kohane - again one I haven't posted yet, but her favorite photo she's taken of Count Pearl is one of Pearl eating mice. the rest of VBS are surprised that she isn't squeamish about that sort of thing (i dunno what they're talking about that sounds like a very cool photo).

An - the possible symbolism of the black stripe on her new school cardigan. hello to the person who submitted that i am still not over it.

Akito - in Cinema he's the only person to sing solo during the first two choruses, the others don't get solo parts in the chorus until the end of the song. i think about this one a lot actually

Toya - he can't swim

Tsukasa - he's the comedic relief and there's a lot of really random shit i know about him because of that, so my favorite fact about him is whatever will have the most impact in the moment if i were to mention it out of nowhere. for a less vague answer, this one although i consider it to be one of my worst posts

Emu - she's very good at replicating cartoon faces. i like this one because it raises a few questions about whether the L2Ds are still exaggerated or if she just looks like that and no one questions that she actually has a cartoon face. what if project sekai ends with them all becoming self-aware.

Nene - either the fact that she thinks the forest has good graphics or that she called rui's mom "auntie" when she was younger because i think it's cute.

Rui - i like a good reference and i appreciate that he sometimes references famous people and media.

Kanade - she's left handed. i also like that her family name was made up specifically to contrast with the rest of N25.

Mafuyu - either that it's shown one time that she can see ghosts and then it's never brought up or referenced again, or that the "mom's cooking" listed as her favorite food might refer to the bunny-shaped apple slices her mother would make for her when she was a kid. i also like the detail that her eyes being two-tone is because she inherited the eye colors of both her parents.

Ena - twitter user. also despite loving cheesecake, she doesn't like cheese. girl what the hell.

Mizuki - they started out editing by making AMVs for a magical girl anime they liked. Amia comes from the name of a character from that anime. also did you know they put ice cubes in noodles because of their sensitive tongue. ice cubes.

Bonus - some side character stuff I like

Kotaro's favorite food is strawberries but he doesn't like strawberry flavored things for whatever reason

Asahi and Sakurako's family names are Chinese mythology references

Tatsuya's hobbies are motorbiking and fishing. these are not things you expect to go together

Nagi hated tomatoes but she would eat them in front of An

Iori hates spicy food, whilst Mio's favorite food is super spicy ramen. Meanwhile Mio doesn't like cream, but Iori likes crepes (which usually have cream on them).

Souma started listening to foreign music after Arata left for America

gbr i forgot about the vocaloids for a second but before i call it a day i think it's incredibly funny that Len cannot reach the stools in crase cafe.

[chainofclovers]

This Way Up season 2 thoughts and feelings

We finished watching the second season of This Way Up last night (watched it in two sittings over Friday and Saturday) and I liked it a lot more than I thought I would though the season did feel uneven at times. The story also made me feel incredibly, incredibly sad, and my brain is so cluttered with thoughts that I'm not sure I'll be able to actually make sense of the show if I don't just go on and share my impressions, as scattered, self-indulgent, and based on the limited memory of a single viewing as they are.

Where was I when I was watching this season of television?

Physically, I was on the couch with my wife, repeatedly remembering and forgetting that the Olympics were happening. And so, interspersed with this deep dive into the mental health and personal and professional challenges of London-based Irish sisters Áine and Shona, I experienced some archery, skateboarding (those bros honestly seem tooooo cool to even want to come to something as embarrassingly earnest as the Olympics, but good for them!), and men's gymnastics.

Mentally, I was contemplating some significant professional (and, yes, personal in their way) life events that are neither here nor there for tumblr dot com. I was also considering the season two premiere of Ted Lasso and my fannish relationship to that show. For it is true--the person I was while watching season 1 of This Way Up is not the same person who watched season 2 this weekend, because in the meantime a 45-year old white man from Kansas (and every person he knows) managed to become my primary media preoccupation, and I am surprisingly chill about how not chill I am about this anxiety-ridden ray of sunshine/football coach (both footballs). But as we all know, being chill does not mean feeling chill. That make sense?

Anyway. This Way Up. It's about to become a mess of spoilers and feelings in here, so venture behind the cut if you dare!

For Obvious Queer Reasons I was extremely curious to find out what happens between Shona and Charlotte and Shona and Vish. As such, while it was uncomfortable to watch, I think my favorite scene in the whole season is when Shona and Vish have video chat sex and Shona has this intrusive memory of sleeping with Charlotte that feels like the ONLY moment in the entire season that she isn't performing or editing herself in some way.

My other favorite moment is when Charlotte talks about how upsetting it is to feel like a "lesson learned" chapter in Shona's autobiography.

I cannot believe I'm about to type these words, but I think the writing on this show might actually put too much trust in viewers to pick up on things. I know, this never happens! This is my dream! Why am I typing this? But hear me out. I think there are a lot of interesting parallels in terms of whether Shona and Vish (established, engaged, committed) and Áine and Richard (new, taboo [but is it really that crazy that she ends up dating the dad of someone she tutors?], exploratory) are truly able to listen to each other and accept each other's needs. It's about honesty or lack thereof, and it's also about what's really happening inside someone's mind. It's such an incredible moment when Richard tells Áine he likes that she's always so "up" and she has this private moment where you can see this heartbreak in her eyes because of course we know that she really struggles with her mental health and with depression. And I like that the show has both Bradley and Charlotte in the position of being on the overlapping outside of those relationships, offering their own wisdom from a place of really, really caring about Áine and Shona. But I just wanted MORE of that. This episodes are so short, and I needed there to be more of a tight story about those parallels, more of a sense that we'd hurtle towards some kind of revelation by episode 6.

I realize this is a thing about UK shows, but these seasons are just too short. The episodes are like 24 minutes long and there are only six of them and I felt that while you could create an effective season of TV with those constraints, this season jumped between scenes too frequently. I wanted to live in the scenes for longer. I didn't want to feel like I was watching the editing and decisions about what to show happen before my eyes.

If season 3 happens, my second biggest dream is that Bradley and Áine can have a conversation following up from the observation that it would be nice to be with someone they're just comfortable with (spoken while they're slumped on the couch together having one of the warmest conversations two characters share all season). My biggest dream is that Shona and Charlotte can have a respectful conversation about how Shona defines her sexuality. I want Shona to be safe explaining if she'd want to use the term bisexual or queer or pan or even lesbian or some combination of those terms. Not because the labels are the most useful thing, but because in this case it would be incredibly useful for her to force herself to choose some words, not in the context of feeling Vish-related pressure. To be brave enough to describe herself, and to be safe enough to know that Charlotte isn't going to make some snide comment about men. It's totally fair that Charlotte is so hurt, but she needs to be able to listen, too.

