December, 2003

The statue that the Bureau had put up of Adelaide Venture looked nothing like her--at least in Sebastian’s eyes. Of course, the resemblance was there. He could see his aunt’s general facial features and she was wearing the signature costume she had worn when she was a part of the Exemplars. But there was no artist in the world that could capture her spirit; the energy that she had about her that always made him feel better whenever he was with her. Even the stance of the statue was something Aunty Addy would have only done as a joke, just before bursting into laughter and messing up his hair. That’s how we did it in the old days, Bash, she would say. We had a whole week on stance training when I joined the Exemplars. 

It was funny to him that while the statue that was meant to represent her held none of her likeness, the crowd of adoring fans did. When he looked at them, it was easier for him to remember how infectious her attitude was and that she had influenced all of these people in one way or another, whether it be in a silly one liner or her ultimate sacrifice. 

Her burial a week or so prior was nothing like this. The solemn event was meant to be smaller and personable, taking place at his grandparents’ estate in Wyoming. While the whole town was there and even some of Aunty Addy’s friends, it was still hardly a fraction of the people at HQ. There, his father had told them stories of his sister and his older brother, Toby, ruminated on being able to remember meeting his aunt for the first time. Even then, Sebastian felt that it was too morose of an event for someone who always hated to see anyone cry. It didn’t help that Ranger had settled on top of her grave and refused to leave until late in the night. 

Sebastian wondered which one she would have preferred. Maybe she would have liked the smaller event where she could have spent time with her loved ones. He did remember her always complaining about the crowds she would have to deal with when she was with the Exemplars. Maybe, she would have hated how many people were at HQ. He wished he could have asked her. 

Ranger whimpered beside him and Sebastian excused himself from his family’s side to take the dog somewhere where he could run around for a bit. Once free from the crowd, the old german shepherd started to explore his surroundings. Sebastian wondered if he knew Aunty Addy wasn’t coming back, or if he thought this was just like all of the other trips she would go on, albeit a much longer one. 

So lost in his own thoughts, he almost didn’t recognize the small group of people to his right, though he had seen them on television and beside his aunt in plenty of pictures. He blamed the fact that they weren’t in the outfits he was familiar with and in normal clothing they looked just as beaten up from what had happened as he had expected. Most weren’t able to make it to his aunty’s burial since they were still in the hospital at the time, though his father had extended the invite to them if they could leave. Sebastian didn’t think it was fair that they couldn’t be there. Aunty Addy loved them, sometimes even more than her actual family it seemed, though she never would have admitted that. 

Tears stung his eyes as he thought about his beloved Aunty Addy alone with only Ranger at her side for so long. His sister, Viola, often claimed that Aunty Addy was lonely, but he didn’t see it back then. How could he? She had always seemed happy and full of energy, always willing to take him on any adventure he wanted. When he ran away from home after an argument with his father, her house was the only place he felt safe. But there was always something missing. Something only the Exemplars were able to fill. 

Wiping at his eyes with the back of hand, he whistled for Ranger. But the dog was nowhere to be found. Panic took over as he searched for the last thing he had of his aunt before realizing he had made his way toward Monarch--no Beth. Aunty Addy called her Beth. He looked happy as he leaned against her, his tail thumping against the ground as he received the affection he craved from his aunt’s best friend. Sebastian clenched Ranger’s leash in his hands as he watched the interaction, torn between rushing to pull his dog away and letting them have the moment of peace. What would Aunty Addy have done? Do what makes you smile, Bash. 

Before he could stop himself, he rushed to where the two were and gave them a sad smile.

“Uh… hi, Beth? I’m Sebastian. I… I think my aunty Addy would have wanted you to keep him.”

Addy saw how at a loss for words Laura was as they walked toward the mass of black clad figures in the distance. Normally, Addy was quick to lift her spirits with a nice compliment to make Laura feel a little better or probing her to teach her bad words in various languages but that all seemed wrong now. Everything was wrong.

She went to the other woman's side, looping her arm through hers. "Hey, El. You know German right? What's the German word for rabbit again? I know you'd told me a bunch of times but I keep forgetting."

A weak smile was on her lips. It occurred to her that this might be Laura's first funeral. Addy hadn't gone to a funeral of anyone she actually knew well, but even she could recall being ushered to church as another person in their small community died. "If my weak attempt at a distraction isn't working, just say so. Funerals are... what's the Portuguese word for 'the worst fucking thing ever'?"

@addy-venture​

“It didn’t- It didn’t feel real before.”  They were waiting on the mall, the ground squelching lightly beneath Laura’s black shoes.  “I…”  Her voice faltered.

