#you don't have to match the length !!

[packlesshybrid]

Theo shook his head in amusement to Liam's comment and then glanced at his phone again when he responded. "Well, if this is what I get from you, then why wouldn't I do it? I mean, don't get me wrong, I'm very attracted to a sexy stud being manly and confident, but sometimes I want to see that same stud blush." He told him before looking at him again, which brought a smirk to his face as he instantly notice him blushing. He didn't mind Liam knowing that he thought that he was a stud. At least in the looks department. How Liam acted though, not so much. That part the hybrid rather keep to himself to not cause issues between them.

Theo shrugged before answering his question. "That's up to you. Although if you're asking if you should ask a certain question, then there's at least a part of you that's curious about it." He pointed out. When he finally got his own question answered, Theo began playing the song he had readied for this. He didn't have the volume of his phone on that high since it wasn't really necessary. "Kind of. Basically you use what you do got to make up for a lack of dance skills. Eye contact works quite well if you know how to use your eyes for seduction purposes, and how you move does has to be done in a particular way. For instance, how I move is usually used to highlight the best features of my body." To show what he meant, the hybrid turned his back towards Liam and bent down while arching his back. He then completed a full body roll as he came back up.

"Same for what I wear by the way, though with clothes eventually coming off..." He paused as he turned back around to face him. Theo then tease taking off his shirt, lifting the front of it up to just below his nipples before letting go of it so that the shirt was fully covering his torso again. "You obviously can't rely on that the entire time you're performing."

"Of course you do…otherwise you wouldn’t be teasing me this much.” He rolled his eyes at that despite that he was showing again that adorable side Theo love with his blush. He was only like this with guys like Theo…then again he has only met one guy like Theo. Scott wasn’t like this…unless when they were having sex. Milo wasn’t like this either despite that Milo was quite an assertive and dominant too, but not a flirt. It was just a little frustrating.

When Theo mentioned the other aspect of the job, he grew a little nervous. He hoped he didn’t have to do any of those when he tried it out. He wanted to prove Scott he was fine with the job. “Should I ask what other services?” He asked, unsure of he wanted to know in the first place. He then went back to reality when Theo asked again. “Hm…I don’t know, eye contact? Moving in a sexy way?”

[perfectionreached]

wildkissed asked: a kiss to prove you don’t have feelings for them (van)

she can be totally normal about this. they'd had this conversation often - van teasing her about some girl that she's just decided that taissa likes. she'll deny it everytime ( they were just JOKES, they weren't REAL. taissa turner didn't get crushes ) and then they just move on with their day. it was harmless and taissa learned to live with the way that even the possibility made her heart flutter. but today was different.

for some reason, today was the day that van made a simple joke about taissa liking them. except she could read her friend. she knew when they were joking - and this didn't seem completely like a joke. she clears her throat, sitting up a little straighter. the two of them had been sitting side by side watching old movies together for hours. it always felt safe. comfortable, even. but now she's all too aware of her own movements, her cheeks feeling flushed. there's a laugh bubbling in her throat that she can't help but release, "oh, come on."

taissa knows she should just deny it and move on, but she's immediately feeling defensive. she knows that if she just laughed and said no, they'd sit in silence and go back to watching the movie. but it feels like a challenge. it feels like a bet or a game she could win. if she could prove that van was wrong, maybe she'd feel less anxious. maybe winning something in the moment would be the peace of mind she needed.

she moves herself closer to van, her heart beating out of her chest. everyone had the idea of kissing their friends to convince them they didn't have a crush on them right? her voice is quiet as she speaks, trying to keep up a confident persona but mostly failing if not for the fear in her eyes. "if i really liked you like that, would i be brave enough to do this ?" next thing she knows, their face is in her hands and she's placing a soft kiss on her lips. almost immediately she realizes that she's not winning the made up competition in her head.

[aletheialed]

The Chief Prosecutor from overseas, Miles Edgeworth... at first, Rayfa had come here to see him for a completely different reason to the one that's taking up all of her attention now.

Honestly, she doesn't remember the man particularly well. It's no surprise - she was in such an awful state during the time that she'd spent with him that she barely gave him a second thought with everything that had been on her mind. But he'd been kind to her - she remembers that, and she'd wanted to thank him for it. There may have been other reasons for her seeking him out, too, but right now... Rayfa has forgotten about all of them for one very specific reason: the mystery that she's determined to solve.