I do think this season does an incredible job capturing Shona's intense ambivalence about herself, and how she is SCRAMBLING to deflect from that by focusing on her sister, work, family, wedding-planning, the hen do, basically anything but dealing with her own little brain and heart. I mean, when COVID starts to arrive in their lives, it feels like she really wants Vish's asthmatic uncle to be the golden ticket they need to call off the wedding.

I have mixed feelings about how frequently Áine references the feeling of being an actor or the feeling of experiencing things as someone might in a movie or show or the feeling that someone else is treating her as an actor or character rather than as a real person. I think it's an interesting thing to write about, but upon first watch I struggled to figure out if it was a commentary on the other parts of the story or an additional thread Aisling Bea wanted to weave into an already incredibly short season of TV.

It was very jarring to have a COVID plot. The only mainstream media I've seen so far with a COVID plot is--LOL (to quote Áine, who says LOL so many times this season)--the final scene of the Saved By the Bell remake. Again I say LOL!!! I didn't hate it or love it, necessarily, I just thought it felt strange because we're still in the pandemic and everything is strange.

Everything with Tom was so, so, so painful. I don't know if I can even get into it. I just felt visceral devastation and was hurtled into strong memories about people in my own life who died prematurely. (Suicide but not only suicide.) The way the last scene ended felt like--immediate tears just pulled from my eyes without me even realizing what was happening. And God, the way Tom-in-the-flashback calls her a "soppy cunt" (I think?) and we realize Áine used those exact words to jokingly refer to Richard's previous girlfriend who was a human rights lawyer? GOD.

While Áine and Shona don't really engage with each other in the same way my sister and I do, my sister and I are also really, really close and I'm the older sister and watching this show always gives me a lot of emotions about siblings. This is actually part of why the rapid scene cuts and feeling that they both were leaving so much unarticulated stressed me out. Áine nails it at the end when Shona has finally told her about Charlotte and she says Shona needs to tell her more, but I wanted to SEE that conversation happen. I wanted to FEEL Áine's reaction, because Áine's reaction matters more than Vish's or their mother's or anyone else's. It was frustrating!

I dunno, y'all. I really love this show. I think it is exactly what it wants to be. I could not tell you today if I will ever rewatch it even though I (think I) still consider it a favorite. I honor and respect the fundamental messiness and pain and hilarity of this show. What a wild experience.

[hopeymchope]

Final (?) Muv-Luv Thoughts

- God, Muv-Luv Alternative was really incredible and made the entire experience well worth the price of admission for me...

- That epilogue was deeply unsatisfying on multiple levels, though. Could’ve been so much better with just a couple of changes. 

- They never did use the term “Muv-Luv” or explain the title “Muv-Luv” whatsoever in any of the three visual novels. Wtf lol???

- I originally only played the two main endings (Sumika and Meiya) of Muv-Luv Extra. And they were both pretty good! However, completing Alternative actually convinced me to go back and get all of the other girls’ endings to Extra. And boy, they are UNsatisfying! 

Now, without further adieu, here are my impressions of each girl’s romance route.

Sumika Kagami here is the absolute queen of the girls here. One of the two “central” love interests, she is easily best Muv-Luv girl. Sumika is the childhood friend who has always loved our protagonist for his underlying, well-hidden kindness. She’s not book-smart (though neither is the protag), but she’s surprisingly emotionally intelligent and insightful. She does everything she can for a guy who blatantly doesn’t appreciate her. Yet... even though her and the protag physically abuse and insult each other CONSTANTLY, somehow the scenes of them getting together are incredibly touching and heartfelt. MUV-LUV MATH: Protag does not deserve Sumika, but no one else would make Sumika happy, and Sumika deserves to be happy. Therefore, Sumika absolutely deserves Protag (in spite of the fact that Protag deserves to be found face-down in a drainage pipe).

Behold purple-haired Meiya Mitsurugi, the source of all the drama. She’s the other of the “central” love interests, an ultra-wealthy heiress who is ignorant in the ways of the “common” world and who just throws herself at the protag. The story starts with the protag waking up in bed next to her because she broke into his house, stripped down, and got in bed with him; it’s LIKE THAT. She’s absolutely convinced that they’re destined to be married, and it takes most of the game to learn why she’d want to be with this useless tool. But if they get together, it’s actually pretty cute and sweet. I can’t imagine that Protag would adapt well to the lifestyle that comes with being in a long-term relationship with Meiya, though. And it leaves Sumika just devastated to where she’ll never see the protagonist ever again, so... can’t be having THAT.

The Kei Ayamine route at least gives you more background on the mysterious, acerbic girl that is constantly off alone... but it ultimately doesn’t feel like it makes sense that they’d fall for each other via the brief, minimal interactions they have. What is their emotional connection? By the end, Protag admits he still can’t comprehend her words or behavior. What kind of relationship is that? Furthermore, the great lost love of her life shows up and is willing to give up EVERYTHING to be with her again; if she should choose anyone, it’s clearly the person she never got over who would put his entire life on the line for her. At least this route gives you more background on Ayamine and a certain important player in Alternative... but man, I don’t like the central relationship at all here. Still, this is the best of the “Other” girls, perhaps in part because Ayamine usually has funny dialogue, and the backstory it reveals is compelling.

Chizuru Sakaki’s route is totally crap. She’s the uptight “Class Rep” character who is usually bossy and emotionally closed off. The romance is based strongly in the idea that “no means yes” and that if someone tells you to get away from them or never speak to them again or to mind your own fucking business, you should keep pursuing them and talking to their loved ones to learn about them behind their back and keep on literally chasing them, etc etc. So that’s awful, and it made me want to see the Protag beaten up even more than I already did. Furthermore, it raises a ton of questions about how Sakaki could possibly be the same person in the Unlimited/Alternative timeline, because her background here is obviously radically distinct from that one... could she even be BORN in another timeline with her parents being so different? Ugh. This is the Actual Worst.

Romancing Miki “Tama” Tamase is inherently creepy because she’s the loli girl and it makes the protagonist seem kinda pedo so, ew. She doesn’t really have much personality beyond practicing archery and acting like a child. Again: CREEPY. Like all three of the “other” girls, it never makes sense why the protagonist would develop serious feelings for her based on what we’re shown. They at least TRY to justify it a bit in the writing, though, which is more than they did for Ayamine and Sakaki. This route gives us a couple of funny scenes, I suppose. Overall, though, it’s yet another miss for the “also-rans” of the cast. 

There are also a couple of “Normal” endings (???) that apparently have the protagonist wind up with no one, which is precisely what he deserves. So I might have to try those... or I might not. I dunno.

[slashers-baby]

matchup please? I’m a female and straight, 5’6, curvy/a little chubby. I have green eyes and long dirty blonde hair. I’m enthusiastic, emotional, silly, extroverted, polite and warm. However I’m also a bit vain. I like making people laugh, playing guitar, traveling and archery. (Nsfw?) I’m a bit of a switch and I like the idea of a breeding kink however I also love bondage (either side). Oh, I also love nature and cold weather. I carry myself proudly in public however I’m very friendly and open.