Seven Languages.  Laura could speak seven languages, and each with an impressive vocabulary.  She had words for everything–observations, explanations, introductions, misdirections, comparisons, questions, suggestions, jokes…

“I…”

For this, she had no words.  She looked down at her feet in defeat, as though perhaps the missing vocabulary would be there, scattered among the damp grass.

“I didn’t realize Eve knew so many people. You think any of the flowers were from her friends? Or secret family?”

@addy-venture​

“look at all these wreaths and bouquets. it’s like they stripped a whole field of it’s flowers. i hope no one here has bad allergies.”

Addy might not be smart, but she wasn't dumb enough to ignore the way Zia tended to loath her presence. She had always wanted to know why, but now didn't seem like the proper time to ask. "Thanks," she replied suddenly feeling very self conscious about the dress she was wearing. "So do you, of course." She stared at her hands. “I, uh... It’s still weird, right? Eve just being... gone.”

closed to @addy-venture​

Zia had never been particularly fond of Addy, but now looking at the other woman, she can’t help but wonder why she was here. Yes, Addy was of course a part of the team, but with Eve gone and Moira’s meeting approaching quickly, she can’t help but wonder what a more streamlined, future iteration of the Exemplars might look like. 

”You look nice, Addy,” she says through a tight-lipped smile as she walks by. 

Boredom was beginning to eat at her as Addy looked over Cassie's various experiments for what felt like the hundredth time. Edie's presence made her smile, grateful for the distraction. "Hey. You look like you're feeling better." She nodded for him to sit opposite of her. "I'm great. Basically back to normal," she said as she made an unconscious effort to not put too much pressure on her right side where her stitches still stung. "You good?"

       edie  felt  comfortable  around  addy ,       and always had. not that he was uncomfortable around the others, but he always felt the most human with her. she didn’t seem to treat him any different for what he was. it’s because of this that, once he’s steady again, he finds her, though once he does he’s unsure exactly what to say.  ‘  hello, addy,  ’  he starts, and then realizes that given how out of it he was, he was unsure how each of his teammates had faired.  ‘  how are you feeling ?  ’               @addy-venture​

Addy did her best to keep her spirits up, fighting back the near overwhelming grief that threatened to take hold. There was more to worry about than the loss of their fearless leader. Eve was back! How about that. All those years of guilt and regret was for nothing after all it seemed. Not to mention the state that they all were in after their fight.

But she didn't want to dwell in those negative thoughts so she sought after her best friend.

Seeing Tango outside without a mission to worry about brightened her expression instantly and she could tell that he was enjoying himself. "I'm fine. It'll take more than a little scratch to get me down, don't you worry." She placed a hand on his shoulder anyway and walked deeper into the yard. At the sound of her name, the little red dog dashed outside and started sniffing everywhere she could, marking her territory where she could. "I think the dog's alright too now that things have calmed down."

@addy-venture​

It’s not the first time that Tango has been outside, but it’s the first time he’s been outside without a mission. It’s the first time he’s seen the inside of a house that isn’t HQ or containment. The house smells of so many things, and it has many things inside, like his room at HQ did, but these things are everywhere, and it’s all so new.

And there’s a yard.

It’s been a since they arrived at the house, and Tango has spent most of that time in the yard. He is very careful to not mess up the flowers, after being asked nicely to. Here, he can lay in the grass and feel the sun on his fur and there’s no time limit. It’s wonderful.

Still, he makes himself move when Addy ventures outside, shambling up to her to offer a shoulder for support if she needs it. “HOW ADDY FEEL,” he asks, concerned. So many of them have been hurt. “ADDY GOOD? MANGO GOOD?”

After a restless night, Addy slipped out of bed early, much to the dismay of Mango who refused to leave her place under the blankets. She tiptoed into the kitchen as quietly as possible and smiled weakly at the sight of Beth. "Thanks," she muttered as she went to grab herself a bowl. Settling in the place next to her friend, she asked "You get any sleep last night?"

@addy-venture​

eating cereal at the crack of dawn in the house of the people she considered her parents was definitely not what beth had been expecting from her first week back at exemplar. as addy entered the room beth instinctively instructed, “bowls are in the cabinet above the knife block.” 

“Yeah. Who woulda thought that guns are good at killing things?” Addy glanced at the woman, still not quite believing that she was actually there. Then again, on her list of weird things she’s experienced, why wouldn’t it be possible that Eve was revived or maybe never even dead. That was a question for someone smarter than she was. “Wouldn’t have been able to get out if not for you though. Thanks for that.”