That is to say - the question of whatever it is she's been experiencing whenever Miles Edgeworth is nearby.

If you were to put her on the spot, she'd say it feels like spiritual power. But that makes no sense. For one thing, Rayfa has never heard of a man having spiritual power! ...Though until recently, she hadn't thought that anyone from outside of Khura'in could channel spirits... and so much of what she'd believed about the spiritual world had been wrong that it would hardly surprise her to learn if she was mistaken about more. Still - it's strange enough to have made her second guess herself. Then, there's her next source of doubt - the fact that Rayfa can't even channel spirits yet herself yet. So can she really trust herself to accurately discern what she's feeling to begin with...?

To be honest, she hates it - being so unsure of herself. It brings up bad memories in her... uncomfortable feelings that she'd hoped she had finally got rid of. But that's exactly why she's so determined to figure this mystery out right now - so much so that it takes her three times until she realized her name has been called by the man she's been staring at for the past half a minute.

"Oh! Ummm...." Suddenly, Rayfa feels awfully embarrassed. Not that she has anything to be embarrassed by, of course! Her curiosity is completely reasonable, and as the future Queen of Khura'in, she is obviously one hundred percent justified of wanting to get to the bottom of this matter!

"Mr. Chief Prosecutor! Did you- say something to me just now?"

@demon-prosecuted ( starter for edgeworth! )

[packlesshybrid]

Alistair warning made Theo laugh and then made one last comment as a response before beginning his task. "Really? If I do a good job, you wont be able to do yours? That sounds like a sexual need of yours, which I did just promise you that I'd take care of those in the best way possible." He teased. Now that he was getting Alistair's entrance open with his own tongue, Theo's focus was almost only on that. Key word there being almost. Of course he was also focusing on Alistair's actions, not only what the guy would do, but also how'd he do. Once his cock was grabbed and the stroking started, he released a hum. Nice grip, decent strokes so far, no complaints.

When he felt his mouth and tongue on the head though, that hum shifted into moans. Not loud moans, but it encouraged him to start doing more with his tongue. So far he had just licked up and around his entrance. Now he was pushing his every few licks, and not soft pushes either. He really wanted to force it to give in, which eventually did happen. Once it had penetrated Alistair's entrance, he went as far deep as his tongue would go before he really try opening it up more. He switched out licks and pushes to now tongue fucking him and just moving it around inside of him.

Alistair’s eyes had widen at that promise. He had some doubts about that, but Theo had showcase enough with his physicality and desire that he could do way more than the hunter expected. It was both impressive and hot. He wasn’t sure if to thank the fates for this moment or not who who cared other than the fun they were about to have? His cheeks being parted, making him feel Theo’s warm breath right before the wet tongue met his crevice was enough to forget everything he had been thinking. It was odd. It was surprising, but that hummed that came out of him was totally out of delight. “Don’t enjoy it too much. I may not be able to suck you off if you do such a good job.” He said as he finally lowered himself enough to meet with what was eventually going to be inside of him. Seeing it up close scared him. Theo wasn’t small nor thin. Could he really take that? He wasn’t sure as he stroke him, but he pushed the new doubts as he wrapped his lips around the head and started to suck and move his tongue around it.

[the-haunted-office]

(A starter for @alabonshay!)

"As Stanley came to a set of two open doors, he entered the door on his left."

Stanley has forgotten how many times he's heard those words spoken in that order by that voice. Enough times that he doesn't need to be told to take the door on the left anymore, but the voice still feels the need to tell him. That's just how the Narrator is, though. Omnipresent, though perhaps not omniscient. Controlling, but not in control.

Stanley goes ahead and enters the door on the left, though. He has no reason to deviate this time around. Nothing in his gut telling him to go right instead, or to jump off any platforms, or to head down any dark and ominous corridors. Besides, it's not that he wants to listen to the Narrator this time around or that he has any particular gut feelings. He simply wants to see outside, even knowing it isn't real.

It may be the last time he sees the outside ever again, and in his yearning for freedom, he can't help but take whatever he can get.