Ok. I think I have a good idea as to who to set you up with...

Bubba Sawyer!

SFW:

He loves your enthusiasm, tbh you fit right in with the rest of his family

This sweet boy is also a bit of an emotional wreck so don’t be surprised if you’re crying about something and he suddenly bursts into tears, sad that you’re sad

He is genuinely surprised at first with your kindness, not used to the gentleness

He loves that you’re open so he never has to work to hard to know what you’re feeling or thinking about or need really, he’s a bit of a dummy so if you didn’t express what you were thinking/feeling/wanting then he would just kinda become immensely frantic trying to figure it out (pretty much the pic above)

He LOVES your silliness

It feeds his childish personality

He’ll be silly right back if it brings a smile to your perfect face

His family is surprisingly ok with you, not tempted to eat you in hopes you’ll join their twisted family

They like that you’re surprisingly polite and don’t run screaming like everyone else

Lord knows they tried to scare you

Nothing worked however

Some of his brothers even tried to take a stab at you (literally) but he blocked you from their violent attempts

Bubba adores your warmness, never having REALLY received such a treat from his family

You make a lot of them laugh (especially Bubba and Chop Top)

Bubba will steal several guitars for you, even if you don’t need them, just because he simply loves when you play for him and his family, but mostly just him

He doesn’t like you travelling too much, having MAJOR attachment issues, he’d much rather have you at his side always so he knows he can protect you

But he also tries not to be SUPER obsessive and clingy (even though he always is) as he’s afraid it’ll drive you away

Luckily for you he has vast fields surrounding his farmhouse, so he let’s you go out and enjoy the long grass and land, of course following you like a lost puppy dog

He is more than happy to bundle up with you during the cold weather, loving the cooler weather as he is a heavier boy so the summer makes him sweat constantly

Loves when you turn to him whilst walking the fields with him during such weather, cheeks and nose rosy, big doe eyes looking up at him so innocently

He can’t help but pick you up with ease and spin you around

When you show him your archery skills he’s very turned on impressed

He is even more turned on impressed if you use that skill to help hunt down his victims

Boy has he got plans for you

NSFW

YOU have a breeding kink?

Boi howdy does this boy ever have news for you

His whole family is one giant breeding kink

He’s all about family so the thought of your big pregnant belly on your beautiful figure, carrying the next addition to the family

The thought of fucking you relentlessly and then pumping you so full of cum that it’s leaking out of you is such a turn on for him

This boy only knows rough so be prepared

Doesn’t have GREAT stamina but he makes up for it in harsh thrusts and foreplay

When he finds out you like bondage too? This boy practically dies from all the dirty fantasies in his mind

He is VERY sexually frustrated as he is a suppressed boy due to constant belittling from his family (really just his brothers)

He may seem innocent but he is a horny fuck that LIVES and BREATES bondage

Will chain you up

Blindfold you

Gag you

Will do ANYTHING to get you off

LOVES when you find sexy lingerie in some of his victims bags and put it on

Will be a whimpering mess when you turn it on him

Boy he loves but hates teasing at the same time

Only does things you’re comfortable with

Is extremely apologetic even if you tell him profusely that he didn’t hurt you, he’ll be convinced otherwise

Snuggles up to you after a rough session, rubbing your stomach lovingly, wondering when you’ll be carrying his child

And that’s what I got. I dunno I feel this isn’t good and I did try but this was all I could come up with. I apologize if you didn’t like it, let me know what you think.

[dirt-goth]

answer all the numbers

[witchymarvelspacecase]

Voiceless Pt. 5

Summary: (Reader Insert) Reader is a mutant/inhuman with a powerful voice (works a little like a banshee / a little like a siren). She’s had it a little tough since discovering her powers. She is found and taken in by Tony Stark and the remaining Avengers after the events of Civil War

Word Count:1425

Warnings: Swearing, confusion, plot twist!

A/N:A giant “Thank you” to @17sullivan who read my idea for this fic, then read this chapter and is an all around wonderful person. Thank you for the push love! And another to @writingwithadinosaur​ who continues to beta read for me even though I am SURE she has better things to do... Drea, you are the BEST!I would be lost without you!

And to the anon who told me this was one of their fave things I’ve written, I had no idea anyone really cared about it, but since you mentioned it, here is an update :)

Voiceless Masterlist

More hands and eyes hadn’t turned up much more on the search, but had resulted in Thor being found. You weren’t sure if you had wanted to know how Natasha had done that, but given the information that Thor had been able to provide, you also weren’t sure you cared.

Thor had pointed to a being named Thanos, who had been poking around in universal affairs for a while. Thor said that Thanos wasn’t directly involved, but that some of his followers were; namely the teleporter. A man by the name of Mordo was the one responsible for Tony’s abduction. Thor didn’t know too much about him, but he knew someone else who did. Along with Jane, and Thor’s mysterious friend, the team was now tracking Mordo’s whereabouts, and potentially, Tony’s.

You hadn’t been able to help much. There was nothing an enhanced waitress could do that the Avengers couldn’t. Natasha had taken over your training, and you were grateful. Although Tony and Rhodey had been training you, Natasha’s fighting style was more adapted to your size, and muscle tone. Plus, Tony and Rhodey relied on weaponry, Natasha relied on her own body; she was more physical than either of the boys had been. You frequently left the gym sore, and bruised, but you were becoming more confident. Clint had taken to showing you how to shoot and even let you try your hand at archery. You weren’t wonderful at it, but he said you weren’t hopeless, so you figured that was a start. Still, you weren’t a lot of help to anyone. So when you weren’t training, you’d taken to holing yourself up in either your room or the booth.

The booth was a 100% soundproof room that Tony had outfitted for you. It had a keyboard, guitar and sound system, along with some seriously comfy chairs.

“You like to sing don’t you?” You’d nearly cried when Tony showed you the room for the first time.

“Yeah… I- I love it. Does this mean I can? I can sing without it affecting anyone?”

“That was the idea, yeah.” Tony looked so proud of himself when you smiled, and you could tell you shocked him when you threw your arms around him, but how could you not?

He’d gone out of his way to make a space just for you. A space where you could do what you loved without fear. He gained nothing by doing that, and you hadn’t asked him to do it, he’d just done it.

Nobody had gone out of their way for you like that before, and you didn’t know what to say, so you’d hugged him and thanked him so many times you’d lost count. After a second, Tony returned your hug, his arms tightening around you.

“You’re welcome, kid.”

The booth worked a dream; it kept the others safe, but granted you your sanity.

“Sometimes the weight is more than I can hold,

I’d rather fail than never really know.

If it takes for-ever,

I will die trying.

If it takes for-ever,

I will die trying.

I will die trying.”

As the last chord faded, a knock sounded on the door, you opened it to see Bucky on the other side.