@addy-venture​

“thank you for getting the team to safety. i’ve never been fond of the guns blazing technique but after yesterday i can’t deny it’s effectiveness.” 

The kid was a surprise, though looking on it, it shouldn't have been. It made sense that at least one of the team would have settled down in some way and it makes sense that that person was Damien. He always seemed to have his shit together, even back then. His daughter's presence reminded her of how much she missed her nephews and she hoped that they didn't think she was dead.

"Barbie movies? Can't say I've seen those yet. Bet they're cinematic masterpieces." She grinned as she leaned back in her seat, doing her best not to jostle her injured side. The injury was a little deeper than she thought and she didn't feel like being stitched up again. "She seems like a good kid."

@addy-venture​

Well, it wasn’t long before Cassie found Addy, and Damien had to admit, she was playing it way too cool. He honestly thought she was going to scream and bounce off the walls, but she just asked her if she wanted to watch some movies with her and left. (Was his kid cooler than him? Maybe.)

“Maybe we can watch it later to calm down?” A warm look on his face, spread as he moved to talk to her, “I’m down to watch ‘em later with you, if you want. She’s got Barbie movies here; they’re her favorite.”

"Positive to positive. Negative to negative. So the blue wire hooks up to the plus, the red to negative and the black onto the ground. That leaves the green for last and on the last available spot." Addy was no genius when it came to anything, but she was decent with math and guns. Explosives tended to be a mixture of the two, as long as she didn't have to understand the chemistry behind it all. "Just make sure to keep the fuses dry and in tact. If those are fucked up then we're fucked."

@addy-venture​

“How do you set these charges again?” Damien was holding up a pack of explosives, trying to actively understand how to deal with them in the least lethal manner possible. If he could get out of this with all of his limbs intact, he’d be grateful. “I’d rather not go back and be blown up by these things.”

send me an au and i’ll give you 5+ headcanons about it

Send me a ✆ to know your name/ringtone/picture in my character’s mobile.

send me an au and i’ll give you 5+ headcanons about it

rpmememaker‌:

Send “✆” for a MORNING text. Send “✉” for a text that WASN’T SENT. Send “☎” for a RUSHED text. Send “⁇” for a DRUNK text. Send “✿” for a SUGGESTIVE text. Send “ø” for a LATE NIGHT text. Send “✘” for a HATEFUL text. Send “#” for a RANDOM text. Send “@” for a SCARED text. Send “&” for a LOVING text. Send “%” for a CURIOUS text. Send “ツ” for an EXCITED text. Send “$” for an ACCIDENTAL text. Send “♀” for a HEARTBREAKING text.

retiredeve‌:

“i’m not bored i’m …content. and saying that everyone else will be there is not a selling point.” 

“No everyone else won’t be there! So it’s more of a selling point. And wouldn’t you wanna be more than content.”

“Aw come on! Everyone else is out and it’s gotta get at least a little boring in the room.”

@addy-venture​

“no, i don’t want to play uno.” 

retiredmonarch‌:

Being back together now only confirmed what Beth had dreaded for years: no matter how hard she tried to make them feel like a family, they never would be, not really. 

“The team all knows basic first aid and if you really get hurt they can just call an ambulance. That’s the more responsible thing to do after all,” reasoned Beth. she loved Addy as respected her friend for trying, but her mind was made up. She consoled herself with the thought of moving to a neighborhood nearby Addy where they could go on morning walks together with both the dogs and pretend like none of this ever happened. She could lose the title of Monarch, but she wouldn’t loose Addy.

 Beth laughed, “No I haven’t even talked to Cesare about leaving yet. I’m kind of scared to. I’m afraid he might deny me or try and talk me out of it. If he uses his commander tone I might just back down, I’m pretty well trained at this point.” 

Addy stopped and turned toward Beth, putting a hand on the woman's arm. "Beth. It's not just about being the team medic. That's not all you're good for." Granted, Addy couldn't put into words what Beth's place in the team really was, but she knew deep down that it was something bigger than what the woman seemed to believe.

But was Addy being selfish in wanting her to stay? If Beth was really miserable being back, then why should she stay? It was too much for her to consider her best friend leaving, but it would be so much worse if she stayed just to make Addy happy. "I... If you're really serious about this," she said slowly, "I'll go with you when you tell him. I'm good at ignoring his commander voice by now." She looked Beth straight in the eye. "But, I want to know why. I know the first mission didn't turn out great, but we've had duds before. And you've never striked me as the kind of woman who'd quit at the first signs of trouble."