"-2845- Stanley, have you even been listening to me? I swear, it's like talking to a wall with you sometimes. I don't know why I even bother."

Stanley presses his lips together and enters in the code behind the boss' desk, although he manages to resist rolling his eyes. He hadn't realized he'd been tuning out the Narrator. Everything is on autopilot this time around, it seems, and most of the time through the Story he doesn't even need to listen to the Narrator to know where he needs to go. It's the same thing every time, so what's the point?

The fireplace swings open, the Narrator drones on, and Stanley continues his march, onward toward the Ending he's reached dozens if not hundreds of times before.

Getting there is the boring part, and as the clank and clang of his shoes echo on the concrete floors and metal catwalks, Stanley begins to tune out the voice in the ceiling again.

The voice in the ceiling notices.

Meanwhile neither of them notices when something goes fantastically... different.

"-Stanley decided that this machinery would never again exert its- Stanley, you're just not listening to me, are you? Here you are, seconds away from your freedom, and you're acting like you're a walking corpse. I might as well be talking to one. I don't know why I bother with you sometimes, if I'm honest."

Stanley gives a small shrug in acknowledgment as he enters the door into the room with the Mind Control machine. He can see the blue glow from the enormous monitor just beyond the door. Here, he'll have to make his choice whether to turn the machine On or Off.

"Well, if you're so content with being dead already why don't you- .....What the HELL is THAT?"

Stanley comes to an abrupt halt, because he sees it too. Something is standing there in front of the controls. Something a lot bigger and bulkier than he is, and better dressed to boot.

Lacking any other reasonable way to respond to this situation, the office worker just stands there. And waves a hello.

[brittlefcrged]

OPEN BG3 starter / first night, post prologue, pre-Withers, pre-grove.

It might not have been the wisest of decisions to slip away from their makeshift camp alone, with night already falling, but it was, she had decided, the best decision. The ... safest decision. For the others, at least.

The githyanki had proven helpful in the escape from the nautiloid, and informative enough, in the aftermath, even with hope for a potential cure to the worms that wriggled in the depths of their skulls, but the warrior's short temper and brash desire to command had already grown irksome. The wizard -- genial enough, certainly, but too much so for Clarissa's already raw nerves -- and she hadn't been able to quell the hunger that had been gnawing in the pit of her stomach since their encounter, the urge, the need to know what his tender flesh would feel like between her teeth -----

The cleric, with her feigned haughtiness that did little to disguise the uncertainty and paranoia that hung acrid in the air around her had at least proven herself capable of gratitude, but between those three, and the sly and cavalier, pale skinned elf that was at ill at ease in his own skin as she was in hers.... she had needed to get away from it. From them, while she had any semblance of control over herself.

Whatever, whomever she had been in her previous life, she didn't think it had been much of a people person.

She'd found her way to the edge of a brook at the base of the low cliff, not far from where they'd found Lae'zel, and after rinsing off the worst of the blood and assorted gore from the day's events, she had settled, cross legged, a flask of wine in one hand and wedges of bread and cheese perched atop her bag next to her in an attempt to take the time to gather her thoughts, and attempt to clear her mind -- a low snort, fingers breaking off a chunk of cheese and bread. Clearing her mind was rather the opposite of what she needed to do, wasn't it?

The sound was subtle, the smallest creak of a branch stretched a little too far from its trunk to just be the wind, barely audible above even the low murmur of the creek and the ambient sounds of the night that surrounded her -- and her uninvited guest -- but it was enough to announce the presence of another. "I'd much rather not end this day with further bloodshed," that was a lie, though, too, wasn't it? "But if you do not make yourself known to me, my blade will bite." And so might I.

[a-hell-of-a-time-archive]

@copaceticjillybean

There were reasons why the marquis rarely went out alone. He knew that there were some among the lower houses who had it out for him, waiting in the shadows for their moment to strike. While Andrealphus was nowhere near the same status as a prince such as Stolas, he was still high enough in the hierarchy to have a target placed on his back.

This fact was made known to him as he slowly dragged himself down a nearby alley, a bloodied hand clutching his injured arm which was, arguably, the worst of his injuries. If anyone were to even look at his now bruised and battered self, most would not know who he was.