“Hey, what’s up?”

“Were you singing just now?” he asked.

“Um yeah. Wait, could you hear me?!”

“A little.”

“But it’s soundproof!”

“Serum enhanced hearing,” he said gesturing to his ear.

“Oh shit! I could have been influencing you. Fuck! I’m so sorry!” You were panicking now; you’d never intended to influence anyone, but your control may have slipped given how stressed and tired you were. Oh no, if Bucky could hear you, then so could Steve. What of you’d influenced them both? Oh, they’d never trust you, and you wouldn’t blame them. Shit! And you’d been doing so well…

“Y/N, Y/N! Doll, snap out of it!” Bucky was yelling. Then you realized his hands were both on your shoulders, and he was shaking you slightly.

“Shit, sorry. Sorry,” you repeated, raising your hands to cover your face.

“Nothin’ to be sorry for. I told ya, you didn’t influence me or anything.”

“I- I didn’t?” your brow furrowed, “what about before, when I found you in the gym?”

“I don’t think so,” Bucky released your shoulders, and ran his metal hand over the back of his head, “I didn’t feel anything. Your voice was soothing, that’s all.”

Your eyes widened. You had been actively trying to influence Bucky before, if that hadn;t worked… What if your power was gone? Okay, okay. What should you do?

What would Tony do?

Experiment.

You asked Vision, Rhodey and Natasha if you could test your powers on them. Surprisingly, they all agreed. The three of them sat in the booth with you and Bucky while the others sat just outside. You started with a small influence; an itch. Everyone but Bucky scratched their noses.

Trying again, you sang and pushed the desire to stand. Again, all but Bucky stood up.

“Okay, I am going to try and get you three to sit down. Fight the influence this time,” you instructed before humming with the intention of getting Vision, Rhodes and Natasha to sit back in their chairs. Natasha was the last to sit, but they had all sat down within a minute.

Everyone else was waiting in the hallway, and when the four of you left the booth and you explained what had happened, they all shared a shocked expression.

“Is it even possible for someone to be completely unaffected?” you muttered in disbelief; you’d never come across this before.

“It stands to reason that if there are people who are more susceptible to your influence, and less susceptible to it, that there would be the possibility of a person being completely immune,” Vision answered in his ever calm voice as you looked to Bucky.

“Maybe it’s the serum,” he suggested, shrugging.

“Dunno, Buck. My serum made me more susceptible,” Steve said.

This started a whole slew of questions you couldn’t answer. With more questions, you decided to experiment a little more. You tested the effect on all of the heroes; Wanda was the most affected, Natasha was the least, besides Bucky. Even Thor was affected. How was it possible that your voice influenced what counted as a god, but not Bucky?

“I just don’t get it,” you said, staring at the holoscreen in Tony’s lab. A simulation of your voice was playing across it; even the computer couldn't explain how it was that Bucky remained unaffected.

“Does it matter?” came a voice from behind you. You looked over your shoulder to see Steve and Natasha in the doorway.

“No, I guess it doesn’t. I’ve just always thought that everyone was susceptible. That I was a danger to everyone. I don’t know. It’s… nice to think that someone isn’t affected. Even if it’s just one person, ya know?”

Steve nodded as he came over and leaned against the desk next to you, crossing his arms over his chest. Natasha walked just past you to another holoscreen, and turned it on.

“I think Bucky’s just as surprised as you are. Figures the serum and all of HYDRA’s messing around would have found a way to make him immune. At least there’s one good side effect.” Steve grinned at you. You were about to reply when Natasha spoke up.

“What’s this?” she asked. To you, she sounded like she may have already known what she was seeing, that she was seeking confirmation rather than clarification.

“Looks like vital stats,” Steve said, peering around you to see Natasha’s screen.

“Yeah, but whose? No one is in medical,” Natasha said, typing away at the keyboard. “Y/N, do you know the passwords?”

“I can guess, but I don’t think Tony gave me the masters.” That would have been ridiculous. He barely knew you.

Then again, he had let you into the compound and the tower; his homes. And he’d brought you into the Avengers; his family. You knew quite a bit about him already…

And the passwords that you entered, unlocked the computer.

Video feeds opened, showing a long metal tube that sort of resembled a coffin. One feed was a wide shot, showing the whole tube, the other was a close up. The close up looked in through a clear panel at the top of the tube, at the face of the man inside the tube.

“Holy shit,” Steve gasped.

“What?” you asked, coming closer, “who is that?”

“That’s Wanda’s brother.”

I’m not sorry, this GIF is too perfect!

Perma Tags: @buckyappreciationsociety @17marvelousfreak @melconnor2007 @feelmyroarrrr @addictionmarvel @writingwithadinosaur @whenallsaidanddone @hello-sweetie-get-the-salt @umwhatandrea @pineapplebooboo @thefridgeismybestie

Voiceless Tags: @lostinspace33 @kaitymccoy123 @davros2004 @owhatshername1 @bad-wolf87 @saysay125

[forestwater87]

"You motherfucker," she growled. "I should just blow your head off right now, you son of a bitch."

"Sorry! It's nothing personal, really!" And he shouldn't look so sweet and bashful, not with a blade like that in his hand, but there was something oddly contrite about him.

His eyes landed on her purse, which she'd dropped after retrieving her gun, and with a cautious glance in her direction he nudged it open with his foot. His eyebrows shot up and he kicked the bag towards her, both of them watching as a syringe rolled across the cheap pilled rug. "Is that . . . chloroform?"

Heavily inspired by @doritofalls​' Serial Killer David AU, as well as this prompt: "A male and female serial killer meet on a dating site, not knowing each other's dark intentions to murder their date. It gets awkward once they realize what the other is really doing." (Also a very shitty gift for @ciphernetics, who is the only person who seems to think this mess is worth publishing.)

Chapter 1: Ed and Cathy

She chose a seat near the window, as far away as possible from any doors. It was the worst place for a killer to pick; no easy escape, plenty of potential witnesses both inside the restaurant and out. The kind of location that should make someone feel more comfortable with a stranger, even though they weren't aware of the feeling. It was easier to let your guard down somewhere very public.

Her hobby relied heavily on getting people to let their guards down.

She glanced at her phone, then up at the (too far) door. If she'd been stood up, it wouldn't be the end of the world. There was a bar just across the street; she chose the restaurant because of it, so that if things went south she wouldn't have to go far to find someone drunk and desperate to take home. But it would be . . . annoying. And every minute that passed made the itch burning under her skin worse, curling her toes and making her rap her fingers erratically on the shiny-as-glass wood table.

She looked down at her phone again, opening Tinder and skimming over the most recent messages. Edward, 24, lived 15 miles away. Cute, she thought with a smirk, tapping to his profile and skimming through his pictures. Big open smile, the kind that made him look years younger, brilliant red hair that she had trouble believing was natural, a surprisingly willowy build for such a tall guy. And his messages were adorable, too, lots of exclamation points and smiley faces.

She almost felt bad about this.

Almost.

The clattering of footsteps lifted her head from the phone, and she watched with amusement as her dinner partner nearly tripped over the small step between the front of the restaurant and the room with their table. Trying to shrug his backpack and coat off at the same time without slowing his pace, he stumbled over to her. "Sorry, sorry! I . . . uh, there was a roadblock on the way here and it took forever to get through, and I would've told you earlier but it's not safe to text while driving —"

"It's only been ten minutes," she said, giving him her most charming grin. Not like she'd already been planning her next move or anything. "Really, don't worry about it."

"Oh good." He flopped into the chair across from her with a sigh of relief. "I was worried you'd . . . you know, leave." With a flash of that lovely smile, he held out his hand like they were at a job interview. "I'm Edward."

"Catherine." The lie was smooth and easy and familiar. She took his hand, surprised by how rough it was. His Tinder profile included a lot of stuff about archery and hiking; he must be outdoorsy. "Pleasure to meet you."

"Likewise!" He gestured down at the menus in front of them. "I hope you ordered without me. I'd hate to think of you waiting."

"No, no, don't worry."

The conversation was easy and superficial, the kind of first-date nonsense as familiar to her as breathing. Edward was the awkward sort of charming that struck her as unintentional, the kind of person who seemed to never have made a calculated movement in his life. It was . . . nice, in a strange way. Unfamiliar and endearing. More than once she found herself becoming genuinely interested in what he was saying and had to forcibly check out, letting her eyes roam over his pretty, delicate face and her mind follow in the logical direction.

It was easier when they were just meat.

"C-Catherine? I was just, um, wondering . . ." His face turned pink, and he looked down at their empty dishes, rubbing the back of his neck, "if — if maybe you'd like to get some coffee?" Her gaze dropped to the cups they'd just finished and he flushed darker. "I mean, well, I'm not, ah, staying very far from here, and . . ."

She might as well spare him the misery. After all, it was a hell of a lot more convenient than trying to deal with him back at her place. "Yeah, I'd like that."

Edward sighed, looking relieved. "Thank you! That's . . . I mean, I really . . . um. Appreciate it."

"No, it's fine." She laughed, pushing her chair back and stretching ostentatiously, hiding a smirk when his gaze traveled exactly where she'd wanted them to. "I'm not ready for tonight to be over yet, either."

"Not bad," she said, letting him usher her into the dark hotel room. "Sorry you drove all this way, though."

"Not at all!" He flicked on the light a little farther into the bedroom, leaving the one directly above their heads off so they hovered in the entranceway in half-gloom. His voice softened, at the same time getting nearer until his breath ghosted over her ear. "I really want to be here."

More forward than she'd expected, she thought, letting herself melt back against his chest as he pushed her hair away from her throat. She had to give him credit for not wasting time. His lips trailed softly along her shoulder and up her neck, shy and tentative. He pressed a damp, open-mouthed kiss against the shell of her ear and sighed, the shivery whoosh of air ghosting past her ear almost enough to drown out a tiny clink of metal.

That . . . wasn't a belt. Couldn't be, he had one hand on her waist and the other —

Where was his other hand?

Suspicion turned to alarm barely in time and she whirled around, shoving him back with one hand and fumbling in her purse with the other. He recovered just as she leveled her pistol at him, and though he didn't drop the long serrated knife he was holding, he took a few steps backward until he was pressed against the door, eyeing her warily as she backed into the center of the hotel room.

"You motherfucker," she growled. "I should just blow your head off right now, you son of a bitch."

"Sorry! It's nothing personal, really!" And he shouldn't look so sweet and bashful, not with a blade like that in his hand, but there was something oddly contrite about him.

Something clicked. Something offensive. "Wait, you were gonna kill me immediately?" Her mouth dropped open and she crossed her arms over her chest. "You weren't even going to fuck me first?"

He blushed, rubbing the back of his neck. "I — ! I just feel like it'd be taking advantage. Since I b-brought you here under, well, false pretenses."

She rolled her eyes. "If I'm dying, I absolutely wanna get laid before. I mean, Jesus. Be a goddamn gentleman."

He winced. "Do you need to use that kind of language?"

"Uh, yeah. Why the fuck wouldn't I? Someone's got a fucking knife in my face, sorry my manners aren't perfect."

"O-okay, what if we —" His eyes landed on her purse, which she'd dropped after retrieving her gun, and with a cautious glance in her direction he nudged it open with his foot. His eyebrows shot up and he kicked the bag towards her, both of them watching as a syringe rolled across the cheap pilled rug. "Is that . . . chloroform?"

Well, shit. She knew she should've hidden it in a tampon wrapper. What was the point in bullshitting him now, though? "Isoflurane." She shrugged. "Works basically the same."

"But why a needle?" he asked with a frown. "What about the, well —" He covered his mouth and nose with the hand not holding a knife.

"Takes too long. I can usually inject someone while they're still in afterglow. Or sleeping."

His eyes lit up and he actually grinned at her. "That's really clever, Catherine!"

She scoffed and rolled her eyes. "What kinda serial killer doesn't even know how to knock someone out?"

"I-I do! I just . . . usually . . . hit them. To sleep." He looked away, the pink that'd been beginning to fade brightening across his cheeks and neck. "But mostly I don't . . . bother with all that. It's really just . . ." He held up his weapon and shrugged. "You know. Knife."

This was hands-down the weirdest conversation she'd ever had. "Listen, my feet are fucking killing me in these shoes," she said, jerking her head toward the armchair that sat across from the hotel bed. "And I dunno about you, but I don't get a chance to talk about this kinda thing all that often. Wanna chat?"

"Wait, I've heard of you!" Her eyes brightened; she'd been lounging back on the bed while he took the chair, but now she sat forward, crossing her legs under her. "You're the one taking out those drifters along the east coast, right?" A smug light entered her eyes as he nodded. "I knew it was all one guy! Y'know, the cops've been really shit about handling your case," she said, tutting. "Haven't even narrowed it down to a single killer yet. Takes one to know one, I guess."

"They, uh, haven't found all of them," he admitted, trying not to feel proud. "The, um . . ." He trailed off with a shrug; he didn't like to call them "victims." They were, certainly, but that didn't make him comfortable thinking of them like that. So he changed the subject quickly. "What about you?"

"This is kinda off-type for me," she explained, fiddling with the safety on her gun. It should've frightened him, but mostly he was just fascinated by how obviously practiced she was, how deftly her fingers moved and the confidence she had that she was invincible. "Usually it's rapists who don't get caught, cops who shoot black kids, stuff like that." She leaned back against the headboard, remarkably at ease for someone within throwing distance of a knife. "But, y'know, money's been kinda tight, so it's not like I can afford to fly out to Missouri whenever I want. And you get that itch . . ." She glanced up at him and he nodded. He knew exactly what kind of itch she was talking about. "So, started a Tinder account, you were the first person I saw in driving distance. Really, it's nothing personal."