Of course, the fools who tried to jump him ended up worse off. Various headless corpses littered the alley floor behind him, and those who managed to keep their heads were lacking various other parts. Others still were left covered in ice except for the gaping holes where their hearts were supposed to be. It was all quite messy, he thought as shards of ice fell from his hands, the remains of his sword scattering below. Had it been Caim, the cuts would have been far more clean, and the fight finished in an instant. She had always been better than him at this.

A hiss escaped his throat as he leaned against a nearby wall, his vision blurring as pain wracked his body. He had used the majority of his magic in the fight, and it took all of what he had left to remain conscious. He knew he should call for assistance, but his pride and unwillingness to admit that he fucked up big time pushed him forward. If either his sister or Caim were to catch wind of this, he would never live it down. Not to mention that the media would find out and descend upon him like they did when his former brother in law ended up in the hospital.

He had to do this alone.

He would get himself out of this.

He ended up collapsing in the middle of the alley, his vision fading to black before hitting the ground.

[packlesshybrid]

Well at least Yerai knew that he wasn't in the mood right. The hybrid didn't want him to get the wrong impression with this discussion. Just because he had a really high sex drive and was horny more often than not didn't mean he was always hungry for sex like some people might think. Even so, he couldn't help but be disappointed with the answers Yerai was giving him to his questions. It didn't feel like satisfying enough answers to him. It looked like he was going to accept them though. What more could he ask to get answers he was more satisfied with?

"Alright. Fair enough I suppose. In that case, I'll let you know if I do end up desiring sex today, and since you suggested it, whoever you do find for me better really know how to please a guy. I definitely wont want just any guy willing give it to me."

And the expected followed up questions. He didn’t believe him it was just curiosity however. "Of course we are not speaking of the present.” He let silence build up a little bit before actually answering. “Because those are not my orders nor I want to.” He knew if he said just the former, Theo would ask more.

[imsammyclaflin]

Horrorween Night In

Sam had learned a lot since spending more and more time with Chris, one of those being where he kept his spare key. Not that Chris would have minded him coming over unannounced but this was a suprise of sorts. They had already made plans to hang out and watch a horror film or two but Sam wanted to show off and cook for him. The Brit was in no way a master but he had managed to make some pretty decent meals for himself and others in the past so he figured he would give it a shot tonight. He wanted to keep it simple with spaghetti and homemade meatballs, a dish that he knew Chris loved.

He had everything prepared and put the bread in the oven, walking away to go finish getting ready. He hadn't been in the bathroom that long when he started smelling something burning and he immediately freaked out, running to the kitchen to see smoke starting to billow from the oven. "Fuck! Fuck!" He said, opening the oven door to let some of the smoke out. He reached up and turned it off before running over to open the window, fanning the smoke outside. "I'm so dead. He's gonna kill me." Shaking his head, he pulled the cremated remains of their garlic bread from the still smoking oven just as his boyfriend walked in. @famepine

[intvngibles]

open  to :  anyone !

location :  sunny shore pier

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀SNEAKING OUT LATE at night probably doesn’t count as one of dj’s brightest ideas, but he could never find any food at home  (  or rather, find any he liked enough to finish once opened  ) and given that the food stalls would never disappoint him in his time of need, his trip will surely be worth it in the end. dj finds space to park and dismounts from his motorcycle, balancing his helmet on top of the seat. he made his way to one of the corndog stalls and pays, settling down on a bench nearby. “  this fucking corndog was calling my name all night, holy shit.  ”  his mouth watered at the sight, not even wasting a second thought before biting into his dinner for the day. the entire time he was focused on his food, dj didn't even realize he was sharing the bench with someone else. his eyes lit up in surprise, smiling sheepishly. “  sorry, was this seat taken  ?  i didn't mean to interrupt.  ” / @palmviewstarters !

[harshlxve]

open to: f muse: jalen agholor ( alternate muse: everett welch, rian costagen, diego alcaraz ) plot: jalen is a owner of the most popular club in new york city, but it's really all a front for his crime empire. everything from d.rugs, to gambling, to prostitut!on. your muses boyfriend owes alot of money due to one of those things, your muse has come to 'pay his debt' as a last resort. jalen is based loosy off james st patrick from the tv show Power. that's the kinda situation we're working with. wanted fcs: here

if it wasn't for the guards that were armed that stood outside his office, it would seem like it was just like any other nightclub. to anyone that came to his club it was exactly that, most people would go about their day seeing jalen as just a business owner that ran the most successful and popular club in the city but in reality he ran far more around the cities. he was connected to more crime than someone could fathom, and he ran all that by being very strict with his rules and never giving people second chances. he rarely cared about the things his lower workers were doing, but when one of them came up especially short on money he started asking questions. then he was told that the man had stated his girlfriend would pay his debts, however necessary. that was enough to get jalen's attention, so he had them bring the girl to him instead. the office was lavish, behind his desk a wall that was one large plane of glass that look down on the night club. "send her in" he announced to the men at the door who opened it. He was turned away from the door looking out over the club, people dancing like there was no care in the world. "have you been here before?" he finally asked as he turned around to see the younger woman, his eyes moving up and down her body for a moment. "my name is jalen, what's your's?" his words weren't harsh, but they had an edge to them that seemed like they could become such instantly.

[packlesshybrid]

"Well, I wouldn't go that far. As I told you, you're starting to appeal to me in those other areas. We'll see you can keep it up." Theo told him before letting out a bit of a disappointing sigh himself after getting an answer to his question and being asked about himself. Not that he was disappointed by the answer. Far from it as the hybrid did let out a chuckle when he was told he'd have to really work on the charm to top him. Rather what he was disappointed by was that Uriel chose to just answer the question rather than turn this into a game like he suggest. Oh the possible fun games this could've been was quite the missed opportunity. Oh well.

"That's good to know about you. I'll be sure to keep that in mind. As for me though, it's a similar deal. Versatile with a preference for topping, though I'm not as...disinclined about getting to bottom as I use to be." He informed him. So it seemed like it was most likely going to be Theo that was going to be bottoming during sex, but while he didn't have a problem with that, that didn't mean he wasn't going to be up for the challenge of getting Uriel to bottom for him. Like he told him, he was indeed going to keep mind the fact that he was going to work his charm on him to get the opportunity to top him.

"And I said I have done well in all areas, right?" He asked him before he shook his head. Yes, it was true that he had said he was an open book and would answer any question, but did it really had to be that one? He let out a disappointed sigh and looked at him. "I'm a verse, but have a preference for topping. You will really have to charm me to get me to bottom for you, including you beautiful-self" He pointed at him. He had a feeling Theo was one that enjoy topping just like himself. "How about you? Game master" He chuckled.

[soulfulempathy]

@painofhumanity

It hadn't been hard for Morgan to convince Yuki to go to a bar. What had been an unfriendly reminder was the amount of people in one room who wanted to fuck his boyfriend.

Boyfriend. The word left a strange flavor in his mouth, even though it was accurate. Just...not the word Yuki would've otherwise used.

Though Morgan was attracting a lot of attention, he didn't seem to notice (or he didn't care). Morgan's focus was still on Yuki, which filled him with a sense of smug pride, despite the way his body was coiled to snap.

And then the man whose desire had overpowered the others decided to try his luck.

He'd come up to them -- specifically Morgan -- and drawn his attention away from Yuki. A large guy, tall and muscular. And apparently full of arrogance and cockiness, for him to come up to someone else's boyfriend and blatantly flirt.

Of course...Yuki hadn't exactly shown the other patrons that Morgan was his.

When the stranger touched Morgan's arm, invited him back to his place, Yuki couldn't take it anymore.

He stood abruptly and got between them, shoving the man back by his excessively broad chest. He towered over Yuki, probably a foot taller than him, but Yuki wasn't intimidated. All those muscles wouldn't save him from eating the floor, if need be.

"Back off my boyfriend," Yuki snarled, staring up at the other man like there was no height difference. That taste became stronger, but the word was out, and he wasn't going to take it back.

The man had the audacity to laugh, and Yuki became keenly aware of the knives hidden throughout his person.

"Do you have a death wish, kid?"

Yuki's expression turned to stone, a scowl taking over his face that he could never quite achieve before. His eyes went cold, and Yuki shoved a tendril of his power down the man's throat, coated in an acute panic that would no doubt take days to shake off. The man drew in a harsh breath and his eyes widened as he clutched his chest, where his heart was no doubt hammering against his ribs. Yuki pushed harder, even though it drained him quickly. He refused to show it. He was more interested in how far he could push the man, and a smirk curved his lips as he watched him drop to his knees.