"Nothing personal," he agreed. He sat down in the overstuffed blue chair, putting his legs up on the matching ottoman with a sigh. She didn't frighten him, and she seemed more interested in talking, anyway.

And he had to admit the fact that she thought so highly of him was flattering.

"But this isn't really your M.O. either, right?" She pulled out her phone, but the way his fingers tightened around the hilt of his knife made her toss it on the bed out of reach, giving him a reassuring smile and holding up her hands (a move that would've been more comforting if she wasn't still holding the gun). "The way the news described you, I thought you were more . . . spontaneous than this."

He chuckled quietly, feeling sheepish. "I-I am. I don't — there's no real, uh, strategy or anything. There's a lot of hitchhikers, drifters, you know? But there's been a lot more interest in the area I usually work in since . . . well . . ."

Her eyes lit up. "Oh, right! The Richmond kid." She grabbed one of the water bottles from the bedside table, inspecting the seal before cracking it open. "That was ballsy," she added, toasting him with the bottle.

"I didn't know who he was! It's not like I expected a senator's son to be couch-surfing through Slee — where I live." It was stupid to be this cautious; they knew each other's faces, they were both armed, they both had plenty of reasons to avoid the police. It wasn't like they'd tell on each other. But it was instinct at this point. "But anyway, I needed — you know, something — and I already had Tinder, so . . ."

She grinned, giggling in a lighthearted happy way that didn't fit the situation at all and made his heartbeat stutter. "On your personal phone? Don't you know never to shit where you eat, Edward?" The way she said it, the teasing sparkle in her eyes, told him that she knew his name was as fake as hers must've been. Like this was a joke they were both in on.

Well, he could play along. Besides, he . . . didn't want this to end just yet. "I'm not used to planning these kinda things out, Catherine," he shot back, twirling his knife and smiling despite himself.

"Call me Cathy." She winked and climbed off the bed. "You won't try and stab me if I go to the bathroom, will you?"

It wasn't like there were many weapons that could be made out of hotel toiletries — and certainly no escape routes — but he couldn't be too careful. He couldn't forget who he was dealing with, no matter how unthreatening her smile or how pretty her eyes. "Door open," he warned.

"Seriously?" When he raised his eyebrows in response she shrugged, flicking the safety back on the gun and handing it to him. "Here. As a show of good faith."

[mxsmwndr]

HTTM casted in Harry Potter and PJO

mark:

low key gryffinpuff lmao

mostly gryffindor tho

like brave and loyal and whatnot

lol

he’s also mad smart (obvi)

doesn’t play quidditch but knows everything about it

he and jem still compete with grades and stuff

they’d be like enemies to friends probs

then lovers

then marrieds

etc.

then for percy jackson i think maybe athena?

yea seems legit

he’s surprisingly really good at fighting tho

and archery is his strong suit

like wow

he also helps tutor lil kiddos

so cute omg

jem:

slytherin

like duh

but also a lil gryffindor too

but only a lil

heh

also quidditch captain

like the fem version of oliver wood but only she also slytherin

but yeah she’s obsessed

as for pjo i think she’d be a hunter

until she sees mark

then she’s like “no boys who?”

jkjk

but she was legit considering joining the hunt until she saw him

also she’s a child of hades because i said so

not ares ok

no

but yeah

lol

jacob:

hufflepuff ig

tbh i dunno for him

maybe also gryffinpuff???

yeah probs lol

anyways

he’s very soft and sweet still

but jem still protects him too much lmao

but their relationship as siblings isn’t as close because jem has her delicate man ego that cannot be crushed no matter what

still he tries out for quidditch

and doesn’t get in

(but doesn’t tell jem bc she’d probably commit murder and get kicked out)

anyways

the year after that he is on the team so yay

then for pjo he’d also have to be a child of hades

but he’s like hazel where he’s nice and not brooding

also he kinda helped get nico and will together lol

kenzie:

gryffindor maybe?

yeah probably

but like on the edge of gryffindor and hufflepuff

loves animals

and plants

but more animals

def hangs with hagrid for free hours

and hates snape with a passion

also dumbledore loves her so much for whatever reason

*cough cough* teachers pet

anywho

she plays quidditch

but joins like fourth year or something

she likes it tho

not as much as some people but still

and then for pjo she’d be a daughter of demeter

plants and stuff

badass ami right

anyways

she’s a really good fighter for whatever reason

like insanely good oh wow

and it’s so hot

damon:

oof

probs gryffindor too tbh

but only because he and jem wouldn’t last together

he’d also play quidditch

maybe joined third year?

he’s really smart tho

like jock but also top of the class so yay

top of most of his classes at least

but also he’s really popular

all the ladies love him lol

and the dudes i guess

but moving on

he’s a son of aphrodite ok?

like it’s kind of a surprise but also not

but also he’s chill like piper

and hates drew with a passion bc who doesn’t

he and pipes gossip lmao

ajax:

slytherin

only because he’s low key manipulative lol

and mad smart

and also he and jem are besties for life

like forever lol

the first years kinda think they’re dating

but duh they’re not

sweet bbys

but anyways

ajax also joined quidditch

but wasn’t as eager as jem for obv reasons

he still really likes it tho

also he and jem place bets on which team will win the national/professional games but you didn’t hear that from me

and he’s really smart but pretends not to be smart because he doesn’t want to be a nerd or have people expect things from him lmao

maddie-anne:

hufflepuff 100%

because she’s a soft angel an all

also she loves animals

and jacob finds it too cute

*squeals*

[haeroniel-doliet]

thoughts on ice skating

supposed to be under read more, sorry if mobile is weird! 

i mean ive missed multiple weeks and alll in all the society/ practice is quite weird like the beginners teacher dude keeps rambling off about like olympics skating or how higher levels have this and this move and look ive taught that advanced kid over there and heres how they do that technique rather than concretely helping us develop those basic skills that were apparently flawed at. like how do i do that correction youre just showing me bc clearly im about to fall over bc idk how to do it. and i tried being all professional and interested and make the most of it for myself, but cant help the frustration when it goes out of the easy shit into the stupid spins because apparently i just cant do it. be it my skates are too thin or too sharp blades or my ankle is not strong enough  or enough support thats why its going bad? idk even but i cant spin. cant do it. idk i kinda know multiple things that are fucking up and its frustrating and annoying and its just not gonna work yknow i can kinda turn 180. no i cant do the multiple spin spin spin that seems so easy. is it my skates or is it my inadequacy? im not getting new skates tho, im only here because i have my own skates a while back, im clearly so shit that im not even gonna be a milkly good figure skater im not gonna get in on that. i might as well do fuckin ballet rather than this. im actually looking into that kinda now id love to try. 