Soon even Morgan faded into the background, as did the yells to call an ambulance, while Yuki lapped up every second of blind panic he was causing.

[worthyheir]

@hcncrablesacrifice / vaguely plotted starter

He had made it to the Dragonmont just in time to see his mother fly away on Syrax, and that had been several hours ago. Since then, he was stuck on Dragonstone - he could not leave their home defenseless, particularly with their monarch having left. He had been told the reason, that Seasmoke had gained a new rider and she went to discover who it might be. His eyes have been searching the skies since she left, awaiting her return, when a member of the Queensguard finds him. A boat was spotted nearby, three travelers aboard when it was picked up: the Queen Dowager, the usurper Queen, and her young Princess daughter.

Without Rhaenyra on Dragonstone, and her Hand back to Driftmark, it was to Prince Jacaerys that they sought what they should do with these enemies on their shores. It could be a trap, but if the Guard had already rounded them up, saying that the Queen Dowager was demanding an audience with Rhaenyra (what rights did she had to demand anything of any of them anymore?), he did not think so. It was not as though any of the guard or council would leave their Queen alone with this woman, not after what had happened the last time someone from King's Landing had infiltrated their walls.

If Alicent wanted an audience with someone at Dragonstone this day, it would have to be him. As much as he would have preferred to have her thrown into a cell, he knew his mother would not have done so. However, separating Helaena and Jaehaera from her seemed the best move - placing them in a room under guard, while having the Queen Dowager wait for him in another. He would see her first, discover why they would risk coming to Dragonstone, even cloaked and by ship.

Prince Jacaerys entered the room armed - he does not go near anywhere now without a sword sheathed at his side, truly, but she would not need to be aware of that - head held high, and despite the attempt to appear diplomatic, it is difficult to keep the disdain from his voice when he does speak. The guards remain outside the door by his order, though he does not fear this former Queen who has come to his home for a purpose. They are present in case she attempted to leave, after he discovered her purpose here. "I was told you were demanding an audience. The Queen is otherwise occupied, and will be for several hours. If you wish to see her, you'll have to speak with me first."

[laidbacklightwood]

“Oh… That’s good to know.” He simply said to being told that Christopher was Alistair’s father. He probably wouldn’t call him that himself, but at least he now would know who that was if anyone, even Peter again, brought him up in a conversation. It took a moment after listening to every bit of Peter’s response towards Agron admitting his issues with the older male and his relationship with Nasir for Agron to speak again. He was having a bit of a difficult time forming all of his thoughts together, with a big cause of that being that he just couldn’t believe that he was even having this conversation with him and just the things that came out of Peter’s mouth. When he did eventually speak again, it was in a soft, yet still serious tone.

“It’s, uh, nice of you to say all of that, and I’ll take your word on family meaning a lot to you, but yeah. No matter if true or not, it was unfair of me to judge you for your sins from them and not from you. So I felt I owed you an apology for that. As for Nasir… I’m aware of how he sees himself and I wish that it wasn’t it such a negative way, but overall I’m just very fortunate to be back in his life again. I hated losing him the first time and I never want to experience that again. Anyway, the age thing I won’t get into, but what I’ll say is that there are several reasons why I find it, but…none of it matters. Again, ultimately it’s on me for having an issue with it.” He said and was about ending it there, but then a few seconds later he figured that if he was already admitting his other issues, he might as well admit the one he currently had. So Agron let out a sigh before doing so. “With all that being said, there’s still something I do take issue with you about. It’s something I thought I was over, and I kinda was in that I wasn’t mad at Nasir anymore. However, I’m still upset about you…convincing Nasir to elope and being left out on knowing about it until after you guys had gone through with it.”