ice skating is dumb in the way that ive done it since im a child but never as a hobby, like ive done it with most the time my own owned skates since like 3-4 yrs old like young. but school only ever teaches forwards and basic backwards (apparently its cheating backwards) and basic stop and turns and idk things you learn somewhat naturally and my coolest tricks always been sausages (or bubbles as they call them here) and those are apparently baby level beginner stuff and im just :| yeah i can do those tho. and now ic an do them backwards which is kinda cool, and im more confident one foor skating/gliding. but like never as a hobby so i guess none of that matters, i did try to do intermediate and could keep up to an extent but i guess my basics are so shoddy i wasnt doing well enough for my own standards, and even now looking over tho the teacher is better and more encouraging, everyone seems to be doing crazy tricks and jumps and spins and one leg up fancy shit and im just... ya. guess i cant be over there. cant do it. lemme just stand with mr blabber mouth. it is frustrating bc yeah maybe i wanna be that intermediate level, maybe i wanna go skate with my family/old friends and show off bc look i can do like 3 4 cool things im almost a real skater. but fuck i guess my skates are limiting me and i should try use the rental skates? that are dull af but have better support? idk, ive got blisters from them the last i used them and i dont particularly wanna use shitty skates. but i dunno even what to do, i dont particularly wanna drop on some fancy skates just to find smths wrong again and im shit and cant do it. maybe id suddenly improve and feel a lot better about myself and take it as a proper hobby but realistically nah. im actually kinda frustrated i dont even know if i wanna continue. yes i have a friend that goes, yes i have skates and you only get better by spending time on ice and id like to be better bc only recently ive realised how shit i am, (trust me its confidence boosting to have skated with bambis on ice who are afraid of moving at all and then i can at least go kinda fast if i want) but i cant even turn properly, cant stop properly neither. its just ugh, i dont think im getting as much out of it as i should be, i dont know if its the teachers fault, my skates fault, or my own personality/inability. 

no im not doing the dumb kinda competition theyre organising in a few weeks. the criteria for intermediate (that i havent participated in enough anyway recently) is fuckin hops and drags (my skates do not drag! to sharp? idk) and spins and fancy shit i havent even ever tried to. yeah sure i could for the fucks of it do the beginners bc its uh, bubbles forward and backwards that i can do, and i can kind of do the chassee thing kind of. but i cant do a god damn spin for the life of me apparently so i might as well save my 5 pound and ‘pride’. ugh. besides the fun part was that he was talking abt the higher levels leg up glide thing, and had us do it against the wall bc ‘afraid well just face plant’ and i guess i can bring my leg up decently high when supported by the wall which is fun, and otherwise im not the worst of the 5 beginners that showed up. but yeah im just frustrated with it over all. dunno how long the clubs even gonna continue for, theres only one friend there that i would continue for which isnt great considering means i dont consider the others easy to make friends with or ones i could be fond of enough to over look the struggle of the hobby. 

i think my plan was to call my dad not only to ask if they had a preference for when my friend would fly down to visit  so she could buy her tickets, but i guess also i was going to say about the skate apparently being too soft and too thin/too sharp and express this frustration that i still cant do shit, that maybe even using unsharpened (and uncomfortable) rental skates could be better for skating and just wonder what im even doing abt this all. clearly not competing but idk even if we could just come to observe/skate for fun during the competition etc or if i should just skip to catch up/pack and clean idk. also im kinda annoyed at myself otherwise bc i just tuesday saw with J and shes off for a few weeks and i made such a good verbal plan saying id do an email and a summary im weeeeeks behind on on tuesday evening and prep for class today (didnt prep but it went okay anyway) and today i would have gone to class and to skating with a healthy meal (check check check) and come home to sign up and send the other email thats been bugging me, and then do my report due midnight i havent even started on. said id work after midnight if it was taking so long so id have it done..... i had a nap instead. not even a god damn shower i was planning to have tuesday and now its 3 am on thursday. ayy. sure i could skip classes tomorrow to shower and clean my room and maybe complete a task before i drag myself to an archery arrow lesson and badminton after (no thatll be fun, but ill be back rly late) but ive skipped so many classes and i wana see and be with my friends i might as well go, and if i get abandoned work on work somewhere in between classes and maybe actually get something done? gasp. shock. and still get home and do smth like clean and do dishes to be productive while anticipating fun thing, do it and come home and actually sleep bc im fuckin that over eh. but fuck. its not just that i have 1 overdue summary from two weeks ago, i have another summary due thursday night. maybe, in between classes i could do both, miraculous i guess yes but would be cool. do two summaries, send off both and an apology email for the other, take the spare chance to book myself another experiment if theyre still running and if not send an apology email bc i missed one in class one and ask what now. and then maybe even since the calendar is out get my 3 planned viewings booked so that i can see them b4 going back home and dont get fucked. maybe even add the corrections i got yesterday to my other report. wow wouldnt that be great. i could do them now but i should get to sleep right now heres hoping ill remember the corrections then. and then id need to look at the video for the assignment that was due yesterday and bring up the files and find the debrief and begin filling it in and maybe email researcher if i need to, and do the easy part. so that maybe logical me in a clean room will fill in the ethics part between classes on friday or after class or gasp on saturday bc im not going to st andrews after all... its a lot.. i hate that two days are wasted already. ugh. uGH. well get by. lets just try stay positive, now im going to sleep and wake up to go to my 11 class prepared to do some easy work between classes. yes yes. its probably weird that who ever has read this far has read all this shit and maybe i should just keep my shit personal and not post on my main blog bc surprisingly its open to anyone who just slightly would wanna see it,and though you likely dont know me in person its a bit weird huh idk. maybe this is here so my cousin can read it if she happens to , maybe its so that you can read it and be like ya i do that and i think like that too pretty cool im not alone, maybe its for me to read back and not have to be exposed to my worst ugly vents on my plain vent blog and can remain positive thomaybe not. its under read more anyway. lets try bury it guys. 

[eloarei]

Because I can’t seem to get myself to write, and instead am loafing around this blue hell-site, I’m gonna trick myself into writing by doing my notes/layout as a post.  As I said before, it’s an Overwatch fic, McHanzo, and a Universe Alteration as opposed to an AU, since the main difference is that McCree is a centaur. Honestly, I’m not even sure if this thing has a real plot, but I’ll try to flesh it out behind the cut. 

So far I’ve only written 500 words, but I’m guessing this will amount to, I dunno, roughly 20k? God honestly it could definitely get upwards of 30 or 40k because I can GO ON AND ON sometimes, but let’s hope that’s not the case; the longer the story gets, the more likely it’ll never get done. (Case in point: “Rogue” and “On Track”. Ugh, destroy me.)  Anyway, the basic plot is as follows: (though maybe I should warn for, like, slavery and the associated abuse, and racism against mythological creatures)  ---Jesse McCree is a centaur, born and raised in the American southwest by a centaur mother, and I can’t decide if his dad is/was a centaur or a human yet. (In my original stories, centaurs can have human fathers, but I realize most people probably don’t follow that kind of logic, and/or think it’s squicky haha) His father doesn’t seem to be in the picture, or simply isn’t important. He lives with his mother, and they love each other, but he has a restless nature and hates their backwater town. He constantly tells her that he’s gonna go strike out on his own.     Then one day when he’s fifteen, he’s abducted by slavers. He spends the next month in shipping crates and warehouses with a handful of other centaurs before he eventually ends up in Japan. Centaurs are super uncommon there, so they consider them exotic, which could be a good or a bad thing, depending on how you look at it.     He ends up being purchased by the criminal Shimada clan, possibly as potential security. Haven’t decided yet if the Shimadas buy all the centaurs, but they’ve got money, so why not. But of course the main point is that Jesse meets the Shimada heir, fifteen-year-old Hanzo, who’s sort of in-training at dealing with the clan’s crime business. The elders won’t let him do anything too dangerous, of course, but they let him deal with the slaves.     Part of the process the slavers go through in dehumanizing their captives is removing their names. They punish the slaves for using their own names with each other, as the slaves are ‘supposed to be’ blank slates for their new owners to name. So when Hanzo begins to deal with Jesse, he never asks his name, and Jesse never gives it, because they both know the rules. Hanzo names him “Iteza” (or “Archer”), the Japanese name of the constellation “Sagittarius”. Jesse says he’s never shot a bow before, and Hanzo begins to train him in archery, during which time they, of course, become friends. Hanzo clearly begins to favor ‘Iteza’; they start to spend a lot of time together outside of clan-sanctioned interactions, and they find themselves in star-crossed puppy love.     At one point, Jesse wants to tell Hanzo his real name; he burns to. But Hanzo refuses to hear it. It isn’t that he doesn’t want to know, but that he knows it would be dangerous for both of them. He explains, if ‘Iteza’ were to escape, there is no guarantee that the clan would not wring information from Hanzo, no guarantee that he would not tell them everything he knew. It would be safest if ‘Iteza’ buried his true name from everyone outside. Jesse raises an eyebrow when Hanzo mentions him escaping, like he’d never really even thought about it, and Hanzo brushes it off.     Before too long, though, Jesse does escape. Some situation causes his future to look grim; likely, tensions between Shimada and the other criminal clans and/or the law. Before Jesse can be sent off to fight for the clan, Hanzo arranges for his escape. Jesse is conflicted-- but only a little. He leaves without too much prodding. He appreciates Hanzo letting him leave; Hanzo knows it’s for the best and is glad, even though they’re both sure they’ll never see the other again.     Back in America, Jesse isn’t sure what to do. It’s been more than a year now that he’s been away. Would it even make sense to go home? Before he can make a decision, he’s attacked and robbed by a gang called Deadlock. He surprises them by kicking quite a few of their asses, so they semi-forcefully recruit him into their gang. It seems like sort of a good idea to him, given that he now has a fair amount of experience dealing with intricate criminal groups, and wasn’t totally set on going home anyway. Furthermore, Deadlock is comprised largely of centaurs, although their leader is human who treats them in a way that sets Jesse a little on edge, as if they were more animals than people.     (Jesse tells Deadlock that his name is “Archer”. He’s not ready to tell these people his true name, and although he’s no longer “Iteza”, some small piece of him still wants to hold on to the name.)    Deadlock gives him a gun, and teaches him how to shoot. They laugh when he says all he knows how to shoot is a bow, but he’s talented with the new weapon. He makes a place for himself in the gang and stays with them for a few years, until--     When Jesse is nineteen, their gang is busted by the international crimefighting organization Overwatch. He alone is spared, given the chance to join Overwatch or go to jail. (He’s not sure, maybe some of the others were given the chance too, but he’s the only one who is willing to take the opportunities presented to him if it means his survival. It’s something he’s had to learn these past years.)     The man who recruits him is Gabriel Reyes, a centaur and one of the commanders of Overwatch. He and Gabe become close, perhaps due to being two of the only centaurs in the team, and both having somewhat rough pasts. Jesse tells Overwatch his real name, but it takes quite a long time before he’s ready to open up about what he’s been through. When he does, Reyes is surprisingly understanding, and promises not to tell others about his history as a slave.     More recruits come into the team over the years. One of them is Hanzo Shimada’s brother, Genji, who Jesse was on quite friendly terms with, back in the day. Genji recognizes “Iteza” immediately, and is extremely glad to see him again. However, he looks nothing like how Jesse remembers him. Aside from having been only twelve when they met, and now being fully grown, Genji is also now a cyborg.     “What the heck happened, Suzume?” Jesse asks, calling Genji by his childhood nickname, “Sparrow”.     “Hanzo happened,” Genji explains. “After you left... he changed. The elders were hard on him when they realized he was to blame for your escape. They became very strict with him. He was never the same after that. He did this to me, at the behest of the family.”     Jesse is softly distraught at this turn of events, but he tries not to dwell on it. Genji is at peace with the situation, so Jesse strives to be too.     Years pass. Overwatch falls to ruins internally, punctuated at its end by the explosion of the Swiss headquarters. Jesse and the remaining members disband, and Jesse becomes a wanderer, softly haunted by so many pieces of his past and with nowhere to call home anymore. He thinks many times of Hanzo (and of Genji, and of Reyes), but he doesn’t try to return to any of the places he once belonged, perhaps because they were all tainted in their various ways.     Eventually, though, the living members of Overwatch are recalled, and Jesse returns immediately. New members begin to come as well; among them, a man he once knew: Hanzo Shimada. Genji was right, he’s different now, and Jesse can see immediately that he’s walking a path similar to one that he has walked, that Hanzo is on a rocky road to recovery. But aside from that, he becomes a different person when he meets Jesse again. He becomes like he was as a child, if only a little.     Hanzo has lived in guilt for ten years for what he did to his brother, but learning that not all his decisions were bad, that his choice to help “Iteza” escape was a good one, makes an almost instant difference. Learning Jesse’s real name after all this time and finally getting to interact with him without hiding from his overbearing clan is just as good.    Though nothing is easy, has never been easy and may never be easy, the two become close again, and in a way they never could before.  THE END  sort of. To be honest, I just need to go to bed haha ^^; and I haven’t thought a whole lot more into what might come after this. I want to give it a more definitive ending and plot, but I’m not sure what that will be. Maybe something to do with hunting slavers. Oh, and Reyes showing back up from the dead, of course, because ghastly Thestral-Reyes is a great image.  Good lord I stayed up way too late. Well, maybe I can wrangle this into something that makes sense tomorrow. *shrug* If anybody reads this and wants to give me like suggestions or whatever, that’s totally cool. G’night!