Peter blinked a few times. He found it not only bizarre but strange that Christopher was not known by his name, but rather his last name. Then again some family were like that, including his own. “Alistair’s father. That’s his name.” He clarified as he pushed his head back. Soon after that no word left his lips as Agron spoke. He was happy that there was a turn around. Though he was surprised the age gap played such a rule in his judgement. It was amusing to say the least since Agron probably did not know how old he was. “While I don’t know what others have told you, I doubt their words were lies. I’m not blind to my own past, to my sinful deeds and if that’s still an issue for you, I can tolerate that as I have with so many others who stay away from that. Nasir has always seen beyond that, in fact.” He paused to chuckled, “He sees himself as a worse sinner and from time to time it is me who reminds him that just as I was misguided in my own ways, he was misguided by his family’s teachings.” He told him. “I appreciate your words and I accept your apology even if it wasn’t needed. I’m a lucky man to have him and I’m happy you, his father and Alexander are back in his life. You are all my family now no matter how you feel about me and if you truly do get to know me someday, you will see that family means quite a lot to me.” He wore a reassuring smile. “Though never thought age would have been an issue. Then again, we supernatural have a different perspective for time and aging than humans.”

[freewillacquired]

In a world ravaged by a virus that primarily creates monsters, nasty encounters are in no short supply. When Rain begins to hear heavy footfalls—when she feels them practically shaking the ground beneath her, she figures she's about to have another.

Cursing under her breath, she unholsters her gun.

The days were blending together in depressing ways now. Nemesis was shocked at how quickly things had gone to hell after the Hive and Raccoon City Incidents. It had taken him quite a while to regenerate after the city's "sanitation," but once he was on his feet again, he realized the gravity of what was happening to the world.

Alone and with nothing left to do in his current mutated state, Nemesis had taken to showing up at Umbrella facilities unannounced, and destroying as much of them as he could. The digital feed supplied by the retinal implant attached to his right eye and sewn up into his head gave him a lot of useful information, especially after his mind was liberated from Umbrella's control. May as well put it to good use, right?

He'd acquired more clothes and equipment this way, with the boots and leather trenchcoat-style getup being standard issues for a creature called a Tyrant, which he apparently now was. They seemed just about the only things that were going to fit his... unique body shape nowadays.

Learning about himself and destroying Umbrella assets were good pastimes, but Nemesis was extremely lonely. The few survivors he came across now and then either screamed and ran from him or shot at him. Bullet wounds were nothing more than annoying mosquito bites to him now, thanks to his thick hide, but even so... it was demoralizing. All he wanted to do was help. He was almost getting used to being alone all the time, by necessity rather than desire, until that unexpectedly changed. While exploring a city one day, he rounded a corner and-

"Raaaain!" Nemesis bellowed the moment he saw her, unable to contain his excitement upon seeing her. "Oh... ny god!" He couldn't believe his eyes. Well, eye. He still had two, but one was... indisposed. In a move that probably looked damn near ridiculous to the other, he lifted his hand... and waved to her. "I'n so glad... to see you! How... are you... alithe... right now?" he tried to ask, his massive chompers getting in the way, as usual.

Nemesis couldn't get his voice to be anything other than a monotone growl, and with monstrous teeth and a noticeable lack of lips, his speech was something of a garbled mess. It took him a while, but he'd learned to make certain sounds in other ways, using his throat and tongue. Essentially, he'd had to relearn how to speak. Some sounds and words, though, were lost forever. None of that did anything to curb his enthusiasm at seeing Rain alive, however. Was he finally losing his mind? Hallucinating, maybe? No, the target identification system is identifying her as Rain... Right now, Nemesis didn't care either way. Just the sight of her was one for sore eyes, since his last clear memory of her was being at death's door.

"I thought... the anti-thirus... didn't work...?" he said, his elation at seeing her alive completely overriding his common sense. Nemesis wasn't thinking about the fact that Rain wouldn't recognize him anymore, or about how negatively she would likely react to seeing the hulking beast before her. Not to mention his tentacles, rooted at the backs of his shoulders, which were excitedly coiling and undulating in their own right, reacting to his surprise and happiness. He batted one of them with his hand. "Cut it out...!" he admonished the obnoxious appendage. It recoiled temporarily before returning to its idle activities.

Then it dawned on him, especially with how she had her gun at the ready. Oh no... she has no idea who I am. "It's Natt," he said, laying his hand on his chest. "Natt... Ad-di-son." How pathetic is it that I can't even say my own name correctly anymore? he thought grimly.